1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,059 Speaker 1: [electronic music] 2 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,420 Speaker 1: Chapter Four: Collateral. From Nikolai's Journal of Forbearance: 3 00:00:58,420 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: "Forbear emotions at your own peril. All human cruelty starts 4 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:09,580 Speaker 1: with forbearing emotions. There is no good way to use this magic." 5 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:18,780 Speaker 1: Mother Lysandra simply wished everyone around her understood how painful it was for 6 00:01:18,820 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: her to be here, how much she had given to be a part of this arduous and 7 00:01:24,460 --> 00:01:28,900 Speaker 1: increasingly futile mission. She tapped one of the couriers on the shoulder as she 8 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:34,740 Speaker 1: passed. "Have you seen the Wellstone?" "No, ma'am." So she found a member of 9 00:01:34,780 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: another house, House Greenside by the look of the man's attire. An actual member of 10 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: House Greenside, too, not just a representative. Not an important one, though, 11 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:50,460 Speaker 1: because she didn't remember his name. "Excuse me, uh..." 12 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,500 Speaker 1: "It's Ulric, Mother." "Ulric, thank you. 13 00:01:56,140 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: Ulric, have you seen the Wellstone?" His eyes went right to her hair. Why did they 14 00:02:01,940 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: always look at the hair? It wasn't her hair that was hurting. It was literally 15 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,380 Speaker 1: everything else. "No, Mother, but I can ask around." 16 00:02:10,380 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: [sighs] Lysandra closed her eyes 17 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: and took a slow breath. She searched for a response befitting her station. 18 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: "Ulric, do you know of any other Wellstones?" 19 00:02:28,140 --> 00:02:33,420 Speaker 1: He grinned at her as if she were in on the joke. Wellstones were their only sources 20 00:02:33,460 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: of magical power in this plane. It was being strictly rationed for both martial and 21 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:44,300 Speaker 1: practical reasons. The gigantic Wellstone they'd brought was a figurative lifeline 22 00:02:44,340 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: for this delegation, but a very literal lifeline for her. Ulric must have 23 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:55,140 Speaker 1: access to other, smaller Wellstones. He wouldn't give that information up without a 24 00:02:55,220 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: twist, though. Hence the smile. "I would like to think on it, 25 00:03:00,940 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 1: Mother." [sighs] Composure. Composure. 26 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: Keep it. "Please do so. Immediately." 27 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: Ulric looked around as if expecting to be a part of some prank, and at any minute, 28 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: one of his friends would jump out and surprise him. "You're serious?" Mother 29 00:03:23,980 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: Lysandra ground her teeth. 30 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:33,500 Speaker 1: Little red sparks flew from her mouth like a saw cutting through iron. Ulric's eyes 31 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: widened. That was one perk of being Ethereal Planes Guard. People always assumed you 32 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: had supernatural abilities. She could use that against him, and for the most part, 33 00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:50,700 Speaker 1: it wasn't true. She did have supernatural weaknesses, though. Her body depended on 34 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: magic to survive, and it was making that known very clearly now. 35 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:01,820 Speaker 1: "Do not make me stick you to the floor and drain it out of your 36 00:04:02,020 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: very body, Ulric. Your back pocket. Give it to me." 37 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,460 Speaker 1: Ulric reached into his back pocket with a shaking hand and gave her a small blue 38 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 1: rock. Lysandra could see the power wafting off of it. Her body hungered for it. 39 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: She swiped the stone from the man's hands and drank in the power. The pain eased at 40 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,700 Speaker 1: once. A dozen years fell off her in a moment. 41 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: [sighs] Ulric watched it 42 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:37,820 Speaker 1: happen with a mix of annoyance and awe. She put the emptied rock back into his 43 00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:42,620 Speaker 1: outstretched hands. "Thank you for your donation to the House of Commons." 44 00:04:42,620 --> 00:04:48,340 Speaker 1: "Of course, Mother." She left him standing there. 45 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: The recess was already over, and she still needed to find the large Wellstone. She 46 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: couldn't keep shaking down nobles all day. Someone jostled her as they jogged past. 47 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:04,020 Speaker 1: She shouted at their back, "Excuse you." A middle-aged man with dirty 48 00:05:04,140 --> 00:05:09,620 Speaker 1: blonde hair and tired eyes looked back at her. The wraps around his hands indicated 49 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: he was a Burstmage, not the kind of person most people confronted. He was probably 50 00:05:15,460 --> 00:05:20,460 Speaker 1: used to others backing down when they noticed those wraps. Mother Lysandra was not 51 00:05:20,540 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: most people. She pointed at the man, who continued to jog away from her towards the 52 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: exit. "You, hold on." 53 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: The look in his eyes stopped her short. This man was on edge. She watched him 54 00:05:35,060 --> 00:05:39,460 Speaker 1: leave the building. He leapt into the back of a hay-filled wagon with three other 55 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:45,540 Speaker 1: people. All of them had the same wraps around their hands. All of them had that same 56 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: determined, intense look on their faces. Mother Lysandra watched a team of 57 00:05:51,260 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: horses pull the wagon away. She was still standing there when the first gunshot rang 58 00:05:56,980 --> 00:06:00,020 Speaker 1: in the theater dome behind her. What? 59 00:06:01,528 --> 00:06:06,048 Speaker 1: Soldiers in black uniforms streamed into the hallways outside the dome. Was this 60 00:06:06,088 --> 00:06:11,948 Speaker 1: security? What was happening? Ulrich Greenfield spoke with a group of friends just 61 00:06:12,008 --> 00:06:17,008 Speaker 1: outside an entrance. He walked towards the first soldier and pointed a stern finger. 62 00:06:17,408 --> 00:06:19,628 Speaker 1: The soldier raised his gun and 63 00:06:21,328 --> 00:06:26,648 Speaker 1: Boom, boom, boom. Ulrich and his friends fell to the ground. The entrance doors 64 00:06:26,668 --> 00:06:31,428 Speaker 1: behind Lysandra flew open. She spun and sprayed a wave of grist across the opening. 65 00:06:31,828 --> 00:06:35,508 Speaker 1: It knocked the first soldier back out the door and sealed the other doors. She 66 00:06:35,548 --> 00:06:39,288 Speaker 1: dropped to the ground and sprayed a short wall of grist between her and the soldiers 67 00:06:39,328 --> 00:06:43,708 Speaker 1: who'd shot Ulrich. Bullets sunk into the black substance as a pitter-patter of wet 68 00:06:43,748 --> 00:06:49,688 Speaker 1: thuds. They were shooting at her. They were shooting at her. By the 69 00:06:49,748 --> 00:06:55,448 Speaker 1: Original's grace, she was going to die. She was going to die. A soldier tried to 70 00:06:55,508 --> 00:06:59,348 Speaker 1: crawl under the hardening grist she'd sprayed across the door. She kicked him once 71 00:06:59,408 --> 00:07:03,528 Speaker 1: in the face, then raised her hands and covered him in a torrent of liquid black 72 00:07:03,608 --> 00:07:06,948 Speaker 1: rock. He flailed on the ground as it entombed him. 73 00:07:08,648 --> 00:07:12,788 Speaker 1: Bullets bounced off the wall above her head, and Mother Lysandra ducked back behind 74 00:07:12,828 --> 00:07:17,448 Speaker 1: her wall. More bullets hit the low wall, sending chunks of grist flying as the 75 00:07:17,508 --> 00:07:22,248 Speaker 1: soldiers already inside the building advanced on her exposed position. She huddled 76 00:07:22,308 --> 00:07:27,508 Speaker 1: against the ground. It was only a matter of time. This couldn't be happening. It was 77 00:07:27,588 --> 00:07:33,068 Speaker 1: so senseless, such a pointless way to die. She should never have come here, 78 00:07:33,688 --> 00:07:39,288 Speaker 1: should never have tried to make peace. That only she seemed to want. Mother Lysandra 79 00:07:39,328 --> 00:07:44,128 Speaker 1: wrapped her arms around her shoulders and waited for the soldiers to come. Killing 80 00:07:44,168 --> 00:07:47,808 Speaker 1: them wouldn't save her. If she surrendered, perhaps they would take her prisoner. 81 00:07:48,348 --> 00:07:54,348 Speaker 1: Did she want that? What was it like to be a prisoner of war? Not good, surely. A 82 00:07:54,428 --> 00:07:59,268 Speaker 1: warped scream shook her from the dark fantasy still forming in her mind. The bullets 83 00:07:59,308 --> 00:08:03,948 Speaker 1: had stopped, but the guns were still firing. Tentatively, she peeked over the grist 84 00:08:04,008 --> 00:08:09,707 Speaker 1: barrier. A man in shredded clothing crawled along the wall towards the soldiers. His 85 00:08:09,867 --> 00:08:15,708 Speaker 1: skin was chalk white, his eyes a solid bloody red. The man leapt from the wall into 86 00:08:15,748 --> 00:08:20,448 Speaker 1: the group of soldiers. Their bullets went right through him, but he didn't seem to 87 00:08:20,528 --> 00:08:26,088 Speaker 1: feel them. He tore the arm off a soldier like a child tearing apart a toy. Bones 88 00:08:26,128 --> 00:08:30,728 Speaker 1: broke and people went flying, slamming into the brick walls with a crunch. The demon 89 00:08:30,888 --> 00:08:35,328 Speaker 1: spun, noticed her, and took a few running steps towards Lysandra, murder in its 90 00:08:35,408 --> 00:08:41,188 Speaker 1: eyes. Lysandra was very careful not to move quickly. Ymir, Ymir, 91 00:08:41,248 --> 00:08:46,948 Speaker 1: it's me. You know me. She raised her hands, palms out, placating. 92 00:08:47,568 --> 00:08:53,268 Speaker 1: You know me. I'm Lysandra. The demon stopped, its head twitching in the 93 00:08:53,348 --> 00:08:58,108 Speaker 1: fight for control. The bullet holes on his bare chest healed in the short time it 94 00:08:58,168 --> 00:09:03,608 Speaker 1: took him to speak. Lysandra, we need to run. There are too many 95 00:09:03,688 --> 00:09:07,688 Speaker 1: soldiers. Where are the others? Others? 96 00:09:09,228 --> 00:09:15,228 Speaker 1: Mother Trista, Father Katar, where are they? Dead. We need to go. 97 00:09:15,808 --> 00:09:21,688 Speaker 1: Now. As if to emphasize his point, gunshots sounded again in the dome next door, 98 00:09:22,128 --> 00:09:27,508 Speaker 1: much closer. Lysandra jogged over to him on shaking legs. Soldiers were beating down 99 00:09:27,548 --> 00:09:32,728 Speaker 1: the entrance doors behind her. Where's the wellstone? I don't know. 100 00:09:33,708 --> 00:09:39,248 Speaker 1: Father Ymir brought his elongated pale hands to his face and covered his eyes. We 101 00:09:39,308 --> 00:09:45,208 Speaker 1: were betrayed. Mother Lysandra placed a hand on his back, and he shivered. Come. 102 00:09:46,848 --> 00:09:51,108 Speaker 1: He followed her into an administrative office near the entrance. She did her best to 103 00:09:51,148 --> 00:09:55,708 Speaker 1: barricade the door with grist. Then, for good measure, she used a piece of chalk to 104 00:09:55,768 --> 00:10:01,168 Speaker 1: draw a rune of repulsion on the floor, then stepped back. It was dark in the office 105 00:10:01,228 --> 00:10:06,668 Speaker 1: with the windows and door sealed. How long would this defense hold, though? I am 106 00:10:06,788 --> 00:10:12,508 Speaker 1: Ymir. I am Ymir. I am Ymir. Lysandra folded her 107 00:10:12,568 --> 00:10:17,288 Speaker 1: hands and paced around the dark room, uncertain what to do next. 108 00:10:18,208 --> 00:10:24,188 Speaker 1: Why? Why? And something else nagged at her. Those burst 109 00:10:24,248 --> 00:10:29,748 Speaker 1: mages in the wagon. Were they part of this, somehow? What was in that 110 00:10:29,808 --> 00:10:35,308 Speaker 1: wagon? Surely not hay. Realization crept into her mind then. 111 00:10:35,948 --> 00:10:41,588 Speaker 1: Cold, terrifying realization. Ymir, we're in danger. 112 00:10:42,468 --> 00:10:48,428 Speaker 1: He was still gasping for air. I know. No. Not just us. 113 00:10:49,308 --> 00:10:53,588 Speaker 1: Everyone. The whole city. What? 114 00:10:55,228 --> 00:11:00,488 Speaker 1: Just before the soldiers attacked, I saw four burst mages leaving. I think they took 115 00:11:00,528 --> 00:11:05,348 Speaker 1: the wellstone, Ymir. I think they took the wellstone. 116 00:11:06,488 --> 00:11:11,748 Speaker 1: He was silent while gears turned in his mind. A moment later, he had connected the 117 00:11:11,808 --> 00:11:17,288 Speaker 1: same dots. Oh, no. You don't think We need to get out of here. 118 00:11:17,708 --> 00:11:23,708 Speaker 1: Somehow. We can stop it. Lys We have to! She would 119 00:11:23,928 --> 00:11:28,488 Speaker 1: not be complicit in this mass murder. Whether these soldiers were attacking in 120 00:11:28,528 --> 00:11:33,408 Speaker 1: response to their betrayal, or simply attacking out of a betrayal of their own, she 121 00:11:33,448 --> 00:11:38,828 Speaker 1: didn't know, and it didn't matter. The ulterior motives of the peace talks were 122 00:11:38,868 --> 00:11:44,128 Speaker 1: becoming clear now. It had never been about peace. It hadn't even been lip service 123 00:11:44,168 --> 00:11:49,848 Speaker 1: to peace. Somewhere in this city was a bomb. The largest bomb she could 124 00:11:49,908 --> 00:11:55,808 Speaker 1: conceive of. Attended by four people who, now that she understood, knew 125 00:11:55,868 --> 00:12:01,348 Speaker 1: they were going to die. If there was any hope at all for peace, she would need to 126 00:12:01,388 --> 00:12:07,108 Speaker 1: escape this place, find the bomb, and somehow save the lives of the people who had 127 00:12:07,188 --> 00:12:12,644 Speaker 1: murdered her friends. This could have all been so much easier if only they had all 128 00:12:12,684 --> 00:12:18,464 Speaker 1: been willing to listen. "Ymir, I'm sorry, but I need you to change back 129 00:12:18,524 --> 00:12:24,424 Speaker 1: again." And then she heard a shuffling sound inside the room. She walked around the 130 00:12:24,504 --> 00:12:29,524 Speaker 1: small office looking for the source. In the meek light cast by her glowing hair, she 131 00:12:29,624 --> 00:12:35,464 Speaker 1: searched the room. Hiding underneath a desk was a man in robes. Mayor Rex 132 00:12:35,604 --> 00:12:41,423 Speaker 1: Cobbler shrank away from her, wrapping his arms around his legs. "I'm 133 00:12:41,484 --> 00:12:47,304 Speaker 1: guessing you heard all of that, right?" Rex nodded slowly. "Are you 134 00:12:47,344 --> 00:12:53,024 Speaker 1: going to kill me now?" "Of course not. I'm not a monster." Father 135 00:12:53,084 --> 00:12:57,604 Speaker 1: Ymir squatted down beside her. "I am, sometimes." 136 00:12:57,604 --> 00:13:02,424 Speaker 1: "Mr. Mayor, you're going to help us get out of here." 137 00:13:07,164 --> 00:13:13,083 Speaker 1: Chapter Five: Apprentice of Burdens. From Nikolai's Journal of Forbearance, page 138 00:13:13,144 --> 00:13:19,144 Speaker 1: twenty-one. On a more practical note, if you forbear digestion, be 139 00:13:19,204 --> 00:13:24,824 Speaker 1: prepared for extra debt when you release it. A good novel and some laxative can be 140 00:13:24,884 --> 00:13:30,604 Speaker 1: invaluable tools of magic. Kelsey dragged the stranger up the final step. 141 00:13:31,004 --> 00:13:35,344 Speaker 1: He was leaking something onto the stoop. She just hoped no one was around to see 142 00:13:35,404 --> 00:13:40,924 Speaker 1: this. Some things you just couldn't talk yourself out of. Xavier unlocked the door 143 00:13:40,964 --> 00:13:45,124 Speaker 1: and helped her pull the man in. Fortunately, they had been close to Brown Street, 144 00:13:45,324 --> 00:13:51,264 Speaker 1: and no one had seen them. Probably. What were they doing? This 145 00:13:51,304 --> 00:13:55,644 Speaker 1: was supposed to be their night out. She'd planned it weeks ago with Maria. Where 146 00:13:55,684 --> 00:14:00,504 Speaker 1: this night was going next was anybody's guess. Xavier wanted to play hero with the 147 00:14:00,564 --> 00:14:06,224 Speaker 1: enemy, though. Kindness truly was his weakness. As much as she 148 00:14:06,304 --> 00:14:12,064 Speaker 1: hated this idea, there was no way she was letting him do it alone. "Come on. We'll 149 00:14:12,104 --> 00:14:17,403 Speaker 1: put him in my room." Xavier's room was on the ground floor. She lifted the stranger 150 00:14:17,463 --> 00:14:21,964 Speaker 1: into a wicker chair in his room. Given the smell of the man, they'd both wordlessly 151 00:14:22,044 --> 00:14:26,544 Speaker 1: agreed not to put him on the bed. They had barely finished hauling him into the 152 00:14:26,604 --> 00:14:31,084 Speaker 1: chair when there was a polite knock on the door. Miss Maria pushed open the door. 153 00:14:31,144 --> 00:14:36,904 Speaker 1: "Back already?" And then her jaw dropped. Xavier and 154 00:14:36,964 --> 00:14:42,544 Speaker 1: Kelsey took turns wiping their hands off on their clothes. "Oh, dear Lord. 155 00:14:43,004 --> 00:14:48,864 Speaker 1: Who is that?" "I am Father Nikolai Common of the House of Commons, 156 00:14:49,144 --> 00:14:54,624 Speaker 1: Master of Burdens." Maria looked at Kelsey first. The 157 00:14:54,664 --> 00:15:00,024 Speaker 1: expression stung. Somehow, in a single glance, she'd been able to say, 158 00:15:00,544 --> 00:15:06,444 Speaker 1: "I expected this from him, but not you." "Hey, Maria." "When I 159 00:15:06,504 --> 00:15:12,224 Speaker 1: said do something stupid, this is not what I meant." "Sorry." "He's a 160 00:15:12,304 --> 00:15:18,284 Speaker 1: magician?" "I am, my lady." Kelsey and Xavier sat on 161 00:15:18,324 --> 00:15:23,544 Speaker 1: the bed. She wasn't sure how to explain this. Actually, she wasn't even going to 162 00:15:23,604 --> 00:15:29,324 Speaker 1: try. "He needed help." "I should say so, but why did you bring him 163 00:15:29,464 --> 00:15:34,964 Speaker 1: here?" "I couldn't think of anywhere else." "Sorry to 164 00:15:35,024 --> 00:15:40,624 Speaker 1: interrupt, but you two need to decontaminate immediately." "You said it was safe to 165 00:15:40,684 --> 00:15:45,904 Speaker 1: touch you." "Safe is a relative term. There were people with guns running about 166 00:15:45,964 --> 00:15:50,644 Speaker 1: then. Unless you want to look like me, you should bathe in vinegar. Burn those 167 00:15:50,704 --> 00:15:56,284 Speaker 1: clothes as well." "You brought him here, Xavier?" Xavier 168 00:15:56,324 --> 00:16:01,304 Speaker 1: deflated some. It wasn't all his fault. Just mostly his fault. 169 00:16:01,304 --> 00:16:07,004 Speaker 1: "I'm sorry, Maria. They were going to kill him. I just couldn't 170 00:16:07,084 --> 00:16:13,084 Speaker 1: leave him." "Also, my case of magical diseases was stolen. These 171 00:16:13,144 --> 00:16:18,304 Speaker 1: two offered to go find it for me." "I- I need to sit. 172 00:16:19,044 --> 00:16:24,364 Speaker 1: Is it even safe to be in here?" "As long as you don't breathe near me, 173 00:16:24,724 --> 00:16:25,323 Speaker 1: probably." 174 00:16:27,323 --> 00:16:32,224 Speaker 1: Maria sat down in the rocking chair across the room. She rocked slowly back and 175 00:16:32,284 --> 00:16:37,004 Speaker 1: forth, though the stunned look still hadn't left her face. Kelsey wiped a bit of 176 00:16:37,064 --> 00:16:42,804 Speaker 1: black slime off onto her dress. Great. Father Nikolai pulled the 177 00:16:42,884 --> 00:16:48,724 Speaker 1: mask off his face with one hand. His face was nearly as misshapen as the 178 00:16:48,784 --> 00:16:54,004 Speaker 1: rest of him, though the scar tissue looked old. He looked at them from under a 179 00:16:54,084 --> 00:16:59,864 Speaker 1: swollen eyelid with one pale blue eye. Part of his face was still covered in those 180 00:16:59,904 --> 00:17:05,464 Speaker 1: blue crystals. The four of them sat in awkward silence for a moment, taking in this 181 00:17:05,564 --> 00:17:11,044 Speaker 1: new display. The weight of what was happening to her still sank in. This man was an 182 00:17:11,104 --> 00:17:16,044 Speaker 1: enemy magician. Kelsey didn't know if there were laws against hiding him, but there 183 00:17:16,104 --> 00:17:21,644 Speaker 1: had to be, right? So instead of coming at that issue head-on, she did what she 184 00:17:21,744 --> 00:17:26,684 Speaker 1: always did when she was making a sale at work. Whether you were selling fabric or 185 00:17:26,724 --> 00:17:31,644 Speaker 1: interrogating the enemy, the concepts were roughly the same. She started with 186 00:17:31,804 --> 00:17:36,844 Speaker 1: smaller talk, actually tried to understand the other person before putting the 187 00:17:36,944 --> 00:17:42,664 Speaker 1: squeeze on them. "You said 'father.' Are you a priest?" "No, 188 00:17:43,284 --> 00:17:48,924 Speaker 1: not that kind of father." "Do you have children?" "Alas, 189 00:17:49,304 --> 00:17:55,164 Speaker 1: I have none. I don't mean to sound piteous, but as of yet, the opposite sex 190 00:17:55,224 --> 00:18:00,964 Speaker 1: remains as much a mystery to me as it always has." He waved at his disfigured 191 00:18:01,024 --> 00:18:05,744 Speaker 1: body. "And between us, I don't think my odds of mating have improved today." 192 00:18:05,744 --> 00:18:11,004 Speaker 1: "Sorry, I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. I'm sure there's someone..." 193 00:18:11,940 --> 00:18:17,260 Speaker 1: Kelsey looked down at his legs and grimaced. They had begun to shrivel and turn 194 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:23,300 Speaker 1: black, rolling up on themselves. I'm sure there's someone out there for 195 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:28,900 Speaker 1: you. Nikolai grinned. I hope not. If it's true, 196 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: I shall continue to evade them. Kelsey shook her head. What a strange man. 197 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:40,360 Speaker 1: Were all the people of the other planes so strange? Nikolai was frightening, but he 198 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:46,180 Speaker 1: didn't seem evil. In his own way, he was kind of adorable. The tip of 199 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: Father Nikolai's nose fell off. It bounced on the floor and rolled to her feet. Oh 200 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: dear. Let's get your mask back on. Once the two of them had 201 00:18:57,820 --> 00:19:03,380 Speaker 1: finished decontaminating, they returned to Xavier's room. Father Nikolai insisted 202 00:19:03,420 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 1: that they could simply pour the vinegar over him. He didn't want to be a bother. It 203 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,140 Speaker 1: did help the smell, a little. 204 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: The three of them drank tea while Father Nikolai sat propped up in the chair, still 205 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:23,500 Speaker 1: dripping vinegar onto the wood floor. Are you sure we can't help you somehow? 206 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: The best thing you can do for me also happens to be the best thing you can do for 207 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: the city of Everton. Beautiful city, by the way. Be careful of the alleyways, 208 00:19:35,580 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: though. Rough part of town. Can you help us find your case? 209 00:19:41,980 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: Hmm. 210 00:19:43,860 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: Start by contacting my peers in the House of Commons. The rest of my delegation are 211 00:19:48,940 --> 00:19:54,420 Speaker 1: all staying at the theater dome. Contact them directly. They'll know what to do. 212 00:19:56,140 --> 00:20:00,860 Speaker 1: Now that sounded like something they could handle. She walked towards the door. 213 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,860 Speaker 1: Kelsey was ready to be on with it. The sooner they untangled from this, the better. 214 00:20:06,340 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: At least the night's entertainment had come cheap so far. Come on, X. 215 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:18,020 Speaker 1: Wait. He stayed on the bed, a pensive look on his face. Where was this 216 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:18,400 Speaker 1: going? 217 00:20:20,060 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: Can you teach me magic? Kelsey slapped her forehead. 218 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: Seriously? Was he nineteen or nine? Sometimes it was hard to tell. 219 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: No more than I can teach you to fly. Can you? 220 00:20:39,620 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: Fantastic question. An acceleromancer could, but I am not that kind of mage. 221 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:51,180 Speaker 1: I deal in burdens. The most mysterious and most 222 00:20:51,260 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: underutilized of magics. 223 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 1: He waved one hand in an arc. Kelsey guessed that was supposed to add mystery. 224 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 1: But no, I cannot teach you any magic because you cannot do magic. It is the hand of 225 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:12,620 Speaker 1: fate that deals those cards. You must be magical plane-scarred. Born on the right 226 00:21:12,660 --> 00:21:18,420 Speaker 1: plane, that is. Xavier bowed his head in defeat. Kelsey elbowed him. 227 00:21:19,180 --> 00:21:24,300 Speaker 1: Ah, cheer up, you've still got me. He gave her a lopsided grin. Guess I'll have to 228 00:21:24,340 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: settle for that. 229 00:21:27,580 --> 00:21:30,340 Speaker 1: Maria stopped rocking in the chair behind them. 230 00:21:32,060 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: That might not be necessarily true. They all 231 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:43,540 Speaker 1: turned to look at her. Xavier, your mother worked here for only a few 232 00:21:43,620 --> 00:21:49,540 Speaker 1: months before she died. You were nearly three by then, and, well, I never 233 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: told you the rest of the story. Xavier glanced at Kelsey and grabbed her hand, 234 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,420 Speaker 1: sensing that something with real impact was coming. 235 00:22:00,020 --> 00:22:05,980 Speaker 1: You were living here. She was pregnant, but died in childbirth. 236 00:22:06,980 --> 00:22:12,780 Speaker 1: You should have had a little sister. Half-sister, I suspect. Before she came here, 237 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:18,060 Speaker 1: your mother did the kind of work, well, the kind of work she had to in order to 238 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: survive. I won't dirty her name with it. But suffice to say, she was running 239 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:28,780 Speaker 1: from someone. She ran an entire plane to get away from him. 240 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: Away from your father. I don't know who he was. She never told me. But he was 241 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,380 Speaker 1: someone who could not allow you to continue living. 242 00:22:40,900 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: Xavier had confided that he'd always wondered about his father. Every orphan did, 243 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: probably. He never talked about trying to find him, though. Would that change now? 244 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: Xavier got up and stood over Maria, his face difficult to read. She looked up at 245 00:22:58,780 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 1: him, stoically. Then he leaned down and embraced her. I did keep 246 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: living, though. And I'm going to keep on living. Then he spun to face Nikolai. 247 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: So does this mean... And even though she knew it was foolish, and incredibly 248 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: selfish, Kelsey couldn't help but feel jealous, if only a little. 249 00:23:23,220 --> 00:23:29,060 Speaker 1: Father Nikolai tried to sit up in his chair. If you are a magician, then I 250 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 1: shall name you Apprentice of Burdens. Xavier seemed to 251 00:23:35,020 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 1: expand upon hearing the words, pulling his shoulders back and rising to his full 252 00:23:40,180 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: height, lifted an inch higher by a purpose he hadn't known he'd needed. Nikolai 253 00:23:45,980 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: pointed at Kelsey next. How about you? Do you have some secret parentage as well? 254 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: Nope. Then I name you Apprentice to the Apprentice of Burdens. 255 00:23:59,340 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: No, just Kelsey's fine. In that case, I name you Kelsey. 256 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:11,940 Speaker 1: Thanks. You are very welcome. Now, if you will all excuse 257 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: me, I have some debts to pay back, and I believe I will lose consciousness. Miss 258 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:23,980 Speaker 1: Maria shooed them all from the room. Go. Be careful. If there's trouble, 259 00:24:24,420 --> 00:24:30,100 Speaker 1: you run. And do not bring back more like him. Kelsey grabbed 260 00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:35,360 Speaker 1: Maria's arm before she could close the door. Wait. I need to know. 261 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:42,100 Speaker 1: Was that story about Xavier true? Maria gave her the faintest of smiles. 262 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: Xavier was on the street below. Xavier was already on the street outside, just out 263 00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:53,940 Speaker 1: of earshot. The story was true, yes, but the implication? 264 00:24:55,380 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: I don't know where he was born, but let him have this. That boy needs a dream.