Chosen by the Dragon God (Chapters 101-110)
Chandagnac
Broken Robot
- Location
- Nowhere
The Price of Liberty (Part One)
Late in the evening, after the other girls have gone, you make sure to wrap your arms around Jana and Catharne, pulling them both into a warm hug. "Thank you for today. You didn't have to, but I'm glad you did," you say. "I hope you enjoyed it too.""It's been fun," says Jana, with a nod.
"It's your birthday as well," you remind her. "Has it been everything you wanted?"
She pauses, considering for a moment. "I can't complain," she says, with a crooked smile. "Does anyone ever get everything they want?"
"I don't know," you say, feeling foolish. "But would that really be desirable? I mean, you'd have nothing left to strive for."
"Words of wisdom," says Jana, with a nod.
"I enjoyed it. But then I always enjoy our birthday," says Catharne, who is a sweet and uncomplicated person.
"Considering that… ah, card game we played, I'm looking forward to the future with some trepidation." Jana grimaces. "But I suppose there's no point in worrying about it now. Enjoy life while you can, that's what I always say."
"Now who's being wise?" you tease her.
Another nod, but she appears lost in thought and doesn't reply.
Finally, you release them from your loving hug, yawn and stretch, and say, "Here's to another year. Let's make it a good one!"
They both assent to that.
Almost a week later, you interrupt one of your lessons with Raef by saying to him, "I want to free Green Flame from slavery. Will you help me?"
"Hmm. A worthy cause," he says. "Of course, I agree with you that it must be done, sooner rather than later. But have you thought this through?"
"I have a plan. I'm putting together a team to help me carry it out," you say. "And I was hoping that you and Samaya would join me."
"Before I accept, there are a few questions I want to ask. Bear in mind that I hate slavery. I hate the fact that the Sambian Empire practises slavery and that all elves within their borders are automatically taken as slaves. I hate that slaves are treated as if their lives had little or no value. However…" He pauses, gathering his thoughts. "Ah. Green Flame is in an unusual position. She is safe and comfortable, in a relatively privileged position – even if many of the pupils and members of the faculty despise her for being a slave and an elf, there are many others who admire and respect her – and her ostensible 'master' gives her a surprising amount of leeway and seems willing to turn a blind eye to some of her more suspicious actions and decisions."
"I don't trust Prentigold," you say. "He's creepy."
"As I understand it, he has survived by playing off many different sides against each other. You can trust him to do whatever will benefit him the most, even if in all other respects he is untrustworthy."
You pause, carefully considering what he just said, which doesn't seem quite right to you. "I've read Green Flame's journal, in which she describes his interactions with Dumar and some of the other members of the Mystic Path. Although they seemed keen to recruit him, he was rather standoffish with them, despite the rich rewards they had to offer."
"No reward is worth dying for," says Raef. "Prentigold has a strong survival instinct. He wouldn't get involved in something that would likely get him killed, no matter what they offered him."
"How do you know so much about Prentigold?" you ask. "He became headmaster after Dumar deposed you, didn't he? Did you know him before?"
"Back when I was headmaster, Prentigold was already a famed battlemage. Despite his reputation as a patriotic hero of the Sambian Empire, many of his actions were those of a cautious pragmatist, an intelligent and sensible man who… Well, it doesn't matter now, but at one time I thought he might be an acquaintance worth cultivating." He hesitates, shakes his head, and says, "Anyway, that's beside the point. I apologize for getting distracted. What I meant to say is this: before you put your plan into action, you should consider what the likely consequences will be for Green Flame. You want to free her, to make her life better, but what if you end up making things worse? What about her four little ducklings, the members of Cadre 1F? They adore her and she adores them in return. Do you think she'd be willing to leave them? If so, what will happen to them? Would she thank you for rescuing her and leaving them in danger?"
"You don't think I should rescue her?" you ask, eyes wide with surprise.
"I didn't say that. Just that you should consider the consequences of your actions. You have good intentions, but if you aren't careful you will cause havoc, spreading pain and misery among those you wish to help. I agree with you that freeing Green Flame from slavery would be a noble thing to do. Just don't ruin her life in the process."
As he speaks, he looks solemnly down at you. Currently, he appears to be a grey-bearded old man, dignified and stately, which makes his acting like a 'wise and experienced mentor' much more credible than if he was wearing the form of a young and coltish teenage girl like he did the last time you visited Tyrepheum. You look at him wide-eyed and nod your agreement, unsure of how else to respond.
"You could join us in our attempt to free Green Flame," you tell Mishrak, a few days later. "Even if she is compelled to fight any attempt to free her, she could not withstand your might."
"My power is not easily contained. As soon as I appeared in Tyrepheum – or anywhere for miles around – everyone with even a smattering of magical talent would sense my presence," he points out. "I would attract too much attention."
"You rescued me from there once before," you point out. "And I don't remember anyone making a fuss about that."
"That's because I went there and was gone almost in the same instant. By the time anyone came to investigate, there was no evidence left behind. Besides, it happened in the middle of the Academy, so – after they made sure it wasn't the kind of bizarre occurrence that leads to disaster – I'm sure they wrote it off as yet another magical accident in a place where such things are exceedingly common."
"So, you won't help me?" You look at him with eyes welling up with disappointment.
"I didn't say that," he replies. "You are my Chosen. It's time to show the world what that means. When you have most need of help, you may draw upon my power. You will be my avatar; godlike strength will be yours, for a short time at least. In that way, I will be there to aid you." There is a pause while you consider this startling offer. "I trust you will only do this during times of direst need?"
"Oh, yes," you assure him. "You can trust me."
Red Ruin isn't difficult to find. Most of the time, he's aboard a ship, serving as a marine and seeking battle against the Aspitis. Otherwise, he will often spend time with his orcish friends in the underwater palace, laughing, joking and reminiscing. On this particular day, that's where you find him.
You wait for a lull in the conversation he's having. Then, when he and his friends fall silent, you march boldly over to him and say, "I have a proposal for you."
"Even if I was interested, you're much too young for me," he replies, looking pleased with himself. Immediately afterwards, he spoils the moment by nudging one of the orcs closest to him and saying, "That's right, isn't it?"
"Yes," says the orc, in the deepest and gruffest voice you've ever heard. You suspect that he'd roll his eyes at Red Ruin's 'witticism' if he could. His face is a mass of scar tissue and he appears to have been designed to look as grotesque and fearsome as possible: a hulking brute with thick dark hair sprouting in matted clumps all over his body, except where yellowish pustules and scaly scabs have sprung up in between. The Betruri Empire wanted their orcs to be horrific. In your eyes at least, they succeeded.
"Not that kind of proposal!" you scoff, shaking your head and putting on a disgusted grimace. "I want you to help me free an elf from slavery."
"I'm interested," he says, after a moment's consideration. "When, where and under what circumstances?"
"Her name is Green Flame. She works as a teacher in the Sambian city of Tyrepheum, which would be nice if she got paid for her work. I'd free her myself if I could, but I suspect she'd be forced to attack anyone who attempted to do so."
"Ah… before I commit to anything, I'd like to know more," says Red Ruin. "I've been warned that I can be rather impetuous, but I'd like to avoid that if at all possible."
And so, over the next several minutes, you explain to him and his friends everything you know about Green Flame's situation as well as your plans for how to free her.
"To be honest, I'm not sure why you need me," he says. "You seem to have the situation well in hand."
"If she is compelled to attack me, I'll need someone who can fight back against her," you say. "Someone as skilled and capable as she is. Someone like you."
"Flattery will get you everywhere." He smirks. "Very well, I agree to your proposal. Together, we will free my kinswoman from bondage."
"Is she your kinswoman?" you ask.
"I consider all of Keron's elves to be my kin," he informs you. "Now… I'm sure my friends can do without me for a few days – isn't that right?"
The orcs around him nod, growl or mutter their agreement.
"With or without your help, we can fight," says one of them.
"You'd only get in our way," says another, baring long sharp fangs in a mocking grin.
"Excellent," says Red Ruin. Then, nodding at you, he continues, "I am at your disposal. When you need me, let me know."
As you are turning to leave, another thought occurs to him: "I had thought that the life of a princess must be dreadfully boring, but perhaps I was wrong. Is this sort of thing normal for you?"
"Yes, perfectly normal," you assure him. "Every day, a new adventure."
"How marvellous!" he cries, looking very impressed.
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Two)
"Really?" You vaguely remember hearing something about that, but you can't remember who told you or when.
"Yes, she rescued four pointy-eared beauties from the harem of the King of Sarn, I remember. And I'm sure she's rescued dozens more since then. No doubt she could give you some useful advice," he says. "Or she might agree to come along with you. Either way, that'll make things easier, won't it?"
You give a thoughtful nod. "Thank you. I'll bear that in mind."
"Hey, no problem," he replies, giving you a dazzling smile. "When you need me, just let me know. I'll be ready and waiting."
The next time you see Raef, during your next lesson with him, you have something to say: "I don't want to destroy Green Flame's life. If she wants to stay where she is, teaching at the Tyrepheum Academy and being mother duck to Dorian and his friends, that's fine by me. But I want it to be her choice. For thousands of years, she's had no choice at all: first, Keron stripped away her soul, turned her into an automaton and made her fight demons until eventually she was on the brink of death. Her broken body was discovered by a wizard who healed her and then enslaved her again. She was sold to a succession of masters who used and abused her as if she was nothing more than a toy. Finally, you got hold of her and tried to restore her soul – and I'm sure you would have freed her if you hadn't been defeated and imprisoned before you could – and since then she's been chained to the Academy, forced to do Prentigold's bidding. Even if he's been a fairly lax and indifferent master who hasn't forced her to do anything particularly degrading, he could have done. And the next headmaster might be much worse. So, possibly for the first time in her life, I want to give her the freedom to choose. What she does with that freedom is up to her."
Raef claps his hands together. "Bravo! Obviously, you've spent quite some time thinking about this. I approve and… yes, I agree with you."
"So, you'll help me?" you ask.
"Of course," he says, beaming at you.
"Before I do anything else, I want to talk to Samaya," you say. "I've heard she's rescued plenty of elves and could give me some good advice as to how to go about it."
"That sounds reasonable," says Raef. "I'll arrange a meeting for you."
In a small room, in the undersea palace, Samaya is waiting for you. She has taken the form of a nondescript middle-aged woman with lightly tanned skin and short grey hair. "I've been told you want to talk to me. Go ahead," she says without preamble.
"I want to free an elf named Green Flame, who is being kept as a slave at the Tyrepheum Academy," you begin.
Before you can continue, she grimaces, closes her eyes and says, "I know her. Of course I do. She was one of my brother's projects."
"Yes, he was trying to restore her soul and free her." You nod. "But he was unable to finish his work because–"
"I know," she says, through gritted teeth. "You don't have to remind me."
As far as you know, she doesn't even need to breathe, but she takes several deep breaths and makes a visible effort to steady herself.
"I… I had hoped never to go back to Tyrepheum," she says, trembling. "That's where everything went wrong."
"You don't have to come with us," you try to reassure her. "More than anything else, I wanted to discuss with you how to remove her slave brand."
"Simple enough. I've done it dozens of times. You just have to…" She frowns. A look of trepidation crosses her face. "Actually… I should come with you. I can show you how to do it, I can guide you through it, but if I'm not there and you make the slightest mistake…"
"You don't have to," you tell her. "I was thinking of asking my big sister, Bellona, to come with us instead."
"The Chosen of Teryn?" she murmurs. "Well, I'm sure she could do it, but… No, I should be there. I can't – I shouldn't – I won't live in fear forever."
"Well, if you're sure," you say, giving her a doubtful look.
As the Chosen of Teryn, Bellona has duties that take her far away from the undersea palace, but you manage to catch her one evening when she comes to visit your parents.
"Um. Good evening, Elys," she says, blinking owlishly at you, after you ask to speak to her alone. "I hadn't expected to see you here. I thought you were away at boarding school."
"Yeah, that's where I'm supposed to be, but they don't bother to keep track of my comings and goings these days," you say, waving a dismissive hand.
"How convenient for you."
"It makes things easier, certainly. I have plenty of time and opportunities to work on my projects outside of school. For instance, I'm currently working on a plan to free an elf named Green Flame from slavery. I've already enlisted Raef, Samaya and Red Ruin. And I thought you'd be a worthy addition to the team. How about it?"
"Raef and Samaya are the shapeshifting elves, is that right?" she asks, her eyes widening slightly. "And Red Ruin as well? Impressive allies you've assembled. In which case, I can't see why you'd need me as well."
"I want to make absolutely certain we'll succeed. I consider Green Flame to be a friend of mine and I don't want to fail her."
"She's an ensouled elf but still a slave? That is… unusual."
"One of her former masters was trying to restore her soul. It was a pet project of his," you say, but don't go into further detail. "Will you help me?"
"What will you need me to do?" she asks.
"She's a powerful mage, so… If she's forced to fight back against anyone trying to free her, it would be helpful if you could restrain her. And, if we have to move her somewhere else so we can remove the slave brand without being disturbed, I suspect her slave brand might cause her severe pain, so I'd like it if you – or someone else – could numb the pain or make her fall asleep in such a way that she wouldn't feel anything."
"I can do that. And… well, I have other responsibilities, but they shouldn't keep me occupied all of the time. When do you want to do this?"
"I'll let you know," you promise her. "When I've got everything ready, I'll tell mom and dad and they'll let you know. Is that all right?"
"Fine by me," says Bellona with a nod. "I'll look forward to it."
Several days later, when you've assembled your team, you travel to Tyrepheum's goblin town, which you plan to use as a base of operations. The goblins there are friendly and familiar with you already, likely to be sympathetic to elves and other oppressed peoples, and are unlikely to gossip with anyone outside their own close-knit community.
It is early evening, but the city streets are still full of all sorts of people; you have good reason to believe that your movements will go unnoticed. However, when you offer to scout ahead, you are surprised to find that the Academy of the Magical Arts appears to be the site of a celebration of some kind: the main gates are open, layers of mud and grime have been removed from the paving slabs outside, and you can see a few richly-dressed old men standing around smoking pipes and chatting with each other; bright lights are floating around like miniature suns, you can hear soft piano music, and one of the school buildings appears to have been repurposed as a banqueting hall.
Also, you recognise Simony
"What's going on?" you ask, after sidling unobtrusively up to him.
"Fundraising evening," he says. "Want a drink? The first one's free. And the second and third and so on. Anything for our guests, you know?"
You squint suspiciously at him. "Are you getting paid for this?"
"School fees waived for the next few weeks. Seemed like a good idea to me. My brother thought the same thing – and his little friends as well – you'll find them around here somewhere. I mean, I take it you've come to see them."
"Surely they wouldn't have needed every pupil at the school to serve as waiting staff, so how did you and Cadre 1F get chosen?" you ask. "And what's happened to everyone else?"
"They only asked pupils with a proven record of good behaviour and academic excellence to stay tonight," says Simony, putting on a beatific smile. "All the others have been given the day off to spend with their families. Or the space gonne. Or whatever."
"So… Phil and his friends are serving as waiters. And I suppose all the teachers are here, hobnobbing with the nobility and trying to persuade them to donate," you surmise. "Does that include Green Flame? I doubt that 'the great and good' would take kindly to her mingling with them as if she were an equal, so has she been shoved into a cupboard somewhere?"
"She's here to look decorative. You know: mouth shut, tits out, little black dress, and so on."
"Tits out? She's as flat as a board!" you protest. You feel that it is rather demeaning for Green Flame to be treated as if she were a beautiful statue, but saying that out loud might attract too much attention and suspicion, so you restrict yourself to questioning his choice of words.
"Oh, I like you. I really do." He chuckles happily. "You're such fun."
"Um… thank you?"
He goes on to explain: "Green Flame is a shapeshifter, at least to a minor extent. Maybe she can't transform into birds or animals or pieces of furniture, but she can at least grow her hair long, expand her breasticles and hide those clunky gauntlets she insists on wearing."
"Those gauntlets are part of her body. Keron gave her a full suit of armour just like that."
"Shame she doesn't have much opportunity to wear it these days." He shrugs. "For the past few centuries, she's had masters who've dressed her up like a doll: forced her to wear pretty frocks and lacy underwear, or much less than that."
"And how do you feel about that?" you ask, shrewdly, wondering if you've found an unexpected ally.
He is silent for several moments, long enough that you presume the conversation is over and start edging away from him. However, before you can leave, he says, "Many times in my life, I've had no choice at all. I've been a victim. Does it surprise you that I empathize with other people in similar circumstances?"
"I don't know. Creation has no shortage of hypocrites. There are plenty of people who've been abused and exploited who go on to abuse and exploit other people in turn."
"True enough. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a job to do. Good luck with whatever it is you're doing tonight. I'll be seeing you."
He gives you a nod and then walks away, approaching some of the guests and offering his tray of drinks to them.
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Three)
Before entering the 'banqueting hall' in which most of the evening's entertainments are taking place, you take the time to consult with Jana and Catharne, who are still lurking outside the school gates.
"Green Flame is in there," you say, pointing. "All dolled up and acting as 'decoration', apparently."
Jana frowns, looking discomforted. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Wearing a skimpy dress, having used her shapeshifting powers to enhance her good looks, and maybe she'll have to dance and flirt with a few local bigwigs. That sort of thing."
"I suppose it could be worse," says Jana, with a relieved sigh. "All right, how do you propose we go about this?
"I intend to go in there and see what's what. You should come with me," you say.
"Are you sure? The more of us there are, the greater the chance that someone will notice we're not supposed to be there," Jana warns. "You might be better off on your own. Or I could go instead?"
"Or I could," Catharne offers. She seems eager to contribute.
"We'll all go," you decide. "We'll sneak in, pretend to be students here at the Academy, and no one will notice."
"Surely the teachers will notice. Or Prentigold himself," says Jana. "They're bound to realise they don't teach any of us."
"We'll stay out of their way and be very subtle." You give her an encouraging smile. "Trust me."
"Yeah, right. Subtle. That's not a word anyone has ever used to describe you before," Jana mutters. "But… all right, we might as well get on with it."
Inside the school building, you see a crowd consisting largely of the local aristocracy: fat middle-aged men swathed in fine silks; sour-faced women who appear to be clad in cushions or curtains studded with glittering jewels; various others who are even more ostentatiously or eccentrically dressed, most of whom you assume must be teachers here at the Academy; and a few teenagers serving as waiters, carrying trays of drinks or canapés. You recognize Dorian, Venta, Philander and Isolia among them. They're wearing their school uniforms and looking rather anxious, stiff and uncomfortable.
Catharne makes a beeline for the nearest waiter and helps herself to a canapé. And then another one. You give her a nudge and point her towards the buffet table on the other side of the room. Watching her wriggle through the mass of people blocking the way, rushing towards her goal with single-minded enthusiasm, you wonder if it was a mistake to bring her with you. Of course, you can't really blame her for her behaviour: as a dragonling, she is as large as a horse, which means that she needs huge quantities of food just to stay healthy. Even when she has shapeshifted into something smaller and lighter, she still needs a great deal of nourishment. She may appear greedy and gluttonous, but it isn't as if she has much choice; if she doesn't keep eating, she'll starve.
"Maybe she'll be a distraction," Jana mutters. "Anyway, let's do what we came here to do."
You look around for Green Flame. It takes you a few minutes to find her. She is surrounded by hungry gazes, as if she were a rare and delicious morsel to be fought over. Of course, she is a beautiful, elegant woman, as always; but today, she appears distinctly curvier than usual, is wearing a slinky backless dress that reveals a startling amount of cleavage, and her delicate face is framed by masses of long dark green hair. Her expression is as blank and emotionless as ever.
"S-she's exquisite," says Jana, reverently.
Shaking your head at her, you say, "Come on, Jana, you're better than that."
Blinking a few times, she shakes her head and makes a visible effort to pull herself together. "Um. Y-yes, ma'am."
As you circle around Green Flame, considering the best way to approach her, you can't help but notice that the edges of her slave brand are just barely visible where her low-cut dress meets the small of her back. Seeing that, you can't help but feel indignant on her behalf.
"Give us a smile," says one of the men. "You'd be perfect if you smiled more."
"Entirely possible," says Green Flame, without much interest.
You are about to intervene when another man appears, shoving his way through the crowd. He is a stocky older fellow with dyed and pomaded hair, bedecked in so much glittering jewellery that he looks like a chandelier. Much to your surprise, you see he is dragging Opernus Prentigold with him. The headmaster looks irritated, but doesn't protest or make any attempt to extricate himself.
Pointing one stubby finger at Green Flame, the bejewelled figure says, "I want her. Name your price!"
"Three billion gold pieces," says Prentigold, straightening up and dusting himself off.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"Who's being ridiculous? I possess that which is unique; therefore, it is mine to keep, or I may choose to sell it for whatever price I wish. I trust I don't need to explain 'ownership' to you, do I?" Prentigold shakes his head and looks at the bejewelled figure with an expression of insincere pity. "Besides, she doesn't belong to me: she belongs to the Academy, to this institute of learning as a whole."
"As do we all," says a portly fellow with a yard-brush moustache and a pudding-basin haircut, who is as plainly-dressed as a monk; after some thought, you conclude that he must be one of the teachers. "In different ways, of course."
"Indeed," says Prentigold, acknowledging him with a nod.
You spend a few moments contemplating the price for which Prentigold said he'd sell Green Flame: three billion gold pieces! Is there even that much money in the entire world? Gold pieces are actually quite rare; silver shards and copper bits are more commonly used for day-to-day transactions. Each gold piece is worth approximately twelve silver shards – their exact value depends on how much they've been clipped or debased with lesser metals – and each silver shard is worth approximately twelve copper bits. Three billion gold pieces would be the equivalent of thirty-six billion silver shards. Across the whole of Creation, you doubt that such a colossal sum of money of money exists; even Mishrak doesn't have that much money in his vast treasure hoard!
It seems clear to you that the enigmatic headmaster has no intention of selling Green Flame, not for any price. But would he be similarly unwilling to release her from slavery, if someone tried to persuade him that it was the right thing to do? Honestly, you have no idea.
At the same time, you consider what to do next. Perhaps Jana or Catharne could cause a distraction while you approach Green Flame and smuggle her away. For instance, Catharne could suddenly reveal her true form, which would be very distracting… but there are a lot of powerful mages here, so she would very almost certainly be badly hurt or killed if she did that. Alternatively, you could… uh, do something outside that would attract a lot of attention. Perhaps Dorian and his friends would be willing to help with that. Or you could approach Prentigold directly, you suppose. It's possible that he's willing to be reasonable.
"So many admirers you have, my dear," says Prentigold, reaching out and cupping Green Flame's chin in one hand, forcing her to look directly at him, meeting his piercing gaze with her own blank stare. "I can only hope they have been suitably restrained in expressing their… ah, feelings for you."
"One of them tried to touch my breasts," says Green Flame matter-of-factly. "But I stopped him."
"And how did you do that?" asks Prentigold, looking mildly concerned.
"Slapped his hand away," is the reply.
Her 'owner' chuckles at that. Before withdrawing his hand, he pats her cheek as if she were an adorably precocious child. "Well, there you have it," he says, turning to survey the assembled crowd. "A lesson for you all: look but don't touch. She has my permission to defend herself. With whatever force she deems necessary."
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Four)
No one bats an eyelid when they see you and Jana go in there together. Apparently, it's quite common for teenage girls to visit the lavatories in groups, for mutual protection and to scare off would-be predators, or so they can continue to chatter and gossip while doing the necessary.
While you are in there – and before you can open a portal – you notice that the Tyrepheum Academy has flushing toilets. Runic magic is used to remove water and human waste from the bowl after a handle is pulled; then, a different set of runes refills the cistern with fresh water. It occurs to you that it would be quite easy to disrupt this process, simply by damaging the runic matrix, but first you would need to overcome whatever enchantments are supposed to guarantee its security and keep it from being interfered with. You're not an expert on enchantments and rune magic, so you may need to enlist someone to help you with this.
"Do you know anything about enchanting, Jana?" you ask, bending to examine the runes around the toilet bowl.
She shakes her head. "Nah. Why? What are you thinking?"
"If we tamper with these runes, we could cause these toilets to stop vanishing whatever is dropped into them. Instead, it would build up and eventually overflow, spilling foul-smelling slop everywhere."
"You mean shit and piss," says Jana, giving you a confused look. "Why are you being so euphemistic about it?"
"I was trying to put it delicately," you explain. "Because we're delicate flowers, aren't we?"
"Sure we are, Miss Muscles," she replies, with heavy irony.
"Actually, because it would be a problem if someone dropped something precious down the toilet that couldn't then be retrieved, I bet whatever gets flushed away doesn't just vanish into thin air," you theorize. "It's probably sent to a storage tank of some kind, where it gets filtered and sifted through before it's released into the sewers. So… what it there was a way to reverse the process? What if, instead of scooping things up from here and dumping them in the storage tank, it was the other way around?"
"That's disgusting," says Jana, catching on quickly. "You're horrible. And I used to think you were such a nice girl!"
"It's supposed to be disgusting. If the lavatories are getting filled up with human ordure, who do you think will be sent to clean it up?"
"Well, surely they must have a janitor?"
"First, they'd have to find him, explain the situation and tell him where to go. It would be easier to send Green Flame. Elves always get the mucky jobs. Maybe Prentigold will make her strip naked first, so her admirers will get an eyeful and she won't ruin her pretty dress."
Jana shakes her head at you. "Again, you're horrible."
"Tell me I'm wrong!" you challenge her.
"No. You're probably not wrong." She blinks rapidly and takes a deep, shuddering breath. "But I hate it. I really do."
"Well, that's why we're here," you say, pulling her into a hug. "There are wrongs to be righted, villains to be thwarted and so on. That's our job."
She sniffs and gives a barely perceptible nod. "It's hard, sometimes."
There comes a hammering on the door. "Are you nearly finished in there?" cries a panicky female voice. "It's just I really need to pee!"
"Maybe Simony would be willing to help us," you muse. "He seems like he'd enjoy a good practical joke."
"Or we could get Bellona, like we planned," Jana reminds you. "Either way, we should probably get out of here before that poor woman out there–" She indicates the door. " –wets herself."
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Five)
Raef, Samaya, Bellona and Red Ruin are all waiting for you, ready to help in your attempt to free Green Flame. However, when you explain your latest plan to them, you are dismayed by their lack of enthusiasm.
"You would have to stay in or near the lavatories while you were waiting for Green Flame to arrive," Bellona points out. "Do you want to have to stand in filthy water for however long it takes?"
"Well… I could stand on top of one of the toilets," you suggest.
"And then what?" asks Samaya. "What will you do when Green Flame approaches?"
"I'll greet her and then ask her to come with me through a portal to here."
"But will she be able to?" asks Raef, who seems genuinely curious as to the answer; it would appear that he doesn't know as much about how Green Flame is bound to the Tyrepheum Academy as he would like.
You shrug your shoulders. "She's studying portal magic. I assume she wouldn't be able to do that if there was no chance of her being able to use it."
"If she is unable to come through the portal, tell her to meet you in… um, the hidden room that used to belong to Kari," says Samaya, a faraway look in her eyes. "Unless they've entirely rebuilt that part of the Academy, it should still be there."
"There's a large section of the Academy that has effectively been abandoned. I'm sure the hidden rooms you used to know are still there," you assure her.
"So, either she will come to meet us here or you should tell her to meet us somewhere else in about half an hour's time," Red Ruin concludes. "Whatever she decides to do, you should come back and tell us so we can prepare."
"I will come with you to the women's lavatories inside the Academy," says Raef, transforming into a teenager girl who bears a striking resemblance to you and Jana, almost as if she was the half-sister of you both. "Instead of tampering with the enchantments that enable the toilets to flush, I will simply dispel them. Then, I will open a portal to the river that flows through this city – dirty stuff, since so much rubbish is dumped into it, but not as bad as what you were suggesting – and use it to form a large puddle on the lavatory floor. That should be enough to send waves of horror and disgust through Prentigold's guests after the next time someone goes in there. He will be forced to send someone to deal with the problem."
"And what if he doesn't send Green Flame?" asks Bellona. "What then?"
"Then, we'll just have to come up with another plan," you say, with a shrug. "Next time, maybe you should be in charge of the planning stage?"
"All right," she says, with a nod, apparently taking you seriously.
"But first, I should probably bring Catharne back here before anyone gets too suspicious at how much she can eat," you decide.
Fortunately, your plan seems to work fine, as far as you can tell. While Raef goes into the lavatory to work her magic, you and Jana stand near Green Flame and Prentigold, watching them. Prentigold is talking to the bejewelled figure dressed up as a chandelier, whom you saw earlier. They are talking in low voices and you can't hear anything they are saying. Are they using some kind of privacy spell like Jack used when you went to talk to her in that café, a few months ago? You can't be sure.
"That's Yuler Sagittarus," says Simony Balasteros, appearing next to you with a smirk. "Probably the richest man in the city. A prominent member of Melphior's cult."
"He's the one who tried to buy Green Flame," you murmur, horrified. "Told Prentigold to name his price."
"It's hard to tell if he's as much of an idiot as he appears," says Simony. "Maybe that's just part of his cover. But… if someone had plans to start a war, even if it was only a secret, private war, I should imagine they'd find it useful to have a living artillery piece on their side. Don't you think?"
You are so stunned by this latest news – you had assumed that the outrageously ornamented dandy's intentions were entirely sexual, so it comes as a terrible shock for you to find out that he might instead be planning to use Green Flame as a weapon of war – that you almost don't notice when someone comes running to Prentigold, shrieking that the toilets have flooded. Jana has to give you a sharp nudge before you can come back to your senses.
"Has someone been messing with the enchantments?" Prentigold muses. "Oh well, I suppose it'll have to be dealt with." Turning to the portly fellow with the yardbrush moustache, he says, "Sort it out for me, Emerijk, if you please?"
"I'll get it done, have no fear," Emerijk assures him.
"Perhaps I should go too," says Green Flame, seizing this opportunity to leave the room.
"I'm sure Professor Kunrath can solve the problem without your help, my dear," says Prentigold. "Though I'm sure he's grateful to you for the offer."
"She's a fire mage. If she knows that spell for drying things out, that'll be very useful," says Emerijk – or Professor Kunrath, as he is more formally known. "I mean, I don't know it, so I'd need her help with that."
"Oh, very well," says Prentigold with a careless shrug.
Green Flame walks over to Professor Kunrath and is about to go with him, but one of her admirers calls out to her, "But what about your pretty dress? You don't want to ruin it, do you?"
When she hears that, Green Flame seems to stiffen. Black chitin grows all over her body up to her neck. Then, she carelessly throws off her dress and leaves it on the floor. Much to her admirers' disappointment, her naked body is entirely covered in black, shell-like armour plates.
"That's good thinking," says Professor Kunrath. "But I'm not sure we'll need protective clothing. Hmm... Actually, do I have time to put on an apron? Maybe some rubber boots?"
Prentigold looks very amused, walks over to where Green Flame dumped her dress, picks it up and stuffs it into his pocket.
You and Jana follow Kunrath and Green Flame, at a distance, trying not to be noticed. As far as you can tell, it takes Green Flame hardly any time at all to dry out the puddle of dirty river water Raef deposited there, but it takes rather longer for Kunrath to finish repairing the enchanted flush toilets.
"You may as well go," he says, though his voice is barely more than a whisper from the next room. "We can't both work on this or we'll end up knocking our heads together."
"I'd rather stay," says Green Flame, uncomfortably.
"Maybe go back to your room," Kunrath suggests. "If anyone asks why, tell them you need to wash and get a change of clothes."
And so, you are able to intercept Green Flame on her way out. Her facial expressions are barely noticeable, but you think she is surprised to see you.
"I need to talk to you," you say. "Will you come with me?"
"I suppose so," she says. "Where are we going?"
You open a portal. "To the local goblin town."
Green Flame hesitates. "And… no further than that?"
"Just that far and no further," you promise her.
"Very well," says Green Flame, stepping through the portal. You and Jana hastily follow her.
On the other side, Raef is waiting for her, in his guise as Galadan the Mystic, flanked by Samaya and Bellona. Looking around, you see Red Ruin leaning against the wall behind Green Flame, seemingly at ease.
"You recognize me, don't you? You know who I am," says Raef. "I'm here to free you."
"You… you are not Galadan the Mystic," says Green Flame. Trembling, she crouches down low on the ground, like an insect trying to resist being blown away by a gale. "This is a trick."
Her hands burst into flame.
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Six)
"I am absolutely certain that the man who captured me and kept me imprisoned for so many years has a plan to cheat death and live forever," says Raef. "Him and all of his friends. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that they'd succeeded."
"By some diabolical means," says Bellona, sourly. You're sure she must be thinking of when the Mystic Path and their minions attacked Teryn's Necropolis, killed many of his servants and escaped with a considerable amount of rare and forbidden knowledge.
"Therefore, you are not really Galadan the Mystic," says Green Flame. She gathers the flames in her hands into a ball of compressed heat. You wince, expecting her to throw it at someone, but she hesitates, holding onto it, as if intending to use it as a deterrent rather than an offensive weapon.
"Ask him something that only the real Galadan would know," you urge her. "Then you'll know for sure."
She considers for a moment, then shakes her head almost imperceptibly. "Whatever questions I ask, I'm sure they could have tortured the answers out of him. Or… or kept his brain in a jar so they could continue to extract knowledge from him."
"What an imagination you have!" cries Raef, sounding pleased and proud. "What would Prentigold say if he could see you now?"
"I… I'm sure I have–" The fireball in Green Flame's hands suddenly disperses, sending a wave of prickly heat over you, your companions and the surrounding area. Slowly, as if she were being gently lowered to the floor, she slumps forward, unconscious.
"This isn't the first time I've had to free an elf whose slave bonds forced them to resist," says Samaya, examining her hands as if she might have chipped a nail. "Shall we continue?"
You, Jana and Catharne hang back while Bellona, Raef and Samaya examine Green Flame's unconscious body and discuss how they can remove her slave brand.
Her chitinous armour is the first obstacle they have to bypass; they need to find a way to remove it so they can examine the magical runes that keep her bound to her 'master'. Raef suggests that they should wake her up and ask her to remove it. They discuss the merits and flaws in this plan for a little while before Bellona comes up with an alternative suggestion:
"According to some theories, the magical arts of illusions and shapeshifting are closely related. Some would say that you do not actually change shape, but merely convince the rest of the world that you have. After all, you can transform into something larger and heavier than yourself – or smaller and lighter – so where does the extra mass come from? And where does it go? The answer is that it never existed, but you used your magic to change yourself – and the world around you – as if it did. All of Creation is a shared dream or delusion. Magic is but the tool we use to reshape it."
"So, what are you saying?" asks Samaya, looking bemused.
"Green Flame's heavy armour is a product of her shapeshifting, which means there is an unreal quality to it. In a way, it is an illusion. Therefore, it may be possible to dispel it."
"It was given to her by our creator, Keron of the Elder Gods. There's a good chance that it's more real than anything else about her," says Red Ruin, who you are surprised to learn has been listening in to this conversation, despite his looking bored and listless as if he'd rather be anywhere else.
"In the version of reality you see before you, Green Flame is heavily armoured, but there is another version of reality in which she isn't wearing anything at all," Bellona continues as if she hadn't been interrupted. Much as you love her as your elder sister, you can't help thinking that she comes across as being very eccentric sometimes.
"Yes, well… we're all naked under our clothes," Jana mutters under her breath.
"We'll give it a try," says Raef in a dubious tone.
They set to work. Before long, Green Flame's chitinous armour seems to disappear. She is once again naked and they can begin the process of unravelling her magical slave brand.
"Let's go indoors, somewhere private," says Samaya, looking around uneasily. "After all we've done for them, I'm sure the Temple of Zora Alishanda will allow us the use of one of their rooms. For the sake of modesty and dignity."
The others agree that this is a good idea. Carrying Green Flame between them, they trudge towards the local Temple of Zora Alishanda, here in Tyrepheum's goblin town.
Meanwhile, evidently feeling unnecessary to proceedings, Red Ruin comes over to talk to you. "So… that was easier than expected," he says. "I take it you don't need me for anything?"
"Let me introduce you to one of the Night Blades," you say. "They're currently fighting a shadow war against the Melphior cultists who've been murdering the goblins of this city. I'm sure a renowned warrior such as yourself would be very welcome among them."
You're not entirely sure about that: the Night Blades are stealthy and sneaky, preferring to trap or ambush their foes, whereas Red Ruin is more of a blunt instrument. Still, blunt instruments have their uses.
He beams at you. "Lead the way!"
Over an hour later, you return to the Temple of Zora Alishanda to find Bellona waiting for you there. "The procedure was a success," she says, without preamble. "The slave brand's magic has been undone even if the scar itself remains. Now it is no longer enchanted, her natural healing factor will eventually remove it. For now… I believe there was some talk of her maintaining her cover as a teacher at the Tyrepheum Academy?"
You nod. "Yes. Well, if she wants to."
"Well, unless someone gets suspicious and decides to examine it closely, they should have no reason to suspect that the enchantments are no longer working."
"Has she woken up yet?" you ask. "May I speak to her?"
"Yes, the last I saw of her, she was sitting up in bed and talking to Raef," says Bellona. "I'm sure she'd like to speak to you."
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Seven)
"Keron was never your father," says Raef, completely missing the point. "To him, you were nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded."
"Tools such as us, we have to look after each other," says Green Flame. "Because if we don't, who will?"
"I'll look after you!" you cry, rushing over to her and throwing your arms around her before she can react. "And I'm sure your pupils would as well, if you'd let them."
"Well, that's…" Green Flame blinks at you. "Thank you."
You give her a beaming smile. "Congratulations on your newfound freedom! What do you plan to do with it?"
She pauses, considering.
"You could come back to Quellonia with me. I'm sure you could get a job at the Engelram Academy, if you still want to be a teacher," you suggest.
"I… think I should stay here. As if nothing had changed, for a while," she says. "My children need me. Um, that is to say… my pupils need me. Especially Venta. While Melphior's cultists are attacking Tyrepheum's goblin population, she is in particular danger. Besides, no one will be safe if their vile master succeeds in taking over the world of dreams. I will do whatever I can to stop them."
You nod. "That sounds good to me."
"I know you've been learning how to use portal magic. A commendable effort," says Raef. "But, of course, you have been learning from a book and by experimenting on your own, so there has been no one to check your work or correct your mistakes. I could do that for you, if you'd like."
"That would be helpful. Thank you," Green Flame replies. Then, turning to you, she says, "I understand that you were the one who hired the Night Blades."
"Uh, on Mishrak's behalf," you say. "He's the one who's been paying them."
"And you asked Red Ruin to aid them in their endeavours," she continues, striving towards the point you assume she is trying to reach.
"Well, yes," you admit. "But how do you know that?"
"Your friend, Catharne, told me that's where you'd gone," says Raef. "Was she not supposed to?"
"I'm sure she was just trying to be helpful," you say, after a moment's thought.
"So, would I be right in saying that you are the one coordinating efforts to fight back against Melphior's cultists?" asks Green Flame. "Even if you are doing it on Mishrak's behalf."
You can't help but squirm a little at that. It seems a heavy responsibility to place on your young shoulders. Although you are still clinging to Green Flame and your transferred body heat in combination with her blankets must be making her very warm, she makes no effort to remove you.
"Isn't that what you've been training for since the moment you were born?" asks Jana, from somewhere behind you. Until now, she has been so quiet that you'd forgotten she was there, patiently shadowing you. "You're a princess, born to be queen. And then you became Mishrak's Chosen, his representative in the mortal world. Like it or not, people will be looking to you for leadership." Then, as an aside, she mutters under her breath, "I hope none of this comes as a surprise to you."
"Yes, I'm aware of that, Jana. I'm not a fool," you insist, though you feel a burning blush spread across your face.
"I wonder if you could recruit Professor Kunrath to join the fight against the cultists," says Green Flame, ignoring the interruption. "Because he is half-Wranni, half-Sambian, he is something of an outcast; many Sambians are suspicious that he may have rebel sympathies while their Wranni counterparts see him as a shameful collaborator, so he is not truly welcome anywhere. I suspect it's for that reason he seems to sympathize with me and other outcasts. For example, I would have found it difficult to leave the party with you earlier if he hadn't given me a convenient excuse. He rarely leaves the Academy, so I doubt he is a demon worshipper or in contact with any of them. And he is a highly skilled alchemist who could brew magic potions and other items that I'm sure your allies would find extremely useful." There is a pause. Then, as an afterthought, she says, "Also, he is one of Dorian's favourite teachers."
"He sounds like a useful contact to make," you agree. "But… it's getting late. He's probably in bed by now."
"He may not be," says Jana. "I mean, how long do these parties usually go on for?"
"Until quite late," says Green Flame, getting up, brushing you off, and moving to gaze out of the window. "Later than this, certainly." A thought occurs to her: "I should return to my room before anyone gets too suspicious."
"Won't they already be suspicious?" you ask. "You've been gone for well over an hour."
"I doubt Prentigold will send anyone to check. There are too many other things demanding his attention right now. Besides, he has already had his fun with me: paraded me in front of the crowds, which he says is 'character building'. Apparently, if I do it often enough, I will someday be a real girl."
You give Green Flame a concerned look. "Doesn't that bother you?"
"There are much worse things he could do to me," she replies, with a small shrug. "Such petty taunts bother me not at all. In fact, I suspect that he honestly believes he is doing me a favour."
Shaking your head at that, you mutter, "Right…"
*
The Price of Liberty (Part Eight)
Sidling up to him, you smile and say, "May I speak to you privately, professor?"
He blinks at you. "Er… yes, I suppose. Shall we step outside?"
"As long as you're sure we won't be overheard," you say.
"You're being very secretive," he says, looking worriedly at you. "Is everything all right?"
"I hope so," you say. "I'll explain outside. Or wherever we can talk privately."
In the end, he leads you to his school office. Though it is larger and more spacious than Green Flame's, it is crammed full of alchemical equipment: there are alembics, crucibles, retorts and other pieces of glassware you don't recognize; one pestle and mortar set is made of wood, another is made of polished marble and a third is ceramic; there is a securely locked and magically sealed cabinet with a sign over it warning of dangerous acids; there are shelves of obscure books, boxes of rare and precious ingredients, and all kinds of scholarly treasures.
"Now, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asks, sitting behind his desk. Then, glancing at Jana and Catharne, he adds, "I'm sure you don't mind your friends listening in, do you?"
"No, I don't," you say. "They are my dear friends and I have no secrets from them."
He does not reply, but waits politely for you to explain your purpose in coming to him.
"I am Elys Allardyne, the Chosen of Mishrak," you say. "My patron and I – and many of our allies – are working together to thwart the schemes of the Demon Lord Melphior and his cultists who are trying to take over the world of dreams. Soon, the Usurper will attempt to kill Zora Alishanda and steal away her throne."
"Well, that is… terrifying," he says. "Let's say I believe you. Why are you telling me this?"
"I had hoped that you would help us."
He frowns. "How? What can I do to stand against gods and demons?"
"Do you know what Jaqari Pruyte has been building on the grounds of this academy?"
"The space gonne. Although… I believe they're building it atop one of the hills overlooking the city. They're only making tools and parts for it here in the Academy."
"Exactly," you say. "When it is complete, they will send an intrepid group of astronauts to the moon, where they will attempt to free Zora Alishanda. That is why Melphior and his minions are so eager to strike at her now, while she is still vulnerable."
"So what can I do to help?"
"I thought you could talk to Jaqari Pruyte, just in case the space gonne needs any components that only a master alchemist could make. Also, I've hired the Night Blades mercenary company to protect the goblins of Tyrepheum from the cultists' attacks. I'm sure they would appreciate it if you could make them some healing potions and suchlike."
He nods. "It would seem that I have several people I need to talk to. I know where to find the young Mr. Pruyte, of course. Even now, if he's not sleeping, I suspect he's busily working on his remarkable contraption. I'll admit that I hadn't taken it seriously until now. I had thought it a remarkable feat of engineering, combining several different branches of science and magic, but I expected Pruyte's passion and dreams would fall far short of the reality. Perhaps I was wrong. I suppose it's past time I offered him my help." There is a slight pause. After a few moments, he continues, "I don't know the Night Blades and I haven't seen them around. I suppose they have the good sense to stay out of sight and keep to the shadows, so no one can object to their being here in this city. In which case, could I prevail upon you to arrange an appointment for me with one of their representatives?"
"I can do that." You nod. "I'll do it tonight before I go home."
Another nod. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"I've been told that you are one of Dorian Valens' favourite teachers. Why do you think that is?"
"Why do you need to know?" he asks, raising a bushy eyebrow.
"Indulge me, please."
"Hmm. All right. Many of my pupils tend to enjoy learning about alchemy because it is a practical subject. There is very little sitting behind a desk listening to me telling them what to think. Instead… I prefer to think of it as a series of intricate puzzles that can be solved in multiple ways, which I suppose is another reason why Dorian and others like him enjoy it. Also, a significant number of pupils at this academy come from poorer backgrounds, who need money to support themselves. Even a little knowledge of alchemy can help them to do that. Even some of the simplest alchemical items are very much in demand and… well, even if they won't become rich from selling them, they can make enough money to survive."
"It sounds like life is difficult for them," you muse, wondering if you should bring up Mishrak's proposed scholarship.
"Oh, it is," says Kunrath. "For a great many people, it is."
"Thank you for talking to me," you say, bowing your head to him. "I'm sure I'll see you later."
Before you go home for the night, you make sure to contact one of the Night Blades and arrange for one of his superiors to talk to Professor Kunrath. Then, of course, you have to go back and let the Professor know when you've arranged the appointment for.
All in all, it's very late at night by the time you return to the others.
"Are you ready to go home?" asks Samaya.
Glancing around you see Raef and Bellona are there, Jana and Catharne are behind you, but… "Where's Red Ruin?" you ask.
"He says he's going to stay here for a while. The orcs will be perfectly fine without him for a few months," says Bellona.
"Oh." You consider that for a few moments. "All right then."
Samaya opens a portal. You step through it and back to your normal boring life. But first, sleep.
*
Waking Nightmares (Part One)
"Let me go with you," you say. "I could be useful to you."
"How?" asks the Night Blades' captain.
"I could disguise myself as one of the cult members and infiltrate their meeting," you suggest.
"That… ah, sounds like a terrible idea," says the captain, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment.
"I know two of the pupils at the Tyrepheum Academy are actually cultists. If we could capture them, then Jana and I could impersonate them. Or we could interrogate them to find out everything they know."
"It's an idea," the captain concedes. "Of course, you'll have to capture them first."
"I'll do it right away," you promise.
However, before you can do that, it occurs to you that there is another promise you want to keep: you will take Philander to the undersea palace where Bellona will try to undo the curses that bind him to his father. You find him in Green Flame's office, where he and the other members of Cadre 1F have gathered after finishing their lessons for the day.
"What, now?" He looks taken aback.
"Now's as good a time as any." You shrug. "Why, when did you think we should do it?"
"I suppose you're right," he mutters, though he doesn't seem comfortable with the idea.
"Perhaps we could all go with you?" Venta suggests. "For moral support."
"I can come too," says Green Flame, looking pleased. "There's nothing to stop me now."
And so, a little while later, you return to Tyrepheum's goblin town with Cadre 1F and Green Flame in tow. Through the portal to Mishrak's underwater palace you go, where you find Bellona pacing the floor; she seems eager to take part in raiding the cult meeting later on.
But first, you indicate Philander and say to her, "Could you examine my friend's soul? I think I've told you about him before."
"If you have, that was some time ago," she replies. "Why do you ask?"
You proceed to explain Philander's unusual family situation, the fact that he seems cursed to live up to his unusual name, and your reasons to suspect that his father will someday attempt to steal his body or that of one of his brothers or sisters. As she listens to you, Bellona looks increasingly grim.
"Come with me," she says, leading you and your friends to one of her private rooms. "Sit down." She takes particular care to usher Phil into a comfortable seat. "Now, with your permission…"
He gives a stiff nod. She places a hand on his forehead. After a few moments, her frown deepens. "What on earth is going on here?" she wonders aloud.
"Can't you fix it?" asks Phil, looking anxious.
"I didn't say that," she replies. "It's just… This will take some time to sort out."
"Is it all right if I leave you here in Belle's capable hands?" you ask. "It's just that there's something I need to do. It's important."
"Yes, yes," says Bellona, who seems absorbed in her work and isn't even looking at you. "If you're not around, I'll guide them back to the portal later. If they need it."
With Jana and Catharne beside you, you head back to the Tyrepheum Academy in search of Azquiol and Sillara Rayza, the twins you know are part of Melphior's cult. But how will you find them without attracting too much attention? Almost immediately, it occurs to you that the Night Blades are constantly watching over Jaqari Pruyte's workshop and its surroundings, which would include the main gate in and out of the Academy's grounds. Therefore, it's likely that they will have noticed the twins and be able to tell you something about their comings and goings, even if they don't have any other useful information.
You manage to attract the attention of one of the hidden Night Blades and speak to him privately in the alleyway between two of the outbuildings, just like before. He informs you that the twins haven't left the school premises today, unless they know a secret passage to the sewers or something.
"Do you have any idea where they might be?" you ask.
He shrugs. "Maybe in Achamat's gambling den? I've heard that their fat friend's lost large sums of money there."
"The one run by Simony Balasteros?"
"Sure. As far as I'm aware, there's only one."
You nod. "All right, thank you."
After that, you head inside the Academy's main building, to the room where you came across Simony's hidden gambling den once before. You find Yuler Sagittarus there, playing a card game and cursing his luck, flanked on either side by one of the twins who seem to be acting as his bodyguards. You expect to see Moroth Noorandiun with them, but he is nowhere to be seen.
Elsewhere in the room, you see Simony laughing and joking with one of the other gamblers. You'd think they were friends if not for the daggers in their smiles, the malice in their eyes and the scarcely-veiled contempt with which they speak to each other.
You pause, considering what to do next. You had hoped to speak to the twins somewhere more private. Should you confront them here? Or try to lure them away?
*
Waking Nightmares (Part Two)
As she gets up and begins to trudge out of the room, you hurry over to her. "Here is a gold piece," you say, handing it to her. "I want you to give it to Yulian Sagittarus–" You point a finger at where he is sitting. "–and ask him to meet me in the old, abandoned part of the school, where the magic mirror is. He'll know where to go."
"And… what will you give me in return?" she asks, frowning at you. "In other words, why shouldn't I just take your money and run?"
"If you do this for me, I will give you five gold pieces," you say, showing them to her. Most people would be impressed that they are large, thick and pure gold coins, but a scholar of history would be especially delighted that they are relics of an ancient civilisation, stamped with the image of a fierce warrior king and a few words in a long-forgotten language. Mishrak gave them to you earlier in the day, when you mentioned to him that you might need some money.
"Fifty shards for a two-minute task? You must be mad," the girl mutters. "But what the hell. It's not like I've got anything to lose."
"Meet me outside when you've done it," you say, heading for the door.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, the girl comes to meet you in the corridor outside: a drab and dreary room, entirely unornamented, with whitewashed walls and small windows that are too high up to see out of.
"I did what you asked," she says. "Now… we had a deal."
"We did indeed," you say, with an amiable nod, handing over the five gold pieces you promised her. "I have just one other request: take it and spend it on the things you need. Don't gamble any of it away."
She frowns, looks you up and down, and says, "What are you? A minor goddess of good fortune, here to save us puny mortals from ourselves?" She sneers at that. "Don't waste your breath. We're not all worth it."
As she walks away, you feel as if you should call after her, but you have no idea what to say.
"I can't decide if she was being rude or not," says Jana, who has been standing at your shoulder this whole time.
"So… you're trying to lure these teenage cultists somewhere we can ambush them," says Catharne, scrunching her brow in an expression of thought. "And then what?"
"Keep your voice down," you warn her. "I'll explain properly when I'm sure we won't be overheard."
While waiting in the old storeroom that houses the magic mirror through which you arrived in the Tyrepheum Academy the first time, you explain to Jana and Catharne: "When I met those 'teenage cultists' before, they were chasing Venta and her friends – the other members of Cadre 1F – you've met them a few times, yes? Anyway, those cultists… They wanted to drain Venta's blood to use it in a dark magic ritual. Goblin blood is supposed to be useful in rituals involving dreams and illusions, which is probably why Melphior's worshippers murdered so many of Tyrepheum's goblins before the Night Blades arrived and put a stop to that. One of these 'teenage cultists' is the son of Yuler Sagittarus, a very rich and influential man who also happens to be a high-ranking cult member. The twins are his bodyguards. I don't know much about them, I'll admit. But I'm sure they know plenty of things about the cult – things they may not even be aware they know – and it's our job to convince them to share their knowledge with us, one way or another."
Jana makes a show of sharpening her cold iron dagger. "One way or another, huh?"
"Please don't kill them," you say. "It's so hard to get useful information out of dead people."
"I'm sure Bellona could do it." She gives a small shrug. "Isn't that what necromancy's all about? Or at least it was originally, before people started binding souls and raising the dead."
"Bellona has enough to do. Besides, we should be able to persuade them without her help," you say.
"I can be very, very persuasive," says Jana, slicing a chunk off an old wooden crate.
Sometime later, Yulian Sagittarus arrives with his twin bodyguards in tow. His florid face loses its colour and his jaw drops when he sees you. "You!" he cries, jabbing a finger in your general direction. "Why are you here? Haven't you done enough already?!"
His twin bodyguards, brother and sister, pallid and dark-haired, don't look surprised to see you. Instead, they look smug. There's something odd and inhuman about their sinuous movements, as if their bodies don't have the same joints as regular people.
"I know you belong to Melphior's cult," you say. "I want to know everything you know about them. Where is their main base? What resources do they have? Where are their secret hidey-holes? What are they planning to do next? And so on and so forth. One way or another, you will tell me."
Yulian blusters and sputters incoherently. One of his bodyguards signals for him to be quiet while the other bares her teeth at you and says, "What if we refuse?"
"Then I will have to resort to violence," you say, gathering power and getting ready to fight.
"How delightful," she replies, but it is as if someone else is speaking out of her mouth. You can hear an odd reverberation, as if her voice was overlaid with that of a much older man.