Chapter 50, For a prince 10

(Reskeme)

With two days until the auction, Reskeme asked Michael to wake him early the next morning. That was why, when he opened his eyes to the faint light of sunrise, Reskeme wasn't too surprised. He was surprised to see Rory leaning over him, her eyes wide with interest.

"What are you doing, Rory?" grumbled Reskeme.

" I was watching you sleep." replied Rory, her eyes roving his face curiously.

"Why are you watching me sleep?" asked Reskeme, yawning and stretching his aching back from his laying position on the floor.

"I was curious to see what you look like sleeping." reply Rory again with the brief answer.

"Wait, why? You have seen me sleep a lot before." said Reskeme, noticing Rory held her hands behind her back as she stood there smiling innocently down at him.

"What do you have in your hands?" asked Reskeme, furrowing his brow.

"Rory, I'm trying to sleep. Don't be so loud." said Alex, the other bundle of blankets on the floor across the room shifting as Alex complained. Reskeme sat up, noticing something important missing.

Reskeme reached up, grabbing Rory. Rory didn't resist giving Reskeme a mischievous smile.

"Well, give it back. I need the amulet." said Reskeme, secretly proud of how good at stealing Rory was getting.

"What do you mean? I have an amulet. If you want it, I am willing to trade for a copper crown." said Rory, smiling.

Reskeme stared, mouth agape, at the girl. He squinted at the grinning girl in warning as he reached into the leather pouch fastened firmly to his belt. After holding out the copper crown, Rory smiled. She snatched the coin from his palm and slipped the leather cord of Reskeme illusion amulet over his neck.

"Thank you!" said the little thief.

"You 're going to make me go broke!" said Reskeme, ruffling Rorys hair as he stood.

"What is this other amulet? It looks like you dropped it in a fire." Said Rory, as she held up Reskeme's slightly charred mana gauge to the early morning light coming in from the outer window.

Reskeme struck, grasping for the mana gauge in Rory's hand. Or at least he should have grabbed the amulet. Reskeme's skin tingled lightly and just before his hand touched metal, Rory took one step to the side, completely avoiding Reskeme attempt to steal back his amulet.

Reskeme cocked his head to the side in curiosity. This had happened several times now but Reskeme couldn't even guess what the girl was doing?

"Rory, how are you doing that?" Asked Reskeme.

"Doing what? You are so obvious! Anyone would notice you reaching for the amulet." said Rory, still holding the amulet up and staring into the deep blue circle in the center.

" But Rory, you have your back to me. How can you tell what I am doing with your back to me?" asked Reskeme.

"Everyone can do that, silly. Mommy and uncle Kellar said it's completely normal for a young mage." Said Rory.

" What kind of mage are you, Rory?" asked Reskeme, noticing the girl stopped her perusal of his mana gauge, her shoulders tensing.

Reskeme, realizing he was making her uncomfortable, slowly reached for her and tousled her hair. She tensed, but when Reskeme stood up and headed for the door, she finally turning around to face him.

" You won't tell anyone, will you? Uncle Kellar said it would be really bad if people found out what I can do. He said the big bad inquisitors will come and take me if they find out what I can do." Stammer Rory, her terror highlighted by the tears welling in her eyes.

" Did uncle Kellar say what kind of magic you have, Rory?" asked Reskeme, kneeling down and wrapping a tense Rory in a bear hug. Reskeme paused in thought. Was that the Kellar he knew? He shook his head. Now wasn't the time for that.

" Bo, but mommy said if anyone finds out, the inquisitors will take me the dungeons. I don't want to go to the dungeons." Said Rory, her shoulders now shaking as tears flowed down her cheeks.

" I would never tell those mean inquisitors anything." said Reskeme, embraced the girl.

" You promise? I don't like the scary inquisitors." said Rory, leaning back to stare Reskeme in the eyes hopefully.

" Pinky swear." said Reskeme holding up his pinkie crossing the other hand over his heart. Why would the girl's mother would have said something so serious? It must be serious. He had his suspicions, but Reskeme wanted to make sure.

After the pinkie swear, which was a solum promise usually only granted under the most dire circumstances, Rory gave back the mana gauge. Reskeme, noticing Rory's shoulders relax slightly, smiled reassuringly at her. He tousled her hair and wrapped one arm around her. Taking his scorched leather apron from the hook on the wall, Reskeme went into the small cleaning closet and changed. Reskeme took a step from the closet and once again felt the need to say something to Rory.

" Now, we both have a big secret. That is what friends are for. We keep big secrets because we trust each other." said Reskeme, leaning down and staring into her deep hazel eyes.

Rory seemed hesitant as she stood on the stairs. A door opened and Michael strode out, picking out Rory and carrying her the rest of the way to the bottom of the stairs. Rory smiled, bursting into laughter as Michael set her down and tickled her.

"Hey! that tickles!" said Rory, laughing.

His mood lifted slightly as Reskeme, and Michael strode from the house.

Deep in thought, Reskeme hardly noticed the early morning bustle of the city.

" Where can I find a book on different magic affinities?" asked Reskeme, breaking the silence.

" What do you need that for? Dont you already know what affinities you have?" asked Michael.

" Its good to learn as much as I can about magic." said Reskeme, shrugging.

" You could just buy a scroll of magic affinities from the guild. But it will be pretty expensive." said Michael, gesturing to the sprawling guild house they were approaching.

"Sure, lets go in the front door." said Reskeme.

Entering the guild halls' front door, Michael led the way. He gestured to a bookshop; the owner unfurling the iron curtains to the man's shop. Presenting their copper badges to the guard Reskeme, enter the long shop lined with books. Most of the books lining the shelf each had a display with a startling price labeled underneath.

" I can see why they have a guard now." said Reskeme, glancing back to the well-dressed guard standing in front of the bookshop.

" Dont get any ideas, the defensive runes will not act kindly to a theft." reply Michael smiling and nodding to the man who was finishing latching the iron curtain open.

" I mean seriously, a single book costing five silver?" asked Reskeme.

" That is one of the cheaper tombs I offer." said the soft male voice of the shop owner.

" Why are they so expensive?" asked Reskeme.

"Well, someone needs to write all of these books by hand." said the Man.

" Thats a damned lie. I met a newspaper lady who said a printing press can make books for a fraction of the cost of writing them." said Reskeme.

" You seem rather misinformed young man." said the shop owner, a smile lighting his face.

" Its Reskeme, and what is your name?" asked Reskeme, the man's smile somewhat disarming.

" I'm Lyle, and this is my shop. I assure you that the prices listed are much lower than you will find anywhere in the city. If you don't believe me, you are free to check for yourself." said Lyle, smoothing his immaculate deep black doublet.

" Why don't you use the printing press for these books? You could make a lot more crowns? Frankly, its idiotic to write them when you can make a lot more of the same book." said Reskeme.

" If you must know, the reason these tombs are so much more expensive than a normal book is my books contain the art of channeling in all of its forms. From Basic battle runes to the complex incantations and rune structure of a ten layers spell. The parchment and ink are not expensive per se, it is the knowledge that is expensive." said Lyle, his winning smile making Reskeme falter.

" That makes sense. But why not make a lot of copies?" asked Reskeme.

" You sound like a smart young man. You tell me why we wouldn't do that?" said Lyle.

" Because if you made a lot more copies than all of your magic books would sell for a lot less?" said Reskeme.

Lyle smiled and walked over to some glass encased books.

"If you were a man of higher means, I might even suggest a book on the process of structure development." said Lyle, gesturing to several tomes behind the sales counter in rune carved glass.

" What exactly do those do?" asked Reskeme, his curiosity peaked. He had four silver crowns, so he should be close to affording one of those books?

Lyle straightened his doublet as he noticed Reskeme's intense gaze. The salesman walked behind the counter and ran a hand over the leftmost book, the man's finger lightly touching the glass. The tomb was polished brown leather with faint script and the imprint of some bird clasping a scepter.

" To be honest, I don't think you have the means to afford such a tome. If you go to one of the magic academies in either Pentir or our neighbor, Laurentia and pass the first year, you will be allowed the most basic version of this book. ," Said Lyle, expecting Reskeme to know what it was.

"The art of the primal skill." whisper Michael in awe.

"What, I dont know what that is?" said Reskeme, glancing from Michael to Lyle in confusion.

" Your friend there has some idea of what this book is. However, I don't have the tome for the last stage." said Lyle.

" But you have the books that can teach people how to make it one stage from the top?" asked Michael.

" Yes, for the first tome on the path to developing a primal skill is ten gold." said Lyle.

Reskeme could swear he was going to faint.

"Ten gold for book one? What in the nine hells does the book do for me?" asked Reskeme, suddenly light-headed. For one brief stretch of days, Reskeme had felt as though he was climbing the ladder in life. But now he realized that four silver crowns were only scraps.

" You really dont know? It is the first step to developing a unique and powerful skill for the mage who uses it. That is how people can tell the difference between a master mage and a grand master. A grand master could simply use their primal skill and a master mage would stand almost no chance of winning in a one-on-one fight." said Lyle, his face turning up in minor annoyance.

" I think you are forgetting the best part. I heard that even at the stage of a novice you can start your initial development in creating your monster's heart." said Michael grinning.

" Wait, are you saying what I think you are?" asked Reskeme.

" I think so. We could create a monster's heart of our own in side our bodies." said Michael, clearly exited to share his knowledge.

" It is best to start young. If you get too old before starting the process, it can be exceedingly difficult to start the process." said Lyle, his smile returning at their excitement.

" What can you do with your monster's heart?" asked Reskeme, peering curiously at Lyle.

" Well, I can create a seven layered rune barrier at a command." said Lyle, puffing out his chest proudly.

" So you create the monster's heart inside of yourself to store mana and even runes? Once you decide to use the runes, then boom, something turns to dust without you needing to spend the time channeling?" said Reskeme, cautiously taking a step back.

" Sort of. But you still need to create the runes and store the mana. You can just shape the structure of the runes beforehand and release the mana when you need something to explode. You should know this already. From what you 're wearing, you must be runesmiths? I'm sure you have dealt with the more common monster hearts before?" said Lyle, standing tall.

" Of course! Why didn't I think of that? If a monster can do it, then why can't a human do it! I really need to get that for me. ," Said Reskeme, turning back to Michael. Michael frown his slight shake of the head, conveying his unwillingness.

" It's your funeral if you try it on your own. Do make sure to leave the guild hall before you try. I heard there can be a rather large mess." said Lyle, noticing Reskemes introspection.

" We don't have the crowns for it right now. Lyle, do you have a cheap book on affinities and how to identify them?" asked Michael, returning to the reason they were here.

Lyle strode from behind the desk and took a thin book from a shelf before setting it on the dark wooden counter.

" One silver for the book." said Lyle, smiling at Reskeme.

Reskeme swallowed hard as he took one of his four silvers from his purse and placed them on the counter. Lyle seemed to notice as Reskeme winced. Michael slapped Reskeme on the back.

"Have no fear, my friend. When we sell our weapons, we might be able to afford the first tome on structural advancement." Said Michael. Reskeme could only nod, as he left the shop with the book of affinities in hand.

They walked in silence back out the front door, preferring to walk on the street instead of through the winding maze of halls and doors to reach the workshop. They reached the side entrance and a familiar face greeted Reskeme.

" Hey there, are you feeling better?" Asked Tyler. on the right, concerned. Reskeme froze for a moment, his mind racing.

" Tyler was it? Yeh, I'm fine now. I just ate some to old eggs the other night. I would not suggest repeating my same mistake." said Reskeme, shuddering in revulsion.

" That sounds awful. I'm glad to see your doing better. Dont let me hold you up, go on in." said Tyler, giving Reskeme a wink as he passed. Reskeme smiled at the man, winking back. Well, he guessed the guard was still expecting him to show them the shield later.

Once they enter the courtyard, Michael eye him wearily.

" What was that about?" asked Michael.

"What? You mean the eggs lie?" asked Reskeme.

" No, I mean the wink he gave you. What are you up to with the guards?" asked Michael, glancing around the mostly empty courtyard. The faint hammering of someone already at work drifted through the closest of the workrooms. Reskeme smiled innocently and strode for the workshop marked with number twenty, patting Michael on the shoulder as he passed.

" Dont worry about it, Michael. Its just a demonstration." said Reskeme, entering their workshop and sitting on their sole wooden chair next to the table.

" Now I'm ever more worried. The fact that the guard seems to like you is rather odd as well. Are you feeling well? So far, you have been nice to both that guard and Lyle. That is unlike you." said Michael.

" I am always nice to you, Michael." retorted Reskeme.

" I guess, but you are always standoffish with other people." said Michael.

" Maybe I just decided to be nice for a change." said Reskeme, cracking the book he had just bought.

" That has me worried. The next thing i know you are going to be giving people compliments all the time." said Micheal.

" I like your hair today. I bet Sara will take a liking when we go for lunch today." said Reskeme casually.

"Thanks, I ran a comb through it this morning I hope she notices." Said Michael, flushing.

" See, I can be nice." said Reskeme, reading the first page.

" Then why are you always such an ass? I swear its like you want Lord Stan and Lord Ethan to hate you." said Michael.

" I have been trying to get better. I may have had some complications the last time I fought a noble."said Reskeme gesturing to his ear. Michael glanced at the ear in question. It was hard not to notice. Michael had been meaning to ask about it for some time, but couldn't bring up the courage.

" So a noble clipped your ear like that?" asked Michael.

" Ya, with a sabre." said Reskeme gesturing to the useless sabre leaning on a beg in the workshop's corner. After several days of lugging the thing around, Reskeme had gotten sick of the useless item.

Michale shook his head, his body language communicating his disbelief.

" That is completely ridiculous. You can't go around insulting nobles without a price!" said Michael.

" Well, he's not around anymore to brag about cutting my ear." said Reskeme, fire burning in his voice. Michael could swear he could see the illusion fade for a moment, revealing the monster that hid within. Its dark green eyes seeming to peer past the illusion to stare at Michael with unrestrained malevolence.

Michael shudder, but when he looked again, the image was gone, replaced by his friend once again.

" What do you want to do with that sabre? We have time, would you like to fix it up?" asked Micheal.

" Could we make a shorter sword? I wanted to make something special for Rory." said Reskeme.

" We can. With the excess, we could even make a dagger to pair with it. She is still small so we will need to remove quite a lot of weight to make it usable for her strength." Said Michael, smiling.

Reskeme stood and retrieved the sabre, drawing the damaged weapon from its sheath. The metal rasped like sandpaper on the scabbard as it was drawn. It came free with a few none to gentle tugs. Michael gestured him over and raised a hammer over a chisel. The rivets holding the handle to the tang clatter to the stone floor after two hard blows. Reskeme set the weapon next to the forge and started the arduous process. First lighting a small fire and pumping the bellows to return the forge to its blazing heat.

Drenched in sweat nearly an hour later and breathing heavily, Reskeme placed the damaged sabre into the coals and returned to his wooden seat. At last, it was time for some reading.

Reskeme flipped through the pages, glossing over the sections listed under the five major elements and even the sub elements within. Those were all rather interesting, but he was looking for something among the soul magics. Reskeme frowned as he realized there were only three soul magics listed. Body, Soul and mind.

Body magic was the art of reinforcing one's body through application of mana, to generate speed and strength.

Soul magic was the art of manipulating one's soul to connect with other beings through their very essence. Even coming with the unique ability to summon a familiar. That would be good if not for one major downside. If the familiar died, the person who summoned them would go mad. The book was oddly blank on the reason for that. Simply stating madness in the case of familiar death. And in nearly every case, known the summoner who called on the familiar would slowly and inevitably go mad. That was why a large portion of mages like Michael didn't summon their familiars, as it was too risky.

Reskeme scowled. Alot of good familiars were, his familiar was a blasted blood thirsty, greedy, power hungry demon. Reskeme paused at the thought. Wasn't he a greedy, power hungry demon? Well, at least he wasn't bloodthirsty like his familiar. Pushing aside his thoughts of that waste of a familiar Ardivar, Reskeme turned the page to the final of the soul magics.

Mind magic was helpfully listed in bright red script. And under that, printed in bright red ink, was written. Report any and all mind mages to your nearest guard or government official. Anyone caught harboring a mind mage will be held responsible and summarily punished. Yes, that means death!

Well, that wasn't nice at all, Reskeme thought.

Mind magic is a curse that afflicts those unlucky enough to be tainted with its presence. If a person who possesses mind magic is allowed to live, they will grow in power, affecting everyone around them. Their power crippling the minds of their victims until nothing is left but the husks of the poor good folk left in their wake. All mind mages are sick, they are accursed of the gods and deemed to be too much of a risk to keep living. If you notice anything unusual, like someone reading your thoughts or sometimes knowing what you are going to do before you do, then report immediately. If you suspect someone is doing so report it to the nearest church so we can test them for this sickness. We must purge all mind mages from the world to keep the rest of us safe.

Reskeme swallowed as he read those words. If he was right, then Rory had reason to fear. No wonder the girl was so terrified. If anyone found out what she was doing, the girl would actually be killed.

" Michael, what do you know about mind mages, and why does this last part sound so… aggressive. " said Reskeme.

" The sick?, oh yeah, we had one of them last year. It was sad but necessary." Said Michael, waving him away.

" And what happened to the people?" asked Reskeme wearily. The way Micheal said those words was like the hangs man commenting on his latest victim.

" Once they were discovered, the sick were taken from their parents and freed from their curse." Said Michael shuffling nervously, unable to meet Reskeme's eyes.

" They killed them? And it sounds like they were kids?" Said Reskeme, his chest tightening in fear.

" They were young, yes. But they were accursed, the sick need to be removed so the people can be safe." Said Michael, clearly uncertain of his statement.

" It sounds like someone is just looking to make them sound evil or sick because they don't like them. And how can you agree with the inquisitors killing children for something they cant control? Noone decided their magic." Said Reskeme sourly.

" They are sick. No one should be able to read someone's mind or force their will on others." Said Michael. His shoulders slumping as though he was trying to convince himself.

" And what do you call creating runes' do burn people alive?" asked Reskeme.

" That is different." Said Micheal.

" And what would you do if one of your family was born with this sickness?" Probed Reskeme Michael's shoulders tensed and then slumped.

" I don't know. So far, we have been lucky. The sickness is extremely rare. So we might only see it once every couple of years. " Said Michael.

"And you are okay with brutal murder? I am a demon, and i can see what they are doing is wrong!" said Reskeme.

"It's hard to debate right and wrong when you 're talking with a demon," Said Michael.

"People say demons are evil and yet here I am with you? Said Reskeme.

Well, almost no one knows demons exist, everyone knows that the sick exist." Said Michael.

"Shouldn't the sick be helped? Why are they just killed? Do you want the church to just kill me?" Said Reskeme.

"You have a point. I don't know what you want me to do about it? I have never even met one. And I am not a noble, much less the king. If you want to change a law, you will need to talk to the king. But why would you bother, we are safe and that is because the sick are dealt with? And the church is paying you to work for them they clearly know something about demons i dont." Said Michael uncomfortably.

"Right! Whatever helps you sleep at night! It's still wrong. To be honest, my illusion magic sounds a lot like mind magic. Only I mess with your sight, not your thoughts." Said Reskeme.

" Not the same at all. I can fight your illusions but I can't fight someone invading and corrupting my mind. " said Michael defensive.

" This book just seems so harsh. I read a scroll back home that simply described mind magics affects and the fact that all should be reported for taboo." Said Reskeme.

" Taboo means in defiance of the gods' Reskeme. Your kingdom is just as much at fault as mine for the way they deal with the sick. But Reskeme I'm not saying anyone should kill children. I would do something about it if I could, but I'm just a commoner rune smith." Said Michael, slumping in defeat.

"Well, perhaps someday I can find out why mine magic is illegal. Anyway, where is the last one? I don't see destiny here in this book." Said Reskeme, holding up the book to reveal that mind magic was the only remaining topic.

Michael waved him away dismissively.

"As the magic tester of the guild said, destiny magic is a myth." Said Michael furrowing his brow.

"Well, that is because your kingdom is weird. Doesn't it sound amazing to be able to see small glimpses in the future? Think about it Michael, being able to predict an attack just before it happened." Said Reskeme.

" That sounds a lot like mind magic. You better not go around spouting nonsense like that to everyone you see. You may get questioned by the church inquisitors." Said Michael.

" That would be a problem for obvious reasons." Said Reskeme.

" Oh right! The whole demon thing, I forgot about that. How did you become allies to an organization that is devoted to killing your kind?" Asked Michael.

" Just happenstance. And if I'm being honest, I doubt our alliance will last." said Reskeme.

" Why are you so curious about mind magic, anyway?" asked Michael, furrowing his brow.

" Evil demon stuff, don't worry about it." said Reskeme, waving Michael away dismissively.

" So what how do we go about stealing this key you need? Once we get it I hope, you will tell me why you 're so curious about the sick." said Michael.

" I already told you. It's for reasons only a demon would understand." said Reskeme using the first lie he could think of.

" Lets wait until later in the evening when Lucas has more time. If we try to get a meeting right now, he will only wave us off. I know I would get bored with all the tedium and be ready to see something cool like a magic sword after a long day's work." said Michael. Reskeme groaned at the prospect but stood up, stretching for a hard day's work.