“So, let’s start with the basics.” The girl said, smiling. “The first thing you have to learn as an artificer is how to channel your mana into certain items. A painted letter, an inscribed rune, a sculpted gem. Not how to make these things, that comes later. Or you could just buy them. No, what you must first learn is how to empower said objects with your mana. With me so far?”

Don’t look at them. They do not exist. They are not there.

“Yup.”

“Good. Now, I have prepared here a stack of paper sheets. Each one is inscribed with a rune, but I don’t think we’ll be going through more than a couple of them today. Maybe three. What you will do is place your hands on the pieces of paper, one hand per sheet. This is a little more difficult than what you did last time, as you’ll need to drive your mana into the two symbols at once, but given how quickly you learned the last time, I’m sure you’ll have no problem.”

Michael wasn’t so sure. The last time, in Roda’s class, Melissa had been the one to activate the runes. She had just pinned that success on him. Was she going to do the same, activating the runes in Michael’s stead? But why? To make him feel good in the hope of spilling his secrets?

“But be aware. Once you start, you can’t just take your hands off of them. There are two runes, so the magical imbalance might cause a backlash. Also, make sure to keep a steady flow of mana directed at them. If you think you’re going to run out, tell me. Make sure you don’t suddenly cut it off.”

Oh. So that’s the trick.

“What will happen if I accidently remove a hand? Or stop feeding them mana?”

“Then you blow up.” She grinned. “I’m kidding! It’s more like a really nasty magical burn. But it will hamper your spellcasting for a few days, until it gets treated. And a Healing Potion won’t fix this type of injury right away.”

He couldn’t simply remove his hand, which meant he couldn’t just run. And he couldn’t stop channeling mana once he started, which meant he couldn’t cast a different Spell, like |Shield|. No escape, no protection. And given that the task would be difficult, he also had to concentrate… which meant a harder time trying to come up with a good lie.

Not that he was sure he should be lying. |Serpentine Senses|’s heat vision wasn’t as accurate as normal vision, but he still saw the two figures accurately enough to notice that one had its hands joined together in front of them in a way that suggested it was holding something. The other was simply there. One for protection and one for… what?

“Got it. No flinching.” He smiled.

“Good. Oh, and I’ll also be using a couple of other artifacts. One is this pair gem right here.” She said, producing something like a sapphire and setting it on the table. “It changes color depending on how much mana it senses coming off from you. And I’ve already installed the other. It will warn us when someone’s passing in front of the doorway. The sound it gives off will be like a bell’s. Just so we know if we are about to be interrupted.”

A… bell. Like Erea’s truth bell. Michael would have bet every coin he had that the mage behind Melissa was holding a truth bell. She just came up with another reason for the sound. Maybe also a reason to end the session if she learned Michael would be making too much stuff up. Not that he could with that gem. He actually had to channel his magic into the runes, not just fake it like last time. Which left a lot less concentration for coming up with cover stories.

“Are you alright?” Melissa asked. “You’re sweating.”

But she had a glint in her eye.

“Yeah. It’s just… well, this is just a really high stakes situation. These rules put a little pressure on me.”

I can’t lie. Maybe I can bend the truth, but I can’t lie.

“Oh, you’ll be fine. You’re basically a prodigy yourself, even if in a different field. And you have an amazing tutor, don’t you think?”

“Yup.” He smiled.

And heard a bell ringing.

Shit.

“And that’s the first someone to pass by our door.” Melissa said, though her smile looked forced this time. “But why don’t we begin.”

She took out two sheets of paper from the stack and laid them out in front of Michael, one in front of each hand. Each one had a rune inscribed on it, though the runes were different. And the paint with which they were written looked glossy and almost too real.

“Like I said, you will lay your hands on the two runes, making sure your skin is touching the surface. The runes themselves represent nothing special. The left one represents mana and the right one represents absorption. The important aspect here is that they will continue to drain your mana. Not a lot, but at a steady rate.”

“And what will they do with it?”

“Nothing.” She laughed. “It will just get dispersed into the air.”

“Oh. Right. Got it. Wait.” Michael said, trying to buy some time. “I’ll need to focus on this, so I thought to ask this before I started. What did that golem mean by ‘kill the makers’? Is that something that all golems gravitate to?”

He heard a rustle behind her and for the briefest of moments, he saw her eyes glance to the side.

“I… can’t say.”

Wait. So your little ghost friends don’t know all your secrets? Huh.

“Why? Is this something sensitive or-“

“Just something my faction forbade me from discussing.” She shrugged.

And the bell was heard again.

Wait. Wait! It picks up on her lies too?!

To hide his smile, Michael turned his head to the door. But he didn’t miss the way she froze.

“Second student.” She mused.

“Yes. Seems like traffic around here is picking up. Should we start?”

“Yes, I suppose we should.”

There was really no helping it. Michael placed his hands over the runes and pushed. He felt his mana starting to be channeled, like if he was doing it with a wand. Yet unlike with a wand, there was no sense of charging or filling up. His mana just fell into the runes, swallowed up. He still tried to think. How could he turn this to his advantage? He could ask questions? Seemingly innocuous questions. And he would learn truths, even though he wouldn’t learn what he had learned. But all this cloak and dagger bullshit while he channeled?

This was going to be hard.

“Yes, I see that your mana is pouring nicely.” She said, looking at the crystal, which was now glowing a light blue. “You can keep the flow as it is. Even a little lower. No need to exhaust yourself too early. We have all the time we need.”

“Sure.” Michael said. “How am I doing?”

“So far, so good. If you can keep this up for an entire session, we might be doing something harder next time. But, I know from experience that this type of thing can be boring. We can chat while you cast.”

“Sure.”

Michael really hoped the sheen of sweat on his face wasn’t too noticeable.

“Where are you from?” she asked. “Originally.”

“Just a place full of humans. No other species but us. Don’t you just hate it when there’s no diversity around you? It really makes for a static place growing up.” He blabbered ahead. “No other perspectives to change your own. What about you? Where were you born?”

“Oh. I don’t know, actually. I never met my parents. I was raised in a Gnosis boarding school until I came here. It was on an island, like here, only bigger. More free land and such. But they never told me where that was. Security and all that.” She shrugged.

“Wait. Gnosis has boarding schools?”

“Yup. It’s an open secret. No idea how they select who they take in-“

The bell sounded again.

“Well, enough about me.” She said. “I heard about how you came here, by the way. That transportation magic really blows up sometimes. I heard the mages in charge of those Spell circles pay more attention to the mages whose families provide more… ‘gifs’ for the faculty. I’m guessing your family didn’t?”

“No idea.” Michael said. “I literally have no idea if any admittance fee was paid. Though Regitris said some mages don’t pay at all. When the academy really wants you, they wave the fee away. Am I still doing well?”

The girl flinched and cast her eyes at the gem. She had become too engrossed in the conversation, without even knowing. The gem was now glowing a darker blue, Michael noticed.

Maybe I can use up all of my mana and end this early? But I’ve got |Lesser Mana Absorption|. I wish Skills could be turned off sometimes.

“You can lower your casting rate down a notch. But, yes, still doing well. I sense the runes are in good order too.”

“Could they have been in a bad order?”

“No, not because of you.” She laughed. “About Regitris, why do you think he wanted you? I mean… he is the most influential mage at Gnosis, even among other faction heads. And what do you think about the elf himself? Sorry if this is coming off as an interview. I’m just really interested in your viewpoint.”

And she grinned again, like she did before. But though Michael was smiling himself, he was immune to her flattery at this point.

“I’m guessing because of the way I entered the academy. The test.” He said and didn’t even have to spin the truth. “It’s probably why most mages were interested in me, before other events happened.”

“I see. And Regitris himself?”

“Well, he’s the head of my faction. You know how it is. I mean, are you perfectly happy with the head of your faction?”

“Of course.” She smiled and the bell rang.

This time the sound coming from behind her was perfectly audible. Faint, yet audible.

“Seems like the traffic is increasing.” Michael said.

“Yup. So-“

“Wait, I forgot to ask.” He said. “This might seem silly, but like you said, I’m interested in another viewpoint. Have you ever thought of leaving your faction? Like, just abandon them for another?”

“No. I’m really comfortable where I am.” She grinned, but her eyes widened when she heard the bell again.

You should have come alone instead of bringing mages from your own faction here.

“Oh. Well, I guess that’s nice, being so confident in your place. Myself, I’ve had three factions gunning for me, so you know, it was hard to pick one. Actually, there were four factions, now that I think about it. I got approached by one more. Their recruiter was under an illusion, looking like a ghostly robe. They said their faction’s focus was on mysteries, but I didn’t really buy that. Have you ever heard about them?”

“Well, there are always rumors… Gnosis is a large place.”

“Oh. But you don’t know anything about them?” Michael asked, trying to put as much disappointment in his voice as possible. “I thought about it and I wanted to know more about them.”

“Oh, well, personally, I Melissa from the Artificer faction do not know anything about this faction, but-”

The bell kept ringing.

“Huh. They’re passing by more and more often. By the way… Melissa. I wanted to ask you something. Because I’m curious just how many students think like that in Gnosis. And… because it would help me to know. Truly.”

He was really laying it on thick with the ‘open my heart to you’ kind of act. But then again, Melissa didn’t know him well. She knew him as the new super mage of the academy. Pupil of Kelunad. Favorite of Regitris. Maybe Michael was really sensitive as well?

Hah!

“Can I ask, is it a general attitude… no. You, as an example. Are you truly loyal to your faction?”

“Oh… Oh, Michael. I can understand your concerns. I- I really do. But this isn’t something we should be discussing. Think of who could be listening, think-“

The flinch of her head forward was visible. As well as the way her eyes widened. That wasn’t natural. She tried to play it off as if she was looking at the runes, but the flinch forward had nothing to do with her own movement.

She was pushed. I wonder if it was with a wand?

“But for you, I will answer.” She said, in a low voice. “I am and will always be loyal to my faction.”

And the bell rang true and clear.

A faction full of spies and infiltrators. What loyalty could there be?

“It seems to me like our classroom is being visited by too many students. I can’t be sure they’re not spying on us.” She said, taking out a wand and pointing them at the runes. “|Dispel Magic|”

Instantly, the two inscriptions disappeared and Michael felt the flow of his mana cease being channeled.

“Oh. Are you sure? I thought I was getting the hang of it. Have I upset you with my question?”

“No, of course not. I am just wo-” She smiled and tried to say, before suddenly lurching towards the door.

As if she was pushed.

“Sorry, Michael. I think I’m a bit lightheaded too.”

“Oh, alright. Next time, same place?”

“I’ll let you know.”

She dispelled her wards on the door, opened it, and bolted outside before Michael got to say another word.

Silently, he cast his Spell again and confirmed there was no one in the room. His smile spread.

I declare victo-

|Class Level Raised: Mage|

|Class Level: 9|

|New Skills:|

|Enhanced Concentration|

|Lesser Mana Channeling|

Huh. I declare victory even more!