24 Rank 2 Magus

"Help you clean?" Sophia had braced herself for another round of grueling experiments, only to be told her task was mere house cleaning.

"You're the one who said this place looks like it was robbed. So, those are the conditions; do you accept?" Zatiel was teasing the apprentice, never having expected her to assist him with his runes.

"I won't be involved in dangerous experiments?" Sophia was still in disbelief that her task would be so straightforward.

"What are you suggesting? I am a runemaster; you couldn't possibly assist me in my experiments. Regarding trying my runes, hundreds of apprentices would be willing to use them despite the risk if I so much as mention it."

"Sorry, I overthought," Sophia finally relaxed and a smile flickered across her face. 'At last, a beacon of hope.'

"But there is a condition; this place constantly accumulates dirt due to my ongoing experiments, so you will have to reside here."

Sophia was taken aback. It wasn't cohabitation that bothered her; she was acutely aware of her physical condition and how the world perceived her.

"Do you really want someone like me living with you?" Her voice carried a trace of self-loathing.

"If I allowed something as superficial as physical appearance to affect me, I would have succumbed to madness long ago," Zatiel spoke earnestly. Few things were more repulsive than a Mane.

"Even if you don't mind, the other apprentices will spread rumors," Sophia's existence was solitary, isolated by her appearance and the judgment it invoked.

"When has a dragon ever concerned itself with the opinions of a lizard? If they vex me, they will meet their demise. Enough excuses; are you staying or not?" Zatiel's expression was one of annoyance, urging her to overlook such trivialities.

"Yes, I will!" For the first time in a long while, Sophia's smile reached her eyes, making her feel somewhat normal.

"Then begin immediately; this place is a dump," Zatiel directed, immersing himself in the diagram for 'Transfiguration'.

Sophia promptly commenced cleaning, a smile playing on her lips.

Zatiel perceived her joy and empathized with her longing for normalcy, a desire he himself harbored as a demon. He wanted to ensure the secrecy of the laboratory information by keeping her close, choosing persuasion over coercion.

They soon established a routine. Sophia cleaned and cooked while Zatiel crafted runes. To Zatiel, her culinary skills made little difference, but her dedication to hiding her appearance, even during meals, puzzled him. He eventually resigned to her peculiarities, allowing her to continue her habits without protest.

....

In one of the upper floors of the Sinux Tower, two men were engaged in a tense interaction, one a dignified middle-aged man seated in a stately chair and the other, an older man, kneeling on the floor.

The one kneeling was known as Old Hal, soaked in sweat and pale, his body rigid with tension, all due to the imposing presence of the man before him.

The middle-aged man, without so much as a glance at Old Hal, radiated an overwhelming pressure, intensely scrutinizing two parchments in his hands—parchments containing runes provided by Zatiel for advertisement purposes.

"Are you certain you've disclosed every piece of information on that runemaster?" His eyes remained steadfast on the parchments, but to Old Hal, it felt like two immense eyes were penetrating his soul.

"Yes, Lord Magus! I swear, I've revealed everything I know," Old Hal stuttered. The widespread fame of the runes had reached this influential Magus who wished to know more about Zatiel.

Even though the middle-aged man was only a Rank 1 Magus, to Old Hal, barely a Rank 2 Apprentice, the pressure emanating from his magnetic force field was unbearable.

"You are dismissed. These runes will remain with me. Take this as compensation for your troubles." Without raising his eyes from the parchments, he tossed a potion towards Old Hal.

Catching the potion, Old Hal felt a surge of excitement. It was a simple vitality potion but of immense value to him, whereas for a Rank 1 Magus, it held no real worth.

"Thank you, Lord Magus. I shall take my leave." Old Hal made his exit hastily, relieved but also fearful of facing Zatiel empty-handed.

In truth, Zatiel had intended for the runes to reach a Rank 1 Magus.

"So, Jhon, what findings do you have?" A shadowed figure appeared, addressing the middle-aged man, who immediately bowed and provided the information about Zatiel with utmost respect.

Lord Clive, a Rank 2 Magus, listened intently, his face revealing no emotion. Jhon's eyes were laced with greed; he suggested interrogating Zatiel for any special artifact that might be aiding him in his extraordinary skill in crafting runes.

"I have monitored his crafting through the tower's surveillance; there is no artifact, only innate talent," Clive stated calmly, ignoring Jhon's avarice. "Proceed as instructed and resolve the issue with Arthur's master as discussed." And with those final words, the shadow vanished.