“Any honey?”

“Just a bit, thanks.”

“All right… Here you go.” Stroud carefully received the steaming cup of tea from Dowd with both hands. Taking the seat across the table, the man’s gaze bored into him, sweeping over the lingering injuries that had dyed the left-half of his ribcage a messy collage of purple, blue, and black. Layers of clothes and bandages covered the bruises, but they didn’t seem to do much to impede the Magus’ senses.

Dowd sighed and shook his head “Well, I never anticipated saying this to you so soon after our first meeting, but... the Headmistress has requested your presence. After our business concludes — you are to head directly to her office. Should you find anyone...” The instructions continued on, but Stroud’s mind was already elsewhere.

Trails of steam and a pleasant fragrance wafted into his nose as he drew the delicate cup to his lips. He sipped gingerly, savoring the scalding beverage’s path into his stomach. Then, when it had settled there comfortably, the bitter notes and sweet undertones of honey traveled up through his body and into his head to disperse the drowsy clouds. And as they parted, Dowd’s remarks finally made their way back in.

“A-Ah! My apologies.” Stroud hastily placed down his drink, feeling the weight of the Magus’ prolonged stare. “I was… captured by your wonderful blend.”

Fortunately, the hasty excuse earned him a nod of approval. “I knew you would be able to appreciate it. After all, the man who taught me the recipe was a servant in a position very similar to yours. He was the sole attendant of Lady Faltheisi when I was serving as her tutor years ago. The Faltheisi family heads a powerful trading company in the Empire,” Dowd added offhandedly at the end. “Anyway, Lady Faltheisi loved tea ceremonies, and with their access to all manner of exotic goods — I was able to learn quite a lot.”

“Mmm, I can imagine,” Stroud murmured his agreement “I’ve… spent a period practicing and learning myself, but I can’t claim much knowledge or skill.”

Dowd folded one leg over the other, scoffing as he brushed off those demure words. “All in due time. You have many years ahead of you. That is...” His gaze and tone grew grave, “If you can manage to keep yourself out of trouble.”

Smiling bitterly, Stroud lowered his gaze. “Admittedly, things did proceed beyond my expectations. I—”

“Stop, stop, stop,” Dowd repeated. He held up a hand and drank from his own tea. “I don’t want to know,” he said after drawing in a deep breath. “Nor should you tell me.”

“R-Right...” Stroud coughed awkwardly and returned to his tea to swallow the excuse caught in his throat. He felt off today. Everything was passing him in a blur, and it was almost like he was just an observer of it all. An outsider.

The bloated bubble of nervousness in his stomach swelled as he thought of his impending meeting with Lady Adelais. He knew what he had to do. In fact, he’d known since the moment Maeve had handed him that pendant.

But for the past few days, he’d only been able to lay in bed and wait, slowly recovering…

“Young man.” Dowd sighed again. “If there’s something bothering you — speak. I may not be able to sympathize, but I’ve many years of experience working with people around your age.”

The glaze over Stroud’s eyes abruptly disappeared, and there was no more hesitation in his heart. “Instructor Renfry… I may be too bold in asking this, but… do you have any family?”

Surprisingly, the Magus smiled. It was an earnest and warm smile, quite unlike the proud curl of his lips he usually wore. “I do. I never had any children, and I haven’t spoken with my parents or my brother since I left for an Arcanium many years ago… But I did have my wife. And even though she no longer remains in this world — she is still the most important person in my heart.”

Dowd seemed to already have anticipated his next question because as Stroud spoke his smile grew wider. “Is she… Is she the reason you’ve come all the way out here?

“Yes.”

Stroud nodded. That was all he needed to know. “Thank you, Instructor Renfry. Your answer has helped me a lot.”

***

Sitting hunched over in the cold and bleak lobby, Stroud reached into his shirt and pulled out the small, oval-shaped pendant. He flipped it over in his palm and trained his eyes on the dark green gemstone inlaid in the back.

It pulsed with a faint light — at a rhythm that seemed to match his own heartbeat. Calm and steady.

A sharp light flickered in the depths of Stroud’s dark irises as a faint, tingling flame burned in his chest.

In his mind, he asked himself a simple question: What was his greatest motivation to persevere in the void?

An answer came easy.

Wasn’t it them! The loved ones he’d lost… all those precious memories and feelings…

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The chasm had corroded everything he’d ever cared about until all that was left were blurry, distorted faces and faint yearnings that reared up in his heart from time to time.

It was much more painful to retain those indistinct reminders than to have them erased completely, but in the end… hadn’t he fought so desperately just to retain that pain?

That pain made him who he was. After he devoured his first soul, that pain fueled his anger and his desire. It was his greatest motivation to find his answers. And wasn’t that also why those other souls were so willing to join him? They too couldn’t bear the thought of losing their families, their dreams, and their fondest memories…

But in this new life — he’d forgotten all of that. He was distracted by all the new memories and feelings, and these sentiments made him fearful.

He was so afraid to lose it all again.

So he pushed everyone away, and distanced himself emotionally, building a wall around his heart so that if he failed — he’d have nothing to lose.

It seemed like the perfect plan, but it was actually his greatest mistake. Because now… he had no motivation. No anger to help him persevere.

What would my answers be worth if I have nothing left to cherish at the end…?

Without friends, without passions… he was just empty. And it wasn’t the answers he sought that would make him something more.

What was a prize worth to a man who had no one to share his accomplishments with? All his victories would only resound within a hollow shell...

“The Headmistresses will see you now.” Seeing as how opening up the doors was not enough, the attendant’s rough voice called out to him in anger.

Stroud startled slightly, but he quickly tucked the pendant away and gathered himself. As the image of Maeve’s radiant smile flashed through his mind, the flame in his heart mellowed out, easing into a warm golden glow.

Stand tall… Back Straight… Eyes forward… Just as Celina had taught him, he marched through the antechamber and into the office.

“Good day, Headmistress,” Stroud announced himself as he stopped a few paces shy of her desk.

Lady Adelais paused her work and looked up. Amusement danced in her eyes. “Do you know why I’ve called you in?”

Stroud’s brow furrowed. “I assume it is to dispense punishment or reward for the completion of my mission.”

“In part, yes.” Lady Adelais paused and opened a drawer in her desk, reaching inside. When she laid the item she retrieved onto the smooth polished wood, Stroud’s eyes widened.

Truthfully, it wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all. “That’s…” he muttered. “That’s the talisman I drew for the Madam.”

“So you do claim ownership.” Folding her hands together, the Headmistress stirred a biting gale with the intensity of her gaze alone. “Instructor Alen brought this to me the other day, and I must say — I had little faith he was telling me the truth. Talent in the field of Inscriptions is rare, and even the most prodigal geniuses usually still require years of repetition and practice before they can reach a level that qualifies them as a Master.”

“This too is still some distance from that peak, but nevertheless, it approaches closer to it than I’ve ever seen of someone your age...” The hoarfrost clinging to the walls throbbed faster and faster as anticipation crept into Lady Adelais’ tone. “You must understand then, that I still find this difficult to believe. So you will show me.”

Stroud struggled to swallow the saliva that felt like it was freezing in his mouth. Cold seeped further in, but today, the flames of his resolve could not be quelled.

“I-I have a request…” It was inappropriate for someone of his status to directly make eye-contact with a superior, but he did so anyway. In Stroud’s mind, Lady Adelais was someone who placed her ambitions and results above propriety. And seeing as she didn’t respond right away, he took it as an opportunity to continue. “...If I am able to demonstrate my talent in drawing talismans, that would make me much more valuable as a subordinate, would it not?”

Suddenly, she leaned forward. Her face froze and it became much more difficult to read her expression. “It would. Continue on…”

The loud thumping of his heart pounded loudly in his ears as Stroud caught his breath and mustered himself. “Since that is the case, I’d like to request an early renegotiation of the terms of our contract.”

“Oh…? And what do you propose.”

Warnings screamed through Stroud’s mind. The veins of hoarfrost were expanding and air in the room seemed to be slipping away. “M-My stipulations is simple. I’d only ask that you not order me to directly or indirectly harm anyone bearing the Marwood name — or any who serve under their banner…”

Long seconds passed in silence. Lady Adelais leaned back, drumming her fingers atop the desk. Her long nails produced crisp clacks as they made contact with the wood.

When she finally spoke, she drew out her words in a low breath, “I can agree to that.” In the following moment, an amused smile graced her features. “I’m not sure what spurred your change of heart, but the Marwoods are my allies, after all. For now. And should that change in the future… it won’t be too late to just kill you alongside them.”

Immense relief flushed through his body. But after hearing her response, Stroud no longer felt the desire to speak any further.

“Though, before any of this — I must see the results.” There were plenty of blank papers stacked alongside her work, so Lady Adelais simply pushed a few to him alongside an inkwell.

Stroud picked up the brush right away, read to draw the Spark model, but he was quickly stopped.

“No, not Spark. I want to see you draw this.”

The Tier 1 spell model for Arcane Bolt was laid next to practice sheets. A scrutinizing look at the diagram revealed nothing that Stroud thought looked too difficult. In fact, as a spell of the Primal discipline, it shared some vague similarities to Imbuement of Strength in its nature.

Hence, he quickly got to work. When drawing talismans or engraving in his mindscape, Stroud never felt any of the anxiety or hesitation that often plagued him.

There were three pages for him to make use of, but after he reached the second, Lady Adelais already called for a stop to his work. “That’s enough.”

Her voice was level and she still wore her mask of ice, but Stroud knew she was pleased. “We can proceed with the signing of new oaths, but the cost of the Spirit Blood Ink required for drawing the severance pact and the binding oath will be extracted from any future merits you earn.”

Stroud nodded and she proceeded on: “This is also a good time to add a new clause to your duties. In addition to the missions you receive from me, I will also now require you to produce a set number of talismans for me each week. Materials, spell models, and a workspace will be provided and those will count toward your compensation. However, I will reward you with extra merits for each talisman that reaches beyond 70% spell efficiency.”

Lady Adelais didn’t offer him any chance to agree or disagree with her additional amendment. She swiftly drew out two large talismans — one of which Stroud recognized very clearly — and handed him a thin needle.

“Now, let us begin…”