Return of the Runebound Professor

Chapter 909: True Purpose

Noah dropped to the ground with a surprised grunt.

He was back in his room. The table had been cleaned off and it was oddly silent. There was no sign of Brayden, Lee, or Fist. It seemed that he’d gotten back before them. Sievan must have somehow triggered his badge to activate early.

Noah stood in silence for a few seconds as he took everything in. That had not at all been how he’d expected the masquerade to go. But, technically speaking, he’d accomplished his goal. He’d played music in a way that would hopefully get the attention of his students. It was just that he’d somehow managed to gather a bit more attention than he’d wanted and nearly melted someone into a pile of sludge.

“Goddamn it,” Noah said with a slow sigh. He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and shook his head. Today had been way too close. If Sievan hadn’t pulled him out, he might have gotten caught by the Apostles, the weird shadow lady that called herself Mistress, or any number of the other recruiters — and that wasn’t even to mention Vivian herself.

That made him wince.

I’m sure the Prophet is going to be absolutely thrilled about this. I don’t think they really had any rules about showing off during the masquerade. They probably will next time. Either way, I should stay the hell away from her. She probably wants to rip my head off.

Hopefully there aren’t any more of those socializers for a little while. I think I’d actually rather focus on fighting.

That was going to pose its own issues. Noah wasn’t going to underestimate himself. He knew he was strong. But there were some abilities that he couldn’t afford to show off in front of the entire world. He still had no plans of revealing Sunder or his ability to come back from the dead.

Noah had known for some time that he’d need to get stronger if he actually wanted to get truly far in his bracket. He’d been — perhaps somewhat foolishly — hoping that he would run into Moxie during the banquet. He had a number of reasons for wanting that.

The only one he was willing to put to words was that, without Grim, he didn’t have a good way to actually get the runes he needed to reach the next rank.

Damn. I’ll have to see if there’s some other way I can get them. Maybe Fist can have Mordred smuggle me some or the like. I’m sure there’s a way you can buy stuff and have it delivered or the like. Either that or I scam a recruiter into getting me what I need and then vanish on them. If that’s what I have to do, then I have no problem doing it.

There was a crackle to his left. Noah glanced over as Lee popped into being beside him, a surprised expression on her face. Two more crackles filled the air an instant later. Brayden and Fist both shifted into existence alongside her. They looked equally as surprised.

“Huh?” Fist asked, blinking. She glanced around. Then she frowned. “Seriously?”

“What?” Noah asked. “What happened?”

“We just got sent back. In the middle of the masquerade,” Lee said. “Damn! I wasn’t done eating. There was a table with some food left on it. I think they were restocking.”

“No warning or anything,” Fist said. She let out a huff. “Though I can’t complain. What a waste of time. I hate shmoozing. How is it that you weren’t surprised, Spider?”

Because the Lord of Death pulled me out of the masquerade before it was over and I spent a little while chatting with him before he sent me back myself.

“I might have been slightly distracted. I got back a moment before the rest of you,” Noah said with a dismissive wave. “But forget that. Lee, did you—”

Lee was shaking her head before Noah had finished.

“No,” she said sadly. “Nobody found me. I tried, though. I really did. Ate everything I could. Even other people’s food. I made a bunch of noise as well. But nobody that mattered came over to me. What about you? Did the plan work? There were so many people with instruments…”

“Work might be a strong word,” Noah said. “I would say it didn’t fail. Probably. I heard a number of people talking about my performance. As long as I keep doing well in the fights, I think it should spread just how we need it to. I had to put some magic into the music. More than I was planning. But it got attention, so I can’t complain… but I didn’t see anyone either.”

Brayden looked between the two of them. Then the corner of his lip twitched up.

“What?” Lee asked. Her eyes widened. “Did you meet someone?”

“I did,” Brayden said. He let out a booming laugh. “I found Emily.”

“What?” Noah asked, his eyes lighting up in delight. “You did? How is she? And who—”

“James,” Brayden said. “He’s in the room with her. I already told her the name of our inn. She’ll find us after the tournament.”

A wave of relief rolled over Noah’s shoulders. Somehow, against all odds, they’d actually managed to find someone. Two people, technically. Emily and James had been traveling together.

“How is she?” Noah asked.

“Well,” Brayden replied. “She’s grown even sharper. It’s clear she’s been practicing hard since she was sent out into Obsidia. I’d love to watch her fights if I could. I get the feeling she’s become quite the mage.”

“How’d you find her?” Lee asked.

Brayden paused for a moment. Then he cleared his throat. “I… paid people to let a large man fling them through the sky in hopes of drawing attention to myself. It worked.”

Fist choked on her own saliva. “What?”

“I believe I was quite clear,” Brayden said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “It was the best idea I could come up with.”

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“That’s the most Family Head-style solution to a problem that I’ve ever heard,” Noah said, letting out a laugh of disbelief. “I bet Jalen would approve.”

Brayden shuddered. “Don’t… say that. Ever. That crazy bastard is probably still around here somewhere, you know. I have no faith at all that anyone would have managed to kill him. Just saying his name might be enough to draw his attention. Let’s save finding that one for last, yeah?”

“Who exactly is Jalen?” Fist asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Lee said. She gave the other woman a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “He’s a weirdo.”

“He’d probably get on well enough with Mordered, actually,” Noah said with a small grin. “So long as Mordered didn’t mind playing darts or a game of cards with those stupid decks of his.”

“Egh.” Fist grimaced. “I’ll be staying away from that one.”

“Definitely for the best,” Noah said. He blew out a small breath, but he couldn’t keep the smile from his face. They’d found two of the students. Now, more than ever, he was certain. Everyone was here. He glanced over to Brayden. “Did Emily say anything?”

“Some. We didn’t want to give too much away. We mostly discussed plans and health,” Brayden said. “She and James are doing well. They’re aiming to perform well in their bracket as well. She didn’t have any information about the others. Doesn’t seem like they’ve reconnected yet.”

“Then we’ve confirmed that there are 4 people present so far that we didn’t know of before,” Noah said slowly. He nodded. “Not a bad start.”

“Wait. Three?” Brayden asked. “Who’s the third and fourth?”

“The third is Yoru,” Noah replied, pursing his lips. “She’s fiddling with things. I’m certain of it. I’m sure she’s got a reason for the whole thing… but I suppose it’s time for the bad news now. I ran into the Apostles.”

Brayden and Lee’s gazes snapped over to Noah.

“What?” Brayden asked.

“Damn,” Lee said grimly. “That’s bad.”

“They didn’t recognize me. And it wasn’t all of them,” Noah said. He let out a snort. “Unfortunately, it was the worst of them. I spoke with Kyyle. But, somehow, he actually seemed to like me when I had my disguise. Turns out he’s a fashion snob.”

“What about Garina?” Brayden asked. “Was she—”

“No,” Noah said with a shake of his head. “Unfortunately not. I think I would have recognized her as well. I didn’t see her in the group of the Apostles. But I didn’t have much time to examine them. I ran into Og. That Chaos-magic using Apostle that attacked us back in… well, a while ago.”

Lee’s eyes went narrow. “Did you kill him?”

“Almost,” Noah said. “I failed. He got away.”

“Shit,” Lee said. “Why did you find everyone? I didn’t find anyone! Not one interesting person! Not even an enemy!”

“Yoru, probably,” Noah replied. He let out a huff. “Way too many coincidences. She’s got her fingers in the pie up to the shoulders. I don’t know what she’s playing at… but there’s got to be something.”

“It would be a great relief if she’s around,” Brayden admitted. “If there’s anyone that can help us reconnect with the others, it’s Yoru. But you said we found four people, not three. Who’s the fourth?”

“Ah. That would be Tim,” Noah said. “Who I met shortly after trying to kill Og. He helped me get out.”

Better not mention Sievan with Fist around. No need to fill her in on all our secrets. She’s not exactly an ally.

A huge smile crossed Brayden’s face. “What a relief to hear. I’ve been worried about that old codger. Tim is a good one. Seems he’s doing pretty well for himself if he’s able to help out.”

“I’d say,” Noah said with a nod. “But that’s about it from my end. Not a bad turnout for our attempts at all. And if our plan keeps working, then we’re well on track to finding everyone.”

“Yeah,” Brayden said. His smile turned sardonic. “All we have to do is get farther in the biggest tournament I’ve ever seen. How hard could that be?”

***

A footstep echoed through the darkness.

Sievan looked up from his table. He’d stolen it from a local cafe. But it was the middle of the night. They’d never even know it had gone missing. As for the tea he’d poured himself — he’d left payment for it on the counter. They’d figure it out.

The room around him was pitch black. That did nothing to obstruct his senses, which were vividly aware of the woman standing directly across from him.

“Vivian,” Sievan said, taking a small sip from his cup. “It’s been quite some time since we met face-to-face. Color me surprised that you would come visit me in your domain. I had thought this would have been the other way around.”

“Had you sought me out even a day ago, we would be at war,” Vivian said flatly. She stepped up to the table. “You are not permitted in my domain, Sievan. Just as I am not permitted in yours. We have a treaty.”

“So we do,” Sievan agreed. “But — if we’re going to be really technical — I’m not here. This is only an extension of my will. The true owner of this body is independent of me. He’s merely a friend.”

Vivian’s eye twitched. It seemed she found that a little difficult to believe — but she was a powerful mage. It would only take her a moment of thought to feel Tim’s domain and know that Sievan spoke the truth.

“That would have changed little,” Vivian said. “The last time you were in Coral, Sievan, you killed hundreds of thousands of people. My people.”

“A mistake,” Sievan said. “A horrible mistake. I was a younger man, then. I sought power. Power that was not mine to grasp. Innocents paid the price for it.”

“You talk of death like nothing,” Vivian said, her jaw clenched. “You snuffed out near-countless mortal lives under my protection, Sievan.”

“Never did I claim to be a good man,” Sievan said. He blew out a slow breath. “But I still regret that action. It was one of my greatest failures. Unfortunately, regret accomplishes nothing. I cannot turn back time. It is why I have abided by our treaty. I have not returned to the Mortal Plane since that day.”

Vivian’s jaw clenched. Then she pulled the chair across from Sievan out and lowered herself into it. Sievan poured her a cup of tea. She stared at it for a second. Then she took a sip and sighed.

“Damn you, Sievan. You make it painfully hard to hate you. Your face is too innocent for the atrocities you have wrought. You are my enemy, but you treat me like an ally.”

“Courtesy is a dying art, and I am lord of all that are dead. You may as well consider it my domain,” Sievan said with a wry smile. “I cannot right my wrongs. But ruling over death teaches one not to dwell on the past when the future can still be forged. It seems you, too, have come to that conclusion. Why did you seek me out, Vivian? It was not to offer me forgiveness.”

It was a second before Vivan replied.

“I need a favor.”

Sievan tilted his head to the side. “From me? Surely there are others you would seek out first. Our treaty will not make me treat you kinder, Vivian. The regret I hold is toward your people, not you. You were simply too weak to stop me when you should have. That does not afford you any lenience.”

Vivian’s lips thinned into a line. “I don’t expect it for free, demon. I am willing to give something equivalent in exchange. Times have changed. I can no longer afford to have enemies on all sides.”

“Are we enemies?” Sievan asked.

“No,” Vivian replied. “But we are not allies.”

“No,” Sievan agreed. “We are not. What is it you seek, Prophet of Renewal?”

Vivian stared at him for a long second.

“Your friend. Tell me the location of Spider. I know you were the one that pulled him from the banquet tonight.”

Sievan’s expression didn’t so much as flicker.

“Why would I do such a thing?”

“You do not need to pretend you don’t know him,” Vivian said with a laugh. “I already know—”

“I know him,” Sievan said. “That was not my question. Why would I tell you where he is?”

A flicker of anger passed through Vivian’s features.

“You have already intruded upon the tournament. Though you are a Faction Head, that does not afford you the right to break our treaty.”

“Are you strong enough to stop me?” Sievan asked, his lips curling in amusement. “I don’t think you can afford the fight, Vivian. Your pride holds you back.”

Vivian let out a sharp breath. Then her shoulders slumped. “You are not wrong. But it is who I am. And I am not so weak as I was the last time we met in person.”

“I would think not,” Sievan said. “Nor am I.”

Their eyes met again.

Sievan took a sip of his tea.

Vivian did the same. Then her lips twitched, but not in amusement.

“It is not for revenge I seek Spider. I know he is your friend. He will face no danger from me,” Vivian said. “My purpose is to make him my disciple.”