Return of the Runebound Professor Chapter 925: Weird 8s

“You’re kidding,” Noah said. But there was no amusement in Vivian’s features. She was dead serious. “The Apostles? With the Truthseekers? What makes you think they’re working together? Is that because of the whole incident during dinner? Because that—”

“Was you,” Vivian finished. She pierced Noah with a flat look. “But that is not what I am referring to. I was aware of the Apostles’ presence well before you got involved with them and attempted to fry the Truthseeker.”

“There was no attempt,” Noah said. “I did fry him. I just didn’t get a chance to finish the job. ”

“Semantics,” Vivian said. “Whatever the reason, it is very likely that they are working together in some capacity.”

“Why would the Apostles ever want to help the Truthseekers?” Noah asked. He couldn’t see Garina ever agreeing to help someone like Og. Then again, he hadn’t exactly spotted Garina at the party, either. Who knew what the other Apostles did in their free time. “What would they get out of it?”

Vivian shook her head. “I do not know. But the Truthseeers are reviled by every Faction. Nobody wants those overzealous pests anywhere near their land. They are a plague.”

“Then why would the Apostles help?” Noah frowned. “I’m sure you’ve had more interactions with them than I have. But, speaking in general terms, they don’t strike me as the most helpful individuals.”

“They are not. But the Apostles don’t have land,” Vivian said. “They are not a Faction. Not in true. As powerful as they are, they have nobody but themselves. There is no force behind them beyond what they themselves can bring to bear. And that means they are far more prone to interference.”

“What, they’re basically like mercenaries?” Noah asked.

“That is not entirely inaccurate,” Vivian allowed. She shook her head. “But they cannot be bought. The Apostles work for themselves and their own selfish desires. They only act in service of others when they have something to gain that money or influence cannot buy.”

“And the Truthseekers have that?”

“No,” Vivian replied. Her frown deepened. “They do not. And that is what vexes me. I do not understand why the Apostles would ever ally themselves with the Truthseekers. But several times now, the Truthseeker’s passing has been completely cloaked to me. Og never should have been able to make it into my masquerade without drawing attention. Not without help.”

“How do you know it’s not one of the other Factions?” Noah asked. He scratched the back of his neck. “Rake seems like a right ass. He could have been backing them up.”

Vivian let out a bark of laughter. “For someone as old as you are, you’re so… mortal.”

“What’s that meant to mean?” Noah asked. “Because it sounded like an insult.”

“It wasn’t any more insulting than calling a child naive,” Vivian said. She let her smile fade away. “You dislike Rake because he planned to forcibly recruit you. You dislike him, so you assume him to be your enemy. But Rake does not even view you as a person. To him, you are nothing but a pawn in a game. Everyone weaker than him is.”

“Sounds like a great guy.”

“It is not about if someone is great or not,” Vivian said. “It is about nature. And Rake would never help the Truthseekers. No Faction Head would. We are all aware of what happens when those pests arrive. They are a fire that consumes without consideration. If Rake wished to cause me trouble, there would be far easier and more straightforward ways to do so.”

“I’ve found that underestimating enemies is generally a bad idea,” Noah said.

“You would be correct,” Vivian said. She rose to her full height, looming above Noah. “But Rake is not an enemy. He is a… rival. A threat. I would go so far as to say an opponent. But not an enemy. Not right now. That will come at a later time. But I did not tell you this purely to discuss. You will serve me purpose.”

Noah frowned. “I don’t know if I like the sound of that.”

“I am doing more than enough for you to earn myself a favor,” Vivian said. “I simply wish for you to keep an eye on the Apostles. It seemed that at least one of them had a soft spot for you. During the next social event, I want you to determine what it is they are doing.”

“You think they’re just going to spill for no reason?” Noah asked doubtfully. “Just because we had a good chat doesn’t mean any of them love me. And I think you’re seriously overestimating just how much any of them like me.”

“I’m not looking for a detailed recounting of their goals,” Vivian said. “My plans are not going to hinge on you. But I cannot send any of my own people close. They will know. You are different. If anyone has a chance of overhearing something without drawing suspicion, it is you.”

Noah’s lips thinned. He pondered Vivian’s request for a moment. “What do I get out of this? We’ve got a partnership thing going here. I’d like to keep it that way. And nobody works for free.”

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Vivian sighed. “I expected as much. What do you want?”

“A few things. None all that unreasonable,” Noah replied casually. He was tempted to just ask Vivian to gather up his students. But he didn’t dare mention that. Vivian was still a Faction Head. There was no telling for certain if she could be truly trusted. There was no point completely hiding his goals, but that didn’t mean he had to outline all of them for her. And even without Vivian, Noah had faith that he would be able to get everyone’s attention soon enough. “First, I want you to keep the Mistress off me and anyone I point out. I don’t want that creepy shadow lady coming after me again when I’m not looking. It’s annoying.”

“Simple,” Vivian said. “What else?”

“Transportation to the Empty Court for me and my people when the tournament is over. And just us,” Noah said. “That sounds a lot easier than flying all the way back.”

Vivian’s eyes narrowed. She considered him for a moment. Then she inclined her head. “That would likely be safer than you trying to use the Beyond to ferry them back yourself. Very well.”

“Then we have a deal,” Noah said. He raised his hand. Then he sent Vivian a pointed look. “So long as you take that promise seriously. I don’t want you trying to recruit my allies or otherwise interfering with them in a way they don’t want. Our business is between us. Only us.”

“Protective,” Vivian observed. She reached down and took Noah’s hand. “Trust me. I have absolutely no interest in stealing your people from you. I have far bigger things to deal with, including trying to figure out how I am meant to justify this odd relationship of ours to the other Faction Heads.”

“You think Rake will talk?” Noah asked.

Vivian shook her head. “No. But I will have to try to pass you off as my disciple. That will be… difficult.”

“What? You think they’re going to doubt you? Why would they?”

“No,” Vivian said wearily. She released Noah’s hand. “I think you are an insufferable little cretin who will inevitably make my job far more difficult than it has to be.”

Noah paused for a moment. Then he shrugged. “Yeah. That’s probably fair. Sorry in advance. In my defense, I’m not trying to be insufferable. You’re probably just going to do something that gives me no other choice.”

“I am certain you will see it that way,” Vivian said. It was her turn to pause. Then she tilted her head slightly to the side. “Before we leave your Mindspace, I am compelled to ask. Who exactly is it that you’re looking for within my tournament?”

“Can I not answer that?” Noah asked. “Because I really don’t want to give you targets. No offense.”

“You don’t have to,” Vivian replied with a shrug. “But that will not stop the other Faction Heads. And if those you seek take after you in any way, then they may draw attention. I will be able to do little to help if I do not know who it is you are after.”

“Does that mean you’d help if you knew?” Noah asked.

“Perhaps,” Vivian said. Her lips pulled into a grin. “I would not mind putting you further into my debt.”

“Further? I’d say we’re even,” Noah said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You can’t blame me for all the Beyond stuff. That’s basically your fault. If anything, I think I get to be pissed that you might have indirectly infected me with a magic super-virus.”

“I saved you from Rake,” Vivian said. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “He would have forced you to join him had I not arrived.”

“I’d have managed. And then I bailed you out of an equally awkward situation.”

“I passed a message on to you,” Vivian pointed out. “From a Goddess.”

“Late,” Noah replied. “And only because you had no choice. I figured it out before you actually said anything.”

“Nobody expects messages from the gods to be easy to understand,” Vivian said.

“Yeah,” Noah said with a nod. “But you aren’t a god.”

The two of them stared at each other for a second. Then the corner of Vivian’s mouth twitched in amusement.

“You really do have no fear of me at all, do you?”

“I’ve got enough to know you’re dangerous,” Noah said. “I’m not an idiot.”

“Debatable.”

“Debatable,” Noah allowed. “But I’m not going to bend over and just let you do whatever the hell you want because you’re stronger than me. I have my ways of getting by. And I think you can understand why I lack the patience to bullshit around them. I’m normally more than happy to lie to your face. But you asked me to be honest. So that’s what I’m doing. This is respect.”

Vivian’s cold gaze bore into Noah for a moment longer. Then a faint smile pulled across her lips.

“Very well. You know, I think I can see why Renewal has interest in you,” Vivian said. “Perhaps it isn’t just that you have her Rune. I will accept your respect and treat it in kind. Before we leave your Mindspace, there is something I would tell you. But you cannot speak of it. Not even to me.”

Noah blinked. That sounded dangerous. But he was far too curious to do anything but nod.

“Consider it done.”

“This tournament has a second purpose,” Vivian said. “It is related to the first, but there is a second one nonetheless. There is a reason that there is so much focus on recruiting new talent this year.”

“Oh?” Noah asked. He tilted his head to the side. “What is it?”

“A short while after the tournament’s conclusion — though I do not know exactly when — our world’s magical presence will overlap with that of another. There will be a brief few days during which passage between the worlds is possible.”

“What?” Noah asked. His eyes widened. “Seriously?”

Vivian nodded. “It is an incredibly rare occasion known as Solstice. Even I have only seen a few of them. But there is, as one would expect, limits to this boon. The overlap will be destabilized if a powerful mage tries to enter through it. Only those too weak to disrupt the magical fields may pass into the other world.”

“Rank 7?” Noah guessed, realization setting in.

“Rank 7.” Vivian nodded. “That’s correct. The entire purpose of this tournament is to recruit and train expendable mages for Solstice. The Faction Heads cannot enter, but whichever Faction leaves with the most dangerous runes will have the chance to make great leaps in influence. The future distribution of power amongst the Factions may very well rest on a few weak, relatively untrained mages.”

Noah stared at her in silence for a moment. Then he ran a hand through his hair. “Oh, shit. Recruiting from the tournament is everyone’s the last chance to bolster their forces. No wonder they’re all so focused on it.”

“It is a very well kept secret,” Vivian said. A faint smile crept across her lips. “And now, I believe, you are ever so slightly in my debt.”

Noah glared at her. “Seriously?”

“No,” Vivian said with a laugh. “I’m not petty.”

Noah chuckled as well. “Oh. Good. For a moment there—”

“Or am I?” Vivian asked.

And, without another word, she vanished from his Mindspace.

Noah stared at the spot where she’d been standing for a moment. Then he let out a sigh.

“Fucking weird-ass Rank 8s,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Then he followed after her.