Hendrik was absolutely livid. The day had started so good - they were finalizing their plans for the war and had found the kobold responsible for the warning only two weeks prior. Even better the kobold was one of his own guild - an adventurer.

Sadly that incompetent prick Malcom had to destroy everything, he had no idea how the enchanters could tolerate someone like that leading their guild, though he had his suspicions.

They had the encounter planned out, he warned the others not to try their usual tactics, intimidation didn't work on beings with predatory mindsets at all. Even worse, if you did try to intimidate them and then didn't go through with your threat you lost all respect they may have held for you before.

“That went well.” Evelyn - the merchant guild’s guildmaster - said sarcastically.

“I wonder why.” He mocked, looking at Malcom.

“Was that really necessary?” Molaen, the blacksmith asked, irritated.

“You don't need to rub it in, I know I messed up. But seeing someone like that, completely at ease while meeting us really rubbed me the wrong way.” Malcom defended himself.

“That's a very bad reason Malcom, you couldn't keep your ego in, so you messed up all our plans. I wonder why you're allowed to lead this branch.”

“BECAUSE I'M THE BEST!” Malcom yelled, once again showing his incompetence.

Hendrik thought that he only was a guildmaster because the real enchanters couldn't be bothered with leading, they just wanted to pursue their craft. He’d have to talk to some of them today, they couldn't allow someone like this to lead in times like these.

“How did you come from rewarding her to imprisoning her anyways?” Evelyn wondered.

“The little shit was too arrogant!” Malcom stated.

Enough was enough. Hendrik looked at the other guildmasters and saw the same, the enchanter’s guild would be excluded from these meetings until they supplied a suitable replacement. He spoke up for the first time.

“Master Estrum, would you please convene with your colleagues, your leader is unfit to represent your guild as of now. We will continue without him.”

“””””Seconded.””””” The others agreed.

Estrum looked slightly startled, but seemed to agree with them. “I will take care of it guildmaster, we have been thinking about replacing him for some time now, but didn't see a good reason to until now. Seeing that he blatantly disregarded our laws I'm sure the others will agree with you.

Please express my regret to my pupil, I did not think she would be imprisoned illegally.” With that he interjected mana into the teleportation formation and vanished. Hendrik looked at Malcom, only to see him raging in his asile. They couldn't hear him - he was deemed unfit by all six of them - and had thus been stripped of all privileges the moment they did.

“Now, what do we do?” He asked. “The young girl has no reason to trust us after what we did, and she is involved in several of our more useful plans, I doubt we can find another kobold anytime soon.”

“What do you mean plans? I know nothing of any plans.” Sidor, their resident dwarf asked.

“Me and Evelyn did some planning for the war at home. Some of the better ones did involve the kobold. Funnily enough one also involved getting rid of Malcom, but he took care of that himself.” He answered with a grin.

“We can't keep her locked up, that's for sure.” Evelyn said.

“I will take care of that, she's one of mine and my people would riot if I did nothing.” Hendrik said.

“Good, see if you can talk her into meeting with us tomorrow, master Estrum didn't sound like hiseguild will need long.” Evelyn said.

“Good idea, so let's convene here tomorrow again then. All in favor?” Hendrik asked.

””””Aye.””””

“Good, now if you excuse me I have a talk to attend to.” He excused himself.

---

Hendrik made his way to the dungeon as fast as possible - keeping a mage imprisoned was hard and the kobold certainly didn't deserve to be locked up in one of the high security prisons. He made his way deeper into the castle, hoping she wouldn't be too angry to talk. As he arrived at the prison tower - every decent mage was able to break out of an underground prison - and spoke to the warden.

“Hello there, your newest prisoner needs to be discharged. But I'd like to speak to her before.” He stated. The warden took a surprised look at him, and paled slightly as he recoginzed Hendrik.

“Of course guildmaster, I'll show you the cell and prepare the prisoner's belongings after.”

“Lead the way.”

Of course the idiot Malcom had someone put the kobold in one of the high security cells on the tower’s top. He couldn't help but shake his head.

“Leave us, wait for me at the ground floor.” He commanded.

“At once guildmaster.”

“Good. Get to it.”

Hendrik couldn't help but shudder as he entered the high kobold’s cell, the feeling of entering an area devoid of any mana was always unsettling. That didn't seem to bother the captive though - she calmly sat in the middle of the bare room, completely at ease with herself and the world.

She looked at him and showed him a toothy smile as he entered.

“Are you here to let me out?” She said.

“Yes. I'd also like to apologize on behalf of the free cities, the guildmaster of the enchanter’s guild has been discharged of his duties.

Now, before you go I'd like to speak to you as your guildmaster. … Out of this room, I don't like it.”

“I have no problems with that.” The girl raised her hands “If you would free me of the cuffs please.”

Hendrik did, and they left the room a few moments later.

“I'm glad you didn't try to break out yet, that would have complicated things.” He said.

“Why would I? You had no reason to keep me there and the booming voice was alone. And even if I tried something, why would I do so in the middle of the day.” She answered with a grin. He couldn't help but curse in his mind, of course she would be one of those.

“So what did you want to talk about guildmaster?” She asked.

“You are in a unique situation, and we'd like to hire your services.”

“What for? I'm not gonna fight in your war, I kill monsters not people.”

“While you would surely be a great asset in fighting that's not what we had in mind. You probably know that already, but we don't have to fear an invasion for at least another year, and we want to know when they come for us.” He explained.

“And how would I be able to help there?” She asked.

“You'll see. I'm glad you asked.” He said, explaining the most promising plan he and his wife had been able to come up with. The girl's eyes lit up a few times as he talked, and he was sure he managed to convince her.

“So what do you think?” He asked.

“I am able to do it, but I want some things in return.”

“That's to be expected. We can discuss rewards tomorrow, in attendance of the new enchanter's guild guildmaster. Think hard about what you want.” He said. “Now let's get out of here, I hate this prison.”

“Lead the way guildmaster.” She said.

“Just out of interest, how would you try to break out? Not that it'd work, the prison held mages more powerful than you before.”

“Even a core mage?” She asked, smirking. Hendrik looked at her, searching for signs of a joke, but finding none.

“No, stopping a normal mage from casting is possible in the right environment, but stooping internal casting isn't. You have a core?” He asked.

“Not yet, but I can cast without moving engery out of my body all the same.”

“Don't do that, something like that is extremely dangerous!” He admonished her.

“Not for me.”

“Well, I can't do more than warn you. Just be careful, you have a bright future if you don't die prematurely.”

They left the castle a few minutes later. So what will you do today?” He asked.

“I want to know how I came into the castle, I am sure I've never heard of an enchantment using strange symbols and transporting people.” She said.

“You should look for teleportation or space-magic then, both the mages and echanter's guild have good information on that, it is one of the most researched topics after all. Good luck.” He said, making his way towards the mountain of paperwork waiting for him in his office.