The trolls happily passed around the fish skewers to the new arrivals, the first visitors they had a chance to meet during their time as guardians of the river entrances to the Fae Forest.
They had been stationed at the far end, waiting for people from the Myrrh Coven to visit, but when the news of this group hade in, they had taken the small fan boat that they travelled in all the way through the forest to meet them.
Headmistress Peach walked right up to the twins, then proceeded to pinch their cheeks and closely examine their auras to make sure that they were real and not imposters before pulling the two identical witches into a hug.
"It is good to see you again. And as Second Rank Witches. I can''t believe that it was true and that there really are more than just Reiko and Mary."
The headmistress was doing her best to hold back happy tears but couldn''t keep the crackle out of her voice as the two dark-haired witches hugged her back.
"It''s good to still be alive. The Den, or Forest Grove, as we have been trying to get the others to rename the vige, has been a miracle for the lost and damaged Witches who ended up in the Wastes." Mollie whispered.
The sound of a rapidly spinning fan caught everyone''s attention as therger cargo barge approached, gliding to a stop along the riverbank with only two upants. One witch in a green robe that matched the ones that the twins were wearing, and a Demon in a three-piece suit.
"Everyone, it is so good to see you again. Especially you, Headmistress. They didn''t tell us that you wereing with the group. It''s an honour to have you here in our Forest." Wolfe greeted them before going to shake hands with the Noxus Elders.
The Headmistress looked between the Demon and the Elders, then shook her head and looked back at the twins.
"You''ve all beenughing at us since the message was sent, haven''t you? They sent his own Family Members to negotiate with the leader of his vige. But I must say, the Noxus boy hase a long way. He feels incredibly powerful."
Jenna and Mollie giggled and wrapped their arms around the Headmistress''s waist.
"Might we present to you Wolfe Noxus, leader of the vige of Forest Grove, and the Rank Four being better known as the Snow Demon," Jenna announced, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The driver of the APC did a double take and then red at Wolfe as if he had wronged her in some way.
"Wolfe is the Snow Demon? The same Wolfe Noxus who left half the student body hot and bothered when he was drafted into the army? Wolfe Noxus, who awakened half of the regr ss witches in my year, is the Snow Demon?" She demanded.
Wolfe smirked and walked up to ce a hand on her shoulder.
"That pretty much sums it up. I''m d to know that they didn''t forget about me once I was gone." He replied smoothly.
As he spoke, he cleared the damage from the Nerve Gas from her system and then added mana to jumpstart her aura, which had been totally obliterated, leaving her with no aura at all until Wolfe repaired the damage and let her start over.
Her knees nearly buckled at the sensation, and one of the other Witches moved to catch her.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>
"Yep, that''s Wolfe. I would know that weak-kneed response to his touch anywhere. Hey, she has her aura back. Do me next, do me next." The witch who caught her rambled as she gently set herrade down in the wet grass.
"Must you do that in public?" Peach asked as the witch reached out to put Wolfe''s hand on her head.
"It''s just a head pat." Wolfe shrugged, then the Witch under his hand moaned as the power flowed through her.
The Headmistress red at him. "I never knew the head was so sensitive. Were you secretly doing this the entire time you were at the Academy?"
The witches who were watching the show giggled and whispered among themselves, drawing the Headmistress''s attention.
"Well, was he like this when nobody was looking all along?" She asked.
"Not just when nobody was looking, he would help witches restore and activate their aura in the middle of ss, and the teachers would just write it off as a perverted demon doing strange things for personal amusement. We were all chosen because Wolfe awakened us the first time, and we were injured on the front lines." The driver of the transport replied in what she hoped was a conciliatory tone, which would help the Headmistress rx and not overreact.
Peach sighed and rubbed her temples. "I should have guessed. We didn''t have a great year for witches. We had a Demon awakening them. So I guess the next batch isn''t likely to be as impressive, are they?"
"They might be. There are ways to help them all out if you want. I wouldn''t be too upset about an annual field trip back to the Academy." Wolfe suggested.
"Cassie might be." Mollie reminded him.
"There is that. E likely wouldn''t be too impressed, either. I get the feeling that her bond is going to advance sooner orter, and then she will be in the same situation." Wolfe agreed.
"Everyone, please sit and eat. Wolfe will get to you in turns since I''m sure that''s why you''re actually here, not to escort a group of Elders and the Headmistress." Cassie chastised them as she finally came up from the boat.
"Cassie Noxus? Is that you? Wow, you have really grown as well. Did you get another Familiar like the twins did?" Peach asked.
"I did. As soon as I hit the Second Rank, I summoned a Second Familiar, a Hellhound named Ember. She''s back at the house, annoying Pup with her enthusiasm for life." Cassieughed.
"It''s a thing that all Second Rank Witches can do. We have so much to tell you, but we will let Cassie do it on the boat ride back since we are going back to our post in the northwest corner where the river leaves the Forest. If you need us in the future, look there. Forest Grove always has someone posted there to meet with visitors from Myrrh Coven." Jenna informed the Headmistress, emphasizing her chosen name for the vige.
"I will make a note of it," Peach replied with a smile that made ethereal blue light glow in her eyes, a side effect of her Familiar looking through them to see what she was amused by.