Chapter 46: The qualities of a man

Ace turned sharply and took off up the stairs. He reached his room and slammed the door closed behind him. He threw of his shirt angrily. He went straight to the wardrobe and poured out water into a bowl and began to splash his face. When he was done, he looked down into the water. Suddenly, he threw his fist forward and it went straight through the plaster and into the brick wall.

"That looks like it hurts," came a voice from behind.

Ace turned back with an expression devoid of emotion, "Who told you that you can come in here?"

"What do I need an invitation for?" the wizard chuckled, "You used to break into my study all the time,"

Ace gave a cold smile, "it's fine. I have need of you anyway." He took a new shirt from the drawer and pulled it over his muscled physique.

"What for?" the wizard strolled across the room with a grin.

"There is a man downstairs who is very dangerous and he wants to meet you," Ace sighed, "I'm asking for your help,"

"Oh, my help?" the wizard gave a derisive snort, "then you should be begging. You know I don't do anything for free. What will you give me if I help you?"

"What do you want?" Ace said through gritted teeth.

"The necklace," the wizard turned back with a smirk.

"Try again," Ace met his gaze unwaveringly.

"Okay, then," the wizard tilted his head back thoughtfully, "...the book of stars,"

"What do you want with that?" Ace's eyes narrowed.

"I'm bored. I want something to read," the wizard shrugged.

"You want to read from a book of ancient demonic spells because you're bored?" Ace scoffed.

"Stop asking pointless questions. I know you're going to give it to me," the wizard sneered, "so skip the bad demon act and hand it over,"

"Fine," Ace inhaled deeply, "but first we need to deal with this,"

"Alright," the wizard hummed gleefully.

"Before we go down there, you need to promise you're not going to...lose your temper," Ace glanced at him wearily.

"Give me some credit, boy. I know how to play nice," the wizard gave a smug grin.

"I've heard that before," Ace scoffed.

"Well, this time I mean it. You have something I want and I always get what I want, Ace," the wizard opened the door, "Don't forget that,"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Ace replied flatly and they began to walk down the stairs.

Inside the drawing-room, Silthus was stretched out across the floral settee with a look of smug satisfaction. It was an elegantly furnished room with simple decoration and blue ornamental flowers hand-painted throughout. There was a fireplace as with the other rooms with a slick black marble frame and a large window at either side covering the room in a comely glow. Only Silthus seemed out of place with broad shoulders sprawled across the length of the seat and his mud encrusted boots resting on the furnishings. His blue eyes lit up with mischievous delight upon laying eyes on the black wizard. He came to a stand and strolled up to them both.

"Who is this then?" he inquired with a smile.

"Silthus, this is my old master, Michael," Ace explained begrudgingly, "he came for a visit,"

"You're master?" Silthus stared at the black wizard curiously, "but how can that be? He doesn't look much older than me,"

"We, wizards have contrived many ways to extend our lives," Michael gave a bow with a smile, "I assure you, I'm much older than I look,"

"You're a wizard?" Silthus questioned, "You must be a wizard of some calibre to have taught Ace. Why have I never heard of you before?"

"Because I don't care to heard of," Michael grinned, "it makes my work quite difficult if I am beset with constant distractions,"

"Yet, you came here," Silthus stared at him with dark eyes, "Was Ace a favourite student of yours?"

"On the contrary," the wizard smiled, "He was lazy, disrespectful and one of the most ungrateful students I ever had,"

"Then why did you come here?" Silthus interrogated.

"I was invited," Michael replied with severe yellow eyes, "were you?"

"Michael," Ace uttered under his breath with annoyance.

"Ha!" Silthus let out a laugh, "I see where Ace gets his fire. Come, take a seat. I have so many questions,"

Michael leisurely took a seat and stared off into the window at the setting sun with a disinterested gaze. Silthus took the other seat across from him as Ace poured out a drink. He handed a glass to Silthus. Silthus' eyes were on Michael as he took a sip. The black wizard like the rest of the room was illuminated in brazen Amber light.

" What pretty eyes you have, " Silthus commented.

Michael turned back with a sharp cynical gaze, "So I've been told,"

"A fact which you seem to resent?" Silthus observed.

"I don't resent it," Michael smiled,"I just have no use for it. A man is remembered for his deeds, not his looks,"

"A tragic fact, indeed," Silthus sighed,"then what do you think gives true value to a man then if not his beauty? "

"I couldn't say. Virtuous qualities in some men are follies in others," Michael replied apathetically.

"But what specifically do you think are the good qualities of a man? I mean, you must have some discernment in picking your students. Would you enlighten me? I wonder how you chose Ace here for example," Silthus sipped his drink with a slight smirk.

" I did not choose him," Michael answered with thinly veiled annoyance, "He was placed in my care by a friend,"

"But you agreed even though he was not a human?"

"He was..." Michael paused and glanced up at Ace who was standing rigidly still, "... a burden. Still is,"

"What is the difference between teaching a human and demon?" Silthus tilted his head to one side in amusement.

"If you mean in personal traits, I would answer very little. In humans we see laziness, hesitation and wicked desire. In demons, these flaws are just amplified. Laziness becomes apathy. Hesitation - complacency. And desire...it turns to obsession,"

"Then what would you say is the cure for such a student?" Silthus leaned forward with sinister enthusiasm.

Ace surveyed Michael with apprehension. The corner of Michael's mouth curled into a condescending smirk.

"There is no cure for human nature," he smiled, "nor demon nature for that matter. You may mold the clay, but in the end, it will still be clay,"

Silthus leaned black a unreadable expression, " I see. Well, thank you for indulging me. I quite like to get the opinions of different sorts of people over a glass of wine. It makes for riveting conversation,"he glanced down at Michael, " but I see you don't drink? "

"I find drinking dulls the mind and misguides the senses," Michael stared down at the glass in Silthus' hand apathetically.

"You are quite blunt, Michael, " Silthus chuckled, " I like that. I think you and I could be great friends, "

" Perhaps, " Michael smiled.

"Will you come take a turn of the house with me?"Silthus gestured, "Ace can give us a tour,"

"It's dark already Silthus,"Ace interjected, "can't we continue this in the morning? "

"Please Ace, I know you hate to wake up early. This is for your benefit, "Silthus smiled.

"Then we'll go at lunch," Ace argued, " I am tired from chasing you around the midlands,"

This time Silthus glanced back with narrowed eyes, " the last I checked, 'friends' means more than one person. Stop buying time and bring me to them,"

"Might I make a suggestion, Ace?" Michael leant back on one hand with a grin, " Why don't we adjourn to your study? As you said, it grows dark and it is cold. We can't make the poor maid go around lighting every furness in the house. Why don't we go upstairs and join the others?"

"What a splendid idea!" Silthus enjoined with a stand.

Ace stared down at Michael with a vicious glare but said nothing. They all proceeded out into parlour and started up the stairs. The hallway was already lit with candles leading the way down the dark passage. They reached the outside of the office and Ace stood with his hand upon the door not moving.

"What's the holdup?" Silthus interrogated.

Ace gave a slight smile, "It's quite a mess. I just hope the maid has tidied things up,"

Silthus pushed past him at once and burst into the study. In front of the fireplace, Yona and Tomas were sitting quietly sipping on tea. Yona stood up at once and gave a bow. Tomas followed suit.

"Lord, Silthus we were not expecting you," Yona said in a low voice.

"Who is this?" Silthus cast a sharp eye on Tomas.

Tomas gave a weak smile, "I am...Yona's fiance,"

"Fiance?" Silthus raised an eyebrow, "you allowed this, Ace?"

He turned back sceptically. Ace gave a tight smile, "Apparently I did,"

Michael gave a laugh and strolled into the office with an inspecting eye upon the back door. He turned back to Ace with a provoking smile. Ace shook his head in agitation. Yona and Tomas immediately offered their chairs and stood silently as Silthus continued his inspection.

He glanced around the room then his eyes came back to Tomas, "What is your name?"

"Tomas, my lord," he answered with a strained expression.

"Ah," Silthus gave a shrewd smile, "how lovely,"

"It is late," Ace said flatly, "Take Yona and go to bed, Tomas. You will allow that, won't you Silthus?"

"Of course," Silthus mused, "I much more interested in our other friend anyway,"

"You have met all my friends," Ace countered.

"That's funny," Silthus rose with a dark smile, "I'm quite sure I sense a dark magic user hidden about somewhere,"