Lot felt bad. This was barely different from what had happened to him years ago.

He believed he had failed Ursula just as his father had failed him.

He didn’t know how to react, so he simply wasn’t going to.

He had to continue on with his duties.

Ursula was no longer part of the circle.

He would have to wait for Solomon to suddenly appear. Solomon would have to be the one to relay it to Merlin, as he simply couldn’t.

He was pained, but he knew he would have to carry on.

Those from Merlin’s Circle got on board. They departed via the van.

With a hand against the window, Roe just looked out.

He wanted to talk to her.

He wanted to say something.

He just didn’t know what to say or how to say it.

The others were wondering why Ursula wasn’t aboard with them.

They asked for an explanation, but Lot said that would come much later.

’Now, about the imbalance of power the council is always going on about, does it actually exist? Everything seems so right now.’

’The case proved Merlin was in the right. He probably always was.’

’Does that make Morgana and her folks the bad guys?’

These were all questions to be asked.

The Circle of Merlin returned to the temple.

The ride wasn’t silent for everyone.

The others had been in the van for hours. Today was basically a team-building exercise. A bonding one.

The journey was silent for the other three, though.

Roe and Lot especially.

Roe didn’t understand why Lot had stood up for him like that.

’He was awful to me just the day before.’

Roe thought.

Lot also didn’t understand.

He knew his decision had been born from duty, but that didn’t make it any less difficult.

Lot was no stranger to denying orders, even direct ones.

Now he just didn’t.

He didn’t even like Roe.

’Why did I...’

He thought.

They eventually reached their destination.

-

Around the same time, the Council of Mages would also take their leave.

This was a total bust for them.

They had planned to go home with one new mage added to their roster.

This new mage wasn’t who they had in mind, however.

They were disappointed.

Elijah was the only one who didn’t seem all that bummed out.

He was just happy this was all over.

He could now focus on the Faith Circle issue.

Morgana ordered Arthur to inform Ursula to head home.

He initially questioned her.

"I mean, why me, though?"

"You’re the one who wanted someone else to train, aren’t you?" Morgana asked.

He didn’t have an answer.

He did as instructed.

He walked over to Ursula and told her that she would be resuming proper duties tomorrow.

She could go home and tell her folks she was now directly under the council.

She was a contract worker, though her contract wouldn’t be ending anytime soon.

Morgana informed the others that attendance at the next day’s meeting would be essential.

They would have to discuss how they would proceed after all.

Very important.

Valentine smiled as he walked toward Morgana.

She didn’t get why he was smiling.

"I’ll come over by nine," he said.

"You’re smiling. We didn’t even win," she said.

"And that’s whose fault?" he asked.

"Well, you’re the scholar. You tell me," she responded.

"It’s yours."

He turned to walk away.

"Don’t worry, it’s not yours alone. It’s your dad’s as well. You’re the ones who underestimated Lot."

He was now far in the distance.

He shouted,

"By nine, okay?"

She didn’t quite understand what he meant by underestimating Lot.

The plan Val had was dependent on the father-daughter combo breaking Lot to the point where he wouldn’t be able to think rationally.

They didn’t.

Lot may have been angry when he decided to fight Vlad, First Combat and all, but the fact he could refuse to offer up Roe and settle for Ursula instead proved that he was still in his right mind.

Just enraged.

Valentine walked up to Ruben.

He shook his hand.

Ruben was unwilling.

"I don’t like being used," Ruben said.

"I don’t like being beaten," Val followed up with.

"I didn’t beat you," Ruben replied.

"Ha. That’s what you think."

"Try telling that to literally anyone else and see what they think," Valentine added.

"Agree to disagree then," Ruben said.

"I need your card, kid."

"There’s a convention soon. I’ll reach out to your office."

"Have you traveled before?" Valentine asked.

"Which convention, and where to?" Ruben asked in return.

"Those are details. I’ll reach out," Valentine said.

Ruben wasn’t willing to exchange information, and he wanted to get cleaned up and ready.

He had something else to get to.

He simply passed his card over.

"Do reach out," he said before heading into his Porsche, which had just arrived.

"You and me, kid. Perfect."

"You and me."

The Porsche drove off.

Ruben may have won the case for the Circle of Merlin, but he wasn’t satisfied.

After all, it seemed to him like Valentine was just stringing him along.

He went home.

He decided to contact the circle for his payment the next day.

He wanted to be considerate, something very uncommon in the Wiz market.

When the mages arrived back at the temple, they were greeted by Solomon.

This enraged Lot.

He got out of the van.

"What are you doing here?"

"Where have you been?"

"Why weren’t you there?"

He followed up with one question after another.

"It was Merlin’s wish that I did not go," Solomon responded.

"But why?"

"Why?"

"Maybe you could have beaten Vlad."

"You could have saved Ursula," he added.

"It was your time to step up," Solomon said.

"Don’t use that tone with me."

"You may be the higher-ranked one, but I’m still second best."

"I’m second best, and you want me to step up?"

"Well, I did, and look what happened."

"We lost an ally."

"This wasn’t like the evaluations. This was an S-rank mage."

"Lot, I think you need to calm down," Solomon added.

"Ha. You’re doing it."

"You’re doing it again."

"You’re probably happy I couldn’t beat him."

"You’re happy Vlad put me in my place."

"Someone had to, right?"

"You won’t fight me, no matter how much I bait you."

"It’s probably for the best that I finally had someone put me in my place."

Lot ended.

"That’s enough," Solomon said.

"You’re in pain right now."

"I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you."

"I won’t let you continue on any further."

"And why is that?"

"Why is that?" Lot shouted.

"I don’t want your students to see you as anything other than strong."

"So be strong for them."

"That’s enough for today," Solomon said.

All this time, his technique had been activated.

The bus had been surrounded by some kind of barrier.

It was a spell Solomon had cast.

The students hadn’t heard a thing.

"That’s enough."

Lot turned, feeling broken.

Only then did he realize Solomon had kept them from listening.

"I’m leaving. We’ll see tomorrow."

He simply said it and walked to his quarters.

"Damn it, Solomon."

He shed a tear as he got onto his bed.