In the game of chess, it's not just about the next move, but the move after.
He Who Can See Magic
The morning passed in a relatively better mood, even though Crimson was notably absent. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him. Livius, on the other hand, seemed even more cheerful than usual. He chuckled as he ate his oatmeal, and once finished, he turned to me with a curious look.
"So, have you figured it out yet?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
I let out a deep sigh, my impatience showing.
"Curious?" he asked, his smile widening.
"Won't he kill you if you tell me?" I raised an eyebrow, hoping for some clarity.
Livius's smile turned into an excited grin. "He will surely try to."
I picked my morning scrambled eggs, bored.
"Crimson is one of the Ancients, older than any of us kings," he began. "He made a deal with a mage to find a way to walk in the sun. The mage succeeded, but once she did, Crimson lost interest and had no intention of granting her any reward. So she cursed him to never have a restful night ever again. Crimson, in a fit of rage, killed her on the spot so the curse couldn't be broken."
"This curse is called the Eternal Reverie," he added. "A true masterpiece of magic. You know that most spells don't have a name, right? Only the most special ones are named."
I muttered something in response, mulling over the new information.
Titania, across the table, showed no inclination to engage with us. She simply cut the crusts off her toast with delicate precision. The King of the Dwarves, meanwhile, seemed bored and read the Kaleidoscope on his phone.
Despite the dwarf king's small stature, he was an open and jovial character—perhaps that's why he got on so well with Livius and seemed to like me. With his reddish-brown hair, stocky figure, and bushy eyebrows, he projected both a humorous and disciplined demeanor. His eyes sparkled with a cheerful, caramel-brown light. He had a curious habit of reading news articles on his phone, moving from minor updates to major headlines.
[Retired High Bishop dies under mysterious circumstances!] read the headline.
[Retired High Bishop John Gradofold, who had retired just a few weeks ago after thirty years of active service, was found dead in his apartment last night. His body was reportedly mutilated, and sources say he was tortured brutally before his death. Despite this, neighbors reported a quiet night with no signs of the violent murder. The crime scene was marked by a chilling message: 'Long live the King.' Experts have confirmed that this message matches a previous one found at Acheron prison. Speculation abounds—was it one of the prisoners seeking justice, or is the controversial new king himself responsible for the assassination?]
The King of the Dwarves looked up, a spark of intrigue in his eyes.
"He didn't last long," he commented, scanning the article again. When he reached the photos of the scene and a more detailed description, he added with an almost eager look, "Perhaps you're the one who did him in?"
I laughed, shaking my head.
"No, it wasn't me," I said, still amused.
"Pity," he said, sounding a bit disappointed. "Old Grado was no friend of mine, but I suppose he deserved a little more than that."
Titania's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile before she raised her mug of tea and walked away. I refrained from telling the dwarf that I had inadvertently disclosed the former bishop's address to a vengeful fae who had taken matters into his own hands.
The King of the Dwarves continued to peruse the news on his phone, his interest clearly piqued. I decided it was a good moment to divert the conversation away from the disturbing headlines.
"So, King Talambér," I said, addressing the dwarf, "what's your plan for the day? Anything exciting on your agenda?"
He looked up, clearly pleased by the change in topic.
"Actually," King Talambér said, a glint of excitement in his eyes, "I'm considering a little exploration of the local mines. I've heard there are some fascinating new minerals that might be worth investigating. Perhaps you'd care to join me? It could be quite an adventure."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea.
"Mineral exploration, you say?" I mused. "That sounds like it could be fun. What's got you so interested in the mines?"
"Ah," King Talambér said with a grin, "it's not just about the minerals. There are ancient dwarven artifacts down there, and who knows what other secrets the mines might hold. I've always had a knack for uncovering hidden treasures."
"Ancient dwarven artifacts, you say?" I asked, intrigued. "If you come across something particularly interesting, I wouldn't mind having a look. Maybe you could spare a few pieces for me?"
King Talambér's eyes twinkled with amusement, and he let out a hearty laugh.
"For the right price, of course," he said with a grin. "Dwarven artifacts are not just handed out freely. They hold great value, both historically and practically. But if you're willing to make it worth my while, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement."
I smiled a little, understanding the implication.
"You need to make me interested first, Talambér," I added. "After that, we can talk about the price."
He laughed heartily. "Cheeky kid."
I smiled and then shrugged. "I am just looking for a couple of interesting trinkets for one of my friends. He studies artifacts."
"Oho," hummed Talambér. "To be honest, if you want something for research purposes, you might have to consider the artifacts of mages instead."
"Why?" This made me a bit curious.
"Because there are only a handful of people who can study the ancient artifacts that dwarves made. They tend to be dwarves themselves."
"That's no problem," I assured him. "He'll manage if I can get him one."
Talambér seemingly didn't know if I was ignorant or arrogant. He thought maybe both.
"You see, it won't be a problem," I repeated. "Because he can see magic. He can read it with one quick glance."
"What?"
Yep. That was Livius. Maybe that was the moment, he realized he'd been scammed. He started furiously typing away on his phone. Seeing his reaction, Talambér's eyes found me once more, and maybe then he saw me in another light because that was the first time his look seemed so intrigued.
"Oho," he hummed. "I am curious about your friend. Is he here now?"
"Maybe," I replied, sipping my cocoa. "Maybe not."
Talambér leaned back, stroking his goatee thoughtfully. "A friend who can see magic, you say? That's quite the talent."
I nodded. "He's quite exceptional."
"Well," Talambér said, a gleam in his eye, "if your friend can indeed decipher the magic within our artifacts, then perhaps we can make a deal."
I smirked. "I'm sure we can come to an understanding. After all, it's not every day you meet someone who can see magic, right?"
Talambér chuckled. "Indeed, it isn't. Consider me intrigued, Shay. We'll see what the mines yield, and then we can discuss terms."
With that, the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, but I could tell Talambér was genuinely interested. I'd planted the seed, and now it was just a matter of seeing where it would grow.
(...)
I was enjoying the pleasure of peaceful idleness. Seriously, people are slowly forgetting how wonderful nature is. There is nothing like lying under a tree, letting the grasses tickle and the gentle breeze caress you. The birds hopped around me, sometimes pecking sweetly at my ears or my clothes, and then they kept on singing.
"What are you doing?"
"Rada," I greeted him without opening my eyes. "Isn't this a beautiful dahhham—"
My musings turned into a yawn. The birds nervously fluttered away as Rada sat down beside me and leaned his back against the tree, pulling a cigarette from his pocket. He lit up and took a few puffs. Maybe he was waiting for me to finally open my eyes and take notice of his presence, or maybe he just decided to enjoy a few moments in nature's soft embrace.
"Tomorrow you'll be king," he said softly. Not that he was saying anything new... "I was a little surprised, a little not."
"I see," I said, meaninglessly.
"I don't know how I could have thought that a king would be one of my subordinates," he remarked absently. "Looking back, I can understand perfectly well why you turned me down."
I smiled. "You don't sound very disappointed."
"I don't feel disappointed," he said, his lips curling up slightly as he took a drag on his cigarette. "This is the way it should be."
I nodded as my smile widened and asked Rada for a cigarette. He handed one over, and I lit it, taking a deep drag. I looked up at the Behemoth leader.
"Keep your men vigilant during the ceremony," I said, and he grinned.
"Don't worry, they know how important the day is," he replied. "But we'll keep an extra eye on everyone for you."
We sat in companionable silence for a while, the sounds of nature around us. I watched a squirrel dart up a nearby tree, its movements quick and graceful. Rada took another drag of his cigarette and exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up into the air.
"Do you ever miss it?" he asked suddenly.
"Miss what?" I replied, curious.
"Being just a part of the group, without the weight of a crown on your head."
I thought about it for a moment. "Sometimes. But it's not like I had much choice in the matter. And besides, there's something to be said for having the power to make a difference."
Rada nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right. Still, it must be a heavy burden at times."
"Isn't it a similar burden to leading your group?" I asked.
"Maybe, but on a smaller case," he replied thoughtfully. "But it's one I'm willing to bear."
"It's the same for me," I admitted.
He smiled at that, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "I respect that, Shay. Not everyone could handle it as well as you do."
I shrugged. "You do what you have to do."
We sat there for a while longer, just enjoying the tranquility. Eventually, Rada stood up and stretched.
"I should get back to my men," he said. "But I'll see you at the ceremony tomorrow."
I nodded. "I'll be there."
Rada chuckled a few times at that. With a final nod, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the peaceful sounds of nature. I took another drag of my cigarette and closed my eyes again, savoring the moment of calm before the storm that was sure to come.
As Rada's footsteps faded into the distance, I let out a long sigh and stubbed out my cigarette. The ceremony tomorrow would be a turning point, and despite the calm of the moment, I could feel the weight of the impending responsibilities settling on my shoulders.
The birds resumed their cheerful chirping, and I closed my eyes again, trying to lose myself in the simplicity of nature. But my mind kept wandering back to Crimson and his curse, and the intricate web of power struggles and alliances that awaited me as king.
I was just about to continue my idle break when I heard someone approaching. No, not again. God, you can't bear to see me slack away, do you?
It was Rolo.
He looked a bit flustered, which was unusual for someone as composed as him.
"Shay," he called out, quickening his pace. "I need to talk to you."
I raised an eyebrow. "What's so urgent?"
Of course, I already had a strong hunch.
He glanced around nervously before speaking in a low voice. "It's about the Sorcerer Lord. He's been sending me these... unsettling messages ever since breakfast."
I stopped and turned to face him fully. "Unsettling how?"
Rolo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Argh...I rather show them."
He pulled out his phone and showed me the series of messages. They were surprisingly cordial and inviting, rather than threatening. The messages extended invitations for Rolo to visit the Sorcerer Lord's court and engage in discussions about artifacts and potential collaborations.
"These are the messages," Rolo explained, showing me the screen. "They're not exactly threats, but they are very insistent."
The Sorcerer Lord: [Rolo, I hope this message finds you well. I have an offer for you that I believe will be mutually beneficial. Let's discuss this in more detail. Meet me after dinner.]
Rolo: [What kind of offer?]
The Sorcerer Lord: [Come to my court after the coronation. I can show you things that will pique your interest—ancient knowledge, rare artifacts, and secrets that only a select few have ever seen.]
Rolo: [I appreciate the offer, but no. This sounds risky.]
The Sorcerer Lord: [I assure you, your safety will be my top priority. You will be treated with the utmost respect and hospitality. We can set terms to ensure your comfort and security. Don't let fear hold you back from what could be a remarkable experience.]
The Sorcerer Lord: [I offer you access to knowledge that has been hidden for centuries. I possess tomes of ancient magic, blueprints of forgotten inventions, and relics of immense power. Imagine what you could achieve with such resources at your disposal.]
Rolo: [Why me?]
The Sorcerer Lord: [Because you have potential, Rolo. I see something in you that others overlook. You have the intellect, the curiosity, and the ambition to make great strides. Together, we could unlock mysteries that have baffled scholars for generations.]
Rolo: [What if I refuse?]
The Sorcerer Lord: [I won't force you, but I urge you to consider the opportunity you're turning down. Think of the advancements, the breakthroughs you could be a part of. This is a chance to be at the forefront of discovery.]
Rolo: [What's in it for you?]
The Sorcerer Lord: [Mutual benefit. Your success will be my success.]
Rolo: [...]
The Sorcerer Lord: [I see you still have reservations. How about this: come for a short visit. See for yourself the wonders I have to offer. You can leave anytime if you feel uncomfortable. I will even provide an escort to ensure your safe return. No strings attached.]
Rolo: [A short visit, huh?]
The Sorcerer Lord: [Yes. Just long enough for you to get a taste of what's possible. If you're not convinced, you walk away, no harm done. But I have a feeling you won't be disappointed.]
Rolo: [I need time to think about it.]
The Sorcerer Lord: [Of course. Take your time.]
I handed the phone back to him, my eyes meeting his. "Livius is persistent, I'll give him that. But he's also offering a lot. The question is, are you willing to take the risk?"
Rolo sighed. "I don't know. It's tempting, but I still have my doubts."
"Understandable," I said, nodding. "But don't be too quick to agree, even if you're inclined to go. Drag out the negotiation and get the maximum benefits out of him. Make sure every condition is in your favor."
He looked at me, processing my advice. "You think that'll work?"
"Definitely. Livius wants you for a reason. Use that to your advantage. And besides, I have a feeling another offer will come your way soon. Make him wait. The longer he waits, the more he'll be willing to concede."
Rolo nodded, feeling a bit more confident. "Alright."
"Good," I said with a smile. "And remember, no matter what happens, I've got your back."
Rolo nodded a new sense of resolve in his eyes. "Okay. I'll play this smart."
Yes-yes. I knew Rolo would be ready to make the most of it. People sometimes just need a bit of a push to shine.
I watched as Rolo walked away, his phone still in hand. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the garden, and for a moment, everything felt serene. The birds resumed their chirping, and the gentle breeze rustled the leaves above.
Returning to my spot under the tree, I allowed myself a moment of peace.
Livius would undoubtedly send another offer soon, and when he did, Rolo would be prepared. My job now was to observe and support from the sidelines, trusting in Rolo's ability to navigate the complexities of his situation.
Closing my eyes, I let the tranquility of the garden wash over me, content in the knowledge that for today, at least, things were moving in the right direction.
I just need to let him handle his own stuff from now on.