Mr. Mage did not look like Kairen had expected him to. Ramses was the only other magic user the boy had seen in person, but stories and tales had given him a certain image of a mage. Elderly, physically unassuming, ready to use their minds more than their muscles, none of that described the ritualist from Savar.
Mr. Mage was a hulking specimen of masculinity. Standing tall at six feet and seven inches, his broad frame was packed with muscles that rippled as he moved. Intricate tattoos befitting a barbarian were proudly displayed across his bare chest as if the giant was impervious to the heat or the glare of the sun. Mr. Mage’s voice was loud and deep, commanding attention as it boomed across the Oasis. The short, firm answers he gave to the mercenary questioning his presence brooked no further description. One single detail, however, ensured that no one would mistake the giant for a simple fighter.
Scarred pits were all that remained of the ritualist’s eyes, deep pockets of darkened flesh that sat unnaturally on his face. The longer Kairen stared in horror, the deeper the holes seemed to be, until they were bottomless pits that should have cut through the back of Mr. Mage’s head, only to return to normal when Kairen blinked.
Kairen had expected the mage to blend in with the rest of the caravan arriving at the Oasis, but seeing the mage in person made him realize just how flawed that assumption was. This was a person who reveled in being different, who enjoyed displaying every accomplishment and point of superiority that separated him from the common masses. He may or may not have made his mission public, but Kairen was sure that rumors about the man would rapidly spread through the local population, and that by this time tomorrow everyone would recognize the mage as someone significant.
Instead of making his way straight to Zar’s office, Mr. Mage instead went on a complete tour of the Oasis, stopping every now and then to inspect the plants on the ground, mumbling softly to himself in a language that Kairen couldn’t recognize. Despite not having eyes to navigate with the mage seemed perfectly comfortable and was obviously capable of observing his surroundings. In fact, whatever sense Mr. Mage was making use of was in some ways more effective than eyesight. Kairen watched in fascination as the strange mage cast a simple spell. It sounded similar to some of Ramses’ invocations and the earth buckling slightly proved that it was also some sort of earth manipulation spell. Instead of creating walls or barriers wholesale, Mr. Mage’s spell affected a far smaller area, but did so with a level of speed and precision that Ramses had yet to display.
A small ball of earth was pulled from the ground and floated over to the mage’s waiting hand, where it slowly crumbled, revealing a helpless rat, its limbs locked in place by earthen shackles. For almost a minute Mr. Mage silently stared at the creature, slowly turning it around as he did so to inspect every square inch of the rodent. Satisfied with whatever results he found, the ritualists reached down with his free hand towards his belt, where he pulled out a curved knife that gleamed with menace. Completely oblivious to the small crowd of workers that had begun to gather the mage set the rat down on the ground before he split the rat in two with the impossibly sharp knife. The rat died instantly, but the ritualist observed the remain for a good ten minutes, completely absorbed in whatever messages he could glean from the scattered entrails.
Complaining about the brief slice of entertainment, the crowd dispersed during that time, but Kairen found himself unable to move. The behaviors that Mr. Mage displayed were simply alien, and as much as the boy wanted to simply head elsewhere and pretend that the ritualist wasn’t actually present Kairen knew he had to pay close attention to the man and his strange magics, magic that would soon be targeted at the Oasis itself, and by extension, Kairen himself.
Finally finished with his haruspicy, Mr. Mage stood up, before making his way towards the pool at the center of the Oasis. Kairen was gratified when the mage decided not to enter himself, but instead simply knelt on the shore and slowly drank a cupped handful of water. While a vindictive part of Kairen’s mind would have like to have the mage lose his clothing to the enchantment, he far preferred having as little contact with the giant as possible. Fortunately, it seemed that a few sips of water was enough to give the mage the information he was looking for, and finally finished with his tour, Mr. Mage began to make his way towards Zar’s house.
“Can you direct me to Zar Bloodwake’s location?” The mage boomed at a passing mercenary. Kairen left the two behind as the poor fighter tried to get out a cohesive set of directions. Knowing that the mage would catch up, the ghost took the time to sneak into Zar's open office, eager to see the adventurer’s reaction to the giant mage.
“Greetings!” Mr. Mage bellowed as he ducked into the room, the unexpected noise causing Zar to jump slightly, one hand reaching for his weapon.
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“Blast it! You were supposed to come here two hours ago when the caravan arrived, not now when I’m working through logistics paperwork.” Zar cursed.
Mr. Mage simply chuckled. “We could not have had the discussion we needed to at that time. Your description of the goings on to my master were inadequate for my purposes. Having seen this Oasis for myself, I am confident I can solve all your issues.”
“That’s good news.” Zar cautiously started to speak. “But how much is it going to cost me?”
“Not much at all! Do not worry, you will not be ruined.” Mr. Mage reassured the adventurer. “This Oasis is young and weak. You will not need to throw grand festival or week-long orgy. One slave is all it will take to guide its growth.”
“Fuck.” Zar. sighed angrily.
“You have not gone on raid yet?” The ritualist shook his head sorrowfully. “My master will be so disappointed. Have no fear. Raid will be easy with me along.”
“Thank you for your kind offer.” Zar managed to get out through gritted teeth. “I’m sure your help will be quite useful, but the slave raid and controlling the magic of the Oasis are only some of the problems I have. What can you do about the blasted rats that keep slowing everything down?”
“Rats?” Mr. Mage sounded surprised. “Oh! Those rats! They are not a problem.”
“NOT A PROBLEM?!” Zar yelled, unable to contain his anger any longer. “Those damned animals are everywhere, eating our food, getting into our clothes and other supplies, and generally being a nuisance. They aren’t natural either. They’ve tunneled under my house and squeak the whole night to keep me from sleeping. It doesn’t matter how many traps I place or rats I kill. It doesn’t matter where I move my mattress. They always find me, and they never stop.”
A loud chittering is heard from the floor in response to the rant, before fading into silence. For a long pause the two humans stare at each other, the disheveled adventure unable to meet the gaze of the mage’s empty eye sockets. The sheer strangeness of that look seemed to help Zar calm down, and soon he sank back into his seat, taking a long swig from a cup on his desk as he did so. Kairen laughed long and loud, grateful that the humans can’t hear him. The ghost had suggested the various annoyances to the rats, but he hadn’t known they would be so effective. Seeing Zar lose his temper like that was absolutely worth the time it had taken him to teach Alpha and his kin.
“As I said.” Mr. Mage continued speaking as if nothing had happened. “Is not a problem. Without Oasis magic they are just rats. We take control of magic, kill two birds with one stone.”
“You’ll have to explain that further, because I’m not seeing the connection.” Zar looked at the mage, his voice calmer after his outburst.
“Oasis Magic benefits those who live in Oasis. This much is obvious. Details not so much. Rats live here before you, they get magic. You come in and set up houses, you also get magic. Rats unable to drive you away to deny it to you. You unable to kill enough rats and deny it to them. Few rats die, no one cares, not even rats. Poison maybe work, ritual maybe work, but much effort for no guarantee.” The ritualist pauses his explanation for a moment, to make sure that Zar is following along.
“Control of Oasis does many things. Make Oasis grow or change. Shape magic to suit needs. Change rules of how things work. Suddenly rats not residents, simply pests. No magic for pests, no problem for you.” Mr. Mage nodded affirmatively once he was done with his explanation.
“No problems.” Zar drawled. “I don’t think you’re wrong, but this whole control of the Oasis thing introduces a new set of problems for me, if you follow what I’m saying. Once you do your ritual business who exactly will be controlling the Oasis?”
“Ah.” The mage frowned. “I see the point. My rituals control the Oasis. You worry I use that for betrayal. Let me think.”
Kairen watched as Mr. Mage visible thought through the matter, his face scrunching up or shifting expressions every few seconds. Zar wasn’t quite as patient and soon was drumming the desk with the fingers of one hand. Eventually Mr. Mage froze for a few seconds, before shaking his head.
“No easy way. Hard ways, yes, but still need trust. Making things up too easy, you know too little. Judgement Stone probably best choice. You know screen already, even if different for Oasis.”
Kairen felt his heart freeze. He really didn’t want Mr. Mage or Zar to see what his screen looked like. Not because there was anything dangerous he was trying to hide, but simply because it was his, something that belonged to him alone. Immediately Kairen began thinking of plans and methods to have the rats sabotage everything, before his mind remembered one important fact.
Zar realized it as well. “That would be quite useful, if we had happened to have a Judgement stone available. Unfortunately, the nearest one is in Luxor, and I don’t think stealing theirs or waiting three months for a carver to make a new one is in our schedule.” A subtle challenge was hidden in his words. Everyone knew that Mr. Mage’s master had ordered Zar to do whatever he could to accommodate the ritualist’s demands. Kairen and Zar both turned towards Mr. Mage to see how he would react.
The big mage simply showed a small smile, staring at Zar with his empty eyes. “I have workaround, but not as good. Will take much gold, though.” Kairen personally doubted the gold would actually be used for the workaround, but Zar seemed satisfied with the compromise.
Standing up, he approached the larger mage and began to subtly maneuver him out of Zar’s office. “Very well. I will let you know once I have the raid organized, likely in a day or two. Until then I suggest you make yourself at home. There are plenty of empty buildings you can claim as your own residence, and my personal mage Ramses is around if you wish to discuss magical theory with someone else.”
Recognizing the dismissal for what it was the mage gave a small bow, and left the room. Kairen tagged along behind, curious to see what the strange giant would do next.