Mark of the Fool
Chapter 673: Shoulders that Bear

Alex had to be meticulous, checking a diagram for the summoning circle he was drawing.

It had to be perfect.

The afternoon had found the young wizard in his laboratory, bent over his desk, sketching a magical circle for a new fifth-tier spell…

…Summon Planar Ally, the very first relational contract summoning spell he would ever cast. And he was almost ready to cast it. Professor Mangal had worked with him, helping him prepare for this next—very important step—as a summoner.

Until now—the method he used to call allies was subjugation style summoning magic, making sure to treat the summons with respect. Not that he would have ever treated his summons with anything but respect, but if it ever happened and they wanted to get away from him, there was no danger of them escaping his control, as long as the spells were cast correctly. Those types of spells had a downside though; anything he summoned was limited in power.

The most powerful entities he could conjure were greater elementals, celestial dire tigers, and other monsters of a similar strength. While they were still mighty creatures, and would likely devastate many Ravener-spawn…

…they would also fall short when it came to standing against powerful priests or warriors of the hidden church. Even against certain Ravener-spawn,his summoned monsters were often torn apart with ease, nevermind the church’s human monsters.

If he wanted allies that could do more than just serve as a brief shield against monstrosities like the First and Third Apostles, he’d need some with a lot more power.

Both Binding Style and Relational Style Contract Summoning would give him allies with that level of power, but creatures like that would also bring a certain amount of risk with them. Those spells, by their very nature, allowed greater freedom to any ally he summoned. And if the entity wasn’t bound—willingly—with a relational contract, or tied unwillingly, in a binding one, the end result could be chaos.

Before such bargains or bindings were struck, anything he called would have to be contained within a perfect summoning circle; the slightest flaw could mean a very angry, very powerful monster escaping, taking vengeance on the summoner…him.

So, that’s where the need for perfection came in.

“Almost done,” he told himself, calling on the Mark. “I think this construction is about as strong as I can make it—” He paused, noting an image the Mark was showing him. “—ah, the left side of the circle was more symmetrical last time. “I’d better draw it again—”

Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door.

“Alex!” Selina called. “There’s a message for you!”

“Coming!” he called back, teleporting to the top of the stairs and unlocking the door. His sister stood there, holding a butterfly-shaped messenger construct.

“Thanks,” he said. “Huh, that must be from Professor Jules. She really loves her butterflies doesn’t she?” He looked at Selina with a raised eyebrow. “You didn’t open the message, did you?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve been spending too much time locked away down there. I’m not about to start opening your letters, Alex,” she said, taking the folded parchment from the construct and handing it to her brother.

“Thanks, Selina.” Alex unfolded the letter.

“What’s it say?” she asked.

His breath caught when he read what was written by Watcher Hill on behalf of herself and Professor Jules.

Come to Professor Jules’ office at the University. Do not attempt to go to Greymoor. They’ve made their move.

Signed, Watcher Hill and Professor Jules.

He swallowed. “Selina, what’re your plans for the day?”

“Um, I was going to go to Abuela’s house. Why?”

“You can go, but get Claygon to go with you,” Alex said. “Theresa should be back soon. I need you to tell her that they might be coming.”

Selina gasped. “You mean—” She mouthed the words. “—the church?”

“Yes,” Alex said. “I’m not going to lie to you, Selina; you’re old enough to know what’s coming for me. For us. I’m going to try and—Oof!”

She jumped on him, holding on like she’d never see him again. “I know you have to go, but be careful. Be careful.”

“I will,” he promised, hugging her while mentally contacting his golem.

‘Claygon, I have to go to Jules’ office. The church made their move. I don’t have any details yet, but protect Selina.’

There was a pause.

‘Maybe…I should protect you…father…’ The golem’s thoughts came through their link.

‘No, Claygon, I’m alright,’ Alex thought. ‘I can defend myself if something happens. I need you to protect Selina. Okay? Promise you will.’

Another pause. ‘Yes…father…’

‘I’ll be back soon,’ Alex thought, looking down at Selina. He kissed her forehead. “I love you, I’ll be back.”

She hugged him tighter. “You’d better be. Just be careful.”

“I will.”

He teleported to his room, grabbed his staff, and vanished, reappearing in the hallway outside of Jules’ office. The door was open.

Inside, the alchemist paced back and forth, muttering to herself.

“Professor?” he called, startling her.

“Mr. Roth! At last, come in and close the door.”

Alex quickly went in, shutting the door behind him.

“May every god and spirit in all of creation bless Watcher Hill,” the professor gestured for him to take a seat, sitting down at her desk. “That woman anticipated things wouldn’t go well, and she was right. I’m glad she sent you that message when she did. But, to the point. The king’s delegation came to Greymoor today under the guise of easing tensions.”

Alex swallowed.

“When in fact, a military force now occupies Luthering,” she said grimly. “The church demanded that I hand you over to them.”

She filled Alex in on everything that had happened since the night before—the delegation’s arrival, the conversation, the presence of Mother Charity—and what had happened afterward.

“Watcher Hill has contacted Councillor Kartika, but we don’t know when she will reply. It could be days, with her schedule,” the professor said grimly. “An increasing number of the expedition team now knows about you and this Fool business,” she looked disgusted as she said the word. “Rumours have been spreading through the Castle like fire through a chemical bath. Those who were on thestrike force—those who hadn’t shared what they knew until now—are speaking out about your heroics to save Miss London.”

“So this is it,” Alex said. “This is their move. They’re going to focus on me first. Maybe they think I’m the most dangerous…there’s a lot of bias against the Fool, and I think that’s got something to do with Uldar changing the Mark.”

“Yes, but they’ll likely strike at the other Heroes one way or another.” Professor Jules rubbed her temples. “I’ve sent Miss Goldtooth to warn them. We should have some time, though; even if the delegation uses the fae roads to return to Ussex, it’ll likely be days before anyonecomes back to Greymoor. I’m going to stall them as best I can.”

“Right…” Alex said, his mind racing. “What’s been the expedition’s reaction to me?”

“So far, it’s been overwhelmingly positive,” Jules said with no small amount of relief. “At least from what the Watchers and I have heard. There are a few asking if you were the reason the petrifier attacked the Research Castle, but others also pointed out that the enemy targeted Miss London as well. There are plenty of folk whose lives you’ve saved on the battlefield, Alex, and they’re actively vouching for you, as is the entirety of the research team. Believe me, you’re not going to get a wave of your allies trying to cast you away.”

“Good,” he sighed. “That’s good. That’s something at least.” He shook his head. “I can’t tell you the number of times and ways I imagined this day coming. I thought maybe I’d accidentally let it slip, or a priest would pass me here in Generasi—back when there were actually a good number of Uldar’s priests around—or that someone from Alric would check records. And now, here we are…”

He shook his head, eyes unfocused. “...yet, it somehow doesn't feel real.”

Nerves and terror slowly crawled through him, pushing rational thought away.

He imagined himself and his family being dragged away in chains, being cast down deep into a dungeon under Ussex, or executed for desertion or aiding a deserter.

He shivered, shaking the thoughts away, taking a deep grounding breath.

‘That’s not going to happen,’ he thought. ‘This is real. But that thought? That’s not real.’

“It’s alright to be scared, you know,” Professor Jules said suddenly.

“What?” Alex startled.

She looked at him with sadness. “I remember when I first met you, you were this skinny, enthusiastic young man. It seemed all there was in your head was curiosity, alchemy…and that brilliant mind of yours.” Her eyes drifted to his shoulders. “Your shoulders are so broad now, in many senses of the word; your burdens have been heavy. And all because some dead god wanted children to fight his battles.”

She looked at Alex. “It’s alright to be scared.”

“I’ve prepared for this, professor,” Alex said.

“It’s alright to be scared.”

“I can’t be, I’ve got too much to do, I—”

“It’s alright to be scared.”

“I’m not scared, I’m angry, if anything!” Alex’s voice rose. “I mean, who do they think they are, calling you out? Demanding that I come with them like some common outlaw? I’m very angry!”

“It’s okay,” Jules said softly, and at that moment, she seemed less like a professor of alchemy…and more like a kindly grandmother. “Alex, it’s okay to be scared.”

“I…” His voice broke.

He remembered the endless hours he’d spent trying to make himself so important to Generasi, that they wouldn’t just send him away. He’d spent nearly every waking moment preparing, gathering power, growing his reputation.

Even before that, he’d already been pushing hard in his studies, entering the Games of Roal, trying to get his name out there. In many ways, he’d done it out of anger; he’d never wanted to ever feel like he had when he was being interrogated by those two Generasi investigators during the demon summoner attacks.

‘But, there’s more to this, isn’t there?’ he thought. ‘What about Theresa’s family in the Rhinean Empire. What if the church decided to threaten them, and put pressure on them?’

He swallowed as Professor Jules watched him with a gentle gaze.

“Y-you’re right,” he said, his voice shaking. For a moment, he allowed his body language to relax. He allowed his mask to shatter. “Professor, I’m bloody terrified. But I’ve done my best to prepare for this. I’ve done everything I can.”

“Of course you have,” she said.

“But I’m still bloody scared. What if nothing I’ve done works? What if the city council decides I’m too much trouble. I could leave, but I don’t want to. I shouldn’t have to. What about Selina’s life here? What about Theresa’s? And what about her family? What’s going to happen to them?”

Professor Jules nodded. “There’s a lot on your shoulders…you, your friends, the Heroes. I don’t envy you. The worst thing I had to worry about at your age was final exam results. I can’t imagine what this must be like for you.”

“It’s…it’s hard, but I’ve got to keep going, don’t I?” Alex’s voice shook. “But bloody, hell, why can’t they just leave me alone?”

“I know. I know.” Professor Jules got up and rounded the desk. She spread her arms. “Come here, Mr. Roth.”

Alex looked at her for a long moment, before getting up and hugging his professor.

“That’s it,” she said. “We’re going to fight with you. Together. The university of Generasi is not in the habit of giving up its students.”

Alex couldn’t help but laugh; a little while ago, he’d been hugging Selina and comforting her. Now professor Jules was doing the same for him.

“What do you think’s going to happen now?” he said.

“We wait for Councillor Kartika to meet with me,” Professor Jules said. “Then I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure the council doesn’t do anything stupid. But what do you want to do? If you want, we will handle this until we can’t. You can continue being a student.”

“No,” Alex said, pulling away from the hug. “If I can get my own meeting with Councillor Kartika, I will. And I’m going to talk to my friends and we’re going to…”

He paused, a thought occurred to him.

“...did you say Councillor Kartika might meet with the king and the High Priest?”

“Yes,” Professor Jules said.

His jaw clenched. “Any chance I could be at the meeting?”