Chapter 123: Junior Sorceress Melisa Blackflame, Part Nine

Zephyra sat at her desk, a frown etched onto her face as she sifted through the stack of documents before her. The words seemed to blur together, her mind drifting back to her conversation with Javir the previous day.

[She's obviously hiding something,] Zephyra thought, her fingers tapping against the polished wood. [But what? And why?]

It was clear that Javir cared for Melisa, perhaps more than a mentor should. But the way she spoke about the girl, the carefully chosen words and the guarded look in her eyes... it set Zephyra on edge.

[I don't want to make an enemy of her,] Zephyra sighed, leaning back in her chair. [And, it doesn't seem like she has bad intentions. But, I hate not knowing what the people around me want. I can't ignore this. Melisa is my student now, even if it is for a couple of weeks. I need to know what I'm dealing with.]

A sudden knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts.