After a half-hour discussion conducted in the empty rooms of this section of the College a consensus was reached. Eve didn’t bother paying attention because Nota would scribe everything into Eternal Memory. She did however take the time to shift her appearances into a younger version decked in exotic leather armor with two swords. Charlotte had explained that a bodyguard was easily explained, while a Demon, not so much.

  Eve shrugged. Her natural body alterations, even at a reduced Tier, would outclass all but the most skilled swordsmen. Even then, she was more akin to a very expensive golem with a meat brain than anything mortal. It had taken the better part of the time to get a functional version of Storage and Looting to work. The setup was barely the size of large chest, and restricted to touch only in order to put something inside.

  Still, something is better than nothing. Eve thought as the Professors were attended to by medical staff while she watched. The speed and recovery of the situation is rather impressive. For some reason I suspect this isn’t the first time an errant mishap has occurred at the College.

  Removal of the bodies, cleaning, and more were handled by grey robed mutes. Eve had examined them finding no signs of slave collars, command sigils, or runic rules with Witch’s Dust. Attempts to question one of the gray robes had caused Deputy Elandra to approach her after the Praetor had departed.

  “They are servants who indebt themselves in order for their children to attend.” Deputy Elandra said to Eve’s questioning glance.

  “The tongues?” Eve asked curious.

  “It is an old magic. Barbaric, but there are some things they see that would cause untold devastation if learned.” Deputy Elandra replied.

  “Knowledge of me?” Eve asked with an arched eyebrow.

  “Oh, not even close. Something like the True Name of a Prince of Hell, or the idea of democracy. Things of that nature that would upset the world order into chaos.” Deputy Elandra said with a chilled smile.

  “The process is completely voluntary?” Eve said.

  “It has to be for the magic to work.” Deputy Elandra confirmed.

  Eve shrugged. She might find the entire affair sordid, but she couldn’t change millennia old practices. Sure, she could heal every servant, and then go a step further in untangling the magic. However, when she moved to heal a servant with Witch’s Dust there was the sudden sharp feeling of attention on her. Even though her power was reduced in Tier, there was no mistaking the attention of a Deity. Her dust protected from direct sight, true, but it wasn’t invincibility by far.

  If the mere thought of healing these people is enough to draw divine attention that rings all sorts of warning bells. Eve thought. I would rather not be responsible for the accidental or intentional summoning of a real Demon. Much less starting a holy crusade that would end with my head on a spike before I was sent back.

  Eve’s attention shifted to the array of badges Deputy Elandra was wearing. As a prominent second-in-command she had quite a few intricate medals adorning her person. Combat medals, research medals, and a few denoting special circumstances. Eve’s eyes roamed over each comparing them to matching images in Eternal Memory. It appeared that those who educated at the top also did a bit more than merely spew pompous hot air from between their lips.

  “I notice you have the Purple Eclipse Medal. Is the war still ongoing, then?” Eve said leaving a misconception to take root.

  Deputy Elandra looked askance at Eve before she said, “The Great War ended over forty years ago.”

  Eve allowed an expression of sadness to cross her face before she said, “Ah, how unfortunate. Those were such good times working with High Sorcerer Mitchell.” She didn’t worry her lie would be exposed because the infamous demon summoner had been beheaded by his own country.

  Othuven’s Disgrace as the man was known in history was the premier demon summoning genius of a century. It was his work that had led to the branch of Summoning magic taking deep root in this kingdom. Even though he was publicly decried, quite a few works in the library were willing to admit that the kingdom wouldn’t have managed to broker peace without the threat of his Grimoire existing.

  Even if said Grimoire would drive the user slowly insane until they summon something too powerful for a circle to contain. Eve thought skimming a few history books in Eternal Memory. However, this is a perfect cover.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “Y-You knew Mad Mitchell?” Deputy Elandra whispered in awe.

  “Of course, I handled plenty of targets at his bidding.” Eve said. “He didn’t rise to power merely on the strength of demon summoning and his own good looks. There was plenty of quiet wet work done behind the scenes by me and the others.” All of the late great Mad Mitchell’s demons had been hunted down and banished, so there was no one to prove her words wrong.

  “Excuse me, I need to go confirm a schedule change for the classes with the Praetor.” Deputy Elandra said trying hard to keep her face calm and her gait unhurried as she moved away from Eve. The older woman quickly departed the corridor heading into the main part of the College.

  Eve grinned internally as she showed a poker face before moving back to stand by Justin and Charlotte. The two children looked at her for a long moment before the boy asked, “What did you do?” The resigned expression on his face was delicious, and Eve smirked before saying softly, “Congratulations on summoning Mad Mitchell’s premier assassin. I always knew you had talent kid; we’ll go places. Assuming no one secretly kills you when I’m sleeping.”

  Charlotte’s eyes widened imperceptibly which was the same as a scream for the younger girl before asking, “Can you prove it?”

  “Prove? Why would I need to prove anything?” Eve said as she continued serenely, “Who can provide evidence otherwise?” The girl’s eyes lit up brightly as a devious grin creased her face at Eve’s words.

  “This is very good.” Charlotte said. “Do we have insurance, too?”

  Eve nodded. That was the main point that would play in the children’s favor. Mad Mitchell was a certified insane genius by the time he was killed, but the reason it took so long was due to his demons. Each of the demons that were under his command had very specific rules they had to follow. The assassins under the High Sorcerer’s banner were no different. Without exception, when Mad Mitchell was murdered, they took action.

  Not a single individual who killed the man lived to this day.

  Falling down four flights of stairs, tripping over a balcony eight stories up, allergic reactions to soup ingredients, accidental drowning in a nearby pond just to name a few, were the common yet tragic, manner of death that reaped the lives of those who signed Mad Mitchell’s warrant of execution. It didn’t matter the protections in place, every single person who had a hand in the deed was dead to the last individual.

  To this day this action alone had cemented Mad Mitchell’s fame.

  “Does anyone else know?” Charlotte said. “Elandra, that’s why she was in such a hurry to talk to Praetor Lohd.” The girl’s tone was vibrant.

  Eve nodded. “I can’t protect you from every little problem. However, if someone is brazened enough to take such steps, I don’t mind adding another line to Mad Mitchell’s tally. He was always a bit of a vindictive bastard.”

  “You’re going to kill whoever kills us?” Justin said as he understood the subtext, finally.

  “Everyone who had a hand in it, yes.” Eve said.

  “What if they are stronger than you?” Charlotte said.

  “Barring a direct descent from whatever you call gods around here, there isn’t anyone with that title. I suppose multiple people at my true power level could attack but that would have devastating consequences.” Eve said with half -lidded eyes.

  “Such as?” Charlotte asked.

  “If I was going to be sent home, I would make sure to take as many of them with me as possible. Fighting someone unafraid of death is a horrific proposition in any manner. Without a shadow of doubt if three attacked me, two would fall before I did.” Eve said firmly.

  As she finished speaking, a guard of the College indicated they three of them should follow him. It was the work of a few minutes to move through the College to the administration areas. Eve took her time studying the portal magic on display. She was confident she could replicate it given a decent power source. Her musings on how to fuse the structured runes into something with a much higher power efficiency were put on hold as the guard stopped.

  Eve glanced at the nameplate in gold lettering above the door before a ghostly smile flitted across her features. It appeared that the Praetor wasn’t someone who took the possibility of bombs planted in his school as acceptable. She took note of the fact that the conference room attached by a tricky manipulation of space to the Praetor’s office had a full contingent of elderly individuals inside. They weren’t actually there, but the projection stones in the chairs within held their images. If she didn’t miss her guess, Eve was rather certain that was the board of directors for the College.

  The children preceded her into the room, allowing Eve to get a good look around with the full extent of her services. Several relics preserved behind glass gave Eve the feeling of certain death. A few others had a slight feeling of pain. The vast majority of what appeared to be a magical collection though felt like nothing more than warm water.

  A sword, a dagger, and a mace. Eve thought looking at the descriptor plates attached below the items. All from Champions of a deity, blessed weapons said to send evil to the depths. The weaker feeling is from items used by powerful magicians, likely enchanted for additional forms of damage.

  It was nice power move, so Eve responded with one of her own.

  “Why is the Demon floating an inch off the ground.” Praetor Lohd said after the guard closed the door.

  “She’s testing the limits of gravity.” Charlotte said smoothly without turning around to look at Eve.

  Eve was standing on very thin plates of Witch’s Dust combined with a sustained burst of telekinetic force. It wasn’t something she could keep up for longer than an hour, but it was quite impressive. Flight was a power attributed to Archmagi in many legends. Eve was just flexing in a manner that demonstrated her complete lack of concern about the ‘demon killing’ weapons nearby.

  So, what if you can kill me! Can you fly? Hah! Eve thought. The demonstration drove home a singular message. If anyone attacked her it had better be successful the first time, otherwise she would fly away. Praetor Lohd’s ghastly pale expression was mirrored by Deputy Elandra. It was clear they understood that if she flew away, revenge was only a matter of time.

  Eve landed lightly on the plush carpet with a whisper of sound before moving up to stand in a subservient position behind Charlotte. The younger girl said, “Fortunately our contract with the Demon prevents anything tragic.”

  Praetor Lohd’s eye twitched with the starting appearance of a facial tick before he said, “I’ve acceded to your requests. Private tutors for Blood and Air magic, specialized diets, and unrestricted access to the library.” Charlotte nodded without expression as he continued, “However, you need to make sure this doesn’t turn into a spectacle. If your Demon causes a problem, by the Three’s grace I will make your lives an excruciating exercise in begging for death even if it might be the last thing I ever do. Do you understand me?”

  Charlotte said, “Certainly. I have no doubt it would be a terrible experience right before you choked on a fishbone, Praetor. You have no need to worry though. Once I take control of my House, I will ensure a sizable donation to the College for their exemplary training standards.”

  The Praetor gave the younger girl a gimlet eye before he sighed in resignation, “If you didn’t have Mitchell’s Mad Marionette working for you that might be nothing but a dream.”

  “Mrs. Silver is an exemplary guard. Please don’t give her strange titles, Praetor Lohd.” Charlotte said sharply.

  The Praetor stared hard at Eve before looking away when she smiled brightly back.

  “Is there anything else?” Praetor Lohd asked.

  Charlotte was about to speak before Eve placed a hand on her shoulder and moved in front of both children.

  “Actually, would you mind telling me what the College’s Board of Directors is doing meeting in the secret room attached to your office?” Eve said.

  Praetor Lohd and Deputy Elandra both blanched.