Return of the Runebound Professor

“You want to pop back out in Arbitage? Just like that?” Jalen asked, arching an eyebrow at Noah and glancing around the rather full clearing. “With everyone here?”

Noah looked around. Their little group had certainly grown quite a bit since he’d left. With the addition of all the demons to the mix, they certainly made quite the odd gathering. He had no plans of leaving anyone here behind.

I’ve got the strongest ones augmented with Sticky runes. Only Violet, Edda, Torrick and Vrith are left. Aylin and Yoru are fixed up, and Lee is Lee. After I’ve repaired them all, Inquisitors won’t be a threat to us anymore. They’ll just have to wear something to cover their horns until the right time.

“Yes,” Noah said. “We’ll be able to find somewhere for them to sleep, and I need the backup. My plans are no longer something that can be accomplished by a single man. Everyone here will have a role to play… at least until we’ve dealt with the nobles.”

“You’re going to war,” Silvertide said flatly. “Is that what you’re implying?”

“War is such a strong term. I am teaching. It just so happens that there are some people who pose a threat to my students. A good teacher never allows for such things.”

“Don’t mince words with me, Vermil. I know what we’re up against,” Silvertide said. He hesitated for a long second before shaking his head. “But I don’t know what you’re capable of. Not anymore. I don’t even know if I know what you really are.”

“You don’t,” Noah said. The corner of his lips twitched. “But if you want me to be forthright, then I will be. I plan to raze every single noble family that comes after Isabel to the ground.”

“Can you really do that? They’ve ruled for hundreds of years, and for good reason. You don’t even have a Rank 6 Soul Domain. How will you be able to protect everyone if you challenge the entire kingdom?”

“There are ways. I don’t plan to challenge them all yet. I don’t have a death wish,” Noah said. Moxie arched an eyebrow at him, which he pointedly ignored. He continued on without gracing her expression with a response. “Things have to be handled one step at a time. But I think you would be deeply surprised to see just how significant the differences in runes can be. The noble families know nothing. They’ve been so content to force the status quo to remain as it was that their powers are waning. That’s what happens when, instead of working together to try and improve your runes, you force artificial scarcity and hide your research.”

“Spider holds even Sievan’s respect,” Aylin said. “A group of mortals is no match for him.”

Silvertide’s brow furrowed. Then his lips twisted into a grim smile. “Very well. I will expect to see proof of your true power before I throw my lot in with you entirely. I have a responsibility to my student. I will not put Tyler in danger needlessly. But if what you say is true… then we will stand by you. The kingdom has been rotting from within for a very long time. Perhaps it is time for change.”

“Don’t look at me,” Jalen said. “I’m just here to watch. I’m not doing shit until you start flicking Rank 6 mages in the nose. At that point, I don’t reckon it’ll matter much if I throw my lot in. Everything will have gone to shit anyway.”

“That means you’ll fight by our side when things do go to shit?” Moxie asked, raising an eyebrow.

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Jalen smiled. “Do you think I would pass up an opportunity to have a little fun? It’s been too long since I’ve tried myself against another Rank 6. I will act when they directly interfere — but not a second before.”

“That’s all I need,” Noah said. “The portal, then. To my room, if you would. I want to sort out some accommodations before we pay the Advanced Track meeting a visit tonight.”

“With pleasure,” Jalen said. His lips pulled into a dangerous smile. “This will be fun.”

He snapped his fingers. Purple energy ripped through the clearing, wrapping around every single person in Jalen’s vicinity. Then, with a crackle, they were gone. A breeze coiled through the Scorched Acres in their passing, leaving behind only the warped corpse of the Slasher that Noah had killed in their wake.

***

Contessa’s head jerked up as a crackle of energy went off outside the door. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as an uneasy chill ran down her spine and made its way along her arms.

“Karina,” Contessa whispered, reaching for her Runes. “Did you feel that?”

“Yes,” the other woman replied in a grim tone. “Space magic. In an Imbued area meant to protect against it. We might have visitors.”

“Took longer than I thought,” Contessa said. The two of them rose from the bed in unison. Nobody had come to take Vermil’s room ever since he’d gone missing, but the man had a number of enemies. It was an inevitability that some of them would come snooping around when it became clear he was really dead.

I don’t know why the school hasn’t forced us out of his room already. Someone must be pulling strings, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t know where else I’d go. I can’t return to the Torrins. Karina can’t go back to the Linwicks. This is our home now.

“Mascot,” Karina whispered. “You ready, buddy?”

The plump white cat glanced up at them from where it had been curled up on the bed. With a yawn, Mascot rose to his feet and stretched himself out. He licked his lips, then hopped onto Contessa’s shoulder and batted at her cheek.

“Not now, Mascot. I already spent all of Vermil’s paycheck on top-grade fish. We’re out of snacks,” Contessa whispered as she took a step toward the door. If someone was looking for a fight, then it was better to get the jump on them.

Mascot let out a hiss of displeasure.

“I’ll get you some more if you help us out,” Karina said in a hushed tone. “But if this is a strong mage, we might need some backup.”

Mascot yawned.

That was either an assent or a warning that he was about to void his bowels. It tended to be hard to tell, but Contessa was fairly sure it was the former. She wouldn’t claim she could understand the odd cat. That would have been delusion. However, she’d spent so much time with Mascot in recent times that she felt she could generally pick up on the cues Mascot put down.

Oddly enough, Mascot didn’t seem too bothered today. He normally got pissy whenever someone walked by the door, much less teleported in outside it.

Then again, he also gets mad when we don’t feed him with half the money we have left. It isn’t a good idea to put too much stake in anything Mascot does. Maybe this is just Ulya visiting with a new puppet she’s been working on.

Contessa wasn’t about to bet on it, but it was better than the alternative. Anyone with space magic strong enough to teleport right into the T building was going to be quite powerful… and she could hear a number of people in the hallway.

Gods, did someone bring an army? What in the Damned Plains is happening?

A knock rang against the door.

Contessa and Karina exchange a glance.

Karina nodded.

Mascot started licking his rear end.

Contessa grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, preparing to release the magic she’d gathered —

Her mouth dropped open and her hand fell limply to her side.

Before her stood Vermil. Beside him stood Moxie and Silvertide, but that wasn’t all.

Karina let out a whimper.

Jalen loomed over Noah, a terrifyingly eager smile twisting his features. And, flanking all of them, was a mass of students and demons.

What the fuck?

Mascot licked the side of Contessa’s face.

“Hello,” Vermil said with a wide smile. It didn’t reach his eyes. Something about the man had changed. Contessa had never forgotten the look on his face when she’d threatened his students, but this was different. It was almost alien, like she was staring into the eyes of a force of nature rather than a man.

A chill gripped her spine.

Why does it feel like I’m staring into the eyes of death itself?

“Vermil?” Contessa breathed, eyes going wide. “You’re alive?”

“Sorry to disappoint. Did you miss me?”

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