“A water mage? You little bit—” the woman began, but Emonael hadn’t remained idle, instead grabbing one of the stones dislodged by the earlier explosion and grunting as she threw it hard into the woman’s stomach. The impact caused the woman to double over breathlessly, and Emonael smiled at her.
“Don’t be insulting. You’re the one who attacked us. Now, I’m sure that Valis and the others have questions for you, so I’d suggest you come quietly, before this goes very badly.” Emonael replied, starting to approach the woman.
“I’ll do no such thing!” the woman gasped, glowering back at Emonael as she tried to straighten, and as she did, Emonael saw a bright crimson glow begin radiating through her cloak from the woman’s belt.
Emonael’s instincts took hold and she leapt backward, prompting the woman to look down in confusion that turned to horror. The woman was just starting to unhook the glowing crystal from her belt as it exploded with even greater violence than the previous one had.
The force of the explosion washed over Emonael, who was at least prepared for it this time, and the tree which had taken the lightning bolt cracked, groaned, and slowly toppled. Only the rain likely kept the forest from going up in flames, and Emonael slowly raised her head to look at where the woman had been standing.
Instead of a woman, there was little more than charred remains, and not much was left of her hands at all, a sight which made even Emonael’s stomach churn slightly. It was one thing if someone chose to self-destruct, but it was something else entirely when it was obvious that someone else had decided to murder them in the hopes of taking out their foes.
Valis’s groan distracted Emonael, and she turned as the man began to sit up, wincing heavily as he did so, his eyebrows and hair scorched, but looking surprisingly intact compared to the woman.
“Valis, are you okay? That woman was going to try to kill you, but the crystal she had exploded,” Emonael quickly explained, then shook her head. “Never mind catching her, I guess.”
“I line all of my clothing with salamander hide. It reduces the effect of fire attacks on me, which is good in this case,” Valis replied, wincing as he tried to slowly stand, but had a leg collapse as he gasped and admitted, “Though it didn’t do nearly as much good against those shards. I’m not sure I can get back to the tower without help.”
“I’m a little injured, but not nearly as badly as you are. Thank goodness for being farther away, unlike her,” Emonael replied, nodding at the corpse grimly. “I’d hoped we could ask her some questions, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”
“Oh, ick. No, I don’t think it will. We’d need a necromancer, and they’re forbidden in the kingdom,” Valis replied, shuddering at the sight of the body. “Mind giving me a hand back to my tower, then we can get Marin to tend to our wounds?”
“Certainly. Though I imagine she’ll be delighted at the interruption,” Emonael replied, stepping over to help him up and taking the place of his lamed leg. After a moment she added, a bit amused. “She can live with it, though.”
Valis laughed, shaking his head as they slowly limped back toward the Association grounds.
Chapter 11
“There. All of the damage you took is healed, but you’re still going to be a bit weak for a few days, Valis. Don’t expect to be able to hike on that leg for hours at a time for at least three days. You also lost a lot of blood, so I suggest you eat well,” Marin told the man tartly, shaking her head. “I can hardly believe that you fell for an ambush!”
“Yes, well, everyone makes mistakes,” Valis replied, shaking his head. “I was talking to Emonael, it was raining, and we’d collected a dozen of the damned things without incident. It was a near thing, but believe me, I’m not going to make that mistake again.”
“Which brings the question of who the woman was. Did you see anything identifying about her, Emonael?” Reesa asked, turning her attention to Marin’s student.
They were in Valis’s tower in one of the sitting rooms, all of the High Magi, as well as Emonael, present and trying to relax. Marin stepped away from Valis toward her student, ready to heal her injuries as well. It was obvious that she hadn’t been hurt nearly as badly as Valis, which was something of a relief.
“I’m afraid not. She was elven, had fair skin, and brown eyes and hair down to her shoulders. I didn’t notice a particular accent, though it wasn’t that of a local. The one full sentence she managed rhymed,” Emonael replied with a shrug. “I was trying to capture her, not kill her, but the explosion of another crystal wasn’t something I expected.”
“Such happens, unfortunately. But in its own way, that tells us something,” Hothar rumbled, frowning deeply. “If they were willing to kill a lightning mage of that power, we’re probably dealing with a foreign military or the like.”
“While that’s possible, I think you’re ignoring a few other possibilities as well,” Larin interjected, the air mage sniffing as they looked at him, and he looked quite cross, likely because he’d done a quick airborne patrol before coming over. Marin finished her healing spells for Emonael, who smiled gratefully at her as Larin continued. “There are crime syndicates which would love to destabilize the nation as well, or even groups of magi who like destroying any rival organizations before they can get started. While I believe that a foreign military is the most likely answer, considering the tensions with Tethlyn, we cannot ignore other possibilities.”
“Rare as it might be, I agree with Larin.” Marin spoke softly, drawing all of their attention as she looked up from her work, and let out a soft laugh. “What, can’t I contribute from time to time?”
“You can, it’s simply quite rare for you to do so,” Reesa replied, crossing her arms as she looked at Marin skeptically. “Why this time?”
Marin didn’t reply for a moment, considering the others for a few seconds, then asking quietly, “How many of you have talked with others about the fact that I’m on the verge of proving my research is correct?”
She felt a flicker of amusement as all of them save for Larin exchanged guilty looks. The air mage sniffed and spoke calmly. “If you’re right, it will be . . . intriguing, especially for me, as there are several types of magic I wish to learn, but I’d rather see the proof of the matter before I spread word about such.”
“An excellent attitude, in my biased opinion,” Marin agreed, and looked at the others, focusing particularly on Valis. “And the rest of you?”
“I did speak with some family members on the subject, yes,” Valis admitted. “Which means it’s probably gotten out to half of the nobility by this point.”
“At least I only talked to my apprentices about it . . .” Hothar muttered, shaking his head. “I did, though.”
“My colleagues and I have long wished to share our spells more easily, so we were discussing what possibilities might come of your research,” Reesa added, shrugging as she continued. “Many of them were rather skeptical of the possibility.”
“In that case, we’re talking about literally hundreds of people who know, and who might have told the wrong person about my progress,” Marin explained, trying to resist the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose and failing. “Now, if you’re say . . . an extremely powerful mage who’s jealous of your power, or a cabal of magi who believe that such power should be exclusive to a chosen few, how do you think you’d react to such news?”
Valis visibly blanched at the suggestion, while most of the others looked troubled. Marin continued. “I’m not even talking about others, but do you think that Tethlyn would be happy to hear that we could soon have dozens or hundreds more magi than they do? They’re going to assume that Pharos will keep the knowledge to itself, which is going to cause an immense imbalance of power. I shouldn’t have told any of you until it was done, but there wasn’t much choice with Emonael’s display.”
“I’m sorry, Teacher.” Emonael spoke softly, distinct guilt in her voice. “I didn’t realize that it would have an effect like this.”
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“Oh, shush. It isn’t your fault, not in the slightest. The first crystal was planted before they could have known, so this obviously wasn’t prompted by that,” Marin replied tartly, shaking her head. “What it’s going to do is make everything worse. Even better, we’re going to have to prove things more quickly than I’d like.”
“What do you mean?” Larin asked, frowning.
“I’m almost done with the first volume of my research. The basics, as it were, though the true basics are likely going to fill three volumes,” Marin explained, looking at each of them with narrowed eyes. “I’m going to have Emonael make copies of it. Each of you will receive one, if you vow on your name and magic not to share it with anyone that I don’t specifically grant permission to share it with until I’m done with my research. And then I’m going to have Emonael teach her friends and a handful of prospective apprentices who haven’t found magic they can handle, and one who had no talent. I don’t have the time or temperament to teach, but it must be done, and it must be proven that what I’m talking about is possible. Even more than that, we have to ensure that there are enough teachers who can spread it that it isn’t so easily swept under the rug by those who wish for my research to not exist.”
For a moment, the room was silent, before Emonael asked, “Teacher, are you certain? I know you wanted to keep everything private until you were done. Until you felt that it was something you could be proud of.”
“Yes, I did want to keep it to myself until I was done, or see it go up in flames when I died, to let everyone else have to deal with figuring things out themselves. But things have changed since then,” Marin said, looking at Emonael carefully. “I hadn’t considered fully just how much others might wish for my research not to exist. I hadn’t thought of the potential consequences for the Association . . . which, in truth, I wish to become the Pharos Mage Academy, I’ll admit. That has been my goal all along, though I didn’t dare say it when Hothar and I proposed it to the king. An academy can only exist when there are rules that allow students to be reliably taught. Things change.”
“Marin, I think I owe you an apology,” Reesa spoke up, standing from her chair and bowing her head to Marin. “I long thought your quest was mad, possibly even selfish beyond all measures in how you didn’t take an apprentice to teach the art of healing. I’ve always wished to be a healer in addition to a steward of the wilds, but beyond herbalism, I’ve been unable to learn it. What you speak of is something which I personally yearn for, and that you offer it for virtually no price at all . . . thank you. I will readily make the promise which you demand, should you finish your volume.”
“As shall I,” Valis agreed, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Marin. “I often wondered why you offered so much of your own wealth to help establish the Association. The king may have chosen to help establish it if you hadn’t, but the nobility would have made raising the funds difficult. Donating the land and the funds that you did allowed the establishment to happen far more easily, and for a cause which I find noble. Thank you.”
Hothar cleared his throat, looking sheepish as he looked at the floor and spoke. “I put my foot rather firmly in my mouth when I spoke to you on testing day, didn’t I?”
“You did. ‘So-called research’ I believe were your exact words,” Marin agreed, a hint of mirth to her smile, though she tried not to show it. “It was somewhat painful, Hothar. You’d been one of the few who hadn’t criticized my goal before that, and right before I had it to the point I felt I could share it with someone. You had horrible timing.”
“If you’re trying to make me feel like even more of a fool, you’re doing an excellent job,” Hothar told her dryly, sitting back with a laugh. “I’m sorry I said that. I was frustrated and worried that you’d die without an heir. I see that I was short-sighted, even as I accused you of that. I’m sorry, and I’ll agree to your requirements.”
“I don’t recall ever criticizing your research, but if I did so, I apologize.” Larin spoke slowly, the distant man studying Marin, then shrugging. “I find your demand reasonable, on a personal basis. I simply hope that it’s something which I can adapt to, as I’ve spent many years learning my own arts.”
“High Mage Windsong, you’ve always been distant and . . . well, above the tawdry conflicts that most magi get involved in. You’ve never criticized me in any way, but neither have you supported me, but I don’t blame you for that. We’re simply very different people,” Marin told him, unable to resist a small joke. “That being said, you’re also one of the magi who I believe will be able to adapt most readily to what I’ve discovered. Your . . . style, for lack of a better term, is similar enough that you should find it relatively easy.”
“Most interesting. Thank you, High Mage Marin,” Larin replied, the man’s eyebrows narrowing thoughtfully.
Clearing his throat, Valis spoke again. “With all of that . . . discussed, really, I want to ask opinions on another matter. If Marin is right about others wanting to ensure that her research doesn’t reach fruition, we may be in more danger than anticipated. With that in mind, I intend to petition the king to send a detachment of the army to attempt to secure the surrounding area for us. They won’t be able to stop all of the potential infiltrators, but they should be able to at least reduce the danger to the Association.”
“I agree with that,” Hothar spoke immediately, nodding firmly. “Even if somehow Marin’s research doesn’t pan out, the threats we’ve been under already more than justify asking for additional security.”
Reesa nodded, as did Marin and Larin, the latter speaking calmly. “There is only so much we can do, but I believe it might be good to speak to the other Association members about security as well. If any would be willing to help patrol the area, it might help the military.”
Hothar nodded, smiling as he said, “I’ll talk to them as I can. Valis, I’d say go ahead and make the petition as soon as you can. It’ll take the king time to decide, no matter what he chooses in the end.”
“I’ll send a letter tomorrow,” Valis told him. “In the meantime, unless there’s anything else, I could use some rest.”
A chorus of farewells ensued, with Larin leaving first, then Reesa and Hothar. Marin lingered a few moments, raising an eyebrow at Emonael as she asked, “Are you coming, Emonael? I was going to ask you a few questions about the spells you used.”
“Would you mind if I came over to talk about them tomorrow, Teacher? I wanted to speak to Valis for a little while,” Emonael asked, looking at the fire mage. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not! I can stay up for a while more if necessary; I just don’t want to be embroiled in politics while recovering,” Valis replied, laughing in amusement.
Marin smiled and nodded. “Well, in that case, I’ll leave you two to it. Have a good evening, both of you.”
She headed out of the tower, pausing to cast a warmth spell before stepping out into the rain, shaking her head as she did so. Marin ensured she was well away from the tower before she murmured softly, “Succubi, so predictable in some ways. Though he is handsome, I must admit.”
Chapter 12
“Teacher? Where are you?” Emonael called out, looking around the library in concern.
“I’m up here, Emonael!” Marin replied, her voice coming from the upper floor of the tower, and prompting a blink of surprise from the succubus. She’d never seen Marin go up there before!
Emonael quickly headed for the stairs, climbing to the upper floor of the tower. Despite working with Marin for several months, she hadn’t had time to explore everywhere in her teacher’s tower, and her only glimpse of this floor had shown that it was full of chests and cabinets filled with a host of materials that she didn’t know the use of.
Marin was kneeling on the floor, marking down runes in chalk carefully. Emonael blinked, then asked. “Teacher? What’re you doing?”
“This is part of a ritual spell, Emonael. A slightly different form of magic, it draws power from outside t
he wielder as well as on their own mana reserves, and allowing them to, at least in theory, cast far more powerful spells than they might be able to power if they were drawing solely on their own mana,” Marin replied, her voice only slightly distracted. “It also allows spellcasters to combine their strength for the rituals . . . but it’s rather difficult. I found that dwarven magi were particularly good at it, since their art of enchanting seems to make their magic more similar to one another, and their runes help focus the spells.”
“I see. So what is this spell, then?” Emonael asked, looking at the circle in concern. There were nearly a hundred symbols, and she recognized many of them as the symbols formed by spells, but she wasn’t sure where the spell started or ended.
“This is a hanging spell, Emonael. It’s far more complex than what I could normally cast aloud, simply due to how long and complex it is. I have theories that far more potent versions could exist . . .” Marin shook her head. “Never mind that. That’s far too complicated for the moment. No, this spell is one which I’ll cast, and which will activate on my command. Remember how I mentioned that the library would go up in flames if I die?”
“Of course I do. You’d better not be planning to do that with this spell, Teacher. I’ll be very upset with you,” Emonael threatened quietly, and Marin laughed in response.
“Oh, I imagine you would be. No, that spell I set up a while ago, along with another one. This spell is a bit more . . . focused. It brings up a powerful barrier that shields the tower from harm from the outside, but which also traps those within inside,” Marin explained. “If the tower’s attacked, it might help keep us safe until we can be rescued. Not the best solution, but it’s at least a bit more security.”
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