Sorcery

Chapter 4

Darius strode into the room after Ardis into Ostagarus\' office. Everyone in the room could feel his suppressed anger as he coldly looked into Evelyn\'s eyes. On the surface, Darius possessed the exact appearance as Ardis, but if one were to examine more carefully, one would realize that the twin\'s temperaments were indeed very different from each other. Darius, different to Ardis\' carelessness and playful attitude, showed more maturity and was far more sober. And at this particular moment, everyone could sense the power that was pouring out of him under that mask of calm. Evelyn shifted nervously, but she forced herself to raise her chin and looked back into those icy pools of onyx.

\"I have summoned you here to discuss the promotion of your studies.\" Ostagarus\'s voice broke the tension between Evelyn and Darius. \"I have decided that you two shall be taken out of your normal lessons and shall be taught by private teachers.\"

\"Why is that? We have shown no talents in the past beside our rare potential of being at the wrong place at wrongs times. What caused you to make this sudden decision.\" Asked Lianda curiously.

\"That day when you used the invisibility spell, I have sensed something different from you, because normally the teachers should see through any spells woven by the first years, yet none of the teachers were able to notice your spells except for Ardis. So I am certain that you girls possess some kind of talents that are hidden inside of you. I am not sure what it is, but I\'m sure we soon fin out.\" Ostagarus replied with a smile.

\"Why are we to have them as our teachers? Are they not student themselves?\"

\"Ardis and Darius had achieved their requirements as qualified wizards three years ago. It is by their own wishes and our honours to have them here as the heads of the student council. They are far more powerful and much wiser than any of the teachers on the staff. No one would be more appropriate than them to bring out the talents that you possess within you.\"

\"If you say so, but what about Nafetiri? Can she come as well?\"

\"Of course she can, if she is willing to leave her beloved meditation lessons.\" Mocked Ardis.

\"What? You know? How?\"

\"How can I not know? That teacher is famous not for his skills in teaching but flirting with his students.\"

\"Justify your own actions before you talk, Ardis\" murmured Darius, which caused Ardis to turn and shot him a deadly glare.

\"O.k. gentlemen cease the inappropriate argument. Girls any other questions?\" Asked Ostagarus who was answered with a moment of silence, \"I will take that as an agreement. Right! So it shall be, Lianda you will start you lessons tomorrow with Ardis and Evelyn, you shall go with Darius. These two are now formally your teachers till the day of your graduation, whatever they say you will listen, Is that clear?\"

\"What if they tell us to die?\"

\"I\'m sure you have enough wisdom in you to make your own choice. Now if you please, go with your new teachers and prepare yourselves for tomorrow\'s lesson.\"

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\"You lied to us!, we thought we were in deep trouble!\" Lianda

\"Hey it wasn\'t me who brought you guys here, was I? Blamed on Darius not me.\"

\"Ardis, I will now return to my quarter and get some rest,\" Darius interrupted the conversation as if nothing was happening, \"if you need me, I will be in my room. And you\" he turned to Evelyn, \"Come with me, I\'ll have to prepare you for tomorrow.\" Evelyn followed his indication and went with Darius to his room.

Now that Lianda is alone with Ardis, she could no longer suppress her curiosity about the twin.

\"Ardis, he won\'t do anything harmful to her, will he? Why is your brother so different from you? Why does he act as if nothing in this world interests or matters to him?\" asked Lianda.

\"Darius has his reasons. You see.. From where we came from, it was forbidden to have twins. For a prophecy foretold that a pair of twin would bring with them the downfall of the royal family. So all twins were killed straight after their birth. Our family was of a noble status, so they managed to manipulate everyone into believing that only one child was born. But they could only keep one child, as the lie would fall apart if anyone ever finds out about our existences, then the whole family would be executed. They were forced to forsake one of us. I was fortunate enough to be the one they chose to keep and Darius was then forsaken into the freezing wind of our homeland. I never knew I had a brother until I met Darius five years ago; when I came to the Academy.\"

\"How did Darius survive?\"

\"That, I do no know. The only possible explanation is fate. It\'s all because of fate.\"

\"I\'m sorry, I was nasty to him. I guess I should apologize to him.\"

\"Rather not and don\'t tell your little friend about this, it will only make their lessons more difficult. Darius has his pride.\" He smiled and continued, \"Lianda, meet me by my room tomorrow by sunrise, we will not have breakfast in the Academy, for we have much to get through. You know where my room is?\"

\"Don\'t be silly, how would I ever know?\"

\"Its in the west wing, there are only two quarters, the one on the left is Darius\', mine is the one on the right. Remember to be prompt.\"

They stepped into the Dinning Hall together, while Lianda asked some harmless questions about Darius\' families. She stopped suddenly as she became aware of the hateful glares aimed towards her from all directions. Blankly she looked around and realized she was hated by almost all the girls in the hall for being with Ardis. Couple of the braver ones even had the courage of walking up to Ardis and started a conversation with him. Ardis charmingly attended to his admirer and spoke with ease and joy, Lianda who was offended by his action, decided to sit next to Nafetiri. When food was served, Lianda found her doing nothing but stare into dir direction where Ardis was flirting and laughing with the other girls. She forced herself into cutting up her steak, hoping desperately that this would bring her to neglect Ardis and his admirers.

\"He favours all girls, he acts charmingly and delightfully to all of them. That\'s why everyone finds him so attractive. But my opinion is that he cares about none of them. Being kind to everybody is the same of ignoring them all. And if you cut your steak into any smaller pieces you would no longer be able to find them.\" Sneered Nafetiri.

\"Enough already! You don\'t have to rub it in you know.\"

\"So we didn\'t get into trouble with Ostagarus, did we.\"

\"NO! But we are to be removed from our normal lessons and start some special trainings with our private teachers. Want to come along?\"

\"No thanks. I am content with my current progress. Come to think of it, where is Evelyn?\"

******************************************************************* Yeah! Finally finished it! Now that the \"pre-plotting\' is almost done, I can get into some more interesting events in the next chapter!! ^_______^ and pls review da story if you like it.