“Ms Celeste! Ms Delphinus! I’ve been looking for you!”

If the aura wasn’t telling enough, the hyperactive cries were. The two faeries turned as Phoenie came bounding up behind them, clipboard clutched tight to her grey sweater.

“Veritas meeting. Very important. Big news.” she said between gasps, “Gotta run. See you there. Ten minutes. Topaz-Twelve.” Then, as quickly as she arrived, the dark-skinned girl was off again, brown hair bouncing behind her.

I am both intrigued and suspicious of this development, said Faye, I would like to observe the workings of this group ‘Veritas’ for myself, but I am also concerned by the urgency with which Phoenix Rogan is working.

You get any idea what she’s up to from her thoughts? asked Phantasia.

I did not. Phoenix Rogan’s thoughts are well protected by her paranoia.

Guess we’ll just have to attend the meeting to find out what’s going on!

Phantasia began an enthusiastic skip towards Topaz House, but Faye was slow to follow.

You thoughts are not as guarded as Phoenix Rogan’s, replied Faye, and I would be careful with how much you are willing to divulge to these individuals. I am fully aware of your attempt at revealing your identity to them before you were aware of the illusions.

They’d seen me fight the leansídhe; it was for the best!

Might I remind you that you were instructed to keep your identity a secret by Queen Thetis herself? These people have not had the worldly upbringing that other humans have, which combined with their species natural distrust of our kind does not bode well for cordial relations. You have seen evidence of this from the behaviour of Dante Orpheus, who has ceased his friendship with you, and from the actions of Godhand once Bishop Rosencrantz Garland was aware of your identity. The reaction of the Academy students to my own natural behaviour supports this also.

And you think that lecture is going to change my mind? Besides, I’m not gonna do anything dramatic. What’s the point? Princess Titania is obviously keeping on eye on me and covering up everything I do. I just wanna see if they’ve worked it all out yet, you know? See if they can beat the magic with their own willpower! You’ve gotta give them some credit if they can do that, surely?

If they are having difficulty circumventing the illusions of Princess Titania then it confirms that they are indeed safer in ignorance.

They arrived in Topaz House, home to science, mathematics and engineering. Phantasia still found the subjects confusing – especially maths – but she was an ethereal being who grew up in a world where the laws of physics, chemistry and numbers had no power. Expecting her to understand the underlying mechanics of the physical world was like expecting Lance Algar to comprehend the nature of mana, elements and spiritual existence.

Chapter 45
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