Free Can't Look Back (War for Dominance Book 1) by Chris Kennedy

of our parents came from an evil race. That is why we haven’t been reinstated. Most of the humans around here don’t trust us and don’t want to give us a second chance. They think we’re responsible for stealing the queen’s crown.”
    “Well, it doesn’t bother me,” said John, and he began walking again to break the mood. He hoped it would give her an outlet for her anger, but his plan backfired; Ghorza began walking, and her angry strides were much longer than John’s. He almost had to jog to keep up with her. “What would have happened if he hadn’t been reinstated?” he puffed. “What would he have done?”
    “I don’t know,” Ghorza answered, “but I imagine his patience is running out. At some point, he’ll probably give up on the Academy and will be lost to us.”
    “Why would he be lost? What does that mean?”
    Ghorza sighed. “As I already said, you increase your magical abilities by using them in the service of your god. When Dantes came to the Academy, he swore to serve Incendius, who is one of the five gods of good. At some point, he will probably break his vow and choose to serve the evil god of fire. I hope he doesn’t because I would hate to have to cross spells with him. He is almost like a brother to me.” Ghorza shuddered unintentionally.
    “Do you serve the same god?”
    “No,” Ghorza said, “each of the gods has an elemental sphere. There are good and evil gods of the four elements: earth, fire, water and air. My talents are in the realm of air; I serve Coelius, the good god of air.”
    “You said there were five gods of good,” noted John. “What is the fifth god’s sphere?”
    “No one knows,” replied Ghorza. “The fifth god of good disappeared sometime in the past, and the knowledge of the god’s elemental sphere has been lost. Not only did the fifth god of good disappear, but the fifth god of evil, as well.”
    “I’m curious,” John said. “I played a lot of magic games growing up. You talked about good and evil; is there a difference between law and chaos?”
    “I thought you said that you didn’t have magic where you came from,” said Ghorza.
    “We don’t have real magic like you do,” replied John, “with spells you can cast that actually do things. All of our magic was just pretend.”
    “Well, it is quite real here,” Ghorza stated. “The first time you are the recipient of a flame strike, you will realize just how very real it is.” She paused and then added, “As to your other question, if you believe in law, you are good. Those that are chaotic in nature worship the gods of evil. There is no distinction.”
    “Well that’s at least easy to understand,” John said. “So, how do I find out if I am a mage?”
     
     

Chapter 14
     
     
    “I see,” replied Solim, pursing his lips, “the Magistra sent them to bring back the devil. I’m glad you came to tell me; the person I asked to watch the outlander failed me, and I didn’t know where he had gone.” He paused, stroking his goatee. He had grown it to further disguise his face but found that stroking it helped him think. “It is unfortunate that those two are to be paired up again, but it is too late for them to do the Magisterium any good. By the time they get back, it will all be over.”
    “If you say so, my brother,” replied Rubic, who wasn’t briefed on any of the overarching plans. He looked around Solim’s hidden office to mask his annoyance. Although he didn’t mind spying for his half-brother, he wished that Solim would trust him more. The room hadn’t changed much since his last visit, although Cuddles had grown at least a foot.
    “Did you learn anything else?” Solim asked.
    “The mouse I was using to spy on them was on the other side of the room,” Rubic replied, “so I couldn’t hear everything. The Magistra sent them to get something, and then they were to go bring back the devil.”
    Solim stroked his beard a few more times and then nodded his head,