107 106. He Isn't Just a Legendary Mage, Part VII

Theo's point of view

➵➵➵

HANA WILDFLOWER IS SUCH A STRANGE NAME, as strange as its owner. To think she's actually a Nicholai makes even more sense, taking her hair and eyes into consideration. I don't know how I didn't link her with them the second my eyes landed on her, back at Lollipop That Beats Beats Beats.

Even though she is annoying, she also intrigues me. I kept finding her in my thoughts all the time, and it's freaking me out because I'm starting to think I'm getting obsessed with her. This is a problem, once being obsessed with one Princess was already enough. And the worse is that they are from the same damn house.

Nevertheless, even if Hana and Natasha look alike, as if they were the same person, I know they aren't. I only met Natasha when I was a child, but I never forgot her energy, her unique aura. She probably doesn't remember me, not even I have clear memories of my childhood, but she had an effect on me I'll never forget. The Princess didn't know who I was, nor if I was of noble birth or not, but she was gentle and spent time playing with me while I was there.

I was around 9 years old, I guess. But I remember feeling happy because someone was finally treating me normally and kindly. However, I had to come back to Theolia and I never saw her again.

My memories of the events that followed all of that are faint. The physician I met when I was younger told me I had suffered some kind of accident that messed up my mind. And so, I can never remember everything that happened in a day, only some things, and I held myself onto the things I can remind myself of.

Maybe that's the reason for my obsession with Princess Natasha. She's the only person I can remember vividly from my childhood, with no missing parts. At least, I like to think that. And it's thanks to my fascination for that girl that I trained since I was a child to grow stronger, become powerful, and influential, and use my influence to help her discover something I know she craves.

We never crossed paths again, but I heard all the rumors about the things she tirelessly claimed when she was a child until she gave up because no one believed in her. But I did. I knew in my heart that she had no reason to lie about having lost her magic.

So, as the prodigy, they claimed I was, I got stronger. Stronger enough to become the head of the Information Guild, and have eyes everywhere. And with this power, I began to search for the unknown mage with thievery magic in secret, after learning about its existence from Stradivarius K'hir himself, when I met him three years ago. That was also the time when I mated with Frost, the ice spirit, not because of magical compatibility once I do not possess this type of magic, but because of our soul and personality compatibility.

She looks like a black ferret with silver pupils and has quite a temper. But we managed to establish a harmonious relationship. Although it's my most guarded secret, and not even my best friend, Leonard, knows about it.

Back when I was visiting the Archipelago K'hir, I explained my concerns to the Legendary Mage and he helped me out, by letting me read the book about thievery magic. That's how I know what it is. Being powerful like he is, I knew he would know something about it, and I was right.

My best friend doesn't know about my search either. It's not that I don't trust him, but by the way, he worries about me, he would tell me to stop it, and we would end up fighting. Not to mention that he could accidentally tell his lover about it, and that could be a problem. After all, getting any of the Imperials in my stuff wouldn't be ideal for me.

Up until now, I've gathered some great information. Nonetheless, I'm not sure of anything yet. That's why I can't approach Princess Natasha yet. But maybe... Hana could help me with that.

I'm aware that it will be quite hard to get her to let down her walls and agree to have a civilized talk with me, but I think I should try. She mentioned that she was close to the Princess, and she was indeed taking her place in the Knighthood Ceremony, so she must have been telling the truth.

Regardless, I should be careful around Hana. The little time I spent with her was enough for her to get under my skin in a way only the Princess has managed to. That's why I'm annoyed with myself for not being able to get her out of my mind. That sly and dangerous girl is like a plague, spreading her aura inside of me, unknowingly or not.

And even though I am conscious of how dangerous she is, that only attracts me even more. It makes me want to get closer to her, to stay around her, to get to know her. Hana awakens something strange inside of me. She makes me crave to learn all of her deepest and darkest secrets and thoughts.

When I am around her, she makes me lose control of myself and makes me act impulsively. Like when we met in the garden of Greenhall Castle. I still can't forget how her heart beating got out of control the second I touched her waist, or how she held her breath. Neither will I ever be able to forget the anger in her eyes and how that amused me.

Not to mention the savageness when she held the dagger against my throat.

Damn, that made me want to tease her even more. And I'm not usually like that. At least, I try my all to stay composed and analyze everything neutrally. Except when I fight seriously because then it's like my humanity is turned off.

But the point is. I can't help but be obsessed with Natasha and Hana. And I'm not saying that just because I'm possibly in love with them, but because I REALLY can control it. It's like something is pulling me in their direction. Making me lose my cool. Turning me into an Ethan Theodore that isn't so pleasant, and can be quite dangerous.

Oh, and there's something that has been getting on my nerves. How is it that Hana is able to see through my magic when no one else can? Leonard can always recognize me when I try to fool him, because he knows me, and can actually predict my mischievous actions. But she doesn't know me, so how?

She actually knows what I look like, and it's frustrating not to know how is that possible.

{"And this is another thing that attracts you to that sly fox even more,"} Frost spoke, already predicting my next thoughts, clearly annoyed. {"Could you, please, stop thinking about her? I can't avoid hearing your thoughts because of our bond, and although I understand why you are attracted to that lunatic, I can't take this anymore."} The ferret sat on his lap and stared at him. {"First it was the Nicholai Princess, and now her cousin. Goddess' above, in no time you will get obsessed with all of the pink-haired members of that family!"}

I giggled. "I can't stop thinking, Frost! I would die of boredom!"

Sigh. {"Why don't you just go after that cunning human then? Instead of thinking about her like a psycho,"} she exclaimed, done with me.

"How can an adorable-looking creature like you be so sour, Frost?" When she was about to, probably, give me a rude answer, as usual, I stopped her. "I can't go to her. She's not here in Theolia, remember when the spy told me about how she went camping with her aide and Knight?"

Frost rolled her eyes. {"I also remember how the other spy told you that she wasn't camping, but rather headed to the Archipelago K'hir!"}

"She has the right to do whatever she wants. Who knows the reason why she lied to them? I don't care, after all, they are not her parents and siblings, but her cousins and uncles. She doesn't need to give them notice of everywhere she goes," she didn't seem to buy my words.

Before she could say anything, someone knocked on the door three times and as the person opened it right away, not waiting for me to answer, I knew it was Leo. And when he met me, his eyes went directly to my ear, probably making sure that I was using the protective earing Hana gave him still under Natasha's pesona, to give to his best friend.

I can't imagine what she'll say when she realizes that his best friend is actually me!

"What brings you here, Leo?" My voice was calm, as I petted Frost's fur.

He seemed anxious. "Some mages from the Mage's Tower came to the headquarters by spatial magic and told us that a new sea monster had been discovered and that it has ice magic different from the others. It's so strong that in one go, it was able to freeze the entire Dreak Ocean," that made me jump from the chair.

Sea monster, my ass. Seeing as it's ice magic, and it was in the sea, where Hana was supposed to be, it was probably her, losing control of her magic.

{"Or doing it purposely,"} Frost pointed, inside my mind, speaking through our bond, so Leo wouldn't hear us. {"I wouldn't be surprised, since she seems to be quite insane and dangerous."}

I ignored that. Hana can't possibly have a reason to freeze the entire ocean. Neither must have she thought she was stronger enough to do such a thing. He would have doubted that, if he hadn't sensed the unreal immense amount of ice magic inside of her, being as sensitive to magic as he is.

"Did anyone die?" It was the only thing he managed to ask without seeming suspicious.

"Thank Goddess, no. The mages acted fast and rescued everyone who was on any ship at that moment. Nevertheless, apparently, the sea is still frozen," which means she's safe and already arrived at her destination.

Good!

I got up and walked towards him, then petted his shoulder. "I know you are scared shitless of the sea, so don't worry. This new monster won't hurt you as long as you don't go to where it resides," he gulped, making me giggle. "Look at you, 18 years old and still afraid like a child!"

He cursed. "Asshole," he muttered. "I'm out, have duties to attend!"

Duties, mm-hm. He's probably going to date his lover in secret. I'm not surprised that he lied about it though, once he doesn't know that I already know about that. Which is kind of stupid coming from him, after all, I'm a spy and the head of the information guild!

There's just no way I wouldn't know about that. Besides, he had a crush on Princess Adelyn since they were kids, so it's no surprise that they are courting each other in secret now. At least, it doesn't surprise me.

{"Your friend is a fool,"} Frost muttered when Leo left.

"Not just a fool, but a fool in love!"

She giggled sarcastically. {"As if you were any different!"}

I rolled my shoulders, unfazed. "I'm not denying anything."