Chapter Text
Sofia paused at the door to Cedric’s tower and reached for the little button by the frame. She pressed it then opened the door and started ascending the stone steps. Her heels tapped on the flagstones and echoed off the walls. As always, a draft came from somewhere making her shiver. The beginning of fall was upon them. The tops of trees could just be seen through the narrow tower windows and the bright greens were starting to turn yellow. The draft held the scent of moldering leaves and spiced apple cider.
By the time she reached the landing outside of Cedric’s workshop, she wasn’t feeling the cold at all. The excursion of climbing all those steps had warmed her in her apprentice robes. She smiled warmly at the silent sentinels on either side of the door and knocked soundly on the wooden door.
“Come in!” The reedy call of the royal sorcerer beckoned to her. He sounded particularly cheerful today.
Sofia swung the door inward, careful not to bang it against the wall in case Cedric was in the middle of a potion or spell. He wasn’t. Instead, he was lounging in his favorite armchair with a mug in one hand and a book in the other.
“Researching a spell, Mr. Cedric?” Sofia asked cheerfully as she shut the door behind her.
“No, Princess Sofia,” he answered lazily. “I’m catching up on a new theory that was published several weeks ago. With all that I’ve been doing to help rectify the damage that Vor caused in the village and nearby towns, I haven’t had a chance to read it until now.”
Sofia looked about the magical laboratory, feeling a bit lost. “I don’t suppose you need me to clean up?”
Cedric took a sip of his tea and shook his head. “No, I believe you and I are caught up on that endeavor as well.”
“Potion ingredients need to be restocked?”
“We did that last week,” he reminded her as he looked over the top of his book at her. Cedric’s eyebrow was raised questioningly.
“Any lessons set up for me today?”
“Princess,” Cedric marked his place with a scrap of a ribbon and set it down as he addressed her worriedly. “There isn’t anything to do today. I don’t recall requesting you come today either as I believe you should be preparing with Princess Amber for your departure in a few days for EverRealm Academy.”
Sofia shrugged and felt herself tugging at the seam of her robes. “I know, but I just - really wanted to spend some time with all my friends before I leave. I’ve been to town to see Jade and Ruby. We baked pies and all sorts of sweets. I took Minimus out for a ride. Clover, Whatnaught, and the birds went on a picnic with me. And I’ve even had a special dinner with the Protectors! So - I was hoping - that -”
“We could spend some time together,” Cedric finished for her, smiling at the end. “Thank you, Princess. I - I must admit that I still find it a bit - strange to have a friend who wants to see me before they go away somewhere.”
“Did you have friends to see before you went away to Hexley Hall?” Sofia asked gently.
The sorcerer snorted and shook his head. “Of course not. Perhaps Roland - but he is older than me so he was already off to EverRealm Academy before I was even old enough for Hexley Hall. And after my great embarrassment with my sister’s hair - she poisoned a great deal of my play dates that Mummy set up. So I was quite the lonely chap before school.
“And well, during school years was not much better,” Cedric hastened to add dismissively.
“Didn’t you and Wormwood at least do something special before you left? I know he came with you to school, but - still. What about your parents? They didn’t throw you a going away party?” Sofia asked sadly.
Cedric’s eyes hardened, and he flinched at the mention of his imprisoned raven. “We had our own little traditions, Wormy and I. As for my parents, Father was far too busy with the king - Roland’s father. Mummy would of course make all my favorite foods and dessert - if she could remember it or had time. She was just as often busy with the royals as Father sometimes.”
Sofia wilted a bit. Saddened for her friend and his dismal childhood. She often wished she had known him back then. Had been around to befriend him. Then maybe things would have been much different.
“Enough of this gloom!” Cedric declared as he stood with a flourish. “We will find entertainment for ourselves at your request! Just,” and he smiled sheepishly as he asked, “not a magic show, I implore you.”
Sofia giggled and shook her head. “Nope! I had spells and potions in mind anyway.”
“Ah! Then I have the perfect solution,” Cedric announced as he walked over to his spotless workbench. “Something I’ve wanted to try for a while, and it won’t be too difficult for you to assist with. It would be the perfect potion for your send off.”
He called out the ingredients and Sofia jumped into action to retrieve them. They worked side-by-side chopping roots and dumping them into the boiling water of the cauldron. Occasionally, Cedric would quiz her on the properties of an ingredient, who discovered a particular crystal, or the various names of a flower in the dialects of the countries she knew of in the EverRealm.
The ringing of the bell by Cedric’s door alerted them to the approach of lunchtime and a maid most likely bringing up a tray for the sorcerer. Sofia went to answer the knock while Cedric cast a spell on the cauldron to keep it from blowing up while they took a break.
The maid smiled at Sofia and curtsied. “Baileywick thought you might be up here. He sent along a tray for you as well, Princess.”
“Thank you, Dorothy,” Sofia said as she took one of the trays from the maid. “Assure Baileywick that I’ll be down for dinner with my family, though. I know Mom and Dad are wanting to spend every meal with me and Amber and James.”
“I was just about to relay the same message,” Dorothy chuckled as she set Cedric’s tray down on a clear table near his armchair. She curtsied to the sorcerer, who nodded in return. “If that will be all, I’ll excuse myself.”
After the door shut, Sofia withdrew the silver covers from the trays and smiled cheerfully at the stew in china bowls with buttered bread fresh from the oven. Goblets of the first apple cider of the season sat beside a small dish of applesauce, a bit chunky. Just the way Sofia liked it.
“Delicious,” she sighed as she smelled the earthy foods.
Cedric chuckled at her declaration as he settled into his own seat. “You haven’t even taken a bite yet.”
Sofia settled down in her own seat that she knew Cedric had acquired one Wassalia without so much as a hint to her. It just appeared one day. A smaller armchair with a lavender floral pattern. She smiled and shrugged. “I don’t have to taste it to know it’ll be delicious. It smells divine!”
The sorcerer eyed the goblet a bit skeptical. “I personally never enjoy the first batch of apple cider. The middle of the season is much better, in my opinion.”
“I’ll drink it if you don’t!” Sofia volunteered.
He wordlessly handed he goblet to her and wandered over to his tea pot. Muttering to himself he set the kettle on and began mixing the loose leaves to whatever strength and flavor he desired. When that was done, Cedric returned to his seat while he waited for the kettle to whistle.
“So,” he began as he dunked a hunk of bread into his stew, “what are your plans for your first year at EverRealm Academy?”
Sofia tilted her head in confusion. “Plans? Should I have plans? I thought my plan was to go to school and decide if I like it or not.”
“Why wouldn’t you like it at EverRealm Academy?” Cedric queried. “It seems to me that you would make an excellent adviser to Princess Amber’s position as queen. After all, it was you who tempered her over the few years you’ve known each other.”
“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I just - I liked all the options at the Royal School Fair. I feel like I’d fit in at any of the schools!”
The man hummed in thought around his mouthful of bread. “I can’t say I can understand your dilemma. There has always only been one school for future royal sorcerers and sorceresses.”
“At least I can utilize the exchange programs,” Sofia comforted herself. “And there’s summer courses I can attend for a few weeks at the other schools too if I want.” She frowned in thought. “Come to think of it, I don’t think Hexley Hall is on the list of schools available for the exchange program.”
Cedric looked at her with an expression akin to confused shock. “Princess, no royal has ever pursued expanding their rudimentary knowledge of sorcery. And I can’t imagine a student sorcerer would have any interest in attending EverRealm Academy. Sorcerers don’t become rulers or advisers to the kings and queens of the EverRealm.”
“That’s not true,” Sofia countered. “You’ve advised Dad on a few matters related to magical application or ethics. And I’m pursuing an apprenticeship with you beyond what I learned at Royal Prep.”
The sorcerer looked down shame-faced. “Yes, but your apprenticeship started out as a farce.”
“But we continued even after your true intentions came to light,” Sofia replied kindly. “Because I really do enjoy our lessons and spending time together with my friend.”
“Well, even if you’re interested in continuing,” Cedric argued, “you can’t just get into Hexley Hall.”
Sofia pouted briefly before perking up with excitement. “Mr. Cedric - isn’t your dad acting as temporary headmaster of Hexley Hall?”
“Y. . . y-es.”
“And I think your sister Mrs. Cordelia just received a letter of inquiry from the Board of Sorcerers and Sorceresses for Magical Education,” Sofia informed him sweetly. “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think Calista said it might have been a request that your sister look into becoming the next headmistress.”
Cedric scowled. “Father’s doing no doubt.”
“But, Mr. Cedric,” Sofia continued with some excitement, “Calista will be starting at Hexley Hall in a year, right?”
“R. . . r-ight?”
“So,” the princess drawled, trying to get her friend to see what she was hinting at, “don’t you think Calista would love to have a friend she knew attend Hexley Hall? Even for just a little while? She’d just have to put in a word with her mom, who could put in a word with the board -”
“And they would consider the merits of a royal attending Hexley Hall for the chance of bettering the standing of future royal sorcerers and sorceresses in the courts of the EverRealm,” Cedric concluded with astonishment. “Why - Princess Sofia! That’s - that’s - brilliant!” He jumped from his chair and cupped his chin as he began rambling.
“No longer relegated to dusty or drafty towers. Not just called upon for simple party tricks and entertaining children - no offense. Maybe even get out of their towers to go on important missions of state! With knights - or receive grants from the Royals Adventurers League. Why - the possibilities would be endless!” Cedric rounded on Sofia with a face splitting grin. “And of course Cordie would leap at the chance to suggest it! It would make her career! Cement her place in Hexley Hall and magical society! Without Father or Mummy being the ones to do it for her for once. She’d be overjoyed!”
Sofia felt a giggle of excitement bubble up from her chest, so caught up in Cedric’s own excitement. “So you think it’s a good idea?”
Cedric snorted. “Good? It’s excellent! I wonder why no one had thought of it before.”
“Because not everyone is like me,” Sofia concluded.
“No, no they’re not,” Cedric agreed with a small smile before turning at the shriek of his kettle. He stood and walked over to the kettle so he could take it off the heat. “It would take a girl from a village turned princess to turn the whole of the EverRealm on its head. I must say, Princess, you’ve done so much for one so young.”
Sofia coughed, feeling herself flush with embarrassment. “I didn’t do anything terribly special.”
He gave her a stern look and poured the hot water into the teapot to steep the leaves. “Didn’t do anything special. Princess Sofia, if it hadn’t been for you we’d all be stuck under Vor’s spell.” Cedric reached inside billowing robes for his wand. With a flick, he hastened the steeping process and poured tea into one of his earthen mugs as he continued, “If you hadn’t told me in my mind-altered state to cast that spell to banish the mind control spell why -”
“You didn’t cast the spell, Mr. Cedric,” Sofia interrupted quietly.
He paused his stirring in cream and turned to look over his shoulder quizzically. “Come again?”
She felt her cheeks flush even darker now. Sofia swallowed. “Well - there’s another reason I wanted to spend time with you today, but I wasn’t sure when to bring it up.” She nibbled on her lower lip and felt her hands twisting the cloth napkin from her lunch tray in her lap. “You didn’t cast the spell, because you couldn’t. You said so yourself once, someone under a mind control spell isn’t capable of wielding enough magic because of the mind control spell creating a block -”
“Yes, yes, I know what I said,” Cedric cut off testily. He took a deep breath through his nose and then released it loudly. “Princess, now you’re rambling. So if I didn’t release everyone from that spell of Vor’s, then who did?”
Sofia cleared her throat and squeaked, “I did.”
The sorcerer’s face relaxed into blank shock. He blinked once. Then again. In a hesitant voice, he asked, “Come again?”
“I cast the spell,” Sofia repeated in a tight voice. “I found the spell in your spell book - I - I knew which one to look for because I’d read it once. Only to review it in theory. Never to actually practice it. For my training. I didn’t know if I’d ever come across a mind control spell when I was on my - um - Protector missions.” She was still twisting the cloth napkin tightly. “But - that wasn’t the only time I’ve used one of your wands without permission.”
He turned back to stare at Sofia and dumbly said, “You’ve - you’ve used my wands before?”
Sofia nodded. Her face was puckered with worry. “When I messed up that dancing spell - for my ball to introduce me as the new princess after Mom and Dad got married? Amber and I were the only ones not frozen by that spell.”
Cedric winced and cleared his throat. “Ah - yes - about that spell -”
“So we went to your tower for a wand,” Sofia continued as if she hadn’t heard him. She looked down at the now very wrinkled napkin. “Although - Amber probably had a practice wand we could have used instead. But she’s never been very good at our sorcery classes.” Sofia glanced back up at him ashamedly. “I really am sorry, Mr. Cedric. I didn’t know back then that it was wrong to use someone’s wand without permission. And when Vor had you all trapped, I didn’t think about what was considered appropriate magically, I just - wanted to free you all. I acted on instinct.”
Cedric shook his head. He wasn’t sure why, whether he couldn’t believe what he was hearing or because it was so far out of the realm of magical possibilities. He thought back on that day and tried to remember what exactly happened when they were freed from Vor’s spell. Which wand had she used? He recalled taking the family wand from her hands, but -
“Which - which wand did you use?” He croaked as his eyes fixed on her with growing horror at what she might say.
“For the dance spell?” Sofia thought momentarily. “I think it was the holly?”
“No, no, the spell Vor cast on us!”
Sofia worried her lower lip between her teeth. “Your family wand.”
The sound of glass shattering, startled them both into jumping. Cedric looked down at his now empty hands and the glass and puddle of tea around his feet. He shakily flicked his wand and cleaned it. “M. . . m-y family wand,” Cedric whispered. “That shouldn’t be possible.” He put a hand to his head and shook it. “Never in all of sorcerer history.” His hand slid down from his forehead to cover his mouth. He looked with wide eyes at the princess. She was still fidgeting in her seat. How did this princess do it?
“I am sorry, Mr. Cedric,” Sofia offered timidly. “I meant to tell you sooner, but I didn’t know how or when.” Her eyes were misting now. “Can you forgive me?”
His hand fell away from his mouth and he sighed. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Princess Sofia. You - you were trying to help and protect people. I - I can’t fault you for that.” Cedric swallowed as his brain sluggishly repeated everything she had just told him.
“I think,” he began slowly, “I think we should be finished with our potion for today. I do have other things to attend to.” Cedric winced at his fib. He had been the one to say he was finished for the day. All caught up and free to do as he liked. Sofia looked crestfallen. Dipping her head to hide the sheen in her eyes. Oh how he hated to be the reason for her tears! “B. . . b-ut we can resume tomorrow! Afternoon - I think would be best.” Cedric reassured. “I just - need - to - ah - do some research! Yes,” he rushed over to a scroll that he had received from Roland earlier that day. “Fo your father, you see.” He offered a tight smile, hoping that would reassure her.
After a brief pause, Sofia nodded. “Okay,” she replied in a quiet voice. “I’ll clean up our lunch if you’re finished eating.”
“No, no,” Cedric assured her. “The servants will come for it shortly, I’m sure. I’ll just make sure our potion is in stasis so we can resume tomorrow!” He set down the scroll and walked over to his little friend. Holding out a hand and wiggling his fingers. “Come now,” Cedric beckoned softly, trying to reassure her that he wasn’t angry. “I’ll see you to the door, shall I?”
She dashed a quick hand over her eyes before looking up at him with a trembling smile. “Ever the gentleman, Mr. Cedric.”
“No gentleman,” Cedric scoffed teasingly. “Just a cantankerous sorcerer.” They walked to the door together and he tried once more to cheer her up. “I assure you, Princess, I’m not - upset by what you told me.”
Sofia looked up at him, not wholly convinced by the worry lines between her eyebrows. “I am sorry though. If I had thought of another way -”
“I know, Princess, I know,” Cedric reassured. “Best be off now. I have that project from your father you know.”
“Don’t finish that send-off potion without me!” Sofia attempted to joke. It was progress at least.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” the lanky man assured once more. He watched her descend the stairs, a small wave bidding her farewell when she turned once more to look at him. Once she rounded the curve of the winding stairs, Cedric shut the door and hit his forehead against the wood with a thunk.
“How is that possible?” He moaned to himself. “It isn’t!” Cedric cast a baleful eye at the portrait of his parents. After one too many unannounced visits from them, he had charmed the magic portrait so they would only answer when he called on them. Cordie had taught him how to do it as she had done the same to her own portrait of their parents. Cedric shook his head and marched over to his extensive library. He would not call his parents. If Goodwin heard about this - Cedric didn’t want to know what his father would say. Or do.
“No, my relationship with my father is starting to get better,” Cedric mumbled. “Last thing I need is a lecture on letting a child use the family wand.” He began pulling books from his shelves. As many books, scrolls, lecture notes, as he could find. Anything that referenced the history of wands or wand usage. Wand etiquette. Wand care. Wand social mores.
Cedric didn’t hear anyone enter, but he noticed there was more space to lay out discarded books after a while. He went to get a mug of tea, but it was cold now. He grumbled to himself and quickly cast a spell to reheat the pot and poured a new mug.
The clock tower off in the village of Dunwiddie chimed the late hour. Cedric stretched and cracked his back. Weary eyes surveyed the disarray that now took over every inch of space in his tower.
“Nothing!” He moaned loudly. “Not a single scrap or account of anyone using the wand of another!” Cedric collapsed into her comfortable armchair then grimaced and reached under his backside to fish out the scroll he had inexplicably sat on.
Defeated eyes wandered over to his parents’ portrait. “If there’s nothing in my library than I doubt Father would have anything helpful either,” Cedric thought aloud. “Oh! What to do! What does this mean?” Cedric ran through all the sorcerers he could consult, but none of them were any better in his mind. Cedric didn’t trust this information with just anyone. What would the ramifications be if the magical community learned a princess - formerly a peasant - with no magical heritage that could be detected - because Merlin knows he had tried every spell to detect such things after one too many strange occurrences around the princess -
“Now I’m rambling in my thoughts,” Cedric lamented. “Merlin’s mushrooms.”
He paused.
“Merlin’s mushrooms,” he repeated slowly. “Merlin - Merlin!” Cedric jumped up from his seat and stumbled over the many books and papers littering his floor in order to reach his tower door. “I must speak with Merlin!” Cedric slammed his door shut, hiding the mess in his laboratory. He would clean it tomorrow. With a flick of his wand he locked the door behind him as he ran down the slippery stairs.
Cedric burst from the tower’s door that lead out to the courtyard and looked around in the darkness. Nighttime. Wonderful. Would it be considered rude to call on the great wizard this late at night? What time exactly was it? No matter, this was a matter of extreme urgency!
Cedric hurried to the stables where he kept his flying contraption. He hoped and prayed that it would work today instead of crashing into a tree or - Blue Fairy forbid - into Merlin’s tower. Cedric flicked switches and turned knobs to get the wings flapping and the wheels turning. No time to waste!