Page 29 of Dark Reckoning
Silence.
I figured we both got each other's message, so I continued. “Anyway, Adrian and I just set up a barrier around Salino's home,” I said.
“What kind?” Kakashi asked.
“Seal of the Bound,” Adrian supplied.
“Interesting that your powers have increased that much for a spell of that kind. Remarkable,” Kakashi said.
“It seemed simple enough and we already had the ingredients,” Adrian said.
“The ingredients are one thing, but the magical essence needed to flow from you into the spell through the incantation is another. The Seal of the Bound is the highest protective spell I'm aware of. You two have managed to do something very few have,” Kakashi said.
“And that is?” I asked.
“Impressed me,” Kakashi replied.
“Oh—okay,” Adrian said and he looked so adorable.
I simply rolled my eyes, because I didn't give a damn if he was impressed or not. “Do I need to get anything for this spell to take out the emperors?” I asked.
“No, I'll bring what we need. Give me an hour,” Kakashi said.
“Perfect—Oh wait. We'll need more time than that,” I said, remembering my promise to Damon. “Adrian and I have to put barriers around Damon Aeneas' four safe houses.”
“That is a good thing. He needs to keep his griezels protected. Members of the Council have ordered other mages to do the same for supernals in their cities. This is a time where we must all put aside our differences and petty squabbles because we are all in danger,” Kakashi said.
“And the other mages are doing what you asked?” I questioned.
“I didn't ask, I demanded. And if they don't want to be punished, they will obey. That is the power of the Echelon Imperial. Had you and Adrian refused my offer to join us peacefully, you would have learned what a punishment from the Echelon Imperial Council of Mages would have felt like. Lucky for you, we avoided such... unpleasantries,” Kakashi said.
“Don't think we're so easy to —”
“Yes, you are, Sage. You are easy for us to defeat. For one thing, you are both novices, just coming into your powers. Yet you're not even close to reaching your full potential. Understand and remember that the mages on the Council, like yourselves, have been chosen because we are each more powerful than any other mages of our lines. We have been accepted by our Echelon Imperial ancestors through purification. However, the knowledge of the properties of magic that we possess makes us your superiors,” Kakashi said.
“Arrogance much?” Adrian mumbled.
Kakashi scoffed. “As are you, Adrian. Mages of our caliber deserve to be arrogant. For no one can do what we can.”
“Then why give me shit for my attitude?” I asked.
“Because you haven't really earned your level of arrogance, young mage,” Kakashi said, making sure to put emphasis on the word young. “You will understand the difference when I perform the spell later on. Now, please, make haste on spelling Damon's locations, I'll be there in three hours. Inform Salino of our arrival,” Kakashi said.
“Yeah, I'll get right on that,” I said with some attitude before I ended the call and looked at Adrian. “Fucking prick.”
Adrian nodded. “Yeah, he is. They are powerful, though. I felt it when we shared blood.”
“I felt it, too,” I agreed, because it was equally frightening and humbling.
“I can't believe everything that's happened today,” Adrian said, running his fingers through his hair.
I snorted. “This day feels like a fucking episode of that show where that agent had to stop a whole terrorist plot in one day.”
Adrian nodded and gave a sad chuckle. “That's very accurate and it's not even over yet.”
“Fuck, what time is it?”
He looked at his watch. “Almost nine.”
