After the bandit attack, Zily decided Marke needed near constant lectures on elven politics. Marke and Kente hated it, but it answered the question they had about Zily’s discomfort before approaching her mother’s fort: Zily had chosen to “lose” a political maneuver so she would be moved to the smaller fort away from most politics. Zily had unresolved jealousy of her mother’s position, even though she had decided against claiming it.
Marke was immensely relieved when they arrived at the city of their destination and the end of the lectures. On Zily’s suggestion, they hired a coach to drive Marke to the magical research tower so he could avoid walking through the crowds. From Zily’s lectures on politics, Marke also deduced that arriving in a coach would improve his image in the minds of the researchers. Marke spent the time in the coach in meditation, avoiding the sounds of the people outside.
The research tower was set far back from the road, in the middle of a large property. A moderately high wall surrounded the property on three sides, with the final side filled with foothills of the nearby mountains. The tower wasn’t very appealing to look at, but it was interesting. It was blocky, with every other floor was open to the outside. Thick pillars rose from the corners of each enclosed floor, supporting the floor two above it. “Why is it built like that?” Marke asked Zily.
“Explosions.” She said.
This is my kind of research! Kente joked.
Zily led the way into the ground floor and spoke with a receptionist-type person. Marke felt multiple identify attempts and denied them all. The two heroes were ushered into a nearby conference room and plied with snacks and drinks. Marke avoided commenting on the food since he could feel Kente’s anxiety growing. They had to wait nearly ten minutes before someone important showed up to talk with them.
“You! How did you resist our identify skills?” An exceptionally tall elf woman stormed into the room and leveled an accusatory finger at Marke. Marke hard heard her grumbling as she stomped down the hallway, so he was not caught by surprise. He took a small sip of his drink and met the woman’s glare with a calm gaze. Zily slowly put down her drink and addressed the woman with ice in her voice.
“You address Foreign Hero Dingo, a friend under my
“Do you think I got this post because I care about any of that?” The woman scoffed. “I-”
“You will speak with basic respect if you do not wish for me to knock over your little tower.” Zily spoke overtop of the rude administrator.
A second woman burst into the room. “My apologies! Apologies!” The second woman, who bore a strong family resemblance to the rude woman, grabbed the other and bodily threw her from the room and locked the door. “My apologies.” She said again, somewhat breathlessly. Marke placed a hand on Zily’s shoulder, granting the new woman a moment to catch her breath. Marke had heard her approach at alarmingly high speed and he appreciated that she didn’t seem to have arranged the insult on purpose.
The woman caught her breath and made a deep bow. “Apologies again. I am administrator Aulysse and I welcome the heroes to this magical research tower.” She stayed bowed, expecting questions, no doubt.
“Who was that?” Zily asked.
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“That was my younger sister, Kala. I was delayed by a medical emergency and I had no idea she was anywhere near this floor or I would have sent others to restrain her from entering and insulting you.” Aulysse said, still bowed.
Marke cleared his throat. “Please stand.” The woman stood upright, looking like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
Zily took a deep breath and stood to begin introductions. “Hero Zily greets administrator Aulysse. I bring with me, under my
Aulysse made a show of opening and reading the letter, but Marke could tell that her eyes were not following the words on the page. “It is our pleasure and honor to receive the visiting heroes. I will happily assist you with the full resources of this tower.” Aulysse and Zily both sat, introductions over.
Aulysse took a moment to actually read the general’s letter before folding her hands in front of her. “General Hero Lierin informs me that you are looking for assistance in researching a difficult topic. I am honored the hero general recommended us. Can you explain your needs further, hero Deen-go?” The administrator asked. She seemed to have mostly recovered from her embarrassment.
Marke leaned forwards. “I tried to discuss this problem with the hero general’s head mage, but she wasn’t willing or able to approach the topic with an open mind. Will you be able to do so?” He asked.
Aulysse perked up a bit at that. “Yes! An open mind is one of the
Marke placed his own hands on the table and began. “I spent years down in the tunnels. I have encountered spirits, necromancers, undead of all kinds, and I had to familiarize myself with the magic used by them or used to create them in order to understand and defeat many of them.” Marke mentally thanked Zily for teaching him all correct words for this little speech. “I am interested in none of that.” Marke paused for a split second as he spotted a look of disappointment pass over the administrator’s face. “However, I have a friend, who is not a spirit, who does not have a body. It is important that I find a way to provide them a proper body.” You can call me a ‘him’. Kente said. “…provide him a body.” Marke repeated.
Aulysse took a deep breath. “I can see why the head mage would not help you–you sound exactly like someone who has been duped by an evil spirit seeking to return to life.” Aulysse chuckled. “I think it should have been obvious to her that this was not the case, however.” The administrator gestured towards Zily. “Hero Zily would have noticed an evil spirit after only a handful of days traveling with you and by my guess it has been at least two weeks.” Marke and Zily both nodded at that.
The administrator pulled a small notebook out of a pouch. She looked through her pouch for a pen for several seconds. Marke pulled his own pen from his pack and handed it to her. He had to struggle mightily to not smile or laugh as she took the ‘mythic’ item and scribbled in the corner of the page to check the ink. “You said he is not a spirit, so what is he?” She asked.
“I believe he is a unique existence.” Marke said. “I know little about what he is or how he was created. I do not know for sure that he was created instead of forming naturally.” Marke could tell that Kente was holding himself back from feeling hope at Aulysse’s response.
“Interesting. An unembodied entity of unknown origin.” Aulysse scribbled her thoughts on the page. “What is his primary composition?” She asked.
What does that mean? Kente asked.
“What does that mean?” Marke asked.
Aulysse waved the ‘mythic’ pen around as she clarified. “Is he made of light? Is he a creature of stone? No, never mind, he has no body. Could he be composed of air?”
Do you think she will react badly if we say ‘shadow’? Kente asked glumly.
Marke spent a moment looking pensive, as though he were not sure. “I suppose I must say he is compose of shadow.” Marke didn’t appreciate that Zily had to hide a nervous look.
“Shadow.” Aulysse repeated as she wrote. “This pen is excellent.” She murmured to herself before asking her next pair of question. “A shadow of what? A shadow cast on what?”
Unexpected insightfulness! Kente said.
Marke shrugged. “I do not know.” Aulysse definitely began to look excited.