"What!?" Archmage Denayd shouted. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. After all this time, it had finally happened. A kin was here to sell the secrets of the Azure Magebane's power.

"SUPREME HASTE!" Archmage Denayd shouted as he cast the spell on himself. The poor messenger was hurled out of his way as the Archmage sped down the corridor. Several more servants experienced similar fates, like flowers tossed at a wedding, before Denayd reached the council chambers doors. He didn't even notice their involuntary flights as his mind raced.

Was it done by sacrifice? Was some deal struck with a demon? Perhaps she stole power from the mists. These were all hypotheses Denayd had conjectured and rejected since the Magebane had appeared. Yet, he never found the answer, regardless of the avenue he researched. Not that he had much time to indulge his desires. After the fall of Fortunia they'd all been busy. Everyone was. The mists, previously contained within the valley, were now spreading steadily. With the mists came the spawn. Or rather, the eldritch abominations within. Oh, how they had been played all these years. Everyone had assumed the mists were some natural force spread by unintelligent life. How wrong they were. Soon, they would be at the gates of Deepmere. However dire the situation was, Denayd ignored it. Knowledge was his one great passion. Now, he would at last have his answers.

"OPEN!" Denayd chanted as he blurred to a stop before the council chamber. With a surge of mana the large doors slammed open. The echoing boom seemed to shake the hall. He didn't care. He also didn't care about the dirty looks the posted guards gave him. He had no time to wait for them to open the doors manually. Denayd entered the chamber, his long green beard, now speckled with gray, whipping back and forth like a flail as he searched for the kin. His eyes passed over the annoyed faces of his fellow counselors. He ignored Kelfina, the elven representative, and her glare, which didn't diminish her beauty. He glanced over Calvore. The man was unremarkable, with long aqua-blue hair and a goatee that finally grew into a full beard. How he'd ever become a representative of Dageth Magical Combat Academy, Denayd would never know… or care. They were insignificant bugs. None of them mattered.

There. Sitting in one of the guests' seats was a kin. A deer-kin if he wasn't mistaken. The kin had small antlers, denoting his relative youth. His fur was a mottled brown with white spots, contrasting with his eyes, which were a deep, almost black gray. He had short brown hair that matched his fur. None of that interested him. A quick check and the kin's powerful mana pool was all the confirmation he needed.

"HOW IS IT DONE?!" Denayd shouted, striding forward. The collective glare of the counselors stopped him. Unlike the servants, this was enough to keep Denayd under control.

"We were just discussing that and other topics with Nicola here," Lord Arthos stated.

The deer-kin, Nicola Denayd presumed, turned to face him, nodding slightly. Denayd grimaced, pulling on his long beard as he took his seat. He wanted nothing more than to scurry Nicola away and question him till every answer was his. He'd have to bide his time.

"Now then," Arthos stated. "We were discussing your terms."

"And I was trying to explain that I don't have terms for you," Nicola growled.

Arthos frowned. "Then why are you here?"

"I want an offer from them," Nicola said, pointing to Calvore and Kelfina.

"Now, wait one minute," Grand Magus Arwin said, his aged face crowned with blue curls. He looked worn. That wasn't an uncommon appearance these days.

"You're a citizen of Deepmere. You should talk to us first. We can…"

His statement was interrupted by a loud fist slam on the table. Nicola's furious expression was enough to silence the man.

"You enslaved my family. I have no loyalty to this city. I'd rather the mist take me than help any of you." Nicola then turned to Calvore and Kelfina. "What can you offer me?"

Denayd fumed silently. Everything had gone wrong when they had enslaved the kin. Who could've guessed that such a decision would have such lasting consequences? Perhaps he could join whatever group recruited the kin. An Archmage was always desirable.

Calvore grinned as he spread his hands wide. "What do you want? You want gold. It's yours."

Kelfina scoffed. "The elves can pay double whatever Dageth offers."

"I don't need a lot of gold," Nicola said. "I want safety. For me and my herd. I also want you to free any kin you have."

Calvore and Kelfina each grabbed a magical sphere pulsing with an inner light. Denayd recognized speaking stones when he saw them. They must be communicating with their superiors.

"Easily done," Calvore said. "Dageth was never really interested in the slaves. We'll make them indentured servants for two years, then offer them well-paying jobs at Dageth."

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Kelfina glared at Calvore, then refocused on her orb. No doubt she was seeking additional incentives.

"The elves will free our slaves immediately and offer you five thousand gold," Kelfina said firmly.

"We'll need protection. It isn't safe here," Nicola said. He gave a mental nod to the west, where even now Denayd knew the mists could be distantly seen from Deepmere's walls.

Kelfina hesitated, "We can offer you sanctuary at our grove."

"I want the kin to be citizens. I want to be a noble." Nicola stated flatly. To that, Kelfina didn't respond.

"They'll never go for that," Calvore said knowingly. "Elves don't accept non-elf citizens. Dageth will offer you the same terms I stated before, including citizenship for the kin. As for you…" He leaned forward, fingers steepled. "How does Professor Nicola sound?"

Denayd gasped. He was never offered a professorship at a magical combat academy. They must desperately want him. Denayd scowled at himself. Of course they do. This was a chance for them to capitalize on the Magebane's secrets. It could be a revolution in magic. No… it already was. And he was falling behind.

Nicola seemed to consider the man before looking back at the elf, who had a pained expression but said nothing.

"Agreed," Nicola said.

"Excellent!" Calvore said, clapping his hands. "We'll depart with the rest of our mages in two weeks. Have everything ready by…"

"WHAT!? You're leaving!?" Lord Arthos shouted, standing up.

"Ah, yes," Calvore said awkwardly. "We are withdrawing to Dageth. There is nothing left for us here. I would personally like to thank you for hosting us. Our academy is open to all mages from Deepmere who are accepted."

"Forget that!" Lord Tarwin shouted. "What about the mists! It's nearly here!" The man had aged terribly in the past year since his son died. He had lost much. His granddaughter had defected to the kin. His holdings were now a joke. His health… well, his once lustrous dark blue hair had severely thinned out. What remained was a sickly gray that matched his skin tone.

The other Deepmere council members added their agreements to the rising objections. Denayd didn't bother. If he were Calvore, he would've left already.

"Your objections are noted," Calvore said once he could be heard. "However, my Headmaster has made up his mind."

"What about the lands we gave you?" Grand Magus Arwin asked. "Surely such valuable holdings are worth protecting. That doesn't even include the talented students."

Calvore looked at him, taken aback, and then burst out laughing. He laughed long and deep. It was a mocking laugh that prompted many of the council members to stand up in rage.

"Valuable holding? Talented students? I'm sorry, but your inflated sense of importance is only matched by your incompetence. This backwater city has nothing of value. Never did. The only thing of interest was learning about the mists and the free recruiting grounds. As for your 'talented' citizens, most are pathetic at basic spellcasting. For those with talent, we have already made them offers. All of them accepted. Now, with Professor Nicola here, there is nothing of value left." Calvore shook his head. "Nothing at all…"

Calvore stood and gestured to Nicola. "Professor, if you would join me. I think we need to discuss your employment in more detail. We must also make sure the kin get ready for their new home. I assure you that they will be treated far better in Dageth than here."

Nicola rose, joining Calvore. Denayd knew it was time to act.

"I'll also join you!" Denayd shouted. He ignored his fellow counselor's cries of protest.

Calvore studied the man briefly.

"No."

"What?!" Denayd cried. He must have misheard.

"Your loyalty exists only to the extent that it furthers your gains. You might be an Archmage, but you're a poor excuse for one." With that, Calvore walked toward the exit with Nicola by his side. The deer-kin gave the ruling body of Deepmere a smirk before leaving. Denayd collapsed into his seat, stunned. This couldn't be happening.

"Who needs those worthless mages!" Grand Magus Arwin declared. "Kelfina, I think the lands that Dageth held can be given to the elves. We just need…" He stopped as Kelfina shook her head, her almost violet hair swaying like tightening nooses around their necks.

"The elves are withdrawing also," she declared. She didn't say it harshly, but each word was a nail in their coffins.

"You can't…" Lord Arthos said weakly, collapsing into his seat.

"We most certainly can. The mana forest will soon be corrupted. Any value here has expired."

"You've been on the council for years!" Tarwin protested.

"I was here to evaluate the mists. That assignment is now completed. Now, excuse me, I have something important to do." Kelfina said, rushing out of her seat. She began a quick trot after Calvore and Nicola, who were just exiting the large chamber doors.

"Calvore, wait!" Kelfina called. "Perhaps if the good Professor here starts teaching classes, I can have several elves sit in on the lessons?"

"Oh," Calvore said. "Well, we'll have to talk about fees. I imagine Nicola will be in high demand. I'm thinking at least 2000 gold per student for his classes." Calvore clasped Nicola on the shoulder, who seemed stunned.

"Two thousand!" Kelfina squeaked. "Any chance you could offer group discounts…"

Their conversation was cut off as the chamber door closed. The resounding clack was the death toll for Deepmere. None of them spoke for several long minutes.

"We could evacuate…" Denayd said and received glares in return. He quickly went silent.

"Do we have any allies left?" Tarwin asked.

"We never had any in the first place," Arthos said darkly.

"Should we evacuate?" Arwin said after another minute of silence. "We can't hold back the mists."

"Evacuate to where?" Tarwin asked with a sigh.

"There are other cities," Denayd pointed out.

"Sure," Arthos stated flatly. "Then we'll lose everything. All of our lands and valuables are here."

"We'll lose everything regardless," Arwin pointed out. Several more minutes of silence followed this pronouncement.

"I think we should come back to the issue later. We're all exhausted," Tarwin said, standing. Denayd looked at the man and then at all the others. He knew. They will all gut Deepmere as much as they can before fleeing. Not a bad idea. How hard would it be to take all the old tomes from the library?

"I think we should make a general statement to the population. Perhaps tell them our allies are resting and new reinforcements are coming?" Arthos said. "Perhaps 10,000 additional warrior mages will be here in a month? We don't want them to panic. It's for their safety, naturally."

No one disagreed. The men exited the chamber. Their fake confidence nearly fell when they cleared the building. On the distant horizon, a wall of mist could be seen. A month… yes… they probably had that long…

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