Behind Locked Doors

Holgularad walked forward in a steadily pace holding the heavy package between his paws. Every now and then his snake tail whipped in the air and occasionally it ruffled some of his feathers. A small group of young apprentices walked by him and eyed him widely. Holgularad wondered if they still were amazed by him and his peers or if they just were surprised to see him this far into the Academy.

He smiled at them an flexed his wings a little and made the wind glimmer. The young apprentices smiled at him and greeted him. He answered calmly that it was a good day, but not a day to slack around he was afraid, he had to deliver this to the deep chambers before noon and it was a long journey even for one with wings. They excused him, somewhat disappointed but still with smiles on their faces and so he continued.

When Holgularad reached the deep chamber one of the Masters and one of the Deep Stockroom Clerks was waiting together with a dozen of the Magic Guard. Holgularad fell down on his knees and held up the heavy package before the Master.

“Good job, Holgularad. You can fly back to your nest and have a treat. And if you like you can take a long flight over the ocean with the dragons,” the Master said. Holgularad felt enormously proud. The Master was very pleased, he had done well and he had received two rewards. As he swelled with pride and gratefulness he let out a beautiful cry of appreciation for the Master, and the master smiled at him. He was so filled with happiness for this glorious, wonderful day and threw himself out into the darkness and flew towards the surface as fast as he could, almost bursting of joy.

***

Ean looked after the Nerogat as he flew up towards the surface, doing volts loops as he flew higher in the air. He could never understand the childish happiness they got from only performing a task well done. In some senses Nerogats were like dogs but in other senses there were more like five year olds trying their best to please their parents. He shook his head and smiled and turned around towards the rest. He gesticulated for the guards to take up the heavy chest and turned to the clerk.

“This oracle is special so you cannot keep it with the others. We fear that this might be an evil oracle or at least tainted. Nobody under level nine is allowed to study it or even see it, is that clear?” he said looking the clerk in the eyes.

“So in the books, shall I categorize this as our forth Oracle on this date or shall I categorize it as something else?” he asked and looked down confusedly in his book.

“It doesn’t matter as long as the book is sealed to the ninth level. This object is dangerous and might be an instrument of evil, we cannot let people know where it is, but it’s inevitable that people will know it exist if not in which form,” he answered and turned around. The guard would take the rest from here, he was no longer needed and the clerk seemed to know what to do.

***

“Is it done?”

“It is done,” Gerald said. His face looking like he hadn’t had too much sleep lately.

“So give me a summary report,” he said looking at the exhausted Trimage.

“Violet and Tergan have been comprehended for a scheme to usurp Magicka, possibly Magun. They both deny the fact, but it’s impossible to prove either way. Tergan have been sentenced to imprisonment within his chambers until Magun have reviewed his case, where he possibly will be sent to the Xangan for eternal punishment. Violet has been imprisoned on Tetra in the research facility for the Magical Mutants where her demonic nature is being researched by a team of scientists. Her accomplice and possible victim “Ace” is helping with the research in exchange for his freedom. It seems that this “Ace” is or rather was, expelled from Hospita in Aguin thus having more extensive knowledge of healing than anyone outside of Aguin and can be of great help in the research. Sophia has been rewarded for her courage and her request to honour the fallen warrior Devon has been accepted. He has had a formal service with the guard and the high rank mages down in Taraien.

“Keep it short, will you Gerald. I don’t have all day. I wanted a summary,” he said annoyed.

“I’m sorry, I’ll try to sum up the rest in a better way. After Violet’s interrogation we have been given what we believe is everything of her and Mike’s research of this Macabre and have stored it away in the Deep Stockrooms under seal nine together with the oracle, the golden rod of life and death and the twisted golden crown which effect is unknown. All that know of this expedition, Violet and everything has been taken care of and after Violet’s formal appearances are Meno her father has disowned her. He has not withdrawn his support yet however which is what Magun most likely will take into calculation when sentencing Tergan. The lost apprentice Simon has been, on his own request, memory sealed and sent back to Katia and we are still in pursuit of this so called Jake who mysteriously disappeared, but we believe that he was killed by the two assassins working with Violet.

“What about the man, Erion?”

“He is on the research facility with Violet. It seems that they somehow have mixed their souls together in an inseparable bond. It also seems that Erion has been tricked into giving up his manhood as Violet gave up her womanhood in this quest for the artifacts. The second assassin have been traced, but only to discover that Fagun somehow have infiltrated our transports and taken cover as Marjuls in Kaaba. We dare not approach them right now without risking conflict with Fagun.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. May I ask what the orders are when it comes to Violet?”

“Make sure most people believe that she is dead or up for execution and then, let the researchers have her until the figure out how she has become a demonic spawn without being infected by a demon. Then after that she will most likely be executed or send to the Xangan with Tergan. After you’ve done this, you can return to Taraien and make sure that everything is going according to plan.”

“As you command Master Mage Ian.”

And so Gerald left the room.