Mark of the Fool

Chapter 145: Preparing the Specimen

To say that the mana vampire had seen better days would be an understatement. It would likely be dead already if its battered body werent using its last dregs of stolen mana to cling to life.

One of its arms had been torn away, leaving nothing more than a stump from partway down its bicep. Its other armwhile still attachedwas broken in three places and had been shredded by cerberus fangs. Mana had been able to only close the wounds slightly, leaving a discoloured mess of thin-looking skin over ragged, gaping wounds.

The creature was so bruised, that very little of its original skin colour remained: it was mostly a blue-purplish shade from head to toe. Its legs had been snapped by the ferocious stomping Theresa had given it with her enhanced strength, and were bent at horrifying angles.

Alex squinted.

He could swear he saw Grimloch-sized fist imprints throughout its torso. It twitched occasionally and was breathing, but was definitely unconsciousbut, if it should wake uphe doubted it would be going anywhere anytime soon.

How gruesome, Isolde said. I would almost feel sorry for the creature had it not done what it did to Thundar.

Angelar growled. I almost want to finish. He looked at Alex. You say your plans going to make it suffer?

Oh yeah, Alex said. Like you wouldnt believe.

Good, Carmiyus said.

Khalik walked over to the creature and spit on it. For Thundar and Najyah. He looked at Alex. Now let us be done with this.

Yeah. Alex agreed, then looked at Selina. Do you want to get down now?

She nodded quietly and slowly slid down to stand on the cobblestones. The little girl was staring at the fallen creature, her jaw hardened. Serves it right for hurting Thundar, and you, and Khalik and Najyah, and Theresa and Brutus and everyone else like that.

Alex glanced at his sister.

Well, that was a bit of a bloodthirsty statement. Where had that come from?

He frowned, thinking about what shed been exposed to in the past half year. Being hunted by monsters and seeing them killed in The Cave of the Traveller. The mana vampire being killed by Fan-Dor and Gel-for. Alexs stories about the monsters Baelins class had fought and killed in The Barrens of Kravernus.

Recently, shed also heard about Minervus murder. And now, this attack.

Selina had been exposed to an awful lot of violence in the past little while; he would need to have a talk with her about it.

The guards began to wake up, groaning and blinking as they did. They first checked in with one other, finding out which of them hadnt been knocked out and knew what had happened in the townsquare while the rest of them had been out cold. Then, some went to offer aid to people the mana vampire had drained, providing flasks of mana-soothing potions to help their recovery. Some folks were beyond help so the guards called for transport for those bodies, and also got help for anyone needing to go to the infirmary.

Others moved toward Alexs group who were standing around the mana vampire, their eyes warily on it.

Im guard captain Giorno,is this thing dead? one of them asked.

No, Alex said. But, its definitely subdued. Broken legs. Ripped up arms, and its low on mana to heal itself from the look of it. Well tie it up as soon as we get some rope, but we're watching it closely.

Alex prepared himself for resistance, wondering if the guards would kill it on the spot.

Right, it does look properly subdued. The guard captain went over and kicked it to make sure it wasnt conscious. Ya, Id say it's properly subdued alright. Are you wizard students from the university, because a couple of my men said your group was casting spells at it?

Some of us are, some arent. Why? Alex answered.

Well, because since youre wizards, will you be taking it away, are you claiming it under The Right to Specimens, and assuming all responsibilities therein? the guardsman asked.

Uh, the what now? Alex asked.

The guard gave him a look, then pulled out a booklet from one of his satchels. Right, first time capturing a dangerous monster in Generasi, eh? Well, The Right to Specimens is under Section 3.1.7 of the Code of Punitive Measures Against Monsters: any resident of Generasi may claim a monster that is under bounty by the cityliving or deadfor the purposes of dissection, vivisection, alchemical extraction, research or sacrifice.

He paused, turning the page. The monster will be recorded as being under your custody and if it harms anyone during that time, you will be held in full responsibility for its actions. You have one day and one night to appear before a public officer with proof of the monsters destruction, or to apply for an extension to the period of custody. Note that failure to do either of these actions will result in a fine no less than five hundred gold pieces plus the current bounty levied for the monster. Will it be you thats taking custody?

Alex glanced around as all of his friends took a large step away from him. yes.

Perfect, then we shall need your name and a few signatures once the investigation team arrives.

Alex blinked.

Right, he thought. City of Wizards. Of course theyd have a clause for researching captured monsters. What else would a wizard want to do with one?

He glanced down at the mana vampire, remembering how the one on Fan-Dors ship had turned to mist after theyd killed it. He was glad it had simply evaporated because had it lived, claiming it and bringing it to Generasi with him would have been a little awkward.

And on that note, its time to get things rolling.

The paperwork took some time, butby the endAlex was technically the custodian or owner of one mana vampire. The investigators took statements from everyone present and loaded the victims into more sky-gondolas that were painted white.

Eventually, Alexs group was finally given leave to go about their business.

The next issue was Selina.

I dont want to go, I want to stay with you! she yelled, stomping her foot.

Theres no way, he told her. Youre going back to campus. Shiani was very nice and said that she would take you there, okay?

No, please let me stay, please! she begged. Please!

No way, little goblin, he said. Were going to that dangerous place that we go to with Baelin. Its safe there for us, but too dangerous for you. If everything goes well, we wont be gone long and be back in about an hour or two. Then you can come with us for some of the next part since well be doing that on campus, okay? Itll be much safer if youre with Shiani for now. Andif you go back to campuswell be safer too because we won't have to watch out for as many people.

Her lips trembled and she looked like she was on the verge of an outburst of tempersomething she hadnt done for half a decade or morebut she finally sniffed a couple of times, swallowed, then slowly nodded. Youd better be back soon.

I will, he said, bending and kissing her on the forehead. I will.

He let her join Shiani, Angelar, and Caramiyus on their way back to campus. Alex and the remainder of the groupstood waving as they watched them depart on a sky-gondola.

Then Isolde turned to them.

I she grimaced. I want to join you in The Barrens, but I worry for Thundar. I think I shall go to the infirmary and see if the fact that we are in a cabal together will at least let them tell me how he is, even if I cant see him.

She glared at the mana vampire. Please ensure that its last moments are miserable.

You bet I will, and now, the streets will be safer too. Alex said, gripping her shoulder. Well come and see Thundar as soon as we can, if they let us in. And by the way, good job tonight.

She nodded and then left to board another sky-gondola.

That left Theresa, Khalik, Najyah, Grimloch, Brutus and Nua-Oge with Alex.

So, were going to finish this together, then? he asked.

Wouldnt miss it, Theresa said, glaring at the brutalized monster.

Right, then watch this thing for a few minutes. Ill be right back.

He moved quickly, running down the street.

Shales Workshopclosed to the public, but almost always staffedwas still working well into the night on their latest projects. Alex had the night off, and Lagor and Carmen werent working, but the others knew him.

It took a bit of convincing, but he managed to get someone who was on break to open the supply centre for him. When he was in there, he put a long length of rope and a mana conductor on his employees credit, planning to bring payment for the items tomorrow.

The mana conductoreven with his employee discountcost a whopping one hundred gold coins: a sum he wouldnt even have begun to consider spending if it werent for the fact that hed be receiving a good chunk of coin for the mana vampire soon, as well as something from Baelin for the xyrthak eggs.

Itd be well worth the price, too.

By the time he got back, he saw Theresa, Khalik and a familiar sky-gondolier talking near the sky-pier.

Lucia seemed a bit different: far more animated than usual. The sky-gondola hanging above her was far longer and wider than the few hed seen her flying around the city. It was probably one that was used to transport larger groups, or for moving a quantity of supplies somewhere.

The mana vampire still lay broken and motionless on the ground, guarded by Grimloch, Brutus and Nua-Oge.

No, Lucia was saying and her voice actually sounded alive. And very agitated. You want to fly to The Barrens after nightfall, with a half-dead mana vampire in my gondola? Are you crazy? If that thing wakes up, well all be its dinner!

I do not think you quite understand what you are refusing, Khalik said. I-Alex!

Lucia turned as Alex approached them, and her eyes widened. You?

Hello, Alex said. Im going to keep this simple. Listen, we want you to take us into The Barrens. It wont be far from the wall separating the countryside from the wastes, and it wont be dangerous. That area used to be xyrthak territory-

Her eyes went wide.

-now let me finish, he said quickly. But we killed it a few days ago. It is dead, and I doubt theres going to be anything else deadly around there, yet. And if theres say, some muupkaras or a bone drinker around, then youll be with a bunch of people that killed a xyrthak, and beat the ever-loving shit out of a mana vampire. And, in return for you doing this

He paused, thinking over sums and what he could expect from the reward. The guards had informed them that the bounty had risen to three thousand gold coins.

Evenly divided among everyone whod been a part of itswell, its beating, hed still have plenty left to spend, even taking into account buying the mana conductor.

So, he decided he could afford to be generous.

Okay, he said. Ill pay you thirty gold coins to take us there. Ill give you what I have right now, which is five gold, and bring you twenty-five more tomorrow. All you have to do is take us there, then take us back to campus. You dont even have to get out of the gondola.

Lucia actually gasped at the sum.

Khalik cleared his throat. I am prepared to match that amount. Think of it: a little risk, to be sure, but you will make sixty gold coins for an hour or two of your time. Is that not worth it? Know that if you say no, we will find someone else who will take the coin.

Lucias eyes narrowed.

Alex could see the war going on in her head. On the one hand, he could see her cautioncaused by whatever happened to her at the universitytelling her to just forget them and move on. On the other hand, there was something that Alex knew all too well.

Hed been trapped in a dead-end job too, having to deal with unpleasant customers, a problematic boss, and the day-in-day-out of long hours and low pay. It could become crushing after a while, and Lucia both looked and sounded like shed been crushed by it.

Shed once been on the path to becoming a full-fledged wizard and a graduate of Generasi, then tragedy or some accident had taken that from her. Now, was an opportunity toif not break that cycleat least start to lay a path out of it.

Even in Generasi, sixty gold pieces was a lot of coin.

It was a sum that would be worth several months of his work at Shale's Workshop, which paid better than a lot of other jobs in the city.

Sixty gold coins for an hours labour and a bit of risk.

Enough gold to maybe lay the foundation for something new.

When he'd been given an opportunity like that, hed fled his homeland to take it.

By comparison, this risk was far less.

Lucia exhaled, at last something had won out in her.

Alright, she said. Thirty-five gold upfront. Ill be working the evening shift tomorrow, so the other twenty-five tomorrow before supper. The moment I see anything bigger than a muupkara up there, Im gone. I keep the thirty-five, and you find your own way back. Got it?

Alex looked at Khalik and the prince nodded.

Sensible to me, he said. Come, then. The Barrens await.