There are some perks to being a Sage's Wizard. He won't say the hero role suits him, but he's more than willing to reap the benefits. Before this Sage got here, he'd at least be let out of his cage once a year. A feast, a fight, a way to scratch some of his aggressive urges before he had to deal with being cooped up. Funny, to have a human fully aware of his criminal status and not truly fearful. Is he the one who's changing, or is it something about Akira? Or is this what happens when they all have to stick together for the whole year instead of seeing each for one festive night.

 

It's nice to actually be able to walk around, sometimes he can pretend he's a free man. Sure the wizard cops are right over his shoulders, but if it's be a Sage's Wizard or stay locked up? He'll take acting like the hero every single time. Locked up, cooped up, stuck in one place? Northern wizards aren't the type to be cooped up like some miserable house pets. He should be free to do whatever he likes, and that goes for the rest as well.

 

He stares up at the moon hanging in the sky. That thing is both locking him in place, and assuring his limited freedom. Sure, Murr might believe that thing is beautiful, but to Bradley it's a hanging memory of all the people it's taken. Wests are fickle by nature, and maybe people think the same of him. He wouldn’t be surprised. It’s only natural to think the worst of a Northerner.

 

Under the moonlight, under the full moon, he thinks back to the Sage's wizards they lost. The old grandpa and grandma from South, the siblings from Central. There are things the remaining wizards do not speak of, heavy and recent in their minds.

 

It hasn’t even been a decade since they lost half their number. Moonlight has him feeling something strange. Dwelling doesn’t suit him. He’s not the oldest wizard by centuries, he’s not the one who’s lost the most. Whatever Snow and White have going on, he really doesn’t want to pry into. When wizards get that old they aren’t exactly tethered to reality. At least, that’s how it is in his eyes.

 

Bradley is the North with the most connections. The gang, being the leader, he misses that kind of relationship. Here at the manor, he’s more supporter than man in charge. With a role change comes some adjustment. Is he really helping? Does he want to help? They’re all bound together by the fate of the moon, even unwillingly.

 

It would feel strange to lose any of the new wizards, after living with them for a year. There was hardly a chance to bond when they only came together for the festival and the actual fighting of the Great Calamity.

 

Bradley didn’t pick these wizards to be his companions. They aren’t his the way the bandits were. Like hell he’s going to lose any of them. Bandits are greedy for life for living for treasure for more. He hasn’t had his fill of the other wizards just yet.