In a way, I supposed Horus' comments weren't that surprising. Once the initial shock of the interaction wore off. It reminded me a bit of when Jade started being nice. Nicer? I tried to remember what Mom had told me about Kelpies.

Prideful, orthodox, resistant against change…

Traditionalists.

That was probably his problem with me. If traditions were followed I wouldn't exist. But I supposed red being the opposite of green was to be expected.

I set my head on the table in the workroom. "You're overthinking this," I told myself, not that I would listen.

"Terrible habit that, but can also get you out of trouble once in a while."

I looked up to glare at the back of Red. Still glowing echo blue and hints of the bookshelves she was looking at just barely visible.

Hood was up, like always.

"Do you just have your hood up for my benefit or is it some kind of fashion statement?"

"M lets me know when I need to have it up for our little chats."

"You're unhelpful."

"Not for lack of trying, if I could do more I would."

"Is this really how you want to spend your last…what years? Months?"

"I don't know the date of my wraith confrontation, but months is probably more accurate."

"Avoiding the question."

"Yep. Speaking of questions, what are you overthinking about this time?"

"Kelpie Representative Vidar Horus."

"I smell gossip."

"You sound like Celica."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I promise to judge less?"

I wasn't even surprised anymore. She seemed to know everything else.

"Is it…would it be weird of me to say I kind of wish he had just talked to me from the beginning?"

"Talking to people is hard. Harder for some, sure. But always hard. For one it would have required him to be willing to admit he might be wrong much sooner."

"What do you know about what he said?"

"Nothing. But I know a thing or two about Kelpies. Not a fan of mold-breakers, which we are. Whether we want to be or not." She spoke with her hands, pointing between the two of us without even looking back.

"I don't think that's true."

"Oh?"

"I'm a Dragon, what mold could there possibly be for me to break?"

I couldn't see it, but I could swear I heard her smiling as she talked, "That's what's taking some people so long to figure out. And your job as representative. Forge a new mold." She waved around her right hand as she spoke. She was wearing those same black gloves.

"That sounds like too much responsibility."

"Then step down."

"But the others-"

"Who cares what they think? They'll get over it."

"I care!" I was getting a little tired of people telling me I should just quit. I didn't come here to quit, I was going to make this work!

Red looked to the right, towards the door of the room. Then went back to the bookshelves. I don't know what she was looking for, but it was taking forever.

"I opened that damn door somehow, I got us into this mess, and the others wanted me to do it. I don't know why any of these things happened but they did and I owe it to them and to myself to try as hard as I can." This bullshit was not going to get the best of me!

I heard Red chuckle.

"No, she can't see you. That's an Echo by the way. You asked earlier," She went back to facing to her right. Her gestures stilled.

What?

"I don't like that look," Red paused. Was there someone else who could see me in the room with her? "She's got a lot on her mind." More waiting. "Yeah she can see me. It's complicated magic stuff. I'm not making fun of you, I barely understand it myself."

Red laughed.

"I told you stuff was weird. You can always ask to be transferred." I couldn't be sure, but I was getting the feeling she would prefer that. I wondered who she was talking to.

She finally grabbed a book. Technically it was floating there, but was also firmly in her hand. The magic that enabled this was very curious. I couldn't see the title, but the cover was dark green.

She was teasing, but I could swear I heard a bit of tension. "Suit yourself, but I hear Basilisk Tower isn't that bad. I'm not going anywhere. Don't you worry your little head about it."

That was a lie and she knew it. I remembered her saying something about her Towermates not knowing. That felt a little cruel to know about your impending death and not tell anyone else.

"You just got here. Focus on not making an idiot of yourself in your classes. I can worry about me."

She placed the dark green book on the table. She set it down sideways and focused all her attention on whoever it was with her. She put her hands on her hips.

She groaned, and then a little louder than before, "I swear worrying is your favorite hobby. Relax a little, if you're going to stick around, you're going to have to get used to it."

She sighed after a moment.

"Yikes," I commented.

"And on that note, I think it's time to wrap this up. M, would you?" She asked while looking up towards the ceiling, she accompanied it with a circular gesture with her hand.

Then she was gone. The book still where she placed it.

She could do that?! Since when? What the hells, Red?

Maybe she deserved to be gutted by a wraith.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.