The Rainbow Sage

After their hectic first class comes to a close, Gracia leads Libarius out. He follows her without question for a while, remaining in silence. However, as they keep walking down the hall, he at last takes an interest.

“Gracia, where are you taking me? I would like to strategize and conduct what little research I can.”

“Why did you even start such a stupid fight? If you just give it up and apologize then you would have more time for research.”

“I can’t stand people like him, those who squander their gifts and those who try to lord over others both. And if I devoted all my time to research as I wish to, then I would surely fail in my task, and lose my access to research entirely. And this fight is research in itself.” Gracia can’t help but be somewhat suspicious of that.

“What are you planning?”

“I’m not planning anything at all. I will simply do my duty. The results have just now begun to interest me. So where is our destination?”

“To meet the head teacher.”

“I see. I suppose I should have expected as much. A clash between two classes would be quite hard to conduct without his knowledge.”

“No! That’s not it at all! Actually… don’t even mention it, at all if possible.” Libarius tilts his head, puzzled.

The two of them reach a staff room. They step inside. Around the room are several small round tables with two chairs at each. The room is empty save for a young man with glasses, slicked back hair and a butler uniform. He greets them, or rather, Gracia.

“Ah, Mistress Gracia, here for the Master, are you? Unfortunately, he’s occupied with another teacher, so you’ll need to wait. Take a seat at one of the tables, I suppose. Ah, Ms. Alo sent you here with a treat, didn’t she? Perhaps now would be a fine time for that.”

“Ah, you’re right.” Libarius responds with interest.

“A treat?”

“Don’t get excited. It’s just the cake from yesterday.”

“Ah, the spell that was ruined by your master butting in where he wasn’t needed.” The butler stands up and hurries over to them.

“I heard that! Do you truly believe that your spell might be superior to the Master’s? That’s the height of arrogance, I’ll have you know! The Master is Summe Tetricum, the Rainbow Sage, the greatest genius of the past century!”

“Summe…” Libarius clicks his tongue. “It’s a name I know. How irritating. If he were another simple nobody I could have believed this to be mere loyalty. But his work is phenomenal, a masterclass of the modern age. It would take somebody of at least that caliber to surpass me.”

“Ah, it seems you’ve come to understand! That’s good! Well then, I’ll return to my post for now.” Gracia begins talking just as the butler begins to leave triumphant.

“Libarius, you remember this is only about a slice of cake, right?” She places the plate onto a table and undoes the spell. She cuts through the cake with a fork and takes a bite.

“We aren’t concerned with the cake, Gracia, no matter how wonderful it might be, we’re concerned with the spell itself. It’s a contest between mages.”

As she cuts through the cake again, a terrible thought forms in Gracia’s mind. She takes the fork and holds it out towards Libarius, mimicking what he had done in the cafe, her embarrassment having returned to her mind. However, Libarius, unfazed as always, smiles widely and takes the bite. Rather than Libarius, it is again Gracia who loses. She wonders what she was doing as her cheeks redden. Libarius misses this entirely as he clicks his tongue. He speaks with a sudden competitiveness.

“It seems he really did have me beat. To think there’s still such a gap between us. Our technical skills ought not to be so different, so is it merely the weight of experience? Is this truly a wall that will forever remain insurmountable? Damnable. To think I would miss something so simple. Is not the construction of spells my greatest skill? To recall and craft them as I will it, was that not the reason for my learning?” Gracia watches, wholly incapable of guessing what might have set him off, her face still red. “To think that there was something greater beyond just that rote preservation! Is the only path forward to gain greater experience yet? Must I go to that cafe once more? To think that yet another task would impede my research. Lo, how desirable the cloister now seems. Gracia will you—” He looks up to see Gracia’s reddened cheeks. “Are you feeling ill? Have you come down with something?”

“No! I’m feeling fine!”

“Then will you come—” Gracia is still reeling from both the memory of yesterday and her foolishly feeding Libarius.

“No! I won’t go to a cafe with you!” Libarius pauses for just a moment.

“Can I have—”

“No!” She eats the rest of the cake quickly, stuffing her cheeks full. The butler calls to them.

“Um, the Master can see you now, Mistress Gracia.”

Gracia stands up quickly and walks to the door to his office. Libarius follows after her. They step inside. Bookshelves line both walls. Behind the desk is a stern man with graying hair, his facial hair wrapping around his mouth. Libarius assumes he must be around a decade older than Salvo, though with a powerful mage he cannot be sure. He speaks in a gruff voice.

“Sit, Gracia. Hm? Are you feeling ill? Have you come down with something?” Gracia hurries to cover her face with her hand.

“I’m not! Why does everyone keep asking? Stop asking!”

“Now then, who is—” Libarius grits his teeth and bows his head to Summe.

“Summe, you may have beaten me this time, but do not foolishly begin to think that I shall let this state of affairs last. Even if you remain superior for now, one day soon I’ll bring you down. You truly are a genius among geniuses, as it was said. To have come up with such a simple change to my spell, yet for it to elevate it to such great heights… Who else but a genius of your magnitude could have done it? You truly are one to be admired, Summe. All it took was the simple addition of cooling, yet you uncovered a whole new depth to be explored. To think that the path of cakes could be so deep…” Everything he admits seems to bring him greater and greater pain. Summe responds.

“What are you talking about? And beyond that, if you want to show me respect, call me Lord Tetricum, or at least mister.” Libarius bites his lip to hold back his rage.

“Mr. Tetricum, you have a terrific intellect.”

“Alright then. Gracia, who is this kid and what is he talking about?”

“You don’t know?”

“Of course I don’t. He’s talking about cakes to me.”

“No, Master, I mean who he is. He’s a teacher.” Summe has a realization and sighs.

“I see. So you’re the problem child the headmaster foisted onto me. A little shrimpy to be a teacher, don’t you think. Introduce yourself, kid.” Libarius keeps his head bowed.

“I am Libarius Mitis.”

“Hah?! Forget a teacher, a little shrimpy to be Salvo’s son!”

“…I take after my mother.”

“Whatever! And to think that bastard is making his child work a job like this now! How he’s fallen.” Gracia interjects.

“But Master, aren’t you doing practically the same thing?”

“Don’t be foolish, Gracia. I assigned you to this job because you are an adult, ready to move beyond being merely a disciple. It’s entirely different.”

“But how? Me and Libarius are the same age.” Summe looks Libarius up and down.

“That can’t be true. Is Salvo feeding you? Are you eating enough?”

“Most likely. However, I forgot to eat today, though I’ve forgotten often enough that it doesn’t bother me.” Gracia is shocked.

“Huh? If you had told me, I would have given you the cake back.”

“No, I can just go to the cafe later.” Summe has a realization.

“So you’re the gentleman that Alo had told me about too? The one with the spell on the cake.” Libarius nods. “Ah, well, that… well, it doesn’t explain much, but I suppose I can understand. But really, it was quite an intriguing spell. I’m interested in how you came up with it.” Libarius beams.

“Ah, it all began a week prior to today. I had the thought: ‘if only these treats wouldn’t spoil,’ and so I began my work in secret. Yesterday was my first test of the spell, and I thought it quite good, only to be humbled by your beautiful work, Mr. Tetricum.”

“If nothing else, you think the same stupid things I would imagine a child of Salvo’s to think.” Summe pauses as he shifts topics. “Well, moving on, what sort of stupid thing have you gotten yourselves involved in?” Gracia freezes, her heart leaping into her throat. She stands up awkwardly and grabs Libarius’ wrist.

“Oh, would you look at the time, Master. We need to go. Okay bye.”

“Fine. Do as you please. I won’t interfere. This too will aid in your growth, so what does it matter?”

Gracia drags Libarius out of the room. Summe starts to stroke his beard once they’re gone. He begins to think aloud.

“Libarius… Libarius… Haven’t I heard the name before?”