SIR WILLIAMS

Soon enough, the other professors came bursting inside the room. They were all equally shocked and depressed to see my aunt's body. Professor Fumes made a beeline for her and tried to search for a pulse, but lowered her head when she found nothing. Tears immdiately escaped Professor Mully's eyes. The others were asking the headmaster questions but he said nothing and only stared at me in fatherly concern.

"Professors, if I may ask, can you leave me with Ms. Sterlings and Mr. Clintwood for a while? Do what has to be done with Professor Vines' body and I will meet you all at the faculty room."

After grandpa said that, all went silently out with my dead aunt being floated in the air, though Professor Vizor seems hesitant at first, he eventually left the room.

When the door closed and the headmaster made a soundproofinh charm, he turned to look at me.

"Yes, Aza. I'm sorry to say, but Mr. Walter seems to have turned his back on us permenantly. I found him suspicious eversince that incident with the Files Room. That's why I had Matt leave the castle and spy on him while he disguised himself as one of the Knights. I even had to make it look like the faculty and I suspected him as the perpetrator."

I weakly sat down on the floor. His words processing inside my head. Then, I felt Matt's presence. He sat beside me without a word, his eyes focused ahead of him. Though he didn't exert much effort, I felt comfortable by having him near me.

The headmaster continued, gazing out of the broken window.

"Based from the information we managed to get, Mr. Walter's goal was to assassinate Professor Vines. No wonder he went as far as mixing some Evanium liquid to keep you out of the way. With you infatuated with him, Lincoln found it easy to work without suspicion."

I gritted my teeth in anger. So that's why I was so head over heels with him! Though, I really thought it was just me crushing on him. Evanium liquid. That fucker practically used my own aunt's potion against me! Maybe that's the reason why girls would throw themselves at him lately. And I haven't even noticed!

Honestly, I have all the reasons to hate myself.. I drew in a deep breath and forced myself not to cry. Nice job, Az. You really screwed up..

This must be what Mace was telling me about. I trusted the wrong man...

Matt spoke, "After a while, I found out that he was associated with those fire dancers. The headmaster and I tried to scare them off when they first took step in the school premises but it didn't work. Everyone was on Lincoln's side. Being a prefect and all. I guess he was contacting them by sending random owls at night.. Bastard." bitterness can he heard in his voice. I mused on the thought for a while. So, the attack was a diversion. It was meant to distract us while he killed auntie!

Wait a minute... Owls? My mind wandered back to when I frequently saw an owl flying in the night sky whenever I had Silver send my letter to Dina. That was him.. Well, shit.

The whirl of emotions made me sicker. "Why..Why didn't you do anyway then?!" even I surprised myself when I suddenly shouted. The headmaster merely smiled to himself and stared at Aunt Ruella's ruined portrait.

"We tried. But your aunt didn't want to escape the 'inevitable' as she said it would be. All these years, she live off as a lonesome prophet that never spoke her mind or revealed her thoughts to anybody. I believe she predicted this would come one day, as to why she talked to Professer Vizor and I to reestablish the Dark Sorcery class."

Aunt Ruella. Why must you always be a noble woman? Why must you always have your principles? Everything about my aunt had me question her acts. She could've prevented her own death, couldn't she?

"Aza, I'm afraid we now have a bigger problem in our hands." The headmaster looked at me seriously. I gulped. "W-What do you mean, grandpa?"

Matt suddenly stood up and answered me, "Now that the Prophet has fallen, it is more evident that the Dark Sorcerers will appear again. I have a hunch that Lincoln works for them, anyway. The Fire dancers were a part of their evil league before."

And with those words said, I gaped at the high possibility. Shit. Now that I think about it, the clues were already laid infornt of us! Auntie must've saw this coming.. But again, why would she let herself die? She's the only one who can stop them!

But then, a poof of smoke broke my line of thoughts. The headmaster smiled even though his back was turned. "Ah, glad to have you here, Sir Williams."

The smoke vanished and a middle-aged man, in velvet red robes, appeared out of nowhere. I studied the man's appearance. He looked quite old, a bit round and gray hair stuck out from his head. A pointed nose and a pair of unmistakably brown eyes. He looks like a good and respectable man.

"I heard about what happened, Trimus.. I apologized for my delay." he sadly said and scanned the room. When he saw me and Matt, a small smile graced his lips. "What are these youngsters doing here? Who are they?"

"These two are valuable students, Fenrock. That grumpy lad over there is Mattheus Clintwood and that young lady's Aza Sterlings; Professor Vines' niece."

My ears perked up at the name and I'm pretty sure Matt realized it too. The man nodded his head and bowed as he introduced himself,

"If so, let me introduce myself. Sir Fenrock Williams at your service."

My mind repeated the name over and ovee again until it recalled the books entitled: History of the MidWorld and What Lies Beyond, and Mysteries of the Pureblood line, Fifth Edition.

"You're the author of the books I've read!" I suddenly bursted out of excited. Sir Williams kindly smiled at me. "I'm flattered that a young witch like you still read, Ms. Sterlings."

Matt nudged me. "So, you really are a nerd, huh?" I laziy grinned to show appreciation. He's obviously trying to lighten up the mood.

*

After the headmaster told us to leave the room because they have something private to discuss, Matt and I roamed the school. The traces of attacks were evident. Burnt objects and remnants of over used spells were shattered across the Great Hall. Some seniors were cleaning up and a few professors were instructing some juniors. When we passed by a hallway, we realized that classes were still ongoing. It looks like the headmaster wanted to keep this situation as controlled as possible.

Though, I doubt it will ever feel normal now that my aunt's dead. I can sense the fear and tension as a result of her absence.

"Want to train?"

I shook my head and declined Matt's offer. Now, I can clearly see the worry in his eyes. "I'm fine." he scoffed. "Doesn't look like it."

I round a corridor and waved him off. I need some time alone. "Whatever you say, Clintwood."

"Wait!"

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. He shyly scratched the back of his head and spoke in almost a whisper, "If.. If you need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to approach me. Understood?"

Though I was taken aback by his words, I found myself nodding at him before turning away again. I sighed, and went out to the gardens. I sat on the grassy ground, not having the energy to attend my classes after what happened. Then, auntie's smiling lifeless face popped in my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself.. Why, auntie?

"People leave us, to make room for something more, Ms. Sterlings."

A voice spoke. When I turned to the side, I saw Sir Fenrock Williams standing next to me. His eyes were locked upon the horizon. I stood up and stared at him. "What do you mean?"

A mysterious smile crossed his features as he pointed towards the distance.

"Do you know what lies beyond those walls?"

My eyes widened. I jerked my head to where he was pointing and felt a strange sense of curiosity rekindling within me. Those walls.. Matt said it's forbidden to go beyond them. It's dangerous. But what, exactly, was their definition of danger? I can't help but wonder.

When I shook my head, Sir Williams shrugged. "Nobody really knows. But I believe, it's an adventure and a key to something else." he then walked away with hands in his pockets.

I stood there, eyes glued to the tall stone walls that divided me and the things at the other side.

***