Dropping the neatly folded letter on his dressing table, Colwyn leaned back into his lounge chair and scratched his chin in thought. Lyra had been reassigned from Colwyn on the pretence that she was studying magic under a tutor.
This was obviously not true, of course, somehow Rio learnt that he had figured out Lyra's role as a spy and removed her. Had Gryphon somehow made a mistake when editing her memory and Rio caught on? Colwyn doubted it, his friend was to meticulous to let something so silly happen.
So that only left one other person, his favourite zombie, Azel. Colwyn was under the impression that Azel was naturally shrewd, but somehow within two days of staying here, he had already let slip such things.
Frowning, Colwyn discarded the thought. Even though Azel was a touch arrogant and pessimistic, he was still intelligent. Rather it was just that there enemy happened to be a bot of a monster.
it wasn't that much of a problem but the drake knight was still annoyed. Since Rio thought Lyra was an effective source of information Colwyn could actually manage what reached the templars ears by only sharing little bits with Lyra.
By constantly providing just enough secrets to Rio through Lyra, Colwyn didn't have to worry about Rio trying other methods to learn about his schemes. Now he had lost that bargaining chip...
it didn't matter too much anyway, Azel was always meant to become his new squire anyway. The last time Colwyn tried dealing with Rio he was shown just how much of a difference having competent allies made. Or in Rios case, having an overwhelming amount of incompetent allies.
Since then, the drake knight had begun restoring old connections with past teachers, friends and now picking up a monster with fiend rank potential as his apprentice.
"Fiend rank, huh," Said Colwyn remembering his brief spar with Azel. It was a strange thought that the zombie would grow to a level where a cohort of knights would be needed to put him down.
And then there were special cases among the zombies like the Mad Child Osgar, who grew to the level of a horror rank...
The Sunchaser's had a rough system to categorise the danger levels of monsters:
At the very bottom were the beasts. Pathetic monsters that pretty much anyone could defeat, the horned rabbits Azel spent a while catching would fall under here.
Then things got slightly more dangerous, "Stalkers" were the first step where it became a requirement for regular humans to flee. Of course, they were nothing in comparison to Fiends who could endanger even knights like Colwyn.
The next two Colwyn couldn't really properly measure on the basis
For the first time in a while doubt entered Colwyn's mind. Sure he was willing to do a lot for the sake of revenge but raising a monster that could potentially reap the innocent lives of thousands?
But the he remembered Rio's sin, and further more his sin from failing to stop her. Colwyn would do whatever it took to seek out revenge because quite frankly revenge was all he had left.
He was sure Rio would regret this vile path she had chosen. The drake knight would make sure of it.
<---o--->
Azel asked the shopkeeper with a pleasant smile on his face, "So will you help me?"
Gryphon looked at him through his bushy grey brows and smiled back, "Now why on earth would I do that?"
Azel frowned, in his desperate pursuit for power he had forgotten his limited connections. So knowing that Gryphon was actually a mage, albeit retired, the hopeful zombie quickly sought him out.
His short conversation with Rio had been eye opening. Despite walking in with suspicions he had still been out witted by the young woman. Although we wasn't confident on improving his wisdom quick enough to out scheme her, Azel didn't have to.
It was Colwyn's job to do that, after all. Azel just needed to become as strong as possible in order to be of use to the drake knight.
"I thought you and Colwyn's goals aligned? Don't you want me to become more useful to him?" Probed Azel for a response, Gryphon was without a doubt on Colwyn's side, so it didn't make much sense for them to get in each others way.
"You're a coin in the air, Azel. Sure you could land on heads and I get to reap all the rewards... Or you could end up backfiring, and Colwyn's risky decision will lead to the deaths of hundreds," Said Gryphon, his voice cold like steel. "Why would I make a potential enemy stronger?"
Trying to keep the sneer off his face, Azel silently thought of a way to convince the old man to teach him magic. The zombie didn't like Gryphon's tone, it sounded like he already believed that Azel was going to loose his humanity and become a full-blown mana beast.
Fine then, Azel would give a short term reason for it then. "I've checked out that dragon breath herb, by the way," He started, "Isn't it only found in the second most dangerous territory within the enclave? Surely you can't expect me to retrieve it for you without some form of protection?"
The two silently locked eyes for a moment, Gryphon seemingly sized Azel up, whilst the zombie tried to look as confident and determined as he could. After what felt like an eternity, Gryphon reluctantly nodded.
"Fine then, I won't be teaching you anything but I'll at least set you on the right course. Any magic store will sell natural spring water, if you force your mana into it the resulting colour will show you your basic attribute."
Azel pondered for a moment before nodding, "We're in a magic store now aren't way, do you have any spare 'natural spring water' that you won't mind parting with?"
"Do you have any money yet?" asked Gryphon leisurely
"No,"
"Then get out."
<---o--->
Obviously I haven't updated in a while, but don't worry the novel isn't being dropped. I'm just getting contracted so im stacking up chapters for that.
This will be the last chapter before getting contracted but when all that dealt with I will return!!!