Ray

Ray adjusted his collar as he stepped into the building. The nobles seemed to have no idea who was responsible for the attack, or at least had shown no indication that they were aware of it. As it stood, there was little stopping him from going to the College and keeping his post as the Dean's disciple.

Ray stepped in, finding the Dean waiting in the library, a small army of books hovering around him. "Oh, Ray, welcome. I see you've returned from your ordeal. The bakery is set up, I take it?"

"Yes, we've resumed business." Ray said, the bakery had opened doors again without Ma. The potions were selling, the cookies were still tasty, things were pretty normal. Ray had let Marcus handle it all, he was good at it.

"Yes, do you remember the potion we talked about before you left? Well, I have just come into possession of a rather peculiar herb. Here, have a look at it." the Dean said, making a herb appear. The herb was a strange mixture of dark blue and blood-red. The two colors mixed symmetrically on the herb, making it rather beautiful to look at. But that was not all, the herb was powerful, and reeked of having mixing properties.

"The herb can't be used for the shadow herbs you have, a pair of magma and deep ocean herb will be needed" Ray said, deducing what would be required. The colors spoke for themselves.

"Yes! I am looking for some that could work."- a bunch of books floated towards Ray- "Here, you can help. Looking for the herb you want is a big part of Alchemic research."

Ray took the open book, looking at the page. A variety of herbs were listed on it. Ray had to barely look at them to know that he was unfamiliar with most of them, A lot of research to do. Sitting down on a nearby stool, he set out to compile a list of suitable herbs.

"The rempostus has oceiana and magma versions" Ray noted. The Dean looked up from his book, waving his hand as two herbs appeared in the air. Ray shook his head at them, the herbs were misnomers, the oceiana version was wood elemented and the magma was too earth elemented.

"Cortel?" he asked. The herb appeared, glowing pink. Ray called out several more probable herbs, but they were either too dark or not dark enough. The herb would need something very close to its coloration to preserve most of it's power.

Ray slammed the books shut, frustrated. "The herbs are either too earthy or too fiery, we require magma, deep earth herbs. And we don't have a good list of oceiana drugs at all!"

"Hmm, what do you mean deep earth drugs?" the Dean asked, moving books about.

"The herbs found deep in the ground, the ones we have to dig very deep for. Can you teleport some?" Ray said.

The Dean shook his head. "Not quite. The herbs are mostly sourced from Dwarves, I don't have any idea where they are. I can't teleport them if I don't know where they are."

"Why not ask the Dwarves for some, then?" Ray asked.

"Well, that would the Emperor not invading them. Not to mention we don't know what to get either." the Dean said. Ray ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think of a solution.

"Hmm, don't you know the Satyrs?" the Dean asked.

Ray paused, looking at the Dean in alarm. "Why would I know any Satyrs?"

The Dean looked at him like he was stupid. "Ray, I know you're working with the rebellion. And I know that they have trade relations with the Satyrs. I am a space mage, Ray. I sensed that massive space block around the entire continent. Not to mention that portal. Now, can you get in contact with them?"

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"What do you want?" Ray asked, his eyes narrowing.

"The Satyrs have been collecting knowledge for the last three millennia. I was wondering if they know any deep earth herbs…not to mention oceiana herbs." the Dean said.

"I will need to have something to trade." Ray stated.

"The Treasury has a lot of things, just take one. And speaking of the Treasury, have you thought over my offer?" the Dean asked.

"I have, And I must refuse. The offer is tempting, but the potion is just not valuable enough for me." Ray said. "But if you could offer something that would be a bit more valuable on a more immediate basis…"

The Dean observed him for a few seconds, looking at him like he was a puzzle that he had to figure out. Ray wasn't sure he liked the feeling.

"Ok, what do you want?" the Dean asked, folding his hands.

"What can you give?" Ray bluffed.

"I can't tell you what I can give if you don't ask." the Dean said. Ray wasn't buying it.

"No, I think you can. Don't you have a list somewhere?" Ray asked.

The Dean sighed, conjuring a bottle. "The potion will increase your friend Marcus's ability to cast, giving him a lot more versatility."

Ray liked that. "I don't suppose I can get a recipe?"

"I don't have one to give." the Dean said. "And I am sure you want something more, so let me think a bit."

"Hmm, how about a recipe of elemental strengthening, not top secret, but still not something the rebels have. A recipe of telepathy, it enhances your telepathic powers, but the powers it gives are a bit random." Ray paused at that. The powers…did the Dean know something?

"Well, that's it." the Dean said. Ray just folded his hands and looked at the Dean.

"Not really enough, you know…" Ray said.

The Dean sighed. "What do you want, really? A love potion? I have limited options, you know. "

Ray sighed, the problem was that he didn't have any idea what he wanted either. What did a rebellion on the verge of going big need that he could ask for here? "Can I ask some people and come back to you with the news?" Ray asked.

"Yes, sure, but you are delaying things by quite a bit you know…" the Dean said, sounding irritated.

"Yes, I know, I will get things to you by tomorrow." Ray promised.

"Ok, now canyou get me an in with the Satyrs? "The Dean asked.

"I can try, though I can't guarantee anything." Ray answered. "Are you sure you want to business with them, though? The Xnarthan will not be happy if they-" the Dean had already started laughing boisterously, clearly finding it more hilarious than Ray did. "I don't care what the Xnarthan think, Ray. Do you really think this is my first time doing deals with those I am not supposed to?"

"So you've done this before?" Ray asked, curious now.

"Yes, though not the Satyr council in Satri, The treasury didn't just build itself you know." the Dean said. "Just tell me what they want, I will have someone arrange it."

"Thank you." Ray said, getting up. The Dean teleported him back to the bakery, making him trip as the surroundings changed abruptly. Marcus looked up from his position on the dining table, reading some kind of ledger.

"I take it the class went well?" Marcus asked.

"Yes," Ray said, taking a seat. "Though, I will need to meet with the rebellion representative to discuss a few things. What's up on this side?"

Marcus sighed, closing the ledger. "Not good. Not good at all. The Empire has raised taxes on Alchemic sales, ingredient sales, baking sales and a number of other professions practiced by commoners. The net tax we're paying is over sixty percent of our gross income, that's without counting the costs of manufacturing."

Ray's brows furrowed, this was unexpected. "Is this kind of sudden hike usual?"

"I wouldn't think so, but according to my Dad, spikes like this are common when the nobles lose something. The nobility doesn't want to pay to rehire and train all those Xnarthan, not to mention fix the things we broke, so they do stuff like this."

Ray paused, shocked. "Why would the nobility do something so foolish, this would just increase the chances of people joining the rebellion."

"Yes, but that is exactly what they want. The Empire has faced a lot of rebels in its time, Ray, and they have a strategy for it. The food prices are already rising, a lot of people are joining the rebellion, and more want help.

The rebellion will be forced to act somewhat publically in some manner, and after that the Xnarthan or even the Emperor will swoop in and kill them. Dad said that's what they did a decade ago to a rebellion in Sertal… "

Ray froze in shock. What an utterly ruthless policy, thousands would die and far more would suffer, just so the Emperor could retain power. As expected of the Empire.

But it did give him an idea on what to ask for though, potions that increased yield of crops, sped them up, perhaps even a few teleportation potions. The rebellion was sure to eat them up.