“Master Summoner. I believe it might be time for Lady Amelia to meet the other Heroes.”

The High Summoner saw the girl’s expression brighten. He noted how she looked over to Ghaldor, silently asking for his permission to leave. After receiving it, the young Hero rushed off after Larras.

As soon as the door to his office swung closed, Rintell shot a glare at the other wizard in the room. “You are as impertinent as ever, Ghaldor,” he stated icily.

The bald wizard laughed. “You act as is if you deserve to receive any respect at all. You may hold the titles of High Summoner and Grand Magus, but you’re deluding yourself if you think such labels have any bearing towards me. I am no longer a member of the Synod, as you are well aware.”

“Don’t act like the victim, Ghaldor. You know very well that your expulsion from the Synod was fully due to your own actions!”

A flare of anger flashed in Ghaldor’s eyes. “I was pursuing knowledge! I was advancing mankind’s grasp over the arcane! I was-”

“You were experimenting on the bodies of fallen Heroes!” Rintell shouted, cutting the other wizard off. His exclamation echoed off the walls of his large office, the repeating words sounding loudly in both their ears. The High Summoner took a deep breath to calm himself. He then spoke, the volume of his voice once again controlled. “You broke not only the laws of the Synod but endangered our standing in the Alliance. If word had gotten out about the atrocity you committed, who knows what the ruling families would have done. And the people! The outroar from the Church of the One True God alone would have-”

“And once again a member of the council spits trifles at me.” Ghaldor tilted his chin up, his face twisted in a grimace. “The fact that the Synod focuses so much on ancient mandates, idiotic politics, and the mewling of the masses instead of research, discovery, and progress is a prime example of what an utter failure of an organization it truly is. Besides…”

The bald wizard grinned. “Time has proven me right, in the end. I have done what you fools could never even have dreamt of. I have summoned a Hero!” He laughed madly, enjoying the look of hate that had sprung up on the High Summoner’s face. “While you in the Office of Summonings can only perform rituals you received from the scraps the gods have left you, I on the other hand have broken their mysteries. And that is what you want, isn’t it? All this nonsense about Duncan being inducted into the Alliance? It’s all just a means to an end in order to gain access to my research. Admit it.”

Rintell’s shoulders sagged, the ire in his features disappearing to transform into the sad visage of defeat. “Fine, you are correct. In exchange for your knowledge and the sixth chalice, we can offer you full reinstatement into the Synod. Your old title of Grand Magus will also be returned, along with all the rights and amenities it entails. We shall also give you a seat on the council, as well… as…” The High Summoner’s words trailed off as he was interrupted by Ghaldor, who had begun to steadily snort and chuckle during his offer. The other wizard’s amusement finally boiled over into full-on cackling, and Rintell’s fists tightened in anger as Ghaldor all but laughed at him.

“I’m sorry, haha, so sorry,” Ghaldor chortled a bit more before managing to gain control of himself. “It’s just that, haha, the fact that you idiots actually think that I would want to join your little club again is simply hilarious. The idea is so childish in its simplicity that it would almost be endearing if it weren’t so pathetic.”

Stolen story; please report.

“Save the insults!” Rintell snarled. “Just tell me what you want.”

Ghaldor shook his head, the look of utter amusement still on his face. “There is nothing you can offer me that I want.”

“Fine then. If you won’t cooperate willingly, then I shall have to force you.” The High Summoner sneered and walked over to his desk. He pulled open a drawer and took out a sheet of paper. “This is a copy of the pledge the Kingdom of Duncan will have to abide by in order to be inducted into the Alliance. I can easily add the provision that they have to provide us with copies of all your research along with housing the sixth chalice here in Altrech.”

Ghaldor suddenly burst into laughter again. Rintell flinched at the other wizard’s display, then began seething as he continued his mad glee. “What is it now?”

“Sorry.” The bald wizard rubbed at his eyes, wiping the tears of amusement that had dripped from them. “It’s just it’s so incredibly funny that you actually believe that Duncan and its king have any hold over me. If Alcor truly were foolish enough to side with you, then I would simply leave, taking all my research with me. Along with the chalice and the Hero.” Ghaldor’s face twisted into a satisfied smile as he saw the other wizard’s worried countenance. “That’s right, I’m sure you’ve noticed. Amelia is mine, she does as I say. With a Hero of such potent powers by my side, there is nothing you, Duncan, or the Alliance can do to stop me from just leaving. And there are hundreds of other kingdoms in Casaad. To find another benefactor among their number would be triflingly easy.”

“D-don’t be stupid!” The High Summoner stuttered out. “Ghaldor, listen to me! The ability to summon Heroes must remain within the Alliance’s purview! If any other nation were to gain it, then the balance of power on the continent would topple! Chaos will reign! Mankind has had over nine hundred years of peace! Truly you wouldn’t throw all that away just because of a grudge against me and the Synod?”

Ghaldor snorted. “Nine hundred years of peace? You mean nine hundred years of Alliance domination. Nine hundred years of you and your ilk seated at the top, getting fat and lazy while those below struggle for your scraps. That’s what you’re truly afraid of, isn’t it? That your nine hundred-year grip on the continent will slip? Well, I can tell you this much. You are right to be afraid. With my process, I can create more chalices.”

Rintell’s eyes widened and Ghaldor laughed. “Yes, that’s right. As of now, I’ve almost completed my second. A third and fourth are sure to follow. And more after that. Imagine it, if you can. A Hero for every nation on Casaad. A true, equalizing force for the continent. A new age for all humanity, and I shall be the one who ushers it in.”

“You’re insane,” Rintell told him. “You would bring nothing but chaos and war to mankind. Tens if not hundreds of thousands will die!”

The other wizard merely shrugged. “All change requires sacrifices. You should speak to the Republicans of Scepter. I’m sure they can educate you on the topic.” Ghaldor gave the High Summoner one last satisfied smile before turning around and walking towards the exit.

“Where are you going?” Rintell asked him. “We’re not finished!”

“Oh, but you are, Rintell. You are.” Ghaldor didn’t bother to turn back to face him as he opened the door. “You just don’t know it yet.” The door slammed, and suddenly the High Summoner found himself alone in his office.

“Damn,” the High Summoner cursed. He sat heavily down upon his chair and put his head in his hands. He took a deep, weary breath, then leaned back against the chair to think.

He should have known that the old fool wouldn’t see reason. He had told the council as much, but still, they wanted to at least try negotiating with the eccentric wizard first. Unfortunately, the peaceful solution had been maliciously rebuffed by that arrogant idiot.

Now they were left with just one other option. An option that he hoped wouldn’t have had to come to pass.

Rintell sighed. He mentally steeled himself for what was to come. He needed a stone-cold resolve if mankind was to avoid calamity.

Heroes were a gift from the gods. But they were also a curse. Their powers not only made them potent weapons but also threats. All Heroes needed to be controlled by one entity, united under one banner. As long as they were all on the same side, mankind would be safe. But if Heroes were ever to fight one another, and their powers were each on the scale of Mark’s… it would be catastrophe on a monumental scale.

Such a thing must never happen. Not again.

Never again.