Every rose has its thorn. And every thorn has its own way of embedding itself in your finger.
Warning
I walked through the dimly lit streets, the cool night air brushing against my face. My phone buzzed, and I saw Des' name flashing on the screen. Well, here he comes.
"Shay," Des' voice came through, laced with exasperation. "I heard you were parading around in Rosenstein Alley again. What's this about?"
I chuckled, the sound a mix of amusement and defiance. "Just enjoying the attention. It's not every day you get to rile them up."
Des's voice grew sharper. "You're playing a dangerous game. The way you flaunt yourself around there—"
"Still got them talking, huh?" I cut him off. "I bet they can't get enough of my little shenanigans and totally forgot about you guys."
There was a pause on the other end. Des's silence was all the answer I needed.
"Anyway, how's Alice?" I asked, trying to shift the conversation to something more important.
Des sighed. "Alice is stable, but we're keeping a close eye on him."
I nodded to myself, relieved to hear that Alice was holding steady. "Good to hear. Just keep me posted if anything changes."
Des's tone softened, though it still held a hint of frustration. "You better take care of yourself, Shay. We've had enough of your reckless stunts."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll try not to get into too much trouble," I replied with a smirk. "Any updates on Belizár's movements?"
There was a brief pause, and then Des's voice came through, more serious than before. "Belizár is still keeping a low profile. We've picked up some chatter that suggests he's planning something big, but no concrete details yet."
"Any leads on what that might be?" I pressed, trying to keep my curiosity in check.
"Nothing solid. Just rumors and speculation. But given his track record, it's probably something that'll make waves," Des replied. "You should stay cautious. If Belizár is making a move, it's not going to be small."
"Got it. I'll keep my eyes open," I said. "Catch you later, Des."
I ended the call, slipping my phone back into my pocket as I continued my walk through the city. The night was young, and there was still plenty to do.
Olie and Edie reluctantly followed me to the mansion of the world's darkest mage. Their reluctance was palpable, but I did not really care. While they might have expected to wait in the foyer, I led them straight to Mazen's dining room, much to their dismay. Edie, clearly considering bolting at any moment, found his escape route effectively blocked by my persistence.
Once we were in the dining room, I took the liberty of rummaging through the kitchen. I discovered some cookies hidden away and decided to make a pot of tea. I set the pitcher and fancy cups on the table and took a bite of cookie. The rich, sweet flavor made me grin.
"These cookies are bloody good, Mazen," I said with a mouthful, savoring the treat. "You really outdid yourself."
Mazen, the darkest mage in the world, stood at the doorway, staring as if he were trying to convince himself this was all a bizarre dream. The reality of the situation seemed to be sinking in slowly.
"Hey, Edie," I called out, breaking the awkward silence. "Do you want a cookie?"
I held out the small basket of cookies towards him.
"No, thanks, Shay," Edie replied, his gaze fixed on anything but the basket, clearly unsettled.
Without missing a beat, Olie reached into the basket, his grumpy demeanor melting away as he took a bite of the cookie. His eyes widened with delight, and he promptly grabbed the basket for himself.
"Would you prefer tea?" I offered, pouring a cup for Edie.
"Mm," Edie hummed, accepting the cup but holding it without taking a sip. He looked around the room, clearly uncomfortable with the unexpected turn of events.
Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, Edie turned to Mazen with an embarrassed expression. In any case, contrary to his apparent ideas, the dark mage was not about to try his latest torture tactics on us.
I turned to Mazen with a casual smile. "Tea?"
Mazen nodded curtly, and with a subtle gesture, a large armchair appeared from thin air and floated to the table. He took his seat, accepting the cup of tea with a composed demeanor, and sipped it slowly. His gaze finally met mine, and he spoke in a reproachful tone.
"So, why did you decide to have a tea party at my residence?"
"Free food and tea," I replied nonchalantly, and Mazen shook his head in weary resignation.
Edie and Olie exchanged glances, Olie continuing to enjoy the cookies in silence.
"What do you think of Violan?" I asked, trying to shift the conversation.
Olie pulled a thoughtful face, while Edie looked slightly uncertain. Mazen's expression remained impassive.
"Why are you asking us?" Olie grumbled. "You seem to know him better than we do."
"I don't know him better," I countered.
"Are you considering making an alliance with him?" Mazen asked, his tone neutral.
I nodded. "I'm considering it."
Olie and Edie exchanged another look, and Mazen's face remained a mask of indifference.
"Violan is a very dangerous mage," Edie began quietly. "Many people underestimate him because of his carefree nature, but his age alone is significant."
I nodded in agreement.
"Lust mages fight dirty," Olie added with a growl.
"Have you seen how he fights?" I asked.
Olie shook his head. "I've only heard horror stories."
"Hmm," I hummed, turning back to Mazen.
Although he wasn't exactly pleased with my plans, he kept his disapproval to himself.
"Violan has a business relationship with Belizár," Mazen declared.
That was exactly what I intended to use to my advantage. Mazen wasn't trying to dissuade me; it was merely a statement of fact. I nodded.
"That's why I want him as an ally," I explained. "Belizár has probably erased all traces of the relic. If Lil had found something, she would have reported it by now. To uncover his plans, I need to get close to him."
Mazen seemed to recognize the validity of my reasoning and chose not to argue.
"What makes you think he'll help you?" Olie asked.
A fair question, but Edie answered it for me.
"You saw how he treated him, didn't you?" Edie said. "Violan only shows kindness to those he values."
Everyone knew that Violan adored his apprentices but was distant from everyone else.
Mazen looked genuinely shocked. I shrugged in response. Mazen's expression grew even more concerned.
"He's taken you as his apprentice?" he asked quietly, looking even more stunned than when he discovered I knew Aleshio.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm not a lust mage."
"Then why is he being so nice to you?" Olie asked, his grumpiness evident.
I didn't answer, because I wasn't entirely sure.
After a brief, thoughtful pause, I turned to Olie. "Hey, Olie, how about you come by tomorrow for some training?"
Olie raised an eyebrow. "Training again, huh?"
I shrugged casually. "Yep."
Olie considered it for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll swing by."
Olie's expression shifted slightly, a glint of something almost like intrigue. "By the way, Mose's training is nearing its end. He's actually showing more potential than I originally thought."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? That's good to hear. Any specifics on what he's excelling in?"
Olie smirked. "He's got a knack for adaptability. It's not always obvious, but he can think on his feet and he has great intuition. Might even surprise you if you're not careful."
"Noted," I said grinning.
As the conversation seemed to wind down, Mazen's gaze shifted towards the doorway, a sign that he was ready to end the discussion. Felis appeared promptly, poised to escort Edie and Olie out.
Olie, however, clutched the small basket of cookies tightly to his chest, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I'm taking these as payment for training Shay's friends," he declared with a mock-serious tone.
Edie rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile at Olie's antics. Mazen let out a long-suffering sigh, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture. "See our guests out."
Felis nodded, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he guided Edie and Olie towards the door. Olie clung to the basket as if it were a precious treasure, making a show of it as he followed Felis out.
Once they were gone, the dining room fell into a more subdued silence. Mazen and I were left alone, the atmosphere shifting to a more private and contemplative mood.
Mazen leaned back in his chair, his eyes following the faint echo of Felis's footsteps as the door closed behind him.
I leaned forward slightly, my gaze fixed on Mazen. "Do you know anything about the Moonlight Casket?" I asked, trying to gauge his reaction.
Mazen's eyes narrowed, a skeptical look crossing his face. "The Moonlight Casket?" he repeated as if the name itself was foreign and strange. "You mean that old legend?"
I nodded, pressing on. "Yes, that's the one. I've heard whispers that Belizár is searching for it. I'm trying to find out more about it.
Mazen leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I've heard of it, but only in passing. It's one of those artifacts that's shrouded in myth. Stories say it's more ancient than mages themselves, but there's no concrete evidence to support its existence."
I mulled over his response, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. "I need to find out more. Any chance you could help with that? Any old records or lore that might have more information?"
Mazen's gaze remained steady, his skepticism evident but not dismissive. "I can look into it but don't get your hopes up. If it's as elusive as the legends suggest, it might take considerable effort to uncover anything useful."
I nodded, "Okay, make it a priority."
Mazen gave a small nod of acknowledgment, his expression softening slightly. "Very well. I'll see what I can find."
I leaned back, casually throwing the question out there. "By the way, Mazen, what kind of things does Lil like?"
The reaction was immediate. Mazen nearly choked on his tea, his eyes going wide as if I'd just told him I planned to steal the moon. "What?" he sputtered, setting his cup down with an audible clink. "Why would you even—wait. Are you... serious right now?"
I shrugged, my grin widening. "I mean, yeah. Why else would I ask?"
Mazen stared at me, utterly flabbergasted. He blinked several times as if trying to reboot his brain.
"Shay, listen to me. Have you lost your mind?" He rubbed his temples as if warding off a sudden headache.
"It's not that big of a deal," I shrugged.
The darkest mage in the world gawked at me like I had just announced I was going to dive into an active volcano. "No. No, no, no," he waved his hand dramatically like he was trying to swat away the very idea. "This is... this is absurd! I can't believe you're—Lil? You're talking about Lil?"
I arched an eyebrow. "That's what I said."
Mazen stared at me, then let out a high-pitched, somewhat strangled laugh. "No. Absolutely not. You're not serious."
"I'm very serious," I replied, watching him like I would a child throwing a tantrum.
"You're insane! Lil? She's... she's Lil!" Mazen threw his hands up as if that explained everything. "She's... she's a walking inferno! She'd scorch you alive before you could even say hello!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at his exaggerated reaction. "I can handle a little heat."
Mazen groaned and rubbed his temples. "This is worse than I thought. I should've known you'd do something ridiculous like this. You don't just 'pursue' Lil. You survive her. And even then, barely."
"That's exactly why I asked what she likes," I said, sipping my tea as if this was a completely rational conversation.
Mazen shook his head, more dramatically now. "No, no, no! I'm not helping you dig your own grave," he gestured wildly.
I smirked, "Then I guess I'll need a fireproof charm."
Mazen groaned again, his face contorting in pure disbelief. "You are the worst," he muttered, clearly having lost the battle to convince me otherwise. "I'm not going to be a part of this catastrophe."
Mazen shook his head in exasperation. "You know what? I'm done. I'm not responsible for your inevitable, fiery demise. You want to run into a storm, be my guest." He turned away, muttering under his breath about how much trouble I always brought into his life.
I grinned, leaning back in my chair. "Come on, you wouldn't have this much fun without me around. Besides, I wouldn't come to you for advice if I didn't think your opinion mattered."
Mazen shot me a sidelong glance, the exasperation still clear on his face. "My opinion? About her?" He huffed and shook his head again. "Lil is... She's a force of nature, Shay. You don't chase hurricanes, you brace yourself and hope you survive."
I chuckled, unbothered by the warning.
Mazen's expression tightened, his patience clearly thinning. "You think this is a joke? She will burn you alive, and not in the poetic way. Do you know how many people have been scorched by just trying to get close to her? Shay, you have no idea what you're getting into."
I leaned closer, intrigued. "Go on then. Enlighten me."
He sighed deeply as if regretting what he was about to say. "Fine. You want stories? I've seen at least a dozen men—mages, even—try to win Lil's favor. They were confident. Powerful. Stubborn like you." He waved a hand toward the air. "One thought impressing her with fire magic was a good idea. Ended up in the hospital for a month with burns that he didn't cause."
I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well, that's one way to make an impression."
Mazen shook his head, clearly unimpressed by my levity. "Another one thought he was a big shot because he found some rare artifact. She let him believe she was interested for a week, then she burned the relic right in front of him—turned it to ash in his hands."
I chuckled. "So, no boasting then. Got it."
"Oh, and then there was this one guy who thought flattery would work. He showered her with compliments, offered her grand gestures, brought her gifts." Mazen leaned in, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "She lit every single one of his gifts on fire. Watched them burn with a smile."
I grinned, biting back laughter. "That sounds like Lil."
Mazen's gaze hardened, and his tone grew more serious. "She's not someone you pursue lightly. She doesn't need anyone, Shay. You think you're going to melt that icy core of hers? I doubt it."
I straightened up, meeting his gaze. "Maybe I'm not looking to melt her. Maybe I'm just trying to get close enough to understand her."
Mazen scoffed. "Yeah, well, those other fools thought the same thing. The last one? He was actually talented. Strong. But when he challenged her to a duel, thinking that strength would impress her—he walked away with half his pride and a lot less hair."
I chuckled again.
Mazen eyed me grimly. "And you? You're just the next in line, thinking you'll be different."
I shrugged. "Maybe I will be."
Mazen let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Shay, there are a lot of things I'd help you with, but this? This is a death sentence. And I'd rather not see you charred beyond recognition."
I gave him a playful smile. "You've got to give me some credit, Mazen. I'm not like those other guys."
He rolled his eyes. "No, you're worse. You've got this insane belief that you can break through walls no one's ever climbed."
I leaned in slightly, teasing. "Is that why you're giving me all this free advice?"
Mazen's face tightened, and for a moment, he looked almost offended. "I'm trying to stop you from being another name in the long line of idiots who thought they could handle her." He crossed his arms, still glaring. "But if you're dead-set on it, fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
I laughed, clapping him on the shoulder as I made my way to the door. "I appreciate the concern. But trust me—I know what I'm doing."
Mazen sighed, defeated.