The Search for the Black Marsh

“Where should we look for Marisk, Libarius?”

“I don’t know. He’s a shut-in, so it’s impossible to say how he might be moving.”

“………Where would you be going, Libarius?”

“Were I looking for a disciple like that, I would follow whatever chaos I find. However, Father will be keeping Lama out of trouble, and causing it ourselves, I assume, should be kept a last resort.”

“Should we try going back to the cafe?”

“I suppose so.”

Libarius and Gracia return to the fountain near the cafe. Libarius looks around with one eye closed, tapping his cane at an even pace. He pivots about his cane once to look all around, then crashes his cane onto the ground.

“Not one trace of his magic. Though he failed to hide it within his body, it seems he can hide it just fine outside of it. Even though he’s just a shut-in.”

“What were you looking for?”

“Can you not follow the traces of magic?”

“I can tell when a spell has been used, more or less, but…”

“Ah, perhaps it is that you have nothing to do with the Abyss. The distortions in a person’s magic caused by the spell cause magic power to continually leak out into the air and onto the ground. If you’re attuned to it well, you can follow it with quite a bit of accuracy, but it isn’t much trouble to erase the traces of magic.”

“It’s just one added word to the spell. That’s how Master taught me.”

“Indeed. Though if you never go out and never must fear being identified, it wouldn’t be so strange to be incapable of even that.”

“Well, you made it sound like he had reasons to be scared, even if he stayed inside, so if he can eliminate any trace of himself, then isn’t that what makes it possible for him to be a shut-in?”

“Maybe so, but any that he might fear could destroy him swamp and all, so I can’t imagine why he would want to hide like that.”

“What? What’s happening in the northern lands?”

“It’s all just my speculation. Extrapolations from what I was able to learn from my father, while they were still the Tyrant’s lands. Do you still wish to hear my thoughts?”

“Of course.”

“How familiar are you with the Northern Dark Mages?”

“………I might have heard Master talk about it once or twice.”

“They are dark mages that reside in the northern lands and had been given some power by the Tyrant. It was a part of his ambition to create a world-spanning empire of magic, and so these mages were largely pacified. They kept to themselves largely and went after mainly mages unaffiliated with them. However, over the centuries, this has caused them to accumulate far too much power now that the Tyrant is no longer there to stand above them. What this means in a practical sense is that there are no small number of war powers in the northern lands that could threaten this kingdom, each one waiting for the moment they can finally strike. Though that time might never come. Even with a weakling like Black Marsh it hasn’t come, not yet. Nobody would want to expose their back just for that.”

“Is a swamp really so worthless?”

“Ah, not the swamp but Black Marsh himself is the worthless one. ‘Day turned to Night wherever the Lord of the Devils came, and in the Darkness the Children of God fell to their knees as all power abandoned them, and so was Light stolen from Man by the Devils.’ This is the verse said to describe the power of Devils from which the Abyss spell descends. The power of the Abyss is one that steals and makes the power of others belong to the user. Rather, Black Marsh has no impressive degree of power, so he will serve little purpose in strengthening themselves. And I imagine they might assume he’ll be better used as a servant once one of them has conquered the northern lands.”

“Where did you learn all this?”

“……………………………………………………………………………………………………”

“Libarius?”

“Father had few topics he felt confident he could speak to me about.”

“I feel like this must’ve been an inappropriate one.”

“It’s fine.”

“If you say so. We should ask around, shouldn’t we?”

“I suppose so.”

As the two of them begin to ask around, they happen upon Victoria, her thin sword at her hip. Libarius passes over her without even noticing, but is stopped and pulled back by Gracia.

“Victoria, we need to ask you something.”

“What is it, Ms. Vis?”

“Have you seen an old man in a cloak?”

“No, not at all. What are you and Mr. Mitis doing?”

“We were at that cafe when we met an old man—”

“In short, this man, Marisk, is a dangerous one. Weaklings like you ought to keep away from him. If you haven’t seen him, we have no need of you.” Libarius begins to leave unceremoniously, without even a nod to Victoria, but is again pulled back by his sleeve.

“You can’t just leave, Libarius.”

“Unhand me. The sooner we can put an end to Marisk the better.”

“You two really just coincidentally met somebody who is such a large threat?”

“Indeed, and he was none the wiser. Truly pathetic.”

“Then… Mr. Mitis, Ms. Vis, do you spend your days off together often?” Gracia cocks her head.

“We do. Why are you asking?”

“There have been certain rumors…” Victoria’s voice trails off.

“It’s not like that!”

“Do you know what these rumors regard, Gracia?”

“It doesn’t matter! You don’t need to know! And they aren’t true! Since we’re working together we need to get to know each other! And Libarius needs a keeper anyway!”

“You are hardly my ‘keeper,’ Gracia. Speaking of which,” Libarius raises his voice, “Cura, come here a moment.” Cura appears from somewhere or other, much to Victoria’s surprise.

“Do you need something, Young Master Libarius?”

“Return to Father and inform him that a man is targeting Lama. Instruct him to remain at her side at all times, though I can’t imagine he would do much else.”

“Alright. Don’t go somewhere strange while I’m not looking.” Cura runs off, then Libarius taps his cane against the ground.

“Come then, Gracia. This city has an extensive underground, does it not?” Without a word to Victoria, Libarius begins to leave, nearly dragging Gracia along.

“You were just told not to do something like this!” She lets go of Libarius’ sleeve.

“If I must fight, I would rather it be away from prying eyes.”

“This is why you need a keeper, you know!”

“Indeed.” Libarius turns back to look at her. “Though in a time like this I would much prefer it to be you, Gracia.”

The two of them walk off in search of an access point for Polaris’ underground.