The days leading up to when Forgemaster Ivan arrived with Nadia’s tools were filled with an almost frantic desperation. Not only did Nadia recover quickly, especially after eating, but she had an appetite for knowledge that worried Viktor. The two devised a decent schedule to suit their needs.
They wake up an hour or two before dawn to check the barrier, begin Nadia’s strength training, eat breakfast, practice meditation along with reading and writing, eat dinner, and talk before going to bed. Viktor never saw Nadia asleep, but she rarely left his side during the night.
And when she did, she was always close by. Either sitting at the washtub, practicing her letters, looking at pictures, or meditating. And no matter how quiet Viktor was, Nadia always knew when he was awake, and she’d smile at him. The structure gave him something to focus on.
Something to keep his lingering doubts in check while Nadia continued to progress her studies. But the day Forgemaster Ivan arrived soon came, and Viktor wasn’t ready for it. They were talking in the graveyard when the older cleric found them. “Good morning, Brother Viktor! Sister Nadia! I trust you two have been well since our last encounter?”
Nadia leaped up, brushing some dirt from her robe as she ran to him. “Ivan, good morning! I did what you said! I’ve been doing strength training every day! Viktor usually just stands around, though! Did you bring my shovel?!”
Ivan laughed as he hugged her. “I did indeed! It’s nice to see you’re still so energetic! And what’s this about Viktor not doing any strength training? Does this mean you’re going to land a blow and earn that lucky charm?”
Viktor rolled his eyes as Nadia nodded. She looked at the package in his arms, smiling from ear to ear. “I sure will! I’m much more active than he is! And I can read now!”
Ivan stared at Viktor as he shook his head. “She’s making progress. We have plenty of firewood to get us through most of the winter, and we can perform burials without worrying about ghoul attacks for some time.”
“That is excellent news, Viktor. Are you ready to see how her strength training has paid off?” Viktor snorted as Nadia jumped up and down. It’ll be interesting to see if I’ve been an effective teacher… He nodded, making Nadia and Ivan grin.
“Shall we try here, or do you have a better location in mind, Ivan?” Nadia frowned.
“Why would we fight here? That’ll disturb the dead. And that’s not good!” Viktor took the package from Ivan and opened it, letting the sun’s rays bless the newly forged metal. Nadia gently picked up the shove and sighed. “Oh, Ivan… this is beautiful! Thank you so much!”
Ivan laughed. “You’re welcome, Nadia. And don’t worry about disturbing the dead. Viktor wouldn’t have suggested it if they’d mind. Isn’t that so, Viktor?”
“Indeed. The dead like to be entertained just like we do. But if you’d rather, we go somewhere else, Nadia. I don’t mind having a bigger audience when I beat you.” Viktor smirked as Nadia’s expression went from shock to… something he didn’t want to think about. I was only trying to tease her. Did she take it the wrong way?
“What do you mean by that, Viktor? I’m going to win!... But I don’t have to hit you hard, right?” Ivan chuckled as Viktor shook his head.
“I admire your confidence, Nadia. But I believe I told you I don’t like getting hit.” He took his shovel in hand and shifted into a fighting stance. “Which means I’m not going to stand still. But to answer your question, no. You don’t have to hit hard. You’re not trying to kill me.”
Nadia pouted until she heard the last part. “I would never kill you, Viktor! Why would you say that?”
“I didn’t say you would. Now, move your legs the way mine are, with your dominant side facing forward. This stance will give you stability and help you move from offense to defense. Do you understand so far?” She nodded, looking at Viktor’s stance as she tried to copy him.
“This still feels a bit unfair. You know what you’re doing, and I don’t.” Viktor looked at Ivan.
“It sounds like she doesn’t want that charm after all, Forgemaster.” Ivan shrugged.
“That’s a shame. I was hoping to try out a new trick I picked up. What happened to working hard, Nadia? Everyone is waiting to see what you’ll do, you know?” Nadia and Viktor had the same thought.
“Who’s everyone?” I haven’t heard anything from Father Gregor since we had dinner at the Temple of Life. Don’t tell me he’s making a move? What would he gain? Ivan waved, gesturing to the graveyard with a bow.
“Why all of your charges here, of course! I imagine they’ve been excited seeing Nadia helping. Surely, they must be looking forward to seeing what she can do?” Viktor sighed and turned to Nadia.
“You heard him. The spirit orbs are already here, Nadia. We can’t disappoint them…” He shifted slightly, bending his knees as he kept his shovel partially raised in a two-handed grip. “Come get me… No headshots or aiming between the legs!”
Nadia pouted. “But that would have been funny!”
“Not for me. Now quit stalling. You don’t want Ivan to come over here. His way of teaching involves broken bones.” Ivan shrugged and crossed his arms.
“It helped you learn, didn’t it? And we always healed you afterward. Try not to get too tired, Viktor. I intend on having a match with you once you’re done with Nadia.” Viktor shook his head and focused on Nadia. I was afraid he was going to say that. Alright, Nadia. Let’s see how far you have to go.
She looked back at him before taking a shallow swing towards his shoulder. Viktor snapped his shovel up, blocking the blow before sliding forward and disarming her. Nadia yelped as his blade barely missed her wrists, and she hugged herself. “Viktor!”
“I said you don’t have to hit hard. I didn’t say you couldn’t. Now, pick up your shovel and try again. More speed this time. You can’t expect a ghoul to wait for you to arm yourself. And even a zombie would have killed you by now. Shallow strikes like that aren’t going to keep you alive.”
“But I could hurt you!” Viktor shook his head and pointed to her shovel.
“Not unless you’re hiding something, you won’t. Now stop stalling and pick up the shovel.” Nadia hesitated but slowly obeyed, moving into as close a stance to match Viktor’s before charging him again with a yell. Viktor waited until she was a step away before jamming the handle into her stomach and kicking her feet out from under her.
Nadia stared up at him in shock but didn’t wait to be told to stand up. She took advantage of her position and swung low, but Viktor neatly jumped over the swing and landed a few feet from her. “That last strike wasn’t bad. You can’t always afford to shift into a stance when you’re fighting. Did I tell you how my last battle against two ghouls went?”
“No. Is that the one you were talking about with Mother Anya?” She swung again. This time, when Viktor blocked, she pulled away and swung for his other side. Viktor sidestepped before grabbing her shovel under the blade and yanked it from her hands. Nadia yelped and released it immediately, and Viktor tossed the shovel back to her.
“That’s right. I may have to let a tear form so you can understand better–most undead use ambush tactics or try to overwhelm you with numbers. You mustn’t let go of your shovel or any weapon you have unless there’s no other option. Think of it like an arm or leg. You wouldn’t just sit there and let someone chop off one of your limbs. Don’t let me disarm you, Nadia.”
“I’m not letting you do anything!” Viktor raised an eyebrow as she clenched her fingers around the handle and swung again. Is she ignoring the pain, or was she simply surprised? It’s a good thing Ivan is already looking into things. Otherwise, I’d have no idea how to explain why she isn’t bleeding.
“That’s good. Now, why don’t you do something about it? Should I attack you instead?” Nadia blinked, and Viktor swung his shovel as if he was going for her head. Nadia yelped and brought hers up, catching his and causing a loud smack between the handles.
“I thought you said no headshots!” Viktor aimed for her stomach again, keeping the swing slow enough for Nadia to react but still putting force behind the blow.
“I’m not aiming for your head. I’m going for your neck and shoulders.” She blocked again, wincing as Viktor returned to going for her head.
“But those are beneath my head! Why are you aiming for them anyway?” Viktor grinned as Nadia swung her shovel to intercept his before moving forward to kick him. He grabbed her ankle and raised her leg higher, throwing her off balance as her center of gravity shifted.
Viktor let her drop and nudged her shovel to her. “Because some undead move faster than others. Like vampires, for example. Most undead used to be human, so we share many weaknesses. Ghouls are more like animals. They’re small and often use ambush tactics to overwhelm their prey. Zombies tend to lunge whenever they detect blood. You’ll never see a zombie protect its head. But you will see ghouls doing so, and that’s just the beginning.”
Nadia rose, eyeing Viktor’s stance as she copied him. Good. She has excellent instincts. One doesn’t need special training as long as you know what to expect. “How many undead have you fought at once, Viktor?”
“By myself?” She nodded, and he shrugged before feinting for her head and waiting for her to reveal her stomach. Nadia didn’t. She stepped into the blow, ducking while swinging her shovel towards Viktor’s side. He caught it with his shovel, and Ivan laughed.
“That’s the spirit, Nadia! You almost had him that time. Don’t let up!” Viktor shook his head.
“I thought we were friends, Ivan?”
“We are. But Nadia is the one who needs encouragement, not you. Maybe you should have been training with her instead of watching, eh?” Nadia grinned as she aimed for his legs, only for Viktor to sidestep again as he lightly tapped her with the handle.
“It’s a good idea to use distractions, but you shouldn’t assume I’m not paying attention. Vampires are masters at this sort of thing.” She scowled and swung for his back. Viktor deflected and kicked up some dirt in her face. “And to answer your previous question. The largest number I’ve had to deal with was roughly twenty zombies.”
Nadia coughed, rubbing her eyes as she backed away. “Tw-twenty? How did twenty zombies get into the city?”
“This wasn’t in the city.” It was my first encounter with the undead… My home… “Good job backing away, but always be aware of your surroundings. You’re going to trip over a root if you’re not careful.”
Nadia yelped, looking behind her as Viktor rammed his shoulder into her unprotected side, knocking her to the ground and gently placing the blade against her neck. “What did I just say, Nadia?”
She glared, eyes momentarily turning white as she growled. “To be aware of my surroundings.”
“And?”
“Not to take my eyes off you…” Her eyes returned to normal, and she pouted. “Does this mean we’re done? I really wanted that charm, Viktor!”
Ivan walked up, clapping Viktor on the shoulder as he helped Nadia stand. “No worries, little one. You can earn the charm later. Now, how would you like to see me go against Viktor? I promise I’ll smack him good in your honor.”
Nadia giggled and nodded. “I would like to see how it’s done. Maybe I would have had better luck if you’d gone first, Ivan!”
Viktor snorted. “If Ivan had gone first. You wouldn’t have gotten a turn, Nadia. Remember, this man spends more time around weapons and fighting than anyone.”
Ivan chuckled. “It wouldn’t have been that bad, Viktor. I told you I wanted to see how far Nadia could go once she’s toughened up. And you’ve certainly helped her to do that! I can’t wait to see what she’s like in a month!”
Viktor felt a chill run down his spine. “A month?... I doubt we’ll have made much progress in such a short time…”
Don’t tell me he’s planning to come back here to check on her! I can’t take too many hits from this man! Ivan laughed when he saw Viktor’s dread and turned to Nadia. “May I borrow your shovel, my dear? Since it’s going to be your main weapon, it’ll be prudent to see what it can do in the hands of a master.”
Nadia handed it over with a grin. “I’m surprised you didn’t bring a weapon, Ivan. I thought you wanted to fight Viktor.”
“I do! I love fighting Viktor! If only it were possible for him to switch Paths. I’d spare with him every day and never let him leave!”
“Which is why I’m eternally grateful that I’ll never join the Path of Fire. You’d kill me in less than a week!” I feel sorry for anyone who catches his eye. Ivan loves fighting even more than a good meal. The forgemaster waved him off.
“You underestimate yourself, my friend. You always have.” Ivan pulled Viktor into a one-armed hug and whispered. “You should tell her the rest of the story. There’s a reason Dmitri brought you here, and it wasn’t just because the dead love you.”
Viktor shrugged, seeing Nadia walk away to give them room and play with the spirit orbs. “I will… consider it. Beating zombies isn’t nearly as impressive as killing a vampire.”
“But you have killed one. It was your stroke that took the brute’s head!” Viktor squeezed Ivan’s hand and shook his head.
“Not without help. I had Brother Dmitri and…” He lightly tapped Ivan on the head, making the other laugh with him. “I had a certain old fool to pull my ass out of the fire he started. I’m surprised Mother Anya didn’t have you thrown out of the city for the damage you caused.”
“She tried, Viktor. She certainly tried. But I’m sure we can all agree that it’s a good thing she failed, eh? Regardless, I have information for you… Would you like to bet for it?”
“No. You already promised to look into it, and you didn’t come all the way out here just to tease me. Now quit trying to provoke me. And let’s get this over with.” Ivan laughed as Viktor moved several paces away. “Make sure you watch carefully, Nadia. It’s rare for Ivan to fight outside of the Fire Temple these days.”
She nodded, holding up three spirit orbs while several others clustered on her head and shoulders. “Is he not supposed to? Did he do something wrong?”
“Only if you consider saving the city from a vampire with Viktor and Dmitri’s help wrong. Don’t worry, little one. You’ll be perfectly safe!” Ivan saluted Viktor with the shovel and grinned. “Before we begin. I have something to say, my friend.”
Viktor tensed but nodded. “Go ahead.”
Ivan chuckled. “That was an excellent first lesson for Nadia, dear boy. It shows her what she needs without breaking her spirit. But the next lesson is just as important as the first.”
“And that is?” Viktor blinked and felt Ivan’s first strike squarely in his stomach, causing him to bend over it and cough as Ivan leaned down to whisper.
“Don’t go into a battle assuming you’re going to lose.” He kicked Viktor in the head, sending him crashing to the ground, and resumed loud enough for Nadia to hear. “It’s wonderful to understand one’s weaknesses and acknowledge when you’re faced with a superior opponent. Many die because they believe they’re invincible. But life and battle are swayed by many things, so you must believe in yourself most of all.”
Viktor groaned, using his shovel to brace himself as he glared at the older man. “Did I do something to upset you, Ivan? I thought we were having a spar.”
“We are. But I want to show Nadia what it’s like when two warriors face each other. I’ve always praised your strength, Brother. Don’t hold back just because you dislike fighting a living person.”
“I don’t dislike fighting the living. I simply see no reason to!” Viktor resumed his stance, breathing deeply as Ivan did the same. The living shouldn’t fight each other. This world is big enough for our needs. If we stopped killing each other, then the undead would become less of a threat!
He’d shared these views with Ivan before. It was a topic they agreed on, but Viktor knew Ivan hadn’t brought it up just to mess with him. You may have traded your armor for an apron, but you never left the battlefield. Not in your heart. We both know this, so… what else do you want from me, Ivan?
“Here I come, Viktor. I’ll try to move slowly for Nadia to witness the full effect!” He looked at Nadia and asked. “Did you see what I did to Viktor just now?”
“You kicked him in the head. You’re not supposed to go for the head, Ivan!” The forgemaster laughed.
“That only applied to his fight with you, child. But did you see my first strike?” She shook her head, and Viktor sighed. It’s going to be one of those sessions… All right then.
“That’s enough chatter, Ivan. I’m sure your temple won’t appreciate you wasting the day with us. So let’s make this interesting, ok?”
Ivan grinned, baring his teeth like a predator, and nodded. “You changed your mind about that bet? You won’t regret it!”
“No, I want something else since you already promised to help me anyway.” Viktor smirked for Nadia’s benefit as Ivan raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, go on. What do you want, Viktor? I’ll bet just about anything to get a real fight from you.”
I know you would. “If I win. The next shipment for our monthly allowance must contain your finest baked goods. And they have to be fresh! You’re the one who says training on an empty stomach is bad. And you don’t want to stunt Nadia’s development, right? That’s what I want when I plant you in the dust!”
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Ivan laughed. “Oh? You’re going to plant me in the dust now, are you? That’s quite a change from what you were saying earlier… But what do I get if I win? No offense, Viktor. But I have no interest in waiting to die to collect a payment.”
“What would you like?” I barely have anything of value, and even if I did. The odds of him asking for something like money are low.
Ivan shrugged and swiped the air in front of him. “Honestly? I want you to stop running from me, Viktor. I haven’t killed anyone in years, you know that.”
Viktor sighed. That’s not what he wants. Is it because Nadia is here? This fight is for her benefit, so I can’t send her away… Oh, well. “I’m not worried about dying, Ivan. We both know you’re going to be my main protector if you should outlive me. I dare any necromancer to mess with my remains when you’re around.”
“Thank you very much, Brother. Now get ready. I want a good fight… a real one!”
“Should we add some mana, then? It won’t hurt to show Nadia how it’s used in combat.” And since we’re in a graveyard, I can… Ivan’s grin sent shivers down his spine. Oh, no. He wanted that!
“I thought you’d never ask, dear boy. You always know what to say to keep things interesting!” Ivan waved to Nadia. “Keep extra special attention now, dear. The last time Viktor used his mana in a fight was when we killed a vampire together!”
“Am I ever going to hear the full version of this story? I’ve never met a vampire before.”
“Certainly. I’ll have Viktor tell you all about it. And pray you never do, my dear. Vampires are notorious for being horrible snobs!” Nadia giggled, and Viktor lined his shovel with a thin layer of mana. Ivan noticed and did the same thing as he opened his arms in welcome. “That’s what I want to see. Don’t be shy, my friend. Unlike you, I don’t skip any training!”
“You’re never going to let me hear the end of this, are you?” Ivan shook his head and Viktor dove. He didn’t mind moving slower, for Nadia’s sake. He’d never matched Ivan in speed. But the flow of mana made his muscles burn as he attempted to ram Ivan’s stomach.
The handle barely indented the cloth before Ivan knocked him back. The forgemaster swung at his legs and punched Viktor in the face when he jumped over the strike. Viktor smirked, expecting the blow and moving his face to avoid the worst of it, and punched Ivan in the shoulder.
Both men grinned and unconsciously pulled on their mana reserves, turning the air around them into two pockets of heat and cold. Viktor heard Nadia gasp but didn’t dare take his eyes off Ivan. The forgemaster was past, letting Viktor take the liberty of explaining things to Nadia.
She would have to wait until after the fight to get an explanation. Viktor stepped back as their mana met and opposed each other. The air was almost grating as the different natures collided. Viktor drew his mana closer to his skin and sighed. “This… might have been a bad idea.”
“Because you’re having fun, Viktor?” Viktor hesitated and ducked to avoid Ivan’s swing for his head before rolling to the other side and planting the back of his shove against Ivan’s backside. The older man grunted and turned to retaliate, but Viktor wasn’t there. He rolled to the side and rose, keeping his shovel held defensively in front of him.
Is this what I consider fun? I know Ivan means well and would never try to harm me on purpose, but this is… Ivan chuckled and shook his head as he sighed. “Oh, Viktor. You poor boy. You weren’t like this before losing Brother Dmitri. Why can’t you see your pain is blinding you to the important things in life?”
He lunged for Viktor’s knees, ignoring Viktor’s block and creating a thin string of fire. Ivan wrapped it around Viktor’s legs, but Viktor’s mana pulsed, shredding the spell before Ivan could finish it. “There are more important things in life than fighting, Ivan. And you’re going to have to try harder than that if you want to tie me up.”
“If you say so, my friend. Are there any roots that can catch fire nearby?”
“DON’T SET FIRE TO MY GRAVEYARD. YOU CRAZY OLD MAN!” Ivan laughed, aiming at Viktor’s head. Viktor blocked and tried a spell of his own. Will you help me trip him, my friends? I can’t let that taunt slide! Viktor smiled when he felt the earth shift under his feet and pretended to stumble over a rock, but Ivan backed away.
“I’m not falling for that, Viktor. I know your tricks!” The earth beneath Ivan cracked, causing the man to swear as he attempted to jump, but Viktor tackled him to the ground. Ivan’s shovel went flying while Viktor used his to brace himself as he quickly sat on the older man’s chest, using his feet to keep Ivan’s arms pinned.
“What was that you were saying about knowing my tricks, Forgemaster Ivan? Did you forget you should never challenge a Death Cleric in a graveyard, especially one they tend?” Ivan laughed, and Viktor soon joined in.
“There, you see? This is what I’m talking about! You’re more than a match for me, Viktor. You could enter tournaments and make a killing if you wanted to!” Viktor shrugged and rose. He dusted his robes off before helping Ivan to his feet.
“That would interfere with my duties. And I make enough money just fine.” He picked up Nadia’s shovel, and the two men turned to see her clapping.
“That was amazing! You two looked like different people for a second! Is that how all sparring matches are supposed to go? It felt like you were holding back. All you really did was smack each other around and trip each other. You barely used your mana at all. Why’d you focus it on the shovels if you weren’t going to use more of it?”
Viktor handed Nadia her shovel and held up his own. “We didn’t want to shatter your new shovel, for one thing. We were hitting each other much harder than I was hitting you, and no, not every sparring match is like that. But if you want to see more spells, then we’re going to have to focus more on helping you feel your mana.”
He raised an eyebrow, and Nadia pouted. Please don’t say you don’t have any. I don’t need Ivan to know about that yet. “Does that mean we’ll be doing more meditation, then? I’ve been clearing my mind like you said, Viktor. But it doesn’t seem to be helping.”
Ivan chuckled. “Sounds like something any new cleric would say! Nadia, my dear. Why don’t you make some tea? I need to talk to Viktor for a bit. We’ll join you soon!”
Nadia frowned, placing her hands on her hips as she glared at them. “Why do you need to talk to Viktor alone? That’s the second time you’ve done that! It’s not nice to keep secrets, Ivan!”
“True enough, Sister Nadia. It’s not nice to keep secrets… Unless there’s a very good reason. Do you understand?” Ivan raised an eyebrow, and to her credit, Nadia didn’t panic. She scowled and turned away, leaving the two men in the graveyard. Viktor looked at Ivan.
“Was that your idea of being subtle? If you see her as a threat. You might have caused her to guard herself. I can’t work with her if she doesn’t trust me.” Ivan shrugged and began walking deeper into the graveyard. It took Viktor a moment to realize they were heading to where Nadia crashed into the ground.
How does he know where that spot is? No one has visited the graveyard since the last burial. The spirit orbs would have said something if they saw anyone. Ivan said nothing until they reached the place, and despite everything, Viktor couldn’t help feeling pride at the work Nadia had done.
The only noticeable sign that something had happened was a couple of tree trunks. Nadia had moved the firewood to their cottage, and the hole had long since been filled in. Even the weather had helped conceal the damage by featuring another storm two days ago. The wind had almost yanked off several tiles from their roof, forcing Viktor to climb up to do some emergency repairs to ensure he didn’t get a face full of rainwater in the middle of the night.
“Ivan?” Do I want to know the answer?
“Yes?” Viktor sighed, watching as Ivan stared intently at the place where he’d found Nadia.
“How are you getting your information? There haven’t been any visitors to this graveyard in a week.” Ivan kept staring at the ground.
“Does that bother you? An innocent man shouldn’t fear one of his protectors, Ivan. Especially when he’s your friend.”
“I don’t believe I need to be protected, Ivan. If you truly think there’s a threat to the city, then go ahead and arrest the ones responsible.” He’s not going to tell me. Is this a trap? I just had two sparring matches, but… Viktor felt his hands clench and forced himself to relax.
Ivan’s eyes were smiling as he turned around, giving away no sign of noticing Viktor’s distress. “But you do consider me a friend, right? Isn’t that why you wanted to talk to me? I’ve heard that things between you and Father Gregor are… a little tense.”
“That’s one way of putting it. He didn’t like that Nadia couldn’t sense her mana, and then I made things worse when I reminded him of the rules…” Viktor sighed as he remembered that night. “I shouldn’t have done that. Father Gregor is a powerful man. I don’t want to be his enemy.”
“I don’t blame you. That man is a frightening one.” Ivan rubbed his hands together, infusing a tiny bit of mana into them before burying them in the dirt.
“What are you doing now? Nadia just got this part looking decent again. Don’t make her do more work!”
“I need to check if one of my sources is right. And don’t worry, no one is going to notice a thing… I’ve talked with many of my troublemakers, and no one was experimenting that night. The overall state of the barriers is fine, and none of the ambassadors or visiting merchants have the kind of power needed to pull this off. I’m still looking, of course, but if you have any leads…?”
Viktor bit his lip as he stared at Ivan’s back. Is he telling me everything? If he already knows what Nadia is, then he shouldn’t have wasted time luring me away. He should have come with a small army and arrested her. None of this makes sense. I’m no politician or soldier. How am I supposed to get anywhere like this?
Ivan turned, staring at Viktor in concern. “Viktor?”
“What?!” Ivan smiled and rose, patting Viktor’s shoulder as he tucked his other hand into a pocket.
“I meant what I said last time. You’d make a terrible soldier. And an even worse assassin.” He waited, but Viktor didn’t know what to say. Ivan sighed and gestured to the now smooth dirt. “Do you like my handiwork? Moving coal around isn’t the same as moving dirt, but I doubt anyone will notice or come to harm if they start digging…”
Ivan leaned in, letting his concern melt away in favor of adopting a more serious expression. “There are rumors that the king’s life is in danger. Did you know that?”
“No. I haven’t heard anything. There can’t be any truth to them, though. We’ve won the last war, and the king is beloved by the people!” Why would he bring that up? Is it because Nadia isn’t from around here, and he wants me to watch her? She hasn’t talked about her plans since we started training. And her fighting skills were that of a novice. How can she be a threat to the king?
Ivan stared at him for several moments before chuckling. “Ivan?”
“I’m sorry. I truly am, Viktor. I just can’t believe I asked you that! You barely talk to people, even when you're performing your duties… I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. If the king is in danger, then it’s our duty to protect him… Do you think Nadia is a threat?” Do I want her to be a threat? She’s been working hard, and… and I don’t want to see her harmed. Viktor was relieved to hear Ivan’s laugh.
“Not the way she is now! The only way I see little Nadia being a threat to anyone is if she’s hiding a massive spell. Something that doesn’t rely on mana as we understand it. Which is proving harder and harder, according to our scholars. I don’t see such a kind-hearted soul doing something like killing a king lightly. But the person who sent her is another story.”
“Did you find out who it is?” Nadia said she wasn’t planning to start a war because it would be wasteful. But would killing the king amount to the same thing? The country would be in shambles for certain… And she does want to start with this city… Ivan shook his head.
“We found traces of mana in several locations across the city that night. But we haven’t found anything to connect them to Nadia.” Ivan grinned as Viktor started to protest and cut him off. “Not that we’re looking to frame her for something, and I can’t reveal everything we learned as much as I respect you, Viktor. You’re too close to Nadia to risk a slip-up.”
“Would you still say that if I were a Fire Cleric?” Viktor flinched at the hurt look on Ivan’s face and sighed. “Forgive me. That was unkind.”
He’s one of the few friends I have. If I can’t trust Ivan, then who can I turn to? Ivan tried to laugh, but they both knew it was forced. “Well… it is true that your situation makes things difficult. Mind you, I don’t believe you’d betray us. But there are others who would love to see you suffer, especially since Father Gregor is poking around.”
“Has he found anything?” Do I need to start setting up a barrier every night from now on? It’ll work against me, but I can always say the dead were getting agitated…
Ivan shook his head. “Nothing that my people hasn’t already discovered, but I wouldn’t make a habit of stepping on his toes for now. Stick with what you’ve been doing, and the king won’t tolerate any infighting between the Paths. Has Nadia made progress using her mana? That’s the main thing that he’s complaining about.”
“She can use spirit orbs to help her. I haven’t taught her any spells yet. I’m waiting until she first has the basics of reading and writing down.”
“That sounds like a good plan. And you’ve been keeping the barrier around the graveyard fully charged, so I doubt we’ll run into a situation where you have to rush things with Nadia.”
“I’ve been using a gem Father Gregor gave me. It’s been a blessing… Ivan?”
“Yes?” Viktor took in a deep breath and stared at his friend.
“Why… are you helping me?” Is he using me in some game against the other Paths? Does he know more about Nadia? There’s no way I can beat him if he decides to get serious, but he could go to jail or worse if Nadia does try something! Ivan stared back, face blank for several seconds before he grabbed Viktor’s shoulder.
“Because I like you. I understand your concerns, Viktor. And I appreciate that you want to look out for Nadia. Regardless of her circumstances, she’s something special.” He broke into a normal smile as he hugged the younger man. “I hope for all our sakes that you continue being a good teacher to her, Viktor. Father Gregor will no doubt try some mischief, but you have Mother Anya and me to back you up. And believe it or not, you have friends among the nobility, too.”
He released Viktor and began heading towards the cottage. Viktor quickly caught up to him, and the two were almost at the door when Ivan spoke. “When Mother Anya sends the carpenters. You should take Nadia to the middle graveyard. It’ll give you both a chance to see how the Life Clerics have been handling it, and I hear one of the nobles is looking for assistance with a ghost haunting his house!”
Viktor frowned. “I haven’t heard anything like that. When did he submit a request?” All matters concerning ghosts, spirit orbs, and the undead must be addressed to me. I swear if those idiots harmed the ghost, I’ll… Ivan shrugged and opened the door.
“We’re back, Nadia. And your precious Viktor is safe and sound!” Nadia had three cups placed on the washtub and grinned.
“Welcome back. Viktor, look. I made tea all by myself, and I didn’t burn the pot this time!” Ivan looked at Viktor as he chuckled.
“Very good, Nadia. I’m glad I don’t have to buy a new pot. I can’t wait to try this attempt.” Nadia clapped her hands and sat down.
“Well, don’t just stand there, you two. Come here and drink! What were you talking about just now? Is Mother Anya still sending the carpenters? Because I’m not in a hurry to let Viktor sleep alone!” Viktor’s face went red as Ivan snorted.
“Oh? So that’s how it is between you? Wonderful! I’ll be sure to tell the others they’ve won the bet.”
“What bet, and don’t try to get out of this, Ivan. Causing mischief is one thing, but I refuse to let anyone interfere with my duties!” Ivan picked up his cup and smiled.
“It smells delightful, Nadia. And I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t correct her, Viktor. There’s no shame in admitting you’re sleeping together. What’s wrong with admitting you’re happy?”
“We’re not sleeping together!” Viktor hissed while Nadia frowned.
“What do you mean, Viktor? We’ve shared the same bed every night. How are we not sleeping together?” Ivan hid his face behind his hand, but his shaking shoulders gave away his mirth. Viktor felt his face flush and shook his head.
“No. Stop talking, Nadia. You’re making it worse! That’s it. I’m sleeping on the floor from now on. I am a gentleman, and no one will say otherwise!” Nadia sighed and looked at Viktor as if he was a misbehaving child.
“We talked about that, Viktor. There’s no reason why you should sleep on the floor. You were living here first, and besides, what about your nightmares? How are you supposed to get a decent rest if you start screaming your head off in the middle of the night? And besides, I’m still prepared to sleep on the floor, regardless of if you’re on the bed or not.”
Ivan burst out laughing, hiding his face against the washtub while the other two stared at him. “Ivan, please… It’s a misunderstanding and not that funny!”
“That’s… oh, by the Paths!... That’s where you’re wrong, Viktor!” Ivan sat up and wiped some tears from his eyes. “Seeing you get so worked up is adorable! You’re normally so stoic and work happy, even before Dmitri passed. But you should see the look on your face! I guarantee the others won’t know what to make of you either!”
Viktor shook his head and groaned. “Ha, ha, Ivan… You still need to answer our questions, though!”
Ivan nodded and took a sip. “Tasty. You should consider taking a job at a tea house, Nadia. I guarantee you’ll be a master in no time.”
“Quit messing around, Ivan!”
“Calm down, Viktor… I wasn’t putting it off… I was enjoying watching the two of you. Now, in no particular order… Mother Anya said she found some carpenters, and they’ll arrive in a day or two. Father Gregor didn’t see why you needed a bigger cottage, and that was when I realized you’d fallen out of favor with the old man.”
“You’re not that much younger than he is, Ivan.” When was I in his favor? Father Gregor often came to drink with Dmitri after evening services, but he barely paid attention to me outside of our duties… Did I miss something? Ivan shrugged as Nadia held up the pot.
“More tea, Ivan? There’s enough for one more cup, and I can make a fresh pot if we need it!”
“Bless you, dear Nadia. But I’ll be fine…” He turned to see Viktor glaring and laughed again. “Alright, alright, my boy. I’ll tell you. I’m sure this isn’t intended to be a slight against you. The noble in question wants to remain unknown… He owns many houses, and the one in question is a property he wishes to sell.”
Viktor picked up his cup and sighed. “Was the house haunted before he bought it? Dmitri said residual hauntings can skip owners like gifts can skip generations. Was there any cause for concern?”
Ivan shook his head. “That is something I don’t know. Not even Mother Anya could find anything about the house, and it was a Water Cleric that oversaw the transaction.”
Viktor winced. “That’s bad…” He saw Nadia open her mouth and quickly asked. “Do you remember what I said about the products the Water Clerics sell?”
“Uh-huh. You said they’re of the highest quality, which is why they’re very expensive. Does this mean Mother Anya might get in trouble if the ghost doesn’t move on?” The men looked at each other, and Ivan waved at Viktor to carry on.
“It’s more of a… professional blunder than trouble. Unless Mother Anya was present during the sale or visited the property at any point. Then the one who will be blamed is the Water Cleric who oversaw the sale.” He turned to Ivan. “Why wasn’t I called to do a spiritual check of the property? I’m assuming this sale happened recently?”
“The noble said he bought the property three months ago, and things started happening as soon as he started to renovate it. I don’t know why you weren’t called, Viktor. But I do know that two Life Clerics checked and approved the home.” Viktor snorted and finished his tea.
“Then those should also be punished unless they can prove there wasn’t a ghost before the noble bought it. Do we know anything about the previous owners?”
“A family of merchants. Records say the great-grandfather built the house and died in his sleep. The house passed to his wife and child. Then, they kept the house in the family until they decided to leave Vern. I haven’t found anything to suggest someone was murdered there. Are you going to take a look, Viktor?”
Nadia leaned forward. “We should, right? Go see the house? Do we need to get permission from the owner, or can we just look around?”
Viktor sighed. “We can’t do anything unless someone else complains about it or the owner invites us, Nadia. If they didn’t feel the need to contact us when the noble bought it, then they wouldn’t want our help… Although, I hope Father Gregor takes the proper steps soon. Hauntings are tricky things.”
Ivan frowned. “You’re… not going to help? Even though you kept asking about it?”
Viktor shrugged, picking up his cup and looking at the window. “You know what they’ve been doing to me lately, Ivan. Even if I show up, either the noble or the Life Clerics will insist I back off. That it’s not my concern, and I should let them handle it.”
He turned back and smiled at Nadia. “This is called politics, my dear. People rarely want our help, and the only ones who truly appreciate us. Are those in the minority… Excluding battle-hungry forgemasters, of course.”
Ivan sighed and bowed his head. “I can see my words have done more harm than good, and it saddens me. I know you’re a better man than this, Viktor. But I’ll leave you be. I must return to my duties. Thank you for the tea, Nadia. Keep up with your training, and next time, watch your feet. Don’t be afraid to weave around your opponents. It’s easier to keep someone off balance if they don’t know where your next strike is coming from.”
He looked at Viktor and smiled sadly. “I’d like to say you’re wrong. But that wouldn’t be beneficial to either of us… I’ll see you in a month if nothing else happens, Viktor. You can expect your next shipment to be the best you’ve ever had… Good luck, my friend.”
“Thank you, Ivan… I wish I could live up to your expectations… Let me walk you to the gate at least.” Ivan’s s smile brightened a bit as Viktor placed his cup down. “I’ll be right back, Nadia. Finish your tea and start meditating. We need to build up your mana reserves before going further.”
“What about the dishes?” Viktor chuckled as he stacked his cup on Ivan’s.
“I will do the dishes when I return. And then I shall do my own meditation…” He turned to Ivan and offered him a small smile. “Because someone doesn’t like my training methods.”
“I said no such thing! I simply believe that the bonds between teacher and student, will flourish better if you both perform your duties at the same time. I’ve had countless students, so I should know what works and what doesn’t!.” Nadia giggled and poured the re remaining tea into her cup.
“He has a point, Viktor. But I like your teaching style. I can’t wait to see what you teach me next!”
“That’s good. I’ll try not to disappoint you, Nadia. Let’s get you back to town, Ivan. I don’t need more Fire Clerics snooping around my graveyard because you decided to play hooky.” Ivan chuckled and allowed Viktor to lead him to the gates. Viktor hugged him before letting the bars swing shut between them. “Take care of yourself, Ivan. I’ll pray things go well at that noble’s house.”