Loopbreaker

The week ended without any major conflicts or problems.

Francis wasn’t sure what Avelis had said to both of his brothers, but neither approached him. It also helped that he was a floor below Derrek and not forced to live across the hall.

Being the seventh day of the week, each student had one day off to rest or work on anything they desired. Some went into the other areas of the city, while those who needed a little extra reading time or practice did what they could to complete it. Reading wasn’t his best skill but it was becoming easier, and as he slogged his way through his textbooks, Francis heard a knock on his door. Opening it, he recognized a young boy.

“Samuel! The greatest courier in all the Spires!”

“Uh… how do you know who I am?” the young boy asked, his faced bunched up in a confused look.

“Why does everyone in this dorm speak about you?” Francis whispered. “They talk about how you’re the fastest courier and capable of doing almost anything one needs. For a fair tip, of course.”

Samuel puffed out his chest and grinned. “Aye, that I am, Sir! In fact, I have something for you!”

Samuel held out a folded piece of paper.

Francis took it and stared at its wax seal. Two staves were crossed, and a chain of what he guessed was lightning was set in the hardened yellow seal.

“Well, give me a second,” Francis said as he took it and moved to his desk, retrieving a silver coin. “Now, I like to reward those who can help in other ways,” he continued, watching the young boy lick his lips, eyes fixated on the silver mark. “Are you able to help in other ways besides just delivering letters and packages?”

“It… uh… depends on what you want, sir.” A small wince came over Samuel's face as he said those words, his eyes drifting off the coin and to him.

“Just information. I’m certain you hear more than most would believe, and all I want to know is what people are saying about me.”

“About you?” Samuel asked, grinning. “The one who likes to be cooked alive with magic and has somehow reached the third weapon training class within a week? You’re a Chosen is what you are!”

Francis smiled and bent down, getting to eye level with the young courier. “While all that might be good, and possibly true, I’d love more… specific details. If you overhear anything from someone talking good or bad about me or perhaps planning on doing something I might not like, I’d gladly pay for a warning.”

Samuel swallowed and nodded slowly. “So just keep my ears open and see what I can find out. Would you want me to enlist the help of some of the other couriers?”

Chuckling, Francis nodded. “Are you able to do that and still be discreet?”

“Oh heck yeah, sir!” Samuel exclaimed. “Most blabber about all the good stuff in the waiting area. When we’ve got nothing to do, we either play games, gamble, sleep, or gossip.”

The young boy glanced down the hallway and then leaned forward. “For a few more copper, I could probably get a couple of them to work for me. I mean, if that’s okay, sir.”

This kid is a fricking genius.

Keeping his face neutral, Francis nodded. “Tell you what. Get me the information I need, and I’ll add some copper to what I was going to give you. If I’m not here, just slip the paper under the door, okay?”

Samuel stood tall and gave a sharp nod. “Yes, sir!”

Flicking the silver mark to the boy, Francis watched as deft hands snagged it easily. “Be safe, and remember, don’t get hurt because of what I asked. I don’t want you taking unnecessary risks. Got it?”

“Okay,” the boy replied, unable to take his eyes off the coin in his fingers.

“Now go, and thanks again,” Francis said, closing the door as Samuel turned and ran off.

That kid is hilarious.

Breaking the seal, Francis felt something familiar. It was something similar to what he endured when Trina tore his body apart with her spells, running through his fingers before vanishing.

Magic… interesting.

Unfolding the letter, Francis blinked a few times, finding only a few words on the entire sheet of paper.

*****

Mr. Lancaster.

Please report to my tower. We need to discuss certain things.

1. Crestfall

With no knowledge or warning of his father coming, and the fact that this was different from the previous loop, Francis tried to consider what it might mean. Based on what other students said and the progress he was making, it might have to do with the class changes or the use of his sister. The question was, were any of those things enough to garner the attention of the Master of the Spires?

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Rather than putting it off, Francis decided to head there now and get it over with, hoping to enjoy a little bit of his first day off since arriving.

***

“Ahh, Mr. Lancaster. Thank you for coming so quickly,” Avelis said.

He gave a small bow upon reaching her actual office. It wasn’t the space he had first met her in with all the bookshelves, but a room beyond it. Unlike the empty one he had met his father in, this room was packed with enough items to sell and purchase a noble's house.

Paintings, weird objects in glass cases, a set of armor, glowing gems in a display case and more lined the walls of the round room. He knew some people like to flaunt wealth and power. His Father had a room similar to this but there were maybe a third of the number of items in his compared to hers.

Forcing his eyes onto the white-haired woman sitting casually on one of two couches facing each other, he smiled when she pointed at the couch opposite her.

“Can I get you something to drink? I have many things, from simple teas to coffees and other beverages, I would deny offering many of the other students here.”

Her voice seemed a lot friendlier and casual than Francis had expected, but he shook his head. He sat gently on the light purple couch, feeling it almost change to fit the contours of his body.

“No, thank you. This… is nice.”

She laughed and shrugged, running her nails along the arm of the matching couch.

“A gift from a crafter who specialized in making things like these. A few minutes resting upon it can help reduce hours' worth of fatigue. Well worth it for someone who spends as much time as I do working to ensure the Spire runs smoothly. Now then, I’m guessing you're wondering why I called you here.”

“Am I that easy to read?” Francis asked.

She smiled and shook her head. “No, but it’s the obvious question. Believe me when I say many would wonder why I even requested this meeting, but the truth is we need to discuss a few things, and I felt it was best to do it here, away from prying eyes and ears.”

From the sleeve of her red robe, she pulled out a few rolled-up pieces of paper and tapped them against her knee.

“I’ve received multiple requests for you to advance into higher classes, often designed for students who have been here four or five years. While this isn’t the first time I’ve received such things, you do have me in a difficult position due to your birth order as well as the rumors swirling around this place.”

Francis did his best not to fidget as he listened, fighting to keep his eyes on her and not look away. “Am I doing something wrong?”

She frowned, then let out a sigh.

“Your sister… she helped you with some training with Instructor Flistrave. That has caused some problems as her… both of yours Father isn’t happy. He has found out and asked me to put a stop to it. I told him I would investigate it and would prefer not to have him come here due to any potential problems his visit might cause. Tell me, is there any reason why you cannot use another mage? I know of many male mages and perhaps even a few women who would gladly undertake that task, especially since word has gotten out that Trina has gained a point after a single training session.”

Our Father is always going to be a thorn no matter what I do it seems.

“Is his reasoning because I’m causing problems or simply because Trina and I working together potentially injures the family name?”

“Lord Lancaster did seem to hesitate upon hearing of her gaining a point… but your father was very adamant he wanted me to try to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I told him I would see what I could do, but your sister does not want to stop, and she is almost to the point where forcing her to would be going against rules and traditions. A few more points of growth would make it very difficult for me to stop her from doing something if she desired to continue it.”

“So… if she managed to get some extra training in the next month–”

“Weeks,” Avelis said. “So my sister would need to hit that milestone in the next few weeks,” Francis said. “If Trina did, then she would be able to choose her torture of me as a form of study.”

A soft chuckle came from the older woman as she smirked and nodded.

“You are very sharp for a warrior. Another reason why General Stenson must have selected you. Which brings me to a second problem. The rumor of being a Chosen is not one I can simply ignore.”

His butt cheeks puckered slightly when he heard her mention that, and Francis controlled his breathing, staying as he had been a moment ago.

Neither spoke for half a minute as they played a game of waiting and staring at each other.

“Do you deny being a Chosen or is there another reason why Stenson sponsors you?” Avelis asked, her eyes narrowing just a little.

“I won’t lie,” Francis replied. “I am gifted, and Stenson knows of my talent. I’m not a Chosen one, though.”

The Master of the Spires blinked twice before she leaned forward slightly.

“And this skill… I know decorum would have me not ask what it is… yet I cannot wonder what it must be for Stenson to send you here?”

“I learn things fast,” Francis replied. “Sometimes I learn skills quicker than most,” Francis replied.

She nodded slowly, and Francis felt a sensation of something surrounding him, like pressure pushing on him. He hadn’t realized until that moment that his breathing had been just slightly harder.

Was she using a spell on me? Ready to do something based on what I said?

Stenson’s warning had always made this woman feel dangerous. He knew killing him would be easy for one with her power and position. Having watched her sit idly by, sipping on her drink while his Father had killed him meant she didn’t have a problem watching him vanish.

“So you’re simply gifted when it comes to learning new skills,” Avelis said. “We have seen others, and I can understand why he might be inclined to have you here instead of the battlefield. A gift like that can be a blessing if given guidance.”

“And that is why here I sit, trying to grow stronger so that I can be more useful to the kingdom,” Francis replied.

She nodded slowly, just the slightest hint of biting a part of her lip as the bottom one looked off slightly from before.

“The next question I have then is, how are you hoping to be useful to the kingdom?” Avelis asked. “Do you desire to stay here and find a position within the kingdom or return to the battlefield and the General?”

He wasn’t certain, but Francis felt that if he reached out with his hand, he might touch some sort of barrier, as the air around him had grown thinner after a few more breaths.

”I’m not sure,” Francis replied, sensing a threat he wouldn’t be able to overcome. “Perhaps if the Spire found a way to accept me, I wouldn’t mind a life here.”

Taking slow, steady breathing, Francis smiled and tried to look weak, posing no threat at all.

Every second that ticked by, the air felt like it did less, and he had to take deeper breaths to avoid feeling faint.

And then the next breath suddenly felt wonderful. The air had magically returned to a state that felt full of life.

“Perhaps we can find a place for you and your ability then,” Avelis said, a tiny smile forming. “For now, I have other things to attend to. You may go, Francis.”