The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Vernon shook his head, he couldn't think of anything he could do that the people around him couldn't. His eyes glowed but every mage could do that and it was usually not on purpose.

"Are you sure?" She pestered. Vernon nodded for some reason his throat wasn't working in her presence.

"Hmm, okay. Vivk's idea is to toss you to any group with the hopes that seeing people do magic would trigger yours. Do you agree with this idea?" Her gaze on him didn't falter and throughout their conversation, she and only my blinked thrice, yes he was counting.

He cleared his throat again as if to prepare his throat that he was about to use it. "I don't know, I guess."

She frowned, "I don't need you to guess. I need you to tell me what the best solution is for you." Her pitch didn't increase but Vernon would have sworn it did.

He was just seven, he wasn't supposed to know anything, he wanted to tell out but he didn't instead he said, "Yes that would help. My first encounter with magic was watching Dev blow dry my hair." He said and instinctively reached for one of his locs.

She didn't seem satisfied with his reply, "How did your parents figure out you had magic?"

Wasn't it the same for everyone? "My eyes glowed." He replied.

"From birth?" She asked with shock on her face.

"No, I don't think so."

"Exactly what I thought. Only very few actually have glowing eyes at birth but most mages have magical powers no matter how small by birth or before their four, however, it might not show until your eyes start glowing which usually happens around two, three, four, depending on the child." She paused for a few, studying Vernon as if she was half expecting him to add to what she had just said.

"I guess we have to go with Vivk's idea but if it doesn't work in a week, I'll squeeze it out of you literally." Vernon felt all the color drain from his face, he could tell she wasn't kidding and didn't need anyone to tell him his eyes were glowing, he could see the red color on her arm.

She smirked in a sinister way and looked away. She stretched out her arm and Vernon watched as Bart handed her a horn without her even having to say anything.

She held it to her mouth, took a deep breath, and blew into it. Vernon could see the air travel from her chest up to her throat and into the horn but still, it didn't prepare him for how loud it was going to be. He covered his ears as fast as he could, afraid it would bleed.

Everywhere went silent at the sound of the horn and everyone stopped whatever it was they were doing. "Levisus!" Her voice rang out after the loud disruption and Vernon wondered how she did it, he was certain she didn't have time to catch her breath.

She tossed the horn back to Bart who had to struggle to catch it but he didn't let it fall to the ground. "Your teacher is coming. We will start with something simple," she said with a smirk as if enjoying Vernon's look of horror.

Vernon turned his attention towards the field and noticed that people had resumed their tasks and he could see someone sprinting towards them, he didn't need to look twice to figure out who it was that height was not normal.

He felt sweat on his forehead, he didn't think Levisus liked him. He watched in horror as he came closer and closer to the shade. He stopped just outside it and adjusted his glasses.

"You called?" He asked but it wasn't really a question and he didn't bother hiding his irritation towards the Captain. Vernon was shocked, he had been expecting them to be terrified of her but Levisus did come here as soon as she called so maybe there was more to this.

"Indeed I did," her smirk widened as if she relished his expression. Vernon heard it before he felt it, the sound of a palm hitting hard on something, the pain was instantaneous and he had to fight hard to hold back the tears but of course, his glowing eyes betrayed him.

"Your new student," she announced proudly and it became obvious to everyone that didn't think she picked Levisus because the magic he was in charge of was simple. She wanted to piss him off and by the look on his face, she was doing a very good job.

"Tsk!" Levisus said loud enough and adjusted his glasses, he turned to Vernon and then back to Captain Robbin who was staring at him with pure joy on her face. "Where is his armband?"

"You see," she started to say and she stood up slowly. She adjusted her panties as she stood to her full height revealing legs that stretched and then hid in knee-high boots. "Boyo here, wait!" She said suddenly and turned to Vernon. "What is your name?"

"Vernon," he answered.

"Vernom? Is that like Venom?" She asked, looking down at him. Vernon was shocked that she was actually quite tall but still, she didn't come close to Levisus. He seemed to be gloating at their difference in height.

Vernon felt his face fall and his eyes turned to slits. "No, Vernon!" That was the first time someone ever made fun of his name and he found that it annoyed him. He pouted in annoyance.

"Ah! Vernon," she said with a smirk confirming that she had done that on purpose. "Ah! Yes, as I was saying, Vernon here is kind of in a situation and I need you to bring out the magic in him." She said and held out her hand to Bart who rushed to do her bidding.

"What?" He sighed frowning intensely. He adjusted his glasses again before he spoke, "I won't understand it if you don't explain it."

"Heh heh heh heh heh," she laughed as Bart helped her onto the chair she had been sitting on. When she got her balance, she let go of Bart hard who didn't look too pleased to let go, and stood directly behind her just in case she lost her footing. The chances of that were zero but he was hopeful.

"Come closer Levisus!" She had a full-on grin and with the extra height, she was just about two inches taller than Levisus. When he was directly in front of her, she adjusted her imaginary glasses and bent her head a little so it would be obvious she was looking down on him.

Levisus could barely hide his annoyance and all Vernon could do was watch in amazement, trying hard not to laugh. Captain Robbin's smirk increased and she bent her neck even lower.

However, Levisus was oblivious to this as he refused to raise his head to look at her; instead, he kept his eyes at her chest level but even his refusal to play her annoying game didn't piss her off and one could tell she was enjoying herself.

"Vivk has been unable to determine Vernon's magic and the poor boy does not know what it is either. So, the plan is to let him watch other people use magic with the hope that it would trigger something in him." She said quite formally with a tone that she spoke like this often.

Levisus couldn't hide his surprise and he adjusted his glasses again. It was obvious now that it was a habit and had nothing to do with the fact that the glasses were falling off. "Are you sure he has magic?" He looked towards Vernon as he spoke, the poor boy straightened his back at the attention.

"I am quite sure, you saw his eyes glow, didn't you?" She returned and stretched her hand out, Bart was by her side in seconds. He quickly helped her down, she looked like she had had her fun.

"Yeah, I did but maybe that is all he can do," Levisus said, his eyes on Vernon unwavering. He didn't look even a little bit pleased.

"Levisus, you know that is not possible. Vivk is hoping that the fact that he had to suppress his magic is a huge factor and maybe knowing he doesn't have to suppress what he can do anymore, might bring his magic to light." She sat down with a plop.

"You really think that would work?" He asked, finally looking away from Vernon who breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nope, not even a little bit Vivk seemed to have high hopes for the lad. I am hoping it will work and hopefully, he won't disappoint me, else…" She stopped talking and looked at Vernon with a sinister look in her eyes.

"And your big idea was to pick me?" His voice sounded like it increased in pitch but he just laid more emphasis on his words.

"Why not? You tend to have a certain way with delinquents, maybe because you used to be one yourself."