“And what of the dark path?”
“That one’s more complicated,” Joliv replied, pausing from his stacking to look at me with a somewhat sorrowful look, “no one’s ever chosen the dark path. Choosing the dark path could be beneficial in that we will become more aggressive and mercenary in our actions and spell work. That being said, I sincerely doubt that anyone here is going to turn to necromancy.”
“Don’t worry, the thought never crossed my mind.” I said as the thought crossed my mind, “Have you got a preferred option?”
“Honestly? I couldn’t tell you. I hate the lazy, do-gooders that pass through here, but I’m not sure a group of magical bloodthirsty murderers and bandits would be much better. The choice has to be yours.”
Suddenly I was locked in the conversation, the option to simply walk away and say nothing else having been replaced by my options.
At first I only saw the two we’d been discussing, light or dark, but then I noticed a third, shimmering blue option and I damn near started giggling like a schoolgirl.
All that dicking about with boosting those random stats had finally paid off, and I’d unlocked the ability to suggest something only the very tongueiest of people could suggest.
I mean, word-good people.
I mean… screw it, you know what I mean.
“The Grey Path.” I said confidently, “I think it is the only true way to ensure that we’re getting the best of both worlds.”
“The Grey Path?” Joliv replied confusedly before growing a smile, “I actually like it. So the students would learn how to cut down a man-”
“While at the same time learn how to save his life, exactly. Do you think there’s any chance that they’ll have a problem with that?”
“I honestly don’t see how they could, you’re offering them the opportunity to enjoy both worlds.”
I was glad to have Joliv onside, particularly because I knew that he was going to be much more helpful in supporting me than Flari when it came to moving slightly further from the healing, bush growing, and all that hippy crap.
“Assemble the students in front of the college,” I said after making sure I hadn’t completed the objective, “I’ve got a speech to give.”
“That you do,” Joliv replied before setting the books he was holding on the floor and heading for the exit, “that you do.”
Armelia: Chapter 30
As I stood at the top of the stairs to the college, I couldn’t help but appreciate the position of power I found myself in.
There were at least two dozen mages in front of me, each armed with two daggers, and waiting for me to give the speech that would define who they were as not only mages, but also people from that day onward.
Of course I knew that there was probably a bunch of other people doing the exact same quest I was doing in different servers, but I liked feeling special.
“I understand that many of you have been waiting for me to choose what path we will take going forward,” I started strongly, wiping the smile from my face as I did so, “and I’m sure that many of you think that you know which path I have chosen, but I assure you that you are wrong.”
That earned me a few confused looks, mostly from the people that could do simple math and thought there were only two options available, but I didn’t let that dishearten me.
I straightened up, puffed out my chest, and cleared my throat, “We will be taking the Grey Path.”
Just like that, everyone gasped, some even going as far as to mutter among themselves about what the ‘Grey Path’ was, and what it would mean for them.
“What this means for us is that we will continue to help those that need it,” I announced as consolingly as I possibly could, “and will continue training in academia and light magic, but we will also begin focusing on combat without the aid of magic, and will focus primarily on our goals and needs as opposed to the world’s.”
“Isn’t that selfish?” one of the students asked, “Shouldn’t we be looking out for Tarthirious? I mean, we do live here too.”
“You’re absolutely right, but I’m talking about not helping those who would otherwise forsake us for the sole reason of trying to build a relationship with them. From this day forth, we will be operating without the burden of looking out for the wellbeing of others.”
“But what happens when the people of Girit decide that they don’t like that arrangement?” another student called out as respectfully as they could, “Are we just going to let the beasts of the night kill them all?”
“Yes.” I replied colder than I’d intended to, “If they decide that they would rather segregate magic and non-magic, then they can fend for themselves.”
I was actually really enjoying the dialogue that had been opened, particularly because it meant that I was able to see deeper into what the ‘Grey Path’ was, as well as form it for the future generations.
“Then I only have one question,” Flari said, stepping out from the crowd and eyeing me off sternly, “who will lead us on this new path?”
“Yeah!” the young woman that had been critical of me in the past exclaimed, “She’s never here, how can we expect her to lead us on this new path?”
And with that, a new, shimmering blue dialogue option popped up that made me smile.
“Joliv,” I proclaimed boldly, before turning to face the stunned man behind me, “the Master Librarian.”
Armelia: Chapter 31
Joliv must have stared at me for a full thirty seconds before finally responding with a drawn-out “Uh…”
The crowd was abuzz, the students struggling to deal with yet another leadership change while the tutors murmured about favouritism and how Joliv was unqualified for the position.
“Unless, of course, he doesn’t want to be the Grand Master.” I said with a sly grin as Joliv struggled to find the words necessary to form a full sentence.
“What!? No! No, no, no! I just…” Joliv started confidently then trailed off as the words got jumbled in his head again, “I mean, are you sure? We haven’t discussed it, and this title isn’t typically handed over so lightly.”
“This isn’t a light, spur of the moment decision,” I lied, “this is something that I have been considering for quite some time, but have only now realised its importance. Look, there’s no one else that I can trust with leading the college with this new path, especially not me. That girl’s right, I’m never here.”
“What about Flari?” Joliv asked as if he knew that that was the other choice available to me, “Shouldn’t he at least have been given the opportunity to contest it?”
“And do what?” I chuckled, “Have you yell at him some more? Trust me, Flari would either remain bitter and turn to his darker side, or he’d return to his happier, catching butterflies on a lazy Sunday afternoon self and turn to the light.”
Joliv still didn’t seem quite sure about the whole thing, but he also seemed incredibly excited, to the point where he was grinning like a biker in a meth lab.
“It’s decided then.” I said, turning back to the crowd, “Joliv, with his tomes of information stored in his mind, will lead this college to true greatness.”
There were a few seconds of silence, but before long everyone was applauding, either out of excitement for Joliv’s position or fear of what I would do to them if they didn’t listen to my decree.
Mission Completed: Responsibilities of Leadership.
+3500 XP.
Progress: 6955/8000.
Left Guild: Mage’s College.
The crowd dispersed pretty quickly after that, some toward the college, others throughout the town, but one person stayed still.
“How do the robes look?” Joliv asked, drawing my attention to him and his fancy new threads that looked an awful lot like Lyrias’, “Do the colours suit me?”
“Better than they have anyone else for a long time.” I replied with a smile, “How does it feel? Do you think you’re up for the job?”
“Honestly? I really don
’t know. But I assure you that I am going to do my very best.”
“And I don’t expect anything more than that.” I said before deciding that it was time for me to go, “If that’ll be all, I-”
“Wait!” the new Grand Master yelped, producing a locket from his pocket as he did so, “Take this with you.”
Received Amulet of the Mage: Weight: 1(-1).
“What’s this?” I asked, turning it over in my hands, “You don’t seem the kind to give presents, let alone something as… shiny as this.”
“Heh, it’s a summoning charm, not some shiny piece of junk.” Joliv chuckled, “If you ever need the aid of the mages, use that and we will come to you.”
“Well, thank you.” I said, putting the amulet into my knapsack as I did so, “I hope a time where I need it doesn’t come.”
“As do I, but a little bit of preparedness never hurt anybody. What do you plan to do now?”
“Me?” I asked stupidly, “Well, nothing particularly important. I thought that I might find the Ministry of Druidic Affairs, see if I can regain some of my memories.”
“That sounds exciting, do you have any friends waiting for you there? Or would you prefer to have an escort?”
I went to respond, but stopped as I heard something, something that broke all the immersion that I had been working so hard to instil within myself.
Someone was knocking at my door.
Again.
Kylia: Chapter 3
I wasn’t super appreciative of the interruption, justifiably so in my opinion, but as the door knocked I couldn’t help but feel slightly grateful for the social activity that was about to be thrust upon me.
Don’t get me wrong, I was still feeling various levels of hesitance, but at the same time I had this overwhelming sense that I could use some unarmed human contact.
With a deep breath, I opened the door and struggled not to laugh at Griegs’ floral turtleneck.
“What in the bloody Hell is that!?” I practically gasped out as my eyes quickly began to water.
“It was a Christmas present from me mum.” Griegs replied defensively.
“What? She make it with a crappy pair of curtains she had lyin’ about?”
“I think he looks dashing,” Lily interjected, alerting me to her yoga pants and long-sleeved shirt wearing existence, “very… hip.”
“Hip?” I scoffed, “Hip replacement more like. Does it match your plastic-covered couch?”
Alright, so maybe that wasn’t my best jab, but I was pretty proud of it nonetheless.
“Good to see you Lily,” I lied with a smile as I finally waved the two of them into my flat, “I hear you’ve been speculating about my death?”
“Not death so much as another kidnapping,” Lily replied before forcing me into a hug, “figured that the government wouldn’t be so keen on letting you go.”
“And why’s that?” Griegs asked before I could.
“Well, she has a lot of vital information, doesn’t she?”
“I do so love to be referred to in the third-person in my own house,” I said with a sigh as we got into the living room, “let’s changed the subject, shall we?”
Lily gasped, seemingly as if she’d genuinely forgotten I was there and, to a lesser degree, where she was, “Oh, I’m so sorry. Me and my running mouth.” she said as she appeared to choke back tears, “I… I should’ve known better.”
Suddenly I was locked in another embrace and I was left reflecting Griegs’ amused but shocked expression as the air was squeezed out of me.
“It’s really fine.” I replied, trying my best to not sound like I was literally gasping for air while reciprocating Lily’s hug, “Truly, I’ve been able to work through a lot of stuff over the past few days. Well, day and a bit.”
Lily broke away from me, but left her hands gripping my shoulders tightly, “You’ve been so strong through all of this,” she choked out with genuine tears in her eyes, “I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been going through.”
“Yeah, well, shit happens.”
I felt terrible for degrading what had happened to Gerald and I, but at the same time it seemed like the only sure-fire way to get Lily to stop feeling so sorry for me, which was its own, special kind of torture.
“Who’s up for a cuppa?” I asked hopefully, brushing off Lily’s firm grasp as politely as I could, “I’ve got coffee if you’d prefer that.”
“Tea would be lovely, thanks.” Lily replied after wiping away her tears and making her way to my sofa, “Camomile if you’ve got it.”
“Same for me.” Griegs quickly tacked on as I walked to the kitchen, as if he were worried that I’d somehow lose the ability to hear him once I was more than five feet away.
“Two camomile coming right up.” I muttered with a smile as I pictured myself running a little café, “So, Lily, I take it you’ve been enjoying yourself?”
“Oh yes,” Lily practically giggled, abandoning any sense of sadness or sympathy and leading me to believe that she had some kind of bipolar, “since we’ve been getting all this coverage I’ve gotten, like, a million call-backs.”
“Call-backs?” I asked curiously after making sure the kettle was full and turning it on, “Since when have you been an actress?”
“Since always?” Lily huffed matter-of-factly, “I mean, I’ve never had a call-back before, but I’ve always wanted to be an actress.”
I didn’t appreciate her tone, but at the same time I felt like she had a very different view of our relationship than I did.
Where I saw a neighbour that I was required to talk to at least once a week out of social nicety, she saw a friend, Lord help me, a sister, and I didn’t quite have the heart to tell her that I wasn’t really that kind of person.
“I’m glad it’s going so well for you.” I said after realising that I’d been staring at her blankly for a few seconds, “Wanna know who’s really into all that acting stuff though? Griegs.”
As expected, that earned me a very decent scowl from Griegs, which quickly vanished as Lily spun around to face him with a giddy gleam in her eyes.
“Really?” the hopeful starlet asked.
“I-I-I…” Griegs stammered before letting out an almost sigh, smiling, and giving her a nod, “I really am.”
“Oh that’s fantastic!” Lily squeaked out in elation, “I’ve had absolutely no one to talk to about all this, and it’s been so hard, what with my family and…”
From there everything she said sounded kind of like a sad trombone, which I didn’t actually mind. In a weird way I’d kind of missed having people that I could subtly ignore.
I was back to being the fly-on-the-wall, and I was loving it.
Kylia: Chapter 4
After what felt like a solid millennia, Lily finally finished, barely taking time to breathe between her sips of tea while I started making arrangements for lunch.
“Thanks,” I said to the MP who’d been nice enough to bring the Chinese food to my door, “would you like some?”
I couldn’t see his face, but I had the feeling that he was giving me a confused look from under his helmet before he finally said “No, no I think I’d better get back to my station.” and left.
Not wanting to head straight back to Griegs and Lily, who seemed to be getting along swimmingly following the initial awkwardness, I hung around the door for a while, staring somewhat longingly at nothing in particular.
There was some part of me that wanted to go out, really go out, but there was something else, something louder and more primitive, that was demanding I stayed behind the safety of the guards.
“Is that the food?” Lily called out, taking the choice out of my hands, “Because I am starving.”
“Ever the dramatic…” I chuckled before shutting the door and taking the bags of food over to the others, “Who wants honey chicken?”
Griegs’ hand shot up like it was being launched out of a cannon, “That’s mine!” he announced excitedly before quickly,
and embarrassedly, changing his tone, “I mean, ahem, that’s mine.”
I shot Griegs a grin and shook my head, “Ah, the man loves his chicken apparently.” I said as I pulled out and tossed the white container of food at him, “Just make sure to keep it off the couch, yeah?”
Griegs nodded while I took a seat on the ground near the couch, an act that Lily apparently wouldn’t stand for.
“No, no, no!” she practically yelped as she jumped up and started gesturing at her seat, “I’m a guest, you should sit on the sofa.”
“And why’s that?” I replied after pulling out and handing her shrimp fried rice to her, “I get to sit on it whenever I want, shouldn’t I share?”
I felt like the most mature kid with cookies in a kindergarten room, which was actually something I, surprisingly, wasn’t heaps comfortable with.
“I mean… yes, but no… Hmm…” Lily struggled, apparently the prospect of one day landing on the silver screen having melted her brain.
“Just sit down,” I laughed, “trust me, I’m fine.”
And I really was.
There was something about sitting on the floor and eating that made me feel at ease. It’s strange, I know, but it was like I’d been freed from one of life’s many, many shackles.
It was as if by doing something as simple as eating my noodles on the ground I’d kick-started a chain of events that would further push forth my ability to do everything forever.
And then I started to get tired.
At first it was little more than a yawn between mouthfuls of food, but it quickly became something more as I struggled to keep my eyes open long enough to keep track of the blossoming conversation between Griegs and Lily.
“You want us to head out?” Griegs eventually asked when he noticed me rubbing my eyes for the umpteenth time.
“No, no, it’s…” I trailed off with a long, loud yawn, “I mean… maybe. Would that be alright?”
Legends of Tarthirious: The Complete Collection Page 63