Chapter 54: Demanding Reprisal

Chapter 54: Demanding Reprisal

Faline waved one hand at Nathan tiredly. You have questions about the Academy. Ask.

What separates the different tiers of students? Nathan asked curiously. You told me that there are three different levels.

Yes. They are named for the tiers of skills and Talents. A student will start in low-tier, and wear a gray robe.They must pass a test to Develop to mid-tier. She scrunched her nose, remembering the details.

The test starts with basic mana shaping, and then spells that every mage of Giantsrest should know. [Mage Armor], [Moderate Curing], [Paralysis], one elemental attacking spell like [Fireball], [Ice Spike], or [Earth Orb]. The student then demonstrates other spells they have mastered and must impress a group of lecturers. Favors are traded.

Falling yawned slightly, leaning back languidly and running her hands through her hair to pull it back. The motion exposed her bare neck and shoulder, and Nathan jerked his eyes away.

You made your decision, now stick to it.

Out of the corner of his eye Nathan saw a small smile on Falines face. Her tone grew amused. Once they are mid-tier, students may choose their lectures, and follow many different Paths. Many choose the Path of Artisan mages or Enslavement mages, and graduate once theyve completed their coursework and passed a specialized test. Artisan mages learn enchantment and crafting skills, while Enslavement mages learn spells like [Mass Daze] and [Dominate].

She yawned again, standing and moving around the kitchen, her clothing doing little to cover her shapely backside. Would you like some hot wine? Im cold.

Yeah, because youre not wearing much.

Nathan shook his head, refusing the offer before continuing the line of conversation. Do they need to become high-tier students before graduating?

Faline activated a heating enchantment with a wave of her hand then retrieved a glass bottle from a storage cabinet. She answered without looking back. No. Thats a weight few accept. A mid-tier student must have a sponsor to advance to high-tier. That means an archmage, a lecturer, or a mage with political power.

She poured the wine into a pot and mixed it with a packet of spices. High-tier students are effectively apprentices, and it they follow the path to higher magic. All archmages were once high-tier students, as well as most war mages.

Nathan chewed that over for a moment. Tell me more about the lecturers.

Orange robes. Faline snorted. Proud of their status, though they know only magic and arrogance. I killed one some time ago. He didn't understand what was happening, though he could cast spells like an archmage. Some archmages wear orange robes as well, but most wear whatever they desire. All know the archmages no matter their dress.

Whyd you kill a lecturer? Nathan asked, perplexed.

The assassin shrugged, tasting some of the wine off her spoon. It is rare to see them outside of the Academy, so it was worth being bold. Information of the Academy, fewer to teach new Giantsrest mages. She glanced back with a sly smile. I acted a young slavemaster dazzled by his status, and he told me much of this information about the academy over pillows before his lifeblood stained them.

Then she sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly. But he did not tell me about the security of the Academy. The assassins disguised as new students never returned.

Nathan blew out a breath, reminded that he wasnt the first of Falines apprentices, just the most recent. Shed tried to recruit Adventurers during the Solstice graduation, and from what Nathan remembered of her speech, her apprentices didnt tend to survive their first trip into Giantsrest.

Shes still alive. Does she send them on suicide missions, or is she just that much higher-level? She does have two classes suited for social manipulation and stealth, and is cautious.

His musing was interrupted when Faline sat down on the table across from him, lips pursed to blow on a steaming mug. It smelled like a savory mix of cooking spices mixed into a sweet red wine. She eyed him through the rising steam. You want to know the workings of the Academy, so that you can attack Badud there.

He didnt bother denying it. And the rest of the Academy. We can only do so much out here. To break Giantsrest, I need to break that. Nathan said, pointing towards the window and the gleaming magical edifice beyond.

She tilted her head, considering him carefully. The move put her eyes in shadow and revealed their inner glow. You have stared the ghoul in the eye, so I will answer your questions. But know that you wish to attack a Questor in his own dungeon. You will die attempting such a deed, and our opportunity to hurt Giantsrest will die with you.

She waved a hand downwards, indicating the city. Giantsrest is a dungeon, but it is my dungeon. Together we can hit every target, set the factions against each other and break their power for fifty years. But hear my words, the only way to strike inside the Academy is to have the mages carry problems there. I don't know their protections, but they are suited for a dragon's hoard.

Nathan looked down. Maybe youre right. We work well together, and we should keep working to weaken them. It will set back Baduds plans anyways, and give Halsmet time to become stable. What were doing is also helping me gain [Assassin] levels, and ranks in my stealth and disguise skills. But that wont be the end.

He felt for the familiar ember inside, the one that had been present ever since hed first understood Taeol and everything Giantsrest stood for. Hed once promised himself hed bring down the slave-empire. That promise hadn't grown weaker with time. It had become a pillar of his identity, a primary reason he walked his Path. Once were done, Im going in. I will tear down the Ascendant Academy or die trying.

Nathan paused, watching as Faline delicately sipped her mulled wine. Her eyes never left his face and her expression was intent, as if he was a puzzle for her to solve. Eventually she replied, voice quiet. As your flame calls, but remember you weigh more as a threat than a sacrifice.

Nathan sighed. We have some more time to decide. Can you tell me everything else that might be important for sneaking into the Academy?

She sighed but acquiesced, telling him everything she knew about the interior of the Academy, from the fact that low-tier students stayed in suites attended by a slave to the usual schedule where students usually had a long class in the morning and another in the afternoon.

After finishing her wine she yawned widely again, leaning back and running her hands through her hair. It shortened under her fingers, seeming to shrink back into her scalp. My target is sleep. She cocked one eyebrow at him in a subtle invitation.

Nathan crossed his arms. Ill stay up a little longer. We stirred up a lot of chaos tonight, and I dont want to be caught off-guard in the night if the building gets fireballed in the chaos."

Faline lifted a shoulder in a delicate shrug. Then I will wake early to discover the outcome of our efforts.

On your own? Nathan asked, surprised.

The assassins eyes narrowed, and she looked at him incredulously. As Ive been doing since before you were born. She shook her head and walked into the bedroom, closing the door with a touch too much force.

At least she didnt make another pass at me.

Nathan woke up when Faline left, and gave her a little wave as she left. The assassin was disguised as a grizzled old artisan mage and gave him a grumpy nod.

The night had been boring. Hed stayed up into the early morning, but hadnt heard any indication that the unrest theyd started was spreading. He rolled over on the couch and went back to sleep.

He woke up some time later, sure he hadnt slept longer than a couple of additional hours. There was no obvious activity outside, so Nathan got up and grabbed some breakfast.

I wonder how long I should wait for Faline to show up. Should I stay here all day, or go looking for her? Where would I look? I dont really know my way around the city.

There wasnt long to contemplate the question, because the door banged open as Nathan dug into his meal of fried sausages and toasted graincakes. Faline strode in with a stony expression, back in her leather-clad assassin shape. The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

Follow me, we have a problem to kill. Her voice was clipped, and she was already turning to leave.

Nathan looked down at his breakfast. Then he checked his Stamina. It still wasnt full after the previous days escapade. Can it wait five minutes for me to eat?

The assassin turned back to him and rolled her eyes. Pardon my ax. Eat quickly.

He proceeded to inhale the food in front of him underneath her impatient glare, eating fast enough he would have gotten heartburn if that was something that could still happen.

Faline watched in silence, then jerked her head as soon as he was done, opening the door and vanishing down the stairs. Nathan shook his head and followed, leaving the dirty dishes on the table.

He caught up to her on the street, looking around and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, which was to say that the street was completely empty. Couldn't wait to explain inside?

The flame we set has been smothered. She replied, speaking in a clipped voice as she walked. Badud sent messages in the night, gathering all the factions to his hand. She hadnt bothered disguising herself, and while both of their stealth skills were active it was still surprising to see Faline striding the streets of Giantsrest in her leather armor and the same face she publicly showed in Gemore.

They walked deeper into the mansion. Nathan was pretty sure Faline didnt know where she was going, but you couldnt tell. She walked confidently through the public areas of the house and then unlocked a door with her ring, guiding Nathan past another slave-elite guard and into the private portion of the living quarters.

A couple of unclad slaves made come-hither gestures from a nearby room with an open door, but Faline waved dismissively and kept going, walking in a large loop to get her bearings. Then they went up a staircase and repeated the path. She was looking for something, but Nathan wasnt sure what.

Luckily, there didnt seem to be any mages out and about. There were a few household slaves hurrying around at various tasks, but they mostly scattered from Falines path. None dared meet the eyes of the disguised assassin.

He seems like a real charmer.

On the third floor, there was a large area with an indoor garden illuminated by a skylight on the ceiling. To the side was a series of tables and benches that could seat three dozen, though nobody was present.

Faline seemed to have found what she was looking for. She led Nathan straight towards a wide double-door next to the garden and opened it with her ring. On the far side was a large barracks-style living area, with dozens of kids ranging from eight to fourteen years old sitting around and amusing themselves with toys and small spells.

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Aura of Antimagic 9

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 9

Permanent Talent 3: Airwalking 4

Class: Void of Magic level309

Deepened Stamina: 7482/9570

Void of Feeling

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Implacable Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Magic Anathema

Airborne Agility

Hand-to-hand Expertise

Voluminous Aura

Denial of Wizardry

Mana Severance

Class: Magekiller level 142

Regenerative Focus: 1520/1520

Catastrophic Blows

Battle Stealth

Mage Infiltration

Forgettable

Unsuspecting Strike

Antimagic Stealth

Spell Redirection

Lethal Index

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 10

Inspiration 1

Acceleration 3

Wizard Senses 4

Alertness 5

Wizards Intuition 4

Effortless Dodge 2

Mental Fortress 7

Tutoring 2

High-tier Tumbling 10

High-tier Noticeability 4

Mid-tier Disguise 3

Mid-tier Battle Cry 7

Mid-tier Aura Manipulation 6