Chapter 248: Secrets of Light

Chapter 248: Secrets of Light

Apystillius is the [Mayor] of Leggiadra, a man responsible for the bureaucracy that the Steel and Glass District mostly avoids like you would with a plague.

These are all the trade agreements that were stipulated, says in a straightforward manner.

Any problem? I ask.

Hes the one who actually signs documents for the city, including the agreements that half-giants drafted with Goblins for the supply of iron ore.

Apystillius shakes his head and adjusts his glasses.

No. Everything went smoothly. All the contracts are in order. I had them examined. All is good.

Apystillius is the dullest person I have ever met, Minurulex says while fetching some food. We have been sharing meals to discuss his latest findings, both military and regarding the great mystery we have uncovered.

He doesnt seem very sharp, I admit.

Oh, why do you think we put him there? I mean, hes had his position for something like twenty years. Hes extremely good with paperwork, but hes not fit to be in any creative position. If he actually led the city, we would have not seen anything change. He would also have blocked our dealings with you. He hates change. But if you need him to take care of maintenance, hes the guy.

Does Melior like him? I ask out of pure curiosity. Minurulex is one of the few people I actually feel comfortable and relaxed around.

Melior? I have no idea. He never deals with Apystillius directly. You know how Melior is. He grew up in a forgehes better at speaking to iron than others. Oh, and he does speak to iron. If I have to guess, he spoke longer to iron than actual people.

You are really not interested in going along with him, I laugh.

Why should I? I work on interesting things, and now Im getting better and better. I think he might actually have less levels than me, for now. I mean, he has age on his side. I guess I have wisdom?

Minurulexs blabber fills the room and keeps me company.

How did Melior become the head of the Steel?

How? We host contests of skills. You show that you are better than everyone else and you get to lead. Over the years, some have argued that this is not ideal because it means that very weird characters have led the District. But it gives us a very technical lead. Theres very little politicking because no one wants to waste time outside their laboratory or forge. It was the same for me. But I have to admit, the [Alchemists] of my generation and the previous one werent anything great. Meliors people were definitely having the upper-hand, influence-wise. But before we took Keveiz, Leggiadra basically survived on the income generated by [Alchemists]. Thats why theres a good balance now. Its also the reason I actually get stuff done with Melior. We dont really like each other, but we deeply respect each others work.

It is a technical government. Italy had many of those when a political government failed. The problem was that even the economists were mostly not competent enough to do what needed to be done; or even worse, they started blindly following principles of economic growth instead of focusing on what would have benefitted their population.

Did you find out anything about the [Light]-infused glass? I ask, changing topic.

Minurulex moves a big wooden spoon back and forth in his soup, thinking.

I have spoken to Melior. He never heard about thiswhich is not surprising, by the way. Melior is in his twenties. Hes too young to know anything about this. I tried inquiring among older [Alchemists], but no one said

Hello, my fair hosts! a blaring voice barges in, louder than a blowing horn.

Zifinius, Riziliuss Ears, I have no money for you! Minurulex exclaims.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Oh, Minurulex, I didnt see you there! I was starstruck by the beautiful lady here! My lady, your skin is purer than alabaster and your hair looks sculpted away from Nightstones!

Cassandre, dont mind, Minurulex says while trying to push away the intruding half-giant, this is Zifinius, broken [Bard] and [Beggar]. Hes dead drunk, again. Zifinius, come on! How didnt they throw you out yet?!

Me? HA! I entertain people, Minurulex! I dont need to make little trinkets to be of some value! Art! Poetry! Even the Canti would be enticed to stop their great deeds to listen to my beautiful music! Touching the strings of his harp, he emphasizes the final syllable.

He begins to hum a soothing tune.

Music from the instrument touches a nerve deep within me, and I can't help but smile. I have always felt a deep connection with music and all the artistic forms it took over the years; from simple pop music to classical concerts, its something I have always enjoyed.

I fish out a golden coin a hand it to a wide-eyed Zifinius.

Give me your best, I tell the [Bard].

Oh, Cassandre, what have you done?! We will never get rid of him now! Minurulex cries.

Zifinius seems unfazed by Minurulex's presence. Instead, now that he got his token of appreciation, he seems to have morphed into a different entity altogether. Gone the drunken haze, he softly caresses the strings, eliciting a melancholic melody from the harp. Something comes to my mind: when you get someone to read your tarots, you have to pay money if you want the magic to work. If you dont pay for the magic, it simply doesnt work and the predictions will be misleading. From a witchcraft point of view, you always need a pledge for magic to work.

Minurulex takes out a dagger from his bag of holding with trembling hands.

I swear, Zifinius, if you dont speak!

Calm down, Minurulex, I tell the half-giant brandishing a dagger bigger than a machete. I move my eyes to Zifinius, clearly not aware of what he said not even an hour before.

I make up most of the lyrics I speak, Minurulex, the half-giant on the bed says, wiping some sweat from his forehead, you should know! Dont you remember the song I made about you?

Magic among the Demons. Light. Epretos and the Nine Towers Academy, I say, looking around for the references. Minurulex transcribed the lyrics, and we are trying to make something out of it.

Thats where this points at if that wasnt just a drunken hysteria, Minurulex looks over the paper.

Melior looks at the paper and frowns.

Nine Towers Academy?

Thats what the [Bard] said before fainting, I tell him.

The big half-giant keeps frowning, but he doesnt speak. He just stares at the paper.

You know something, dont you? Minurulex asks.

Melior bites his lower lip, the first sign of hesitation Ive seen from the guy since the day I met him. He ordered slaughters and a potential war without frowning. But hes now conflicted about something.

Follow me.

He gets up and starts tapping around a wall in his forge. We are already alone, no one around capable of disturbing us. As soon as Melior finishes tapping, a door appears out of nowhere.

Nice enchantment, Minurulex observes.

This is a secret of Steel, Minurulex. You must have something similar, but never mention it to anyone.

Melior doesnt say anything to me. He knows that I have no interest in betraying his trust, and that Ive already killed too many Humans to be a spy.

We descend through a few flight of stairs and find ourselves in a private office, similar to the one Minurulex has.

Some of our ancestors were [Light Mages], some of them among the best. There are mentions of a lost Relic of half-giants, specifically made for [Light Mages].

He pulls out some parchment and starts unrolling it in front of us.

Here it says that metal cannot carry any Light, Melior says with a solemn face. He doesnt look pleased by this revelation. Glass is in charge of that. But there is some special alloy that apparently, after undergoing a ritual, can dispel darkness. I have no idea why they wrote it and why its not in verses like the rest of the knowledge.

Riziliuss Ears, is this in prose as well? The same goes for the Glasslight!

Did you come up with that name? Melior asks with a straight face.

Beautiful name, isnt it? Minurulex replies.

No.

Whatever, what do you know?

While they bicker, some knowledge found in Liciniums books comes to my mind.

The Nine Towers Academy had several half-giant [Archmages] in the past, as documented by your historiae. And there are mentions of a great treasure of half-giants that they brought to the Nine Towers Academy to build the famed bridges of Light. The same bridges that, century after century, no one has yet managed to dispel or harm. And they said that these bridges hold the secret for it.

It is an old joke that only stupid people would get the [Light Mage] class believing they could unveil some secret around the academy. No one believe its real, though.

They are. And we need to know what secret that is.