The following day arrived early, bringing with it a young, nervous knight who patiently kept knocking at my door despite my multiple attempts to ignore him.

“Master Landon would have me escort you and Lady Nora to his quarters,” he called. “He requests that she bring her assignment, as well.”

Begrudgingly, I sat up in bed. “Alright, just give us a few minutes to prepare.”

Nora flopped around on the floor, not yet fully awake. “Why didn’t you say come back in an hour?”

“Because we probably don’t have the luxury of time,” I replied, slapping my cheeks. “Besides, I can’t imagine he’d summon both of us if it weren’t important.”

“You’re probably right…” she said with a loud exhale as she untangled herself from her sheets on the floor.

Within minutes, we were clothed, armed, and heading to Master Landon’s room. He met us at the door, his face as expressionless as ever. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but his quarters were stark and bare, devoid of anything remotely decorative—except for an ornate bookshelf packed with black-bound volumes of a similar size. Several light sources were scattered around, but overall, I could only describe his room as utilitarian gray.

Maybe a succulent would cheer the place up a little.

“I’ve asked Holy Sage Relias to join us as well,” he said by way of greeting before turning to Nora. “Have you brought your report on the meaning of the ideal form?”

She pulled a thick stack of parchment from her cloak. “Sure did. Just a little light reading for you!”

He thumbed through the pages quickly. “Hmm… I suppose this is far more than the minimum word count…” With a casual flick, he tossed the pages into the air, and they burst into flames, consumed entirely before they could touch the ground. Not even a single trace of ash remained.

“You didn’t even read it!” Nora accused, her jaw dropping.

Master Landon nodded. “Of course not. I wouldn’t want to muddle our perspectives. I’m quite content with my understanding of the ideal form.”

Nora clenched her fists. “Wasn’t the point to check my understanding?”

“No. The point was to make you think about it. Who am I to say your perspective is right or wrong?”

“Then, at least tell me the short answer! What is the definition of the ideal form?”

He folded his arms. “I just did.”

Nora frowned. “But everyone’s perspective is different. Which one is right?”

Master Landon shrugged. “The one with the most influence over it.”

“Euphridia? The one who embodies the form? The one who perceives it?” Nora pressed. “Or the one thinking about it at the time?”

“Your guesses are as good as mine,” he replied with the faintest hint of a smile.

If Relias had been even a second later, Nora might have resorted to physical violence. Instead, she let out a frustrated screech and claimed his single chair as her throne, from which she could scowl at everyone.

“Blessings to you all,” Relias murmured, his concerned gaze lingering on Nora. “I came as fast as I could.”

“I have spent the night studying,” Master Landon advised. “Let me show you the outcome of my efforts.

From under a squared-off desk, he pulled what appeared to be a small, glowing metal cage partially draped in black cloth. Gold runes sparkled on the box’s surface, suggesting it was additionally secured with a layer of amity. Master Landon pulled off the dark linen, revealing a shallow container of water with a small leech inside.

I stepped back. “You found another one?”

He nodded and opened a small door atop the cage before plunging his hand into it.

“What are you doing?!” I shrieked as his hand was inevitably bit.

“Conducting an experiment,” he replied calmly. “I can confirm its bite is painless, as you mentioned last night, Captain. Now, I will allow myself to experience negative emotions. I ask the three of you to monitor my status and intervene if this test endangers anyone’s well-being.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He inhaled sharply, his face hardening as his breath quickened. The leech quivered and swelled slightly.

“Fascinating…” he mumbled, his jawline relaxing. “I’m struggling to maintain my anger.”

“What... what are you angry about?” Nora asked as she stood up, her eyes wide.

“The plight of my dark mage brothers and sisters, forced into servitude. The loss of my mage tower and countless centuries of research. And, most recently, the atrocious appearance of yet another liver spot on my right forearm. I believe those concepts should be sufficient nourishment for the leech, yet I find it hard to hold onto my rage.”

Relias’s gaze pierced through the cage, observing the leech as it wriggled back and forth, still clinging to the back of Master Landon’s hand. “It feeds on the Animus you produce… yet you’re maintaining your calm. Curious.”

“That doesn’t match what we observed with the others,” I remarked. “Father Derrick was practically in Animus Overload, right?”

“I believe his behavior was influenced by what happens after the bite,” Master Landon murmured. “Captain, if you would be so kind as to touch the leech, I suspect it will release itself.”

Ugh, why me?

I grimaced as I stepped forward. Master Landon carefully withdrew his hand from the cage somewhat, and I jabbed my right index finger into the leech’s dark, squishy body. A golden spark flashed between us, and it let out a tiny squawk before releasing its grip and tumbling back into the cage. Master Landon snapped the door shut with his other hand and threw the linen back over the top of the cage.

“No blood,” Nora noted as she stared at Master Landon’s hand. “Rae didn’t bleed, either.”

A few whisps of dark miasma oozed from his wound. “I see animus still leaking, though,” I advised. “In fact, it looks like it’s intensifying.”

“Well, of course it is,” Master Landon snapped, rubbing at his hand. “Only an idiot wouldn’t expect that.”

Relias flinched. “I beg your pardon—”

“As well as you should, but you shall not receive it!” Master Landon shouted, his face flushing crimson. “Insolent fool! This whole situation is your fault! Your chronic ineptitude has left this damnable holy capital in fractures. Holy Sage, indeed!” he spat, throwing his arms in the air. “You could have saved the Dark Mage Tower and taken proactive measures to prevent this chaos, but no! You were too busy groveling to those corrupt priests, playing peaceful politics while the world burned around you.”

Nora and I exchanged stunned glances as he advanced, his dark aura crackling. “Yet, despite everything, I stood by you,” he seethed. “I clung to the hope that there was some semblance of wisdom rattling around in that deluded skull of yours. But what did I find? A sniveling coward, cowering behind his robes while demons prepare to tear at the gates of this city!”

He pointed a trembling finger at Relias, his eyes blazing. “So, prove me wrong, Relias. Show me you’re not just a pathetic excuse, a pitiful waste of my time and power. Do something that doesn’t make me regret ever believing you could be more than a spineless puppet for an absentee goddess!”

He’s spewing some very harsh words… and yet I couldn’t exactly refute them, either.

“You are right, Old Friend.” Relias exhaled slowly, reaching for my hand. “And thanks be to you for continued trust in me.”

I grabbed his hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze as he healed Master Landon’s wound. As with the other marks, gold and black swirled under the skin surrounding it, spinning faster and faster until they collided, shining brightly momentarily before fading.

“Ah.” Master Landon cleared his throat, passing his hand across his face. “I believe I experienced a temporary thymotic discord. I would ask you to disregard my recent outburst. Rest assured that Logos again reigns supreme in my soul.”

My eyes sought out Nora once again. “What?”

Nora shrugged. “The dark mages around here have adopted Plato’s tripartite theological model of the soul. How they know about it is beyond me.”

“Oh,” I replied as if I understood her.

She graciously tried again for my sake. “He was having a moment?”

“Obviously,” I agreed.

Master Landon bowed deeply. “Captain, earlier, I meant to say that demons ultimately feed off animus to empower themselves. I suspect I was injected with something that ensures I am a continued source of nourishment for the leech… and perhaps its master.” He then turned to Relias, once again inclining his head. “I am sorry for sharing such spirited and raw emotions. I know that you have your reasons for your actions, Your Holiness.”

“There’s no need for bowing or apologies, Master Landon.” Relias smiled ruefully. “Rest assured, I will not make the same mistakes I have made in the past.”

Nora laughed. “Right! You should make some new ones!”

“Nora!” I scolded.

“What? That’s how we learn, yes?”

I fixed her with my best stink eye. “You don’t go advertising that part!”

Nora shook her head. “Actually, I think it’s important to do just that. Let’s be real about it. Change is hard, and sometimes it doesn’t go as planned. Better to be prepared for that outcome rather than let it just tank your whole try.”

Relias nodded. “Lady Nora has been an excellent council on the concept of change… Her continued encouragement has been quite the blessing.”

We're all lucky she came with me.

Nora turned away from him abruptly, her right ear crimson. “Don’t mention it,” she muttered.

Relias winked at me, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Thump!

The cage leapt forward.

Thump, thump, thump.

It bounced across the table, sloshing water with each little leap. It then plunged to the floor, flipping over. The leech inside was throwing itself against the cage's bars, squeaking each time it touched the glowing bars.

“I guess we were getting too chummy,” I murmured. “Probably upset his stomach.”

Relias frowned for a moment, then summoned his staff. “I think we’re about to conduct our final experiment.”

“We’re going to follow it home, aren’t we?”

Relias nodded.

“Sewers?” I asked in resignation.

He nodded again, placing a conciliatory hand on my shoulder.

I squared my shoulders. “Let’s just get this over with.”

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