Supreme Magus

Chapter 4472: Broken Clock (Part 2)

”I was in the middle of a groundbreaking experiment!”

”It’s me, Master Inxi! Zogh-Zogh.” Zolgrish replied.

”That explains a lot, but not why you dared disturb my work!” Inxialot snorted, releasing a thick dust cloud from his nostrils that would have put a Dragon to shame.

”I... Why did I call him again, Ratpack?”

”Oh, for the love of...” Lith cursed and proceeded to explain the situation in Jambel and his suspicions about it.

”Nice theory, Larp, but you are way off the mark.” Inxialot brushed his worries away with a sweep of his hand. ”The Isharas did ask my permission, and I told them to fuck off or face my wrath.”

”I’m lost here. Who is this Lamb, and how is he involved in this story?” Zolgrish asked.

”Scourge and Lamb same person.” Ratpack said. ”He also called Lith Verhen.”

”Why did you do that, Inxialot?” Lith ignored the non-Awakened Lich’s rambling and forced the Undead Representative to focus. ”We are not friends.”

”What a silly question, Bong.” Inxialot replied. ”Jambel’s territory belongs to Zolgrish, and as his master, everything he has belongs to me! I’d never let those overgrown scorpions steal my silver.”

”As long as you only take his share of the metal, I’m okay with it.” Lith nodded. ”Thanks, Inxialot. Much appreciated. Lith out.”

”Stop right there, master!” Zolgrish roared in outrage. ”If what is mine is yours and what is yours is yours, what am I supposed to be, your slave? This goes against our apprenticeship agreement!”

”Are you sure? Nero, give me a hand to find the contract.” Inxialot said.

”There’s no need for it. I have my copy right here!” Zolgrish snorted. ”It says: ten pairs of socks, ten shirts, six pairs of pants...”

”That’s laundry list, Master.” Ratpack slapped his forehead. ”Contract gone. Mold destroyed it centuries ago.”

”Here you go.” Nero returned a few seconds later with a pristine parchment covered in protective runes.

”Is this a map? Where am I supposed to go and why?” Inxialot asked in confusion.

”Master!” Zolgrish jumped in fright, already oblivious to the previous conversation. ”How did you override the safety measures of my amulet, and how long have you been spying on me?”

”I have no idea.” Inxialot replied. ”How did I do that, Nero? Most importantly, why am I wasting my time on this moron?”

The Emperor Beast disguised as a house cat rolled his eyes and gave him a recap of the situation.

”I see. Let’s read the contract together.” Much to his dismay, there was no clause that allowed him to seize his apprentice’s possessions on a whim.

”See? I was right!” Zolgrish roared in triumph.

”Zolgrish!” Inxialot jumped in fright, having no idea why his apprentice’s hologram was in the middle of his lab. ”How did you override the safety measures of my amulet, and how long have you been spying on me?”

”I did no such thing!” Zolgrish snorted in outrage. ”I think. Maybe. Ratpack?”

”Look! A Tyris’-shaped stain on wall!” The small undead said.

”Did you remember to call Raagu?” Nero said. ”She asked your help dealing with the Isharas.”

Both assistants knew that if left to their own devices, their masters could go on like that for days. So Ratpack brought Zolgrish out of the holographic field, and Nero tricked Inxialot into hanging up the call.

Meanwhile, at the Verhen Mansion, Solus still couldn’t believe her own ears.

”This is incredible! Even if by mistake, Inxialot did a job as good as Faluel.”

”Even a broken clock is right twice a day.” Lith shrugged. ”Eiros is also right, though. We should help the Kellar region next and take the opportunity to visit him. We’ve made plenty of good memories in the north when I served as a Ranger, and Eiros is a friend.

”No matter how good a lord he is, winter in Kellar is no joke, and Eiros could use our help.”

”It’s an excellent idea, but I’m worried about Jirni.” Solus said. ”We can’t bring all the family with us without leaving her vulnerable. Without the tower and the babies, she would be an easy mark for the Gernoffs.”

”Let’s discuss it with her.” Lith replied. ”Besides, I doubt that even the Gernoffs have operatives in Jambel. Without someone local, collecting information or going unnoticed in such a tight-knit community is slightly easier than stealing a Dragon’s egg.”

Lith informed his family of his plans, and he and Solus departed for the Kellar Region to take part in the relief efforts.

The people of the north were normally as cold and unforgiving as its climate, yet Lith discovered that many cities had warmed up to him and welcomed their former Ranger with affection.

”Thank you for the supplies, Ranger Verhen.” The head of a small backwater village consisting of barely thirty-two houses said. ”You have no idea how much your cargo means to us. We had to strip the bark from the trees and eat it to survive until now.”

”Please, don’t mention it.” Lith shook his head. ”Also, I’m not a Ranger anymore, Elder Sakh.”

”Nonsense!” The old man grunted. ”As I see it, a Supreme Magus is nothing but a Ranger with shoulders broad enough to bear the weight of the entire Kingdom. You’re just doing for everyone what you did for the Kellar region, and for that we’ll always be grateful to you.”

Lith was not used to receiving such praise without a hidden agenda and remained speechless for a second longer than it was polite.

”I’m surprised you lasted this long without a single casualty.” He cleared his throat, eager to change the topic. ”How did you do it?”

”Thanks to you, Ranger Verhen.” Sakh stood beside Lith like a gargoyle, shooing away all those who tried to waste his time with small talk after being healed of their ailments.

Before leaving a village, Lith also offered his services as a Healer, saving the people of Kellar money and the harsh travel that reaching the nearest city during winter required.

Sakh ensured that everyone got their share of supplies, got treated, and left after a polite thank you instead of holding the line.

”With three Lost Cities gone, Kellar is flourishing again. Shorter and safer trading routes are now available to big and small merchants. Goods travel faster and are cheaper than in the past.

”Also, the Mage Association has reclaimed plenty of corrupted lands and made them fertile again. There is a lot of work to do, and our brave boys are no longer forced to accept the measly wages that local landowners and merchants offer them.

”They can leave the village safely and find jobs that pay well. ”Our youths earn enough to make themselves a life out there and afford sending money home to put food on the table of their old parents.

”It’s amazing how a single man can change so many lives.”

”That’s nice of you to say.” Lith replied more awkwardly than before.

Once he finished healing the villagers, Lith cleared the houses and streets from the snow. He checked the well to make sure no animal corpse had fallen into the water.

Otherwise, when spring came and the ice thawed, the carcass would rot and make the water toxic. He returned to the tower, still in disbelief at how much the north had changed.