Following what Livia had said, the four met outside the staff cafeteria at midday. Medurio had not spent his time productively. For hours he sat in his room, going over the translated text again and again while he theorized what the concoction would do. The others were thankfully tamer than they had been in the morning. Siegfried and Artur were strangely acting friendly again while Scrulo was too busy studying a textbook for anything else.

Artur sat himself down next to Scrulo, “Any idea when the pretty lady will come?” He asked.

Disregarding the man’s bothersome comments, Medurio looked toward the cafeteria’s entrance. It was a pair of thick wooden doors, each with a pattern of four large squares. “She said midday,” he answered. “That covers quite some time.”

Artur turned so that he could lay his body down over half of the bench, to Scrulo’s discontent. “Wake me up when she gets here.”

Medurio looked at Siegfried, who stood about in an uninteresting way. “Best we find somewhere to wait as well. Training has left me exhausted.”

“I should have followed Scrulo’s example and brought a book, tired of waiting all day.”

“What are you carrying in your bag then?”

“Just the text, carrying a book as big as the one Scrulo has would strain my shoulders.”

“Huh, what’s the next ingredient anyway? We have a few more left ri-” Siegfried suddenly went silent as his eyes stared behind Medurio in shock.

Medurio’s skin crawled, but he turned around anyway. He too froze in place. Fear overflowed his body and poured out onto his whitening face.

Artur languidly rose from his rest, “what are you two gawking at?” He asked jokingly. “Is she comin-” He and Scrulo both went silent.

Walking directly towards them. Not near or around. Was a man in gray robes with black ends. An inquisitor. Medurio would not move, he could not. If he did it would only make him seem guiltier. So he stood there, heart racing, hands shaking, sweat rolling down his face. He stood there waiting for death to come to him.

The inquisitor made no particular effort to approach, as if mocking the fact that Medurio was out of options. The man walked slowly, head looking up towards the passing clouds. A natural smile on his face.

Medurio felt he had lost a few years of his life by the time the man reached them. His smile unnerved him. How could he be smiling in this situation? “Good to see you again,” the man said cheerily, causing the four to jump.

Medurio’s mind started to turn, unraveling the message which the man was trying to convey. Did he know someone here? Was one of his companions secretly an inquisitor? Then, he realized that the man was looking directly at Siegfried. “Hello Nadosta.” Siegfried said with a chuckle that was brought on by nervousness. “Good to see you again as well. Are you working right now?”

They simultaneously hoped that the answer would be no. “You’re quite the perceptive one!” It seemed they would remain tense forever. “Let me introduce myself to your friends before I go further.” He turned to face them and Medurio felt his soul begin to leave him. “I am an inquisitor of the Holy Order. Recently I received word that there was heresy about the academy. I’m here to make sure it does not affect you students.

“Heresy about?” Siegfried asked hoarsely. “Is there really?” If there were one time when Medurio would want Siegfried to shut up, it would be now.

The inquisitor hummed disappointedly, “I was given word that restricted texts were being stolen.”

Medurio was having trouble breathing now. It was obvious he knew, why else would he appear before them? But why had he not acted? They were unarmed and much less competent at fighting then he was, with the exception of the already exhausted Siegfried. So perhaps this meant that he didn’t know. Or maybe he did and was drawing a confession? Either way, this was Medurio’s last chance at action. He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry sir.” He spoke confidently. “But I have not heard of anything of the sort occurring.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The inquisitor slowly nodded his head and looked at the others. “Have any of you heard or seen anything that could prove helpful?” They all shook their heads. The inquisitor sighed, “Alright, thank you anyways. If you hear anything, report it to the head of the administrative office. That’s where I’ll be.” He waved them goodbye and turned around, heading towards the left side of the building where the office was.

The four of them watched the man go and spoke not a word until he was out of sight. They began to exhale and flittered like leaves in the wind. No longer able to bear the pressure of his shaking legs, Medurio sat where he stood.

As if on queue, Livia appeared. She had a frown on her face and looked curiously between the four exhausted men. “Ah, my lady,” Artur said with a slight bow, appearing unfazed. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, I am Artur.”

To Artur’s misfortune, Livia disregarded him and headed straight for Medurio. He was still sitting on the ground and obviously unnerved. “Who was that?” She asked with worry.

“Inquisitor.” Medurio answered breathlessly.

Livia’s head quickly darted around, “But, why would he be interested in you four?”

“He was conducting an investigation. Wanted to ask questions.”

“You’re shaking. What happened?” Medurio did not answer and Livia’s frown grew deeper.

Siegfried approached, wiping sweat from his brow. “No need to concern yourself my lady, we ran on our way here and he overexerted himself.”

“That’s right,” Scrulo added. “He seemed quite insistent on competing with our friend Sieg here.”

“If that was the case,” she said harshly. “Then how come he was not sitting when the inquisitor confronted him? Should have started resting as soon as he stopped running?”

The two liar’s silently thought of ways to retort the insight. “My lady,” Artur said softly. “It would have simply tainted his honor to show weakness to a man of such standing.”

Livia harrumphed and glared at them. “You three are equally awful liars.”

“But my lad-” Siegfried muttered before being interrupted.

“I’ve heard quite enough.” Livia said forcefully. She crouched down next to Medurio, “I may not know him too well but I do just enough to know that honor is his most lacking quality.” She looked at him for a moment, expecting a retort. Medurio was too busy staring at the floor.

“I do this for my own safety,” Livia continued. “If giving this sugar to you could lead to my harm in any way, tell me for goodness sake.” The four men were silent for a moment, as Livia looked to each of them for an answer.

“It won’t.” Medurio told her.

“And why is that?” She asked defensively.

“Didn’t you say that you saw it? The Inquisitor walked away, therefore we are not in danger.”

Livia shook her head, “What are you really up to Medurio?”

“Nothing of concern.”

“I am quite concerned though.”

Livia stared at him as he gently stirred his finger around the stone path. “I am doing a thing which would do more harm to myself than to others,” He admitted solemnly. “I do it out of my volition, because my mind would regret it if I were to stop.”

The other three men were horrified at his potentially incriminating response. Livia’s frown did not change and Medurio continued to stare at the ground. Reaching into her pocket, Livia grabbed a tiny pouch of sugar and laid it beside him. “I have a favor to ask in return.” She said, believing that she saw some regret in him. “Let me help you.”

Medurio grunted in approval. He did not know why, either he was too tired or wanted to be left alone. He did not care anymore, larger problems had made little worries feel even smaller.

Livia expected a different outcome, “Could I explain myself first?”

Again, Medurio grunted approvingly.

She cleared her throat. “The God of Justice once told our ancestors that those who realize their faults are not far from salvation. I don’t know what your problem is but I wish to help you. I was hoping that you, Medurio, can realize what you were doing wrong and that I could help you realize that. Perhaps I can even stop you from putting yourself in another dangerous situation if it comes to it.”

Medurio grunted, Livia could only hope that he was listening. Slowly, she nodded her head and stood up.

“My lady.” Siegfried piped up raspily. “I know you want to help this man, but trust me, he is far from saving. If it had come to it… He would have stolen that sugar without a second thought.”

Livia glared angrily at him, but Siegfried’s smirk did not leave his face. Finally, his rival had been shown what his foolish acts bore.