“Bahh!” I moaned, awakening awkwardly from my sleep.

“Gahhhh…” My joints ached while my heart felt like it had been through a vice. I looked around, expecting to see blue. The cold grey walls of my room confounding my senses. It took a few minutes to remember that, yes indeed, my room was gray stone, like it always was. Shaking my head, I painfully got out of bed. Taking one more cautious look around, I dismissed the odd thoughts plaguing me.

A weird dream maybe?

Sunlight shone lazily through the window. It was almost mid-morning, crap, I needed to meet the others for exercise. My tired brain slowly weighed the pros and cons of skipping out on morning exercise. Why even bother?

I laid back down smiling contently. Screw Kevin and the others, I was tired. Even if they kicked me out of their little exercise group, life would go on. Kevin’s companionship was suspect at best, Mintha a bit too aloof, and Verdia, not worth a moment of my time. Sure, she would probably taunt me calling me weak, or…

“Ah, hell no!”

I leapt out of the bed, frantically putting on my linens, cuirass, hauberk, and finally hiding them all underneath my robe. It would be hot and uncomfortable, but better than dying from an errant spell or dagger, especially on the first day of classes.

I tucked the lightors and cell phones on my person before quickly heading to the door. Neither Kevin’s complaints nor Mintha’s cold emotionless stare could motivate me, but Verdia… No way would I give her the satisfaction, “Couldn’t handle a little other worlder exercise, humph! Some man…” No, that would not do.

By the time I reached the courtyard, the three of them were already through the stretching phase. This was supposedly to warm up your muscles before the main exercise, more useless movements that gave the appearance of effort.

“Tome! Hey, you’re late!”

“Yeah, yeah, apologies Kevin, rough night.”

“If you’re too tired, maybe you should just watch today, wouldn’t want to exhaust a legendary water mage in the making.”

I glared daggers at Verdia, “… … …”

Ugh, pathetic, I couldn’t even think of a good comeback.

“We’ll wait while you stretch,” Mintha offered.

“No need, I, uh, already stretched, let’s just get to it.”

Mintha shrugged and we began lifting our knees up only to slap them with our hands, zombies as Kevin called them. We then did the strange jumping things he called jumping Jacks, of course someone with a pitiful name would come up with an equally pitiful activity. We performed multiple sit-ups and pushups, the added weight of my armor doing me no small injustice. I sweated and grunted a bit more than the others, but still managed my share, my hauberk fighting against me every time I reached the peak of a sit-up.

We did the loaded runs around the inner walls of the spires, the mage groups staring at us like you would the village idiot. My pride was a tad wounded, but I comforted myself in the knowledge that this was groundwork for the future. Not in the sense of gaining strength or endurance, no, that was other worlder hogwash. Everyone thought we were at best idiots, at worst retarded. That suited me just fine, when your enemy underestimates you, they tend to let their guard slip. Me and my daggers only needed a few seconds…

Who knew that Kevin’s exercise humdrum would prove so useful? Fastus gave me a condescending smirk as we passed the fire mages. That’s right, buddy, I’m just a half-wit peasant, no need to worry about how I am going to dismember you… Though I still wasn’t sure if he would be alive when I got to that part.

We finished a few more laps before we all stopped near our belongings at the south wall. Everyone happily dropped their packs before picking up their canteens. I picked mine up and was hardly surprised when I saw the cap face completely unremarkable. I groaned, Gods was I thirsty… I strapped the canteen to my waist; I would have to deal with it later. Enviously I stole long glances at the others as they greedily drank their water.

“Gulp! Hey Tome, you should really take a few drinks! It’s important to stay hydrated when exercising,” Kevin helpfully offered, finishing off half his canteen.

“Oh, it’s no big deal, my water arcane does a fair job at keeping me hydrated,” I lied.

I could tell him the truth, that someone had obviously messed with my water, but to what end? The only thing I wanted from him was the 2 gold I was owed (1 discounting the electricity devices), not his Godsdamn pity. Pity was a currency only in vogue amongst beggars or scoundrels, not a Rimoude.

My thirst almost led me to take a swig, after all, the poison would probably just be a minor inconvenience. However, there was a chance it was a sleeping potion, which being the first day, I couldn’t risk. I took a long look around, the water mages were the closest group, but I didn’t think I had an enemy amongst their number. Hmm, but could anyone else have approached our stuff without being noticed?

Well, every living being was basically an enemy in the making, so I couldn’t rule out any of them. When I retired for the evening, I’d take a few swigs to see just what was in my water. Whatever pain or inconvenience I suffered would surely fade once the morning arrived.

Well, “When the world gives you lemons, sell them off and buy a beer,” as my grandfather used to say.

“I’m going to head in, I’ll catch you guys tomorrow!”

“Alright, later Tome.”

“See you at the commencement.”

“…”

I gave a smile and a cordial wave before heading inside, ignoring Verdia’s silence. The canteen incident had me desperately needing a drink. Briskly walking, I quickly entered the Spire’s main entrance and was near the end of the hallway before I noticed the threat. Sharp, quick footsteps behind me. The owner was doing their best to muffle the sound, but I was extra vigilant. Being stabbed in what I thought was an empty hallway in the South Fort was a very good lesson in situational awareness.

My hands fell into my pockets, the right falling into the carefully created hole to grab a dagger from my belt while my left fell into the other pocket, avoiding the pouch and instead grasping a flat, round object. My right hand slowly settled upon the grip of my circular dagger, if the bastard following me had armor, I was punching through it this time. My left quickly lifted the object so that it was mostly obscured by my face. Looking into the mirror I saw the vexation heading towards me.

“Verdia, can I help you with something?” I asked, deftly putting the mirror back into its place while still firmly holding the hilt of my dagger.

She stopped, gasping, “How d…?”

“You’re out of practice, or maybe that little bit of exercise was too much for you?”

“You bastard! I ran faster than you did, why I could’ve done ten more…”

“Yes, yes, you’re quite masculine, is there a reason why you’re following me?”

I turned in time with the word masculine, seeing her whole-body twist as her face unpleasantly scrunched up.

“M, ma, masculine!? How dare you?” Her hands quickly pulled out her two stilettos.

“Oh, you still don’t have that wand, do you?”

My left hand fell to the pouch. She was angry, which was good, for angry was careless… My right hand brought the dagger just to the hem of the robe’s pocket, best not to let her see my choice of weapon. Hmm, I’d have to wrap her corpse in my robe and somehow get it behind the kitchen. Was that doable without being discovered?

Eagerly I waited, having our dance already thought out. Left hand would utilize the pouch, then use both hands to drive the circular dagger through her neck. The hallway was wide, but I was certain the contents of the pouch would land on the target, followed by the armor piercing dagger. If she had plate mail around her neck I would find a weak spot to wedge my dagger through. Verdia took a step forward, raising her blades.

I stood stock still, let the mark come to you. The tension in her face slowly drained as we stared, slowly replaced by a coy grin.

“And here I’ve come to help you,” She adroitly sheathed her daggers, “And you’d insult me, a lady so?”

Lady? A bitch certainly, lady, hmm.

“When someone tries to assassinate me, I ‘m surprisingly uncordial.”

“Assassinate?! I just wanted to talk!”

Which was why you were silently and rapidly approaching my exposed back, of course.

“So, non-assassin, what can I help you with? If you’re wanting lessons in civility, I have to warn you, we may need years.”

“Oh, ha ha, ha! Aren’t you so clever?”

I smiled, I certainly thought so.

“Come on, just a few words, or are you that threatened by me, an innocent girl?”

There was so much wrong with that statement, but my thirst was not abating.

“Alright, but let’s head to the dining hall, I need something to drink,” I turned and continued on to my previous destination.

She followed mumbling something about me being too quick to violence. I listened half-heartedly, more concerned with quenching my thirst. The immense dining hall was mostly empty, inhabited only by a few scattered groups of mages and a few professors eating at the table on the raised dais. I led Verdia to my favorite spot in one of the corners.

“Wait for me here,” I pointed to the corner table, “Anything to drink?”

Annoyance that she was, techniquely she was company.

“Posca.”

“Nothing with a bit more kick?”

“Not all of us are alcoholics,” there was an implied insult on the last word.

I stared at her confused.

“One of Kevin’s words, it’s how he always describes you.”

“Okay… But what the hell does it mean?”

“That you’re addicted to alcohol.”

“Okay, and… That’s, that’s a bad thing?”

She shrugged, embarrassed, “The way he says it, I thought it was quite the insult, damn… Thought It’d get a reaction from you.”

Sighing, I left her and went to fetch our drinks. Everyone I knew drank, and they all drank heavily. It was one of the few pleasures that never disappointed. Only Kevin and his utopia could brand something so ubiquitous, so communal, as evil. Religions tended to frown upon leisure, it took the more sensible adherents to keep them from going too far.

Entering the kitchen, I nodded and smiled at Helthinth, she nodded back knowingly. I went to the back of the kitchen and down the stairs to the buttery. Grabbing two giant steins from the floor to ceiling tall rack, I stopped in front of the immense casks, debating on what I wanted. Wine or liquor, no, not at the moment. Eventually I settled on a white beer, heffaweisen as the otherworlders who introduced it to the republic had called it.

After filling the steins, I ascended to the kitchen and filled two smaller glasses with posca before heading back to Verdia. I placed the steins and glasses down before taking my seat, back to the raised dais. Unless one of the teachers currently eating there tried assassinating me, I was secure with a full view of anyone approaching.

“I said I only wanted a posca.”

“Just being hospitable.”

Women were very fickle. Sure, she claimed she didn’t want any alcohol, but that was only a few minutes ago. Give a woman ten seconds and she was want to change her entire view on life, let alone her choice of drink. Besides, if she really didn’t want that beer, the more for myself.

She scowled, taking a quick drink. My eyebrow arched as I raised my own glass of posca, waiting. She scoffed heavily, before clinking glasses with me. Etiquette was not a high brow affair of the nobles, it was a matter of custom and respect. I greedily emptied my glass, my thirst finally relenting to a small degree. Quickly I grabbed my stein and drained a fifth of the beer, the demands of my throat finally met.

“You know, maybe you are an alcoholic.”

“There are worse things to be,” like a bitch, “So, out with it, what do you want to talk to me about?”

“Come now, can’t we have some pleasant banter?”

Could we? Hell, why not?

“Tell me about yourself,” I offered, taking another swig.

There was a pained silence. Asking her her hometown would’ve been quickly dismissed, but this gave options. Give me a little info about herself, true or false, to open up the conversation.

“I’m, I’m the only child, from a family of well to do merchants. They sold lodestone about the Republic, and to approved coastal cities.”

A lump formed in her throat, as though discussing this was difficult. I nodded to urge her on. I almost stopped to ask something, but stuck a pin in my question. Where would she take this?

“We made a fair amount, but five years ago other worlders stopped us between Amethyst and Litoralis, they, they…” Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice began to falter.

“They ambushed us on the road, killed my parents, and then they took me into the, into the woods…” The tears were really flowing now, her body shivering, “They raped, they had their way with me…”

She covered her face and began sobbing heavily.

“You poor thing,” it took every ounce of willpower to keep my voice level, “How did you survive?”

“They just left me there in the woods, sniff, sniff, before leaving with all our possessions, sniff! Luc, sniff, luckily another traveler found me, sniff! They took me to Garnet and nursed me back to health.”

Her reddened green eyes looked at me imploringly. There was a palpable sense of loss in the air, fighting to hold my emotions in check, I asked the question.

“And what became of the license?”

“License?”

“Yeah, your genticus license, the one that allowed you to trade between the Republic and Litoralis.”

“The, they took it, sniff!” her sorrowful eyes now filled with confusion at such an inappropriate question.

“Uh huh, and how did they do that?”

The waterworks burst force again, “Why, why are you asking me something so stupid?! When they disemboweled my father, Gods the blood! When, after they were done, they took the papers from him! Ahhh, it was so terrible, his eyes…”

Truly I didn’t mean too, but her tale of tragedy and woe had finally become too much for me. Overwhelmed with emotion I could do nothing save throw my head back, and laugh uproariously, “Bah, ha, ha, ha!”

No doubt her face dropped in horror at my reaction, but I couldn’t stop myself to check. Tears of my own began streaming down my cheeks, Gods, it’d been so long since last I heard something this hilarious! Slapping the table I struggled to rein in my laughter. Verdia’s pitiful face staring at me in disgust.

“Oh, ha, ha! Man, Verdia, you really can spin a good yarn. Are you sure your family weren’t bards?” because they certainly weren’t merchants.

“You, how dare…”

I brought my laughter down to a subdued chuckle, “I’ve done a lot of haggling alongside my brother, amongst other things. If you’re going to tell a lie, best to actually know what you’re talking about.”

The genticus license was a set of papers, strictly for the trade of lodestone within the Republic. When trading lodestone with the coastal cities, a gentium license was required. Thanks to my brother Theodore, I was well acquainted with that license and still vividly remembered how it was granted. The Republic took the trade of lodestone to other cities and kingdoms very, very, seriously.

“You don’t believe me?” her sniffing stopped as she gave me a beseeching stare, “Other worlders did attack me and my family, the things they did to me…”

“When?”

“Uh, years ago.”

“No, season and time of day.”

“What the hell does that have to do with it!?”

“Now.”

Pausing, I watched her eyes go upwards for nearly ten seconds.

“It was winter, afternoon.”

“Nope.”

“?”

“You took too long,” I bluffed.

My lips curved upwards as my eyes shone with an I have you expression. I honestly couldn’t be sure if she was lying or not, but based on her other lies it was a safe bet. Even if she wasn’t lying, her goal was to manipulate me. A poor girl, defiled by evil men from another world, what man could turn a blind eye to such a travesty? Well, myself for one. Verdia’s misfortunes were her own, I had no sympathy to offer her.

The shivering and tears stopped in a heartbeat. We just stared at one another. Victory, me. Stopping myself from snickering, I drained a fair portion of my drink. My opponent’s shoulders sagged, while her eyes got darker.

“To not believe a woman, some man you are.”

“To expect me to fall for such pathetic lies, some merchant you are. My brother would eat you alive.”

Theo would’ve seen through her lies far easier than I had. I shuddered involuntarily when she pulled out a light green handkerchief. Verdia dabbed her eyes and meticulously wiped away the tear streaks. She closed her eyes for a few moments before they fluttered open, all sadness, hate, and resentment gone.

“We need to talk about Kevin,” gah, one of my least favorite topics.

“Have you noticed anything… Odd, about him?”

“You mean that he’s duller than most other other worlders, yeah, who wouldn’t?”

“No! Well, besides that, have you noticed how he, uh, has a certain way about him?”

I cocked my head at her, “If you’re falling in love with your mark, that’s, that’s s…”

“Godsdamnit, that’s not what I mean! Have you never tried to end him yourself?”

My mind raced, attempting to deduce the implications here. Swiftly I glanced around the room, making sure neither Kevin, Mintha, nor any other worlders were around. No, we were safe to discuss this topic freely, but surely this was some plot of hers.

“Why, whatsoever could you mean? Kevin is my friend, I would never even dream to harm him!”

“Drop the act, I know he’s your companion, but how could you not try to kill him after even just one day!”

I feigned an expression of horror, “Harm Kevin? Gods woman, what’s wrong with you!”

Glaring, she picked up the second stein of beer and took a long drink while peering into my eyes. Ha, was right about the drink, two for two. We continued our staring contest, Verdia angry, myself happy not to have fallen for whatever trap she had laid.

Her expression froze, giving nothing away.

“Everyone knows about what happened in the infirmary, some say you were still out of it but I think you were thinking clearly. But just consider, when you did try to kill Kevin, how well did it go?”

Not dropping my stare, silently I debated on the poisoned fruit and when I woke from my coma. Kevin still hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, so I was fairly certain he wasn’t lying about his curse/allergy. As for after the coma, I tried to dismiss that incident as I had just woken up and was still groggy from six days without food or moving. Gods, that was an embarrassment I wish had never happened, or especially been witnessed by others.

“So you’re saying you’ve tried to kill him?” the level of my voice rose in suspicion.

“Whatever,” she stood up, draining the rest of her posca, “But just so you know, you have an obligation to end him.”

“I have no su…”

“He’s a threat, an abnormal one, and if you didn’t have your head up your ass about plants and people hating you, you’d see him for what he truly is.”

My teeth grinded as my eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“He told me, of course, as if he could keep any secrets! I’m not threatening you Tome, and I’m not lying, Kevin is a danger to the Republic. Perhaps not now, but one day he will be. You know what needs to be done.”

She stood up, her face blank, her words free of guile or influence. She closed her eyes, turned, and left. I watched her leave, debating on whether this was another act or something more. Kevin was dangerous, to anyone in his party or near him when he swung that huge claymore of his. Assuming this wasn’t some pathetic ploy, perhaps Kevin was only playing dumb?

I sat for several minutes, quickly polishing off my stein as I pondered. Could Kevin have been playing me, us, the Republic this entire time? Was his mentally impaired act merely a ploy so that we would let our guards down? Could Kevin actually be, a h… I stopped that thought, no, Kevin was many things, weak, turncoat, thief, dumbass, other worlder, but that?

I laughed heartily, reaching for Verdia’s barely touched stein. Taking a long draught, I comforted myself with the fact that she was unscrupulous, she would say whatever it took to get me to kill Kevin for her. I didn’t know why she didn’t do it herself, but that was her problem, not mine.

Kevin, like most other worlders, would find his end before too long. So he thought the company he currently kept better than my own, just let him see how wrong that was… I quickly polished off the stein, then found myself with a more troublesome issue.

Did I want one more stein, or two before classes?

--------------------------------------------------

“Remember, the other worlders are to be reviled, and dealt with quietly in the shadows. Never let them know their true place in the Republic, they will always turn on us. As sons of the Lodestone Republic, you must always remember to only tell them what is allowed. “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” The only place for them is a deep, unmarked grave.”

Walking away, the foris magister abruptly stopped before turning back to the multitude of boys under his tutelage. His face carrying a look of concern.

“Don’t take that literally. You all know that other worlder corpses need be handed over to the nearest city guards. Their belongings are anyone’s for the taking, but the body must be retrieved. Burn this well into your minds children, for anyone found in dereliction of this shall become intimately acquainted with the Sovereign. For the few who survive, you won’t ever be the same.”

-Bryon Altol, Foris Magister, Sapphire, Indigo Hamlet.