"Three little mackerels in a small jar,
Two were arguing, unable to co-star.
"Stop being selfish!" the first one yelled,
"Quit being foolish!" the second rebelled.
But the third one swam, quiet and still,
Waiting for them to get their fill.
When they were tired, oh, what a sight—
The third one took all, and shone so bright!"
The book closed with a soft thud.
'I thought the term three mackerels had sounded familiar. It turns out to be from an Eienien nursery rhyme.'
Having run back to the inn under heavy rain, Ilrune hadn't had much time to dwell on the commission and the small brown paper bag he received from the fish merchant. Only when he safely settled at the worn-down table could he beat himself up over his impulsivity.
Tap tap tap.
His fingers quickly rapped against the table as he thought restlessly.
'This can't be a coincidence. When I'm in Vilste looking for a way to earn money, a long-term commission pops up, with the perfect conditions and requirements. Frankly, it's too obvious. Even if it wasn't issued as a message to me, the application requirement is still a bad omen. The fish's species could be a coincidence, but why three? It's exactly like that nursery rhyme I've conveniently heard before.'
Ilrune gritted his teeth as he glared daggers at the book. Its golden stamping shone faintly under the glum evening light, reminiscent of a hidden treasure.
'It's so strange. I'm just an ordinary adventurer. I haven't made any prominent moves these past months, so who would be after me? Those people don't know what I look like, and elven officials wouldn't look for me in such a roundabout way. There's no way I have enemies as of right now... Perhaps the believer wasn't looking for me specifically, but someone of my calibre? They could be looking to fill out a specific but important role... Then, my being there would be of much help.
He paced around the room, burning his steps into the hardwood floors. His fingers fiddled with the coat hem, smoothing the creases and deftly picking out stray threads.
'Do I play along or give up? There's no telling that it's just my paranoia, either. This could be one big coincidence, and I'll make a fool out of myself by showing up armed to the teeth. However, who can blame me? This commission is ambiguous at best.'
Ilrune dragged a hand through his face and sighed loudly. To make everything worse, his curiosity was boiling over, demanding he at least glance at the contents of the brown paper bag.
Just a small peek, he decided resolutely. Just a small peek, like when he glanced at the Commission Board, entered the dingy alley, and now as Ilrune undid the satin ribbon.
"..."
'Damn it!'
***
Many organizations were in the Lurene Empire, aiming to expand their power and fulfill their goals. The Scholars of Welxorth were one of them, a large regrouping of scholars pursuing knowledge. It was an independent party that funded its activities through sub-organizations and remained mostly neutral regarding worldly politics. The Empire only allowed them to stay active on Lurenian territory for their significant contribution to growing powerful and useful citizens.
Despite its name, Welxorth Academy of Thought and Mana wasn't much of a philosophical or ethical institution. In exchange for substantial tuition money, it accepted noble children with talent and raised them into outstanding members of the Empire. Due to its reputation, having a branch of the Academy in your city was a source of pride and joy to every citizen.
"Is it because this is Lurene's main branch that the building seems shinier than the others?"
Ilrune stood before the large, almost cathedral-like institution.
The building seemed carved out of ivory, confidently reflecting the sunlight, with tasteful decorations engraved on the sides of its large archway entryway. Even the gateway was made with elegance. Metal snakes and flowers intertwined to form a vernal tapestry. Above the proud building, stood the Bell Tower, which seemed to stare down at the visitors with its impressive, large bronze bell that looked ready to let out a fierce roar at any moment. The bell was engraved with an emblem commonly associated with the organization:
"A golden feather stuck through a book like a persistent arrow," he said with a disgruntled face.
'What a waste of money!' Ilrune wanted to shout. 'If you want to construct an academy, at least fortify it. This is just a farce, it'd make a better cathedral. What sort of magic is practiced here, gentle light spells? This building looks like it will topple over with a single explosion spell!'
Noticing a nearby guard's strange look, he quickly ducked under the gateway and into the main yard.
'Flowers, fountains, sparkling marble. How angelic. Pity this is the place where the supposed commission takes place.'
As it was almost the beginning of a new semester, students hung out in groups, chatting and fooling around leisurely. The air was doused with the afternoon sun's warm rays, bathing students and visitors alike in a delicious honey-like feeling. Just looking at an endearing bench covered by the drowsy shadow of a tree made one feel a pressing need for tranquillity, peace, and even sleep.
'Mana is flowing abnormally. It's from...'
Ilrune glanced around, feigning disinterest as his keen eyes searched for the source of the disturbance.
'There.'
"Ah.."
'I can't believe I got excited to begin with. How much money did they throw around to buy paving stones with calming runes carved within them? Why not get self-exploding devices to protect your angelic, cathedral-like academy?'
Ilrune grumbled all sorts of curses as he passed by beautiful marble sculptures and lush gardens, remembering the contents of the brown paper bag.
"Tomorrow, fourth sunlight hour. You know where to go."
A beautiful gold-plated badge and a hastily scribbled yet elegant note. The badge was adorned with an exquisite sculpture of a golden quill stuck through a book.
'That's a Welxorth emblem. When I was a child, I myself was almost sent here! Only a fool wouldn't recognize it. Who'd imagine that those arrogant Welxorth scholars would ever need the help of an adventurer? And judging by its refined makings, it's a high-ranked member too... This gets stranger by the second.'
He gazed at the clear windows, the sleek walls and the radiant greenery, a frown further wrinkling his aged face.
'Seriously, this place shines brighter than an angel ever will.
The Welxorth Scholars are a hierarchical faction, meaning that even if all members are granted badges, the quality and quantity of said badges determine their importance. Lead for the small fry, copper and silver for small executives and managers, and gold for the higher members. A platinum badge is difficult to come across, as only the founding members of the Welxorth Scholars have them. The number of badges you own determines your rank within your echelon.
Seeing how this person spares no golden badges, I'm dealing with someone quite important. This is troublesome. Should I go back?'
Heaving a sigh, Ilrune unfolded a map of Welxorth Academy he'd bought on the way.
'Let's see. The dean's office is... through the main entrance, up two flights of stairs and straight ahead.'
The inside was just as, if not more prestigious than, the outside. Carefully carved marble and exquisite paintings, the founder of the academy spared no expense to build a place untouched by time in both material and aesthetic, even a few hundred years later.
'These exquisite paintings double as spatial distortion portals... I hate to admit it, but those scholars hold some weight in their titles as intellectuals' Ilrune thought as he observed a few students disappear in a painting of a well-furnished classroom.
The stairs were an arduous task to attempt, but Ilrune ignored his weakened body's creakings and stubbornly put a foot in front of the other, all the way until he reached the second level.
'As much as I would like to pack my bags and leave Vilste immediately, this place is way too valuable. It is, after all, a large library with multiple grimoires and rune books. It definitely has what I'm looking for..!'
'If I find the famed rune of transformation rumoured to only be recorded in Welxorth's libraries, I'll be able to forego part of the arduous potion-making process, including some of the most expensive ingredients. It'll greatly decrease my financial stress and make my life easier. It's almost been a year and a half since I first started consuming the mana-devouring potion, although it's more of a poison. The side effects so far have been negligible, but deities forbid I start building an intolerance and increasing the dosage. Who knows what'll happen then?'
Ilrune startled as his feet touched not another stair, but firm ground. He had arrived at the Academy's second level.
"Ah."
'I was so absorbed in my thoughts that the remaining stairs passed in the blink of an eye. The map read that the dean's office was in a straight line...'
A short hallway opened in the opposite direction of the stairs. A fine painting hung at the end, depicting an open book with all sorts of mysterious knowledge flying from its pages. Looking at it made one's head hurt, as if the brain was subconsciously absorbing knowledge.
'This must then be...'
""Are you looking for the dean's office?" a smooth, baritone voice offered the answer Ilrune had also been reaching.
'I thought he intended to pass by me...' Ilrune internally lamented. 'This kid should know better than sneaking up on strangers... I must be getting old, I can't even track mana signatures efficiently these days. '
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you," the stranger said, stepping beside Ilrune and holding his hand out. "Aurio Ettore, at your service."
Standing at approximately six feet, he was dressed like a gentleman, with a tasteful dark suit, tie and blazer. A mop of messily styled brown hair framed his plain, Lurenean features. However, upon second glance, the stranger's hazel eyes seemed to hold hidden charm and illuminate his face, making him more handsome than he initially appeared to be.
'A teacher? Too old and fancy to be a student.'
"Yes, hello," Ilrune smiled weakly as he shook Aurio's hand. "To answer your previous question, I am indeed looking for the dean."
"I see!" the latter smiled genially, gesturing towards the painting. "It's pretty easy to get in. All you need to do is pass through the painting."
'As I suspected. Also, this guy is very cheerful. Like... a retriever dog.' Ilrune's lips pursed as he mentally conjured an image of a dog to compare.
"I appreciate your guidance," he thanked Aurio smoothly, betraying none of his inner thoughts.
"Aurio!" A sweet, female voice called from down the hall. "The students are waiting for you!"
"I apologize, I have to make haste," the one being called laughed and patted Ilrune's shoulder. "Good luck with your meeting, sir!"
Ilrune stood in silence as he watched the departing Aurio join a shorter blonde who was quite well dressed and exuded an air of charm.
'At least one of the teachers here is nice. Quite powerful too. The students are lucky to have him.'
Unknowingly, his gaze landed on the book painting again.
'Unfortunately, I have to deal with this. Curse my curiosity, curse my luck, curse this damn library for not being accessible to the public!'
Mentally muttering curses, Ilrune gathered his courage and reached his hand out through the painting. As he passed through, the usual cold and sticky feeling of a spatial distortion device washed through his body.
'Ugh, this is always unpleasant... perfume?'
Interrupted by the overwhelming stench of perfume and dazed by the smell, his thoughts momentarily halted.
'Why am I... smelling so much perfume? Heliotrope, rose, sweetshrub... There are so many underlying notes. I can't distinguish them all.'
"Well, now. Don't look dumbfounded. Come sit here," a frosty, flat voice sounded. The invitation sounded more like an order, and reflexively, Ilrune walked towards the mahogany desk and sat in one of the plush chairs opposite it.
'No, this is more than stunned reflex.'
He felt his throat dry as Welxorth's dean leaned towards him. The air surrounding him felt colder.
"You are here to take my commission, correct?"
'It feels like my mana is being suppressed.'
"You understand surely why I needed such a roundabout method to ask for participants, right?"
'This woman...'
Pale, almost greyish skin, framed by a waterfall of straight, dark purplish hair. Her freezing lilac eyes stood out, daring anyone to oppose them.
"Pretend to be one of my teachers."
'She's an archmage.'