Henry pow

It had been long, definitely not too long, since I had walked these halls. A dreary place, cold damp and specifically designed to be convoluted to the extreme. No hallway by ordinary inspection would be dissimilar from the next. The slight curve barely noticable, though once distinguished it created an eerie notion of deja vu with every junction.

The first recruit sent here had requested signs to be put up. Conviced that he was dreaming and would wake at any moment, he lost his bearings. Once he realised, he was already in the maze defending the ground entrance. And the only direction he could traverse, was the deadly wildlands surrounding.

No signs were ever put up, the guild simply added “non-hostile concealment defenses has been tested and qualified up to danger-class 30” to the guild record

The full report suggested adding some emergency scrolls of Message, requiring reading of the complex record before posting and additional sentences . “Please proceed with caution as, while they are not capable of harming sentient life, thus complying with kingdom law. We take no responsibility for factors outside our own property.”

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But the lawyers and penny-pinchers had agreed, there was no need to waste ink so frivolously.

A perfect example of the guild bureaucracy working away, five magii researching one complaint, writing up a suggested draft, discussing it, redrafting and finally finishing a full report. Weeks of work.

And less than one percent is implemented.

But however long i could keep myself away for. I would always be forced back by the smallest of things. There had been no report from the novice in charge of this area for 3 cykles. Unacceptable, by guild standards. Personally I¨d prefer if there were no reports for another 20 years for me to read and validate. But no reports recieved meant no reason for financing, though we were tasked with maintaining the complex. And failure was punished, gravely.

Walking down the hallways was disquieting, even for me. There was no furniture, no markings. And no smell.

There was no smell.

Clean always left some traces behind, and smell was easily the most distinguishable. Only Cleanse left nothing. Well technically there was some minute particles left, but nothing the olfactory senses of a human could discern.

[Focus]

This was not good.

[Barrier]

Better safe than sorry.

[Message-

No, not until it was confirmed. I visualized my hitherto inevitable rise to mage, drifting into doubtfulness.

It was only Cleanse, I could cast it. I simply chose to direct my efforts elsewhere.

I was almost certain that i must have, at some point.

I made a mental note to cast Cleanse soon.