Chapter 31: Sins and Punishment

Errik emerged outside the infirmary and found Tomas sitting outside.

" Where are you going?" Tomas rose anxiously.

" Where is that demon?" Errik demanded in a low feral tone. Despite his question, he was walking quickly down the staircase seemingly already set on a destination.

" What are you going to do?" Tomas called after him with a frown.

Errik didn't answer, he was angrier than Tomas had ever seen him. They reached the bottom of the dark stairwell. To Tomas' surprise, Ace was waiting. Immediately, Errik lunged at him, catching hold of his collar and slamming him against the wall.

"I warned you, stay away from her!" Errik exclaimed with wide incensed eyes.

"Errik!" Tomas exclaimed, " Don't! Killing him will get us thrown out of the college,"

He came between them attempting to hold Errik back.

"It's okay, little mage," Ace grinned remorselessly, " the adults need to talk,"

Tomas turned back glaring at him suspiciously, "what is it that you want?"

He attempted to pull Errik back again but without success. The general continued to grin bent on provoking them more.

" Your anger is misplaced," he smiled at Errik indifferently.

" No!" Errik snapped " from the start, you've been..."

"What?" Ace scoffed, " helping you?"

" Provoking me," Errik said through gritted teeth. " You want revenge on me? Just take it! Leave her out of it!"

" Is that really what you think?" Ace said quietly, " that I'm trying to get revenge on you?"

"You said that you hated me," Errik glared at him, "but perhaps I hated you too. Or at least you seem to be trying to get me to hate you again. You want me to get angry? You want the old me?well you've found me. Give me one reason why I shouldn't just kill you now?"

"One reason?" Ace scoffed. He peeled Errik's hand away with ease, "I'm stronger than you now or should I say, thanks to you."

Errik raised his sword undeterred. His eyes were completely drained of emotion. His entire blade was swallowed by ice.

"Are you sure?" Errik said with an exceedingly wicked grin. "I realise I'm not who I used to be. Maybe that makes me useless to everyone here. But I know one thing for certain. I'm very good at killing, so good it scares me. So maybe instead of fighting my nature, I should just give in and be exactly who you want me to be,"

"And who do you think I want you to be?" Ace's smile faded.

"Let's see little student, I set this tower on fire before, right?" Errik went on with a dark smile. "It seems only right to cover it in ice this time,"

" And kill everyone here?" Ace met his gaze undeterred.

Tomas turned to Errik fearfully. "Calm down, Errik,"

Suddenly, with a flick of his wrist, Errik created a wall separating them from Tomas.

"You want your revenge?" Errik said without breaking his gaze on the general, "here I am. Come and take it,"

"My revenge?"Ace gave a smile that didn't reach the eyes, "lets see. I wonder what would be enough to make up for the things you did? Maybe I could try to kill you. You did that to me. Or maybe I could try to kill the person you love...you also did that to me...or maybe I could even do better...I could die in your arms. Something you also did to me,"

Errik's eyes widened but no words came out.

"Don't look so surprised," Ace muttered," you just don't get it at all, do you?"

"What is it exactly I'm supposed to get?!" Errik exclaimed with unbridled anger.

"Let me put it this way," Ace replied unmoved, "the person you are now, do you think it is worse or better than before?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Errik scoffed, "I don't care anymore,"

"You should," Ace said quietly, "they called you wicked before and you seem to believe it. You think you are acting in penance or in accordance with that person, but how can you when you don't know what your sins are? I'm not trying to get revenge, i'm just trying to warn you, old friend,"

"Fuck you and your warning!" Errik threw down his sword at Ace.

" I get that you're angry," Ace caught the sword in his bare hand. It immediately became coated with a layer of ice but he went unflinchingly, " however, I'm not exactly a Saint. If you put your hands on me again, I might lose my temper. So I suggest you back off,"

" You put your hands on me first!" Errik grabbed him again roughly, " what, it's not fun anymore?"

Ace looked at him with a solemn expression, "How much did you remember? "

Errik's eyes fluttered and a look of contempt flashed across his face, "How dare you use those memories against me?! You knew she would see and I wouldn't be able to...react,"

" Why not?" Ace looked at him earnestly, " Why couldn't you react?"

" You know why!" Errik snapped." Why would you do that to me? You want me to remember that badly? "

" I'm sorry," Ace frowned, " You might think I'm trying to hurt you but I'm not..."

"No!" Errik thrust him back forcefully. "You're trying to punish me...otherwise, why else are you doing this to me?!"

Ace started to shake his head. However, with a look of pain, Errik pulled back his sword once again. At that moment, Tomas came running around the block of ice, wide-eyed and breathless.

" Errik!" he exhaled uneasily. However, Errik wasn't listening. His eyes didn't leave Ace once.

"You're trying to take her from me, aren't you? " his voice cracked, " I know it. You want to hurt me,"

" I wanted you to be honest with her," Ace stared at him in disbelief, " But how can you be when you don't even remember who you are?! Those memories are a part of you. I'm not the one that hurt you! Don't you remember that much? If you just open your heart, she won't care about those things!"

"No," Errik breathed shakily, "I'd rather kill you than let you tell her,"

His eyes were alight with a most violent shade of gold. The temperature dropped suddenly and the air grew bitterly cold. Errik threw his hand forward and ice rushed in line towards Ace. His expression grew dark and he flew forward to meet the oncoming burst of magic.

At that moment, Tomas stepped between them both. He held out both hands in either direction and sent them both back with a blast of wind. Ace slammed back against the wall of the tower whilst Errik skidded back the length of the hall.

"Stop it!" Tomas yelled, " What do you two think you're doing?! "

Ace let out his usual amused chuckle and dusted himself down.

" Ah, I don't think I was doing anything," he glanced over at Errik, " as usual, you have no control over yourself, "

Errik glared at him poised to attack again but this time Tomas prevented him. Already, there were students and teachers gathering along the upper levels. They were staring down after being drawn by the noise. Veretta came running down the stairs at full speed stopping just a few steps above overlooking the scene. Her eyes met Errik.

" What is going on?!" she cried.

Without answering, Errik balled his fist bitterly and took off. As the crowd was soon dissipated by the masters, Tomas turned back to the general. The wall of ice had torn across the tower destroying everything it's path. Yet Ace remained leaning back against the wall watching it all with a look of thinly disguised boredom. Before Tomas could say another word, the disgruntled headmaster's booming voice was heard at the top of the stairs.

"What on earth is going on? Someone explain at once!"

Veretta and Tomas froze, looking up apprehensively.

"Sir..." Tomas began.

"NO!" the headmaster snapped. 'Pack your things and go both of you,"

"Headmaster!" Veretta protested, "This was just an accident. Please just let us.."

"Silence, you insolent girl!" Headmaster cut in."This college is a safe place for the practice of magic. You know the rules! If you can't follow them then you do not deserve to here,"

His eyes slowly went to the general who had since been silent.

" We have been more than accommodating for you, Red General but if your guests can't follow our rules, then we cannot house them here,"

They all turned to the general as he stepped forward gingerly. " Yes," he said slowly, "These unsightly students should be thrown out," he smiled.

Veretta's eyes widened but before she could speak, the headmaster turned swiftly on his heels. "Pack your things and go!" he barked.

Veretta let out an unhinged gasp. She turned back to the general furiously. He met her glare with an unrepentant smile, "You heard the man,"

Veretta came down the steps with a start, "We had a deal!" she burst out contemptuously, "you promised you would help Errik!"

"AND I will," the general dismissed, "but I never said you could stay here,"

"You're the one that told us to come!" Tomas interjected angrily.

"And now i'm telling you to get lost," the general smiled. "At least for the time being,"

"But Silthus..." Veretta began.

"Silthus," the general interrupted, " is under my protection, miss witch. I told you from the start. I brought you here to help Errik, not to help your revenge. Now you can either take my help or wait till Errik eventually loses control completely and kills you all,"

He gestured at the line of destructive ice and carnage all around them,

"You better make your mind up quickly,"