The Magic Tower (II)

Edward served me various dishes and fed me well while also looking at me like a child looking at a new pet. The food barely went down my throat with him watching. I coughed and said "Ed you also eat."

He looked at me, nodded, pulled a chair and started serving himself some food. We ate in quietness and just the sound of forks and knives could be heard. The food was delicious and I enjoyed this warm dinner after traveling for three days straight without a break.

I put my utensils down after finishing the meal and wiped my face with a napkin. A wine glass appeared before me. 

"It's Grieument Rich. Azin brought it when he visited Grieument."

I raised my eyebrows knowing how rare this wine was. As I picked up the glass and twirled it the deep red liquid enchanted me. Bringing it to my nose and taking a hint of its smell I knew it was a high class wine made with the best methods. It smells fruity and flowery at the same time. 

"Toast"

I smiled and we brought our glass together and had a toast. I tasted the wine and it melted with its taste. It tasted like how it looked and smelled. 

"It's wonderful."

"It is isn't it but my lord do you know this is also called the deception."

"Why?" It was really interesting why a wine is called deception. 'Wait maybe because after you drink it enough you will be able to deceive someone.'

Edward looked at the glass with empty eyes. 'wait empty.'

"Ward..."

"Yes my lord."

Ward looked at me and spoke again. "As I was saying it is called deception because the rich fruits disguise themselves as flowers and deceive others to survive just like you my lord." 

A chill ran down my spine.

'He is unstable because of the news. His defense mechanism kicked in.' 

I quickly put my glass down and began to explain "Sorry I didn't contact you soon enough. I was struggling because of Jas-"

"Ed is not very happy that you contacted Reed before him. But I understand as I am able to see what you are planning." He also placed his glass down. 

'One of the reasons Edward is better when he is Ed.' I frowned and thought about what to do. 

Ed and Ward are two personalities of Edward. They know about each other and work together very well. They are like brothers. Ed is the cheerful, great mage and the honest side. On the other hand Ward is the cold, calculative and the smarter side. While Ed is good at magic, Ward is good at analysis and planning. 

It's much easier with Ed in case of giving orders but if I had to entrust planning and leading a division I would trust Ward to do his part flawlessly. 

"Ward can you bring Ed back?" I sounded desperate even to myself. I fear Ward more than Ed just because he can find out almost all the information with just some subtle movements and with a few words. 

"I don't mind but my lord you should listen to the report first." He said calmly.

"Ok." I replied with an inward sigh.

"Ward at least change the location first. We have to make sure the lord is comfortable." bright eyes frowned and shouted at himself. 

'Well Ed is back.' 

Amber mana rose from Edward and covered the both of us. I closed my eyes and opened them when I felt my seat change. We arrived in a different room. It was covered with ancient books and other papers. It had mana stones lying in a pile and there was a lot of thing on the table filling it to the brim. But it was gone with a click of Ed's finger. 

Instead now there were cookies and Drake Doughnuts.

Ed sat before me and picked up a cookie, he looked at me and then his eyes lost his colors. Ward was back. As we sat inside Edward's office my expression changed to seriousness and Ward's mouth opened to speak his report. 

"Then let me begin my lord."

I nodded and gave him the permission to begin. 

"Then let's begin with the most critical piece of information."

I just picked a doughnut.

"The brightfall is in search of duke Mabuz as he is the last resort of getting to know the words of the Ice King."

and I choked. I came down to a fit of coughs and a glass of water appeared and I drank it.

"Apparently there is news that the north kingdoms are going on a war with Ravial kingdom for the Ice king and to bring Duke Mabuz on their side."

And I threw the water I drank out of my mouth. Wiping my face with a cloth that appeared out of thin air I look up at Ward and say "warn me before saying such shocking news." 

"That is not even the worst thing yet my lord."

"It's not?" I ask in disbelief.

"Brightfall is supporting the north and Sky, Reed, Ivey, Herrick, Leia and Jasper are unable to stop them. The vampires, Elves and Dwarves have stopped listening to our commands and even Sofia is busy with your sword creation. Witches, Dragons and Mermaids are not responding to anything at the moment but dragons have shown subtle moments. The mages and wolves are under control thought." 

My frown kept growing.

"Leia didn't inform me about all this." 

"She was made to be quiet because of Jasper. He is the most unstable because you are not with him." 

"But-"

"My lord a shadow cannot live without its owner you know better than that."

A sigh left my mouth. 

'So those who know I am alive are against those who don't know I am alive and they are fighting for me to get me to know what I left. Great, just grrreat. My plan has gone so far away that I can't even see it.'

"My lord, how are you going to handle this mess? you don't have much time."

'I have to return to the Ravial kingdom and have a meeting with the noble, then I will head to Avala and get my sword and then I will head to the great coral reef and meet with Leia to explain the plan I will build up by then. The information will then be secretly circular within the Brightfall and we will be back on track after a little adjustment.' 

"My lor-"

"My lord-"

"my lord"

"hu yes."

"You are thinking a lot, my lord."

"Humm, I just decided what I am going to do next. Thank you for the report."

"no prob-"

beep beep

The voice of Edward's contact ball came. his eyes brightened and the ball flew to him. It was glowing red. The frost castle.

Ed looked up at me and I with determined eyes said "pick it up."