Mark of the Fool

Chapter 696: Prototypes and Time

So you found the settlement? Professor Jules asked, stirring a spoonful of honey into a cup of tea. The amber liquids steam rose through the morning sunlight streaming through the map rooms window.

Outside, Greymoor tasted the first snows of late fall.

A dusting for now, but the day was still young.

We did. The young wizard eased into a chair, poised to set his hot cup down on the map. Khaliks glare froze him partway, making him think better of it. We only saw it from a distance, but its the right location to be the firbolgs village. Next time we go back, well approach them and see if we can find out if theres anyone there who was alive during the Hunter incident three hundred years ago.

Lets hope so, I hunger for progress. Prince Khalik frowned, eyeing the map of Thameland. All across its surface miniature red models of Ravener-spawn were positioned at the site of a Ravener-spawn attack that had occurred in the past two weeks. The number of models covering the map were increasing, alarmingly. Since we met with the king, the attacks have grown worse. I fear something bad is coming. The sooner you are free of the Marks limits, the better. When do you plan to return to the Empire?

Thats what I wanted to talk about with all of you. Alex grimaced.

There was a pause as Professor Jules, Khalik, Isolde and Thundar looked at each other.

Can you make what you just said sound any more ominous? The minotaur moved a tiny wizard across the map, taking it from Greymoor and placing it farther north.

Indeed Alex, you make things sound as though you are about to leave us and go off to sacrifice your life. Isolde squinted at the area where Uldars Rise was, taking notes.

What is it, Mr. Roth? What seems to be the problem? Professor Jules asked.

Its he took a deep breath. How do I phrase this?

He paused, searching for the right words.

I want to get back to the Empire as soon as possible. He took a sip of hot ciderletting the flavours linger on his tongue before flowing down his throat. He exhaled, then leaned forward. The problem is, I think Im going to need more time to do this properly; Restful Slumbers taken me this far, buteven with only sleeping two hours a nightIm still running out of hours in the day.

He looked at Professor Jules. I want to make the search for Keldas sanctum a priority; the Empires just about the biggest country in the whole world, andif we dont get luckyfinding it could literally take monthsor even years, if Im honest.

Oh wow. Thundar sucked air through his teeth. But thats without using teleportation, right?

Oh no, without teleportation, it could take decadesor even centuriesto search every single corner of the Empire. Thats why we need to find a lead as quick as possible. We need informationthat points us in the right direction, but in order to get it as fast as we need it, Ill have to go there probably a few times a week.

That makes sense, Isolde agreed. But you are making it sound as though doing it will be a problem.

Well, it might be. Heres the thing: Im going to try to be back to Generasi every night, but between classes, my golem work at Torakas, researching Uldars notes, working with the dungeon cores, and

He paused, searching for the right words.

...look, Ill just come right out and say it. Ive hit a wall when it comes to learning spells, he said.

Arent you at sixth-tier? Thundar asked. If thats a wall, then Im at whatlikea castle wall? A bigger wall? A mountain? Im not even at fifth-tier, yet, man.

I can cast sixth-tier summoning spells because of Hannahs power, but even with that, the Marks really starting to increase its resistance; its taking me a long time to learn even a single one of those higher-tier spells. I justI need more time.

What are you saying, Alex? Khalik asked.

I dont think Ill be able to come to Greymoor as much, his shoulders slumped. I want to be here as much as I can, but we need to find Keldas sanctum.

Thats true, Professor Jules said. From what youve told me of Hannahs story, Kelda had been researching her Mark and the hidden church for many years before she met her end. We could use that research dearly.

Her lips thinned to a pale line, and she threw a venomous look at a locked drawer in her desk. Ive been examining Uldars notes every night for weeks, and its becoming harder to wring any meaning from them; that damned, dead god was so obtuse with his notations that Im having to guess what some of his formulae mean. And I am no fan of guessing.

You and me both, Alex agreed sourly.

Then all the more reason we need that Fools Mark changed. Thundar touched one of the Ravener-spawn miniatures on the map. The more time we take, the more people die, plus the more time the Ravener and the secret church have to cook up their next scheme.

Indeed, Isolde said. If Kelda had learned enough about her Mark to create analbeit unsuccessfulprocess to reverse it, then that means her notes will quite likely give us insight into Uldars methods.

And even if they do not, having you without limits would make you an even more powerful force against the enemy, Khalik noted. You would be able to research more freely and stand on the battlefield in a way you never have before. I say if that means you must spend more time in the Empire than Greymoor, then that is time well-spent.

Agreed. Professor Jules looked at Alex grimly, taking a long sip from her steaming cup. Alex, if you need time away from the expedition, then that will be fine; your quest to find Keldas sanctum will be beneficial to us in many ways. Its worth devoting your time to. She glanced at her desk. Its not the worst time for you to step back; with the dungeon cores properties now fully catalogued, and with all of our teams well into the prototyping stage of creating new magical devices, losing you now wont slow us down that much.

She circled the rim of her cup with a fingernail. I would ask you to make an appearance at the Castle once per week, though. During that time, you could help the research teams test prototypes of the following Dungeon Core items: our Dungeon Core Portable Mana Generator, Blastwave Emitter and Conductive Wiring.

Yeah, Ill make it workWait, hold on a second, Alex paused. I knew we were working on the Mana Generator and Wiringthey could revolutionise Generasi. But, I thought a general mana power grid was top prioritywhats this about a Blastwave Emitter? I didnt think we were moving on to weapons creation so quickly.

Professor Jules sighed wearily. I wish we didnt have to, Alex; the truth is, both Counsellor Kartika and myself think that were going to need a new weapon. The first time a petrifier attacked Greymoor, there was only one of them. The next time, there were three. How many will there be next time? And the question that raises is; are they the Raveners most powerful soldiers? We dont know; its a construct designed by a god using what may be the most advanced alchemy Ive ever encountered. I doubt weve seen its limits, and if or when we do, we are going to need something extraordinary to deal with whatever it throws at us.

Very true, Alex agreed. I can help with the design, but if its a weapontheres only so much I can do with it.

All the more reason to be rid of the Marks limits, Professor Jules agreed. You have my permission to explore the Empire on behalf of the expedition, Mr. Roth...unofficially, of course. Ill see that you get your full Art of the Wizard in Combat credit, as well as full Alchemy credits for your efforts.

Thank you so much, Professor, he said, then looked at his cabal. Are you guys all okay with this?

You need not ask, Isolde sniffed. I am not so small minded not to recognise where your efforts need to be directed.

Same, Thundar agreed. Well keep fighting Ravener-spawn, working with the Heroes and trying to track down the church from here, while you can work on finding Keldas place.

Agreed. Khalik tapped Uldars Rise. The secret church obviously tried to strike you down at Rockmoot, and likely only retreated in the face of Registrar Hobbs power. But we cannot assume they will be idle. As a matter of fact, I am surprised we have not seen them reappear yet. He swore in Tekish. If only I had the wisdom to see through their schemes. We could strike first.

Yeah, Alex said, draining his cup then balancing it on his chairs armrest. Id like that too; truthfully, Ive been trying to feel good about what happened at Rockmoot. I mean, Im basically free now. No more worrying about the king or the church coming for me. No more avoiding certain parts of Generasi because priests might be lurking around a corner. No more having to avoid every soldier in Thameland while Im herebut

His mind returned to the assassination attempt at the standing stones. but it feels like theres still another sword hanging over my damned head at this point. The hidden church isnt going to give up, but where are they going to strike? In Generasi? He blew out a breath. Im going to work on Relational Contract Summoning with Professor Mangal after our meeting. Are they going to jump from behind a bush on campus and blast me with their miracles? Am I going to look at my customers one day and see the First and Third Apostles standing among them, raising their spells to kill me? Am I going to get home from Shales and find theyve kidnapped Selina. Or hell

He looked at his cabal with concern. Are they going to ambush one or all of you, or even Theresa, when youre searching for them, or maybe Kybas or Grimloch when theyre out harvesting dungeon cores? Is their attack going to happen here in Greymoor? Whens it going to happen?

I confess to having asked myself the same questions, Khalik said. We will not be able to breathe comfortably until they are all destroyed, but the rats will not come out of their nests. What do they wait for?

I dont know, Khalik, Alex admitted. And thats whats driving me so damn crazy, I just dont know. Hopefully, I dont find out when they jump from behind some bushes on my way to Professor Mangals.

###

I beg for your forgiveness, First Apostle, Third Apostle Izas bowed his head so low, that his long beard scraped the grottos floor. We have tried to seek another opportunity to slay the Fool, but we have not found another one as golden as Rockmoot. The old man grimaced. Our failure there burns me, Holy One. Please, give me leave to punish agents Lee and Charity.

Within the dark of the grotto, First Apostle Garbian meditated.

His eyes were closed.

The glowing scales of the Chosen burned on his forehead.

I cannot grant you such permission. The First Apostles deep voice reverberated through the grotto. Their failure was unfortunate, but they were ill-equipped to face the power that the Generasians brought to Rockmoot. Had you and I been there personally, then perhaps we could have changed the outcomebut the risk was too great.

Eldin would have seen them punished anyway. The Third Apostle closed his eyes in pain. Only Uldar knew how much he missed the priests skill, judgement and loyalty.

Eldins way served us well before the disaster at Uldars Rise, the First Apostle said. But now? Now our list of allies runs thin, like blood with snakes venom coursing through it. We cannot afford to burn away those few who remainand remember, the failure did not come without benefits.

The First Apostle opened his eyes. We now know more of the power the wizards bring to bear. This will help me when it comes to praying for interdiction and miracles. It also means that it might be time to move onto our secondary targets. The Fool should die first, but if he is inaccessible, then we must

Now, now, now, dont lose hope my young mortal friends, a familiar voice spoke from the dark.

The Stalker stepped from the shadows, wearing a vicious grin bursting with delight.

There you are, the First Apostle said. It has been some time since we have seen you.

Aye, I was doing some hunting, watching, andthis and that, the Stalker rubbed his hands together. And something really wonderful happened yesterday while I was tracking our quarrys name. Hes been moving about a lot for the past few months, but hes always stayed close to either that city of wizards, or the wizards castle here in our lovely realm.

His grin widened.

That was until yesterday, friends. Yesterday, he moved far away. Far, far away from those that protect him.