Chapter 2

Anna's ears felt hot, and she ripped the skirt out of those thieving hands. "Don't touch my stuff!"

"Oopsie." She waltzed over to Anna's desk, eyeing pretty much everything she had on it like Anna was a zoo animal. She took it upon herself to pull the desk chair for a seat. Crossing her legs, she looked like she was preparing for an interview. "Alright! Let's get right to it. We do have a schedule to keep, and our... policies... have changed since last we spoke." She stopped after the ominous words.

That had to be purposeful—it worked!

Anna's heart sank, and she stuttered, "Wh-what?"

"Don't be so dramatic!" The looney mage chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not about to revoke your invitation or add some crazy stipulations."

That's precisely what Anna thought.

"Then why did you pause like that!" she shouted, throwing the shirt at her.

The mage caught it and tossed it perfectly into the suitcase. "I couldn't help myself, and your reaction didn't disappoint—you're so cute!"

Anna could feel her arrogant smile through that silver mask.

Her face was on fire. "Just get on with it!".

Very few people could make fun of her like the mage who made herself at home in Anna's room! It wasn't a familiar feeling, being so embarrassed. She continued packing her suitcase instead of waiting in bated breath for what the infuriating woman might say.

"Sorry, sorry." She definitely didn't sound sorry. The mage straightened up and cleared her throat, indicating a change into the serious part. "I have a couple things I'm now required to let you know... just so you don't get into something you come to regret. Not that you'll change your mind. But, formality, you know?"

"What does that mean?" Anna stopped packing and instead sat on her bed, facing the mage. It felt like an interview, especially with how serious the mage's tone and demeanor became.

The mage sighed. "First, introductions are in order." She placed her hand on her chest and dipped her head slightly. It looked fake, like reading the action from a script. "My name is Alisha, and I am a Bastion Vanguard currently working on gathering students for my—our new Academy."

"Bastion? … Vanguard? What--"

Now that she thought of it, the mage—Alisha—hadn't mentioned the name of the academy nor her position last year.

Anna did not like those words; they brought a sense of foreboding. When she thought of Bastion, she thought of a fortress, and Vanguard brought up the front lines in an army. Neither word sat well with her, nor did they produce confidence in the organization named after what she would associate with battle.

She would not be recruited into a war!

"Turn that frown upside down." Alisha wagged her finger and then pointed at Anna's head. "I know what you're thinking—it's quite the common misconception. But you're wrong." She slid the chair closer to Anna and locked eyes with her. "We are not a military organization, and would we ever engage in war with our mages. We do strive to be the kind of group that can study magic."

Anna sighed in tentative relief. "Thank god!" She would have been devastated if her anticipation festering for over a year was killed just like that. "But what's with that name and rank, then?

"That's..." She taped Anna's nose. "…What I've come to discuss with you." 

"Hey!"

If Alisha's mission was to be as aggravating as possible, she deserved a promotion!

Nobody but her closest friend had messed with her like that before.

"Bastion, dear Annabelle, is an organization dedicated to protection. We don't exist to fight wars," She shook her head. "No... we exist to defend from them." She pointedly stared at Anna as if analyzing her reaction.

However, Anna didn't know what to feel, so it certainly wouldn't show on her face.

There was a mix of things she gathered from what Alisha said and many conclusions she could make; conclusions it seemed Alisha wanted her to make on her own.

If Bastion was formed to protect humanity, it meant there was a threat to the whole race that warranted such an existence. Then, it was somewhat militaristic, given Alisha's rank. While it may not start wars, it didn't mean they weren't part of one. Her biggest takeaway was how Alisha said the last part—Bastion existed to defend against wars.

"Is there an active threat trying to... kill... all humans?" She couldn't believe those words came from her mouth.

"Technically, yes." Alisha then shook her head. "But also no; that depends on how you define an active threat."

How informative.

"Like… aliens who want to destroy Earth."

"Hmm~ ... It's a bit more complicated than that, but yes... there is a threat that could destroy Earth. Will they, though?" She snorted. "Never, as long as we stay standing."

Alisha leaned back in Anna's chair and put her hands into her hoodie pocket, betraying the gravity of the situation she just poured over Anna.

Anna wasn't so childish as to freak out over the news. She was trapped in a literal time bubble; she had long since assumed there were things like monsters and aliens; her imagination ran wild the last year.

Not to mention, they had to get something from letting her join. Her aid defense seemed like a good deal for them.

More importantly, if Bastion existed and had enough resources to create an academy rather than just batch-recruit soldiers, it had to mean the threat wasn't desperate. Then, there was Alisha's lack of concern or urgency.

"You mean there are things that want to destroy Earth but aren't actively trying," Anna said. In other words, it was a threat they were preparing for. Or, one that wasn't intelligent—beasts and monsters.

"

Bingo!" Alisha clapped.

That was a weight off Anna's shoulders, and she continued packing her bag. She had worried she would immediately be thrust into a life-or-death scenario.

"Just say that, then. I still want to join if that's your concern."

"Oh, I knew that. It's magic, after all. Is anything enough to scare you away from the endless possibilities it could bring you?"

Of course not.

"Nope!"

Alisha chuckled. "Of course not. However, I do need you to understand the gravity of it and, at the very least, that you will be expected to defend your race. Job description, you know?" She slid over and grabbed Anna's shoulders, giving them a sharp pull to ensure they maintained eye contact.

"Wha..." Anna dropped a shirt.

"Listen closely, Annabelle Frost." Her tone was low and dark, traces of the easygoing, clown-like nature gone. "You will suffer if you join us. Maybe not soon, maybe not for years. But you will. Once you official8ly take a position, you will fight for the survival of your race. That is our caveat—that is our mission. In between the beauty of magic lies the reality of why we use it. Why we want to bring people into our fold. Understand?"

"I-I'm fine with that!" She tried to pull Alisha's hands off but failed. Those fingers wouldn't budge, like a python's grip. "Let me go!"

Those deep blue eyes ensured Anna paid close attention to every syllable out of Alisha's mouth.

But Anna knew already that she would be expected to fight, and of course, she would! She wasn't so unfeeling as to turn a blind eye toward threats to her own race!

"Understand, Annabelle, that you will suffer," she repeated, her tone a little more forceful. Her grip tightened, just short of being painful. It was like she thought Anna was a child who didn't fully comprehend the words. "You might be beaten and scarred fighting the threats we face. You will shed blood or may lose a limb in battle. You will see those you've come to love grievously harmed or even killed fighting with you. You... might be just another meaningless death in a battle for our survival."

"I..." Anna swallowed.

Alisha let go, and Anna fell to the bed.

"Just understand that it isn't a vacation to explore the wonders of magic, even though it will feel like that—at first." She grimly sighed. "I've seen too many in your position jump in and die."

Of course, the academy wasn't to teach them all about magic; it was to teach them how to use magic to fight.