Chapter 33 - Beauty of Transition

Mage Academy: Leyland's Laboratory

Wielding the aether fills you with a certain sensation. You can feel the beat of your heart, and the way your blood rushes through your veins. It makes your skin flush with warmth, but the rush makes up for any physical discomfort. My mind was still in a haze while I watched my body heal, but I also knew in the back of my mind what had happened.

I had eaten someone in a process far more thorough than any stomach could, and now there was little more than a pile of dust on the ground in front of me. The effect was more pronounced than any life crystal I had sampled so far, and my insides burned with energy. Heat loomed from my body, and my mind tingled with awareness I should not have.

I could hear the fights occurring in the levels above. Each death flared like a ripple of sunlight, and the massive transporter that ran through the academy looked like a glowing pillar through the walls. Talwin's physical form was overlaid by his aetheric presence, and every beat of his heart felt like a ripple through the room. In the distance I could feel Clyde's presence as well, and hidden in another room was the dim beat of Cyrus heart. There was even something moving in the distance, two aetheric signatures slowly making their way toward us.

"Avery?" Talwin asked.

The words seemed distant and difficult to focus on. Instead my focus was drawn to the entity inside me. It writhed with a content sensation, it felt safe once more, satiated, and it brimmed with excitement. I put one hand to my head and tried to focus, the energy inside me was too intense, too much, a cup filled beyond its rim. I needed to get rid of it, or risk burning up in the process.

I tried to speak, yet my words caught on a sudden sensation that filled my throat. Blood, flesh, and the tickling sensation of fur clinging to my teeth. It made me sputter, and I wiped my mouth of the scraps clinging to it. I spit, swallowed, and the taste was like chewing on an old washcloth.

Disgusting...

The revolting taste was enough to snap me from my daze and I looked up to see Talwin staring at me.

Focus... All you wished for was another chance... And now you have it... Focus!

I swallowed, closed my eyes for a moment, and pushed past the nauseating sensation of having so much energy locked up inside me, "Talwin, it's me."

Talwin lifted one hand to cover his chest and held it there in silence.

I pointed at myself, and spoke, "I know what you saw was scary, and I'll be able to explain it in time. But for now I'll have to ask you trust me once more."

"I trust Avery," Talwin answered with a careful stare.

A smile grew on my lips as I held out my hand, "What do you say we visit that planetarium once we convince Leonard not to kill us for this? "

Talwin raised his brow, "It's about time, I was starting to worry you'd forgotten about it."

I stifled a chuckle, and turned my attention to the collapsed bookcase, "Quick, let's help Clyde."

Talwin jumped into action and rushed over to the bookcase while I began to move my limbs. My legs felt like jelly as I stumbled forward, and my arms felt stiff to move. After a few steps my balance seemed to improve, and I hobbled over to the bookcase.

The bookcase groaned when Talwin pulled with all his might and began to lift it. Books tumbled to the floor and revealed a pile with a white tail sticking out of it. I crouched down, dug into the pile, and shoved them out-of-the-way.

Clyde was laying face down, and the odd robes he wore had split in several places. A pained groan mixed with a low growl could be heard as Clyde stirred.

I reached down, wrapped one arm along his back, and gently eased him to the side, "Hey, Clyde."

Clyde's body jerked to life without warning, his arm hit my shoulder, and his eyes flashed open with a gasp of surprise. I held him still with one arm, and looked into his eyes, "Calm yourself."

"Av-" Clyde visible cringed with pain when he tried to speak, and held his chest with a groan.

"Careful now," I whispered and eased his arm down.

"God damn it. I was just being able to walk without pain, and now this..." Clyde wheezed.

"You'll survive, now come on, unless you want to stay around and fight the Master," I said, wrapped my arms around his chest, and eased him into a sitting position.

"Avery, you're alright? How?" Clyde asked and leaned back, while straining to look at me.

"Thanks to rather hefty meal. I'll explain later," I answered.

"A... meal?" Clyde asked when I rose, and eased him up along with me.

Talwin looked over at Leyland's dusty remains and pointed. Clyde turned his head to look, saw, and let out a surprised whisper, "Oh... Serves him right, fucking prick."

I steadied Clyde on his feet, and looked toward the door at the end of the room, "We're not done yet though."

"What do you mean?" Talwin asked in surprise.

"Cyrus is still here, apparently they were planning to use him as a scapegoat for the Master's invasion."

Clyde blinked, cleared his throat, and grumbled, "Must have been someone else in the other room then."

"Meaning?" I asked and started walking toward the door.

"There was a lot of blood and crystal shards," Clyde said and leaned against the wall.

Talwin followed in my wake and pointed at the hallway, "Down there, in one of the rooms."

"I see," I answered and stepped up to the door Leyland had pointed at.

The door in front of me seemed strangely out-of-place. It consisted of old wooden planks held in place by two rusty hinges. Some planks were so worn and distorted that gaps had formed in the door. Compared to the rest of the laboratory with its pristine crystals, bookshelves, and shaped marble it stuck out like a sore thumb. To make things stranger was the lack of any apparent lock, magical or physical in nature.

I reached out, grabbed the handle, and pulled. To my surprise the door rattled and remained in place. In confusion I focused on the aether, and sensed the physical layout of it. My brow lifted as I realized that there was a lock on the door, placed on the inside, rather than the outside. With a thought I sent a thread of energy through the gaps, found the lock, and severed it. A clunk was heard when the lock hit the floor, and I pushed the door once more. It opened wide, and let light stream into the dark room. It illuminated something hiding underneath a blanket in the corner.

What has he done to him?

I stepped inside, listened and could hear soft but wheezing breaths coming from underneath the blanket, "Cyrus?"

No answer came as I reached down, grabbed the blanket, and felt a sudden scent of smoke and charred flesh. I carefully eased the blanket back and revealed pointy ears covered in bright yellow fuzz, sharp feline eyes, and a short muzzle. His head seemed untouched and for a moment I felt relief, but as I kept pulling the true nature of the smell was revealed. Cyrus chest was a torn mess of burned fur and charred flesh that had fused with the fabric of his robe.

Cyrus tilted his head to the side, fixated on me with one eye, and whispered, "Kill me... I beg you."

Someone dry heaved behind me and hastily left the room while I gulped.

The weak door... The lock on the inside... What better way to humiliate a mage but to cripple him to a point where he can't even break a rotting door with an exposed lock?

I moved the blanket to cover his chest once more, "Are you in pain?"

Cyrus lips trembled, and the eye that focused on me stared as if he wanted to strangle me.

"Cyrus, you have information I need, and I can't allow you to die yet. But I can ease your pain, alright?"

Cyrus made the slightest nod, and wheezed out another word, "Please..."

I held out my hand, pressed it along his throat, and held my fingers along his neck. Whatever aetheric aptitude the feline once had was no more. In its stead was enough power to barely light a candle. It was easy to cut a hole in the subconscious shield generated by his body while I let my own threads invade.

Cyrus eyes bulged as I worked my magic into the building blocks of his life. It took Rastlin's lessons, the knowledge of his tome, and some inspiration from what Leyland had done to me, but I figured I could use it to block his pain.

It didn't take long to find what I was looking for, a conduit that surged like a bolt of continuous lightning in an otherwise calm sea: Pain. I clamped down on the conduit, began to strangle it, and watched as Clyde drew a breath of relief.

"I've toned down the impulses sent from your lower body, the problem is that it has likely paralyzed you as well," I whispered.

Cyrus drew deep but slow breaths, closed his eyes, and spoke with both sneering anger, "Ask your questions, and kill me, before I decide to do it myself."

If you could, you'd probably have done it already...

"The Master is coming, and we're deep underground. Is it safe to transport out of here, or will I encounter more of whatever you did?" I asked.

Cyrus lifted his head and glared, "Leyland promised me that I'd be free after this, and the bastard made my life's work blow up in my chest. There is no more magic like it, even Leyland found it troublesome..."

"What was it?" I asked.

Cyrus rolled his eyes, "Old magic, called a Sagestone. A crystal woven from the life and experience of lifetimes. It has few spells but it affects the aether like a field, rather than focused and encapsulated magic like the conduits or threads that modern magic uses."

"And how do I counter it?" I asked.

Cyrus lips twisted into a lopsided grin, "Flux. Distort the field, and the magic can't work its thing. Any extended use of magic, or large scale battles created environments where it couldn't be used. Old magic was rendered useless because of it."

"I've heard that you invented modern transporter techniques, do you..." My voice trailed off.

"Can I teach you? Not in five minutes I can't, not that I'd have much incentive even if I could," Cyrus answered with a twisted grin.

"What if I can save your life?" I asked.

Cyrus was silent for a moment, and then looked away, "I don't understand why you'd try to give me false hope. But even if you could, I'd just spend my life crippled and without magic."

Maybe... Maybe I can... Or maybe not? I'm always running... Always improvising... Just like Leyland said...

I tightened my grip around his throat, angled his head to focus on me, and watched his eyes widen in shock. "I can fill your head with enough flux to make your brain flow out of your ears, are you sure this is how you want things to end? Humiliated by others, a footnote in the history of things?"

Cyrus expression strained, he tried to blink, and his short muzzle dropped open. In the moments that followed his pupils flexed and his gaze kept moving as if searching for escape. He stuttered a few times, yet no words came.

He's scared... Horrified of death... Angry... Vengeful... That's good...

I eased my grip and Cyrus leaned his head back until it hit the wall with a gentle thud. Moments later his eyes drifted toward the ceiling, and he remained in place, silent. Energy still boiled within me, and it made my skin feel too tight. It needed to get out, and I needed Cyrus alive.

You... Star... Entity within my chest, whatever you are... Help me...

The entity stirred within me like a glutton poked in its side. It hummed in wonder, and waited.

Restore this one... Heal him...

Its strange energy reached out to the world and my hand began to glow. The energy focused on Cyrus, sensed him, and I felt the entity ask: Why?

We need him... The knowledge he holds... And we need to hurry, or the Master will get to us soon...

The primal presence of the entity seemed to shift in discomfort, but it felt like it understood on some level. It saw the value I placed on Cyrus life, and it relented. Its presence flared in my chest, energy was gathered, and funneled through my body. It made the black fur of my arms glow in runic patterns, while threads of magic flowed from my claws like trails of smoke.

Cyrus lowered his head, stared at my hand in horror, and stuttered, "Wh... What are you doing?"

"Hush," I whispered and pushed my hand against the blanket until I felt his chest underneath.

The red aura surrounding my hand grew, magic flowed through the blanket, and tore into him like knives. Cyrus expression was wracked with surprise, but no words would come from his throat.

Things began to change underneath my hand, his flesh flowed like putty, it bubbled and the noise of grinding bones could be heard. Tendrils of red snaked and writhed under the blanket. It crawled on the walls, and it suffused the room in a red glow. Second by second I could feel the immense energy inside me draining, and with it came relief.

The thumping noise in my head withdrew, the warmth faded from my skin, and the crawling sensation through my insides ebbed. It made me sigh in relief as my head cleared while Cyrus drew short gasps of breath.

Moments later the red glow dimmed, the tendrils withdrew, and the room grew dark once more. Cyrus' head lolled to the side, while the sensation against my hand settled into something smooth.

"Cyrus?" I asked.

Cyrus breathing was slow but the closed eyes and lack of movement made it clear he had fallen unconscious. Out of curiosity I eased the blanket back once more, and was met with a widely different sight. Pieces of ash and scorched flesh were still attached like scabs, but underneath it was healthy and pink skin with a slight of growing tabby fur.

I guess you're not just good for taking life... You can give it as well... Thank you...

The entity within me felt sapped of energy, and it's presence withdrew, but somewhere deep down I sensed something akin to pride at being of use. I reached underneath Cyrus legs with one arm, and the other around his back, before easing him into my arms.

Upon stepping out of the room I found Talwin and Clyde staring at me. They seemed uncertain, perhaps even scared with wonder of what had just happened. I was about to speak when I sensed something approaching in the hallway.

Those two... I forgot about them...

"Clyde, Talwin, there's two people approaching from the hallway. Prepare yourselves," I said.

The two of them turned around and the aether burst with energy around Talwin. Moments later a rather young human clad in the robes of a student stepped inside. Something was rather strange though, the gaze was empty, the shoulders slumped, and every step looked like the movements of a doll moved through magic. The young mage turned to stare at us with an empty gaze, while the aether hardened around him as if ready to strike.

Talwin looked over at me, "Avery, that one is a student called Aaron. He helped me along the way, but there's something-"

I focused on the young mage and spoke as I pondered what I saw, "Something wrong with him. Yes, I've noticed."

Aaron's mouth dropped open and a sliver of drool trickled out. Moments later the mouth started moving and a form of slurred speech came out, "Who are you? What have you done with Leyland?"

Oh... I get it now... Leyland seemed to favor this form of control... To infest others...

No wonder his henchmen know it as well... Or... Maybe this is one of the Academy's dirty secrets?

"Talwin, I've told you about the unconscious shields all living creatures generate, yes?" I asked.

Talwin nodded, "Yeah."

"What you see in front of you is what happens if you break that barrier, and infest said person with your own magic. That 'thing' is a puppet, remote controlled by whomever is still hiding somewhere down that corridor."

Aaron's head turned and then tipped to the side in order to stare at me, "You broke free, Red Eye? I take it Leyland is dead then?"

I steadied Cyrus within my arms, and then pointed a claw toward the pile of dust in the room.

Aaron's head moved once more while making a short but wet cough, "This is unexpected, but impressive."

I gritted my teeth, "Want a demonstration?"

Aaron's body stumbled back, and almost lost balance for a moment while his head rocked back and forth, "No. No demonstration necessary. If you don't mind, I'll leave you to your business."

Talwin looked to me, stared, and whispered, "Avery, we need to do something."

Leonard is going to be furious...

"Hold on," I said out loud.

Aaron's form steadied, and his head lifted to focus, "Yes?"

"Relinquish control of the student, or else," I answered.

Aaron's body stared at me with drool dripping onto his robe. Moments later his body shuddered a little, "In return you will let me leave, unharmed?"

"If you let the boy go, then I promise that I won't hurt you," I answered.

Aaron's body made a slow nod. Moments later the aether trembled, the young mage gasped with a sudden shudder, and collapsed on the ground like a heap.

In that split second something moved by the edge of my vision. Clyde stepped up to Talwin, snatched hold of his belt, and wrested the knife from its holster. Talwin seemed ready to protest when Clyde launched forward, rushed toward the exit, and raised the knife high in his hand.

As I watched he rounded the corner, moved his arm back, took aim in the blink of an eye, and hurled the knife down the hallway with a sudden snarl in his throat. A startled gasp was followed by a sudden blast of flux that welled out from the hallway.

I moved to the side, glanced beyond Clyde's shoulder, and saw a well dressed human mage now clutching a knife sticking out of his chest. The mage stumbled into the center of the hallway with a panicked expression and wheezed. Moments later his legs weakened, his knees hit the ground, and he slumped against the wall.

Talwin rushed up to Aaron, knelt beside him, and checked his pulse. After a moments pause he breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the young mage into his lap. While holding Aaron his expression began to darken and he lifted his gaze to look at Clyde.

"We promised to let him go!" Talwin snapped.

Clyde remained focused on the dying mage in the hallway, "Avery promised that 'he' wouldn't hurt him, not that 'I' wouldn't."

I kept a close eye on the mage and stepped up to the hallway in silence. Blood dripped from the mage's mouth and the knife seemed to have dug itself beside or into the heart. Removing it would lead to a quick death, and based on the horror etched in the mage's face, he also knew.

"I told you, Clyde! I thought you learned! You damn savage!" Talwin snarled in anger.

Clyde turned around, looked down at Talwin who still cradled the young mage, and stared. To my surprise Clyde didn't seem to bristle with anger, instead his muzzle wavered, his ears drooped a little, and he seemed to think to himself.

"You're a hypocrite, Talwin. You know that?" Clyde whispered.

"A hypocrite!? I don't go around killing everyone I see!" Talwin snapped and lashed out with one arm aimed at Clyde.

I raised my gaze and listened to the aether for a moment. The Master and his forces were still some distance away, and intervening with their argument felt like it could backfire.

Clyde stepped closer to Talwin, gritted his teeth, turned sideways, and pointed a claw at the dying mage in the hallway. "This monster couldn't care less about my life when I was in the cage. He worked for a fucking necromancer, helped manage one of the biggest slave trades on the continent, and he turned the kid you're holding into a mindless puppet that he could use to save his own hide!"

Talwin looked down at Aaron, and hissed, "That doesn't meanyou can just kill him like that."

Clyde knit his fists and glared, "You want to be the good guy, Talwin? Then tell me, who gets the blame when this guy escapes and continues Leyland's work? Do you blame Avery for promising to let him go? Yourself? Or do you delude yourself into neutrality by doing nothing?"

Talwin looked up, and met Clyde's glare, "You can't kill someone because of what they might do."

"Oh? But you were willing to kill Cromwell, weren't you, Talwin?" Clyde answered with a mocking tone.

"We knew what he had done, we judged him for that. This is different," Talwin whispered.

Clyde loomed over Talwin, and leaned down to stare, "You weren't there when they locked me in the cage. You didn't see their stares, looking at me like a specimen. You didn't see the way they bowed to Leyland. Do you really think this man could be innocent, after what you've seen?"

Talwin was silent.

"I have learned, Talwin. From you, and Avery. You want to save people, and while childish it's a good notion... I can feel it in my heart, and my instincts. But do not let your goodness make you stupid in return. Some people deserve... No, they must die, to save others."

Talwin's scowled with anger, "There are other ways."

"Like what? Are you going to lock him up in a cell underneath the guild and reform him? Hand him over to the city guards? Or the Academy which is about to be wiped from the map?" Clyde asked.

Talwin gaze dropped, "No..."

Clyde backed off, "You want to be kind and merciful? Then walk up to the guy, twist the knife around, and end his suffering. A quick death, like things should be."

"You want me to finish what you started?" Talwin asked in disbelief.

"You claim you have what it takes, but I'm not so sure you do. When you stepped into this room and saw Avery, you froze. I had to grab your arm and pull you along. When you got an opening, you hesitated when you should have reached dug through his chest and torn his still beating heart out. A single mistake like that is all it takes and if Leyland had noticed before he did, then none of us would be here right now. You don't have the instincts of a killer."

Talwin eased Aaron onto the ground, and then rose. The expression on his face was stoic, but his fists seemed to shake a little while he clenched them shut. He refused to look at me, and merely threw Clyde a glance.

The dying mage was at this point murmuring out of delirium, blood had soaked through his clothes, and the color of his skin had become a hue of ashen gray. Talwin marched around the corner, walked up to the mage, looked down, and reached down to grab his shoulder. The mage stirred at the touch but was helpless to resist when Talwin down, and grabbed hold of the knife.

A whisper of protest was heard, followed by a sudden crunch as the knife was pushed deeper, and the mage's body lifted from the pressure. A bubbling gurgle was heard, followed by a wet pop as Talwin ripped the knife out.

Blood spattered onto the floor from the twisted wound and the mage slumped forward. Moments later he hit the ground hard, and grew still. Talwin turned around, ears clamped to his head, approached me with the knife still in his hand.

"I think we're done here," Talwin whispered.

I nodded and motioned toward Aaron, "Pick him up, stand close to me, and we'll transport out of here."

The two of them moved toward Aaron at the same time, paused, and looked at each other. Moments later they moved in unison, gently eased Aaron up, and walked up to join my side. The ceiling above us was starting to rumble with activity while I looked toward the array of crystals scattered throughout the room. With a few moments of searching I found a suitable set, moved them around us in a circle, and closed my eyes to focus.

The aether was chaotic, but the central tower of the Academy still seemed functional as an aetheric antenna. The crystals flared to life with energy, I peered into the deeper veil of the aether, and homed in on the Dracwyn and the guild. Within a few seconds the air to began to shimmer around us, reality warped, and with a blink we were gone.

788 I.C, March 10, The Pierced Veil: Lounge, Morning

I felt my thoughts slipping, deeper and deeper, into the comforting embrace of sleep. It was a welcome respite and the leather seat welcomed me into its embrace.

"Avery?" I heard Leonard ask.

"Whu?" I murmured.

"That cat you dragged in is sleeping in one of the guest rooms upstairs. As for Aaron, the young mage woke up along the way. Apart from some obvious amnesia and a hefty headache he seems okay, and my contacts are going to make sure he ends up with the rest of the refugees."

Talwin's concoction worked... Good, that's one less problem to worry about...

"Good," I manage to whisper with a slurred tone.

Leonard pulled a deep breath, and took on a serious tone, "Avery, we need to talk."

"Later, Leonard. Let me rest."

Something struck my head with a resounding yet gentle whack. It jolted me awake, made me jump within the couch, and I felt my tail strain with the sudden surprise. My hands rushed to my head while my ears folded back and I glanced up in wonder. Leonard was looming over me with a newspaper in his hand and a stark frown on his face.

I sank into the couch once more, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and threw him a tired glance from the side, "Can't this wait?"

The already intense frown hardened further, and made him bare his teeth, "You're gone for days, and you leave us with no clue on what's going on. Then you pop out of the transporter like a jack-in-the-box and expect us to deal with your baggage."

"Sorry about that," I whispered.

Leonard held up his hand and started counting on his fingers, "You brought along a feline smelling like death. An unconscious Academy mage. Talwin was dressed in some kind of ceremony clothes. Clyde was dressed in Academy robes two sizes too small, and you had no clothes at all."

A light smirk grew on my lips, "And?"

Leonard squeezed the newspaper in his hand, "And none of you will tell me a damn thing! So to answer your question, NO! This can't bloody wait!"

I drew a deep breath and straightened myself in the couch, "Fine..."

Leonard unfolded the newspaper in his hand, and held it in front of my face. On the front page was a headline that exclaimed: 'Mage Academy destroyed by Undead Army! Survivors fleeing to Dracwyn!'

I gulped at the sight of it, while Leonard's hand moved to point at something along the bottom. I let my gaze drop and noticed another headline: 'Large explosion in the Residential district! Davos Manor burned to the ground. Magic suspected!'

"Did you have anything to do with this?" Leonard asked while pointing at the smaller article.

I bit my lip, "It's... complicated."

"At least tell me that you had nothing to do with the Academy?" Leonard whispered.

I clasped my hands and whispered, "You'd better sit down, Leonard. This is going to be a long story..."

788 I.C, March 10, The Pierced Veil: Lounge, Midday

"... and that's it, I guess."

I looked up at the couch opposite to me and focused on Leonard. His head hung low while he rubbed a spot between his eyes in silence. After a few minutes he glanced up, diverted his gaze toward the windows, and focused on the surrounding city.

"Where's Cromwell?" Leonard asked after a few moments.

I shrugged, "We don't know. Most likely Leyland figured that he was of further use and sent him somewhere safe. For all we know he could be back in the city, hiding among the Academy refugees."

Leonard put one arm on the armrest, sighed, and leaned onto his knit hand, "Cromwell was and always will be a snake with an uncanny amount of luck."

I leaned back in the couch, and let my head rest, "I take it you have more to say?"

Leonard's spoke while watching the window, "I asked you to give me a few days to investigate, and you went behind my back."

"It was an opportunity I couldn't waste," I answered.

"And in return you brought along the Academy's collapse," Leonard said with a morose tone.

"The Academy was useless in its current state, when the Master's army comes here, they'll be in a far better position to help. Besides, whatever Leyland and his cohorts had planned is now derailed."

"One of the most well known mage institutions on this continent becomes a ruin, hundreds dead, and all you see is the benefit of bringing them here?" Leonard asked and looked over at me.

I sighed, "This is war, Leonard. Fight or die, it's that simple. Anything else is just decoration on the cake, something to aim for, but which isn't needed in the end."

"If you fight with that attitude, don't you become the monster you're trying to fight?" Leonard asked.

I raised my brow, "I understand the idea you're trying to peddle, but you'd have to try pretty damn hard to become worse than an army of undead."

Leonard was silent for a few moments, "True, but if you had given me time, then-"

"You're forgetting something, Leonard," I interrupted.

Leonard sat straight, "Oh, and that is?"

I motioned to the window, "Cromwell was or is deeply intertwined with the Underground. Leyland controlled Cromwell, had influence with the Academy, and by extension... Probably held a lot of sway over the Underground. To make matters worse is that the Underground is now fractured and weakened. In other words, it has become even more prone to the kind of corruption that would play into their paws. So tell me, if we had waited, what kind of information do you think your contacts within the Underground would have returned with?"

Leonard bit his lip, "Most likely they would have told us whatever Leyland or Cromwell wanted us to hear: Bait to lure us into the mansion."

"I went behind your back, I overestimated myself, and I took your allegiance for granted, Leonard. I'm sorry for that..."

"Will you promise me you won't do it again?" Leonard asked.

I was afraid of this...

I closed my eyes, and drew a deep breath, "Leonard."

"What?" Leonard asked.

I opened my eyes to focus on him, "This has been on the horizon for a while, but we can't play this game any longer. If I disagree with you, and I still feel justified after discussing things with the people in my pack, then I won't obey you."

Leonard's eyes widened a little, "Pack?"

I twinged in discomfort upon realizing the kind of word I had used. "What I'm saying is that I want you to recognize me as head of the guild, at least until the Master is vanquished, or we die trying."

Leonard expression hardened while he knit his hand, "This is my guild, Avery."

"Is it? It's my and Talwin's investment that saved it, and it's our money keeping it afloat. I saved your hide when the truth came out about your past and when I speak your people listen. Your influence with the Underground and the guild is waning, Leonard. Fight me, and you will not only lose the Guild, but your friends as well."

"You're threatening me?" Leonard asked.

"Of course not. I'm only stating the facts, and while you may doubt, know that I will do whatever it takes to keep myself, and the ones I care about... safe."

Leonard's lips twitched while his hackles rose a little, "I would have figured that you would have come back a bit more humble after this."

I kept my focus on him, "I am humble, that's why I'm asking you here, in private, rather than wresting power from you in public."

Leonard's nose flared with slow and deep breaths while his hands clutched the armrests, "I've spent the last decade crawling my way up while slaving away under Cromwell's rule. I am the one who guided the others and helped shape the guild into what it is. Hearing this... Having you spit it in my face... I have the urge to scream and throw myself at you."

"But you're not, are you?" I whispered while watching him.

Leonard clutched the side of his head with one hand, and slowly exhaled, "Because I know what would happen if I did."

"I'm sorry Leonard, but this is necessary, because I have to act based on my own survival and that of others. If the situation had been different, then I would have been more than happy to swallow any pride of mine in return for the stability this place provides."

Leonard leaned onto his hand, closed his eyes, and then squinted with one eye to focus on me, "When the lot of you disappeared, do you know what Archer and Casey did?"

"No," I answered.

"They asked about me about your orders. When I told them I didn't know they started worrying, were they still safe here? Why hadn't you told me what you were up to? What were we supposed to do with the bum who threw the rock? You already have what you ask, Avery. The guild is already yours... and we've just been playing this 'game' in order to not hurt my feelings."

"This was never my intent when I came here, Leonard. I just wanted a place to call home..."

Leonard hackles relaxed, his ears drooped, and his shoulders slumped as if exhausted, "I... Know that."

"What happens now?" I asked.

Leonard straightened in his seat, and shrugged, "With the others? Not much. As for myself? Give me orders, and I'll follow. But don't abuse it, because I promise you that I will never bow before others like I did for Cromwell."

I made a slow nod, "And I promise to be honest with you."

"You'd better, because I don't want to be left stranded like this again," Leonard answered with a sour glance.

I tipped my head, "So what did you do with our mischievous guard?"

Leonard tapped his claws against the armrest and grew a slight smirk, "We dug through Talwin's alchemy corner and used the same thing you used on Aaron."

I chuckled, "I see, but isn't there a risk he'll wake up and continue his misguided mission?"

Leonard's smirk grew, "We dumped him near the mansion. The first thing he'd see upon waking up is the crater you left behind. I figured that might persuade him to lie low."

"That's one problem taken care of then," I answered with a smirk of my own.

"What's the risk that the others will come here looking for you and the others?"

"You mean if the Academy refugees talk with the city guards?" I asked.

Leonard nodded, "Yeah."

"Well... From what I understood Leyland swept us under the carpet rather quickly, and the Master's army forced the rest to focus on the invasion. In time the city guards might learn that 'Red Eye' and his companions were there, but I can't see how they'd find their way here."

"Apart from Cromwell, you mean?" Leonard said.

I sighed, "Yeah, unless that thorn decides to show up again. But without his support from Leyland, do you think he'll do that?"

Leonard pondered it for a moment, "Perhaps not, and even if he does then I don't think he'll be able to keep his location secret. But if he decides to play stupid, then I guess you'll just have to try killing him again."

I raised my brow and flashed him a grin, "You certainly seem to be warming up to the idea of targeted assassination."

Leonard grew a morose smile and looked out the window, "To think... A necromancer from the mage wars, hiding in the Academy, and he was here. I showed him around, thought him pleasant, and figured we had found an ally... I wonder how long Cromwell has been in league with him."

"You've never heard of Leyland before, I take it?" I asked.

Leonard shook his head, "Cromwell disappeared at times, had strange meetings, and I knew a lot of our ore ended up in the hands of the Academy... But I had never heard the name until you told me of him."

"I see," I whispered.

Leonard rose from his couch, walked up beside me, and placed a hand on my shoulder, "I'll let you sleep and... We're all glad that you're back."

I glanced up with a smile, "Happy to be back, Leonard."

788 I.C, March 10, The Pierced Veil: Lounge, Evening

I looked up, saw the stairs leading up to the tower, and sighed at the prospect of ascending it. Despite sleeping through the day, I found myself longing for more rest. Step by step I ascended and felt a dim ache across my chest with every breath. It proved that while powerful the entity's healing was far from perfect.

The recent events had made me realize what felt obvious now. The entity in my chest had always been there, waiting at the very edge of my consciousness, dismissed as little more than a stray thought or influence. Even now I could feel its lingering presence, watching, observing, resting.

The thought felt scary but I found some comfort in what I had observed so far. Like Leyland said the defenses of Rastlin's cage were turned inward, most likely to control or tame the entity. Many questions remained though. I shook my head and dismissed it from my head. Further research would bring answers, but for now I needed to recuperate.

I stepped into the tower, looked around, and saw Talwin sitting in a chair by the window. His gaze was focused on the red horizon of the sun settling beyond the horizon. A moment later he sipped from a cup in his hands, and glanced towards me.

"Evening, Talwin," I said with a gentle smile and approached.

Talwin carefully eased the cup onto his lap, and made a cursory smile, "Evening."

"How are you doing?" I asked, and settled in a chair next to him.

Talwin looked down at his cup, raised one hand, and trailed a claw along its rim, "It's odd..."

"Oh?" I asked.

"You know in stories where the heroes slay the great evil and they celebrate while everyone are in high spirits? Well, reality feels a lot harsher, and tiring," Talwin whispered.

"I know the feeling. Go on?"

Talwin drew a deep breath, "Where do I start... We set out to murder someone for the good of all, and ended up slaying an ancient necromancer while bringing the Mage Academy to ruin. That counts as a major event, there will be books written about it, memorials, and it'll be remembered for centuries to come. We were in the very center of it, but unless we share the story the truth will likely be lost to time."

"The less people that know of our involvement, the better," I said.

Talwin nodded, "I woke up in the middle of the Academy, got up, dressed myself as another, and took on his identity. I lied and manipulated my way to Clyde, and then helped kill his captor. It seemed natural to me, and at the time I even felt a bit of excitement. I've put a knife in someone, not once, but twice today. Who am I? Because the person I used to be would never be capable of this."

"We're just doing our best to survive, Talwin. We adapt."

Talwin blinked a few times, and then looked up at me, "Is it that simple?"

I shrugged, "We thought we were in control of our own fates, but so far it seems we've been poked and prodded by various forces. Rastlin, the Master, Leyland, and I'm sure there are others in this grand game playing out across the continent."

"So what are you saying? That we can't be blamed for what happens?" Talwin asked.

"It's not our fault that the Mage Academy allowed themselves to be paralyzed like this, nor is it our fault that their pride prevented them from safely evacuating. I'm not saying that we have the right to act any way we want, but so far we are reacting to the steps taken by others."

Talwin tipped his head a little, and grew a morose smile, "And what about me?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I never seem to get to a point where I'm sure of myself any longer. Once I was a drug addict chasing escape. Then I swore to stop and to never hurt another living creature. Now I'm a mage dealing with matters of life and death on an almost daily basis. The values that I think represent me keeps changing, and so does my perception of right and wrong."

Talwin drew a deep breath, "Yet I keep going, ever striding forward, and as horrible as it all is... There's a part of me that likes it. The anger, the fighting, the magic... Being surrounded by danger makes one realize how precious life is, and by extension I feel alive. But that's not who I thought I was... Who I was supposed to be. So what am I? A hypocrite like Clyde says? A monster rejecting his own nature? A hero doing his best in a world of darkness? Or... As you say, a guy just doing his best to survive?"

"How about a bit of everything?" I asked.

Talwin stifled a chuckle that made his cup shake, he then looked over at me with a big grin. "I'm not sure whether you care for the philosophy of all this, or just made a deep observation."

I made another shrug, "I ponder these things as well. But they rarely lead anywhere, so I focus on the tangible instead."

"Which is?" Talwin asked.

"Did Clyde do the right thing, hurling that knife at the mage we don't even know the name of?" I asked.

"Aaron took no damage from being possessed like that, right?" Talwin asked.

"That depends on what you mean. He wasn't physically hurt, but the memory of being violated like such is bound to leave scars," I answered.

Talwin nodded, "Which is one of the reasons why we drugged him. But that also means the mage who did it isn't necessarily evil. Perhaps he was just trying to survive, like us?"

"Clyde certainly seemed to have an opinion of him," I said.

Talwin closed his eyes and sighed, "But the thing is that we don't know. He could very well have been a double agent sent by the Archmage to keep an eye on Leyland."

"That argument could be made for anything," I said.

"I know, which is why I'm so conflicted, and then you start wondering. Even if he was a bad guy, couldn't he be saved?"

"You're drawing a parallel to Clyde?" I asked.

Talwin set his mug on the windowsill and faced me, "Maybe. But then you get what Clyde said. We don't have the resources to save everyone, but what does that make us? Or what does that say about ethics in general?"

"There's no right answer in this, Talwin. At least none that everyone will agree on."

"What do you mean?" Talwin asked.

"Leyland and his two companions were the spiders in this grand web, at least as far as we know. Silencing them makes things safer for us, thus it was the proper action to take."

"The life and morals of a survivor..." Talwin whispered.

"We saved Aaron, and Cyrus. Even Clyde did his best, he cared for others, your philosophy. We all tried to do good, take comfort in that."

Talwin made a slow nod, "Would you have kept your word and let him go? Or were you just waiting for him to release Aaron?"

"I'm not sure. We had already taken plenty of risks, and engaging another mage felt like an unnecessary risk when I was focused on getting us out of there."

"The promise didn't weigh into it?" Talwin asked.

"As a wulfkin I was taught that deals with those that aren't kin mean very little. In fact, it was a weakness of other races that could be exploited. I don't believe in such things any longer, but I can't say I wasn't considering breaking my word."

"I see," Talwin whispered.

I smiled to myself, "Absolutes are bad, Talwin. You adapt, or die."

"Isn't that something of an absolute?" Talwin retorted with a cheeky glance.

"Are you angry at Clyde for the 'lesson' he gave you?" I asked.

Talwin clasped his hands and pondered, "At first I was. But then I realized that he was right in a way. I still stumble when placed in difficult situations, and that is something I need to fix. I don't think his lesson was a good way of doing it, but I'm still not angry."

"Why not?" I asked.

"That mage suffered, and he could not be healed. Especially not after you spent all that energy fixing Cyrus. I ended his suffering, and I know others would look at me strangely for being capable of doing it with such ease, but I did a good thing."

I made a slow nod, rose from the chair, and stepped over to the bed, "Tired?"

Talwin rose, stretched, and opened his maw wide in a big yawn, "We all are."

I eased down on bed and listened as it creaked, "If possible, I'll talk to Cyrus tomorrow. Perhaps that will shed some light on the reality of things."

Talwin walked over to the bed, eased down, and leaned onto me, "There's something else I wanted to talk about."

"Yeah?" I answered with a tired glance.

"Have you talked with Clyde?" Talwin asked.

"Not after he disappeared into his room," I said.

"So..." Talwin whispered.

"Hmm?"

Talwin seemed to fidget with his hands while leaning onto my shoulder, "I know we spoke briefly of this before. But do you think you'd be able to think of Clyde the same way you do me?"

I raised my brow, "Is this jealousy, Talwin?"

Talwin smirked and perked his ears, "No..."

"Then why do you ask?"

"Clyde and I had plenty to talk about while we were in the Academy, and I've noticed a lot of things while watching the two of you."

"Like what?" I asked.

Talwin glanced up, "It's pretty clear that you're both wulfkins, in body, and mind. Or perhaps it's just a result of being closely bonded."

I made a rolling motion with my hand, "Something more tangible, please?"

Talwin stifled a chuckle, "See? Anyway, the two of you... You know each other, each other's thoughts. You talk to each other by merely being in each other's presence. He loves you, Avery, and he's hurting."

"... I'm not sure what you want me to do about this, Talwin."

Talwin rested his against my shoulder, and stared at the floor. Seconds of silence passed while his hands gripped at the edges of my shirt.

"Talwin?" I asked.

His heart seemed to be pounding and I could feel his body thump ever so gently.

"You care about him a lot, and one of the few things that our relationships is that we share the same bed. What happens if... there are three, instead of two?"

"... Very funny, Talwin."

Talwin tugged at my shirt, glanced up, and met my eyes, "I'm serious."

I stared in confusion and ran the words over in my head, "You're serious?"

Talwin gulped, "It's an idea, and the only solution I can come up with that doesn't involve one person being left behind. It's complicated, unorthodox, strange... but... Is it worth a try?"

"The two of you are at each other's throats half the time... And you want... You want him to come up here... You want me to... I mean... You realize that it would mean that you and him..."

"Clyde and I get along better than you think, and apparently we both have things to teach each other."

I made a sheepish smile, "Wulfkins courting each other go through several stages. One of which is a lot of posturing and arguing. I never realized you were courting him."

The response was an immediate jab in my chest, "I was not courting him, Avery! But..."

"Yes?" I asked.

"This is strange..." Talwin whispered.

"Yes, yes it is," I answered.

Talwin turned, and leaned his head against my chest, "I'm tired, confused, yet I keep thinking of how he must feel right now. He saw you hurt just like I did, but he can't touch you, or tell you he loves you like I can. He's forbidden from it, by his own standards and the fear of what you'd do to him. Leyland hurt him pretty bad, you know? Hurled him across the room like a ragdoll."

"You want me to go and talk to him?" I asked.

"If you're not too tired... And consider what I said, alright?" Talwin said.

"Do you realize what you're asking, Talwin? There's no easy way going back if you get this started."

"I know, Avery."

788 I.C, March 10, The Pierced Veil: Lounge, Night

K** nock! **** K ***nock!*

I waited, seconds passed, and my ears perked at the sound of a tense whisper from within, "Yes?"

"It's me, Avery," I said, eased the handle down, and found it locked.

"What do you want?" Clyde asked from within.

I let go of the handle, "Just to talk, may I come inside?"

Something stirred within the room, heavy steps marched, a loud thump was heard, and a low but angry voice hissed, "Damn it!"

Within a few moments the lock made a click, while Clyde could be heard rushing back, followed by a loud creak from what sounded like the bed.

What is he doing?

I grabbed the handle once more, eased it down, and opened the door. The curtains of the room had been pulled shut, but from the lights of the hallway I noticed several things. Little had changed since the day he had moved into the room, the closets were untouched, and the bedside tables were empty.

Other than the bed, it seemed he had been hesitant to even touch let alone use anything. Clyde himself was sitting on the bed, carefully observing me with a blanket wrapped around him. His blue eyes reflected the light of the hallway, and his bright fur made him stand out in the room. A quick glance to the floor revealed a pile of discarded clothes.

"I was going to bed," Clyde whispered without breaking his focus on me.

I stepped into the room, reached back, and shut the door with a click. The room became almost pitch black, and I blinked until I could make out Clyde's outline once more.

"Is this about what I did?" Clyde asked.

"Maybe, what if it was?" I asked.

"You can be really scary at times, do you know that, Alpha?" Clyde murmured.

I stepped closer, and loomed near the bed, "So you say."

A few seconds of silence passed, "... I was out of line, Avery. You promised him something, and I acted without orders. I'm sorry about that."

"And?" I asked.

"I won't apologize about Talwin... He's my packmate, it's as much my duty as yours to teach him strength," Clyde answered.

"Oh?" I asked and leaned closer.

Clyde kept his cautious stare, "When we're on a mission he shouldn't be your... mate. He should be one of the pack, an asset, not a weakness. I won't apologize."

I leaned closer, so that I could smell the scent wafting from his body, "Your lesson for Talwin arose from the mistake you apologized for, what am I supposed to think of that?"

"I... Maybe... But he hesitated before my mistake as well," Clyde whispered.

"Uh huh?" I asked.

Clyde gulped, "My mistake was in not asking your permission, not the death of the mage. It was the right thing to do."

"Why?" I asked.

"I heard them talking, and that human was in charge of Leyland's slave networks. Cromwell may have been the most important one, but his role shifted to the ore deliveries."

"And now you're the good guy vanquishing evil, Clyde?" I asked.

Clyde's ears twitched, "Not really... But..."

"But?" I asked.

"The burly canine may have been rotten, and sadistic in his pleasures, but even he seemed disgusted by how detached the other one was. He calculated lives as if they were numbers, and performed experiments on slaves that didn't make the cut. Control of others wasn't just a hobby, it was an art."

"So, it seems he was a bad one even when given the benefit of the doubt. I doubt the slave networks will be affected much, but progress is progress," I answered.

Clyde nodded, "I was angry. I couldn't let him leave, and you didn't try to stop me."

"That's because when you touched that knife, you became toxic to anything magic," I answered.

Clyde pulled the blanket tighter, "If you had uttered a word, I would have obeyed."

I tipped my head a little, "Do you think you're teaching Talwin the right lesson?"

"We learn from each other... But, I don't know. I think so. He's got potential, he's strong, just... unable to focus his mind."

"I see," I answered.

Clyde squirmed a little, "Are you angry with me? Did I waste my chance?"

I reached out, touched his head, and gave him a gentle shove to make him lean to the side, "No."

Clyde blinked, sat straight once more, and focused on me while blinking, "You're confusing me."

I stepped closer, turned around, and eased myself into bed next to him. The bed groaned from the combined weight, deformed, and I found us sliding together until our waists touched. Heat radiated from his body, his fur mingled with my own, and I could feel his heart thumping.

"Talwin talked with me," I said.

"A- about what?" Clyde answered with a short stutter.

"You know what, Clyde," I said, and turned my attention to focus on his eyes.

Clyde audibly gulped and his ears clamped to his head, "You're here to tell me it's not going to happen, right?"

"I'm not saying that... What I'm saying is that I'm willing to try."

Clyde bit together, his eyes strained, and for a moment his expression wavered between pain and anger,

"Don't do this to me if you're not serious, Avery. Don't dare do this and then throw me away, I promise that I'll walk out of here and you'll nev-"

I slipped my hand into onto his knit fist, and his voice trailed off to become nothing. His hand relaxed while I weaved my way past the big claws, and pushed pad against pad. I squeezed and held his hand until I felt his heartbeat thump in my hand.

Clyde leaned closer, our arms brushed against each other, and his muzzle stopped near my chest. I returned the gesture, turned my head, and leaned onto him. Each breath filled the space between us with warmth, and it mixed with the heavy scents wafting from his body and crotch.

Sitting in the darkness with such an embrace, listening, seeing, and feeling. It changed something fundamental between us, and it unlocked possibilities that felt strangely pleasant. I pressed my muzzle closer, nudged his nose, and dotted it with a touch of my tongue.

A shiver ran through Clyde, his hand squeezed hard, and his muzzle brightened into a bright smile.

"There's a bed waiting upstairs, are you coming?" I asked.

Clyde started nodding, slow and deliberate, "Yes."