The Mind Mage trembled under Quetzy’s glare. Aaron took a step forward to help the disheveled man up. Two of Quetzy’s paws smacking his head stopped him after the first breath. Quetzy purred and rubbed itself against his cheek again.

  “AllFine.”

  The Mind Mage became fuzzy and indistinct like an old TV. Quetzy growled, and the man gave an agonized yelp.

  “NowAskQuestions,” Quetzy instructed with a deep stare.

  Aaron looked between the dragon-squirrel and the suddenly pitiful Mind Mage. My therapist just beat up my mysterious mentor. What is Quetzy?

  He looked at the Mind Mage. The neutron star was a distant pinprick of dull red. Aaron began stroking his chin. Quetzy might force him to answer anything. Why is it so hostile? How far can I go? He shook his head. The Preservers seem sketchy, but have been nothing but helpful. Or have they just cultivated that image?

  Cold crept up his spine. Aaron swallowed dryly before he willed his mouth wet. At least one thing I learned today.

  “How can I become strong enough to challenge a Sage?”

  Ragged laughter erupted from the Mind Mage. “A specialist build. One based on information, questions, and using indirect means to kill your enemies.”

  Quetzy growled. With a gulp, the man spoke up again. “Our enemies. We…” He trailed off and looked at Quetzy. Grinding his teeth, he continued. “You would be a weapon against Sages. Kill off the greatest leaders, and all others fall in line.”

  Aaron shook his head as his hands curled into fists. “You would turn me into an assassin? So you can rule behind the throne you place me on?”

  Something glinted in the kneeling man’s face. “I have seen your desire for power. How you would indulge your desires. You can have whatever you want while saving everyone.”

  Aaron broke out in laughter while shaking his head in disbelief. “Are you trying to tempt me to the dark side by offering to fulfill my desires? I’m young, not dumb. You’ll use me and then kill me, or put me into a golden cage.”

  The Mind Mage snarled. “Your cynicism and paranoia will doom us all. Do you think we would dominate you, the weapon we built to kill powerful mages? Don’t think me foolish, boy.”

  Aaron clicked his tongue and stared at the man. The strongest chains are built from the most pleasant materials. Control through force is the tool of the mentally stunted. You would have me do what you want.

  He shook his head. “You think I consider myself smarter than a cabal that spent a century planning this?” Confusion flashed over the man’s face.

  “Fuck this translation bullshit!” Aaron ground his teeth.

  Then he felt the calm return. I have been here before. In the fire. Emotions are what the pleasant chains are forged from. Am I chaining myself?

  He took a slow breath. Noticed how his fists uncurled. Good. How do I turn this to my advantage?

  He looked at the powerful mage before him. Refusing the resources of this group would be stupid. No matter their ethics—if I reject them, who’s to say I won’t be someone else’s puppet?

  Right. I am still supposed to ask questions. “What do I need to give you so you serve me, instead of your cause?”

  Aaron smiled coldly. Don’t join the dark side—make the dark side join you.

  The man laughed out loud. “The gall to demand service of me.” Aaron looked into his defiant eyes. Their gazes held. The man's eyes widened.

  “Quetzy, what are the limits of what you can do to him?” asked Aaron, without breaking the gaze. The old man flinched.

  He shook his head. “I seek to become a Sage in your destiny’s wake.”

  Aaron nodded. “What do I need to do to make that happen?”

  The dark amusement left the Mind Mage’s eyes. He tilted his head, as if seeing Aaron for the first time. “Rise to power. Help me to perform deeds that bring both of us relics and renown to transcend any other Sage.”

  Aaron looked him in the eyes. This man is dangerous. Is he…

  He swallowed and plastered an apologetic expression on his face. I will have Quetzy kill him. He has challenged me. He must pay with his life.

  Aaron waited. Looked at the Mind Mage. Searched for any reaction. Either he can’t read my thoughts right now, or he has read them and saw my feint.

  “YouOvercomplicate. MeProtectMind,” said Quetzy in an amused voice.

  Aaron chuckled. “Thanks.”

  He straightened and spoke in a heavy voice. “You will swear on the names of the gods, your honor, your family, and your polis to serve me well. I will raise you to be a Sage.”

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  Aaron saw the relief in the man’s face. Do I have him swear on enough? What else matters to the locals? “How can you guarantee not to betray me? Is there a magical way of doing this?”

  Quetzy bounced its head up and down and cackled. The Mind Mage nodded slowly. His words were forced out one by one.

  “A sigil of binding. It takes a mage’s power, if accepted voluntarily. We can split the spell, and you get the trigger.” He glared. “But reversing it is nearly impossible. If someone forces you to activate it…”

  He trailed off, as four steel eyes met him. Aaron tilted his head, the silence filled with calculations sharper than any oath. “Quetzy, can someone force you to activate it? Can you hold it—only activate it if something bad happens to me?”

  The man's look of horror and the bobbing of the dragon-squirrel’s head were answer enough. The mage babbled rapidly, stumbling over his words. “If I do this, my fate is bound to yours. Do you understand what that means?”

  Aaron smiled wolfishly. “Yes. That’s why you’re doing it.”

  Aaron looked deep into the eyes of the man. Am I forcing him to be my minion? Is this control… or revenge?

  He stared at his hands. No. This is survival. And yet—

  The paws of the dragon-squirrel smacked his head like a drum. “YouNotBadPerson! YouNotBadPerson! YouNotBadPerson!” Aaron frantically pushed the furry terror off his shoulders.

  “All right, all right. I get it.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. He looked at the master mage. “How exactly does a binding work?”

  The mage’s body was slumped, yet he could not hide the vicious intelligence in his eyes. With a fearful glance at the dragon-squirrel, he spoke. “It drains potential, experience, and magic. If I rank past its tier, the seal shatters—and I reset to when it was placed. Few survive that.”

  Aaron stroked his chin. “Quetzy?”

  The dragon-squirrel threw him an affronted look mid-barrel roll. “IsTrue. CanBindUpToFiveRanks. HowManyYouWant?”

  The Mind Mage mumbled, his eyes wide. A shiver went down Aaron’s spine. He is so powerful, but so afraid? I could bring the full hammer down on him. But showing grace in dealing with enemies can prevent resentment. Aaron tilted his head. Unless they feel insulted by pity. “Tell me your rank. I will bind you so you must reach the maximum level of the Sage twice.”

  The Mind Mage chuckled. “You do have a perfidious sense of humor, don’t you?” He exhaled. “So be it. I am of the Eighth Rank and Seventh Level.”

  He pulled a medallion from under his tattered green robe. Seven of nine circles glowed around the lavender central crystal.

  Aaron pursed his lips, noticing the eighth circle. Unlike the outermost, it held dull lavender—only a sliver glowed.

  The Mind Mage caught his look. “No one has yet explained the difference between potential and experience?”

  Aaron motioned him to continue. The man kept his face carefully neutral.

  “Potential is gained through training. Only real achievement, as seen by the gods, can turn it into experience. Whether it is advancements toward status points, your mortal shell, your mind, or spells.”

  Aaron nodded with a smile. “Thank you. Now, how do we do this?”

  With a solemn voice, the mage looked at Quetzy and spoke. “Your construct—”

  Quetzy hissed and shot toward the mage. He barely dodged everything except the bushy tail, which whacked him in the face. The Mind Mage was thrown back by the casual contact. With a low moan, the man sat back up.

  “Your companion will have to construct the seal. Then we both swear an oath, and I will take the seal into myself, leaving you the control construct.” With a glance at the circling dragon-squirrel, he continued. “You will have to stake at least one level, given your companion’s power.”

  “Why does that power matter?”

  The Mind Mage chuckled bitterly. “The best binding seal I can set up holds two ranks and three levels difference between the parties. Most binding seal oaths are nearly equal.”

  Aaron clicked his tongue. “Let’s get on with it then. How—”

  Quetzy barrel rolled in a tightly expanding spiral between them. In its wake formed a white orb. Around it, two lavender and ten purple rings grew brighter and more solid on one side. On the other, a single red ring bloomed next to the first lavender one. It looked like a holographic bullseye.

  Quetzy shot back to settle on Aaron’s shoulder again.

  It motioned to the Mind Mage. He cleared his throat. “Touch your hand to the sphere,” he instructed, reaching out with his own hand.

  Aaron touched the sphere. A stage weight settled onto him. His hand began to tingle, as if he had immersed it into a sleepy ant hill. This isn’t really unpleasant. Just weird.

  The Mind Mage intoned formally. “I swear on the names of the gods, my honor, my family, and my polis to serve the Champion well, and to guide with my wisdom and might as he desires. May the Seal bind my magic should I fail myself.”

  A solemn silence fell over the trio. Aaron tensed his tingling hand. I should have worked this out beforehand.

  “I swear on the Watcher that I will raise you to be a Sage.” He paused until the mage motioned at the construct. Aaron continued hesitantly. “May the Seal bind me should I fail myself.”

  The white sphere grew brighter and brighter. Aaron tried to pull his hand back, but it was caught in a vice. Then, his world flashed red. Suddenly free, he tumbled back. Over the edge, with a yelp, he fell into the endless void. His stomach plummeted and he broke out in a cold sweat.

  Quetzy’s amused yapping cut like a blade through the panic. “YouFlyCanHere. Idiot.”

  Aaron willed himself to float upwards. Within a few rapid heartbeats, he reached the top of the translucent pillar. The Mind Mage and metal sphere awaited him. Threads of crimson fate coiled into the medallion like roots drinking blood. Aaron couldn’t look away.

  Quetzy popped out of existence without further shenanigans. Aaron met the Mind Mage’s eyes. How many heroes subjugate their mysterious mentor with a magical oath? Isn’t that villain territory?

  He could feel Quetzy’s irritation boiling up and dropped the train of thought. The Mind Mage smoothed his robes, now a muted purple—dignity stitched back into place like armor.

  “With that out of the way, dear Initiate, I would propose that you spend all your dreaming time at night in the Dream Garden with me from now on.”

  He noticed Aaron’s look. “No matter the path, I intend to drill you on the basics.”

  He smiled wolfishly. “I believe you will advance rather quickly under my tutelage. And this will not trigger any suspicions about our incident.”

  Aaron scratched his head. “You seem to take this remarkably well.”

  “The Mind Mage who is unable to control his mind is liable to be executed quickly. It is done, and pursuing revenge would shatter my plans instead of altering them.” He waved the question off. “But,” he tipped his lips, “I am not beyond a little revenge.”

  Aaron shivered and gleaned daggers, yet the Mind Mage began laughing. “Do not worry. I will merely instruct my agents to train you harder. See, I am fully acting in your interest.”

  Aaron rose toward the cold waters of the Oblivion Path, the shiver down his spine a twisted thread of triumph—and loss. The chill guided him toward what little sleep he would get tonight.

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  What do you think of Aaron's decisions? Would you have done the same?

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