The Prince Of Magic

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[... A little while later ...]

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"Uh, so what'chu want?!" A highly disgruntled Lord El-Melloi asked with a glare on his face.

Hadrian, who was at the receiving end of said glare (that doesn't really have any anger behind, but mere annoyance), chuckled nervously.

His former mentor had just kicked out his friends after giving them all a lengthy scolding in the current condition of his office.

Hadrian himself did not get excluded, seeing as he was forced to kneel on the floor and received his own share of admonishment from his former mentor, much to the quiet amus.e.m.e.nt of a certain cheeky retainer with dual black and white hair.

Rin Tohsaka and Luvia Edelfet, the two troublemakers, were also scolded as well, and a punishment was also passed unto the both of them for they were the ones who caused Lord El-Melloi II's office to end up in a mess. As a result, the two were forbidden from entering his office (unless specifically invited) and they must pay for the damages they caused.

With a bit of grumbling from the two, the twin-tailed haired cousins paid the costs and had been ordered to leave the building.

Coincidentally, two female mages stopped by during that time and one of them visited the office due to having intended to pick up the two troublesome cousins.

The two female mages in question were Rani and Sakura Tohsaka.

Hadrian knew Rani, considering as she was one of the participants in the Holy Grail war and one of the people that helped him in the later events. The latter though, not so much.

Sakura Tohsaka was a close cousin of Rin Tohsaka and Luvia Edelfelt. Hadrian had encountered her when he had met up with Rin a month after the Holy Grail war was over.

And when he met her the first time, he had experienced a brief flashback of a certain purple-haired young woman dressed in a white doctor's coat.

From what he found, Sakura Tohsaka had been one of the models that the Moon Cell used to create the NPC Sakura Matou that he had met in the Holy Grail war.

The NPC he had previously met before was designed to be Shinji Matou's little sister, which turned out to be the automaton's ploy to keep the latter unaware from discovering his true identity.

Of course, that didn't work out in the end.

Shinji Matou regained his memories and became one of the participants to join the war. What came after was history.

It was a strange feeling, seeing the real Sakura. But, with a different surname and certainly a human-like one instead of an NPC.

Nevertheless, it was a humbling discovery for Hadrian that Sakura Tohsaka was also similar in temperament to the NPC Sakura Matou.

Recalling the scary smile that Sakura wore and sent towards Rin and Luvia, who had both flinched at the sight before they were 'gently' ushered by the former and escorted them somewhere that they need to be (according to Rani), Hadrian had decided that the two Sakura's were nearly similar.

Still, it was nice to speak to Rani and Sakura Tohsaka before they had escorted the twin-tailed haired duo out of the room, even if it was for a short while.

The twin-tailed haired cousins protested from leaving the room, but Sakura Tohsaka was equally determined in escorting them to their designated classes, rendering their protests mute.

It might just be his imagination, but Hadrian thought the shadow behind Sakura Tohsaka moved for a second before the quartet left.

With the exception of Rin Tohsaka and Luvia Edelfelt, Hadrian and the others had taken their seats and usual positions now that the room was repaired.

Seated on the two leather couches facing each other were Lord El-Melloi II and Hadrian with Arturia beside him. Gray, his former mentor's pupil, was standing beside Lord El-Melloi II.

Reines El-Melloi Archisorte was on his former mentor's chair by the desk, and Trimmau, the silver golem maid, was beside her in her usual vigilant posture.

Charles and Dia were standing vigilantly behind their liege, mindful of their duties while listening into the conversation.

Flat Escardos, Caules and Svin were seated on a separate couch that was a few feet away behind Hadrian's. His two familiars, Ryu and Fou, were also there with them, entertaining the trio.

His former mentor tried to shoo them away, but Flat, in his usual childish glory, kept on annoying the long-haired professor that lasted for ten minutes, begging him to let them stay and listen in, even if they were on the sidelines.

Lord El-Melloi II could do nothing but grumble under his breath and put a cigarette in his mouth to that. Although, the long-haired mage threatened to kick them out if they become a bother.

The noises from their side (particularly Flat's loud chatter) was making his former mentor's forehead crease, an obvious sign of the older mage's stress.

The thought of Lord El-Melloi II causing another outburst rendered Hadrian to clear his throat and speak, which he did mostly to distract the older mage.

"Umm… parley, professor?" He offered with a small nervous smile, holding up the boxes of pastries on his left.

First, he had to ease the older man's irritation. It wouldn't do him good if the long-haired mage was in a bad mood throughout the conversation.

Sure enough, Lord El-Melloi II's dark gray eyes lit up when he saw the name brand on the front of the box.

The long-haired professor inhaled and puffed out a cloud of smoke.

"Fine, make this quick, Hadrian. I've had a long day." Lord El-Melloi II grunted, disposing the cigarette in the ashtray.

Inwardly, Hadrian sighed in relief as he watched his former mentor gesture to Gray to take the food and serve it for them to eat on the recently repaired coffee table.

Trimmau, who was then urged by Reines and Lord El-Melloi II to assist Gray in serving the pastries, moved on swiftly to help hooded girl.

Once everyone were given a small plate of pastries and preferred drinks, the slightly awkward situation was diffused and his former mentor had loosened enough to speak with.

"So…" Lord El-Melloi II began, taking a moment to sip on his tea and a small piece of a glossy chocolate sponge cake before he continued. "I've heard that you visited the Watch."

"Opa told you?" Hadrian looked up from his small plate of chocolate sponge cake.

"Only a little." A neutral expression took place on Lord El-Melloi II's countenance as he gently laid his fork down. "The godfather wasn't exactly pleased to recount the news that you were injured during your visit there."

Hadrian grimaced slightly.

The man might seemed relaxed now, but he was not holding back with his words.

"A little, huh? You might as well come out and say that he told you everything that happened there." The young mage remarked with a slight frown, causing the long-haired professor to smirk.

"Speaking of which, it was still reckless of you to charge into that place. You were lucky that a broken rib was the only thing you got out of that event." Lord El-Melloi II admonished lightly, gray eyes squinting as a stern expression fell on his face.

"Ribs, not just one." Hadrian corrected weakly, sighing as he rubbed his temple.

"It was still stupid of you to do that." Lord El-Melloi II continued, unrelenting.

"Yes, but what was I supposed to do then?" Hadrian countered, meeting his former mentor's eyes head-on. "The Watch might be equipped to handle normal security breaches, but those intruders were on a different level than what they handle. Not only that, but they were crafty enough to breeze pass the security measures protecting the island. There was no choice for me, but to move."

It was a good thing that his friends were distracted by the antics of his familiars, who had joined Flat in some sort of an impromptu contest of who can eat the food spread on their table the fastest.

By the noises he can hear from their side, it seems like Ryu had the upper hand.

On their side however, the former student and the mentor calmly stared at one another in the eyes, both unwilling to back down.

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