The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

"Well, I don't know. I have not really thought about it but if I had to answer, I will probably say no." She said to him and glanced around the room as she spoke but always made sure to keep eye contact with him whenever he started to speak.

"Oh, any reason why?" Vernon asked, his curiosity piped a little.

"Well, not a particular reason but none of the stories I have heard from Lae sounds like the castle is worth visiting. I don't know, it is just my opinion though." She looked away again as she spoke.

"Ah, I see." He didn't know if he should pester but he figured she did not want to talk about it, so he diverted. "Sounds like you and Lae have quite the relationship," he started slowly, watching closely to be sure he was not stepping on any nerve, however, he shouldn't have been so worried.

At the mention of Lae's name Bess brightened almost immediately, smiling subtly but enough for anybody to notice. "Well, I wouldn't say a relationship but Lae is really nice and always helps me with whatever problem I have and every time she comes back to the academy she always makes sure to check on me though it never for long as for some reason the King wants her constantly in the castle even though nobody is sick. One of the reasons she was glad when she found out about me." Bess yammered on and went on a slight rant about Lae.

The king. Vernon's thoughts trailed as Bess spoke. He had heard about him a couple of times, his name was Zachary if he recalled correctly and he was the reason they were all in this mess. The reason why his mother hasn't been the one to put him to bed in the past two years.

He knew he could not ask Bess and even if he did, it was not like she would have the answers he wanted, so he pushed the thoughts to the recess of his mind and concentrated on the conversation.

"She sounds really nice," he finally said when she was done talking.

"She is, I just wished she could spend more time with us." He nodded at her response, not knowing how to further the conversation anymore. "Want it now?" She asked suddenly.

Vernon nodded, a little too quickly in his opinion but he was a little hungry, and the more nutrition he got, the higher his chances of getting better. He murmured his thanks as she handed him the tray and he immediately dug in. He couldn't rush the meal, so he made sure to eat as slowly as he could, so he could eat more and won't get tired on time.

Bess stayed with him until he was done eating and then she cleared the dishes leaving just a few fruits.

"Try to get some rest, okay? I will try to check on you again before I go to sleep." She said and began to walk towards the door.

"Thank you," he called at her, she nodded her reply, and out the door, she went.

Vernon stayed seated for a couple more minutes before he laid back down on the bed. He wanted to give his stomach a couple of minutes at least. He closed his eyes with the intention to rest and if he did fall asleep that was fine.

Less than fifteen minutes after he finally fell asleep, he was woken up by screams and jerks. "Vernon!" He heard Nevil yell loudly.

He didn't open his eyes immediately but he felt his head vibrate at the loud interruption. If had the energy, he would have jumped up and yelled at Nevil but alas he rather remained in.

"Shut up!" Madame Prisca yelled, coming to his rescue.

"Sorry," muttered Nevil and he immediately stopped shaking Vernon.

"Nevil, Vernon is sick, not on some vacation." Dev scolded.

Nevil rolled his eyes, "I know I just got a little excited.

"Why, what happened?" Vernon asked, suddenly shocking both of them.

They both gasped and Dev said, "Don't scare us like that."

"It is not my fault, y'all scared me awake. I wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine."

"Don't say y'all when it was only Nevil's voice you heard," Dev complained.

"I said I was sorry. I got excited."

"Why though?" Vernon asked again.

"No special reason though, just the fact that we were coming back," Nevil replied and looked away. He had screamed without thinking and now that he was thinking, he realized how dumb and improper it had been.

"You came in here screaming for nothing," Vernon muttered as he sat up.

"Can you drop it already, I said I was sorry." Nevil was getting slightly ticked off, so he had screamed a little but there was no harm done. Why could they not just let it go?

"How is Penn?" Vernon directed his question at no one exactly. Even though the question was without a doubt for Nevil, he didn't want to ask what he really wanted to know in a direct manner.

"Pretty good, had to tell her you were. She was not pleased." It was Dev who responded.

"Did she cry?" He was worried, he thought that it would have been easy but hearing the tales and not being there was heart-wrenching.

Dev didn't answer immediately but looked at Nevil, "Um, not too much but Nevil found a way to cheer her up."

Vernon frowned, he knew Dev was just completely telling the truth but he also knew there was nothing he could do about it and it was better if he assumed than was told the actual truth.

"So, Nevil, what did you… Or rather what do you think about Penn?" He asked, cutting to the chase.

Nevil shrugged, "I don't know but I can't say there is no truth in what you said after all she does look like your mother even though there is a chance I might be seeing too much than what is there." Nevil paused and sighed before adding, "Yes, there is a very high chance she is your sister."

Vernon felt relief he did not know he would feel. If Nevil did see the chance that Penn was his sister then he wasn't building castles in the sky and wishing for what wasn't there.

"What about you?" Dev asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Any good news."

"Nah," he replied, shaking his head but I did get some news. Apparently, Lae left for the castle a couple of days back and won't be coming back to the academy anytime soon. Bess also added that there is no way to request for her as the King will decline all requests." Bess didn't say the last part but that was pretty much how he understood it.

"The king?" They both called. "Don't like him," Nevil added.

"Heard about him before?" Vernon asked but he directed his question at Dev.

"Everybody has heard about him." Dev returned.

Vernon glared at him, "You know what I mean."

"Special information, no. I have not even seen him before and I don't know anybody else that has seen him either, besides, he is not a topic we like to talk about often.