100 Oaths

Moxie opened her mouth. Then she closed it. A pensive look passed over her face as she realized what Noah was implying.

"You're going to pretend that the summoning went exactly as it was supposed to, and that the demon is actually trapped inside you?"

"Exactly. That would account for the missing memories and give me a perfect position to hide and wait out this whole debacle while I figure out what the Linwicks were actually up to and just how much threat this demon will actually pose."

"And what about when they test you? There's no way they'll just take your word for it." Moxie crossed your arms. "They'll test you. How are you planning to pass off as a demon that powerful?"

"I've got some ideas on that," Noah replied. "I'll need to do a little research on demons to make sure I properly understand how they work and what they act like, but I think I could pull it off."

Moxie chewed her lower lip. "If there's really a powerful demon here, getting away is a good idea, and now would be the best time to do it since there are still a few months until the next exam. If Brayden agreed and you really did manage to pull a fast one over the Linwicks, then you might be onto something. But what about your students?"

"I'll have to speak with them. I haven't been doing my job ever since the exam. I've got some makeup to do. A lot of it. I'm going to tell them everything I just told you. They need to be able to make an informed decision themselves."

"I see," Moxie said. "Well, it sounds like you've actually put a little thought into this. It's not the best plan, but if you really do manage to keep your cover, it isn't terrible. I might have to take Emily somewhere as well. I don't want to be around when a high Rank demon attacks. Even with equivalently strong mages, there's going to be a lot of damage."

"You could come with us," Noah offered. "I promised to let you shadow my training, but then I didn't do anything since then. There will be a lot of opportunities for that at the Linwick estate."

A bark of laughter slipped out of Moxie's mouth. "Seriously? Did you forget who I am? I'm a Torrin, Vermil. If I showed up at the Linwick's estate, even with you, I'd probably get killed in my sleep. There's no way I can go there, and I wouldn't send Emily there either."

Noah winced. He had forgotten. "Oh. Right."

"We might join for the first portion of the trip, though," Moxie mused. "I've been meaning to get her some more practical survival experience. As long as we break away before we get too close to the Linwicks, everything should be fine."

"Trip?" Noah asked. "They used a portal to send Brayden here. I thought they'd let us use that again."

"Brayden got a portal because it was an urgent matter. Magic like that needs a specialized, high Rank mage. There's no way they'd waste time and energy making a portal back for you. It's going to be a week or two of normal travel."

"Ah. I suppose Brayden would know the way back, then," Noah said. "I'll just have to convince him this is the right call. I don't think that should be too hard. You'll join us, then? Assuming Isabel and Todd agree to go."

"If you can convince Brayden that it's a good idea to let us come for the first part of the journey. If you're finally ready to get your ass in gear and show me what I was originally waiting for, then I'll come. Just don't get your hopes up too much – I don't think you're going to be able to convince Brayden."

"I'll focus on Isabel and Todd first," Noah said. "I think he'll be more than pliable. I'm going to go find them before it's too late today."

Moxie shrugged. "You know where to find me. Don't get killed by a demon on the way out."

Noah rolled his eyes and headed out of Moxie's room, closing the door behind him before starting down the hall toward the exit of the T building. When he stepped outside, Lee was already waiting for him, leaning against the wall.

"Did you find what you needed?"

"Yeah. Did you overhear?"

"I did. I've got very good hearing. Good senses in general."

"I gathered, based on how you kept smelling things that shouldn't actually have any smell. I'm not sure how you watch over things from outside, but I'll just trust that it works. Do those senses of yours happen to know where Isabel and Todd are? They're next on the list of people to speak with."

"I can find them. I memorized their scents," Lee said.

On a list of things that I wouldn't want to be caught dead ever saying, that would be pretty close to the top.

"Fantastic. Could you get them and tell them to come meet me in our classroom? It's better than my room, considering Brayden is still sleeping in there. It won't take long."

Lee nodded and blurred, sprinting off faster than Noah's eyes could track. He shook his head in disbelief.

She's supposed to be Rank 1?

Now that Noah thought about it, they'd never really addressed her Rank after the demon revelation had come out. There was a very good chance that Lee had told him she was a Rank 1 to keep his guard down when he'd originally thought she was a Skinwalker.

I'd put her more like a Rank 2 or 3, I think. She was able to fight Moxie, but Moxie also wasn't using magic, which is the majority of her strength. Not a very good reference to judge things off.

Noah shook his head. It didn't particularly matter at the moment. He had more important things to worry about. When Lee got back, he'd just ask her.

He headed over to his room in building G, following the winding hallway that he'd now grown somewhat familiar with until he stepped through the doorway into the room. The desks were still aligned from when Moxie had fixed them, but the light filtering in through the roof was dim due to clouds obscuring the lowering sun.

Noah walked over to stand by the podium.

And then he did one of his least favorite things in the world.

He waited.