Chapter 464: Elemental Philosophy
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Chapter 464: Elemental Philosophy
Elemental Philosophy
With his sleep pattern out of joint, Martel only fell asleep several hours past midnight, and the morning bell woke him not long after. He did not feel particularly refreshed, but his magic seemed restored. He also felt a powerful hunger; although it seemed almost callous to fill his face with food at breakfast while Ruby's body decomposed in the darkness below his feet, he needed to keep up his strength.
Not that he intended to storm out and engage anyone in a fight. He would spend a day or two playing the dutiful student, avoid further absences and any scrutiny this might bring, and give Regnar time to get the lay of the land. Mostly to learn if Martel needed to watch out for anyone coming after him, and where it would be most obvious for him to strike.
He realised that he should have asked Regnar to find out more about who hired the hedge mage to enchant the lightstones; in his frazzled state of mind, he had simply forgot. It would have to wait until he next time he saw Regnar; it seemed unwise to keep returning to The Golden Goose, given that it lay so near the harbour district.
Martel would be patient. Today, he would attend his duties.
***
"What happened yesterday?" Nora asked. "You never showed."
"Sorry," Martel mumbled. It felt almost silly to be cleaning roots and drying them out, but he began his work without letting any emotions show. "I wasn't feeling well at all. Had to spend the day in bed."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Hope you're feeling better now?"
"Yes, I'm back to normal. It was probably something I ate."
"That's good. I didn't tell Mistress Rana either. I wanted to ask you about it first." She sent him a quick smile.
"I appreciate that."
"Though, for all her stern talk, she's not that harsh. I think she mostly acts that way to scare off those who don't take alchemy seriously," Nora considered. "She'd not hold it against you if you got sick and needed a day off."
"You were gone from class yesterday. Not that I think Master Reynard noticed. But is something amiss?"
The same fabrication he had told Nora lay on the tip of his tongue, but Martel could not make himself say it. While he could not reveal all the details, he did not wish to lie directly to Eleanor's face. And perhaps if one person at the Lyceum knew the truth, it would make these days a little easier to get through. "There was a fight in the city. Someone I know – one of my friends – got hurt. Died." It was strange to say, even if he had already told someone before. He was glad that nobody else sat at the table.
"Martel, I am so sorry!" She placed her hand on top of his. "What happened? Are you injured?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine. It wasn't about me. I just happened to be present. Afterwards – I couldn't make myself go back to the Lyceum and attend class like nothing had happened."
"Of course." Her voice turned soothing. "And the guards? Have those responsible been dealt with?"
"They've been punished. Or they will be, at any rate."
"Anything I can do?"
"Not really." Anything that needed doing, Martel would handle himself. Though something else did come to mind. "Actually, would it be alright if I don't show up tomorrow at the library? I don't think I feel up for studying old books."
"Certainly. Let us call the whole thing off until further notice. You have already spent so much time trying to help me, I feel guilty. It was always a fool's hope," she declared with a sad smile. "It was just the only thing I could think of to help my sister."
"Don't feel guilty. It was the right thing to do." In fact, Martel felt a little bad himself for cancelling, but he knew he would not be able to focus on this with everything else hanging over his head.
"Again, I am really sorry for your loss, Martel. Losing someone you care about is hard."
He looked into Eleanor's eyes and saw the sympathy she felt for him. She was right, of course, even if Martel had tried worse. Losing his sister or his father - those had been deep wounds that still hurt from time to time. In comparison, Ruby had not meant nearly as much to him.
But another key difference was that Tora had died from hunger and cold, his father from sickness. Martel had been powerless to save them, and even now with his magic, he could not punish winter or disease for what they had stolen from him. But he could punish Ruby's killers, and he would.
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Chapter 464: Elemental Philosophy
Elemental Philosophy
With his sleep pattern out of joint, Martel only fell asleep several hours past midnight, and the morning bell woke him not long after. He did not feel particularly refreshed, but his magic seemed restored. He also felt a powerful hunger; although it seemed almost callous to fill his face with food at breakfast while Ruby's body decomposed in the darkness below his feet, he needed to keep up his strength.
Not that he intended to storm out and engage anyone in a fight. He would spend a day or two playing the dutiful student, avoid further absences and any scrutiny this might bring, and give Regnar time to get the lay of the land. Mostly to learn if Martel needed to watch out for anyone coming after him, and where it would be most obvious for him to strike.
He realised that he should have asked Regnar to find out more about who hired the hedge mage to enchant the lightstones; in his frazzled state of mind, he had simply forgot. It would have to wait until he next time he saw Regnar; it seemed unwise to keep returning to The Golden Goose, given that it lay so near the harbour district.
Martel would be patient. Today, he would attend his duties.
***
"What happened yesterday?" Nora asked. "You never showed."
"Sorry," Martel mumbled. It felt almost silly to be cleaning roots and drying them out, but he began his work without letting any emotions show. "I wasn't feeling well at all. Had to spend the day in bed."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Hope you're feeling better now?"
"Yes, I'm back to normal. It was probably something I ate."
"That's good. I didn't tell Mistress Rana either. I wanted to ask you about it first." She sent him a quick smile.
"I appreciate that."
"Though, for all her stern talk, she's not that harsh. I think she mostly acts that way to scare off those who don't take alchemy seriously," Nora considered. "She'd not hold it against you if you got sick and needed a day off."
"You were gone from class yesterday. Not that I think Master Reynard noticed. But is something amiss?"
The same fabrication he had told Nora lay on the tip of his tongue, but Martel could not make himself say it. While he could not reveal all the details, he did not wish to lie directly to Eleanor's face. And perhaps if one person at the Lyceum knew the truth, it would make these days a little easier to get through. "There was a fight in the city. Someone I know – one of my friends – got hurt. Died." It was strange to say, even if he had already told someone before. He was glad that nobody else sat at the table.
"Martel, I am so sorry!" She placed her hand on top of his. "What happened? Are you injured?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine. It wasn't about me. I just happened to be present. Afterwards – I couldn't make myself go back to the Lyceum and attend class like nothing had happened."
"Of course." Her voice turned soothing. "And the guards? Have those responsible been dealt with?"
"They've been punished. Or they will be, at any rate."
"Anything I can do?"
"Not really." Anything that needed doing, Martel would handle himself. Though something else did come to mind. "Actually, would it be alright if I don't show up tomorrow at the library? I don't think I feel up for studying old books."
"Certainly. Let us call the whole thing off until further notice. You have already spent so much time trying to help me, I feel guilty. It was always a fool's hope," she declared with a sad smile. "It was just the only thing I could think of to help my sister."
"Don't feel guilty. It was the right thing to do." In fact, Martel felt a little bad himself for cancelling, but he knew he would not be able to focus on this with everything else hanging over his head.
"Again, I am really sorry for your loss, Martel. Losing someone you care about is hard."
He looked into Eleanor's eyes and saw the sympathy she felt for him. She was right, of course, even if Martel had tried worse. Losing his sister or his father - those had been deep wounds that still hurt from time to time. In comparison, Ruby had not meant nearly as much to him.
But another key difference was that Tora had died from hunger and cold, his father from sickness. Martel had been powerless to save them, and even now with his magic, he could not punish winter or disease for what they had stolen from him. But he could punish Ruby's killers, and he would.
Chapter 464: Elemental PhilosophyElemental PhilosophyWith his sleep pattern out of joint, Martel only fell asleep several hours past midnight, and the morning bell woke him not long after. He did not feel particularly refreshed, but his magic seemed restored. He also felt a powerful hunger; although it seemed almost callous to fill his face with food at breakfast while Ruby's body decomposed in the darkness below his feet, he needed to keep up his strength.Not that he intended to storm out and engage anyone in a fight. He would spend a day or two playing the dutiful student, avoid further absences and any scrutiny this might bring, and give Regnar time to get the lay of the land. Mostly to learn if Martel needed to watch out for anyone coming after him, and where it would be most obvious for him to strike.He realised that he should have asked Regnar to find out more about who hired the hedge mage to enchant the lightstones; in his frazzled state of mind, he had simply forgot. It would have to wait until he next time he saw Regnar; it seemed unwise to keep returning to The Golden Goose, given that it lay so near the harbour district.Martel would be patient. Today, he would attend his duties.***"What happened yesterday?" Nora asked. "You never showed.""Sorry," Martel mumbled. It felt almost silly to be cleaning roots and drying them out, but he began his work without letting any emotions show. "I wasn't feeling well at all. Had to spend the day in bed.""I'm sorry to hear that. Hope you're feeling better now?""Yes, I'm back to normal. It was probably something I ate.""That's good. I didn't tell Mistress Rana either. I wanted to ask you about it first." She sent him a quick smile."I appreciate that.""Though, for all her stern talk, she's not that harsh. I think she mostly acts that way to scare off those who don't take alchemy seriously," Nora considered. "She'd not hold it against you if you got sick and needed a day off.""You were gone from class yesterday. Not that I think Master Reynard noticed. But is something amiss?"The same fabrication he had told Nora lay on the tip of his tongue, but Martel could not make himself say it. While he could not reveal all the details, he did not wish to lie directly to Eleanor's face. And perhaps if one person at the Lyceum knew the truth, it would make these days a little easier to get through. "There was a fight in the city. Someone I know one of my friends got hurt. Died." It was strange to say, even if he had already told someone before. He was glad that nobody else sat at the table."Martel, I am so sorry!" She placed her hand on top of his. "What happened? Are you injured?"He shook his head. "I'm fine. It wasn't about me. I just happened to be present. Afterwards I couldn't make myself go back to the Lyceum and attend class like nothing had happened.""Of course." Her voice turned soothing. "And the guards? Have those responsible been dealt with?""They've been punished. Or they will be, at any rate.""Anything I can do?""Not really." Anything that needed doing, Martel would handle himself. Though something else did come to mind. "Actually, would it be alright if I don't show up tomorrow at the library? I don't think I feel up for studying old books.""Certainly. Let us call the whole thing off until further notice. You have already spent so much time trying to help me, I feel guilty. It was always a fool's hope," she declared with a sad smile. "It was just the only thing I could think of to help my sister.""Don't feel guilty. It was the right thing to do." In fact, Martel felt a little bad himself for cancelling, but he knew he would not be able to focus on this with everything else hanging over his head."Again, I am really sorry for your loss, Martel. Losing someone you care about is hard."He looked into Eleanor's eyes and saw the sympathy she felt for him. She was right, of course, even if Martel had tried worse. Losing his sister or his father - those had been deep wounds that still hurt from time to time. In comparison, Ruby had not meant nearly as much to him.But another key difference was that Tora had died from hunger and cold, his father from sickness. Martel had been powerless to save them, and even now with his magic, he could not punish winter or disease for what they had stolen from him. But he could punish Ruby's killers, and he would.
