Chapter 71.
- You don't look that surprised from the news., noticed Ischyra. I am not sure what reaction I was expecting though …
- We cleared the path for the others, so nothing to be overly surprised about., clarified Rose. We were indeed more or less sure they would die as none of them knows magic, but even them surviving is not so important.
Nodding in understanding, the Palisci suddenly pointed out :
- They are only mortals ?
- We took most of the Grimoires after all., lightly laughed Nick.
After roughly explaining how they learnt Cultivation in the Maze, Ischyra began seeing things more clearly.
- So you mean to say you currently possess three Grimoires ?
- Exactly., answered Enora while scrubbing her left calf over the water with soap. There were four of them, but I am pretty sure nobody took the last.
While silently pinching her lower lip, the red-skinned exotic woman asked :
- Could I read them ?
She seemed a bit reluctant in that question as if dreading the outcome. But her dread was all unfounded since no reluctance was felt towards lending those booklets to the only friend they had outside of their circle. That and the fact they had already read everything. Upon receiving a positive answer and the actual objects, Ischyra began reading immediately, occulting everything else in a second.
(Nick) Looks like she really likes magic.
(Rose) Nothing surprising considering her race's predicament. Too bad there is probably nothing of interest to them in there : it's only a series of lessons for beginner mages.
(Nick) Now get your ass out of here !
After a friendly scuffle, Enora 'willingly' got out of the water to let the other two have their turns. But even when the three got naked, scrubbed, and clothed themselves, the fourth wheel did not lift her eyes for a second. It was to the vexing point, and they ended up having to wait, sitting down at the small table in front of the tranquil fire. Nothing moved for a long while in the room and, if Ischyra had not been present, some well-deserved sleep would have been taken.
An hour and a half later, the three books were read and put back on the dining table. She read damn fast ! Leaning back on her chair, the non-human crossed her fingers behind her head and stared blankly at the books, deep in thoughts. The other three did not feel the need to ask anything : they knew the woman would eventually open up about what bothered her. And they were right.
- I don't know who wrote those three Grimoires, but that is definitely a single mage. It is neither a Palisci nor a Human though. I am confident about this.
- How come ?, curiously asked Nick.
- I would realise if a Palisci wrote the one about fire magic., she explained slowly. We know our stuff, and even if this one does too, the way everything is explained still feels very far from our mastery. On the other hand, it cannot be a Human.
- Again : how come ?, gently insisted Enora.
- Because these predate the addition of any Human world in the Conjunction., concluded Ischyra. It is not obvious, but some elements seem to indicate such a thing. For example, the part where the author says a 'colleague' has asked them to write those Grimoires for new Otherworlders. That person knew the principle of portals and all, but not anything about the Trials. It tells me that this person may very well have been an ancient representative of the Magical Society. Possibly before the Palisci too.
That was a significant theory that could prove useful and even valuable to the right Sages. However, Rose felt a bit lost about something :
- Wait. If the mage who wrote this did so before your people joined the Conjunction and your people have been around for two millennia, how is it possible that you never had the opportunity to read one of those ? I mean all Trials must have Grimoires provided, right ?
- Absolutely not !, categorically answered the red-skinned woman. It is not a consistent matter, to be honest. When it comes to our own Trial, the Palisci did not receive Grimoires for help. Why ? No idea. We had to learn by ourselves. On the other hand, the Laelis had an ancient sound projection giving them precise instructions on how to begin Cultivation. Meaning their first wave managed to learn relatively quickly, but they could not take it away. Most of the time, the Trials are built in a way that the magical lessons cannot be brought out.
- So, our situation is a peculiar one., understood Nick.
- Could that mean that this specific Trial was built very long ago but only activated today ?, wondered Enora.
Ischyra thought for a while before shaking her head.
- I don't know. These dust-covered matters are too complicated to investigate, even for me. Consulting an elder from Siothra, my homeworld, would be mandatory. However, shedding light on this is not a priority of mine as discovering it now or in a few years won't change much.
It was true : those were secrets kept hidden for so long that the urgency had wholly withered away. With the heavy stuff out of the way, the trio decided to deal with Arsenio's accusations at another time. They, however, received confirmation that, contrary to Ischyra, the change of attitude from the townspeople came from the murder stuff. Understandably, mortals were anxious about these matters. She still assured them that, if they kept their cool and acted the same way they had until then, the whole thing would simply die down with time. The Sephaysians had other fish to fry.
Towards the end of this evening meeting, when the trio expressed their desire to get to bed, Ischyra had a surprising reaction. First, she got up while staring at them intently. Then she walked up to the small table they had been sitting around of and said with a smile :
- Can I stay ?
Facing the speechless faces of the three humans, their mouths open and eyes wide, she simply snickered while trotting to the door. Just before getting out, she turned around for the last words.
- We'll see to that later, young lads.