“Thisismy business,” Yiran said, heated. “I don’t know what your reports say, but I was there last night when the Revenant attacked. I’m an eyewitness, and—”
Ash brushed him off. “You can tell me everything when we get home.”
“Wait, listen to me—”
“We’re leaving. Now.”
Oxygen seemed to leave the room as Ash stared at Yiran coldly. Yiran wondered if this was the look he gave his subordinates when they said or did things he disapproved of.
Zizi’s eyebrows had crawled up his forehead. He was obviously enjoying this messy family drama unfolding in front of him. Two punches. Next time, Yiran would deliver two punches to that pretty, smirky face.
“I’m not leaving until I have my say,” Yiran declared. “Rui got hurt while trying to save me. We ran into this wizard after our fight with the Revenant and he said he could heal her, so we came here.”
“Mage,” Zizi said, bowing with a flourish. “Yes, I am their savior.”
As Yiran expected, Zizi played along. Rui looked like she wanted to stab herself in the eyeballs.
Gaining steam, Yiran went on. “The warning for the Night Hunt came too late. I’m sure the stallholders at the Night Market will tell you the same. There were no Exorcists in the area when the Revenant appeared—only Rui. She’s the reason why I’m still alive, and why no one else was hurt. If word got out that she was being punished for doing the right thing...” He paused for effect.
Immediately recognizing what Yiran was getting at, Ash changed his demeanor from irritation to understanding. Yiran could see his half brother’s brain ticking. This was a potential public relations disaster for the Guild, and if the Night Market and the underground magic community got involved...
Now for the final nudge.
“Why weren’t the Exorcists there?” Yiran asked. He made sure to sound curious and not accusing. “Was it a miscalculation?”
Ash twisted to Rui with an urbane smile. “It seems my brother feels a debt of gratitude to you, Cadet Lin. And rightfully so. If your case is considered by the Discipline Committee, I’m sure they’ll take all evidence and testimony into account. Although on second thought, probation might be too harsh considering the circumstances. As your mentor, I will put in a word myself to have it removed.”
Rui gave Yiran a small nod.Good. She thinks you’re helping her.He grinned back. Sometimes, he thought, the only way to lie was to tell the truth.
“One more thing.”
All eyes fixed on Yiran. Rui was frowning now.
Yiran raised his hand. His fingertips were glowing.
Rui jerked forward, but Zizi held her back. Thankfully, Ash was too stunned to be paying attention to anyone or anything else but Yiran.
Ash kept staring, mouth agape. “Is that...? That’s...”
“Magic,” Yiran finished. “I can do magic.”
His fingertips glowed brighter, the crimson light deepening. The scars on his fingertips tingled. Yiran didn’t remember this happening last night. Heat rose in his chest. The light flickered.
He felt a sudden stab of pain in his fingers.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zizi shooting him a warning look.Enough.
Yiran let his breathing go back to its natural pattern, and the crimson light disappeared. His display had lasted a few seconds, but he feltexhausted. Zizi was right; he needed to learn how to control his newfound power.
Ash dropped his coat and wrapped Yiran in a bear hug. When he let go, his eyes were suspiciously wet-looking. “This is—this is amazing. Buthow?”
“I don’t know. It happened suddenly last night during the Revenant attack. I didn’t think it was possible either, but you saw what I just did—” Yiran darted a quick glance at Zizi. “I guess it must be some sort of anomaly.”
Zizi coughed. “Perhaps his fight-or-flight response triggered something. The mysteries of the human body, am I right?”
Rui fired Zizi a look of betrayal, which he pretended not to notice. But again, she didn’t say a word. Yiran had bet on her silence, guessing she’d have no choice but to go along with whatever he said so her own secrets would not be exposed.
Ash straightened, suddenly businesslike. “You seemed to have skipped some steps in this—from a surge of spiritual energy to that display of magic—we should be careful.” He pulled out his phone. “We need to tell Grandpa at once, and we need to get your vitals checked right away. Magic shouldn’t be coming out from your hands like that.”
