Soulburned: The School of Souls
Chapter 22 (Part 2): The Wolf
The Archmage sat alone in one of the Iris's courtyards. The carcass of some sort of poultry lay on a plate in front of him, and every so often he'd take a slow, painstaking bite.
This particular courtyard was cut out of the Main Library at the base of the Iris. It was usually dim here, due to the tall ceilings of the Main, but this at this time of day, that dimness was greatly exacerbated by the fact that the sun had moved behind the Tower proper, casting a shadow over this portion of the library.
Despite the darkness, it was pleasantly warm. The high walls prevented the mountain air from chilling one to the bone, however, the space was filled with an effervescent humming as the wind whistled past overhead.
"Adler." The Archmage said as he and Thale approached.
"Karolus," Adler replied, striding up to the stone table with an air of confidence that he didn't have, but mimed regardless.
The Archmage's brow twitched at the mention of his name. Amusement.
Thale stood behind, and slightly to one side of Adler, as always, he had one hand rested on the dark greatsword he carried. Adler would have been pleased, if he could be, that Thale no longer seemed to grip the thing as if Adler was about to throw himself at the Guardian.
"Thale," The Archmage said, "How are you adjusting? To the leg?"
Anxiety. Doubt.
He isn't comfortable around the Archmage. Adler noted. He filed the information away for later.
"I'm adjusting well, Lord Archmage." Thale said, "As of yet, nothing unexpected."
"You're getting a feel for it?"
"Yes, Lord Archmage."
"Good, that should continue as you heal. Now please, remove Adler's chains."
Apprehension, this also from Thale.
The young man did not seem to have a firm control of his emotions. Thale had only been escorting Adler around the Tower for a few hours, but in that short time, Adler had already sensed more emotions coming from the young man than he had in total until now.
Thale stooped slightly and pressed a magically imbued "key" against the chains. It wasn't a true key, as the chains had no true lock. In fact, the chain had no visible break or gap. It was designed in a way to look like a snake swallowing its own tail. When Thale pressed the bird-shaped key against the glowing metal, where the snake's eyes would be, the strange ouroboros released itself and coiled into Thale's hand.
Adler sighed and rubbed his wrists in relief. The scales of the odd manacles, while smooth and flat, chafed his skin.
"How was old Torquent?" The Archmage asked.
"Busy, apparently," Adler said. "I don't suspect I'll actually learn anything if you keep sending me to teachers who refuse to be in the same room with me for longer than a few minutes."
The Archmage sliced into his meal and took a bite, chewing slowly and contemplatively. After several very long moments, he swallowed.
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"I don't believe that can be helped." he said, gingerly wiping his mouth with a napkin, "We don't exactly attract a Staff that seeks out the company of heretics. Those of us that know who and what you are, will be wary."
"I see," said Adler.
The Archmage took another mouthful from his plate.
Adler could sense Thale's growing unease. Adler suspected that this casual batter between Adler and the Archmage wasn't exactly what Thale had anticipated when they'd been summoned.
"This is precisely why I summoned you here." The Archmage said.
Adler arched an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
"The reluctance of my new tutors?"
"The barrier." The Archmage said, "You're able to sense it?"
Surprise.
"Yes. I can." Adler said slowly, "Although, I'll admit that I fail to see the connection you're trying to draw."
"You felt it 'crack'." The Archmage said. It wasn't a question.
Adler paused. He had felt it crack. Right before the explosion, he had felt somthing shatter inside his Thymos, like impure glass heated to high.
"Yes," Adler said.
"Can you fix it?"
Adler blinked.
"Are you offering to remove the Brand?"
"No, but you managed to raise the barrier through the Brand, so it stands to reason you could repair it through it as well." The Archmage said conversationally.
Thale paled, and Adler saw him grip the sword a little tighter.
This was an old line of questioning. And, while tiresome, Adler did find it refreshing not to have Magnus's Shriving Flames present for what was shaping up to be some sort of newly minted tactic in his ongoing interrogation.
"I've told you before, Karolus. I was not in control of those spells. You felt the presence in the room. Have you figured out what it was?"
The Archmage put down his fork and knife.
"No." he said, "However, we have allowed ourselves to come to the conclusion that whatever that force was, it must be benign. If it wasn't... we'd know by now. Magnus still suspects the barrier is a trap of some kind, of your creation, but Marelda assures me that the barrier is pure Thymos, with only trace motes of Logos."
The Archmage took another bite.
"Has the...being, made contact with you since that night?"
"No." Adler lied.
Thankfully, Marelda wasn't here to act as the Archmage's personal lie detector. He still wasn't sure how she was managing that particular trick without access to Thymos... If she wasn't monitoring the changes in his emotions, she must have been monitoring the changes in his body. He'd have to research what those were. If he was aware of his 'tells', maybe he'd be able to fool her.
"And," Adler continued, "I'm afraid I'm still failing to grasp your meaning.
"Thale, please, for love of the Void, sit. You're making me nervous, leering at Adler like that while fondling that thing."
Adler could tell, the Archmage was far from nervous.
Thale sat.
"The connection," The Archmage continued, "Is this. If you fix the Barrier, I will tutor you myself, instead of foisting you onto those who can't stand you. In addition, I'll allow you to join in on certain classes with the student body at large, under Thale's protection, of course."
"I'm afraid I'll just need to stick with the lackluster tutelage, then." Adler said curtly, "You haven't identified the thing that managed to override my free will, and I refuse to let you control me any more than you already do.'
The Archmage sighed.
"Very well, Adler. You best move along then, Greystole will be finished with his lunch by now."
The Archmage nodded to Thale, who then stood and re-secured the ouroboros chain around Adler's wrists and waist.
Once again bound, Adler stood and began moving to exit the Courtyard. Thale hurried to stay behind him, the grip on his sword once again white-knuckle tight.
"Oh, and Adler..." The Archmage said.
Adler turned back to face the Archmage. The moment he made eye contact with the man, the effects of a spell settled into place around his mind, and gently seeped into his psyche.
Adler gasped. He felt as if a bucket of ice water had just been poured over his head.
"I'll be watching."