“No!” She screeched. On her knees, she raised the dust that spooled out of her hands and sobbed.
“Berserker,” someone in the crowd shouted. Unsure what they meant, I scanned the group but all I could see were pale faces of distraught and fear.
“Uh.” The commentator stepped forward and touched my shoulder. “Give it up for Eileen Frost, everyone!”
Silence. The only ones that cheered were those hair-brained brothers of mine. Hopper did clap modestly, Silas, however, sat still and looked as pale as the other mages in their seats.
I felt highly uncomfortable, and now I just wanted to leave after everything that happened. My guardian appeared when I least expected them to and killed Fiona’s Guardian. All I wanted to do was disappear before she comes at me vengeful and angered.
“Perhaps leave, Eileen. You did an outstanding job. Thank you for still proving to us that your family are still to be feared.”
“Okay,” I responded, nodding.
I turned towards the exit of the arena, where two mage guards stood and seemed to overlook everything. About halfway to the exit, I heard this enrage shout from behind me. I turned to see Fiona launch herself at me with anger and a taste for my blood plain on her face. My veins throbbed once more. Right now, I could only use my first level defence because my knight and my third defence level needed to rest and recover.
I went to defend myself when the commentator slammed his staff down on the sand. Fiona yelped and flew up high in the air and froze. All her joints stiffened, and she glared at me and hissed through clenched, glued teeth.
“I see someone was angry that she lost,” he said, laughing.
The crowd still wasn’t pleased. There was no doubt in my mind that there would be an article written about me and aired tomorrow. My parents may not be disappointed if they hear about my guardian.
Now bored, I blinked and turned away from them and went through the exit. Down the narrow tunnel that leads back into the hall of fame pictures, about halfway, I spotted a small mage leaning up against the tunnel wall. I’d like to say that they looked child-like. A young boy, probably around ten or eleven years of age. They had their head bowed, and leg crossed over the other. I didn’t acknowledge him when I walked past, he ended up acknowledging me.
“You did very well, Eileen Frost. And that Berserker Guardian as well.” His voice, for a child, held authority and power I wasn’t used to.
He looked up and smirked. Those bronze eyes squinted and shoulder-length black hair smoothed underneath the beanie that he wore. He was dressed smart casual for a child. He was also most definitely a Highborn. I could feel the magic throbbing even without seeing his veins.
I nodded and kept walking. My veins lit, agitated by this unexpected encounter with this child. There was something about him that caused suspicion. However, I couldn’t dwell on it so much. I was exhausted from everything that went on in A Mages Guardians War. A tension rising experience with the sadness of a fallen Guardian. I more than likely won’t do it again. I dislike the concept. Besides, my guardian seemed to have total control and lust to kill. I doubt they would have stopped if I told them to. They came in with a set agenda, and I do not wish for more blood on my hands.
I would instead find the mage wearing those boots.
“I want those boots,” I mumbled, leaving the arena.
“Eileen!” Silas called from outside of the coliseum. Donte, Nixon and Hopper waited patiently behind him. When I got closer to him, I noticed the wild, horrified look in his eyes. I went to apologise when he blurted out, “Why didn’t you tell us your Guardian was a Berserker?”
“What’s a Berserker?” Donte and Nixon asked. “We never heard of that before.”
“That’s because you haven’t turned eighteen yet and summoned your Guardian. You learn what a Berserker is on the last year in year twelve,” Silas explained. “A Berserker Guardian is a Guardian that is more powerful than their mage. They appear when they please, defy orders and commands, sometimes won’t even come out at all, even if their mage was at risk of being harmed.”
“Really, Master?” Hopper asked, baffled.
“Yeah. I thought Eileen’s Guardian was just waiting patiently for Eileen to actually be strong enough to summon them. That’s why mages summon Guardians at the age of eighteen. Guardians usually always accept mages at that age and the ones that do but defy orders are called Berserkers.” Silas gave me a weary look. “I have heard that some Berserker Guardians even kill their masters and mistresses if they grow bored of them.”
“Oh, heavens, no!” Hopper gasped.
“I hate to say this, Eileen, but you don’t control your Guardian.” He took a deep breath in and out, his hands shaking and silver eyes wavering. “They control you.”
Love Cures All.
I hid in my apartment in the tower for the entirety of the holidays, I didn’t have to go anywhere. Mages also don’t celebrate the joys of Christmas – unless you counted A Mages War – so I didn’t have to buy anything for anyone. All I have done was sit in my room mostly and eat delicious sweets and snacks.
My parents called Hopper and ordered me to not create a scene that night I left A Mages Guardians War. That meant this month I wasn’t allowed to do anything to cause unwanted attention.
That day at A Mages Guardians War, the next day, it was everywhere. Even all over the Ordinary-Human part of the world. Also, after they knew that my guardian was a Berserker, I was on lockdown. More than likely out of fear that my guardian could appear at any given time and do something that may harm everyone around me and there was no controlling it. Therefore, I was bored and had to suffer the stench of whatever Donte and Nixon were creating in their room for school that starts today.
In the mirror, I grabbed the tie and looped the first one, and then tucked it into the hole and tugged to create an adjustable knot. I was concentrating on the tie so hard that when I was finished, I relaxed my grip and the tie fell flat down my chest and didn’t look anything like a tie should. I then puffed my cheeks, and loosened the knot around my neck and tried from scratch when a light tap came from the bedroom door.
The knob twisted, and Hopper came incautiously when I didn’t bother to answer. Ever since he entered my room a few weeks back and seen me in a bath towel while I sat on the bed to heal the bruise, he has been cautious since. I have to remember that this isn’t my home and that I still need to touch up that door to make sure no one can just enter without knocking and they would have to wait until I command the door to unlock.
“My mistress, school introductions start soon. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I murmured while I stared in the mirror. I was still trying to fix the tie.
“Do you need help?” He asked.
“Okay.”
He came forth and raised nimble gloved hands. While he fixed my collar, I gazed at Hopper. He has those intense eyes of concentration. Hopper is very pale, like an albino bunny. I touched his skin. He is soft like his fur when he morphs into a rabbit.
Hopper stiffened when I touched his cheek. “What are you doing, my mistress?” He asked, baffled.
“You’re handsome,” I admitted. His face went a beetroot red. “Just like Silas.”
He lowered his shoulders, smoothed his facial features over and relaxed. “Oh. Is this some sort of brotherly affection?” He asked, and I nodded. I don’t necessarily know what other types of affection that he was referring to. “Thank you, my mistress, for making me part of this family.”
“Okay. You’re welcome,” I replied nodding.
“Your tie is done, my mistress.” I touched the tie that perfectly wrapped around my neck and then down.
“You should hurry up. That woman is outside and waiting impatiently to take the three of you up to the Headmage’s quarters, to meet the Headmage.”
I nodded, walked out of my bedroom, into the living room and to the entrance, where my shoes were. While I placed my boots on, I looked back at Donte as he looked arou
nd suspiciously. Nixon came out of his room after, the blue school jumper that he wore seemed notably bulky. Hopper, obviously knowing what was going on after smelling the awful stuff that they were cooking in their room, grabbed Nixon by the scruff of his shirt and shook him lightly. Various potion bottles dropped from underneath when Nixon relaxed his arms that hugged and held them all in. They both groaned out loud when Hopper picked up the bottles and scolded the two boys. Silas stared at the mess on the ground, pressed fingers to temple and shook his head. He was not prepared for an entire day of magic with our brothers. I doubt he would be thrilled that Donte was the one that had more bottles up his sleeve and in his pockets. They just wanted Nixon to look suspicious enough to check instead of Donte. A tactic they have used countless of times at the Ordinary-Human school.
“It seems that I am not welcome to enter your classes.” Hopper frowned.
“Thank the blue moon,” my brothers muttered to one another.
“But I am allowed to guide you all to your classes and wait outside if you ever require to need me,” he chirped.
“Hopper, we aren’t kids anymore,” Donte complained.
“Yeah, we don’t need to be babysat,” Nixon agreed. “Chill. Relax. Go jump down a rabbit hole or something.”
I eyed my brothers from the entrance. I am not sure if they were saying that because they don’t want mages laughing at them because they needed a Guardian escort that isn’t theirs own Guardia – Or, because if Hopper watches them, he will know what they have installed for today. Either way, I also don’t feel overly fond of Hopper following as well. I know he has had strict orders to do as my parents say and must be worried that we are back in the mage world – but we are still considered outcasts. But if we don’t do this ourselves, we will be ridiculed for the rest of our high school years at Mage Academy.
“But Hopper, I need you to research more about Guardians,” I murmured. Hopper furrowed his brows and cocked his head to the side. “Instead of following, you can help learn more about Berserker Guardians while I am studying at school.”
“Of course.” He nodded in agreement. “I must learn all there is about these Berserker Guardians to make sure that you are safe. I will do that with the spare time I will have while you are at school.”
“Good on you, Hopper.” Donte petted his shoulder and then went to the door to place his shoes on.
“Our parents will be proud,” Nixon chimed in, also placing his shoes on.
“See yah when we get home!” They both said at the same time before we all walked out of the apartment. “Nice work, Eileen!” They then rushed down the flight of stairs.
“Wait! We are supposed to go together to meet the Headmage.”
“We will meet you both there. Eileen is too slow.”
I puffed my cheeks. Silas gave me an apologetic look.
The thing was, Donte and Nixon were always fast-paced. When I was little, they would be into sports. They loved playing outside and in all sorts of weather. I envied them sometimes because I was always trapped inside getting dressed-up or looking pretty and expressionless at important meetings my parents forced me to go to. There was no time to have fun. At least for me.
Down the stairs, the lady in her flight attendant outfit that escorted us up to our home waited with two diabolical mages. She looked irritated, so I am assuming they were up to their tricks of annoyance. They tend to do that when they aren’t able to do what they want or go places they wanted to go. I am surprised they decided to stay, even, and didn’t run off to muck around and cause havoc.
“If you could all follow me, I will take you to the Headmage’s office,” she announced.
We followed the flight attendant lady. Since it was the first time I was allowed out of the apartment – even when I blended in with the proper school uniform – mages noticed us. Perhaps it was the golden-brown hair or the silver eyes that caught their attention. I felt very uncomfortable. Hushed whispers formed, encased and surrounded me in a way that made me want to escape. I forgot what it was like being noticed in a way that wasn’t because I was a mage, or a witch or some magical being, but for being the mage that interfered in a war I should never have interfered in. I’d need to get used to this feeling of being watched and talked about because it isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
We went back towards the entrance, but before we turned the corner, flight attendant lady stopped short before this iron-clad door: bright, blue light, runes secured into place, swirled to life on the door. I wanted to admire the excellent rune work when flight attendant woman stepped through. I was surprised by the fact that she didn’t open the door or even knock. The way she casually stepped through the door intrigued me enough to try myself. Unlike my brothers, who stood, baffled, I stepped through the door without hesitating. A cold bite, like ice gliding down my skin made me feel numb and feel nothing as I stepped through and onto the other side.
Warmth flooded through me once more, and it was from the fireplace on the other side of the room that I stood in. It crackled to life, and the fire flickered away and resonated warmth on this cold winter day. There was a seating area near the heat of the fire, but the brown, leather chairs faced another direction and towards an office desk made of stained, darkened oak. Behind the desk, on a black leather chair was a man. He looked at me expectantly. Dark eyes stared intently at me.
He looked to be roughly around late thirty’s too early forties. He had greying, dark brown hair and wrinkles on his forehead when he furrowed his brows. His veins weren’t lit, which means he doesn’t find me to be a threat at all.
The door shimmered and stumbling from behind me was Donte and Nixon. They shuddered and filled the room with noise. Silas came through after them and looked irritated and exhausted. Not sure what happened out there before they entered, but I assumed Donte and Nixon had done something to annoy Silas.
“Students, this is your Headmage,” flight attendant lady smiled and gestured to the man in the black leather chair. “Headmage, these are the –”
“Frost children,” he finished. Flight attendant lady nodded, kept her smile, but seemed more on edge when she stood beside him. “I know your parents well. Very disciplined and respectful mages, I must say. Those silver eyes always cease to amaze me. Very captivating.”
“Weird,” Donte whispered to Nixon. Nixon nodded in agreement.
“Pleasure to meet you, Headmage.” Silas – always the professional – stepped forward and raised his hand to the Headmage. Headmage looked down, and I wondered if he was contemplating if he really wanted to shake hands with an outcast – like we are – or if he wanted to graciously decline. Surprisingly, Headmage stood and shook Silas’s hand firmly. “Thank you for accepting my family into Mage Academy, the most prestigious mage school in the world.”
“Please.” Headmage waved his hand towards the chairs on the other side of his desk. “Take a seat.”
We all sat down, Nixon sitting on Donte’s lap, which made flight attendant lady look away, confused. I raised my legs, tucked them up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs and sat closest to the warmth of the fireplace.
“Where’s the rest of the students that will be doing school inductions?” Donte and Nixon asked. “We kind of have something planned for them.”
“I have decided that a private introduction with you all before the induction with the other students at noon would be beneficial,” Headmage stated. “I wanted to get to know you all and explain that this will be an arduous journey for you all to take.” He turned to Silas. “You are most welcome. Teachers and faculty even agreed that you were the best suitor for Crystal Work Class 4 for year twelves before they graduate. Your classifications your parents provided me are remarkable, to say the least. Impressive work. I believe you will settle in fine, considering you have also graduated from Mage Academy yourself. What better way to utilise your abilities than teaching others to aspire to be as amazing as you are?”
“Thank you,” Silas replied bashf
ully, turning beet red. “I will do everything that I can to get them ready before graduation.”
“Wonderful.” Headmage raised his hand to flight attendant lady. “Ja –”
“– I can’t believe we won’t get Silas as a teacher,” Nixon complained to Donte.” Their voices were much louder than Headmage’s.
“– To your classroom,” Headmage finished. “Effective immediately.”
“Oh! Okay. Wonderful!” Silas jumped to his feet. He was nervous, it was easy to tell. Whenever Silas was nervous or freaked out, he would rub his palms that would have accumulated with sweat. “Thank you again.”
After he left the room, it was us three and the Headmage. There was no older brother to initiate any sort of conversation. The room filled with silence; the only sound was of the fireplace that crackled to life beside me.
Headmage stared at me, and it made me grow uncomfortable enough to shuffle slightly in my chair. I know what he was looking at. I didn’t put a beanie on; therefore, my curse mark was distinctive and seen clear enough even in this dim-lit room. I wonder what he was thinking. I wonder if he felt I deserved to be cursed, or if he felt sorry that all I could do was stare blankly back at him.
“Alright.” Headmage cleared his throat and looked down at the papers that littered his desk. “It has been stated that the three of you have been denied to all high school mage schools. That resulted in your parents moving to Ordinary-Human society where you studied at a non-mage school. You’re probably well behind in knowledge unlike other students at your age. So, I am placing you all in novice classes.”
Emotionless (The Emotionless Book 1) Page 12