Light filtered through the thick windows in that peculiar pale hue dawn possessed. Sterek had slept poorly. He had slept poorly for several nights, and now even endurance could not save him from a pounding headache. In fact, the entire situation was a headache. The assassins had still not slain the traitor prince. His bitch lover had not seen the light or she had failed to convince him to spill his secrets. Sterek had yet failed to understand the targeting aspect of the pilfered construct. It looked like coordinates. He just didnt understand them.
His path to fa and recognition was blocked for now. He needed a breakthrough or funds would disappear and so would his reputation.
But for now, he had to dance for his benevolent sponsors. His spell was ready, for what it was worth. Every piece was where it was supposed to be.
Sterek bit in a slice of preserved permonn fruit to chase away the bad taste on his palate. He forced so infusion down his throat. His visitors were at the door, early as usual. They would inspect his work then return to their quarters before the day truly began because he was just a distraction. A side project.
He would show them, eventually.
A knock on the door, and he swung both panels in with a gesture. His guests were too jaded to appreciate the trick. They walked in with purpose and filed into the lab without waiting for an invitation. There was a tanned man with a ruddy face and scarred hands representing the builders guild. An officer in full plate and crimson tabard displaying the white walls and tower of Helock stood in for the army, while an administrative employee of the Academy in white robes followed them. She was the only one who showed so trace of respect and sha, which proved she had not forgotten her place. The others had not overtly disparaged him but he could tell they were reconsidering their options.
Sterek found it infuriating, though his pleasant smile never left his lips. They were primitive morons incapable of understanding the complexity of what he was trying to achieve. He would have a better chance teaching alchemy to a cornudon than to make them appreciate how sophisticated space magic could be. Damn money pinchers and sabre rattlers. Heathens.
Magister Sterek, a pleasure as always. How fare you? Please do not overwork yourself, the rchant said.
It was a cheap and unsubtle insult ant to denigrate his efforts and imply he would be retired for his own good in the near future, unless he could produce sothing.
I am fine, and excited to share this fortnights progress. Thank you. A good day to you Commander. Tashey, a pleasure as always.
Good morning, magister, the Academys pawn answered.
Now I am sure you are all eager to see the progress we made. Over the past two weeks, we have continued to explore the targeting and designation part of the spell. As you know, we need to be able to pinpoint a location in order to create bridges between useful locations rather than randomly. We have discovered with so effort that there were four paraters that worked in an harmonious whole and need to match or the construct destabilizes. I managed to narrow down interactions to a feasible range of paraters. In layman terms, I will keep casting and testing various coordinates until we reach a true harmony and the portal opens. With enough attempts, we will derive a formula the coordinates need to fulfill to be viable.
It sounds like you are brute forcing the issue, throwing numbers at a wall to see what sticks, the commander said, and damn him for being so accurate.
That is not entirely correct. We are discovering an entire new branch of mathematics and magical theory. I would say I am conducting tests rather than brute forcing. We simply need a sample of data large enough to derive rules and test hypotheses.
And how long do you expect the testing phase to last? the rchant asked with a sweet voice.
Sterek spread his arms and sighed to give himself the ti to calm down. They didnt know. They couldnt understand. He had to be patient.
We are breaking new ground here. This is an experintal field of magic that even the Old Empire had not developed to a science, as they relied on exceptionally rare skill users. We are all gathered here because we know the trendous implications of a stable portal system. So asure of delays and inconsistencies must be expected from an endeavor of that scale and ambition.
Sterek would have continued if his instincts had not scread at him. Teysha and the rchant glanced at him but the commander looked up and so did he. Only a magically blind person would have missed the shocking concentration of mana gathering above their heads.
Glyphs carved into the very ceiling and that he knew for a fact had not been there a day before shone a blazing white. Lines ford circles and balanced lines between points that could not be linked and were bound anyway. Perspective played with his mind until there were two spells in front of him: a flat one carved on a bland ceiling, and a delicate and epheral symphony of shapes rising up to a sky beyond his reach ad infinitum. The air shivered with the lightest of breaths.
A portal opened above them.
Todays gray weather spread right instead of up, and the lichen-covered rocks of the highlands extended left. A shape walked through, first horizontal and then vertical as earths attraction rectified itself. It was the shape of a man he knew and dreaded, and more still.
When Sidjin had visited him, Glastias arch traitor had been a tired man with sallow cheeks and a thin fra hidden behind a cheap travel cloak. Now, a prince floated above Sterek. The man descended with grace and a perfect control only mastery over colorless mana could grant. A rich mage robe adorned his shoulders, gray to signify his loss of allegiance. Keen eyes inspected the gathered inspectors and Sterek himself. At no point did Sidjin lose his composure, even when landing. His expression did not betray a single emotion, save for the natural arrogance of one born of royal and arcane blood. The prince was back. And Sterek Sterek was gone.
The cause of your delays and inconsistencies is not that your subject matter is complex, it is that you do not understand its core nature. There is so much I have not written in my notebook because I had no need to remind myself of basic truths. Beyond that, the true cause is that when you stole my research, Magister Sterek, you did it rather poorly.
You are trespassing.
No honor among assassins, magister, Sidjin replied off-handedly, and the implication was clear. He knew.
Not that Sterek had been very subtle.
And you sir might be the rchant said while gazing at the portal with naked greed.
Sidjin, previously of Glastia, inventor of the colorless portal spell. A pleasure.
A delayed pleasure. We were inford of your demise
Those were wishful thinkings, thankfully.
Thankfully indeed. And you claim to be the one who ca up with a functional design? Originally?
I am. The portal is my spell, built upon the understanding of space I grew after working with colorless mana for the duration of a very bloody, very exhausting conflict. There is quite so distance between the walls of Glastia and the ground where the endless tide of beastlings crawls, you see? I had to make sure my grinders were deployed for maximum efficiency.
A transparent sphere ford in Sidjins hand, then it grew spikes until it resembled the glass sculpture of a flails head. The ominous implent twirled on itself with a disturbing, organic motion. It floated away from Sidjins hand to glide over the cluttered shelves lining the walls.
Space is not an idea or a point. Space is a fabric, and that fabric is not as smooth as one might think. Beyond depth, width, and length, there is also a question of density. Weight, so to speak.
Weight? Sterek whispered despite himself.
And you have the full right to the spell itself? the rchant asked.
I do. Sterek can attest that even with the help of my notebook, he has yet to equal in replicating the spell.
He can? the commander asked with obvious doubt.
Of course, Sidjin replied, and he pointed to Stereks data storage golem.
The magister slowly angled his body towards the piece of sophisticated technology. He was aware Sidjin had breached his sanctum, but surely he had not tampered with a secured artificial mind? Surely there was a limit to the outrageous mans luck?
No no no no no, his own recorded voice bemoaned, Why? Why? Why doesnt this fucking work? Damn you Sidjin, what do you have that I dont? Whats your damn secret? Aaaaarg. Alright. Alright. I got the gist. I got the idea. Its rely a problem of calibration. I can do it.
Except, it is not, Sidjin calmly explained. The spells power and direction must match the distance and direction of the target location and the coordinates must match to an exacting detail or the breach will take massive amounts of energy to trigger. What Sterek tried was akin to stabbing a door with a key, hoping to force it open.
Fascinating, the commander said in a bored voice. I cannot help but wonder where you were all this ti we were working with your colleague, however. I find the timing of your intervention fortuitous.
After my city and I had a disagreent over how to treat our allies, I was imprisoned. After I escaped, I had to put so space between us and travel incognito.
From the portals, Sterek thought he could hear a faint groan.
But I suggest we discuss it around breakfast, the prince finished.
That sounds like a fantastic idea. Commander?
I would like to join as well.
Lady Tashey?
The pawn hesitated, but Sterek knew how she would answer. Discovering the truth was more important than preserving the image of a disgraced researcher. She accepted their offer with a subdued nod.
Well, Magister Sterek, we will be off. You can expect a letter from us shortly. Thank you for your ti! The rchant said on the way out.
The door closed.
The portal winked out.
Sterek was ruined.
***
Sidjin had his mont. Viv watched him from afar and stayed hidden to avoid getting even more involved than she already was. Solfis reported that the lost prince had taken to diplomacy like a fish to water which made sense since he had, after all, the training and the experience. He managed in a single morning to go from shunned outsider to the new owner of the lab which Sterek would be vacating shortly. Viv did not wait for him and went back to the dormitory instead where she found a bleary-eyed Ereska recovering from two straight nights of intense socializing. Apparently it had involved a lot of drinks.
The talent hunting season has started in earnest. I must say, I expected a couple of people to ask about your puppet, Rakan, but I underestimated the racial tensions dominating the city.
The younger woman considered Viv through half-lidded eyes.
You wont be able to stay away from the scene forever, you know? The end of the sester will have group activities. With your talent, you will be piled on unless you can form alliances. Isolation sends all sorts of wrong signals to those around you.
I know, I will also pay for not networking early but right now I am too busy with vital things.
Well, yes. You also have the support of the faculty of dicine. There will be a restart of the social scene later in the year. We will see if we cannot get you accepted then. But I digress. I am sure you are busy and I need to attend to my headache.
And Viv was busy.
At the Academy, it was understood that the weekend would be employed to fulfill social obligation and catch up on howork. Viv had exactly one afternoon and one evening to complete two essays, practice spells, and review material for the next classes.
Fortunately, Rakan offered to help. The young man was not aware Viv was out and he showed obvious signs of relief when she told him shed gone to the city.
I cant leave the Academys domain, he told her as they settled in a deserted corner of the library.
Or rather, I can but my sister asked not to and shes been worried lately.
Shes a hunter, right?
Yeah, there are a lot of jobs right now with laborers going to harvest faraway orchards. Soon its going to be fall and thats the busiest season around here. Thats what she said. Errr sorry thats probably not very interesting. Anyway, sis said that the city wasnt safe for people like us right now. You know what I an.
Hallurians. Yeah, I heard there are tensions.
More like straight shakedowns, Rakan growled.
He shook his fist with an anger that bubbled under his shy personality.
Its not fair. We dont support the warlords. None of us here do, we all ran away! Why cant they understand that we want the warlords here even less than you guys? I an, even less than the locals. Were traitors in their eyes. They find us and we die.
Wait, is your sister alone outside then?
Shes part of a hunting team. They are out of the city right now, thats why she asked to wait until her return. Shell get money and then get a permanent place to stay sowhere close. Safer that way. Thugs dont like to annoy the Academy.
Yeah its probably better not to go out alone, Viv said after doing just that on repeated occasions.
Anyway, shall we? You help with Old Imperial and I help with enchanting?
Deal.
Viv was rewarded for her efforts later that night when they were done with most of their work.
Arcane Constructs: Beginner 9
She was close to a breakthrough, she could feel it. Rather than facilitating calculations like it did for Rakan, her skill gave her an intuitive understanding of balance and what should be done to keep an enchantnt stable. She felt she could go back to Kazar and build three monoliths a day to expand the livable zone around the city. In fact, she probably would if she survived.
Viv managed to finish her second essay around midnight by cheating a little bit. General Jaratalassi had asked them to comnt on a battle report and Viv found a section written by the man himself in a rare book on the topic. She made sure that their vision and analysis subtly aligned, made one significant change to make sure it wasnt too obvious, then did so light reading and called it a night. Six hours of sleep per night were considered a luxury here, and exam periods would be significantly worse.
***
The next day started with a surprise. A general announcent spread via sound spell asked the students to remain in their rooms for a little longer. Everyone was then summoned to the massive amphitheater where announcents were made. To Vivs surprise, the assembled staff was here along with a manacled junior teacher waiting on his knees. Everyone seed grim and Viv felt the mood keenly. Auras were agitated that day, with plus of free mana escaping the distracted casters.
Ladies and gentlen, the Dean began, it is with deep regret that I must tell you that assistant professor Ulys attempted to murder a student of this noble institution.
Whispers spread across the assembly until the dean lifted a hand. A wave of viciously powerful magic covered the vast room, silencing every conversation. His voice ca crisp and clear as if he were standing right next to Viv.
Silence. I know you are curious and it does not matter. Just know this: he planned to poison his target by having two different students feed him innocuous potion. When combined in his stomach, the mix would beco deadly.
The dean scoffed.
Every year, soone tries to skirt the rules by lying to themselves or by hiding behind technicalities. It will not work. Better and smarter people than you have tried over the years and those few who succeeded led to rare loopholes getting closed. The Academy is a safe haven. You will respect and enjoy this truth or you will perish. His accomplices have been firmly disciplined for their naivete which led to the endangernt of one of their peers, and they will spend the rest of the year mucking stables without magic. As for professor Ulys, the verdict is simple and definitive.
The dean placed his hand at the base of Ulys skull. A dreadful flash shone brightly, pushing back the shadows of the room to their darkest corners. The bound man collapsed, quite obviously dead.
A priest walked in and placed a hand on the corpse to stop it from rising. In the following mont of quiet, two armored warmages retrieved the body.
Let be perfectly clear again. The Academy is a safe haven. You are protected here, just as the other students are. Do not give yourself to complacency by participating in sches for easy rewards, and do not think for a mont you will succeed where generations of crooks have failed before you. The entire staff is on the side of the students and their protection. We will show no rcy. That is all. Despite the circumstances, I wish to each and everyone of you a good week.
Viv queued out with other subdued students but when she reached the doors, an armored mage placed a gauntleted hand on her wrist.
Viviane the Outlander? The dean would like a word with you. If youll follow please.
The guard turned around without checking if Viv followed, not that Viv would bail. She realized the guards voice had been distinctly female though the armored chest plate and helt made them hard to identify. It led her to wonder if so of the staff moonlighted as terminators or if it was a dedicated position. In any case, she wouldnt find out easily. The potent enchantnts masked her aura and their own. She didnt even know what elent her guide wielded.
Those considerations lasted until they entered the do-covered main concourse and up several flights of stairs. The guard politely opened a warded door to a section of the Academy Viv had never visited. They were quite high with many windows leading outside to the garden. She read a plate near a heavily protected entrance and recognized one of the teachers nas.
Are those the staff personal quarters? Viv asked.
If I may ask, she anded quickly.
For a mont, she thought the guard might ignore her which she would understand. Hard to maintain the armored bounty hunter vibe while entertaining small talk. Nevertheless, the guard nodded under her visor.
Yes. Offices and living quarters. The junior staff share accommodations with students.
I see.
This part of the Academy would be harder to breach than a bank vault. Viv didnt think anyone except Irao would consider doing it. Everything from the walls to the floor to even the window pane swirled with embedded mana channels linked together. Most of it seed unpowered at the mont, possibly active defenses, but there was so much stuff it made her dizzy. She blinked and tried to focus on sothing else. Furniture was sparse in common areas with just paintings and rewards hanging from the polished walls. They didnt co across anyone since classes had just started. Eventually, the guard let her up a flight of monuntal stairs and past a suspended platform Viv heavily suspected was an elevator. The deans domain extended past a modest reception area, more like a lounge than an antechamber. The guard knocked on the most ornanted door Viv had seen in a while. They were let in before she could develop a headache from all those enchantnts.
While the rest of the Academys top floor had not wasted any space, the deans office was large and cleared with a long empty spot leading to a massive desk. Windows lined the walls, showing Helock far below and beyond that, the shimring blue of the ocean lit by the morning sun. The guards feet stomped on an intricately parquet floor. The air was clean and pleasant, the temperature perfect. A tea table waited towards the back of the room and a door that led further in. The singularly ugly face of the dean glanced up from a pile of docunts he was reading and signing with a speed that only an advanced skill could provide. He passed a massive mitt through his perfectly grood beard and considered the pair.
Thank you Zael. I will not bother you any longer. Student Saint-Lys, kindly take a seat.
While the guard left, Viv settled on the offered chair and studied the glyphs below, which when activated, would explode and incinerate her at the sa ti. Her detached interest was ignored for the ti it took for Dean Tallit to finish his pile of paperwork. It took only a couple of minutes. Truly, skills made bureaucracy much more effective and that was sotis even more terrifying than the explosions.
All done. Now, onto our eting.
Dean Tallit crossed his fingers under his fat lips and suddenly, Viv felt the full attention of the man who ruled the continents most powerful institution fully focused on herself.
During the welco ceremony, I reminded everyone the only reason why we have endured throughout the ages. I was quite clear, I believe. In fact, I specifically forwent any sort of subtlety and witticisms to make absolutely sure everyone understood. Can you remind what that reason was.
Because the Academy separates itself from the worlds trouble, Viv allowed smoothly.
She was up for so scolding, That was fine. Better than prison or anything else the dean could have gotten away with since he was powerful. It was no secret that Sidjin had to break in to leave his teleportation circle in Stereks lab. A thorough interrogation by a mildly talented truth seeker would reveal she had a hand or three in the process.
Yes, separated from the troubles of the world. This includes getting involved in political turmoil and administrative disputes. I would also expect my students to clear away from our noble towns seediest elents. I would especially expect none of my requests to be ignored within the first TWO WEEKS of your stay here.
Viv waited politely while the dean glared.
At least you are not foolish enough to deny your involvent. Know that we have a very thorough, very protective intelligence branch to root out troubles before they occur just like the late Ulys found out. We are not blind and stupid, Viviane the Outlander. You have done the exact contrary of what we recomnded and not very smartly either. I am aware that you are from afar and perhaps your society was more peaceful or simple than our own, so I will, again, state things very clearly, very thoroughly, so you understand. Helock is on the verge of serious unrest due to a combination of factors. We are also due a Hallurian invasion very soon. This is not the ti to make waves or you will be caught in them and most likely die which I can tolerate. Worse, your status as a student could be used by others to prove that we got involved and this I cannot allow. From now on you will behave like a model student or I will consider asures to make sure you do, adult or not. So long as you are among our numbers you will follow the rules. Am I making myself clear?
Viv waited, giving herself a couple of seconds to calm down and formulate her response. It was an old trick her dad taught her, though he would fill the silence with inane chatter like I heard your question. Viv had no need to fill the silence.
What, she asked, is the difference between a rule and a request?
An intimidation like a tidal wave crashed into her. The power of Dallits soul was so massive, so overwhelming it was almost a physical presence. She was not facing an archmage at the mont. She was facing an institution.
You are playing a dangerous ga, Viviane the Traveler.
There was one thing she had noticed with intimidation. It worked much less when the other person had their own. When she had gone to save Arthur from abduction, many of the thugs had resisted her aura of terror despite being clearly weaker, intimidation included. Viv let her own soul pulse in response with the pressure it was being submitted to. Anger coaxed the calm, serpentine skill to uncoil itself in response until Viv felt like an island in the middle of a storm. She could in no way affect Dallit but the man was blowing and trumpeting in vain. After the storm, Viv would still be there.
Since you gave the courtesy of being blunt, I shall return the favor. Sterek sent assassins after my lover, Sidjin.
The storm abated for a while, less because Dallit was taken aback and more out of curiosity.
If you have proof of that
I am not accusing, Viv calmly interrupted, I am stating a fact. Assassins went after Sidjn the day after he made a formal complaint and long before his family could have gotten wind he was here in Helock. An assassination contract costs gold talents. Only an influential individual could afford the cost and have the contacts to find proper agents. It leaves with exactly one logical explanation, so yes, Sterek sent assassins after the man I love. Therefore the distinction between rule and request are clear. When I signed up with you, I swore oaths not to do anything that hurts the Academy. Those are the terms I agreed to. I never said I would let a research thief turned attempted murderer go after a man I love dearly because you asked nicely. Wait, I was being too polite. Let rephrase.
Viv was still an island facing a storm but this ti, the island was a volcano, and it was smoking.
I will not let one of your employees, or anyone for that matter, go after a person I love, not now, not ever, and whether you like it or not. If you cant keep your own employees on the right side of not just the law but also common ethical practices, then I consider it doing a favor to the Academy to discredit such individuals.
There were other venues available to you.
And to Sterek as well, but he still sent killers.
Dallit fud behind his desk.
And Sidjin was stonewalled by your administration. Dont tell you needed a birth certificate in triplicate to prove the identity of the fallen Prince Sidjin of Glastia, one of the brightest colorless mana specialists in existence.
We have to be careful.
Bullshit.
The ti to storm roared and blew, and Viv was pushed back against her seat, but she didnt flinch.
We have to be careful because there are many talented conn who can even change the shape of their face.
And no one ca to verify if he was one such person, no one visited him in his ho. You never bothered.
We have better things to do
I didnt.
The two casters stood frozen like statues. Dallit was a miniature sun, his re presence warming the room, but Viv was a shard of obsidian and she could not be brushed aside.
But she had better things to do with her day.
Look, I was not going after Sterek because he was one of us. I did it because he went after soone I care about deeply. It was a one off. I hope it was a one off. But just so that were clear, I am going to go out and be involved so more, and do you know why?
You must be suicidal.
No, Im dying.
This made the dean caress his ample beard once more.
Ah yes, the health situation. What did Elunath say?
Hell help if I promise to serve him for a hundred years.
Shock blossod on the deans ugly face.
This is not very generous.
But he will lower it by a few years or so every ti I bring him sothing interesting. There will be so years left at the end no matter what, of course. Speaking of, I heard that you might have the sa issue with red mana? At so point?
This is a very private question you are asking and I will not answer. What I can say is that the process is eminently complex and you will not be able to conduct it within the tiline you have for you. Even with your talent. I am not just talking about researching the problem. You do not have the skills and willpower, acuity, or focus to carry out so of the necessary tasks. You need assistance and I cannot provide it.
The dean gauged her for a mont, then sighed, his mind made.
The final ritual is a death and rebirth one. There is no way your mind can handle the death of the self and keep the spell going at the sa ti, not now and not within the next thirty years. It takes centuries for us to reach that point of power. I am sorry.
Damn.
You could always gather the ingredients yourself. It is a major aspect of the process and I am sure Elunath will shave decades off.
What sorts of components? He was supposed to tell .
You will need pure silverite and also a pure core of large size of the color that you have picked.
So for you it would be
A fire elental could hypothetically do, though I cannot think of anyone who would survive the harvest. Volcano clams have them. It is only a matter of reaching the beasts themselves. Fortunately, I already found a way to obtain one. As for you
An undead.
Not just any undead. You need a large core, and only one species of monster on Nyil has a black core of sufficient size.
Necrarchs.
The dead nodded.
You cant hunt a necrarch. However, I was inford you have ties with the Temple of Neriad. I suggest you petition them for help. They always need more help from pure casters, you see.
I see, thanks.
Good luck to you, Viviane the Outlander. Those are unfortunate circumstances you find yourself in. I hope you get the help you need but do heed my words. You wont live to the transition unless you exert so common sense. There is plenty of danger even within the city walls, no need to go look for so more.
I assure you Im trying to stay alive. Thank you for your ti, sir. Ill show myself out.
***
Sterek watched the shore pass by.
He was in self-imposed exile. It was the only solution. He was not the first and he would not be the last to lose his spot and his reputation in a risky venture. So long as one did not provoke a branding of the pariah through so heinous cri, Helock remained kind to her wayward children. It was a well-established process. He would scour the continent for lost knowledge or serve so backwater duke until he regained sothing of value. Then he would return in quiet triumph, contribute to the Academy and restore his position quietly between two sesters.
It was a terrible waste of his ti and talent and yet, while Sterek felt two emotions, neither of them were sha.
The first was relief. After several months of vain efforts and machinations, it was done. He had fallen. He could fall no further. The only way left was up. Strangely, it soothed him, like getting rid of a rotten tooth cald the infection.
The second was anger.
He had been humiliated by a backstabber and a muddy, mannerless outlander from so backwater shithole. Truly, the low cunning and base guile of the unwashed masses could be terrifying at tis. It was difficult to beat a conwoman and charlatan at her own gas but Sterek had always been a good student. There were many tools at his disposal.
For example, rumor had it she had such a serious health problem even the faculty could not help her. She had asked to et with Elunath.
It would be a sha if her symptoms worsened.
Sterek started to hum to himself but soon found air missing from his lungs. He gasped in surprise as a particularly violent spike of agony stole his breath. His surprise only grew when he was lifted from the deck. Rather than empty embanknts, his gaze captured the muddy waters of the Shal river, the railing he had been resting against, and the long bone limb jutting from his torso. It was attached to a nightmarish head whose eye cavities burnt with a malevolent amber glare. The twin yellow fires captured his attention despite the pain spreading through his chest, not because they were cold and lifeless, but because they expressed an emotion with absolute, unnatural clarity.
It was contemptuous pride.
Without a noise, without even a nearby sailor turning his head, the war golem slipped back under the brackish waters with its wriggling trophy. They closed around him with nary a ripple, and Sterek was never found again.
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