When I see the big Infernal lift Fatty by the throat, my blood boils. The aisle feels narrow because his bulk eats up the space, and the shelves seem to lean in. Fatty's feet scrape the marble, and his eyes bulge and tear, and his fingers claw at the thick hand that closes on his neck.

"He just bumped into you, and you try to harm him? My Squire?"

Cloud. Stop. Back off, I hear King Baalrek's voice.

"We are Infernals, Human. We are one of the Three Great Races. When we walk around, we shall be respected. This fat bastard will learn manners now."

I take a hard look at both of them, and I bring the Grimoire online in my head. Lines map across their bodies, and I scan for active Skills and weak seams in their armor. I feel tired, and I know I am not thinking straight, yet I refuse to let anyone but me mess with Fatty. The air carries a dry heat from their skin and a faint smell of coal. Their breastplates resemble dark iron etched with runes that seem to absorb light.

Fatty has not complained in the last twenty‑four hours. I expect him to be a thorn in my side, and I braced for it, yet he stayed close and he fetched food and water and whatever I needed while I drowned in Runic Notation. I do not know why I expect him to fail. I think it is because I want to strangle him at the market, and because he acts like a fool. I saw him watch me with respect while I worked. He fell asleep a lot, to be fair, yet he never complained when I woke him for something, and when he woke after a nap, he got me what I asked without a word.

They will bully my Fatty over my dead body.

Cloud, those are Royal Guards. STOP.

The large Infernal stands at least three feet taller than I. He looks down and he erupts in laughter. "You think you can do anything to us?"

Cloud. They will kill you if you do anything. I'm serious. The Elder behind you is not going to be able to save your life. Especially after you just gave him some perfect, insanely accurate Runic Notation. Stop. Be reasonable. Let the kid take a lick or two. They're not going to kill him.

"Touch him, I dare you," I say, and I am ready to coalesce Black Flame in an instant.

I don't stand for bullies. If they touch my Squire, and if they would kill over something so trivial. I'll kill them first. I can see their openings. They don't expect my attack.

Cloud, if you somehow managed to land a lucky blow that kills BOTH of them, then not only would you be an idiot, you'd be hunted by all my people combined. Any Infernal would be required, by law, to kill you on sight.

Oh shit, I frown.

"Okay, tell you what, fellas," I say, and I switch my tone. "Would you like a deal?"

The two Infernals blink at the turn. Their horns curve back in glossy black arcs, and their pupils narrow. I smile and spread my arms, keeping my hands open so they see that I do not cast.

"I happen to have some great Runic Notation on hand. Let my Squire go, and let me know if you have a stubborn Gold Skill that doesn't level up at the moment. I have numerous contacts and could help you out for free. How about that?"

They trade a look with raised brows. Their red skin creases at the eyes, and their shoulders loosen a little.

"I can guarantee for the student. He's very resourceful."

Elder Karl speaks from behind me, and I glance back because I do not expect him to vouch for me. He gives me a thumbs‑up, and he holds my notes tight against his chest.

"Any Skill?" one of the Infernals laughs. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm nobody, really—nobody who'd ever want to insult two Infernals, of course. I am a great admirer of your kind. The horns are fantastic. The skin color is ravishing. I do, however, have a vast network of contacts. I'm fairly certain I can have anything ready for you within a few hours. If you are not satisfied, I'll bring back Fatty, and you can do to him whatever you want. I'll just need a brief demonstration of whatever Gold Skill you have that needs work."

They lean close and one whispers. The marble floor throws their low voices back at us.

"If the pipsqueak is not lying, remember what the Princess told us. We must form alliances and get contacts. Plus, we'll just kill them both if they're lying."

The other Infernal nods and releases Fatty. My Squire crashes to his knees, and he turns purple and he wheezes, and I crouch to steady him while he drags air into his lungs. A ring of students stares from the next aisle and pretends to read.

"I promise, you won't be disappointed. The first two are complementary for you, great gentlemen. May I just get a small demonstration?"

"If you're lying, you will pay. In blood. I won't even have you swear. I'll just take pleasure in hunting you down."

"Of course, hunting is a great hobby," I say, and I nod with a smile that feels a bit too wide.

They frown at me as if they cannot decide whether I am brave or stupid.

"Why do you need a demonstration?"

"My master gave me an ocular Skill which helps me figure out what sort of diagram you need. You know how fickle Runic Notation can be."

Both Infernals sigh and nod as if I say something they already believe. Their armor clicks when they shift their weight.

"Even standardized Notation sucks for Infernals. That is why we developed so many," one of the two says. He is the one with the bigger horns, and he looks a little more handsome than the other.

They kinda look the same to me.

All humans look the same to me. I hear King Baalrek's voice in my ear.

"So, gentlemen, may we proceed? And may I know your names?"

"I am Skarak," the one with bigger horns says.

"And I am Parek," the other says.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Alright, great names, huh, whenever you want."

Skarak goes first, and ash gathers around his arm in a slow spiral. The air grows dry, and gray dust curls off the floor.

"This is a Skill that starts at Gold Rank. Even among our kind, it's hard to master it. I chose it because I wanted to honor the Princess and show her that those who protect her are not useless bastards. Ashen Grasp."

A giant hand rises from the floor. It is made of ash, and it clutches the air, and the fingers leave streaks on the marble where the soot drags.

This is a field control Skill. The mana of this guy is so damn dense.

I activate the Grimoire and I file the flaws as they light up across the shape. I track the vein routes that match the movement of the ash, and I mark them in my mind.

"Thank you very much," I say, and I cough to clear the dust. "Huh, Parek?"

Parek steps forward, and heat rolls off him. Around all of us, thick blazing chains appear, and they snake through the aisle and they hover ready to bind anything he points at. The links spit sparks, and the light paints the shelves with moving bands.

Holy shit. What's up with these two Skills? They're so good. And they would definitely fit me. Oh shit. I need to buy them.

Good luck with that, King Baalrek says.

I trigger the Grimoire before Parek drops the Skill, and I flash him a thumbs‑up.

"I'll come see you guys tonight? Or, you can find me here if you'd prefer. You tell me."

They look at each other, and they hesitate. I hear the chains fade and the heat eases.

"Huh, any problem?" I ask.

"We've got guard duty from now to tomorrow morning, human. You…" Parek starts.

"I mean, we'll just get the diagrams, check them, and if there's anything wrong with him, we'll kill him. Just let him come," Skarak says.

Yo, I'm still here, I think to myself. It has to be bad manners to talk about killing me right in front of me, no? Also, what do you mean by that, King Baalrek? Why can't I learn them?

Those are pure Infernal Skills, Jacob Cloud. We occupy the Dungeons where you can find them and monopolize them. No one really has a monopoly over specific Skills, but we do try to preserve our heritage as much as we can. Ashen Grasp and Hellchain are signature Infernal Skills. Hell's Sword is much more common, especially the set that it comes with. But these two? These are Nobility‑level Skills. They're on par with your Dark Lattice—heh, actually, your Dark Lattice is slightly above those.

Wait, where's Infernal Veins on this scale?

At the level where they're going to kill on sight the moment they see you use it.

Can't I, like, negotiate that?

You can try. My people do love deals, I suppose. King Baalrek sounds sincere, but, as always, I'm not sure if he's trying to get me killed.

Parek nods and thinks it over with a tight jaw. The last sparks fade on the floor.

"Human. Come tonight to our dorm."

"What? You're in a dorm too?"

"Everyone is," Elder Karl coughs from behind. "It's part of the vows of being a Knight Apprentice, Jacob Cloud. You'll have to swear during the ceremony on that, among other things."

"We'll see each other soon, Human. Surprise us, and you will be surprised by our generosity. Our people do not mistreat their allies."

We do kill them sometimes, Baalrek adds in my mind.

"Of course, I'll be there. Which dorm?"

"South Wing, third floor. We'll be at the door."

"Perfect, see you!"

* * *

Elder Karl watches Jacob Cloud cut a wild deal with Infernals. The ghosts at the end of the aisle drift closer and then fade back, and the nearby students pretend to study while they listen. Infernals handle deals with skill, and they hold control in battle and outside it. Jacob Cloud just accepted a job that asks him to guide Infernals on Infernal Skills.

Either he is the greatest genius alive, or he is the biggest moron.

"Cloud, do you know what you're doing?" Elder Karl says, and he clutches the papers. He swears to protect students and to act in their interest for the Academy. People can twist oaths if a student lets himself get tricked, yet Elder Karl refuses to be tricked. He sees the talent Jacob Cloud possesses for Runic Notation, and he does not want the boy to die so young.

"Elder?" Jacob turns to him.

"You think you can actually fix their Skills with your knowledge and Runic Notation? How would you even know about Infernal Skills?"

The bodyguards look young, and they act like Squires of the Princess they mention. They do not push Jacob too hard because they plan to kill him if he fails. Jacob Cloud has still made an impossible promise.

"Sir, I think I'll be able to. I just need to finish up with the Gold Rank notation."

"May I help?" Elder Karl proposes.

"Sure."

Elder Karl sits beside Jacob, and he takes the quill while Jacob hunts through books. The table grows cluttered with astral copies, and the ink bottle leaves a ring on the stone.

"Ok, this line is messed up. The veins here, the heart veins, should be more like Kraslak's Notation. Yes, exactly like that! Elder, you've got great drawing skills!"

"Thanks, Cloud?" Elder Karl laughs despite himself.

This kid knows that becoming an Elder is not easy, right?

They work for three hours. With help from someone who knows what he is doing, Jacob refines the Gold Rank Runic Notation in a quarter of the time it takes for the other two. The final diagram sits on the page with clean angles and the routes braid without knots.

Elder Karl studies the Gold Rank Runic Notation he just drew with his own two hands, and his fingers shake.

"Cloud," Elder Karl says, "you know what you just did? Like, do you have any idea how valuable this is?"

"Quite valuable?" Jacob asks.

"Quite is not the word I'd use, but sure. Now, though, would you mind me watching you fix those Skills?"

"Of course not, Elder. In fact, I had a proposal."

Huh? Elder Karl raises his eyebrows.

"You seem to very much like Runic Notation, right? I don't think that attracting everyone's attention with a bunch of these notations would be wise, despite the fact that it'd make me a bunch of money. Would you mind being my middleman? I would like to produce a few Runic Notations and also, you know, like, make money?"

This is it? Elder Karl thinks. You hold insane wealth, the kind that could change the course of a life. Whatever. This is for the best. Make a lot of money and keep a low profile. Cloud does not have the power or the backing he would need to survive the fame this Runic Notation would bring.

"Sure," Elder Karl smiles. "I will do my best, Cloud. My ask, however, is to study this Runic Notation. However, I feel like I'd be robbing you blind if selling Runic Notation was all I did for you. How about I add something to the deal to square it up a little?"

"You're very generous, Elder," Jacob says, and he pats Fatty's back. Fatty's color finally returns, and his breath comes steady.

"So, I'll add Merits, of course. I don't have much to spare. But I'll give you thirty Merits. And I can also… Cloud, there's only one way you might know how to Tutor Infernals. Your master is an Infernal. Or you stumbled upon the kind of legacy that would make you the greatest target of Infernals. I saw the records before, and I can feel your Mana quite clearly. You're a Hell's Sword user, aren't you? And I bet you forged your Class upon it."

"Huh," Jacob says, confused by how Elder Karl knows so much.

"I can feel it, Cloud, I'm an Elder," the man sighs. "Now. Wouldn't you like to find someone who could sell you those two Skills? And perhaps hook you up with things that are normally quite difficult to come by in the normal market."

"You mean…" Jacob narrows his eyes.

"Twenty Merits, my collaboration whenever you need it during your stay at the Academy, and I'll hook you up with my contacts on the Hidden Market. Any Infernal Skill you might want? I know people who can get them for you."

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