Wayward Malice

Two of three things

What is a truth when the liar believes it?

Casual kidnapping

Training begins!

The First Pupil: Mattias

Foolproof? No, but believe it!

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;As Avei rounded the corner, she was nearly blinded by a bright flash of light as she witnessed Maude block a beam aimed for her. Both mages had bright grins on their faces as their attacks bounced off barriers and they danced around some sort of flat open field. A crowd looked on with some interest as people began to place bets with an official-looking man.&#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;Arthas, I have to be honest, and I am. You&#x2019;ve gotten better and that&#x2019;s great! You might give me an actual workout for once.&#x201D; Ducking and rolling forward, motes of light sailed out of Maude&#x2019;s hands and into the air. Bringing her hands up to the sides of her face, she swung them down and the small bullets began to zoom right for the mage on the other end.&#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;Long blonde hair swayed as the man spun in place and the trail of light behind him swirled into a barrier. A few of the shots cracked it, but none managed to get through. Clenching his hands into fists, he spread them apart and a swirling beam of light sailed into the air. With a roar, the head of a dragon emerged from the trail like a snake and fired a beam at 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;Charging forward, Maude closed the last of the distance and brought her hand to point right at the man&#x2019;s neck. The trail attempted to form a barrier once more, but Maude&#x2019;s hand shattered it in an instant. After a frozen moment, the two stared and then relaxed. Stepping back, Maude cracked her neck.&#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;Same time next week Arthas?&#x201D; Moving to step back, Maude glanced back and brightened up. She shuffled over and dragged Avei into the circle as mages began to exchange light orbs as bets were cashed in.&#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;Hmph. I dare. One of these days I will overthrow you, Maude.&#x201D; Moving to look at Avei, the man bowed for a moment before fixing his hair. A nervous panic-filled Avei, and she stepped behind Maude slightly. The hat provided perfect protection against the eyes, but having seen these two mages sparring had shaken 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;This is Avei, my newest student. They&#x2019;re a dark mage.&#x201D; Giving a bright grin, Maude lifted her head to the sky and laughed while the others all stared in horror and fear. Soft shaking began to echo from Avei as she heard them whispering. &#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;Then she should be as talented as you proclaim yourself to be, no? I, therefore, challenge them to a duel! The light must fight darkness!&#x201D; Leaping back, the man pointed a finger toward them. For a moment, Avei hoped that Maude might mention she&#x2019;d been her &#x2018;student&#x2019; for maybe a day at most.&#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;Sure, pet battle ok?&#x201D; Reaching for her student Maude pushed her toward the other end of the clearing and whistled to the air. With a burst of flame and light, the cat Avei had summoned appeared and sat in front of them. The man flicked his cloak, and it sailed off his body to land in front of him as a drake. A large lizard.&#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;Avei can&#x2019;t magic herself right now so she&#x2019;ll be commanding my pet.&#x201D; After calling that out, Maude knelt and gently grabbed Avei&#x2019;s hat from her white hands.&#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;Relax, I&#x2019;m not going to throw you into a mage duel on day one. It&#x2019;s just going to be a familiar battle. All you need to do is command the pet. You won&#x27;t be the one fighting.&#x201D; Stepping back, Maude just left Avei there. Peeking from under the rim of her hat, she looked to the cat staring at her quietly. Then she glanced to the large drake. How could this be anything close to a fair fight?&#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;As you are the student, I shall go first to allow you to experience how this fight works.&#x201D; With a wave of his hand, Arthas called out.&#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;Drakon! I command you to bite!&#x201D; At the command, the lizard charged forward and loomed over both Avei and the cat. As a scream escaped Avei, she clenched her eyes shut as the sound of jaws chomping down echoed out. When she opened them, Maude&#x2019;s cat was gone. Staggering back a step, Avei felt moisture form in her eyes in horror.&#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;Fortunately for her, the cat was not some weak creature. As the drake opened its maw, the cat merely walked out of them and sat back down where it had been. Turning, the drake returned to its starting position too. Avei whimpered as she looked to the cat, seemingly unharmed.&#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;Fear not Avei! A piece of your soul is not so easily broken! Even were kitty to be destroyed, I need only summon them again. All familiars share the same consciousness. One mind, our mind. They don&#x2019;t feel pain either.&#x201D; Giving a clap, Maude spoke all this in a cheerful tone.&#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;Now it is your turn, student. You may determine your action.&#x201D; Both Arthas and the drake stood there and did nothing. The time was a wonderful gift because it gave Avei a moment to collect her thoughts. Lowering her hands from her hat, Avei finally felt a bit of her fear abate. No one had attacked her&#x2026;she was ok.&#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;&#x2018;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Is..this really ok?&#x2019;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E; Thinking everything over, Avei had been expecting to see all the light mages attack her. Or throw her out of the city, but none had. They seemed to be betting against her, but none had even shown an ounce of hostility. They seemed like good and honest people. They were all so very very bright. So patient with her too, none even rushed 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;Ah&#x2026;Um. Use a scratch attack!&#x201D; Having no idea what she was doing: Avei took the knowledge she did know. Cats had claws, so they could scratch. She watched as the cat moved over to the large drake, and swiped with its claws. Then it moved back over to Avei and sat back down.&#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;Behold! For it is my turn now! Use a tail whip!&#x201D; Once more Arthas motioned wide, and the drake turned in place to sweep at the cat. With a leap, the cat jumped over 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;Shoot! I missed!&#x201D; Snapping his fingers the man scowled.&#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;Haha! Fear my mighty kitten!&#x201D; Maude lifted her head to the sky and laughed. As she did so, the last vestiges of the fear faded from Avei. It was like a game, she realised. With an adjustment of her hat, she looked down to the cat, and then to the drake.&#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;Mmm-Use a bite attack!&#x201D; Clenching her hands into fists in front of her chest, Avei watched her cat charge for the neck, and bite down. The drake let out a roar and then collapsed to the ground.&#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;Critical hit! I can&#x2019;t believe it! My drakes weakness found!&#x201D; Falling to his knees, Arthas shook his head in dismay as his drake faded into golden light. Licking a paw, the cat moved to stand proudly in front of Avei as the crowd cheered. Looking around, Avei felt an odd sensation fill her chest. &#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;It was as if the energy of the crowd was filling her with a pleasant rush of emotions. It took her a moment to place it as joy. Winning the duel had made Avei feel happy, and she absorbed the feeling for a moment. Then she pulled the hat back down to hide her vision and tried to shuffle away.&#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 was a jolly good spar, Maude. Next time I&#x2019;ll show you wot&#x2019;s wot.&#x201D; Making a determined fist, Arthas grinned and Maude grinned back.&#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;Maybe next time Arthas it will be another of my students kicking your buttocks.&#x201D; With a wave to him, Maude grabbed Avei&#x2019;s hand and began to escort her home.&#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;Wheeew, I&#x2019;m pooped. This was a blast. Did you have fun?&#x201D; Looking over to her student, Maude gave a cheerful smile.&#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;Avei considered the events of the past day. The new experiences, the new faces, the lack of frowns. A strange sense of guilt filled her. All those people in the lower area were just ordinary folk. Some would lie on occasion, and they had biases. But the people on this layer were honest to a 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;If the world worked as Maude wanted, would these honest folk survive in such a cutthroat world? Would they be taken advantage of? Honesty was power yes, but if you gained the same power through deceit and it was accepted to do so&#x2026;&#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. Not in the slightest.&#x201D; Lying, Avei felt the disappointment briefly fill her mentor. They recovered quickly, and soon enough the conversation moved to other topics. Each mote of light, each person they passed was an honest person.&#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;Would Maude&#x2019;s vision for a better world be really better? Or would it mean those honest people who had smiled and cheered for her would end up as she&#x2019;d been? Living in a crumbling ruin with nothing to her name. Though, honesty didn&#x2019;t mean kindness by any means, she knew that.&#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;Once more, Avei found herself wondering why she was so broken, and if even the best witch in the nation could fix her. Did she need fixing?&#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;Avei followed Maude home, having even fewer answers than before.&#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;