Kathleen pulls a scroll from her coat, unrolling it in front of me. "She calls herself Lysandra. A powerful mage who's already defeated several skilled Wardens. Rumor has it she's plotting to destabilize the country for reasons unknown."
My eyes land on the name Lysandra, and I can't help but think how cliché that sounds for a villain.
"Fantastic. Can't wait to meet the Wicked Witch," I say sarcastically, finishing my coffee.
Kathleen raises an eyebrow, her cold gaze locked onto mine. "Magister Roskales, I'm sure you'll find Lysandra absolutely… charming."
I flash a sarcastic smile in return.
Kathleen narrows her eyes, letting the silence hang before speaking in a more serious tone. "Remember, your position as guildmaster depends on your cooperation here. So you'd better take this mission seriously."
I roll my eyes dramatically. "Oh, I'll be the best little Warden the world's ever seen. Promise."
She sighs, clearly irritated by my attitude. "You're impossible."
"It's part of my charm," I say, giving her my most innocent look.
She shakes her head, looking both exasperated and slightly amused. "Fine, take this dossier. Get familiar with the mission details. And while you're allowed to bring help, the Council will make sure you actually contribute. No shortcuts, understood?"
"No promises," I reply, though she already seems resigned to the idea that working with me won't be easy.
As I'm about to skim through the dossier, Kathleen adds with a hint of sarcasm, "Who knows, maybe saving the world will become your new hobby."
I raise an eyebrow, smirking. "We'll see. For now, let me finish my coffee before becoming the reluctant hero."
She nods, standing to leave. "Do as you wish, but remember, time is ticking—and you're not safe from a demotion, Magister Roskales."
I raise my mug in an ironic salute. "See you around, Kathleen. May the magic be with you, or whatever."
She leaves with one last sigh, leaving me alone with the looming task of facing Lysandra and her sinister plans. At least it'll give me something to talk about at the next guild meeting.
My day started with an alarm that went off way too early, but now it feels like someone's just hit the 'adventure mode' button.
If only I could do it all without leaving my couch…
---
Assembling a team to hunt down a Malefic is like organizing a picnic—only with more spells and fewer sandwiches. Aunt Libel took charge of picking this merry crew, while I'm just here watching it all unfold with the laid-back attitude of a cat eyeing an empty box.
Here's the team that'll join me.
First up, Griffin, a mountain of muscle. A literal wall on two legs, with shoulders broad enough to carry a ton. Aunt Libel says he's an expert in "enhancement magic."
I like him already. He'll make a perfect human shield for my downtime.
Next, we've got Piper, a little elemental genius. Small, quick, and with an attitude that suggests she'd set a forest ablaze just for fun.
And third, the final member, Mira—a walking enigma. She doesn't talk much, but according to Aunt Libel, she's an A-ranked Warden with psychic magic. Handy skill to have.
Gathered in the briefing room, the team looks as clueless as I am. Glances are exchanged, everyone wondering what's really going on. But I, of course, am perched on the desk like it's an impromptu throne.
"Welcome aboard Mission 'Find the Wicked Witch,' folks."
The team members exchange confused glances, probably wondering if I'm about to lay out a mission plan—or if I'm just talking for the sake of hearing my own voice. Spoiler: it's a bit of both.
"For the mission," I say, completely ignoring Aunt Libel's questioning look, "we're going to… do stuff. You know, catch the bad guy and all that. Any questions? No? Great, take it away, Elder Libel."
Aunt Libel sighs, her gaze a mixture of frustration and exasperation. "Thank you, Magister. The Malefic we're after is called Lysandra. According to reports, she was last seen near a village named Javal. Rumor has it she's planning something big, so our mission is to stop her before she causes any havoc."
I lean against the desk, crossing my arms, feigning intense interest. "The village of Javal, huh? Here's hoping they have decent Wi-Fi."
Aunt Libel rolls her eyes but continues. "Warden Piper, you'll be in charge of tracking elemental magic. Use your skills to detect any signs of magical activity around the village. Warden Mira, you'll use your psychic magic to probe the minds of Javal's residents. Look for clues about Lysandra's plans or any suspicious recent activity. Warden Griffin, you'll be the team's muscle. Prepare to use your enhancement magic to protect the team and neutralize any threats."
The team nods, ready to dive into the unknown. Me? I'm just playing the charismatic leader, with enthusiasm that borders on sarcasm.
"Well, nothing like a crack team to solve a magical mystery. I suppose I'll be the brains behind all this, won't I?" I say with mock humility.
Aunt Libel sighs as if she expected no less. "Magister, try to at least appear serious. You are the Magister of this guild, remember. This Lysandra is a genuine threat. She's caused quite a ruckus in the past—and this request comes directly from the Council."
I flash a nonchalant smile.
"Of course, Elder. Looks like I'll have to save the world with a straight face. Who'd have thought this day would come?" I say, faking excitement. "But seriously, Elder, don't you think there's a simpler solution? Like, I don't know, mailing Lysandra a polite postcard asking her to kindly stop her evil schemes?"
The team exchanges bewildered glances, clearly unsure whether I'm serious.
I mean it, though. Who says villains can't be reasoned with? I know someone who's an expert in redeeming bad guys. Too bad he's a fictional character—I'd love him in my guild.
Mira, the silent psychic, looks particularly shocked. Her usual calm expression has vanished, her wide eyes fixed on me. Wait, she didn't just read my thoughts, did she? Damn, there's gotta be an anti-mind-reading spell, right?
Aunt Libel presses her temples, like she's trying to fend off a migraine. "Magister, please, a little seriousness. We have a mission to complete."
"Ah, yes, the mission. Locate the dark mage Lysandra, stop her from destabilizing the magical world, all that," I repeat absentmindedly, glancing out the window. "You know, since she's planning something big, she'll probably reveal herself sooner or later, right? Why not just wait until then? Easier to catch her."
Piper, the elemental whiz, looks like she's about to laugh but holds it in. Griffin, the human tank, crosses his arms impassively, clearly unmoved by my unconventional remarks.
Aunt Libel gives the team a look of weary resignation, as if pleading for patience. "Ignore him as much as possible. Your objective is to locate Lysandra quickly and neutralize any threat. Understood?"
The team nods, but I can't help adding, "Save the magical world. Yay."
With a resigned sigh, Aunt Libel gestures for the team to leave the briefing room, leaving behind a less-than-reliable guildmaster and his long-suffering advisor.
As the team closes the door behind them, Aunt Libel gives me a hard look. "Nash, could you be serious for just one second?"
I give Aunt Libel a lazy grin. "Oh, I know this Lysandra is some big, bad mage who's caused all sorts of trouble before. But does that mean I'm about to work hard and throw myself into this mission with everything I've got? Probably not."
She shakes her head, half-annoyed, half-amused by my attitude. "You know, Nash, I get that you'd rather stay on your couch, sipping coffee, than go charging off on a dangerous adventure. Your father's to blame for letting you get away with that. But you have responsibilities now, as a Magister. That means, sometimes, you've got to put aside the laziness and do what's needed to protect this country. You get that, right?"
I raise an eyebrow defiantly. "Listen, Auntie, I'm not sure I signed up for all this. You promised me I'd have nothing to do—just show up to sign a few papers and attend the occasional meeting. Not save the world or go on missions. And, don't I have subordinates? So, remind me again why I should even lift a finger?"
She sighs. "Look, Nash, I thought the same. But things have changed; the Council's decided to test you. The sooner you tackle the tasks they throw at you, the sooner you can get back to your easy life. So please, just focus on this mission, alright?"
I pull a comically exaggerated face, but I know that she knows that I know that she knows that... Okay, I'll stop.
I know she knows I've gotten the message.
"Alright, alright. I suppose I can make a little effort. But don't expect me to turn into some passionate Warden overnight. I'll do my best."
Aunt Libel smiles, knowing it's the best response she's going to get from me. "That's all I ask, Nash. We need you, even if you don't realize how important you are."
I shrug nonchalantly. "Well, I guess it won't hurt to invest a bit."
She nods, standing up from her chair. "Perfect. I'll handle the rest of the administrative procedures, and then you'll head out with your team. I know you'll find a way to deal with this in your own way."
Aunt Libel throws me one last encouraging smile before leaving the room. I lean back against the desk, thinking about the mission ahead.
Who does Aunt Libel take me for? Of course, I'm going to see this through, even if I'm doing it reluctantly. My lazy lifestyle is on the line, after all!
To be continued...
Next Chapter: Huh, My Magic...