The Krakos: Book Two of The Legend of the Artificer

Chapter 18

The tower was as dissonant and disconcerting as ever. Tibalt wondered if they knew how incredibly loud it was. Maybe it was majority human because species with more sensitive ears couldn't take the noise. Ah, there was no time to think about that. He had a job to do.

There were enough mages working here that he would mostly go unnoticed, he was pretty sure. Everyone would likely assume someone else knew him. People, by nature, didn't want to rock the boat unless absolutely necessary.

He still didn't like using this old face. But it was a necessary evil, and it would likely come in handy often. Literally causing himself dysphoria was a bit annoying, though, but he had always been a bit fluid. Short term, having his chest was a novelty, and actually a bit fun. He just wasn't going to drag it out that long.

Deep breath in. Let it out slowly. The doors opened at a touch, and he strode in confidently as his brain buzzed in concern. He was totally going to get caught.

It was still chaos in the main reception area, but now that he was in here, he could get a better look. It seemed like the majority of the secretarial work was done down here. Not much magic going on, but he had a feeling it normally wasn't so wild. A big, open floor plan, with a grand staircase on either side of the hall, and a plethora of desks. The city was surprisingly clean and decent for having a hurricane just rip through, so they were probably dealing with the accounting aftermath of that.

Taking a deep breath, he strode forward to the detested secretary.

"Excuse me," he said with a carefully nervous smile.

"What?" she asked sharply as a mage behind him bumped his shoulder.

"Sorry, I'm new, I was told to deliver this book to, uh, Anais, I think, but I don't know where her office is," he squeaked out, playing his part as best as he could, and she looked him up and down in disdain.

"Third floor is security. Her office is the only one with double doors," she said flatly, like she was unamused at the mere mention of Anais, and someone behind him jostled him for a second time.

"Thank you so much!" he blurted, let color rise in his cheeks, and then he scurried for the stairwell.

Was it actually that easy? Seriously? Anais was slacking on her job. Well, at least he could still act. 'Pretend it's your first day and make them feel guilty' was always a hit, right next to 'convince your manager to dramatically fire you in front of an unreasonable customer'. Ah, the good old days of work at a locally owned coffee shop...

Focus. Third floor, only room with double doors. He just had to get inside.

It was much quieter on the second floor. There was the ever-present humming, and the sound of people casting rapid spells, but the hall was mostly clear. It was weird, though. He would have thought a magic tower would have house plants.

Ah, no matter. The third floor was even quieter, with far quieter humming, and Teacher vibrated in his arms as he reached the top of the stairs.

"Well, I see you didn't wait for my input," Teacher said, the first thing it'd said all day, and Tibalt snorted as he peered down the curving halls of identical single doors.

"It's clearly working," he replied, and Teacher let out a bark of laughter.

"And what will you be doing when she actually asks you how you got this information? She won't be as easy to fool as a frazzled secretary."

"I'll figure something out," Tibalt replied lowly as he tried to stride down the halls like he belonged there. "Someone handed me the letter and told me to deliver it to her."