In My Absence

Daphne froze halting her polearm midstrike as the gateway in the training room activated, the formation glowing as mana spread through the inscribed pattern creating a temporary link between space and time. The technology had come a long way in the past year, thanks to Fae Inc.'s first generation of Runesmiths. A small team of creative and innovative personnel who were given the opportunity to learn the art of rituals and formations. 

The original idea had been Mirabel's to increase the productivity of the company and the development of new products. Once she got Thane's approval she wasted no time identifying possible candidates, subjecting them to an intense vetting process to ensure that only the most trusted would learn even the basics of Fae Inc's proprietary technology. 

They immediately proved to be worth the investment as a majority of the Runesmiths were deployed all over the world to oversee the installation of the Arcane Delivery System. Those who weren't got to work using their knowledge to build upon the foundation Thane had created. One of the most prominent was the creation of a miniaturized gateway system with a range of a few thousand feet. Which when installed in large estates such as the Fae Manor, allowed for quick transportation without having to rely on self-apparation which many wizards found rather mana intensive. 

Stepping through the gateway Thane smiled as he spotted Daphne dressed in athletic gear and glistening with a layer of sweat, proof of her intensive training. 

"You didn't tell me that you were planning on leaving your lab," Daphne quipped as settled into a resting stance, staring at Thane with a smirk across her lips. 

"I've reached a bottleneck in my experiments I'm hoping a break will allow me to gain some new perspective and insight," Thane explained as he walked over, "Though you act like I'm the only one with obsessive qualities, I swear every time I've come to check on you, you've been training." 

The smirk vanished from Daphne's face, "Someone hired a Sworn to kill you dear, do we need to have another conversation about what that means?" 

"No, you made your point very clearly the first time," Thane quickly conceded. 

Needless to say, Daphne hadn't taken the news of Thane's attempted assassination lightly—particularly after he revealed the assassin had identified themselves as Sworn.

The moment she heard the name, Daphne's demeanor shifted with immediate recognition. She explained that the Sworn were not just killers-for-hire, but a legendary, near-mythical brotherhood of assassins who had operated in the shadows for as long as any historical records could reach. Their agents—simply called the Sworn—were infamous for binding themselves to oaths upon accepting a contract. Breaking one wasn't an option; it was death. For the Sworn, a mission was not merely a job—it was sacred, and its completion was etched into the marrow of their being.

Worse yet, their success rate was said to be almost flawless. Once a Sworn was dispatched, the target rarely lived long enough to speak of it.

Beyond these grim details, Daphne could offer little else. The brotherhood's origins, their structure, their patrons—none of it was known. Even how to contact them was a mystery. It was as if they existed outside the bounds of the world's known magical systems.

It had taken Thane several tense conversations to talk Daphne down from hiring an elite 24/7 magical security team for every member of their household. Her protective instincts were as sharp as her blade, but Thane argued his reasoning: first, he doubted there were many wizards alive who could contend with a Sworn and survive. Second, he trusted his gut—if the gem left behind by the assassin was truly an invitation, then the attempt on his life had not been a true termination order. Killing him before he could uncover the truth would have made no sense.

Still, Daphne had refused to sit idle. Trusting the word of an ancient, hyper-lethal society of assassins wasn't exactly her idea of strategic security. In the weeks that followed, she had taken it upon herself to begin training herself, Rose, and Luna relentlessly. Swordplay, wandwork, defensive magic, and unarmed combat—they drilled day and night. If another Sworn came knocking, she wanted them to be ready.

"Good," she said, not missing a beat as she turned toward him, hands on her hips. "And now that you've finally dragged yourself out of your little man cave, we can have the much-needed discussion you've been avoiding."

Thane raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as Daphne continued, her tone clipped but not cold.

"The company's held steady in your absence—Mirabel and I have kept everything afloat—but your continued lack of public appearances is starting to stir the pot. Especially after word got out about the attempted assassination."

She started to pace back and forth pivoting sharply each time, "Rumors are spreading, Thane. Some say you're injured. Others whisper that you're dead and the company's running on contingency protocols."

She crossed her arms, the flicker of concern behind her stern exterior barely masked. "Even my mother has begun to question your well-being—and I assure you, it hasn't been a pleasant task convincing her otherwise."

Thane frowned as he conjured a cold towel and offered it to Daphne, "I thought that my defeating the sworn so handily would have improved my reputation." 

"Well according to the grapevine, the public believes that the battle was a drawn-out life-and-death magical brawl that forced you to exhaust all of your reserves and even damage your mana pathways. Currently, you're recovering using cutting-edge healing magic developed by the company," Daphne explained while graciously accepting the towel and beginning to wipe herself down, "Which in turn is affecting the company in negotiations with foreign companies who feel that without your leadership everything will collapse." 

Thane sighed as he already knew what Daphne was alluding to, "You know how much I detest pointless PR and pandering." 

"I'm not saying you need to go on a book tour, but your name needs to be on the papers once more. It could be part of your break, we have time to come up with a plan," Daphne countered slinging the now-used towel over her shoulder. 

Thane exhaled through his nose, "I could return to school and finish my certifications and dissertations, it wouldn't be that challenging though I would still be applying myself. That was the plan before all of this Sworn nonsense began." 

Daphne mulled it over for a second before nodding, "We can have Rita write an article about you being the youngest or first to receive all magical certifications. Are you sure Dumbledore will be supportive of your efforts?" 

"We seemed to end on fairly good terms the last time we spoke, I hope that my being absent for an entire year hasn't changed that," Thane muttered. 

"Good, and fortunately you have just over a month to figure it out," Daphne advised, "Hopefully nothing crazy will happen this year, it was even worse this time around without you to save those three brave-hearted idiots. But who would have thought that Sirius Black wasn't the betrayer everyone believed him to be and Lupin turned out to be a werewolf." 

Thane pursed his lips, "I don't recall you mentioning that detail before." 

Daphne's smirk reemerged, "Well this was around when you started interrogating the dementor and tried to replicate its soul magic." 

"Ah, that does make sense," Thane nodded, "I should see if I can get into contact with the professor, I've been meaning to study cases of physical transfigurations for some time now." 

Daphne opened her mouth for a moment before pausing interrupted by a sudden thought, "Didn't you also wish to have a conversation with Nymphadora Tonks and follow up on Ginny Weasley who you suspect might have awakened a magical affinity after you healed her soul." 

"I...believe so," Thane confirmed momentarily lost as he realized how much had gotten away from him, "Perhaps this break was more needed than I realized." 

Walking over Daphne threw her arms around Thane's neck before kissing him gently on the lips consoling her beloved, "While I know you strive for it, no one can be perfect. And for the burden you carry, it's only expected that you might lose sight of the little things." 

Thane sighed as he ran his hands down Daphne's body feeling her curves, "Then it's a blessing I have you to make sure I never truly lose sight of what matters." 

Daphne hummed in agreement while leaning into Thane, "Good, also I have an idea to bring all your loose ends together and reintroduce you to the world." 

"Oh do tell," Thane asked while leaning in bringing his lips closer to Daphne's. 

"I'll tell you after," Daphne muttered as her hands started to roam over Thane's body. 

"After what?" Thane asked only for Daphne to answer him with a knowing smirk, "Now?" 

"Yes now, I want my time before Luna and Rose find out you've come up for air." 

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