Soraya’s eyes narrowed as an incredulous look filled her face. She stared at the back of Nera’s head, as if unable to believe what she’d just heard. “I swear to the gods, you are the weirdest mother.”

  Nera let out a small snort as she bent down to hand an eager Effie a cone of sugar fried dough balls. “I’m sure you’ve met weirder in your profession.”

  “I don’t think I have, and that’s saying something.” Soraya lifted a hand and bit a fried dough ball from her cone. As she chewed, she grumbled. “What kind of mother tells their child she wishes to see them destroy their enemies?”

  Nera handed the second cone to Ash, who wore a lopsided grin as he accepted. “A good, encouraging one.”

  Ash chuckled. “Thank you, Momma.”

  “Thank you, Momma!” Effie shouted, her cheeks bulging with fried dough.

  Soraya snorted and ate another dough ball. Nera handed the last of the three cones she had brought to Henry.

  Perhaps other twenty-four-year-old men would reject the cone piled with sugar fried dough balls, but Henry was not like other twenty-four-year-old men. He graciously accepted the cone of dessert that was usually bought for small children. “Thank you, Auntie.”

  “You’re welcome, my dears.” Nera’s eyes were filled with affection for the three of them as she smiled.

  “Well, what are you going to do about the mage duel now that it’s been plastered, literally, all over the city?” Soraya asked.

  Ash seemed to chew on his dessert a bit harder. His eyes were cold as he stared in front of him. Henry could almost see his mind going through possible scenarios and outcomes. The encouragement, and the dessert, seemed to have calmed him down from his earlier surprise.

  “First, I need to talk to Cyrus.” Ash lifted his eyes to meet their gaze. “Unfortunately, he’s dragged into this, too.”

  “That’s a good start,” Nera replied with an approving nod. She then reached over and plucked a fried dough ball from Soraya’s cone. Soraya let out a choked gasp before her wide, accusing eyes glared at Nera, who ignored her. “And then?”

  “Then, we find out more about who posted the announcements for a mage duel, starting with the gladiatorial arena. Even if there’s no date on the poster, the largest sporting complex in the city wouldn’t just let anybody use its name in a promotion if they weren’t attached to it,” Ash told them.

  Effie gasped. She quickly swallowed a dough ball. “Second Brother, I can help you!”

  Ash’s gaze softened as he looked at their little sister. “Oh, yeah?”

  Effie stood up straight, almost pushing out her little chest. “My animal information network has been practicing here.”

  Henry grinned. “Oh? I thought you were going to send them to find out what Elka is wearing so we can be matchies?”

  Effie scoffed and looked at him as if he didn’t understand. “A network has more than one point of contact, Brother. Obviously, I can do both.” She clicked her tongue and popped another dough ball into her mouth before muttering to herself. “As an adult, I thought you’d know that by now.”

  He had the distinct feeling that his sister was looking down on him.

  “Know your allies. Know your environment. What else?” Nera asked. She swiped another dough ball from Soraya.

  Soraya flushed at once and brought her cone against her chest before taking a step back. “You said you didn’t want one! Why are you eating mine?”

  “I can’t eat a whole one. Just give me a few.”

  “There are only a few in a cone!” Soraya took another step back and then tilted her head back. She opened her mouth wide and shook the last few dough balls into her mouth. The entire time, her eyes were locked on to Nera’s with defiance.

  Nera’s calm gaze never faltered, even as the tip of Soraya’s nose and mouth were dusted with sugar after the last of the dough balls disappeared. As her friend chewed with triumph, Nera held out her hand in front of her children.

  One by one, each child gave her a dough ball from their own dessert without hesitation.

  Soraya almost choked with fury.

  Nera brought her hand close to her and pinched one of the balls before dropping it in her mouth. She also held Soraya’s gaze as she chewed and swallowed. When she was done, she spoke. “I raised my children very well.”

  Soraya glared at her.

  Effie quickly rushed forward and put a dough ball into her cone. “Here is one for you, godmother. It’s my last one.”

  Soraya’s eyes reddened. “Effie, you are godmother’s precious angel.”

  Henry ignored them and looked back at Ash. “You should find those two mages and tell them to send a retraction.”

  “Send a retraction?” For a moment, Ash appeared as if he didn’t understand what his brother was saying. His eyes squinted. “After they went around a plastered my name-”

  “That’s not your real name.”

  “My mage alias!” Ash countered his rationale at once. “All over the city! If they send a retraction, which they won’t because their pride won’t let them, then people are going to talk about why it didn’t happen. All sorts of unsavory rumors could spread and tarnish my and Cyrus’ names because of this ridiculousness!”

  Henry raised a brow. “Don’t tell me that you’re actually thinking about going through with the mage duel?”

  “Think?” Ash scowled at the word. He grit his teeth. “This is going to happen and they’re going to regret it.”

  “Ash, what about Cyrus?” Henry asked with a frown. “You haven’t even talked to him yet. What if he doesn’t want to get involved?”

  “Then he can sit it out and I will end their careers by myself!”

  Henry stared at him. He was stunned, but not because of disbelief, but because he realized he had absolutely no doubt that Ash could end those two mages, by himself, with a sweep of his hand. Henry took a deep breath.

  “Can you at least try to make it look like a challenge instead of killing them the moment the duel starts?”

  Ash finished off the rest of his dessert, but still held his empty cone as he gesticulated wildly. “I don’t want to waste my time-”

  “Ending it too quickly will attract too much attention and you’ll be harassed by the Magic Tower.” Nera’s single sentence made Ash’s mouth snapped closed. Henry watched his brother’s face go through a series of emotions before finally settling on begrudging resignation.

  “Fine.” Ash crushed the edible cone, which was made of cookie, and shoved the pieces into his mouth as if in protest. “If it needs to be a show, I will make it a show.”

  Henry rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t need to be an entire production,” he said. “It just needs to be believable. Show your strength and ability, but don’t show the extent of it.”

  “My son.” Nera reached out and touched Ash’s head. “We know what you are capable of, and it is to our advantage that only we know. A mage duel in Soljek’s gladiatorial arena will get attention and the results will spread well beyond its walls by the time it’s through. Use the situation accordingly and to your benefit.”

  Ash lowered his eyes and flared his nostrils before letting out a huff. He took a deep breath and released it slowly, repeating it twice before he answered. “We can learn from every experience. I suppose this isn’t any different.”

  Nera nodded. “Try not to kill them.”

  “Momma!”

  “They’re going to lose consciousness first no matter what.” Nera shrugged, as if the outcome was already assured.

  The more Henry thought about it, the more he felt Nera was right. Ash’s oppressive magic energy was enough to stun average mages, and if Ash chose to play with mages, they wouldn’t last.

  “Tomorrow morning, I’ll go and visit Cyrus,” Ash said. “I’ll discuss with him and ask what he wants to do.” He lowered his head and shook it, guilty. “I’m the one who really angered those mages, not him. He shouldn’t get dragged into it simply because he was sitting across from me.”

  “Ash, Cyrus doesn’t seem like a pushover,” Soraya said. Henry looked past Nera and squinted as Soraya approached with a new cone filled with fried dough balls in one hand, while the other held Effie’s. Effie’s other hand was holding on to a new cone of her own.

  “Euphemia Atractas.” Henry frowned at once and his stern voice made his sister freeze in midchew. “Who said you can get another cone?”

  Effie quickly chewed the dough in her mouth and swallowed. “Godmother.”

  Soraya choked. She snapped her head towards the little girl. “You told on me!”

  “You were ten paces away buying it, we saw you pay,” Nera retorted. She plucked the cone from Effie’s hand. “Open your bag. You can eat it tomorrow. You already had enough for today.”

  Effie’s shoulders slumped forward. Her big blue eyes ogled the cone and fried dough balls for a moment, as if silently bidding farewell, before she raised her arms and undid the flap of her space preservation bag.

  With a heavy heart, Effie cradled the cone with two hands as Nera handed it to her and put it into her bag. She looked into the dark hole after the cone disappeared from view, and whispered. “I’ll come back for you.”

  “You’re not leaving someone on the battlefield to get help. Stop being so dramatic.” Ash sneered and Effie glared at him. She quickly put the flap down and tied her bag closed.

  “If I’m dramatic, then what are you?”

  Ash balked. He lifted a hand to his chest. “I’m not dramatic, I’m passionate!”

  “You’re an idiot, that’s what you are,” Henry grumbled. “Tomorrow, we’ll go speak to Cyrus and you two can come up with a plan. If we have time, we’ll go look for suits before dinner.”

  Ash frowned. “What about the gladiatorial arena?”

  “Leave that to me,” Soraya said. “I’m a Pheris and my name has more weight here. I’ll find out what the gladiatorial arena says about the matter.”

  “Thank you, Aunt, but don’t you have to go see your family here?” Ash asked with knit brows.

  Soraya gave him a dismissive wave. “They don’t know I’m here-”

  “Soraya! Is that you?” Soraya’s eyes shut tight and she seemed to shudder at the sound of a woman’s voice.

  “Well,” Nera said as she crossed her arms. “It looks like they do now.”

  “Shut up.” Soraya shot her a glare before turning around. A dark wooden carriage with silver and gold embellishments, drawn by four bay horses, had slowed as it approached. There was a noble family’s crest carved into a shield on the doors and above the driver’s seat of the carriage, but Henry didn’t recognize it.

  They spent a lot of time in Dareisol, but they were usually traveling around, and as the empire was massive, he didn’t memorize every single noble family.

  The curtains of the carriage were pulled back and the window pane to the windows facing them had been opened. Inside, a few faces were peering through.

  Henry saw several moving heads and couldn’t get an accurate count, but several of them had light blonde hair that stood out against their warm, brown faces. One woman was almost hanging out the window, waving a hand energetically at Soraya. as if it was any less effort and Soraya wouldn’t see her. Big green eyes the same color as Soraya’s were smiling crescents.

  “Soraya! You didn’t tell us you were coming! Is that Nera? Hi, Nera!”

  Nera returned her smile with a gentle one. “Good evening, Louise.”

  Henry matched the name with a memory. Louise Pheris was Soraya’s younger sister and a junior of his mother at West Wind Abbey. Nothing really stood out about her, except her high levels of enthusiasm and that she was already on her third kid when he met her for the first, and only, time.

  “I forgot we were on the high street,” Soraya mumbled, just loud enough for them to hear. “I wasn’t paying attention to my environment...I’m losing my touch.” She smirked. “Well...at least she’ll be useful.”

  “Godmother, who is that?” Effie asked, tugging her hand as she swung it between them.

  “My sister.”

  The carriage came to a stop and Effie would get her answer. Unlike Soraya, who had very short blonde hair that didn’t go past her ears, her younger sister had long, curled locks. She was a bit shorter and while wearing such a heavy-looking dress, appeared even shorter than she actually was.

  Somehow, she managed to get out of the carriage as soon as the footman opened the door. “Soraya!” She ran towards her older sister. Henry half expected Soraya to either dodge or fight Louise, but Soraya gently let go of Effie’s hand and welcomed her sister into her arms. Gleefully, Louise buried her face in Soraya’s chest, squeezing her tight. “I missed you so much!”

  “Ah....” Henry now recalled something else about the woman. She was Soraya’s biggest fan and seemed to almost idolize her sister.

  “Wow...she’s as clingy as I remember,” Ash said at his side.

  “All right, all right, you’re a mother with six children now.” Soraya pried her sister off. From the carriage, a tall man with glasses stepped down. He bowed to Soraya and then bowed to Nera.

  “Sister Soraya. Madam Atractas.” He greeted them and the two women gave him small nods of acknowledgement. He then looked into the carriage. “Come out and greet your aunt and Madam Atractas and her children.”

  From the oldest, a twelve-year-old girl, then a set of fraternal twin boys a year younger, all the way down to a five-year-old boy jumped down. There was also a nine-year-old brother and a seven-year-old sister amongst them. After they exchanged greetings with the Atractas family, they went to their aunt.

  Soraya stepped away from her sister and called the names of each of her nieces and nephews, putting her hands on their heads and giving them blessings as they lined up in front of her.

  “Soraya, what are you doing here?” Louise asked. She seemed to want to hold her sister’s hand, but Soraya picked up the smallest boy.

  “I was up north for an exorcism. I was helping Ash, Nera’s youngest son. You remember him, right?”

  “Yes!” Louise perked up and beamed at Ash, Henry, and Effie. She paused and seemed to second guess herself as she looked at Effie. Her brows furrowed. “I remember the two oldest, but not this little one. Nera, did you get remarried?”

  “No-”

  “Out of wedlock?” Louise paled and snapped her head up to look at Nera with horrified surprise. It was clear that she didn’t think Nera would do such a thing.

  Soraya rolled her eyes.

  “Madam, I’m adopted,” Effie said. Henry saw that her dull, exasperated expression matched his. “I was found in the snow country and am both Lunapsar and Snow Elf.” She let out a tired sigh. “I was found with my ice wolf, Commodore....” The ice wolf had overeaten and was left back at their family’s house in the city.

  “Oh!’ Louise let out a sheepish laugh. “You’re so cute, I thought you had to be Nera’s baby.”

  “I am Momma’s baby.” Effie puffed out her chest again.

  “Louise, since you’re here, I assume you’re free?” Soraya asked. Her sister whirled around. She looked almost ready to jump at Soraya’s request, whatever it was.

  “Yes! Do you want to-

  “I need you to look into a mage duel scheduled at the gladiatorial arena. Who arranged it? When? How did they find out about it? And why did they arrange it.” Once Soraya spoke, Louise seemed to almost deflate with disappointment. Noticing this, Soraya took a deep breath. “I’ll be in the city for a few days, so we can schedule dinner-”

  “A day.” Louise’s bright eyes seemed to plead. Her hands cupped in front of her.

  Soraya pursed her lips. She looked over the top of her sister’s head, at her brother-in-law. He nodded quickly, looking just as hopeful. Henry recalled the man loved his wife so much that he went on a hunger strike when his parents didn’t initially approve of him marrying Louise.

  “Fine. We’ll schedule a day to go out.”

  Louise squealed. She threw her arms around her sister once more. “I’ll find out everything you need to know! The date, time, who arranged it! I’ll even find out the odds if you want to place a bet-”

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  “That’s not necessary-”

  “Nathaniel!” Louise whirled around to her husband. She gave him a silent look and he nodded, standing to attention.

  “Yes, my love! I’ll send someone to find out at once!”

  Soraya looked at Ash and Henry, as if telling them ‘I told you she’d be useful’.

  By some miracle, Soraya convinced her sister that she didn’t need to go home to their family’s manor at the capital, or would be a guest at the Braniff Estate, the home of Louise and her husband, the Earl of Braniff. With Nera’s approval, Soraya gave her sister Nera’s address, where she’d be staying.

  When the Braniffs finally left, Soraya allowed her exhaustion to show. Nera grinned. “Louise is as...endearing, as always.”

  Soraya took a deep breath. “She’s the mother of six. You’d think she’d act her age at this point.”

  “She’s only like that when you’re there,” Nera said. “She can’t control herself. You did help raise her.”

  Soraya rubbed her head. “At the very least, we’ll get information on who is trying to set up the mage duel at the gladiatorial arena soon. The Earl will personally inquire if my sister asks.”

  “When they married, I hoped some of her energy would be directed to him.”

  “Obviously, it has. They have six children!” Soraya exclaimed, waving an arm towards her sister’s disappearing carriage. “But she’s still so clingy.”

  “Your Aunt has given you a lot of help this time,” Nera said, turning to her children. “Tomorrow, make sure you speak to Cyrus. Ash, if he is hesitant, then you must take responsibility.”

  Ash nodded his head. “Momma, I’m willing to deal with this myself. All Cyrus will have to do is show up.”

  ﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

  “I’m not just going to show up and do nothing, Ash.” This meeting wasn’t going exactly the way Ash thought it would, and he fought to keep his assessment to himself. Across from him, Cyrus was leaning back against a chair, taking another deep, heavy breath before exhaling and shaking his head. “I’m going to fight them. I want to fight them.”

  Of all the things Ash thought he’d hear Cyrus tell him, the subtle declaration of war was not what he expected.

  For a moment, he was caught off guard. He sat in place and lowered his gaze, his brows knit tight as debated whether to agree or disagree. It wasn’t that he thought Cyrus was helpless in a magic duel, especially against those two mages, but part of him still felt at fault for dragging Cyrus into the debacle.

  After all, he was the one who did the bulk of the arguing with the mages. He should take responsibility and was about to. I was the one who triggered them, I should be responsible.

  He hadn’t said his words out loud, but it seemed that Cyrus didn’t need him to say it to understand how he felt. The older man gave him a helpless smile and shook his head.

  “Ash. It’s not your fault.”

  “But-”

  “At least not entirely.” Seeing that he was going to protest, Cyrus took the initiative to cut him off. Ash’s mouth closed. “I mentioned something that the Magic Tower would rather stay hidden, as well as heavily hinted that it was an ongoing problem of exploitation. Of course, they were going to get mad at me.”

  “But if I didn’t help-”

  “Let’s just say it was both our faults.” Cyrus would not let him shoulder all the blame and for that, Ash felt even guiltier. “And as such, I will fight by your side.”

  Ash took a deep breath. Beside him, his brother took a sip of tea. Henry leaned back against his chair, appearing relaxed, though he had been listening from the start. The three men sat in a small private room on the third floor of the city’s Snake, Scarab, and Sons tea house.

  They’d come with Effie, as they still planned to go shopping afterwards, but since they, the owners, were there, Effie took Asal and the others to see the owner’s rooftop garden while Ash and Cyrus spoke. Henry chose to accompany Ash.

  Henry lowered his tea cup back onto the table. “I’m sure Cyrus has more than one reason he wants to fight.”

  Ash looked from his brother to Cyrus, who began to smile. He nodded his head. “I have never forgiven them for stealing the suture pen and doing what they did with it. I had created it to help as many people as possible, to prevent as much infection, pain, and death as it could. I didn’t even charge to make it. I just asked for the supplies to do so.” His gaze glazed over for a moment, as if he were remembering all the steps that led to the unfortunate theft. He went quiet before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “It is...years too late, but I want to fight them.”

  Ash’s brows shot up.

  Henry raised a brow. “Cyrus, a mage duel isn’t the same as fighting the Magic Tower for your intellectual property.”

  “No, it isn’t,” Cyrus agreed. He pinched the handle of the tea cup and lifted it. “But it will make me feel better.”

  “Even if you don’t join Moonflower, Hana and I will continue to work on the suture pen and will communicate with you in developing a better, cheaper alternative to it,” Ash replied.

  “And I appreciate it, and am willing to be of assistance,” Cyrus told him. “But I still want to do the mage duel, Ash.” His eyes crinkled up meaningfully. “You know how they are at the Magic Tower. They always bully mages who are unaffiliated. I’ve seen too many promising mages succumb to their pressure to join, only to be exploited or lost in the organization, or worse, give up magic altogether because they could not stand the harassment. It’s not right. It’s not fair.”

  Ash took a long breath and held it for a moment. He agreed with Cyrus. No one would agree more with Cyrus on the corruptive organization that was the Magic Tower. He could acknowledge that they did a lot of work and did provide services that were useful, but they did exploit young and unaffiliated mages.

  Two things could be true at the same time.

  His jaw clenched and he sat up straight. He met Cyrus’ eyes with a firm expression. “How confident are you in your battle magic?”

  “I’ve been a mage in an adventuring party for half my life, I’d say I’m more than sufficient,” Cyrus said with a slight grin.

  Ash nodded. “What about in terms of ability? How is your control over different types of energy?”

  “Precise and controlled,” Cyrus replied. After finishing his tea, he put it back on the table. He reached for the tea pot to refill it. “The ability to manipulate energy all around us requires precision to isolate and control by type without much effect on the surrounding other energy, thus control can be more important that the amount that can be used and measured as strength.”

  Ash’s head perked up. His eyes were wide, staring at Cyrus’ face. “The Basics of Energy Manipulation,” he muttered with a stunned expression. “Constance Traceras.”

  At the name, Henry lifted his head. He looked at Ash and then at Cyrus.

  Cyrus’ eyes were just as wide and filled with a joyful surprise. He placed the tea pot back on the warmer with a shaking hand. “You’ve read it?”

  “Yes!” Ash gasped. “That was a fundamental book for building a solid magic foundation, but it’s extremely rare. There are only three copies known to still exist, one of which is at the Dareisol Imperial Library.” One belonged to the Magic Tower, but from what Ash found out, it was kept under lock and key, and guarded, as the book was near sacred to the Magic Tower. It was incomplete and heavily damaged after centuries of use.

  The other was also an incomplete version, and located in the Suna Kingdom, where a branch of the Traceras Clan had settled before they disappeared. It was said that the Suna Kingdom’s royal family kept it well protected, as an ancestor of Traceras blood who married into the royal family brought it with her.

  Cyrus chuckled. He leaned forward. “Ash, at one point, that book was the most popular fundamental magic book in the world. Three copies are known to exist, but there are others who have managed to hold and pass it on. Usually to a magic heir or pupil.”

  Ash studied his face silently. There was a glint of joy that hadn’t left Cyrus’ face, as if he were looking at someone who, after a long time of being alone, understood what he did.

  Ash took in a sharp breath. “Are you a Traceras pupil?”

  Cyrus’ eyes squinted with even more joy. “Yes...and my master was my maternal granduncle who married into the family, Joseph Traceras.”

  Ash grabbed his brother’s forearm and turned to look at him with surprise and uncertainty on his face. Henry’s eyes were full of the dumbfounded look.

  “I thought there weren’t any left....” Henry said, almost breathless.

  The joy on Cyrus’ face filled with pain for a moment. He lowered his head and shook it. “Unfortunately, that’s true. My great uncle died when I was twelve, but he taught me as much as he could as soon as he found out I could do magic. He...he and my great aunt didn’t have any children.”

  Henry let out a low breath and seemed to melt on to his chair. Ash chewed on his lower lip. He gave his brother's arm a squeeze before looking back to Cyrus. “Did he leave you any books?”

  Cyrus nodded. “They’re hidden back home, but he left me about a dozen, of varying sizes. Most were fundamental books; books that would be ideal for teaching a young mage. Three or four were more specialized, but they focused on magic tools and items. Without those books, the suture pen would’ve never materialized. At least, not as fast as it did.”

  Ash nodded, still a bit dumbstruck. “I wish I could read them.” While he had plenty of texts, it was all he inherited from his master, who inherited it from their master. There were bound to be other books that they didn’t have access to, such as recently compiled and published research that appeared after the collection of texts had been passed on.

  “I will bring them to you.”

  “What?” Ash almost choked with his sudden outburst. He nearly jumped off his seat as he looked at Cyrus. “How can you say that? Those books are likely some of the last of their kind!”

  “All the more reason to share them with someone as talented as you.” Cyrus’ gaze softened, as if he were looking at a promising future. “A mage like you would benefit the most from those books.”

  Ash drew his lips inward and bit them. He gave small nods of understanding, but was moved by Cyrus’ assessment of him. “Thank you, Cyrus.”

  “If we can take market share from the Magic Tower and then corner the market for magic products, it will be well worth it,” he said with a chuckle. He cocked his head about. “What about you, Ash? How did you know of the book as soon as you heard me quote it?”

  “First, I have an excellent memory,” Ash replied. “Second...I studied the same one when I was a child. I memorized it.”

  Cyrus’ face lit up. “Wonderful! No wonder you’ve developed so well as a mage. I couldn’t sense you at all; your level must be far above mine.” He paused and furrowed his brows. “You’re not sealing it, are you?”

  Sealing was done on purpose to hide one’s magic ability from stronger mages who’d sense it otherwise. This didn’t make magic ability appear weaker; it was as if the person didn’t have magic energy at all. If magic wasn’t sealed, then as long as the mage’s level was higher than that of another, the other mage could not sense how strong the first mage was. Sealing was rarely done, as a mage’s strength was of great importance for work, seniority, and respect within the magic world.

  For the most part, Ash’s magic ability was so high, no one could sense it unless he let them.

  Ash’s lips pulled into a line. “No.” He restrained the magic pressure that could suffocate those unprepared around him, but his magic signature was never sealed. It’s just that everyone else was a weaker mage than he was, so they couldn’t sense it.

  Cyrus gave him a suspicious look, but not with malice. “Then you must be strong.”

  Cautious was more the word Ash was looking for. The less people who knew about his magic prowess, the better.

  “Then, since you both have made the decision to fight at the mage duel, do you need time to prepare?” Henry asked. “What exactly does a mage duel entail?”

  Ash huffed and frowned. “The exact details of the duel needs to be agreed upon. It can be anything from a melee, which is the most common, as it’s just trying to outdo the opponent with sheer power. Of course, there is a much more civil competition focusing on control, aiming at targets, who can do better manipulating energy a certain way.”

  “But there are two of you. Will this be one on one or two on two at the same time?” Henry asked.

  “If it’s a melee, we’ll be fighting the other mages at the same time. If it’s more a competition, then we’ll take turns,” Ash replied with Cyrus nodding.

  “We also haven’t received a formal challenge letter that sets the rules for the mage duel,” Cyrus said. “Otherwise, it’s just a brawl.”

  Henry raised a brow. “I suppose a sense of ritual must be observed.”

  “If they’re going to send us the challenge letters, they’ll likely go through the Guild to find us and confirm the date, time, and rules of the mage duel,” Cyrus replied, rubbing his chin. “I’d like to get this over with as soon as possible, actually.”

  Ash nodded in agreement. The mage duel was an unexpected delay in their already busy schedules. “Just because they don’t have anything better to do doesn’t mean they can inconvenience us as they please.”

  “I can’t believe you’re calling a mage duel an inconvenience,” Henry said with a roll of his eyes.

  Ash scoffed. “What else can it be? I have things to do!”

  A tapping came from the glass of the window that overlooked the plaza, causing all three men to look over. Outside the windows were hanging planters with flower pots. It was unfortunate for the fuchsias that Donut the messenger hawk used them as a landing spot.

  Ash reached over to open the window and let the hawk in.

  “Brother, we need to order some meat for Donut,” he said.

  “I have some in my bag.” Henry turned to reach for his bag as Ash unscrewed the capsule tied to Donut’s leg and removed the message.

  The strip of paper was longer than usual, but was a quick read. His jaw clenched the further he read.

  “Is something wrong?” Cyrus asked as he watched Ash’s face redden.

  Ash took a deep breath and handed the unraveled scroll to him. “Since you’re involved, you should take a look.”

  Cyrus furrowed his brows. He put down his tea cup and reached forward to accept the scroll. “Is this about the mage duel?”

  “Aunt Soraya had someone help in finding out hope the gladiatorial arena is involved. If they knew about the duel and if so, who told them,” Ash replied. “It seems we have an answer.”

  “They’re involved.” Henry didn’t seem surprised at all.

  Ash’s lips were pulled into a tight line and he shook his head. “They’re involved. And they’re even holding specific dates during the Solstice Festival for the mage duel.”

  Henry frowned at once. “Are they trying to make it a spectacle? The best of my knowledge, the gladiatorial arena is not hurting for money.”

  “Perhaps it isn’t just for the money,” Cyrus replied in a low voice. He lowered the message and then handed it to Henry. “Take a look.”

  Henry picked up the piece of paper and scowled as soon as his eyes landed on it. “How did they find out?”

  Ash’s fingers tapped on the table top with impatience. “I don’t know how, but the mages tattled.” He grit his teeth and hit the table top. “What are they? Children? They go crying to their mothers when they can’t win an argument?”

  “This is more problematic than a mother they tattled to,” Henry said. He put the message down. “This is the Magic Tower. The Magic Tower is pushing your mage duel.”

  Ash let out a cold, bitter laugh. “They want to make an example of us. I know how they work. This isn’t just about pride and their over-inflated egos. This is about targeting two competent mages.”

  “The Magic Tower has a consul in the capital,” Cyrus said. “Many noble and wealthy support the Magic Tower, or at the very least, depend on them for magic products and the like. Aside from influence, they have access to money and connections. Reserving the gladiatorial arena and printing posters marketing an impending mage duel is within their ability.”

  Henry knitted his brows. “If it was the local Magic Tower consul that pushed this, then do the two mages know? Or did they complain and the Magic Tower preemptively set up a mage duel for the reasons you’re citing?”

  He looked towards a tense Ash. “What does it matter? If the Magic Tower wants them to fight in a mage duel, they have no choice, do they? It just seems that this goes beyond four mages,” Ash said. He looked back at Cyrus. “Knowing that the Magic Tower is targeting us directly, what do you think? Do you still want to participate?”

  The corners of Cyrus’ lips curled up. He chuckled and nodded. “Ash,” he said as he leaned forward. “Knowing that the Magic Tower is directly involved makes me want to fight more.” He hesitated. “What about you?”

  Ash raised a brow. He seemed to think for a while and then shrugged. “It has been a long time since I fought them in person,” he said. “If they want to attack me, then they can go ahead.” He held out his arms in a welcoming posture. “They can come and try.”

  As if the universe were answering him, a knock came from the door. They turned towards it and Henry called out. “What is it?”

  “Young Master, a letter has arrived for Second Young Master and a Mr. Cyrus Amini,” the Dareisol accented voice of the tea house’s manager spoke after pushing open the door just a bit to reply.

  Ash’s face brightened, as if waiting for a treat. “That’s probably it.”

  “Bring them in,” Henry replied to the manager.

  The wooden door slid open and a middle-aged man in a crisp uniform of the tea house’s upper management entered. He held a wooden tray carved and inlaid with metal on the sides. The bottom was the symbol of Snake, Scarab, and Sons. He held the tray with both hands and on top were two matching envelopes, each with different names.

  He stopped beside the table and held out the tray. “Second Young Master. Mr. Amini.”

  He received a few words of thanks as Ash and Cyrus took the letters. Ash flipped his hover and seered as he saw the purple wax seal closing the envelope. It was a brick turret within two rings: the symbol of the Magic Tower.

  “Is there anything else?” Henry asked. The manager hadn’t moved from in front of the door and appeared to be waiting. He bowed his head respectfully.

  “The messenger requests a response before leaving,” he replied in a calm voice. “They are waiting in the foyer.”

  They didn’t know if the messenger was another mage or just a courier, so Ash didn’t keep them waiting. He slid his finger beneath the seal for the envelope to break it open. He unfolded the envelope so it turned into a letter.

  The two mages who challenged him had their names listed and then formally named him and Cyrus as mages to challenge.

  Cyrus’ face immediately fell. “They want a wager? Are they insane?”

  “Wagers aren’t abnormal in such duels, but it usually means that there would be no death, as the other party needs to be alive to compensate the winner,” Ash replied. “Interesting...a two-on-two battle, but there are two sections.” He put the paper on the table so Henry could see what was written. “The first section is three parts. There is a skill battle involving a series of targets, creation of a magic spell or potion to solve a problem that will be stated before that portion begins, and then lastly, an elemental test to see how well and how fast we can manipulate elements around us. It is points based and whoever has the most after all three parts gets to pick the second battle style.”

  “So, the first part is just to gain advantage over the second part?” Henry asked. “This is unnecessary.”

  “They want to show off their abilities against us,” Ash said. “That’s why it’s so needlessly convoluted.”

  “It says that the challengers can take turns, but as soon as one challenger fails, then their partner must take their place. If that partner also fails, then they lose that round of the skill battle automatically.” Cyrus raised a brow and shook his head. “So, in some way, it isn’t about the final product or result, but if we can last to the end.”

  “Do you think you can’t finish?”

  “I can finish.” Both Cyrus and Ash replied to Henry at once. They looked at each other and exchanged firm nods.

  Henry conceded. “What about the second part? What battle styles? Weapons?”

  “You don’t bring a knife to a magic fight, Brother,” Ash replied with a roll of his eyes. “Melee is just magic against magic, suppression is who can counter the most spells from an opponent, and trapping is to contain another mage and make them unable to move or use magic, but you must keep them conscious.”

  “If you get pick-”

  “It’s not an if,” Ash said. “Cyrus and I will win the first section.”

  Henry’s dull eyes looked at him. “All right, fine. What are you going to pick?”

  Ash looked at Cyrus. The older man gave him a thoughtful nod. “I’m unsure, if I’m being honest. I suppose it’ll depend on our state at the time and our mood when we reach the second section,” he said. “However, I am fine with all choices.”

  Ash nodded, approving. “Good, so am I.”

  “What about the wager?” Henry asked. He looked at the letter and curled his lips in distaste. “A bit audacious for them to demand a formal apology, a public announcement of your inferiority, and your space sheet if you lose.”

  Ash sneered. The space under his and Cyrus’ names where they were to write their demands if they won was blank.

  “Cyrus?” Ash asked, looking at him.

  Cyrus waved his hand towards him. “I am getting what I want from beating them into the ground. You may choose what we’ll win.”

  Ash stared at him for a moment and the nodded. “Very well. Since you trust me....” He reached into his space preservation bag. He took out an ink pen and bought one of the challenge letters towards him.

  His hand swept over the blank spot before he turned the pen over, removed the top and pricked himself with a small needle. He pressed his bloody thumbprint beneath his name. He then took out a small needle and sanitized it with some alcohol before handing it to Cyrus.

  Ash turned the letter upside down and pushed it across the table.

  Cyrus pricked his finger on the needle and prepared to place it beneath his name, but stopped. His eyes landed on Ash’s demands as his finger hovered over the parchment. His eyes widened and he looked up at Ash with uncertainty.

  “You want them to lower the price of suture pens?”

  “Sell them at cost,” Ash said with a nod.

  “Will they do that?” Henry asked. He sounded doubtful, and Ash didn’t blame him.

  Cyrus looked at Henry, still with disbelief on his face. “If they agree to the terms of this mage duel challenge, including the wagers, then it becomes a legally binding document, as well as a magically binding one. If they don’t lower the price of the suture pens, then it will cost the lives of the two mages who challenged us. Mages do not renege on contracts.”

  Ash narrowed his eyes. “Even with that, I don’t believe they’ll agree so easily.”

  “But it is worth a try,” Cyrus said. He prepared to press his thumb down, but Henry’s hand flew forward.

  “Wait!” Henry looked at the document. Both Ash and Cyrus, as well as the manager, turned to look at him. He pulled the document back to Ash. “Add an effective by date to make sure they start selling them at cost immediately, otherwise they can try to drag it out as long as they can.”

  Ash and Cyrus both looked pleased and Ash added the clause. “One month should be fair.”

  “More than fair,” Cyrus said. He was given the document once more and he put his bloody thumbprint down. He then waved his hand over it, drying out the wet blood and ink. “It is done.”

  Ash folded the document back into the envelope and handed it to the manager.

  “Now,” he said. “We just need to see if they agree to the terms and want to continue.”

  Part of him wasn’t sure that they would agree. He’d heard of mage duels where the wagers had to be negotiated several times before both parties accepted and agreed to lay their bodies and magic on the line.

  However, when they received the acceptance document letter the next day, he wasn’t surprised.

  “So,” Henry said as he held his arms out and was measured by a tailor recommended by Dareisol’s imperial family. “When is the duel?”

  Ash remained reclined on a sofa behind his brother and tailor, in the private fitting room of the bespoke tailor shop. Effie craned her neck to see what was written on the paper.

  Ash let out a small snort. “Noon at the end of the week,” he said with a sneer. “The first day of the Solstice Festival.”

  He handed Effie the letter to read. “Hmm...it’s official with the gladiatorial arena then…the odds…are promising. Godmother has been thorough with her research.”

  “You mean her sister’s research,” Ash said.

  “Technically, it was probably her brother-in-law’s people,” Henry replied as he lowered his arms.

  Effie didn’t seem to care who gathered the information as long as they got it. She let out a whistle and a black bird flew into the room from the open window. It landed on the wooden frame at the back of the elaborate embroidered sofa she and her brother were sitting on. The raven let out a chirp and bounced closer to her. “Void, go and tell Momma I want an advance on my allowance.”

  The raven chirped once more and Effie sighed.

  “Yes, all of it. Don’t worry, I won’t lose it.” The raven chirped again. “What do you mean what am I going to do with it? What else would I do with it?” The little girl puffed her cheeks. “I’m going to bet on my brother!”

  “Aww....” Ash beamed. He patted her head. “You have that much faith in me, Effie? Keep in mind, we’re up against mages from the Magic Tower.” He teased her a bit.

  Effie snorted and pulled her head away. “It doesn’t matter how strong those mages are,” she said in a firm voice. “All that matters is that you’re stronger.”