Damned council. They fucked my day plan. First I had to visit council in the academic district, now I have to go to the noble district, then to slums just to once again visit the academic district to read the books… well, I won’t be the one reading them… Ok. Let’s get this shit done. And let’s get it done quickly.

I started knocking in the doors of Blackwood mansion, as always I didn’t have to wait long.

“Oh, mister Zariel. We did not expect your visit anytime s… I beg your forgiveness, but I was being impressed by your highly unusual… appearance…” “Good to see you too, Archi… Hehe, see you, I will never get bored of this. I stepped in for a fast check up. Madam in her room? Perfect, don’t bother showing me the way, I can find it by myself.”

I moved past him entering the mansion.

“May I name my worries regarding the fact…” “That as blind man I can’t see a shit and this you are thinking I may screw? Fret not. That’s why I have those fancy ears…” “Still, I would prefer…” “Me to not come close with sharp objects? Easy. Will keep that in mind.”

Yeah. I know that I did annoyed ol’ Archibald a little. I am not even able to cook any potion without my damned eyes! All I want to do here is to check her state, maybe cast some minor healing spell and leave.

“At least let me announce you…” former adventurer sighed

He knocked in the door or the room three times and politely asked

“Madam, may I come in?” “Of course Archibald.” A response from the other side could be heard. Wasting no more time he entered the room shutting door behind him. “Madam, Mister Zariel came. He asked if you would allow him to check your condition.” “Oh… it’s… I don’t mind at all, I simply didn’t expect him to come today…”

The door was opened yet another time

“Mister, I am leaving madam in your hands.” Butler asked from the room. “Greeting.” I said from the doorstep “Please forgive me my selfishness, it is very impolite

of me to come without sending a note, but I am afraid that lately I can’t find much spare time… to the point, how are you feeling today?”

I put my hand on her forehead pretending to be measuring body heat.

“Ah, Good morning. Much, much better. Most of the symptoms are gone, it’s just… I am still…” “Weakened? Exhausting faster? It’s more than normal. The poison must have left your body already, yet still it managed to deal significant damage. You can start to slowly reduce doses of medicine and start using average recovery potion instead… You can probably get them from every alchemy guild store. Those priests that have been helping you up until now can shine again.” “You are not going to continue my healing?” She asked not offended nor angered. It was pure curiosity. “I can always step by and speak my mind, but I am afraid that if I would keep a noble house for myself Alchemy guild may start targeting me… You know, at first I refused their invitation, then I started giving potion of my own creation to one of Great Houses… I am merely trying to reduce possible problems for both you and me… A top of that in few two or three more days you should start walking, in a week you should be able to do basic tasks within a day without getting tired that much, and in half of a month you will be able to dance with your husband all night long… or whatever you prefer to be doing all night long…”

Archibald start coughing hysterically. Mrs. Blackwood chuckled, probably because of butler’s reaction than my joke.

“Please Archibald. We are all adults. Plus I heard that Madam has four sons…” I pointed out “Still, there are topics that should not be spoken in…” “It’s ok Archibald. It’s just like Mister Zariel said. And even if that would not be case, I think we could forgive improper word or two to someone who saved my life. Half of a month, you say?” “Plus-minus few days. Different bodies heals differently, still, speed of your healing is extraordinary… Has your family any priests of Aira? A blessing could work this way…” “No. I don’t think so. Merchants, bankers and speculators, as you can see there is not much divinity in our family.” “Very well… you can ask for potion based on tangrora root, river and moon grass and alcohol. Strong one.” “Alcohol?” “It’s much better than water! Help most substances be absorbed faster. Makes your veins wider…” “Then why alcohol is not used in every potion?” “Mostly because it can’t be combined with every substance. Few becomes completely useless. Water, on the other hand can. I have heard about few lazy ido..” I felt Archibald’s gaze on my back “…fools, that are using water to everything. Just because they are afraid checking other methods. They are disgrace for the science, I tell you!...” And then I realized that effect of [Mad Scientist] is influencing me “… I beg your forgiveness, sometimes when I am discussing alchemy with others I can get… bit passionate…” “There is no need to apologize. It’s a wonderful thing to see so young yet fully dedicated man...”

We kept talking for a little while. Mrs. Blackwood, as greatest negotiator, didn’t even mention my new appearance. Really, this woman is frightening me…

Next on our “to do” list is my small company “Evil & Evil Enterprise”, I haven’t visited it in quite some time… Well, let’s just hope that it won’t be in ruin as soon as I would s… Is that a smoke? Nah, I am just fucking with you.

But, the gate were shut closed… I hit it few times. No one answered.

“Little pig, little pig! Let me come in! If you won’t, I will huff and I will puff and I will blow your house do…” “Quit yelling! State your busine…” Some guard finally came out “… I am sorry sir, I am opening it right away sir.”

… You know, I never wanted to be a man in charge. I preferred to be freelancer… yet as I am slowly getting more comfortable with the idea of people respecting you, trying to do everything they can just to please you (counting on later gratification) … It feels so gooood. Now I see why all those tyrants are fighting to keep the power for themselves.

“B…boss, are you all right? Do you need help to get int…” “No. it’ ok.” “But… may I simply point out that your eyes…” “I see no problems with that…”… I… will… never…grow…bored…of…this! “.. It’s fine, really! Just tell me where Clarice is.” “She is in laboratory on the floor. She and rest of your apprentices are talking with mister Rogue right now.”

…Rouge. Well, he is one of the man I would prefer not to meet right now. Could I tell to him something like “Well, then if he is dealing with them, then it means I had nothing more to do” an leave… I totally could… Maybe if I would turn away right now…

“Master Rogue was really worried about you. He will be pleased to hear that you are back. I will tell him right away!”

No! Wait! Stop! Fuck! Bloody asshole. Well, messengers that brings good news are usually rewarded… or at least remembered, it’s nothing strange that man wanted to be noticed by Rogue…

In very short amount of time the door behind which man disappeared was opened again.

“Mister Rogue is asking you inside, sir…” “Really? So if he wouldn’t ask me in I should be standing like a dog behind the door?” “It’s not what I..” “Easy! I am just messing with you!” I said moving past him “… Rogue, your people have no sense of humor at all!” “Very well, from now onward I will tell all of my men to be much more entertaining.. .maybe we shall make an obligatory law for everyone to speak at least three jokes a day?!” “See?” I said to the messenger pointing on Rogue “A joke. That’s how you make it.” “By the way, nice ears Zari. I have heard that you lost your eyes, then you didn’t appear in factory for some time… so I came to eventually pick a new leader of the group…” He was teasing me. I knew it “Ho? And which one you picked? Asking cuz’ I also see that two girls from this group could more or less fit that role… as soon as they would learn to prepare bloody tea without messing ingredients…” “If you are here, than that is no longer needed… But, can you fulfill your role in your current state?” “No. This is why I came just to yell and swear, make someone read me reports, yell on the girl because of the reports, ask how production is going, yell on girl because production is going bad and yell on the workers because of same reason; ask girls to prepare potions which I taught them over two weeks ago, yell at them as they would prepare the potion, then check the quality of the potion, yell at them because of quality of the potion… Hm… that sounds like it… but, I feel like I forget about something important…” “Maybe yelling?” Rogue suggested amused. “That’s it! You know me so well, Rogue…” “Very well, if you know what has to be done, then I am leaving you be. Oh, by the way, the first batch of potions that factory made were sold very quickly. I am afraid that for now we won’t be able to fulfill needs of the markets…” “That’s great! It means that no matter how much we would produce, we would still sell everything! And Alchemy guild?” “It were barely hundred potions. Sold one time, atop of that… For now we are safe, it should take them some time to notice our activity. Up until them we hope to make a strong brand with solid reputation… until then…” “We will keep selling via vendors… Shitty luck, but luck.” “Indeed. Saying so… I will see you lat… oh, sorry about that.”

I only chuckled and waved my hand to him as he was leaving as soon as door shouted behind him, I turned my face back to the girls and did what I promised to do. I started yelling.

Nothing is as refreshing as one good yelling session. Actually… girls are doing fine. Not perfectly, but fine. Still confusing which herb is which or the order of each task. Maybe that could be easier, if they would have engraved in their minds systems that would be showing them the whole process or if they could tell name of the herb merely by touching it… What can I say? Sucks to be them.

The last place in my schedule is the library. Knowing my luck I would find some naive… I mean, good person that would help poor blind kid in need?

“Zariel? What is wrong with your head?!”

Oh-ho. Target locked!

“Hell-o, Blondie!” “I HAVE A NAME!” “Silence! We are in library!” Staff member rebuked us “Pardon me, how are you doing…” “You forgot, did you?” “You know what?! I am offended. I am just toying with you…” I said putting my hand on her shoulder activating [Appraisal] in same time “…Gloria.” What a wonderful skill! “Hmph. What do you want…” “Me?! You are the one who accosted me! But! As you are already here… I could use a helping hand…” “What would I get from this?!” “As I recall you wanted a rematch…” I almost heard her eyes shining “… so if you would help me couple of times I could reconsider your offer.” “What do you mean by [Couple of times]?” “Oh, I am not sure myself…” “You just want to keep using me without giving anything back but empty promises!” “Wha… I wouldn’t!” I totally would “… Just what do you even think about me! I am deeply offended, you know?! Like, deeply-deeply! What would your parent say if they would know that their daughter is accusing respected individuals such as myself!” “And you are trying to either threaten me or use my felling of guilt.”

… Ok. I have to admit the fact, that she is not as stupid as I wanted her to be. Whatever.

“Eh. And here I wanted to help you studying by giving you opportunity to help ME with very same task. You were admiring my skills… and I wanted to show you yet another aspect of perfect fight…” “Which is…?” “Knowing your opponent. Probably, soon I will be going on quest to kill a hydra. And I wanted to get some information about them… But as you could probably see, I am lacking eyes…” “Hydra!? They are sending a cripple for a hunt?!” “I assure you, my combat skills are not much lower without only one sense. I would still win if we were to fight on arena of Council. So?” “… If you have to get some information about Hydra then…” “Somebody said Hydra?” yet another person joined our conversation. I knew that voice from somewhere… “Magical creatures is my branch of science! I wouldn’t mind at all to tell you EVERYTHING about them… if you could just let be diagnose me in return…” “P..Professor Hieronymus Kleir! Good to see you sir!” Gloria almost chirped. Ah, the friend of Hanna! The guy that has been studying beasts and monsters. When I shook hands with him he almost got heart attacked. “Yeah. Morning lad…” He answered her shortly “… now, your answer?! In the whole country there is no one who could tell you about them as much as me! Those books you want to read are probably mine too! So, your answer?!” “W…What do you mean by diagnosing?” “Oh! Really nothing! Nothing painful! No sharp things will be involved. I more interested in the show of your morphing! How fast can you shift, if there is a limit to the number of morphing… how your changed body reacts to various stimulus – in same way the animal tissues or other… it won’t take more than hour! Please! Take into consideration the benefits for science as well! No! I am not asking you! I am begging! You want me to kneel? F…” “It’s ok! It really is! I am fine with that. Really!” “A…hahaha… great… that’s great! No one in history checked living Devourer… the notes will be more precious than gold! Thank you sir, thank you!... when would you like to have our conversation and…” “Right now would be great for me, sorry if that’s the problem, I am simply bit short on time, so…” “SPLENDIT! SPLEND…” “Silence! We are in library!” Someone yelled again. “Ok! Ok! So, mr. Zariel, would that be a problem if we would go to my lab? Great!”

And he start marching toward the exit.

“Your chance was lost, Blondie, excuse me…”

I said leaving the library.