I felt the bead of sweat trail down my spine, making shiver.
My fingers clenched and relaxed, twitching in a nervous rhythm.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fuckity, fuck, fuck. My mouth wasnt far from my fingers.
I sucked my breath inward, ntally beating myself over once again. What should I do? Return with a figurative tail between my legs and mar my, already sloppy, performance even further? I wasnt sure Domina would be generous for another lesson.
Risk my luck? I glanced around, looking at the crowd. I was standing in an open plaza and, as open plazas do, it was filled with people milling, trading, and walking to their destinations. They definitely knew where they were heading, not like a genius over here. Could I ask soone for directions or rely asking sothing like that was bound to get my neck ripped out as well. Or so other part of my body.
Speaking about that disastrous chase. My eyes, roaming through the crowd, spied soone I didnt expect to see at all. The red NPC. Still wearing his brilliant red coat. Albeit now he wasnt reading, but playing cards instead. By himself. And by the look on his face, he was clearly losing. His tail darting back and forth.
I shook my head and headed over. He was a wermage, and it was obvious from the crowd as well. He was clearly left alone, despite his eccentric actions. The crowd bending around him like a school of fish around a shark. I wouldve done the sa if not for the words of the assholes that were chasing . From how they worded it he wasnt just passively in their way, he actively blocked them off, rely seconds after letting through.
Suffice to say, I had strong reasons to believe he tried to help that day. Perhaps, he would again today.
Your sight is in my heart. I bowed to him.
He jerked upward, clearly distracted by his ga, and glanced at askance. His eyes darting from to the card in his hand. I tried to apologize only to be stopped by his smile.
And your na is on my lips. He completed the greeting, stunning with his attitude. Mother, uncle, Erf is up in the social circles, being greeted with maximum politeness by a wermage himself!
He tucked the card into his coat and continued speaking. Although I do not know your na. How about a fair exchange. If you forgive my appearance- he gestured at himself, a rather imposing figure. His long raven-black hair was simply braided at the back, crowned with a solid set of horns. Horns that I couldnt really place within any species that I knew of. They were large and curved, full of intricate ridges and a tint of blue along the edges. His skin covered in dark scales right where they grew from his head, just above his ears. The word demonic ca to mind, exacerbated by his red attire.
The rest of his face, if one would take away the pointed ears with amber earrings, would fit perfectly on a poster about a good detective in the early days of cinema, still in 2D. 90s they were called. Also adding to the dashing devil stereotype.
While I goggled at his continued levels of politeness. He moved on: -I would be delighted to know your na.
Erf. I choked out. Wondering what have I gotten myself into.
He gathered the rest of his cards, putting them away. A succinct na, and the most polite way to call an obviously slave na. My na is Albin Shebet Chasya. Of the House of Records, He pointed out at the trim of his dress, richly detailed with golden quills. But you can call Albin. Or Al for short.
I smiled thinly at him. How about Albin Chasya, instead. The house na was commonly omitted in personal conversation anyway, but calling him even by his given na was asking to get a neck short haircut. With a rusty blade most likely.
If you insist, He grimaced. So, I assu you were looking for my assistance, am I correct?
Ah yes, I was looking for a Primary Kiytl Manor, Virnan Kiytl Shah specifically. I waved a scroll to describe my task, happy to steer him away from an awkward discussion about his na. Wondering to myself if this might be the correct ti to hit the floor running instead. If you would be so kin-
Co! he was already walking away at a fast pace, waving at with his sleek but fleshy tail. I will show you the way, I was bored to death anyway here.
I swore under my breath and rushed after him. Despite his extrely suspicious attitude, he was actually helping right now. And he helped greatly before. I was sure about it now. As such, despite the alarm bells still ringing in my mind, Ive decided to risk it. Needs must when the devil drives. Or walks extrely quickly being well above two ters in height.
Are you new to the city? The phistopheles slowed down seeing huff behind.
Ah. Yes. Few weeks.
Splendid city, is it not? He was rather talkative.
Hah, Yes. I wasnt, however. I was still trying to catch my breath. This whole eting was already bad for my heart, sprinting after him through the crowd didnt help either. And I was still hungry, my body still craving nutrients after the chase.
So He drawled, smiling at conspiratorially You enjoy geotry and mathematics?
His words made stumble. Wha? Did he just-.
No I havent read your mind, He interrupted grinning, which didnt alleviate my worries at all.
I scowled at him. It only made his smug more prominent.
Finally, a genuine emotion! None of that polite chit-chat!
I held my glare for a mont, then sighed. I gave up on his exuberance. What gave it away?
Well, think about it for a second. We have here is you, who has very little knowledge of the city in general, and doesn't even know the location of a Pillar Manor specifically. His hand carelessly waved in the direction of the floating towers. One of which we were approaching ourselves.
My eyes popped out at the implication. Was it true? Was I really getting an audience within a floating castle of magic? I couldnt stop myself from grinning. Ive spent so much ti last week sweating at my soap, hoping for a miracle. And here I was, getting my wish granted because I knew how to add and multiply quickly in my head!
-who has a missive from the- Al twisted his head, peering down at my scroll, and then continued, branch house. Now If I was thinking rationally, why would soone send a missive if the ssenger doesnt know where he is going?
I was going to the floating tower! I wonder how would I feel inside? Does it have an anti-gravity field? Or was is it sohow anchored into the air?
And not even paying attention to his guide. He added morosely.
I beg your pardon! I was simply overwheld with the fact that I am actually heading to one of the Pillars! I quickly tried to apologize, and then, after cautiously looking around, continued. So why would soone do that, Albin?
Well, it is elentary, Erf! It is because the ssenger is the missive himself! He went on proudly, making snort at his choice of words. No wonder he was so willing to talk to plainly like that. The devil needed a companion, a sounding board for his ideas. He also needed a pipe and a violin.
And the math? I urged him on, knowing better what was expected from .
Well, who is Virnan Kiytl Shah? The old fox has been a well-known party of the House of Trade for the last two centuries. Well known across the city, and I dare say an entire country as one of the most prominent teachers of rhetorics and geotry.
I sucked the air in, suddenly rembering Dominas words. Yeah, I should definitely keep my mouth under control.
He nodded, clearly expecting my surprise, Indeed, everything makes sense if you look at it logically and winked at , grinning once again. No mind-reading required.
You seem to know mathematics yourself.
My statent amused him for so reason. Well, I do possess so familiarity with it, after all, a man of my status wouldnt dare to stay uneducated. But what made you think so? An why specifically mathematics and not geotry for example?
Your logic. One might say they are part of the sa study. Math is inherently logical, and a lot of logic is mathematical. And geotry is simply a form of mathematics.
Hmmm, Logic and mathematics, language and science. A very bold link for you to make. he mused satisfied. You know that statent about geotry would probably put you at odds with the Old Fox out there He waved at our destination, which already started to loom over my head.
Should I avoid it? That would be extrely important to know.
Depends if you can prove your ground, He is old but not senile, yet. I had a sinking feeling Albin revelled in spitting at the social norms. Talking about soone in such a manner, especially to the ssenger of the sa house. Uncaring if I even bother spilling this to anyone. He probably avoided braiding his hair in the normal fashion for the sa reason.
What is there to disprove? One is part of the other.
Well dont ask , I am a historian myself, but what I rember is that they consider geotry more pure Yes, he did the quotation marks.
I frowned. Pure? They are stuck in two and three dinsions at most, I fail to see how they can easily describe anything in higher dinsions, or anything infinite just as a start. I an its possible, but without heavily relying on math it would take years and it still wouldn't make sense!
He looked at . I actually shivered under his gaze. First, it was blank, then cold, and then amused. And the grin was back. She is one smart cookie, isnt she? I wonder where did she find you from.
I sighed, He was making ntal circles around again. But I gave myself so credit. He had a vastly greater pool of knowledge about this place compared to . She is. And perhaps one day I will share my story with you in greater detail.
We were close to the gates of the compound. Gigantic tower looming above us as if holding the sky itself.
Oh, but you must. He laughed heartily I would be a poor historian to miss such a tale!
I smiled back at him, bowing slightly. Until we et again.
Erf. His tone was gentle but neutral, unusually for him. I raised my head. He stood in front of , his hands in sleeves. Do you know why they call you murks?
I frowned at his non-sequitur. What was he about? Because we have no sparks?
I really didnt want to find out that I was wrong and the other shoe was finally dropping.
Thats what many think.
I glanced around, the street was dead. He chose a perfect spot to drop another bomb.
We have?
Have or have not is hard to tell and beyond my knowledge. But if you do have it is definitely not lit up.
So?
He bent forward, his face close to mine. His eyes azure. The mind-reading Flow does exist. Luckily, very few know about it, but you dont have to worry. He pulled back, his voice still quiet. The mind magic cannot touch you. Any of you. It finds your minds Murky.
That was extrely valuable knowledge to have, given at an extrely odd ti. Flow? Is that how they called the magic? why are there two words instead of one?
Is there a reason, why you are telling this, right now?
Apart from the fact that it is the first ti we spoke? No, just thought that you should know. His grin was back. The mont broken. The crowd loud around us.
Rember, He tapped his head. Within your mind. Until you speak.
Until I speak.
The orb.
I bowed my head in quiet acknowledgent. When I lifted my eyes he was already walking away. What an odd fellow. Helpful but odd. Didnt even set up so thod of communication for the future. Or did he think we will stumble onto each other like that again?
Now that I think about it, maybe he did. And, maybe, he was right too.
I turned around, facing the gates. I sighed. I counted to ten and then I knocked.
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