Delfín took some time out of his tight schedule as director of Liev's Tower to meet his former student. Astrid insisted on meeting with the teacher as soon as possible. However, she rejected any proposal to meet at Liev's Tower or the headquarters of the regulators. Eventually, they gathered in a poor villa at the southern end of the dynasty.
"This is the place," thought the master, approaching the well in the center of the village.
He had changed carriages several times and made several turns. Covered by a hood and cape, he got to the village on foot. At the well, a thin, eight-year-old boy, dressed in rags, rested his back on the stone wall. Delfin dropped a copper coin. The boy picked up the coin and pointed toward a broken wooden house. Delfin went into the house.
'Master Delfin, it is a pleasure to see you again,' Astrid greeted.
'The pleasure is mine, my dear,' replied Delfin, smiling and taking off his hood.
Delfin had grown old. The wrinkles on his face and weight gain were obvious.
'I will keep watch outside,' said Geralt, leaving the house.
'Why is there a need for this much secrecy?' asked Delfin.
'I will start from the beginning. It's going to be a bit of a long story,' said Astrid, serving some rum in a couple of wooden cups.
'Master, are you aware that arcane magic was used in the Dragons World War, right?'
Delfin Nodded.
'How do you think we have used this magic so effectively and so fast?' asked Astrid, drinking from her cup. The strong spirit made her face grimace.
'Although I despice arcane magic, it was a desperate situation. An alliance with the warlocks was the only chance for our world,' replied the master, taking a sip from his cup.
'Yes, that's the official version. The truth is quite different.'
The master raised an eyebrow in doubt and curiosity.
'Do you remember the Van Felding family?'
'How to forget them. What happened to Maurius was a tragedy,' replied Delfin. Recalling how Clinton manipulated everyone and sacrificed Maurius in his absurd ritual.
'Cliford is dead. He died during the war. His wife, Ultria, survived. She was wounded and abandoned the front. Seeing the primary forces of the dynasty marching towards the volcano of the dragon world instead of fighting on the front, she had a bad feeling. She decided to join the main forces of the army, mixing up with them. Most of the army marched toward the dynasty. A small group stayed on the volcano. They sent the regular army to clean the area; there were dragon corpses, eggs, and so on. Ultria managed to separate from the army and spy inside a cave. What do you think he discovered?'
Delfin kept staring at her.
'It's ironic. Ultria discovered that the warlocks who were performing the ritual were members of the magician's royal court'.
Delfin's eyes opened. 'Astrid, that is a very serious accusation,'
'I know,' accepted Astrid. 'Ultria easily recognized Lydia, the leader of the court. Our soldiers did not fall in battle, and Master Robalt did not fight courageously. They sacrificed our soldiers, the dragons, and their world in an arcane magic ritual'
'Stop! That makes no sense,' replied the master.
'That is nothing,' replied Astrid. 'Geralt and I have conducted a secret investigation. It took us more than two years to gather enough information to know what's going on. We found out there were two courts. The royal court of magicians, and what they call the dark court. Lidia is the head of both courts. The dark court is made up of warlocks. It's all a lie, Master,' said Astrid, holding the wooden cup with both hands with all the strength she could muster.
'The regulators' suits. The crystals of oculis. The enchanted armor. Even the artifacts used to measure and identify magic affinity. They're all the result of arcane magic.′
The teacher stood up. 'Astrid I was a regulator in my youth. The Royal Court of Magicians is under the direct command of the Crown. The crown would never support the warlocks. What you're saying is a conspiracy against the crown. This is treason,' warned the master.
'I wish it were so, Master. But I'm telling you the truth. Sit down, please, Master. I am not done yet,' Astrid pointed to the chair.
Delfin had a lot of doubts; he could not believe anything that Astrid was telling him, but he sat down again.
'A few days ago, I attended a party where the lord of Duero wanted to present the new magicians to the high society. There I met Xavier again; his nephews are the hot topic right now' continued Astrid.
'I know; unfortunately, Xavier is too stubborn to forget the past. He has denied the boys the instruction they need to become legendary magicians' commented Delfin.
'And I am glad for that,' replied Astrid.
That comment irritated the master's pride. He believed in the integrity and dedication of Liev's tower personnel to train the best magicians in the world.
'At that party. I met a man named Jude. He is a new member of the royal court. A few months ago, after a lot of research, we noticed too many coincidences: the moment of appearance of this character, the speed with which the plan to end the problem of the dragon world was started. It was difficult; we had to overcome many barriers and act discreetly in order not to be discovered. But in the end, thanks to a lucky strike, Geralt managed to tie some of the loose ends and came to suspect that this Jude was no other than Clinton Van Ferra.'
The master's face was one of pure surprise. 'Van Ferra is dead.'
Astrid denied it with her head. 'I confirmed his identity at the party. Clinton Van Ferra is in the royal palace as a member of the dark court, under the name of Jude'
'Impossible' denied the master.
'That's the truth, Master. The Dark Court has been using arcane magic spells for centuries to create magical objects; they sacrifice the war prisoners, the poor villages, and the devastated areas... are probably the work of the crown. I would dare to say that the warlocks have never attacked a single village.'
'You are crazy,' denied the master.
'We believe that some masters of the tower and probably both titled magicians are involved in all this'
'Not master Emeral' Delfine denied. 'I've known her for years. We're colleagues of the same element; we share a passion for fire magic and a contempt for arcane magic.'
'I'm glad to hear that. To have to face a magician of that caliber is something that we do not wish to do, even in nightmares,' Astrid forced a smile.
'I still can't believe what you're saying'
'I didn't want to believe it either. But I can assure you that all of this is as true as that bottle of rum. Clinton Van Ferra is alive and in the royal court, next to Princess Mable. I danced with him and confirmed his identity. He didn't even get scared. He believes that he is under the protection of the royalty.'
'I need time to confirm this,' said Delfin, still with doubts.
'Please be careful, Master. We don't know who's involved in this. But they are all nobles of the highest spheres and very powerful magicians. Whatever you do, don't mention to other teachers where you got this information from. If they find us, they'll kill us all.
'In a week. In Finch's Forest. I'll confirm what you're saying. If it is true, we will seek allies to stop this madness.' Delfin covered his head again and left the house.
Geralt entered after making sure that the master had left.
'He's still alive. So, I suppose you trust him,'
Astrid nodded, disassembling the crossbow that was hidden under the table. 'I just hope he is careful.'
As he traveled back to the tower, the master had a lot of time to think. He couldn't sleep that night. The next morning, he decided to meet with Emeral. Her reputation and integrity were unstainable in Delfin's eyes.
'What's going on, Delfin?'
The master closed the door after Emeral entered the office.
'Emeral, I will tell you this because I consider you a great friend and colleague... I've come across what could be a great conspiracy.'
"So this moment has finally come; what a pain in the ass!"
'What do you mean, my friend?'
Delfin took a deep breath. He thought of telling Emeral everything that had happened the day before. But he remembered Astrid's words and decided to keep her involvement a secret. 'I think there are warlocks infiltrated in the royal court.'
Emeral pretended to be surprised. Then she laughed. 'My friend. That is impossible,' Emeral said.
'Clinton Van Ferra, he is alive; now he is called Jude and is a member of the court.'
The teacher became serious. 'Are you sure of what you're saying?'
Delfin nodded.
'Where did you get that information from?'
'I have been investigating on my own since the end of the dragon war. Some things didn't add up,' replied Delfin.
'Does anyone else know about this?'
Delfin denied with his head.
'Very well, wait here; I have to confirm something,' said Emeral, rising from her seat. 'I will be back in a moment. I swear we'll get to the bottom of this.'
Upon leaving Delfin's office, Emeral's facial expression turned to anger. She brought together the other masters except Robalt, who was on a mission. He was doing a lot of work for the crown lately, trying to wash off the shame from what happened in the confrontation with the young De Vonder.
'What is going on, Emeral?' asked Gaelion.
'Delfin found out. He says he's been investigating on his own, but it's obvious that he is covering for someone.'
'Damn it! Is there any way to convince him?' Amelia asked.
'I don't know. He's very stubborn. But we can use his love for the dynasty to bring him to our side. If we fail to do so, we will have to kill him.'
'It would be best to capture him alive to interrogate him,' said Amelia.
'As foolish as he is, he would rather die before he is caught or says anything,' denied Emeral.
'It is a pity; he is a useful fool. I do not want to have to deal with all the paperwork that the academy represents,' Gaelion complained.
'Don't remind me. Having to deal with the ruggrats for the first six months is so annoying,' Emeral added.
The three masters went back to Delfin's office.
'Delfin, we have come to help you,' assured Amelia.
'What is the meaning of this, Emeral?' asked Delfin, seeing all the teachers in the tower come into his office.
'Delfin, listen to me; as Masters of the Tower and members of the dynasty, we have a duty to the world and society. I am sure you understand that,' said Emeral.
Delfin nodded.
'Arcana magic is the most powerful form of magic in the world. It is even believed that before elementary magic was born, arcana magic was already practiced. Sacrifice rituals were carried out before the modern era was born, you understand, right?'
'That is the basic story of the darkest age of our civilization. What does it have to do with all this?' asked Delfin. While thinking, "Are all the teachers involved?"
'We know that you are a man of high morals and integrity. That is why we have kept the secret from you, my dear,' Amelia added.
'Did you all know that the crown was using arcane magic?' asked Delfin, astonished.
The teachers agreed.
'It's very powerful magic. Magic equipment, armor, uniforms, the chains to tie the Tumulus, the tracks we use to enter the nuclei of miasma, and the equipment we use to identify the magic affinity of a magician. They're all the result of arcane magic. I won't deny you're a genius; the artificial nucleus to hold the miasma you've created and other artifacts are true masterpieces. But the truth is that any of the dark court magicians could create something like that by just sacrificing a couple of plebeys.' Emeral's words were like knives in Delfín's mind.
'Were all these ruined villages, the countless warlocks whom I sentenced to death, Aleum of Taeria, worthless?' asked Delfin, pale and sweaty.
'Of course not. Arcane magic is very dangerous. We have to control it. While it is true that most warlocks never do large spells and keep a low profile, we cannot let them grow.' Emeral replied.
'It is true that a few poor villages are sacrificed from time to time. But thanks to their sacrifices, we have armor for the knights and enchanted uniforms for the regulators. In any case, most of these people would die in wars against other kingdoms anyway. In this way, we ensure that their deaths are not in vain,' Gaelion added.
Delfin kept silent with his head in his hands, thinking of the horrors he had witnessed during his years as a regulator. He was not a peasant lover, but the faces of agony in those sacrificed in arcane magic spells were an image that created a great impact on his youth. He swore to defend the dynasty from such abomination and devoted himself in body and soul to it. His life had been a joke. However, a new flame of passion lit up in his chest.
'Such disrespect. How dare you? You speak freely of the greatest aberration against nature as if it were something trivial, even within these walls. Have you no decency?' yelled Delfin.
The masters looked at him, confused.
'This is Liev's tower. The most powerful and worthy magician in history. The man who created the educational structure of our society. The man who taught us how to use magic properly. A model for the dynasty and the world, and a man intolerant towards Arcane magic' Delfin continued shouting.
The three masters laughed.
'For all the heavens, he believes the bullshit. You're a fool!' answered Gaelion. 'Liev was a maniac, the greatest arcane magic user in history. The whole Liev Tower is nothing more than an instrument of arcane magic. Thousands were sacrificed to create this monstrousity you're so proud of. Think about it: do you really think that in five hundred years we couldn't have uncovered the secret behind the tower? The only reason there are not many towers like this is because no one is willing to sacrifice so many lives again. It's not worth it. Van Vatnik was a beginner compared to his grandfather. Oh yes, Liev and Van Vatnik belonged to the same family. The only difference was that Liev created useful magic objects for the crown. Van Vatnik only sought to increase his own power; the crown could not control him, and he became too dangerous' Delfin looked at Emeral as if he were seeking any objection to Gaelion's words.
'He's telling the truth, my friend. Your hero is nothing more than a mass killer, a sexual deviant, and a degenerate with a hobby of creating magical objects. I'm sorry.' Delfin fell onto his seat. His face was that of a defeated man. Even so, he remained the director of Liev's Tower.
'This is unacceptable,' said Delfin. 'Even if the past of the Liev's Tower is of corrupt origin, it can lead the new generations on another path. But for that, we must extract the rot that corrodes the institution,' he said, looking at the teachers in front of him.
'You are not worthy to guide our students. With immediate effect, leave the academy. As director of Liev's Tower, I announce to you that you are no longer welcome here.' Delfin rose from his seat with his head up.
After a few seconds of silence, the three teachers laughed.
'You really believe it,' said Gaelion in laughter. 'You're really stupid. Think about it. Why, having two titled magicians, would they put a shadow magician as director of the tower? You're a joke, Delfin! None of us wants to deal with the little fucks the first six months after they get admitted into the tower or teach the boring theory, let alone do all the paperwork. For that, we have you. You're not the director of the tower; you are just a glorified receptionist.
Delfín stood on his feet. A lot of things started to make sense. He was the only one of the teachers who was not sent on "special missions" or received by the royalty. The other teachers often came to evaluate the progress of the students and congratulated him on their progress. "I am an idiot," thought Delfin, laughing.
"Oh no! He lost his mind," Emeral thought.
The air around Delfin began to heat up.
'Seriously?' asked Emeral, annoyed.
A flame came out of Delfin's body and spread out over the whole room. Gaelion covered himself in a stone wall. Amelia locked herself in an ice cube. Emeral didn't move or protect herself from the flames. Although Delfin was an elite magician, his flames were nothing compared to the power of a titled magician, or at least so she thought until she felt that the temperature was rising too much.
'Die,' Delfin said.
The master was an unparalleled expert in manipulating magic energy. Using almost all of his magic energy in a single blow, he was able to create flames so intense that even a titled magician would be in danger.
'Pff. I can do the same.' Emeral raised her hand. A column of fire rose from the ground in the place where Delfín was standing. A scream was heard. A few seconds later, all the magic fire had disappeared. Delfin's chair, the desk, and all its contents had evaporated, leaving behind just a pile of ashes. The ice that protected Amelia disintegrated, the master raised her hand, and a fog began to cover the room and quench the flames that still burned books, sofas, and shelves.
'What a waste,' regretted Amelia.
'Yeah. Now we will have to find another fool to take care of the paperwork,' said Emeral, letting her shoulders fall.
While the teachers were leaving the scorched room, under the rock on the floor of the tower, Delfín dragged his wounded body through the narrow space between floors. The tower was a place full of secrets. After spending years in the tower, one of his hobbies was to explore the place. He knew about some secret passages and spaces between the halls of the tower. It was customary to condemn them after their discovery to prevent students from misbehaving. But Delfin kept some for his own use as a form of entertainment. A couple of hours later. Delfin came out of the outer wall of Liev's Tower into the endless desert. The burns from master Emeral attack hurt a lot; he endured and waited for hours. Taking advantage of the distraction during the shift change of the knights who guarded the gate of the tower, he ran into the jungle of Morr, losing himself among the trees.