The next morning, they headed for the appointment with Fermand.

Mirayoung stayed him with her soft hand when they reached the intersection of Half-Past Lane, which led up to the Administrator's Hall. A semi-visible barrier could be seen as Jerius caressed it with his fingers with some fascination.

"There's a powerful barrier enveloping this area all the way to the Administrator's Hall. Without an Endorsed Seal, you do not cast any spell unless you want to be attacked by the earth spirits that reside within the ground. They react in Fermand's defence."

They stepped into the barrier, and Jerius felt sensations akin to little spiders crawling on his skin. If he squinted his eyes hard enough, he could see tiny imp-like spirits, white as snow, scurrying about on the ground.

"Are those spirits you said the Tallis Magicians contracted with?"

Mirayoung held her next step, her eyes widened at Jerius. "Those must be the sensor-spirits Fermand uses as part of the barrier. I can't see them. Not everyone can see them. You've a natural affinity to Tallis Magic. No wonder Lyvia chose you."

"Will that help me slightly with Fermand?"

"No."

"And well...if you had gone with Tallis, you might not even need the Maker Ritual. I wonder how you look...originally."

Jerius gave her a side glance. "Wouldn't have known. I studied with Mistress Lyvia."

It was order at its finest. The manse-like Administrator's Hall was at the epicentre of a garden, set to perfection. This contrasted against the beautiful but rambling affair of houses, waterways and smaller yards that he saw on his way here.

"I know an entire city to the east of Nox who will appreciate the perfect order of this place," Jerius said, being half amused and half amazed. "I can do the introduction."

Mirayoung hushed then made known to him that the whole area after the barrier was designated for the officials reporting to Fermand. And within the Guild, they could mold the site they own however they want it, making such diverseness a common sight.

Standing by the perfect garden were two ladies with emblematic tattoos, arming themselves with spears that saw golden bolts flickering at the tip from time to time. They were not the Guild Guardians, who resided on the outer rim of the Guild and rarely granted entry into the inner sanctum, but the personal guards to the administrator.

"You should be glad only two guards man the place," Mirayoung whispered. "Honest truth. They always make me uncomfortable."

"State your purpose." Jerius then heard from one of the guards.

"We've a personal appointment with Administrator Fermand. Magus Kas of the Administration Branch must have filled in the details, " Mirayoung said.

The other Guardian with a proud, strong look stared at Jerius, and frankly, intimidated him a little. Her stern eyes transferred to Mirayoung, as she said disapprovingly. "Isn't he the Amok of Mondeus Village? We'll need to verify with Lady Fermand."

"The name's Jerius," Jerius said. Kas was an exception, I see.

"Let them in. Magus Kas did indeed set me up with Mirayoung and the Amok of Mondeus Village," a voice came from behind them, startling both. It was a deep lady's voice that commanded respect.

The voice continued, "Pardon my Sen Guards. They tend to be overprotective."

Jerius turned, seeing a massive shoulder that dwarfed not just his but those he knew, including Zenvix and the numerous giants of a man Nox knighted to lead their cavalries. She was a tall, thick lady, her shiny hair soaked with oil that gave off the mixed smell of various herbs.

Peering down on both guests, Fermand waved off a thin fabric of magic she cast on herself. Her voice carrying a note of satisfaction, she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you again outside of the usual council meeting."

"Fermand, the pleasure is mine."

"Come on in. Yalehearts never turn away well-intentioned guests. Kas had briefed me, and our intentions do align," Fermand said, motioning for her guards to open the door. Then her eyes fell on Jerius, in a side glance. "Gallyn had briefed me on your whole act at Mondeus Village. The violation of the treaty. Quite a troublemaker, aren't you? And smart and stupid at the same time, if you ask me."

Upon Fermand's gaze, the air had taken on a more oppressive feel, targeted solely at Jerius since Mirayoung remained obliviously straight-faced. Jerius could not entirely discern the spell Fermand weaved but her intention to tyrannise him from the get go, whether to intimidate or to punish him for his previously unruly acts, did not sit well with him. He sought to respond in kind. So what if you're Mistress Lyvia's equal.

"Merely inspired by the great mages of history, all of whom are known by their many names and aliases. I too seek a list by which I'm known," Jerius said, matching her oppressive magic and her tone. "Troublemaker. Prime Sorcerer of Nox. Lyvia's Protege. Hopefully, Saviour of the Guild as well, if you let me."

Mirayoung shot him a sideward glance then darted away, sensing something was amiss. She raised her hand and looked about to say a word.

"A wisecracker, I see," Fermand said, and the targeted pressure in the air faded away. "Come on in, both of you."

They passed through the main gate, passing through two small courtyards. Jerius saw that the second one had a ritualistic circle engraved into the garden, the edge of which sat three stone statues in equal distance from each other. He did not have time to see further, but did notice the pulsing energy those statues gave off, as if alive.

Fermand brought them to the audience chamber, manned by more of her Sen Guards. Those outside were armed with spears, but those inside, besides the sheathed daggers at their waist belts, were unarmed and dressed in a simple silk robe as they worked their secondary role of maintaining Fermand's place. When one came over to serve them juice, Jerius noticed intricately woven patterns of shackled spears. He remembered that as the coat of arms for a vassal house from central Elaria but could not put a precise finger on it.

Fermand took a seat opposite them. The web of emotions and thoughts in her eyes changed when Fermand looked from Mirayoung to Jerius. It was obvious she had heard much about him and was earnestly keeping her disapproval for Jerius at bay, at least enough to have an initial conversation.

Shaky. Jerius thought.

"I reviewed the investigation findings you submitted to Kas," Fermand said to Mirayoung then turned to Jerius. "Wisecracker, I know a bit about Aderis from the findings Mirayoung submitted but tell me what I don't know. He's the advisor to King Nighvicto VII, but how was he hired? What was his background before?"

"He was the king's closest friend and advisor. Born to one of the Nigerian high lords. Advised the king since before the invasion of the Yandi pirates. Orchestrated the peace treaty between Nox and... Bliaton," Jerius said. "His lies and schemes run deep from the beginning. I do not know how he was hired nor his background. He had always kept a professional distance, playing the role of a high lord and wise advisor to the king nearly perfectly."

Fermand scribbled in the air with her fingers, committing notes to the Mental Lake where she could retrieve from in the future, anytime and anywhere. It was an exceedingly difficult Tallis magic made possible by the control of memory spirits, which could convert a physical space into spatial memory privy only to the wielder to store these notes. Failed attempts at contracting had led to permanent amnesia, coma or both.

"His motivations," Fermand said. "Tell me his motivations to initiate the Ritual of Keys."

Mirayoung chose to interject at this point. "The motivations are unclear at this stage, but all the signs are there that this man's role as the advisor of Nox was a sham. He sought malicious things through the Ritual of Keys."

"Yes, yes," Fermand said. "The Guild is the Third Key, and if Ceil falls, there's a real possibility the Guild will be targeted. It may very well be infiltrated, considering the tremendous effort needed to topple these walls behind which stand countless powerful mages. With all fairness, that's a valid concern. I intend to continue to cross examine the findings you have given with some...other discoveries I have come across recently."

"What are these other discoveries?" Mirayoung said.

Choosing not to acknowledge what Mirayoung had raised, Fermand instead focused on something else with a certain chilliness in her voice. "There were some...bold statements you made in the submitted findings."

"You have my word that I assessed every statement written in it," Mirayoung said, sipping her juice with unfeigned delight. "The boldness is the consequence of the possible danger we, or more accurately this world is in, as dramatic as that sounds."

Fermand matched her gaze. "You wrote that the investigation undertaken by mage-scouts should expose the demonic taint that now shrouds both Nox and Bliaton. This fits within our class of an anomaly that warrants a full investigation along with a disclosure in the Council of Archmagi. Indeed, you're right, and I'm sure you drew your suspicions from tapping into the Cabal network. It is an anomaly-class incident that we're mounting a full investigation. There's no doubt about that. The only exception is priority."

"If two cities are not enough to rank at the top of your list, you have got your priority backward," Jerius said, drawing Fermand's eyes.

Fermand shot back. "If you've a pot of water to quench the fire in your backyard or that of the neighbouring village, where will you direct it?"

"We're already attacked?" Mirayoung caught the hint, jerking from her seat.

Fermand glanced at Jerius, blatantly revealing her mistrust and unwillingness to divulge anything pertaining to the Guild in his presence. But at Mirayoung's insistence, she eventually said, "There's a wraith lurking within these walls. And there have been some deaths."

All three in the audience chamber were on edge now. Wraiths were fabled among the supernatural creatures as the ones that killed the most mages, for they had the uncanny ability of overcoming mages' personal wards easily, and those defences capable of blocking or trapping wraiths were ill suited to cast on or inscribed up on living beings. They were also swift and instinctive, allowing them to outpace most mages with their non-warrior physiques.

"It's Aderis," Jerius said at last. "He's as resourceful as he's cunning."

Looking decidedly uncomfortable, Mirayoung said, "Since when? Of all creatures, a wraith within these walls? That has never happened before. And how many deaths?"

"Five so far," Fermand said, her tone heavy. "Started once a week, then two in the last week. It has been four weeks now."

Then she said no more, looking at Jerius. Instead, she redirected. "Worry not, Mirayoung. I will address them. The appointment is to acknowledge your concern. Kas was almost begging me to meet you, Mirayoung. You really charmed him there. So here I am to assure you I will give it my full attention to ensure nothing bad befalls the Guild, whether it be Aderis, the wraith or both. Not under my watch."

Standing up, Fermand continued, "Now if you may, I do have a busy agenda to attend to. It was with great difficulty for me to squeeze this appointment into my existing schedule. My guards will see you off."

"You do not trust Jerius." Mirayoung eyed her. Might as well address the bloated discomfort in the air.

"Yes I do not," Fermand said, now facing Jerius. "There's no reason for me to trust a Noxarian or an Amok, let alone one who is both."

At that moment, Jerius felt like less than an insect. It was like the time when he was back in his birthplace, the Bor village off the nation-city of Valdi, where he begged on the streets but never living a day with a full stomach. He remembered the eyes of people who passed by him, disregarding him as no more than an unsightly stray that was better off dead. It was different here in the Administrator's Hall, yet in many ways, it felt the same. At least, those eyes gave off the same vibes he had chosen to forget for a while.

He could not stop himself from lashing out. "Then how do I prove myself worthy of your trust? I'm here to help, to stop Aderis. You can use me as you see fit, Administrator Fermand."

That surprised even Mirayoung, who expected him to react in an entirely different way, anong which was the possibility that Jerius would respond recklessly with spells, and be quickly humbled by Fermand and her Sen Guards. But he took a different route, and one which Mirayoung tacitly approved.

Fermand finally said, "Did you see the statues and the magical circle in the courtyard outside?"

"What of it?" Jerius asked.

"That's the Circle of Intent," Fermand said. "Be judged by it, and I will trust you if it deems you worthy."