Chapter 36: ~Opposing forces.~ (1/2)

***Eastern Planes, Arcane Academy***

“I feel really old today.” A short stretching creates some really horrible sounds in my creaking bones. “Can you make this short? After three hundred years, you really feel your age. I might retire soon.”

My office is a small, but comfortable room. I don't like it big. Just show-offs have big and expensive offices.

I carefully watch the head of the Inquisition in front of me. Norent Grant. He is a really young magician who hasn't even reached a hundred years. I think he is in his forties, but his talent enabled him to rise to the top.

The two powers within the Academy are the Inquistion, which is trying to limit the available knowledge, and the Academy itself, my office. We are trying to teach all young mages to control their powers.

The Inquisition fears that too much power might destroy the world. So they limit knowledge wherever possible. But it's the easiest to keep the commoners away from the well of wisdom, so they are hit the hardest by the Inquisition's actions.

I am not a fan of it, but everything has a price.

“Headmaster Sagittarius. I need all information you have about a certain Ascathon Asceron. And about Celestial Asceron. Formerly Celestial Jasmine.” Norent places his fingers on the writing table of my office and leans closer.

“Ah. That one? You said Celestial Asceron? He married? Hahahaha. I hope they'll send their child here. There is much to be expected from their offspring. Although I don't understand how they got together, they hated each other like water and fire.” I smile. The world is still able to amuse me. On the other hand, water and fire are able to create an explosion together.

“This is no joke headmaster! They violated a few of the most important laws against technology! And they killed one of my inquisitors when he tried to arrest them.” Norent bangs his fist onto my table and I wince. There is no need to damage my furniture.

“May I see the report of this … event?” I stand up and walk to one of my archives at the wall. I have everything filed in chronological and alphabetical order. A few seconds of searching produce two records of the specified persons.

Norent refuses my request. “You know very well that our reports are secret. I can't give them to someone outside of the Inquisition!”

I press the two useless records to my chest. “Then I have to inform you that it's the same for the Academy's files. But I may be able to offer you a trade …” I am acting like my reports have really important information on the matter.

But I know that that's not the case. When Ascathon got his certificate, I investigated the person and his whole surroundings myself. There was nothing extraordinary during his entire time at the Academy. Just an ordinary person who suddenly got perfect scores on his final exam. I thought he found a possibility to cheat in his test.

Though there was no proof of that.

Norent's jaw starts to work and I shiver at the sounds he produces through that action. This guy needs to get his emotions under control. Finally Norent nods and throws a report from his folder onto my table.

I hastily grab the report and hand Norent the records to finalize the deal. Then I start reading and take a seat in my chair. Norent starts to look through my files too.

Ten minutes of silence follow.

“Fascinating!” “Useless!”

When Norent reaches over to get his report back, I pull away to get it out of his reach. “Nonono … Not so hasty. A deal is a deal.”

“Your files are useless, old man!” But he sits back on his chair.

“You learned that he is a smart fellow, who was either able to cheat at his final exam, or played a game with his teachers for the entire time he was at this institute. And that his wife isn't less mysterious.” I smile and store Norent's report away.

“Anyway. We have to deal with this.” Norent looks at my records with a grumpy expression.

I shrug my shoulders. “I don't see how. The Academy may have a strong influence on Mislow, Norfolk, The Nation of Mist and Jamaian. But your investigators overdid it by attacking a noble out of the blue! The Jarl is protecting the Sarn-Valley under the premise that the military power, which is being built there, may be needed against the Phenex Empire.”

After a deep breath I continue. “Don't you think that the downfall of Jamaian and the Phenex Empire should get our attention instead of this small principality? And even if you lost an inquisitor, they were stupid to even try to get close to someone who can build such artefacts.”

Norent looks up and glares at me, but he says nothing.

“Your people screwed up. I don't even know how you intend to explain this to the Jarl. We need Norfolk. The Phenex Empire isn't moving for now. But that's just because they took a bigger bite than they could chew. At some point their reinforcements will arrive. And then we need every help we can get. That includes Norfolk. If we anger them and they decide that the Phenex Empire is the better choice, then we have a huge problem.” My lips twist in amusement while looking at Norent's new expression.

“They wouldn't!” Norent shakes his head.

“Why not? The Jarl is a smart and liberal minded fellow. And he is greedy, not only in his eating habits. He embraces the new and takes chances. Just look at his actions. He accepted someone into his nation, who turned his back on his home country. He even gave Ascathon full rights as a noble of Norfolk. Now he protects the Sarn-Valley as a secret research centre.” I smile at Norent, who became a little pale.

“I would think up a really good apology if I were you. The Immortal Empress is a dangerous enough entity all by herself. If we have to fight on two borders, we will lose for sure.” I look down at my table and sigh. “By losing Jamaian so easily, we may have already lost. Our unity is simply too loose to oppose her.”

Norent snorts and stands up. “Then the Inquisition may have to show the other powers what we are capable of.” He turns and leaves my office.

Hot headed youth. There are things in this world, which you can't even imagine. I stand up and grab my cane. Enough work for today. And this will come with me. Norent's report wanders into my robe.

I leave my office and head home. This world is on its best way to a really big war. The Academy will have to decide soon where it stands. Unfortunately that seems to exclude the Inquisition.

And there aren't just the big nations at work here. Some very old beings pull the strings behind the curtains. The only one who is easily recognizable is the Immortal Empress. Others may be rising at this moment … like Sarn.

Then there is the Nation of Mist. Those guys are simply too patient! I don't trust them at all. The only one who is maybe able to see their plans is the Empress.