"The ritual allows me to give a mana core to a beastman."

Roddick says "What?! That's possible?!"

"Yes, I've already had a number of successes with the procedure. Now I plan to convert the beastmen here in Illium."

Roddick says "This mana core, does it give the beastmen the ability to use mana?"

"Yes, but not to the degree of a human mage. That will probably take a couple of generations."

Roddick says "Do you realize that you are taking away the only edge we humans have?"

"No, there is one advantage that you will always have over the beastmen."

Roddick says "What would that be?"

"Numbers! You will always outbreed the beastmen."

Roddick says "Considering how strong beastmen are, that isn't all that reassuring."

"Well then, over the next couple of generations you should probably build good relations with them."

Roddick says "Luckily, that is not my responsibility! Ambrose and whoever takes over after him can deal with that."

"So, you are saying that if beastmen become capable of being mages you won't recruit them?"

Roddick says "If there were beastmen right now who had the potential I would recruit them. However, I probably won't be around in two generations. If all goes well, that will be Rat's call to make."

"Yes, but Rat's attitude towards beastmen will be learned from her parents. You and Belliza will be the ones who shape her."

Roddick says "Oh, I think you underestimate the influence her Uncle Ash will have on her!"

"Unfortunately, I don't know how much I will be around. Anyway, my mages?"

Roddick says "The teleporter is easy, but for your ritual, I think Belliza is the best choice."

"I was thinking someone less important, it is just triggering a ritual."

Roddick says "If it was only that, I would agree. I have plenty of young mages who could keep their mouths shut. My concern is most of them would see the ritual and want to experiment on giving humans a beast core."

"That is how the beastmen were created, and it had an extremely high mortality rate."

Roddick says "Exactly, that is why I don't want any of the younger mages exposed to you and your crazy ideas!"

"In that case are you sure you want Belliza spending time with me? We might plot against you!"

Roddick says "I don't really have anyone else I can trust with this. Other than doing it myself, which I don't have time for."

"Alright, but don't say I didn't give you a way out."

Roddick says "It's fine, I can handle it. Besides, she can bring Rat with her so she can spend some time with you."

"That's fine by me, we will be in a secure area."

Roddick says "Still worried about assassins?"

"Well, considering some attacked me today, yes."

Roddick says "What?! When did this happen? Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"I thought you already knew. I figured Borrik would notify you since there were also two demons involved."

Roddick says "Demons inside the city?!"

Roddick immediately touches a control on his desk and asks for Belliza. While we are waiting I tell him in detail what happened with the demons. Then the door opens and Rat runs through the door and straight over to me for a hug.

As I pick her up and swing her around Belliza comes in through the door with a smile on her face. Belliza seems to be a completely different person since Rat came into her life. Her smile fades when Roddick tells her about the assassins and demons.

Belliza says "A city guard did come in earlier to request a mage for a crime scene, but didn't give any details."

Roddick says "Borrik should have informed us!"

"That might be my fault, I might have caused him to panic."

Roddick says "What did you do to Borrik?"

"I told him no more treats from Sarah until the city was safe."

Belliza laughs and says "That would definitely make him panic!"

Before anyone else can say anything the door opens again and a mage leads in a city guard. The guard is covered in sweat and is short of breath, like he just ran across the city. The mage escorting him looks nervous about having interrupted our meeting.

Mage says "Sorry guildmaster, but he said it was urgent."

Guard says "Lord Ash, there has been a huge event!"

"What happened?"

Guard says "Not long ago your mount smashed her way into the Free Union embassy!"

Roddick says "What would Lizzy want in an embassy?"

"I sent her out looking for demons, I would guess she found some."

Belliza says "If there are demons in the embassy this is going to be a huge deal! Attacking an embassy, regardless of the reason, could start a war!"

"Yeah, I better go see what's going on."

Belliza says "I will come with you. Everyone knows you are no diplomat!"

Since she is right I don't even try to argue, I just hand Rat to Roddick and leave with her following. The guard hurries ahead to lead the way as we exit the mage tower. When we reach the Free Union embassy I find Lizzy out front with Borrik standing next to her.

As for the embassy itself, the front door and the frame around it are pretty much gone. Considering Lizzy's size, I am guessing that the inside is probably even worse. There is also a well dressed man yelling at Borrik, he is of average height and has a head of gray hair.

Belliza says "That is the Free Union ambassador, Marko Undeen."

"Lizzy, what's going on?"

Lizzy says "I was just doing what you told me. Now this little human is asking to be eaten!"

Marko, hearing this, immediately turns white and steps back away from Lizzy. Seeing that Borrik's face turns bright red, he is obviously trying really, really hard not to laugh. From the twinkle in Lizzy's eye I can tell she isn't serious, she is just having fun scaring Marko.

"So, I take it you found some demons?"

Marko yells "Demons?!?"

Lizzy says "Yes, I found and killed four before coming here. Inside there were ten of them, but four got away because the humans got in my way."

Marko says "Wait! Are you saying there were ten demons in my embassy?"

Lizzy says "Yes! And some got away because of you!"

"Are you telling me that they are faster than you?"

Lizzy says "No! Of course not! The humans kept me from chasing them!"

"They have probably left the city by now, think you can still catch them?"

Lizzy says "Sure!"

"Then go get them!"

Marko says "If she crosses the border into the Free Union it could lead to war!"

"If the Free Union is harboring demons it will absolutely lead to war!"

Marko says "We are not harboring anyone! In fact, I still don't believe there are any demons!"

"Where are the corpses of the six that Lizzy killed?"

Borrik says "Still inside. The ambassador refuses to let us in."

Marko says "The embassy is the territory of the Free Union! None of you are allowed to enter!"