Phantasia staggered back, Wotan’s sudden outburst stunning her.

“Have you never thought to question their teaching methods?” continued Wotan, his voice calmer but still tinged with a sharp edge of resentment, “Were it not for me, those lessons would be far more blatant! With Godhand pressuring them, they can’t teach children how to wield weapons and magic for war. Antagonise Godhand and its dogma all you want, but at least it doesn’t teach kids how to fight.” He sat down again and nursed his temple.

“Just to hate anyone different to them,” snapped Phantasia.

Wotan didn’t reply.

“I don’t know much about your Godhand – nor do I know a lot about Mr Payne or whatever he works for, but…” Phantasia took a few steps forward so she was standing at the bottom of the dais, “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my friends. I don’t care for your stupid wars!”

Wotan frowned, a melancholy chuckle escaping his throat. “Well then, I should probably explain why I brought you here, then. It certainly wasn’t to ‘rehabilitate’ you, but I couldn’t explain the truth to Astrid.”

Phantasia scowled at the prospect of being used in someone else’s devious scheme.

“You see, earlier I was presented with some images that I found most fascinating.” he continued, “It would appear one of Payne’s students has gotten her hands on a camera capable of capturing electromagnetic fields.”

Phantasia froze. Had Wotan seen those auragraphs? And how?

“I have a list of Payne’s students that were involved in an incident recently that happened to involve a demon. From the evidence we’ve acquired, we have more than enough to convict several of them of witchcraft…”

“They had nothing to do with it!” cried Phantasia. Wotan smiled.

“Kaori Shimomura, daughter of suspected heretics Yuki and Li Shimomura; and Shelley Edwards, daughter of suspected witch Endora Edwards – both of these girls would be valuable assets in our campaign against Rembrandt Payne,”

“It was my fault!” cried Phantasia, “I’m the one who confronted that demon! I’m the witch!”

Wotan laughed and raised a hand. Phantasia recognised the two-fingered sign he made – a sign used in human magicks. She felt a force explode out of the floor and ethereal chains dug into her body, rooting her to the spot and suppressing her senses.

“It’s just a simple constraint spell,” he said in a matter-of-face tone, “Designed especially for a Fae of your level. I realise how unpredictable you can be, and I’d like to keep you around for a while longer.” He clicked his fingers and several robed figures slipped into the room from a back entrance.

“Go to Payne’s ‘academy’ and arrest the students Kaori Shimomura, Shelley Edwards and Katrina Riches. They are to be charged with heresy and witchcraft, and shall be rehabilitated.”

Phantasia struggled against the forces holding her down, but the magick was adapted to suit her. Far too much, she thought.

“You can’t hurt them!” she begged, “They haven’t done anything wrong!”

Wotan relaxed in his throne and smiled. “You are just a child,” he said, “A child with a naïve view of the world. It’s not about who’s ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, it’s about who has power. Conserve yours while you can. Your role in this charade will arrive soon enough, faerie girl,”

~ Phantasia’s good intentions are turned against her! Will her world be shattered?! ~
~ Next: Godhand’s agents descend upon Torsten Academy! ~

Chapter 14
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