"This has got to be the tenth time you've asked me about Kamlin in the past three days," Saul said. "I already told you everything I know about the man."
"I'm just worried," Anfey said. "I want to know as much about him as possible, just in case."
"Kamlin is a good man," Saul said. "I don't think you have to worry about him much. He is a little like Ernest, though a bit more temperamental. He had a smooth early life, and that made him proud, which is why he went after Morgan with his wife all those years ago. That was a mistake that almost crushed him."
"The necromancer?"
Saul nodded. "Morgan may appear young, but he is even older than Golman, and he is a skilled combatant. He is even more skilled than Golman."
"What happened then?"
"I don't know exactly what happened. I only know that he went after Morgan without waiting for his friends. By the time they found him, his wife was dead and Morgan was nowhere to be found." Saul sighed and continued, "after that, he became a recluse."
"For real?" Anfey asked incredulously. "Why didn't he hunt down Morgan?"
"He made a choice," Saul said, "because he learned firsthand how terrifying Morgan is. When Morgan first appeared in the Country of Mercenaries, Burzuryano and Slanbrea made a pact to take him on, together. Followers of the Church of Light and the druids aren't exactly on friendly terms, but they still worked together. We all know that we can't take on Morgan alone. Even I have to find helpers, when it comes to Morgan. I know you've fought with Desvidia, but you need to know that Desvidia did not use all of his strength, and Morgan is much more powerful. He is a man to be reckoned with."
"I see," Anfey said slowly.
"One of Kamlin's most important weapons is his skin, which is immune to almost all forms of attack. Of course, I've heard from Ernest that you are a natural warrior. You may have a chance with Kamlin."
"You should tell him everything," Jacob said with a grin.
"Everything?"
"Ernest almost said that it's a waste that you're learning magic," Jacob said.
Anfey smiled, but did not say anything. He turned to Saul and asked, "Does that mean magic cannot effect him?"
Saul shook his head. "It will be hard, but he's not immune to everything," Saul said. "Sure, magic cannot physically harm him, but he is not immune to its effects."
"Which means, I can't use magic on him," Anfey said with a sigh.
Saul frowned. "I've noticed that you're not taking magic seriously," he said. "You're using it to assist you, but you aren't treating it seriously."
"Why would you think that, Master?" Anfey blinked.
"You seem to be satisfied with just using firebirds," Saul said with a sigh. "A mage that uses a few spells cannot understand the truth about magic."
"I'm sorry, sir," Anfey said quietly.
"What are you sorry for?"
"I…" Anfey froze. He was only admitting to the things Saul said, but he did not think too much about it. He did not expect Saul to ask him anything, and so, did not have an answer.
Saul sighed and shook his head. "You already know everything I do."
"I won't bother you any longer than, Master," Anfey said. He bowed and turned to leave.
"Wait," Saul said. Anfey turned and looked at Saul, confused. Saul sighed and said quietly, "Be careful."
Anfey blinked, then smiled and nodded. "I will, Master. Don't worry about me."
Jacob sat down next to Saul and watched Anfey disappear. "He wants to take on Kamlin."
"I don't think he'll wait for Kamlin to come to him. He will go to Kamlin."
"You and Anfey are so different," Jacob said with a grin.
Saul nodded. "I don't agree with a lot of the things he did." Saul paused and shook his head. "He never leaves room for any form of negotiation. The way he does things does not allow him to fail. He fails once, and he will lose everything."
Jacob closed his eyes and sighed.
"A lot of the things he did, were things that did not leave room for failure," Saul said. "He is very insecure. He doesn't like having potential threats."
"Then why do you care so much about him?"
"Everyone has flaws," Saul said with a shrug. "I may not agree with what he did, but that doesn't mean he's wrong. I'm thankful for what he did for my students, my daughter, and my country."
Jacob smiled. "Of course you would say something like that."
Saul shrugged. "I don't like interfering with my students' lives much."
"Now that he knows more about Kamlin, what do you think he will do?"
"That's not our worries," Saul said.
"You're not worried about Shadow?"
"I trust that Shadow will understand what is more important. He won't let his personal life get in the way of accomplishing what is good for his nation."
"That's not what I mean."
Saul pursed his lips and shook his head.
Jacob didn't need a clear answer. He glanced at Saul and said, "Remember Tivankechajin?"
"What about him?"
"Tivankechajin and Atos fell from grace because of us. Now it's our turn."
"Yeah?"
"Michael and Manstuly are examples. Now that he has turned to Kamlin… This is the beginning of the end for us."
"Ernest said Anfey is wasted learning magic," Saul said. "You're wasted learning alchemy."
"What should I do, then?" Jacob asked with a smile.
"You should've been a minstrel," Saul said with a laugh.