Tangled

Unshift 224

Unshift 224

224 Ava The Fae Ward (V

224 Ava: The Fae Ward (VI)

"Magister Orion." A little concerned at how the strange man who claims to be my teacher will respond to my next words, I brace myself once more for the flood of emo..ons that might roll off him. *I understand your wish for me to stay here and learn from you, but it is impossible for me to stay here for as long as you wish. And with my wolf unable to tolerate your wards, it makes it even more impractical."

Wiw be fwine.

"No, it won't be."-

Magister Orion's brow furrows as he scrutinizes Selene, his gaze sharp and assessing. The air thickens with tension.

Finally, he turns to me, his expression unreadable.

"If you cannot remain here in the Fae Ward, Ava Grey, then it is my duty as your mentor to go where you go."

Layla and Tinker erupt into a chorus of protests, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of disbelief.

"Magister Orion, you can't be serious!" Layla exclaims, her eyes wide with shock. "Leaving the Fae Ward? Impossible. Your request would be rejected on the spot!"

Tinker nods vigorously, her mechanical wings fluttering in

agitation. "She's right, Magister. The Fae Ward is your domain. To leave its sanctuary is little better than," and her voice lowers to a whisper, "suicide!"

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224 Ava: The Fae Ward (VI)

But Magister Orion is unmoved by their objections. He rises to his full, imposing height, his voice booming like thunder. "Enough! This goes beyond convention. I will not leave my chance at a student behind." Watching the argument unfold, my stomach twists with unease. The idea of Magister Orion accompanying me back to the pack

lands fills me with dread.

proven animosity toward the wolves. If an incident were to occur, would we be able to handle

glances, their postures tense and alert. I can feel their apprehension radiating off them in

carefully measured. "Magister Orion, forgive me for asking, but how can

wolves?"

an emotion I can't quite decipher-anger? Resentment? Something else entirely? "My personal feelings are irrelevant," he says, his tone clipped. "What matters is the greater purpose. If

word endure when thinking about spending time with a pack doesn't

time to time? Once a week?" The horror on his face has me

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Ava: The

feet, her discomfort

sneezes once more.

"Three times?"

a sigh. "If only the Crone's teachings weren't lost to

to warn me of the

room, taking on the cadence of a professor in a lecture hall.

the air,

Goddess of Life is someone I've never heard of; as

few in the area even speak of Allah, but my father forbade me

of amusement creeping into his tone, "though none of

"Magister, you're too boring. Let me explain it to

turns to me, her lilac eyes sparkling. "You see, Ava, the Crone was the one to record the teachings and knowledge of the

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994 as thetsVard (V)

Crone disappeared from the earthly realm when all the gods did, which is considered

ominous, which is absolutely what she's

hidden away, waiting for the right person to find it. Others believe it was destroyed,

cutting off her

"But Magister, your lecture are so dry! Nobody wants

found it quite

hand, he ignores her scowl as she scurries away, her wings whirring. "Pay no mind to the vapid gnome, Ava Grey. Her conspiracies are nothing more than idle chatter through