《Mirrors and Shades》 Prologue : Invitations In a chic boutique, a large man dressed in opulent silks of great variety scrolled through the shop''s ledger. He had been at this for quite a while. Apart from him, there was a young man. He went around the shop, checking the rows of hanging charms, and his void cat that followed him like a diligent assistant. The two went through the familiar motions in a tranquil silence, first the dreamcatchers, then the irrigation wands, flame talismans, and then the progressively more magical items behind the tempered displays. Eventually satisfied, he locked the bolt on the main door, closing for the day, and proceeded to stand behind the busy man. His thoughts wandered. ''Silly is not here yet. I bet the whole menagerie is drunk again...'' Tommy had owned this shop for 3 years now. By now, it had chains in three nearby towns, all under his watch. But such a thing was expected from him. He was ready for bigger things ''I wonder if I can takeover the caravans now. Silly won''t like...'' His brother had always been the happy-go-lucky troublemaker. Yet, he loved the caravans. Rather, he loved traveling, leaving Tommy to hold the fort, taking care of the grown-up stuff. Not that... The bell clinked as the door opened and a woman walked into the shop. "You..", the man jumped up from his seat, his eyes wide, finger pointed at the newcomer, his book lying on the floor. "Yes, it''s me, Dear! I bring good news..." ''Weird, didn''t I lock... '' Tommy couldn''t complete the thought. He felt suffocated. The woman stood by the door, her figure enlarged in his vision, taking up most of the space, her eyes piercing through him. He couldn''t look away. All she had done, was look at him, and smile. --- Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. On a ship, sailors clung onto ropes for their dear lives. They had seen a hundred storms already this season, yet none was as dangerous as this one. For it was their captain holding the wheel. The wind gods were merciful, sending a pleasant breeze their way. So were the leviathons and the creatures of the deep, who slept soundly underwater. So had been the case ever since they banded together two seasons ago. Some of the crew said the ship was an ancient artefact blessed by the Night. Others claimed it was all because of the captain. Right now, the ship creaked and twisted, like a kite without it''s strings. And the drunk captain hollered obscene shanties as more and more wind followed her slurred command. And so, everyone braced however they could if they didn''t outright tie themselves down. Asva was having the time of her life. [I, Princess Asva of the Shattered Isles, the most beautiful and cool, the most successful pirate captain in the goddamned ever, coolest of all, am going to the Kingdom. Don''t miss me. No, don''t you dare forget me, my dear minions. Except you, Derek, you suck on my ...] --- In a jungle as old as time itself, a group sat around a bonfire. The white of their once shiny armor was matted in black mud and dried blood, their shields scratched and bent, their faces tired and grim. And yet, the four of them sat upright, used to the weight of their knightly responsibilities. They were the watchers - looking for any sign of foreign incursions into the realm. The world had once been whole. Not anymore. New pieces of reality inserted themselves anywhere they could find mana, like parasites feeding upon the world. And so, the four had been charged with the noble burden of watching out for any new shifts in the world. They were the hunters too - the bloodthirsty denizens that accompanied the new shards of reality were always deadly. No life was safe. One could either kill the monsters, or be wiped out. There was no compromise. And so, they hunted whatever broke into their lands. Finally, they were the keepers - holding the secret knowledge and powers that came with the job. The knights knew what their masters told them. They also experienced the reality as they battled for their life day after day. They kept the worries away from the masses letting them live and die in blissful ignorance, or so they were told. Keeping had always been the hardest. As the wood cracked, the flame turned from orange to an otherworldly silver. Aldy, the youngest by far, jumped up and stabbed the long poker deep into the fire. As he pulled it out, a large steaming sack came out and the fire slowly turned back to the usual. The knights salivated, their stiffness replaced with anticipation. The heavenly smell intensified as the leather sack was opened. But, before they could dig in, someone else entered the clearing. Someone sneaky and powerful enough to evade the enhanced senses of a full squad. "Aldy, your lord father requires your presence urgently. Follow me." The slim figure came into Aldy''s view. Clad in camo, she didn''t stop while speaking, instead taking out a spoon and scooping out the ground meat and roots from the sack. The sack that had just been in Aldy''s grip. He sighed. "What is it about?" "You are to attend the Academy." ''Finally.'' Going to school
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The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Message 1008 Dear Saraya I am going to school. Truly. I shall attend the greatest magical school of this land. I won''t say I am not excited. Ever since I was born, I have known of the Academies - the foci of arcane learning and future leadership. I still recall my Lord Father, telling us the tales of the Archmages, the one where they got together and remade the world. There''s real magic, possibly a way to see you again, but it wasn''t to be mine. Oh how it had hurt. That''s when I picked up the sword again. I was 4, I believe. I trained. I worked. I obeyed. I had made peace. Yet, this fickle fate forced the forbidden fruit in my face. Again. And I''ve got companions now. It feels like yesterday when the D''vier family adopted me. I am the heir to the old military guard, one of the four pillars that defend the southern border. I had expected to be paired with the other three - Kuroki, Jax, or Durand. The first is a foreigner princess. The Decat lineage are the rulers of Shattered Isles, the ones closest to uniting the Archipelago. I had heard that she is a capable socialite and a natural leader. She could be turned to our cause. And there''s the criminal merchant - just a family business enterprise spread too wide and thin, their agents across the Nas continent and beyond trading all sorts of goods. Wrong. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. They have entrenched themselves deep into the Vermilion Kingdom, next in line for a hereditary noble title. In fact, his admission to the Academy will seal the deal. If anything, I do not understand how the Miles patriarch has avoided being knighted without slighting the crown? Worth looking into. They control the information and goods, have the eyes and ears among the populace, there hands are everywhere. Will he be a friend, or a foe? What should I do? I can''t help but hear the blood rushing through my temple. And there''s my shame, too. I deeply regret the very acts that now bring me to this precipice. Laurel was a good master, and a brother, and I miss him dearly. I wonder what I would have done had I known. Was their another way? Regardless, atonement is all I hope for now. I shall not fail. Our cause is just. The plight of the oppressed is beyond the bounds of reason and faithless negotiations serve no one. I am to be a tool of reckoning, not to be wielded for selfish ends. I shall build this road with blood and flesh were the ink to run dry and the stones shatter. This is my destiny. As I write, my cheeks are flushed, my heart races, my nerves quake. It has been so long since I was so young and reckless. So long since I went to war. Mock me all you want, you would do the same. If only. With love. As always. Father. Draconic Education
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Working Out
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Hiking the Wilds 1 The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Hiking the Wilds 2 Hiking the Wilds 2 -- They walked on the mushy ground at the edge of the treeline, the bright brook calmly burbling to their right, deep shadows of the dense forest to the left. "This is like a dream. Can we walk on the stone instead of this mushy ground? It''s right there." "Are you dumb?" "Not a chance. It''s not safe." "Why not though?" "Wet feet." "It''s a Wild land. Where there''s rock, there can be water in a moment. You''ll be soaked, and that is if you didn''t fall or slow us down." "Why''s that an issue. The water is so shallow. And nice." "Right now it is. It gets deeper. Walking with wet shoes is the worst. Why would you want that?" "I''ll take them off, of course. And roll my pants. There''s solid ground there." "Nope. There''s one rule to adventuring - if it feels good, it will probably kill you. You''ll be a sitting duck in the water. "No, worse. A duck would kill him." "Right." "But-" "I won''t save you." "Yeah, we won''t have a chance, since we would be separated." "Nevermind. It was just a thought." "Why am I always stuck with the stupid and the stubborn?" "Hey!"This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "What? Did you forget the first time?" "Shut up. You''are a Dummy." "Yeah Dummy, listen to her." "My name is Tommy." "Not anymore. You''re Dummy." "I could be worse. Want to know how Dagger got her name?" "You wouldn''t dare.." "Because she.." The girl twisted so quick, and jumped up, her hand extending. "Noo...." She was a blur, her hands flashing past Lester''s guard, though he parried all her striked. He was about to continue speaking, when he noticed the glint from a corner of his eyes, and pushed Dagger away. The switch from goofy to business made Dagger stop and turn around. A spot of light kept appearing and disappearing from their view, like a signal. "Is that from the water?" "Unlikely. It is getting closer. Get ready." It really was getting larger, until Dagger muttered something and sat down on her haunches, relaxed. "Heh." Soon, the figure in the distance became clearer. Light periodically reflected off of the edge of the shield as Fatty ran to them with long leaps. Right next to the stream. On the hard rock. With his shoes off. "Isn''t he..." "This lardass..." "..." As Tommy made to head out, Dagger held the two back at the edge of the canopy. "Follow my lead." They hid behind the trees, jumping out at the last second, for which they almost got clubbed by the charging boy who was spooked by their appearance. Fatty conducted himself well though, dodging the three, also avoiding falling into the water as he grabbed onto a stem to arrest his momentum and swing him back to them. Dagger couldn''t keep the smug smile off his face. Tommy was smiling too, a grin of vindication, short-lived. "Don''t smile, Dummy. Unless you can copy that move." Dagger said, pointedly staring at Fatty. "What was that for anyway", Fatty huffed. "What if I was a bear?" "A club would have smashed you." "Joyo, we''ve discussed this. It''s vulnerable out in the open." "I wanted to hurry, Lester. Not because it''s so nice out today." They two gazes sharpened, so Fatty quickly added, "Anyway, we are going to be rich. I found a whole bunch of Raegarberries. Come, come." Turning around, he ran back up before anyone could say otherwise. The same way he came. On the rocks. The three shared a look, Tommy''s expectant, Dagger flat, and Lester resigned. "It really is nice though." "Agh.. Our best scout agrees, so we can safey follow. Still, keep your eyes open." Tommy was already taking of his shoes. Hiking the Wilds 3 Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Hiking the Wilds 4 Hiking the Wilds 4 -- This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Cornered 1 The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Cornered 2
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This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Cornered 8 A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Cornered 9 CLANG!! Fatty struck the shield hard, and it rang. It startled Tommy. No, it hadn''t been Fatty. He looked equally surprised, the shield having nearly flown out of his hand. Soon, it happened again. CLANG!! Something else was there. A blur. It shot out of the fog, barely visible in the dim light of the dying embers, attacking Fatty, hitting the metal, then retreating in one supercharged move. The whole sequence was over in instant. "What just-" Tommy started. "You saw that, right?" Fatty asked at the same time. He was massaging the right shoulder, still somehow holding onto the shield. The clamor woke the other two up. "Something''s here, guys. It bashed into me." CLANG! To prove his point, the dark metal rang hit again. The two didn''t dally, quickly maneuvering into the same defensive stance as when they faced the wolf - Fatty at the front covering Lester, Dagger next to Tommy at the back. Only, they were open on all sides. Atleast the thing always returned from where it had last vanished to. CLANG! They rotated. There wasn''t much they could do. Whatever it was, moved so fast that they barely afterimages as it attacked. Fatty shrunk his frame, like a turtle, obviously scared. The rest were spooked too. The formation was much tighter, barely any room, as the three swivelled their heads around, trying to cover the wide field of view. CLANG! Swooof! Next second, it reappeared, lit only by the dying embers and the pale light of early dawn. Lester swung his sword in a massive overhead swing, missing entirely. Dagger too. She was chugging half-burned sticks from the pit, none of which hit. They were yet to properly put on their gear. Same pattern repeated - it hit the shield, then ran away. Tommy strained his ears to listen for any signs. Didn''t work. His eyes couldn''t see much either. "Guys-" "Shh, keep it low." "Ok." Tommy whispered, "What should I do? I can''t see it at all." "Same. Can''t sense it." Dagger replied. CLANG! ... Time passed. The initial spike in fear had settled, leaving only a puzzle to be solved. The thing was something small, and held serious grudge against the round metal object, since it didn''t bother attacking anything else. Sometimes multiple clangs rang within a breath, other times they found themselves wondering if it had left. In the meantime, they slowly gathered their equipment. Their vigilance was dropping once the initial alarm faded and not much changed. They tried keeping their guard up, as well as they could. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Do you think it''s Tier 4?" "Nope. Maybe Tier 3." Dagger said. "Yeah, it''s just fast. And weird and blurry. Like a cloud or smoke. "And orange." Tommy added. "Probably." CLANG! Clang! Ddupp! They kept trying, and soon enough, Lester got a clean hit, bouncing it off the ground. Away from them and into the fog it went. Ttok! Clink! It came back right away, from behind them, jolting Lester''s arm as his sword was smacked. Sword that broke. Lester was staring at his half sword, literally half of it. The other half was just...gone. "What the hell!" Until the thing returned and yanked that out of his hand too. "No!!!" he cried. "Look..." Beside him in the hard ground was a deep talon print, half the size of his hand. Another one lay a bit further away, where it had landed after he had managed to strike it. The blur was gone. For quite a while. Not knowing gnawed at them. "Some kind of a bird? Small. Not completely immune. Still mostly harmless." Dagger announced, "Dummy, can you hit it?" "Are you kidding?" "What if it is stopped?" "Maybe." CLANG! The pattern changed. Attacks were coming from random directions now, more aggressive too. The shield had been punched in, deep dents in the metal. The tank was shaking. His voice quaked as he whined, "Why is it only hitting me?! Do something..." "I think it wants the shield, Fatty. How about throwing it away?" "No! This is the only thing protecting us." "We would already be dead if it wanted to kill us." "What if that''s its plan?" CLANG!!! Lester and Dagger had stopped trying to hit it, taking a break to plan while Fatty vehemently held his own. Soon the first rays of sunlight lit the tiny battlefield. A bright orange blur flashed repeatedly, as if a vengeful ghost haunting the angry boy holding up the battered round shield. CLANG "What does it want?" Fatty grumbled. "It''s toying with us", Lester replied, sullenly. "Throw it away, Fatty. It''s only after the shield." "No! I''m not giving it my shield." "You''re going to die." "Then do something." Tommy felt like he was going mad. A nice walk in the everchanging forest had turned into a nightmarish parody of an adventure. They were stuck on an island surrounded by fog that turned people into drooling babes, and a tiny speeding monster bird thing was playing with them. "Mad world..." Asva and the gang Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. [ Day 2 The group sprinted through the red grass, under the black stone arch, and in. Babyface was there, staring at them entering, and looking pissed. "Drop your assignments in this pile and take a seat. We are starting now." She was eyeing them, ready to give them a thrashing, but surprisingly she didn''t. Goosebumps climbed up Asva''s back as they made their way to Aldy at the back, as if the predator stalked them still. The professor struck the moment they were seated. "Where is Mr Miles?" she asked. Asva had no clue, so she shrugged. Aldy too. "Aren''t you two roommates, Mr D''vier?" "He was gone when I woke up, Professor." "Was he? Disappointing. Tell him to come see me after the class." The class continued. "I do hope that some of you pondered the nature of the illusion cast in the last class. Any volunteers?" Only one. The class representative Liu. Babyface nodded, permitting her to speak. "It affected all of our senses." "Obviously." "Ah... and um, it induced fear." "And?" "..." "Sit down." "Anyone? Yes, Mr von Buchanoir." "The spell was not a mass hallucination as it first appeared to be. Each of us saw a different illusion." "Good. Anything else?" "I have a hypotheses, though I am not certain... The spell targeted us individually, as if-" "Enough." She cut him off, her visage turning from bored to serious in a second, almost angry. Yet, she didn''t berate him. Instead, she paused for a bit, composing herself, and continued. "I asked about your thoughts, not gossip amongst yourselves. However, you are right. The spell drew from your personal experiences, which requires acute finesse but a paltry amount of mana compared to a mass illusion. More targets increase the difficulty polynomially, depending on your affinity and ..." Babyface seemed increasingly annoyed yet she was incredibly composed and civil. Business-like. Her face betrayed her distaste all too often. Some brave souls started chatting, and yet she continued teaching and actually answering questions. Not even an insult. And was gone the moment it was time. No homework. [Miracle!] [She looked constipated.] "Pfft." ... Mana Shaping was relaxed. The same calming voice accompanied Asva as she sailed on the warm currents flowing within her. Crossing each meridian, diving through pools forming in her organs, she watched the leisurely gyrating whirlpool deep inside her. Nine equally spaced rivulets of mana flowed into it, seeping in through her skin, passing the flesh, breaking down into fine droplets as they hit the rotating wall of condensed mana, and got absorbed into it. The sigil ate up any mana that escaped the suction, storing it within. She felt something crack. Not like broken crockery. Rather, a snap of a discovery, or the thunk of a latch being opened and an unbarred door. The mana rushed in. The sigil glowed a little, and the voice spoke to her. "Congratulations on surpassing your limits and entering Tier 2. Observe the new pathways as they emerge. Do not rush to fill the newly opened space. Hold back the first pool of mana while the ambient energy enters and fills the void. Slowly, gently, flowing like the fresh snow." ... Next class, Morgan continued their exercise from the previous class, adding moving dummies to the practice. Not everyone had to hit the dummies the same way though. Aldy was handcuffed while he targeted. Something about disrupting combatants. Some had blindfolds, others facing outwards while they tried to hit the now glowing dummies behind them. One girl was just running. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Asva was given a cube-like contraption made of criss-crossing glass tubes with no openings and a few columns of water within. Her task - keep a column together, use it to pass obstructions and complete the corresponding circuit of the maze. "It will train your precision and focus issues. When you finish a lap, try doing it slower or faster, change the orientation, focus on a different column." Morgan instructed. Asva tried. She was slowly getting a hang of moving it around, but keeping the water together when crossing the barriers was hard. Worse, it was boring. Instead, she fiddled with the new features of her mark - a messenger, and a clock. She intrinsicly understood that she could communicate through the sigil, but there no one at the other end to receive her pleas for release. And the clock, it moved slow as ice. Lunch couldn''t be so far away, could it? ... Comm sliced into the bacon with vengeance, a lot more relaxed in the current company. "Where''s the merchant?" [Who?] [The missing boy.] [Ohhh, Ttommmy? Noo clue.] Asva said, stuffing another dumpling in her already full mouth. "He left some time last night. No note or anything." Aldy said. "Probably ran away. Many commoners do. Good that he knows his limits." [He''s not like that, jackass.] "You!-" "What if he is sick or something?" Dalda asked, worried. "Or injured, or kidnapped. Did something happen-?" "What could happen? We are at the Academy." "Aye. My bet is he''s passing smiles or going to town on a cutie, that Miles." [Nope, it has to be a mysterious auction. He''ll steal an artefact and come back overpowered and stuff.] Asva chortled. [Why would there be an auction? Where would an auction even be?] [That wouldn''t be mysterious, now would it?] [Girl, you have entirely too much free time.] [You are one to talk. You are always sleeping.] [I cannot even sleep.] Dalda complained. [Really? I even played you a lullaby. Are you telling me I''m bad?] [You play an instrument, Asva?] Baldy asked. [Yes yes! Flute. And pipes. And harmonica... Everything really...] [Cool!! We gotta jam, there''s songs I''ve penned.] [Little brother, your poems are awful. They are not songs.] [Let''s do it!] Abruptly, Aldy pushed his seat back and got up. [Sorry. I need to leave. Any of you in combat?] "Aye. Me" [What happened?] [Some unforeseen mana anomaly at the Wayhub, and we are being assigned to the peacekeeping force.] Aldy replied. [That''s sketchy.] [No way. Did I jinx us?] [Unlikely. I believe it is a surprise test, or emergency drill of sorts. Let''s go and find out.] Aldy conjectured. [Hah, little brother. You got a test already. Suck it.] "Oh grow up, brother." Baldy said, "Anyway, I''mma bounce." [Team Aldy Baldy reporting to duty.] Dalda quipped. [No!!!]
[Ho ho ho... How about a new name for you too, roomie?] Asva asked, a glint in her eye. Dalda lunged, pressing her palm over the other girl''s mouth. "Asva! Don''t you dare. I''ll kill you..." Pitching contest This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Combat Assignment 1 You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Combat Assignment ? Outskirts of the Wayhub were mired in a fog. The visibility was normal near the Gate complex, dropping as the three headed further into the messy streets. Miriam guided them, humming out of tune. "Babies, how often do you visit this square?" "I have not had the opportunity, Captain." Aldy replied. "The semester started just three days ago." Denerik added. "Shame. Want some butterscotch marshmallows?" And so it went. The enthusiastic guide lead the two boys through makeshift tents selling myriad stuff - desserts, roast lamb, herb seasonings, cut gemstones, bags of holding, pet plant elementals, alchemy cauldrons, even enslaved monsters. They crisscrossed under multiple colored patchwork of tarps and tents. "Why is it so empty here?" "Number 2, do you know what this fog is?" "Mana anomaly?" "Yes. And what do mana anomalies do?" "Create wilds and cause mana sickness?" "Right." "Isn''t this just a test though?" "Ugh..." Hearing the discussion, the chef chuckled a a bit as he sliced off more meat off the spit. "This fog is a real anomaly. Even though the Academy wards lock the local space to prevent mishaps at the Gate, mana sickness is still a thing. Any shop owner that cannot use mana had to be evacuated." "Ah. You mean everyone left here can use mana? That''s a lot." "It would be. Think of it as the privilege of the fortunate or the dumb, though I often see them as the same. Many of them are veterans like me. We fought in the South and became immune to mana sickness. Others are just brave or dumb, having faced such anomalies elsewhere and survived. The truely brave and dumb ones aren''t immune at all, just stubborn and greedy." You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. "Ah, could you take us to these dumbasses, Mister? We need to get them to safety." "Miss, I would like to, but I don''t really need to. You''ll know them when you see one - drooling like a babe, mumbling and shivering, or plain knocked out." "Much thanks... These kebabs are so good! Two more skewers to go, please." "Coming right up." ... "Leader, aren''t we going to report back?" Denerik asked. "Already on it, Number 2. I report back every time we eat." "Every time we eat?" "Of course. I have been interrogating the shopkeepers after all." "Umm, didn''t you just ask about the type of pepper in the sauce?" "Obviously, that''s important. Do you think they''d answer truthfully if I just go and interrogate every one of them. Build rapport first, then they''ll tell you the truth." "Wow, so smart. Is that why we''ve been buying all this food." "Of course." "But why do we get takeout as well?" "To build rapport, of course." "And the numerous jewels and trinkets?" "Rapport." "And these bags of holding too?" "Rapport... er, we also need something to hold all this. Don''t strain your head, just hold onto this." The jolly girl and her young porters continued their shopping combat assignment. ... Combat Assignment 3 Despite the lightheartedness of the patrol assignment, it dawned on Denerik that he was witnessing a true emergency. More and more shops were abandoned. Away the from the main hub, the shops gave way to open ground sparsely filled with caravans and wagons, in which the owners had taken refuge. Their doors were shut, or tightly sealed with tarp, hay, or other fillers, anything that would stop the thick fog. Visibility was quite low. Denerik found it too eery. He had once been an acolyte, a child priest of the Son of Fire, and now he was mired in the mortal enemy his god - the fog. If only the flames of mana could truly cleanse the poison brought upon the human mind by the vicious assault of shapeless shadows. Often enough, they encountered unconscious or unresponsive folks, who ideally needed to be transported to the makeshift shelters. But that was the job for the regular guards, not the newly appointed cadets. In most cases, they reported the location of the casualty, particularly if the person was asleep. Often enough, some nearby merchant would offer aid and put them in a spare tent or atleast out of harm''s way. A few exhibited concerning symptoms - mania, delirium, derangement. Such folk always had mana, making them dangerous. They were to be escorted to abandoned shops and wagons to be locked in, or all the way back to the Wayhub where they could be held in the cells until the anomaly passed. The group had two such cases in their custody. The pair turned out to be a couple, although they two been found quite far away from each other. The man was far gone, unable to follow direction, and had to be handcuffed. Aldy took charge of him, pushing him forward. Every so often, the man tried to break free. Or run. His ragged breathing and constantly swerving head didn''t inspire much faith in his constant proclamations of being alright, either. "Why are you attacking us? I have nothing, nothing I tell, not a dime for scoundrels like you. Unhand me you bandits, or my father will hear of it. I am not someone you''d want to cross, not at all. We are all going to die!! Please, let me go..." "For the Lord''s sake, get a grip Polig. These fine cadets are helping us." the wife pleaded. The woman, Electra, was better off. She was the first one they found, and had been hard to calm down. She insisted that her husband needed their help. Her breathing and countenance hadn''t been any better than Polig''s was now, but she calmed down once they agreed to search along their patrol route. As they continued, she became almost sane, actively helping the cadets in keeping the man in control, as well as answering all of their questions. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The two boys had received Miriam''s message, ''Quite a rare case, this woman. Keep talking to her. Ask her questions. It will be great for your assignment reports.'' And so they took turns conversing, talking about whatever. "You said you were a merchant? What do you guys sell?" Miriam asked. "We trade spice, Polig and I. We had a whole caravan, fresh harvest from the east. What will we ever do... oh Lord, I shall have faith in you. This must be a test..." "What about yours beasts, Ms Electra?" Aldy asked. "Beasts? Where? Where!? Monsters!? Kill them. Kill them a-www....wwuuuugggh" The man''s shrieks were muffled as Miriam skipped over and stuffed one of her new scarves into his mouth. "So much better..." "Ah, my Polig... I''m sorry, dear...", the woman sighed, pale and shaking, tears in her eyes, but she gathered her resolve quickly enough. "So, beasts?" Aldy asked again, in a friendly tone, just a hint of curiousity. "I didn''t see any monsters, cadet sir." "I meant the pack animals. You come here in wagons, did you not? Something must have pulled them, right?" "Ah... nay... they are lost to us. The Lord didn''t deem to extend his mercy... Pardon me, oh Lord, I dare not blame your plans.." "They ran away?" Denerik asked. "In a way. We couldn''t afford to save them when we were losing ourselves. They run with their ancestors now." "Huh?" "She means they are either dead or dying." Miriam clarified from the front, continuing to move forward and scanning the surroundings. "Happens a lot. Most oxen and mules die. Some mutate into monsters and have to be put down. Once in a red moon, a unique beast advances while retaining sanity, mostly smart and well-trained pets - those become prize-.. Over there!" To the front and left, the fog parted to reveal a camel. It was lying motionless on the ground, it''s head bent and twisted unnaturally. As they approached, they realized it wasn''t dead. Close. It''s hind legs were crushed and pinned under a toppled cart and its cargo, the neck and midesction snapped by something heavy. Blood flowed glacially in a thin stream, pooling around it and soaking into the beige coat. It''s brown eyes were glazed, breathing shallow. "The lord is merciful" the woman murmered, gesturing with her cuffed hands, "Go back to whence you come." "Mmmmm.. mm mmmm.." "Polig, dear.. please be patient.. we''ll shall survive, if the Lord wishes..." The woman continued pacifying their agitated ward. Only aggravated but futile struggle answered her pleas. That''s when they heard the loud boom, in the direction they were headed. "That''s where the hub is!" Ugh! Combat Assignment 4 This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Combat Assignment 5 This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Cornered 10 Dagger shot a knife at the orange blur, which didn''t deter the beast at all. It just grabbed the projectile out of the air, and swiped at Dagger once, giving her a nasty cut while it grabbed the other knife from her hand, before doubling down on its vengeance on the metal bowl. "We are doomed..." Tommy intoned. "Or dead." the girl replied, weirdly cheerful. She was not attacking anymore, sitting down on her haunches and, of all things, was grinding a bunch dried herbs between two riverstones. The powders fell upon a funnel, set over a jar of cooking oil. CLANG She swirled the powder until the mixture turned blue. The she took out a yellow brick and chipped that down. Joyo , meanwhile, kept getting pushed back, but he stubbornly clung to his shield, warding off the annoying predator, or whatever the thing was. Lester was sitting down as well, his legs crossed as well his arms, still brooding as he tried to follow the ongoing battle with his eyes. Tommy too was stuck where he was, not knowing what else he could do. His gaze wandered from one oddity to the other. ''An endless cycle of eternal damnation.'' In the process of gaping, the surroundings finally registered to his senses, a chill running up his spine, "The fog!" The fog had risen up, creeping upon them. Now, it was boiling out of the ravine onto the surface, as if awoken by the morning light. CLANG "Do something! Lester! Mage!" Fatty shouted again, more and more disheveled. CLANG The more the orange flashed, the more shrapnels flew off of the shield. Fatty wailed, yet continuing the miserable mime with the monster. And the bird beast kept badgering him, and picking up the pieces before vanishing. It''s outline was clearer in the faint fog, somehow. Nothing was making sense. CLANG! "Why does it even do that?" "Be glad. Could be you." Dagger said, then she shouted, "Drop the shield, Fatty!" "Even if I drop it, what then?" "I say we make a run for it." Tommy said. "I veto. Going into the fog is stupid. Maybe it wants us to go into the fog." "Yeah, it''s not strong, just fast. Fog''s much worse." "Just fast? It broke your sword." "It may get tired." "I''m getting tired!! Help me." Dagger still hadn''t stopped. She was even humming as she measured the grey mixture with a gourd. "What are you doing?" No reply. Turning back to Fatty, the two boys headed over and supported him from behind while discussing plans, most of it amounting to - "throw away the shield" and "let''s run". Like a stuck record, the conversation went nowhere, restarting with every strike. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. CLANG And the beast did what it did. It kept coming back, pounding hard then rushing away. "Hey, let''s try something?" "What?" Tommy took out a copper from his pouch, staying silent and keeping it hidden in his fist. Until he threw it away. The monster appeared the moment it bounced off the ground. It shrieked. A loud shrill gleeful cacophony. Familiar too. "Where have I heard this?" Tommy blurted. "You know this thing?" "No, but there''s- nevermind." "Huh." Next, he took out the only gem in his possession. And lobbed that as well. Nothing happened. The gem stayed on the ground, reflecting the morning sun rapidly rising up in the distance. Once he noticed the stones that Dagger had chugged, a hypotheses had taken shape, that had now been verified. "That proves it! It only wants metal. See? Right?" "Good job, Dummy." Dagger grinned. "So we will be fine if we just give it all our metal?" Lester asked. "Nope. Not giving it my shield. Over my dead body." "But..." The conversation felt so familiar. Like a deja vu. "We''ll die anyway." Fatty was saying, more determined than ever. "Drop it!!" Lester too. "No!..." This time, both Lester and Dagger wrestled Fatty, one wrapping her arms around the neck and fingers in the nose, while the other twisted the arm, eventually managing to grab and throw the shield a few paces away. Clang CLANG CLANG *shriek* CLANG ... The menace appeared as expected. It started smashing at the seems, not leaving at all anymore, now that its target lay on the ground. They still couldn''t see much, as if it vibrated in its place. Certainly a bird, that knocked on the shield with its beak. That''s all they could figure out. It seemed unable to carry the metal. Worse, its attack was being cushioned and ricocheted off the ground, the additional booming sounds making it agitated. Dagger was ready too. Smiling like a madman, she chugged a bottle at it, which exploded on the shield but the thing dodged it. A splash of liquid covered the area, including the shield. Instead of stepping into the liquid, the bird created a massive gust of wind to blow the liquid off and went back to its task, ignoring them. "That does it. Dummy, use your magic." Cornered 11 The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A new day "What?" "I said let''s eat it." "Mage, you..." Fatty had tears in his eyes, "I agree. Can we grill it, Lester?" "No way... we should check if it has a core, skin it, pluck the feathers. It''s a high tier beast, those may be useful... And then make breakfast..." "Leader, you too? "Yeah. What''s our motto, Dagger?" "Grow rich and fat." "Exactly. "Whatever... Hey Dummy, is your hand ok?" "What?" "The petrifier." Tommy panicked, "I can''t feel my fingers." "It''ll go away." Fatty replied. "Yeah, eventually." "Damn it." "Relax Dummy. I''ll mix the fix. Soon-ish." "..." "Guys... how are you all fine?" Tommy asked. "Why wouldn''t we be? The bird is dead, it''s getting brighter, and we got breakfast." "But the fog?" The thin fog surrounded them. The three realized they had been deep in the fog for a while now. "Perhaps it is too thin?" Fatty shrugged. "Who knows, we are already mad." Dagger added, heading over and pulled the dead bird out of his hand, gloves ready and knives out. "It''s so tough.." Her blade slipped over the skin, with barely a scratch. "Fatty, scald it." "We don''t have water. Nor wood. No wok either." Fatty dropped to the ground, spreadeagled on his back, his arms and legs wide. A couple of tears slipped the closes eyelids, though he was still smiling. Lester had already rolled over, snoring a little. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "Arghhh..." The girl paced a bit, then rummaged through her bag. Finally, she grabbed it by the talons and smacked the carcass into the ground. That did nothing to the bird, not one feather out of place, but she dislodged a decent chunk of debris and dust. "Hey! Don''t dirty it. I just said we don''t have water." "Sorry." Tommy had a wide grin on his face, despite his curled palm that he couldn''t feel at all. Having blown off steam at the chicken at cathartic, like a knot in his muscles dissolving. One he hadn''t known to be there. "You look stupid, mage." "I understand why people turn to adventure. This is addictive." He took in the scenery. They were safe and sound. Having faced wolves, and fog, and this dragon chicken, they came out on top. Alive. They were wide open right now, prone to attack. But nothing had approached, despite all that noise. Now they had a clear view of any ambush, much better than fighting a speeding rooster that ate metal and scared you with its eyes. As he took in the beautiful canyon, the dew drops glowed like diamond in the distance. In the distance? "Guys, maybe we should just leave, eh? Get water and wood and everything." "And go where? The fog-" They stiffened. The sun was up. Sky clear. And the last vestiges of the fog evaporated, allowing them to see the path again. Locked in "I''ll be heading back now. Although the gym''s safety protocols are engaged, I want no misfires or duels. The consequences will be dire." With that, Morgan was gone. Practicum was almost over. Technically, it should already be over since Morgan had left. Yet the cadets stayed. Most of them were lying on the ground, exhausted and content, watching the last few eager participants make fools of themselves with ever diminishing balls of multicolored mana. The numerous teams had been whittled down. Further, some bright minds decided to collaborate, targeting a single lantern. The idea quickly took hold, creating three massive teams. They were past the stage of competition. Instead, each group was trying something different. The largest team had almost half the class in it, maximizing height their sole objective. Asva and Helen joined them as well. Despite the endless seeming fake sky, there had to be a limit to the height of this classroom. And so, they coordinated their barrage of attacks. The higher it went, the more the spell frizzled out, required extra push. There were too many variables. The spacing needed to be perfect between two shots. They also had to account for the difference in speed among individuals, and spread out so their spells would not collide and explode. It hadn''t been an issue earlier, but the higher a bolt went, more unstable it got. Often, the spells would blow up by themselves, cascading outwards. The resulting pushed the lantern way higher, but the gap in follow up shots made it not worth the trouble. They had come up with strategies. The exploding shots went together, followed by the fast shooters at a distance. The slow bolts would eventually make their way over as well, naturally separating and keeping the thing floating until the cycle could be repeated. Every round, a few cadets went back in, replacing the exhausted mages in their ranks. Soon, a couple of the explosive mages headed over to the second group, which was literally a blast. One explosion after another, all different colors and shapes. They hit the lantern with vengeance, combining esoteric elements. Each element created a different glow on the magical crystal. Even the resulting spread was varied. Fire and lightning together detonated loudly, but ice and lightning together would spread like an intricate web of fractures. Earth bolts were more stable, pressing the force away from themselves, reshaping they outcome. In the mayhem, the translucent air bolts added texture and a negative space, gaining popularity as the density increased. An endless fireworks show took place. The last group was different. The had given up on using the basic spell completely. The few practitioners seemed quite advanced, each channeling a different spell. Their goal was continuity. Stability. They were as quiet as others were loud, their mana streaming up in mesmerizing patterns. Among those, Comm channeled a river of flames, a brown beam pulsed from a short girls'' palms, and a coiled red glow from the far corner of the formation stood out. The crystal lantern hung low, low enough that one could hit it with a stone. A couple of jokesters went over and did just that, launching bolts to destablize the process. Which earned them glares, and a quick round of retaliation from the resting members. The aggressors'' spells were obliterated on the way to the target. Not a group to be messed with. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Of course, this new challenge was being spread around, gathering support from the other two groups. That''s when the room turned dark. Only the multitude of dancing lights from spells made it possible to see. One of which exploded in the hand of the mage, who was launched away and landed with a scrunch and a thud. Thankfully, the cadet groaned and cursed, too energetic to be severely injured. The abrupt change brought all spells to halt, as if a candles blown out in a breeze. The remaining bolts faded, or exploded on their preplanned trajectory. No new glow came into being either. The lights went out. The sky was gone. Atleast the floor was still grass, and glowed a feeble neon. "Damn it.. I can''t cast anymore." said a voice from the second group, followed by curses and murmurs everywhere. Asva felt a distinct pressure the next time she tried to create the familiar bolt. [It''s like a weight pressing. It''s stopping me.] Helen spoke. [Me too. I can''t even check notifications.] Dalda added. Undeterred, she called upon the wind. It answered, like it had always done. A soft breeze blew through the room, [It is only the sigil, then.] "Stop casting your spells." Liu shouted. Too bad, hardly anyone listened. Many of them kept trying. And failed. The last group had it better. Their spells were relatively unaffected, having gone down for a brief moment, now coming back up one after the other. They became the beacons where the rest congregated. [Is this part of the course too?] Helen asked. [Who knows... I can imagine that baby face popping out of the dark, going ''Booyah!''] Dalda replied. [Don''t even joke about that.] [What if she''s behind you.] [What if she is? You are the one making fun of her.] Asva added. [Shit.] [Hahah] [That''s what I thought.] Asva replied, putting as much smugness in her voice as she could. ... Not everyone had congregated by the bright spells. Groups moved around, most looking for the exit, others for any sort of emergency kits. Some, like the girls, just wandered, curious about this weird room. [You know it is surprisingly calm.] Helen added. [Why wouldn''t it be?] [We have no food or water, for one. We could be here for hours. Or days.] [Shit. You are right.] Asva yelped. [It won''t be like that.] Dalda assured her. [They''ll get us soon enough. Once they realize we''re missing.] [Morgan left us playing. Who else will come?] [Hmm.. not too soon I guess. Still, we are at the Academy. It can''t be that bad.] The three still headed to the door, where it used. The ever present portal had fizzled out, leaving only a bare arch. They crossed through it, walking in from the front side, then in from the back. Another group was there - a boy slid his fingers down the runes. Another was climbing while two girls pulled him away. Just in time too. The pillars buzzed, spooking them all. They scrambled backwards as the place came back to life. Notifications [This is not normal. Where are we?] Helen was panting. She had been chasing after the two girls. A little while ago, when the gym lit up with a buzzing noise, the dull dark flickered into a radiant sterile white space. Although the portal didn''t activate, one of the stone walls slid out instead, revealing a wide opening. Luminous arrows on the ground pointed towards it, not that anyone waited for the guidance. Everyone swarmed the doorway. Instead of a corridor within the tower, the exit lay surrounded by tall cedarwood, lit by the orange-purple of the twilight. The moonlight added an sinister shade of crimson. Two assistants were there, trying to maintain decorum, telling them to head back to the dorms and stay indoors. [I knew it!] Dalda exclaimed. [What?] [There is only one gym. I was going crazy wondering why the dorm gym and the practicum classroom felt so eerily similar.] [Duh. Should have asked me.] [Bullshit. How could you know?] [The wind holds many secrets. It''s in the air.] "... seriously?" The tanned girl shrugged, "yep." [You''ve gotta teach me... someday...] Dalda walked on, but their companion was lagging behind. [You alright?] Asva asked Helen. [Wha.. yes.. yes.. I think] the girl stuttered, [..To be honest, i''m scared... how are you guys so... so alright?] [Eh... I''ve had worse nightmares... I atleast have friends here...] [Me too. The sea is a treachourous place even with companions. Tis but a stubbed toe.] [We are... friends?] [Why? You''re too good for us?] [No, no... sorry..] [Oh no, you gotta pay for that... something tasty for payback.] Asva grinned. [Hey! Me too... don''t forget best friend Dalda.] [Haha.. ok... we can hang out at my villa? I''ve got some stuff...] [Indeed, friend Helen. Bring us to this cache of delicacies.] [Why are you talking like that?] Dalda asked Asva. [Copying Aldy.] [No, he doesn''t talk like that.] [What do you know? I''ll ask Baldy. Let''s invite the boys as well..] [It''s not your home Asva.] [It''s fine.... I think... just, not too many...] [See. You''ll like them... Tommy can be dour, Aldy too rigid, and the twins a bit cracked in the...] [You''re not helping.] [Nonsense.. she''ll love them.. Aldy''s pony tail is so silky and nice, and Baldy ...] The conversation went on. Meanwhile, the two invited the others. Or tried to. In the rush, they had missed numerous notifications. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. *** Anyone else seeing this? Hellllllooooo? Is there anybody out there? I''m so bored.... - Tinker of Novelty *** *** PSA : Teleportation facilities are under maintenance until further notice. - Academy Services *** *** A mana anomaly has scrambled old support systems. It''s a rare but expected occurence. Cadets are adviced to relocate to a comfortable location with access to food and water. We are working on resolving the issue and upgrading the infrastructure. - Academy Services *** *** Who let the dogs out? - Tinker of Novelty *** *** Stop spamming. I swear I''ll kick your butt if I ever find out. - Reginald Auren *** *** So you do hear me... Try your best, Reggy boy. - Tinker of Novelty *** ... Asva got distracted reading the numerous messages. They reached their destination, entering the villa - exact copy of every other dorm house. It was different inside, cozier than their place. Plush fur beds placed around the living room table, and tasteful art hung on the walls. The air smelled like cinnamon. Helen sank into one of the seats, so the two followed. [So good... Hey, isn''t Reginald the electricity guy from the class today.] [Yes. He seems pissed...] Helen replied, apparently scrolling through the conversations, same as Asva. [Girls, I just talked to Comm, he says he is tired... Cannot reach the others...] [Me either] Asva replied. [Check your messages] Helen said, jumping out of her seat, tense and panicked again. *** Proclamation of Civil Disobedience -- We, the legal representatives of the Magicians'' Union, hereby announce the commencement of a universal strike. Ab initio, mana technicians, referred colloquially as magicians, have been oppressed and exploited under the current regime. Malum in se, hazardous tasks without agency cause lasting bodily and mental harm to the magicians, and has gone unaddressed despite bona fide appeals and requests. From hereon , no mana technology operation, maintenance, or repair shall be carried out, unless the following requirements are fulfilled - Minimum hourly pay 9 coppers for apprentice 3 silvers for journeymen 1 gold for junior 5 gold for senior - Transparent communication of hazards - Provision for protective gear - Prompt access to on/off-site healers - Emergency action plan, sitemap, lifting and hoisting facilities/training - Warding against mana anomalies, disruptions, and task specific failures - Creation of a Magician Affairs Department comprising current/retired magicians to oversee the enforcement of aforementioned prerogatives. All aspiring / current / former mana technicians are requested to comply in solidarity, and not give in to any perceived or implied force majeure. We request the support of the staff and students in our pursuit of fairness. PSA - The teleportation services shall resume post-negotiations. - Academy Services *** Murphys Law 1 If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Murphys Law 2 The two royal constables walked past the offices of other professors, arriving at the Elevator - a wonderful amalgamation of teleportation and mental domain. Every time someone entered, they could mark their required item / destination / person in the Academy sigil, in which case they would be teleported to the correct floor and routed through an optimal path. Or, they could project their intent directly, which led to the same thing, but controlled directly by the mage. Only authorized personnel could ever reach the critical parts of the Tower, and professors and staff loved not having students loitering around their residences. Of course, the Elevator was broken, like other teleportation services. Where there once was nebulous void hanging in the air, now lay a dark entryway to stairs spiralling up and down. "Ah, so the Gates hide the emergency routes. Genius really." Newman mused. "That, among other things. Same as the Royal armory, we''ll only reach the mundane sections this way. Truly dangerous things don''t even exist on this plain." "Quite fascinating. Remind me to investigate this later. Anyway, where are we headed?" "I will head to the Hub Ring, see what''s the deal. You... you head to the staff floors. Make sure there''s no trouble, make friends..." "The usual then..." "Remember, never go lower than you have to. Climbing higher will burn through your reserves." "How much are we talking?" "For you, about two floors up and you''ll need to rest... depends on the floor really. We part here." Eller pointed to the bright rectangular window hanging in the sea of suffocating darkness they traversed, stepping down, following the wall by touch as it curved towards the said portal. The scene beyond the window resolved - a hallways of pure white stone, too tall for the confused looking workers milling about, their mouths moving but no sound could be heard. ''Soundproofing intact.'' Eller marked on the panel. No more words were exchanged. They had been partners for a long time, have developed a functional system. All communication will be through the shared display from hereon, assuming the communication didn''t break down. She sped up, running now, one hand touching the wall. Testing continued. ''Privacy wards okay.'' ''No preceivable structural damage. No signs of intrusion.'' ''Wards responsive to requests.'' ''Authority levels intact. More data needed.'' Newman''s notes appeared in a parallel column ''Floor mana levels stable.'' ''Workers equally flummoxed. Need a tally of employees on this floor, and their whereabouts at the time.'' ''No staff access to stairway? Following the two suspects. Initiating contact.'' Constable Kim forwarded the Academy staff records for the floor, then walked into the Ring. It was a circular hall, at the heart of the Tower, well above the classrooms, public areas and storage, and well below the employee and staff quarters. It got the name from the three layers of metallic arches arranged in concentric circles. It was one of the few rooms occupying a whole floor of the Tower. The outermost ring had 987, a number Kim always wondered about - the Wayhubs in the kingdom were a tenth that number. Each metallic edifice was twice as tall as her, just as wide, with a dark sheen in the dull emergency lights that had come on. A group of mana technicians in their telltale blue uniforms had gathered around in the distance, arguing. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As she approached, she felt warm - literal heat emanating from a pile of molten metal pooled on the floor. The puddle had reached the two neighboring arches, twisting the pillars into jelly. Atleast the edges had solidified and didn''t seem to be expanding. "What''s the condition? Who is in-charge here?" Eller demanded. "We were discussing that, damn it. And who would you be?" A bearded man raised his voice as he turned to look at her. "Professor Eller Kim." "I apologize, Professor, Grumpy Joe is under a lot of pressure. He didn''t mean no disrespect." Another technician "Damn right I am. And don''t call me that." The man ignored the Professor, going back to his grumbling. Professor Kim didn''t appreciate being ignored like that. She put extra venom in her tone to reply, "Magician, I believe I asked you a question. Two in fact." "Sorry, Professor. We are a bit busy. Old Grumpy and the team will take care of this soon, once we bring the right mold up here. The metal is pretty workable already. No reason to panic, none at all." "Stop blabbering, Nitwit. Go help them find the damned thing first. And the rune stencils." He turned, "You say you a Professor? Are you good at rebuilding wards then?" "Define good." "The founder made these, so better be damned good. Otherwise we can expeet the cursed Southerners and their army marching through here the moment we get this up." "I see. That''s a national threat." She presented here badge, "All decisions go through me from here on. Get the Gate ready, but do not activate it. Now, why is the whole network down." "It won''t start. The space itself is frozen..." She tried calling her weapons, but couldn''t. Same with her armor and paraphrenalia. ''Mass spatial lockdown?'' ''Take precautions. Can you access inventory, Newman? Escalate threat level to Violet?'' ''I can, barely. Failed a couple attempts. Still Blue.'' the reponse arrived after a few seconds. "... believe it''s a safety built into the rings. We''ll know once we plumb the damned doohickey." *** Mirror containment has failed. Cells breached. Requesting backup at DA231-5 from all available combatants. - Vitaly Butler *** ''Dimensional anomalies at a laboratory, Newman. I''m heading there. Keep an eye out for monsters - wraiths, dokkebis, and other slippery entities.'' She threw a glance at the motley crew collecting molten metal in a crucible. "Can any of you fight?" "Why do we need to fight?" "It''s an emergency. A couple missing knuckleheads would not affect your cleaning operation, will it?" "We ARE doing our part. Not my fault you-" "Joe, please. Sick Boy and I will go. You take care, alright." "... whatever." "Madam, can we arm ourselves atleast? What are we fighting anyway?" "Hope it''s nothing. Professor Butler is already engaged. We are going to back him up." "Praise the Sisters. The Alien is a scourge of beasts. He won''t even need us." the one called Sick Boy murmured. "Ah, you seem acquainted with him." "Aye." "Grab your weapons and meet me at the Elevator. Let''s have a chat as we go." She sent an acknowledgement to Vitaly and made final notes on the way. More text appeared on the display. ''Is the breach intentional?'' ''Has the foreigner finally turned coat?'' ''Are there accomplices within the Tower?'' Murphys Law 3 The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Murphys Law 4 Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.