Michael found his night spent with Erea a night well spent. It was informative and it offered him a window inside the rambunctious elf’s heart. He felt he understood her better, both how she thought and why she was the way she was. Not that it was always a good thing, as he’d told her and she accepted, but it added to her charm. A true Martial, not like his own adopted status.

And finding out that Erea was athletic in all aspects, not just in a fight, was also a welcome surprise for him.

That however, fun as it was, didn’t bring him any closer to finding out how to make more coin. Nor how to uncover some great secret. He’d asked Erea about it and the elf laughingly informed him that she had no idea how to go hunting for secrets. As for coin, she told him she made her money either by going on missions or by fighting.

There were some duels between students, where one could make money either by winning or by betting, but she solemnly informed him that he had no chance at winning a duel before getting at least to his second year. No matter how much ‘stamina’ he had.

That was how, walk of shame later, Michael informed his friends that he still had no solution. He didn’t inform Melissa of that, since he didn’t have the heart to squash the light of hope from the girl’s eyes. And that was how he spend the next two days. He thought about it while listening to Norgulin drone about dwarf-human similarities. He thought about it while he ran an obstacle course in PE. He thought and thought about it until he finally came to a conclusion.

I am moderately famous. So… why limit myself to just asking my friends.

Indeed, he was pretty famous for a first year. A star Ascentionalist. Beloved by the Martials. He didn’t really like to consider himself famous, since that wasn’t the kind of pattern his thoughts ran through, but it was true. He might not discover a way to make that much coin in a short amount of time or find a single person he could borrow from, but he could probably ask one hundred or so gold from a lot of people. Or owe them all small favors.

The question is, was he willing to do it? Melissa could prove to be a powerful ally, but… yeah. He needed to think on it. And it looked like he had all the time in the world to do that, because Friday came around and that only meant one thing.

“I thought you wanted to be left out of missions for a while.” Michael grumbled.

“Yeah. But today’s mission is really easy, right Alex?” Micah grinned.

“It should be, yes. More reconnaissance than combat. In an already cleared out zone.”

At least the young man had the quality of seeming apologetic.

“Sucks to be you, huh?” Micah teased.

His lycan friend obviously didn’t.

They were all arrayed in front of him. Alex, Erea, Micah and Bob. Even Quora. A large team for an easy mission. Which meant they might not get paid that well, since the loot or payment would have to be split equally, but it also meant they could probably treat this particular mission like sponsored target practice.

Michael hated his luck.

“Do not feel down, my friend.” Bob tried to comfort him. “For while our tasks differ, we all have our roles to fill today.”

“Yeah. We get paid for having fun, while you get to scrub trophies. Maybe a golem if you’re lucky.”

“I will set fire to your tail.”

A mad cackle was his only response.

They set out on their ‘mission’ after that and Michael headed out to a room, he had been informed the students on cleaning duty should gather. Once he got there, noticed that it was chock full of students. More than fifty by the looks of them, both young ones, some who looked to be in their final year and everyone in between. It was apparent that Michael wasn’t the only one caught by the Skippers.

Or maybe some just like cleaning.

“Hey.” A voice surprised him.

Michael turned around and found Melissa standing next to him, smiling.

“Hey. Wait, you got caught too?”

“Caught? Oh, you mean the hounds. No, I didn’t break any rules.” She laughed. “I just volunteered.”

“Really.” He deadpanned. “Why? This sucks.”

“To keep you company.” She shrugged. “Figured it was the least I could do for what you’re trying to do for me.”

“Oh.”

In truth, Michael still felt a little skeptical about her. Those days of keeping on a mask around Melissa were still fresh and wanting to help her didn’t automatically mean he now trusted her. But is she was honest about this… it was a nice gesture.

“All right, settle down.” A voice commanded.

Michael turned and saw a… man. Well, he kind of looked human. Only his skin was metal, his eyes were crystals and he was bald. His features were also more sculpted than grown.

“I am Marico. I am the prime |Majordomo| of Gnosis and in charge of its full wellbeing, oh which cleaning is a part. Some of you know me. Some of you delinquents. To the rest, I say welcome to the hard duty of maintaining our home.”

He had a hard way of talking, like he was giving a speech to an army about to charge into a wave of monsters. He probably got along well with Nahlil.

Someone in front must have said something that annoyed him, because his eyes literally flashed.

“Didn’t know that ‘golems got Classes’? Then I suppose you didn’t know I know possess magic as well, correct? |Flash Dry|.”

The student instantly started to cough, his hand going to his throat.

“My full Class is |Enchanter Majordomo|. And let me be clear. I supervise the entirety of this academy. That means I am remove all impurities from its grounds. I advise you all to think twice before acting in such a manner that might make you be seen as a stain. Is that understood?”

A chorus of ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes, sir’ rang out.

“Good.” He nodded, before raising his hands towards them. “Repeat after me. |Clean|”

“Clean” Michael said and felt magic take hold.

|Temporary Spell Learned: Clean|

“This is incredible.” Michael breathed. “I didn’t know you could obtain a Spell like that.”

“Me neither.” Melissa excitedly said. “Just think of the possi-“

“That’s enough.” Marico commanded, cutting through the hubbub. “You have all learned a temporary Spell. You will lose mastery of it by the end of this day, though you may regain it through effort, should you so wish. Past experience taught me that you would learn this Spell easier than others would, after using it a number of times. That is your sole reward for today’s activities. Yes, temporary Spells can be taught. No, I will not further discuss this subject. Now, you will all form a line and confer with me regarding your tasks. Is the task I assign to you is arduous enough, you may choose how to group amongst yourselves. Yet that does not mean you will be having a fun time. Come!”

Nobody wanted to challenge the no-nonsense golem, so they quickly formed a line, which advanced at speed. Michael spent the time talking with Melissa about the Spell, which seemed to be what everyone else was doing as well. It consumed mana, though less than a |Bolt| Spell and seemed to be limited in distance. It could clean the floor while he stood up. But aiming it at a far wall produced almost no results. It was… a cleaning Spell. Useful, but nothing groundbreaking. The amazing part as the way Marico had an entire room full of students learn the Spell in the span of a few seconds.

Temporary or not, I should find out who else at Gnosis can do that.

Still, they reached Marico and the golem only at Michael for a half-second longer than he usually did.

“Michael and Melissa. Of the Ascentionalists and Artificers. I take it that you wish to be grouped together?”

“Yes, sir.” Michael responded, while Melissa nodded.

“Very well.” He nodded back. “Hmmm. An opportunity arises. It just so happens that there is an Artifact Display room that is in need of cleaning. But it houses an artifact that has not become public knowledge yet.”

“Is it a secret?” Melissa asked, with a voice that made Michael want to roll his eyes.

She’s not even trying anymore.

“A minor one. The artifact in question will be presented to the public shortly. That is why it has been placed in an Artifact Display room.” Marico said, in an annoyed tone. “Yet for what it is worth, we would prefer for it to be left unannounced until the academy decides otherwise.”

“I see.” Michael said, not exactly seeing.

The golem made a sound like a metallic sigh and opened his mouth again.

“It just so happens that you have already seen this artifact, Mage Michael. As such, a silence contract would better take to your magic.”

“I have?” he said, at the same time as Melissa asked.

“Silence contract?”

“Yes. A minor one. It would make sure Michael’s own magic would enforce his silken on the matter. As for the artifact in question… you will see, should you accept this task. My only problem is what I should do with you?” he said, turning his eyes towards Melissa.

“What do you mean… sir?”

“I see your factions’ prejudices still cause you to view me with distrust, even though I am part of the faculty and your senior both. My thoughts are, how could I be sure you will be silent?”

“The same kind of contract, sir?” Michael asked.

“Perhaps. Though the fact that she is not aware of the amulet might create loopholes in the contract’s magic. Speculation, rather than direct information. Further than that, your faction, girl, makes you singularly troublesome to assign on this particular task. I find it hard to believe you could cause issues, yet… I did not reach this height by taking unnecessary risks.”

Her faction… si it’s because this is a secret? But how would Marico know her faction? Or…

He didn’t have time for more thoughts than that, because he saw the golem already making up his mind. He had to act.

“Sir, I can vouch for her. I know my reputation is not high enough yet to do such a thing and I am here because I tried to break a gnosian rule, but for what it is worth, I take it upon myself to watch her. And… Melissa is currently at odds with her faction. She wouldn’t try something that might decrease her reputation even further.”

Marico looked at him, almost contemplating, before turning his head to stare at the ceiling. Yet… Michael thought that he caught a hint of a smile. What game was it being played? Did he even have a faction?

“Very well.”

Two magical contracts later, the two were off to find the magical room. Which seemed to be something like a cross between a museum and a trophy room. Gaze upon this material proof od Gnosis’s might and tremble. Or be really, really weirded out.

“Thanks for that.” Melissa said, as they walked. “Putting your reputation on the line, I mean.”

“It’s fine.” He shrugged. “You got into this to keep me company, I wouldn’t want for you to be doing something boring while I see something cool. Even if I have to clean it afterwards.”

“Cool.” She laughed. “I am clearly not ‘cool’ enough to keep up with the new terms.”

“Yes, well.” He smiled, trying to cover it up.

The reached the room in no time, the doors opening only for them, triggered by the magical key Marico handed them. Inside they saw something that really did remind Michael of a museum. Waist-high stands peppered the room. Circular, rectangular, even star shaped. Like half-columns, they rose from the floor, each of them holding an artifact or a collection of them.

Michael saw masks, staves, wands. Weirder things as well, including a piece of dark glass that looked remarkably like a smartphone. Some were simply laid down on the stands, while others were floating. And they were all protected by magical fields of force, transparent and slightly glowing. All except one.

In the middle of the far wall, one artifact was not placed or floating above a stand. It was, instead, cradled by a ten feet iron golem, with arms as thick across as its legs. It didn’t look human, with two glowing red eyes being the sole features across its face. Wide, powerful and solid. But that wasn’t what Michael’s eyes fixed upon.

It its hands, the golem held an amulet. The same amulet he and the others retrieved, on their very first mission.

Why do I feel I just got a mission update?