"It's sooo boring." Zenith said as she looked out the window. "Of course, I am famous and all that, but there's just no excitement in my life you know... sigh, I am at my worst."
"'And worst I may be yet. The worst is not so long as you can say This is the worst' Grand Masters Zenith and Lenith..." a creepy voice spoke from behind Zenith.
Startled, Zenith looked back--it was Lebrante in his red coat, his eyes were wandering astray as usual. "Oh my, I did not even hear you enter, what beckons you here professor?" Zenith quickly stood poised and collected.
"Well, I have completed the small task you have given me, the translation of that Sindarin text! It was quite something, you would want to hear this oh Grand Master Zenith... oh yes and Grand Master Lenith, not to ignore you or anything, he he." Lebrante's eyes wandered across the room aimlessly, making Zenith somewhat dizzy.
"Don't worry about... Lenith, she is ill and can't speak, do go on, and tell me what you have found professor." Zenith took out her spectacle and lifted it onto her right eye as she peered into the book that Lebrante spread on her table.
"Look here milady," Lebrante pointed at a diagram that looked like a map with a tree at the center. "You comprehend Sindarin milady?"
"It's all Aronian to me, but I understand some of it... Nuncieo Ende Towayo... what does that mean professor?"
Lebrante's face lit up with excitement as she shifted to Zenith's side, he pointed at the words in question and said enthusiastically, "That is the incredible part, this is phonetic elfin transliterated to Sindarin. Nuncieo Ende Towayo is an elfin city that existed on a huge tree, and according to this book, this tree is the "Tree of Solidarity."
"Professor, you don't say... then you mean Muse is...?" Zenith knew the answer already, but acted dumb.
"Milady, the Tree of Solidarity once stood on Jowston Hill. It was where the great General Jowston defeated an invasion by Highland 153 years ago! According to this book, a Sindarin city lies beneath what we now call 'Muse'!" Lebrante's eyes bulged as he said 'Muse,' and his speech became interrupted with saliva in his mouth.
"A Sindarin city under Muse?? Does it say how we could enter?"
"Of course milady, here, I will show you, I have it all figured out!
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(Scene changes to Huan's clinic)
"Here it is Doctor, we appreciate your help in this matter," a Muse official said as he game Huan a bag filled with potch.
"No no no, it is my pleasure to be able to help my fellow citizens, I am just doing my duty," Huan said as he smiled.
"Indeed you are a model citizen Doctor, we ought to build a statue of yours in our city hall!"
"You flatter me, please send my greetings to Lady Annabelle, I am always willing to aid Muse in whatever manner, it gets quite boring being a doctor you know!" Huan joked with a smile.
"I will be sure to tell that to the mayor, Doctor Huan. Now if you will excuse me I must get back to the city hall." The man left the clinic.
Huan closed the door after the official left. He took the bag and emptied it on a table in his living room. Wads of potch piled up on the table--totaling 2 million potch. Huan sat on a nearby sofa, tired from exchanging formalities with the official. He slunk in the chair as he stared at the potch.
Huan heard some noise from the basement, he knew it was Gretchen conducting some experiments on a dead dog she found outside. "Might as well help my apprentice..." Huan spoke to himself as he trudged down the staircase.
As Huan walked downstairs, he heard Gretchen growling--
"You have one tough sets of ligaments old puppy!" She said while it appeared like she was pulling the poor dead dog apart.
Huan rushed down, "wait a minute Gretchen, what are you trying to do here?" Huan quickly rushed to Gretchen's side and took a look at the dead dog. It was a complete mess.
"Doctor I was just trying to..." Gretchen looked over her shoulder and turned back at Huan.
"I see... and what was the premise of your vivisection Gretchen?"
"I was trying to locate the spleen, master." Gretchen replied shamefully.
Huan looked at Gretchen, her apron was covered with blood, and he even saw some blood on her face. "Gretchen, do not move, just stay still."
Huan took a clean towel out of a cabinet, he looked at Gretchen earnestly and said, "Now, do not move--at all--Gretchen."
Gretchen didn't even nod. Huan carefully wiped the blood off of Gretchen's face. His pinky finger touched her lips while he wiped the blood--Gretchen was startled, no man has ever touched her lips. "There, now go wash your face with disinfectant. Have I not told you to make sure you draw the blood out of specimens before you perform vivisection? What if that dog had some disease, you could have been infected! Then where could I possibly find an apprentice to replace you Gretchen, now, go disinfect yourself." Huan said with a slight smile. Gretchen was surprised that Huan smiled at her, and even showed that he cared about her well-being. "You actually care about me master?" Gretchen thought out loud, and immediately regretted it as her pale cheeks blushed. "Of course, you are my apprentice. You are more precious to me than any other living human being. Now, lets go wash your face shall we, and leave that bloody apron in the laundry basket." Gretchen was startled as Huan abruptly undid her apron and threw it in the laundry basket for lab clothes.
"What are you waiting for, up the stars now, we will clean the dog up later." Huan said with laughter in his voice.
Gretchen was dumbstruck, she thought "'more precious to me than any other living human being'? Is this a confession of love?? From the number one doctor of all Jowston? And I just let him take my apron off!" Gretchen quickly ran upstairs and rushed towards where the disinfectant was kept, she didn't want Huan to see her red face. However, as she rushed--
"Whoa!" a male voice said as Gretchen rammed into whomever it was. Gretchen screamed as she bounced off.
"What are you doing here Master Gretchen," it was Lorentz. He gazed at Gretchen with his deep-set eyes from beyond the darkness of his hood.
"Ah, Master Lorentz, it's good of you to come," Huan appeared from the staircase. "What brings you here at this time of day?"
"Huan, it's still early afternoon for your information. Anyhow, the Grand Master wishes to see you. It's about the Sindarin text you've brought in, come on, let's see what it says in there. It's rare that the Grand Master herself to take interest in these things." Huan noted that Lorentz's speech was forceful at the beginning, but trailed off weakly towards the end--as always.
"Oh yes, Gretchen, hurry up and disinfect yourself. I have to do some business with Master Lorentz here..." Huan said without even looking back at Gretchen.
"Yes master" Gretchen said cheerfully as she disappeared into the doorway.
Lorentz immediately came close to Huan and whispered, "You make her call you master!? What is wrong with you, she is a rune master just like myself you know."
"She is my apprentice, Lorentz. Now, what was it about those Sindarin texts?" Huan said as he looked away from Lorentz.
"I mean, she has some research to do herself, being a rune master and all, you know." Lorentz said.
"Lorentz, I did not ask her to be my apprentice. Why don't you ask your questions to her instead." Huan said as he walked towards the stairs leading up. "If that is all you have to say, please pardon me Lorentz, but I need to get some rest."
"Wait a minute, you just have to meet Grand Master Zenith, she'll get all angry at me if I don't get you there," Lorentz whined.
Huan looked back at Lorentz, "What does she want with me, I though she disliked all those that practice medicine or any of the arts derived from alchemy."
"Well," Lorentz paused, "Lebrante finished deciphering the Sindarin text you brought in, and apparently the Grand Master found something interesting within, she said it spoke of the 'Summa Medicina.'"
"Okay, I will visit after I clean up the mess downstairs. See you then, Lorentz." Huan disappeared as he walked upstairs.
Lorentz muttered to himself, "he could be such an ass..." and left towards the entrance. Gretchen came out from one of the rooms of the clinic as he was about to leave.
"Oh, Master Lorentz, you are leaving already? Your business with Master Huan is done?" Gretchen asked.
Lorentz stared at her from beyond his hood, watching Gretchen's face's that has just been washed--her skin was flushed and moist. He didn't utter a word, and Gretchen wasn't quite able to see Lorentz's face, but uttered uncomfortably, "A.. are you well, Master Lorentz?"
Lorentz suddenly started speaking, "The Trismegistic Council may not like what you are doing, Master Gretchen. Delving into any of the sub-alchemic arts is considered a minor ethos violation of the 'Runic Code." He proceeded to exit the clinic, "I would be weary if I were you."
"Oh, Master Lorentz, thanks for worrying, but this is all a part of my research of the healing rune. Would you like to hear what I found out? I was going back to the shop anyways, so I would appreciate it if you would listen and give me some feedback on the way!" Gretchen said in an overly cheerful tone.
Lorentz was disconcerted by Gretchen's unpredictable reply to his direct criticism of Gretchen's behavior as a Rune Master, but nevertheless he replied, "Of course, I would be interested to hear your progress, Master Gretchen."
"Thank you Master Lorentz!" Gretchen exclaimed, "Let me go get my things... oh yes, and please don't call me 'Master Gretchen,' my name will just do fine!" Gretchen took off downstairs.
Lorentz waited nervously as he shuffled around, adjusting his hood and robe. After a while he heard footsteps running from downstairs and Gretchen appeared. "Sorry to keep you waiting Master Lorentz," Gretchen said as she smiled.
The two were about to leave when Gretchen suddenly screamed, "Oh yes! I was about to forget. Master Huan!!! Maaaaster Huaaaan!!" Gretchen yelled upstairs.
"What!!" Huan's voice echoed back angrily.
"I finished cleaning the puppy dog!!" Gretchen screamed.
"Good!!" Huan's voice yelled back.
"Okay, let's go Master Lorentz." The two left the clinic.
Upstairs, Huan was adding an entry into his Diary--
"The 'Summa Medicina,' who would have thought it would be so close, literally under my feet. The compendium of the highest Sindarin medical knowledge. If I acquire such knowledge, I could surely surpass that old bastard Liukan, and prove to him that his "medical ethics' is all just a bunch of antiquated dogmatism." Huan closed his diary as he wrote that, and prepared to leave the clinic to head to the Rune shop.
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(Scene changes to the Muse Rune Shop)
Huan entered the rune shop and was immediately greeted by Gretchen, "Hello again master, please follow me, the Grand Master is waiting upstairs in her lab."
Huan has never gone into Zenith's personal lab, so he was curious what it was like. He didn't like Zenith himself because she seemed haughty and full of herself for being a Grand Master, but he also knew that she was highly skilled. Huan nodded at Gretchen and followed her upstairs.
"The Grand Master is quite excited with this find, I have never seen her so excited before!" Gretchen said as the two of them ascended the steps.
"The book must be quite something for 'Her Holiness" to be so elated," Huan said sarcastically. Gretchen laughed at that remark and the two soon arrived at Zenith's lab.
"Well, go on in master, she wants to have a word with you in private. Please behave!" Gretchen went back downstairs.
A voice spoke from beyond the lab's door, "Enter, doctor." It was the voice of Zenith.
Huan opened the steel-framed door, which creaked loudly as he opened it. He was immediately surprised at how dark the room was, lit by only one candle. It seemed as if the walls were painted black or covered with soot. This gave the room an impression of having no walls--a space of complete void with one single candle in the midst.
"Do close the door, doctor." Zenith's voice echoed from beyond the darkness.
Huan close the door and proceeded towards the center. "So, what is it that the Grand Mistress wishes to have with me?"
"Grand MASTER, doctor, not Grand Mistress. The trade of runemasterey does not differentiate between genders." Zenith replied, annoyed.
"That is good news, oh Grand MASTER. I would have expected your antiquated institution to be practicing a more tried and tested social protocol." Huan answered back at the darkness.
"The conflict between the runic trade and the alchemical arts is ancient in root, but no need to hide yourself in such pointless ancient disagreements, Huan." Zenith said as she appeared from the darkness. She walked towards the candle, the light sparkling off of her mysterious purple gaze. "I am well aware that you are willing to go beyond the confines of the medical arts."
"You mean this," Huan removed his gloves and raised his left hand towards the candle, showing his Plague Rune to Zenith.
"Indeed Huan, you are an interesting patron of our trade, and of course, we are also a patron of your trade. I approved Gretchen to take part in your experiments. I know what you are Huan..." a wry smile lingered on Zenith's lips.
Huan replied unemotionally, "So you have summoned me to threaten me? Typical of your kind."
"The threat is just an appetizer for the main dish to come, Huan. I need your help. The tome you brought in--it contained a surprising find, a Sindar ruin lies beneath our beloved Muse... and hidden within those ruins is the..." Zenith paused and approached Huan. Huan watched Zenith as her face came closer to his, Zenith then whispered into Huan's ear--"Summa Medicina..."
"Yes, Lorentz has filled me in. The tome of highest Sindarin medical knowledge. I am interested, but what makes you interested, your holiness?"
"Have you ever heard of the 'Runechilde?' Of course you have... That's my research Huan, so you could figure out the rest, doctor," Zenith's cold whisper lingered in Huan's ears as she walked back behind the candle.
"I see, you want to unravel the mystery of the Runechilde--those who are born with runes already attached to their body. And I presume you will need my 'willing cooperation' as well?" Huan put an obviously false smile on his face.
"More than that, Huan. Your medical knowledge is superb, it may even surpass your old mentor. But your knowledge of rune mastery makes you dangerous, especially with that odd rune of yours! You will become my apprentice, Huan." Zenith stared directly into Huan's eyes--her purple eyes seemed to gleam from within as if attempting to capture Huan's soul with its allure.
"And if I say no?" Huan replied with a snicker on his face.
"I'll report how you've killed and poisoned your patients in the past in the name of advancing your own knowledge of medicine, which would probably land you in prison for... oh lets say... life? They may just as well drag you to the scaffold!" Zenith let out an annoying laughter--almost a cackle.
Huan stood in contemplation, "As long as you don't expect me to grovel at your feet like Lorentz does all the time, I'll accept."
"Good then... kneel in front of the candle as I initiate you into the ranks of rune masters." Huan sighed and walked towards the candle, where he knelt down.
"By the authority vested in me by the Trismegistic Council, I confer upon you the title of Rune Master, Honoris Causa!" A ray of light from Zenith's palm struck Huan's forehead, taking the form of the Rune of Melding.
Huan stood up and asked with an expression of confusion, "I thought an apprentice starts from the rank of 'Novice,' and had to work his way up a few tires before becoming a 'Master?' "
"That is why you were conferred your title 'Honoris Causa'--By Cause of Honor. You've already contributed enough to the trade of runemastery to skip all the unnecessary tiers. I hope not having to go through 5 years of rune master training in Greenhill doesn't disappoint you, Master Huan!" Zenith said with a chuckle.
Huan laughed with Zenith, "So, was Lorentz and Gretchen all a part of your plot?"
"Well..." Zenith paused, "As you know, Lorentz is rather weak-willed. As for Gretchen, she knows nothing."
"I see, well, so when do we leave to explore these so-called 'Sindar ruins?'"
"Soon Huan, now lets go tell everyone the good news!" Zenith beckoned Huan to follow her out of the room.
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(Scene moves to the Rune Shop's Sitting Room, Zenith, Gretchen, Lorentz, Huan, and Lebrante are sitting around a low table, where the Sindarin Tome is opened on).
"'Master Huan' is now Master Huan!? That is great!" Gretchen said.
"Congratulations Huan, heh" Lorentz said sarcastically.
Lebrante's eyes were wandering as usual.
"That was good news #1, good news #2 is that we're going on a group picnic to the Sindar ruins under Muse." Zenith stated. "We're all going, and I hired a mercenary because the ruin is supposedly 'infested.'" We will meet the mercenary tomorrow at the Muse gates, so prepare yourselves for adventure by tomorrow. Any questions?"
"So... the fighting will be left up to the mercenary?" Lorentz asked.
"Of course not, we all fight, Master Lorentz. In fact, I want you to be on the front row. You'll be given a 'robe of healing' that Master Gretchen made as a part of her research." Zenith replied callously.
Gretchen cheerfully added, "Thanks for volunteering to help me with my research Master Lorentz!"
Lorentz uttered, "Yeah... I did agree to 'help' but I didn't kno..."
Lebrante suddenly shrieked, "Will I be allowed to be on the front row as well, miladies?"
Zenith looked at Lebrante, puzzled, "If you insist professor, are you sure?"
"Oh of course miladies, I have a few weapons that need some 'direct appraisal!'" Lebrante said, his eyes ever wandering."
"Okay then, Master Gretchen, Master Huan, and myself will be in the back row, we will leave early tomorrow, so get prepared. The meeting is over if there are no other questions." Zenith looked around at each face.
"Who is this mercenary you are hiring?" Huan asked.
"A highly experienced kobold warrior. I haven't met him myself, but I hear that he is 'swift as a white-water gorge and has the spirit of fire' so he shouldn't be disappointing."
"A kobold eh, always a good specimen..." Huan muttered inaudibly to the others.
Lorentz shifted over and whispered to Huan, "You're not thinking of performing a field vivisection after the mercenary dies in battle are you?"
"More likely, the vivisection will be done on you, front-row warrior. Oh, and thanks for the new career," Huan whispered back.
"Well, good night to everyone then, dismissed!" Zenith said. Lebrante and Gretchen left to their quarters saying their goodnights.
"Hey Huan, you're not angry are you?" Lorentz asked.
"Angry? Just because I was blackmailed into taking up a new career to become an apprentice to that witch because you were being a 'good boy' to her? Of course not Lorentz! Actually, this may work out just perfect... just perfect," an evil smile formed at Huan's lips.
"Uh hum, I actually am right here Master Huan," Zenith's voice spoke from behind Huan.
"Oh, Grand Master, I didn't even notice. If you would excuse me I must retire to my chambers," Huan said with mock politeness.
"Wait, Master Huan. I have a gift for you, follow me," Zenith walked upstairs. "Oh yes and Lorentz, have professor Lebrante give you a good weapon for tomorrow. You will need it!"
"Yes Grand Master..." Lorentz replied in a surrendering tone.
Huan followed Zenith to her lab. Zenith was silent as a she lead Huan to her lab. As the two entered the lab, Zenith spoke, "You have heard of rune affinities before, Master Huan?"
Huan replied, "I believe it is a part of your superstition that some humans are born with innate affinities to certain runes."
Zenith chuckled, "You have much to learn, apprentice. It is a fact that each and every person--and all other things in this universe--possess innate affinities to certain runes." Zenith raised her palm towards Huan in a gesture for Huan to "stop" she continued onward and disappeared into the darkness.
"Your mind is transparent. I could see into you as if you are made of crystal. Are you aware of your own affinity Huan?" Zenith's voice echoed from within the darkness.
Huan stood silently. Zenith appeared from the darkness with a rune crystal held in her hand, the crystal gave off a faint blue glow as candlelight illuminated its semi-opaque surface. "This is my gift, a rune of your highest affinity," Zenith said as she held the crystal out to Huan.
Huan took the crystal in his hand, the crystal was the size of an average adult fist, within it loomed an image of a scythe. Zenith explained, "That is the darkness rune, a rune within the line of the Rune of Life and Death. How fitting for a doctor to possess that rune, now, use your rune of melding, make it a part of you Huan."
Huan chuckled, "indeed, how ironic." Huan then proceeded to use his rune of melding to attach the darkness rune to his forehead.
"'And worst I may be yet. The worst is not so long as you can say This is the worst' Grand Masters Zenith and Lenith..." a creepy voice spoke from behind Zenith.
Startled, Zenith looked back--it was Lebrante in his red coat, his eyes were wandering astray as usual. "Oh my, I did not even hear you enter, what beckons you here professor?" Zenith quickly stood poised and collected.
"Well, I have completed the small task you have given me, the translation of that Sindarin text! It was quite something, you would want to hear this oh Grand Master Zenith... oh yes and Grand Master Lenith, not to ignore you or anything, he he." Lebrante's eyes wandered across the room aimlessly, making Zenith somewhat dizzy.
"Don't worry about... Lenith, she is ill and can't speak, do go on, and tell me what you have found professor." Zenith took out her spectacle and lifted it onto her right eye as she peered into the book that Lebrante spread on her table.
"Look here milady," Lebrante pointed at a diagram that looked like a map with a tree at the center. "You comprehend Sindarin milady?"
"It's all Aronian to me, but I understand some of it... Nuncieo Ende Towayo... what does that mean professor?"
Lebrante's face lit up with excitement as she shifted to Zenith's side, he pointed at the words in question and said enthusiastically, "That is the incredible part, this is phonetic elfin transliterated to Sindarin. Nuncieo Ende Towayo is an elfin city that existed on a huge tree, and according to this book, this tree is the "Tree of Solidarity."
"Professor, you don't say... then you mean Muse is...?" Zenith knew the answer already, but acted dumb.
"Milady, the Tree of Solidarity once stood on Jowston Hill. It was where the great General Jowston defeated an invasion by Highland 153 years ago! According to this book, a Sindarin city lies beneath what we now call 'Muse'!" Lebrante's eyes bulged as he said 'Muse,' and his speech became interrupted with saliva in his mouth.
"A Sindarin city under Muse?? Does it say how we could enter?"
"Of course milady, here, I will show you, I have it all figured out!
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(Scene changes to Huan's clinic)
"Here it is Doctor, we appreciate your help in this matter," a Muse official said as he game Huan a bag filled with potch.
"No no no, it is my pleasure to be able to help my fellow citizens, I am just doing my duty," Huan said as he smiled.
"Indeed you are a model citizen Doctor, we ought to build a statue of yours in our city hall!"
"You flatter me, please send my greetings to Lady Annabelle, I am always willing to aid Muse in whatever manner, it gets quite boring being a doctor you know!" Huan joked with a smile.
"I will be sure to tell that to the mayor, Doctor Huan. Now if you will excuse me I must get back to the city hall." The man left the clinic.
Huan closed the door after the official left. He took the bag and emptied it on a table in his living room. Wads of potch piled up on the table--totaling 2 million potch. Huan sat on a nearby sofa, tired from exchanging formalities with the official. He slunk in the chair as he stared at the potch.
Huan heard some noise from the basement, he knew it was Gretchen conducting some experiments on a dead dog she found outside. "Might as well help my apprentice..." Huan spoke to himself as he trudged down the staircase.
As Huan walked downstairs, he heard Gretchen growling--
"You have one tough sets of ligaments old puppy!" She said while it appeared like she was pulling the poor dead dog apart.
Huan rushed down, "wait a minute Gretchen, what are you trying to do here?" Huan quickly rushed to Gretchen's side and took a look at the dead dog. It was a complete mess.
"Doctor I was just trying to..." Gretchen looked over her shoulder and turned back at Huan.
"I see... and what was the premise of your vivisection Gretchen?"
"I was trying to locate the spleen, master." Gretchen replied shamefully.
Huan looked at Gretchen, her apron was covered with blood, and he even saw some blood on her face. "Gretchen, do not move, just stay still."
Huan took a clean towel out of a cabinet, he looked at Gretchen earnestly and said, "Now, do not move--at all--Gretchen."
Gretchen didn't even nod. Huan carefully wiped the blood off of Gretchen's face. His pinky finger touched her lips while he wiped the blood--Gretchen was startled, no man has ever touched her lips. "There, now go wash your face with disinfectant. Have I not told you to make sure you draw the blood out of specimens before you perform vivisection? What if that dog had some disease, you could have been infected! Then where could I possibly find an apprentice to replace you Gretchen, now, go disinfect yourself." Huan said with a slight smile. Gretchen was surprised that Huan smiled at her, and even showed that he cared about her well-being. "You actually care about me master?" Gretchen thought out loud, and immediately regretted it as her pale cheeks blushed. "Of course, you are my apprentice. You are more precious to me than any other living human being. Now, lets go wash your face shall we, and leave that bloody apron in the laundry basket." Gretchen was startled as Huan abruptly undid her apron and threw it in the laundry basket for lab clothes.
"What are you waiting for, up the stars now, we will clean the dog up later." Huan said with laughter in his voice.
Gretchen was dumbstruck, she thought "'more precious to me than any other living human being'? Is this a confession of love?? From the number one doctor of all Jowston? And I just let him take my apron off!" Gretchen quickly ran upstairs and rushed towards where the disinfectant was kept, she didn't want Huan to see her red face. However, as she rushed--
"Whoa!" a male voice said as Gretchen rammed into whomever it was. Gretchen screamed as she bounced off.
"What are you doing here Master Gretchen," it was Lorentz. He gazed at Gretchen with his deep-set eyes from beyond the darkness of his hood.
"Ah, Master Lorentz, it's good of you to come," Huan appeared from the staircase. "What brings you here at this time of day?"
"Huan, it's still early afternoon for your information. Anyhow, the Grand Master wishes to see you. It's about the Sindarin text you've brought in, come on, let's see what it says in there. It's rare that the Grand Master herself to take interest in these things." Huan noted that Lorentz's speech was forceful at the beginning, but trailed off weakly towards the end--as always.
"Oh yes, Gretchen, hurry up and disinfect yourself. I have to do some business with Master Lorentz here..." Huan said without even looking back at Gretchen.
"Yes master" Gretchen said cheerfully as she disappeared into the doorway.
Lorentz immediately came close to Huan and whispered, "You make her call you master!? What is wrong with you, she is a rune master just like myself you know."
"She is my apprentice, Lorentz. Now, what was it about those Sindarin texts?" Huan said as he looked away from Lorentz.
"I mean, she has some research to do herself, being a rune master and all, you know." Lorentz said.
"Lorentz, I did not ask her to be my apprentice. Why don't you ask your questions to her instead." Huan said as he walked towards the stairs leading up. "If that is all you have to say, please pardon me Lorentz, but I need to get some rest."
"Wait a minute, you just have to meet Grand Master Zenith, she'll get all angry at me if I don't get you there," Lorentz whined.
Huan looked back at Lorentz, "What does she want with me, I though she disliked all those that practice medicine or any of the arts derived from alchemy."
"Well," Lorentz paused, "Lebrante finished deciphering the Sindarin text you brought in, and apparently the Grand Master found something interesting within, she said it spoke of the 'Summa Medicina.'"
"Okay, I will visit after I clean up the mess downstairs. See you then, Lorentz." Huan disappeared as he walked upstairs.
Lorentz muttered to himself, "he could be such an ass..." and left towards the entrance. Gretchen came out from one of the rooms of the clinic as he was about to leave.
"Oh, Master Lorentz, you are leaving already? Your business with Master Huan is done?" Gretchen asked.
Lorentz stared at her from beyond his hood, watching Gretchen's face's that has just been washed--her skin was flushed and moist. He didn't utter a word, and Gretchen wasn't quite able to see Lorentz's face, but uttered uncomfortably, "A.. are you well, Master Lorentz?"
Lorentz suddenly started speaking, "The Trismegistic Council may not like what you are doing, Master Gretchen. Delving into any of the sub-alchemic arts is considered a minor ethos violation of the 'Runic Code." He proceeded to exit the clinic, "I would be weary if I were you."
"Oh, Master Lorentz, thanks for worrying, but this is all a part of my research of the healing rune. Would you like to hear what I found out? I was going back to the shop anyways, so I would appreciate it if you would listen and give me some feedback on the way!" Gretchen said in an overly cheerful tone.
Lorentz was disconcerted by Gretchen's unpredictable reply to his direct criticism of Gretchen's behavior as a Rune Master, but nevertheless he replied, "Of course, I would be interested to hear your progress, Master Gretchen."
"Thank you Master Lorentz!" Gretchen exclaimed, "Let me go get my things... oh yes, and please don't call me 'Master Gretchen,' my name will just do fine!" Gretchen took off downstairs.
Lorentz waited nervously as he shuffled around, adjusting his hood and robe. After a while he heard footsteps running from downstairs and Gretchen appeared. "Sorry to keep you waiting Master Lorentz," Gretchen said as she smiled.
The two were about to leave when Gretchen suddenly screamed, "Oh yes! I was about to forget. Master Huan!!! Maaaaster Huaaaan!!" Gretchen yelled upstairs.
"What!!" Huan's voice echoed back angrily.
"I finished cleaning the puppy dog!!" Gretchen screamed.
"Good!!" Huan's voice yelled back.
"Okay, let's go Master Lorentz." The two left the clinic.
Upstairs, Huan was adding an entry into his Diary--
"The 'Summa Medicina,' who would have thought it would be so close, literally under my feet. The compendium of the highest Sindarin medical knowledge. If I acquire such knowledge, I could surely surpass that old bastard Liukan, and prove to him that his "medical ethics' is all just a bunch of antiquated dogmatism." Huan closed his diary as he wrote that, and prepared to leave the clinic to head to the Rune shop.
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(Scene changes to the Muse Rune Shop)
Huan entered the rune shop and was immediately greeted by Gretchen, "Hello again master, please follow me, the Grand Master is waiting upstairs in her lab."
Huan has never gone into Zenith's personal lab, so he was curious what it was like. He didn't like Zenith himself because she seemed haughty and full of herself for being a Grand Master, but he also knew that she was highly skilled. Huan nodded at Gretchen and followed her upstairs.
"The Grand Master is quite excited with this find, I have never seen her so excited before!" Gretchen said as the two of them ascended the steps.
"The book must be quite something for 'Her Holiness" to be so elated," Huan said sarcastically. Gretchen laughed at that remark and the two soon arrived at Zenith's lab.
"Well, go on in master, she wants to have a word with you in private. Please behave!" Gretchen went back downstairs.
A voice spoke from beyond the lab's door, "Enter, doctor." It was the voice of Zenith.
Huan opened the steel-framed door, which creaked loudly as he opened it. He was immediately surprised at how dark the room was, lit by only one candle. It seemed as if the walls were painted black or covered with soot. This gave the room an impression of having no walls--a space of complete void with one single candle in the midst.
"Do close the door, doctor." Zenith's voice echoed from beyond the darkness.
Huan close the door and proceeded towards the center. "So, what is it that the Grand Mistress wishes to have with me?"
"Grand MASTER, doctor, not Grand Mistress. The trade of runemasterey does not differentiate between genders." Zenith replied, annoyed.
"That is good news, oh Grand MASTER. I would have expected your antiquated institution to be practicing a more tried and tested social protocol." Huan answered back at the darkness.
"The conflict between the runic trade and the alchemical arts is ancient in root, but no need to hide yourself in such pointless ancient disagreements, Huan." Zenith said as she appeared from the darkness. She walked towards the candle, the light sparkling off of her mysterious purple gaze. "I am well aware that you are willing to go beyond the confines of the medical arts."
"You mean this," Huan removed his gloves and raised his left hand towards the candle, showing his Plague Rune to Zenith.
"Indeed Huan, you are an interesting patron of our trade, and of course, we are also a patron of your trade. I approved Gretchen to take part in your experiments. I know what you are Huan..." a wry smile lingered on Zenith's lips.
Huan replied unemotionally, "So you have summoned me to threaten me? Typical of your kind."
"The threat is just an appetizer for the main dish to come, Huan. I need your help. The tome you brought in--it contained a surprising find, a Sindar ruin lies beneath our beloved Muse... and hidden within those ruins is the..." Zenith paused and approached Huan. Huan watched Zenith as her face came closer to his, Zenith then whispered into Huan's ear--"Summa Medicina..."
"Yes, Lorentz has filled me in. The tome of highest Sindarin medical knowledge. I am interested, but what makes you interested, your holiness?"
"Have you ever heard of the 'Runechilde?' Of course you have... That's my research Huan, so you could figure out the rest, doctor," Zenith's cold whisper lingered in Huan's ears as she walked back behind the candle.
"I see, you want to unravel the mystery of the Runechilde--those who are born with runes already attached to their body. And I presume you will need my 'willing cooperation' as well?" Huan put an obviously false smile on his face.
"More than that, Huan. Your medical knowledge is superb, it may even surpass your old mentor. But your knowledge of rune mastery makes you dangerous, especially with that odd rune of yours! You will become my apprentice, Huan." Zenith stared directly into Huan's eyes--her purple eyes seemed to gleam from within as if attempting to capture Huan's soul with its allure.
"And if I say no?" Huan replied with a snicker on his face.
"I'll report how you've killed and poisoned your patients in the past in the name of advancing your own knowledge of medicine, which would probably land you in prison for... oh lets say... life? They may just as well drag you to the scaffold!" Zenith let out an annoying laughter--almost a cackle.
Huan stood in contemplation, "As long as you don't expect me to grovel at your feet like Lorentz does all the time, I'll accept."
"Good then... kneel in front of the candle as I initiate you into the ranks of rune masters." Huan sighed and walked towards the candle, where he knelt down.
"By the authority vested in me by the Trismegistic Council, I confer upon you the title of Rune Master, Honoris Causa!" A ray of light from Zenith's palm struck Huan's forehead, taking the form of the Rune of Melding.
Huan stood up and asked with an expression of confusion, "I thought an apprentice starts from the rank of 'Novice,' and had to work his way up a few tires before becoming a 'Master?' "
"That is why you were conferred your title 'Honoris Causa'--By Cause of Honor. You've already contributed enough to the trade of runemastery to skip all the unnecessary tiers. I hope not having to go through 5 years of rune master training in Greenhill doesn't disappoint you, Master Huan!" Zenith said with a chuckle.
Huan laughed with Zenith, "So, was Lorentz and Gretchen all a part of your plot?"
"Well..." Zenith paused, "As you know, Lorentz is rather weak-willed. As for Gretchen, she knows nothing."
"I see, well, so when do we leave to explore these so-called 'Sindar ruins?'"
"Soon Huan, now lets go tell everyone the good news!" Zenith beckoned Huan to follow her out of the room.
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(Scene moves to the Rune Shop's Sitting Room, Zenith, Gretchen, Lorentz, Huan, and Lebrante are sitting around a low table, where the Sindarin Tome is opened on).
"'Master Huan' is now Master Huan!? That is great!" Gretchen said.
"Congratulations Huan, heh" Lorentz said sarcastically.
Lebrante's eyes were wandering as usual.
"That was good news #1, good news #2 is that we're going on a group picnic to the Sindar ruins under Muse." Zenith stated. "We're all going, and I hired a mercenary because the ruin is supposedly 'infested.'" We will meet the mercenary tomorrow at the Muse gates, so prepare yourselves for adventure by tomorrow. Any questions?"
"So... the fighting will be left up to the mercenary?" Lorentz asked.
"Of course not, we all fight, Master Lorentz. In fact, I want you to be on the front row. You'll be given a 'robe of healing' that Master Gretchen made as a part of her research." Zenith replied callously.
Gretchen cheerfully added, "Thanks for volunteering to help me with my research Master Lorentz!"
Lorentz uttered, "Yeah... I did agree to 'help' but I didn't kno..."
Lebrante suddenly shrieked, "Will I be allowed to be on the front row as well, miladies?"
Zenith looked at Lebrante, puzzled, "If you insist professor, are you sure?"
"Oh of course miladies, I have a few weapons that need some 'direct appraisal!'" Lebrante said, his eyes ever wandering."
"Okay then, Master Gretchen, Master Huan, and myself will be in the back row, we will leave early tomorrow, so get prepared. The meeting is over if there are no other questions." Zenith looked around at each face.
"Who is this mercenary you are hiring?" Huan asked.
"A highly experienced kobold warrior. I haven't met him myself, but I hear that he is 'swift as a white-water gorge and has the spirit of fire' so he shouldn't be disappointing."
"A kobold eh, always a good specimen..." Huan muttered inaudibly to the others.
Lorentz shifted over and whispered to Huan, "You're not thinking of performing a field vivisection after the mercenary dies in battle are you?"
"More likely, the vivisection will be done on you, front-row warrior. Oh, and thanks for the new career," Huan whispered back.
"Well, good night to everyone then, dismissed!" Zenith said. Lebrante and Gretchen left to their quarters saying their goodnights.
"Hey Huan, you're not angry are you?" Lorentz asked.
"Angry? Just because I was blackmailed into taking up a new career to become an apprentice to that witch because you were being a 'good boy' to her? Of course not Lorentz! Actually, this may work out just perfect... just perfect," an evil smile formed at Huan's lips.
"Uh hum, I actually am right here Master Huan," Zenith's voice spoke from behind Huan.
"Oh, Grand Master, I didn't even notice. If you would excuse me I must retire to my chambers," Huan said with mock politeness.
"Wait, Master Huan. I have a gift for you, follow me," Zenith walked upstairs. "Oh yes and Lorentz, have professor Lebrante give you a good weapon for tomorrow. You will need it!"
"Yes Grand Master..." Lorentz replied in a surrendering tone.
Huan followed Zenith to her lab. Zenith was silent as a she lead Huan to her lab. As the two entered the lab, Zenith spoke, "You have heard of rune affinities before, Master Huan?"
Huan replied, "I believe it is a part of your superstition that some humans are born with innate affinities to certain runes."
Zenith chuckled, "You have much to learn, apprentice. It is a fact that each and every person--and all other things in this universe--possess innate affinities to certain runes." Zenith raised her palm towards Huan in a gesture for Huan to "stop" she continued onward and disappeared into the darkness.
"Your mind is transparent. I could see into you as if you are made of crystal. Are you aware of your own affinity Huan?" Zenith's voice echoed from within the darkness.
Huan stood silently. Zenith appeared from the darkness with a rune crystal held in her hand, the crystal gave off a faint blue glow as candlelight illuminated its semi-opaque surface. "This is my gift, a rune of your highest affinity," Zenith said as she held the crystal out to Huan.
Huan took the crystal in his hand, the crystal was the size of an average adult fist, within it loomed an image of a scythe. Zenith explained, "That is the darkness rune, a rune within the line of the Rune of Life and Death. How fitting for a doctor to possess that rune, now, use your rune of melding, make it a part of you Huan."
Huan chuckled, "indeed, how ironic." Huan then proceeded to use his rune of melding to attach the darkness rune to his forehead.