Ilhue the Merchant visited in the morning, with the custom bracelet Cass had ordered. The Merchant was understandably nervous around Cass since she held his life in her hands and clearly had little to no mercy… So the bracelet, which was made of silver, diamond and sapphire was a ‘gift’ from him to her. Later, Cass would make some special modifications to it, but she planned to give it to Natalie soon.

This was only the secondary reason for why Ilhue was visiting though, the primary reason was to take the magesbane from Cass to the Matron, fulfilling Cass’s end of the deal. In the end, she had not needed to go into the Voni palace at all, but Cass still planned to make a deal with Elder Klein anyway. It might be her Master’s secret, but it would not matter if Klein died anyway, and so she would bleed him dry of value before that point. However, before that meeting took place…

“Cass…” Odal seemed to be struggling not to laugh, “I don’t think this is for you.”

When Cass swore viciously at Odal he did start laughing, and Natalie joined in despite herself. It turned out that Cass was incredibly untalented in the martial arts Odal was teaching.

“Even Natalie is doing better…” Odal snickered as Cass struggled to follow the refined and accurate movements of the other two.

“Odal,” Cass ground her teeth. “I am a few minutes away from activating my glyphs and tearing you limb from limb.”

“Okay, okay,” Odal was still chuckling, since he didn’t take Cass’s threat seriously. “To be honest, I just don’t think this fighting style is for you.”

“I will learn this,” Cass was determined to do so. Odev had taught her that even her strength in arms and magic meant nothing without skill, otherwise she was just a child flailing around with unearned power. And who would fear a child with a sword they couldn’t handle? “And when I do, I am going to beat you to death with it!”

“No, I don’t think it is for you,” Odal stopped laughing and spoke seriously. “Natalie shows real talent, but I think you would be better off learning Welde Jagb instead of Stelle Jagb…”

Cass stopped mid form and frowned at Odal, “explain.”

“Beergmutar, the kingdom not the city, was once two tribes long ago. Before unification they each developed their own method of fighting, and most Warriors today use Stelle Jagb.” Cass was surprised to see that Odal knew history so well, she would not have expected it from him. “Stelle Jagb is the more defensive of the two styles, pushing for stability and accuracy to minimize a Warrior’s exhaustion and take advantage of enemy openings.”

“And Welde Jagb?” Natalie asked curiously from the side, Cass could not believe she had been outdone by a girl five years younger than her… But Natalie was a bright girl.

“Welde Jagb is used by few Warriors, mostly Wardens.” Odal frowned slightly, “Some believe that mastering Welde Jagb is a sign that a Warrior can become a Warden, but it isn’t that simple. Welde Jagb is an aggressive style, where speed and flow are used to tear through enemies. According to legend, it is based off of the fierce mountain lions that prowled that tribes territory, and I can certainly vouch for its effectiveness.”

“Then can you teach me that?” Cass asked, but based on Odal’s face she knew the answer.

“No,” Odal shook his head, “but if you are close to Warden Rowig…” Odal did not look happy about that possibility, it was kind of amusing to Cass. To think he would be jealous of Rowig when Cass was not remotely interested in either man. Odal was a weak and stupid fool, and Rowig was a pedophile, corrupt, and would stick a knife into my back at the first opportunity. However, I also had him in the same way I had Ilhue, so it might work out.

“However, this isn’t something you can learn overnight…” Odal warned, “it will take time, months to gain a beginner level of proficiency and at least a decade to have mastered it. And to truly, fully, master one of these styles can take a lifetime…”

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That was an issue actually… Haj likely had people who could train her, but these Warriors were clearly some of the best. She would deal with that later, for now she wanted to learn the basics at least.

“I will keep that in mind,” Cass acknowledged. “I will have Rowig join us tomorrow, but I should clean up for the meeting with Klein now. You and Natalie should as well.”

“Wait, me?” Natalie exclaimed in shock, “Lady, I can’t go with you to meet with Elder Klein!”

“If I don’t take you with me who knows what kind of trouble you will get into,” at least until her bracelet is finished. “I had clothes prepared for you, so take a bath and change.”

Natalie was forced to go along with Cass, despite obviously not wanting to. Cass actually thought she looked rather cute dressed up, but she could understand why she would be so nervous around Klein. And Nat did not even know even half of what Cass did about him…

The meeting took place in Elder Klein’s mansion. Unlike the other Strioi, he had an entire mansion to himself. Cass wondered what he would even do with all that space… Natalie had her face glued to the carriage window, amazed by the sights around her. Cass did have to admit the architecture and artistry were quite beautiful.

Servants showed Cass into the room where she was meeting Elder Klein and Klein entered in a moment later, with a broad smile on his face.

“My dear Cass,” Klein said happily. “I am simply overjoyed you decided to talk to us about your glyphs, the things we can learn from them!”

“Elder Klein,” Cass inclined her head slightly, while Odal and Natalie bowed deeply. “I have observed your city and made a decision.”

It is just that the decision hinges on you dying in the future…

“I will sell you that information,” Cass paused to make certain that she had everyone’s full attention. “For one thousand gold Voni.”

Odal and Natalie just about fell over, stunned by the ridiculous sum Css had named. It was more than a Warrior, much less a Stone, would ever see in their life. Of course, to a Strioi it was a little over a two year salary, but that still left it as a considerable amount.

“Done,” Klein said without hesitation. “But I didn’t expect you to ask for money…”

“Oh I know that even at one thousand gold you would be ripping me off,” Cass waved her hand as if she was dismissing the money as if it were nothing. It kind of was to her, she could not comprehend that much money really… “I want copies of all your research notes on catalysts. Especially the ones you held back from me before.”

Klein chuckled, “I’ll have copies made and delivered by the end of the week.”

“Wonderful,” Cass’s warm smile was honest this time, the third part of her hastily compiled plan was complete. “Then please, allow me to explain how the glyphs work.”

Cass explained the modifications she had made to the various glyphs, even going so far as to draw examples on paper that was provided.

“The most important part about the absorption glyph is the inhibitor crystals implanted in the ink,” Cass spoke with confidence about her innovation to the glyphs, she still remembered the pride he had felt with the approval of her Master… “Without the inhibitor the subject will almost always die.”

“Almost always?” Klein asked curiously, “even with what we know about the soldiers who had glyphs like you, I was not aware that Haj had managed to apply an unmodified glyph…”

“Just one,” Cass laughed. “And that one would be on me, though none of the mages were entirely sure why. However, my uninhibited glyph does have many benefits, my mana pool is effectively many times larger than would be expected and I can use my glyphs far better than the others.”

Klein narrowed his eyes, “the way you say that… You have an idea why it worked, don’t you?”

Cass sighed, “it is not like other magic though. Magic systems are explainable and repeatable, something that can be studied. Before I had the glyph applied, no one was aware of my magical talent, so the method I used was by instinct and I cannot even say if it had anything to do with it at all.”

She paused for a second as she thought back to that time on the table, “I felt empty at that time, I did not care if I lived or died… That pain and power… I pushed it into that emptiness and I managed to survive. I would conjecture that I created a system based on a catalyst of my own emotional state and siphoned off the excess mana until I reached equilibrium between my natural mana and the glyph’s power.”

“I can see why you prefaced it by saying you were unsure if it had anything to do with it at all,” Klein was rubbing his chin and thinking. “However, I think there is some merit to that explanation… It will require more study.”

“I was happy to help,” Cass said graciously. “If it is ok with you Elder, I would like to retire for the night.”

“Of course,” Klein was lost in his thoughts as he examined the drawings and notes on the table. “I will have the money for you tomorrow and the notes within a week.”

“You are too kind Elder,” Cass said her goodbyes and left smiling.