Later that evening, Cass was reading some of the books on glyphs she had “borrowed” from the experiment room. They were only there for reference, so she doubted that anyone would notice. Even if it was, it probably wasn’t something she would be punished for, and if it was Hall she was not entirely sure she minded anyway…

Cass did not want to think about that now, the book she was reading was quite interesting. It was an encyclopedia of glyphs, specifically ones used in combat. These were the glyphs that would eventually be applied to Rat, and likely all the other orphans in the cell as well. Those kids would be the test batch before the mages applied it to actual soldiers, Cass herself would likely not get them applied to her though. Since she could use magic it made more sense to train her to use the power from the glyph as part of her mana pool.

Cass enjoyed glyphs more than any other form of magic, the symbolism and language of the glyphs was incredibly interesting. But she always had a nagging feeling that she was missing something… She could see the relationships between glyphs for strength and speed, endurance and strength, but she could not put her finger on what she was missing.

She woke up with her face in the book, she had fell asleep at the small desk in her room. Cass had dreamed of her past and glyphs, where she had speed and strength enough to live on the streets without fear. If only she could have another breakthrough like the magic tools… But perhaps she didn’t need another, the solution was already in front of her!

A couple hours later, Maurice came with breakfast only to find Cass furiously writing and drawing at her desk. Setting down the meal on the small end table by Cass’s bed, she greeted Cass.

“I had thought you had these days off,” Maurice teased. “You don’t need to be studying so hard.”

“Not studying so much,” Cass said as she paused, mouthwatering at the smell of the food. “More… Designing.”

Cass went over to the bed and put the plate on her lap and began to eat happily as Maurice studied her drawings.

“These… Are glyphs?” Maurice picked one of the papers up, “But the patterns are off…”

Cass coughed, choking on a piece of bread slightly. “You are familiar with glyphs?” She was surprised, aside from specialists, even mages would not necessarily be able to spot the subtle differences in the glyphs she had been drawing.

“I told you that my husband was a Lord’s guard, he had glyphs on his arms and legs.” Maurice explained.

“But how did you notice the changes…?”

“Well, you might guess I know my husband quite well.” Maurice winked.

Cass thought it would be odd for someone without magic to study glyphs that intensely, even if they were married to the person, but she did not want to dive into that awkward subject and so she let it go. After all, it was Maurice, wasn’t like her to devote herself to her marriage that much?

“Well, the simple explanation is that I thought that if you could inhibit and regulate mana in glyphs by using magic tools, I figured you could use them almost like… A door, perhaps. Unactivated, the tool would prevent the glyph from drawing power, but once activated it would allow it to flow and activate.”

Cass supposed it was too technical, but who cared when the food was that good. Maurice was quiet for a bit as Cass ate happily.

“Well, I am not a mage, so I wouldn’t know.” Maurice put down the parchment, “But I do know that my husband wouldn’t need something like this, what is it for?”

“It is for me. With this, I can have these glyphs applied and still use the full power of my Absorption Glyph for magic! I hope Master will agree to apply them, the theory is sound…”

Maurice frowned, “Don’t risk yourself, you need to value yourself more.”

“Well, the worst that can happen is that it just won't work…” Cass gestured with a forkful of egg, “Unlike the Absorption Glyph, and with the changes in the pattern, it has no chance of killing me by overload. So the risk is really minimal.”

“I hope you know what you are doing…”

Maurice left a little later, and Cass returned to her work. She had told the truth, but there was one risk, if she messed up she would never be able to have another glyph placed on her. Glyph locations were quite specific, and so choosing what would go where was important. Scars and tattoos would prevent their placement, as would significant birthmarks or physical deformity of any kind.

Still, as risks went, that was basically meaningless, so it could be ignored. It would hurt, true, but Cass’s feelings about that were mixed to begin with. And if it worked, it would cement her value and she would not have to worry about being discarded.

She felt Hall would not abandon her, but she could see Evans locking her away and forgetting she existed. To avoid that she had to be worth keeping around, and she wanted to be able to stay near Lord Hall, so she needed to make sure she was useful to him.

A few more hours later, she sat back and looked over her designs. There were six in total, more could be added later, but these were the primary ones that would be applied to the other test subjects. All of them had been modified to include a variation of the magic tool Cass had suggested adding to the Absorption Glyph as well.

There were two her upper arms, two for her lower arms, and two for her calves. The swirls and symbols looked quite beautiful to Cass, she sometimes felt she might have wanted them even if they had done nothing at all. However, if they worked properly, they would greatly increase her speed, strength, and stamina. It wouldn’t give her skill, but she would be able to learn that some day.

She stretched, standing up to look outside her window to the small courtyard outside. Cass enjoyed this life. Reading and research, inspiration and design. She had never imagined that she would have a life like this before.

It came with its own complications, she still wrestled with her own thoughts, feeling as if she was being pulled and stretched between Lord Hall and Maurice. But over the months she had lived here, Cass had gained confidence. She did not feel that she was beneath everyone, she had her own value and she knew it. Still, she had to keep in mind that she was a slave, even if she forgot sometimes.

But being owned by Hall was not so bad, she even liked it at times.

The future seemed hopeful, and for the rest of today and tomorrow she would be able to enjoy some time off. Maybe she could spend time with Maurice tomorrow, and after that Hall would return with her reward and she would also present her new designs to him.

Cass was unused to being excited for the next day, but she felt she could get used to it. Watching the sunlight stream through her window, Cass smiled. She felt… Happy…

It was warm, so Cass decided to take a nap and relax, and woke up later in the evening to bring food to the underground cell again. They were overjoyed to see her and Cass felt good hearing their happiness. This was what she wanted everyone to experience, rather than the mistrust and misanthropy of the streets.

When Maurice brought dinner to her, Cass asked if she wanted to spend any time with her tomorrow, and Maurice seemed ecstatic to be invited. Cass still was not sure how to react to being hugged, but it did feel nice when Maurice embraced her before leaving again.

The next day, Maurice and Cass went down to the courtyard after breakfast, with Maurice talking about all the trouble her husband had given her the day before.

“I tell him to buy one thing at the market and he always comes home with something else!” Maurice was saying, “Honestly, the only bigger fool than him is me for loving him anyways!”

Cass laughed with her, enjoying the pleasant conversation. Maurice would complain in such a good-natured way that it hardly even counted! Cass envied her and her husband’s bond, to someone more used to bonds of fear and greed, it seemed a beautiful, amazing thing. They each wanted to make each other happy, and although there were mistakes, the fact that they cared so deeply for each other saw them through each and every trouble.

“Come to think of it…” Maurice stopped suddenly, “I think you met my husband just the other day.”

“What?” Cass was surprised, thinking back. “Really? Was he one of the guards I talked to when I was meeting with the other kids again?”

“No, he was guarding that boy’s cell. He talked to you for a bit he said.”

“Oh,” Cass remembered the respectful guard who had been outside Rat’s room. With his black hair and black eyes he certainly was striking and stood out in a country of mostly light eyed and light haired people. “That was your husband?”

“Yes, that was my Paul.” Maurice smiled happily, “He thought you were a very nice young lady by the way, but he worried about you going to see the boy he had locked up. In the end though, he told me you handled yourself well.”

“I guess I did,” Cass was somewhat proud of it actually, a formerly timid person standing up to someone who had, even if only briefly, had complete power over her life.

“I wish you hadn’t threatened him,” Maurice went on, oblivious to Cass’s pride in that very fact. “But the things you said at the end, Paul told me you were talking about him doing something with his life and moving past the streets.”

“Yes, I was.” Cass nodded, skipping over the part about her threatening Rat. He did deserve it, after all. “The streets don’t reward kindness, only cruelty. He might be a horrible person, but he might also be a product of the streets themselves. I thought Rat deserved at least a chance to choose something more, it was only luck that I got that chance myself after all.”

“I am so proud of you Cass.” Maurice hugged her tightly, and for once, Cass put her arms around her and hugged her back. She had never had a family, much less praise from one, but this warm feeling must be what it was like. She almost felt like she was glowing with happiness.

“Thank you Maurice,” Cass hugged her more tightly. “The things you have said to me, the advice you have given, they have helped me see that I can be so much more. That there is a path that I can take towards my own future.”

“I am glad of that,” Maurice smiled down at her. “Your own path away from Hall is for the best, and you will be able to be truly happy.”

Cass shook her head at that, “It is my own path to be sure, but it isn’t away from Master’s, just like it isn’t away from yours. I want to walk between the two of you, because I don’t think I could ever be without either of you.”

Maurice seemed concerned at that reply, “Cass, Hall is an evil man. He revels in the pain of others, and he seems to enjoy seeing you suffer in particular.”

“Yes, and he also has given me more opportunities than anyone else ever has and has praised my success and given me guidance to grow further. My Master might punish me for my failures harshly, he might even enjoy it. But… After all he has given me, I am happy to make him happy, even if it involves me crying and begging in pain.”

“Cass… You know that isn’t healthy.”

“Perhaps, but I am fine with it.” Cass looked down slightly, “If I am totally honest and I could only ever say this to you, there is a part of me that enjoys it. There might be something wrong with me, but I can still try my best and look towards the future regardless.”

“No.” Maurice said firmly, “Hall is a terrible, evil, horrendous man. I did not want to bring this up, but I guess I have no choice. Let me tell you why he is beyond redemption as a minion of Devils.”

Maurice took a deep breath and began her story.