Chapter 23: Without a Trace

Eric sits within his uncle's office waiting on his...friends? He wasn't sure what to call the relationship that he had with the two people around his age. Alix never really expressed any signs that they were friends, though he did call her Mama Wolf which may have something to do with it.

Meanwhile, Cas has always seemed to dislike Eric. Whenever they would see each other outside of Alix's lessons the dude always had this scowl like he despised Eric or something. It was waay weird.

Wait. Eric had been at this school for a full month but Cas and Alix were the only two people that he really knew and he didn't even know if either one of them considered him a friend. 'Do I not have any friends? Yo am I a loser?!'

As Eric contemplated his current situation his tutor enter the room. The girl noticed the boy lost in that and approached him from behind.

"Thank you, Holiday." Eric jumped as the he had not noticed anyone entering. He turned to his ambusher. "What am I being thanked for?" Alix shrugged. "Not that it matters to you but your lack of intelligence led me to the solution to a problem that I had been struggling with for full month. So I felt it pertinent to express my gratitude." Eric rolled his lips inward as he stared at the girl further confused.

"I have no idea whether that was a compliment or an insult?" 

"A bit of both. Anyway, have you seen the Mind Slave? It is time today's magic lesson." He shook his head. "Nah, I haven't seen him all day. It is a bit weird." Alix raised a brow questioningly. "How so?"

"Well, sometimes Cas likes to wait for me to leave one of my classes so that he can scowl at me. It's really weird but so is he. I just added it to those things that he does that I don't understand." Alix frowned a bit. "He just normally seems so excited for these lessons. I thought he was really getting interested in magic. Anyway, I guess nothing to do but wait for him."

Alix shook her head dismissively. She sat down and faced Eric who was sitting staring at the girl with his mouth and agape. "What?" Eric leaned toward the girl as he spoke. "You're gonna wait for him?"

"Yes, why are you acting like that is strange? These lessons are for the both of you." Eric shook his head confusing Alix further. "I remember one time I was late to one of your classes and you didn't even let me in to do the lesson. Now you're delaying a lesson just because Cas isn't here yet!? Do you see why I'm so shocked?"

"No. I do not." Alix's flat answer almost caused Eric to fall out of his chair. He sighed. "Fine, we'll wait for Cas then."

"Why are we awaiting my arrival when I am already here?" Eric and Alix turned as Cas entered the room. "Was there some reason to delay the lesson in my absence?" Alix stood from her chair shaking her head. "Not really. It is just that teaching a lesson to a person that normally falls asleep during class seemed useless." Cas nodded.

"Yes, I understand now how that could pose a problem."

"Are you two just casually dissing me? While I'm in the same room!?" Cas and Alix ignored Eric while preparing to start the lesson. Eric slumped into his chair. "Fine, ignore me! See if I care." Cas took his seat next to Eric while Alix grabbed the books that they would be using today. As she handed Cas his book she asked, "Why were you late Cas?"

Cas seemed to have expected this question as he immediately repented. "I sincerely apologize, Mistress! I was handling some important business and simply lost track of time. You may punish me in whatever way you deem suitable." Alix motioned for the boy to calm down. "If it was really that important then you have no need to apologize. We shall continue as usual without any further delay." Cas bowed his head. "I understand."

Winston sat at his desk completely awestruck. 'All three of them really just walked into my office and didn't say anything to me! Did they actually forget that it was my office?!' He wanted to say something but did not want to interrupt the lesson.

He was quite impressed with the growth that the two boys had shown since they started taking the girl's classes. Alix's commitment to giving them these lessons was also commendable. The man smiled thoughtfully as he watched the group.

'This turned out better than I ever could have expected.'

...

"Where the hell is Stella?!" Valorie loudly exclaimed.

"Calm down, Val. The daughter of a famous merchantry has many duties that she must attend to. You know this." Angelica gently tried to calm her friend.

"You don't get it, Angie! She was here this morning and just suddenly disappeared! She left without saying anything? Doesn't that seem strange to you?" The girl pointed out but was met with indifference.

"It may have been a sudden emergency that she needed to resolve right away. Don't give it too much thought." Angelica was wholly unbothered by her friend's sudden disappearance. She very calmy analyzed her nails that had just received a manicure. Valorie found herself slowly calming down.

'If Angie's this calm then nothing too bad could have happened to her.' The girl breathed out and finally calmed herself. "You're right. Besides, no one could manage to keep that girl contained but her own parents."

Well it just so happened that they were the reason that she was missing. In the middle of one of her classes Stella had been suddenly pulled out by her parents.

They were currently back at home, frantically packing their belongings into suitcases. "Mom! Dad! Can someone tell me what's happening?!" Stella's father, Jeremy Epedia, grabbed hold of both of her shoulders. "We don't have much time, Stella. We can't go into the details but we need to leave now." Stella was now visibly frightened. 

"W-what's going on? Did one of the contracts that we made go south? Did something get exposed?!" She began to panic. She did not know what she would do if something had happened within the family. The girl's mother, Isabell Epedia, embraced her tightly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Nothing like that has happened. But something has happened and we need to leave town now!" 

Stella wanted to ask more questions but realized that now wasn't the right time to do so. She began to emulate her parents and quickly packed her bags. Today had become a very strange day from the girl. 'First, that kid and now this. What the hell is going on?' Stella thought about the strange interaction she had with the boy earlier and frowned. Something about that boy just made her skin crawl.

"Sorry, Angie. Looks like I won't be able to support you or Val anymore." Stella solemnly mumbled to herself. That was when she noticed something. She was in her bedroom that some would describe as extravagant she even had a veil surrounding her bed. However, that very veil was gently shifting in the wind, which should not be happening since she always kept her window closed.

She turned and as expected the window was closed so there should be no reason for the veil to shift. Now, as a child raised by merchants Stella was very cautious. Her parents had taught her to be wary in any given situation as she never knew if she was absolutely safe. So her first thought was to evacuate from the room as quickly as possible.

Alas, it was too late. Within the instant that she turned Stella had become surrounded by masked figures. She tried to scream for help but one of them placed a hand onto her head and casted something sending her into unconsciousness.

After confirming that she was no longer struggling the tallest figure spoke. "We have obtained the objective. Let's take it to the drop off zone and leave." Another figure scoffed. "It? As cold as always, leader."

"Is that a problem?" The tall leader questioned. The second figure raised their hands in surrender. "No problems here, boss. I just always find it funny how easily you can disassociate. We could learn a thing from you." The leader ignored his follower's jokes. "Move out."

With those simple words the group disappeared from the room. There was no sign that they had ever entered the room.

Only the remnants of Stella packing her bags.