Edited by Cultivator

It has been three nights since Zariel left the guild and didn’t come back. Most of the adventurers didn’t mind it, in the end he was a warrior from flesh and bones, baptized in the fire of the battle, he could survive without supplies of food and water in dungeons filled with hostile beasts. The town was actually rather peaceful place comparing to those.

Yet Gisele started worrying. At first night she was just sad, in the end they had argue, at the second she was almost mad again at Zariel for leaving her for so long, she learned her lesson, he could already stop playing jerk and come back! Then at the third night she started wondering, “what if”? He was working with Syndicate, so what if somebody decided to eliminate him? What if he was arrested by alchemist guild? What it…

Morgana entered the inn section with an annoyed expression joined dragoness at her table.

- “I hate Zariel, but one thing I have to admit, he really can teach others.”

Gisele raised her gaze confused.

- “Ah, he introduced me to Academy, so I am using my free time to study today's magic there. He had his own lecture today. Even if I disagree with what he said, the way he held his classes was quite good. Damn it, he knows how to make people listen to him. Rhetorical questions, asking people to form their own definition of certain terms. He would make a great scholar.”

- “He left guild and became teacher?” Gisele gasped.

- “What?!” It was half-demoness time to be confused.

- “He started teaching in Academy because of me… what have I done?!”

- “Wait! No! It’s not the case! It was just a one-time l… GOD DAMN IT, LISTEN TO ME!”

But she was no longer listening. She raised from her chair yelling in despair. She bolted from the guild yelling . She was probably about to start looking for dark druid. Inn section of a guild once again was left completely quiet, as everyone inside was trying to comprehend what just happened.

Only Morgana was shaking in anger.

- “These two morons are worth each other!” She hissed to herself.

Illegal Factory

I was walking across the room, as I would reach one end I would turn around and walk once again on exactly same path. My steps were slow, very slow. The girls standing facing me were getting nervous. Good, it was exactly my intention.

- “Ladies, tomorrow is our great day. I want all of you, and each of you, to accompany me at Senate’s meeting. But, there is one thing I need you to do. Don’t talk. Even if they would ask you a question, if I wouldn’t give you a permission to talk your mouths are supposed to be shut! These bastards probably may try asking you questions, tricky questions, in the end you would be forced to lie. I will prepare you some answers for basic questions. One thing can remain unchanged. You don’t like official mages. They casted you aside, refused to teach you only because you are not from noble houses or couldn’t pay the entry fee. Don’t try pretending or lying, otherwise it could be used against you. Also, I think that Alchemists Guild will try to a little trick. They may start questioning if there is a sense for two companies exist near each other. So they would offer you a job.”

Her eyes widened. Alchemist from the guild are like nobles among mages, right now they are officially the best paid group in the city. Here… they were paid good, but only good. If you would compare average wage salary and living at the top of the society for doing exactly same job, what would you pick?

- “I know what you are thinking, and I don’t blame you. You were living in poverty and now you have a chance to live a life of your dreams. Can I ask you to follow me? No, I am aware that you have your own ambitions and now you are offered a leap to your goal instead of crawling to the top. I can only say one thing: picking this option will make nothing to change. I was also offered this job once yet I refused. If I didn’t, I would never meet you and thus never teach you. I offer you the possibility to make a difference, to throw those who once shamed you and turned away their head while you needed help. Whatever you would choose. I will accept your decisions. Just like that. For now… go back to your homes and rest well. I need you in best possible condition tomorrow.”

- “Sir, what if they would find our action illegal and try arresting us?” One of girls asked.

- “I will take all the blame. I am stronger, smarter and have connections with underground. You are just some homeless people with a small talent in magic I picked up and forced to working for me. Or that’s what I will tell them in such case. Now, anymore questions? Good. Dismiss.”

I was left alone in the laboratory room. Once again I faced my desk. Pots, vials, herbs… everything was there. I once again raised a single plant from the table, picked a knife and started separating the flower and leafs. I had trouble sleeping without someone to cuddle. I simply got used to other’s people body warmth. Alchemy helped me to calm down. Few quick potion-making sessions and I will sleep like baby.

- “ZAAARIII!” Someone yelled from lower floor.

- “Intruder! All to arm and…” I heard one of thugs yelling.

- “Calm your tits! Let her in….” It was Jesse, the only guy with brain among thugs.

- “But…”

- “Which one of you will stop dragon with meteoric blade? Just let her to the boss, is something would turn nasty I will take a blame…”

See? This guy has a head on his neck for a reason. He already knew my relationship with Gisele and remember my lesson about her battle capabilities.

At first I heard Gis running through the production line, then through storage room as she leaped on the stairs. Them very fast someone as she was getting on the floor with speed that should be impossible for mere mortals.

And then the door was slammed open.

- “ZariDon’tDoItPleaseDon’tLeaveTheGuildIt’sMistakeYouWIllRegretForever!”

- “Say what!?”

- “You heard me well!”

- “No, I didn’t! Easy there! Follow me, inhale-exhale-inhale-exhale….In…hale…ex…hale… Calmed down a little? Yes? Then please, repeat yourself.”

- “Please…don’t leave… the guild…” She said panting exhausted.

- “… which one? What are you talking about? I am not leaving anything.”

- “So in the end you decided to stay? Thanks the goddesses…”

Her expression was so relieved.

- “And… why was I supposed to leave anything?”

- “Morgana said you started teaching at Academy…”

- “That’s what she said? Why would she…” Then I just remembered what kind of person Gisele is. “… please, tell me – did you perhaps let her say everything or did you leave the room as she was in the middle of sentence?”

- “Heh? I think she could be still saying something…”

- “Gisele.. I was never going to leave the guild. I had one time lecture so mages from Council would left me alone.”

- “R…Really? Haha… I see… Um… eh… I mean…” She started awkwardly laughing.

- “You learned nothing, did you?” I sighed exhausted. “You are still a blooded brute that would hear half of the sentence and make her own opinion without hearing out rest of it.”

She lowered her head down.

- “Zari… I am sorry… but… could you please go back to guild with me?”

- “No. No just yet. Tomorrow is my great day. I need to prepare myself.”

- “What is tomorrow?” I just rolled my eyes. “Tell me!? How can I not be suspicious if you are not telling me anything?!”

- “It’s nothing you want to hear.”

- “Try me!?”

Oh, you silly girl, you asked for it.

- “Very well. So, right now I am working on the edge of law, as I have permission of the king yet my enterprise is considered as magical labor, which means it needs to be restricted by Senate’s law. Now, I am about to…”

I described my current position using as many law-terms as possible, I told her what I want to achieve and what can possibly go wrong, also my anticipation of other’s Senate fractions moves.

Oh, brave girl, she tried her best to pay attention.

- “This is why I am trying to change their opinion, and possibly a law regarding certain institution… “

- “Yes…” she said mostly to convince me that she is listening to me.

- “This way we will be able to start our candy manufacture, as we would open the market we could hire lamas to work in our factory, this way we will increases means of production making communism prevail.”

- “I see…” She said with same dull expression

- “That would be all, do you have any more questions?”

- “Hm? Ah, no. See? Was it that difficult?! I am interested in everything regarding you!”

Was I supposed to be angry? It’s was bit sweet of her.

- “But now as you know how important it is for me… I need you to leave me alone. For today.”

- “But you will come back tomorrow, will you?!”

- “In the end I live there!”

- “…Good.”

She moved to the door with mixed feelings.

- “Gisele, wait.” I yelled once again.

She turned around. I allowed myself to get closer and lightly kiss her on her lips.

- “Don’t get it wrong. I am still mad at you.” I poked her forehead.

She smiled one last time and left the room. Don’t get wrong idea! I needed to cheer her up or she would be ready to get on tomorrow's meeting and try convincing every Senator that I am a peaceful person by force.

Yeah, it’s not like I did that for my own pleasure, it’s not like I missed her soft lips or anything. It’s not that I almost forget her smell which was driving me nuts. I definitely did not want to look her deep in the eyes again. Into those silly, beautiful eyes which were hypnotizing me each time I looked in them, eyes that weren’t looking at me, but within me, eyes that…

…

… Fuck.

Next day morning.

In the company of the girls I left the factory heading toward the Senate’s building. We got in there a half hour earlier, mostly so we could ensure having the right seats. Oh, the guards didn’t want to let us in, we were not members of Senate, but as meeting was supposed to clarify the legality of certain organization I invoked the law which stated that the accused have right to personally hear out accusation and defend his position.

Ah, it was problematic, we wouldn’t enter with the , as the guards were more than likely to inform everyone that I am the one responsible for this mess. Well, most of smarter magicians knew that already, or at least suspected it. In the end when did organization first time appeared? More or less year ago, when did certain alchemist(me) came to this city – about a year ago? Still, without evidences they could suck my…

The chairman raised from his seat announcing beginning of the session.

- “Before we start, everyone, please raise - His Majesty, King Arthur the Gray called Wise.”

He proclaimed as side door was opened by guards letting in King and four of his personal guards. We all raised, courtesy required it, with grace king moved to the seat next to chairman’s, yet put in even more “honorable” spot, exactly in the middle of the audience.

- “Senator Mirana, you can start.”

The leader of the Alchemist Guild moved to the center of the room, facing everyone who gathered.

- “Your Majesty, Chairman, Senate’s member. You must have heard about my actions in Slums recently.” Of course they did. You were put in prison for three days. Idiot! “You must be wondering why I decided to breaks law of neutrality.” Because you wanted to get rid of people stealing your customers. But let’s hear about philosophy a little. “It is because I wanted to respect other law – the law which states reason of our existence. That as mages we have moral duty to help those who can’t help themselves.” So this is why you charge ten times as much as you could for potions? “Recently a new organization emerged – illegal potion factory. Their so called are nothing more than herbal infusions barely working, they have no certificates, which means to no one can verify if they aren’t selling poisons instead of medicines. Not to even mention, that alchemy is treated as a magical job, which means that it needed to be registered in council. They are violating our laws, poisoning our people. We know their exact location so we can, and have moral responsibility to take actions against them immediately. Do I have to state what am I asking for?”

- “Very well. Does anyone have any questions? In that case we can start a v…”

- “Chairman…” I got up “According to the law an accused can defend themselves.” I looked at him.

- “Indeed. The accused can state their point of view. If they would stand in front of Senate that is.”

The rest of my girls got up and we moved to the middle. On the stairs me and the Head of the Alchemist Guild met.

- “What a surprise…” She said without having a hint of being surprised. “A few months ago you told me you have nothing in common with this company.”

- “I lied, of course.”

- “I wonder in what other cases you would lie…” Our conversation was loud, she wanted to reduce my trust of other Senators. If I lied then, why won’t I lie now.

- “I hope to actually helped as many people as I could before your greed would kill even more civilians, but that it’s something I will tell the Senate.”

I moved past her and stood in place occupied by Senator Mirana just a moment ago.The Girls formed a line behind me.

- “I was told that I run an illegal organization. It’s true. I was told that my potions are lower quality than those made by the guild. It is also the truth. But, I was told that my potions are poisons and no one can check their quality. This is a lie. But, first things first: Senator, You said that mage’s duty is to help other people. Those who can’t help themselves. Tell me, what’s the average price of your health regeneration potion?”

- “I see no connection between.” She started.

- “No? Then I will show it right away. How many people can afford your potions? Nobles? Yes. Rich merchants? Yes. Now, lower merchants? Those who sell fish outside of the inns? No. Adventurers that are risking their lives in dungeons? The one that right now can possibly bleed to death as we are speaking? The farmer whose daughter got sick? The poor girl is probably dying, but he can’t afford it, for one potion costs about half a year of his salary? The homeless people in the slums? The one that are eating trashes? Senator, how many people you actually helped? None. You helped no one – you are talking money for you services, a ridiculously huge amounts of money! You are not helping, you are merely running a business. You said that no one checks our potions. Clarice, mind telling me what we are doing with every potion we make.”

- “As an alchemist we can’t risk the lives of other people. We don’t sell or give other people potions that you would hesitate to drink. Alchemists are bounded to try each of his creations from the pot before putting it into vials and selling or giving away.”

- “That’s a law we made and law we respect. If there would be some side effect of the potion, because of its poor quality, we would flush it down. Now, how much our potion costs? Around five silver for those of higher quality. For a medium quality a silver coin. Low quality? Low quality potions recently started being given for away. On the back of our factory we built a hospital opened for all. We are healing people that can’t afford being healed. We are taking care of people our beloved Senator wouldn’t even look at. Even more, part of our funds are being kept to build an orphanage. A place where orphans could rise, grown up and get at least basic education. But that’s also for later...

Senators. You forced me to come to you a year ago. In that year quite few of you tried using me, but there were also those who helped me. Who showed me kindness - and I will return that kindness. So I decided to sell goods for a tenth of the Guild’s prices..

Those girls behind me had magical talent. Did you offer them education? Why not? In a year I raised them into splendid alchemists ready to serve other people. Ready to serve those who can’t help themselves. I raised them into mages respecting YOUR laws more than you!

I fed people, I cured people, I am working to make Neira a better place. Yet some of you dare to call me villain? Someone who is charging half a gold coin for a life-saving drug, as I proved that you can run a company successfully for a tenth of their income? Someone who is refusing to share their knowledge, shutting books about alchemy in a special section?

Senator. Look at your doing and mine, look what you achieved and what I achieved… and tell me in the eyes – that my actions are unnecessary. Take a stroll through the slums, take a look at hungry and dying people. Tell them, that they are about to die because number of gold in your treasury must increase. Take a look at a gifted individuals living in there and tell them they can’t learn same art because they were born in wrong place. This is a injustice I cannot forgive!

You started excusing yourself for your actions – you said that in time of need one have a moral obligation to break a law for greater good of other people. That’s exactly what I did.

Senators. I stand in front of you today. I dare you, I dare all of you and each of you. Tell me that whatever I did was immoral. Show me ONE person that suffered because of mine potions. Then tell me lives of poor people don’t matter. Then, I will gladly embrace punishment, if you would see one to be necessary.”

- “Very well, Mister Zariel…” Chairman said. “… yet the problem with your organization have two faces. It is magical case, indeed, but you were working on territory of Neira so.”

Ah, he hoped that king would say that he know nothing about it. This way the Senators would be forced to vote against me.

- “I am not going to punish someone who all alone did more for my people in a year than whole Senate in a decade.” He said with serious expression. “Indeed, until a few days ago I didn’t know about this factory. This is why I decided to start an investigation. Yet my people told me that what they say couldn’t be described with just a word, so I put on rags and in disguise I moved into slums. I saw a building giving food to the people for free. Giving potions for free. There was one certain man – homeless, I talked with. He was dying. And even after taking Zariel’s potion he still died. But, you know what I witnessed? The man was in pain. He was groaning all the time. In his final moments he was laughing! He said that for the first time ever nothing hurt him, that for the first time in weeks he was given a warm meal As a king I felt that I failed. I failed my people. There are hundreds of people living in misery I cannot help, for I am lacking tools and measures. How can I punish someone who did for other something that I was supposed to? I know what you mean, chairman, that he wasn’t paying taxes from his income. I simply will consider that his taxes are being paid in alternative form – in the form of his free services. This is why no, chairman, his situation doesn’t have two faces. For from my perspective it is more than legal and just. In my eyes, he would be better king than myself.”

Oh, thee gazes of everyone! I was officially exempt from paying taxes.

- “V..very well… in that case… Anyone has a question?”

Oh, they did. Just as I predicted, these questions were mostly asked my students. All the questions I already prepared them for.

And then, one last question asked by Senator Mirana

- “The existences of two same companies next to each other would harm development of both. We could withdraw the accusation if you would consider joining the Guild.”

That’s what I was waiting for.

- “Withdraw the accusation? Senator, are you implying that no law was broken as long as crime was committed by member of the Alchemist Guild? Because this is what you are offering us! So called forgiveness for joining you! You asked me once already, and I refused. However, my students aren’t my slaves.” What the fuck am I saying? “If they would join you, I wouldn’t oppose. Girls?”

Now, girls, make daddy proud!

- “We decided to refuse. Teacher Zariel casted aside this opportunity to teach us. If he wouldn’t, we would still be nothing but beggars, thieves and whores.” The last word shouldn’t be spoken in this form. Not in this hall. But, maybe it’s a good thing? A shock-effect? “There are more girls and boys like us on the streets. We will continue our work on his side to make our home place shine. We won’t abandon people in need, we will leave shattering other people's dreams and ambitions to Senate. You are good in sentencing others people fate, ain’t you?”

Now, that’s what I call an end.

Mirana bite on her lip. She was mad. Everything was going badly for her. The chairman decided to make a break for a consultation. Only Senate members and the king could remain inside. Which means we were asked out. Oh, it was nothing more than courtesy of the Chairman to the Alchemist Guild. He needed to take all the actions needed to support the Guild, in the end Guild was financing part of the Council expenses. This time Mirana was supposed to tell how prices of her goods would increase because of it OR that she would need to relocated factory – scare people with withdrawing her services. It was supposed to scare the King – they were in state of war, so her potions were more than just valuable.

The problem was that she didn’t know king already sits in my pocket thanks to connection with dwarfs. As the time passed I was asked inside.

- “The Senate reached an agreement… Zariel, actions of your organization were found illegal.” A few of the girls gasped. I calmed them with gesture of hands. It was far from over. “Yet because of its effects and greater good it caused, The Senate will restrict itself from punishing you. But, as you are offering magical services you will have to be supervised by the council, one of members of the Alchemist Guild would come to you once per month for visitation to see if you aren’t abusing your position.”

I needed to protest.

- “These actions will allow Guild to learn all our receipts and production methods.”

- “That means that they prices would possibly go low, whole society would be benefit with it, and benefits of our society is what you treasure the most, isn’t it?”

Two can play this game

- “Very well, using exactly same logic and reasons we wish to ask for Guild to share their knowledge with us. Receipts, books, list of merchants from which they buy supplies, materials and accessory, list of…”

I started to count of my fingers.

- “This would allow us to expand our services… don’t you think?”

- “This matter will have to be discussed later on.”

- “Very well. Then we will discuss it together with matter of our supervision. In the end those matter are bound together.”

At least I bought myself a few more weeks or months.

Eventually the meeting ended, from now on we were supposed to simply write reports from our actions at the end of each months. There was also case of taxation for the council. As it appeared when work is considered as magical Council also taxes the organization. Slowly I started seeing why prices of Guild potions could be bit higher.

What can I say? Sucks to be them!

We left the building.

- “What now, teacher?” Clarice asked.

- “Now, we run.”

- “What?”

- “We have just become official player on the market. Senators, nobles and organization will come to us with offers and small requests. We will need to hire someone to talk with them. They will also need to start building relations with other materials providers. We gotta buy better pots and vials. Fuck so many things to do. Clarice, I wish you luck dealing will all those matters.”

- “W..What?! Me!?”

- “Of course, it is because you are the most reliable person here! I trust you! Don’t disappoint me!”

Now, I need to go to some inn, eat something nice. Maybe some pork? Yeah, pork sounds good.

Oh, and cheesecake for dessert! I deserve a treat! Well, even if I wouldn’t I would get one anyway.

- “Zaaa-ri!” A sweet-toned voice could be heard from back alley. “Missed me?

A girl showing a bit too much of her body came from the shadows.

- “Ay, why are you here?

- “Aw! You have horrible way of talking with the ladies! Soooo mean! I was just passing by and thought that…”

- “Ay?”

- “Tsk. Rogue wants to see you.”