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.

the wolves. If an incident were

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

measured. "Magister Orion, forgive me

wolves?"

personal feelings are irrelevant," he says, his tone clipped. "What matters

slowly, trying to process his words. Having to use the word endure when thinking about spending time

from time to time? Once a week?" The

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The

restlessly at my feet, her discomfort

sneezes once more.

"Three times?"

He rubs between his eyebrows with a sigh. "If only the Crone's teachings weren't lost to us." "Crone's?" This is a

warn me of the

witches of old." His voice resonates through the room, taking on the cadence of a professor in a lecture hall. "They carried great weight on the shoulders of three priestesses who stood with the Goddess of Life, who gifted her

Orion's words settle in the air, heavy

I've never heard of;

Goddess. And for humans, it's usually God. Some few in the area even speak of

names given to each priestess," Magister Orion continues, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone, "though none of them were mothers, and none of them were old enough to

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

the Crone was the one to

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

which is

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

Orion's voice cracks like a whip, cutting off her rambling, "Go do something helpful,

lecture are so dry!

found it quite

ignores her scowl as she scurries away, her wings whirring. "Pay no mind to the vapid gnome, Ava Grey. Her conspiracies are nothing