Page 18 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

His mother did not sound happy. Volcanoes on the verge of erupting sounded mild in comparison. “Did anyone tell you why they’re still hunting mages?”

“Yes. A theory, at least, is that their magic was damaged because of the spell they enacted in the war and now they siphon mages in order to work magic. I don’t know how accurate that theory is. But Kaa-san, does their motivation matter? These people have already done enough damage.”

“This is true. And the Burkhards have certainly suffered enough. They took the brunt of the war, I fear. If they’re still this small and struggling even five hundred years later, they’ve definitely shouldered too much.”

“I don’t think you understand how much until you’ve walked through this place. They’re all living in one castle. And it’s a large, beautiful castle, don’t mistake me, but—they all live in this castle. With protections and wards embedded into the very walls. And very little magic elsewhere. I don’t see any cleaning spells in use. Not even that.”

She sighed. “That is a sign in and of itself, that they can’t even afford basic magic when all their energy is directed toward security. But still, they welcomed you.”

“They welcomed me with a smile and open arms. As if nothing was wrong. As if I’m already family to them. Well, they did warn me about the Jaeggi, but still. They’re a happy people. I do not like the idea that they’ve been forced to fend for themselves for so many years. I know I’ve only been here a day, but it’s my opinion that they need help. They need allies.”

“Hearing what you’ve said, I’m inclined to agree. Alright, come home and report⁠—”

Emotion hijacked his mouth again. “No.”

She hiccupped to a stop. “No?”

“No. Eleven mages, Kaa-san. Six experienced mages and five students to guard this clan against the Jaeggi. I know the dragons are formidable, but they can’t be everywhere. I will not leave this place until they have more help. I can’t in good conscience do so.”

She sounded surprised. “You sound very determined. Are you that attached to them already?”

“I guess I am. Even in such dire straits, they still won’t press me for information about my family and where you are. They still respect my privacy and hide nothing from me. Does that not tell you the quality of people they are?”

“It does say quite a bit. Alright. I’ll relay this information to your father and everyone else. We’ll discuss the proper thing to do. I might have you do a video call later so they can ask you questions.”

“I’m happy to do that.”

He would prefer it, in fact, as Sora wanted to pitch this himself. He felt more emotionally attached to these people than his mother did, after all. They had been too detached, too hidden from the world for far too long. Sora was beginning to fear that Burkhard’s state was the price of that isolation, and he needed to make this right.

He didn’t think he was rushing his opinion. Sora had seen quite enough to tell him the score. And yes, the Burkhards had survived so far. But people shouldn’t be reduced to the level of base survival. No one deserved that.

He exchanged a few more pleasantries with his mother before hanging up. He still needed to go into town and fetch his luggage from the hotel and cancel his room. Ravi had mentioned leaving a car parked in Sonthofen. Maybe he could catch the charming wind dragon and ask him to go back into town with him, offer a ride to the car. He had more questions to ask, after all.

And something about Ravi was intriguing. His frankness, that dazzling smile he wore. It tugged at Sora, his eyes gravitating to the man entirely of their own will. Sora hadn’t reacted like this to anyone in ages. He’d like to spend a little more time with Ravi and figure out what it was about the man that was so intriguing.

A harmless trip into town would be a good start.

Sora would have been vastly surprised if the head mage of a clan didn’t question, however politely, a new mage in their clan. And Lisette did not disappoint. He’d barely stood from the dinner table when she appeared quite smoothly at his elbow, all smiles but with an intent expression that meant he was not allowed to escape her.

Fair enough. Sora had questions for her, as well. Ones not so easily asked nor answered.

“Mage Vo, I wonder if you have a little time to sit and chat.” Lisette gestured at the door, indicating a more private spot.

In the same tone, he inclined his head. “Of course. I have a few questions to ask you.”

“Splendid. It’s always nice when two people are on the same page. Perhaps my workroom will be the best place to sit and talk.”

Private indeed and it would give Sora a glimpse into the clan’s inner functions. A mage’s workroom could say a great deal about the skill level of the wielder. Sora had no compunctions as he followed her out of the room.

As they walked, Lisette asked casually, “I hope that you’ve been properly welcomed here? We’re all a tizzy with so many new mages at once, and I don’t want anyone to feel left out or slighted.”

Two—three including him—new mages were so amazing to them? It wasn’t as if Sora saw new mages outside of his family come in regularly, but they had many born to them. Gaining new mages wasn’t something unusual. It segued nicely into one of the many questions he had.

“You don’t have new mages born in?”

Lisette shook her head with a sad smile. “No. Not for lack of trying. All of our mages are mated to dragons, you see. We had a few welcome surprises—Sasha, for one—but few births. And with no mages partnered with other mages, we had no new magic users born.”

Uh-oh. No wonder he’d seen so few, then. Sora had wondered at the dearth of magic here and had made a few guesses. But this made it much clearer.