“I want to see the grave.”

“No.”

“Chancellor, please… He is my —”

“— Was… It’s ‘was’ Edward.”

Ed's facial expression was unreadable, but his voice was hard, “Da Shan was my friend, I’d like to see his tomb.”

McCarthy stopped scribbling on his papers and looked up. He shuffled a bit in his chair as the light poured down on him from the window, the sunlight warmed the Chancellor's back and reflected off of Ed's shimmering hairless scalp. A small breeze wafted into the room, carrying with it the scent of summer and flowers. McCarthy adjusted his collar. It was a grey three-piece pinstriped suit today, grey and white. His perfectly gelled hair didn’t move in the slightest as he tilted his head, regarding Ed with a neutral expression — a blank look both of them were familiar with. McCarthy — after staring at Ed for a solid minute — bent back down and continued scribbling. Ed just stood there, his face impassive, but his eyebrows twitched in annoyance at being ignored. A few seconds stretched to a minute, a minute to fifteen and fifteen to an hour — still Ed had not moved. He simply stood there. Patiently. He hated this game. Finally, without looking up McCarthy spoke.

“Why are you still here?”

“I want to visit my friend’s tomb.”

“You have no friends Ed… you’re an Auditor.”

“I had one.”

The quill snapped in McCarthy’s hands as Ed’s last comment threw him off balance. McCarthy set the broken quill down. Adjusted his jacket. Took off his glasses and levelled a calm gaze at Ed. He opened his drawer and pulled another quill pen from it. He bent back down and continued working. After a moment he spoke again.

“Two people took part in Da Shan’s death that night, do you know who they were Ed?”

“Myself and Lee.”

“Good... good... I'm glad that we don't have to argue about this again. For awhile you were insistent on blaming me." At this point McCarthy looked up and wagged his pen at Ed as he continued, his tone rising, "I didn’t try and pound Da Shan into a coma to get a 1000 spirit stone reward, I didn’t cut off his head or break any of his bones… I treated him as one friend would treat a friend. I —”

“Put a bounty on him and sent men to hunt him throughout the —”

“Shut. Up.”

The phrase was quiet. The light in the room dimmed for a moment but then returned to normal. Veins bulged on McCarthy's temple and he bent back down to his work. McCarthy had worked hard these passed 5 years to reign in his anger. Elderweiss had continually chided him for his outbursts of rage — even though he himself was a rather capricious old codger. But things became problematic when McCarthy — in fits of rage — would kill his own staff with his bare hands. It tended to spoil the working atmosphere. The first time Elderweiss had laughed, the second time when McCarthy had killed Elderweiss' Secratary he had stopped laughing. Then the old bat told McCarthy he had to take anger management classes or he would break off all cooperation. That was something McCarthy couldn't afford, Da Shan's notes were a treasure trove of information... Anatomical information — which McCarthy couldn't understand, but desperately needed. Elderweiss had started bossing him around like an older brother. Those damn anger management classes... wait aren’t I older than Elderweiss? No… I think he’s got me beat by a couple years… I forget if he’s older or younger than May… He let his mind wander. This was McCarthy’s secret to taming his anger, whenever someone would make the rage bubble up, he would simply disassociate himself from the moment. Just like he had been taught in class. Retreat into the garden of his mind. Just ignore them and think his own thoughts — irrelevant to the situation at hand. After all, he was the Chancellor of a sect, most people had to wait on him — not the other way around. He’d make Ed wait another good hour before he started this conversation again. Hehehe… I’m a genius, take that Ed, what are you going to do.

“Chancellor.”

McCarthy felt irritation rise.

“Chancellor.”

His blood reached the boiling point.

“Chancellor.”

Anger, uncontrollable anger.

“Chancellor”

Thoughts of strangulation flitted to his mind.

“Chancellor.”

“WHAT?!”

The shout staggered Ed, but the new orange enchanted outfit Ed was wearing helped negate a fair bit of the damage. In the 5 years and thirteen days since Da Shan died, Ed had worked hard to get his hand back — though McCarthy still hadn’t given it back — by becoming an assassin, the top Auditor, Chief Investigator, you name it! Ed had made himself nearly indispensable to the Chancellor, and now, McCarthy was loathed to kill him — a fact Ed knew and leveraged against him frequently. Through careful negotiation and hard work Ed had become ridiculously wealthy. All 12 of Ed’s children were in the best classes the sect had to offer, and all of them were rather promising individuals in their own rights. Even the twins who were just five years old were being hailed as prodigies. This accomplishment was made all the more grand because none of them were blood related. It was a bit of good luck when adopting and another secret Ed kept well hidden. Everyone in his family was doing well. Everyone except for that thirteenth child. He was abysmal. A total failure. Everyone always spoke of Ed’s first 12 children and the thirteenth child as if they were different groups, that’s just how awful the thirteenth child was ­— at everything. Ed rubbed his bald head. Hmmm… I should address that, after I finish this. Ed cleared his throat and straightened the gold chain around his neck and locked eyes with McCarthy, "Chancellor, I would like to —"

“Ed, I will answer your question about the grave if you give me a couple answers to some questions of my own.”

Ed perked up, the Chancellor — though a violent psychopath — was an honest man, for the most part, “Ask away sir.”

“It’s Chancellor.”

“Sorry, ask away Chancellor.”

“Why do you keep the thirteenth child around?”

“Eh? This is hardly connected… but… I don’t know really. I adopted him last year… poor thing was starved and skinny as a bean.”

“I don’t think ‘skinny’ applies to beans,” murmured McCarthy under his breath.

“Sorry, what was that Chancellor, I didn’t hear you?”

“Continue Ed.”

“Yes… well. I just sort of feel bad for the guy.”

“What’s his name again?”

“Oz.”

“You should make him change that name.”

“… I will… I suppose.”

“It creeps me out whenever I see that kid... it really creeps me out.”

"What, you hate amputees?"

"We are an equal opportunity employer Ed, do not slander this school... I mean... I still keep you around." McCarthy smirked at Ed's stub.

"Dick."

McCarthy's grin widened, "I've heard that before... but that kid better become useful one day... our enemies could use him as leverage against you, why do you keep him around?"

“Hey, it’s not his fault he’s missing an arm! Frig… when I found the kid by the side of the road… the stump was all bloody from some wild beast.” Ed felt a tingle in a hand that was no longer there. He paused. And looked at his own stump, “Never mind, I think I figured out why I keep him around.”

“Well, share it here then.”

“I ain’t gonna.”

“Ed, do not ever speak like that in my presence, it’s disgusting.”

“Aye, aye, sorry sir.”

“It’s Chancellor.”

“Aye.”

“Anyways, my second question." He paused and almost grimaced before asking, "How is Elderweiss doing?”

“Bad, he said that Da Shan started writing in code at some point so he can’t understand what he’s on about.”

“I’m sorry, ‘what he’s on about’, fix your damn slang man!”

Ed rubbed his bald head in great irritation. Dammit you bloody horse bridle! If you wuddn’t the Chancellor I’d freaking quit… Dammit… ever since I lost my hand I haven’t been able to make my baby as happy as before… Damn you McCarthy! Ed cleared his throat, banishing his thoughts from his mind and corrected himself, “He doesn’t understand Da Shan’s research passed a certain point, he’s been taking time to decode the system.”

“Hasn’t he been decoding for the passed couple years now?”

Ed fiddled with his fingers and looked down, “Apparently Da Shan invented his own system of cuneiform to write with… about halfway through his research.”

The quill in McCarthy’s hand shattered into pieces, “Damn old man…” He huffed under his breath. McCarthy rubbed his eyes till they went blood shot and then pursed his fingers on his temple. Prick you Da Shan... even dead you find a way to piss me off. Dammit... we're running out of time. He looked at the bald black man in front of him, his face a cool mask, “Da Shan’s grave is off limits to everyone but me. As it has been for the passed 5 years, you’ve never asked before, why now?”

“This is the day him and I met 200 years ago… it’s hard to forget, but I think 5 years is long enough for you to grieve. Allow others to do so.”

“… Don’t push me Ed.”

“Haven’t you taken enough revenge? You have my hand and Lee is still out on that Full Moon mission — if he's still alive — have you even taken responsibility for your role in his death?”

“We talked about this before Ed... I didn't kill him. Lee killed him… not me. And you made him weak so that Lee could kill him. You are a menace and a danger to him. The only reason I spared you was for his sake, I knew, I knew that he’d want you to live, OR I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU!”

Ed shrank back, the shout buffeting his clothes fiercely —denting his protective gold chain — but when he regained his balance, Ed stepped forward again. McCarthy took it as a challenge, Ed could feel the Chancellor’s hackles rising with anger. His rage was palpable, the psychopath hated it when people showed no fear. But then like the melting of winter’s snow, McCarthy’s rage dissipated, his anger melted away and sadistic smile warped his face. Ed backed up. Damn... I pushed him too far. McCarthy spoke.

“Here’s the deal, you can see his grave, in exchange you give me a foot… I prefer the right foot, you are right-footed Ed? I want that foot. The right foot.” McCarthy locked a predatory gaze on Ed and opened his desk drawer and pulled out a jar with green liquid and a black skinned hand. Ed’s heart raced and sweat went down his body. McCarthy then pulled out another jar with green liquid and set it beside the hand. Ed felt his heart drop, but in that casual tone — like he was discussing dinner plans with a friend, McCarthy continued, “I think I’ve been too nice to you Ed, you seem to have forgotten the power dynamics of our relationship. Allow me to remind you what it means to be an employee of my fine institution… you have two choices. Give me your right foot and you can see Da Shan’s grave. Give me your left foot and you walk out of here alive. Oh, and Ed. You have to do it yourself.” McCarthy pulled a dull saw-toothed knife from his jacket pocket and tossed it to Ed.

Ed’s body started shivering, there it was, it had been gone for the past five years… Frig I flipped the switch… please hell no… hell no… please no… no… no… A tear streaked down Ed’s face, McCarthy’s grin widened. Ed steeled his resolve. He bent down. Grabbed the knife. His sweaty palms making him drop it the first few times. Ed felt his body age immensely with each passing second. Frig… am I going to do this… am I? Ed took a furtive glance to the door. Someone! Anyone! Help!

A knock sounded on the door. Ed nearly collapsed with relief.

“Please wait, I am in the middle of something important.” McCarthy’s voice shattered what little relief Ed felt. Ed shuddered as McCarthy’s snake like gaze fell on him, the sadistic smile still there and still wide. “Ed, you have three seconds… One… two…” Wind started dancing around McCarthy and the lights in the room dimmed — as if adjusted by an invisible hand. “Three —”

“Right foot.”

McCarthy’s eyes narrowed.

“The right foot. I’ll cut the right foot.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?”

Ed let the knife fall with a clatter, but after McCarthy glared at him, he reached down and picked it up again. Readying himself, his body shivering with fear he placed the blade on his skin. “You’re insane…” McCarthy’s eyes narrowed, then raised his hand. Ed paused. McCarthy spoke.

“Oh, this sounds familiar... The last time something like this happened I didn’t get a chance to properly reply. Please Ed, ask me again.”

“…”

“Ask. Me. Again.”

Ed sweated and cocked an eyebrow, “Are you insane?”

McCarthy abruptly stood up, his broad shoulders blocking most of the afternoon light that streamed in through his windows. A rough coating of stubble — uncharacteristic of the neat freak — dotted his face, McCarthy casually strode up to Ed. Rivers of sweat poured down the black man’s back, making his shirt hot and sticky. Ed gulped.

McCarthy dusted off Ed’s orange shirt, gently running his hands along the boney frame of the old shopkeeper, carefully cleaning him off.

“Who gave you these clothes Ed, I like the orange.”

The tension was palpable, Ed gulped again, “You did sir.”

“Chancellor.”

“Right, Chancellor.”

“You’re a smart one Ed, that’s why I like you — I suppose it’s because you’re a Psycher though — no matter. How did I give this to you, Ed?” McCarthy now straightened Ed’s collar, his face inches away from the black man.

“You’re my employer sir — er, um — Chancellor.”

“Right, so where do you work?”

“At ugh… your sect sir.”

“Hmmm… so without the sect… would you have a job?”

“Honestly that’s the only reason I’m still here, with you being a tyrant and all… it’s still better than most of the sects out there.”

McCarthy looked daggers at Ed, but the old merchant had read the mood well and the Chancellor seemed to take Ed’s comment as more of a compliment than anything else.

“What holds the sect together Ed?”

“Ugh… now that ain’t… Isn’t… so easy to figure out. I would say reputation, our school has a great reputation.”

“So close Ed… It’s me.” McCarthy spread his arms wide and grinned at the old Psyker.

Ed stared at McCarthy with a nearly incredulous look.

“I am the most powerful person in this sect… there are many other powerful people and perhaps — if they banded together — they could overthrow me.” McCarthy turned and walked to his desk, opening a drawer he pulled out a cigarette pack. He opened it up and put an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Ed leaned forward and lit it for him. McCarthy took a deep draw. Smoking. A bad habit he picked up to deal with his role in Da Shan’s… demise. It gripped him furiously now, but it helped calm his anger — that was the reason it was okay, he told himself this over and over again. McCarthy took a few guilty puffs before posing a question to the bald man.

“But why don't they Ed?"

"I dunno."

"Well since you don't know let me phrase it this way: What would be the cost — of overthrowing me — to the sect?”

“I don’t know.”

"Most cultivators are corrupt and non-moral creatures… Especially the powerful people in this sect… true scum thinking only of themselves. So, how do I stop them from waging a war against me for their own benefit?” McCarthy paused and gave Ed a meaningful gaze, "I make it not beneficial to kill me."

Ed scratched his head. McCarthy continued.

“If people tried to kill me there would be a war, to win they’d have to kill everyone loyal to me. Elderweiss is my brother-in-law, so no one would trust him and he’s the Head of Anatomical Cultivation… so that’s a big fight — especially since the Psychic Branch is under his control." Ed flinched at that but McCarthy didn't notice, "The Head of Alchemy, Eleazer, is one of my strongest supporters… so there goes the biggest money-making enterprise of the sect… I’d go on. But essentially, by the end of the sect war, the Pentagon would be just “gon”.

“Good joke sir.”

“Chancellor. And you’re not getting out of this foot thing.”

“…”

“But there's more than that Ed. If this sect loses its power… the political ramifications — something only me and my Cabal know — would be immense. Devilish Cultivators and Witches would emerge like you wouldn’t believe. But there's another crucial ingredient... can you guess it?"

“Great leadership skills.” Ed responded dryly, his level of respect decreasing as he thought of his poor feet.

“Close… Fear, Ed… it’s fear. Coercion is necessary... but it's too 'costly' for me to continually have to hunt down all the rebels. It's best if the rebels and I can coexist... and for that to happen. They need to be afraid of me.” At this point McCarthy took a long draw, draining his cigarette down to the filter. He put it on a plate and took another. Ed lit it and wished he could pull out his pipe. McCarthy took another long puff and then continued, “I have full control over them. To you —” McCarthy gestured absently at Ed’s feet, “— it’s just a foot, but to me, it is the embodiment of law and order. Law only exists through coercion, but coercion is costly and damaging. Fear… fear, keeps people in line at a very low cost.”

McCarthy looked at Ed with a cold hard glare, the old man seemed profoundly disinterested, or perhaps disgusted. Lesser men can never understand the minds of greater men. Maybe I’ve pushed him too far… wouldn’t want him to not value his life. McCarthy took a deep puff and extinguished his cigarette.

“Get lost Ed. Never ask me about Da Shan again.”

Ed allowed a stunned but small smile to creep on his face. I’ve gotten a lot better at reading this monster… So Elderweiss is your brother-in-law? Interesting stuff.

“Thank you, Chancellor.”

McCarthy also let a small smile creep on his lips, “Good, now get out.”

Ed bowed and walked out of the room, before he shut the door he heard the renewed scratching of McCarthy’s pen. Say what you will about the man, but he had a profoundly insane work ethic. He also had a firm grasp on the political situation of his own sect — he knew who he could trust (for the most part) — and who he couldn’t. Ed turned to look at the person who was waiting at the door. The man had greasy hair and a smarmy smile, his slick black suit fitted his oily appearance almost too well. It was another Psyker, he was the person who knocked when Ed was about to lose his foot. Ed looked at him and hooked his thumb towards the door, "It's all yours and thanks, even though you don't know what for. But thank you."

"Oh I know perfectly well why you're grateful. I'm not here for him... I'm here fore you. Elder Quan sent me... go to the beacon." Before Ed could react, the man vanished in thin air.

A Thought Transfer? And so fast! What a powerful Psyker. Frick... what does Elder Quan want with me? Ed made his way down the halls, occasionally looking over his back to ensure he wasn’t being followed, when he was certain there was no one there he cast meld and allowed his body to shimmer and enter the Thought Realm — the dimension where minds and thoughts existed, it was a secret dimension that held many secrets and was only traversable by Psykers. Ed’s body went ghostly and he sat down and focused, reaching with his mind to flashing light underneath the school. Soon students passed by, walked beside and even through him — but no one noticed him. No one in this wing was a strong enough Psycher to see a Thought Transfer or to touch the Thought Realm — Ed doubted McCarthy even knew it existed, it was a well guarded secret among Psychers. Ed’s ethereal form remained sitting, cross-legged and he stretched even harder with his mind for the beckoning light, far below the school. Finally, Ed locked on to the signal and grasped it with his mind, he willed himself to go to it.

Snap!

He felt like his body was torn in half as he instantaneously was transferred to room, thousands of feet below the school. After regaining his composure, Ed gripped the beacon that had been his point of transfer. It was a black, long needle like object with pulsating blue runes wrapped all about it. After replenishing his psychosis reserves from the needle, he manifested himself, falling out of the Thought Realm into normal life. He vomitted blood and bile. Thought Transfers were a really painful procedure. Ed looked up from the pile of half digested food and blood and his eyes narrowed.

In front of Ed was what appeared to be a handsome young man. The man wore a loose fitting dark blue suit, with a white chemise and a grey vest. Upon seeing Ed, he flicked a dangling gold chain and a pocket watch popped out. Opening it and smiling at the dials he reached and scratched behind his ears. His combed back blonde hair resembling McCarthy’s careful appearance. A slender but muscular build made him seem affable, even docile though charismatic, his handsome face turned upward into a small grin.

“You’re getting better at that,” his velvety voice lolled out, almost hypnotizing Ed with it’s overwhelming psychosis.

“Elder Quan, it is a pleasure to meet you again,” Ed managed to right himself and speak with a clear voice after regaining his bearings. He stood and carefully looked to make sure all his clothes weren't stained.

“Please, Quan is my last name, just call me Jannes. It's not our first time meeting,” with a wave of his hand he pulled two ornate wooden chairs out of the darkness and after Ed sat, he himself sat. “So, I was scrying in this room and I chanced upon you meeting with the…”

“Chancellor.” Ed supplied with a bit of distaste. I’ve been forced to say that word a lot.

Jannes’ eyebrows wiggled with amusement.

Damnit Quan, stop listening to my mind!

Oops, sorry Eddie… I’ll hold back a little.

Git! Out! Of! My! Mind!

Ed felt an innocuous presence leave his mind, a presence he didn’t realize was there before. He felt a chill run down his back. “You were listening in the whole time!”

“Of course I was, I had to make sure you weren’t betraying the Association.”

“I’m not worried about you listening you twit!” Ed spat the phrase vehemently, caught off guard, Elder Quan’s face wrinkled with displeasure. Ed continued, unabated, “What if he sensed you?! We’d both be dead!”

“Please… I am the Head of the Psychic Branch… there’s no way he would sense me. McCarthy seems to have low Psychic defences, as you’ve noticed. So, our plan can move on to the next phase… I want you to bring me with you… to every conversation you have with him. Things have gotten more troublesome. Apparently, if I want to kill McCarthy, I have to get rid of Lord Elderweiss on top of Eleazer — a probably impossible feat.”

“What's the problem with Elderweiss?” Ed’s tone was easy and casual. This wasn’t the first time Ed had talked treachery with Jannes. Ever since McCarthy threatened his wife 5 years ago, Ed knew there was nowhere in the world he was safe — so long as McCarthy still lived. One day, when he was in particular anguish over his lost hand, the Head of the Psychic Branch overheard him — his mental thoughts of murder towards McCarthy. This man, instead of turning Ed in, opened a whole new world to Ed. Jannes Quan was a powerful man, he was a Branch Head after all. Branch being a division of a Department (Elderweiss being the head of the Department of Anatomical Cultivation and Quan being the head of the Psychic Studies Branch in the same Department). Elder Quan offered him a way to get revenge — an excellent opportunity that coincided with Ed’s goals. Ed didn’t need to think twice before accepting, he was starting to hate this sect. But anyways, back to the present.

Jannes responded, “He’s too mysterious.”

Oh, so he’s not too strong. Ed’s mind whirred at the phrasing, he eyed the other man with curiosity. Jannes himself was an enigma, where did he come from, nobody knows. His name was identical to the Elder who was supposedly killed by Da Shan and McCarthy… probably a son of his — especially since according to Da Shan, Quan was a Vigour Cultivator — it explains the motivation for this insane plan. But Ed didn’t pry, it was better to know as little as possible.

“The relationship of brother-in-law is intriguing… and unexpected.”

Hmmm maybe not a relative of Elder Quan then… I find it unlikely that he wouldn’t know how Da Shan and McCarthy were related.

“You know someone with my name?”

“Stop. Prying.”

“Hmmm… if you insist.”

“I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, please do, make sure you always transfer here and speak to me directly. Sending messages through the Thought Realm isn't very... secure. And sometimes things get lost in transit, even when my presence is with you… sometimes… I can’t hear your conversations… there’s a lot of weird whispering in McCarthy’s office…"

“Will do.”

Jannes tossed a sack of spirit stones to Ed. “There’s 100 stones in there, an advance for our continued cooperation.”

“Much appreciated.”

“I’ll turn on the surface beacon for you, I’ll send you to the forest again.”

Ed bowed. Vanished and transferred. Once Ed was gone Elder Quan leaned back in the chair, a malevolent sneer engulfed his face, warping his handsome features, in a soft voice he said, “Old fool.”