Fiber Hunt’s gaze betrayed a bit of interest in her strained story. Niji swallowed and rolled up her sleeve. She reached out her right hand to demonstrate the tattoo on the inner side of her forearm.

Everybody stared at the pale blue pattern which at first seemed like overly distinctive veins. Intricate lines were laid out from the elbow to the wrist. The strokes were similar to letters, but Niji didn’t know what language it might be.

“An artifact-based amplifier? Yes, that happens,” Fiber nodded and looked at the guests again. “Not an everyday matter, though. Please continue.”

“This armor helped us to get out of there alive. We had no option but to tell people at the camp that we fell down the cliff.”

“Why didn’t you tell the truth?”

“I… I was afraid we would be severely punished.”

Niji’s voice quavered. The very feeling when you are honest and try too hard to make others believe you, that it looks even more weird and deceitful instead. Fiber frowned, and she hurried to go on: “I know it’s my bad. But the laws are too strict. I destroyed the artifact with my own hands, even if…”

“Enough of excuses I don’t have time for it,” Hunt interrupted her. “Can the amplifier be a reason why the Gray Sisters are hunting you?”

Apparently, Dasnor had already briefed his father about the last night. Niji answered, “I don’t know… it might be. One of them said that there was something… something that their… errr… Mistress needs.”

“Tsk,” Dasnor clicked his tongue. “Hecate always needs everything; the more the better.”

“Hecate?”

“That’s the name of the head of the Gray Sisters,” the leader’s son was a bit reluctant to explain. “Somewhat of a title.”

“Still, let’s return to your case. Why do you seek Freyja?” Fiber continued. “Do you wish to know more about your… acquisition?”

“Exactly. I cannot go to professors, because they’ll ask questions. And there wasn’t any useful information in the library. Maybe students are not allowed to read it. They say there’s no better specialist in amplifiers than Freyja.”

“Not the worst thing they could…” Fiber remarked wistfully. “Anyway, I won’t tell good news here. Freyja had left M.A.G.E. years ago and went into hiding. And if she doesn’t want anyone to find her, believe me, you won’t.”

“Not a single soul could know? Even in theory?”

“There is a thaumaturgy mage capable of mental search, but she’s been recruited by the Sisters,” Dasnor sighed. “That’s why they are the best at digging up anyone. It’s unlikely they’ll help you if you consider yesterday’s events. So, I’m afraid it’s pretty much a dead end.”

“Why, Dasnor, I also have my own resources,” Fiber closed his eyes. “The search will take some time for sure. Meanwhile the Gray Sisters won’t go easy on you.”

“That’s why we’d like to join M.A.G.E. and ask for your protection, sir.”

The silence fell after Niji’s phrase. Rem swallowed nervously, and Dasnor frowned even more. In the end, the leader spoke slowly, stressing each word, “I am grateful for your… honesty, but wouldn’t it be better for you to return to your sweet home in the Academy?”

“This is… impossible.”

“Impossible?”

“I have my reasons.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Whichever they are, Miss Murasaki—and I am inclined to believe that you didn’t tell me even half of what actually happened—you cannot join M.A.G.E. just off the street.” Fiber stood up and started swaggering beside his desk. “Magical Anti-Government Enforcers are not random words. It is the ideology. The ideology to resist the harsh means of PRISM who try to control lives of our kind. They annihilate Violets without trial. They sell mages to the army, straight to wars. They privatize artifacts and historical legacy. They control the quality of blood. If not stopped, they would place a GPS on your neck and allow two spells a day. Just for the sake of the Feebles, so they won’t be that scared of us!”

Fiber stopped and lowered his voice to calm himself a little, “But we don’t deserve such an attitude. Magic is not more dangerous than a knife in your hand. If you’re a psycho with shit instead of brains, does it really matter what brings your hand to a killing blow?”

“I totally support you here, sir,” said the girl, probably too eagerly.

Hunt watched her closely, “Our work here includes trivial things like the Violet hunt, espionage and battles over artifacts. And you’ll be forced to face your ex-comrades. Are you sure you want that? And what can you offer to M.A.G.E., Niji and Rem?”

“I can fight with the Violets, and Rem is a brilliant alchemist. I understand that you know nothing about us, but I’m sure you can get all the data you want. If only we could help with your case in exchange for protection and info…”

The silence again.

“A Crimson mage and a Celestial Artifact, hmmmm…” a male voice mumbled somewhere from the corner.

Niji almost whipped around. She had no idea there was someone else in the room, although she was usually perceptive. This someone was hiding in the darkness next to the window; back to the others. He moved a curtain slightly to look outside, but the light didn’t fall on his face. One could figure out it was a short man in a fitted black robe, full of wave-like red inserts. The warmth of sunlight made it look like magma flowing in cracks.

“Harold?” Fiber turned to him, and Niji exchanged glances with Rem. It was obvious, though, that it wasn’t that very Harold who had played the oracle on their graduation ceremony a couple of days ago.

“We need to help this girl,” he spoke quietly. “The Sisters are certainly up to no good.”

After another speechless pause, the organization’s leader returned to his place and put his hands together, “Alright, I can offer you M.A.G.E.’s protection. If you cannot go back to the Academy, it would be too cruel to throw you into the Order’s hands. Guess they will settle down for a while. I am very curious about what actually provoked their interest in your persona.”

Niji took a breath. Whoever you were, the man near the curtain, thank you for your contribution. Halfway there! Now they needed just to contact Freyja, and…

“There is one condition, though,” Hunt continued. “As you may well know, we are not exactly the favourites of the Academy. You will be stigmatized as rebels and outcasts. Nobody will ever be merciful to you. To put it simply, being an enforcer is a dangerous job. That’s why we accept only the best mages. Those who can stand up for themselves; and it’s proved by a test battle with one of our group. That also means we have no place for Lacklusters here.”

Rem went pale and blurted out, “That’s unfair! I thought you fought for mage’s rights!”

“Firstly, young man, a Lackluster is not technically a mage. Secondly, it is for your own safety.”

“But…”

“He is right, Rem, that’s too dangerous.” Niji turned to him. “You can be killed if you stay with me!”

“But I…”

“Mister Oswaldt, please do not doubt my experience,” Fiber said, growing annoyed. “I’ll emphasize once again that danger is waiting for us on every step, and this is not a metaphor. What have you learned about the true life of mages, while you’ve been brought up in a clean study of the Academy, surrounded by overprotective guardians? That’s it—nothing.”

“But I can protect myself!”

“I… I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Rem…”

Niji looked at his Rebecca-treated scars from the dryad’s roots. The Lackluster clenched his fist. It was clear he took it as a huge insult, but he made no reply.. The man near the curtain shuffled his robe. “Do you accept the condition?”

“I do!” Niji said without hesitation.

Before her eyes, she saw every single happy moment she and Rem had shared. Their acquaintance, school, the Academy. Both the successful and the failed alchemical experiments. Heart-to-heart conversations over a cup of tea. City garden strolls. She had always called him her best friend since childhood. Now it was nothing more but a pure betrayal.

But Fiber was right. Rem was in grave danger next to her. A flash reminder of her nightmares—and she clinched to her decision. She wouldn’t survive without M.A.G.E. And Rem knew that too.

Fiber sighed and drew a conclusion. “Let us have a test battle in a half an hour. If it will play out as a draw, at the very least, Niji Murasaki will be accepted to my son’s squad. Dasnor, tell Yui we need her help and wait for a healer to guarantee the safety. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to talk to Harold in private. May the Light guide you.”

Dasnor threw a long gaze on the man near the window. The latter nodded and the enforcer took Niji and Rem away from the office.