The headmaster overlooked the two figures of Rosemary and Osworth leaving the grounds of the academy, headed straight for the witch's dwelling, the elder felt like pulling out his hair, he had kept on observing the masked man, continuously, without stopping, but he could not find out anything wrong with his behaviour, yet, his guts did not weaken down, they told him to be wary of him.
He trusted his well-honed instincts, they had been mercilessly forged throughout countless years, but for a mage of his calibre, logic and proofs were of the utmost importance, despite what he could say to himself, he had not managed to bring himself to eliminate Osworth based on nothing but gut feeling, he desperately wanted to find something to confirm his suspicions, or something to completely bury them, either way was fine.
However, Osworth continued on just being this odd character, growing intensely talkative and warm when around the volcano witch, it was like something just clicked in this guy's mind whenever he approached her.
Time passed by in a swift manner as the headmaster banged his head against the wall, incapable of acting, until night had fallen and he saw Osworth coming back, it appeared like Rosemary had preferred to stay at her place out of the academy for the night, whilst the target of suspicion came back.
Nothing illogical in all of this, he was the bodyguard of Antieeld, of course he wouldn't spend so long away for his master, the thought that something could have happened to the witch didn't even cross his mind, he was well aware that she could not be defeated so easily, and that she had rigged herself with a spell upon death, that was one of the few things she had been willing to share with his whitered self.
"Well, fuck all of this, I'm too old to be stressing over something , I'll just walk up to him, and ask him questions myself, I am the damned headmaster of this academy, I can inspect people on my grounds" he slapped both sides of his face, pretty much flying out of his office, wanting to catch Osworth as quickly as possible.
'I should have just done this in the very beginning-' he suddenly halted all movements, all thoughts, his previous worries disappearing as his face hardened.
Something was off here, and it had nothing to do with the masked fellow, who was walking toward his assigned room with his typical fast and silent steps.
Within the academy, the headmaster could sense everything, his senses could reach even the furthest point, not weakening in the least, like he was just looking at his own hand, he had sensed nothing, which was odd.
He could not possibly sense nothing here, but where? Where had that nothing come from? It was as though it was everywhere and nowhere all at once, a sign that the thing hiding from him was beyond skilled in the craft of stealth.
The old man soon noticed that the nothing went away, having most certainly picked up that he had not been none the wiser to its existence, he momentarily forgot about Osworth, much more pressed by a tangible proof of something invading his academy than his unfounded suspicions on a man.
But he was not allowed to forget his suspicions for long, because the bodyguard diverted from his initial path, soon coming into direct view of the headmaster.
"Headmaster, you are not in your office, you must have noticed it too then?" his oddly pleasant voice was quite grating to the elder's ears but he didn't show it.
"You sensed it as well? Rather impressive but most important, something or someone definitely just infiltrated the academy, wouldn't you say?" acting casual, he looked intently at the man before him who was as frustratingly unreadable as usual.
"With talent holders and nobles residing within the academy, it comes to no surprise that some could be targeted, however, no measly assassins could simply waltz in and escape you, yes?"
"That is only natural, I hadn't even believed that any could come in until today, my surveillance only gets stronger with the passing of time…"
"How about the Fin-Limiers? I have heard that no assassins were finer than them, simultaneously awfully famous for assassins, yet uncatchable and without failures, perhaps a sufficient enough bounty has been promised for them to take the risk of invading the grounds of Toordefer"
"We shall be more careful than ever, the outside excursion organised by Mary is growing closer as well"
Osworth spoke his mind, to which the headmaster could only agree.
"Mmh? Excuse me, Sir Osworth, what did you just say? Just now" despite the tense situation, he had not missed such an outrageous thing, surely, stress had made his ears play tricks on him, there was simply no way Osworth had just uttered something .
"The excursion is soon to happen" he said, ever so casually.
"No, I mean, what did you just call Rosemary?" the old man elaborated without pause.
"Mary, she said that I should call her in such a fashion, after our time together earlier"
The headmaster keeled over, grabbing his chest.
"Argh, that is- That's good to hear… Young people growing so close in such a short amount of time, isn't life beautiful sometimes? Aah…"
How long had he worked with her? He had pretty much known her ever since she was a youngster, a beginner! And all he earned was her ire, not that he enjoyed her attitude anyways, but something he didn't know was there was just mercilessly stung with the force of a thousand needles.
"Aherm, Osworth, you are just called Osworth right?"
"Osworth, take care of her, alright? I know she's strong but still" he picked himself up again, regaining his composure.
"Do not worry in the least, I already took care of her, she fell asleep with a smile on her face" Osworth placed his hand against his chest, leaning forward as he spoke in a lower tone, slightly nodding his head.
The headmaster felt his heart stop beating for a good second, not even paying attention as the masked man bid him good night and walked off.