Published at 16th of June 2026 6:51 am

Chapter 157: The unordinary iterated into the norm

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Even with my newfound ability to prolong Anars boons by suppressing them, the one I got from Tallow is gone by the time I study on the spindle the next day. Part of me is disappointed, but the rational part knows I wouldnt have dared be under it up here anyways. Besides it being risky to be around others while so enhanced, I also doubt I could have used both learning aides without the Eye overwhelming me again.

Not that I really needed it. With this last boon, I managed to learn enough spells that I can use in public to finally seem to be ahead of most of my peers. In fact, the only one I learned that I wont be revealing, at least right away, is the disguise illusion. A very useful spell, especially in combination with concealment. Not only will it make it easier to go unnoticed in the obvious ways, but it will also have an obscuring effect on divinations. Though, of course, I will still need to counter with my own divinations to be certain of safety.

The other spells Ive learned this time around are another light spell, glide, the next version of the missile guidance spell (the one that combines the power boost with multi-target, which I will be keeping active most of the time), silent place and several of the boosting spells (strength, perception, reflex and control (which can be combined into a simple boost spell)).

The last one being odd since, while it is for subterfuge, I actually need people to know I have it for that to work. I also made great progress on the fireball spell, the other illusion spells and the shield construct, which may finish in a few weeks to months. Ive also nearly finished Anars upgrades to the shield spell, which I want to complete before I have to encounter my cult again. However, the upgrades to the liquifying beams are very slow coming, even under the boon. I expect Ill make next to no progress on them without it.

Ellen gives me a smile as we glide down off the spindle after the study session. I smile back, then remember that were in an argument and look away.

I dont suppose our mutual friend has changed her mind, has she? I ask as we descend together.

She shakes her head. Shes more upset than I thought.

I shrug. Well, I guess Ill be looking for another club then.

Yeah maybe for the best, she says glumly. Do you still want to meet to study for herbalism?

She seems hopeful, and Im too tired to quash the expectation, so I just nod.

Great! she smiles, causing my chest to tense in a strange way. Ill see you in the usual spot then!

Yeah see you, I say, then will my cloak to expand, adding its own slow-falling to the spells and allowing me to fall behind her as my momentum is transferred to lateral movement. The combination is very effective, and I get a third of the way back to my dorm before finally landing. I expect I might be able to get all the way there if I had done so from the start.

The next day is Midweek and Princep Theodores research group. The meeting is productive and uneventful (no Cecilia). Emily does mention my absence from our other study group, but I just say I was tired from some activities over the weekend, and that I should be back for the next one.

Good. Terry was disappointed, she says offhandedly.

Why him in particular? I ask, slightly confused as to why she would single him out.

She gives me a really? smile, which confuses me more, so she shrugs. Of course, were all hoping youll feel up to coming again.

I just nod and leave it at that. Though perhaps I shouldnt have, given that I have law class with him and Bart in a few days.

The time leading up to it is uneventful, with the only potential event being Vithals research group, which she doesnt even show up for. Though she does send a note saying that shell be there next week and that shes just taking a short break from the matter. A few of us seem confused as to why we should even be continuing the group, since the quarry is dead anyways. Daniel doesnt even show up. The rest of us just continue the previously assigned problems.

When law class comes, I dont remember whose turn it is to sit by me, but Im still too tired to think about Ser Terry, so I choose Bart. Apparently, I guessed wrong, since Ser Terry looks hurt, and Bart looks questioning, but Im committed now. Maybe Ill give Ser Terry two turns later.

He clearly wants to talk to me again when class is over, but I leave via the opposite door to avoid him I cant keep doing that, but Ill hold out for now. At least see how my cult has held up before making any decisions. I dont know why, it just seems to make sense to do so.

Cecilia sends me another order to attend another party which just so happens to be a party that Monroe has already invited me to for gambling. Are they trying to influence the same circles? The only indication of our altercation is that she waited until the day before the party to send the order. She doesnt even give more specific instructions this time, so I just send a confirmation of my presence and do some gambling. Not distracted by other situations this time, I win three large golds. Enough to fund several minor ideas Ive been having, though Ill probably save it for now.

Another week passes much the same. The only difference being that I interact with Ser Terry more (though I manage to put off the talk he seems so eager to have), and that Vithal returns to her research group to lead the discussion. Many members have left, including Daniel, so the two groups are consolidated into one larger body. Things seem lifeless there, but I expect it to pick back up soon. Vithal does remark on my unwaned interest, but I pass it off as just an inherent interest in the subject, which she seems to believe.

Which, I suppose my excuse is true, though incomplete. I also want to make sure Im here in case any evidence of my survival surfaces.

Another week passes. The Mud Hares succeed in their expansion and link up with Tobys gang through the intermediary as planned. Theyre in a good position, but need time to consolidate. Maybe weeks, maybe years. Who knows.

The cult is getting restless, but I insist that they dont move, only allowing Similce to go out for supplies with coin I allocate. I do also supply them with other items. Books to busy themselves with while they wait and better clothes, furniture and weapons. I still dont know what to do with them. Maybe turn them into a regular gang that does sacrifices on the side? That could work. Maybe only have the inner circle know that theyre a cult?

Similce doesnt fully buy into the idea, but shes not fully opposed to it either. Still, my deadline for the quota is coming up. The cults is technically already fulfilled, but I want to get ahead of next months. So, I take one of them and abduct a member of a nearby gang (but not the one whose territory the lair is in) who I order sacrificed after I do some anthropomancy.

As for my personal quota, I decide I might as well experiment. Nobles grant better boons because of the authority granted to them, but gang leaders also have authority, albeit to a lesser extent. Shouldnt they give better boons than normal peasants? Even if it doesnt work, I might as well cause some chaos in the section that I might be able to exploit later.

So, I sneak in and sacrifice one while theyre alone. Theres a hesitation as I wait an unusual amount of time between the stab and pleasure (at least two breaths), but finally the sensation comes as strongly as I hoped. Not as strong as a true noble, but maybe as good as a peasant mage.

Along with the sensation is a wordless message. A feeling like Anar is saying, all right, thats fair. But only for you, dear Malz. It feels good, but in a different way to the pleasure of sacrifice. Its just a thing of affection.

Allan is not holding up well during ths. Hes throwing more and wilder parties during which hes getting even more intoxicated and sleeping with even more partners than usual. I almost worry that he might spill a secret while drunk, but Ill trust him for now even if people have noticed the shift in behaviour.

I dont think I can do anything for him. Though, at least when hes not drunk, hes researching like he said he would. Expending resources for information. Asking around about things that might help me, whether theyre related to favoured contracts or just my mission in general. It seems that his impulse to forget all of the troubles I bring to his guilty mind is fully balanced by an impulse to help me. To at least be able to think that hes making helpful efforts.

Though, on that note, as expected, nobody really wants to talk about favoured contracts. In fact, some even get indignant when I ask them. It seems that the matter is a bit more intimate than I realized. Perhaps the cause for Anars amused condoning.

In the meantime, everything else is progressing smoothly. I learn more spells the immunity upgrade to the shield spell and the shield construct spells. Interestingly enough, the immunity upgrade doesnt require a change in the chant and unexpectedly applies to all versions of the shield spell, including the construct version.

Said constructs are a bit more robust than I was assuming, capable of taking one shot from a mundane crossbow, but will break from a light blow after that. The most interesting benefit is that I can shape the constructs into just about anything, including blades. Unfortunately, said blades are immobile, but theyre very sharp and fairly resilient to blows against the edge. The main use will still be for propping up bodies to be liquified, but it may have some niche application as an area denial spell, or maybe a minor trap.

Also, the spell isnt as immobile as described. Very small constructs can be moved by manual effort, but they resist it. The effective weight is probably at least ten times what it would be for a normal object of the kind, or more for larger objects. Though I have been enjoying making plates, cups and other eating utensils with it, ignoring the time I accidentally cut a restaurants plate in two with a knife construct. Still, the experience of drinking from a cup construct is surprisingly different and strangely better than even the best glasses, especially since I can change the temperature to some degree. Well worth the extra muscle strain.

Also, I dont even need to return it to the table. I can just leave it hanging in the air. I never thought I would want such a feature, but I do.

In addition to these spells, I upgrade the mental whisper spell to allow two way communication (which halves the range for some reason). I wasnt planning on it, but I feel there may be use for it eventually, and it was relatively simple compared to some of the other spells Ive been learning, whose number I have been expanding with other minor utility effects.

My clients are all growing too: the gangs are recruiting; Toby has acquired his means of production and is starting to see profits; Greg has fully expanded into the hole I made for him and is giving me twice what he used to; and John has made some minor but undeniable progress in his quest to find new mediums. He can maintain an enchantment on a liquid for a whole three seconds now.

Fortunately, he also finished the order of throwing knives, and I couldnt be more pleased with the results. Twelve small throwing knives, each heavily enchanted with greater than standard sharpness, durability and mass alteration, plus material phasing eight iron, four others. In addition, he made a sash/bandolier to pair with them. It has the same concealment effect as my wrist knives, making the blades in it nearly impossible to detect even by touch and keeping them invisible for several seconds after removal. It also further reduces their mass, making each one practically unnoticeable while Im wearing them; has a repair function for both it and the blades in it; imparts poison retention and augmentation to the blades sheathed in it; and has the normal resizing and cleaning functions expected of any article of my clothing. It can also either be worn openly as a sash, or conceal itself though it is a little bit easier to spot than the knives carried in it. Finally, it has a returning function, causing thrown knives to slowly float back to me.

All in all, Im very pleased with them. I get a sort of confidence wearing it. Plus, I must admit to liking how it looks as a sash, even if that style has gone out of fashion.

Having just picked up this article, I attend yet another gambling party at the nominal behest of Princep Cecelia. Im getting quite good at the game, and Monroe says I may be ready for the special contest she mentioned, though its better to keep practising. Regardless, my weekly winnings have been more than enough to maintain Johns retainer and pay for the knives, and I have even been making minor investments with the excess.

Ive become known at these gatherings, too. Respected, even, by some of the better players. Enough that Ive grown a rapport with some of them, allowing us to pass the time before the game with easy small talk. Sometimes about game theory, and sometimes about miscellaneous details of our lives. Its unexpected and nice, though I wouldnt really consider any of them my friends. Theres too much of a hunger for us to trust enough for that.

The game today has three tables, with eighteen players, plus some in reserve. Unlike the other one, play will continue at each table until enough have dropped out to consolidate the players down to one table, and then finish from there.

Im turned around in my chair, talking to someone at another table as we wait for the last invites to show up. Theyre going on about how their sister got taken in by a card shark at some commoner tavern, completely unaware that Im the shark in question. Or perhaps they do know and are practising playing ignorant. Its hard to tell at these levels, even for me.

Finally, the last player arrives and I turn back to my table to see if I know them and find Ser Terry sitting across from me. His face is unreadable, but at the very least he isnt happy.

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