What is a truth when the liar believes it?

Two of three things

Casual kidnapping

Training begins!

The First Pupil: Mattias

Foolproof? No, but believe it!

Wayward Malice

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Events repeated through the mind of the young woman as Avei went over the day she was having. What events and occurrences were to blame for her current predicament. But no, there was nothing to blame. Or perhaps the better answer was she wasn&#x2019;t the one at fault.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I really care about that plight of yours, really I do. I love having people watch me cry.&#x201D; Taking a step back, she lowered the stick as dark motes of shadow began to seep into the glimmering cracks of the structure. &#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Wait&#x2026;I&#x2019;m getting mixed signals here,&#x201D; murmured Maude as she poked at one of the motes curiously. It popped with a sharp huff of disdain and vanished.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I would love to hear more about the problems the best witch in the world has to say about my &#x2018;interesting&#x2019; situation. Unfortunately, I really have a lot of work to do. I&#x2019;ve got to prepare for my trip down to the coal mines.&#x201D; Putting a hand to her chest, she faked a cough.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;You know how it is. Got to work for the greater good of the country. Serve in the best way we can. After all, it&#x2019;s the system you rule over is it not? I&#x2019;m just a poor cog in a wheel far larger than me. Destined to mediocrity.&#x201D; Each word fell out of her mouth like water down a stream, and for a moment even Avei believed her own lie.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;That&#x2019;s horri-wait a moment you&#x2019;re lying! You&#x2019;re making the black particles!&#x201D; Leaping back a step from the door, Maude grinned brightly as she took in her brilliant deduction as the house creaked and groaned. Both paused for a moment at the sound and watched as cracks formed in the structure. It began to topple over, and Avei looked up with a sigh.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Such is the fate of the cursed, doomed to die a death at the hands of the light.&#x201D; Before the pain could hit her, a golden barrier formed and wrapped around the falling debris, and the house fell apart around her instead. Lowering her hand, Maude looked at the remnants like one examines a piece of art.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Curse huh? Well I mean I wouldn&#x2019;t say you lack any potential. I don&#x2019;t know a single mage that can make a structure fall over with a lie.&#x201D; Moving to pick at some of the debris, Maude leaned down to pluck one of the rotting pieces of wood up.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Y-Yes! My curse is that my potential is just that. Without a single mage willing to give me a chance because of it, I am doomed to suffer a life where none will ever know me.&#x201D; Digging deeper, Avei continued to speak her story.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Jeez. Where are your parents? Didn&#x2019;t they teach you that lying is wrong?&#x201D; Glancing over, Maude lifted an eyebrow.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;My parents&#x2026;oh my parents were the same. They&#x2019;re the ones that cursed me! My truths will be lies, and my lies will be true. But I still believe in the truth! So I speak it, even if it means I suffer for it.&#x201D; Lowering her head, Avei looked down solemnly.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;They left to get milk one day and never returned&#x2026;about 8 years ago. I never saw them again.&#x201D; Closing her eyes, she finished her speech. A part of her felt the telltale thrill that came with her act. The feeling was the only real comfort she&#x2019;d ever known. A drug, one she had learned to hide behind when things got too hard. It was too late for her to stop, she was a puppet to its maestro&#x27;s commands.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Watching all this, Maude said nothing for a time. She watched as Avei seemed to spill forth ideas and concepts that sounded like truth. Indeed, she did believe them. The dark motes around her were a sign it was all fake, and yet&#x2026;Closing her eyes, Maude considered things herself.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I believe you.&#x201D; Moving to rise, Maude gave a smile as Avei looked to her with relief. Maybe now she would get some help with breaking this curse, and live a normal life. Hope filled her chest as she moved to approach Maude.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Which is why I&#x2019;m going to train ya. Ta-daaa~&#x201D; Tossing her hat into the air, it spun and dropped a door into the ground to Maude&#x2019;s side. A startled squeak escaped the girl. The door opened into a bright and golden light, and Maude grinned at her.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I like you kid. And I don&#x2019;t want you going back into those mines. So I&#x2019;ll teach you the basics. Can&#x2019;t have you living out in this forest alone for the rest of your life. That&#x2019;s how we get dark mages.&#x201D; With a laugh, she walked into the light. Standing there, Avei lifted a hand up toward the opening, and gently put her hand through it. It tingled as her hand entered. She glanced around the door, her hand wasn&#x2019;t on the other side.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;With a sharp tug, Avei was pulled forward by the hand, and into the foyer of the most ostentatious room she&#x2019;d ever seen. With golden floors and white marble pillars leading up to the glitterings stairs made out of literal light. The entire place reeked of magic to the point she had to squint to even make out Maude in front of her.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I can&#x2019;t see!&#x201D; As Avei fumbled around idly for a moment, it took only a snap of Maude&#x2019;s fingers for a pair of stylish shades to fall on the girl&#x27;s face. As her eyes finally blinked open wide enough to take in the room, she was able to glance back and see the door had become an ornately decorated wall.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;N-&#x201D; Avei felt a moment of pause hit her like a truck. Curiosity had taken her escape route, she was now trapped in a glowing prison with the mage she&#x2019;d just lied to. Turning to face Maude, thoughts flashed through in a moment of brilliance. The gave was well and truly dug now.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;No way, you&#x2019;re like-really powerful miss Maude! You&#x2019;re such a hero. Truly a noble and kind soul to take on my burdens and give me the chance no one else would.&#x201D; Cupping her hands together, Avei&#x2019;s bright and joy-filled smile warmed the heart of the witch as she lifted her nose into the air with a swell of pride.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;You&#x2019;re right of course, though I promised to be honest with you so I&#x2019;ll admit I do have motives for offering.&#x201D; Lifting a finger, Maude waved it back and forth as her hips swang to the beat.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;See see see~ The current society is built on power and honesty. This is why those who aren&#x2019;t as honest live less fulfilling lives. It&#x2019;s not exactly fair is it yeah? I mean I&#x2019;ve met my fair share of liars at poker games. And yet the best people at that game are the poorest in the city.&#x201D; Spinning in place, the woman spread her arms wide with a sparkle to her eye.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Soooo~ That&#x2019;s where you come in! I train you to be a decent mage, and I prove to them that even the worst mage can be redeemed! It&#x2019;s foolproof! That&#x2019;ll stick it to those snobs in the upper brass. And Kevin. Ffff-Frick you Kevin!&#x201D; Turning toward a wall with a picture of a blonde-haired man, painstakingly painted by hand, Maude shook her fist angrily. The plaque underneath read &#x2018;Kevin Signforth-Advisor&#x2019;.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Why do you keep stopping yourself from swearing? Aren&#x2019;t adults allowed to use the bad words?&#x201D; Glancing around the room, Avei caught the scent of something delightful and began to drift toward it. A mesmerising motion of tantalising sights greeted her as she opened the door to a large array of goods and produce.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I promised my old man and Ma I&#x2019;d &#x2018;never&#x2019; swear when I was a kid. Can&#x2019;t break it now,&#x201D; she responded as she followed.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh the food, help yourself kid. Ever going to give me your name by the way?&#x201D; Sadly such questions were dashed from the mind of Avei as she nearly fell over herself in her rush to eat. Tears spilled from her eyes as she tried to eat as much as she could.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Watching this display, Maude once more frowned softly. A hand went to her chin as she watched the half emancipated teenager cry for the second time today. Actions speaking far louder than any words either had uttered as she stepped out of the room, and moved to prepare a bed and some clothing for Avei to try on. Namely: ones that weren&#x2019;t a literal potato sack.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Briefly pausing, she glanced into a room and whistled lightly to a small songbird sleeping on a perch. Motioning her head back the way she came, Maude watched the bird fly off.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh! Does she know what a bath is? Er&#x2026;she&#x2019;ll figure it out if I show her the bathhouse right?&#x201D; Maude considered the implications of a wild child in her home. Shrugging it off: she opened the room to her private sanctum and stepped toward a golden telephone with a list of numbers written beside it.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Hey, it&#x2019;s me, ya girl-&#x201D; They hung up on her. Staring at the phone, Maude felt her eye twitching as she began to prepare the most elaborate and foolproof plan to get them to listen to her. Turning to call the second number, she breathed in. The moment the person on the other end began to speak, she shouted over them.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Keeeviiiiin! Mattias is ignoring me agaaaaaain! It&#x2019;s important this time I swear! I promise!&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;A promise is a powerful thing, especially in Alefrun. One need only look to the strongest mage in the country: Maude Floran. To the structures of light that glimmer and glitter with the energy that constructed them. Most cannot even fathom the promises made to conjure such strength, Avei certainly cannot.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;With her lack of any potential at all, let alone the capacity to cast a single spell, she can&#x2019;t even fathom it. And yet here she was as an apprentice to Maude. Can a pathological liar ever glimpse a fraction of the power the most honest mage in the kingdom holds?&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;