Awaken Online: Ember (Tarot #1)

by Bagwell, Travis

  “Haven’t you heard?” Julia drawled when Finn didn’t respond immediately. “Finn here is a no-good cheat. That’s how he’s managed his current rank.”

  She heard a nearby player let out an irritated grunt of agreement, and a grin tugged at Julia’s lips. She met the player’s eyes. “Although, I’m sure Finn would be more than happy to prove his abilities if anyone doubts them,” she declared loudly. “Any takers?” The player choked back a response and stepped away slowly.

  “I thought so,” she muttered with a smirk.

  Finn let out a sigh. While her posturing was amusing, Julia was right. His newfound abilities were not well received. Claims that he was “cheating” had only gotten worse after he had begun using his daggers in the duels – with most of his opponents dying from unseen – or rather, unnoticed attacks. He was sure this had probably helped instigate the frequent attempts on his life.

  “It’s just a madhouse,” Finn acknowledged. “We get attacked every time we leave this damn podium now, but no one here wants to acknowledge that the novices are attacking each other.” Finn met Kyyle’s eyes. “Frankly, I’m surprised that you haven’t experienced this problem. Julia said you’re in fifth right now.”

  Kyyle rubbed at his neck. “I’ve been sticking to public areas. Plus, Dissolve is pretty helpful, and I’ve discovered that the hallways aren’t completely warded. I can usually box my attackers into a section of the hallway and take a detour.”

  Finn nodded. Not a bad plan.

  He noticed Zane enter the courtyard, surrounded by a group of other novices. The large man had managed to hold on to his number two position for a few days now, and he walked everywhere with an entourage of at least five other mages. Finn also knew that Vanessa was currently in first and had apparently made friends with a few higher-ranked mages. She rarely left their side. In a nutshell, the other top-ranked novices seemed to be experiencing some of the same issues – although, perhaps not as keenly as Finn.

  Kyyle followed Finn’s gaze, observing Zane and the massive two-handed hammer that he lugged around now. The burly man nodded in their direction. Finn returned the gesture, wondering what it would be like to fight him. Zane’s gang had likely helped him maintain his position, but he was still winning the duels by himself.

  Kyyle edged closer to Finn, lowering his voice. “Putting aside the attacks for a second, have you noticed that the top-ranked players haven’t been matched together?”

  Finn hesitated before nodding slowly. “I have, although I thought maybe it was just me.”

  Kyyle shook his head. “I’ve been keeping careful track of my own matches, and I spoke with a few of the other A-listers. None of them have faced each other yet.”

  “It could just be a coincidence.”

  “And if it’s not?” Kyyle replied.

  “Are you suggesting that the matches aren’t random?” Finn asked.

  The younger man shrugged. “I’m just saying that it seems odd and my data is showing an unusual pattern. And then there are these attacks… Does it seem reasonable that the faculty really doesn’t know what’s going on?”

  Finn’s brow furrowed. Kyyle raised some interesting points. The implications were also… troubling. What could be the purpose of allowing the in-fighting among the students or actively manipulating the matchmaking? Was someone trying to affect the outcome of the champion selection? Finn supposed that made sense. The residents of this world would have a large stake in that outcome, including the faculty.

  But what did they hope to gain?

  And, perhaps more importantly, who were they backing as their top pick?

  Kyyle gave Finn a knowing look, and he realized that the young man must have reached a similar conclusion. Perhaps there was a deeper game being played here than they realized.

  “I don’t—” Finn stopped abruptly as Julia’s hand landed on his shoulder. She motioned across the courtyard, where Finn saw Brutus approaching with a number of guards armed with wickedly curved swords. The fire mage met Finn’s eyes, his expression grim.

  Ahh, shit. This doesn’t look good, Finn thought to himself.

  “I think this is your opportunity to get the hell out of here,” Finn murmured to Kyyle. “I have a sneaking feeling Brutus is here for me.” Kyyle grimaced but quickly retreated.

  Finn spared a glance at Julia. “You too. Get going.” Finn didn’t need to explain his concerns aloud. Julia might be able to trick the other students, but she was here illicitly – a fact that could be determined by a quick inspection of her arms and a test of her affinity. The last thing they wanted was the faculty to discover that Finn was aiding and abetting a thief.

  “I’ll keep an eye on you,” Julia whispered. Finn just nodded, and his daughter swiftly disappeared into the crowd, likely dropping into Sneak.

  Finn sat there calmly as he watched Brutus and the other mages approach, the group making a beeline for his position. The crowd around the dais had now caught sight of the group and its target, and the circle around Finn had widened.

  “Finn,” Brutus grunted as he neared.

  “Brutus,” Finn replied calmly. No sense giving anything away until he discovered what this was about. Perhaps some students had claimed that he had attacked them?

  “I’m going to need to ask you to come with me,” the fire mage master said, his voice loud enough to carry across the courtyard. They now had quite the audience, dozens of students watching the exchange.

  “Can I ask why?” Finn replied.

  “Several of the students have reported that you are cheating in the duels. They also claim that you refuse to leave the dais – using this as a way to intimidate other novices into not entering the competition.” Brutus’ severe expression cracked for a moment at this last statement, shaking his head incredulously. He didn’t even seem to believe what he was saying.

  Not that Finn blamed him. That sounded absurd. Although, he noted that many of the players around him nodded in agreement with Brutus’ declaration.

  Ahh, the joys of being in the public eye, Finn thought dryly.

  He moved to rise to his feet, and the other mages and guards around Brutus shuffled nervously. It seemed Finn’s reputation had spread to the faculty and staff. Finn might not be topping the leaderboard, but he supposed the mystery surrounding his wins lent him a certain murderous charm.

  “Well, let’s go talk to the faculty then,” Finn declared, keeping his expression neutral and his limbs relaxed. If this was a show, he might as well put on a performance.

  He saw a glint of respect in Brutus’ eyes as he gestured for Finn to lead the way. The guards soon encircled Finn, keeping a watchful eye on him as they exited the courtyard. The eyes of the other students followed them, and an excited buzz filled the air of the courtyard.

  This certainly isn’t going to help my reputation, Finn thought.

  Despite his stoic façade and internal attempt to stay calm, Finn’s stomach was a roiling mass of nerves. He wasn’t sure what he was about to walk into. Was he about to lose all the progress he had made? Have his mana purged? Get exiled? Would they try to pin the attacks on him? The questions boiled in his mind, and he had to tamp down on the urge to summon his mana.

  The image of those first attackers came to him then, ragged holes carved in their throats and their thick soupy blood staining the dusty stone floor. The memory was accompanied by the same misgivings he had experienced a few days earlier. A doubting voice in the back of his head whispered to him, this time posing a new and different question.

  Would it really be such a bad thing if the faculty stopped him here?

  Chapter 31 - Cheater

  Finn soon stood in a large circular chamber deep within the bowels of the Mage Guild. After depositing Finn in the center of the room, Brutus had taken a seat with the other staff. The guild’s faculty were arrayed around him, sitting behind a wooden bench that ringed the room except for a small sliver near the doorway.

  Abbad hovered against a far wall, al
though he hadn’t acknowledged Finn when he entered. His face was a perfect mask. It appeared that the librarian was undeserving of a seat with the other faculty.

  Meanwhile, the mages’ eyes followed Finn, weighing and judging even before a word had been spoken. The silence in the air was tense and heavy.

  For his part, Finn stood still, forcing his muscles to relax and to keep his posture loose and unconcerned. He had done enough public speaking to know a few tricks. Although, he could honestly say that he had never participated in some sort of magical trial and his life wasn’t usually hanging in the balance during a tech conference or seminar.

  Finn’s eyes slid to the room’s single exit, guards hovering near the doorway. He hadn’t missed the fact that everyone had been disarmed upon entering the chamber – both himself and the faculty.

  If it came to a fight, he might have a slight edge with his Multi-Casting. Although the prospect of fighting multiple master mages seemed futile.

  In the center of this scene sat Nefreet, tattoos curling around the base of his neck and the headmaster’s sharp eyes drilling into Finn, as though trying to uncover his secrets. Despite the combined gaze of the faculty, Finn could only focus on Nefreet. He had almost forgotten the headmaster’s cold, impassive gaze and the measured precision with which he moved and spoke, as though every action was carefully planned, weighed, and considered.

  “Hello, Finn,” Nefreet greeted, his voice almost cordial. The rest of the faculty remained silent, merely observing. Finn could make out every cough and shuffle of their feet in the otherwise-still room.

  Finn simply bowed his head, resolving to speak as little and as carefully as possible.

  “It has been some time since we last saw one another. A few weeks at least, although it feels longer,” the headmaster commented.

  “I believe it was during my induction ceremony,” Finn replied.

  “Ahh, yes,” Nefreet said, his eyebrow arching. “You refused the gift of Veridian, if I recall correctly.” He glanced at Abbad. “It seems that you took to your studies with enthusiasm – passing your initial classes, earning yourself a sponsor, taking the leaderboards by storm…”

  There was a moment’s hesitation. “It’s almost too much to believe.”

  The statement hung in the room – the implication clear. How could a novice traveler have not only learned Veridian within the span of two weeks but also risen to become one of the most powerful mages among the new group of students?

  “Why don’t we address the accusation directly instead of dancing around it,” Finn said abruptly. “You believe me to be a cheater.” It wasn’t a question.

  This statement earned Finn some murmurs among the faculty, their eyes widening at his directness. Although, Finn noted that Nefreet was unflustered. If anything, he seemed mildly amused by Finn’s reaction.

  “That is indeed the claim that has been leveled at you by the other students. Some members of our faculty have also expressed suspicion about your abilities,” Nefreet added, sparing a look at Lamia to his right. The water mage didn’t react to the gesture, although her cold expression already told Finn volumes.

  Fucking perfect. Finn may have been cautious about revealing his ability to craft new spells, but Lamia had at least some evidence. He had blown up her classroom, after all. He could still remember her accusation that Finn was a foreign mage who had somehow infiltrated their guild. Even if they didn’t believe him to be a spy, Abbad had been clear that the guild did not take kindly to powerful, upstart mages.

  He needed to be extremely careful here.

  “What is more,” Nefreet continued, “the novices claim that you have attacked them and harassed them in an effort to bolster your own score in the duels. They say you frequent the condemned northern section of the guild hall and use these opportunities to attack others without leaving any witnesses.

  “Given what is at stake in this competition, I’m certain you can understand the gravity of such an accusation,” Nefreet offered, waving a hand. “The champion of these duels will not only represent the guild in the Emir’s competition but could also potentially rule Lahab as a whole. The integrity of our participants is imperative.”

  The headmaster paused, gazing at Finn with unblinking eyes.

  “How would you answer these claims?” Nefreet asked, gesturing for Finn to speak.

  “I am aware of the importance of the duels – particularly in light of the Emir’s decree,” Finn began, choosing his words carefully. “I can also assure you that I have not done anything to undermine this competition. My accomplishments are merely the result of hard work, as I am sure my instructor and faculty sponsor can attest,” Finn said, gesturing at Brutus.

  All eyes turned to Brutus, and the fire mage gave a curt nod of agreement.

  Finn took a deep breath. This next part was going to be a gamble.

  “As for the attacks, I have not initiated any hostile action against the other students outside of the duels,” Finn declared.

  “Your word choice is telling,” Nefreet observed, with an arched eyebrow. “Perhaps I should rephrase. Have you harmed any other novices outside of the duels?”

  Damn it. There was no way to wiggle out of that question without lying, which meant Finn was going to have to double down on his position.

  “Yes,” Finn replied evenly, refusing to back down or show contrition. The faculty murmured amongst themselves in shocked surprise, some of them gesturing at Finn.

  Lamia’s cold voice rose into the air. “He openly admits to breaking the guild rules, Nefreet. This is the only evidence that you need. He should be expelled.” She received a few murmurs of agreement from the other faculty.

  Finn could feel a burning kernel of anger flare in his chest. What was this lady’s problem? Yet he forcefully shoved it aside. He needed to stay calm.

  He raised a hand, interrupting the murmurs among the faculty. “You may certainly decide to expel me. But that would be unjust. If you will let me elaborate?” This last question was directed at the headmaster, and Nefreet gestured for him to continue.

  “I have been using the old warded crafting rooms on the northern side of campus to train without disturbing others or damaging guild property. Unfortunately, this also makes me vulnerable. Many of the other students have begun waylaying and ambushing the top-ranked novices in the halls – usually in unoccupied portions of the guild.”

  “To what end?” one of the faculty asked in an incredulous tone.

  “Assassinating someone who has been summoned to a duel forces them to default, which costs them points,” Finn explained. “And killing one of our kind prevents us from engaging in a duel again for nearly an hour.”

  Many of the faculty were staring at Finn in shock, although he noticed that more than a few appeared unsurprised by this revelation. Maybe Kyyle had been on to something. It seemed at least a few members of the faculty knew about the unspoken competition taking place in the guild’s halls.

  “In short, many of your students are attempting to influence the rankings,” Finn continued. “I have merely been defending myself. In fact, these attacks have escalated to the point where I cannot leave the courtyard without being assaulted. This is why I have taken to sitting upon the dais – not to intimidate the other students, but to avoid constant assassination attempts.”

  “This is absurd,” Lamia spat. “Are we to believe that this novice is important enough that the other students would stoop to trying to kill him and him alone?”

  “This problem isn’t isolated to me, and it is easy enough to prove,” Finn replied calmly. “Simply ask the other A-listers. They have all taken to frequenting public areas or traveling in groups.”

  Nefreet frowned then, his eyes drifting down to his hands. To Finn’s surprise, he then looked toward Abbad. The librarian simply gave a single curt nod in response.

  What was that? Why would Nefreet look to Abbad for confirmation?

  “Hmm, well we will look into the matter of these atta
cks,” Nefreet offered. “If the situation is as dire as you claim, then we will need to investigate and expel those responsible.”

  Finn’s brow furrowed. He suspected that wouldn’t help in the slightest. There was a potential solution to the assassination attempts, but it was a much bolder option. “I would propose that you go much further than that,” Finn offered tentatively.

  “Oh, really?” Nefreet asked with an arched brow. “What do you suggest?”

  Finn took a deep breath. “The faculty should remove the restriction on students attacking one another – at least among the travelers.”

  This was met with a resounding silence, the faculty members all staring at him.

  “The only way to avoid or deter these attacks is to allow students to defend themselves,” Finn offered. “I could have addressed this problem long ago if I were not concerned about being punished for acting in self-defense. It would have only taken a few… examples for the other students to learn to leave me alone.”

  Nefreet seemed to be weighing this suggestion, although many of the other faculty looked aghast at the possibility.

  “What you are suggesting is chaos,” Lamia snapped. “Students would be fighting in the halls. The guild hall couldn’t withstand this sort of infighting.”

  Brutus finally stepped, letting out a derisive snort. “I think you overestimate the novices. Their spells have been carefully doled out to them for just that reason – concern over their ability to cause large-scale damage. What are a few scorch marks or puddles of melted water going to do to warded stone?”

  Another instructor spoke up, the same bald monk that had sponsored Kyyle. He spared Finn a measured look before addressing the faculty. “Finn’s suggestion is consistent with the sense of competition the Emir wishes to foster among the students. While this rule has been our policy in the past, with the introduction of so many new travelers, perhaps it is time to adapt. If the infighting is already as bad as Finn suggests, this may be a way to release the growing pressure.”