After the fairy took the cake piece and left, Alrai calmed down, glaring at Velvet, who had an absolute shit eating grin on her face.

“You’re a terrible, horrible human.” He said. “I bring you such a nice cake, and, in exchange, you try to hook me up with Asphyxia the Fae.”

“Oh, is that her name?”

“No, I just made it up.” Sitting back down, he scoffed at Velvet, whose grin had not disappeared. “Just so you know, I’ll get you back for this.”

“Please be gentle, I am a delicate maiden.” She mocked him, taking a bit of cake.

Alrai rolled his eyes. “Of course you are.”

Planning to use Alrai’s knowledge, she spoke. “Righ, right, now that you’re here, how much do you know about the Charlampian mages at the Mergifari?” She knew about the Graham ‘faction’, but, since they didn’t control the Siberettis or the Doyles, Velvet supposed that there were more.

“Shouldn’t you ask how much I want to tell you about them?”

“So, how much?”

“Nothing.”

“Out of my house then.” She pointed at the door.

“Gah, jezz, wait! Okay, okay, I’ll talk… I brought you cake, stop pointing at the door!”

Velvet laughed. “Poor Alrai, it’s sooo lonely…”

“Just until these idiots lower their guard…” He played with the knife, rolling and twisting it over his hand. “I wanted to kill them, but I didn’t get lucky…”

“Won’t you get penalized for that?”

“Nah, your Selector is the one penalized. Use that info as you want.”

If Alrai’s Selector is his father, he surely would be praised for killing another mage. Velvet grimaced, becoming even more wary of him.

“You’re sooo cute when you’re scared, Velvet.”

“I know, your sister thought so too. And your father seems to also like me. Guess I’m Siberetti Approved.”

Nooo, it couldn’t be Igern, it had to be the murderhobo clown family with luck messing powers who likes me! Velvet complained in her mind, even when she still smiled at Alrai.

Alrai, who sighed in response, as if he was having a mortal inner turmoil. “Ahh, I’m really torn apart between two choices… but, if push comes to shove, keep in mind I will choose Ethra.”

“Hell, I hope so. I only want you for that sweet, sweet information you’re taking so long to give me.”

“And the cake.”

“And the cake.” She repeated.

“Okay, my sweet Strawbelvet.” Alrai frolicked on the chair, getting comfortable. “There really aren't a lot of big mage families on Charlampia. Most just dipped once Dodon kicked the bucket.”

Hey now, Velvet thought, her smile tickering a bit, I know he is dead, but couldn’t you use some bare respect for your previous god?!

Pretending not to notice Velvet’s look, he started. “The Grahams, who kind of fumbled the bag hard thanks to you, losing their heir.”

“... It was your sister. Mostly.”

Ignoring her remark, he continued. “The Siberettis, the best family ever.”

Alrai, your delusion is showing…

“The Coaltheno, who I know are trying to dip it to Idir, so they’re currently sucking some Idirian balls.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Velvet guessed that meant that they were trying to select mages from Idirian origins, to form some connections.

“And Frore Tilleu.”

“Huh? Just one name? Is she a loner?”

“Eh, Sloth Paradigm… They are not lonely per se, but spend more time sleeping than awake. Still, she is powerful enough to be her own family. Don’t look at me like that, I don’t make the rules.”

“The rule to be considered a big mage family is…?”

“Two Escas open.”

Flinching, Velvet got a bit worried. Two Escas were no joke, she only had a quarter, and Adeline Graham had two at least!

Cornelius did beat her totally, and only with half. She had gotten stronger since then, but, if there was a rematch, without Siberina, Velvet still had the biggest chance in losing.

She also didn’t know how strong Alrai was, actually. The Arena had a power penalty on the lower levels, which affected Igern and Vibora the most, but maybe Alrai was affected too.

I spent so much time focused on the dream that I forgot about the real world… I also provoked Ethra, Alrai, Nebura and Igern… Am I becoming a paper tiger? Hahaha…

I should make my figurines paper tigers, haha… Now I get why Lothrigern said ‘Become stronger’.

Velvet shook her head suddenly, getting up.

“Oh, getting scared of the Graham’s boss?” Alrai took Velvet’s reaction as proof that she didn’t know how to deal with Adeline once Irsen Kartal’s protection wore off.

If only that was her problem…

The Mergifari Archives should be opened, and, as a knowledge mage, knowledge was power!

… Even if its use was rather mediocre in real combat.

“A bit, no use lying. But I should be working instead of wasting my time with bad influences…”

“Hey!”

Patting off the dust from her dress, even when there were more crumbs than dust, Velvet picked out a few things and started pressuring Alrai to move, by pushing him repeatedly towards the door.

Letting himself be pushed a few times, Alrai suddenly turned around and spooked Velvet, who jumped away, almost tripping over a chair in the process.

“Careful there, my sweet, delicate maiden. I don’t want you to- Oh shit, is that my sister’s knife? W-wait, put it down! I’m leaving, I’m leaving!”

“I wonder how much is the penalty for making a mage an eunuch. Well, that is for my Selector to worry about, isn’t it, Alrai?”

“I am outside! And I’m holding a branch! I know it cannot cut wood!” Alrai jumped aside, rolling on the ground to escape the paper figurine's explosion.

He was outside now, after all. No need to worry over destroying the hut.

“You’re getting better at aiming!”

Closing the door behind her, Velvet sighed.

“Oh, you’re giving up already?”

“What are you, a practice mannequin? Get lost.”

“So rough… Oh, right! Velvet, I hope you get strong enough in these two days, you’re gonna need it!”

Velvet turned around. “Explain.”

She saw Alrai grin from ear to ear. “No, I don’t think I will. See ya, my friend!” Sidestepping around a few trees, Alrai escaped from Velvet’s sight pretty soon.

Velvet, who just had a shiver run through her back.

…

Still feeling a bit suspicious, she exited the woods, and went to the Archives, or, the Second Tower.

Similar to the First Tower, but older, she could only access the lowest floor at the start, where another Mirrs’ type catgirl was waiting.

I bet it's Merrs.

Velvet was going to speak to her, when another voice interrupted.

“Velvet? Oh, come here, help me carry this.”

A woman, tall and thin, with bright long red hair and dark skin, dressed in a long, elegant but filled with hanging trinkets brown dress, handed her a pile of books, not waiting for her answer.

“Wait, who are you?” She still obeyed and followed her, because she was going up the Archive’s floors!

She had no right to complain about a free entrance! And neither could Merrs, who wanted to say something, but gave up once she saw the woman.

Velvet carried the book pile over the spiral stone staircase, following the woman for three full floors, until she opened a door and entered.

The room had everything one could expect from an archive, which is bookcases, tables with drawers, a lot of unclassified papers, a window so small the only light came from some gas lamps, secured to not cause a fire, and a rat.

Velvet didn’t see the last one, but heard it rummaging behind the bookcase.

“Put that right here, I barely have time…”

She did as told, peeking over the titles, before staring at the woman, smiling.

“You’re welcome, madam.”

“You’re the one that should be thankful, as a knowledge mage, this entrance should be enough for you to memorize this room, am I wrong?”

“Indeed! Wow, you know so much about me, but I know nothing about you!”

“Is that so… well then,” Tristan said, a soft smile in her lips, “As much as I hate to use that word… guess.”