Azorin Academy: Isabel Reeves Books 1-5

By Circle Press

Rampaging water nymphs, hot FBI agents, and bull-headed billionaires. Just another day on the job for Azorin Academy’s best detective, Isabel Reeves.
Missing students, hellbent sorcerers, and hicks in the woods. Just another day on the job for Azorin Academy’s best detective, Isabel Reeves.
Burnt corpses, not-so-dead spirits, and a librarian sidekick. Just another day on the job for Azorin Academy’s best detective, Isabel Reeves.
Mangled corpses, unsolved cases, and a hot bear shifter. Just another day on the job for Azorin Academy’s best detective, Isabel Reeves.
A killer on the loose, shady shifters, and her best friend in danger. Just another day on the job for Azorin Academy’s best detective, Isabel Reeves.
If you like easy-reading detective cases in a continuing series featuring trusted sidekicks and a woman full of snark and confidence whose world does not rotate around the men in her life, join the adventures of Azorin Academy’s Isabel Reeves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steamy eReads
• Release date: Apr 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215944912

Book preview

Blood of Deceit

Circle Press

and

Lidija Ristic

Chapter One

The sound of the pouring rain combined with slow jazz music helps me keep my focus while I’m going through the huge pile of old newspapers and confidential files on my desk. I take a sip of coffee and pick up another red pin to add to the others on the board.

Twenty-three pins are staring back at me, defying me. I fear I might be going insane. It’s not normal for a person to spend seventy-two hours locked in a dark library room, going through evidence of old unsolved cases in the area, but that’s exactly what I have been doing for the last three days.

I don’t even remember the last time I had a decent meal. Rhelune, my closest friend and a fellow teacher at the Academy, keeps bringing me snacks and coffee, and I’m eternally grateful to her for it.

The tall wooden door cracks open, and I assume it’s Rhelune. She’s the only one who dares to interrupt me while I am working, and to be completely honest, she’s the only one I don’t yell at when being interrupted. Heads might roll if someone else dared to enter the library.

Just leave it on the desk, I say, assuming she’s bringing me snacks again. But when someone coughs, clearing their throat, I turn and see I was wrong. It’s not Rhelune.

Sorry for interrupting you, Arn says, with an expression on his face that lets me know that he is actually terrified about being in here.

Wow, am I really that scary to the kids?

Arn is a young boy who attends the Academy. He, like almost all our students, comes from a long line of pure-blooded mages. House Raven, which is a part of the Azorin Academy, exists to help the mages from a very young age to make the most of their abilities and learn how to control them.

Working with children wasn’t my plan, until my younger sister disappeared from her school ten years ago. Students weren’t monitored, and she found an open gate and followed the curious brain of a ten years old. A week later, she was found dead in the woods. It was mid-January, and the temperatures were low. She froze to death. The investigation led to the headmaster of her school.

I was only seventeen at the time, but I swore to do everything in my power to make sure that history would never repeat itself. A few years later, I managed to get enough attention and convinced the security at the Academy to enact a curfew and make sure all gates leading out to the more remote areas of the grounds were locked after dark. I transferred to House Raven soon after and took a teaching position. 

It’s okay, Arn. I say with a smile. I can’t be mad at those dark, round eyes. Tell me, why are you here?

Archmage Havys sent me to tell you there’s a meeting in her office in ten minutes, he answers.

Another meeting? Chills run down my spine on hearing that word. We had two meetings this week, and they were all about the same thing, which means another person must have disappeared at the Blue Lake.

Damn it!

I glance at the board hanging from the wall in front of me like it will scream answers at me, before I sigh and turn back to face the kid.

I’ll be there. Thank you for letting me know.

Arn turns around and leaves me alone again.

The drownings started almost one month ago. Four people have drown in the lake since, and not a single body has been recovered. It’s like they have completely vanished. Like they dissolved and become one with the water.

***

Come in. I hear the voice of Archmage Havys on the other side of the door after my third knock.

The door swings open of its own accord, something I’m still getting used to. Her office is the same as the rest of the Academy. Medieval architecture, combined with modern furniture. Somehow, the furniture doesn’t ruin the essence of the mansion, it retains that medieval feel.

Inside, I see that Rhelune and her husband Dirius Odom have already arrived. However, there’s another face I don’t recognize, which alarms me immediately.

This is agent Adrian Lovren. He is with the FBI: SC and he’s here to find out what’s going on with the disappearances at the lake, the archmage explains.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation: Special Cases specializes in investigating cases related to the supernatural world. SC exists and operates in the shadows. To the outside world they are just a regular branch of the FBI. They don’t usually get involved unless things get really bad. They’ve had the disappearances on their radar, they didn’t get involved. Until now. Which means, I was right — another person must have gone missing.

Archmage Havys explained you’re the one in charge of the investigation, Adrian says.

I nod. Yes.

I need for you to share everything you have gathered so far. I will take over the investigation from here, he says with a tone that lets me know he sees himself as the superior.

Not only that, but he believes he can appear out of nowhere and take over what I’ve been working on for so long. Little does he know, I’m not one to back off from a challenge.

I don’t see that happening, I answer with a confident smile.

Miss Reeves, you can’t stand in the way of justice.

If allowing some ass-hat SC agent to take the credit for my work means I’m standing in the way of justice, then I guess I am standing in the way of justice. I look at the archmage and add, I can’t believe Aneth is okay with allowing some stranger to do our... I correct myself. "To do my job."

Aneth is the headmaster of House Raven. He has been like a father figure to me ever since the accident happened. It’s because of him I’m where I am today.

Isabel, it’s not Aneth’s decision. The order came from above, she sighs.

Fine. I’ll set all of my research on fire and return every newspaper clipping, case file, and note that I’ve found so far back to where I found them, so this here present ass-hat can do his own research and find all the evidence by himself. I notice a smile in the corners of Rhelune’s mouth, but Dirius shoves her with his elbow and she bites her lip to hide the smirk.

I turn around and leave Archmage Havys’s office – I’m well aware I’m acting like a spoiled brat, but the sleep deprivation has taken its toll on me, and I refuse to act like I’m fine with someone coming along and taking the credit for everything I have done. Not that I’ve actually achieved a lot, but it was thanks to me that we noticed the lake was getting increasingly contaminated with a strange substance we haven’t yet identified. I won’t really set the research on fire; I’ll keep investigating on my own. My ego just wouldn’t allow me to admit that in front of the ass-hat agent.

I enter the library and start reorganizing the files into two piles – one that I will hand over and the one I’ll keep. The second only contains my theories and conclusions, so technically I’m not getting in the way of justice.

Someone enters the room, and I turn around to see who it is. It’s the agent. Now that I’ve calmed down, I feel a bit bad for having called him an ass-hat. He’s just doing his job. If I should be mad at anyone, it’s his bosses for sending him here in the first place.

I...

I... We both speak at the same time, which makes me laugh. He looks surprised at first, but then his mouth turns into a curved line and he smiles. You go first, Adrian says.

I’m sorry for the way I reacted, I say. It’s just difficult to hand over something I’ve spent so much time on, you know... I’ve spent so many hours on this investigation, I finish with a sigh.

I am the one who should be sorry, he says, which causes me to lift my head from the pile of papers and look him in the eyes.

They’re the most pleasant shade of latte brown. Rhelune claims I have a serious coffee addiction, because I find a way to associate everything with coffee. She might be right.

I understand it looked like I feel superior and want to take credit for all your work, Adrian adds. But, let me assure you, that’s not the case. We all have the same goal here, and that’s to find out what is really going on at the lake.

Apology accepted. Does that mean I get to keep working on the case? I ask, which for some reason brings another smile to his face. I’m tempted to ask him what’s funny, but I bite my lip instead, to keep me from making things worse. I really want to keep working on this case and I’m willing to do everything in my power to make it happen.

Let’s do this; we’ll both work on the case, he suggests. Each one by themselves. I’m not really a team player, and judging from all this... He motions with his hand, showing our surroundings, meaning the dark library room I’ve been locking myself into so I could focus on the case. You’re not, either. We can meet regularly to discuss our findings and share data, but then we go back to working alone. What do you say?

I can’t deny that his offer sounds interesting and I would absolutely go along with it. Why do I feel like there’s more behind it, then?

After a few moments have passed and I still haven’t given Adrian an answer, he’s the one to break the silence. Look, I know it’s not easy to trust some stranger that you just met five minutes ago, but I’m in the same situation as you are here.

He’s telling the truth, but leaving out the part where he gathered all the information he could get about me and every single one of the people working at the Academy, before coming here. That’s how SC operates, and no matter how he tries to paint it, that’s the truth. He probably knows more about me than I do, myself.

However, this might be my only chance to crack this case, and I’m not going to let it pass me by. Okay, I say, and we shake hands.

His skin is soft and warm, unlike mine that is cold and covered in blisters. Dirius likes to joke that my skin is always cold because I don’t have a heart to pump the blood through my veins. I’d be lying if I said I don’t at least partially agree with that statement.

Being too emotional in this business always ends up badly. Dirius, Rhelune, and other teachers at the Academy have it easier. Their only job is to teach new generations of mages the art of practicing magic.

Once I share the files with Adrian and he leaves, I’m left with the same strange feeling that I had earlier. Something is not right. And it has nothing to do with Adrian or his presence. It’s to do with the case and something I’d read right before I was interrupted by the kid earlier.

Chapter Two

It’s a water nymph! I say, and the archmage and Adrian to exchange a look. They clearly think I’ve gone insane. Come on, don’t give me that look.

Isabel... Archmage Havys says with a calm voice. You know that the water nymph is just a myth, right?

Is it really? I ask. How many people out there say the exact same thing about us? And yet here we are! Besides, it all seems to make sense. The bodies can’t be found – the water’s been getting dirtier each day...

She has a point, Adrian says, and I’m surprised he’s actually agreeing with me on something. We shouldn’t rule out any possibilities.

Fine. The archmage sighs. You two can look into it. But if you don’t find any proof that a nymph is behind all this, you drop that idea and focus on solving the case.

Of course, I reply, and both Adrian and I leave the office. Thank you, I say once we are all alone in the hallway.

You don’t have to thank me. I actually believe your theory might be true, he says. I’m just a bit salty for not figuring it out myself. A friendly smile pops on his face.

Leave me alone! I hear a voice screaming in the lobby and hurry to see what’s going on.

In front of me, I see Matilda trying to calm down a little girl. The girl is screaming and fighting, which makes me believe she’ll rip off Matilda’s head any second. Her black curls are pulled up in a ponytail on top of her head, and she’s wearing some old rags. She must have just arrived, otherwise she would be in the school uniform.

Please, Leyla. You know you have to share the room, Matilda begs the little girl, who doesn’t seem to be any more convinced than she was five seconds ago.

Matilda is in charge of the first year of students, between ages twelve and thirteen. Everyone loves her, and if I were to talk to any kid in her charge, they would say Matilda is a fairy godmother. She loves kids more than anyone I have ever met. That’s why I know it must be killing her to not be able to get through to this particular one.

Hey. I walk over and join the two of them. I’m Isabel, I say to the girl. What’s your name?

Leyla, she answers, but her guard is still up.

Nice to meet you, Leyla. I smile. What are you two arguing about? I ask both her and Matilda.

Leyla, here, refuses to share a room with the other girls, Matilda explains, which causes Leyla to look away.

Is that so? I ask. Why don’t you want to share the room? It’s cool to have roommates.

I prefer to be alone, the girl says, and there’s something in her eyes when she says it that causes my heart to skip a beat. A look so familiar and so well known.

I know how this girl feels. I have been this girl.

Do you mind if I take her to the room? I ask Matilda.

Sure, just make sure everything is in order, Matilda says before she turns around and leaves me and Leyla alone.

Come on, I say and step on the stairs.

I’m not going to the room, Leyla insists.

Who says I’m taking you to your room?

This causes curiosity in the girl and after taking a few seconds to think about it, she joins me.

Where are we going? she asks once we turn left in the long hallway on the east side of the building.

To show you where I go when I want to escape from everyone. We arrive at another tall wooden door, and I push it open. This is my happy place, I say to Leyla.

Her eyes light up with curiosity as she observes the huge library. Everything is made out of wood in here, and the smell of books overpowers all other senses.

It’s a library, she says. This is your happy place?

Yes. I take a walk around the giant room, and Leyla follows. There are so many stories, so many worlds in here. I love getting lost in them.

Then I find a book I was looking for – a story about a bear and a puppy becoming friends. The puppy was lost and he wandered across a bear in the woods. He was scared of the bear, but little did he know, the bear feared the little pup, too. It’s a beautiful story about friendship and accepting the unknown. After the accident, when I first came here, I was as scared as Leyla is now. Aneth brought me up here and gave me this book. After I read the story, I was able to see the whole situation I was in with different eyes. I’m hoping it will be like that with Leyla, too. I know she’s scared like the puppy, and like I was, but she can conquer her fears.

Here. I hand over the book. This is my favorite one. You should read it.

She takes the book from me and observes the colorful pages. Can I stay here and read? she asks.

Of course. That’s what library is for. I smile. Did the other girls do something to you and that’s why you don’t want to share the room with them?

No, she says, but I feel there is something more behind it.

As far as I know, the only room that has a spot available is the one where Mathilde Marten, Darya Abbasi and Peresphone Spiros are. Those girls are angels; there’s no way they would have done anything to hurt Leyla. However, they’re kids, so one can never be completely sure with them.

You can tell me if something is bothering you. I’ll do my best to fix it. I remember how Aneth sounded when he said those exact same words to me, and I try to sound as calm and honest as he did. I don’t get even close, but the girl’s eyes light up and she looks at me like she’s about to tell me something.

I’m not like them, Leyla says in a weak voice.

What do you mean? You don’t have magic? I ask, surprised the archmage would bring in someone with no magic.

No, not that, she says, avoiding eye contact. I’m black. Hearing those words come out of her mouth literally breaks my heart.

Oh, sweetie... I am trying to choose my words carefully. Skin color doesn’t make us different. We are all the same, no matter what color we are. Besides, there are many others at the academy that aren’t white, I add. 

People made fun of me because of it in some of the group homes I was in.

Those people are idiots, I say. And see, being an idiot, that’s a bad thing. They should be ashamed of themselves, not you.

I see a smile appearing on her face, and it warms my heart.

Thank you, she says, lifting the book up. I am going to go read now.

I smile. I’m going to be over here, working. When you’re done, let me know and I’ll take you to your room. Okay?

Leyla nods and greets that with a wide smile.

Chapter Three

So, do you know how the victim died? I ask Adrian while we’re driving to the latest crime scene in a shiny, black FBI car.

They didn’t give me any details, Adrian answers.

But how do they know it’s related to the drowning cases? I’m trying to put together the pieces. He didn’t die at the lake like the others.

That’s why we are going over there to see what it’s about. If it turns out not to be related, the local PD will take over the case.

And we will be just wasting our time. Adrian does a quick turn to the left, and I have to hold onto the seat so I don’t hit the door. "Geez, could you drive slower, or your FBI pals will have to come to investigate our crime scene."

Relax, Isabel, he says with a confident smirk on his face. I know how to drive.

Instead of an answer, I just roll my eyes. It’s true, he does know how to drive. If anyone else did those turns, we would have ended up off the road for sure, especially considering the rain that’s been falling non-stop for the last seven days. But I don’t plan on admitting to him that he’s a good driver. It would only boost his ego, and that’s the last thing anyone needs.

We arrive at a mansion on the other side of town.

This is our crime scene? I ask.

Yup.

Are you sure you came to the right place?

Will you stop doubting everything I do?

No, I answer honestly. This place is bigger than the Academy.

It belongs to one of the richest families in town, Adrian says.

I can’t wait to see why anyone thinks this crime has to do with our case.

We get out of the car and knock on the front door. A few seconds later, a tall, skinny woman opens the door.

Good evening, ma’am. We’re with the FBI. I’m agent Adrian Lovren, and this here is my assistant Isabel Reeves.

Assistant? Really?

If a look could kill, I’m sure Adrian would be a pile of ash right now. How dare he say I’m his assistant?

Come in. The woman moves, letting us enter the mansion.

On the inside, it’s even fancier than the outside. Expensive furniture and decorations are everywhere.

I will let Mr. Green know you are here, the woman says, and she heads down the hall.

I’m scared to breathe in here, I say once Adrian and I are alone in the living room. Or would a mansion like this call it a parlor? What if something breaks?

His giggle surprises me. You would probably end up behind bars for breaking a ten-thousand-dollar vase.

I know! And I’m too pretty to go to prison. I start laughing.

Good evening. A voice I don’t recognize tugs me back into reality, and both Adrian and I put on serious expressions. My name is Larry Green. How can I help you?

I’m agent Adrian Lovren, Adrian says, and before he can introduce me as his assistant again, I speak.

And I am Isabel Reeves. Adrian and I are working on this case together.

We’re here to look into the accident from earlier today, Adrian explains. Can you take us to the crime scene?

Sure, this way. Larry heads down the hall where he came from, and we follow him. After we climb an insane number of stairs, we turn right into another hallway; this one reminds me of the corridors in luxury five-star hotels. Eventually we reach a door that still has the yellow Do Not Cross – Crime Scene tape.

Adrian cuts it, and we step inside. I get the sense that Larry is feeling uncomfortable, and turns out I’m right, because he immediately asks to be excused.

It’s not a problem, Adrian says. We will ask you some questions once we’re done up here, though. In a flash, Larry storms outside of the room.

At first, I don’t see anything wrong with the room, but then I walk into the bathroom, and a strong smell fills my senses.

What the fuck? I back away and close the door.

That’s where he died, Adrian answers calmly.

And you didn’t think to share that information with me before I almost died from stink?

You can’t die of stink, he says. Besides, I was going to tell you before we got in there, but you skipped the entire room and went straight for the door, so it’s kinda your own fault. Then he adds, So unprofessional, if you ask me.

Geez, sorry I don’t have detective training, I say sarcastically.

Apology accepted, Adrian says, and I decide to ignore him.

What should I look for? I ask.

Anything unusual that catches your eye or doesn’t belong here.

We’re in the bedroom of a teenage billionaire; there are a lot of things out of place, and the majority of them are weird.

Just follow your gut, he says.

Easier said than done, I think, but I don’t say it at aloud. I’ve searched crime scenes before, but this is different – it’s someone’s bedroom. It’s weird looking through another person’s belongings, even if the said person is dead. It feels like being in someone else’s head, and I hate being in someone else’s head. It’s hard enough being in my own head sometimes. Not that I would ever say that out loud, but there are times that I wish there was an off button in my brain that would just stop my thoughts for a while and let me rest without having to think.

We look through the entire room and find absolutely nothing, and it’s hard for me to resist saying we should have gone with my plan and started with the bathroom. I bite my tongue, and finally we move to the actual crime scene.

Did he drown in the bathtub? I ask as I take a closer look at the tub; but there’s nothing weird about it. It doesn’t look like a place where someone has just drowned. The tub isn’t full. There’s no water all over the floor. There’s no sign of struggle.

No. In the sink, Adrian says, and at first I think he is messing with me, but after seeing the serious expression on his face and the way he’s observing the sink, I realize he’s telling the truth.

The sink? I say, surprised. How is it possible for someone to drown in a sink?

Here. He takes out his phone and shows me the pictures taken earlier today with the body still in the sink.

The victim is propped by the basin, wearing nothing but his boxers. He was probably about to brush his teeth after waking up, because there’s an open toothpaste tube on the floor. I take my eyes off the picture and look at the place where it happened. The sink is filled with water on the photo, and his head is drowned in it, face down.

I feel chills running down my spine. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a dead body; I’ve worked other cases that required me to see the dead body in person. But something about the way this one looks makes me sick, and I struggle with the sudden urge to throw up.

The skin on his body is greenish. Not pale, not blue, but green. And the sink must have magically filled itself up and pulled his head inside. Now I see why they sent us over. This isn’t a simple bathroom accident. This is much more than that. And for some reason my gut is telling me this has something to do with our lake case. Adrian was right about listening to my gut. Maybe I’ll end up learning something from him, after all. Which is another thing I’m not going to say out loud, and especially not to him.

So, this is why we’re here, I say.

Yup, Adrian replies while he takes a sample from literally everything in the bathroom. How many people drown in their own sinks... That’s not a question, it’s a statement. I mean, there’ve been murders where someone’s held another person’s head down and drowned them, but this body didn’t have any bruises, no sign of a struggle.

So the victim walks in here after getting out of bed, takes his toothpaste and then his head falls into a sink full of water... That’s what we have so far, I say, and I notice Adrian is looking at me with approval and smiling. What?

You really are good at this. I underestimated you, he says.

Many people have, I say. But not everyone has lived to tell the tale, so you might as well consider yourself lucky.

Is that a threat? Adrian rises an eyebrow.

Nah... I don’t do threats.

There’s something that doesn’t quite make sense, so I duck to take a look at the water pipe behind the sink. I open it. The moment I do, the bathroom is filled with a strong stink. I cough, almost throwing up, and close it up again as fast as I can.

What did you do? Adrian asks.

I just wanted to take a look inside.

That shit stinks like hell! He covers his mouth with his sleeve and rushes to open the window.

I can’t deny that, I say. But, I think I know what happened.

What?

I’ll be right back. I run out of the bathroom and into the hallway.

I find my way to the living room—or parlor—surprisingly fast. Once I get there, I find Larry sitting on a huge L-shaped couch, going through some documents. When he notices me, he lifts his head and looks at me.

You’re done? he asks.

Not yet, I say. I just came to ask something.

Go ahead. Larry takes off his reading glasses and focuses his attention on me.

Is this house in any way connected with the lake? I ask.

What do you mean?

I mean, where do you get your water from?

From a well in the back yard, he answers, and that kills off my theory.

So it can’t be a nymph.

What’s this all about? Do you think there could be something in the water? Larry asks with a worried expression on his face.

Honestly, I’m not sure, I answer. But just in case, I would advise you not to use any until we find out if it’s safe or not. Then I stop to think before I add, Is there any possibility I could get the original blueprint for this house?

Sure. But I don’t see how that’s of any help. He gets up from the sofa and walks down the hall. A few minutes later, he returns with a pile of papers. He hands them over to me. I hope you’ll find whatever it was that killed my children.

We will do our best, sir, I say.

Looking at his expression breaks my heart. He didn’t only lose his son this morning; the previous victim who disappeared into the lake was his daughter. The man has lost everything in less than a week. I can’t even imagine how he must be feeling.

I turn around and leave. As I walk outside, I quickly type a short message and send it to Adrian.

I’m following a lead. Will meet at the Academy later.

It turns out that the Green mansion isn’t that far away from the town, and it takes me less than fifteen minutes to get there. And lucky for me, it’s not raining anymore. I head to the public library. Just as I’m about to enter, my phone buzzes. At first I think it’s Adrian calling me to complain because I left, but once I pick up my phone and look at the screen I see Rhelune’s name on it. I swipe right and answer.

Hey! I say.

What the hell are you doing? She sounds more worried than annoyed, but there’s definitely a trace of irritation in her tone.

Adrian already told you. I sigh. Just when I think I’m starting to like him, he goes and does something stupid.

Of course, he did. You left the crime scene, Isabel, and went to do research on your own, she says. He’s pissed.

Well, I told him I was leaving. And it’s not like I could have brought him to the library with me, I say. People here know me and don’t ask questions when I come looking for answers. If I walked in with an FBI agent, not only would they not cooperate without a warrant, but we’d lose their trust forever. We don’t want that, do we, Rhelune?

Even though Adrian might not understand these reasons, I know everyone at the Academy does. It’s the way we’ve been working for a very long time.

Once I finish my conversation with Rhelune, I go inside and say a quick hello to Jules, the librarian, then head straight to the section I need. It takes me some time, but after closely comparing the blueprints Larry gave me to the public records, it turns out that the Green mansion well is directly connected to the lake’s aquafer. Which means that the water in which Larry’s son drowned is lake water. Just like the other victims, this one drowned in the lake. But unlike the others, we have his body, so we have a much better chance to find out what happened to him. Well, we don’t physically have his body, but thanks to Adrian we have access to all the information we’ll need to solve this case.

So the one thing all the victims have in common is that they died in the lake water. As much as I would enjoy saying I was right about the water nymph, I still hoped it wasn’t true. There hasn’t been a water nymph sighting in the last five hundred years, let alone any record of someone facing and defeating one. If she’s after the citizens of this town, chances are no one will be able to stop her. We might as well give a statement that there’s an incurable disease running rampant and make people leave town.

But every killer has an agenda and a motive, and a water nymph isn’t much different. If she is killing people, there must be a reason. And I won’t stop until I find that reason.

I head back to the Academy and let everyone know what I discovered.

***

What do you suggest we do? Archmage Havys asks Aneth, House Raven’s Headmaster. He runs his long fingers through his black hair and sighs.

Aneth is barely fifty years old, and he’s been the headmaster for fifteen years already. However, his thick dark hair and smooth black skin hides his real age. He doesn’t look older than 35. People tend to ask him what his secret is, and he likes to joke that he’s discovered the Well of Youth. I, and everyone who knows him, knows that there is no Well of Youth. He’s just a very positive guy. It doesn’t take longer than five minutes of talking to him to feel completely relaxed and forget your worries. I’ll never forget how much that positive energy he radiates helped me