To all those angrily pming me about 'story blue balls'. Here. Now hush you brats.

"Truthfully I...I just want to get better as a summoner.'' I responded to the man in front of me, my heart thudding painfully. Something about the way he was looking at me said he didn't trust my intentions. I supposed that made two of us. Before I could say anything more, instinct forced me to raise my hands, a small thin shield covering me. My eyes widened as flamed licked up the sides, disappearing just as the shield did. I suddenly felt weak.

"That was impressive.'' He said, his hand lowering. "Most in your 'division' would have tried to flash away from it.''

I swallowed hard, still shocked that I'd just prevented myself from being set alight. ''Thank...you.''

"Even still...that shield was weak. If you were faking it you're a damn good actor.''

"Faking...? Faking what...?''

He snapped his head towards me, looking, for a moment, as if I had just asked if magic exists. I froze, true fear racing up my spine. Had I said the wrong thing? Had that question cemented his suspicion of me? Did he think I was some sort of spy, pretending to be a weakling? My head swam with questions, starting to throb with an incoming headache. He held the gaze for a moment longer and I nearly felt my bladder give way. Something about him was so-

''Nothing...nothing never mind.'' He said, his voice holding the tiniest of chuckles as he seemed to relax.

I swallowed, noting how once again, the entire aura of the room felt light and gentle. Was he doing it somehow?

''I um...''

''You're new...you really shouldn't be here.'' He said, less distrusting and more dismissive. ''The library closes soon. You'd best be running along.''

''Hey maybe we could-''

''Run along.'' He repeated, his robe billowing as he turned his back to me. ''You've interrupted my studies enough.''

Run along? Where to? And why is he suddenly acting like such a jerk?

''I-''

''Look.'' He said. ''It's clear now you got in here by mistake. That makes you not worth my time. Get it?''

I felt all the blood in my body rush to my face as my hands clenched at my sides. It made perfect sense. Now that's it's confirmed I'm not a threat, he's no reason to waste formalities on me. I suddenly wondered if he was the reason no one wandered to sects of the library they weren't meant to go to.

''Just think real hard about your last location.'' He said, glancing back at me, not mentioning how flushed my cheeks had gotten. ''Or have you not even learned to teleport?''

''Are all diamond level summoners such jerks?'' I spat, my hands shaking as my dislike for confrontation surfaced.

His eyebrow arched, his eyes shifting to my hands. ''I don't owe you anything.''

''You could at least be a little nicer. Or pretend to be polite until I've left.''

''That's a lot of demands coming from someone who's shield mimics that of lux at level 2.''

My anger reached a momentary peak and with instinct guiding me as it had when I raised the shield, I extended my hand, a blaze swirling into a ball before shooting out towards him. I quickly pulled my hand back afterwards, gasping in shock at it's size. He jumped back as if expecting it, his robes swooshing as he seemed to disappear. The flame flew past where he has been standing and whooshed harmlessly against the bookshelf where it became no more. I looked around only to have a forearm firmly hooked around my neck. My anger gave way to fear as I heard his husky whisper in my ear.

''I knew you were no simple weakling. Who sent you?''

I clawed at his arm, unable to breathe. He tightened his hold.

''Who. Sent. You.''

''No...one...'' I forced out.

''Liar.''

''I...swear...!'' I could feel my head getting light. Why had I done something so stupid against someone obviously stronger than me?

''Fine then...I'll just have to evoke it forcibly.''

Forcibly? The word interrogation filled my head and and my fear grew ten fold. To my surprise, however, his free hand rested on my forehead. He chuckled.

''I knew you were just a good actor. And now I'm going to wipe your mind clean. Though...I'll need you knocked out if I want to get a proper reading before I do that. You understand...right?''

I couldn't breathe. Was he talking about my memory? My vision grew blurry. I could feel my eyes nearly popping from their sockets with the force of his hold. Just before my world faded to black, he began chanting a spell I'd never heard before.

''Now...let's see what these thoughts of yours have been hiding.''

'No...' I managed to think before my consciousness was no more.

When I awoke, I was stretched out on a chair, a cold cloth on my head. There was a blurry ceiling above me, and then a clear face. I groaned before closing my eyes again, my world fading to black for a second time. When I awoke again it was much easier to stay that way. I sat up, my head throbbing as soon as I did so.

''Oi. Take it easy.''

I looked across the room at the man who'd been with me all this time. The pen he'd been writing with clanged to the table as he rushed over to me. I held my head, a soft 'ugh' leaving my lips. A glass of water was held out to me. I accepted it silently, trying to remember why I had been there.

''My bad.''

At his words, the glass slipped from my fingers. I remembered everything.

''You really weren't a spy...and I went and used that spell on you.'' His voice was calm, his hand holding the glass that had nearly crashed to the ground.

It slowly dawned on me that this Diamond division summoner that I had never met, more powerful and intelligent than me in every way possible, had just used a spell to let him delve into the deepest bits of my memories and desires. He continued, ignoring me as I threw my hood up, my ears so hot I was tempted to grab them. Knowing some of the thoughts I'd had...it was absolutely mortifying.

''Summoner...I've gotta wonder some things.''

''Don't.''

''The Chain Warden?''

''I JUST woke up!'' I nearly shouted, my face heating even more.

''So drink something. Lower that hood and get comfortable.'' As he spoke, he held out the glass of un-spilled water. I couldn't believe what I was hearing as he leaned back and continued, his smile a twisted one that mimicked the sadism of the chain warden himself. ''We're going to be here a little while.''

''But you-''

''Saw everything.'' He finished for me with a nod. ''And now I want to hear it from the horses mouth.''

I stood, a bad idea given how dizzy I quickly got but I didn't care. Playing off my unease and mental fog, I turned my head away, my voice a direct mimic of his tone not long ago. ''I don't owe you anything.''

The air in the room tensed.

'It has to be his emotions doing it.' I thought, turning to look at him. I was met with a face of shock that once again shifted to that cocky composure.

''Fair enough.'' He said, his palms raising in momentary defeat. ''Fair enough... a trade then?''

''What?'' I asked, more in annoyance at his actions than actual curiosity.

He removed his medal from inside his hood, letting it sit there before speaking again. The pure diamond medal gleamed; clean and clear without a scratch. Just looking at it reminded me how little I had grown even in my years with the institute. I swallowed, a sudden feeling of inferiority coming over me.

''This gives me privileges you could only dream of. Tell me I'm wrong.''

I scoffed, my arms folding as he continued.

''I saw what you wanted. And I can help. But I need you to work with me. And I need to hear it from you directly.''

''Why?'' I forced out, exasperated.

''I delight in the power I have...even more so when someone else needs it.''

''So then you're just an asshole.'' I said, ''Who likes to feel powerful despite how strong he already is.''

He shrugged, a playful smile on his face. ''Call me what you will...I have something you need and the only way you'll get it is by indulging all my questions.''

I remained silent, my arms folded and my teeth clenched with irritation. 'Whatever he's offering can't be worth this.'

''Still not convinced?'' He asked after my moment of silence.

I didn't answer. There was no way I would give someone with so much privilege the satisfaction of having something he had to bride me to get. I took one step away from him, and then another. I counted ten before he spoke.

''I could send you to the rift for the night...let you have it to yourself.''

I froze in disbelief. He continued.

''We Diamonds are able to create our own games after hours. They're called 'Customs'. In them...we can summon any champion we wish and fight alongside...or against them for as much practice as we need. Of course since champions need their rest...there are limits to who we can summon on which days. However...''

My heart began to pound. I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say next.

''Luckily for you...the chain warden is available tonight. Can you imagine a darkened rift with just the two of you?''

My face grew annoyingly warm. When he spoke again he was right behind me.

''That at least...you don't have to answer. I saw how much you've imagined it.'' He leaned closer. ''And I can make it so.''

I didn't speak. He'd just revealed a secret known only to Diamonds, knowing that I could either take his deal, or leave and attempted to rise in ranks of the institute.

'I've been here for three years...'

Realistically, Diamond was a distant dream. He knew this; used it. But why? Why does he feel the need?

''What do you WANT from me?'' I snapped, on the verge of tears in my frustration.

He grabbed one shoulder, turned me, and raised my chin. ''To see your desire trump your pride. That's all.''

I could feel my bottom lip shaking as I stared into his golden eyes. This isn't fair. But 'life isn't fair' was the thought that quickly followed. Maybe that's what he truly wanted to show me. That there are those who exploit others and those who are exploited and that's all there is to it. Or maybe that those with power will do anything to feel they still have it. Maybe even that privilege truly does reward. Either way, I was helpless. Thoughts of Thresh entered my mind; thoughts of meeting him on the rift and having conversation. All of which had been mere fantasy's until today. He had just shown me my deepest desire's were obtainable, and was giving me a clear path to them. All I had to do was feed his ego.

''Fine...'' I muttered.

''Whaaat was that?''

''Fine! Whatever! You win.'' The irritation in my voice was apparent, but I couldn't help it. ''You want to hear I have feelings and thoughts about a sadistic wraith? Here they are!''

He froze, his face shifting with shock. My face nearly exploded with heat as I suddenly felt ridiculous for what I'd said. He then, however, smiled down at me with a sickeningly satisfied grin.

''Good. Now, take a seat.''