The morning meeting had narrowly avoided fatalities, but that was just the start of Kimberly’s day. Once more, Guy was avoiding the Sword Roses, and that weighed upon him; as lunch began, he made his way toward a practice room.
“…Hmph…”
Moments after announcing his arrival, the room’s master appeared and led Guy to a different classroom without so much as a word. David Holzwirt waved his student to a chair, then sat down across the table from him, arms folded.
“I swear I didn’t plan to end up like this,” Guy said ruefully. “Gonna be stuck with it at least two months—dunno what to do with myself. Being this cursed, I can’t exactly play around in the dirt—and I sure can’t take that tour of your research space.”
He was light on explanations. Any mage could tell how much curse energy he harbored.
David merely nodded. “…I’m aware of your condition, including the unavoidable cause. I’ve got no plans to chastise you—but practically speaking, I can’t let someone in your condition into the conservatory. There’s a high risk you’ll not only destroy the growing plants but also the entire biome. I’m sure you know that.”
“Well aware. I figured I was banned till this curse is handled. Given all the plants I was handling, I’m dumping a lot on you.”
“Maintaining the status quo for a couple of months is no big deal. I won’t need to lift a finger—older students who think you’ve got potential will step in of their own accord. You might owe them a favor or two, but nothing to worry about there,” said David. “What I want to probe is your intent. Can you truly promise this will end in two months?”
He fixed his student with a piercing gaze, and it took Guy’s words away. He’d seen this question coming and delayed this visit because of it. Yet, even now, he did not have a clear answer.
“…Honestly, I’m still waffling. Instructor Baldia’s been trying to pull me to her field for a while. Instructor Zelma’s doing the same. Saying the fact that I’ve accommodated this curse proves I’ve got the knack.”
“…I’d imagine. Even I can’t argue with your aptitude. Especially after seeing several similar cases in the past. Including one you know too well.”
“…Lombardi?” Guy said, taking the hint. The older student he’d faced, fought, and slain with his own hands.
“He was a promising student,” David said, sighing and letting himself dig into his memories. “Treated the flora with tender care, never became impatient even if they did not grow the way he’d wanted. I saw him sit three days and nights by the side of a planter once. Never imagined he’d be consumed before graduation. Or that he’d rush for results like that…”
Guy had never had any real interaction with the man before the spell consumed him, but these few lines painted a vivid picture of the boy Lombardi had once been. Patient, placid, knowledgeable—he’d likely been an excellent mentor, too. Even after he’d been consumed by the spell, he’d shown signs of those traits.
“I’m not saying becoming a wrangler changed his nature. I’m sure he had his reasons for his haste,” David added quietly. “He may not have been successful, but his research into employing the irminsul for curse processing is hardly meaningless. From the data he left, we’ve determined that the construct itself is viable up to a certain threshold. There’s a chance that’ll be employed somewhere else to better effect someday. Not sure that’ll help him rest easy, but…”
Guy nodded along with that. As they handled the cleanup in the second layer and the lava tree mold, David had collected his old student’s papers. Perhaps he’d left a letter to his former mentor—Guy was convinced he had. Mage mentorships were not so fleeting as to be broken just because they’d gone their separate ways.
“Can’t pretend I don’t have a few choice words for Baldia—and having it all go down a second time is hardly pleasant.”
David’s eyes turned back to Guy, who straightened up. He got that. David was speaking not of the past, but of his own present.
“You saw how Lombardi died; I need say little else. Think carefully. Consider what you stand to gain and lose. Don’t just imagine what you’ll end up with—be dead certain of it. I’m sure he did the same.”
“Got it.”
Guy nodded, fully accepting this. He still had no ideas in mind, but these words would stick with him.