It was the morning after the tumultuous nighttime faculty meeting. Ted and Dustin were in the school building bright and early, awaiting a colleague’s arrival.
“Ah, good morning, gentlemen.”
Shortly before the real tide of students arrived—neither especially early nor late—Farquois strode in, hand raised to greet them. The great sage had raised their right hand, but the left—the one severed the day before—was back to normal, as if it had never been gone.
“…Too fast to rebuild an arm,” Ted said, seeing through it. “That one’s false?”
“Well, yes. Even here, the students would be shocked to see a teacher down a limb. Though, several spotted me on the way out.”
They showed off their new arm, so well-made that the difference was not discernible at a glance. From the movement of the fingers, it was clear the limb was fully functional. There was no doubt that high-level golem techniques had been applied—but to the great sage, that was merely an exercise.
Seeing both Ted and Dusting sporting grim visages, Farquois flashed a smile.
“I caused you some concern, yes? But honestly, I did not expect you to defend me to such an extent. Especially you, Williams—why go out on a limb like that? You’ve been more guarded than anyone.”
“…Even if I have, that doesn’t mean we should go sowing the seeds of strife with the Gnostic Hunters. Do try to restrain yourself. She was not kidding about taking your head next time.”
Ted issued this warning despite knowing it was likely futile.
“…Do those big shots at HQ want her gone that bad?” Dustin chimed in, scratching the back of his head.
“Ha-ha. Is it that obvious? Still, this is nothing new. Esmeralda’s position has been too strong for too long, and if anything, she’s only growing more powerful by the day. They’d love to pull the rug out from under her. Before she puts a stop to all such plans.”
Farquois wasn’t bothering to hide what lay behind their stay at Kimberly. Dustin hadn’t expected them to be quite this forthcoming but was aware there was little use being secretive after that meeting. The great sage would likely commit themself to that role now, and thus, they had no reason to conceal a thing.
“Also, they harbor a deep-seated distrust toward her. And she does have a considerable appetite for tír research, yes?” Farquois offered. “The hurdles are high, but in no way has she forbidden students from tackling the subject. Just two years back, a student researching Luftmarz was quite dramatically consumed by the spell. And the fastest witch perished serving as his Final Visitor. Such a crying shame. If both had lived, they could have done much more.”
Those events were still vivid in Dustin’s mind. Ted had helped pull him out of his funk, but Ashbury’s and Morgan’s ends weighed heavily on him. Was there really no way to have avoided those deaths? The question haunted him. Farquois had called that a crying shame, which made it sound as if they themself could have saved both. That implication certainly ruffled Dustin, but the great sage did not dig that hole any deeper.
“The Five Rods are all about ostracism, so that subject rankles them. Studies within the Gnostic Hunters’ headquarters are one thing, but they cannot abide an educational institute like Kimberly having free rein,” said Farquois. “Still…Esmeralda has enough power to force the issue. It’s the three faculty disappearances that painted a target on her back. Put the idea in their head that this is the time to drag her from her seat.”
“…Do you agree with them? Since as you’re here at the Five Rods’ behest?”
Ted voiced the big question. Fully expecting it to be a mere confirmation. Instead…
“Do I?” Farquois asked, crooking their head. “I’m certainly against the school style, but to be frank, I really have no interest in such political shenanigans. I’ve taken the job—I’ll perform it to their expectations. But I haven’t really given much thought to anything beyond that. And I doubt Esmeralda’s going to take their attempts lying down.”
Irritated by this, Ted offered a rebuke. “…If that’s no deception, then it’s simply irresponsible. You’ve voluntarily stepped into a vortex that could shift the very power balance of the magical world. Yet, you care little for the outcome? I’ll be honest, I find that highly doubtful. Hardly the words of a great sage.”
Farquois shrugged. “That’s the thing, isn’t it?” they said. “I’m the great sage; I view these matters from an entirely different perspective. I do not expect to be understood. That hope, I abandoned long ago—but the reminder of it does bring a pang to my heart.”
With that, their stalled feet moved again, signaling an end to the chat. Taking the hint, Ted and Dustin stepped aside, letting Farquois pass.
Then Farquois whispered, half to themself, “But perhaps someday, you’ll catch up with me. Rest assured, I will pave a path in that direction.”
“……?”
This was a different shade from any other utterance, underpinned by an uncanny gravitas. Ted could not tear his eyes off the great sage’s back as they vanished around the bend. His impression of the mage was growing yet more enigmatic.
“…Can’t get a read on them,” he said, frowning. “What am I supposed to make of that remark?”
“Don’t overthink it,” Dustin advised. “That’s what they want. Still—they may mean it when they claim to have no real interest. They were never the political type. If they were so inclined, they would’ve long since been a member of the Five Rods.”
Dustin refused to overcomplicate the issue. Just knowing that Farquois was acting on behalf of the Five Rods meant speculating on the mage’s own motives was likely a fool’s errand. Let the great sage’s mind remain opaque—Dustin hailed from the Gnostic fronts and knew the Five Rods all too well.
“…Whose scenario is this? Hundred or Hook Nose are prone to such schemes, but this doesn’t feel like their handiwork,” said Dustin. “Arachne feels most likely… Alphonse? Lord, that man never changes.”
“Mr. Walch? He once requested a potion from me. He seemed to be suffering. Unable to sleep, phantom pains from his missing half.”
“Yeah, luck was against him, and the etheric body got torn away. No healing on earth will make it grow back. Still, ain’t no reason to go crazy with it and add spider legs. Can’t even walk down the street like that.”
Dustin sighed, remembering his old war comrade.
Not just ordinary folk—most mages would find it hard to tell the difference between Gnostic Hunters and the monsters they fought. But spend time fighting alongside them, and that perspective changed forever. Dustin definitely knew what those people had thrown away to reach that state—and the painful void they could barely perceive.
“…The Five Rods are all like that. But I’ve risked my life in the field with every one of them. I’d rather not butt heads. Glad you spoke up, Ted.”
“No, I feel much the same way. I got you and Isko mixed up in this alliance, so it’s my role to put myself in the line of fire. At least, as long as my head remains on my shoulders.”
“That’s the spirit. The headmistress’s blade moves at different speeds—whether it’s your head or Farquois’s doesn’t matter. We gotta focus on getting through their term here. I’m far less concerned about what they get up to than whether the headmistress decides to take them down.”
Dustin shifted gears to forthcoming prospects.
It seemed very likely that Farquois baiting Esmeralda into attacking them was all part of the Five Rods’ plan. An awfully big piece to use as a sacrificial pawn, but if the great sage themself had fallen out of favor, it wasn’t out of the question. Either way, the two of them need not dance to that tune.
“If nothing happens this year, I bet the Five Rods’ll just claim dispatching Farquois ended the teacher disappearances. Let ’em. We can assume Instructor Theodore already has plenty of ammo ready to fight that sort of claim. We don’t need to fuss about it.”
“Appreciate you paring this mess down. Basically, all we have to do is ensure the great sage leaves here alive. That’s our primary goal for the foreseeable future.”
Dustin nodded at Ted’s summation. He certainly had concerns about other factors that could worsen things, including whether the teacher killers would continue to target faculty under these conditions.