Edited by: KenChi死

The Chairman left after asking me to feel like it’s my own home. I doubt he meant that I can adorn whole building with body parts of various monsters that I would like to eat later, but well… I am going to enjoy myself nonetheless.

“I guess you have a few attraction that are supposed to impress me already prepared?” I asked my new guide. “Sure thing!” Daralon was really enthusiastic. “Man, I am jealous. If you would only know what they’re going to give you! Chambers reserved for the highest rank foreign visitors… They even hired four cooks just for your personal use… “ “And my I know what is your purpose? The real one.” “I am but a humble servant” He ha a smile so bright plastered on his face that it could leave you blind. “To show you what is worth attention and…” I just looked at him letting him know that I know, he didn’t even bulged “… making you enjoy your stay. Speaking of which, over there, we have a room in where we…” he embraced me with one arm in a friendly manner, got closer to my ear and whispered “not here…” and continued describing rooms where selected acolytes – those deemed worthy (funny how often “deemed worthy” means having rich parents with lots of connections).

He was dragging me through the whole building at a really fast pace as if he wanted to deal with his task as fast as possible. So we saw a few architectural artworks, a few smaller research facilities.

“As we are restricted to this very building… for now” he added after he realized that he has almost called me a slave “there are not so many things to see, you know this building main purpose is politics and more politics, so we have residential areas, where leeches… pardon me, politicians are meeting, and archives. Lots of archives. Answering your question you didn’t yet asked, no. There is nothing interesting in THOSE archives. So, let us proceed to the place where you will stay for the next couple of days… or rest of your life, it is up to you… or at least I think it is.”

As we were right in front of the door to my new chamber(s) he stopped, started talking about some completely pointless matter until a maid would pass us by, and then he literally pushed me in, then walked in too, and shut the door. Before I was able to ask anything a small threads of black fist formed between his fingers and started creating some strange marks and symbols. It took him a few seconds before a mist left the symbols and spread through the whole room checking every corner.

“Weird… Looks like they don’t want to spy on you… no honestly, weird… or they would have someone better than me… in what I doubt…” “So now… can we talk like the civilized villains, that we are?” I asked in a joyful matter. “Sure, just give me something to report to those above me, why I vanished in your room… for a few hours…” “Why giving you a reason? Just say the truth! Or half of it… I am going to ask you about politicians, map, and courtesy. Is that ok?” “Will do… after some small improvements… note for you, never make yourself look to innocent. Always add at least small portion of evil deeds, or else no one will believe you. I will add that you asked me about relations of the council with dark mages and which magic forms are prohibited. And this would do… now, I know you have lots things to ask another dark mage… yes, I can feel your aura, but I neeeeed to, or actually really want to know, why you cam here.” “What if there is more than one reason?” “Then I would let you know that I have lots of time.” That little bastard “First, because I indeed was curious. But not of the council or making friends… I am being targeted by… organizations. As assassins, as someone who says that want so hire me, and few that wish to serve me… I refuse to be assassinated, I am not able to manage my free time correctly not speaking about the entire group, and wish not to be used. By anyone. Add that I can make a few connections and actually steal a book or two from the library… say hello to someone who took good care of me… you would have more or less why I am here.” “Know let me check, if you are an idiot” he said happily “What do you think they want from you.”

I was thinking about it for quite some time actually. And once again reasons I found were many.

“Once again, they are curious what kind of creature I am. If I am wild or… not completely wild. The war is coming, and as there are lots of other chimeras that would die for me… or what I think after meeting small group, they don’t want me to fight directly, more to “show my support” to the council and through this get you some volunteers… and probably research purposes. Checking my capabilities to know what kind of possible danger I may possess. Of course probably taking such tests would allow me to join a few groups… and actually they would like to recruit me by first saying it is for the greater good or something… then playing on my emotions, bribing me to finally threatening me… or this is what I would do in their place…” “Mostly… true.” He said while nodding. “There are couple of more things they prepared buuut… yes, those would be most of them. Now… would you mind… showing me it…” His eyes glowed with excitement. He means codex… does he?

~It’s ok, no need to worry. He was touched by me… one of the possible replacement users… if you would fail or something… just sayin’

The book appeared right in front of me.

“Can… can you open it?” “Not always… she is kind of a bitch. Opening when she wants it, usually as I am about to die…”

He chuckled.

“Yeees, the Codex of the Fallen is pretty special. It shows in breakthrough moments of someone’s life twisting it. It feeds off emotions. The stronger and darker… the more it responds. It’s like a touch of fate. It speaks: “everything you have been doing thought your whole life seems futile? I can give you new purpose…” this kind of being. This is why from a honored and respected priest I become someone called The Curse speaker… Feared and hated. And I was never so happy before.” He looked at me with gentle a gaze “Why did you embrace the codex? I am not asking about the power, everyone needed it, but for which purpose? Some for revenge, some for pushing their limits…” “I am not sure. I just wanted to protected someone I liked… I guess.” “So... a love” He chuckled once again. “Do not mock me, please” “You think I am mocking you? No… Love is actually dangerous. Both as emotion as magic. I saw once a magician. He was deeply in love, yet he was a complete failure… calling him a magician is already abusing the word meanings. He could barely ignite a candle after dozens of minutes of focusing, and almost fainted after doing so. Yet as I was gutting his love he actually hurt me, you know? Badly! “So, he saved his love?” I asked curiously. “Naah. I killed both of them. Love is but an impulse that can break your limits… not perform a miracle.”

Creepy. But he is honest, and it is something I cannot discard here.

“By the way… you were correct about that part in where you suspected that they are going to measure your power. They will want to give you an official title, usually given by the Academy. But there are multiple ways to give that title, as there are multiple kinds of magician. You won’t force a theoretical mage that forges artifacts to fight with the dragon, nor tell the battlemage to solve a difficult equation… and I mean really hard equation… but… as you are a battlemage… you will be fighting…” “Not with you, I hope…” “HAHAHA! THAT’S A GREAT IDEA! SHIT! Why haven’t I thought about it earlier! Noo… your opponent will be…”

Someone knocked at the door.

“Looks like fate wishes for you to have a surprise. Let me then just add, that as you are a fire mage… Your opponent will be chosen to counter you.”

He rose from his seat and walk to the door to open them.

“Zari! For the heavens you are actually the same!” “Greetings teacher. Good to see you in good health.”

I was really happy when I saw Hanna entering the room. I didn’t really know how to react properly, but as she gave me a bear hug, all my worries left. That’s right. For now she is the only person I can completely let my guard down aroud, and be myself.

“Dear child, are you ok, how was your dive? I did it once and almost threw out my insides, are you hurt? I hope you didn’t sign any papers they gave you without reading twice… “ “TEACHER!” “Yes?” “I am all right! Really. Few scars here and there but could be worse. “If you would allow me” Daralon said “I would leave you alone and report back to my superiors. I would also point out, that from now on he would be under your care madam… Zariel… I am afraid that for your story to be believable you will have to ask your teacher to teach you everything about politic… Now, excuse me…”

As the door shut behind him. Hanna started again.

“Zari, you have to know that this man is dangerous. Very. He said he has superiors… but truly speaking he probably has none… just figureheads to make everyone thinks he is under control. HA! The one above him may even believe he is in charge.” “It is ok, really! I am not going to partake in any fishy activities… But I need to ask you few questions. Now. First, is the Adventure Guild an independent company? And is there a place where I can get some sleep? I don’t want to owe them anything nor to be connected with them in anyway.” “I see what you are about to do… yes, joining the adventure guild may cut the strings that they are about to throw at you… but as you are a “dangerous species” you will need someone to certify that you are not… wild. And by someone I mean the organization. If you will be lucky you will get this certify tomorrow, if everything would be played well… Zari, I know you are probably exhausted… but I have a couple of friends that helped me greatly with your case… Would you mind if I would introduce them to you? I owe them this much.” “If there is anyone who actually doesn’t need to ask me about anything to do so… it is you teacher. I owe you too.” I smiled. “Just to let you know… they are… special. One of them if even an academic professor… and he teaches about magical beings… so he is more than eager to know you… he may ask strange things so please don’t be offended…” “Teacher!” I once again stopped her torrent of words. “I am not going to be offended till they try to kill me. And I am not tired. And I wish to meet them too. And once again, I am really happy to see you.”

We talked a little bit longer, catching up with recent events and everything that NEEDED to be known by me to not offend anyone. After a bit over 30 minutes I left the building of the council and headed to the campus to meet with her friend.

As we were walking I recalled Daralon saying that I am going to fight someone who would counter my fire element. So water… Or… Ice. I couldn’t stop a really big grin from appearing over my face.