[IRP] Secrets of the Empire

[Swift_Assassin]

Wolfram followed Marcus into the nearby inn. He didn't catch the name as he stepped through the doors. He looked around the lobby, not very impressed with what he saw. "No offense, but this place is a dump," Wolfram whispered to the knight.

"Exactly. No one would expect a displaced lord to make his lodgings here." He replied, as Wolfram just shrugged. Whatever worked. He couldn't argue with the logic. He followed him through a hallway into the back, wondering if the owner was perfectly okay with this. He looked around briefly and saw no one, so he kept walking. As they walked, a red haired lass ran by, bumping into Marcus along the way. "Hey!"

"Keep walking. Patience isn't a strong suit of the Hyperions." Wolfram commented, focusing Marcus on his walk. Soon they were there, outside the door. Marcus grabbed the doorknob and reached for his key when the door just opened. "Nice. Captain of the Guard, are you?"

"Wolfram?!" The duo walked through the door to see Shad staring at the door. Shad was surprised to see his uncle. "That...was really, really fast. How did you get here?" Shad questioned.

Wolfram walked over to his student and sat down in a chair next to the bed. He put a hand on Shad's leg before replying. "Doesn't really matter. The real question is...how did you get here?" He countered.

"We stopped in a nearby village. I wanted to do...research on what life in a Lycian town is like. I sent Marcus ahead to reserve our lodgings while I explored. Then, what I thought was a hilarious historical comedy piece, turned into an attack upon the village...," Shad started to explain. He elaborated more on the situation than Marcus did to Wolfram.

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"...So then I began pelting the meteor with fireballs and wind magic. Next thing I know, I'm here stuck in this...huh?" Shad faded off. He noticed he was now sitting up and waving his hands back and forth. Wolfram's hand was gone and he swung his legs off the bed.

"I see. Reckless pup. I appreciate the effort and thought, however reckless it may have been," Wolfram answered. "You suffered from magic exhaustion. If the Lycian knights and your friends had faltered, you'd probably be dead right now. Normally, you'd be fine by now, but your paternal predisposition against magic seems to be the cause, in my opinion. I gave you some of my magic and you should be fine for now."

Shad got back up to his feet and then fell back again. His body was weak from lack of nutrition and use. He reached his hand for his sheathed sword and Marcus brought it over to him. He began using it as a walking stick, like it was disguised as. He walked behind a tattered screen and began to change into new clothes.

Wolfram began thinking about what Shad had told him. What he told of him of the Sacaen mage Neil, made him think to his days in the research institute. A man named Neil joined it around the time he finished his training. Could it be the same guy? "Lord nephew, what should we do know?" Wolfram questioned the changing lord.

Shad remembered how thirsty he was and figured his uncle must be as well. "How about we go out for a drink, Uncle?" Marcus didn't like that, but looked to Wolfram for a response.

"No taverns." Wolfram replied. He stared in at the book on the end table. "We don't want to risk one of us being drunk."

Without thinking about it, Marcus just said it aloud. "There's a small tea shop nearby." Wolfram's head jerked towards him instantly, wide-eyed and staring at Marcus. Shad's head popped out from behind the screen and stared at Marcus as well. "What? I don't want to get drunk while I'm on guard duty."

Shad walked back out in his coat and walked over to the end table and grabbed the book. Wolfram tossed over a harness he had to secure the book to his waist. Shad attached it to his belt and fastened to book in place under his coat. "That'll do. Let's go."

And then the trio walked out of the inn and followed Marcus towards the tea shop.