Verita - The Guardian of Darkness

55

Aetrian knew that when Aydeze worked or received important guests, he simply created an improved illusion of this place and sent magic lights up into the thick roof beams. That wasn't a lot of work for a skilled mage – and certainly, Aydeze could've managed to do so between the time he'd felt their presence enter the tower and their appearance in his study.

"Are you telling the king where he can or can't go?", shot Aetrian back without hesitation.

"I'm telling a spoiled brat to be polite, that's all." The older man turned away, grumbling but without any signs of true hostility. "Well, now that you're here, would you like a drink, Your Majesty?"

Aetrian wasn't surprised that his master's questioning gaze passed right by him and landed on Elanthin, who blinked back without a change in expression. The day when Aydeze would call him by his proper title without irony had yet to come.

"No, I'm fine."

"Of course you are." Aydeze looked around, as if he was expecting someone else to have accompanied them. "Where's the fellow you drag everywhere? The one who's hair looks like he's dunked it into a pot of honey."

"Ves?"

"Yes, I believe that's what he's called."

"Don't pretend to have forgotten. You like him better than me."

"Untrue", claimed Aydeze immediately. "I do not prefer either of you; I simply sympathize with Ves as I am trapped in a similar position."

Aetrian spared Elanthin and himself the annoyance of asking his former teacher why he thought the two of them were in similar plights. Even without it, he could guess the gist of his meaning.

When it was clear that he wouldn't receive the answer he was waiting for, Aydeze let go of a heavy sigh. "No fun today either, I see. So tell me, boy, what have you come to pester me for this time?"

Aetrian could feel Elanthin's amused gaze rest on him upon hearing how his former teacher still called him. He'd given up on correcting Aydeze about his age; as he didn't know exactly how old the tower's head mage was, he didn't mind it too much.

"We need information about the Deep's darkness. More specifically, something called the Deep's touch – at least that's what it's been referred to as by others."

"The Deep's touch?" Aydeze's eyes wandered over to Elanthin, whose expression had turned cold once again.

Does she know how she looks when she does that?, asked Aetrian himself. Her expression often bore a particular sort of reservation; the type which let others believe they weren't worth her time.

"Then there's not much I can do for you", continued Aydeze, disturbing Aetrian's analysis.

"Anything we have on the Deep or its innate energy – which you call darkness – stems from before the Eternal Barrier was raised."

"We're aware but just for the off-chance that there's something helpful, a footnote even, in the records, we have to take a look. No one could deliver me anything up to now", explained Aetrian.

His former teacher looked Aetrian over; from the ruffled silver hair to the informal robes he hadn't changed out of for the visit. Then, he let go of a long sigh.

"But you wouldn't have come all this way if there wasn't something more. That aid of yours could've delivered my words", he finally said.

"You're right. We're not just here for information." Even though Aetrian knew that Aydeze could be trusted in confidential matters, he hesitated a moment before he turned towards Elanthin. "She's the one who's been touched by the darkness."

The glazed-over look in Aydeze's eyes told Aetrian that he'd caught him. A mystery of that size was unprecedented and just what the head mage was longing for during his boring, uneventful days filled with dusty books and repetitive spells.

"How curious. You're saying that the queen has been ... in contact with the darkness of the De–"

"In contact would be slightly understated", cut Elle in impatiently. "I've been infected by it, it seems, so we're looking for a cure or a spell. Something to remove this darkness from myself before it causes even more trouble."

"You can't buy spells like books or dresses. Every incantation, every circle has its own elements and conditions that the effect relies o–"

"That's why we're not expecting you to have something pre-made", cut Aetrian in. They had no time to listen to Aydeze's preachings on magic usage. "I'm ready to fund and aid the mages in any way necessary but we need your support."

The older mage's expression showed his distaste for being hired like a mercenary; but as someone who'd given his life to the theory and implementation of magic, this chance was too good to pass up on. When Aetrian met his former teacher's sharp eyes, he knew he'd won.

"Alright. Since your request is reasonable, I will aid the palace to the best of my abilities – like our contract demands."

They both knew that the contract which Aydeze spoke of was little more than an excuse he used whenever he liked – and disregarded in all other cases.

"First, we'll have to take a closer look at what we're dealing with. Perhaps we can lure the darkness into the light a little bit, hm?"

It was impossible to read Elle's expression, but the atmosphere in the room was getting a little strained. Aetrian touched her shoulder with his hand to make her look at him.

"Is that alright with you? If yo–"

"What I'll do won't be a danger to Her Majesty", cut Aydeze in. "So don't be fussy and throw a fit."

"I was simply ..." Aetrian stopped himself mid-sentence and breathed in deeply to collect himself. There was no use explaining to Aydeze, who was out to annoy him.

Next time, I might send a raven before coming over, he thought defeated. Outwardly he put on a polite smile, just as much for his former teacher as for Elle, who nodded at him slightly.

"What can I help with?"

"Before you do anything heroic, boy, you should step out for a minute and count the corridor's portal frames", said Aydeze with a little sneer in his direction. "Her Majesty might need to loose that tunic and we don't want to cause any diplomatic rifts."

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