Tansen quietly sighed as the prize of an age walked out of his office casually treating a scion like any other back alley thug. Stuck between horrified and impressed, Tansen could only lean back into his chair as the form of the red robed woman was unreadable. It took another few moments before she turned around and when she did, Tansen would have sworn she had been slapped by a previously docile and caring husband if not for the lack of a palm mark.

Koal walked over to his oak desk and her light green eyes showed the mulling of previously unthinkable thoughts. After she strummed her immaculately polished fingernails on the desk for a minute, she finally spoke again.

“What is going on here, Tansen? He… he dismissed a magical resource. I’ve seen people who are on the cusp of ascending to a higher tier of magic. Magical resources are in their every breath and thought. An obsession as dire as any person could ever have and he just acted like it was nothing. What…” Words failed her as her jaw with two moles along the left side worked with no sound coming out.

Tansen’s closed his brown eyes before leaning forward in his leather chair to meet her gaze even as his lazy demeanor gave a slight motion in the wave of sapphires on his black kimono.

“The report we sent out was just his presently known circumstances and his elements. His outlook and his connection to the dwarves were not items that could be included.” He said with an exhausted impatience.

“The dwarves? Yeah… That would make sense for them to get into his good graces.” She said with a comprehending look. But it turned confused when Tansen shook his head.

“No. They knew him when he was a crafter. Before he confided his growth into a caster to me, the dwarves had already arrived. Whatever connection he has to them, it’s far more than a passing interest in the newest bauble. And if we are not careful, he may take their side in future conflicts.” Koal crossed her arms as she puckered her lips in a disbelieving look.

“I highly doubt he would forgo all the endless lux-“ She stopped as her face went blank from the obvious memory of her last conversation.

“Oh, yes he would. Now I have a meeting later today with his wife and I would urge you to attend.”

Koal gave a tired sigh before nodding and headed out the door. The rest of the day passed at its usual grueling pace before the late afternoon came and Salamede came by to drop off the letters from the associations who tried to contact Eli directly. When she did so, Tansen got his secretary to send for Koal. When the fire scion came through the door, the secretary bowed down with a reverence that she often didn’t show her own employer before scurrying out the door.

The fire scion walked in with the haughty menace of an heir come to claim their due. Salamede was in front of Tansen’s desk wearing her typical green dress and white embroidery with simple leather shoes but she may have well have worn a dirty sack as Koal looked at her like she was a cockroach that had taken refuge in her sheets.

“What makes you think you deserve to be here, thief of the quad mages seed?” Koal demanded with an accusing finger.

Salamede lower chin came up as her human shaped face with a goat’s snout and grey fur got a defiant look.

“It’s hardly theft when he’s practically riding me day and night. If you are so concerned about his seed, then I will make sure he is thoroughly drained tonight, as is my wifely duty.”

Koal’s face went as red as her robes before she stomped forward and raised a hand but was stopped by a wall of water. Salamede looked ready to fight when her scowl went almost up to her smooth cheekbones but that was not how Tansen wanted this meeting to start.

“We are all on the same side here,” Tansen said, noting the blast of heat that was now coming from Koal.

It took a moment before the heat subsided and Tansen let the wall of water disappear between the two women.

“And just what makes you think that?” Koal demanded with a scowl across her face as she never took her light green eyes off the object of her hatred.

The rustling of the letters in the draws of Tansen’s desk drew Koals’ eyes for a moment and they went wide as he produced an ever-enlarging pile of letters complete with the finest envelopes and embroidery. Koal moved towards his desk and rifled through them.

“The healers association, Metal Tuners…. Wait” She said as she took out three in particular. One was a deep red, another had bits of mana crystal around a fine leather exterior, and the final one was the most plain, but it had a burnt lower left corner.

“This one is mine,” She said putting the red one down before turning to the leather one studded with small mana crystals. “Central continent. Not even the Ember’s could afford this. Apparently, the healing association from the central continents coast has taken an interest. But this one,” she held up the burnt edge like it emitted a foul odor. She turned her eyes to Salamede in anger but Tansen cut her short before the women started a fight in his office.

“Eli did that.”

Koal’s brown eyebrows shot up in surprise but Tansen pressed on over the obvious objections.

“Salamede has been bringing them to me so I could safely store them for when we could possibly respond to them at a later date. Perhaps if you aren’t too busy going out of your way to make the world a worse place, you could advise us on that.”

Koal held out the burnt letter to Tansen with furrowed eyebrows.

“How did this happen?” She demanded.

“Eli has been burning them, said they make a nice starter for the fireplace.” The rough voice of Salamede cut through the fire scions’ thoughts. “I’ve been bringing them here so that he doesn’t cut himself off from the mage world completely.”

It took a long moment of staring blankly at Salamede before Koal spoke again, now paler and seemingly shaken as her tone wobbled.

“He… He’s been burning the letters. Do you have any idea… There have been cases where lords have murdered butlers because they misplaced such items and Eli has been-” Koal looked towards the sky but the soft glow of the mana lamp only provided a dim mockery of the heavens she was beseeching. Koal’s eyes then turned down towards Salamede, the light green showing a dawning horror.

“You’re not the problem.” She whispered.

Salamede crossed her arms under her chest and huffed, but her voice carried a mix of pain and resignation.

“I’m the one who has to bring up joining the mage world whenever we talk about our future. If it was up to him, he would not have anything to do with any of you. If he would… No. I’m not good enough of a woman that I would leave him if I thought it would mean him doing his duty. But even being the self-centered bitch that I am, the fact is that even with me out of the picture, he would simply refuse to provide out of spite for the society and system that put him through so much.”

The veneer of superiority that encased Koal like a suit of armor, cracked as it was from the letters, now totally buckled from the weight of the Kelton woman’s words until the fire scion had finally been laid bare to the facts of the situation she had fought so hard to put herself into. A pinch on her small nose calmed her down before she spoke again with new resolve.

“How… How does someone who doesn’t care about the mage world become a caster?”

Tansen opened his mouth for a biting quip before he turned his questioning gaze on Salamede.

“How did he become a caster?” Tansen said. He knew Eli was a caster before he ‘became’ a caster but Tansen hoped the goat woman was clever enough to give the ‘answer’ and the real answer.

Salamede took a deep breath before revealing the secret.

“Eli took down a troll on one of our trips. But we were out of food, so he ate some of it before taking as much as he could to sell.” She said indifferently.

‘Ah, that troll attack on the village. If that is indeed what happened,’ Tansen thought to himself.

Koal just gave a light chuckle.

“He was hungry? He used magical resources for sustenance, not to grow in magical power.” Koal continued her light laughs as she searched around the room for some answer to this joke, but a cough from the academy head brought her eyes back to Tansen.

“Right, so now that you are fully apprised of the situation, would you oh so kindly un-annul Eli’s marriage?”

Koal puckered her lips before taking deep breath and getting a more somber look.

“Whatever Salamede and Eli’s intentions, she is not a human. The associations and human governments the world over will never accept her being his wife. Going against this tide would only see me removed and the next person they send will not be as reasonable.”

A pall of silence fell over the room until Koal spoke back up.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m totally helpless. I’ll send a letter to the forming committee around Eli’s circumstances and see if I can induce a bit of patience out of them. But make no mistake, Salamede, this all ends with Eli up to his eyes in naked women and his manhood sore with his balls aching to produce enough as they struggle to keep up with demand.”

Thankfully, Salamede was reasonable and only nodded before turning out the door to leave the two scions alone.

“I’ve sent my representative away, that only leaves the one from Flood’s wrath. Pretentious name for a new bunch of girls working water.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead to stave off a headache for a moment before looking Tansen straight in the eyes “Things on my end are going to get worse before they get better,” Koal said in a tired tone.

“Unfortunate. But I do hope you understand the situation more clearly now. Salamede is our lifeline to him, not an obstacle.”

Koal looked at him, the vigor and confidence she had displayed when she first came into the room now totally gone.

“I understand it now more than I ever wanted to.” She said in a defeated tone. The fire scion turned around and went out the door in much the same manner her former enemy did.

It was two days later, when Tansen was working on another series of reports and going over some paperwork for of a nice little item for Eli, that a guard came in telling him of a fire and riot in the Kelton quarter. Rushing down the stairs, Tansen came out onto the main road with three pillars of smoke around the town, two on the left and one on the right. Rand was off in the distance ordering guards around and directing a line of men moving buckets of water.

The ash was coming down from the three fresh smoke pillars and onto the regular houses, something the three pyres near the bridges end always avoided with wind crafts. A few shouts and the academy head moved a few water and earth aligned staff members to assist. There was some grumbles, but those that had been looking on in the crowd by the academy gate did as they were bid and went out to help put out the flames. Satisfied with that, Tansen left to go back into his office, content to let whatever problem started all of the mayhem be investigated and looked over by Rand. That was until the problem burst through his front door with Koal, the Kelton patriarch with a brown suit that reeked of ash and smoke, and, most surprisingly of all, harbormaster Lucius.

The bear of a man would usually be a sturdy sort, but his strong jaw and thick brown eyebrows were covered in sweat and he rubbed his brown shirt and grey pants nervously. His brown eyes also locked onto to Tansen like he was an escape boat on a sinking ship. The patriarch was simple fury, as evidenced by his goat-like face that, while still covered in brown fur, had a harsh scowl on it and his snout flared in irritation. His pudgy hands curled into fists and the way he was looking at Koal made Tansen’s stomach clench.

“What?” Tansen said as he leaned back into his chair.

Lucius stepped forward with a bit lip, but he spoke in a low clear voice.

“The mage associations sent out a letter. From this point forward, they will refuse to do business with anyone dealing with the Kelton community or anyone dealing with those who continue to do so. Eli’s current affiliations are a matter of grave moral concern and have called any still putting their own personal comfort ahead of the wellbeing of humanity by associating with them selfish and a short sighted fool. When the Kelton’s were denied the ability to buy food from the latest shipments, there was a riot in the Kelton quarter and a fire, now contained, broke out,” The harbor master finished in a near whisper.

Tansen felt like throwing up when he turned a furious scowl on Koal, who was standing still as a statue.

“What could have possibly motivated you to think this was a good idea? When-“

“It wasn’t the Ember association.” Koal shot back with a stiff upper lip as she moved off to the left with the white and blue striped wall now behind her. “I made sure that my association was not party to this… change in prerogative.”

“How comforting!” The patriarch almost yelled.

“Watch your tongue.” Koal responded coldly with a glare. “You are in the presence of a scion. Consider it an act of good will I don’t have it pulled out.”

But he put his hands on his hips and huffed.

“We’re already dead. We need those merchant’s food, wood, and cloth shipments. We Kelton’s are all going to die because the magical associations ganged up on us for something we had nothing to do with.”

Koal puckered her lips and gave him her fiercest scowl before laying into him.

“Nothing to do with?! Do you think we are so stupid that we couldn’t see why that ‘accidental’ marriage was performed? You wanted Eli in your back pocket, a nice little card for you to play whenever you needed some free healing or a space expanded chest like the wonder of our age was just some beast of burden you could acquire with an exchange of one of your daughters.

But he is bigger than the Kelton’s, the Diamond academy, this entire backwater region and the whole of the Coalition itself. What delusions have you been indulging in that could possibly lead you to think doing that was a great idea? How, by all that is good and right in this world, could holding that wedding not have ended badly for you? It was your foolish hubris that brought this action on, as ill-advised as it is.”

The academy head interrupted with a cough making everyone turn to him.

“This situation is delicate enough without the associations running around and thrashing everything in sight” Tansen said coldly, his forehead ridge scrunching up with his black eyebrows.

That only brought heat to Koal’s cheeks before she turned on Tansen with a billow of her red robe from her raising an accusing finger at him.

“And where was the situation made delicate, Tansen? Who, exactly, was in charge of his well-being as a student when things got to this point?” Koal growled.

Tansen got up from his seat and leaned over his desk. While the black kimono was loose and free, it suddenly felt very restrictive as it would prevent Tansen from leaping over and snapping her neck.

“I have more than enough letters and respondents to attest to my actions. When the mage associations turned their back on Eli, I’m the one who pushed for his acceptance into their ranks. I have a drawer full of objections to Eli’s censure when everyone else was just trying to avoid him.” Tansen said as he puffed out his chest and flared his nostrils.

“Oh, how noble” Koal said as she put a hand to her chest in mock awe. “You tried to make it known that a Diamond academy crafter was capable of making scion beating items. How truly selfless of you. Tell me, Tansen, does your academy observe the practice of medical priority? Where crafters get put behind casters and scions for treatment?” She asked with puckered lips and raised eyebrows to accentuate her derisive tone.

The academy head closed his eyes for a moment before returning his gaze to hers.

“Yes, as stated by the academy standards set forth in the charter” he said with a firm tone.

“It’s not a requirement, it just makes things easier when the inspectors come to make your academy is looking after its brood properly. Tell me Tansen,” Koal sneered as she moved closer to his desk. “What programs do you have to prevent bullying? Did you set up a system where students who are being victimized can inform the staff? Or do you have the all teachers follow them around, like you did for Eli?”

Tansen was now properly faltering as he struggled for a response. He looked down at the desk for a moment before turning back up to offer a meager defense.

“We employ an excess of staff trained to deal with such situations.” Tansen replied weakly.

“And all the good that did wouldn’t fill a raindrop, you sanctimonious hypocrite. Crafters aren’t accepted into most mage associations because it would take thousands of gold coins to review people who have no real chance of competing against their higher leveled peers. To do so would require raising taxes on the population, something that had already been rejected in times past.

A bit of math you followed through on yourself when you didn’t double tuition getting every crafter a meeting with those associations when they graduate.” Koal scoffed with a scowl before turning around to lay into the rest of those present, but she suddenly stopped dead.

In the doorway stood Eli and Salamede with the rest of the party making way for them. Eli’s purple eyes above the steel smiling mask were as cold as the grave while Salamede had flaring nostrils as they stood side by side. There was bits of ash all over Eli’s white shirt and brown pants while Salamede’s blue dress only had a bit on the arms. Eli started walking forward and kept going until he was right in Koal’s face. Having the quad mage towering over her, Koal’s pride in her station and magic wouldn’t let her cower but the slightest pull back in her head established her submission.

That fear apparently surged in her familiar too, as the red snake slipped out of her robe’s shoulders and went to bite Eli. It’s fangs only got near Eli’s robe before Koal pulled him back and looked to the snake, obviously scolding it for its rash actions.

“Did you have anything to do with this, Koal?” Eli asked in a cold, almost bored manner.

“No,” She quickly spat out, “The Ember association had nothing to do with this.”

“Good,” Eli said as he leaned ever so slightly closer before pulling back and walking up to Tansen’s desk.

“Is the dwarf’s diplomat still here?” Eli asked.

“Um,” Tansen said dumbly, taken aback at the sudden shift in the conversation. “Yes, he is.”

“Would you call him here, or if it is convenient, tell me where I could find him?” Eli asked in a polite tone.

Tansen bid his secretary to do so. While everyone waited for the diplomat to arrive, Lucius stepped forward with sweat running down his face.

“E-Eli, you have to understand that the merchants were put in an impo-“

Eli put up his hand for silence while he merely nodded in understanding.

“They are not who I blame for this mess. Since you can’t do business with the Kelton’s anymore, the two chests will be used for transporting goods for the charities or hungry families at cost. We’ll keep to the same arrangement.”

Lucius gave a deep sigh of relief and it took a few more minutes as the two men worked out what constituted a charity. When they did so, the awaited diplomat came through the door. The dwarf was around three and a half feet high, but the gold rings with jewels on his fingers, and woven through his red beard and hair, made him look like a small walking treasure trove. His red suit and pants also had gold inlay as his emerald eyes looked around the room until he saw Eli. His copper lamb chops ruffled as he got a grin and put a hand out to the quad mage.

“My pleasure, most grand of casters. What may I help you with today?” His teeth were like white tombstones as the typical heavy voice of the dwarves rang out from his throat.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the business with the Kelton’s. What would it cost to have the dwarves transport the goods they need at cost?” Eli asked in a warm tone.

“Hmmm.” The diplomat puckered his lips and looked upward before coming out with an offer. “The same deal as the humans had, but we will need three chests for our personal use with two for the Kelton’s.”

“Agreed.” Eli said with a smile as he stuck out his hand.

The dwarf did a long whistle as he shook out his hand and got a big face splitting smile.

“Them old todgers back home were raising a fuss about us still having such a large presence here. But I didn’t get where I am because I passed up on opportunities. We’ll have the first shipments in tomorrow. Our golems are given extra protections when dealing with the undead and should be fine overland as long as they don’t run into undead trolls.” He was practically hopping in place as the figures for all the wealth from three such chests clearly passed over his face.

Then he stopped as Eli crossed his arms. They were obviously conducting some conversation in a spirit connection with no thought given to the potential offense of the onlookers. After a few more moments the diplomat gave a light bow and headed out the door. Eli looked to follow him out but Koal stopped him as she moved to block his path.

“Eli! I would ask if you were out helping with the flames, but the answer is obvious. You are the pride of the human race, a path forward for all mages the world over to bring the whole of humanity to an unprecedented new level of magical ability. Rand is going to get his hide tanned over his willful endangerment of your life, but you also need to start showing more class to reflect your prestigious station. At the very least, stop getting in among the peasants.” She said, running her eyes up and down his ash dotted clothes.

Eli’s eyes turned venomous and he took in a deep breath before his icy tone gripped everyone’s ears.

“Hear me and hear me well, child. Mages the world over and their associations have existed in the balmy shade of my complete indifference during these good times. Between their rejection and these affronts to my wife, I have maintained a neutral stance and that is a great show of forbearance on my part.

But even God loses patience when tested enough times.

Do you think I am unaware of my position? Of what I could do for humanity? Could. For all this talk of potential and limitless wonders, people seemed to have already sat down for the meal before the cooking fires have even been lit. But the math of this little dance leaves me holding the ultimate card. Mages struggle to conceive even when they constantly try for children, so coercing me will only make this hard task almost impossible and I’m far too dangerous to just hogtie and rape.” He said like he was instructing a uniquely contemptable child.

“Do not be so sure about that, Eli. There are a lot of people who would be willing to take a… flexible approach to consent if this situation continues.” Koal warned in an earnest tone, neither threatening nor promising anything. Eli didn’t seem upset at that, only nodding.

“Oh, I have no doubt they would. I’m sure there are any number of ambassadors or Coalition officials tired of being mocked by their opponents in other nations for this most embarrassing situation. I mean, the world’s first quad mage is delivered to the Coalition and all of its associations. An unprecedented gift from the universe landed right in their laps and they managed to bungle it so hard that he is refusing to have sex and their only hope for not going down the pages of history as a joke is a Kelton woman. I could only begin to imagine what the remarks in letters and dinners with the neighbor’s is like.”

Koal getting a sour face and biting her lip said she had some firsthand experience on the subject.

“If my children in the future decide to spread themselves out like the other mages here, that is their choice. I won’t like it, but I couldn’t stop them. But they aren’t here yet and it is between me and my wife to determine when that happens. Do not push me.” Eli warned before he walked around her and down the staircase past the secretary’s desk with Salamede walking by his side the whole time.

The room was now totally silent. Tansen was sitting down in his chair staring at the ceiling for a long moment before returning his attention back to those in the room.

“Thank you everyone for coming. Koal… I expect we will be working double time to get that item we talked about.” The academy head said.

Koal gave a deep nod than the rest before heading out.

The mages and veteran who gave false testimony against Eli had been exposed during the reveal that members of the military had tried to throw the quad mage to the dogs for some bandit members. Old and a peasant, the veteran had all of his honors and commendations stricken from every unit and military branch he had ever served under. It was said he wailed like a baby as the soldiers held him down while they stripped any badges and medals off him and out of the house. His reputation ruined and with no life left but the one ripped from him, he promptly committed suicide that very night and he was not the last. The judge and prosecutor were found hanging from the bars of the cells they had put so many men in before their own stay.

Mages, on the other hand, were another matter. Bringing them back to the Diamond academy as everyone thought it would basically be a death sentence and their families were fighting an extradition order back to the diamond academy with everything they had to prevent Eli from getting that bit of personal revenge.

In the early morning a few days after the fire in the Kelton quarter, Koal came back through the door of his office with a few pieces of paper in hand with Agatha already being called there and waiting to the right side of the desk. Veronica’s mother looked tired as a few strands of her blond hair shifted over her sharp cheekbones but her black work dress and top were now wrinkle free. Even as haggard as Agatha had looked these past few days, Koal seemed to be doing even worse when she came through the door.

The fire scion was fully pale now and her manner had nervous twitches from her hand clenching her red robes side to her nervous bite on the lip. Tansen sat in his chair tired from the constant work of his station and was content to enjoy the moment of relaxation before Koal told him what had brought her back to his office while Agatha seemed peeved at the summons but knew her station would not allow her to berate a scion. At least, a scion not named Tansen.

“The committee that was formed to act in congress’s behalf sent a personal piece of mail to me and their first proclamation.” She said as she handed over the two pieces of paper. Tansen swallowed his fear and read over the text of the first letter.

‘The circumstances of the quad mage are unacceptable. While we had hoped that you would help correct these events, it appears the Kelton woman’s trickery is far more insidious and potent than we had previously thought if you are already pleading her cause. We will make sure to make up for the weaknesses that have led to this unprecedented failure in the mages duties to both the Coalition and the whole of the human race’

Tansen quickly put it down on the desk and read the official order.

‘Imbued with the powers bestowed by congress, and with the support of several of our proud nation’s top mage associations, the first act of the quad mage correctional committee is to recommend having the Kelton woman who has stolen the destiny of humanity from us all charged with treason against the Coalition and a saboteur of mage affairs. Also, a change in local law enforcement is past due and the authority of the local law will be subsumed by a more competent executor appointed by this committee. We esteemed members of this historic committee feel blessed to be able to help guide the human race through this tumultuous time and seeing the quad mage Eli fulfilling his obligations as a mage to the world and the next generation. As such, we are urging congress to finalize the removal of his censure to help Eli meet these obligations in the quickest and most timely manner possible.’

The academy heads throat went drier and drier with each sentence read. Sucking in the air through gritted teeth, he slammed the papers down on his desk and looked to the ceiling for a long moment as Agatha took up the papers. The mid 30’s blond looked over the papers with her blues eye’s becoming more and more irritated with each swing of her pupils across the page. Only when her nose flared and her hands scrunched across the papers did she finally say anything.

“All this work. A new committee in the government, endangering entire communities, and now a potential criminal trial all because Eli is the first man in the world to not think with his dick. Are we being mocked by the gods?” She growled between gritted teeth

“Get Eli and Salamede in here. Now!” Tansen shouted, prompting his secretary to immediately run from her desk and to the staircase.

“You’re sure that’s wise? Telling them immediately.” Koal said with a raised right eyebrow.

“Yes. We need to make sure we are the first ones to tell them and not leave them blindsided. Fucking Spirits! What were these people thinking?”

“I doubt they’ve used their brains to actually do their jobs for a long time. Look at the names along the bottom.” Koal walked forward and picked up the order. “Pesten, Mclain, Harvey,…. I could go on. This committee has been infested with people who’ve been in congress for decades. Ultra-patriotic, lines on map lovers, esteemed members of public servitude, and a bigger pile of human waste than anywhere else in the Coalition. Always looking to get another notch in their glorious careers belt and exactly the people who shouldn’t be making these decisions.”

While Agatha loudly groaned as she turned her head to the ceiling, Tansen bit his lower lip before sighing and plowing on ahead. The three spent a few more minutes going over the wording of the official order and mostly being disappointed with the lack of options when Eli came into the room with Salamede. Eli was wearing a grey shirt and brown pants while Salamede was in her armor, the hawk helmet and feather embellishments showing some wear and the faint heat from the eight rods along her back meant she must have been out in the field when called back.

“What is it this time? I am very busy.” Eli asked in an exasperated tone with his purple eyes above the smiling mask showing no mirth. Salamede put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed her helmet against his cheek to placate him. Deciding not to waste time, Tansen got into the meat of the matter.

“We have gotten a correspondence. The committee that will provide reports and recommendations to the rest of congress has already been formed and they have immediately set out a course change for our little corner of the world. Rand will have his authority supplanted by a minion of their choosing and… They have recommended Salamede be charged with treason and an obstruction to humanities magical growth.”

Salamede clung to Eli’s side despite the armor giving her a few more inches on him while the quad mage just stood there, his eyes showing a thousand thoughts in-between the unfeeling emptiness of a predator.

“Can we see the order?” Salamede asked.

Tansen nodded and got up to give them the paper. By the time he got back to the desk, Salamede already looked angry enough while Eli was as still as a statue.

“Obligations?!” Salamede snarled when they finished reading. “What about the obligation to not run people over for your political convenience?”

“That wasn’t their doing.” Agatha corrected. “And Eli’s obligations exceed the bounds of decorum or decency.”

Salamede puffed out her cheeks and looked ready to say something when Eli coughed to stop the argument.

“What does being labeled a traitor mean, exactly?” Eli asked in a cold voice.

Koal sighed and looked to the floor briefly before speaking.

“She, if found guilty, would be sentenced to either a lifetime in jail or straight execution. The latter is more certain if she is found to merit both… titles.”

“And what happens with the recommendation?” Eli asked, again in the cold voice.

“The people on the committee are some of the longest standing members of congress and they have a tremendous amount of pull. Any recommendations from them would almost certainly pass as these people also have the implicit support of a lot of mage associations. You studding under their correction will be a considerable boost to their careers and political legacies.”

Eli, absorbing the facts of his predicament like it was a puzzle to be solved even as his hand gripped Salamede’s steel side, took in and released a big breath before taking a moment to collect himself. It took a few more seconds before he finally sighed and looked between Agatha, Tansen, and Koal. While there seemed to be pity in his purple eyes, there was something about the look that made Tansen’s skin crawl and a bead of sweat run down his temple.

“I’m sorry.” Eli said.

Even Salamede was taken aback as all four looked at him in bewilderment.

“What?” Agatha asked numbly.

“I understand that this has not gone as smoothly as you would have liked and that you have both invested a significant amount of personal time, energy, and risk to your careers in what you think is the right thing to do. But I will also have to do what I think is right. While we are still on the same side, the decision on my children is between me and my wife. Even so, I want to apologize for the coming… discomfort that will accompany me making this clear to the political opportunists who are trying to use my wife as a steppingstone for their careers.” Eli said with a light bow. Salamede bit her lip under the beak of her hawk like helmet but Tansen was busy trying not to throw up.

It was halfway through Eli’s explanation that Tansen realized what it was that was so unsettling. Eli was displaying the same cool grace that usually preceded an act of unspeakable cruelty. Tansen gulped down a calming breath and leaned forward over his desk before speaking.

“I understand. Just promise us you will give us time to exhaust our options with congress before you take any personal action.”

The quad mage huffed but he apparently said something in a spirit connection to Salamede because she put her finger up to his face before speaking.

“No, Eli! You are not ‘visiting’ the legislators.” She said with a firm voice. Eli rolled his eyes and turned to rub his forehead against her cheek before leading her out the door. While she still scolded him, the way she was clutching him told of raw fear.

Tansen leaned back into his chair and turned left towards Koal, who was looking at the retreating couple with a blank face. It was a few seconds after the couple left down the steps that Agatha spoke up.

“And what, precisely, are our options?”

Koal sighed before turning to her and delivering the verdict.

“The president. We have his sons here and they may be able to give some personal perspective on the situation that might sway their father. Swaying congress is a lost cause. The committee’s members have some of the highest positions in the government and their influence goes back decades. I’d say our best, and probably only, hope is to convince the president to veto this foolish action against the Kelton woman and see if we can make a case to the rest not to overturn the veto.”

“All right then” Tansen said “Let’s get to work. I’ll prepare a personal letter for Johnson and Agatha will see what she can do to convince the boys.” Koal nodded before offering her contribution.

“Being the head of one of the more powerful associations and a scion comes with a lot of perks. I’ll see what favors I can pull with the other associations.”

From there the three worked tirelessly to push back against the greedy tide that would trample over Eli. Letters were sent out and meetings with the president or any member of congress were requested. All of these had been previously ignored but they still redoubled their efforts. A long hard battle they would fight to floor of congress itself if need be.