Song recommendation: "I'm so wrong, I'm wrong, I'm so wrong," (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSFahohcNqQ)
The next day Albaric followed Ace up to the office. He usually remained outside but this time he posted himself inside.
The Demon Lord and Kalandra were once more entertaining themselves in the same secretive fashion. Albaric eyed them wearily. He was glad when Ace joined Bird in sorting through the documents a distance away.
The Grand wizard was at his desk. He was uncharacteristically caught unaware by Albaric's approach. He appeared distracted, though not with his work. His hazel eyes looked worn with bags under the eyes.
"What is it?" the wizard barely looked up.
"Why is she still here?" Albaric asked in a low voice.
"It's not my..." the wizard seemed to catch himself. He sat up rigidly. "What of it?" he said more briskly.
"My report..." Albaric began.
"Yes, I read it. You should've shown it to me first." the wizard's eyes narrowed, " In any event, we've decided to hire her. We will need as many hands as possible if we are to mount an attack in the coming months,"
"Do you think that's wise?" Albaric added flatly.
"It's already been decided," the wizard stated stiffly. He had no snarky rejoinder for Albaric's question. On the contrary, he showed no desire to fight at all. He stood up and retreated out of the room on the pretence of another lab visit. Albaric watched him go with a sigh.
Albaric remained on watch for the rest of the week. He couldn't help but feel on edge. It was made worse by the wizard's consistent absences during the day.
As for Ace, he became used to Kalandra's presence. Though she had made it clear that she disliked him with her frequent looks and manner, it didn't stop his continued friendship with Clover. If anything, Clover made a special effort to involve him. Still, he kept his promise to Albaric.
Ace took his lunches with Bird. There was no reason to be alone with Kalandra. Although, sometimes he wished he could ask her more about how she knew Lord Clover. Everything seemed to be returning to normal.
However, on returning to the halls one evening, Ace found Albaric waiting.
"I need to talk to you," Albaric ushered him into the room and closed the door behind them.
"What's wrong?" Ace replied.
"I think something is going on with Clover and Kalandra. I don't think Clover really intends to help us," Albaric asserted.
"Why do you say that?" Ace stared up in surprise.
"I didn't want to worry you before, but it's that woman."
"Kalandra?"
"That tattoo on her arm. I think it's the symbol for the Noctis Aves,"
"That band of Elven assassins? I thought they were just a myth?"
"I know how it sounds, but think about it. If you wanted to escape the Empire, who better to help you than an assassin."
"Did you tell the others?"
"I tried, but I think Leila is planning on using that woman to give them a reason to kill Clover."
"I thought they believed what Lord Clover said about the other Demon Lords,"
"Now they have those books, they probably think they can do it without Clover. Both sides are planning something, I can feel it. We need to consider our options," Albaric enthused, "We can't rely on Clover anymore,"
"What options?" Ace shook his head, " If we leave, they'll come after us, won't they?"
"Not if we cross the border into Elf country," Albaric rejoined.
"Albaric," Ace said in a low voice, " if we do that, you'll never be able to come back to the Empire."
Albaric pinched the bridge of his nose. Ace stood up and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"You've done enough for me. I won't let you do this, "Ace smiled, "Besides, I think you're wrong about this. Even if that woman is an assassin, I don't think Clover brought her here with such intentions. Lord Clover might not show it, but I know they're serious,"
"I thought that too, but now I'm not so sure," Albaric frowned.
"Everything else aside, they're my friend," Ace replied, " I trust Clover."
---------------
The next day after lunch, Ace and Bird returned to the office. The wizard didn't look upon their return. He was still engrossed in the texts on his desk. Albaric wasn't there on their return. Thankfully neither was Kalandra. However, there was a strange tension in the room.
Ace quietly returned to his seat. He hoped he could pass the remaining time undisturbed, but Clover immediately bounded towards him.
"Ace!" Clover said excitedly, "Kalandra showed me a new game from the East. Come play it with me,"
The words broke the wizard's focus. His eyes came up venomously as if some suppressed energy was mounting.
"You think just because we have these books you can just mess around?" he snapped, "Shall I just call the guards and have you thrown back in the dungeon?"
Clover pivoted on their heels with an irritated smile. They strode up to the desk and cast an eye on the formulas the wizard had drafted. Clover leant over and tapped the page.
"Wrong," the demon lord smiled malevolently, "You've got it the wrong way around. Aren't you the one who's been messing around? What's this sloppy work, hmm? You're so distracted that you can't even write a simple incantation. I don't think that's what I taught you, is it?"
The wizard's face turned red, his eyes dipped on inspection on the page. Then they found their way back to Clover with a dark expression.
"Why do I have to put up with this?" the wizard said in a low voice. "It's just one thing after the other,"he murmured.
"Speak up, Michael," Clover provoked, "If you have something to say, say it. This side of you is just like the Cirilium wizard - murmuring to himself like a mad man. No wonder they said he was crazy. Are you following in his footsteps?"
The wizard's eyes widened. He forcefully threw himself from his desk. He marched toward the door. Both Ace and Bird looked up in surprise.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Clover chuckled, "You don't think everyone knows where you're going?"
The wizard came to an abrupt halt by the door. At first, Ace wasn't interested in their conversation. Their exchanges had become commonplace. However, the wizard's expression told there was something different this time. Ace glanced at Bird who seemed to concur. Nevertheless, Clover wasn't finished.
"You're losing your edge. It's only a matter of time before you end up like your predecessor - another forgotten mistake of the Empire."
"And you? You're still so arrogant - it sickens me!" the wizard breathed unsteadily. His usual restrained anger grew beyond containment."What will you be remembered for? - How many people you betrayed?" the wizard snarled.
"Does it matter?" Clover smirked. "Unlike you I don't care what people think about me,"
"You're a fucking liar, you know that?" the wizard retorted.
"Am I? You're the one that needs my help," Clover's eyes twitched. "but if you can't even do this much, you'll never be able to mount an attack on the demon world. If you beg for the Emperor's forgiveness now, he might spare you," Clover added with a sinister smile. The wizard spun around with a dark smile.
"If I'm going to beg for forgiveness, I might as well make it worth my while," the wizard said slowly.
Clover broke into a wide malevolent smile, "Oh! that's the most interesting thing you've said in years. Please don't tell me it's another empty threat,"
The wizard outstretched a hand. Ace's reaction was to come between Clover and the wizard. A spiral of water jetted out from the wizard's hand.
"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed.
To his surprise, a whip of water magic entwined around his throat. It was never aimed at Clover. The force was so intense this time, it lifted Ace from his feet. He felt his back slam against the tower window.
Bird ran towards the wizard to grab his hand but with a flick of his wrists, the wizard sent Bird back. He slammed against the bookshelf and slumped over. The wizard glanced down at him with a sigh.
"Stay out of it, Bird,"
Ace tried to summon his sword into his hand but his concentration was broken by the crushing force around his neck. With a smash, he was thrown out into the air. He expected to fall but instead, he was hoisted in the air by the liquid.
He struggled but he couldn't break the grip. His arms and legs were bound by the water. He could just barely see the shattered window in front of him and hear the voices from the office. The wizard stood beside the window, his arm still outstretched.
"What do you think?" he mused, "Will he survive the fall? His mana isn't that great. I don't think it will break his fall. But you're the master, you tell me?"
"You've lost your mind," Clover returned in a low voice. "What do you think the Sword Saint will do if you kill his apprentice?"
"I'm sure he'll be very upset with me," the wizard laughed, "But I'm more interested in what you will do? I wonder what you will do this time. You remember what happened last time, don't you?"
Clover's eyes appeared to glaze over, "Michael, you've made your point."
"No, no. You remember when that woman was killed by the Empress," the wizard went on, "I remember how you cried. To think, even though she was just some demon scum, I actually felt sorry for you. But the truth is you might as well have killed her yourself because you let her die like all the others. It's actually funny. In the end, you always get what's coming to you, Clover. Now this is what you get. You made me like this. It's come full circle."
"Shall I congratulate you?" Clover replied coldly. "What do you want from me? Shall I lie and tell you I'm sorry? Or did you think I would beg for forgiveness? Kill him. Just know, the moment he dies, our deal is done. You know that without me, you'll never find a way to the demon world. The Emperor may kill me but I'll die with the satisfaction of knowing that everyone in the Empire will die with me!" The demon lord tilted their head back with an unrepentant grin.
The wizard wavered, "So that's it then? You get what you want as always and I..." he glanced out the window.
His eyes fell on Ace who was still struggling against his magic. Then he turned back to Bird who was only now coming to his feet. The wizard's spiteful smile dropped. Bird held out a hand to entice him away from the window.
"Master?" he said slowly.
The wizard turned back to Clover. "I hate you," he said, his voice breaking.
"I know," Clover replied softly.
The wizard shook his head, "No, you don't know anything about how I feel. How could you? You're just a demon." his eyes watered.
"But maybe after this, you will."