"So how's your student? I hope she's doing well.", Vanessa said as she did the tenth checkmate against Eravon.
"Of course. I met her before coming to Ascalon to discuss the situation involving the creature. She is currently on her way to meet the Cardinals.", Eravon replied while wondering how in the world Vanessa beat him again.
Vanessa rearranged the chess pieces on the board with a flick of her finger. "She's the one who chooses the Cardinals right? What do they call her?", she thought for a second, "Ah yes. The Supreme Warlock."
Eravon nodded, "She's a unique person. Being able to use five attributes is a rare feat."
"Was that the only reason you took her in as a student?", Vanessa asked. Eravon shook his head.
"I came across her while traveling in the great forest between Crystalia and Elveria. She had escaped from some nasty people and was barely surviving when I met her. To this day she never told me about her past except about her escape."
"What struck me was the sheer determination in her eyes despite being almost dead. I saw a fire inside her that refuses to be put out. So I took her in. I didn't want her to become a warlock but it was she who insisted."
"So it was a surprise for me when she displayed five attributes.", Eravon said. "And now she's second to you.", Vanessa stated. She smiled, "You taught her well."
"Of course I did.", Eravon said proudly.
"You know Eravon.", Vanessa's hand hovered over her pieces, "If I were the Arkenians I would come up with a plan that involves a few key players to face against the creature."
Eravon thought about it, "You mean the Supreme Warlock?", he asked.
Vanessa nodded, "Well. She is one of them but I would say she's more like a rook or bishop. The one I am interested in is the queen.", she picked the piece and held it up.
"The one I am talking about is the doll. Or should I say? The android.", she glanced at Eravon who looked slightly surprised.
He sighed, "Nothing escapes your notice huh?"
Vanessa smiled, "It was a good thing you told me about the technology of your world, or I would've been confused by his existence."
"So are you saying he is a key player?", Eravon asked.
"Not now. But he will become one.", Vanessa corrected him, "He is still growing and will one day surpass even you."
The Immortal Warlock smiled, "I am waiting for that day."
"I think I will visit him one day.", Vanessa said. She then turned serious, "Eravon. Whatever happens, that creature must never rise. I have not faced it but I have studied it. That creature should never exist."
"I am planning on an investigation myself. I will have to dive much deeper into ancient Vahari sources and folklore. Seems like I even have to do some sneaking into the libraries of the three great academies.", Eravon smiled mischievously.
Vanessa sighed, "Just make sure you don't get caught."
"Even if I get caught, I can just say that I am the Immortal Warlock. Surely they would treat me well.", Eravon said with confidence.
"Well. There were a lot of frauds using your name so I kind of doubt it.", Vanessa said as she sipped her blood wine, "Try going undercover. Slap on a fake mustache and a funny nose."
"I don't think that's how being undercover works."
Vanessa frowned, "How strange. It worked out for me in the past."
"I don't want to know how in the world you managed to achieve that."
The vampire queen laughed, "Well. You have your ways and I have mine.", she leaned back, "I haven't been this entertained for a long time. It's fun to have you along Eravon."
Eravon smiled, "Me too.", he looked at the chessboard and the pieces arranged on it. He picked up the queen and tilted his head, "Things will be much more interesting from now on."
*******
Arthur slowly opened his eyes as the first light of morning peeked between the curtains in his room. He sat upon his bed and stretched.
After freshening up he sat on his bed, opened a vial containing liquid magia, and focused. The glowing blue liquid rose from the vial and floated above his palm.
He concentrated and the glowing blue mass formed into a perfect sphere the size of a small orb. With further concentration, he changed the shape into that of a cube and a pyramid.
It had been a week since he returned from Elvenglade. Arthur practiced every morning before class and before he went to sleep.
Now he's able to manipulate and maintain the pure magia into simple shapes.
"Hm.", he mused and closed his eyes. He imagined the magia slowly taking the form of an arrow and focused. The small pyramid of pure magia pulsed as it slowly morphed into the shape in his mind.
But as it started to faintly resemble an arrow the shape broke up and turned back into a floating blob of pure magia.
Arthur frowned. He focused again on the image of the arrow in his mind but failed again. After two more attempts, he was finally able to create a thin arrow of pure magia that floated above his palm.
He smiled as he spun the arrow and dispersed it into the usual pure magia before directing it back into the vial.
He had achieved the first step which involved shaping pure magia with his will. The next step would be to strengthen the arrow so that it can do some damage.
Arthur noticed that the amount of pure magia in the vial was lower than the first time he got from Seventeen. He learned that pure magia is unstable and gets converted to its much more stable gaseous form.
'Perhaps I should ask sir for more.', he thought. Pure magia is hard to get but Seventeen had assured him that he would be able to get pure magia. Arthur just had to ask him.
He got up and tied back his hair. 'I wonder where sir is?', he thought as he picked up Ghost and put it in his storage ring. Seventeen must have been busy nowadays because he's spending less time in the dorm.
There was a knock on his door. When Arthur opened it he found Ray standing there with a smile on his face. "We got permission.", he said.
Arthur grinned, "Nice. I was starting to wonder about that. Are you ready?"
Ray nodded, "I am. But we would also need a water user to accompany us."
"You mean Rhea?", Arthur asked. "You called me?", Rhea came up to them, she held her rapier in one hand and clean cloth in the other.
"Damn. Elves do have really good hearing.", Ray remarked. Rhea frowned, "I was just passing by when I heard someone mention my name. What do you need me for?"
Arthur smiled, "Great timing. We need a water user to accompany us."
"Accompany you where?"
"Hunting.", Ray replied. "We are looking for ember newts in the Lost Woods."
"Why ember newts?", Rhea frowned. Ember newts are lizards the size of large dogs. Their most striking feature is their red scales which constantly smoldered. They have a poisonous bite and can breathe fire. They are usually found near volcanoes or other hot regions.
"There is a small lava pool in the northern part of the Lost Woods and has a lot of ember newts over there. I and Arthur planned on hunting one for crafting materials. We even got permission to explore the woods.", Ray said.
Rhea was still confused, "But what can be made with the materials from an ember newt? I don't recall any weapons or enchanted items that use materials from them."
Ray smiled, "Oh it is useful alright. Ember newt scales are good materials for small explosives and smoke bombs."
"Explosives?", Rhea was alarmed.
Ray nodded, "Well. They're not for me. I'm making them for this guy.", he nodded at Arthur.
"Why do you need explosives and smoke bombs Arthur?", Rhea asked. Arthur just smiled.
"Well. I have another method of fighting against tougher opponents. One that involves trickery and tactics since I don't have an attribute."
Rhea thought about it, "So how come I didn't see you using your tricks during yesterday's spar with Damien? He's tough and pretty much wiped the floor with you."
Arthur winced, "Please don't remind me. That guy hasn't stopped gloating since then. Well the reason I didn't use my tricks against him was that my sister banned me from using smoke bombs and my tricks for a month."
"She said that I need to improve my strength and skills and try to fight without relying on tricks.", he said. "Seriously?", Rhea sounded impressed.
"That's one-half of the reason.", Ray piped in, "The thing is that Arthur accidentally set off a particularly powerful smoke bomb in Night Manor that engulfed the entire place."
"That was pretty much your fault. Why in Ethereos would you juice up the already effective smoke bomb?", Arthur frowned.
"To give it more oomph.", Ray countered.
"Your oomph gave me a back covered in light needles!"
Rhea sighed, "Boys."
"Anyway. You guys are going to get some ember newts right?", she asked the two guys glaring at each other.
Both of them nodded, "So are you free right now? We need a water user.", Ray asked. Rhea smiled, "Sure. I was feeling quite bored anyway."
Arthur's face broke into a smile, "Thanks, Rhea. I owe you one."
"I'll go get ready.", Rhea turned around, "Let's meet up at the entrance in ten minutes."
Arthur and Ray agreed to it. Arthur suddenly asked, "Hey Rhea. Where are Minerva and the others? The dorm feels quiet for some reason."
"Oh. Minerva, Clare, and Flare went to the shopping plaza to get a dress for someone. Gray went to visit her family in Crystalis city. I would've gone with Minerva but I realized that I hadn't polished my rapier for some time.", Rhea replied.
Arthur frowned, 'Why does Minerva need a dress right now? She only gets them before festivals. This is weird.', he thought to himself. He's having a bad feeling about this.
Arthur shook his head. He hopes it's not what he thinks it is.
"Alright then.", he cracked his knuckles, "Let me show you why I was called the Trickster in high school.", Arthur said with a mischievous smile.