Principal Kael nearly knocked his chair over as he rose, his old bones stiff but his instincts alert.
The air in his office rippled like a pond struck by a stone, and in the space of an instant, a circle of blue fire blazed into existence on the floor.
Out of it stepped King Cillian himself, cloak of royal blue trimmed in gold, an unmistakable circlet on his brow.
Beside him stood another man Kael would not mistake for anyone else, the High Magus, Master Edric, his eyes glowing faintly with residual mana.
And behind them was the rest of the group, the armored men that were the King's personal guards.
Kael bowed at once, staff pressed to the ground. "Your Majesty, High Magus..."
"Spare me the courtesies, Aldred." Cillian cut him off, his voice rough with command. His grey eyes pinned Kael to the spot. "Where is the boy? The one with the SSS-rank potential."
