Teddy's mana retracted, the golden film dimming to a faint ember that hovered near the center of his chest. He opened his eyes and stretched before taking a stand.

"I never expected to be training you in aura when Uncle Brelten first asked us to allow your company. It's refreshing. The others have a solid grasp on the prerequisites but none of them have the actual skill that allows them to skip ahead."

I retracted my mana as well. The writhing muted grey flashed a kaleidoscope of colors before the tattered remnants at the edge rubber-banded into my chest. I felt noticeably exhausted. My breath came in ragged and Teddy waited patiently as I steadied myself.

"It's frustrating," I stated bluntly.

He smirked. "The others had years of the best teachers and instructors around to help guide them. They also have me, an aura-based skill user that's properly vested in their growth. However, they still can't conjure more than a flicker of a true aura. In that regard, you are quite literally tiers ahead of them. Plus it's barely been more than a few weeks of inconsistent training. You shouldn't be hard on yourself."

"I thought the whole shtick about me is that I'm a cheat," I grumbled. "What's the point of having my advantages if I can't use them?"

"Like the rune skill you've been ignoring until recently?"

I winced and Teddy's expression widened.

"Fine. Caught me there. That doesn't make this not annoying. I know I can activate the skill. Mordred wielded it like breathing air when we fought. So why can't I?"

"Has he stirred since the fight? It's been nearly two weeks."

I spared a glance at my inner world. The prismatic marble continued to float atop the throne's seat.

"Nothing yet. Hasn't stirred at all. Knowing my luck, it'll happen at the worst possible moment or after a while. I'm hoping Cal can help but he's still M.I.A."

"Your skills are manifested as skillwisps. Except for your familiars, they usually float above your mana pool, correct?"

"That's right. Usually the passives are near the outskirts. Zharia and everyone spend their time floating through the realm or atop their pedestals."

"Can you interact with the Dual-Mind Cultivation's skill wisp?"

I groaned. "It disappeared. My best guess is that the marble is the skill wisp. Which means he's a true manifestation of my skill like my familiars. Except–its own brand of crazy."

"What about your status as a Keeper? Mordred explained that he knew knowledge you didn't. Have you tried tapping into that wellspring?"

"Also nada. I still don't understand what it means and Celanae doesn't either. Remember three days ago when she came to dinner?"

"She didn't mention why, but she looked upset," Teddy admitted.

"She nearly threatened to burn the librarian."

"Oh? That's certainly a rare sight to see."

"Yeah well, we went there because the library notified her of a book finally arriving with one of the caravans. The librarian spent a few minutes bragging about being the only city to acquire such information throughout the kingdom. It turned out to be a few lines of the same shit we already knew. A mention here, a whisper from some travelling scion a century back, and a pointless drivel from some would-be scholar. She practically strangled the librarian when he wouldn't shut up."

Teddy laughed and helped me up. "I see. I wish I was there. She's usually understanding of circumstance in regards to information. Most of the time she relishes the game. Finding scraps of clues here and there to piece together a cohesive whole."

"Well her patience has been running thin. I guess me being a cheat is a blessing and a curse."

"She'll be fine. She's an astute woman with a mind stronger than most metals. I'm sure she'll be ecstatic when she manages to strangle the information out of you."

So you do admit she's overzealous when she interrogates me. And aaaah Teddy. You should be telling her that to herself. It'd burn the frustration away faster than I ever could. Bah, I'll let them figure it out for another year. If he's still an idiot after that, Igas and Eodyne will crack their shells.

"Thanks for the guidance," I said while bowing. I kept it polite, one sufficiently deep as a student would to a mentor. "This would be agonizingly slow without your help."

Teddy bowed back. "Of course. Your aura is unique. It's beneficial for me to refine mine against yours. Just make sure-"

"I know! I know. Not to over do it, and only practice when you're here to help. I get it. I'm trying to do better now. I mean it."

"Good. We'll practice more tomorrow and in the mornings of the day after that. There'll be enough time to rest afterwards."

"Oh? Is something happening in two days?"

"The auction of course. It was announced this morning. The auction doesn't start until six proper, but there'll be a before party. You don't have to attend but I'll be going as will the others."

Ah, right. That's a thing that's still happening.

"Sorry it slipped my mind. I'll go. As long as I don't have to mingle."

"You won't but you have to decide who you'll be going as."

My brows crinkled. "What do you mean?"

"Will you be Cyrus? Mordred? Strax? If you're going to attend you'll have to choose."

"Surely people know who I am by now. The king practically hinted at it. Plus it's not like I ever tried to hide my association with you. Strax met the king through your parents. Mordred hung with Broken Tower during the tournament. And Cyrus… Well it's the same thing."

"Maybe. I'm sure some have figured it out. While you managed to keep your illusion secured during most fights, it was never full-proof. They'll be expecting Mordred at the auction. In that regard you'll be under the scrutiny of people who know you because of that persona. If you go as Cyrus you have a chance to lay low. Be ignored as an interesting person but as a hanger-on to Broken Tower. It's already been established during the Dawnborn party from before."

"And Strax?"

"Hard to say. While the king has no reason to be at the party and auction, it doesn't mean the court isn't expected. Several of the major noble houses are participating along with dozens of minor ones. Merchants from afar, notable crafters and famed adventurers along with their team are also expected. There'll be a royal attendant or two. If you went as Strax there's a chance for them to recognize you. What that would mean in terms of drawing attention–who's to say."

I sighed. No matter what, it was an annoying situation. Something I'd figure out tomorrow. Now that we finished the training I had something else to occupy my mind.

Teddy finished leading me through the after-meditation stretches and headed off. When I exited the training room, Isaac leaned off the wall. His attire was his usual muted black but he had on a different mask. One enchanted with a pair of runes.

Before he could back away I used my tail to catch his leg. He jerked but I already caught the tip of the mask with one of my nails. Forcing my senses deeper I probed the rune and traced the lines.

"This is Noira's work? It's obfuscated but I'm guessing sound distortion and a minor camouflage rune. Light based? Why?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He sent a kick toward my chin but I released him before it connected. Isaac growled and stepped back, brandishing a dagger.

"It's an illusion rune! Don't do that again! It's bad enough you can track me, I don't need you spilling my gear's runework on top of that!"

I shrugged and slapped away the dagger. "Are you ready to go?"

He growled and filled the air with several tendrils. They hung over his shoulder and menacingly snaked closer. I ignored the display. All bark and no bite. The only true threat from the rogue was suffering under his glare.

"Well?"

Isaac turned away in disgust while retracting his mana. "I still think this is the dumbest idea ever. I'm only going with you because you're too stupid not to get yourself killed."

"I have to do this, Isaac," I said softly.

"Why? You don't have to do anything. The man tried to reap your mind! You owe him nothing!"

I shook my head. "It's not that. I already explained this."

"Yeah well, your explanation is stupid. You don't need closure from him or her. In fact, she'll probably try to murder you."

"She'll have to get in line."

Isaac released a noise between a growl and a scream. The shadows beneath his feet pulsed with flickers of frustration. Thankfully, he calmed and thrusted a silver pin into my hand. He started marching up the stairs, forcing me to catch up.

"Put it on, and your mask. I don't need some fans to recognize your arena persona. I want to be done with this before dinner," he instructed.

"Mordred has fans in the underground?"

"No."

"Huh?"

We continued out of the manor and down the mountain. Rather than head toward the nearest entrance to the underground like I expected he instead turned for the crafter's district. People hustled to and fro. With my mask and Isaac being similarly clad from head to toe, nobody batted an eye. Most of the citizens walking around were adventuring folk who wore similar armor to Isaac or they were common folk dressed in what I called fantasy common.

Normal clothes are a touch nicer and cleaner than those in the villages. They were thinner; without the need for surviving the elements most clothing was made of lighter material.

Isaac led us down a few streets and my chest tightened as we pushed down a familiar road.

"Isaac…"

"It's down the same block to the right. Keep your trauma contained. I'm just starting to get used to not needing the damn amulet. I swear by the gods if you make me put it on…"

"Fine. But why are we here and not underneath the city?"

"Luck," he spat. "The woman you're looking for works underneath an alchemist. Usually they haunt the underground, dealing with the trash. Officially he's a certified crafter. Guild card and all. The fat bastard owns a shop nearby."

"That's common?"

"Half the crafters here have ties to the rat dens underneath. Nobody complains as long as you're not caught. Thank Khrem later. Ever since the hands have been patrolling through the underground Mordo decided to stick topside. I was able to shadow him and catch the bastard rushing about the guild."

"What does this have to do with her?"

He groaned, stopping by a lightpost. Mana flowed out of his cloak and he started to sink into the shadows.

"Her lover's death forced her into hiding as well. Where her boss went, she followed. Enough questions. Go give her the stupid marble and leave. If I have to save your ass I swear I'm going to-"

I approached the door to the building in question. It was made of plain wood on the outside but a large chimney jutted from the roof. Near the front a metal sign featured a round bottle splashing its contents into the air.

Mordo's Alchemic Wonders… Not the worst name. Definitely generic enough to not stand out.

The building lacked windows in the front so I wasn't able to see inside, but I trusted Isaac. He may have bitched and moaned about helping me but he was thorough. All I had to do was open the door and head inside.

Simple.

My stomach tensed and a memory slipped unbidden. It played a scene of a young, brash youth being forced to wait in front of the principal's office door. Trepidation colored the memory, the emotions inserting themselves by adding to the bucket inside my mind.

I tore it away with mental claws and straightened my back. Mana shot through the rune on my chest, splashing through the tension with a freezing knife. I knocked once then entered, slipping into the shop and closing the door behind me.

The inside was bare. Boring and undecorated. Rather than shelves lined with potions or display cases featuring expensive ingredients, there was only a single counter and a small bell. Behind the counter was a door leading into another room.

I would have thought Isaac made a mistake after all if it wasn't for the runes inscribed into the doorframe. Well hidden, a line of concealing runes similar to the meaning 'hide' connected to a number of alarm runes running through the door itself.

I gave the bell a light ring and waited. Minutes passed before the door creaked open. A beautiful woman slipped out, rushing to the counter.

"Sorry for the wait!" she announced. The woman straightened her apron, brushing aside the stains of dark green on the brock smock while flashing a smile. "Welcome to Mordo's Alchemic Wonders. What can I help you with?"

Just like the memories. Diabella's face showed more stress lines than the ones in my thoughts, but she was the same. Beautiful skin, a bright smile and full lips. The bright rings of blue marred the slips of yellow patches across her cheeks and shoulders. I knew from Vell's memories that she was a halfbreed. A mix and match of an elven father and a rare octopus-like beastkin.

Her smile brought a warmth to my heart while the soul-tiring strain in her eyes tightened my chest.

"Uhm, hello? Is there something I can help you with? We aren't accepting custom orders at this time but we have a wide variety of stock!"

I cleared my throat and approached the counter. Mana slipped out of my chest and materialized into Galarion who formed inside my hood. He entered my mind without a sound and dug in.

"Sorry. I was remembering something."

Diabella shifted into a polite smile fit for customer service. "Well? Looking for anything specific?"

I approached the counter and maneuvered my sleeve. The memory marble Galarion created fell down my collar and rolled into my palm, creating a soft thud.

"I'm here to give you something."

Her expression changed and she retracted her hand away from mine. "If it's payment I'm more than willing to help you settle any owed debt. What did you say your name was?"

Might as well get this over with instead of coming off like a creep.

I left the marble on the counter and stepped back. Diabella eyed the thing like it was a bomb ready to explode.

"I'm sorry, Diabella."

"I never told you my name…"

"You didn't have to. He did."

The hand she had been reaching under the counter froze. The dagger's hilt clanged against the wood, echoing in the room.

"He? Are you talking about Ve-Avarice?"

"Vell," I admitted. "And I am."

"Why? He's… Dead. Unless you are talking to ghosts, and if you are, I suggest you leave. Necromancers are unwelcomed here," she said sternly.

I almost snorted. Necromancers were rare even in the underbelly of the shadows. In fact, very few necromancers in all of Inoria's history were actually powerful enough to mess with a soul to begin with. Usually the idiots burned themselves out by playing with the power of gods.

This is taking too long. Fuck it.

"I'm not. I know your name because his memories are filled with your face and your voice. You're right, he's dead."

"Then why-"

"I killed him."

The silence that followed lasted for an eternity. Diabella's eyes widened, going through a complex cycle of emotions. From shock, to fear, sailing past confusion and straight into fury. Her eyes tightened and the rings on her cheek started to glow.

"You're him. Mordred," she whispered.

"Your skill won't work on me. Whatever poison you create, I'll either kill you before you manage it. Or I'll purge it. Same with the neurotoxin."

"You have his memories. You know my skills."

"I do."

"Why are you here!"

I motioned to the orb and shook my head. "Your lover tried to invade my mind and tear it apart. He died because he tried to break me. I don't hate him, and I have dozens of his memories in my head. More than half of them were about you. I don't care what you think of me, or him. That marble contains his memories. A part of his voice. Take it, toss it, destroy it. Do what you want with it, but that's all. Goodbye."

"Wait!" she shouted as I turned to leave. "Why? You were strong enough to survive a mind reaper. You could murder me. He tried to kill you, why aren't you mad?"

My gaze flicked downward, across her figure. Her arms were shaking but her eyes held a fire. Memories tried to insert themselves but Galarion swallowed the emotions while throwing them aside before they settled.

"Because my brain is a mess and leaving you in the dark makes me feel bad. Like I said, take the memories or don't. I'm leaving."

She hesitated but eventually swiped the marble into her hand. She clenched, still eyeing me with trepidation.

"I told him he was an idiot. That much money wasn't worth it. You weren't some scum from the underground. He should have listened."

I gripped the shop's door handle. "He cared about you enough to risk it. Swallow the marble and you'll know what he thought of you. For what it's worth he was ready to stop."

"Just tell me why? It has to be more than a bad feeling."

A different woman's face flashed through my mind, along with the smell of ozone.

"We all have our vices," I whispered. Inhaling deep, I pulled the door open. " I have enough shit to deal with as is. I didn't need his sorrows haunting my head. Goodbye Diabella. Don't come after me."

I ignored the sob as I closed the door. Moving quickly I pushed through a crowd of people and hurried out of the crafting district. Only when I was in a secluded park did I slow and stop next to a bed of flowers.

A woman and child played in the background, filling the air with happy laughter.

My shadow stretched below me and disconnected as Isaac rose from the ground. He didn't scowl and his mask was off. He leaned against a nearby tree and crossed his arms.

"Do you… Need a hug?"

I snorted and rolled my shoulders. Tension fled as I forced it away. "I'm good. Thanks for helping me."

"I still think that was dumb." He rubbed his chin, scratching through the few days of stubble. "Are you really okay? Don't give me the bullshit you tell the others. I want the truth."

Was I?

"I am for now. I'm mostly settled with the memory issue. Only some stragglers left as I re adjust but I have Galarion. Now all I need to do is get through the auction, get my reward from the king, and then wait until we leave the capital."

"It's never that simple with you."

"True," I chuckled. "But I can hope. After all, it's been a good two weeks. Zog has left me alone and the nobles won't touch me while I'm with you guys. All I have to do is be a good boy and listen to Teddy and Celanae."

He barked a laugh. "Yeah right. Whatever. Let's go. Walter's making lasagna and I'm not going to miss it!"

Despite his words, Isaac stayed and let me enjoy the flowers for a few minutes more.

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