Published at 17th of September 2026 8:15 am

Chapter 175: Wayward Academics

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Time moves quickly. My classes proceed without problem, and I learn new spells at a reasonable rate. I finish learning fireball, which I celebrate (it being my first real combat spell that I can show others) with Terry by going to a restaurant by the theatre that Ive found myself liking. Luxurious, naturally, but recessed. Out of the way, but still having a good view of the city. It feels secure and private, letting me feel safe enough to let my guard down with him, if only a little.

Theatre becomes an activity which is surprisingly enjoyable, but only with Terry. A good thing to do together. Though I think maybe because it provides something we can talk about deeply that doesnt stray too close to talking about each others pasts. I still only vaguely understand where he came from, and I certainly dont want him asking too many details about me.

I learn other, less public spells too. A more advanced illusion spell, which I will reveal eventually but no reason to rush. Besides that, theres a sleep spell, which I find very useful for hunting. No more accidentally killing the sacrifice with the debilitating blow. It doesnt work through a shield, hardly on knights, and even mundanes take a few minutes to go under, but its currently my best method for securing prey, especially if Im leading my cult on a hunt.

A cult whose membership grows by one. It is exciting to find the new face waiting for me one weekend, but disappointing each week after when no more arrive. Still, I commend the old woman for finding them and lead the newcomer on a hunt the same day. Best to have them truly join quickly. With the power, they quickly become the mage that they hope to be. They seem very grateful to me personally for their ascension, which makes me feel strange. I wasnt the one who recruited them, after all. If only the others would feel the same.

Its clear that my method with the cult, emulating what works with the Mud Hares, is becoming more dangerous as time moves on. They fear me less, and no bonds have formed. No gratitude for my leading them on hunts. Another one has become a mage, but its clear their loyalty belongs to Similce. How long before she betrays me? If it could even really be called a betrayal.

I consider more about what Rakenhal said about leading religious groups by madness. Perhaps thats what the whole family nonsense is really about. Even so, I need my own way, though I cant find it. So I stumble about. I increase the sacrifice frequency and let myself lose control of the scratching while Im with them. They all seem shocked the first time I do that. Do I seem a person overly in control? Maybe. Either way, they seem a little more comfortable the next time we meet. I wonder what conversations they had about me in the week between.

Still, the slight improvement from that doesnt fill me with much hope. Anar is still the god of ambition; I should expect them to do something. I learn a new spell in anticipation. Or rather, focus on learning mental magic. First, I learn an add-on to my shield spells to make it resist mental effects. Shield spells in general have a limited version of this, but the improved version will work on a broader range of effects. Specifically, it will block mental concealment type effects. Mind whispers too, though it can be overcomed by yelling. The effect isn't absolute, but it should be enough to spot ambushes under that type of spell when combined with my enhanced senses.

While Im in the library section for it, I copy a memory alteration spell and learn it over the course of the months. I dont do it for the cult, but for Rakenhal. There are things I may not want him to find out about. One method for security is to temporarily alter my own memory so that his truth detection wont work on me. Besides, its easy enough with the other mind spells I know.

It doesnt really work, unfortunately. He sees that something is wrong with some of my answers, and I think suspects the trick, so I undo the effect immediately after. The spell, after all, is meant to be temporary, lasting only until a predetermined condition is met. A very basic form incapable of causing lasting changes a few months at most. Still, Im sure Ill find a use for it eventually.

I make more coin, quickly paying the rest of what I owe for the Ocean Stone in two weeks. A month after that, Im back at the point where Im making legitimate investments to grow my coin, though obviously less than before. I keep five large gold for liquid assets, a few more to supply my clients needs, and the rest cycling through a series of short to mid-length investments, which are doing rather well.

There was one particularly risky investment I was on the fence about. Estimated turnaround was longer than my normal divinations can see, but it was time for my sacrifice quota anyways, so I took the time to use anthropomancy on it. A good decision, as it turned out to be even better than I thought, letting me invest more than usual, and getting whole large golds in return after only a month.

Perhaps I should increase my rate of sacrifice to find more investment opportunities like that. It would be good for the mission, besides the power itll bring. Besides, Anar has increased the quota to two a month; better to keep ahead of it.

The weather gets cold. I share the first snow with Terry, watching from my dorm room with Marcus bringing us tea and other hot snacks. I disable the temperature enchantments on my clothes, so we can snuggle better, and be warmed by each others mass.

The next day I catch him talking to Carlyle.

I suppose catch is too strong a term. Its not like hes doing anything wrong. Illegal, yes, but probably not wrong. Moreover, catch makes it seem a thing of happenstance, rather than the result of my continual surveyance by sense token and divination. Regardless of whos right, its clear that something is going on. At least they bother to find a room to share information, though its still simplicity itself to place a bird by their window, the token out of view.

The antiquarian is dead, Carlyle states with a mixture of irritation and chagrin.

Shit. What happened?

Ligryns people were helpful, but we were just up against too much. Bart found him right before we arrived Clara, Ligryn and me. He managed to get away for a bit, and we chased after them, but they managed to find him before we did. Dont know what happened, but most of his head was missing.

I see well, at least they dont have him either.

Yeah, cheery, right? Well, there is at least some more good news. We managed to beat the opposition back to his inn and grabbed whatever we could find in his room. A couple of books and a lot of notes. Still going through it all, but it seems like things are more complicated than we thought. He wasnt just a lone operator with an academic interest, but part of a whole organization looking for the orbs.

Why?

You mean besides the obvious?

Well, yeah. I mean, whats their plan for leveraging the power?

I can hear Carlyle shrug. Dont know. As it turns out, our first guess of him being an academic was spot on; its just a group of academics rather than just one. Professors from various academies on sabbaticals. Heh. Probably found out about the orbs by chance and decided only they could be trusted to handle them right, or something. Anyways, theyre a scattered group, seemingly organized mostly by correspondence, but another one is coming here.

Any idea when?

Heh, during finals. He stretches the words in a way that tells me hes rolling his eyes.

Of course. Terry chuckles, and I can hear him lean against the wall and sigh. Do you know where theyre supposed to meet?

Yeah, the same inn that he was staying at.

Heh, lousy operational security. He has the gall to say this while looking wistfully out a open window.

What was that?

Er Something Malichi said one time.

Really? Youre bringing him up now? I mean, Im happy youre happy, but theres no need to constantly brag. I feel my face flush at the given impression. The idea that Terry might be constantly bragging about our closeness is nice.

It was just a passing thought. Anyways, do we know if Bart knows this colleague of his is coming?

No idea. The professor seemed to have some writing on him that they were going through, so maybe, maybe not. Id say just send Ligryns people to watch the place but

If Bart doesnt know, sending them to watch the place will make sure he does How tight is the window for arrival?

Few days.

Sigh Never trust academics to be punctual. Do we have a description?

You will know me by my blue hat and red feather So that narrows it down to only one in every what, a thousand at best, fifty at worst? Depends on the weather, I guess, and how many hats there are. I mean, who describes themselves just with mixing two basic colours?

Its good enough Well, if they make it to the inn, that is.

You think Bart might intercept them on the road in?

Vincent has the resources. Its what I would do.

Hm Maybe less resources than we think. That incident in Lingonhill, after we left? You know how he supposedly blew up the lords manor? Well, that cost him a lot of support.

You still havent heard what that was all about?

Carlyle exhales sharply, bewildered. No. I mean, maybe he just got angry at the guy. Seems the type.

He seems it, but I wonder. Sometimes I think thats just a mask, and hes a lot more cunning than people give him credit for.

Yeah, maybe youre right. I did hear a little bit more about it, but it doesnt make sense. Apparently, the lord had already gone missing by the time he got there, along with two contingents of troops.

Out suppressing bandits who ended up being more than they could chew? Terry says, hopeful for simplicity.

Maybe. But I have a bad feeling.

You always have a bad feeling.

No I dont. You just remember when I complain cause Im usually right. Anyways, I did some divinations, and well, it doesnt make much sense. Of course, theres bound to be errors looking back so far after events, but youd still expect some basic facts to align. Either Im making some default assumption so basic that I cant see it, or someone is doing some counter divinations of serious magnitude. Grand ritual type stuff.

I narrow my eyes at that. I did some serious counterdivinations at the time using anthropomancy, but even as empowered as I was back then, it shouldnt have hit like a grand ritual. Maybe Vincent did it, but why?

Maybe Vincent? Terry asks the same moment that I think it, sounding about as convinced.

I mean, he wasnt exactly behaving legally, but nothing he couldnt get out of using his status. Might cost him more support, but more than what it would take to do a grand divination? Just to cover up his blunder? That doesnt seem likely.

Indeed. If he had the resources to do a grand divination, hed doubtlessly use it to find me. I think empowered as I was, and the series of anthropomantic counterdivinations I did, that I would have kept my identity secret, though he would have gotten a few clues. Maybe found out that Im a student in the academy, someone he met, or an Anar cultist. Stuff like that. Still, I think I would have noticed if such a deep probe was done on me, due to the interference it would have on my own divinations.

Though now that I think about it, I was the subject of such a ritual recently. Count Vithal consulted the Oracle, and I had to compensate for that in all my divinations for over a week after. Maybe I mistook interference from Vincents probe for extra interference from the Oracle? Still, it doesnt seem likely, and again, why a counterdivination?

This suggests a third (fourth, fifth?) party who had means of obscuring the event. But who and why? How could they possibly benefit by obscuring my actions that day? Presumably I wasnt the goal, but a side benefit, but still. What other actor might they be obscuring? Perhaps Terry has more allies than he thinks? Which would be ironic, given that this mysterious entitys efforts are blocking Terrys group too.

Terry sighs. Well, I guess well just add it to the list of mysteries. Anyways, even if Vincent has lost assets over his failure in Linghonhill, I wont trust that he doesnt have enough to attempt an interception. Do we know which road this academic is coming by?

Broadly. Ive narrowed it down to three likely candidates based on where they sent the last letter from, but they do at least have the sense to counterdivine, and may deliberately go a long way.

Well, given how little effort the dead one took to conceal his inquiries, I think we can safely assume that they arent fully aware of the level of opposition theyre facing getting into this game. They seem amateurish, but they might know something that can aid the real players. At least enough to be worth the action while we have nothing else to go on. Assume theyll take a sensible road. If they dont, then Vincent hopefully wont have the resources to cover the long ways either. Well send some of Ligryns people far up the road, hoping to intercept them first and warn them off.

In the meantime, well check the inn intermittently. Not to look for them, yet, but just to see if Vincents people are hovering about. Once the window of arrival comes, well gradually move people to cover the place full time, shifting people from the roads as it becomes less likely theyll come by them.

Sounds good, but whats our intended action?

I hear Terry shrug. Ally with them, if we can; take them under our protection if they let us; if not, warn them off and help them escape.

And if they arent cooperative?

Several beats of silence, followed by a sharp inhale as if shaking himself from a thought. If they act in such a way that we believe them likely to fall in Vincents hands, then well kill them and take whatever notes they have. We dont have the means to hold them against their will.

Hm Pity Ligryn wasnt here to hear that. She might actually approve of your resolve for once.

Yeah, maybe Shes baffling sometimes, you know. What are your thoughts on her?

What? Do I think that shell betray us? Yes. But not until we beat Vincent, and besides, I think her vision for the orbs is almost compatible with ours. So it wouldnt be so bad to lose to her. Hopefully, shes being honest about thinking the same thing about us.

Yeah It is troubling though, how were becoming more reliant on her, and the people shes bringing in.

Then recruit our own people.

You know its not that simple. Vincent can bring people in without telling them about the orbs because people want his favour or at least coin. We need to vet our allies, to know if we can trust them.

Then get some clients. Youre rather sociable, Terry, but you dont use that to your advantage. You like making friends who are your equals, I get that, but its a nobles lot to gain subordinates.

Heh, Malichi said the same thing. Can you believe he gained four clients, including a group, just in the time since he came here?

Carlyle laughs in a way that is not pleasant. What? That awkward little malad Er, I mean, of course. He is a very talented person whom you are certainly lucky to pair with precisely in the way that you wont stop talking about. Why wouldnt he have?

I can somehow hear Terry glare silently, and I find myself smiling.

Carlyle sighs. That just proves my point though. If he can manage that, you certainly can.

Oh yeah, how many clients do you have then?

Two. Unfortunately, theyre not directly useful for our endeavours, but they ave been providing some indirect help On that note, as you often point out, you do have a boyfriend who is strangely good at getting coin. Perhaps you could have him bankroll us. Funds have so often been our greatest lack. With his coin, we could even hire mercenaries to support us.

Terry shakes his head. He already gave me an absurd gift. More would be well, I dont know. Suffocating? Maybe I fear it would destabilize us.

Carlyle laughs. Shall I tattle on you to Ligryn about your insufficient dedication? Id love to hear what she has to think about you turning down an asset.

Its not turning anything down if it hasnt been offered, and Im certainly not asking for more.

Look, most of our groups funding comes from a novelty desert whose bubble will not last, especially with Emilys utter disregard for market conditions. Our second largest stream is from Ligryn, who we dont trust; you and Clara have been eking out modest contributions with tournament prizes; and Ive been turning a modest profit divining which merchants to invest in. Even with all that, we spend most of our gold on useful magic items and looking for rare books that might have hints. Were barely hanging on against Vincent, who knows what we could do if we had disposable assets to use against him. So, swallow your pride and fears, and ask your sugar daddy for an allowance.

I dont think Ill be phrasing it like that.

But you will be phrasing it?

I dont know. Maybe. Ill think about it.

Good and remember, one youthful tryst is a small thing to sacrifice for the stakes were playing for.

His suggestion of us ending our relationship does sour my mood somewhat, but they leave their meeting with me tingling with excitement. I know I can give him more now, and he wont be able to refuse But why does that excite me?

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