Transmigrate to another world

Chapter 36: Negotiation

City State of Illium, Wizards Guild, P.O.V. of Zamart.

I arrive at the mages guild through my door and make my way to the guild master's quarters. I knock on the door and open it when I hear an answer. I walk in and see my old friend sitting behind a huge desk, he has a long white beard and very little hair, he is tall and thin but has presence.

"Hello, Roddick, my old friend!"

Roddick looks up and says, "Zamart, is that really you?"

"I know it's been almost seventy-five years, but have I really changed that much?"

Roddick says, "Yes, you've changed quite a bit since the last time I saw you. That was when we had just finished our apprenticeship and became full-fledged wizards. You went back to Revalia to become a court mage and I stayed here and joined the mages guild."

"And here you are, now the guild master! Congratulations!"

Roddick says, "I heard you became the head court mage, so congratulations to you too."

"Thank you, but I'm no longer the head court magician. In fact, I've been labeled a traitor and they've put a price on my head."

Roddick says, "Ah, I see. Well, if you are here to ask for refuge, I will grant it."

"Actually, I am here on behalf of the rebellion and I have bad news for you and the other nations. King Raden is planning to attack the other nations and has summoned all available summonings."

Roddick says, "That's quite an argument. You'd better come in and sit down, I'll pour you some tea and you'll tell me all about it."

We sit down together and, as we drink the tea, I tell my old friend everything that has happened since the queen was assassinated. I tell him how the king sacrificed his own daughter to summon all the heroes and I tell him about the secret army being trained.

Roddick says, "Okay, I believe you. Rest here for a while while I summon someone and have some mages check a few things."

"Sure, check everything you can, your word will carry a lot of weight for the other nations to believe us."

After Roddick leaves the room, I take a few minutes to look around. It is a very elegant and serious office, many random objects adorn the walls, including heads and trophies that I recognize as coming from very dangerous mana beasts.

I laugh when I see a familiar crystal on Roddick's desk, it lights up when someone tells a lie near it. Our master had one when we were apprentices, it was our undoing on many occasions.

My memories are interrupted when the door opens. I stand up and turn to look at it. I see Roddick enter, followed by a muscular man with gray hair and beard, and violet eyes. He moves gracefully, but with obvious restrained strength, and I see a glint of intelligence in his eyes.

Roddick says, "Zamart, this is Ambrose, master of the adventurers guild, he is also the leader of the guild masters council and current master of the city."

I bow slightly and accept the offered handshake. We sit down and I retell the story of what has happened in Revalia.

Ambrose says, "That is a truly disturbing story, forgive me for not accepting it without confirmation."

-No, I understand perfectly.

Roddick says, "My mages have verified that there are no heroic summonings available, so that is confirmed. Also, we recently received a request from King Raden for some of our mages to go to Revalia and enchant the castle. I also have mages currently scanning northern Revalia for the training ground."

Ambrose says, "Well, if there are no court mages to oppose them, that shouldn't take long. In the meantime, I'd like to know more about this summoning of beastmen, I've never heard of such a thing!"

"It's true that it has never happened before, as far as I know. And the way it happened was also very strange."

Roddick says, "Oh yeah, how's that?"

"Well, the forty-nine summoned had appeared standing in the circle as they were supposed to. Then Princess Mericel gave her father a look that was part betrayal, part hatred just before she collapsed. After collapsing, the beastman fell into the circle as if he had gone through the ceiling."

Roddick says, "I've never heard anything like it before."

"Royal historian Dammer later checked the royal archives and found nothing like it anywhere."

Ambrose says, "Interesting! Whenever something happens that has never happened before, you know interesting times are ahead!"

Roddick says, "You're always so eager to fight!"

Ambrose says, "Well, excuse me for enjoying a good fight! How about I retire and you take over management of the city?"

Roddick says, "No thanks, I've got enough paperwork just managing my guild!"

As the two continued to argue, I started thinking about the beast man, wondering where he was and what he was doing. I also wondered what role he might play in the upcoming events.

My thoughts and their bickering are interrupted when a mage walks through the door. From her robes, I can tell she holds a fairly high rank within the guild.

Roddick says, "This is Belliza, my number two in the guild, I asked her to lead the divination team."

Belliza says "Guild Master, we have located a training camp with over ten thousand soldiers in the desert north of Revalia."

Ambrose says "Well, that confirms everything, it looks like a war!"

-So, will you help our messengers warn the other nations?

Ambrose says "We will do more than that, we will also send messages confirming what we have found. We will help your messengers with supplies and escorts. I will also open the city to the rebels, they can send refugees here through the gate and we will welcome them. They can also use the city to buy weapons and supplies."

"Thank you very much, it will help us a lot!"

Ambrose says, "No need to thank me, we are now allies against a common enemy!"

Roddick says, "Belliza, change of plans, are you willing to take the mages to Revalia to do the enchantment? It will be more dangerous now as it will also be an espionage mission."

Belliza says "I will, can I choose my team?"

Roddick says "Of course."

"You should know that the king has a spy master named Quill who is a master of shadows."

Roddick says, "One of those pathetic men who sold his soul for power?"

"Yes, exactly. And as despicable as he is, he's very dangerous."

Belliza says, "I know the perfect wizard to take with us then. Guild master, with your permission?"

Roddick says, "Yes, you may go and begin preparations."

Ambrose says, "I should go brief the rest of the council and prepare messages for the other nations."

Belliza and Ambrose leave the room. I look at Roddick and smile.

"I should go too, I must report this to our leader. The messengers will arrive as soon as I get to the other side."

Roddick replies, "Yes, I too have preparations to make. If we are to enter a silent war, there is much to be done."

"I'm sorry to bring such bad news when we haven't seen each other in so long."

Roddick says, "I'd rather know now than when an army shows up at the gates. But come back in a few days or a week and we can sit and chat over beers."

"Deal!"

I stand up and hug my friend before leaving to head back through the gate toward the rebel camp.