IMPERIAL ACADEMY

A lie and a witch

Throughout the rest of the day, Alex paid close attention to all who were walking past him, trying to see if he could catch a glimpse of someone that looked suspicious. But the usual stares and glares were all that kept him company. Because of the boy's murder, his training session with Master Orion was not held.

Toward dinner time, Alex trudged to the library. He wanted to see if there was anything there that detailed who he was and what role he truly had to play in the destruction of the world. But he found nothing of significance.

Alex sighed.

"Found anything?" Aurora asked him as Alex cruised through more books. He rocked his head in the negative.

"No, not yet. It seems we won't catch this witch on time. How am I supposed to protect Bruno if I can't even find this witch? I don't want him to die," Alex said to her with frustration in his voice. Aurora slowly approached him and took his hand, looking right into his eyes.

"Alex, you are one of the most powerful mages I've ever seen. And you have a good heart. Plus, you're smart. I'm sure you'll figure this out. We both will. That is why I'm here, remember? To help you," Aurora said to Alex with a smile. Alex felt his worries slowly melt away. Her gaze held him spellbound, and at that moment of intense anxiety, Aurora groaned.

"Ahhhhhh…" she winced as she quickly snapped her hand to the back of her head. Alex was alarmed. "Stupid bug," Aurora commented as she squashed the bug that had bitten her at the back of her head.

"One would think this library would be bug free, no?" She asked Alex, who chuckled nervously. He couldn't believe that he had just suspected Aurora of being the witch.

"Alex?" A familiar voice suddenly called to Alex, and he turned to see professor Dora standing there. She wore a smile on her face and her eyes were kind.

"Can I speak with you for a moment alone?" She asked, and Alex nodded. Aurora left them alone as Alex took a step closer to Professor Dora.

"Professor, can I help you with anything?" Alex asked her, but professor Dora waved her hand.

"No, of course not. I just wanted to see how you're doing. Since you came to this school yesterday, there's been a buzz. I can only imagine how it's been for you," she said to him, and Alex shrugged his shoulders.

"Everyone expects me to have answers to their questions. But there are so many things happening that I do not even understand. And somehow, I'm supposed to figure it all out," Alex replied to her with pain in his voice. Professor Dora smiled.

"When I vouched for you, I saw your potential. I know you see it too. You just have to be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to grow. By the way, have you been able to ID the witch yet? That powerful surge of energy woke me up last night," Professor Dora asked and raised her brow.

"No. Not yet. The witch is still hiding. But I'll find her. I have to," Alex replied to her and professor Dora smiled.

"I know you will. If you need anything, you can always come to me for assistance," professor Dora offered and Alex nodded. Then, his eyes roamed to the little sac that Professor Dora held in her hand.

"What is that?" Alex asked and pointed to the sac. Professor Dora proceeded to keep it in her purse.

"Oh, it's a tea for Master Orion. Sometimes he gets these headaches and needs this to function. I know I'm not an Earth mage, but my family has supplies. I'm glad I can help," she said to Alex, and then he nodded.

"You know, Alex, I actually knew your parents. Your father was a student here once. You bear a striking resemblance to him. I can never forget that face," professor Dora said to Alex and took a deep stare of his face. Alex's face glowed in surprise.

"You knew my father? Who was he? Do you know where he is now?" Alex blurted out. He couldn't believe someone had info on the man that abandoned him and his mother when he was just a baby.

"I'll tell you everything soon. Just keep searching for your witch," Professor Dora replied and walked away. Alex stood there frozen in shock. So many things roamed through his mind. So many questions. If his father was still alive, he had to find him. Alex needed to know why the man abandoned them.

Aurora walked up to Alex and saw the worried look on his face. She frowned as she tapped his shoulder.

"Hey. Are you okay?" She asked him, and Alex quickly nodded. He faked a smile.

"Yes. Yes. I am. We must find Bruno. At least, to keep a close eye on him until the night passes," Alex said to Aurora. Her face became distorted while she thought out loud.

"He's supposed to be here by now, right?" Aurora asked Alex. Alex thought about it as well and the possibility of what he was thinking made him shiver.

"Let's find him, now!" Alex told Aurora. Just as they were about to leave the library, something caught Alex's eyes. Sitting at a table and reading a large book was Professor Kelly, the air mage professor who had insisted that Master Orion should kill Alex when he came to the academy. As Alex's eyes roamed to her neck, he quickly tapped Aurora.

"Aurora, look! Her neck!" He said and pointed to the professor. Aurora gasped.

"She's bleeding! There are bloodstains on her scarf!" Aurora exclaimed and exchanged glances with Alex. "Could she be the witch?" She asked Alex.

"Only one way to find out," Alex replied and dashed towards the professor. He was so happy that his search was finally over. Now, he would expose the witch and earn his place at the academy.

"Professor Kelly! We know what you are!" Alex yelled at the professor when he was close enough. The professor slowly dropped her reading glasses and gazed at Alex with a frown on her face.

"Excuse me?" She asks with distaste.

"We know you are the witch. You can't deny it. There's evidence. That's why you didn't want Alex to get admitted into the school, isn't it? Because he would expose you?" Aurora asked the professor, who slowly rose to her feet. The professor's anger was palpable.

"How dare you little rat call me a witch? I could have your tongues for such defamation!" The professor yelled at them.

"Then how did you get the bleeding wound in your neck? I can see the blood on your scarf. You're hiding it, aren't you?" Alex yelled back. The professor scoffed and rolled the scarf off her neck.

"What wound? What the heck are you talking about? This scarf isn't even mine. It belongs to Professor Dora. Are you two insane?" Professor Kelly yelled at them again and Alex froze.

"No way…" Aurora muttered with a gasp as she gazed at Alex in shock.

"Master Orion!" Alex exclaimed and dashed out of the library. Aurora followed quickly as they headed for Master Orion's office. On getting there, Alex barged into the office, but Master Orion was lying on the ground unconscious.

There was a cup of tea by his side and the tea sizzled when it touched the ground.

"It's poison! A very potent one!" Aurora said to Alex, who rushed toward Master Orion.

"Get help Aurora!" Alex said to her and Aurora dashed out of the room. Alex tried to wake Master Orion, but he wasn't responding.

"No. No. This cannot be happening…" Alex muttered. Just then, Alex felt a chill in the air, like there was someone in the room with him.

"Alex?" Bruno called out to him. Alex raised his head.

"Bruno!" Alex exclaimed as he saw Bruno standing before him with a frightened look on his face.

"Help me, Alex…" Bruno muttered, and then, a pale hand suddenly crawled to Bruno's shoulder. Bruno shuddered as the hand touched him, and Alex watched in horror. Professor Dora materialized from thin air, but she looked pale, with dark lips and red eyes. She shot Alex a sneer before she and Bruno vanished.

"Bruno!" Alex cried out.