By the time three days had passed, the storm had finally abated, and the injured Blaise had sustained were all but memories, thanks to the healing powers of the sage. Grendel watched as Blaise purchased some of the wares that were common in Ellinia, to take back to Henesys with him. Grendel was pleased to see he had made a full recovery, but something was bothering him.
"Blaise, may I speak to you?" Grendel's voice caught the attention of the boy, who quickly finished his business and followed Grendel inside the library. Closing the door with a flick of his staff, Grendel faced the boy.
Bright green eyes looked upwards quizzically, wondering what the wise old magician wanted. With eyes attuned to seeing the potential inside of people, be it light or dark magic, Grendel had a talent for sensing budding wizards even before they had embarked down the path of a magi. And he could see that this boy had very high potential, for one so young. Given enough training, Grendel could see the boy would make a very fine mage.
"Tell me, what level are you?" Grendel's question startled Blaise, who's eyes widened before he quickly glanced to the window, looking outside with a bad attempt at a blank expression.
"Level 8 sir." Blaise glance to Grendel before looking away again. He was aware of the fact mages were often recruited at level 8. In recent years they had started accepting mages at the normal 10. However, it was not unheard of for Grendel to make exceptions to the rule, but it wasn't common.
"I see, I could have mistaken you for 10. You have that air about you, of an adventurer ready to set out into the world." Grendel paused, leaning down so he was eye to eye with Blaise, who turned to look at him nervously.
"Have you ever thought of becoming a magician?" The reaction to Grendel's question was almost immediate. Blaise stepped back, tripping on the carpet, and slammed his head against the wall as he fell. Wincing, it was obvious to the both of them Blaise was trying to avoid answering. Eventually he sighed, standing up and looking Grendel in the eyes.
"No sir, I want to be an archer." Blaise began packing stuff into his new bag, wrapping the fragile things in fabric. Closing it, he stayed in that position, refusing to meet Grendel's eyes.
"I see," replied Grendel, straightening up. It would be a lie to say he was not disappointed that the boy had already picked another path. But it was not his place to decide the boy's fate. Standing up, he arced his back, wincing as it cracked. He was sure there was probably a spell for that, but he had yet to find it. In theory, a pain reducer that was triggered when he stood up would work, but experimenting with magic was often dangerous. That, and he would have to change his bathroom into a laboratory again.
"Well, I guess I will be heading off. I need to get these supplies to Henesys." Blaise raised his head as he stood up, looking in the direction of Grendel. As they both gazed at each other, an understanding passed between them, and Grendel glanced to the bookshelves. Lifting a book off the shelf with magic, he brought it over to the boy, who took it and gazed at the title.
"Magic theory? Why are you giving me this?" Blaise frowned, putting the book in his bag as Grendel began to answer.
"I see you have your mind set on being an archer, but I see no reason not to try one last time to bring you down the path of a mage. Give the book a read, and if you wish to know more come and visit me in the library. Please take good care of it, it is hard to reproduce a book exactly the same as the original. Why, I have a copy of 'Dungeons and Wagons' in my study." Grendel saw Blaise nod, and give a grateful smile.
"Okay Si-," Blaise cut himself off, and gave a much warmer smile.
"Okay Grendel, thank you for allowing me to stay here and recover." Having finished saying goodbye, Blaise opened the door and began climbing down the tree, heading for home. Grendel watched him go, giving a sad smile. He knew better than anyone that those with great potential, also had great potential for darkness. At least Blaise had a very mellow disposition, he wasn't likely to be one to get caught by the darkness of revenge.
"Wow Blaise, I've never seen an archer with so much fail before, it must take a lot of practice." Blaise glanced to his left, thought's interrupted by the kid with the black mullet. Both of them were wearing the bowmen training gear. Lowering the bow, he turned and faced the kid and gave a sigh, before breaking out into a fake smile.
"I've still got plenty of time to get better Yervan. If I play my cards right I won't level beyond 9 for quite some time." Blaise heard Yervan snort, and fire a shot dead centre, and smiled.
"Of course Blaise, of course. You're determined to be kid for the rest of eternity if it means following your mother's footsteps." Yervan fired another shot, this time hitting the arrow Blaise had just fired, at the edge of the target. Blaise raised his bow, and fired another shot. Seeing it get inside the second outer ring, one closer than his normal, he felt a thrill of satisfaction. As an arrow easily flew past and knocked his off the board, he felt it turn into a mild annoyance. As he turned to confront Yervan about it, the tutor arrived, and they both paused.
"Alright that's enough for today, everyone's shaping up into great archers. I'll see you same time tomorrow." As the tutor's voice rang out, Yervan completely forgot about Blaise, who slowly followed the group as everyone began to push and shove to get their gear put away first. After everyone had cleared out, Blaise put his gear away, changing from the training gear into a light blue t shirt and a pair of jeans. With that done, he headed out of Henesys, carrying his bag on his pack as he headed for the Golem Temple.
Passing the mushrooms, he tried to fire an arrow at them, but missed completely. Giving a sigh, he decided to merely avoid them. When he was stronger he might consider returning to grind on them, as some of the older trainees were doing as he walked.
Walking up the steps, he saw the layered ruins fall into view, two people decimating the Golem population with a quiet, bored look. As he passed them, he heard one mutter something about rubble, before they vanished out of view. Stopping in front of a small building with a puppet hanging off the top, Blaise entered and glanced around.
Blaise was glad to see it was just as empty as he had left it yesterday, and picked a spot at the top of some old scaffolding to sit down, looking at the room once before pulling himself close to the wall. Opening his bag, he pulled out the book Grendel had given him, and flipped to the page he had been at when he had stopped reading yesterday.
Blaise was not quite sure way he felt he had to read somewhere secluded, but supposed it was due to the fact if someone like Yervan saw it he would be done for. He also didn't understand why it interested him so much, it was just simple magic theory, something even he had a little knowledge about.
The book was currently talking about mana drain, and how mages utilised it best. Mainly, it said that when a mage attacked it would drain the life force of the monster slightly, as well as cause damage. Essentially, if it was used to it's full potential, a mage could drain the soul right out of a monster. However, the only mage known to have this knowledge was Grendel, and he didn't teach it to mages due to the barbaric nature of it. Instead, he taught a much weaker version, one that would still allow the monster to pass on, and be reincarnated. Blaise could understand the logic, Maplers thrived off monsters.
"I don't think this is secure enough Francis, they know we used to meet here." Blaise raised his head as a voice cut through his concentration, and glanced over the edge to see two blue-cloaked men. One was carrying a puppet of some kind. The one with the puppet turned to the other and growled.
"Yes but that's why they won't suspect it Baroq! They wouldn't think us stupid enough to use the same place twice." Blaise deduced the one with the puppet was obviously Francis, and the other was Baroq. Frowning, he realised he was in a very dangerous position.
"I guess you have a point, should I inform the other Black Wings that this place is secure?" Baroq pulled out a letter and scrawled a quick message on it, pilling out a yellow rock with a rune inscribed on it. Blaise began shifting back towards the wall, so he could keep out of sight.
"Tell them I will inform them once I am sure it's 100% secure, we can't afford to lead the Black Wings here to be slaughtered, we'll be seen as traitors." Francis kicked a rock on the ground using his puppet, a small smile falling on his face. Soon he would be alone and he could play with his puppets without scornful eyes. The rock hit against the scaffolding, and Blaise felt the structure weaken under him as the rock hit the old frame, and it began to fall away from the wall. The two Black Wings stepped back, and as the structure fell their eyes met. With a crash Blaise fell to the ground, momentarily winded.
"A spy!?" Francis quickly grabbed Blaise, holding him down as Baroq walked over and examined the boy.
"No, he's just a bystander, he's probably not even level 10." Baroq tapped Blaise, who raised his head and met the eyes of the large brute. Francis pushed Blaise onto Baroq, who held the boy by the scruff.
"Take him with you, we can't let him go when we're trying to make this place secure, I doubt anyone will think to look here. Give him to Gelimer." Francis began moving the debris out of the way, pushing a book to the side with a disgruntled scrape. Blaise opened his mouth to object unconsciously, before a hand went over his mouth before he could utter a squeak.
"Looks like we've got a talker" Baroq put a muzzle on Blaise, and then tied his arms and legs together. Finished that, he grabbed a potato sack and slipped it over Blaise, and picked him up in the bag. Having trouble breathing, Blaise tried to struggle. However, as the bag was swung against the wall, hard, all throughs of trying to escape slipped his mind in an effort to bear the sudden pain. Moisture came unbidden to his face.
"I'll see you later Francis, don't let that Phantom kick you around like last time." Sound was the only thing Blaise could sense from inside the bag.
"Shut up Baroq, he's tougher than he looks." Blaise felt a sudden dizziness envelop him, Francis's voice fading out near the end. He couldn't see where he was, nor could he comprehend what had happened. If that was a teleport rock, then he could be anywhere in Maple. Why were the Black Wings here?
And where was he now?