by John Corwin
Ambria smirked. "I cheated and used a guiding spell."
"I didn't know there was such a thing."
"I discovered it in an Arcane architectural textbook in the vault." She shrugged. "I knew it would come in handy someday."
I read the rest of the instructions. "All that's left is sparking the ink." I began recording with my arcphone so we'd have something to show Galfandor.
"Got it." Ambria flicked her wand and a stream of blue fire struck the diagram in the center. The ink blazed into black flame and a thick cloud of black smoke drifted up.
Max pinched his nose. "Gah, it stinks."
After a moment, it seemed apparent that smoke and flame were all we'd get from this ritual spell. I continued recording while I re-read the instructions. Unfortunately, my picture of the page cut off the bottom section detailing the results.
"Maybe the stench identifies the cause," Ambria said.
Max sighed. "Or maybe we were completely wrong about the cause."
The fire died and the smoke cloud dissipated as it drifted to the floor. A high-pitched shriek assaulted my ears and a slimy black slug erupted from the cloud straight at my face. I screamed and fell over backward in my haste to get away. The ripper wyrm landed on the floor between my legs, a low-pitched gurgling emanating from its orifice. A dozen eyestalks extended from its head and glared my way.
I vaguely heard Max and Ambria screaming and shouting in the background. Felt my hand tug my wand free of its holster, a spell forming in my mind. The wyrm sprang for my face. I flicked my wand and a shield solidified. The creature hit the shield and drifted apart like smoke.
"What?" I could hardly hear my own words over the sound of my pounding heart. "Where did it go?"
"Was it just smoke?" Ambria said. "Was it not real?"
Max whimpered. "I thought my heart exploded from fright."
"Interesting."
We three shouted and jumped in alarm, but it was just Kanaan, a flicker of amusement hiding behind his eyes.
"I knew you could accomplish what you needed." The magitsu master walked around the flying carpet holding Ansel's still form. "I suspect the hand of a powerful Daemos behind this."
Ambria recovered first. "That would make sense, but how would Victus recruit such help?"
"With leverage." Kanaan brushed the ashes of the ink off Ansel's stomach. "In the meantime, this man requires medical attention."
"Do you know a good healer?" Ambria said.
"I suggest Percival," Kanaan said.
"But Agatha Grint took him off duty." Ambria raised an eyebrow. "Do you know Percival?"
"Not personally." Kanaan pulled the flying carpet after him and left the arch room. "There is a small healing ward in the mansion. I will keep Ansel there."
"We can bring Percival in by the arch," Max said.
"We have to find him first." Ambria sighed. "I have no idea where he went after Grint relieved him of duty."
"She didn't relieve him of duty," Max said. "She told him to butt out of the torn soul investigation."
"Yes, but knowing his ego, I'm sure he took it hard." Ambria tutted. "I don't care for his methods, but he does get the job done."
An idea sparked in my head. "We can ask his brother at Science Academy."
Ambria frowned. "Do we plan to open portals all over the academy campus looking for him? You realize we'll have to leave the portal open if we plan to return through it."
"We can open the portal in Ansel's office," I said. "We'll leave the portal open and use our brooms to fly to the medical center."
"What if someone walks into his office while the portal is open?" Max asked.
"I'll open it to face a wall in the back." I knew the details of the office far better than I wanted, thanks to Ansel's harsh arcnology lessons.
We followed Kanaan into the mansion. An ornate foyer led to wide dual staircases that curved around an open space beneath a giant crystal chandelier. Wooden golems no more detailed than stick figures in servant livery dusted the neglected furniture and swept the floors. Kanaan paid them no mind and took a right down the hallway.
"The ward is in the east wing." He swung open double doors at the far end of the hallway and showed us into a room that looked very similar to the healing ward in Arcane University, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. Kanaan rang a bell and a servant golem clomped in. "Fresh linens."
"Please," Ambria said and darted a daring look at the magitsu master. "It's always good to be polite."
Max snorted. "I can think of plenty of times you're not."
"Quiet, Max." Ambria bared her teeth. "Please."
Kanaan stripped dusty sheets off a nearby bed. "Politeness is a commodity afforded only the civil."
I couldn't resist needling him. "Did you read that off a fortune cookie?"
He flicked his wand at the mattress. A funnel of wind drew out the dust and delivered it into a rubbish bin. The golem returned moments later and fitted the sheets on the bed.
"He looks worse," Ambria said after we slid Ansel into place. "His face is starting to look withered."
I looked down at the sunken cheeks, the loose skin on his neck, and flashed back to the dark room filled with coffins. I must have gasped because the others gave me concerned looks.
Ambria gripped my hand. "What is it, Conrad?"
"This reminds me of the memories Della left me." I described the faces in the coffins. "I think whatever afflicts Ansel is wrong with those people too." I felt sick.
"But this just started happening," Max said. "Did she give you a foreseeance, or does that mean this has happened before?"
"It's not the future." I recounted the vision with Victus and Garkin. "That was my mother's past. It confirms that Victus is behind this new epidemic."
"He's using ripper wyrms to spread spiritual diseases." Ambria's eyes widened. "That's horrific."
"The demonomicon said ripper wyrm attacks aren't fatal." Max shook his head. "The victim should recover."
"Maybe Victus did something so the wyrm poisons the person," I suggested.
Kanaan looked down at my stricken cousin. "Masters of healing, we are not. I suggest you find Percival."
Ansel wasn't my favorite person in the world, but he'd taken time to teach us arcnology. He was the only blood relative I knew of besides Victus. I didn't want him to die. If anything, I wanted to use a ripper wyrm on Victus and watch him die a slow painful death.
Chapter 15
We had little time to waste, but it was late, and Arthur surely would be at home asleep at this hour. We portaled back to Moore Keep, opening a gateway to Ambria's room first, and then one in mine and Max's quarters, leaving it open and facing the wall so we could use it in the morning.
The next morning, we reversed the process, stepping through the portal and back into the arch room, closing it and opening one to Ambria's room. She came through, already dressed and ready to go.
"This is brilliant," Max said. "I wish I could use this omniarch to go everywhere."
"Unfortunately, someone has to be here to control it," Ambria said. "Perhaps we could come up with a remote way of activating it."
I pictured the corner of Ansel's office in my head and willed the arch to open a portal there. A silver line sliced through the air and gaped open to reveal a window to the desired location. I stepped through and looked around to make sure no one was there, then motioned the others through.
Max stopped near the spot we'd found Ansel and paused. "Hmm, I wonder."
"What's for breakfast?" Ambria inserted.
"No. I wonder if that man we saw coming from Ansel's office had anything to do with his injuries." Max turned to me. "Or maybe he found Ansel and ran because he was frightened."
"Why be frightened?" I said. "Ansel was acting drunk or high. The man should've been running for help."
"We thought he might've given Ansel drugs like Arthur said." Max shook his head. "But we know that's not the case now."
I pictured the man and f
elt the same chills I'd felt the first time I saw him. "I think you're right."
Ambria looked shocked at what she said next. "Me too."
"Put it on the back burner," I said. "For now, we focus on finding Percival."
We boarded our brooms and flew to the medical center, but were saved from having to go inside. Percival and Arthur sat outside on a bench, gesturing as if engaged in a spirited conversation.
"It's ridiculous!" Percival shouted.
"I bloody know it is, but you've got no standing." Arthur blinked twice when he saw us land behind his brother. "What are you doing here?"
Percival spun and saw us. "Oh, it's you, children. Tell my brother what that old hag said about me."
I waved him off. "Look, that's not important right now. What is important is that we need you to save a life."
"Duty calls, Percy." Arthur patted Percival on the shoulder while giving us a thumbs up and a grateful look behind his back.
Percival waved us away. "No, what's important is that I be allowed to cure those soul-torn patients!"
"We have patient zero," I said. "My cousin Ansel."
Percival's eyes brightened. "Well, why didn't you say so?" He pointed toward Arcane University. "Let's go."
"Uh, we need to go the other way," Max said.
Percival frowned. "But the university is that way."
"Just trust us." I waved goodbye to Arthur as he hurried off toward the medical center, and then led Percival toward the arcnology lab.
"I don't see how we're supposed to return to campus by walking away from it," the healer complained. "Where are we going?"
"Through a portal," I said.
His forehead wrinkled. "A portal in the middle of this campus?"
"It's from an omniarch," Ambria explained. "You can portal anywhere."
Percival gasped. "What sorcery is this?"
"It's been around forever." Max shook his head. "Just trust us, okay?"
"Well, I've already walked this far. A little further won't hurt." Percival brushed something off his robes and straightened his shoulders. "Patient zero, you say?"
"We know what caused his condition and diagnosed it with a ritual." Ambria flashed a grin at his confusion. "It's a demonic ripper wyrm."
"You did what?" Percival wagged a finger at us. "None of you are qualified to practice medicine."
"It's not medicine." Max pshawed. "We can't heal him. That's why we need you."
"His condition is worsening." I walked through the entrance to the arcnology lab and led Percival to the portal in the office. "Ansel isn't the most pleasant fellow, but he's all the family I have."
Ambria grimaced. "Victus not included."
"Goodness." Percival stepped through the portal and looked back in wonder. "I've never heard of these omniarches."
We followed him through and I closed the portal. "Can we trust you not to tell anyone about this portal or what I'm about to show you?"
"Where are we?" Percival touched the walls. "Is this a basement?"
"Can we?" I insisted.
He pursed his lips. "Children with secrets are usually up to no good."
Ambria set her fists on her hips. "We don't want Agatha Grint or her cronies finding out."
"Ah." A smile spread across the healer's face. "In that case, absolutely. I will keep your secret to the grave."
He seemed serious despite the smile, so I motioned him to follow us out of the arch room and into the corridor. We stepped in front of the arching entrance leading to the cavern with the mansion and Percival stopped in his tracks, a dumfounded look on his face.
"Are we underground?" He looked around at us. "Is that a mansion in a cave?"
"It's from the old resistance." Max grinned, pleased at the reaction. "Justin Slade and his people built it after Daelissa destroyed the one aboveground."
"You children really do have the most interesting secrets." Percival walked to the mansion and opened the door where he paused again to take in the magnificent interior. "Simply amazing."
Ambria took a turn playing gracious host. "The healing ward is this way." She led him to Ansel's bed.
Percival's wide-eyed wonder turned to a frown as he took in Ansel's pale face. "Oh, he doesn't look good at all."
"Is that your professional opinion?" Ambria said.
"Shush, child." Percival took out his wand and ran it up and down the patient's body. "Are there any supplies here, or must I procure my own?"
"The supply room is down the hallway," Ambria said. "Have a look inside and if you need anything else, we can get it with the portal, provided we have a detailed image of the destination."
"I keep ample supplies at my residence," Percival said. "Must I use the portal, or is there a way to walk from here?"
"I suggest you use the portal," I said. "It's much faster." I explained the simple mechanics of it. "Do you have an arcphone?"
"Yes, but don't tell anyone." Percival retrieved a small thin tablet from within his robe. "You know how the university frowns on such devices."
I bumped mine against his. "I exchanged our contact information. That way if we need you to activate the portal remotely for us, you can, and vice versa."
"Indeed." Percival bent over Ansel and continued to scan him. "I need more information about ripper wyrms. In the meantime, I'll prepare a preservation tincture to stabilize his body functions until I discover the cause."
"Isn't the cause part of his soul being ripped out?" Ambria said.
"He should still have enough soul essence to regrow it," Percival replied. "These physical symptoms might be something else—a poison left by the wyrm, possibly."
"Wyrms aren't poisonous," Max said. "Then again, we think Victus is the one using them, so maybe he modified it somehow."
Percival jerked upright. "Victus Edison? The Overlord?"
"My father." I scowled.
"I thought he was dead."
"It's a long story, but he's back and he's up to no good." I touched Ansel's hand and recoiled at how clammy it felt. "Look, we've got to get to class. Let us know how it goes."
Percival nodded solemnly. "I will heal your cousin, Conrad."
I returned a brief smile. "Thanks."
We used the portal to take us to the field behind the university. I closed it and we rushed to the dining hall to eat with only fifteen minutes before the first class. The corridors were uncommonly empty when they should have teemed with students rushing from breakfast to class.
"Strange," Max mused. "Where is everyone?"
We rounded the bend near the dining hall. The double doors were closed, but a magically amplified voice echoed off the stone walls from the other side. Max eased open the door and peeked through the crack.
"…required of every student and professor." I recognized the voice of Esmerelda Quiff. "Security is of paramount importance, as I'm sure you all understand."
"Must be about the riots," Max whispered.
The door shoved open, sending Max stumbling backward. Two Blue Cloaks with stern faces grabbed us by the arms and pulled us inside. The dining hall was full to bursting, each table full, and every chair at the head table occupied.
Minister Quiff smiled brightly at us from the podium. "Conrad Edison." She spoke my name as if deliriously happy to see me. "How nice of you to come."
Two tables away, Harris Ashmore bared his teeth at me while his best friend, Baxter Troy, snickered with glee at our predicament. Lily Crown offered a smile and a covert wave our way. Laughter rose from other tables, but Quiff snuffed the amusement before it spread further.
"There is nothing funny about this, children." She paced to her right, blond hair bouncing. She stopped. Faced us. "Do you want to know why security is such a problem?"
Galfandor gave her an uneasy look from his position in the middle of the table and then met my eyes for an instant.
As the silence hung, the Blue Cloaks pointed us to stand against the back wall where the overflow of students and faculty gathered.
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Minister Quiff smiled sweetly. "Poor student quality." She looked at a short man with a disproportionately large head and nodded. "Education Minister Jonas and I have spoken about this extensively and we are on the same page."
Jonas nodded sternly at her, his large head tipping so precariously, I thought it might pull him off balance.
"We will conduct an educational audit." Quiff waved a hand across the crowd. "We will find the low-performers and determine if it is the fault of our teachers"—she turned and ran her eyes over the professors, then turned back to us—"or the students."
Galfandor stood. "I'm sorry, Minister, but weren't we discussing security?"
Quiff laced her fingers together. "It is all intertwined, Headmaster." She folded her hands together. "I and the other ministers will be auditing classes today. We expect to have results within a week."
Galfandor frowned. "I think that is more than enough for now." He held up his hands. "Students, you are free to go to class."
The room erupted into chaos, children racing from the dining hall as if fleeing wildfire. The school faculty did likewise while the ministers circled like vultures around Galfandor. Among them stood Max's father, Xander.
"What's he doing here?" Max's face paled. "My brothers are here, too!"
Ambria looked around in confusion. "But they graduated."
"I don't think they're here as students." He stared at the identical twin boys standing at a table near the front, amused expressions on their faces.
Devon and Rhys were unpleasant and downright cruel. They'd threatened me to keep me from playing kabash the previous year so they could go out with a championship, and done far worse to their little brother, Max. It now appeared they were in Xander's entourage.
"I wish I could hear what they're saying to Galfandor," Ambria said.
The headmaster's bushy eyebrows pinched into an angry V, but he remained still and calm even as Minister Quiff and her compatriots took turns talking.
"The first day of classes and you're already up to no good." Gideon Grace had approached us unseen from the side.
Max stiffened. "We weren't doing anything wrong, Professor."
"This gathering was mandatory." Grace stepped in front of me. "Where were you earlier?"
