Chapter 2: Nick Wingfield

On the station, Tamie soon noticed whom she was searching for.

“Nick!”

She dashed at him and hugged him tightly. Nick, her brother, widened eyes as her arms clutched and squeezed him, but then grinned and embraced her:

“Tamie, I’ve missed you so much!”

“My big crabby!”

Tamie rubbed his black hair. Nick laughed. Tamie began to observe him – he had changed in these three years. Of course, he was always wise and a genius, even back in Mandragore when they both were young, but now, he seemed so independent, so grown… maybe because of living alone for so long, or because he worked to earn his living himself? Or maybe both… and the change of air as he came to live in another country, and of course, the fact that he had already become a Celestial Lord in only three years!

She looked down at his silver-chained necklace of the moon with a blue gem inside it, just like Erik’s Sun necklace, whose gem was red instead.

*So dazzling! Nick, you’ve grown so much… Now you’re a Celestial Lord, and a Sage, the highest rank of your Class. Truly amazing!*

“Well then, I guess we can go to the Order building now,” Nick smiled, “for your Joining Ceremony”.

“Really? A ceremony?!”

“Sure. Let’s go!” Nick formed a sign with his two fingers and shouted: “Cancer Style, Keeper Art, Sage Mode – Demon Crab Summoning!”

A giant blue crab appeared out of thin air. Tamie’s jaw dropped:

“You can summon crabs?!”

“That’s the least of it. Well, climb on,” he grabbed her hand and jumped on the giant crab’s shell back.

“Woah!" Tamie chuckled and shook her head: “Show-off…”

“Complaining because you’re only a beginner? But you’ll achieve such heights in a short while too. After all, we’re siblings,” Nick hit her on a shoulder in a brotherly manner as he often used to when they were together.

“Haha, sure!”

The crab took the siblings to the Order building. They talked a lot while sitting on its back. Nick asked about their parents, how life went on in Mandragore, while Tamie was interested in his legends in Rosenweld. Soon they could already spot a giant mansion with a rose-and-cross emblem up ahead.

“Wow, such a big building!” Tamie was dazzled by the brilliance of the mansion with colourful roofs and a small but beautiful flower garden.

“Well, that’s the Rose Cruce for you”.

“Amazing!”

The crab stopped in front of the building and the siblings jumped down. Nick snapped his fingers and the crab vanished in water droplets just as fast as it had appeared. Tamie was excited – finally, after so many years, she stood in front of an Order building, ready to join in! Nick touched the gates with his golden ring of the rose-and-cross emblem he wore on his little finger, and an electric voice announced:

“Sage Nick Wingfield. Identified. Welcome home, Lord Nick”.

The gates creaked and opened.

“Wow, cool security system you have!”

“Edmund’s idea”.

“Who’s Edmund?”

As she followed Nick inside, letting the gates close behind them, Tamie found herself in a large hall with wooden floor, stone walls, and wooden tables where a lot of different people were sitting. There was a counter with a fair white-haired young lady cleaning it, and a reception table where a weird goatee-bearded man with sunglasses was writing some papers. The people at tables were either drinking different sorts of drinks and alcohol or just chatting and laughing.

Once the doors shut with a bang, everyone hushed and looked at the entered siblings. Tamie felt uneasy in such a large crowd. A tall guy with bushy orange hair, glasses on his blue eyes, and a black suit, approached them and eyed Tamie with great curiosity. Then he declared with a faint smile:

“Welcome to Rose Cruce Order, Miss Tamie Wingfield. I am Edmund Jaeger, the overlord of this order”.

Tamie widened eyes – so this was Edmund? Nick referred so casually to none other but the Overlord?!

*Unbelievable! Nick, you’ve achieved such heights… When will I ever catch up to you?*

She had indeed much to learn.