Solution

Libarius walks onto the grounds of the Magic Institute, his cane tapping along, Cura at his side. Cura carries a second black cane in her hands as she follows Libarius around. Libarius spots Arro Assero in the courtyard, his large body standing out quite clearly, and begins to approach. Libarius moves silently, even with his cane, as does Cura who follows at a distance.

Gracia walks onto the grounds of the Magic Institute, still unsure of how to hold herself after the events of yesterday. She sees Libarius very quickly, his coat hanging off of him like a moving shadow. She isn’t happy to see him; she doesn’t know how she’s meant to face him. Really, she would rather not see him at all. But regardless she finds herself watching him when he spots his target, worried about what problem he might start next.

Libarius comes behind Arro and swings his cane. The tip of the black cane smashes into the side of Arro’s head, shooting off from the force of the blow. Arro’s large body sways then falls to the ground with a loud thud. Libarius seems pleased with himself as Cura hands him a new cane with a smile. Gracia stands a distance away as she watches Libarius swoop down and pick up Arro’s body with a single hand. Arro hangs off of Libarius’s shoulder, his legs dragging on the ground. Libarius begins to walk, somewhat clumsily, but with no great difficulty.

Gracia wants to ignore him and be done with Libarius’s madness, but she can’t stop herself. As Cura begins to leave, Gracia takes her place shadowing Libarius. As he begins to walk the pathway leading inside the Magic Institute’s main building, he comes across Callidus. Callidus, seeing the bizarre scene, Libarius leaning on a cane as he carries a man far bigger than him, bursts out laughing. Libarius ignores him and continues on his way, but through his laughter Callidus is able to follow after him.

Callidus begins to grab at Arro’s unconscious body, taking some of the burden off of Libarius. Callidus, however, is much weaker than him, and as such is only better suited to the task by the use of both his arms. At this point his cackling has come to an end.

“Mr. Mitis, I’ll carry him for you.” Libarius allows him to take Arro.

Gracia cannot understand what she’s watching. She can’t understand why Callidus would offer his help here of all places. There’s honor among thieves, Gracia supposes. The delinquent Callidus has, for some reason beyond Gracia, come to respect the delinquent Libarius. She doesn’t want to imagine the sort of trouble that might come about from these two powerful free spirits joining forces, or rather, what Libarius might be able to do with an underling as skillful as Callidus.

She continues to follow the two of them along their merry way. As they walk through the Institute, she begins to have a bad feeling about where Libarius might be leading them. With each step, and each passed door, she becomes more and more convinced. And at last they come to the office of the head teacher, and Gracia has her suspicions confirmed. She sighs and stops, having no intention of following them to whatever conversation Libarius intends to have with her master.

Libarius and Callidus walk inside the reception room to the office. The butler greets them as he looks up.

“Good morning, do you need the Master for something?” He pauses when he sees Callidus carrying Arro. “Pardon me, but what are you doing?” Libarius tilts his head and looks at the butler.

“I have come to speak with Mr. Tetricum, what else?”

“Would Ms. Gracia happen to be around?”

“Of course not.”

Libarius pushes his way past the butler, Callidus right behind him, and together they walk into Summe’s office. Summe sits at his desk, looking over some paperwork, as the two of them walk in. He doesn’t look up.

“Libarius, what is it?” Libarius continues to walk forward.

“I’ve come to settle matters. Callidus, toss him down now.” Callidus does exactly as he was asked and tosses Arro’s unconscious body to the floor with a loud thud. Summe at last looks up from his work, then shakes his head.

“What have you done?” Libarius lowers his head slightly in deference to him.

“Worry not, Mr. Tetricum, he still lives. I’ve only knocked him unconscious, which I’m sure you’ve found more pleasing.”

“I suppose it’s better that you aren’t throwing around a corpse in my office, but I would prefer it if he weren’t here at all. And you, Mercurius boy, why are you going along with this?” Callidus grins.

“It seemed like the most fun, sir.” Summe sighs, but recovers quickly and looks back at Libarius.

“Whatever. What’s done is done. Now why have you done it?”

“Gracia asked me to handle my matters myself, rather than leave it to the inept fools we’ve been damned to teach.” He has no consideration for Callidus beside him.

“We’re all perfectly competent, I’ll have you know!”

“What compels a mage of your skill, meager as your power remains, to spout such lies so readily?”

“We would’ve done just fine!”

“Is that truly so? If the battle were to go on as planned, you would have lost soundly, hardly able to even yelp back at them. A mage ought to live in reality.” Summe interrupts.

“So why have you brought Sir Assero to me?” Libarius tilts his head in confusion.

“To have him removed by your hand. Even if not due to his utter lack of skill, then at least because of his brutish nature.” Summe seems more keen to listen to Libarius now.

“What has he done?”

“When he first challenged me, he had threatened me quite grievously, and, due to his inability with magic, he had done so under the mistaken impression I was a student. An instructor who makes blatant threats of violence against mere weakling children must be less than becoming among those in your employ.”

“That’s true, but quite honestly, I don’t believe you.” Callidus responds.

“We were all there, and that is what happened. It’s all true.”

“I don’t believe you either, honestly. Mercurius boy, go find Gracia.”

“Fine, fine, whatever makes you happy.”

Callidus stands up and leaves the office. He walks out to the hall and finds Gracia standing right outside the door, a mix of dejection and irritation on her face.

“Ms. Vis, the head teacher asked for you.” Gracia sighs.

“Alright.”

Gracia and Callidus walk into Summe’s office. Callidus walks in first, obstructing Gracia. Summe begins to question him.

“Why are you back already, I told you—”

“I brought her. She was right outside, so stop accusing me.” Gracia walks in past him.

“So it seems. Apologies then, Mercurius boy. What were you doing right outside, Gracia? Do you need to consult with me?” She tries not to look towards Libarius.

“Ah, no, that’s not it…” Before she can answer why she was waiting, Libarius stands and turns towards her, a slight smile in the corners of his mouth.

“I see. So you were awaiting me, Gracia?”

“No! I…”

“Very well. If you stand against me still, then let us finish our battle. Come, Gracia.”

“That’s not it!” Summe interjects.

“I don’t care if you’ll fight, but please don’t do it in my office. Gracia, is it true that Arro Assero had threatened Libarius at their first meeting?” Gracia is caught off guard by the sudden question and takes a moment to recollect.

“That is what happened.” She suddenly snaps towards Libarius. “And if you had just let it go, then—” Libarius interrupts her.

“To let a weakling such as him get away with such a slight unchallenged would be far too much to bear, Gracia. If you had only cast a spell so I might—” Summe interrupts the both of them.

“I have no interest in listening to you bicker.” He pulls a sheet of paper off the table. “I had intended to pass this request to a proper channel for it, but I think instead I’ll have you three resolve this trouble.” Gracia raises an objection.

“Master, I won’t work with—” Summe gives a halfhearted laugh.

“And that’s what I’m fixing.” Callidus raises his own objection.

“Why should I be—”

“Think of this as me giving a favor to your father, Mercurius boy.”

Summe continues to refuse to budge until the three of them leave to go where they belong.