|Enchanting Dancer|

Just… just why?

One more week had passed in Gnosis and Michael was one week closer to the ‘end of year’ exams. Which were more like, ‘two months in’ exams, but hey. The students were still panicking, the Academy was still in uproar, but Michael’s thoughts always came back to that. That Class. And the question.

WHY does Sinestra want to be a dancer? And how the fuck does this tie in to… everything?

He didn’t know. He didn’t know and couldn’t even imagine why and that bothered him. He couldn’t focus in his classes, he couldn’t study correctly and that showed. But still the question haunted him, because he knew one more thing. Kelunad was going to make his move. He was going to go for the gnomish artefact. And he had involved himself with whatever happened to Sinestra. So, ludicrous as those details were, the two events had to be intertwined. The had to.

But how?

“Hey. Hey! Michael, wake up!”

He didn’t, so a |Water Spray| misted him in the face.

“Gah! Damn it, Micah.”

“What? I’m not the one daydreaming. You need to be studying.”

“And when did you get so studious?”

“Since everyone stopped selling me their notes! It’s like everyone turned into a hoarder.”

Which was patently true. The general attitude towards sharing knowledge had become much more restrained as the days went by. Michael’s study group was one of the only ones that remained, from what he knew. Of course, there could be secret ones left too and that actually made a lot of sense, but he couldn’t work with knowledge he had no awareness off.

And not even his group was left unscathed. They had apologized profusely, but Alex and Erea had to separate from them. The things they studied weren’t the same and although the two upper years were a major benefit to Michael and the others, the inverse wasn’t at all true. And with time being precious, the two abandoned their study sessions to focus on more personal work.

Well, Erea promised Michael that she’d still help him during their private time, but that didn’t exactly work for two reasons. One was that outside of fighting Spells, Erea wasn’t much of a fountain of knowledge. And second, because their private time didn’t include a lot of study. Maybe anatomical study, but nothing else.

“Forget it. I can’t focus. Sorry, everyone. I need to walk this off, I think.”

“We’ll copy our notes for you.” Melissa smiled.

“Wait, I need to walk it off too.”

“The only think you’d be walking off is your laziness.” Bob commented.

Michael left them to their bantering. It was all in good faith and… he really did need to clear his head.

Walking away from their warded study room, Michael walked the hallways. For like ten feet. Then his magic started tingling.

Tingling. What am I, Spiderman?

And yet, he couldn’t deny he felt something. But it was new. It didn’t feel like the times Gnosis pulled him this way or that. Instead… he felt his own magic react. Resonate with something. He noticed he was looking at a blank patch of a wall for a few minutes. And a Spell was on his lips, even though he hadn’t consciously thought of it.

But, why this Spell? And… wait.

“|Serpentine Senses|.”

The world swam, as it always did when he used this particular Spell. His senses changed, morphed into ones better suited to other races or creatures. His vision blurred and the information overload made him sway. But it worked. Where there was a blank wall before, now he saw a message inscribed on it.

Meet me where I first showed you my true form. At the middle of the night. Come alone.

And then, as if whoever wrote this was running out of writing material and was also indecisive, another word. Written with fading and shaky letters. Smaller.

Please.

Well. Looks like Michael was going on another ‘adventure’. Yay. And it wasn’t like he wasn’t going to go.

He remembered very well who taught him that Spell.

***

Michael stood in front of the closed doors leading to the hall. He was… just a little nervous. His friends knew where he was and he had message Scrolls hidden in his vambrace. And in his robes. And one down his pants. He also packed a lot of firepower and potions. And he’d warned the others that if they were to receive any message, even a reassuring one, they were too storm in. Whatever this was, it went beyond the day-to-day plots of Gnosis.

Michael took a deep breath and opened the doors. They closed behind him a second after he entered. He didn’t need to check to know they were now warded shut.

The room was poorly lit, but it was lit. Someone was here. Remembering the last time he had met Sinestra here, he turned around, half-expecting to see the gorgon attempt to scare him. But there was no one there.

“Michael?” a weak voice croaked.

He turned and saw a shape slither out from behind a cabinet. Frail and disheveled. Crouched in fear.

“Are you alone?” she asked, tentatively.

“I am. Sinestra, are you ok? What happened?”

The gorgon didn’t answer back. She just leapt at him, her lower body acting as a person-sized spring.

Michael’s wand instantly materialized in his hand, but he stopped short of blasting the gorgon off of him. Because he realized she was hugging him. And… crying?

“Sinestra? Sinestra what happened to you?”

“I- I don’t know.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“Who? Kelunad? No. …yes. I don’t know!” she wailed.

Now that he got a better look at her, he saw how pale she was. Her skin was dry and her hair dirty. Even her scales were worse for wear, someone of them looking as if they were about to come loose.

“Look. I’m here. It’s all good. Just tell me what you do know, from the start.”

And the Gorgon started telling her tale. She had been slightly enamored with the orc, but who hadn’t. Still, that wasn’t why she had talked with him. He was a member of an old race, a Wild race and he knew more about racial magic than most others in Gnosis. Naturally, she was interested.

So, they talked and bonded over their shared interests and also over the fact that they both were Michael’s mentors. They talked more and confessed that Sinestra was feeling rather lousy for being unable to impart her knowledge on to Michael. He was her pupil and she didn’t take pupils. But when she did, especially one inclined to learn her people’s magic, she gave it her all.

“You thought about me like that? That I’m a prized successor? But you ever said anything.”

“Of course, I didn’t.” she laughed. “You’re a First Year. It would have gone to your head. Besides, it was more fun to play the part of the teasing mentor.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Sorry.” She winced.

“I didn’t mind.” He smiled. “Well, I did, a lot actually. But I knew you did your best and I’ve cometo respect you for that.”

“Aw. Don’t make me drop my scarf.”

“Funny. So, what happened? Did he take advantage of that?”

“I… don’t know. He gave me advice. Told me a Class would help me teach you better. I told him that.. I may already have a second Class.”

“But you have more than-“

“Yes, yes, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.”

“Right. In that case… did you do it? Take on a new Class?”

“I did.” He shamefacedly admitted. “I new there were supposed dangers, but everyone just says not to do it. Not why. And I was already a |Serpentine Mage|, a |Scholar| and a |Scale Scion|. And I’ve had no issued with any of them. So, I figured… why not?”

“What Class did you take?”

“|Mentor|. It happened when I managed to finally impart my knowledge to you. I thought it was a sign I was doing the right things, but… I guess not.”

“You did it for me. So you could teach me better. Thank you, Sinestra.” Michael said, serious. “And I’m sorry.”

“Oh, shush! It wasn’t your fault.”

“No. It was his. I remember you freaking out. What went wrong?”

“Maybe. But… I don’t remember.”

“What?”

“That entire… episode was a blur. I don’t remember what happened after I took it. I don’t remember those minutes clearly. But after you left and my mind cleared, I noticed a few things. First is that I lost my Classes. And I lost my magic too.”

“So, it’s true. You can’t use magic anymore.”

“I can use artifacts. And Potions. But no Spells. And no Skills either. But… something’s wrong.”

“You have a gap in your memory. Of course, something’s wrong.”

“Besides that! There are Spells that can tell what Class one has. |Inspect Class|. Or other |Inspect| variations. And all those Spell say that I have a Class now. But the Spells can’t tell what it is and I canlt either.”

Michael had no idea what that meant. He was too new for this world to know. But it smelled bad, by a mile away. However, there was one thing he could grasp on to.

“Kelunad did this. He had too. I don’t know about the Class, but he must have triggered it. The memory gaps too.”

“Maybe. I feel… something like magic on me. Maybe a Skill. I think it’s a |Geas| of some kind. But it must be a powerful one to wipe or block my memory.”

“Can’t your… ancestor help?”

“I no longer have the book.”

“What? But that’s your- Who took it?”

“I don’t remember.” She shrugged helplessly.

He felt like banging his head on the walls. And why was she still saying ‘maybe’.

“And that Primer Kelunad took. That was you trying to get a Class?”

“Yes. Any magical one would do. Even if I would have never done it before.”

“Right. But Kelunad took it. And his advice led to this. And he’s plotting something too, I know this. Why aren’t you coming out with this? The other mages can help, even as untouchable as he thinks he is.”

“Because I can’t be sure. Maybe someone’s framing him. Or he just didn’t know what would happen. He taking the Primer might just be his way of looking out for him. Kelunad has always been honorable.”

“Honor- He cut Narh’s legs off! And he trashed Regitris! And he forced me to beat Alex before he kicked him out of the Martials!”

“I… suspected. But I wasn’t sure. But he isn’t bad.”

Sinestra looking so weak and pitiful was the only reason Michael abstained from screaming out his frustration.

Why is she acting like this? She’s never been this doubtful of herself. And this clear as day! It’s like someone messed with… her… mind?

“Sinestra.” Michael said in a cool voice, dread starting to fill him. “|Geas| Spells and other Spells like that. You said they worked on the mind. Can block off memories, if they’re powerful enough.”

The Gorgon nodded.

“Can they also guide thoughts? Feelings? Make someone act and think in a certain way?”

“Not |Geas|. But… there are Spells like that out there. Way above my Level, at least for my Class. Or… the Class I used to have.”

“And you don’t think Kelunad cast that on you? Or used an artifact or scroll?”

“No.” she said serenely.

Michael closed his eyes and breathed out.

“Say something bad about Kelunad.”

“Why?”

“Just do it. As a test. For me.”

“Uhm…”

“Please?”

Sinestra looked to be troubled and deep in thought, but she eventually spoke.

“Kelunad is… green?”

“You’re green.” Michael stated. “At least, half of you is.”

“Well, yes. It’s a nice color to have. Why?”

She’s looks way to honest to be playing me. Not that she would, in this state.

Whatever ounce of respect Michael still held for his mentor evaporated. Sheer righteous anger replaced it.

“You’ve been Spelled. You’re under the influence.”

“No, he wouldn’t do-“

“Don’t think about him! Just… imagine someone else did it. Would it seem feasible then?”

“I… guess. Yes. The details do fit. Someone did this to me! Who?!” she snarled.

Michael just looked at her, pity making his eyes water.

“I don’t know, Sinestra. But I’ll find out. I promise.”

“Thank you, Michael. Always knew I could count on you.”

He smiled, but inside he was cold. It was like talking to someone on drugs. Worse.

“In the meantime, why don’t you ask for Regitris’s help? The Ascentionalists will protect you.”

“No.”

The quickness of the response took him back.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.” she slowly answered. “I just… I have to keep to myself. I feel that. You’re the only one I could think to ask for help.”

“I see. Damn it. How did you do it, by the way?”

“Oh, I took advantage of your magical resonance. I left that message in a lot of places, but it wears off quickly. But I managed to find out your little study spot and times it right.” She smiled and when she did, she looked like her old self again.

“But I thought you couldn’t use magic.”

“I can’t. But your affinity is Scale. And I am Scale, at least by racial definition. So I used my blood and my venom. See?”

She showed him a few healed cuts on her arm. Ingenious. But she had hurt herself to reach him. His pity and anger just increased more and more.

“Ok. Alright. Then… stay in your rooms. Can you do that? At least until I figure this whole thing out.”

“I can do that. But don’t the students miss me? I… can still teach my classes. I think. At least the theory part. I feel bad for leaving them to fend for themselves with these whole early exams thing.”

“The Academy had someone replace you in the interim.”

“Oh. Are they good?”

“Dreadfull.”

“Good.” The gorgon wickedly grinned.

Just like the Sinestra of old. Just… less of herself.

Michael accompanied his true mentor to her rooms and added a ward scroll of his own to the doors. More pieces were falling in place. He truth still escaped him, but he’d get to the bottom of this. And for what he did to her and Regitris and Alex. For what he did and was planning to do to everyone.

Kelunad would pay.