Chapter 338: Sparky (1/2)
“Christopher, before you leave.” Claire spoke up again, the man looking at her as if it tortured him to stay for even a second. She let go of Ilea’s cheeks, a little embarrassed as she realized what she had done, “Sorry.” She said offhandedly, Ilea shrugging in response, “We need something to contact Ilea no matter how far away she is. Would that be possible with your new findings?”
He looked uncertain, “Perhaps… I will research the possibility.”
“Even if it takes you a week to come back, I think it would be worth it.” Claire said, “We know you’re not even the only level three hundred person in the Hand. If an enemy sends their elites our way, we might need you. As well as the elders. If we manage to make something, could you contact Lucas again?”
I don’t need a week to come back. Ilea thought, “I’m not sure if Lucas wants to be involved. He… well, he has chosen a more… peaceful way of life.” She had left out the whole attack on Lisburg and his separation of violence and war. As well as his apparent failure.
“Well… the others might agree still.” Claire said, “Christopher, I’ll come with you in a moment. We don’t want anybody knowing about that thing, nor anyone to take it.” He held the key out to her, the thing quickly vanishing into her ring.
“The tech will officially be mine and Christopher’s. I suppose we could sell it to allies or simply provide it and request a fee for using it. Three percent to you, seven to Ravenhall and the rest split between me and Christopher.” Ilea said.
The man immediately spoke up, “No, that is way too much. At most five percent for me… you provided everything.”
“Except the brain, thirty for you.” Ilea retorted.
Christopher wouldn’t have any of it, “Ten percent and that’s it.”
She growled but accepted, his resolve apparent, “Alright, ten for you which means eighty for me.”
Claire rolled her eyes, “I don’t even know why me and the city are involved at all.”
“To give an incentive for you to spread it, at least a gold incentive.” Ilea suggested.
“The sheer possibility of long distance travel between human cities is so overwhelmingly revolutionary there doesn’t need to be an incentive beyond. Still, I accept of course and will plan the rest.” Claire said, “You do like to dump a lot of work on my desk.”
Ilea smiled, “There’s more where that came from but I suppose it can wait.”
“Well I’m around. Come on Christopher, let’s shake up the very foundations of human economics and warfare.” Claire said, patting the man on the back.
He grinned, turning before he bowed to Ilea, “As you wish.” His manic giggle at the end made her worry a little but she had met plenty of workaholics by now to categorize it as him simply being excited. Very excited.
Trian got up when they left, summoning the golden lighter she had given him upon her departure. He flicked it on and stared at the flame, “I think your stories could fill more than a couple of my notebook’s pages by now.” He said, “Though now I suppose you gave me another task to fill my time.”
Ilea looked at him, sitting down in Claire’s chair. The woman had left her office unguarded, her domain unchallenged. Trian raised an eyebrow at her action but didn’t comment, “Trian, I don’t give you tasks to fulfill. If you really want to do this, then I want us to work together.”
He nodded and paused, “I suppose task was the wrong word… purpose perhaps? I think you have a way to look at the world that I can’t ever comprehend.”
“I’m not entirely sure I know what you mean.” She replied, leaning back in the chair.
The man smirked, “Me neither. Maybe I’ll figure it out someday.” He mused, looking at the ceiling before he shook his head, “We should establish some groundwork before you leave again. If I’m supposed to look for volunteers, I at least want to tell them what this new order is about.”
“Again, not order. Organization maybe. What’s not clear? We train healers that can also fight, because it’s a powerful and useful combination for both the users as well as any party they fight in.”
He sat back on the couch putting away the lighter and summoning his notebook, “Your classes are powerful, theirs might not necessarily be on quite that level. It’s not that easy to sell.”
“True. Hey, you said you wanted a bout? Plus…,” She checked her stats, “My lightning resistance is at level six in the second tier.”
He beamed, “I’d love to. To see a level three hundred warrior in action. Might get me motivated to train again.”
“You didn’t train at all?” She asked, more surprised than anything else. Standing up, she cracked her neck, “We can rent an arena, if that’s still a thing.”
He waved his hand sideways, “I trained with Claire from time to time as well as the squad you handed off to William. Just, not as much as before and certainly not as dangerous.”
“Hey, he wanted to train them.” Ilea laughed, blinking out of the office and landing on the square, sludge like snow covering the cobblestone.
A bunch of heads turned her way but most continued their business again immediately upon realizing she wasn’t some invading monster.
Trian appeared next to her, “Oh, I know he probably feels that way.” He said.
The two walked to the underground arena facility she had used to train her resistances before traveling north. It didn’t take them long but Ilea couldn’t help but smile at the stores and people, the atmosphere reminding her of Christmas. Yes, go and buy all the goods, give me your money so I can have more food, all the food.
“Are you ok?” Trian asked, looking at the woman with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Yes, very much so.”
“One arena… wait you’re… are you not that ash tank of the Hand who sold magic training to strangers?” The woman asked, completely uncaring for the two powerful mages in front of her. She looked pretty done.
Ilea spread her wings, “Yea, why? Does Lilith ring a bell?” She asked with a dawning possibility in her mind.
“Oh good, at least the owner isn’t a fucking shithead.” The woman said, nodding her head lightly, “You can use whatever you want, Lilith. For free of course. Let me know if you need anything.”
[Warrior – lvl 130]
Ilea identified her and smirked, “I wouldn’t want to annoy you, with that wonderful attitude. If you want things changed, please complain to the Head Administrator.” She liked the woman, it fit with the business, she thought.
“Oh please, you would squash me like an ant. The attitude is needed with the average moron of an adventurer. I think you should take the lowest arena, it’s the biggest too and we’d appreciate accidental excavation efforts from your side. It’s one of the few facilities below the previous underground part of the city.” The woman said, quickly filling something into the book lying next to her and handing her a runic key, “Not that you need it, costs money to fix the locks though. And yes, I have to say that every fucking time. Can’t complain of course, the job is well paid, easy as all hell and I can read on a slow day.”
“Are you a realm traveler?” Ilea asked.