"Huh? How?"
"You're gonna do that Will? But that would affect your life and us!"
Raye tried to protest but Will was already tenacious to do so. Al shook his head as a disagree with Will's idea but failed to do anything. Amethia still in confusion asked all of them.
"What are you guys talking about?"
She wiped her tears of her eyes and looked at Will.
"We will frame me,"
"But how? It was already proven that Tara is the culprit,"
"We will frame me, the shadow sage that is the one who did so,"
Amethia stop to comprehend for a second and falls back a few steps.
"W-w-w-w-what!?"
"Let's talk about it inside,"
They closed every windows and locked every doors. They all gathered in the living room to hear Will's planning.
"So you're saying that you're the rumored missing shadow sage!?"
"Keep it down would ya?"
Raye sighed at Amethia but she was still in shock.
"How could I get a hang of myself after hearing that!? Actually, how are you guys not shocked after hearing this!? Or are you guys also black magic practicer?"
Raye sighed and shook his head while crossing his arms. Amethia quickly cast out a light beam that forms into her staff which is a golden stick that has a purple orb attached at the top. She took a few steps back and pointed her staff at Will.
"If you aren't gonna do anything then I will do it,"
Instead of being cunning, Will just stood up calmly and walked around the coffee table and stared into Amethia's eyes.
"D-don't think I'm afraid of you!"
Will said nothing, the response was just silence and deep stare into her eyes. After a while, Amethia's legs finally gave out as she dropped onto the ground and cried.
"I-I can't defeat you can I...."
Still, Will said nothing and just returned back to his seat. Raye went to comfort Amethia who is now sobbing and repeating that she stand no chance against the shadow sage. Raye then asked on how they are going to frame him.
"How are you going to frame yourself Will?"
"..."
"You haven't thought that far have you?"
Will looked away as if he was avoiding Raye gaze. Raye sighed and carried Amethia up.
"Alright, we will think of a plan to save Tara, so give every ideas you got!'
---------------------------------
The wind howled at night as Amethia went out at the backyard to get some fresh air after the long discussion on how to save Tara. She noticed Will looking at the stars up high in the sky. The shock of knowing that the Shadow Sage is living at her house still lingers her which made her not wanting to stand close to him.
"Amethia,"
"Y-yes?"
"Are you...a native elf?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"I heard that elf that were born in their land of elves are different than diaspora elf, which are elf that were born and live in human society,"
"Well...my dad said that I was raised in our homeland while I was a baby for a few months but then moved to the Kingdom of Ferria due to certain reasons,"
"That explains it,"
"What do you mean?"
"I noticed your pure white energy around you that made you highly resistant to black magic back in the mine, they said that elf that were born in their homeland were given blessing from their goddess by being washed in the holy river, strengthening their resistance towards black magic and proving that they are elves from homeland, elves from there do hate to mingle with human or that's what I was told,"
"And I also noticed when I first entered your house that you and your sister are a bit different in pure white energy,"
Amethia stayed silent for a while and then asked Will a question.
"Why do you, the Shadow Sage want to protect Tara that badly?"
"..., I'm protecting Tara not in the heart of Shadow Sage but in the heart of Will Beuratt,"
Wind blew, a gentle breeze blew onto Will's face, making his hair sway forward and backward.
"..., if so, thank you then, thank you Will Beuratt, for trying to protect Tara,"
Will just smiled and left the backyard. Days later, they received a letter from the high priest and were shock by what is written in it.
Dear Amethia and the Everlight party,
Regarding the situation of the incident, we have every information from Tara about it and we assure you that we won't release it publicly to protect you from backlashes. Though we have another thing in mind whereas whether its your choice for she is too young to choose. Please come to the City of Heris which is the city next to the one you are living in to confirm if she shall live or die by the third day.
Best regards,
Caelus Rivondre
"The City of Heris...I heard that there is a court that would judge even those who were victims of black magic,"
Al mentioned as they finished reading the letter. Amethia was stunned of what the last sentence written in the letter.
"Is Tara gonna..."
"She won't, that's where our plan comes in ain't it, such coincidence..."
Will started laughing hysterically which frighten Amethia even more given the fact that she learned that Will is the Shadow Sage yesterday.
"Well then, all we need to do is head for that city and settle this,"