Chapter 4543: A Bigger Plan (Part 1)
Chapter 4543: A Bigger Plan (Part 1)
"Only Tessa and I learned Murder in the middle of the fight. Orion has probably forgotten about it as well, while Fyrwal might have learned it only if she asked Tessa for a refresher course after the end of the battle." The Master said.
"As I was saying, I’m not that good of a Warden, but I could use something as powerful as Murder to defend my home." Lith replied. "Moreover, Tista has made a lot of progress with arrays and might be able to use it in battle.
"Can I ask the legendary Professor Zogar Vastor for a remedial lesson since my brain played hooky?"
"Flattery will take you a long way, my boy." The Master chuckled. "Of course, you can. I’ll gladly teach you both Paax’s original spell and my own upgraded version with Spirit Magic. You are the heir of my magical legacy, after all."
"Thank you, Zogar." Lith smiled with greed from ear to ear. "Is there something I can do to return the favor?"
"A little bit more trust would be appreciated." Vastor’s expression darkened. "I know we don’t share everything about our respective lines of research, but I’ve been open with you, whereas you keep me at arm’s length.
"Like when you saved Zoreth and forbade her from sharing the details of your procedure, or when you’ve discovered your Indech life force and I had to wait for your birthday gala to take a look at it like everybody else."
Lith had no plausible excuse, so he said nothing.
"Don’t worry, I’m not angry. I’m only a bit disappointed." The Master sighed. "I’ll prepare a scroll with both spells for you. You can come pick it up the next time you come to the White Griffon to visit Duke or me. He and Ryssa can use a friend right now."
"Thanks, Zogar." Lith nodded. "If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know."
"I will. Zogar out." The hologram of the Master disappeared, leaving Lith in the dark and feeling like a jerk.
"What do you want?" Fyrwal asked in annoyance when he called her next.
"It’s nice to hear from you too, Fyrwal." Lith replied. "I have a quick question for you."
"Lith Verhen calls me only when he needs something? Color me shocked." The Hydra snorted.
"Do you know the Murder array?" He ignored the sarcasm in her voice.
"Of course I do. I asked Tessa to teach it to me after the battle with the World Tree. Arrays aren’t my specialty, but only an idiot would miss the opportunity to learn something that powerful. Why?" She raised one of her heads from the piles of paperwork to look at him.
"Because I just remembered it exists." Lith’s reply made Fyrwal laugh as heartily as Vastor. "It would have been nice of you to share it with Ripha and Solus as a welcome back gift."
"I’m sorry, kid, I’m so used to your absurd feats that I didn’t consider you were detowered back then. Besides, you could have just asked me."
"I’m doing it now." Lith replied. "Can you help us?"
"Hi, Fyrwal. How are you doing?" The Hydra mimicked Lith’s voice, sounding friendly and concerned. "Is everything okay with your research to become a Divine Beast? Do you need some time in my tower? Maybe a day or two in the Lodestar?
"Gods, Lith, that’s so generous of you. You’re such a good friend!" Her voice soured more with every word, ending in a sarcastic snarl.
"I-"
"Save it, kid. Too little and too late." Fyrwal cut him short with a grunt. "My answer is yes, but only if Tessa is okay with it. She taught me Murder, and unlike a certain someone, I’m not a prick. Say hi to Epphy and Ripha for me. Fyrwal out."
"Well, I deserved that." Lith slumped on his chair, pondering what to do next.
"Look at the bright side." Solus walked through the stone walls of the tower. "Your forgetfulness and thoughtlessness make you look human. Zogar will never suspect you’re bonded to a gorgeous woman who’s part tower."
"Tell me, gorgeous woman, how come you too forgot about the Murder array?" Lith snorted. "I thought I was the one with the Lich-like memory."
"You are." She nodded. "I only had a major trauma from captivity and the shock of being reunited with my mother. After everything that happened and all the blood we spilled, I barely registered Paax’s magical formation."
The lights in the tower turned blue and dimmed as Solus shuddered at the memory of those events, as if they carried the coldness of winter.
"I don’t dwell on that part of my life if I can avoid it." She trembled so much that Lith wrapped her in a warm blanket and handed her a cup of hot chocolate.
"I’m sorry, Solus. I shouldn’t have asked. That was inconsiderate of me."
"It’s fine." A sip of the delicious beverage, and the lights reverted to sunny yellow and bright. "Also, let’s not be a Lith again. We need to call Marth and Ryssa to ask them how they are doing and if they’d like to have some company."
"That’s a great idea." Lith’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
"Don’t you dare mention the Rune Stores or ask Dhiral for more sets." Solus knew him well enough not to need their bond to guess what he was planning. "It’s a friendly visit, not a business deal."
"Fine." Lith had no plausible excuse, so he said nothing.
***
Alkham Sher’s testimony and the evidence the Night Phantoms collected as insurance against betrayal gave Jirni everything she needed to follow the trail of money Archmage Lema had used to pay the mercenaries back to her.
To avoid a scandal, the Royals staged the Headmaster of the Fire Griffon’s retirement ceremony, claiming she stepped down for family reasons.
A few days later, as every mage and noble faction vied to claim the empty headmaster’s seat, the Royals made Lema disappear quietly in the dungeon of Valeron’s castle.
Officially, Archmage Ipalthia Lema had been honorably discharged and had moved to the countryside to spend her final years passing down her knowledge to her most talented descendants.
Off the record, she was buried in a nameless mass grave after revealing everything she knew about the corruption in the Griffon Kingdom during a very long interrogation session.
Every incriminating document she kept and shady deal she had made over the years was unveiled and investigated, giving the already overworked Archon Ernas even more lines of investigation to follow.
Jirni was forced to leave the safety of the Verhen Mansion more often than she liked to verify a promising lead in person. She delegated as much legwork as she could, but truly sensitive information required her personal touch.
Jirni had nothing against working in the field except that it created openings for the Gernoffs that not even she could avoid.
"Energy signature confirmed. The target is cloaked, but she’s not a body double." A scout said while studying Jirni from a distance with the Spyglasses.
The mystical artifact extended Life Vision’s range and allowed the Gernoff agent to study his target unseen.
’Myrok’s Royal Fortress Guard armor confirmed.’ A second scout relayed the results of her surface Invigoration scan of Jirni’s clothes via their tactile communication device.