"Showed up a few minutes after I did," said Zeeran, his head tilted and his perplexed expression still studying Eramus.
Morzaun smiled. "Very good. I've wished for the two of you to meet for a while."
"Then why didn't you mention him, or my aunt and uncle? Why does it feel as though you are hiding things from me?"
The sigh that escaped Morzaun was heavy and accompanied by sympathetic eyes. "I never wanted to overwhelm you. Between training and the details of your past, I feared it would be too much to tell you everything at once. Forgive me. I only have your best interests at heart."
Eramus wanted to believe him. Morzaun had given him the truth when he needed it most. But he also couldn't ignore his instincts.Somethingleft him uneasy.
"I thought Zeeran could assist with your training today," said Morzaun. "Unlike me, he can wield magic. Some spells are much easier to learn when you have a proper example."
Zeeran moved to stand opposite them, tapping his finger to his chin. "Where should we start, then? I know." He held up his palms, and a blue aura surrounded them. "Theimpetraswill do."
"Zeeran." The warning in Morzaun's tone suggested this wasn't a spell Eramus wanted to learn, at least not from his cousin.
"Just a bit of fun. I'll go easy on him."
Before Eramus could rebuff, a wave of blue light flowed towards him and crashed into his chest. His body flew backwards a dozen yards, and he landed on the grass, his head smacking against the ground. He gasped. The attack had knocked the wind out of him, not to mention the throbbing on the back of his head grew worse.
"Zeeran!" Morzaun's black cape glided behind him as the gap between him and the man vanished. Morzaun gripped him by the collar and yanked him closer, a deathly glare in his eyes. "This isn't a game. He isn't ready for that."
His cousin smirked. "The best way to get him ready is to knock him on his rear a few times. It was always great motivation for me."
"You've trained since you were ten. Had your father and I to guide you, not to mention Ladisias." Morzaun shoved him and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Don't do it again."
Eramus propped himself up on his elbows. Watching the two's interactions made his heart race. Zeeran seemed to hold some sort of grudge against Eramus, although why, he didn't know. They'd only met a few minutes ago.
"I don't recall you being so overprotective when you trained Ladisias," said Zeeran as Morzaun walked away. "You certainly didn't show me such mercy, not that you trained me much before you disappeared. No surprise you would go easy onhim."
He nodded in Eramus's direction. Morzaun spat. "Watch your words, Zeeran. If you don't like the way I do things, then go home. Go back to Verascene."
Zeeran had left Verascene? Why? Perhaps he shouldn't concern himself with it at all, but their squabble did nothing to ease his concerns.
Muttering, Zeeran turned away from them. Morzaun offered Eramus a hand and pulled him from the ground. "A shield spell. You've used one before, and"—Eramus opened his mouth to interrupt, but Morzaun stopped him—"I was watching you, remember? I know you can conjure a decent shield. An attack like that would be a good time to make use of the knowledge."
Eramus clenched his jaw and nodded. How much time had Morzaun spent watching him? The thought sent chills through his body.
"Conjure your shield, and then Zeeran can send asmallamount of energy towards you." Morzaun glared at Zeeran, daring him to disobey.
Zeeran scoffed. "Whatever you say."
Eramus waved his hands, forming a gigantic dome in front of him. In seconds, a wave of blue light crashed into it, pushing him back a few steps. He breathed hard, but the shield held. Morzaun clapped from a few feet away. "Well done! Not bad at all for your first defense."
The encouragement Morzaun offered apparently irked Zeeran, enough so that the line of magical energy grew stronger. Eramus struggled to maintain his spell, the force of Zeeran's attack eating through his magic. He groaned, and his shield dissipated, allowing the light to smash into him. Once again, Eramus gasped from the ground.
"Zeeran! I told you that was enough!"
Morzaun started for the man, but Eramus wasn't about to let him fight his battles. Coughing, he pushed himself to his feet and fired theimpetras, or as close to it as he could muster, right back. Blue light flowed past Morzaun and struck Zeeran at the waist, throwing him to the ground.
For the briefest moment, a smile washed over Morzaun's face. Zeeran clambered to his feet and conjured his blue aura, ready to retaliate. Eramus summoned his shield and closed his eyes, bracing himself for the attack he was sure his magic couldn't withstand.
When it didn't come, he squinted just enough to glimpse Zeeran's form. His aura had vanished, and he stared across the meadow. Eramus followed his gaze. Evree was heading right for them.
Morzaun's face fell when she stopped a few feet from Eramus. "Hello," she said. Her voice sounded cheery, but he could tell by the way her eyes darted to the two men that she was nervous. "I'm sorry for interrupting your training, but I was hoping I might to steal you for the afternoon?" She leaned closer, whispering. "Since my uncle is officially out of town."
"Wedohave some unfinished business to attend to, don't we?" Eramus smiled, and Evree mirrored it.
"Eramus's training is of the greatest importance," said Morzaun, his mouth pulling into a deep frown. "I'm afraid I insist he stays."
