Chapter 75: The Morning After
Theresa set out for the Collegium with Wobbly perched confidently on her shoulder.
She navigated the bustling morning streets of the capital with a quiet, assured strength, as if she truly understood the nature of power and how to command it. Wobbly's steady, glowing blue presence on her shoulder occasionally wobbled, as if to remind her it was still there.
Lady Vex welcomed them into a secluded research salon, a sanctuary filled with ancient texts and intricate magical instruments. Her silver hair was neatly pulled back, and her cold, calculating pale eyes missed nothing, revealing the sharp mind behind her calm façade.
"Theresa," Vex said. "You come to me with secrets and ask for trust. That is not how the Collegium operates."
"I'm not asking for trust," Theresa said, settling into a chair across from Vex. "I'm offering an exchange. Information for resources. And I believe the information I carry is worth far more than the resources I need."
Vex's fingers tapped once against the table. "Then speak. What do you have?"
Theresa folded her hands in her lap. "A corrupted mana organ. From the same monster with the golden core from the Caldmore dungeon. And evidence that House Harwick, and others, are not what they claim to be."
The room was very still.
"The corrupted organ of a powerful monster," Vex said slowly, "is not something to be discussed lightly. If what you're saying is true, the Collegium's interest is… considerable."
"It's true. I've begun initial research. But I need laboratory access, and I need allies. The Collegium has both, if it's willing."
"And in exchange?"
"You'll see the evidence. You'll understand why the Tribunal tomorrow is more important than anyone realizes. And you'll help me reach the Crown."
Vex was silent for a long time. Then she said, "You're asking me to risk my position, my reputation, and my people on the word of a mage whose origins I cannot verify."
"I'm asking you to look at the evidence before you decide."
The room's temperature shifted, not cold, but heavy, as if Vex was probing the air around Theresa's words. Then Vex nodded sharply. "Show me."
Theresa carefully placed a small crystal on the table—a recording stone, a replica of the one Dominic had taken. It flickered to life, casting images of the basement, the documents, the lists. Vex's face remained impassive, but her hands grew still as stone.
When it finished, she said, "You have my attention."
Back at the manor, a warm glow filled the day. The indoor pool shimmered enchantingly under a soft, magical light, its water invitingly heated to just the right temperature. Florence had discovered its allure days ago and had swiftly made it her sanctuary.
Now she lounged on her back, clad in a daring black two-piece that hinted at more than it revealed. Her fiery red hair fanned out around her like a radiant halo. A glass of wine rested near her on the pool's edge, promising relaxation.
Nearby, Dominic lounged on a cushioned bench, his gaze fixed on her with genuine admiration. He wore loose trousers, bare-chested, his scars from floor ten faint but visible, adding a hint of ruggedness to his otherwise serene presence.
"You're staring," Florence said without opening her eyes.
"I simply love what I am seeing; don't tell me that wasn't your intention."
"I'm simply enjoying myself." She turned over in the water, smooth as a fish, and waded toward him. Water sluiced over her shoulders, her collarbone, the swell of her breasts. "You should join me."
"I am joining you. From a safe distance."
"Safe?" She reached the edge, crossed her arms on the tile, and looked up at him. "Master, I've seen you face an angel. A little water shouldn't scare you."
Dominic smiled and didn't move. "It's not the water I'm scared of, but what I might do if I get in."
Florence's grin was slow and knowing. "Interesting."
Lysandra sat quietly at the edge of the pool, her legs lazily swaying in the cool water. Dressed in a simple deep blue one-piece that contrasted sharply with Florence's more revealing attire, her cheeks were tinged with a constant blush. She had remained silent since Florence had gently lured her into the pool area, uncertain but quietly observant.
"Why are you so quiet?" Florence asked, turning her attention to Lysandra.
"I'm fine."
"You're almost as red as a tomato; it's cute seeing you blush."
"It's because of the water, maybe also because of what I ate."
"Liar." Florence laughed, a low, delighted sound. "Come in. It's better when you're swimming."
"I don't swim."
"Then learn. I'll teach you." Florence was already moving, cutting through the water toward Lysandra with an ease that made it look effortless. "Unless you'd rather have Dominic teach you?"
Lysandra's blush deepened. She slid into the water without answering, going under to her shoulders, her hair floating around her face. Dominic watched the two of them, the easy confidence of Florence and the shy tension of Lysandra, and felt something warm and complicated settle in his chest.
Florence reached Lysandra, took her hand, and began guiding her through the water. Their bodies moved together, close but not touching, and Dominic found it very hard to look away.
Florence spoke up suddenly, keeping her head low. "I've been pondering those letters from the safe house. So easy to steal and trace. If there's such a thing as long-distance magical communication, why wouldn't they use that instead of leaving clues behind?"
Dominic paused thoughtfully. "The capital's communication network is tightly controlled. Every guild line flows through the city's signal pathways, with frequencies carefully registered. It creates domes over the cities that constantly monitor any magical energy passing through. If someone attempts to send an unauthorized transmission, the guilds detect it immediately. They can trace it back, sometimes even tap into it. And they know the exact origin of every signal."
Florence nodded her head. "That makes sense."
Lysandra spoke softly, looking up. "They'd have been caught years ago if they'd used magic."
Then Florence went still.
It was a subtle flicker, her eyes flashing briefly, her posture shifting ever so slightly. She didn't stop moving, but her head turned just enough to glimpse the garden wall beyond the open windows of the pool room. Her senses remained alert, scanning her surroundings.
She caught Dominic's eye across the water. We've got eyes on us, three, maybe four. They're playing it careful.
No words exchanged, only the silent bond between them, conveying a warning like a whisper.
Dominic's smile stayed steady. He lifted his glass, as if to toast Florence. How close are they?
Just beyond that wall, perched high, watching, waiting. Florence tilted her head and chuckled softly, as if he'd said something funny. They're patient. They'll hold out until nightfall.
And so, we wait too.
Lysandra, perceptive despite her shyness, glanced between them. She'd felt the shift in the air, even if she hadn't caught the message. She moved a little closer to Florence in the water, her hand brushing the back of Florence's.
The act continued. Drinks were poured. Music played from an enchanted crystal. They laughed, they lounged, they swam. To anyone watching, the Kane household was indulging in a lazy morning.
Theresa returned in the evening, Wobbly bouncing at her feet.
"Vex came through. She's arranged a discreet route to the meeting place." She paused. "The Crown representative will meet us tonight."
"Us?" Dominic asked.
"Just us. The route is for two. Vex made that clear."
Florence, leaning in the kitchen doorway, crossed her arms. "And if they don't believe you?"
"They will," Dominic said. "The evidence is too much to ignore."
"The evidence is good," Theresa agreed. "But the Emperor will need more than that. He'll need to know we're not another faction playing politics. Vex's petition helps. If the Collegium vouches for the request, it carries weight." Theresa's eyes found his. "I also contacted Frank. He's started looking for Tobin's family. Quietly. Using his own people."
"Then we need to make sure the signal comes in time."
"It will." She reached for his hand.
The sun sank lower. The manor settled into tense quiet.
Dominic found Lysandra in her room, seated before a small mirror. Her Golden hair was loose, falling past her shoulders, and she was brushing it in slow, absent strokes. Her rods leaned against the wall beside her, always within reach.
She saw him in the mirror and went still.
"May I?" Dominic asked.
She didn't answer, but she handed him the brush. He took it, his fingers brushing hers, and began to work through the dark strands. Slow. Careful. The silence between them was warm and heavy.
"You're nervous," he said.
"A little." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Not about the meeting. About after."
"The Tribunal."
She nodded. "Everything changes tomorrow. Whatever happens, things won't be the same."
"No. They won't." He finished a long stroke and set the brush down. His fingers lingered at the ends of her hair, then moved to her shoulder. She turned, and he cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs tracing the line of her jaw. Her skin was warm under his palms.
"Whatever happens tomorrow," he said, "We'll be going through it together. You know that."
Her eyes glistened. She didn't trust herself to speak, so she nodded once, a small, almost imperceptible motion.
Dominic pressed a kiss to her forehead, light as a breath. Then he let his hands fall.
He left her there, standing by the Mirror, her hair still loose around her face.
Theresa met him at the door. She'd changed into a dark cloak, simple and unmarked. In her hand was a small silver token Vex had given her, a charm that would guide them through the palace's outer wards without triggering the alarms.
"Ready?" she asked.
Dominic looked back once. Florence stood at the end of the hall, arms crossed. Lysandra lingered in her doorway, Wobbly at her feet, its glow soft and steady.
"Ready."
They slipped out into the night, the city swallowing them whole.