Chapter 36: Parasite (1)
An apprentice alchemist sat slumped on a bench. Her research submission for the semester had been rejected outright, not even considered for review.
“Scholarship revoked...promotion suspended...personal lab application denied...”
Her failure echoed in her mind, each thought worse than the last.
“I saw your research paper.”
“...What?”
A figure had approached, speaking without preamble.
“‘An adversarial understanding of black magic from an alchemical perspective’. It was interesting, and challenging...which is precisely why it was rejected.”
“...”
“The mage towers pride themselves on being progressive. But at the same time, they’re more conservative than any other institution. You must never cross the lines they decide.”
“...Master. What do you want with me?”
The figure before her was none other than a master of the Gray Tower—a being far above her station, one who judged and evaluated apprentices like her.