Castor stood in front of a desk covered with papers, leaning on it and staring at the wall, which was filled with various diagrams and writings in a language unknown to this world. His icy eyes carefully studied the words, and his thoughts quickly changed one after another. Plans slowly grew in volume and branching, and additional backups were created on the fly, closing possible "holes" and gaps. Then everything went according to plan, turning into a loop of creating and rethinking various situations, their consequences, methods of solution and exit. And it was only thanks to long meditations and brain mutations that Brinel had not yet gone mad from the volume of information or fatigue. Yes, mutations. The mage had no illusions that the ether had not affected him in any way during the years of the Dark Dawn and his direct contact with raw energy. Fortunately, his own magic stabilised the aggressive nature of the ether and directed the mutations in the right direction.
Castor frowned slightly, and his smile disappeared, becoming a straight line. Information hunger had always been a problem for mages. Not even the Ethereals, the Chthonians, or the witch gods. It was that unpleasant, clammy, slightly warm feeling of emptiness and lack of something inside. Something important and necessary for life. Something that would help in the fight and survival against those who were going to wipe your kind into dust and turn it into a grotesque monster.
That's why Brinel assumed the worst-case scenarios and built his plans around them. Better to be overprepared than to be careless and die.
"If we assume that the Demon Lord is equal to a low-ranking deity, then we get..." The mage added a few words in his native language to the largest diagram.
"If we add to that the fact that there are beings here equal in power to Korvaak, then..." Castor wrote a few more words, but on a smaller diagram, filling it completely.
"Ddraig, are you sure you can't tell us anything else?"
"Sorry, partner, but that's all. But I will say that most of the world is no threat to you."
Castor grunted discontentedly. Most of it, but not all. That meant the chances of a troubled life were growing before his very eyes. He had to be stronger than the whole world and become one of the three strongest, turning into a natural disaster in the eyes of everyone else. Then, and only then, would Brinel be able to calmly rise through the ranks of Contender on various servers and stream alongside Ddraig as his companion.
"Yes, that would be nice... Wait, what?!"
But to do that, he needed to determine the level of the local creatures in relation to those who inhabited his universe. And that was difficult. Different magic systems, different races, different worldviews and relationships. Yes, there were similarities, but the problem was that there weren't enough of them. Therefore...
"I need more information. And where can I get it without attracting unwanted attention? No, actually, I need to attract them so I can weed them out," Castor sighed, put a smile back on his face, and turned around 180 degrees.
"Perhaps you can answer my questions?"
***
"Oh, yikes..." was all the dragon said when he saw one person through his eyes. Short stature, childish appearance, long black hair and eyes to match. Pointed ears only added to the image... Mystery, although Castor would call it incomprehensibility.
"You're different," said the girl indifferently, dressed in a light dark dress.
"I know," Brinel replied in the same tone.
"Help me drive Red out of my house.
"Not interested.
"Why?"
"Too much trouble and noise. I'm looking for a quiet life as an ordinary person, not another campaign against a deity.
"We're alike.
"Maybe.
"HELP!" the lizard shouted, causing Castor to look slightly surprised. Why did Ddraig react like that? Was it their calm, emotionless tone throughout the conversation? Their steady gaze? Or the fact that Brinel was talking to a deity without fear? It was definitely one of those things.
"Red is keeping me awake. He kicked me out. I want back."
"Logical," nodded the mage, ignoring the hysterical laughter of the red lizard.
"Then help me.
"I don't see any benefit for myself or my peaceful life," Castor said with a hint of irritation, hiding the fact that he had no intention of fighting a deity on its own turf. That would be a direct route to the afterlife, if not worse. You have to fight gods on neutral territory or on territory opposite to their aspect in order to neutralise some of their abilities. Brinel killed the Sorcerer Gods in Kaerne, not in the Creepy World.
"I am Office," the girl said emotionlessly. The mage had already noticed that she had virtually no emotions.
"I am Castor Brinel. And you are eating my custard cakes.
"They're delicious.
"I know that, but I bought them with my own money in the first place.
"There you go. It's profitable to work with me.
Castor glanced at the nightstand, where a stack of dollar bills had appeared. Then his eyes returned to Office, who was finishing the last cupcake. Apparently, his viewing of the fifth season of RWBY would have to wait until he bought a new box of sweets.
"You paid for the cakes. And I don't see any benefit in helping you with the Dragon of Dreams. It's also worth adding that I want to remain neutral in all politics. I don't need bloodsucking insects thirsting for my blood," Brinel said in an irritated tone, putting her hands behind her back.
"I can help.
"No. Deals with gods always lead to trouble. Just look at Corvaak..." Castor whispered the last word. This situation... The country had flourished under the god's rule, but as soon as he sensed trouble, he burned everything to the ground and turned most of the continent into a desert. And that was despite the fact that by that point he had been weakened and practically imprisoned.
"I'm not him," a hint of emotion appeared in Office's voice. Confidence in his own words.
"You don't even know him, so I can't believe those words. And please leave my house. I've put up with you as an uninvited guest long enough.
"I never thought I'd say this, but you're f*cked up. Completely."
"You always thought that."
"That's right. But not completely."
"I'm Office," said the girl, pointing to herself and finishing the last cookie.
"I'm Castor Brinel," the mage repeated his name, nodding slightly.
"The Dragon of Infinity.
"Archmage Gildam Arcanum.
Brinel understood what the dragon god wanted to say, but fear was unknown to him, so the only thing he wanted was for her to leave and forget the way to his home.
"I should protect myself from unwanted guests so that no teleportation can bring them to me," thought Brinel, while Office silently stared at him with her dark eyes. The mage looked back with his icy eyes, unafraid of the infinity in the ancient creature's eyes. For he saw eternity and an all-consuming hunger that craved his very nature.
"You are not afraid. Strange. The others are afraid," the goddess tilted her head to one side and frowned thoughtfully, her eyes filled with interest. Castor sighed. Her interest in him was beginning to unnerve him.
"My patience is at an end. I am forced to banish you from my home.
Brinel silently picked up Office, slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and headed for the exit. He had an important game today to raise his rank to Grandmaster, and he had no time to chat with gods.
"Gen Les?"
"No."
***
"I'll be back.
"And then I'll send you back where you came from. Have a good time, Office, Dragon of Infinity.
And the door closed in front of her. The girl blinked, still standing in the doorway. This man... Strange. Everyone calls her strange, thinks she can't hear, but she hears everything. The ancient creature didn't understand: why? The desire for silence and sleep is perfectly normal. This human magician-in-training understood her, even though he behaved differently from others, which is why he was strange.
"Strange. But he has delicious cakes. And he smells... — the girl touched her chin with her finger — nice.
The smell of coolness, magic, calm and space. A person very close to her in smell, which was also strange. Especially a Ddraig carrier. These people are usually fierce and aggressive. Too bright... Office frowned slightly. There was a word for it, a smart man with glasses said, his name starts with "G," and he's on her team... Girg, I think? Dissonance, yes. That was exactly how the god felt.
And this man was interesting. Not like everyone else, not like other dragons. Perhaps because he was a foreigner. Most likely because of that. Different customs, different rules, different people around him.
"Maybe his home is peaceful?"
Then they could make a deal: he would give the dragon a way to his world, and she would... Give him wealth? Power? Women? What do magicians usually ask for? Although, Office didn't think Castor would need that... Castor, what a strange name.
"I'll have to come back again. It's nice here."
Her minions were noisy, talkative, loud. She couldn't sleep or eat her cookies. But here she could. The main thing was not to disturb the magician: he also disliked noise, irritation, and loud personalities. And she would definitely bring him money: the Heroes' Faction had plenty of it. Do mages love money after all? This one didn't refuse. And she'll share one of her cookies with him: he's a kindred spirit, after all. Office put her finger to her chin. That's what you call a friend, right?
"People are complicated. Incomprehensible. And noisy. But not this one..."
Interesting... For the first time in hundreds of years, it was truly interesting. It was... pleasant?
***
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