Return of the Runebound Professor

With the worst of the surprises done for the day, the group was left with no choice but to do the most agonizing, gut-wrenching activity known to man. They had to do proper introductions.

It was painfully awkward to say the least. The vast majority of the demons that Noah had brought from the Damned Plains wouldn’t know decorum if it hit them upside the head. For that matter, the demon that he’d brought from the mortal realm to the Damned Plains was probably the worst of them all.

Noah watched as Lee edged her way through the room, slowly and steadily making her way closer to the puppet bearing Ulya’s picnic basket and wine. She was definitely both fast and sneaky enough to just steal it before anyone could even react if she chose to.

She did not choose to. It seemed that she found the hunt considerably more enjoyable than the actual victory. Unfortunately, it also seemed that Lee didn’t think people could see her if she moved slowly enough.

There wasn’t a single person in the room that wasn’t aware of her gradually approaching the puppet. Nobody said a word about it. They just focused on their incredibly awkward introductions. There were some things that were just best left untouched.

The situation wasn’t helped by the fact that Noah’s room was not really meant to house this many people. A few was no problem — teachers had rather spacious quarters — but there was a literal horde of demons packed in with the teachers, students, and clingers-on.

At least everyone seems to be largely getting along. No massive rifts despite the whole demon thing. That’s all I really need. I can’t have everyone at each other’s throats or terrified because they think they’re going to get ripped open by a psychopathic demon.

That’s not who these demons are.

Well, maybe Vrith, but I’m pretty sure she’ll be fine.

Moxie poked Noah in the side with her elbow. Noah pulled his attention away from Lee, who was extending a finger to try and hook the basket from the puppet’s hands, and looked to her.

“What exactly is your plan for the Advanced Track meeting?” Moxie asked. “If Spider makes an appearance, we’re going to call the Inquisition down on Arbitage.”

“Most likely, yes.”

“Wouldn’t we be under suspicion in that case? After all, we pretended that Spider was your mentor back at that other Advanced Track Meeting we went to,” Moxie said with a frown. “Is calling the Inquisition down on our own heads a good idea?”

“That’s exactly why I want to call them in. They know who Spider is already. I made an appearance before, and it wouldn’t have been long before they came investigating us once it becomes known that I’ve come back to Arbitage,” Noah said with a shrug. “If I take control of the narrative, it’ll be much easier to work around things. I want them focused on Spider rather than us… and I think I’ve already planted the seeds of interest. That female Inquisitor, Fuyin, she was interested in figuring out what I had to offer. She definitely survived the explosion, and I think she’ll come looking for information. Then all I have to do is direct her toward the nobles.”

“You want to set the Inquisitors against the noble houses?”

Noah grinned. “Can’t be too hard. Father couldn’t have been the only one summoning demons. Once news of my return gets out, it won’t be that hard for the people behind Jakob and Verrud to start putting all the pieces together. They’ll realize that Isabel was the one they were after, and that I’m likely the reason those bastards are dead. I don’t know how they’d react to that. Maybe they’d be sneaky, or maybe they’d just send their full force at us right off the bat.”

“So you’ll keep them occupied by directing the Inquisition at them. That won’t last if they’re not actually summoning demons… and our enemies might not be the whole house, but just portions of it.”

“Yeah. It’s far from a perfect solution, but it’ll buy us at least a little time, and it serves a second purpose as well.”

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Jalen stepped up behind them, a huge grin splitting his features. “It gets word out that there’s someone strong enough to not just defy the Inquisition, but also survive it. One that the other demons on the Mortal Plane will rally behind when word gets out.”

Noah nodded. “Not just demons. Anyone who wants power. Rumor about the auction will be out already. When it becomes clear that Spider isn’t just helping demons but humans as well… people will come to us.”

“You’re repeating what we did in the Damned Plains,” Moxie said. “But I suppose you’re actually planning to use it this time around. I don’t think we’re going to get lucky enough to have a run in with the head of the King Family that just makes them call off the whole thing.”

“Even if we did, I’m not sure if that’s our goal,” Noah said slowly. “This isn’t just about getting the noble families to back off. Everyone that thinks they can take Isabel’s Rune… I don’t want them hiding and biding their time. I wantthem to play their hands. Just not all at once. There’s only so much I can do, after all. Fortunately, every interaction I’ve ever had with nobles proves that they always play things safe. They’re scared. The only time they act is when they think victory is guaranteed.”

“So you’re planning to get them off guard to buy you time,” Jalen theorized.

“Seems sound enough as long as you don’t make yourself such a huge target that every family has no choice but to act,” Moxie said. She arched an eyebrow. “Though that seems like it very well may happen at this rate.”

“I know,” Noah said. A small grin flickered across his lips. “Which is why we’ll need more than just Spider. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. I need them off guard.”

Moxie blinked. Then realization flickered behind her eyes. “You’re going to give them a bigger enemy?”

“That’s a lot of bullshit,” Jalen said. “I love it. What’s going to be a bigger threat than Spider, though?”

“Still working on that,” Noah admitted. “But it’ll come to me. I’m open to suggestions.”

“If you do this, even if the enemy isn’t ‘Spider’, you realize you’re planning to start a fight with every single major family in the kingdom, right?” Jalen asked. “They might think it’s some new enemy Spider is helping them against, but the fact holds true. Even members of the Linwicks will be at your throat.”

“I’m more than aware. You’ve already made it clear you aren’t too bothered about that prospect.”

“Oh, not in the slightest. I’m curious to see if things will go as you’re predicting.”

“Probably not,” Noah admitted. “I fully expect things to go to shit when the ball finally drops.”

“And what then?” Moxie asked, tilting her head to the side. “Because with the amount of chaos the whole empire is going to get plunged into if things go as you say…”

“It won’t be much of a place left to live,” Noah said with a nod. “I know.”

“You’re planning on leaving,” Jalen realized. “Where?”

“To somewhere where my students can learn without worrying about someone putting a blade through their back to steal what belongs to them,” Noah replied with a shake of his head. He wasn’t going to pack his bags anytime soon. There was still too much to do in Arbitage. Too much to learn — but he had no doubt in his mind that there was only so much growth that could happen in a kingdom where everyone fought to keep information from each other. “But that’s something to worry about another time. I’ve got more to do before the meeting tonight.”

“Getting your disguise together?” Jalen guessed.

“No,” Noah replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Key. Sticky had returned it to him back in the Scorched Acres so she wouldn’t lose it by accident. It was mildly amusing to think that half the reason he’d ever landed in the Damned Plains was because he’d been trying to retrieve this. “I’ve got to return something.”

“You’re giving Arbitage back the Key?” Moxie’s eyebrows rose. “Is it still capable of opening a portal to the Damned Plains?”

“I don’t think so. That red energy that used to be in it is gone. Sticky spent it all getting us back to the mortal plane. It just feels like a key now.” Even as Noah spoke, a small frown tugged at the corners of his lips.

The red energy was indeed gone — but he hadn’t forgotten what it had looked like. It had been strange magic, of a variety he’d never seen before… up until he’d created his most recent Rank 5 Rune.

Is it possible this key had something to do with that Orlen person? Could it have been his magic that enabled Wizen to rip a portal into the Damned Plains? But why? What the hell does he want? He’s also helped a bunch of demons for seemingly no reason.

Noah’s gaze drifted to Linestra. She was sitting toward the corner of her room, doing her best to avoid drawing too much attention to herself.

She didn’t know anything, and Aylin confirmed that she wasn’t lying. The nobles are a problem I can focus on. But Orlen… he puts me on edge. I don’t know what his goals are, but I’ve definitely fucked with them by accident. Twice now, actually.

Oops.

“But why give it back to Arbitage? I wasn’t under the impression you were that loyal,” Jalen said. “You could at least—”

“It’s not Arbitage I’m returning this to,” Noah said. He slid the key back into his pocket. “I’m giving it back to an old friend.”

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