Page 117 of Academy of the Wicked, Year Two

If all this is planned, what’s the end game? Why split us all day but make it so we somehow cross paths in the midst of our missions?

Zeke looks toward Mortimer with an expression suggesting shared knowledge not yet revealed to the rest of the group.

"Maybe we'll be able to access the Sphere," he suggests, the casual reference clearly significant between them while meaningless to the remainder of our gathering.

"The Sphere?" Cassius, Gwenivere, and I question in perfect unison, the synchronized response drawing slight smile from Mortimer as he observes our collective confusion.

His scholarly composure returns with practiced ease, lecture mode engaging with familiar precision that somehow manages to convey both academic detachment and personal investment in the subject.

"The Sphere is a space in the Archives that freezes time within its boundaries temporarily," he explains, hands gesturing slightly to emphasize key concepts with characteristic scholarly enthusiasm. "Every realm has one, but there's always one within any grand library. They had one in Year One's library as well, but it's almost impossible to access."

Cassius frowns slightly, shadows coiling with what I've come to recognize as his expression of thoughtful skepticism rather than outright rejection.

"If it's impossible to access," he points out with characteristic precision, "how are we going to reach it here?"

Mortimer turns an expectant gaze toward Zeke, who extracts an identification card with casual confidence that suggests familiarity with procedures most students would find incomprehensibly complex.

"I have access," he states simply, the words carrying neither pride nor particular emphasis despite clearly representing extraordinary privilege within the academy hierarchy.

"Is he the master key of the realms or something?" I mutter, the question emerging before a diplomatic filter can engage properly. The comment carries more jealousy than intended, revealing an emotional response I'd prefer to keep better concealed from both allies and potential adversaries.

Gwenivere smiles with a knowing expression that suggests she reads my reaction with unfortunate accuracy.

Ugh. I have to stop being such an open book here.

"Don't be jealous," she warns with a teasing lilt that somehow manages to both acknowledge concern while simultaneously dismissing it as unnecessary. She’s giving me those set of doe eyes that has my cock twitching at the wrong time.

The two of us are staring long enoughatone another that Cassius clears his throat.

It takes me tugging my eyes away from my taunting Queen of Spades to force us back into present matters.

"Then let's go there," I respond, deliberate redirection toward practical action rather than emotional territory I'd prefer not to further explore before this particular audience.Not like I’m embarrassed to admit I’m completely turned on right now and just want to fuck my woman the way I should have when we first settled here."How far is it?"

Zeke gestures toward the room next to us, expression carrying casual confidence entirely at odds with the apparent contradiction his indication represents.

"Just enter," he encourages with a slight nod toward a familiar doorway. "And follow instructions."

Gwenivere tilts her head with a characteristic expression that combines curiosity with slight skepticism.

"We just came from that room," she points out, confusion evident in a slight furrow appearing between her brows.

Zeke nods with easy confirmation that suggests he finds nothing particularly unusual about the apparent paradox.

Why were they in a room together in the first place? It’s a classroom. They could be just studying. Ugh. I need to calm down and stop being so territorial.

"Don't worry," he reassures her. "Just follow instructions."

"I hope we're not walking into a trap," Cassius murmurs, shadows coiling with an evident wariness that reflects my own internal calculations regarding potential risk factors.

"I trust the feline," Mortimer states with surprising certainty from being typically given to careful qualification and scholarly reservation. The absolute confidence in his tone suggests a relationship extending far beyond casual acquaintance or recent alliance

How do they know each other?

From what I gathered from my on-and-off conversations with Cassius today, Mortimer doesn’t mingle with many, if at all.

But knows this feline…hmm?

That’s the problem with living centuries versus reborn. They carry secrets feeling the need to explain details later because they have “all the time” to do exactly that versus us reborn into this grand world through blood and bonds that feel the endless tie to urgency when meaningfully due.

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