Brian yawned as he paged through the book.
It was already later than he’d wanted to be out, but he was currently being held in what he could only assume was an interrogation room, waiting for someone to come talk to him. So, he had decided to pass the time by reading the journal he’d bought from The Greedy Dragon, something that had proved to be both interesting and boring.
Like he’d thought, it was someone’s personal journal, just written in a language that he didn’t exactly recognize. This in itself was strange, as he’d made a point to figure out how his Literacy Ability worked, part of it allowing him to identify what language a piece of text was written in. However, it didn’t seem to work on the writing in the journal, even though Brian could still read it.
The contents of the journal itself were pretty basic, just about the daily life of a long dead Adventurer, recording things their party mates said or did, or just writing about their day. Occasionally there would be something more interesting, like a particularly hard Quest they went on, or details of an epic fight, but other than that, it was pretty boring. Still, Brian found it entertaining enough to pass the time while he waited.
“Evening,” the voice said as the door to the room opened, revealing a tired looking man, his hair slightly dishevelled and his face unshaven, “Care to tell me why I was woken from my nice warm bed in the middle of the night?”
“I’m not too sure, myself,” Brian shrugged as he put the journal away in one of his rings, “Just that I found a man being assaulted by a strange individual and brought him here.”
“Right, probably something to do with the murders, then,” the man yawned.
“Murders?” Brian blinked, watching as the other man paged through a few sheets of paper on a clipboard he was holding, letting out a sigh as he nodded, “What are you talking about?”
“Members of a certain Adventuring party have been turning up dead as of late,” the man explained, sitting down opposite Brian, “Oh, sorry, I haven’t introduced myself, Inspector-Constable Martin.”
“Brian,” Brian nodded at the man, “I take it that the man I found is one of this party?”
“The last one, if we’re right,” Martin nodded, “They were pretty famous around here, one of the larger parties, going after the bigger Quests. They were all pretty powerful, in the low twenties, so it was a shock when they started turning up dead.”
“And you think I have something to do with this?” Brian asked, the other man looking at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Hells, is that why you think we held you here?” the Inspector-Constable chuckled, “No, we don’t suspect you, Mage. All the victims were physically beaten to death by someone, or something, far stronger than you could ever hope to be.”
“Oh,” Brian blinked, nodding along as the other man continued.
“Thing is, there were signs of torture that occurred before they died,” Martin continued, “Crushed and broken bones, skin and hair ripped off. Whoever did it was vicious and unrelenting.”
“I think I may have seen them,” Brian nodded, making the Guard look up at him in surprise, “Or, well, sensed them. They had an immense amount of mana. Like, a scary amount. I didn’t actually see what they looked like, just that they had golden eyes.”
“Golden eyes?” Martin asked, before sighing tiredly, “Well, that’s more of a description than we’ve been able to get so far. Anything else?”
“Yes, they seemed to vanish into the shadows after breaking out of my Paralysis Spell,” Brian explained, “I’ve not met anyone, or anything, that been able to escape from my magic before, even if I was only using a portion of its full strength.”
“Oh? And what level is your Ability?”
“Ten,” Brian answered, the Guard letting out a choking cough.
“Level ten? Are you lying to me?” Martin gasped, Brian shaking his head, “And about how strong did you make the spell itself?”
“About a third of its full strength?” Brian shrugged, “Everything else I’ve used it on at full strength died instantly, and I was trying to capture the person attacking that Adventurer.”
“Shit,” the Guard sighed, leaning back in his chair, “Well, I apologize for keeping you waiting so long, Sir Mage. You’re free to go, though we would like to know where you’re staying, in case we have any more questions for you.”
“Of course,” Brian nodded, getting up to leave, “Sorry I couldn’t be of more help, Officer.”
“You’ve been plenty of help, young man,” Martin nodded back, “At the very least you saved a life tonight. That’s a good thing.”
“I certainly hope so,” Brian muttered as he left the room.
------
“Okay,” Brian muttered as he sat in his room at the inn, looking at the large book sitting on the small side table, “So, what are the chances that this thing is what that mysterious person was after?”
Shaking his head, Brian inspected the book again, taking in the purple scaled leather of the cover, and the beautifully carved gem at its centre. He shuddered as he looked at the eye-like rock, swearing he saw it blink at him once again, before turning away.
“Best I just keep it hidden away for now,” he sighed, storing the book back in one of his rings before slapping his forehead, “I don’t know if whoever that was can somehow sense the thing. Shit, since I took it out, they could be coming after me right now. Dumbass!”
Brian quickly dressed, hurrying downstairs and nodding to the woman at the counter, one of the innkeeper’s older daughters, before hurrying out. He made his way down the still dark streets, the first light of dawn starting to show on the edges of the horizon as he walked at a brisk pace.
“First things first,” he muttered to himself, “I need to know more about this book. Easiest way would be to break the curse on it and open it, but I don’t know what that will do. So, option two, ask the old man at the magic shop where he got it.”
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Brian nodded to himself, feeling a little better now that he had a plan of sorts, and heading towards the East District as the sun rose above the walls of the city.
------
“Bought it about a month ago,” the old man snorted, “No refunds.”
“From whom?” Brian asked, the old man just glaring back at him.
“Can’t tell you, customer confidentiality,” he replied, a smug look on his wrinkled face as he crossed his arms.
“The person who sold it to you could have almost been killed last night,” Brian continued, “If the person, or thing, that went after him finds out it was you who bought the book, you could be next.”
“Are you threatening me?” the old man snarled, “I don’t take threats lightly.”
“I’m trying to warn you,” Brian sighed, “Look, I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of this thing. Can’t you at least help me a little?”
“Nope,” the old man spat, “Not unless you have enough to convince me.”
“What? You want me to pay you for information? What about customer confidentiality?”
“Everything has a price,” the old man hummed, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, “Especially information.”
“How much?” Brian growled.
“For a name? Ten gold,” the old man grinned as Brian groaned, “For a reason, another ten gold. No more, no less.”
“Dammit,” Brian muttered as he simply turned away and stomped out of the shop, “I’m trying to help you, you old geezer!”
“I ain’t a geezer, you brat!” the old man shouted from behind Brian as the door swung shut behind him.
“An old geezer with really good ears, apparently,” Brian sighed, looking up and down the street as he started to head back to his inn, “Maybe nothing happened? If not, then they, whoever they are, probably can’t sense the book. Then again, it may have nothing to do with this whole situation.”
Brian yawned as he mulled the problem over, feeling the effects of not having slept the night before starting to catch up with him.
“Dammit, this makes no sense,” he sighed, “Maybe I should just take the rest of the day off. Catch up on some sleep and try again this afternoon or tomorrow.”
Brian blinked as he approached the inn, spotting the two guards waiting outside before they saw him. He quickly approached, one of the men pointing to him as he did so. Nodding to the two, he stopped and waited for them to walk over to him, the first speaking.
“Sir Mage? Are you the one who brought the Adventurer Allen of the Red Raiders to the local Guard Post last night?”
“Was that his name?” Brian asked, the Guard nodding, “I didn’t have a chance to ask him for it, he was unconscious at the time.”
“Well, he was found dead this morning,” the second Guard said in a hushed tone, “Beaten to death in the cell we were keeping him in for his own protection.”
“Shit, really?” Brian groaned, “And you want to take me in for my protection now, right?”
“Yes, Sir Mage,” the first Guard nodded, “You are probably the only other person to have seen his assailant. If you would please come with us.”
“Sure, can I talk with Inspector-Constable Martin? I think I may have an idea of what this is all about.”
------
“A book?” the Inspector-Constable asked, running hand down his face, now cleanly shaven.
“A Cursed book, to be exact,” Brian nodded, “I bought it from the old man at The Greedy Dragon magic shop in the East District.”
“I know the guy,” Martin nodded, “Think we should take him in for protection as well?”
“I don’t know how useful that’ll be,” Brian shook his head, “Whoever this is could get into your cells easily enough to find that other Adventurer last night. I don’t think he’d be safe.”
“We have warded cells for Mage’s under the keep,” the other man said, “Both to keep Mages in, and out. We could put him in one of those.”
“That may work,” Brian nodded, “But what about the book?”
“I don’t know without being able to see it,” Martin shrugged, “But from what you’ve told me, you suspect that the individual responsible for all this might be able to sense it?”
“It’s just conjecture at this moment,” Brian sighed, “I wanted to break the curse with an Ability of mine, but I was worried there would be some sort of backlash, so I didn’t want to do it in an occupied area.”
“Good thinking, thanks for that,” Martin grunted, getting up from his seat in the interrogation room, “Wait here, I’m going to go to the Mage’s Guild.”
“Mage’s Guild?” Brian blinked, “They have one here?”
“All cities have a branch of the Mage’s Guild,” the Inspector-Constable said, “They should have a specially warded room underground where you can remove that curse without putting anyone in danger.”
“Oh, uhm…” Brian muttered, “Do I need to be, like, registered with them, or something?”
“Registered?” Martin blinked, “You’re not registered with the Mage’s Guild?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not as far as I’m aware,” the other man shook his head, “Mages aren’t required by law to be registered with the Mage’s Guild, just most are due to them being able to get access to facilities and materials more easily. You also need a license from them in order to sell and buy magical items in a shop.”
“You mean like scrolls?” Brian asked, Martin nodding, “Come to think of it, I haven’t bothered to actually make any scrolls yet, despite my Ability being high.”
“I hear it’s a good way to make some quick money,” the Inspector-Constable chuckled, “Though it’s expensive to get started, what with all the magical materials you need and special paper or vellum for the scrolls.”
“I have a stock,” Brian shrugged, “Would you mind if I stayed here and made some while I wait?”
“Not particularly,” Martin shrugged, “It’ll probably be a couple of hours before the Mage’s Guild get back to us, so you’ll have time. Just try not to blow anything up.”
“Of course,” Brian chuckled back as the man left the room, checking his rings and removing some of the scroll materials he’d received from Fontworth back in Blackleaf.
------
“Sorry,” Martin said as he entered the room again, “Took longer than expected, the Mage’s Guild apparently have something going on right no- what in the hells?”
“Hmm?” Brian hummed as he looked up from the scroll he was working on, a sizeable pile of rolled up scrolls beside him, “Is something wrong?”
“No, just…” Martin said as he looked at the twenty or so scrolls neatly stacked on the table, “I’d just heard that making scrolls takes a long time, and it’s only been a few hours since I left you.”
“Guess I just work fast,” Brian chuckled nervously, turning back to the scroll in front of him, “Do you mind if I finish this one quickly? It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Sure?” Martin nodded slowly, watching in awe as the other man returned to his work, his hand and pen gliding smoothly over the paper, drawing complex symbols and runes as easily as if he were writing his name.
A few minutes later, Brian tossed the special sand on to the page to dry the ink, carefully collecting the excess back into the bottle. He inspected the scroll again, nodding in satisfaction as he rolled it up and tied it shut with a length of ribbon, also supplied by Fontworth. With a wave of his hand, all the scrolls were quickly stored in one of his rings, Brian getting up and stretching as he turned to the amazed Guard.
“Right, I’m ready, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No problem, follow me,” Martin muttered, “We’ll head straight to the Mage’s Guild building from here. It’s not too far.”
“Right behind you,” Brian nodded.
The two men left the room and the Guard House, walking through the streets of Loftford until they came to a grand looking building. Brian nodded, impressed by the structure, all spires and towers, extending his mana sense, as he’d started to call it, into the structure. He blinked a moment later as he felt nothing, staring at the building in confusion. It wasn’t like the building was empty, but rather like there was a building shaped void in the ambient mana around it.
“Wards, probably,” he muttered as he followed the Inspector-Constable inside, blinking as he now stood in a grand atrium, dozens of people in robes walking around and chatting.
Martin led him straight to a small circular desk in the middle of the room, where three clerks were working studiously. They moved to the front of the short line, earning a few annoyed looks from the waiting Mages before Martin spoke.
“Inspector-Constable Martin, I have an appointment with the Arch Mage of the Loftford Mage’s Guild.”
The other Mages shuffled and whispered behind them as soon as they heard that, the clerk just nodding and pointing to a magic circle at the back of the atrium.
“She’s waiting for you in the Warded Room twelve,” the man said, smiling friendlily, “Have a pleasant day, Sir Guard, Sir Mage.”
“You too,” Brian nodded as he followed after the other man, both moving to stand on the circle.
“Gods but I hate these things,” Martin muttered, “Always make me feel sick after using them.”
“What is it? A teleportation circle?” Brian asked, before the light enveloped them, and they were gone.