Now, Tennessee

The little golem presentations by the little children were very interesting. Unfortunately, he couldn’t learn anything from how they did it since he lacked the capacity for magic. All he picked up was that there was magic inside the little clay and one dirt figurines, although to call the latter that was a stretch. It was more of an amorphous blob. Slime-like even, if he had to describe it to someone else.

Cal walked across the field while shrouding his presence from everyone. The ones that had noticed him would soon forget they had ever seen him. Even the two boys on the swings. They had good eyes to see and notice him from so far away in the middle of all the commotion.

He walked right past the guards stationed at the fence gate leading into the school compound.

The pair had Skills that aided their attentiveness but they weren’t high level enough to bother him in the slightest. It was easy to convince them that it was just a slight breeze rustling their clothing.

One guard blinked and looked around with a furrowed brow.

“Did you—” T.J. said.

“Just the wind,” Caleb said. “You’re always too wound up. Ain’t good to be tighter than a rusted nut. Might consider bustin’ one. I could put in a good word for you with my Scarlet. She’ll loosen you up for—”

“Thanks, but no thanks. My girl might have a problem with that.”

“Then maybe she ought to be takin’ care of you better.”

“I ain’t talking to you about this.”

“Just sayin’,” Caleb shrugged. “Offer’s there if ya want some—”

“Caleb,” T.J. sighed. “It ain’t never happening.”

Cal moved into the school unlocking a door and pulling it open without laying a hand on it.

The magic hit him immediately.

Strong.

Very strong.

Akin to what he had felt only a handful of times in the past.

And, yet… it didn’t have the same flavor as the Vitiator’s.

“Hello?” he called out. “I’m not really in the mood for any sort of test thing. I’m an adult. Not one of your kids. Not really magical either, but I’m pretty sure you can tell… isn’t that right, Ms. Teacher?” his steps echoed through the empty hallway. Lockers on either sides took him back. Almost all the way to the beginning in fact. The last time he had been inside a school was probably back in the earliest days after the spires had appeared. The high school encounter challenge. “That’s what you go by, right. At least as far as I heard from the parents conversations out there.”

A location appeared just outside the walls around his mind.

“Okay…”

He entered a classroom.

It wasn’t anything special. Just like any other classroom. Desks in neat rows with chairs pushed in. All covered in a layer of dust.

“I heard you didn’t teach class inside.”

“It does not do well for malleable minds to be caged in such unnatural environs.”

The speaker was standing behind the teacher’s desk.

She was tall and thin just like the Vitiator.

Her proportions seemed off. Her limbs gave the impression of frailty as if they could be snapped like twigs. He knew that wasn’t the case.

There was great physical strength in her if she was anything at all like the Vitiator.

Too-large eyes sparkled with the stars in the sky as they regarded him unblinking.

The hood of her robe rested against her back so her impossibly beautiful face shined down on him. She had dark-skin and long black hair, yet there was a glow to her that seemed to illuminate the dimly-lit classroom.

“What? The classroom isn’t good enough for you. Not that I’m judging. I’m all for learning outdoors. Probably healthier anyways. Who knows what kind of chemicals are in the building materials.”

“Yes, there is much that is poison in what your people have wrought.”

“Well, that’s kind of how our society used to do things. All about profits and such. If you ever wonder why someone did something the answer usually comes down to someone wanted to make more money. Even this school wasn’t really about educating kids. It was more about indoctrination so they’d be loyal to the country and be exploitable workers. Make them too smart and capable of critical thinking and they wouldn’t do the bullshit jobs you needed them to do so that you could get rich.”

“Humans are not so different across worlds.”

“You’ve met other humans?” he spoke slowly. “As in… not from this world?”

She inclined her head a fraction.

“I’m sorry… I should introduce myself… but you first since you’re technically a guest.”

“Interesting thought. Odd, considering that you are here at my invitation.”

“Technically true and yet you’re from a different world. Not the Threnosh one, but the Dominion’s. Which means I need to be careful,” he shook his head. That was right. He was being entirely too relaxed. Odd. “I hope you aren’t using magic on me. I might take that the wrong way.”

“No more nor less than what you’ve been doing or attempting to do.” Her smile made his stomach flutter. “I’m no master, but I’ve had dealings with mind mages and the like in the past. I have learned ways to defend my mindscape,” she touched her forehead. “Your touch has been light and I deem it respectful considering the circumstances, but don’t mistake my largesse for inability.”

“Noted, but same to you.”

“Teacher will suffice.”

“Witches?”

“Not solely. There are many that can use one’s true name against oneself.”

Cal nodded. “My name is Cal… it is definitely not my true name.” Technically, he had a much longer real name. He had reminded himself of that periodically over the years ever since Eron had first warned him of the possibility of witches.

“I make your acquaintance Cal and welcome you in peace.”

“I accept… in peace.”

She smiled at him.

“Why did you enter their dreams? Why invite me here?”

“I did not invite you. Not specifically. I sought the ones that defeated the Vitiator and drove him away.”

“If you were watching then you were aware of what he was doing. Why didn’t you do anything to stop him? So many people suffered at his hands. Children included.”

“I was aware of him as you would be of a monster lurking somewhere in the wilderness. I did not watch him act for I did not wish to alert him to my presence.”

“That’s fair. It was probably dangerous for you. If he discovered you then he would’ve come for you.”

“Fear was not my motivation.”

“Then what?”

“It is not my way. I am not a fighter. I exist for my path. To spread knowledge of magic. Direct conflict hinders that and so I will only defend myself and those that are currently under my protection.”

“The Vitiator is one of you, yeah? Don’t you have some kind of responsibility for what he does?”

“Do you have the same for the worst examples of your kind?”

“I would’ve said no once, but now… yeah, I kind of do.”

“Then I have made the right decision.”

“Okay, so I take it you’re going to point me in a direction. But first, I’ve got some questions.”

She dipped her head.

He stared up at those twinkling, luminous eyes and almost forgot what he had planned to ask.

“Your people… what do you call yourselves?”

“Humans,” a wry twist of her perfect lips, “are always so concerned with classifying themselves into their little boxes. It is one of the reasons why it is so difficult for your kind to join mine at the heights of the paths. Granted you have but a fraction of our lives to gain mastery. To answer your question. We have no word to place our kind in fetters. We exist and that is enough.”

He was going to ask her what the humans on her world called her people, but then realized that would’ve proved her point and he didn’t want to give her that.

“These ‘humans’ on your world—” he belatedly realized that she was speaking English. The signs of the universal translation system at work had been missing throughout the entire conversation. “They didn’t call themselves ‘humans’, did they?”

“The word in their languages are as different as they are in your many ones. It is what the universal translation system uses. As a whole the different cultures use the word for the planet to encompass all of humanity. Naturally, it varies according to the particular language.”

“What are they like?”

“You would find many similarities and many differences.”

She didn’t elaborate and he knew that she wasn’t going to.

“You come from that world? The one the Dominion holds? The one Zalthyss rules?”

Her eyes widened an infinitesimal fraction.

“You know them? Are you part of the Dominion?”

“Never. I belong to no faction. I have risen above such petty concerns.” She regarded him speculatively. “I felt the herald’s demise a short time past. You speak of it. Yet, I do not hear its song within you.”

“Good thing you’re not with them,” he flexed his artificial left hand. “That would’ve been awkward considering that I killed Zalthyss. Cost me a hand, but it was worth it.”

“I did not see that thing of metal and poison,” she regarded him with what felt like respect. “I commend you for ridding this world of the herald’s presence. You would do well to keep the Dominion from spreading its influence at all costs. I will speak no more of them. Nor will I give too freely of the knowledge you seek.”

“Trade?”

“You do not have much that I want.”

“What about the Vitiator’s head… on a stick? A platter? A bag?”

“Barbaric, though that is not unexpected. It is in your own interest to separate the Vitiator’s head from his shoulders. Is that not why you have come?”

“Yeah, okay. Then tell me more about him. So, you guys aren’t part of the same faction because you yourself aren’t a part of any?”

“That is correct. I do not know the Vitiator personally. I only know the stench of his foul magic, his deviant path. He walks in corruption of all kinds. Of himself and all other sapient beings that he ensnares.”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Is he working for someone else? Another of your people’s factions?”

“That is likely. He is too young and weak to be working alone. I will not speculate further in that regard as it serves no purpose to you at this moment and in the foreseeable future.”

“He’s here on our world, killing, torturing and corrupting people. And he’s doing that under someone else’s orders. That makes them an enemy and I want to know my enemies.”

“I do not know and I will not speculate.”

“Okay… next question. What are you doing here with those kids?”

“It is as it appears. I am a simple teacher.”

“Oh, I think you’re underselling yourself.”

“I intend to set them on the paths of their choosing. My tutelage will eventually lead them to become the foremost authorities in magic among your people.”

“That’s it? You’re not taking a piece of their souls? Some kind of mana-tithe thing? You’re not using them to remain young?”

“I assure you that I do not harm them under any reasonable standard. I treat them no differently than I have treated the thousands of students I have taught over the ages.”

“Ages? How long is an age? As measured in my years?”

“I am 3276 measured in your years.”

“And yet you don’t want to fight. All that time I figure you’re a master in a lot of disciplines. Never mind the magic stuff. You could’ve spent a few decades mastering close combat, ranged combat and everything in between each. Is it rude amongst your people to ask about class and levels? Do you even have them?”

“Yes.”

He waited for her to elaborate.

“Yeah. Right. Okay. So, from what I’ve heard you’ve got those kids up to nearly level 20 in less than a year.”

“One doesn’t need to do something so crass as to fight to gain levels. Study and true understanding is enough. Tell me, do you think one gains more from casting a fireball by rote a hundred times to slay a hundred gremlin monsters or do they gain more from truly understanding how they impose their will on reality to conjure a ball of magical fire?”

“The latter… obviously. Would you be willing to relocate? I mean, after you’re done teaching here.”

“Is that what you would hold in trade for the act of excising the tumor that is the Vitiator?”

“Oh, no… he’s gone regardless.”

“Then… perhaps. You will need to craft a compelling reason for I go where I deem I belong.”

“Well, I’ve still got a lot of questions, but you’re not going to answer them to a satisfactory level. So… where is the Vitiator and his cabal?”

“Your answer lies far to the south. However, a small part may be much closer.”

“Huh? Will you take offense if I searched for that answer?”

She answered with a beatific smile.

He reached out with his mind instantly touching the entire population of the small town. “Would you look at that,” he murmured.

“You work faster than any mind mage I have ever known. Will you consent to my exploration of your capabilities?”

“You don’t have people like me where you come from?”

She shook her head once. “In my personal experience you and your kind are unique to this world.”

“No trade on letting you poke and prod me like an experiment. It would take a lot more than a few answers for that to ever happen.”

“Very well. I respect your wishes. Perhaps, there are others that will be more amenable.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me… I have some people to question. I’ll be back for the Vitiator’s location in a little bit.”

“I shall accompany you. These vermin have been underfoot for long enough and their presence has been an annoyance.”

She didn’t move an inch but a sudden rip in reality opened up between them.

He had seen its like once before when the Vitiator had fled him.

“You cast spells just like that?”

She didn’t reply, merely gestured toward the portal where he saw what looked like the roof of an apartment building.

From his experience mages cast spells by speaking the word and doing their gestures. The latter varied, it seemed like a personal thing. Like how people had different forms when it came to shooting a jumpshot or throwing a punch. It might’ve looked different but the end result was the same. The ball went into the net, the fist landed on a face, the magic missiles shot forward.

He knew that the more powerful ones could cast their spells without verbalizing, but they still thought the word.

He had detected none of that from her.

“What are you? An archmage? Archwizard?”

She flinched… or did she?

He wasn’t certain.

She didn’t carry herself like humans. There were no micro expressions on her face. Her body didn’t move unless it was a deliberate action. She didn’t so much as shift her weight. Even the rare blink looked controlled.

Like watching a statue come to life.

“Or is it a different prefix? Great? Grand? Super? Immortal?”

A blank stare answered him.

“Alright,” he stepped to the portal.

He couldn’t detect anything to give him pause. It didn’t feel like a trick or trap.

“Let’s get some answers,” he gave her a tight smile.

----------------------------------------

“I’m going to kill you, Casey. You’ve continuously failed throughout this entire quest. You couldn’t make it make on a grocery store floor, you couldn’t make it in the warehouse and now you bring me this,” Scarlet glared at the small piece of crap roughly-shaped into a humanoid form after Casey had placed the box he brought it in on top of the kitchen table. It did seem to move and she could feel the magic within it. “You broke our one rule for what? A stupid joke?”

“Where’d you even get it? Did you use your own?” Sandy’s face twisted in disgust.

“Why put it on the table? We eat here, fucker!” Brent snapped.

“Fuck you, Brent!” Casey fired back. “We can just Lysol this shit later. And I didn’t make this. I already told you, Sandy. I guess you’ve got too much jizz in your ears.”

“Casey… you’re this close to dying,” Scarlett thrust a manicured finger into his face.

“It’s moving! And I know you can feel the mana leaking out of it,” he said.

“I do feel something coming out of it… might just be the smell though,” Brent said.

“Are you now a shitomancer?” Sandy laughed.

“Or an excrementalist?” Brent snickered.

“Turd mage!” Sandy doubled over.

“Fuck the two of you bitches up your leaky assholes! I fucking told you motherfuckers that I found it in the sewer. And I didn’t do any magic. I remember the Quest.”

Scarlet held a hand toward the disgusting object. It moved weakly in the box smearing parts of itself on the cardboard surface. She pulled her hand away after a moment of hesitation. “Okay. Fine. It’s worth investigating. Except, we can’t. Not without using magic.”

“So? We just stash it and bring it back when we’re done here. It’s got to be worth something to the inner council and the Vitiator.”

“Do not say his name!” Scarlett hissed.

“As long as you keep it in your room. I don’t want to smell shit more than I already do,” Sandy said.

“It’s leaking mana. It’ll just be a piece of shit by tomorrow. Get rid of it,” Brent said.

“But—”

Casey complaint was drowned out by the sound of the living room wall tearing open.

The cabal members cursed and sprang into action.

Two figures floated into their apartment.

One was just a man.

The other looked alien but familiar.

“Oh shit!” Brent said.

“Wait! We serve another like you,” Scarlett said. She had felt the power disparity. The strength of magic emanating from the tall, impossibly thin female was unlike anything else she had experienced before. She knew that they couldn’t fight. And so she rest her hope on a long shot.

“I am nothing like the depraved thing you serve.”

The female dashed her hopes.

“Truly?” Scarlett thrust her hand forward with a snarl. “Agony Lance!”

Dark, angry energy coalesced in her hand and—

Winked out just as quickly as she had conjured it.

The female stood like a statue. Not a word. Not a movement. Yet, Scarlet knew. Her spell had been unraveled as she had tried to cast it.

“Renzavore’s Claw!”

Black, crackling energy in the shape of terrible creature’s claw erupted out of Brent’s arm as he leapt at the two invaders.

Before it could strike the short man it bounced off nothing well-short of the target.

The man side-eyed the much taller female and sighed.

Scarlett couldn’t comprehend what she had just seen.

Brent’s spell had shattered on nothing.

She had felt nothing.

There had been no magic shield conjured.

The man didn’t feel of magic like the female.

Brent tried again but was suddenly slammed into the carpeted floor.

“Sorry, not sorry, Brent. Pain Siphon,” Casey touched Brent’s bare ankle.

Brent screamed.

It was perhaps paradoxical that a spell that took pain away from another to strengthen the caster still caused pain.

Casey surged forward with engorged muscles while Brent writhed in agony even as he was held to the floor by something.

Scarlett couldn’t detect anything.

“We should scatter! The Quest is blown!”

Sandy, the coward, went for the door.

She slammed face first into it before she could open it.

Golden bands of shining light wrapped her up like a mummy.

Casey lashed out with a punch that could shatter concrete only for it to thunder off that same invisible shield that blocked Brent’s spell.

Scarlett felt his pain radiate as the bones in his hand shattered into a dozen pieces.

Casey was suddenly lifted up by nothing to slam into the ceiling then back down to the floor where he joined Brent. He tried to push himself up with his uninjured hand but whatever held him there was too strong.

“Okay. Surrender, yeah?” the short man regarded her with contempt.

Scarlett held his dark brown eyes. The sneer on her mouth never came. True fear flooded through her. Greater than what she had felt during the ordeal of her initiation into the Cabal.

She slowly raised her hands.

“Very good,” the man said in his deep voice. “You want to ask your questions first?” he eyed the much taller female.

Scarlett stared at the dark-skinned woman’s impossible beauty. Instinctive jealousy made her want to cut that face up at the same time as she wanted to lose herself in lust. There was no doubt in her mind that the woman was of the same species as the Vitiator. Never mind that the Vitiator had light skin, after all, humans came in a variety of shades. Why would it be different for the Vitiator’s species?

“There will be time for me later. Not that I anticipate these wretches will have much to teach me. You are the guest and your need is pressing. I cede to you.”

Unlike the Vitiator, the female’s tones were like music to Scarlett’s ears.

“Right… I’ll make this quick,” the man said.

Rough hands she couldn’t see manhandled Scarlett into a seated position on the couch. Sandy, Brent and a now-deflated Casey joined her.

She tried to struggle but there was nothing to struggle against. It was as though every part of her was encased in a skin-tight suit. She couldn’t understand how the man was doing it. It had to be him. She felt no magic.

“We’re not saying shit to you, motherfucker!” Casey slurred through a partially-broken jaw.

“What are you doing here?”

“We’re—”

Scarlett blinked in shock. She had been about to tell the man everything. She couldn’t turn her head to look at the others but she had heard them speak. They all had been about to break just like that.

It beggared belief.

To be a fully-blooded Cabal member required proficiency in torture techniques. As both a torturer and as the victim. She had been confident of her ability to resist anything no matter how horrible. After all, that was a normal day in the Cabal.

“My mistake. You look like the leader.”

Somehow, Scarlett knew that the man was speaking to her.

“Why are you here? And be as succinct as you are capable of.”

“We were ordered to investigate a potentially noteworthy use of magic,” she replied. Once again she was shocked at the words even as she spoke them. She had thought to give false information or simply refuse to answer and yet the truth spilled out of her.

“Where is the Vitiator?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where would you go if you needed to speak to him?”

“We don’t do that. He finds us.”

“To the best of your knowledge, where would you go if you needed to to speak to him?”

“Miami.”

“Is that the location of the Cabal’s main base of operations?”

“Yes.”

“Where are your other bases, camps, safe houses, et cetera located?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can you elaborate?”

“I am not ranked high enough. I would only know specific locations if someone higher up told me. It wasn’t necessary for this Quest. Except for the main base, those locations periodically change.”

“How do you report back to them?”

“We don’t. No communication until after the successful completion of the Quest.”

“You have no way of contacting them?”

“No.”

“How long until they send someone to check on you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Tell me what you know about what the Cabal and the Vitiator’s been up to.”

Scarlett told the man everything.

Strangely, she didn’t get the impression that he was paying a lot of attention to her.

It was almost as if he wasn’t as concerned with the words coming out of her mouth.

She knew that she was finished.

Even if they escaped the others wouldn’t hesitate to sell her out like she sold out the Vitiator and the Cabal.

She could only hope that the man would ask the same questions of the others.

That way they’d all be complicit.

If her life was over then at least she could take solace in the fact that she wouldn’t be alone at the end.