CHAPTER 109: VICE AND VOW

Chief Stille steps out of the shower, feeling satisfied and pleasantly drained. His morning session with the Baroness was fruitful. He still has twenty-four hours before he needs to stop interfering with the Beachwalk mining operation.

He stands in front of the mirror and admires himself. The way his short wavy dark hair falls over his brow, the scar near his hairline that adds character, the dark eyes that he thinks look mysterious. He carefully trims his beard. He loves his beard. It makes him look older, more charismatic. Makes him feel like a worthy partner for the Baroness.

She’s almost ten years older, but she doesn’t look it. She looks late thirties at most. And her body... Stille swallows. People might call her too thin, but he likes thin. He can wrap a single hand around her waist. Feels made for him.

Harrison Stille does not love the Baroness. He loves the idea of being her man. And he is sure he’s the only one. Even in other cities and countries, she has no other men. Just him. It feeds his ego nicely. That’s why he sometimes pushes his luck—tiny bits of disobedience. He knows she won’t abandon him.

But that thing she did... he still can’t explain it.

How did she choke him without touching him?

And those eyes. For a moment he really thought she would kill him.

He knows, deep in the part of himself he never acknowledges, that she is stronger than him in every way. That’s the real reason he obeys her. And the reason he never dares to try having another woman.

"Harrison, are you planning to live in the bathroom?" the Baroness calls from the bedroom.

"I’m coming, Your Ladyship."

He gives himself one last look, fixes his smile to something soft and devoted, and steps out.

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Arthur looks into his younger brother’s eyes. There is no doubt there. Julian is serious about trusting Maeve. And for Arthur, that’s a start.

He nods. "If you trust her that much, I can try. But I’ll form my own opinion."

Julian smiles. "Yeah, I know you would. I’m gonna go ask her."

"Is that wise though?" Liam asks.

"Not the trust part, but the spell part. Do we know for sure earth is really your resonance?"

"I feel it is. But even if it isn’t, we can still try the spell, right? You called fire when you’re water," Julian replies.

"True, but... I don’t know. I just think experimenting on something we’ve known for less than twenty-four hours, unsupervised, might be dangerous." Liam shrugs.

"You’re right, but if I follow that logic, Aegis wouldn’t exist today." Julian grins.

Liam chuckles. "I see your point. Fine. If you want to ask, go ask. I’ll be here practicing my water."

Julian leaves. He’s practically skipping his way to Maeve, unable to explain what he’s feeling.

Am I attracted to her?

Then another thought hits him.

Am I really? I mean... she’s beautiful, smart, brave, funny... oh my god. I am attracted to her.

Julian stops dead in his tracks, brain fuzzy.

I... I... I—

He takes several deep breaths.

Julian, knock it off. This is not the time or place. Focus on getting out safely first.

Okay. Yeah. That’s right.

He exhales, relieved, regaining his confidence, and walks again.

Maeve is deep in her meditation. She feels peaceful, optimistic, light, and bright. Like she’s floating.

She slowly opens her eyes, serenity radiating out of her, and sees Julian sitting near her, staring.

She blinks. "J–Julian? Why are you staring at me like that and saying nothing?"

Julian smiles. "You looked really deep in meditation. I didn’t want to disturb you. Are you done?"

Maeve nods. "Yeah, I guess so."

"You need anything?" she asks.

"Yes. I think my element resonance is earth. Do you know the spell for earth?" Julian goes straight to the point.

"Earth? That’s wonderful. I..." She clears her throat.

"I do know one earth spell, but... I’m not sure it’s right anymore." Her face twists in embarrassment.

Julian tilts his head.

"You remember my first fireball spell?" Maeve asks quietly.

He nods.

"They weren’t that powerful. Compared to the ones Aldriana gave me... those foreign words? Except for ’fyra’, I’ve never heard any of them. And those ones hit way harder."

"Yeah, they did. Arthur told me what fyra means. Wait... you’ve never heard the words Aldriana gave you?"

Maeve shakes her head. "No. Never."

"Maeve... I want to ask something. If it’s troublesome to answer, don’t answer." Julian speaks carefully.

"Do you and Aldriana... come from the same place?"

Maeve frowns. "Same place? Like where? I don’t understand."

"Well... you knew magic before entering the dungeon. Aldriana also knew magic before entering the dungeon. And magic doesn’t exist in the outer world. So I thought... maybe you two came from the same place where other magi live."

Julian says it gently, making sure not to alarm her.

Maeve blinks, sighs. "That’s a very good and reasonable conclusion. Arthur and Liam think the same?"

Julian nods. "Yeah. It wasn’t hard to connect the dots."

Maeve sighs again. "So much for secrecy."

She lifts her head. "You’re right. I do come from a secret society of magi. But please don’t spread it. I made an oath to never reveal it. Technically, I haven’t, you figured it out yourself. But I can’t explain further. And no, I didn’t know Aldriana before this."

Julian’s jaw drops. "I can’t believe it’s true!"

Maeve gasps. "But you just said you knew!"

"It was an assumption! You just confirmed it!"

The two of them stand there, staring at each other with awkward, guilty expressions.

Maeve grabs her head. "Oh my god. I broke my oath... I broke my oath."

She looks at Julian, whispering, "I broke my oath..."

She looks devastated, sad, defeated, helpless.

Julian opens his mouth, nothing comes out. He closes it again.

"What... what will happen to you?" he asks softly.

"They’ll kick me out. I won’t be able to learn magic anymore." Maeve lowers her gaze, voice trembling.

"I’ll take responsibility for you." Julian blurts out.