Hauling it next to his chair, he reached into his coat and pulled out a deceptively simple key, adorned in one of the finest rune arrays he had ever made. He’d never planned on using it again and yet had never brought himself to get rid of it. Good thing, too, because he’d probably never be able to replicate such a masterwork again.

Aldric shoved the key into the lock and turned, wincing slightly as the mechanism screeched from lack of use. The myriad of latches around the lid all popped free simultaneously, and Aldric felt the presence of stale, unused mana finally being released from the mechanism.

Then he stopped. HIs hand was on the lid, poised to open it, but unmoving. He cursed his own cowardice, but try as he might, his hand wouldn’t budge.

Then Zasia’s own slender hand wrapped around his on the trunk lid, and he could feel her warmth through it. She gave him one of her rare smiles; the kind filled with a caring that had kept him going longer than he ever thought possible.

“It’s time to get back to work, Guildmaster,” was all she said.

Aldric took a long breath, then nodded. Together, they threw the trunk lid wide open. It was filled with notes, books, tools, reagents for sorcery, old diagrams, partly constructed prototypes, and all the things of Aldric’s past he had unsuccessfully tried to bury. Gently picking up a random spell diagram, Aldric felt like something in his chest had clicked back on after being dormant for far too long. It was just a little spark for now, but it was warm and hopeful.

If this was his home, he would do all he could to keep it. If these people were his family, they would be under his unwavering protection.

And if these were his students, they were going to become the most accomplished mages this world had seen in generations.

Awww! It’s over?

I know. It sucks when a good book ends. Good news, though! Remedial Magic 2 is already mostly done and set to be released end of May / beginning of June! If you want to receive future updates on how that’s going (or any other news on my books), the best way is to sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.

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