Spell Weaver [Book 2 Complete]

Alex pushed through the heavy door into the same training facility at the Voss estate where the New Year’s tournament had taken place. As he looked through the thick glass window at head height, he caught his own reflection and was still shocked, even after being back for an entire month, to see the difference in his appearance.

“-and that’s where the fundamental difference lies,” a woman’s voice came from the phone. “The Hunters Association wants control, regulation, and oversight. The Adventurers Guild advocates for freedom of choice, personal responsibility-”

“Morning,” Alex called. He dropped his gym bag on the floor, and the scent of leather and rubber training mats filled his nose.

Olivia glanced up and gave him a smile. “Hey.” She paused the video from where she was sitting cross-legged on one of the training mats. Her phone was propped against her water bottle. “Did you see this video?”

“Nah, but sounds like some more drama?” Alex said, settling down on the mat beside her. “Another hit piece on the Guild?”

“Actually, this one’s pretty balanced.” Olivia stretched her arms above her head.

Alex smiled at her, distracted for a moment by her beauty. His eyes were most often drawn to her button nose and dark eyes, but in her tight compression shirt and with her hair pulled up in a ponytail, his eyes were drawn to her slender neck.

“Some journalist finally did their homework. They’re breaking down the ideological differences between us and the Association. As dark as it is to say, I think it looks pretty good for us that there is beginning to be more Awakened crime in the Safe Zones. It makes the Hunters Association look like they can’t control their own circus. Did you know that they’re talking about pushing for mandatory scans at the checkpoints entering the Safe Zones? Apparently if you’re not registered to one of the guilds in the Hunters Association’s purview, you won’t be able to enter. Or at least need to be willing to be detained and register with them before gaining access to the rest of the Safe Zone.”

Alex lay on his back on the mat and quickly blew air from his lips, causing his lips and cheeks to make an exacerbated noise. He brought his hand up to lightly scratch Olivia’s back while looking up at the ceiling.

“Shit. That changes a lot of things. Does that basically make us outlaws or something? This is pretty crazy.” A silence hung between them as Alex thought through the repercussions of a mandate like that. “It’s got to be hard. I know you don’t really like the Hunters Association, but I don’t know what the right answer is for them, to be honest.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, think of how much damage any of us could do with some serious ill intent. It’s not like it used to be, where firearms were the primary concern. That was bad enough, but now there are spatial pouches and people who can cast spells and blow stuff up by simply willing a skill to activate. They’re trying to position themselves in a way to regulate and monitor Awakened, but the hardest part of that has got to be actually managing people like us.”

Alex saw her ponytail bob as she nodded to what he said. “Yeah, I can see that. But…” She let out a sigh, and he knew it was hard for her to want to side with the Hunters Association in any way, even if it was just to acknowledge the difficulty of their situation.

“Speaking of difficulties,” he said, changing the topic for her. “You know we’ve been in queue for a few Uncommon and Rare Rifts for a while now, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Derrick told me two days ago that there was a note in the AG system saying that our group didn’t mind waiting if others needed to get in ahead of us. ‘because we were already so high leveled,’ or something like that.”

“What?” She twisted in her seated position to look at him with her eyebrows pulled together and her nose scrunched up. “How does that make any sense?”

“That’s what I said. So, it wasn’t you who put the note in there?”

“No. Why the hell would I put something like in a note for you guys. That totally goes against what you’ve been talking to me about for your goals since you got home.”

Alex nodded, “Yeah. I didn’t think it was you, but Derrick did say it was logged in the system that a Peacekeeper put in the note… and, well, you’re the only one that I ever really talk to.”

“Well,” she stood up and offered him a hand, “I can ask around. See if anyone’s heard anything similar or who might have made the note.”

“Thanks,” Alex said, while accepting her offered hand. “I appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it.” Olivia’s serious expression melted into a mischievous grin. “Besides, I need you focused for our spar. Can’t have you distracted when I show you how much stronger I’ve gotten.”

Alex laughed. “Oh yeah? Still got a ways to go to catch up to me.”

“We’ll see about that.” Olivia’s eyes sparkled at the challenge and she moved to the center of the mat. “Better quit slacking off. I’m closing the gap.”

“Wait, seriously?” He focused and used the scan function of his left eye.