Page 20 of Roverpowered 6

There was nothing to be done for it, though, his next chance to tell her likely wouldn’t be until Wanda arrived in Stryatia.

But… surely Wanda would figure out her mana’s true potential on her own by then.

Wouldn’t she?

EPILOGUE

“Captain Sharshaw, there’s a representative of the Alchemist’s Union here to see you.”

The Ursender’s captain waved for Arhart to fetch the guest without looking up from her desk where she was tabulating the cost of repairs weighed against the bounty that had rolled in after wiping out the occorite flock. Apparently, the flock had been harrying this area for some while, enough that people losing ships started to offer gellen in the hopes it would solve the problem.

Although Captain Sharshaw hadn’t known about the bounty, she was more than happy to claim it. After what her crew had been through, they were due for a nice bit of compensation, and her ship needed to be made whole again. More than whole, if her math was adding up. The reward had been substantial and their damage relatively contained.

Her navigator returned with a man whose slicked back hair sparked an immediate feeling of distrust in the captain, and seeing his familiar inside a travel container didn’t do much to soften the image.

“Good afternoon, Captain Sharshaw. My name is Kurlain, and I come on behalf of the Alchemist’s Union. I must say, it was not easy to catch your ship. The bearplanes I chartered assured me they’d be swifter, yet I’ve found myself constantly behind as your route shifted.”

Unsure if this fellow was complaining or complimenting, Captain Sharshaw decided to try and hurry the whole matter along. “Is this about Juthan, that alchemist we turned over to the Union? Every pilot on my ship has given their account, and the last passengers from that voyage disembarked when we reached Stryatia this morning. If you want more witnesses, you’ll have to go find them yourself.”

“Oh, no, no, this doesn’t concern any such minor matters,” Kurlain assured her. “However, there was a passenger of particular interest on your last voyage that I… hoped… to…”

Kurlain’s voice trailed off as Arhart’s heavy hold took hold of the alchemist’s shoulder. All wizards gained some manner of strength from their familiars, and beast wizards typically saw the most changes on the physical front. Naturally, one’s familiar played a role as both grew, which was why bear wizards were tall in stature and dense with muscle, whereas Kurlain was reedy, not unlike his snake.

No doubt he had superior flexibility and dexterity to any of her pilots. However, there was a reason alchemists did not typically fulfill offensive roles on an adventuring team.

“Listen to me very carefully. I don’t know you from a parrot, or what you’re here for, and I don’t care to. You want to go hunting down a wizard with that kind of power, by all means chase that thunderstorm. Just leave my ship and crew out of it. If I hear one more word about our mystery wizard, Arhart will throw you off The Ursender. And I do not mean that as a mere expression.”

Panic had set in swiftly at the touch of Arhart’s hand, yet oddly, Captain Sharshaw watched as the man grew more composed as she spoke. “Forgive me, I fear there is a misunderstanding. Whatever secrets you’re guarding, the wizard I’m looking for is barely in her imbuement phase. I have no interest in anyone powerful enough to inspire that level of fear, only the woman I’ve been tasked by the union with seeking out.”

Slowly, Captain Sharshaw allowed herself to relax and nodded for Arhart to step back. “Alright then, if that’s the case, I’ll at least hear you out. Who is this alchemist you’re after?”

“A young woman with a one-eyed hound, going by the name Wanda.”

Garlain Umfries stared at his grandson with an impassionate expression, fingers drumming on the arm of his wooden chair.

Standing on the rug across from his grandfather’s desk, Lenar did his best to maintain a neutral mask, hiding the mass of swirling nerves at this meeting. At last, the head of the Alchemist’s Union began to speak.

“I sent you to get certified with one, quite literally, one rule in place. Do not reveal your identity or association to the Umfries family. It is the same practice I have enforced on every child and grandchild in my lineage, a rule that ensures our qualifications are beyond reproach. Of all my grandchildren, I honestly thought you the least likely to stumble over such a minor hurdle.”

Lenar offered no excuse or justifications, those would only lower whatever respect Garlain might still hold for him. Besides, Lenar had no regret in his heart over the decision. He would accept the consequences of his choice.

“And yet, a small amount of digging reveals the situation to be more nuanced than I’d initially feared. You announced yourself after achieving certification and did so in order to stop a member of our organization from potentially damaging relations with the very pilots we depend on to transport our people and potions. Doing nothing would have been acceptable, as you were upholding my orders, but instead you chose to risk your standing in my eyes to protect the organization I head.”

Garlain smiled, though Lenar didn’t see much joy in the man’s eyes. “A cunning calculation, and more political than I’d expected. I can’t very well punish you for upholding the integrity of the Alchemist’s Union, now can I? No, if anything, this more likely merits a reward for keen judgement and⁠—”

“That wasn’t why I did it.”

Lenar was as shocked as Garlain that someone interrupted his grandfather, and he was even more floored to realize the voice had emerged from his own mouth. Yet the words were out there, and there was no clawing them back. Looking within, Lenar found he wasn’t especially compelled to try anyway.

“Oh?” That one word was a question, a demand, and a suspended judgement rolled into a single syllable.

Memories of Wanda’s panicked face and trembling hands under that boor of an alchemist’s tirade caused Lenar to fight back against the urge to grit his teeth, and only partially succeed. “That greedy, pathetic excuse for an alchemist was upsetting my friend.”

Lenar fully expected the declaration to be met with disappointment, perhaps even dismissal from his grandfather’s sight. Instead, he found the old man staring at him with what could only be described at outright shock.

“You made a friend?”

Appearing to realize how harsh the question sounded, Garlain hurried to add context, “You are gifted in the art of alchemy, Lenar. Your potential has been clear since you first started herbalism training. One day, you may very well be hailed as the greatest among your generation. But, and I say this with love, you inherited my people skills along with my knack for alchemy. Most of your peers find you haughty and distant.”