***

By the first day of the weekend, the students of Lochxen had departed the Academy in droves. The vast majority were Nobles whose families had carriages and entourages sent to ferry them home.

The very few, less than one percent of the entire student population, who were commoners had Academy carriages and security at their disposal.

Among those was Doran Langston who made sure he met Caius to say his goodbyes.

"So that's it, isn't it?" Doran said with a sheepish smile, "Half a semester done with. Honestly felt longer."

"Yes," Caius agreed lightly, "Probably explains why the atmosphere feels like we've completed the entire school year."

Doran laughed a little while nodding in agreement. And then he stood straight.

"Well, see you for the other half, Caius," he said.

"And I, you," Caius answered and made a motion of tipping an invisible hat, "Goodbye and Good-luck."

Doran smiled and then walked away. Caius watched him meet up with Marianne with whom he had a long farewell that Caius was sure would end in a kiss. It didn't. They touched their foreheads together though and it worked for intimacy still.

And then Caius spotted Aurelius who had his family's carriage waiting for him.

"Hey," Caius greeted and Aurelius turned around with a smile but there wasn't the usual lightness that had been in his eyes at the start of the Semester.

And Caius knew why;

After facing the representative from Hell and being officially charged with his quest and a now concrete faith in Aether—where it had been less defined previously—Aurelius was now receiving what could best be described as telepathic lashings.

It wasn't actually beatings of course. Mostly nudges from Aether to affirm his faith in her and secure the Mandate she had for him. It was leaving Aurelius less time to be himself and occupying his every thought with his mission.

Still, the smile he gave Caius was genuine. For now.

"Hello," he said, and then saw that Caius had held his hand out for a handshake.

Aurelius took the outstretched hand and the two shook hands as Caius told him in a serious voice.

"You have time."

"What?" Aurelius said and blinked in confusion.

"The world isn't coming to an end tomorrow. Or next week. Maybe not even next month.

And you'll hardly be off help if you're lost in your own head. So take your time. Don't feel rushed. By circumstance… or anyone."

The way he said 'anyone' made it clear who Caius was referring to. Aurelius's lips twitched at the implication and while he was still confused why Caius was speaking with such authority on the matter, he did decide not to dismiss the advice to take his time.

"Thank you," he said slowly and somewhat unsure as he added, "I think."

Caius flicked his wrist and a little card appeared.

"Here," he said and handed it to Aurelius.

"What's this?" Aurelius asked as he turned it over, eyeing the shimmering symbols on it.

"An Arcane Signature," Caius answered, "You can get your hands on a Loqui-Link, can't you?"

Aurelius paused and then nodded.

"I can," he admitted.

"That (gestures at the card) is how you can connect to mine," Caius said as he held up his Loqui-Link,

"If there's an emergency, contact me with it."

"We'll be separated by distance," Aurelius said with a little laugh, "How would that help?"

"Just keep it handy," Caius answered.

Aurelius nodded.

"Of course," he answered as he sent the card into his storage ring and entered his Carriage to be on his way home.

As Caius watched the carriage pull away, he thought of how there was a schedule to the invasions of the representatives from Hell. He just hoped that Schedule wasn't one of the things that his presence in this world had changed.

…

Before their departures, Caius said goodbye to every one of the ladies. Besides the individual times he had spent with them the past few days, of course.

Aylin got a sly smile on her perfect face when he hugged her goodbye.

"Hey, the Loqui-Links have visuals, right?" She asked directly into his ear.

"They do," Caius had answered.

"Then we could do it every night," Aylin said with an emphasis on 'it' that made it clear what she meant.

"A Loqui-Link wouldn't actually get me there with you, Aylin. You know that right?" Caius said with a smile and his brows furrowed, confused about what she meant.

"I know that," Aylin said, rolling her beautiful icy blue eyes, "I'm talking about virtually.

You know, I'll slip into something sexy or be naked. If you prefer. I know that's what I prefer."

She punctuated her breathy words not just with a growl but also with a light bite of Caius's earlobe, causing him to shiver.

"My God," Caius swore with a hearty chuckle.

'Internet sex in a world without internet,' he said in his head, 'Her insatiability is birthing innovation.'

They separated after that and Aylin, with longing in her eyes, kept her eyes on him as she headed for where Baler stood against the family carriage with guards at the ready.

Once the fear of the past weekend was gone, Baler finally came to terms with the fact that his dagger—The Winter's Tear—had lost all of its magic. Apparently used in the defeat of the Fiend.

The importance of the dagger in freeing them all didn't at all rid Baler of the sourness of the loss. Now he seemed torn on whether to glare at Caius or glare at his sister. When Aylin got into the carriage, Baler gave Caius one last sneer to which Caius responded with a wave before turning away.

•••

Unlike the students, Lochxen Professors could remain at Lochxen all year round should they choose. The Academy would just serve as a housing estate for them until the students returned and education resumed.

Cynthia didn't stay behind, of course. She left Lochxen with her sister Delia and Caius barely got to bid her goodbye. He entered her office right as she was on her way to join Delia by the Kragsten entourage of Carriages.

"Don't slack off," she told Caius once their lips had taken a break from one another,

"I expect improvement from you when we next meet.

If you've fought so hard to claim you can do both, I'd be damned if Combat Magic is what falls to the wayside."

"Yes, ma'am," Caius answered with an enrapturing grin, and then his lips were back on hers as those conversations were made very barely important when they only had a minute or so left.

…

Unlike Cynthia, Anne Gilligan was still at Lochxen and once he had seen the departing ladies off, Caius made his way to her office. He walked in and she wasn't in but he knew that already and with his Loqui-Link, he sent her a message. A second later, a Portal Gate appeared.

Caius walked in and arrived in Anne's private Study. She had on a silk robe and her glasses had slid down the bridge of her nose as she peered hard at the multitude of sheets and notes that littered the large table she was seated behind.

She looked up the moment the Portal Gate behind Caius closed and her serious, studious expression became a glowing delighted one as a smile spread across her face.

"Caius," she greeted with sheer joy, "Good morning."

"Morning Anne," Caius answered, "Please tell me you've not been to so much trouble on my account."

The notes on Anne's table were scribbled with various writing and symbols so it was all but confirmed that she was busy with the request he made of her.

Sure enough, Anne shook her head.

"It's not any trouble. It's interesting really. Caius, how many languages do you think are in Lochxen?"

"I'm not sure," Caius answered, "200?"

"Try over 2000," Anne said with excitement.

"You can't be serious," he said.

"I am," Anne said with an emphatic nod, "And none are derivations. If you included derivations, that number can be bumped up a thousand.

Over 2000 distinct languages and nearly none of the manuscripts you've handed me contained any of them. Or even similar languages at all. Whatever script is used in most of these, has not existed since the days the gods roamed the mortal plane. I.e the days before the reign of mortals.

It's incredibly fascinating."

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