Inheritor Of Magic: The Magi King

Hours later, the van rolled to a stop at the border fence that marked the boundary of the farms surrounding the Fortress City. Ella could see that they were now in much better shape, and with a Rank Two Garden Charm placed on them, they were growing very well. 

They had also placed the poles for the barrier Wolfe had made behind the wall and out of sight, so she had only seen them once they were past it and at the checkpoint. If she didn't have magic herself, it would look like nothing had changed here, but in reality they were in a much better place than they had been at the start of the year.

"Good morning, Professor. The usual again today?" The guard asked.

"Yep, and some sandwiches from the staff kitchen." She laughed, and offered him one of the monster meat BLT slices.

"Ah, the good stuff. I'll see you on the way out, I'm here until nightfall today, covering for John since his wife is due to pop any day now." The guard explained.

"Congratulate him for me if you see him, and tell him not to rush back to work when they've got a newborn at home." Professor Moon replied as the guard waved them through.

"There are definite advantages to knowing everyone, aren't there?" Ella asked as the van began to pick up speed on the smoother roads of the farm area.

That didn't last long, as there was another checkpoint, but this time a bit more lax, as they just waved them through once they recognized the occupants of the van. 

After only twenty minutes of tense driving through the farmlands, they were headed up the ramp and into the lower levels, and Ella began to smell the familiar stale scent of the Fortress City again.

"You know, I didn't realize how much I never wanted to smell this city again until I returned. Did it always smell this bad?" She asked the two in front.

"Probably. I don't notice it all that much, it just smells like the city, but you've been outside for half a year, and you smell like ancient trees and Fae Magic, so you're definitely used to a different sort of smell than we are." Professor Moon answered. 

The driver nodded his shaggy head. "You should do something about that. We're dropping you at your family's garage on the way up, so take a second and get your coveralls dirty or something. Even I can smell the forest on you, and it really stands out here. No perfume smells that fresh." 

"Thanks for the warning. I had totally forgotten about the difference in smells. How is this?" Ella asked as she activated a Disguise spell on herself to emulate the smell of freshly welded metal and old motor oil that was distinctive to every auto shop in the world.

"Now you smell like a proper mechanic. What about you, Professor? Does she seem right now?" Hugo asked.

"Very good. With that spell hiding your aura, I can't even sense the spell on you, so chances are nobody will know even if you come across a Commoner Witch." Professor Moon agreed.

They wound their way up through the levels, sticking to the main streets until they turned off in Ella's old neighbourhood.

"This is you. I am going to pull right into the shop, since the bay doors are open. Can you close the door behind us before you get out? You know, all magic like?" Hugo asked.

Ella laughed at his phrasing. "Yeah, all magic like, no problem." She agreed.

There was a potted tree growing outside the door, and a touch of Witch Magic made the branch reach inside and press the button to close the door. Ella's father was so busy with the car in the other bay that he didn't even notice the new arrival had no guide, and assumed his apprentice, who was currently out back smoking, had been the one to bring it in.

Ella climbed out of the side door and waited for a few minutes before she closed the van up again, then stepped over to open the garage bay door. 

"There we go, all finished up and paid. I'll see you next time." She announced as the door rolled open, and Hugo backed out of the bay to finish their delivery.

Her voice was enough to catch her father's attention. She had been in this shop for most of her life before she left for the Academy, there was no way that he wouldn't recognize her greeting a customer.

"My girl, is that really you?" He asked as he rolled out from under the car he was working on.

"It really is. I have a few things to do in town, but I had to come see you first. How have things been here, Papa?" She replied, as she pulled the oil covered mechanic into a hug.

"Let's head inside for a minute. Your mother won't forgive me if I don't tell her you're back. Just let me find that apprentice of mine, and get him to start on the taxi in bay two." He told her with a wink.

"Already on it. Welcome back Ella." The apprentice replied, and she had to think about where she had met him before.

That was it, he was John, the son of another mechanic family on this level. Logically, he should be working there, not here, but with all the chaos that she had heard about in the city, there might be a good reason, and it could very well still be a very sensitive subject for him.

"Good to see you again, John. We will have to catch up if I've got some spare time. Once I see Mom, I've got to go talk to some people a few floors down, then I'm not sure what I'll be doing." Ella replied.

"Well, let me know. I usually get evenings off if this old slave driver doesn't promise another taxi that we will have their car ready for the morning an hour before closing." John laughed.