Return of the Runebound Professor

Jalen’s hands tightened at his sides as displeasure creased his features. He’d known what would happen if he advanced to Rank 7, but it wasn’t like the artifact for which the rules had been made in the first place was still here.

“Oh, come on. I feel like the situation is serious enough that you can overlook one Rank 7 ambling around. Well, a second. You already screwed up and let Father wander around here for ages from what things sound like.”

It was Garina’s turn to wince. Then, to Jalen’s surprise, a small smile pulled at her lips.

“I think I’ll like getting to know you, Jalen. We will speak again — but I cannot allow you to remain in Arbalest. The Long Night was one of the main reasons, but it was not the only one.”

“What, do you think I’m going to snag some other world-ending artifact to fight back against his?”

Garina raised an eyebrow.

Jalen cleared his throat. “Okay. Yes, I was planning on doing that. But I could promise not to.”

“That would be appreciated, but ultimately ineffective. There are more than artifacts sealed in Arbalest. There are monsters. Ones who will not awaken unless they sense worthy prey. Ones who could destroy this entire empire. And you, Jalen, are a Rank 7. Were you to mistakenly allow too much power to slip through in the wrong location… it could be the end. I would judge that a worthy reason. But there is one more reason — and likely the hardest one to evade.”

“And what’s that?”

“The Apostles have seen you. While you laid here dying at the conclusion of the fight with the one you call Father, the rest of my order came.”

“Right,” Jalen said slowly, drawing the word out. “I’m not sure how that’s relevant. Did they take a peek at my naughty bits or something? Why should I care they saw me?”

“Because they are waiting for you,” Garina replied simply. “It is not often that we see a Rank 7 this powerful. The world outside Arbalest is vast. There are a great many factions vying for power — and the only thing they’ve ever been able to agree on is to leave this empire alone. But life goes on. The struggle for power continues.”

There was a long moment of pause.

Jalen’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you telling me that the reason I can’t stay in Arbalest, ultimately, is because your buddies saw me and were impressed enough that I’ve now got to go to their stupid recruiting drive?”

“If you do not leave the empire, they will know what happened. They will come for you. True power does not emerge easily. You will not be forced to join their ranks, but they will not let you remain here.”

“That’s some bullshit,” Jalen said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “And why are they allowed in the Empire? Aren’t they too strong?”

“They were only here briefly. All have left. The theft of the Long Night justified… extraordinary response. But we were too late to stop it, and so they have left once more. And so must you.”

Jalen heaved a sigh. “Shit. I don’t suppose I could let my allies know what happened? Feels awful rude to just up and vanish?”

“I will tell them.”

“And if I try running?”

A flicker of amusement passed over Garina’s features. “You are welcome to try. You will not make it far.”

“You won’t,” Ferdinand agreed. “I’ve tried. Multiple times.”

“I see,” Jalen said. “What about my stuff? I’ve got a number of deeply sentimental items that I could not live without. My dart board, for example.”

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“Somehow, I don’t suspect you do,” Garina said. “They will find you when you leave Arbalest — and then you will understand why you cannot remain here. The rules cannot be allowed to bend any further. Be honest, Jalen. Why do you want to remain behind so badly? Opportunity awaits you. The greater world. This is not the end. It is the beginning.” ɽÅꞐổＢÈs

Jalen hesitated. That was a good point. If Garina had come to him offering these terms just a few short months ago, especially if the Archives had already been looted, he’d have jumped on them without so much as a second thought.

A chance at true freedom. A world where, just maybe, people weren’t all cowards. Where he wasn’t the strongest mage in the kingdom anymore.

It sounded incredible.

But that was a few months ago. Before he’d had people that truly relied on him. Not just Vermil, but his students as well. The little brats had actually started to grow on him.

“I didn’t have people that I wanted to spend time with before,” Jalen said simply. “Things have changed. And Father is still rolling around Arbalest with that stick of his.”

“Not for long,” Garina said grimly. “He’ll have no reason to remain here once he masters the weapon. But if you’re talking about Spider’s group… you can’t think it’ll be that long.”

“That long?” Jalen frowned. “What do you mean? And by the gods, Vermil has too many damn names. He needs to choose one.”

Garina’s lips twitched up into a smile. “He does have quite a few. And I mean you can’t imagine it’ll be long until he leaves the empire.”

Jalen frowned. “What? He’s only just reached Rank 5. Do you have any idea how long it takes a normal person to reach Rank 7? It’ll be at least a hundred years before he hits 7 if he doesn’t rush ahead.”

“No, Jalen. It won’t be. Vermil has the attention of two gods. If you truly think it’ll take him that long, then you are severely underestimating his abilities. Mark my words. Before the passing of a year, Vermil will reach Rank 7.”

Now that I think about it, he did go from Rank 1 to Rank 5 in mere months. It’s easy to forget who he used to be. That’s… actually, isn’t that nearly impossible? I never really paid it much attention. I don’t care how people get stronger as long as they do, and Vermil has been a lot of fun… but how the fuck did he make such a powerful Rank 5 Rune in this short amount of time?

“What’s this about gods?” Jalen asked suspiciously. “Something’s telling me I might be missing a few pieces of the puzzle.”

“You’ll have to ask him when you meet next — but if you really care about Vermil and those students of his, then I should warn you that there will be many factions in the outer world that take very, very poorly to someone like Vermil. He poses a threat to everything they stand for.”

Jalen studied Garina for several long seconds.

“I see what you’re implying. They might need someone to pave the way,” Jalen said. “Well then. It seems I have no choice.”

“Correct. Choose a direction. Go far enough and you’ll leave the Empire. I’d imagine it should be quite simple for a Space mage of your caliber.”

“Most certainly.” Jalen nodded sagely. “No reason to be insubordinate any longer, then. I’ll be on my way.”

He blew out a short breath, gave Garina and Ferdinand a sharp nod, and then vanished with a pop of purple energy.

Garina started to turn toward Ferdinand.

Then she froze, her eyes narrowing.

“You little shit.”

***

Moxie let out a startled curse as Jalen snapped into existence beside her, hidden in the shadow of a pillar.

“Father is at least a Rank 7. He stole the Long Night,” Jalen hissed, speaking before Moxie could even finish registering his appearance. “He’s going to do something with it. Be very, very careful. I also reached Rank 7. Your pale friend is kicking me out of the empire. She’s got more strong friends. May or may not be friendly. Also a bald guy. There’s a whole world outside the Empire. Rank 7s and above. Arbalest is just a dumping ground for deadly weapons and artifacts. Be careful. Find me when you get out of here. Say hi to Vermil for me. Gotta go get my dart board. Good luck.”

And then Jalen was gone.

Moxie stared at the space where he’d been standing, still trying to process the words that he’d just spoken, when a patch of darkness twisted.

Garina appeared before her an instant later.

“Where is he?” Garina hissed.

What in the Damned Plains is going on?

“I — uh—”

Garina turned, looking at something that Moxie couldn’t see, and vanished, not even waiting for a response.

And that was that. Noah was still mid-bullshit, and he had the whole of the room focused on him. None of the other Advanced Track mages had noticed Jalen or Garina’s passing.

“What just happened?” Alexandra whispered from beside her.

Moxie just shook her head in befuddlement, and that was just about when Jalen’s words finally managed to sink in.

She went still as a frosty finger ran down her back.

Oh, shit. I don’t even get half of what Jalen was talking about, but if Father is a Rank 7… we’re in trouble.

Noah is going to need to hear about this. If Father actually stole some ancient artifact… the lie he’s come up with might be just a little bit too accurate.

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