Brin wasn’t much of a talker, and Cal preferred it that way. He spent the short walk trying to sense who wanted to speak to him.
It wasn’t hard to figure out who it was, but he wanted to confirm it by measuring their strength. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, he failed to sense a presence.
He only met three people who qualified: The Guildmaster, Overseer Marek, and Benan.
“Overseer Marek’s waiting for you.” Brin stopped at the entrance and motioned for Cal to go in.
He didn’t delay, eager to hear what Overseer Marek had to say. However, he questioned why it was necessary to go through an intermediary when meeting at the farm was easier.
The building was multi-story, but the door to the room on the far end of the hallway was open, and Overseer Marek waited inside.
“Apprentice Cal,” the Overseer greeted as he closed the door to give them more privacy.
Cal was on high alert. “It’s been some time, Overseer Marek.”
“It has,” Overseer Marek agreed. “But you have progressed as well as I hoped. I have some regret that I won’t be able to see your farm in person, but that can be fixed in the future.”
“I would be more than happy to have you visit… though, I do have a question about the current contract for the Sunfire Grains. The guild is losing heavily from the discounted price, is there—”
“The red grain variants,” Overseer Marek interrupted. He didn’t look happy. “Unfortunately, that decision was out of my control from the start, and even if I had more say, I have to admit I would have signed the same deal. It was done as a favor to us, but who knew it would benefit the buyer.”
Cal shrugged at the bad news. The attempt was to tell himself he tried to do something about it. He still wasn’t too concerned about a small amount of money.
… It’s over fifty guildmarks I won’t have in my pocket.
He pushed on before the thought could sour his mood. “I hope to have more input in the next contract.”
Overseer Marek raised an eyebrow. “That is not the norm, but I’ll see to it that you do.”
There was a brief lull, and silence took over. Cal wasn’t sure what the Overseer was thinking about, but he was wondering when the matter with the smuggling ring would be brought up. It wasn’t the events in Silverpine that concerned him, but Maelor and his band of similar-named relatives.
“I’m sure you understood I was the one who sent you those notes. Thankfully, they will no longer be necessary. The guildmaster is very particular with his orders, and as long as I follow them to the letter, he looks the other way.”
Cal tilted his head in thought. “The guildmaster forbid you from speaking to me?”
“Those were one of the orders,” Overseer Marek chuckled. “There were several others, but so many loopholes were available that it was obvious what he truly wanted me to do. The guildmaster needed to keep up appearances, and in turn, so did I.”
The inner workings of the guild are as convoluted as ever.
He considered asking who the guildmaster needed to keep appearances to, but it wasn’t his business. Plus, he could guess it was the Elder Council.
“I’m guessing it has changed since you speak to me.”
Overseer Marek nodded. “You did well to uncover the reason behind the disappearances. That was intended to be one of the first steps that would allow the guildmaster to lessen his scrutiny on you, but the involvement of the Frostguard Dominion changes everything.”
It wasn’t hard work to find out. It means the guild didn’t care until I could be thrown at it.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Is the Dominion going to be a problem?” Cal asked with genuine interest. If they were encroaching , they could have been the aggressors in his first life.
“Nothing to worry about at the moment. The girl you left alive is being kept under close watch. We’ll get what we need to know from her. More importantly, you are no longer required to present yourself to the council… for now.”
“That’s generous of the guildmaster. Please let him know I am thankful.”
Cal wasn’t dismayed by the addition of the two words at the end. He wouldn’t be allowed to sequester himself in a corner forever, but it also wouldn’t be an issue since his strength would have increased massively.
Overseer Marek hummed in acknowledgment as he studied him curiously. The lull pushed Cal’s mind to the guildmaster.
The guildmaster still has his faculties. I wonder how that will change the Celestial Order’s fate now that the man leading isn’t addled.
Overseer Marek came to a decision. All levity had disappeared. “Apprentice Cal, the Frostguard Dominion is a line the guild cannot accept. Any contact with their members that isn’t reported immediately forces the guildmaster to take action. Do you understand?”
He knows. I knew Maelor was too much of a lunatic to cover his tracks.
Cal clenched his jaw as he nodded, his mind flying through various scenarios. This was why the Overseer decided to meet him. The previous matters were too unimportant to require a meeting in the only administrative building in the port. It could have been delayed until the Overseer was allowed to visit the farm.
“That’s a relief. If you feel I need to know anything, this is the time to tell me.” Overseer Marek looked at him expectantly.
“… Hypothetically, let’s say there is something to say, but nothing can happen in the next few days. Would that be possible?”
Instead of showing anger, the Overseer looked relieved. “Then you can wait to tell me in a few days.”
Cal blinked at him stupidly. “That simple?”
“Indeed, that simple,” Overseer Marek chuckled. “It’s a good thing you said something. Otherwise, I would have been forced to take care of it… hypothetically.”
I don’t want to know if he meant me or Maelor. It’s too bad I won’t be able to continue feeding the gems to the man. I need to find another worthy test subject.
“I have nothing to hide.” Cal was proud he didn’t break. He added, “In a few days, " at the amused expression directed at him.”
“Good! Now, here is your reward for saving the hostages. I see you have an attachment for the failed Trainee. If you wish, I can make sure he lives well as long—”
“No!” Cal blurted before backtracking at the hint of displeasure on Overseer Marek’s face. “I mean, Oleg refused my help, and even if it was through the guild, he would view it as coming from me. The best option is to leave him be.”
“He said this?” Overseer Marek looked intrigued. “It’s a shame such an independent personality belongs to someone that failed to gain an interface. He would have gone far.”
Cal didn’t like how Oleg was spoken as if his life had no meaning, but he supposed that was exactly the case from Overseer Marek’s point of view.
“Meet me here in a few days, Apprentice Cal. As promised, I will not disturb your hypothetical dealings now, but do not expect an extension on revealing what is required.”
“Understood.” Cal gave Overseer Marek a slight nod in thanks.
“You are free to go about your day. Send in Apprentice Brin on your way out.”
Cal did as the Overseer requested and immediately headed to Seris’s house. The meeting had gone as he mostly expected. The knowledge of Maelor’s presence was undesirable, but even that was looked upon with less suspicion than he would’ve assumed.
He didn’t know how much of it was due to the guild's information and how much was leeway given because he was Cal Maddox.
Cal felt it would heavily depend on the guildmaster himself, and that was one man he knew very little of. From the little he didn’t know, the guild master seemed highly competent with everything his job entailed. The power, the politics, and the scheming.
However, if that was the case, the external Initiates wouldn’t be so poorly managed.
Cal shook his head as he approached Seris’s house. For all he knew, the guild master could be trying to overhaul how the guild worked. Or, he was just giving the guild matter too much credit. Either way, there was little reason for him to think about it.
The door to Seris’s house opened to reveal Tavia, who welcomed him in with a smile. He noticed that Seris was still in bed, sleeping as she had been yesterday.
“Is Orrin back at his smithy?” Cal shrugged off his coat before approaching Seris.
“The boy was doing nothing but worrying the entire time. Better for him to take his mind off by using his hammer.”
“Smart,” Cal said. He felt Seris’s pulse even though it was unnecessary. It was strong. Her essential mana reserves were slowly recovering, but still nowhere enough to wake her.
He instinctively turned at the closeness of Tavia’s voice before he found himself in another tight hug that he reciprocated immediately. She pulled back after a few seconds with a wide smile.
“What was that for?” Cal asked though he wasn’t complaining.
“I did say yesterday that it wasn’t a one-time event… And I wanted to do it. Why? Do you have a problem with it?”
“Only if you stop.” Cal blinked, wondering where that came from.
“Good,” Cal could feel his lips form a smile.
Tavia returned it. “Good.”
It amused him that she was taking such baby steps in showing her affection, but he wouldn’t interrupt her.
Cal saw the pink on her cheeks when she looked away. He had intended to only stay for several minutes at most before going back to work, but he could spare a few hours.