Thequen spent the remainder of the week cramming everything he could about runes. After going through the last volume in his stack on that subject, he spent the last two days of the week letting his feet and mind wander through the library, getting absorbed in anything and everything that caught his interest. Such unrestricted access to so many books was a pleasure that he intended to make the most of. He saw Cody occasionally, who seemed to grow more and more focused on practical applications for his skills-- changing and enhancing physical objects. The storeroom became Cody’s workshop simply because he spent most of his time there. Ariana remained a mystery. She carried stacks of books and food to her own room, and mostly kept to herself. Thequen decided it was best not to distract her-- he had basically done the same thing as her all week, other than the one time Cody had gotten him involved in the knife experiment.

Ilthur returned just as quietly and suddenly as he’d left. One day he was not there. The next day he was seated at the desk near the entrance to the Lesser Library, reading a book quietly. Thequen entered, intending to roam the stacks aimlessly once more, but stopped when he saw Ilthur. “You’re back?”, Thequen said.

“As I said I would be. Would you send the others to the lounge where we met last if you see them before me? I’d like to have a little discussion about how we’ll be going forward.”, Ilthur said as he closed the book, stood up, and shuffled over to a bookshelf. He put the book back on the shelf.

“Right.”, Thequen said.

A short while later, they all once again sat in the lounge room, Ilthur in the same spot as before, with yet another cup of tea. “I have visited the capital, and a few of the far flung villages. Greria has already gained a new supposed godling in the absence of the old. The cult of the Iron Throne, or some such. Even a young god would be impossible for me to tackle alone, or for any of you to go toe to toe with. But they accrue followers swiftly, and I believe they’ll swell rapidly in power. Since we’re unlikely at this stage to succeed in cutting off the head, I propose that we target their most prominent devotees.”, Ilthur said.

“Are you asking us to… kill people? Citizens of our own country?”, Cody asked.

“Only if you’re willing. It would be ideal to stop thinking as though you’re a part of Greria, or any other nation. I only owe allegiance to the Tower, and this is true of you as well, if you’re willing to make the leap.”, Ilthur said.

“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the idea of being an assassin. I’m a mage, a researcher. I have parents at home, and siblings to take care of. It’s been… strange but pleasant, but this whole thing is kind of freaky. You won’t stop me if I leave?”, Ariana said.

“Of course not. You’re not hostages. I assumed since the three of you were mercenaries that taking life would come naturally, or with a price tag, but that you wouldn’t be opposed. But I am willing to compromise, if you will consider it. As you may have noticed, the library is something of a mess. If a researcher is what you wish to be, there is room for that. As you all may have noticed, we are critically understaffed.”, Ilthur said with a wry smile. He sipped his tea and leaned back into the couch cushions.

Ariana nodded. “Then I’ll start organizing and go from there.”, she said.

Thequen got up and poured himself a cup of tea. Ilthur seemed to drink the stuff non-stop in these little meetings, so surely it must be good. “You paid us to stay, which feels awful backwards, all things considered.”, Thequen said.

“I paid, and will continue to pay you because I expect you to put up with some unpleasantness. Even with the ability to teleport I can only be in so many places at once. The first thing is that I need a set of eyes in the capital. As it sounds like Ariana will be unsuited for the chaos of fieldwork, will one of you two be willing to volunteer?”, Ilthur said. He set down his empty cup on the table.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Cody and Thequen exchanged glances. Cody shrugged. Thequen sipped his tea, expecting, at worst, for it to be a disappointment. It was perhaps the most horrible thing he’d ever tried to drink. Equal parts spicy and bitter, with no other flavor to speak of, unless pain itself could be considered a flavor. It was hot enough to hurt on the way down, but not hot enough to burn his mouth. The end result was that instead of taking a sip of tea and then calmly saying, “I’ll volunteer.”, Thequen coughed and sputtered as he swallowed his first and only sip, and barely managed to avoid spilling his cup all over the floor.

Ilthur smiled and laughed, the wrinkles of his face creasing more so than normal. “An acquired taste from the southlands. Take your time, then say your piece.”, he chuckled.

It took Thequen a handful of embarrassing moments to get himself under control. Ariana did not look at him. Cody met his eyes and shrugged. Ilthur paid equal attention to everyone, his smug grin a constant as he waited. “I’ll volunteer.”, Thequen finally managed to say.

“Don’t care, as long as it pays and I retain access to the library. Could really use a proper forge, anvil and tools though.”, Cody said with a shrug.

“Hmm. Perhaps sending both of you together will work. I will consult with Susan. We’ll leave tomorrow, so square away your affairs here. I cannot promise when we will return, so if you wish to bring anything with you, feel free to do so. Books of course should eventually be returned.”, Ilthur said.

The strangeness of the environment wasn’t exactly all pleasant to Thequen, so he was glad to be getting out. Volport, the capital of Greria. Home of Greria’s Academy of Mages. Home also of the loan sharks Thequen was overdue for a visit with.

“That’s all then?”, Ariana asked.

“No. If we’re going to move forward from here there are a couple more things you all should know. The first revolves around how you were each chosen.”, Ilthur said.

“Right. Touch the staff, don’t screw up.”, Cody said. Thequen left his cup of horrid tea on the tray and returned to the couch, then sat down.

“True in essence, yes. Those of you who were formally trained may already know that raw ability to handle mana and regulate its flow determines the upper bounds of what you might achieve. Talent can be developed, if one has the proper resources.”, Ilthur said as if he were reciting from a textbook.

“You’re referring to empowerment? That’s something most mages save up half their lives for. The mana crystal costs are absurd, even with the discount of an Academy license.”, Ariana said.

“The Academy? The world is larger than them. Are none of you familiar with other sources of crystals?”, Ilthur said with a frown.

“I’ve got a few contacts I might be able to buy from-- but it would cost.”, Thequen said. Crystals were bought from the Academy’s licensed shops. Or if one were desperate, knowledgeable, or rich, a black market merchant could be found in most major cities. Thequen had never figured out what was worse-- the state and private taxes of buying through the Academy, or the markup that came with the risks of an illegal contact.

“My grandpa used to ramble about a cave where mana crystals oozed out of the walls. His mind was half-gone though, and he never was able to show me where it was. That’s the kind of thing you mean?”, Cody said with a shrug.

“Correct Cody. I have a source for crystals. A stockpile, in fact. And this ties into the second thing. A talent for a given color can only be enhanced, not gained. I have only ever had a good aptitude for purple, and a middling grasp on white. I’ve used most of what’s stored in those colors but you three-- all your talents do not overlap. Assist me for a few months, and I’ll assist each of you with an empowerment of your choice. After all, a rising tide raises all boats, and the stronger each of us, the better our chances of keeping the world from plunging into a dark age.”, Ilthur said.

Ariana raised her hand. “How are we supposed to believe you? You keep talking like this little organization of yours is super important, and crucial to the ‘fate of the world’ or whatever. What guarantee do I have that you’ll deliver on any of these promises, other than the bags of money you’ve passed out already?”, she asked.

“That’s the thing. There isn’t a guarantee.”, Ilthur said.