The Kingdom of Lucretia, his Capital Kunri, built atop quiet and serene hills, its beauty is matched by the backdrop of green, fertile fields which have helped shape the city to what it is today. The trade resources these fields brought were of great importance, but they were also influential when it came to architectural designs as the vast majority of buildings have been built with a lot of open elements to mimic the openness and vastness of the fields around them. Life is great in Kunri and it has attracted a lot of attention. Various cultures have left their mark not just on the city's cuisine, but also upon the city's identity. What historically was a city of no variation has grown into a large melting pot and it's this that unites the half million people to this day.
It's this multicultural identity that has truly left its mark. Hundreds of cafés, restaurants and taverns offer a plenty of culinary choices and those who feel hungry for something else can enjoy musical activities, sport activities, city exploring or one of the many other recreational venues.
They passed through the gate, the wall that surrounds the city, was very well protected, a little too well. I'd had been two decades since Leda had been here, and it was still as beautiful as the day she first entered, as they entered, she admired the architecture of a prosperous city rich in both culture and knowledge, good for a human city , not even close to the Tower though. As they were crossing the city, Leda wanted to stop for a moment.
- Sir Phillip, there is a store that sells items of magic value near here, would it bother you if we go really quick? -
- Lady Leda, the minister is the priority, would it not be better to go shopping later?
Just for whom does he take her, of course she wouldn't put the life of her old friend for shopping, the connections and rumors of that go through this place would give her a clue of what's truly going on. It is something that she had already noticed, but this situation has already made her quite uncomfortable and it would be better to find out as much as possible before someone comes up with an unexpected surprise, the last thing that is needed on the continent is a pandemic like the one twenty-five years ago.
- Sir Phillip, you should have more faith, they sell various materials, which I need to make my diagnosis, and since there hasn't been mysterious diseases in several years I do not have all the materials. -
- Well if you say so, I guess we can't help it, but please hurry My Lady -
- Of course, it's just that I like to be prepared for inconveniences. -
They continued to the shopping area, to Sir Phillip's surprise they didn't go to the big magic, artifact, or supply stores. They went to a remote alley that was inside another alley, where there was a store with a small sign hanging above the door that said "Brews Brothers" in wood. He was nervous, that place did not look like they sold quality materials or that they would let them out without voluntary a contribution if you get what I mean.
- My Lady, are you sure this is the right place? -
- Of course, Isn't amazing! -
- It's something, but you can see, um, not very visited, are you sure that you would not prefer to go to any of the stores on the main street? -
- Never, these places do nothing more than sell toys for wizards and for the inexperienced. -
- Some maybe, but this place does not look very, hoe should I put it, well, save My Lady -
- Oh, that's it, don't worry, the exterior may look a bit rough, but I have come to this store since it was founded, by the grandparents of the current owners.. -
- Sigh ... Okay, if you prefer it that way. Lady Leda, I only ask you not to disclose the Minister's condition, the Royal Family are trying to keep it from liking. -
- I imagined something like that, I will not discuss it with anyone who does not already know it, also I am going to buy magic stones, not to discuss their use. -
That calmed down the knight, of course little did he knew that the elf's pun was not just to calm him down. With that said they entered. Even though from the outside it looks gloomy, dark and rough, impossible to see through the large, stained glass windows, As you enter it's was bright inside. Rounded, wooden beams support the upper floor. The walls are covered in photographs of what were the opening times for this shop.
The shop itself is almost completely new on the inside. The few people inside could be anybody really, but whoever they are, you think they probably have a lot of money, and were not looking for the usual goods at the moment.
Supposedly it's infamous for something, buy some reason he couldn't remember what for. Though judging by the amount of very hing merchandise, and the location of the shop was probably something on the lines of smuggling. They had displays all around the first floor and you could see that the merchandise was really high quality, from gems, magic dust and even normal and magic weapons that were another level, only the weapons of a Archduchy or the Royal Family are like that. There was a door on the first floor that was going to go back, on the second floor you could see some doors but not very well.
- Didn't I tell you it was amazing? -
- I have to admit that its entrance leaves a lot to be desired, however its inside is quite unusual if that is what you mean.. -
- If you want to put it like that, stay here while I go talk to the boys -
Boys? Those men looked in their mid-thirties! Sir Phillip stood at the entrance while the other knights were waiting for them outside the alley, she approached the counter, ignoring the salesmen and going straight to the man in the back.
- Well, well, if it's not our favorite elf! -
The guy who had just finished with the client and approached her, brown, dreadlocks is pulled back to reveal a round, warm face. Darting black eyes, set symmetrically within their sockets, watch vigorously over the shop they've looked after for so long. A moustache alluringly compliments. This is the face of Leon Brew, a true swindler among swindlers. He stands high among others, despite his heavy frame. There's something about him, perhaps it's his good luck or perhaps it's simply a feeling of arrogance. But nonetheless, people tend to trust him, while hoping to one day follow in his favor, few really know the true Leon, but perhaps most important is that he's devious, clever and gentle. He will never turn his back on a friend, his incorruptible nature is what gives him standards, well he does have a price however, this is what he's most popular for, if you have the money and need something, he can get it no questions ask. Clients usually count on this and his perceptive and wise nature in times of need.
Nobody's perfect of course, his Money-hungry ways sometimes risk running unpleasant situations, and his childish and devious nature aren't exactly fun to deal with. But he will never betray you. He was dressed very simply, almost like any commoner, a white long-sleeved shirt, light brown pants and leather shoes, I say almost because unlike all commoners, his clothes would cost a lot of money.
- But look who it is, I hardly recognized you, if it's little Leon, tell me how is your father? -
- Well, since Haspel and I received the store our parents have been dedicated to negotiating the bringing of merchandise from other kingdoms, in their last letter they were in Voxis -
- Ah, the capital of the Fey, various goods brought this time I imagine? -
- Only what our most esteemed client needs, how can I help you Miss? -
- I need some stones that analyze magic, and I'm almost out of mana crystals -
- That's pretty simple, but something tells me that's not all Miss Leda -
- What's with the Miss? Leda, you are no longer a child to call me that. -
- What can I tell you, old habits are hard to kill, besides I meet you when I was very young and the last time I saw you was twenty-some years ago and I was twelve years old. -
- Was it that long ago? I only remember a couple of puppies that followed me every time I entered the store to do magic for them. -
- But that was when I was like six, that was about thirty years ago, well I'll get the merchandise ready, Leda, I guess you looking for information of some king, you will have to talk to Haspel, I'll take care of the materials, he's the one who takes care of that type merchandise. Go up to the second door on the right at the top, and knock on the door three times and then two. -
- Thanks a lot, give the bill to the knight over there. -
- I was going to ask you about that, you are always travel alone, why the escort?
- The Royal family sent him to get me, so they pay the bill. -
- The King, mmm, be careful, and that one over there, can he be trusted? -
- Him? Yes, he gave me a good impression, so don't torture him too much, and add to my personal account that dagger there, the one with the red stone. -
- Ah, that is a good eye that you have Leda, the dagger is enchanted for anyone who is cut from it cannot stop bleeding until the owner of the dagger gives his permission, the spell is in the ruby of the earth of Draco with the silver dagger, I assume you know the spell to make the dagger yours? -
Leda just smiled and grabbed the dagger from the counter that Leon lowered from the wall, he had various weapons on display. She took it and cut her palm, Sir Phillip turned pale as a wall and ran to her..
- Lady Leda! What are you doing? -
He exclaimed, but when he was going to grab her arm so she wouldn't hurt her hand, which was already bleeding in a silver color, Leon grabbed his arm.
- Take it easy, nothing is happening to her, look -
He pointed at her, and Leda closed her eyes calmly.
- Sluashio Strixaro Dracum -
The blood began to make a circle between the hand and the object, turning to a wobbly scarlet rush. After a blinding scarlet light, Leda had the dagger in her hand and the wound was gone..
- Lady Leda, what happened, what was that? Are you OK? -
- Calm down Sir Phillip, nothing happened, it's a spell to make the dagger my own. -
- But you were bleeding! -
- What? Were you surprised that elves bleed? -
- No, never Lady Leda, that was not my intention !!! I, I, em …. -
- Now, calm down. -
Leda grabbed his hands and held her left hand over them, which was the one that had previously been cut.
- See, nothing happened, now calm down, I am not a delicate flower that will wither if you are not there to protect it. -
- But… -
- No buts, I have to go talk upstairs, since what I bought here is going to be to help the patient, please take care of the bill, and Leon the dagger goes to my personal account. -
- Yes, of course Leda, only the best for our best client. -
Leda released Sir Phillip's hands and went up stairs, while they look at each other, for Leon the young knight was something interesting, for Leda to trust him, he had to be something else, on the other hand Sir Phillip was still uncomfortable with the situation.
- Tell me, Young Knight, what house do you belong to? -
- Why is my house any of your business, the payment is the same no matter where it comes from. -
Sir Phillip was serious, without a single expression, after all showing weakness in the face of a possible threat would not be convenient, of course, for Leon that only made him more curious, they had a conversation that was more than anything Leon asking questions and Sir Phillip not answering, although the conversation became interesting when Leon tried to sell him some weapons with magic stones, but he was not interested. To all this Leda went up to the second floor, where there were seven doors, three on each side and one at the end of the hall, she got to the second on the right and knocked three times and then two and waited.
- Come in -
Sounded from the inside, she entered the room, it was a study, it had books on the entire right wall, and on the left side were parted log books and accounts with doors on each wall that she guessed they had to go to the rooms on the sides, there was a living room set and a table in the center and with an oak desk that was in the back by the window with a young man in his late twenties. Brown, short hair gently hangs over a lean, menacing face. Sparkling green eyes, set elegantly within their sockets, watching firmly over the business they've work for three generalizations. This is the face of Haspel Brew, a true mercenary among humans. He stands tall above others, despite his athletic frame.
There's something puzzling about him, looks can be deceiving when it comes Haspel, but at the very least you'll find out he's serious, cold and disciplined, egocentric and provocative is just the tip of the iceberg. Of course he's also captivating, faithful and backstabbing. His intelligence though, this is what he's pretty much known for. Friends tend to count on this and his precision when they're needing help. He has less pleasant traits too. His morbid nature and argumentativeness risk ruining pleasant moods, both personally and for others. Fortunately his discipline is usually there to soften the blows. He was dressed in a black suit, pants and vest, a white long-sleeved shirt below, a neck ornament with a green jewel that resonated with his eyes. As elegant as any noble.
Leda stood leaning on the arch of the door with crossed arms staring at him, it was obvious that the little four-year-old that she saw twenty-five years ago was all grown up, he was already a grown man and he did not look bad looking either it was actually was the opposite, well, his mother was a beauty.You see, the Brews Brothers store specialized in two things, one was physical goods, under Webs enterprises which is famous for getting anything and whose leader is Leon Brew,the other is information, The League of Webs, a band of mercenaries founded three generations ago and dedicated to gathering any information and the leader is Haspel Brew, both are economic empires not at the level of Lucretia but throughout the continent, in multiple kingdoms, empires and even territories of other races, so high that they rival the great commercial empires, and although their base looks dreary outside, to put it mild , like a normal store with good artifacts inside, they really are the best sellers on the black market, Of course, only a few know this, nobody knows who is behind the League of Webs or Webs enterprises, they were founded by the Brew brothers were are their grandparents.
- Well, well, if it ain't little haspel -
Haspel was stunned, he barely remembered the elf who was beautiful as a white rose and who did magic tricks, they had told him while he was growing about her connection with the store, but at twenty-nine he never expected that she would make an entrance like that..
- From description I assume that you are the elf Leda of the tower, that my grandparents and father used to speak about. -
- Please call me Leda, after all we've known each other since you were born, although I don't think you remember. -
- In that case let me welcome you, your reputation precedes you. -
He stood up and bowed, as a sign of respect, for him it was like meeting a hero of someone known only in stories, for her it was like seeing the son of a friend who grew up.
- No formalities, please. -
She came in and sat on a chair and put her feet up on the center table.
- If you insist, tell me, if you came here it was not to say hello, how can the League of Webs help you? -
- As smart as your father, you are correct, three days ago I was calm when a detachment of knights arrived at my door, the king sent for me, because as I imagine you know that the Prime Minister is sick. -
- Correct, he has a disease that no one can distinguish and it is extremely serious, it is said that they sent for an expert, I presume that you are it, Leda. -
- Yup, now, if those magician clowns don't know what he has, I'm not surprised, what seems unusual to me is that Lucretia's Royal Doctors are among the best in human territory, being only surpassed by those of the great empires . -
- Are you correct, that's why they tried to keep it a secret. -
- Yes, I imagined something like that. -
While they were talking, he gestured to one of his subordinates through one of the side doors to bring refreshments to his guest. And he sat in the chair in front.
- If you already know that, tell me, why you need me? -
Leda smiled, after all the sarcastic way of speaking of this human is noticeable of someone intelligent, besides, it is obvious that he wanted to rush to finish the meeting as quickly as possible and the question is why?
- I need to know everything else, I have been away for twenty-five years and the politics and rumors of the capital do not reach the border, only the publicity that they want to make the neighboring kingdoms believe. I need to know the situation in the kingdom before I get into trouble head first. -
- That is a good policy, and what would I receive in return? -
It was obvious whose family he was, just as silversmith as Leon, but as they say better money in hand than to collect.
- What do you want? -
Haspel thought about it a bit, a change of information would be the safest thing, for information about the royal family always charges a little more, let's see how innocent and how much he can get from this young Elf. Of course, little did he know that Leda is used to demanding both prices and information.
- Information about the royal family is expensive, and see that you don't walk with much on you, what do you think about an exchange of information? -
- mmm…, Information? It sounds simpler, although I do carry with me more than enough, and I can always leave it in my tab for later after I finish this job. -
One of his subordinates came in and left them tea and some sweet snacks, Haspel, served Leda tea and she took down her feet to receive it and get to the desserts.
- Information is more valuable than money. -
It was obvious that he wanted something and the way he smiled with greed, of course Leda hadn't fallen for it for a second..
- Well I guess it depends on the information, what do you want to know??
There it was, the words that Haspel was waiting for, with that it may even be possible to figure out how to find the tower itself..
- Well, how about the location of the tower of sorcerers? -
- HAHAHAHAHAHaHaHahahahaha… cough. cough ... -
Lea laughed so hard that the tea went astray. Even tears came out, she took a deep breath to lower her laughter and Haspel approached to help her and sat next to her.:
- Hey, are you okay? -
- The Tower? How to find The Tower? I'll say this about you, you have guts! -
- That means you will not give me the information? -
- Not even in your dreams, hahahaha, find the Tower, you do not know that it is impossible to find the Tower if you're not a Sorcerer? -
- That's the legend, the publicity if you allow me to copy your words, Maybe then what about the name and the level of magic of the current Highmage? Or how many species study there? -
Leda stood up, smiling and shaking her head indicating no, grabbed a peach tart and went to the window. Looking outside she could see the entire alley, at the entrance the other knights who were accompanying them. She turned with a smirk.
- Those are the answers that the tower keeps the most secret,why would you like to know, leaving the obvious answer of course -
At that moment it became obvious to Haspel that she was not just anyone, and that negotiating the answers was going to be more complicated than what he expected..
- I have a client whose job is to have a meeting with the Highmage. -
- A meeting with HIM? That's hard, I guess it's not just anyone, not everyone would even be worth it enough for a meeting with Him. -
- I can not give the name, but he is not one who'll put in danger the tower or the Highmage. -
- I can not tell you the location of the tower or the level of magic or the species of students. -
- That is the price, without payment there is no information. -
So as stubborn as the one below, once they put the price, they don't not lower it, but that information is more important than what she wants, but maybe something close will do..
- I can't tell you the location of the Tower because I don't know it… -
- Impossible, all sorcerers are able to find it. -
He interrupted, with a cutting tone and hesitation towards what Leda told him.
- Right, we sorcerers can find it but we don't know where it is. -
- … -
- Okay, I'll explain so don't look at me like that, the Tower is not in a precise place, it moves, therefore, no one who has looked for it has found it, when it is said that we can find the tower, it's more in the lines of that tower finds us. -
- The Tower moves? -
He stood up and asked her with curiosity.
- Well, it doesn't move like you or me, but it appears and disappears, we can call it, and even then, what usually appears is the entrance, not the entire tower.. -
- So is it impossible to find it? This isn't going to work -
He crunch his fists in anger, how could his mission fail for the first time.
- Calm down, regarding your other questions, I can tell you this, there are other species in the tower, the tower accepts everyone who is born in it or who has the magic potential, as for the Headmage I will tell you only this, William Salbei is the smartest man in the world and if you try to trick him, he will not hesitate to turn you into stone, or an ox, or a shoe, so I do not recommend that you cross him, and as for the tower I can not give you the current location, but in a month it will appear in a specific place for a day, if the information is to my liking, I'll give you the place and the date, what do you think, does this work out for you? -
He thought about it for a moment, there doesn't seem to be anything else he can do to negotiate, he gave his terms and she gave hers, and her information is far more valuable. He reached out to accept the deal, he was serious, for the first time negotiating he lost, she just smirked and shook her hand. She sat back down, grabbed another tart and said before starting to eat it:
- Okay, now it's your turn, let's start with why a healthy king, sick with something as silly as the flu died in a month? Why the second son took the throne? Where is the first-born son and why he abdicated the throne? When and how The prime minister fell ill and why did they call me when there is a Tower Sorcerer in the capital! -