> “I am first a , of a kind, though the Class has inevitably intersected with the Talents and specialties of . So I can say, from my own personal authority on the practical elements of the subject, and copious amounts of more abstract study, that Esultare’s understanding of the Mystical Arts is embarrassingly limited.

>

> The people of this continent are simply terrible with magic; the greatest of this land could, at any time, be said to be half as proficient and well-learned as the of the other five continents. Why is this? Primarily because the people of Esultare simply do not particularly care to learn or refine the Art.”

* Oreanen Vainen, taken from his lecture on cultural views on Sorcery at the Cardona University of the Arcane, which was cut short by a heated argument between Vainen and the of the University

Helena and Zara were up late playing cards in Helena’s room while Bim and Greg slept in their respective rooms. They were wary types; slumber came less easily to them then to their teammates. They didn’t play for money, as they didn’t have any, but simply for the fun of it.

“What do you plan to do, once we get to Cardona?” Helena asked, after a while.

Zara was silent, folded, then answered in a deliberate fashion. “I think I might try to get a job with the Watch. I think it would suit me.”

Helena seemed bemused. “Huh. It really would, wouldn’t it? I for one want to hone my craft, maybe join an expedition team. I’m having such an interesting and challenging time traveling with you three, I don’t know if I want that to end.”

🟌

Outside the tavern that the team was staying in for the night, Antonius Andrium held up his staff and spoke a spell aloud. “.” Magic rippled out from the crystal on the staff, and a dome of dark purple light surrounded the tavern and the area around, reaching dozens of feet into the sky above the tavern roof.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“” The walked briskly towards the door of the tavern, knocking thrice. As the door creaked open, Antonius spoke a third spell dispassionately. “. Jorm, who had an expression of confusion on his face, went flying back and slammed into the opposite wall, falling to the ground.

Antonius continued his brisk walk up the stairs, heading right toward the third door down.

Zara noticed first. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. “Something’s wrong.” She said, rising to her feet. Helena felt it too, a moment or two later. A tension in the air, a taste of… metal? in the air.

Just to the right of Zara’s room where the and the had just had dual realizations, Antonius murmured: “” once again, and the door in front of him burst open and collapsed inward, slamming to the ground in a heap.

“Bim Selkis! I am Antonius Andrium, of Cardona, Spellguard of the East, Senior Archivist at the Cardona Arcane University, and Keeper of the Third of the Seven Tomes. You will come with me, now, and without any kerfuffle, or I will be forced to take drastic measures.”

“You’re so funny.” Bim laughed, raising his hands in mock-surrender. “You must have, what, , and , and other such Talents, at least, and yet you don’t see what’s right in front of you.” He smiled ruefully. “I helped someone I wasn’t supposed to. My original name doesn’t matter. No-one ever bothered to check me with an arcgem all this time. No-one bothered to actually try to pick apart the story. I am Bim Selkis. We . I am a , though Garson Hughes-- the man who killed Oakchild, who used to be Bim Selkis-- is not a anymore, and is actually a now in a village you’ll never find. I’ve enjoyed being Bim, I’ll keep being Bim. I’m a , a , and also-- a level 16 . , . . . Bye, Antonius. By the way, these suckers I’ve been traveling with all think I’m just a weak little boy who still hasn’t gotten over that he murdered to protect his own damn self. So lay off ‘em, would you? See you around.” And like that, he vanished in a puff of smoke-- and appeared in the room directly next to him, where Zara and Helena stood, cards scattered, weapons drawn. He put a finger to his lips, and wordlessly mouthed: “I’ll explain in the morning.”

Antonius, for his part, blew a hole in the wall and flew away into the night.