It’s not until I have almost gotten back to the carriage do I realize I’ve left the others behind to eagerly start my new life as commanded. Looking around I see others suddenly stop and rapidly blink as they realize they’ve likewise forgotten plans.

  It’s not mental magic per se, but like my concealment spell, it like works by the same channels. Rather than compelling, it rewards action of the correct intent with a slight but noticeable boost, and punishes merely with its withdrawal. Or at least the boost would be slight if only one divine ritual was performed rather than two dozen. There is efficiency loss when so many deities are working together, but it still adds up to nearly the level of a basic boon.

  Of course, the behaviour alteration was expected, in fact, it’s the sole reason many partake in such rituals. But it’s still unnerving to experience. Fortunately, while hard to resist at first, now that I recognize it I can consciously choose to go against it. After all, while it’s nice, it’s still only a minor boon, and will only last about a month before gradually fading away.

  Fortunately, there’s no way to replicate this effect at the same scale with mortal magic, or the empire would no doubt blanket their entire territory with it. At least they can’t without causing serious, permanent and random damage to everyone affected which will eventually lead to death. Even deities can’t really do it unless the recipient is willing in some way, actively partaking and interpreting the symbols displayed to evoke to desired behaviour.

  Still, even though I consciously partook to receive the boons, it’s a bit annoying. The plan was to talk to the Talhal boy… Lucas, more after the ceremony, but that completely vanished in the face of the command.

  Well, I think I got a good enough impression of him anyways. If he didn’t get the same of me then there’s a way in which that’s better.

  I don’t think I like him, but I do think he’ll be useful to know for the mission. I don’t know why I find his irreverent attitude towards the empress distasteful, as the propagation of such an idea will no doubt weaken the empire. But despite knowing that there will be more potential allies on Lucas’s side – who no doubt have decided it was a mistake to ‘put the empress in charge’ – I still personally prefer Addrian’s position.

  Though perhaps not the position itself, just the person presenting it. Personally, I don’t care whether the empress’s authority is due to an agreement between her and her subjects or her subjects and themselves or any other contending theory. One of them will aid me better than the others, so I might as well proceed as if that one is true. It’s just the attitude of those involved that I find distasteful.

  “Hey Malch, wait up!” A voice calls from behind, causing me to turn and see Ser Terry jogging up.

  I put on a smile that is only slightly forced. “Ser Terry. Is there something…?”

  “Yeah, hey, um,” he scratches his head nervously, the same strange search for approval he displayed when he saved me in the breakthrough test. “Well, I tried calling you before, but you must not have heard me because you kept on going, and then you disappeared in the crowd. I had to divine you down.”

  “Was there something you needed to talk about urgently then? Rather than just sending a letter?”

  “Oh, yeah, I could have done that. Or well, I guess it would have been more awkward. I just wanted to ask again about why you were looking for me. I know you didn’t want to talk about it, but I thought maybe you just didn’t want to say in front of the others.”

  I stare at him in wonder. Apparently, he was able to instantly overcome the effect of the rituals. Not impossible, but one would have to be conscious of the effect to overcome it or… “Did you not pay attention during the ceremony?” Perhaps the effect was lesser on him due to failure to participate.

  “Oh, um, yeah, I did, some. I guess I was distracted.”

  “By wanting to talk with me?” I suggest, dreading a yes, but not entirely.

  “And other stuff. But yeah, I was wondering why you were looking for me.”

  I sigh, somewhat regretful of my brusque attitude, especially if it caused him not to receive the ritual benefits, but not wanting to express the regret. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just embarrassed. I was going to invite you to a party.” I mean really, it’s his own fault for not paying attention during such a good opportunity. How many other times will someone have the chance to be blessed by so many deities?

  “A party!? You?” He smiles wistfully, incredibly pleased at the notion. ‘Incredibly’ as in I do not find the amount of pleasure he’s displaying credible in general, but I cannot find cause to doubt this particular instance of it despite wanting to.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Yeah,” I say, putting my wonder at his wonder aside, “apparently it’s traditional to throw a party for friends and family. But I don’t know many people here, so I figured I’d throw a party for other examinees who might be similarly socially isolated, plus a few others as needed. But the three people I had in mind all left the city. You and Clara having apparently left together.”

  “Oh, yeah, sorry. I suppose I could have mentioned I was leaving, but the matter was so…”

  “Urgent, I know. It’s fine. You had no reason to think I might miss your presence.”

  His face turns instantly dour, which strangely tenses my shoulders. Making me think for better phrasing, but coming up with none before his response. “Oh, yeah, I guess I didn’t, did I?” His face becomes a neutral mask, preventing me from discerning why he might have been so upset at pointing out the fact of how brief our acquaintance has been. Perhaps he realizes he misunderstood a moment later as his face returns to his normal friendly expression. “But hey, it’s great that you were going to throw a party. Good for you.”

  It's my turn for my face to sour. “Why? Did you think I couldn’t become acquainted with enough people to throw one or something?”

  He obviously holds back a laugh of confirmation. “Well, you know. You didn’t give the most sociable impression… Out of curiosity who was the third person you intended to invite?

  Flustered at his frank assessment I respond without much thought, just wanting to move the conversation on. “Oh, no one really. Just a mercenary I met in the sword tournament. Very skilled. Beat some squires despite being a mundane. Had a strange reaction to being ruled in favour of. But he disappeared the same time you did.”

  His face takes on a worried, tense tone. “His name wouldn’t happen to be Bart, would it?”

  So, the disappearances are linked. I thought they might be but couldn’t get anything conclusive from my divinations. They didn’t leave together though. Are they adversaries somehow?

  “…Yes. That was his name. I only met him briefly, but he seemed interesting. Do you know him?”

  “…Second hand, mostly. Very briefly once in person.”

  “You look concerned. Is there something I should know about him? A reason not to associate?”

  He glances inwardly, considering for at least ten seconds before finally answering “…no, I guess not.”

  An unsatisfactory answer. He seems so open at first, but hides suddenly at the broaching of random topics. It’s annoying. Besides, I do want to know about Bart, in case he really does intend to try and blackmail me.

  “If there’s nothing I should know, then is there anything you can tell me about him. I am somewhat interested in him and would like to know more.”

  “…It wouldn’t be right to colour your impression with my personal interactions.”

  But that’s precisely what I’m asking for! What other way is there to colour one’s impression? Hearsay? Why would I want that? Only direct experience is reliable, and often not even that.

  “Whatever.” I say dismissively. “Anyways, you have your answer. I need to grow…go.” The command lingers in my mind, causing the tongue slip.

  “Oh, yeah, right… Me too.”

  “…Was there something else you wanted to talk about?” I ask at his strange hesitation.

  “No, not really. I guess we both need to focus on getting ready for classes next week. Did you get you get your dorm assignment yet? Know who you’re sharing with?”

  “I paid for a solo dorm.” Expensive, especially since I insisted on paying for it myself. Though the coin coming in from extorting Greg will cover it with some left over.

  “Yeah, that figures.”

  “Because I’m bad with people?” I ask, loading my voice.

  He nods heedlessly. “But I thought you had to have a special circumstance to get one of those even if you have the coin?”

  “In theory yes. It’s another one of the egalitarian measures mixed with practicality. In practice, special circumstances are hardly special, and they’re more than happy to sell them to anyone who can come up with a remotely plausible sounding one. Though supposedly they waive the fee for those who have particularly demanding requirements. My not so special circumstance is needing the space to grow my plants.”

  “You grow plants?” He has an amused smile.

  “Why wouldn’t I?” I ask, confused at his amusement.

  “Just, you know, your vibe I guess. Probably just how we met and all.”

  “I have medical knowledge that benefits from herbalism, and a spell that utilizes them.”

  “Medical plants. Right. I guess you did have that healing spell.”

  “… I do also grow poisons.”

  “Of course you do.”

  “…Listen, it’s one of my declared fields of study, and they were happy to accommodate it.” Which was the reason given, though the real one is more to do with potentially having to slip out late at night… Also just not wanting to have to deal with a roommate.

  “Right, well what building are you in?”

  “East one.”

  “Really?” He smiles broadly. “I’m in South four. We’re neighbours.”

  “Yeah, I guess we are. Listen I got to…”

  “Right right, got to grow!” He laughs as he turns to go. “Be seeing you!”

  My stomach tightens at his leaving, but I can’t quite figure out if that’s because I don’t want him to go or if I never want to see him again.

  Alan greets me when I enter the carriage.

  “So did you have a good time?” Alan asks with a smile.

  I nod. “I met up with a few acquaintances. They had an… entertaining debate and the rituals were interesting. I’ve read about most of them before, but it’s interesting to experience them.”

  “You read about them to…?”

  “Exploit them yes. They don’t create as great of vulnerability as a contract but there are still methods.”

  “Right…”

  “…I also just enjoyed it. It was interesting to see how the symbolic acts facilitated the magic.”

  “Oh good. I’m glad. It was colourful, wasn’t it?”

  “Yeah… Do I seem like someone who’s only interested in violence?”

  He blinks. “Where is this coming from?”

  “It’s…it’s nothing.”

  “No, tell me.”

  “…It’s just I’ve had two different people express surprise when they found something out about me.”

  “…Does that bother you?”

  “I don’t know…It’s more that I don’t know if they’re right.”

  “They’re not. It’s just that you’re used to the fighting so they think that’s just you. You’ll change. I see it happening already and you have time.”

  “… maybe.”