To tell the truth, Michael thought he was an idiot. Not for something he had done. Not even for something he had thought. No, Michael thought he was an idiot for something he failed to think. Because how could he look at his rapidly rising fame, at the way people seemed to know more and more who he was, and not think they would also wonder who he really was.

That was mistake number one. Mistake number two was thinking that just because their approach was lacking in, well… everything, this faction wasn’t something he should have kept his eyes on. After all, the one to approach him had told him what their focus was. Mysteries. Unanswered questions, to call them another way. Of course, if anyone would be deeply interested in him it would be them.

And here he was. The subject of a discussion at this faction’s extraordinary get-together.

At least he wasn’t top of the list.

“Settle down.” First Shadow said. “All subjects will be discussed in due time. Second Specter, you have the stage.”

“Thank you, First Shadow. As mentioned, our first subject consists of a newly retrieved artifact. Reports mention that the artifact is an amulet or amulet-like in shape and that it shows no outwards signs of extravagant make.”

“What’s that mean?” a voice sounded from the audience.

“It means it doesn’t sing songs or color everything around it purple. Idiot!” the same voice from before swore.

“Quiet.” The speaker said. “The amulet has been retrieved from a newly discovered room, by a clearing team. It should be noted that the student named Michael, our third point of interest, was part of that team. The room itself was designed by an ancient minotaur magus, name and Class uncertain. The process by which it functioned is largely irrelevant, though it did possess a primary object that gave off a continual regeneration effect. Material in nature, not biological.”

“Was it an artifact?” someone asked.

“Uncertain.” A new speaker said.

It sat on the same platform as the others, but Michael thought it only became visible to answer the question.

“A cross-faction team of mages is still analyzing it. We are unaware if the object is an artifact or simply an enchanted or rune inscribed normal vase. If it is the latter, then the effect could be described as a continuous, rule-subjected, powerful |Repair| Spell.”

“Thank you for the clarification.” Second Specter said, sounding somewhat peeved. “Yet this ‘object’ is not the focus. The amulet is. The room in which it was found was designated as an artifact-testing facility. This makes the chances of the amulet or its effects being experimental dangerously high. Yet, this is where the story becomes interesting, my colleagues. The amulet has been examined and deemed of high worth. Its capabilities have also been unearthed. And a third of those have been classified as sensitive information.”

A hubbub of voices rose from the room.

“Who examined it?”

“Do the students that took it back know what it is? Maybe they’ve used it.”

“What’re the other two thirds?”

A noise like thunder came from the First Shadow, allowing the other mage to resume his speech.

“I will tell you what we know. The amulet’s known effects are a shielding effect, acting as a normal, individual-level shielding Spell. Strong enough to resist at least one hit from a |Fire Lance|. Said Shielding Spell does not inhibit movement or magical abilities. It is also only faintly visible when used. The second ability is a continual regeneration effect. High-level, expected to win out over even poisons or infections. We know a third level exists, but we do not know of what it consists. The team who has recovered the artifact have not used it or know more than we do. As for the classification… well. Our report mentions that all mages that were part of the analysis team were in agreement. Yet the motion came from the heads of both the Martial and the Ascentionalist factions.”

“They are looking to use this artifact for their own gains.” First Shadow snorted. “Classic Ploy. I expected better from Regitris. Then again, it might be that he couldn’t be as subtle as he wanted to, not with the martial head involved. Very well. The following applies to our entire faction. Be on the lookout for any information regarding this artifact. When you find out, report to us directly. If and when we obtain enough information about it, we will form a strike team, either to retrieve it or to disseminate information to the wider school body.”

“But… First Shadow.” Seconds Specter said. “What if they use it? We don’t know its full effects.”

“We would know. Trust me. That artifact is too big of a stone for it not to cause ripples.”

“Yes, First Shadow.”

“Good. Now, I believe you have two more subjects to approach?”

“Yes.” The mage said, before addressing the crowd. “Our second subject consists of unrest at the higher levels of major factions. We have had no agents infiltrated at high enough of a level for us to find out what the discussions are about, but we have received glimpses of information from the martial faction. As far as we can be certain, the subject of these talks pertains to an undiscovered focus. It can be either a location or an object. Not a person. It is located inside Gnosis, though we do not know if the subject is tied to a higher, lower or current floor.”

“And are we sure everyone is talking about the same thing?” someone asked.

“We are. We have used oracular Spells to ascertain this.”

“Doesn’t seem to me like we’ve ascertained much.” A pink ghostly robe said. “We know they all know something. And we know it’s a place or an object. Not much else. And how does everybody know, but us?”

“’Everybody’ is incorrect. Only five factions know. These are the: Ascentionalists, Naturalists, Martials, Artificers and Bloodlinked. Further than-“

“The Bloodlinked know and we don’t? How did that happen?!”

“You will address Second Specter with due respect.” First Shadow commanded. “As for how this happened, I believe it is due to a lack of effort from each and every one of you. We should have known this. And yet we don’t. Why is that? Is it because they are better than us? No. We are the breakers of mysteries. The hunters of answers. It is our very will to know and learn everything that is hidden. So the next time when you abscond your duties and when you chase petty secrets from petty mages, remember this. A time came when five factions knew a secret, and not even all of them great. And at that time, we knew nothing.”

It looked to Michael that the First Shadow’s speech cowed the audience. Certainly, none of them piped up after he was done talking. In the silence, Second Specter resumed talking.

“We do not know what the subject is, yet it seems to be controversial. We have only noticed it exists because mages of high level have had arguments in each of the factions. Even fights among the martials. I believe it would be beneficial for us to learn what this subject is before any one faction reaches an agreement in regard to it. But that is not for me to decide. First Shadow?”

“In this item, a strike team shall be formed. Not for action, but for planning and tracking. I want all possible weak points in the factions to be exploited and for a progress track to be maintained. Even in the case of the Bloodlinked. I have a feeling, just a normal feeling, that this is important. The strike team I will form after this session has ended. Some of you will be picked. If you are, you are allowed to ask for the help of any other member of our faction. As for the weak points, you are allowed to try bribery, blackmail, extortion, cajoling and any other non-lethal means. But you will hold off on direct attacks until further notifications. That is all.”

“Thank you, First Shadow. And that brings us to our third issue. Michael Becker. I’m sure you all know the first year by now or have at least heard of him. His entrance test has been the toughest, by an average of estimates, in eight hundred and twenty-three years. I shouldn’t need to tell you that the power of the mages in those times was higher than today. Because of that and of his medical reports, we have arrived at the conclusion that he has a larger than average magical potential. Larger by quite a bit.”

“Is he fully human? If so, has he been nurtured for this purpose?”

“He is, according to analysis. As for the second question, we do not know. Gnosis has no record of him before he appeared here. No mage has been sent to retrieve him and no file exists on his origin.”

“That’s not really unusual, isn’t it?” A voice spoke. “Files are burned and information erased all the time. It could be teachers’ favorites, rivals, friends, a faction legacy. We’ve done it so much we have mages with the |Infiltrator| Class.”

“True. We have already ascertained the possibility that Michael was an Ascentionalist even before he came to Gnosis. Failing that, that he is a pupil or experiment of Regitris.”

“Experiment?”

“He has a reported memory loss. Observed behavior supports that theory. It may be that the Ascentionalists found a mage of high potential, erased his memory and groomed him before letting him come to Gnosis.”

What… really? They do that? At least I have a good cover story.

…

Unless… that really did happen? Are my memories real? Uhm, what’s something someone from here couldn’t have ever imagined? Uh, uh, ice-cream. No… Michael Jackson! QUEEN. The Pope, Trump, Oprah. Oprah! Free gifts for everyone! The moon landing, The Martian movie. Rihanna.

Ok… ok, I think I’m real. Good. All good.

Existential crisis over, Michael went back to listening to their conversation.

“-yes, yes, I am aware that records could be faked and deleted.” The mage said, sounding annoyed. “And that memory loss is a real illness or could be easily faked. But we have also used our agents to probe mages in other factions. They do not know anything else either. Not even the Ascentionalists. That means that either Michael is Regitris’ personal project or that something else has happened that we are not aware of. Either way, I believe we should know. Because we are who we are. All things considered, Michael has proven himself to be a very capable and driven student. And with an inclination that favors our way of thinking. This is why I have added him to the list. First Shadow?”

“Hmm. I… see what you mean Second Specter. But, be honest with me. Is this not also because you have failed in recruiting him yourself?”

Michael heard snickering from the room.

“Do not laugh!” the man shouted. “Second Specter is the second among us. If it has failed, none of you would have succeeded.”

“Yes, Fist Shadow. I admit that my reason for investigating him came after my failure. I still do not understand why I have failed. I had approached him with a pre-written text, modeled according to the descriptions of his psyche. Yet… he asked me a question then. One I did not and do not understand. It contained a secret term, whose meaning I have yet to elucidate. But I will. That being said, yes, First Shadow. That is why I have started to investigate him. But after all I have learned, I truly believe he is a mystery, and as such, a valuable target.”

“Good. Thank you for telling me. The student named Michael may very well be an enigma in need of unraveling. Especially if he is as connected to Regitris as you seem to imply. But not now. We have two urgent issues to take care of as a faction, as well as a host of minor ones. I will not allow the expenditure of effort and resources, not until further notice. But, Second Specter, though I urge you to spend your energy wisely, you have taken too much effort for me to deny you your pet project. If you wish to investigate Michael, I allow you to do so.”

“Thank you, First Shadow.”

“You are most welcome. Now, I believe there is a social gathering taking place in the castle. And we have absconded long enough. Longer than that and our enemies might start to put two and two together. Should we-“

Michael didn’t hear the rest. He was already running. Through the tunnel, out the entryway, across the beach. He didn’t find the spiral staircase again, so he just ran towards where he remembered the exit was.

He only stopped on the steps of the large entrance, overlooking a stone pier, where enough students were around for him to not stand out too much. He breathed hard from his run and thoughts both.

So, I’m not being hunted by an entire faction, just one mage.

And there’s something happening at high levels of factions all over.

Something that may be connected to the amulet we recovered.

…

I really, really should have gotten someone inside their faction.