Trey gripped his utensils tightly as he stared down at the crumpled note poking out of his half-eaten scrambled eggs. After muttering a curse underneath his breath, he pulled the note out and read it. Grunting at the message, he tucked the paper into his pocket and finished his tainted breakfast.

With a few hours to spare before Marvin’s summon, Trey visited the training grounds. Picking out a sword and shield from storage, he diligently practiced the forms that Jeffers had recommended. He finished up and walked to the front gate to meet Marvin.

The old man looked at him with a smile. “This will be just like old times,” he said cheerfully.

Trey snorted. “You mean like that time when you called me Pudge and I had to dodge dwarves trying to stab me through your Smokescreen spell?”

“Just like old times,” Marvin repeated.

The pair headed off campus with Marvin leading the way to their first objective.

“The first stop is an artifacts shop that Darius frequently does business with,” Marvin explained, his eyes scanning the various storefronts lining the main road in the eastern part of the city. “Let me do the talking. You just stay quiet and blast away with your mind magic.”

Trey rolled his eyes. “It’s not really ‘blasting.’ It’s more like infiltrating.”

“You’re already talking too much,” Marvin chided quickly before pushing open the door to Klicky’s Artifacts Shop.

The shop was surprisingly clean and tidy, a stark contrast to the mismatched collection of trinkets and oddities that inhabited its shelves. Marvin and Trey meandered through the shop, weaving around the occasional customer to examine some of the more mysterious merchandise. After perusing through several aisles, Marvin approached the clerk at the counter.

“You have an impressive assortment of artifacts here,” Marvin noted, his tone smooth and cultivated.

The clerk, a thin man with a neatly trimmed beard, smiled proudly at the dark mage. “Thank you! We strive to be the premier artifacts shop in Greshelm, and the quality of our merchandise speaks for itself.”

“Such variety, too,” Marvin said, glancing around as if he were evaluating the shop as a whole. “I’m amazed at the Seraphic Lyre and the Vampiric Talons. It’s hard to believe all these treasures are in one place.”

“Our trade network reaches far beyond the city walls,” the clerk boasted. “On our shelves, you will find artifacts from all across Arestia.”

Marvin nodded, looking impressed. “I have an old buddy in the artifacts business that does pretty well for himself over in Goltenberg. I wonder if you’ve heard of him.”

“I’m familiar with all the main players,” the clerk assured him. “Who are you referring to?”

“Darius Schallevon,” the dark mage replied.

The clerk’s expression shifted to one of recognition as he nodded. “Ah, yes. We have numerous dealings with Darius. He always brings an interesting selection. That Chalice of Dorovar over there came from him.”

Marvin turned to follow the clerk's gaze, spotting the chalice elegantly displayed on a top shelf. “I’ll have to check that out.” The dark mage then leaned on the counter and dropped his volume a little lower. “Darius was always a bit eccentric, finding the rarest stuff. He was bragging about how he was acquiring artifacts from the Burning Covenant. Probably just blowing smoke up my ass, right?”

“You’d be surprised,” the clerk countered, his smile containing a hint of intrigue. “Darius usually delivers a few items every time he visits. Burning Covenant artifacts are actually in very high demand, though we usually don’t put them out on public display. Those types of items are best taken care of privately.”

“Oh?” Marvin said speculatively. “What might you have?”

The clerk scratched his chin, contemplating the question. “What are you looking for?”

“Nothing specific,” Marvin responded casually. “I’m curious what’s out there.”

“I’ve seen a Mindguard or two around,” the clerk admitted.

Marvin raised his eyebrows. “Do you have one of those?”

“No,” the clerk replied with a shake of his head. “The one we had sold last week.”

Marvin grunted in disappointment. “Eh, I probably wouldn’t know what to do with one of those anyway. Thanks for the chat, I’m going to go check out that chalice.”

Marvin gave Trey a pat on the shoulder and the duo turned away from the counter behind and headed over to a wall of shelves. After spending an obligatory amount of time examining the Chalice of Dorovar, the old man subtly signaled to Trey that it was time to leave.

Once outside the shop, they ducked into an alley-like nook off the street, where the bustle of the normal traffic faded to a hushed murmur. Marvin huddled close to Trey, occasionally checking their surroundings. “Did you get anything?”

Trey shook his head. “No. The clerk we met in there knows of Darius, but doesn’t deal directly with him. They did sell a Mindguard last week though. I wonder if it was real.”

“Hmph,” Marvin grunted, his mind already working through their next move. “I’ve got another artifacts dealer to investigate. This way.”

After traversing several blocks, Marvin and Trey arrived at another shop where they repeated the process. They spoke with a very chatty owner who knew Darius personally, but the end result was the same: they didn’t find any useful clues or any condemning evidence on Darius Schallevon.

Upon exiting the store, Marvin pulled out a pocket watch to check the time. “Come,” he told Trey. “We have an appointment.”

Once again, the master and apprentice traveled through the city, the late afternoon sun beating down on them. Marvin turned onto a street and scanned the area for anything unusual. Satisfied with whatever he saw, he abruptly pulled Trey into a cozy little restaurant nestled between two shops.

A pleasant atmosphere, enhanced by savory aromas and indistinct chatter, greeted Trey as he briefly examined the rustic decor of the establishment. He trailed behind the older dark mage until they reached a secluded booth tucked away in a semi-enclosed corner. A cloaked man sat, commanding the entire corner with his presence while he nibbled absentmindedly on a vegetable appetizer. His bearded mouth peeked out from beneath the hood as he continued chewing, disregarding the newcomers.

“Trying a new diet?” Marvin asked, not waiting to be invited to sit down.

“Who’s the kid?” a gruff voice responded.

“Bodyguard,” Marvin responded nonchalantly, gesturing for Trey to take a seat.

“Hah!” the cloaked figure laughed. “Like you need a bodyguard.”

“I am getting older, Hektor,” Marvin replied, defending his rationale for bringing along an extra.

Hektor brought his hands up and pulled back his hood, revealing his long brown hair that was pulled back in intricate braids. His hairstyle wasn’t what caught the attention of the guests though. Both Trey and Marvin warily eyed the crown of onyx steel circling his head.

“Intrigued by my accessory?” Hektor gloated.

“The Mindguard you purchased from Klicky’s last week?” Marvin asked with a straight face.

Hektor scowled. “Asshole! Would it kill you to act just a little surprised? How the fuck do you know everything?”

Marvin responded with a sly wink. “Why are you wearing it now?”

“Just professional precaution,” he replied. “I’m sure you understand. After all, you are working for the Grand Oracle again.”

Marvin shrugged. “It won’t do you much good here,” he lied, “but it would be hypocritical of me to suggest that you are being too careful.”

“Speaking of being overly careful,” Hektor said while rummaging through his cloak. He produced a small green candle and placed it on the table. With a flick of his finger, he ignited it, activating its magical muffling effects to shield them from any potential eavesdroppers.

“I take it you have something for me?” Marvin asked.

Hektor nodded as he leaned forward. “Your intel was good, Marvin. Both Harold Greene and Aribelle Forswick are in Greshelm.”

A mix of fear and excitement flickered across Marvin's face at the newly confirmed information. “Are you going to collect the bounty?”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Hektor chuckled. “Let’s slow down a little bit. First, these are former Windrake professors. I can’t go waltzing in and expect to make it out alive.”

Marvin crossed his arms, unimpressed.

“Fuck off,” Hektor retorted to the dark mage’s change in posture. “Not everyone is an overpowered dark mage. Besides, it was one of my contacts who spotted them near Paladin’s Square. I don’t have any details on what they’re up to or where they’re staying. They’re ghosts that vanish into the shadows when you get too close.”

“You need to learn how to harness the shadows to your advantage,” Marvin advised.

The bounty hunter scoffed. “I’m a fire-light specter. Shadows aren’t exactly my specialty.”

Marvin shrugged, a slight smirk on his lips. “You walked into a restaurant in broad daylight, completely shrouded in a hooded cloak. People can draw their own conclusions.”

“Even I’m not bold enough to walk down the streets of Greshelm openly wearing a Mindguard.”

The dark mage chuckled before a serious expression took over his face. “Did you find any clues on Grimstone?”

Hektor snorted. “Come one, old man. I was foolish enough to buy into the speculations ten years ago. Such a waste of time. Grimstone is long dead – probably died along with Grimmault.”

Marvin stared at the bounty hunter with a pensive look. “I can all but guarantee that Grimstone is either here in Greshelm right now or will be in the coming months.”

Hektor raised his hands in surrender. “I’ve learned not to question Marvin Kalo’s insight. We shall see what happens.”

“Will you keep me updated if you find out anything else?” Marvin asked.

“Yeah,” Hektor said, nodding. “I appreciated the tip on the Harold Greene bounty. I’ll let you know what I find.”

Trey leaned back and watched as the two other men discussed other bounties that were still at large. Eventually, their conversation dwindled, and Hektor extinguished the candle that had been masking their discussion. “I believe our time is done,” he said, shuffling over to leave the booth. “I’ll be in touch.”

The bounty hunter replaced his hood before navigating through the dining area toward the exit.

“Please tell me the Mindguard was fake,” Marvin beseeched Trey as soon as Hektor had left the restaurant.

Trey shook his head. “It blocked any of my attempts at mind magic.”

Marvin slammed his fists on the table. “Unicorn piss!”

“You don’t trust him?”

“Hektor? I trust him as much as I trust Skye’s fireproof tonic.”

Trey smiled weakly at the comment. “She’s getting better.”

“I know,” the dark mage said with a chuckle. “Fireproof tonic is one of the more difficult potions to brew. You know what I’m saying though. Hektor would take a shot at the Grand Oracle if the money was right,” the dark mage added.

“Do you think he could do it?” Trey asked curiously.

Marvin scratched his chin. “Hektor is an elite bounty hunter with experience that speaks for itself. With the element of surprise and that new Mindguard, he might have a chance.”

“Where to next?” Trey asked.

Marvin glanced out at the customers enjoying their food. “I’m hungry. We skipped lunch. Let’s order something.”

After a short wait, Trey had a roast beef sandwich in front of him waiting to be devoured. He took several ravenous bites before Marvin interrupted his feeding. “Any issues recently with Nora?”

Trey swallowed his bite before responding. “No issues.”

“Good,” Marvin said. “You should be careful that you don’t get too attached; she’s still a danger to the mission.”

Trey hid the smirk that wanted to crawl onto his face, then quickly found a topic he wanted to discuss. “Marvin, do you have a line that you wouldn’t cross for the mission?”

“What do you mean?” the old man replied.

“Would you torture someone?”

“I suppose I would,” the dark mage responded. “If you can spare me the judgment, I had to cross that line many times during the Burning Covenant.”

“What about threatening family members?” Trey continued.

“I don’t see why not,” Marvin answered casually.

“So, you would threaten to harm Nora if it meant getting answers out of Darius?”

“Listen,” Marvin said. “You can make the threat without ever having to follow through with it. You just have to ensure your target believes you’ll do it. Honestly, I don’t know why we are discussing this. Why would I need to torture someone if I have a mind mage at my side?”

Trey grumbled, not loving Marvin’s answer, but unable to find an intelligent response.

After they finished their meal, Marvin guided Trey back onto the streets of Greshelm, assuring him that they had only one more stop to make. They walked a few blocks back toward Windrake before Marvin dipped into a tavern.

The sound of laughter and clinking tankards filled their ears, reminding Trey of their night in Hedard. A mix of excitement and apprehension coursed through him as he silently hoped that this evening would be free of any crossbow-wielding dwarves.

Marvin’s eyes swept across the room, scanning for a familiar face amidst the crowded tables. “Over here,” he told Trey, then ventured past several tables to his target.

“Calvin!” the dark mage exclaimed. “What a coincidence seeing you here.”

Oh, Marvin,” Calvin replied, reclining casually to the back of his wooden chair, a smirk stretching across his lips. “With you, I doubt it’s a coincidence.”

“Nonsense,” Marvin replied playfully. “You know I used to come here often back in the day. You remember, right?”

“Let’s grab you a drink, then,” Calvin said, gesturing to the seat beside him. “Who’s this?”

Marvin raised an eyebrow. “You don’t recognize Trey? He’s been attending your class.”

“Oh,” Professor Leek replied. “There've been a few null guardians who’ve been attending, but I don’t interact too much with them. My apologies.”

Marvin placed his first drink order with the barmaid and generously got another for Calvin. As the evening progressed, their inhibitions gradually faded, making way for more open conversation, though Trey suspected Marvin was more intentional with his loose tongue.

“You’ve been at Windrake for quite some time now, haven’t you Calvin?” Marvin asked.

The artificing professor nodded. “I still consider myself new compared to you and Melinda.”

“No way!” Marvin playfully shot back. “You’re an established veteran now. You certainly have the skills for it, though I suppose you were always exceptionally talented.”

“They don’t allow just anyone to teach at Windrake,” Calvin replied, happily soaking up the dark mage’s flattery. “Although, they gave Bree the job very quickly. A little too quickly, if you ask me.”

“She is quite young,” Marvin remarked.

“And she has no experience teaching,” Calvin continued. “She just became a master less than a year ago.”

“I heard she was crucial in rooting out Harold Greene’s corruption,” Marvin said.

Calvin mumbled before taking another swig of his drink. “I bet you she had outside help.”

Marvin raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

“The things she knew…” he paused for another draw from his mug. “It doesn’t add up.”

“She obviously worked very closely with Professor Forswick,” Marvin commented. “Bree is a powerful fire mage – at least, that was my first impression.”

“A prodigy,” Calvin said bitterly.

“You must have artificers that show a lot of promise?” Marvin asked.

Professor Leek nodded. “I have a few shining stars.”

“Have any of them shown any interest in your specialties?”

“What specialties?” Calvin asked.

“If I remember correctly,” Marvin said, “you did amazing work studying the blood-binding process.”

Calvin’s face paled. “Shhh! Marvin, not here!”

“I’m a dark mage,” the older man reassured him. “Such topics don’t bother me.”

“I know you’re not bothered,” Calvin said with a hint of disgust, “but have some consideration for the rest of us.”

Trey looked around at the busy tavern, the collective level of inebriation had risen to a point where song had broken out. He stifled a chuckle as he recognized the rattled tune of A Paladin’s Whore, a popular drinking song coming from several directions.

“She’ll dance and she'll flirt, then ask for some gold,” the chorus rang out in groveled tones.

Calvin gulped down the rest of his drink before refuting Marvin’s claim. “I never was too interested in blood-binding, but I could talk your ear off about wards.”

A slight frown quivered on Marvin’s face, but he recovered quickly. “In your professional opinion, what’s the most complicated artifact to craft?”

“With a wink and a grin, she’ll steal every heart,” Calvin sang along with the crowd and signaled a barmaid for another drink. “What was that? Oh, an artifact… Hmm… Soul Mirrors are incredibly difficult to do successfully.”

“Oh,” Marvin said. “I’ve heard those require an elite artificer.”

The artificing professor nodded. “I betcha I could do it,” he slurred the words together.

“I bet you could,” Marvin agreed. “Are you saying Soul Mirrors are more advanced than blood-binding?”

Calvin’s expression soured, but was immediately remedied by the arrival of another ale.

“So he flashed her his sword, and he flaunted his might,” the drunk artificing professor sang before taking a greedy gulp of his drink.

“You were telling me that Soul Mirrors are more challenging than blood-binding?” Marvin prompted again.

“Blood-binding isn’t too difficult,” Calvin relented, stumbling over his words. “You just have to possess the knowledge, which is forbidden. I haven’t looked into it since…”

“Could you undo the blood-binding?” Marvin questioned hastily, realizing he was running out of time. “If you had the artifact?”

Professor Leek swayed in his seat, drinking more ale. “I suppose you could,” he said. “If you knew how.”

“Would a great artificer like yourself be able to figure it out?” Marvin pressed.

“Probably,” Calvin said loudly, then his eyelids began to droop. “Just let me… I need some… I just need a little rest.”

The artificing professor slumped forward as his eyes closed. His forehead found the table’s surface soon after.

“Dammit, Calvin!” Marvin cursed, turning to Trey. “He’s out?”

The boy nodded. “Professor Leek knew Grimmault?” Trey asked, gleaning that bit of information from his mind magic.

Marvin nodded. “The two were actually quite close.”

“What happened?”

Marvin grunted. “Grimmault found someone better. Do you get anything regarding blood-binding?”

“Yes,” Trey answered. “He has an idea, though I didn’t understand much of his thinking.”

“That’s why you need to be in the artificing class,” Marvin insisted.

“The introductory class isn’t going to help understand whatever was in his mind,” Trey countered.

“You’re right,” Marvin replied. “Maybe you should attend the advanced class.”

Trey groaned. “That’s not what I meant.”

A fleetingly pensive expression crossed Marvin's face, the lively atmosphere of the tavern contrasting sharply with the sudden stillness around their table. The animated sounds faded into the background as the old man turned his gaze toward the unconscious professor slumped in his chair. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed softly. “It’s getting late. Let’s take Calvin back to campus and call it a night.”