'Longer than a month with zero communication, and after everything that happened…' Michael tilted his head back and lamented. 'I haven’t even checked with the Bureau about how and when they fixed our home. Did they rent a place for Mom, Dad, and Dan until the work was done? And what about Chris? Has he recovered? How is MK’s family? We knew each other for only an evening, but that one meeting turned her life upside down. Also, did Eric speak to Mac about what happened? Did Mom and Dad explain why I’m gone to Clark and Lessa? It’s been even longer since I spoke to them. And what sort of uncle am I? Never deserved to be the favorite for my nephews and niece. Dan probably is. But those munchkins love me nearly as much as I love them, which isn’t saying much considering how poorly I maintain contact. Damn it! I want to go home…'
Michael’s initial burst of excitement for his salary vanished almost as quickly as it had manifested. He continued to grumble, wavering between the things he had to do and those he wanted to do, all while knowing he was time-constrained.
“I’ll deal with it later!” He dropped his head forward, resolute, focusing on what was in front of him rather than what was on his mind.
“First of…”
\\\
Rank: 0.
Department: Risk Management.
Magick Ions: 352.
Missons: »
* Active: 1.
* Subject: URGENT New Mission Assignment. Codename: TBD.
Agent Michael Mir,
This message is classified at mid Rank 1 level of confidentiality and should not be discussed with anyone without proper clearance. Read its details carefully and confirm your Accept within 60 seconds.
* Mission Brief: TBD.
* Objective: TBD.
* Assets: TBD. May utilize Spells: Ward, Taunt.
* Remuneration:
* Accept\Reject
* Completed: 2.
«
Demonic Contract: Missing Information.
* Grace Period: 03.09.2023-03.09.2025.
Partner: Grace Vasquez.
///
He sifted through the sparse information about the promised mid Rank 1 mission. He had received the message about the mission during his flight from Australia, but nearly all its details were marked "TBD", and even the timer was frozen. The only thing that caught his attention was a red line…
He exited his MMB's profile, returned to the Exchange Center, and entered the names of the two Spells into the search option's input box.
\\\
View Lists: »
* Abilities:…»
* Spells: :…»
* Ward:
Description: The Ward Spell is a protective enchantment that creates a shield of Magickal energy around the caster or an object, guarding against unwanted influences or malevolent forces. This Spell can be used to shield up to a radius of two meters from corporeal and incorporeal intrusions. It's a must-have for those seeking personal security or safeguarding their cherished belongings.
Caster Requirements: 80 Magick Ions in Mentality.
Requirements for It to Work: A clear intention, a specific target (if not self), and the ability to maintain concentration.
Cost: 2 Merit Points. Temporarily free.
…
* Taunt:
Description: The Taunt Spell is a mischievous charm designed to provoke and distract your opponents. With a flick of your finger or a taunting phrase, you can incite aggression in your adversaries, draw their attention, making them more susceptible to attacks and less focused on their defenses. Ideal for cunning Agents and tricksters who love to turn the tide of battle with a well-placed insult.
Caster Requirements: 80 Magick Ions in Mentality.
Requirements for It to Work: A clear line of sight to your target, a sharp tongue, and the element of surprise.
Cost: 2.4 Merit Points. Temporarily free.
«
«
«
///
With zero hesitation, Michael clicked on the first of the two Spells. A prompt appeared, asking if he was sure he wanted to complete the purchase. He confirmed, and did the same for Taunt.
Not more than two seconds later, he received two messages, one for each Spell, explaining how to operate his Magick to cast them. The messages also included a warning: they would be deleted twenty-four hours after arrival, but he could request for them to be resent by picking them again at the Exchange Center at no additional cost.
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"Finally!" Michael felt reinvigorated by acquiring proper methods for Magick application. 'As awesome as it is, it only sets me up for Aggro Control. I need an attack Spell, a melee one that will complement my Physique and solidify the idea that I'm build-focused to the Bureau and anyone else…'
Michael continued to search until he settled on three Spells, from which he intended to purchase one, or maybe two. He was still debating with himself.
“‘Magick Gauntlet’, ‘Tornium Axe’, ‘First Strike Sequence’… they all sound good, and their cost is reasonable, I think. Moreover, they’re all upgradable, whatever that means… I’ll consult Grace. For now, I still need a Path, at least for reference. That’s right! Grace also needs to help me build a training program with two Advanced Courses. Maybe I should start with this, then go through all the Path options?”
He sent the information about the three attack Spells to Grace, requesting her to meet with him whenever she had the time. He also reminded her about their agreement regarding the Advanced Courses' tickets.
'In the meantime, I should at last get to practice some real Spells!'
He read and reread the instructions for Ward a couple of times, then moved to sit cross-legged on the floor, saving the instructions for Taunt until after he got the gist of one Spell.
…
Floor 41st, Risk Management Department.
"Are you sure, Grace? There's no turning back from this one. If I could dissuade Director Strange to wait for Michael to grow a bit more, believe me, I would have locked myself with him, a Third Level Metamorphosis, even at the risk of pissing him off."
Department Manager Jully leaned on her desk, fingers crossed. Her expression was serious, unnerved even, as she didn't allow Grace to avert her gaze.
"If you send my Partner on this mission, I'm going too!" Grace upheld her stance. "Ask me a hundred times more, and I'll give you the same answer a hundred times over!"
"Even though it's something nobody predicted. The things that can go wrong could push it to high Rank 1, or even low Rank 2 if things go really terribly."
"Then don't accept it."
"We can't… I can't refuse it. Director Strange is under a lot of pressure since even HQs of other Material Dimensions are involved. This is the kind of mission that can fail – preferably not – but absolutely cannot be declined by the Bureau."
"Then I also can't reject it."
"Agent Vasquez…"
"Department Manager…"
Neither gave in.
"You know I can find Agent Mir another Partner, someone more suitable for this kind of mission. You've only been together for less than two months, and even if it were two years, I am the boss."
"Yeah… I don't think Michael would like it. Setting aside our friendship, he'll have to start over with a new person from scratch, share all his doubts, uncertainties, and secrets. I'm not saying that in two months he’s become an open book, but there's a reason you picked me to be his Partner."
Department Manager Jully tapped her desk with her fingers. She looked at her tablet and swiped the screen in a quick motion.
"I'm required to warn you," she began calmly. "Agent Mir, Michael, has his Grace Period to protect him, and unlike your last missions, the most unexpected thing that can occur here is still not on the level of what's behind the Kinta-Lath-Macbur Cult. You, however, don't possess such protection, and for this mission, we can't afford you becoming a liability. This means you won't be able to hide behind your Partner when things get tough."
Grace tried to say something, but Department Manager Jully raised a hand to stop her.
"Your record is exceptional, both before and after you joined the Bureau. If Michael didn't have the Grace Period, I wouldn't waste your skill set on nurturing a novice. Nevertheless, this is a unique situation that requires unique tools more than ones with proven reliability."
"Department Manager-"
"I'm not done," Department Manager Jully interrupted, releasing a portion of her First Level Metamorphosis Magick. "I'm willing to make a proposition, but I want you to agree before hearing what it is. Only then will I let you join Michael on the upcoming mission. Treat it as a show of sincerity."
"Alright, I agree," Grace said after a brief pause of consideration.
Department Manager Jully nodded, not pleased but understanding. "I'll sign you off on the mission if you manage to fill your Pool of Magick Ions to the halfway mark before the mission starts."
"That's…!" Grace exclaimed, lost for words. "And how long do I have?!"
"Time is one of the problems with this mission. It could be today, tomorrow, a month from now, or three months – possibly no longer than that, at any rate."
"That's more than seventy Magick Ions in barely any time! How do you expect me to achieve this? Besides, would an extra seventy-plus Magick Ions even make a difference for this mission, if at its most dangerous, even a Second Level Metamorphosis can suffer an injury?"
"Seventy Magick Ions more won't make a difference to anyone – except you. I won't tell you how because there is no guarantee for anything in this mission. It's a complicated ordeal you can learn about when the details are released, and even then only to a certain extent. Think of my proposition as me and Director Strange making a huge bet on you. Depending on how you return from the mission, we'll know whether it paid off or not."
"You're keeping too much under wraps," Grace argued.
"This mission is special. Without my position in the Bureau, I wouldn't have known about it. Even the Second Level Metamorphosis Fixers are unaware of it, and theirs is the most cumbersome, if not dirtiest, job in the Bureau."
Grace sighed in resignation. "So, what's the plan? You must have had an idea to help me gain tens of Magick Ions in a short period. Are you going to provide me with new types of Capsules? Potions? Raw ingredients? Rare items?"
"None of the above," Department Manager Jully shook her head. "I intend to help you make proper use of your newly acquired Magick Ions, along with your bit of savings."
"No way!" Grace snapped. "Seventy- scratch that! Even a hundred Magick Ions aren’t worth squandering 21 Merit Points!"
"Typically, they wouldn’t be. But in this case, they are. And what makes you think 21 Merit Points are sufficient to gain a hundred Magick Ions in a short time? We are already stretching it by aiming for seventy-plus. Most crucially, you already agreed. I won’t punish you for taking your words back, but you will be out of the mission, and I won't hear another word on the subject."
"Dammit!" Grace muttered under her breath. "Fine. Tell me what to do."
"Go down to the 39th Floor."
"Resource and Finance?"
"Yes. Go to the Resource main office and tell them you're there to withdraw deposit box 706AHH8 under Jully Tamara. Transfer your Merit Points to me and take what you find in the deposit box to the Training Ground. Don't talk to anyone. Get yourself a room and don't come out before you feel that your Pool of Magick Ions has reached the threshold."
"And will it take me the right amount of time to accomplish this before the mission?"
"No, which is half the reason I refer to the proposition as a 'bet'. The other part relates to how you'll perform in the mission…"
"And what about Michael? He's eager to spend his Merit Points. He doesn't have knowledge of the training program. He needs someone to make sure he's not purchasing useless stuff."
"Nothing is useless in the Exchange Center."
"You know what I mean," Grace insisted.
"I'll contact him when you're done and advise him on what to buy. Additionally, he already obtained free basic Spells in preparation for the mission. Now, he needs to learn how to cast them and use them effectively in battle."