There is a reason that, no matter how much we study it, we call magic an art and not a science. In science, effort and learning is more valuable than any amount of ingrained genius. In art, even if you worked your fingers to the bone mastering every technique invented by every master that came before you, it wouldn’t be enough to overcome your own terrible tastes.”

  -Professor Huktar, opening lecture, Thaumaturgy 1001.

  “I apologize. Demonology isn’t well understood in Corlin, and I haven’t taken the opportunity to learn here. How will the specifics kind of demon matter? Wouldn’t they have summoned the strongest possible being they could for this?” Struth said, looking back at the mauled corpse.

  Komena sighed. She could pass this off to the Faculty of Summoning. That would have the advantage of making her look stupid to her employers. But a basic overview would work for now, and she knew enough to provide it. “Well, there might be plenty that would be strong enough, but less that would actually do it. They’re defined by specific concepts and points of view. You couldn’t summon something then have it act against its nature. The stronger the creature, the more specific that point of view gets, the more complex the philosophy it operates under. It would have to be a very precise thing to be strong enough to do what I’ve seen today.”

  “So, the creature’s intention would need to align with the actual culprits. I assume that if there wasn’t true common cause, the summoning wouldn’t work.” Struth said, his grin dropping.

  “Or it would respond with murderous anger. I read somewhere that introspection is the first lesson a summoner learns. They need to understand their own motives.” Komena said, scanning the crime scene one last time with a disappointed look on her face. “Only two pieces of evidence out of this entire mess. The diaries and whatever killed the dean. That means you’ll need to be precise with your diagnosis.”

  Struth sighed, folding his notes together and placing them inside his vest. He shook whatever thoughts were in his head out and returned to grinning at her. “I wouldn’t have been chosen for this task if I was incompetent. Even if we can’t conduct a proper autopsy with what’s left, I’m certain we can pare it down to a reasonable list of suspects. But all three of us will need to burn the candle at both ends to do it in a reasonable amount of time.”

  Komena let out a grim chuckle. “That’s fine. I doubt I’ll be able to find the peace of mind to sleep until this is over. I do have other things I’ll try and pursue though. Grasping at loose lines is better than sinking.” She turned to leave, absently asking “Do you trust the boy enough to have him help with this? He doesn’t seem to be dealing with the stress very well and it’s only going to get worse. Isn’t there somewhere you can send him until this blow’s over?”

  “I’ve considered it, but there’s nowhere available right now. Either way, I wouldn’t have brought him if I didn’t think he could handle it.” Struth said, his thick brow furrowed in a hard glare. “If you’re worried about protecting his delicate sensibilities, then he saw worse before I adopted him. If your worried about him carrying his weight, it should be obvious to you that I rely on him a great deal more than I should.”

  “He’s seen worse?” Komena asked, glancing back at the torn-up body. “Where was he before you adopted him?”

  “That’s none of-” Struth started, angry for the first time Komena had seen, though he closed his eyes and re-plastered his grin before getting carried away. He might not have been handling what he had seen as well as it appeared either. When he started speaking again, he had returned to his baseline smile. “It’s not my place to tell you. If you want to ask Kave about it, I won’t stop you. But he can be defensive about his personal life.”

  “Don’t worry I’m not that invested in a child’s affairs. I’ll leave it be, as long as you’re certain about him.” Komena said.

  “I appreciate the sentiment. Don’t worry, I’m sure this will be an excellent learning experience for the boy.” Struth said. Komena glanced back over to the corpse but bit her tongue.

  She stayed quiet as they left the Dean’s residence. Struth tried to engage in some chattering about nearby book sellers and a bar that apparently served a very fine Corlin brandy. Komena didn’t respond beyond the occasional vague hum of polite interest. Alcohol wasn’t popular in Sabbelah. It wasn’t banned, but drunkenness was too obvious a weakness for most mages to indulge in. Even without the paranoia, Komena simply didn’t have the time or money to explore it.

  The day was finally underway enough that the streets were truly starting to crowd. It wasn’t as bad as it would have been by the market or main Faculty buildings, but there was still a rushing throng. People going to work, people making deliveries, people delaying their responsibilities on the curbside. It was standard in all ways. How long was that going to last? How would people react? Would the Evocation Faculty descend into a riot? Were they already at each other’s throats, lighting up darkened halls to claim the abandoned title or would that only start when the Dean’s death was made public? Komena wasn’t sure which would be worse, the instant release or letting it boil.

  “You!” A voice cried, barely pulling her from the mental calculation. She assumed that it was directed someone else, anyone else on the street. There were enough of them, and she made sure she was indistinguishable from them. Then she recognized the lout coming towards them from Ervan and Khalid’s company.

  He was tall and thin with corded muscles clear to see under his vest. He wore gloves on his hands, protecting long, agile fingers. He was clean shaven, exposing a weak, pock marked chin that was twisted by the glower on his face.

  “What right do you have to interfere with the results of a duel about company business?” he said. His tone made Struth come to attention, watching him quietly.

  "I didn’t interfere at all.” She answered, keeping her voice level. “I just made sure people would be around to treat my friend after he lost.”

  “You knew how Khalid would react. He’s always overvalued being seen as reasonable. He was the one who won though, that’s all the reason needed. He would have seen that if he had time to process it properly. You took that from him, bitch.”

  Komena cared more about him understanding what she had done rather than what she called her. Being known as a meddler ran counter to her goal of being barely known at all. Struth’s head tilted silently.

  “Then I’m sure you can take it up with him again and see if he’ll keep the job. You’re right. It’s his business and I shouldn’t have interfered. I’m sorry.” She said. The lout spat in response.

  “An apology won’t undo what you’ve cause. You know the only thing that will is proving that you were wrong to interfere, and there’s only one way to do that.” He said, taking a scroll out and tossing it at her, hard but underhand. Komena caught it without issue but didn’t open it. She had recognized the boiler plate dueling form mid-flight.

  She could make this work. She hadn’t accepted anything yet. That didn’t matter long term, there were plenty of duels where it was assumed the loser had agreed after the fact. But the challenger hadn’t attacked yet. Maybe he was waiting until she forced his hand, or the fear really hit. He had stayed a few paces away, too far for him to lunge and grab her. She could throw something, one of her knives, distract him and run. Officially claim she hadn’t agreed to any duel and buy time until he cooled down or Khalid call him off. The important thing was that she didn’t actually start the fight.

  “She accepts.” Said Struth. The lout looked at him, finally realizing that he was walking with her. The glare Komena shot the diplomat over her shoulder was more shocked than his.

  “You don’t-” she started, but the lout interrupted her. Their argument started to draw attention with the crowd flowing around them. People gave them space and glances as they walked by, though none did more than slowdown to eavesdrop.

  “Don’t try and get out of this. I’ll see you in an arena this evening or I’ll hunt you down before the next sunrise.” He said.

  “No, this is best settled here and now.” Struth replied. He had started rolling up his sleeves, slowly and carefully in a way to avoid wrinkles. “Take your position.”

  “How is this your business, foreigner. Leave us be to enact justice on our own.” The lout said. He towered over Struth but was thinner in every way and something in the Corlin man’s calmness was disconcerting.

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  “I can’t do that. It would dishonor the name Ironheart to abandon her now that I’m employed in service. We’ll settle this between us, unless Komena wants the pleasure of striking you down herself.”

  Komena very much did not need that pleasure in her life, but she didn’t want to watch Struth burn in her place. Maybe the man could cast, but she had never seen it. If one wanted to be good enough to win anything, they needed to be able to cast quickly casually, flexing their magecraft like a limb. She had seen enough poorly cast fire drift along slowly before being swatted down. But Struth had been the one to get them into this mess and he had started stretching in preparation by doing strange, slow little lunges with his hands on his hips and face casually neutral. He was serious in his offer and if he wanted to take responsibility for the consequences, that was his choice.

  “I am entitled to have a volunteer take my place. You can challenge me again if you still need satisfaction.” She answered.

  “Once I win, I’ll have you write to Khalid that he should take the position. Then we’ll see where my satisfaction lies” The lout said. His tone made it clear that would be a similar place to where it was now.

  “And if Struth wins, you’ll let the matter lie.” Komena said. The lout snorted in response but looked nervous when Struth did the same.

  “Agreed” he said and stepped away into a nearly empty alley. Komena and Struth followed him away from the crowd. A few people tailed them to watch, but most kept about their business. This wasn’t a particularly novel sight.

  “If he does win, I would appreciate it if you kept Kave from doing anything drastic. I’ve made what arrangements I could for him, but he’ll need some assistance if they fall through.” Struth said.

  “Of course.” Komena said. It wasn’t a request she could turn down and would be easy enough to fulfill anyways.

  “Do you have any last words.” Struth called out. His opponent was waiting for him, a few meters away.

  “None that I need now.” he said. Struth shrugged.

  “Na?ve, but that’s your choice.” He said, then lowered into suicidal stance, hands on the ground and legs braced. “Could someone count us down, please?”

  Komena pointed out one of the watcher’s a random, a boy who barely started shaving. It took a few shakes of the hand before he caught the message.

  “Five. Four. Three. Two. One!” The boy said. “Begin!”

  Both men moved instantly. The lout could back up his confidence. A geyser of white embers and black smoke erupted out of his hands the instant the duel began. Komena watched one of the embers get caught on the breeze and drift into the brickwork, scorching a black trail into it. Struth was faster though.

  In the time it took that spell to be cast, he had kicked off the ground and was sprinting towards his opponent. Before he dived into the conflagration in front of him, his fingers twitched, and he muttered something. He cut through the fire like ship through sea mist. His flesh didn’t peel and burn under the heat as he burst out the other side. Struth closed in on the lout who had challenged him low and quick. Before another spell came out, Struth had wrapped his arms around the taller man, picked him up into the air and slammed him into the ground with a sharp crack. A final, savage right hook to the jaw assured his victory.

  Struth stepped back from the broken body he had made, took a deep breath, and turned back towards Komena with a clap and full smile.

  “Well, that’s one distraction handled. Shall we continue on our way?” He asked.

  “Where did that come from?” Komena asked in reply. Struth motioned for them to walk and talk, leaving the crowd that had followed them into the alley. Komena spun the scroll containing the duel challenge in her fingers before pocketing it.

  “I took the opportunity of living here to attend some classes and learn a few cantrips. That was part of the reason I was sent here, to bring back what I thought was useful. I don’t have advantage of your lifetime of exposure, so I had to specialize. I decided shields would be the most effective so I learned them. Something for what armor can’t help with.” Struth said, resuming his usual maniac cheer.

  “I suppose that makes sense.” Komena said. It was certainly more sustainable than the spying his peers has indulged in. “But why defenses instead of something more practical, like moving things?”

  “Moving things? Oh, I meant bring it back for my family, not Corlin as whole. Our interests are more specialized. My intention was to retire back home to some kind of teaching position. Kave would assist until he found his own way.”

  “Specialized?” Komena asked. She could imagine what those were after the beating she had seen, but there was no point leaving it unconfirmed.

  “Oh yes, ask any Corlin citizen about the clan Ironheart, and the first thing they’ll think is warrior. We’re renowned for it, much like this place here is renowned for its curried noodle soup.” Struth said, pointing out a small building, well off the main street.

  The rest of the walk passed how it had started, with Struth pointing out his favorite little holes in the city. Komena contributed more than she had before, but still mostly listened. They were back at the Embassy without another interruption.

  ***

  Walking into Struth’s apartment, the pair found that Kave already had another pot of tea waiting to be served.

  “I’ve spoken to The Dean of the Mundane about getting the diary unlocked. He said it would be his top priority, but it would still probably take him a day to unlock it.” Kave said, pouring three cups. “He was smug for some reason. More than usual. Why was that?” Kave asked as he put one of them in front of Komena’s chair.

  “He was one of the few who offered to help however he could. I though you would have an easier time getting help from him then the Dean of Illusion, since he would at least recognize you enough to let you speak.” Komena said, sipping the tea. Excellent again.

  “We’ll need to inform all the other Deans of what he’s doing eventually. If he tries to spin this mess to his own benefit by tampering with evidence, they’ll know to look.” Kave said. That point hung in the air as Komena took another sip. Interference would be inevitable. If she had thought that tampered evidence would be the worst of it, then she wouldn’t be so eager to no longer be working this job.

  Kave broke the silence by leaving the room and returning with two bags. Both were overflowing with books and scroll. He placed them by the tea table, between himself and Komena.

  “I assumed that you would want to confirm what killed the Dean. I took the liberty of procuring some reference material.” Kave said as he took his own seat, a solidly build wooden seat with only a few horizontal bars to support the back.

  “Excellent work boy! Though we’ll only need the ones concerning summoned creatures apparently.” Struth declared as he took out his own notes. They slid across the table to rest in front of Kave.

  Kave nodded as he unpacked the bags. Komena scanned the titles of the books he laid out. Besides the expected local academic texts, there were a few imports. Corlin religious texts, Veldeti fauna guides and Ao Guang military histories. They would need to pick through what they read, but they wouldn’t miss something that simply hadn’t been summoned to the city yet. He passed a few of them over to Komena.

  “Here, start unlocking these.” he said. The books were bound shut with various, preservation enchantments. They were nothing serious, the academic equivalent to child proof locks.

  “I can’t.” Komena said, refiling her cup. There wasn’t a point in dragging out the mystery of it. It wasn’t a secret. “I don’t even have enough power to boil the tea in this cup.”

  It had been a while since she had told someone. Reactions differed but were usually expected. Khalid and Ervan had been sad and pitying when they’d learned, all three of them children younger than Kave. She had hated that then, though she appreciated the gesture a little more now. She’d beaten them both enough over the years for it to sting less now. Kave’s reaction didn’t have that kind of salve.

  “You’re joking. No ones that weak. Even Struth has enough raw power to take care of himself, and he just started learning ten years ago.” Kave said. “How would you do anything here if you couldn’t cast?”

  “I work really hard and pay someone to do it for me.” Komena answered between sips.

  “You’re being uncharacteristically small minded, Kave. Just like how their people like you are born with arcane talent, there are people who are most notable for their utter lack of such a thing.” Struth said. “Of course, I don’t think any others have risen to the heights of inspector for the Deans.” He motioned with his teacup, an informal cheer and salute. “You could stand to learn a thing or two from her.”

  “As much as I appreciate the vote of confidence, Struth.” Komena said, tapping the cover of one of the texts. “I will need someone to open these up for me. We don’t have time to pat each other on the back right now.”

  “Of course. My apologies.” Struth said, before he began casting. The seals keeping the pages bound together were undone with a wave of his hand.

  “We’ll start with an initial search. Look for anything with serrated claws, between six and seven centimeters, canine teeth of 8 centimeters, and fire.” Struth said.

  The next several hours went by in near silence, broken by flipping pages and one of them occasionally writing down a possibility. The work went quickly. They were all researchers by trade, in a way. The accounts Komena was reading were fascinating in comparison to the shipping manifests she normally dealt with. It was an exercise of eliminating the impossible, dismissing most of the creatures they read about as viable murder weapons. Still, even if the work was going quickly, it was like counting all the bricks in the city. You could say that you already finished counting two districts, that still left millions to tally.

  “That’s all the books I brought.” Kave said finally, rolling up his scroll. By this point, the setting sun was dying the white sands and buildings of the city outside Struth’s windows a faint orange. “I’ll need to get more from the library.”

  “I’ll come along. A few of the books might require the little authority I have to take out.” Struth said, standing up and stretching out his back. It gave a dry crack as he grunted in satisfaction.

  “Alright, I’ll leave the rest of the research to you two.” Komena said, finishing her last cup of tea. It had gone as cold as anything ever did in Sabbelah. Kave almost fired back a response, but Struth stopped him with a hand on the shoulder.

  “Would you mind telling us what you’ll be doing during this? It is my job to report back to the Dean’s on the investigation, after all.”

  “I’m going to continue the investigation.” Komena said, standing up and shaking herself to loosen up. Struth hadn’t skimped on budget or comfort when furnishing his room, but hours sitting and reading took a toll regardless. “Currently, we have two leads. But the Dean was also a, shall we say, social butterfly. If we can find the flowers that butterfly was visiting, we can get the nectar of truth from them.”

  A moment of silence passed while the two academics absorbed her words, their heads tilted like confused dogs.

  “That metaphor got away from you.” Kave said. Komena shrugged indifferently in response before leaving.