We end the call, and I look back at the room. The fire is extinguished now, but it’s going to take a while to fix. I’d better go brief Matherson.
I text Brock as I make my way to Matherson’s Office.
JAYCE: Order pizza for the team, my treat.
BROCK: Nice, that’s going to be a big order. What’s the occasion?
I look down at the small glowing screen that hovers above the Schattensicht.
Sienna’s progress tonight.
JAYCE: To our new team.
BROCK: Awesome!
JAYCE: Message me the total, and I’ll transfer it over. I’m going to speak to Matherson, and I’ll be there shortly.
BROCK: You got it.
Reaching Matherson’s office door, I knock, and when he tells me to enter, I step inside to see he’s poring over some papers.
“You could have at least cleaned up, Alpha Jayce.”
A title he uses in private, even if he is my professor. I’ve never argued it; he respects Dad and Grandad, and that is a choice he made.
“I apologise, but I thought you should be the first to know.”
“I’ve already heard about the destruction of the Training Facility.”
“Sienna Rossi is incredibly powerful. Yes, she can’t harness that power right now, but she will be able to. She didn’t hesitate to pull it back the moment the match was over.”
“Harness, you say, not control?”
“I think control means she has no hold over it, and as I said, she was able to pull it back the moment the match was over,” I reply, folding my hands behind my back.
“So, she’s safe to go on missions?”
“I’d rather she doesn’t right now, but I’d like to be the one to make that decision, per mission briefing. I will continue to train her and see if I can help her.”
“I hope so, Alpha Jayce. You have assisted in training several other students over the years, and so I’m confident you can. I am proud to have you here and know that I can see you leading our armies into battle when the time comes. You are granted permission.”
I give a small nod. “Thanks, Alpha Matherson.”
He gives me a small smile, and I’m about to leave when he holds up a finger, “One moment.”
I pause before he takes out a book that looks like an old tome or grimoire. “The drawing you showed me a few weeks ago, well, I found something that looks similar enough. I’m not sure if it’s worth anything, but here.”
I take it, not expecting this. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I exit his office and flip through the book. He’s tabbed a page in the battered tome. The stamp on the first page is one I recognise. The witches’ sect in Egypt…
The book itself is in Arabic, and although I can read German, French and Spanish, Arabic is not one of those languages. Great.
I flip to the tabbed page, my heart quickening.
It’s the same one I’ve been drawing…
So, it does mean something; I don’t know what, but… Egypt. There’s my lead.
