Kai let out a slow breath, watching Willam vanish through the portal. "See you in a day, Mirlin!" Willam called over his shoulder, his voice laced with a mix of excitement and reluctance. Kai still wasn't sure why Willam insisted on sticking so close to him, but he found himself oddly missing his presence. Not that Willam was a friend, exactly, more of an insistent curiosity with an obsession for rare magic, but his erratic energy had become an expected part of Kai's routine.
The academy was quieter than usual with so many students using their free study day to travel. That made it the perfect time for Kai to execute his plan.
Slipping away from the academy unnoticed by using his concealment skill, he made his way to the nearest forest. It wasn't particularly dangerous, lacking any arcane beasts, but it had more than enough wildlife for his purposes.
The first step was further expanding his forces.
