Chapter Text
Feelings about Duncan Grimwater were complicated.
A young necromancer utterly heartbroken by the betrayal and demise of Malistaire Drake. Arrogant and proud, he always gave off an air of being better than the Wizard; could never accept that his beloved professor turned for the worse, could never accept that he was never the top student in the class and the current Death Acting Professor. And recently, a not-so-young necromancer who decided siding with the Cabal and trying to go against the twice-earned Savior of the Spiral, current Scion of Bartlwby, was a good idea.
The Wizard should hate him.
And sometimes those feelings do come to fruition.
Duncan undermined them back then and tried to kill them now. And the Wizard sometimes wished they intervened before it was too late but that was all in the past now. Now, they have to remember to stay in the present, with more concerns to worry about.
Like how they can’t truly have the heart to fully hate Duncan.
And they should.
And it’s probably the naive kindness in them or some prophetic bullshit making them insusceptible to anything not related to good deeds.
But it was obvious even all those years ago that behind the arrogance, there was a young boy that was destroyed and scared that someone he once looked up to turned to evil, had wanted to annihilate the very home he loved, used the magic he took pride and twisted into something it wasn’t supposed to be. The WIzard could never hate someone that was simply hurting.
And that was why they were currently trying to persuade Headmaster Ambrose to not persecute Duncan.
“Salem, I know how kind you can be this is just too much! Duncan Grimwater has gone against Wizard City, the Council of Light, let alone the entire Spiral population! We can’t just have him hanging around, it would be an enormous danger to all that I’ve sworn and promised to protect.” Ambrose’s grave voice echoes of fear and aversion.
“I know, I know…he’s done basically the biggest crime there is to the Spiral but I am begging you…give him a second chance. Yes, we shouldn’t be giving Cabal members any leeway but Duncan is a different case! We just graduated, he’s not even that old, you understand that the Cabal could’ve whispered empty promises to him, right?”
“Um, I don’t need you to talk for me, thank you.” Said necromancer is currently sitting at one end of the large table everyone has gathered at. Everyone being the Council of Light that is.
“Yes, Signor Grimwater should advocate for himself on this matter. It is only right.”
“But-” The Wizard tries to explain the faultiness in this but they are quickly cut off.
“Shut it, you. I don’t need the Spiral’s hero to protect me on this topic.” Duncan harshly shuts them down.
For a moment, Salem just wants to throw their wand at him but they reign themself before they make matters worse. So they just shut up and listen to how Duncan can make this harder for them.
“For starters, yes, I joined the Cabal willingly, they actually promised me that they could right wrongs, make sure a situation like Malistaire never happens again. With Cabal magic, Sylvia Drake could’ve actually not only had a fighting chance but be here living with us! Malistaire would’ve never broke down like he did, Ambrose’s cowardice of Shadow was the tipping point between Slyvia’s life and perishing.” Duncan glares harshly at the Headmaster, “And yet this ‘so-called’ Scion struck Malistaire down without even trying to reason with him!” He somehow puts even more hate into his glare when it’s directed at Salem.
…
All Salem can do is silently scream in their head.
Not only did he make things very worse for himself but he also implied that they did nothing to stop Malistaire before fighting him. If Cyrus heard this, he would be disappointed and angry and Salem wouldn’t be far behind in that sentiment.
The urge to punch Duncan only grows stronger but they can sort that out later. They need to salvage this.
“Well, I believe this is as much as we’re going to hear?” Professor Greyrose awkwardly flutters around in her chair.
Time to be proactive.
“Once again, may I remind that Duncan is only but much more older than current Ravenwood final years? Surely, Ambrose, you wouldn’t expect all of them to resist the charms of the Cabal?” They look pleadingly at Ambrose, “No offense to the student body of wonderful Ravenwood but the Cabal definitely didn’t gain all of their new members the old-fashioned way!”
“I’m sorry but after a certain point, one has to claim responsibility for themself.” Ambrose has the gall to at least look sympathetic towards them. “What Duncan did was too grievous.”
“I have to agree.” Zenzen Sevenstar finally pipes up after being silent the whole time, “Azteca showed just how powerful the domino effect can be for a world. We can let Duncan be that first falling piece.”
Salem suppresses a sigh, they are going to have to pull out the big guns now.
“Fine. An ultimatum then. I accept full responsibility for the actions of Duncan Grimwater, if he messes up in any way then Headmaster Ambrose has the full right to expel Duncan from Wizard City and punish me accordingly.” A ballsy move for sure but Salem was running out of time and leverage, this was their last chance.
“Wh-Hey!” Duncan bolts up from his chair, “I didn’t give you permission to be my caretaker!” He doesn’t hide his disdain.
“Yeah, well, you kinda made a mess for yourself, and I’m trying to help you in cleaning it up. So I don’t think you have any say in this right now.” Salem spits back. The guy wasn't making it easier for them to want to help him.
“There’s no way I-”
“Let’s have a vote!” Diego interrupts Duncan before the necromancer can dig himself a deeper hole.
“Hm, I suppose that would be fine.” Ambrose nods to the rest of the table, “What are the votes of the Council?”
“I still stand by my opposition, Duncan is a danger to us all!” Zenzen exclaims from her spot.
“I agree, having to put aside my feelings as a teacher and prior experience with Duncan, it would be irresponsible for us to let him walk free.” Greyrose somberly adjusts her hat.
Salem notices that, surprisingly, Duncan seems a little taken aback by the Professor’s comment.
“Well, I believe we should place our trust in Salem.” Lady of the Lake calmly refers to the picture of the current Avalonian king on Ambrose’s wall, “They were the one to heal Artorius, when the rest of us thought it was impossible. I feel as if this situation is the same.”
“I know that they are determined at the least.” Emperor Yoshihito smiles gently. “They tried very hard to heal me as well back in Mooshu. I know nothing will stop them in this endeavor.”
“Whether or not they are a miracle worker, I believe in Salem full heartedly.” Inyanga Whitestripes looks proudly at the wizard in question. “My time with them in Zafaría and the things I’ve heard afterwards pushes me to believe that they can handle this, their heart of good will prevail.”
Salem is stunned by the compliments they’re receiving, used to hearing other people sing praises of them but never this personal. Even more so, they’re glad that the are some people on their side, now that means the votes comes to a-
“Hmph, a draw then.” Diego echoes Salem’s sentiments.
“Diego, you’re the last member to not vote yet. What is your decision?” Ambrose expectantly looks at him, as well as the rest of the table. Barely hiding it, even Duncan is interested in the answer.
“Why, of course, I agree with young Salem!”
Salem lets out the giant breath they were holding, they managed to secure Duncan’s safety at least.
Diego waves his finger around, “I’ve known our wonderful Salem since before they could cast a fairy! Their journey has been long and arduous and this little event is only a tin blimp on the line, we shouldn’t be worried one bit.”
“Well, I guess democracy decides this one. If most of my members trust Salem in this regard then I will also. Meeting adjourned.” Ambrose walks over to Salem, “We’re trusting you, Salem.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Ambrose just gently nods at them and then shambles out of the room with the rest of the Council. Just Salem and Duncan left behind.
The air quickly turns awkward as Salem thinks of some way to strike up a conversation.
“Uh, hey, Duncan…”
“Quiet, you. First, you defeat me, causing my membership in the Cabal to crumble to nothing then you embarrass me with this impromptu trial."
"I just--" Salem begins fumbling out an explanation.
"I didn’t need your help! You butt your nose into things way too much!” After this, Duncan dissipates into a cloud of black smoke, gone before Salem can even say anything.
…
“Shit.”