Chapter 35

A/N: Same deal. 500. Extra chapter.

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The next morning couldn't have come sooner... for everyone else, that was. I slept like a baby, cuddling one of Luvia's thick thighs while everyone went about their own personal investigations into just what had transpired last night.

This became evident when we all gathered for breakfast and Waver walked in with drooping shoulders, stifling a yawn with his hands, with old boy Orlocke Caesermund on his heel, pushed along by that quiet young boy who was yet to utter a single word still. I even caught Gray scrutinising me with a cute furrowed brow. Naturally, I gave her a wink that made her duck and pull down her hood.

"I wonder what's up with her..." I said idly.

"What's that? I can't hear you cause that explosion last night made me half-deaf." Jiroubou cleaned his ear with a pinkie finger, leaning on the desk with his arm. "I swear to-... When I find whoever did that, I'm gonna... arrgh."

I offered a sympathetic smile, as if I weren't the sole reason behind his annoyance, "Yeah, good luck with that buddy."

"Thanks."

"The only one here who has a reputation for fire-based magecraft is," Flueger stopped himself, shaking his head. It was good to know that the merc with a cool moniker wasn't a snitch.

Also wait... I had a reputation?

That was nice to know. I wondered what it was like. 

One of the dark-haired maids standing beside the empty head chair stepped forward. She politely bowed her head, eyes closed and hands over her stomach. "Sir Heine and Miss Rosalind express their apologies for not intending, he wishes to recuperate after last night's events."

That checked out. The healing spell he used on me wasn't the typical fantasy sort, no, it just put the body's natural healing on super steroids to simulate growth. While it fixed any wound, it also caused a great degree of tiredness. If he used the same thing on himself, then verily it stood to reason that he was probably sleeping like a log right now.

"Hm... Who told that upstart runt to try one upping everyone anyway?" Orlocke spat in a disinterested tone.

I, however, wasn't about to let him disrespect my boy like that.

"Why are you so fragile that you have to react to everything like a fourteen year old?"

"Insecure." Luviagelita coughed into her palm. "Bag of bones."

He opened his wrinkly mouth to respond, seeming all sinister, but Professor Waver cut in instead by... coughing. Why did everyone do that so much anyway? Was it a high society thing? He pushed away his half-finished bowl of cereal and wiped his lips with a thumb.

"I believe it's safe to assume whatever attacked Sir Heine was a familiar. The question then is whose was it..." He eyed me, fishing for an explanation. "Since you faced it... You must know, yes? I don't doubt your skill when it comes to identifying the source."

I shrugged. "Well, it wasn't anyone here."

Jiroubou let out a relieved sigh at my words... which was cause for some degree of curiosity. Why did it matter to him? 

No, it was as I suspected from the very start. There was something about this whole set-up itself. I still refused to believe a magus would hand over his inheritance to anyone that could solve a silly little puzzle.

I cast a sideways glance at the multitude of angels watching us eat.

"Actually, the wavelength was pretty much identical to the castle... rather, this workshop."

"Then it's as I thought." Waver put a hand under his chin, brows furrowed. As usual, the Professor completely ignored everybody else in the room and got lost in his own conspiracies. I'd come to know though, that he was almost never wrong with said conspiracies.

After moments passed in awkward silence, Orlocke chose to speak out.

"And what would that be?"

"Ah right..." Waver almost jumped but quickly collected himself, "Yes, well, I think the beast might belong to the late Lord Ashborn, bound to the land as some security measure. Considering the savagery, it was likely what attacked Miss Hishiri."

It was not... but I kept that to myself.

At the same time however, I noticed an astronomically small budge from... Orlocke, of all people, like he hadn't been expecting that answer, even though it was literally the most obvious one at this point. Okay... yeah, he definitely knew something.

Oh this was going to be very interesting.

Before anyone could think to stop me, I leapt onto the table and crouched down right in front of the old magus, too close for comfort considering his helper tried to pull him back. Unfortunately, a hand shot out and grabbed the wheelchair, holding it in place... my hand.

"Never thought I'd bully a paraplegic but here we are."

"What is the meaning of this?"

His aged gaze met my excited one and I saw his magic circuits switch with his nerves.

"You know, now that I think about it, didn't he say Geryon was an old friend. That means he for sure knows what that thing is."

Waver made no effort to stop me, and I knew the others didn't give enough of a fuck about the old, antagonistic cunt to even think about interfering... except maybe Flueger who'd jump in if paid the right price. But if money was the motivation, my sugar momma would definitely ensure otherwise.

"Well, spill it then."

The latent mana swirled, rushing into Orlocke's aged form. I was pretty sure he was about to attack me but then, abruptly, he sighed and closed his eyes.

"How... passionate." He shook his head. "It's true. That beast is indeed Ashborn's. He made it from Irene... from his dead wife's remains."

Wow. 

But again, what else could you really expect from a magus?

"That is surprising, I admit."

Okay that was a fucking lie.

I eyed Waver incredulously.

"What? It's true." The Professor pursed his lips, looking disappointed. "Lord Ashborn held great love for his late wife. It's not really a secret. She died in childbirth. Hm, yes, her fierce protection of this place despite the invitation makes sense now. A familiar made from the body of someone like that would indeed have enough lingering sentiment to attack 'invaders' but not enough sentience to tell who happens to one."

"The son died as well." Orlocke added, eyes downcast, shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

"Anyone wanna bet he used the son as materials too?"

"I'd take that bet." Waver sighed.

"You have to excuse me. I would like to be alone for a while. This has... brought up some bad memories."

Orlocke mournfully looked at my hand and I thoughtlessly let go, watching their backs as his helper pushed him into the lobby.

"Same, I'm not good with these kinda atmospheres." 

Jiroubou followed soon after, genuine discomfort writ all across his face.

"The only way to stop her is either to put her down or, solve the matter of the inheritance. Or perhaps, there's some connection between the two."

As I heard those words from the Professor, I couldn't help but ask myself why stopping her was even a big deal. Luvia looked equally as confused about his declaration. Sure, the matter held some serious sentimental value to old Orlocke but... it didn't really mean anything to the rest of us.

"I might sound like a dick here... but why should we care?"

"You shouldn't. It's what a magus would do." Waver rose to his feet. "Good luck, Henry."

...When next I saw Orlocke, the old magus was dead.

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I walked beside Luvia, giving the stink eye to every angel we passed just cause I felt like it. She... just watched me, a sort of defeated but amused smile etched across her face. Truly, what good had I done to deserve someone like this?

"Maybe I should join up with the Church."

"I didn't think you liked men." Luviagelita replied idly, staring out a window in the corridor.

"...Excuse me?"

"Well, a young new initiate, an old teacher. Those rumours... surely you've encountered at least one. Those hypocrites are precisely the type where such rumours are founded in truth."

I chuckled.

The eternal war between the Church and the Mage's Association was the funniest shit ever when it came to either of the two throwing needless shade at each other since every single bit of insult made sense for either side.

 Even now, I could perfectly recall Pastor Mark's words about magi being mangy cunts stuck in the past... despite the statement being equally true for the church as well.

"And what? Magi don't use children?"

"It's forbidden." She tossed a lock of her hair. 

"Yeah, I'm sure that stops people."

I shook my head, scanning the dark souls-esque corridor cluttered with statues and depictions of angels, winged creatures, some beautiful, some horrifying. Suddenly, my eyes latched onto a particular bit of wall with a few statues less than everywhere else.

My inner souls lover awoke immediately... and as a man controlled by desire, was it really any surprise that I made like a Chosen Undead and headfirst rolled into the wall? It wasn't. What WAS a surprise was that the wall actually fucking gave way.

It slid aside the second I made contact with it... revealing a dark, creepy passageway.

Luvia stared at me dumbfounded.

For once, I didn't blame her.

Still planned on acting like I knew it was going to happen though.

"AHA! Also, black... noice." I gave Luviagelita a thumbs-up from the floor.

"..."

The Edelfelt Princess made no effort to hide herself, she actually just stepped over my chest with a slight blush.

"Okay, feeling kinky too, I see. Double noice."

"S-Shut up."

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