Published at 26th of September 2026 9:48 am

Chapter 177: A flame snuffed to preserve the frigid air.

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First off, the question is, Describe the Ariotic Dynastys form of inheritance. Cognatic Ultimogeniture No, thats not it. The question is whether I care about intervening in the situation enough to turn in an incomplete test?

Terry isnt present at the inn, and so would be safe regardless. However, Carlyle, Emily and Clara are. I obviously dont care about Carlyle, though I do the other two. Besides, his death might upset Terry, so I guess I do care a little.

But will they even be killed? Maybe. Barts people do have magic crossbows, so theyre obviously prepared for it. But surely itd be risky on their part. The section may have the second lowest level of security, but that doesnt mean murder is easy there. Even if they manage to do the deed without being reported, theyd have to dispose of the bodies quickly enough not to be divined. A very risky proposition. Besides, its unlikely that theyd have another scheme in place to somehow shift the blame on Terrys group this time.

Perhaps Vincent intends to lend his weight to things to get away with it. But if he could get away with overt murder in the capital, hed have killed Terry already. Of course, the section the inn is in is much lower security than the academy where the group spends most of their time, but it still seems like something of a last resort. Even if he could avoid the consequences of murdering them, itd likely be too costly unless he could assure victory.

Perhaps he intends to have the one who pulls the lever take the fall for it then? Claim to be an independent actor. But a court might order them mindripped if their story doesnt add up, and a seemingly random murder likely wouldnt. Unless maybe if they were mindripped beforehand? But that would draw even more attention to the case. Someone using mindripped automatons as murder weapons is enough to cause a major panic.

So they arent likely to be killed outright. Severely injured, maybe, but not killed. Of course, accidents may happen, but the risk isnt high enough to jeopardize my general mission by abandoning my grade in the class.

Right then, better do this quickly then. I mutter the phrase to undo the reductions on Anars blessings, using the boost to control to rapidly write down the first concise answers that come to mind as quickly as possible.

What else can I do? I send in the cats. I have one particularly seemly feline meow most piteously from an alley the moment the professor passes by. They keep walking. I try it again with the next one. The professor falters, turns to look at the near kitten, staring at them with eyes pleading for affection and keeps on walking.

The cat meows with an annoyance that I do not prompt, drawing the professors attention again. It then rolls on its back, rolling in the snow, meowing more. Finally, the professor softens, a grin forming on their face as they stoop to rub its belly.

I nearly curse out loud when the cat, without any prompting by me, sends a pulse of mischievousness through the link and grabs hold of the outstretched arm with claws out. Not recognizing the play behaviour, the professor yanks back their hand far too forcefully. Had they not, the cat would likely have stopped short of drawing blood, but yanking the hand away only results in several shallow wounds.

Cursing, they chant a healing spell, sealing up the bloody streaks in a few moments. Meanwhile, oblivious to the pain they caused, the cat begins purring and rubs up against their leg again acting without direction from me.

Ah, well I suppose you didnt mean no harm in it Or maybe you did, but who am I to judge? Come here. The figure crouches down again, scratching the cat behind the ears.

Good, I would have had to swear vengeance against them to avoid a curse from the God of Cats if the professor had harmed the kitten. Perhaps I would have even if I did not have the weight of the gods eyes on me.

After a few moments of play, I have the kitten bound away suddenly, then stop and look at them with a meow. The professor seems to consider, then shrugs and decides to follow them. I have the cat lead along twisting alleys, getting them more and more lost. Eventually I lead them to another cat of the same age, who begins playing with the first.

Whats this? Another of these strange collars? Same owner, no doubt, but why have a collar with no name? The figure mutters to themself.

I immediately switch my senses out of the cats tokens and into that of a bird flying overhead. My instinct is proved correct a moment late as they enter the tell-tell trancelike state of Inverting the Eye. Perhaps I should have etched some name or something on the outside of the sense token to avert suspicion. No matter. I managed to switch in time, and they remain unaware of their surveillance. In fact, they start playing with the pair of juvenile cats, scratching both of them at once, and doing various other things that I dont have the focus to keep track of. Eventually, they grab a stick and dangle it in the air in an enticing manner, causing the pair to jump up at it, trying to grab hold.

Good, that should hold them for a while. I return my full focus on the test and quickly write down several answers. However, as I get to the longform essay at the end, the figure abruptly stands up, mutters to themselves wondering where they are, and pulls out a divining instrument. I try having the kittens ram themselves into their legs to get their attention, grabbing at them to stop them from leaving, but to no avail. They just keep on going while making mild apologies to the kittens for having to meet someone.

Ill send more in then. Unfortunately, while I have been accumulating cats in the area ever since I knew itd be a place where the next conflict might be (Ive been paying someone to feed them), I only have about ten of them close enough for action. So, I take the time to gather them for effect, sending them out all at once right as they turn down an alley their divination sends them through.

They freeze in their snow-frozen tracks at the sudden appearance of so many felines, all of them meowing and slowly approaching them. They back away slowly, which the cats take as an invitation to hasten, which the professor takes as a sign to turn and run. I hear them mutter to themself as they run, dragging their pack animal with them. I heard the capital was dangerous, but nothing so strange!

I can only pay half attention to directing my cats; switching out which one was seen last to hopefully give the impression of there being more than there are and keeping them far enough away to not be in danger. The rest of my focus is on the test. Three essay options. Three options: One is on something, the second is on an other, and the third is, of course, on Caethlon.

I can write about Caethlon, no problem Well, some problem. Keeping track of the difference between my actual views and the accepted views will take time. Although, exactly how inconspicuous should I be anyways? I need to stand out a little to gain a good post, and having unusual views on things might help.

Of course, I cant write that Caethlon should be granted independence, or anything nearly so radical, but there should still be a striking middle ground that I can write quickly about due to thinking about it constantly. Lets focus on the relation the conflict had to Hyclion.

Of course, it would be a mistake to outright claim that the Empress deliberately lengthened the insurgency to test methods to employ against Hyclion even though Talia more or less confirmed it but I can point out that the knowledge gained will be of great benefit and let the reader draw their own conclusions about intentionality.

I focus on the rapid improvements to divination based, small unit warfare. Using divination to not only track enemy movements, but also coordinate with your own peole. How we were able to disrupt their forces enough to slip through in small groups, then concentrate an attack on the chimeric masters on a scale that approached regular warfare (our greatest achievement). Though I also mention the vulnerability in wyvern attack patterns and gaining an understanding of how the insurgency spread.

Naturally, I do a pass to make sure I didnt accidentally switch perspectives (saying we did x instead of the insurgents did x, and so on), but even with that, I finish writing well ahead of the rest of the class, though I cant help but be nervous about my departure from the normal views on the subject.

I do a few more passes over everything, just so Im not the first person to finish, as I dont want to seem like Im in a rush. A minute after the first person leaves, I get up and calmly turn it in, then calmly walk out, then calmly round the corner where I panickily chant concealment and illusion spells and run.

The section is about two hours away walking. Running, rooftop to rooftop, I dont know. Maybe a half hour? Hard to tell how the snow will affect me. About five minutes into my run across the frozen roofs, the professor gets tired of the harassment and, going into a corner, turns around and shouts. All right. Ive had enough of this. I didnt want to hurt you, but I will defend myself.

They start chanting a spell that I recognize as fire based, and I panickily switch through each of the cats and have them flee. The professor only gets through half of their spell before the alley is cleared, leaving them sputtering. Strange cats. They look around, clearly feeling (correctly) that theyre being watched, perhaps thinking it might have been an illusion if not for the tiny cat tracks in the snow, but then pull out their divining tool and start walking towards the inn.

How tedious. I had hoped theyd take the hint. But no, Im going to have to intervene more directly. No more animals, though. I cant risk them harming one and incurring their gods wrath. Perhaps I should have collected some animals I dont care about as much, or at least whose god Im not trying to curry favour with (heh). Dogs would make the most sense, or maybe rats. Anything social enough that I could, in theory at least, make a pact with just one of them, who could then lead the rest of their group to attack who I want.

No matter. I drove them far enough away from their destination that I should reach them in time. But what am I going to do? What do I even want? I suppose just stopping the fight thats about to happen over the oblivious fool should be enough.

Finally, I reach the section. The gate is busy. Theres no line, but I wont be able to run through, so I just jump from a house onto the dividing wall, then leap off that. Itd be trouble if anyone saw me, but my clothes were set to match the grey stone of the wall, and concealment should do the rest. I do wish Id finally learn invisibility, though.

I get to them with plenty of time (at least three minutes), allowing me to plan my approach. From where theyre at, theyll likely stay on the main street until they get there. So, I pull out my divining rod and try to fix that.

Interfering with a simple directions divination is hard, but not beyond my skill. I just have to find the right spot to create an obstacle so that their divination will direct them to where I want them to go. In theory, I wouldnt even need to cause the disruption. Their divination would simply account for my probe and redirect their path pre-emptively. Of course, the reliability would suffer.

I settle for causing chaos with an ox-cart, projecting terror through an animal talk spell which results in the animal panicking and toppling the cart sideways across the road. The professor could still get through, but the gathered crowd would slow them. So, without even getting to where they could see the incident, they turn to where I want them.

They become visibly nervous as they proceed down the narrow alley, obviously looking at spots where cats might jump out from. Theyre worked up enough that they jump back two feet when I jump down from the roof in front of them, falling backwards into the snow on their rear.

Sigh, you really dont know how to take a hint, do you? I say, using the disguise magic to make myself much taller (about adult average) and another basic illusion to make my voice deeper (though just talking through my face covering should be sufficient).

Those cats with you? They ask, stumbling out of the snow and drawing a short sword with their right hand and their left hand splayed out in ready casting position.

I lift my hands to the universal not casting spells position and lean coolly against the wall. Yeah. Id appreciate if you didnt mention that to anyone. Ill consider it partial payment for my services.

Services They laugh. Getting chased by dozens of cats is a service now? I dont think I need to ask how business is doing.

I smirk, though they cant see it through my hood and mouth covering. My service is in warning you. The colleague you are going to meet is dead, and you are walking into a trap.

Their face goes pale. Palpika is dead? How who?

You didnt think you were the only ones looking for the orbs, did you?

The orbs? For that? Theyre just a research project. A joint curiosity about a strange reference that kept cropping up in historical texts. Nothing to kill over.

Then you obviously dont know what they do. Funny, considering the fight thats being prepared over you.

Fight? Who? The ones who killed Palpika? They draw closer to me, their blade slack at their side as they plead for information.

I nod. There are two groups that I know of who are looking for the orbs. Well, three, but two are working together. Anyways, the more local faction caught wind of your friends inquiries and abducted them, but things went wrong, and they ended up dead. Both groups want you for whatever you might know. Though the group that didnt kill your friend will be satisfied in denying you to their enemy, and intend to just warn you off. Theyre bad at it though, so here I am doing their job for them.

They nod, wide-eyed and whelmed. There were riders on the road. They looked like bad business, so I avoided them. Didnt think it was about me though.

I shrug. Could have been them, or could have been bandits. Anyways, you might want to just lose the hat and leave.

My hat? What does that have to do with it?

I raise an eyebrow. Did you not send your friend a message to look for you by it?

Oh Right, Id forgotten Youll just let me leave then?

I nod. Itd fulfil my objective.

And that is?

Just stopping the fight.

They nod. I dont know. Itd feel wrong just to go without even doing something about Palikas killers.

Well, if you want to get back at them, you can always give whatever you know to their rivals. I can help you find them.

They take a step back suspiciously. And this isnt some trick to get me to tell what I know? Perhaps youre part of the people who killed Palpika, as are the people youre sending me to. Why are you even helping me if not that?

I laugh, once. Youre not thinking straight. I already said why Im doing this. But its good that youre finally treating this situation with the caution it deserves. I wasnt aware of this Palpika until after they were dead, but apparently they drew a lot of attention to themself before they died, asking around indiscreetly. In my opinion, you should just leave. It would be the safest thing to do. I merely offered the alternative because you thought it would be wrong to.

They stare at me, breath fogging in the winter air. Fine tell me how to find these people then. The ones opposed to Palpikas killers.

I nod. First, I need you to promise that you wont tell anyone about my intervention, nor about the cats that acosted you.

They hesitate for a moment, but swear readily. Its hard to tell how seriously theyll take their oath (obviously less than a priest of the Sun would), but its clear that they dont intend to break it in the moment.

Of course, their silence would be assured if theyre dead, but theres really no need for that. I do benefit from them meeting Terry, since its better for me to know when he gets a new information source, and I can always spy on the meeting. Besides, of my three big secrets, my intervention in these matters is by far the least damning. In fact, I wouldnt be surprised if either group already suspects it. What would they even do if they knew? I suppose Terry might be upset that I acted behind his back, but well We can get to that when it happens. It wont ruin my life here at any rate.

It is strange though that this secret feels just as important as my other two, despite its discovery lacking fatal consequences.

Good, I say, stepping forward through the snow, I have a simple plan.

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