Supreme Magus

to kick mages out of the city. The other one is collecting evidence to get rid of their opponents and seize their properties.

”Neither faction wants to involve the army, it would ruin their plans. ” Friya said.

”Then why did the Count call me? Wasn ’t that shooting himself in the foot? ”

”Beats me. Maybe he really has gone mad. ” Friya shrugged as she opened the door of Lith ’s room. It was barely bigger than a storage room, with just enough space for a bed and a wardrobe.

”Sorry to give you the worst room, but it ’s all that ’s left. ”

”Don ’t worry, I ’ve been in worse places. ” Lith lied. The only reason he had accepted staying there was to keep an eye on her. The situation in the city was too odd, and Lith had noticed how Friya was on edge while dealing with some of her guild members.

’Damn, I can ’t leave the city during a snowstorm. The army locates my position every time I make a report and a single Warp Steps only crosses about ten kilometers (6.2 miles).

’I can reach a mana geyser with it, but for a normal mage it would be suicidal. Now that I have a better understanding of the situation, I might as well play ball. ’

As soon as he was alone, Lith called his handler and explained everything to her.

”My assessment is that Count Cestor is insane or being manipulated, while Viscount Krame is willing to exploit the chaos that will ensue as the conflicts escalate to further his political agenda. ” Lith said.

”Agreed. I ’ll contact my superiors and let you know their decision. Until then, investigate this Church of the Six and the Griever. If your friend is right about the means of contagion, then Zantia could be the rehearsal for something bigger.

”Gods, I ’ll never understand why people are willing to hurt those closest to them for the pettiest reasons. ” Kamila ’s voice was so sad that Lith understood she wasn ’t talking about Zantia, but rather about herself.

He called her on her civilian amulet immediately after ending the call. He had recognized the hologram ’s background as her home, so there was no risk of interrupting her job with his paranoia.

”Kami are you alright? ” Lith said noticing she was crying, which made him sick with worry.

”It ’s just a rough moment for me. Everything is fine. ” Those words made Lith shiver. In his experience, when a woman said those three words, they were usually a lie.

”No, it ’s not. Yesterday you were in a bad mood, then you behaved oddly during lunch, and now this? Kami, if you don ’t talk to me, I don ’t know what to do. ” He said. At the mention of lunch, she laughed amid the tears.

”I was perfectly normal at lunch, silly. I ’m just on a diet and couldn ’t stand watching you eat while I starved. ” She chuckled.

”But you are right about the rest, I ’m not fine. I went to visit my sister and seeing her like that broke my heart. I don ’t know if I can save her anymore. I feel so helpless that it ’s driving me crazy. ”

Lith didn ’t understand much from her rambling, but he let her talk and cry as long as she needed to.

Seeing her breaking apart like that hurt him deeply. Kamila always smiled and she always had a nice word for Lith, turning his perpetual frown upside down. He wanted to drop everything and run back to Belius just to embrace her.

”Is there anything I can do? ” It was all he could say when she was done talking.

”No, but thanks for the offer. I ’ll explain everything to you once you get back. I promise that the second time it will make sense. ” She chuckled.

”Thanks for listening to me. I feel much better now. Don ’t worry, you did nothing wrong. This time. ” She laughed harder, making him smile.