"I hope I'm not intruding, Roman." The man looked cheerful as it walked into the room.
"Ah, well…." The doctor scratched his head. "I guess It's alright, it's not like you won't have access to this information afterward the exam anyways. And we're done with the personal examination, only have some questions left. As long as Takao over here is okay with it, that is."
"By all means." I kept my emotions even.
"Wonderful." He said with a jolly tone. "I'm excited to have a talk with our B-Team leader."
"It's not quite official yet." I strained a smile.
"Once Olga sets her mind to something, it gets done." He shrugged in a 'what can you do' manner.
For some reason, his entire attitude was very unsettling.
"Well, I suppose I should just accept it then. Takao Shimoda, B-Team leader." I introduced myself, a little tongue in cheek. "You came all this way to see me, what can I help you with?"
"An interesting choice of words. Do you believe there is something you can help me with?" He questioned, eyeing me intently.
"I'm always happy to help, but I'm just a simple hedge mage from the Far East, I fear I couldn't possibly be of much assistance to someone like you." I smiled right back at him. "With such a lofty position, I'm sure you have access to much more competent help with but a snap of your fingers."
His lips thinned. "Talent can blossom in the most unlikely of places. I do so enjoy helping bring out that hidden potential that I sometimes come across."
I didn't like what he was insinuating underneath those flowery words.
Was I seen through?
No, I don't think that's entirely the case. I think he's in the same situation as I am, we both noticed something was off about the other, something familiar that we can't quite place. Or atleast something similar in his regard, because it was difficult to read this person.
I'm making a lot of assumptions here.
"And what makes you think I have some hidden potential? I could very well have peaked as I am now. I'm just a rather average Magus, nothing too special about me."
"I have a fairly good eye for this." His own narrowing. "One might even call it instinct."
"You should listen to him." Roman spoke up as he watched us go back and forth, clearly not reading the mood. "Lev is a well known teacher, all of his students have gone on to be successful. If you could learn a thing or two from him, it would definitely help you."
"….Thank you, Roman." Lev twitched slightly, clearly annoyed at his 'friend' interrupting him.
"Oh well, how about we continue the check up, The Director might get impatient if we take too long." Don't know what this 'Lev's' motivation was right now, I think it might be better for me to take a step back and watch him for a little bit.
So I just took the opportunity presented by Roman to end that little back and forth.
"Alright, well, we just need to clear up your own Crafts that you practice." Roman looked down at his paperwork. "Obviously we won't ask you to delve too deep into them, we know how secretive that kind of information is. But for the ease of summoning, and for picking relics that could better align with yourself, we need to know what your area of expertise is. However, there may be some Crafts that require a few more….personal questions. In that case, I'll be contacting the Director, and we'll set up the proper protocols to make sure that kind of information doesn't get out."
By protocols he probably meant a Geass. I could imagine some Crafts or practices could have an effect on Servant summoning. Things like Spirit Invocation needed to be taken into consideration, and the more darker aspects of Magecraft, such as Necromancy, also needed to be taken into consideration. And hell, even transformation types of Crafts should probably have some asterisks next to them. Generally they would want to summon coherent and easy to get along with Servants, not monsters or the worse type, those that could easily be called villains.
"Fine, what do you want to know?" I already prepared some explanations for what I had going on.
Lev was also listening intently, obviously curious as well.
"Just a rough idea of what you're competent in and what your pursuit is. Are you seeking the Root like most Magi, or are you just using your Magecraft in a more practical application?"
"My 'family' is very young, so to speak. However, I can trace my roots back pretty far, and I've scrounged up a few things that allowed me to piece together a path towards the Root I'm striving for. I specialize in Runecraft with a minor in Alchemy, specifically the botany sub-branch. I also have a passing knowledge in Elemental Manipulation, and Onmyoji arts for the more 'practical' application as you put it."
"Not many families are willing to 'waste time' with Runecraft these days." Lev spoke up.
"What can I say? I'm just an ignorant Eastern Magi without many resources available to me. I have to use what I can, even if most others look down on the Craft." I shrugged helplessly
"Truthfully, I think it is foolish to disregard any Craft. Especially considering the Divine Nature which Runes originate from. Most Magi are rather proud of the paths they are treading. Could you sate my curiosity, what is your path to the great wellspring of knowledge?" Lev asked.
Not technically an intrusive question. He's just asking what path to the root I'm taking, which was pretty common knowledge amongst Magi circles. They sure do love to proclaim how superior their own Crafts are in every regard.
"I plan to follow in Odin's footsteps."
"Oh?" Levin raised an eyebrow. "No one can say you don't have high aspirations."
Hmm, he immediately could understand my intent.
Regardless of everything else, he appeared to be a very adept Magus.
"Uh…..can I get a better explanation please? I-I mean, don't just explain the details and all that, but I need something better to put down." Roman rubbed his head awkwardly.
I glanced at him and nodded, taking my attention away from Lev. "There is a well known legend of Odin hanging himself upon Yggdrasil as a sacrifice to himself, and gouging out his eye to drink for the enchanted mead." I didn't feel like I needed to retail the whole legend. "What he did was peer into the foundations of the world, in other words, he gazed into the Akashic Records, learning the Primordial Runes of old. There should technically still be a path there in the present era since no human has ventured it and the Age of Gods has thus ended."
"That sounds paradoxical." Roman blinked. "Since Odin isn't around, you can tread the same path, but everything else involved no longer exists either. I….don't want to tell you how to live your life and practice your Magecraft –"
"I understand where you're coming from. That's why I've dabbled in other aspects, to fill in the blanks so to speak." I shouldn't elaborate more, as someone in my position wouldn't if I wasn't just spouting bullshit.
But this was the background I chose since I had a connection to the Norse cosmology. It would explain a lot of my knowledge and spell usage if it came down to it.
If I was an established Magi from a long lineage, I would have 'taken offense' to his kind intentions. But I could understand where he was coming from as an outside perspective. Roman just seemed like a genuinely nice guy so far.
A far cry from the normal sort of Magi that I've met in both of my lives.
"A well-rehearsed reasoning." Lev smiled innocently, but I could understand his insinuation.
He was calling bullshit
"Right!" Roman chuckled. "It's good, with the Magi around here, even if you practice something common like Runecraft, if you have a well thought out thesis and unreproachable reasoning, they'll give you some respect atleast. Right, Lev?" He turned towards his supposed friend, still missing the subtext.
"It's as you say, Roman."
"It's nice to see such close friends even in these kinds of circles." I didn't miss Lev's little annoyance at his 'friend' continuing to blunder into any attempt at interrogation. "There were so few Magi out East, and I was warned that they were much too cutthroat to even consider the idea of 'friends'"
"Haha, it's a whole different world in the Clock Tower." Roman put an arm around Lev, the latter of whom looked like he was forcing himself to not scowl. "Lev and I became quick friends, but we also made some enemies along the way. If you haven't interacted with many Magi, you should be careful."
"Quite." He quicky corrected himself with a jovial smile. "As Roman says, much of Magi culture is very exclusive. As a member of Chaldea, you're afforded a lot of opportunities that someone without a pedigree would normally come across. And I would be more than willing to help you out in your studies should you find yourself stuck on any problem."
"Lev, always the teacher even while helping out with Chaldea." Roman chuckled. "Just being able to say you're his student will open doors, Y'know?"
"Oh now, I couldn't possibly intrude on your time." My lips thinned in annoyance. "Especially with all these new responsibilities I have suddenly. Not just being a Master-Candidate, but also the future leader of B-Team as you said. I won't have much time to study my craft as is, much less come to you for tutelage."
Lev opened his mouth to respond but Roman was quicker. "Ah, you're right." He scratched his head awkwardly again. "I'm sure the Director is going to run you ragged for awhile. Best to put a pin in that for now, but hey, thoughts for the future once things settle down."
Lev kept his expression even, but I could guess he was fuming at Roman right now. "Yes, we wouldn't want to make the Director unhappy by preoccupying his time away from his official duties. However, I may drop in every now and then to…..check up on your progress."
"I'm flattered to have earned the personal attention of such an esteemed Magus such as yourself." I replied with mock flattery. "But It may give people the wrong impression if you focus on me so much, and we certainly wouldn't want that."
"Perhaps that is the very impression I wish to give?" He chuckled, though I could see through the tone was using.
He was threatening me with his 'attention' so to speak. But he hasn't actually asked something that really warranted such a tactic.
I was trying to tread carefully right now as to not give away my identity, but at the same time, I wouldn't just roll over for him.
"Hmm, well, it looks like that's all we need from you – " Roman paused. "Oh woops, I almost forgot. We still need to a sample of your Magical Energy signature to key you into certain Security around the place. I'll be right back." He quickly scurried off into a back room leaving me alone with the thing in the form of a man.
"Well, this –"
"Who are you?" I felt a hand latch onto my arm.
The grip was tight, if I was a normal human, I think my wrist might have been broken. I narrowed my eyes at him as I slowly moved to pry his hand off my arm. "My name is Takao Shimoda." I smiled innocently.
And for the briefest second, I think I saw his eyes flash red.
He looked surprised as I was able to overpower the amount of strength he was using.
"An unaccounted one? No.." He looked utterly confused as he mumbled some words under his breath.
"Nevermind!" Roman walked back in as Lev quickly pulled away as if to make it look like nothing happened. "I forgot I still had the measuring device we use to measure your output. I just used the Magical Energy already inside that thing to get it all sorted." He blinked at the tense atmosphere that just dissipated. "….am I interrupting something?"
"Not at all." Lev smiled casually. "Young Takao and I were just having a discussion about some inane subject."
"Well, I think we have everything wrapped up thing." Roman didn't dwell on it. "Why don't you head back, and send the next person in?"
"Sure thing, Roman." I started making my way to the door.
"How about I show you the way back? These halls can be confusing for newcomers." Lev politely offered.
"I'm sure the Director would give me an earful if I had to be escorted back by someone like you. I may as well learn my way around by my own hand. But the offer is very appreciated."
"You're right." Roman interjected. "The Director can be a stickler for wasting time. And if she thinks you're dragging Lev away from his business, it'll only make her ride you harder. Trust me, I know." Roman let out a sigh with shoulders slumped.
I barely noticed the small twitch that Lev had before the corners of my lips curled up.
"It was a pleasure to meet you both. I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of each other quite a bit." I quickly gave my goodbye before leaving the room.
It took me a few moments and several corners before I let out a breath I was holding.
I still had no idea what that thing is, what species he was or his motivations. It didn't seem too intent on 'exposing' me but rather figuring out my own circumstances, so I didn't feel uneasy in that regard.
I knew for sure that this wasn't the end of things.
But seriously…. "What the hell is wrong with this place?"
Two things I had no reference for just on my first day here.
Why did I have the strange feeling that this wasn't the strangest things were going to get?
[***]
Oh boy, late chapter. Just take it as I took both friday and Thursday off. I went passed out as soon as I got home from work on Friday, slept for like 12 hours, then I woke up for a couple hours, intent on writing, and immediately passed out again for another 12 or so. Didn't realize I was so tired before.
Anyways, if you want to support me or read 7 chapters ahead, visit p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone