Page 16 of Vibing Unity

I checked she was fine and went back to where I was so we could get things started. I shrugged when Anya seemed amused. “I had to educate one of the council’s aides.”

“He won’t be an aide much longer after this, Your Highness,” she promised.

Even better.

She frowned. “It’s unlike Dr. Craftsman to not be this early for an appointment, especially one of this importance.”

“He’s probably being dragged into something else about this weekend,” I drawled. Several people tried to push and ask what that meant, but Anya simply nodded and moved on.

“Well, then I’m going to use the time wisely to be an annoying friend and skip the normal channels since I have you in front of me,” she told me.

“You are always welcome to do that, Councilwoman,” I told her. “Only you.”

Her lips twitched, but she focused on what was in front of her. “The program for unknowns has been approved across the board. Now that there is something in place and working, all of the other councils are agreeing that any unknown found be turned over to the fairies’ program to have a mentor and counselor to adjust to our world.

“It’s shown great progress especially with some of your people actively searching for unknowns. Definitely better than the hostility towards them you faced and the shame we tried to hide or ignore as if that helped anything.” I appreciated her saying all of that, especially with so many ears, but I was confused why she was bringing it up. “We want to expand it.”

“Look for more unknowns?” I hedged, not thinking she would want to set a meeting just for that.

“No, having fairy mentors and counselors,” she answered, shocking everyone there with me. “We both know I respect Ms. Thorne, and she has a special place in my heart given my bond with both of you and the time we’ve spent together. So what I’m about to say is in no way a reflection upon her—probably her sexist parents.”

“Thank you for trying to spare my feelings, Councilwoman, but you can be blunt. The problem is the princess won’t understand,” Izzy interjected, smiling when I looked at her. “I got into Artemis because I studied hard. My academics were great. My power level was at the bottom for witches and warlocks. That’s what she’s trying to say gently.”

“I didn’t know that,” I… Apologized? I sounded apologetic to my ears.

She snorted. “You wouldn’t have cared, Your Highness.”

“No, not about your level, but rooming with me must have made everything so much more difficult for you,” I whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I never realized.”

“Actually, several of us believe the opposite, Your Highness,” Anya cut in. “Your relationship with Ms. Thorne—I don’t think there’s ever been a case of a fairy and a witch becoming as close as you have during such important developmental years. Understandable with how fairies are more reclusive and protective of their children, but the results are undeniable.”

“I tested the highest power level of our graduating class,” Izzy explained and then snorted. “Beside you. Of course.”

“That’s awesome.” Then I caught up to what Anya was saying and frowned. “You can’t give me credit for that. Izzy works harder than anyone else and is dedicated.”

“Yes, but why is that, Your Highness?” a councilman cut in. “I respect Ms. Thorne as well. She is an intelligent, loyal, and fierce witch, especially overcoming everything she has with her family. But her focus was academics, not the magical side. We’ve learned that from her high school teachers. Yes, she deserves the credit for her hard work. Absolutely, and no one denies that.”

“You’re saying I was the fire lit under her?” I hedged, not sure that was fair.

Izzy snickered though. “You were, Your Highness.” She winked when I looked at her. “From the first time you excitedly had us go write runes a million times on Doc’s whiteboards, you pushed me. You have always pushed me and shown me I could do way more than I thought. And you were right. I’m more powerful than a few of the teachers.”

I opened my mouth to argue it wasn’t me but then closed it and snickered, shaking my head even.

“This is amusing, Your Highness?” someone asked, their tone tight. “We’re paying you a compliment.”

“No, sorry, something Julian said about my dad and me,” I admitted, smiling as I thought of being like Lageos. “He said we were both born with an infuriating gift of pushing people further and further. I’ve pushed the commanders to step up their training without even realizing it or something.”

“Infuriating is how close you’re coming to our best times and training, Your Highness,” one of the commanders grumbled. “We all accept you will have more magic than us, and you work harder than I ever did with my magic. But I train to always deserve my position, and you are getting too close to my levels.”

“Morgan is training like a beast in his free time,” Shael chuckled. She shrugged when I glanced at her. “I am as well, Your Highness. Yes, you and your father areinfuriating. Even Prince Hudson at times how easily he does certain training better than fairies if we didn’t have our wings. Yourdrivehas no limits, and we all agree it’s a positive force on many.”

I wasn’t shocked when my face and chest felt lava hot. Wow, that was all really nice of people to say about me.

Anya seemed amused by that but moved on. “Previously, this type of program would have been immediately shut down because no one wanted to be responsible for helping a witch or warlock grow power and then them becoming a problem. Now that you have invented a way for us to cleanse that works—the way it has been implemented works—”

“We’ve taken out that concern,” I said, but mentally swore. Meaning we took out our reason not to get involved, and this was now something else fairies could handle for this world.

And the look I shared with the commanders clearly said this was a slippery slope they didn’t know we should touch.

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