Arcana Chapter 2

The information that I was granted was all about my target’s research. Argus Arcana, a member of the noble Arcana family was the target. He was responsible for a piece of the research that his entire family spent their time preparing. The Arcana's want to use their Gift, you see. It allows them to perform complex magics by combining one form of magic with Arcanum. Arcanum is a magic that was invented millenniums earlier by one of the ancestors of the family Arcana. It's an arcane weaving of sorts that allows you to create complex spells that affect the surrounding area. Everyone in the Arcana family is proficient in two types of magic, which is difficult to do. Argus Arcana, my mark, is proficient in Alchemy and Arcanum,which struck me as an odd combination. I had no idea how the two could be linked, but then again, that was what the research notes in front of me would pertain to.

The last time a member of the Arcana family had the Gift was over a thousand years ago, a man known as Terrin Arcana. Terrin used the Gift to combine Arcanum with High Enchantment. He was able to create pieces of armor and weapons that were far superior to anything even to this date. Each piece of the Sage’s attire was apprised of one of his creations. All of this, some thousand plus years ago. It's understandable that the family would be desperately trying to pursue this incredible Gift.

Studying the research left me needing a fresh meal and to stretch my legs. I decided it would be a good idea to take a walk through the Imperial City and get a breath of fresh air. Imperial City is an incredible place. It seems every time I return from a mission the place has grown twice it's size. It certainly helps that it's in the middle of the kingdom. Throughout the ages it's size has fluctuated quite a bit. For a long time the capital was barely large enough to be called a town. In the beginning, it was mostly government buildings, and to this day all of them can be found in the same district. When I need to think, I like to walk through a few districts near my home. Nothing cheers me up more than the smell of delicious baked goods and spices blowing in the wind. There is a small cafe just a short waltz down the street from my home. I like to stop there for an afternoon tea, or even in the evenings for something cold. Tonight however I had other plans.

As I made my way past the cafe, I turned off to a side street and went into a little enchantment shop. I felt like I could use more information on the mark’s research whether I wanted it or not. This little enchantment shop, The Scribner, happens to be one of the best shops in Imperial City. Gill, the proprietor of this shop, was a short creature with webbed hands and feet, gills on his neck and an interesting blue-green skin that changed patterns with his mood. He happens to be a great informant on different magics and how they relate to each other. Gill has been in this area of the city for a few generations and serves as a sort of consultant for the military, besides that, he happens to be a good friend.

"Gill, my friend, how are you?"

"Is that you Nerius? You owe me 300 imperials!" Gill pulled in a good bit of air and stood as tall as he could, trying his best to look imposing to an assassin.

"Gill buddy, I told you that I would owe you a favor for that last bit of intel. Cut me some slack friend, I'm a returning patron of your fine establishment. You should treat me better than that."

Gill looked rather perturbed at this revelation, then grunted stubbornly.

"I have no use for your favors, Nerius, all I need is the money. If you have no money son, then I suggest you move on and find a new source of informations."

"I see how it is Gill, jeez. Try not to get so uptight about it, you might live longer that way. Might even die happy.”

Reaching into my travel pouch I recovered a small pouch labeled with The Scribner's logo and placed it onto his counter.

"There you go Gill, that should cover the last bit, and then the bit for today. I need to know why an Arcana would want to research Arcanum and Alchemy, instead of one of the more obviously powerful combinations."

Gill inspects the bag carefully, picks it up in his partially webbed hands and takes the money out, counting it slowly and deliberately.

"Yes, this should do nicely. From my research, Alchemy is the closest link they have to making any sort of breakthrough, Nerius. They are two sides of the same coin by an Arcana's account. Arcanum is the ability to affect your surroundings through means of magical energies, Alchemy is the ability to affect your surroundings through means of science and application. If these two things were joined, they could conceivably create anything from almost nothing. It would trump Terrin's research in spades."

I let out a whistle, "That sounds like a power to reckon with. Who all does research on this particular subset of their Gift?"

"That would be Argus Arcana, and the many assistants he's been afforded over the years. He's been working at it for years. They say that he is close to a breakthrough. Can’t be true though. None of the Arcana family members have shown signs of having the Gift since Terrin. I doubt that they could be near a breakthrough without it."

“So he’s either lying about being near a breakthrough, is hiding the Gift, or working with an outcast member?”

“Oooo, I don’ like the sound of that Nerius. Them outcasts are a force to be reckoned with. They were one of the more practical parts of the family, into the more powerful magics and beliefs. When they jumped ship, they took some of the best the family had to offer, probably set the family back hundreds of years in the process. Not to mention the fact that they bolster the defense of our natural enemies in the north.”

“Yes, that tidbit was free. I already know a great deal about the Empire’s history, thank you very much. Interesting thoughts though. I will have to mull them over. Thanks again for the info.” I dropped a few coins on the counter as I exited his shop, unsettled by the possibilities. Too many options makes my job too damn difficult, I needed to narrow them down. I’d have to work out a way to make that happen.

I took a long route back toward home, walking and thinking the evening away. When I entered my neighborhood I stopped at a nearby tavern intent on trying to enjoy a few drinks. I ordered something sweet to drink to go with a dessert and found a comfortable table with a line of sight to the door.