STRANGE GIRLS

The Scribe walked along the cobbled stone street lined with well-maintained hedges and then rounded the corner. The large stone building of the publishing workshop loomed into view. The open green lawns, the patches of ivy and flowering vines climbing onto the discolored, weatherbeaten stones gave it a rustic feel.

The young man halted and then made his way to the nearby stone guard booth. Normally, those who visited this particular workshop would barge in without question since behind the large arched doors lay the promised land. The classrooms in this division of the academy housed only girls.

The recent rumors circling this place, however, stymied the influx of hot-blooded young men.

"Greetings, I'm here from the Alchemist workshop. I need to find a girl."

"Alchemist this time huh? Tell you what young lad. Give up on that dream. Even the new mages who returned from up north have fallen short. That young lady is way beyond your league. Men with fewer pimples that you have been rejected."

The old guard at the booth drawled. His two companions snickered while scanning the visitor from their three-legged stools.

"Huh? What are you babbling about? I'm here on orders from Council Mage Tarot himself. What did you think I came here for?"

The old man nearly fell over from shock. Council Mages rarely sent out a request to this workshop. Those old mages had passed the age of dishing out manuscripts. His mind swirled on thinking about the messenger's words.

Did the old men still have it in them? Were they that virile?

"What's with the puzzled look, toss those perverted thoughts out of your bald head. I hope you don't intend on keeping me waiting. This young girl is named Dyna."

One of the younger guards had bolted up and ready to scamper into the building when he halted. The leather-clad man turned his head to stare at the Scribe. Hesitating, he then asked in clarification.

"Dyna?"

***

The guard led the Scribe along the long corridor of the building. Candles as thick as a man's forearms hung from the chandeliers high in the ceiling to help illuminate the hall. Sunlight peeked in from the small windows cut in the side doors leading into the classrooms. Sounds of quills scratching onto parchments penetrated into the empty hall breaking the silence.

"Are the recent rumors true"

The Scribe whispered to the guard while walking.

"Truth is an understatement. Luckily you don't have to visit that class. Otherwise, no guard would have escorted you."

A look of shock flashed across the Scribe's face.

About two months ago, talk had spread that a certain class in the book division consisted of beauties. The roses and lilies in bloom were said to match even the rare ones across the Empire. Since the formation of this division centuries ago, the males blessed to join the Tower always had a first preference in selecting and wooing these educated girls.

The young ladies admitted into the division this year created a reputation that caused even the older apprentices to be wary. The courtship rituals ended up being shot down faster than a fat, flightless turkey.

Last month a girl with long, silky black hair and a face more enchanting than a flower, milked the monthly stipends of more than fifty Scribes and an entire platoon of Tower guards. She sweet-talked her suitors into an innocent game of knife throwing and archery before gambling away their gold and silvers.

Three weeks ago, an Apprentice tried to touch the hand of the golden-haired dove named lady Amanda. He ended up spending some quality time at the Healers with a broken rib after a blond beauty smashed her knee into his chest. The week before that, a recently graduated mage tried to flaunt his position and power to entice the group. He ended up being confined to meditation for over four months from the Head Mage of the division.

A few days ago, a Scribe passed his test and achieved the rank of Apprentice. Bursting with success and seeking to relieve the pent-up stress after years of harsh studies, he ventured into the book workshop. Naturally, his eyes ceased to roam, once they fell on the golden locks of a certain class monitor. Then and there, he professed his love but ended up being gently rejected like all the others.

His noble blood boiled as he then raised a ruckus. During his stint of threatening and using the status of his clan, he tried to grab the young lady. The hot-blooded action proved disastrous. Somehow he ended up crawling out of the building with two broken legs and a swollen face bruised beyond recognition. He fainted while toppling down the steps at the entrance.

"I heard that the guy who came here belonged to one of the four most powerful families in Limerock City."

The Scribe said. The guard stopped and hesitated for a minute. He then pulled the visitor closer like two friends sharing a secret.

"That idiot caused all the guards to receive a severe scolding from the head mage of the division. Worse yet, he tried to use the backing of his family. Let me tell you, I worked that evening. That Young Master crawled out of here like a drowning rat. My buddy had to carry him to the Healers with his bloody mouth. When we investigated, we found nearly all his front teeth scattered in the hall as if someone made him bite a chunk out of the wall. I swear you can still find his teeth marks on the stone."

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As a warrior trained to assist and escort mages from the Tower, the scene had confused him. He couldn't fathom the kind of force needed to slam a man's face into the wall and break two rows of teeth. The blond and black-haired girls who booted out the guy said they saw nothing. The guard glanced around before continuing

"The first thing that idiot did when he regained consciousness was to forward a letter to his Clan. Did you hear what happened?"

The Scribe shook his head while drawing closer.

"The Patriarch of the Clan rushed over to the Tower in a rage, with eyes thirsty for revenge but then someone handed him another letter. The old geezer then dragged the wounded brat out from the Healer's and personally broke his two hands. For half the night, the pair spent kowtowing at the entrance to a courtyard. A soldier finally came out and delivered a letter. Word is the old man wept tears of gratitude as if surviving a trip to hell."

The guard shook his head on recollection. The man who walked out that night from the courtyard did not wear the uniform of the Tower.

"That group of girls in that classroom are not to be trifled with. Ok, here is the class you are looking for."

"Eh? Why are you running away? Hey, come back here!"

The shout caused the young guard to speed up even more, as his leather cuirass slapped on his thighs while retreating. The inhabitants of the Outer Circle had heard the rumors of one group of girls but the book division, however, knew there were two classes that should not be disturbed.

The class filled with rare, untouchable beauties.

And the one containing a vindictive devil.

***

Trainer Pile ran a callused hand over his hair that now consisted of more white than brown. The old man patted the folds of his scarlet robe while walking up the entrance to the alchemist lecture hall. Mage Pile bore the title as head of the Beast Tracking Division in the Tower.

The Beast Tracking Division taught about the characteristics and habitations of demon beast in the wild. The mages and apprentices in this division also conducted training and research into strengthening and developing the hounds used by the Military. Mage Pile could be considered to be an elite trainer and also held a position as a Council Mage.

Over a month ago, the Military had requested an increase in the number of supplements so as to double its Hound Division. Knowing the difficulties involved in this task, Mage Pile had replied with a letter containing a string of curses. He then passed on a near-impossible request to the Alchemy division. Today, Council Mage Tarot, invited him over to a lecture. Obviously, he assumed the worst.

Mumbling about wasting precious time chatting which might be better spent in concocting, Mage Pile entered the hall. The moment his eyes focused on the stage, he froze to a halt.

Grandmaster Bing of the Limerock Alchemist guild, Elder Shi of the Tower Alchemist, Council Mage Tarot, Healers and Head Priests from the Churches Union. Heck, even Grandmaster Yang and Xin from the Tower Herb Research Division occupied the stage. What had him rooted was that they all circled a short-haired freckled girl.

'Was this the legendary inquisition?'

Trodding down the wide stone steps he nearly stumbled over when he heard the conversations.

"Young lady Sue, when will you visit the Guild? No need to fear these old fowls in the Tower."

"I wonder if young lady Sue has any interest in potions. Most of our Healers are outstanding ladies."

"This is a low tier pill recipe for blood cleansing used by Scribes. Maybe lady Sue can help in the initial measurements and heat recording?"

'Did these old coots final flip?'

Mage Pile was in the middle of thinking how to join this conversation when the door opened behind the stage and a Scribe entered leading another girl. This one looked much younger and possessed slightly wavy, deep red hair. The narrow green eyes, however, scanned this room like an experienced hunter. When it fell on him, Mage Pile compared it to that of a stalking beast. It was a fleeting feeling since the young girl presented herself in a neutral manner.

"Greetings esteemed Elders. This one wonders how she may render assistance?"

The Scribe who accompanied her cursed inwardly as he hurriedly vacated this gathering of powerhouses. Before he left the book division he did not forget to throw some curses at the guard booth. The first thing this little girl had done when he relayed the message was extorting him of his monthly stipend. He recalled the scene in the silent classroom...

"Are you saying this Elder Shi sent a request for me to accompany you?"

"Yes. Now hurry and..."

"How much?"

"Eh?"

"Are you deaf? How much will you pay us to return with you? If we don't follow you and decide to cause you problems then I am sure you will fall out of favor with those Elders."

What made it worse was that the two monitors in the class as well as the rest of the occupants refused to support him and also cast their eyes on him as if he wronged them. This lesson proved that the further he stood from this extortionist the better.

Knowing Dyna's character, Sue grabbed the reigns of the present conversation in the lecturing hall. Since they resided and stayed in different divisions, she had not met Dyna to inform her about this meeting.

"Dyna, Council Mage Tarot is interested in our pill concoctions..."

When Sue finished her brief explanation, Dyna nodded in understanding. Elder Shi then handed over a scroll to the young girl.

"Lady Sue has said that you have some talent in alchemy. Please have a look over this scroll."

The old men stood in silence as their eyes remained locked on the little girl. Recognizing and understanding a pill recipe was one thing but to modify it and achieve success meant another. Not many alchemists could claim success in this field which depended heavily on luck and also enlightenment.

"This is not the recipe for a blood-boosting pellet."

After a few minutes, Dyna said.

"What? Let me see."

Sue replied as she grabbed the scroll from her seated companion. Dyna shrugged her shoulders while continuing.

"It's a bone supplement for a Hound."

"You're right but why?"

"Don't' you see Sue? Your old friends here are testing this one. You are friends, right Seniors?"

Dyna drawled while looking up at the embarrassed faces around her. Though the ears of these powerhouses turned red, their eyes hinted a hope of anticipation.

"We apologize, young miss but we needed to test you. In the event where Lady Sue somehow conspired with you, we had to find out if you actually possessed some skill."

Dyna waved her hands.

"This one understands your concern. Is that why you also left out some ingredients and steps from the recipe?"

"Ahaha, so you even saw it. This makes it even better. I am very interested in finding out about this new recipe for the blood-boosting pellet."

Grandmaster Bing said while gazing at the little girl like a poor miner who suddenly struck gold. Not everyone in the gathering agreed to this. It had to be known that dangers and side effects from a modified recipe could take years to surface.

"I object!"

Mage Pile voiced.

****