It was the next day, and Rin woke with a start. The dorm room was quiet, the morning sun bleeding through the tall windows in pale ribbons of light. Her sheets were damp with sweat, clinging to her legs. She lay there for a moment, clutching the blanket, her chest rising and falling too fast.

  The alley. The men’s snarling faces. The grip on her wrist. The suffocating smell of dirt and blood as the skeleton rose from the ground. Its empty sockets burning with violet fire, its sword humming as if it were alive. The memory made her throat tighten — even now, she swore she could hear its guttural groan echoing through the walls.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. Back in the desert, when those men came for her, clawing and dragging, and Rick had fought them off. Different area, different faces — but the same fear. The same helplessness. And once again, it was someone else’s strength, not her own, that saved her.

  Her hands trembled as she sat up, and only then did she notice the empty bed across from hers. Chippy’s blankets were already folded in a messy heap. On top of them lay a note, scrawled in big loopy handwriting. Rin padded over barefoot, her heart still thudding as she picked it up.

  A pink heart was drawn at the end.

  Rin traced the doodle with her fingertip. Chippy’s cheerful voice practically rang off the page — so far removed from the horrors of the night before. How could Chippy smile so easily after seeing ? After hearing it swear loyalty in that terrible voice?

  Rin let out a shaky breath and clutched the note close. Her stomach twisted with a mix of relief and dread.

  She sat back down on the edge of her bed, holding the note in both hands. The room still felt heavy, as if the skeleton’s presence lingered in the air. Her first thought was to stay here, safe under her blanket where nothing could reach her.

  But then Rick’s face flashed in her mind. The way he had stood tall in the desert despite knowing he’d lose, wand raised, refusing to let her be dragged away. And Mister Vix — calm, confident, shielding her with a barrier so strong it felt like nothing in the world could break through. They hadn’t cowered. They hadn’t run. They fought because she mattered.

  Her chest ached.

  Rin stood and quickly pulled on her thin hoodie, clutching the note one last time before tucking it into her pocket. Her knees wobbled, but she forced herself out the door and down the long halls of the South House, each step echoing louder in her ears than it should have.

  By the time she reached the Atheneum, her heart had steadied just enough to push the doors open. The sight nearly floored her. The Atheneum wasn’t just a library — it was a cathedral of books. Rows and rows of shelves arched upward like pillars, their tops lost in lantern-lit shadows. Floating staircases wound between levels, and enchanted globes of light hovered gently, illuminating pages without fire or flame.

  And there, in the middle of it all, were Eddie and Chippy. Piles of books stacked high on their table, papers spread in every direction. Eddie was already scribbling notes furiously, flipping between three different tomes, while Chippy had one book spread out on her lap and another propped up against her knees. Both of them looked exhausted, but completely absorbed.

  Rin padded over quietly. “Um… hi…”

  “Rin!” Chippy popped her head up, her ponytail bobbing. “Finally! We were about to drag you out of bed!”

  Eddie held out a page covered in messy handwriting. “We’ve been trying to figure out what that

  was — the skeleton. Ra, or whatever it called itself. Haven’t found anything, though…”

  Chippy groaned, slapping a book shut. “It’s like, every reference just says , but none of them describe anything like… ”

  Rin blinked at the mountain of books. “So… there’s no answer?”

  “Not here,” Eddie muttered, glancing toward a gated section of shelves at the far end of the Atheneum. Iron bars laced with glowing runes sealed it off, and even from here Rin could feel the weight of the magic guarding it. “The book we need might be in the Restricted Section.”

  Chippy crossed her arms, pouting. “Of course it is.”

  Rin’s eyes flickered nervously toward the glowing gate. Part of her wanted to suggest they give up, pretend none of this ever happened. But another part of her — the same part that remembered Rick’s smile and Vix’s barrier — whispered that she needed to know.

  “Th-then we should try to get those books!”

  Eddie and Chippy whipped their heads toward Rin.

  “…Rin?”

  “Y-Yes…?” She squeaked, nervously rubbing her fingers together.

  “Quick. How did we meet?” Eddie demanded, standing so fast his chair screeched back. He slammed both hands onto the table, making Rin flinch.

  “E-Eddie?”

  “Yeah, Eddie? What’s with you?” Chippy frowned, side-eyeing him.

  “Hey! I just need to make sure this is Rin! The real Rin would never suggest something that reckless!”

  Chippy leaned on her palm, smirking. “Our Rin usually just nods along and lets be the crazy ones.”

  “I… I’m… me???” Rin said, baffled.

  Eddie exhaled and slumped back down, satisfied. “Okay. Fine. Just checking.”

  “In any case,” he continued, lowering his voice, “how would we even there? The restricted shelves are sealed with layered spellwork. You’d need access—or you’d have to perform the correct contradiction spells.”

  “Well… then let’s figure out the contradictions!” Chippy blurted, too loudly. Several students looked their way.

  “Shhh!” Eddie hissed.

  “Sorry!”

  “Anyway,” he muttered, leaning in, “to perform a contradictory spell, we’d need to fully understand the enchantments protecting it.”

  A new voice drifted from behind them.

  “Contradict those spells, you say…?”

  Eddie gasped, his cheeks flaring red as he slapped both hands over his mouth.

  Rin yelped and dropped into her chair as a tall figure stepped into view, his shadow falling across their table.

  The man’s long golden hair swayed gently in the enchanted breeze of the athenaeum. His smile was disarmingly charming, but his light, glacial-blue eyes carried an authority that pressed down on the children. He stood with his chin high, black gloves perfectly fitted, white robes crisp as if freshly pressed. And on his collar gleamed a black diamond — the unmistakable mark of a . A Class Diamond sorcerer.

  “Whatever you kids are planning…” his voice was calm, yet edged with warning. “It sounds very dangerous.”

  “We-we aren’t planning anything at all! We’d break into the restricted shelves!” Chippy stammered, shaking her head so hard her hair whipped.

  The man only chuckled, tilting his head with an amused glint in his eyes.

  “Chippy!” Eddie hissed under his breath, as if trying to shut her up before she could make things worse.

  “Now, now,” the Enforcer said warmly. “When I was your age, I was up to all kinds of mischief. It’s a restricted area, sure, but hardly the end of the world.” He laughed and casually pulled a chair from a nearby table, spun it backwards, and dropped into it. Folding his arms over the backrest, he leaned forward, studying the three of them.

  “I’ve performed the contradictions myself, back when I studied here. Would you… like to know them?”

  “Wh-Whaaaat?!” the kids blurted in unison, voices echoing too loudly for the quiet library.

  “Shh! Keep your ears open,” the Enforcer said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I wrote down the exact contradictions back in my day — problem is, the notebook itself is in the restricted shelves. Ironic, huh?” He chuckled under his breath. “I’ll handle the access. I am an Enforcer, after all. Once I get my hands on it, I’ll drop it right here on your table. Sound fair?”

  The kids glanced at each other, brows furrowed, unsure what to make of such generosity. Finally, they all turned back to him.

  “What’s the catch?” Eddie demanded, arms crossing tight over his chest.

  “Catch? Smart guy!” The man grinned and snapped his fingers into a casual finger-gun, pointing right at Eddie. “I like dudes like you.”

  Eddie’s frown only deepened. There was something about this man’s mannerisms — too easy, too showy. Almost like he was trying to at being Yaxon, but without the warmth.

  “The catch,” the Enforcer continued, smirk widening, “is that I want in. Whatever you kids need those restricted texts for, I want to know. Do we have a deal?”

  “What!” Eddie blurted, half-rising from his chair.

  “Eddie, calm down,” Chippy said, crossing her arms with a casual huff. “We can trust him. He’s an Enforcer.”

  “…Okay…”

  “Deal?”

  “Deal…”

  “Splendid! One moment, and don’t move a muscle.” The Enforcer clapped his gloved hands once, then bounced up to his feet with surprising energy. He pranced — yes, — over to the librarian’s desk, leaning in as though sharing a secret. With a few exaggerated hand waves and a wink, he had the old librarian chuckling like a schoolgirl. Moments later, she handed him a ruler-like object glowing faintly with runes.

  He turned on his heel and strutted back toward the kids, holding it aloft like a magician showing off his next trick. He pointed at the object, mouthing dramatically:

  Then, as if strolling into his own living room, he sauntered upstairs to the restricted door. He pressed the charm to the lock — — it opened without resistance.

  A few minutes later, he reappeared, flipping a slim, worn notebook casually in his hand. He dropped it onto the kids’ table with a flourish, like a waiter delivering a meal, then casually returned the charm to the librarian with another bow.

  “See? Easy as pie.” He brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve. “Though between us, pie is never this easy.”

  “He’s right! Pie is never that easy to make! My brother struggles all the time!” Chippy giggled, kicking her feet under the table.

  Eddie, however, didn’t share her enthusiasm. He frowned, arms crossed. “If you could get in that easily, then why didn’t you just grab the exact book we needed instead of this random notebook?”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The Enforcer tilted his head, smile never faltering. “Because… we agreed you’d what you needed I got you this notebook.”

  Eddie froze, then groaned into his palm. “Oh, right… That’s… fair…”

  “A-anyways…” he stammered, snapping the notebook open. The pages were filled with rough scribbles, quick sketches of hands, and diagrams of wand motions. Between them were short phrases — incantations meant to unravel the layered enchantments locking the restricted shelves.

  “Whoa… you really went at it, didn’t you?” Eddie muttered, flipping through the scribbles.

  “Actually…” the Enforcer replied, his smile never shifting, “it wasn’t me. That notebook is a combined effort — knowledge gathered from several… ambitious minds.” He leaned forward, cheek resting lazily in his gloved palm, his gaze now fixed on Rin. “Now, tell me. What do you children need the forbidden texts for?”

  Rin shrank further into her chair, clutching her hands together. “I-I… it’s…”

  “It’s because of her!” Eddie blurted, pointing at Chippy. “There’s this skeleton creature that’s following her. It came out of nowhere and… protected her.”

  The Enforcer blinked slowly, tilting his head. “A skeleton… as in, the undead?”

  “Yeah…” Eddie said, voice low.

  “That might be summoning magic…” the Enforcer mused, though his eyes sharpened with interest.

  “It came out of this purple swirly thing in the ground!” Chippy cut in, waving her hands for emphasis. “And its eyes had, like… purple dots inside the skull! Totally freaky!”

  The Enforcer’s smile faltered for the first time. “…Purple swirls?” he repeated, his tone quieter, more deliberate. “That sounds closer to necromancy. But necromancy doesn’t… work that way. The living can be ghosted back with certain rites, but to pull the dead from earth itself? That’s… different.”

  Chippy and Eddie exchanged uneasy glances.

  “And you’re certain,” he pressed, voice lower now, “that it rose in a bath of violet light?”

  “Yeah! And he said his name was Ra!” Chippy exclaimed, puffing her cheeks as if daring him to doubt her.

  “Ra…” the Enforcer murmured, leaning back in his chair. The usual warmth in his tone had thinned into something else — thoughtful, guarded. “That’s… peculiar. I’ve never heard of such a name tied to necromancy. Not once…”

  “Well… in any case,” Eddie said, scratching the back of his head. “We’ve got no idea how to summon him back or make him reappear. Just… he said he was her servant, then poof. Gone.”

  The Enforcer let out a thoughtful hum, tapping a gloved finger on the headrest of his chair. “Yes… totally out of my league as well. Seems to me you really need those forbidden texts, don’t you?”

  “Yeah…” the three of them echoed together, almost in defeat.

  “Oh well!” He brightened suddenly, clapping his hands once. “Good luck with your little endeavor, then. And do let me know what you find, won’t you? This… is a very interesting case, and I’d be most curious to see how it develops.”

  “Of course!” Chippy said with her trademark bright smile.

  The man chuckled. “Now then, what are your names?”

  “Oh! I’m Chippy!”

  “Eddie.”

  “M-My name is Rin…” she whispered nervously.

  “Chippy, Eddie, Rin,” he repeated with a nod, rolling the names off his tongue like he meant to remember them. Then he stood, one hand crossing his chest as he dipped in a practiced, almost theatrical bow.

  “My name,” he said with a charming smile, “is Chase Helixus.”

  “Oh! Oh! Mister Chase, sir?” Eddie leapt up from his chair, palms pressed onto the table.

  “Yes?”

  “What are you even doing here? Is everything alright?”

  “What? No! Of course!” Chase let out a warm, charming laugh. “Don’t think your school is in danger, not for one second! I’m only here for my own mission. I got side-tracked helping out a fellow substitute professor. He’s been having a hard time teaching the Dueling and Defensive Arts class.”

  “What?! You’re helping Yaxon?!” Eddie blurted, cheeks burning red.

  “No, no, Eddie! I’m afraid Yaxon never showed. His substitute is the man I was helping, alongside my research.”

  “Oh…” Eddie said, glancing at Chippy. She only smiled and shrugged.

  “What?” Chippy pressed.

  “You said I’d get to meet him!” Eddie puffed his cheeks.

  “I ! I didn’t know he canceled or whatever!”

  “Grrr…” Eddie growled, balling his fists.

  “I’m sure the captain has his reasons! You want to meet him, Eddie?”

  “Y-Yeah! What kid who wants to be an Enforcer ?”

  “Actually, it’s hard to meet him even as an Enforcer… very hard man to get a hold of.” Chase said, settling his hands on his hips.

  “Not as hard as getting Rin to wake up!” Eddie chuckled.

  “Wh-What?!” Rin yelped.

  “Yeah! You sleep like a rock!”

  “Guys! I-I don’t sleep like a rock!”

  “Pft! You totally do! Look—we’re not making fun of you. We get it! You come from a desert, so having a comfy bed must be so new to you!” Chippy giggled, covering her mouth.

  “What?” Chase’s voice cut in, sharper this time.

  Rin froze, glancing at him. His tone carried no smile.

  “What did you say…?” Chase asked again, eyes narrowing.

  “What?” Chippy blinked, confused.

  Rin went silent. Her heart hammered in her chest.

  “Girl. Rin, is it? What were you doing in a desert?”

  “I-I don’t know… I-I just woke up… and I was… there.”

  Chase stared at her. His charming smile drained away, leaving his face cold. His left eye twitched. Slowly, he pulled a small device from his robes—something metallic, faintly glowing. Its runes pulsed as his gaze flickered between it and Rin.

  “…Oh…” he muttered at last. Without another word, he turned and walked away—never once looking back at the children.

  The three sat stunned in silence.

  “Well… that was weird…” Eddie said weakly.

  Suddenly, a crow swooped into the atheneum, its wings beating so hard loose feathers scattered across the tables.

  “Caw! Caw! Message for Rin!” it squawked, hopping madly on the railing. “Please make yourself an audience at the academy entrance. Caw! Caw!”

  The bird flapped in place, ruffling parchment and startling a few students nearby before darting back out through the high window.

  The three children sat frozen for a moment, then exchanged uneasy glances.

  #

  Once Rin stepped outside, the autumn air hit her cheeks—cool, crisp, and carrying the faint scent of leaves. There, by the academy’s great fountain, stood a figure she knew instantly. His hands were buried in his coat pockets, posture relaxed as he gazed up at the water cascading in silver sheets. A faint, almost wistful smile curved his lips. His white hair caught the October breeze, streaming like a banner in the sun.

  “M-Mister Vix…?” Rin whispered, her voice trembling. Her feet started forward before she even realized, then broke into a full sprint across the stone path, heart pounding with relief.

  Vix turned on his heel at the sound of her steps. His smile widened just as Rin crashed into him, wrapping her arms around his middle with all the strength she had. The sudden impact made him stumble back a step.

  “Holy—! I wasn’t expecting that much force,” he laughed, steadying himself.

  Rin buried her face into his coat, pressing as hard as she could. She couldn’t even breathe properly anymore, but it didn’t matter.

  “Rin,” Vix murmured, his voice soft with wonder. “You’ve grown so much. Your arms aren’t fragile anymore… and there’s a new glow about you. Is that true?”

  “Yes! Yes, it is!” Rin blurted, her voice muffled against him. “I’ve missed you so much, Mister Vix! Are you alright? I wanted to see you so badly!”

  “Ah, that’s right,” he said gently, resting his hand atop her head. His fingers combed lightly through her hair, and this time, Rin didn’t shy away. She melted beneath his touch, wishing she could sink even further into the comfort of it.

  “How’ve your studies been?” Vix asked, voice soft as the fountain’s spray.

  “They’ve been… okay. Uncle Remmy helped me a lot at the start,” Rin said, brightening at the memory.

  “Uncle Remmy? Who’s that?” Vix’s brow pulled in; the name snagged somewhere he didn’t expect.

  “He said I could always find him in the director’s office.” Rin’s smile was hopeful, the kind that made her eyes glow.

  Vix’s expression flickered—confusion, then something like concern.

  “Are you going to stay? Can I call you? I don’t want you to leave again…” She tucked her hands behind her back and scuffed at the paving with her toe, small and earnest.

  “Come now, Rin,” he said, the gentleness in his voice a practiced thing. “You’re smart. You know I have duties.”

  Her smile thinned. The light in her face dimmed just a fraction. “O-Okay… when will you come back?”

  He hesitated, the first honest pause between them. “I don’t know. But—” He reached out, kneeling so he could meet her at eye level, one steady hand settling on her shoulder. “It’s a priority for me to return and check on you.”

  Rin held his gaze a beat too long, then the question escaped like a small knife. “…It isn’t your top priority, is it?”

  The question caught Vix off guard—a man who was almost never caught off guard. His eyes darted away, as if weighing which truth to offer. He drew in a slow breath, searching for some way to hold her without lying.

  “Rin.” He said her name like an appeal. “I have many… responsibilities. I can’t promise timelines. I won’t pretend otherwise.”

  Her face crumpled a little, the brave child folding inward. “Mister Vix? Please tell me the truth. You don’t have to come back for me… do you?”

  Vix’s hand tightened on her shoulder, then relaxed. He gave her the kindest, most honest thing he could find in that moment—a small, rough promise, not absolute but real.

  “I’ll come back when I can. I’ll try. You matter to me, Rin.” His voice was low, sincere—and just slippery enough to leave a knot in both their chests.

  “How much do I even matter? You won’t — you won’t come back for me just for… me!” Rin shouted, her hands curling into shaking fists.

  “Rin.”

  “You know, don’t you? Family is first! Family always comes first! I’m your family, aren’t I?!”

  “Rin…”

  “So why won’t you pick me? Pick me over those stupid missions! Please — I beg you! Just come see me! Let’s go back to Paris together! I’m… I’m so scared without you. Without Rick and Uncle Benny. I want to be strong like you and I feel like I haven’t done a thing!” Tears spilled from her eyes as her voice broke.

  “That’s normal for your age, Rin.”

  “No! I don’t care what’s normal and what isn’t! No part of me is normal no matter how hard I try to be! Uncle Remmy says he wants me to be a normal girl—how? How could I ever? You found me in a desert and I can’t remember how I got there or if I even had parents who might have forgotten me! I got some… stupid wand I’m not supposed to have. Drenco says I don’t belong anywhere — and he’s right! Eddie and Chippy always make fun of me for not knowing simple things. And—just last night, when we were attacked by those men? I couldn’t do anything! I had a wand. I’d learned spells. Yet I was too afraid to move. I couldn’t do anything, Mister Vix!”

  “Rin, please—”

  “And this morning? Chippy left a note asking me to come to the athenaeum. I almost threw it away. I didn’t want to go help her. I was too afraid!” Her words dissolved into sobs.

  “Rin!”

  “No—why can’t you see that, Mister Vix? I need you. I need you so much. I need to learn to be stronger. To be normal. You can teach me, can’t you? You’re telling me you can’t even come see me? Why not? We’re family, aren’t we?!”

  “NO, RIN! WE’RE NOT FAMILY!” Vix’s shout slammed through the air and forced her into silence.

  “We are not family, Rin! Get that through your thick skull!”

  Rin flinched, eyes wide, breaths coming in shudders.

  “You’re not family! You’re my mission! Do you understand? You’ve got a mana link with god-knows-who, and that means you need to be protected and watched every second. And for fuck’s sake—” Vix’s voice cracked, raw from shouting, “—you are not my only babysitting mission! I have several! So now, you want to help me? Do us both a favor: shut up, get stronger, and wait!”

  His words rattled the air like a storm breaking. Rin shrank where she stood.

  Vix straightened, but his shoulders sagged as he dragged his hands over his face, gasping for breath like he could barely hold himself together.

  “I want you to have a family too, Rin. I do. But it can’t be me.” His voice faltered before he forced it louder. “I don’t know where you got those childish ambitions… but to call a man you’ve barely known your family? That’s idiotic.” His fingers curled against his temples. “And don’t you dare bring up the desert. If it hadn’t been for my mission, I never would’ve gone there. You and that Rick kid would’ve died. Do you understand?”

  Rin sniffled hard and nodded, tears streaming in unbroken lines down her cheeks.

  “It’s my mission to get you bonded to a familiar. So focus on your studies while I carry that weight. If anyone’s failing here, it’s me if I don’t get this done.” His breath hitched, trembling with the words. “Don’t you dare cost me this mission by slacking in your classes. And if your mana link turns out to be useless? Then fine. Mission accomplished. To hell with the rest!” His voice broke as he shouted, raw and ragged. “So just—shut up! JUST SHUT UP!”

  Rin jerked in place and nodded again, quick and terrified.

  Vix shook his head, eyes glossed, then turned away. His footsteps echoed down the path, faster and faster until he vanished. Moments later, an EMV roared to life and took off, leaving Rin stranded once more.

  The silence after Vix’s felt like nothing. Rin stood rooted in place, arms limp at her sides, as if the shouting had hollowed her out. Her chest rose and fell, but each breath felt meaningless—like air filling someone else’s lungs.

  The phrase echoed and bruised. She had clung to Vix as a tether, an anchor to call her own, but now it was cut, and she was drifting. She thought of her parents—faces she couldn’t remember. She thought of Rick. Even Remmy, Eddie, Chippy… they all had a place in the world but only treated Rin like baggage to lug around. Granted they did so willingly, but how long until even they snapped like Vix? Every bond seemed temporary, conditional, vanishing just when she reached for it.

  A knot formed in her throat.

  The wand at her side suddenly felt heavier, like proof of her difference. She remembered Drenco’s words——and wondered if maybe he had been right all along. Maybe she really was meant to wander, to study, to fight, but never to have someone who stayed.

  The fountain gurgled softly in front of her, a cruel reminder that life still moved forward even if she didn’t. Rin pressed her palms to her face. Her tears kept flowing but she wasn’t sobbing anymore, but only because her heart felt too dry, too cracked, to make more. For the first time she wondered if the idea of family—of safety, of love—was something she had invented just to survive.

  The thought lingered like a plea. She wanted a hand on her shoulder, a voice to tell her she wasn’t worthless, that she wasn’t wrong to want something so simple. But no one came.

  Rin plopped down on the bench in front of the fountain. Her gaze sank to the ground, and she gripped the wooden edge with trembling fingers, clutching it as if even the bench might abandon her too.

  And then—

  With a sudden

  the air tore open before her. A cloud of blue swirled and a portal flared into existence, warping the air like ripples in water. Before Rin could blink, something heavy shot out of it—

  A man landed headfirst in the fountain, legs kicking in the air like a toppled scarecrow before he slid in with a strangled yelp. Water erupted over the stone rim, drenching Rin’s shoes.

  Rin just stared, dumbstruck. The hopeless ache in her chest hadn’t faded, but now it shared the space with something she hadn’t expected at all — a man with two-tone hair, like Chippy’s but different: the right side a bruised purple, the left a bright orange. A fresh cut streaked down the right side of his cheek; his clothes were tattered, full of holes and burn marks. He hauled himself to his feet on shaky legs, sputtering as he patted water from his face.

  “If I ever find that man again, I’ll have his head!” he snarled, fury raw in his voice. His features twisted with rage, then his eyes locked on Rin.

  She simply blinked.