Chapter 107
Discussion
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Claude disappeared without much effort . He was ecstatic after his first real engagement using magic and he couldn't be bothered to worry over trivial things such as messes he'd made during it . Besides, he was certain the normal humans would figure something out .
The buildings along the alley's windows were all soon lit as people watched the confrontation between an army of the two gangs cautiously from their upper floor windows . Luckily the two gang's acting commanders arrived in time to prevent an all-out brawl .
Jerad explained the situation to both sides multiple times . Kesline and Kefnie hid in their rooms the whole time . Neither child cared for the fact the Blacksnake thugs that had faced that masked man .
They were more intrigued by the result of the fight than the fight itself as well . Eight elite Blacksnake brawlers were done in by a single masked man . They were all but badly injured, and that one who looked like he was their leader might not even survive . Jerad had sprung into action without hesitation, if he hadn't more might be at death's door . Blacksnake's leader saw his earnest effort, and his cooler head prevailed . He had his men charge any buildings with a view to drag out witnesses that might corroborate the man's story, however .
Earnest or not, he was still a Shark, so his word was suspect . Not to mention how outlandish his story was .
"Did you really not hear a gunshot?" someone asked for the nth time .
"No . We didn't see a gun with the man either . He was completely unarmed . " Jerad answered yet again .
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"Impossible . . . They were clearly injured by musketshot! Only rounds make those kinds of holes!"
"Enough, we've asked them this enough times already," someone else interrupted, "Everyone else say the same . Besides, they might be Sharks--" the word came out like an insult, "--but even they wouldn't stoop that low . And I know the people he had with him tonight could never have defeated them in a fair fight . "
The first man pinched the bridge of his nose .
"Fine . Thanks for taking care of their wound . You may go . "
He watched the Shark leave, then took out a small piece of paper and called a couple minions over . He barked a few words to one of them, handed him the paper, and watched him disappear as well .
The minion returned half an hour later, Hurian in tow . The Blacksnake lieutenant waved his minion away and asked Hurian to check on the wounded and dying .
Hurian circled the spot where the fight took place a couple of times after finishing his inspection of the bodies, then told the lieutenant something before leaving . The lieutenant stared at his back while Hurian left, then told his men to get lost with the bodies .
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"Aren't we going after the bastard who did this?" asked one of the other lieutenants .
"We can't . " The first answered in a whisper, plainly, "Those weren't cause by rounds--" He pointed at the holes in the men's bodies as they were carried away . "They're made by spells . Third's luck was horrible . He actually blocked a magus' path . Makes sense when you think about it . Who in this town but a magus could so calmly tell our men to f*ck off?"
"They fought a magus?"
"Yes . I don't know why his brain stopped working tonight, but he's a fool for crossing a magus . I just hope his stupidity doesn't cause trouble for us as well . Tell the men to be damn careful about who they cross for the time being . I've heard more than once that magi are petty bastards . They don't forget a grudge . "
The minions cleaned up the scene like they were professional cleaners, and melted away into the dark alleys . The onlookers were more surprised by that than by the fight . The Blacksnakes were bombastic bastards that took any chance they could to extort and rob people . Something like this was a golden opportunity for them to empty out the alley's buildings . But they'd just left?
Hurian's companions were waiting for him when he returned . They'd been just about to disperse for the evening when the minion had come calling, so they'd waited for his return . They had a dozen questions for him when they saw his expression .
" . . . He's too cruel," Hurian said at the end of his short narrative, "He's young, but he really is ruthless . Two of the thugs were dead when I arrived, two more won't last the night, and the other four will all likely be crippled for life . Magi that cruel are rare these days . I just hope tomorrow's trade goes off without a hitch . The apple falls under the tree, so if he's like this at his age, just imagine how bad his teacher must be . Maybe I should ask my contacts in the capital if they know anyone like that . I don't like the thought of a nest of magi thugs in town . . . "
One of the oldest in the group laughed .
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"What are you worried about? You have the magic black market's backing . I doubt even someone as cruel and unrestrained as that boy, or his master, would offend you without thinking it over a couple of times . A rogue magus like one of us might be in trouble for just looking at one of them wrong, but you're not a drifting feather . Didn't the kid say he learned about the place from his teacher in the capital? If he is connected enough to know about a new black market branch so quickly, he must know when to strike and when to be polite . I don't think you have that much to worry about . "
"Sook is right," another smiled, "You should be more confident, my friend . I have to say though, I quite admire that young masked magus . Those thugs only know and only respect ruthless . He knew exactly how to handle them . We scholarly types may have a long and illustrious history, but that doesn't track well with these brutal types . And unfortunately it's the brutal types that rule the world at the moment . Ah, I wonder sometimes what it would have been like if the battlemagi's legacy wasn't lost during the war . "
Another old magus, this one wearing a black robe, laughed .
"Stop pining for what is lost, Teacher Bajee . Magic has had its day, and that day has passed . We can't bring back the past . Besides, not even the strongest battlemagus on record could stand against musketfire . Besides, don't we remain rogue magi so we can do our research without all that hullabaloo in the capital? If not, we would just have registered when we were discovered . "
"Ptooey! Who wants to be a registered magus?!" Sook spat, "They aren't even real magi . They're just a bunch of starved dogs begging for scraps from their masters with entertaining tricks . They have no other worth!"
"Don't get so riled up, Sook," Hurian interjected, "Registered magi aren't real magi . We all know that . They're clowns, pets kept for entertainment, nothing more . If they were real magi, and if they were treated like that by their masters, the magic black market wouldn't exist . Well, I guess that's not entirely true, since we don't exist for them at all . The market is for true magi, not those wannabes . Come, one last toast . To true magi!"
"To true magi!"
The group downed their last glasses of ale .
Another in the group, a large, bearded man, spoke up, slamming his cup on the table somewhat crudely .
"You said the spell he used was Magic Missile? Any traces of other combat spells?"
"No--" Hurian shook his head . "--I only found traces of Magic Missile . I double checked every wound on everybody, but found nothing else . He should only know that one combat spell . Though . . . " His eyes fogged over in thought . " . . . only three were injured with it . The rest were taken out with physical strikes . He must be an expert at unarmed physical combat . He most likely specialises in physical combat and only uses magic as a backup or support .
"It's pretty rare for him to have Magic Missile alone, though . I know of less than ten such spells passed down secretly among our kin . He must have incredible luck to have learned one of them . Maybe that's why he's so brazen? He's still young . He probably hasn't met someone who's outdone him yet, hasn't been given a good beating before, so he doesn't know the limits of his strength and where he is on the ladder . He didn't even think about what might happen if the Watch finds out about this . If he isn't just killed outright, he won't have a single day's peace, captured or not . "
"The young are always arrogant, it's in their blood . You were like that when you were his age as well," the bearded man said, "We've suffered much since and learned wisdom . We know better than to go around beating people up with forbidden spells . He reminds me of myself when I was younger as well . Ah, those were the days . . .
"Anyway, it's rare enough for us to get together like this . We're really too busy for our own good . Speaking of which, I'm leaving tomorrow . I don't know when I'll be back, so let me steal a bit more ale for another toast, Hurian! May we have many more stories to tell when next we meet!"
The group toasted with the ale from another opened cask .