Persuasion Went Off Without a Hitch
Brushing back the hair obscuring his vision, Maness gazed at the distant sky. Waiting for a senior whose face he didn't even know while enjoying the night sky—quite the sentimental scene.
In many ways, he was a decent guy. Sorry, Boltman, but your simplicity had been a huge help. Like a friend you could summon anytime, anywhere. A heartless assessment, maybe, but the Library of Memories and this whole Magic Tower business would surely benefit him too—no need to feel guilty.
"You're out quick."
As miscellaneous thoughts flitted through his mind, a voice from the Black Market stuck in his memory hit him like a gust. The second-year who emerged, Page, had sharp eyes that belied his small frame.
"Can't keep a senior waiting for a junior, right?"
"Hm, very satisfactory answer."
His nod, arms crossed, felt oddly familiar somehow. Was being annoyingly lucky a basic requirement for those walking the mage's path?
"Figured you'd get offended if I dropped the formalities."
"What're you talking about? In the back alleys, the skilled one is the senior, the master. Using polite speech with someone you barely know? Unheard of."
Maness briefly pictured the back-alley ecosystem before hurrying to the point.
"So, you got a plan? Gotta earn those points."
"First, lemme ask you something. You got a plan of your own?"
He did. Simple and straightforward.
"Get into the lab. Find it."
Boltman would probably call it absurd even in his sleep, but the plan surprisingly earned a clap.
"Perfect."
"...Dude, don't do me like that."
"Why? Process and outcome are crystal clear."
Page gestured for him to follow and started walking.
"This isn't the way to the lab, is it?"
"The main gate's open for folks who haven't finished their research, but lab doors are different. The magic life-form lab's infamous for no overtime."
Page meant he'd get the key and unlock it.
"Unexpected. Thought you'd pick a lock with a bent wire or something."
"Not impossible, but it takes time. Plus, it might have magic mixed in. Better go with the sure thing."
Made sense. Persuasive, even. But the method was the issue.
"Lab keys are in the duty office, right?"
Where the on-duty professor would be hanging out. Getting it from there was near impossible.
"Don't worry. Rolled the dice today—two twos, three threes."
"...And that means what?"
"In my old guild, the Feast of Rats, that means crazy good luck incoming."
Page jutted his chin ahead demonstratively. Maness, whose night vision wasn't as sharp, only spotted the approaching professor figure after a delay.
Heading straight for the on-duty prof? He must have something up his sleeve. Following the fearless Page, Maness anticipated the show ahead.
"Good evening, Professor!"
Page's opener was a perfect ninety-degree bow. An impression no one could easily refuse.
"Uh, yeah. Thought I saw students—yep, it is you guys. Bit late to be wandering, huh?"
"Tell me about it."
Page straightened, scratching his head sheepishly as he gauged the reaction.
"Lost something precious in the woods. Gotta find it ASAP, so here I am prowling at night."
"Oh, that's rough."
The prof, who looked good-natured from his face alone, showed sympathy. But spotting Maness made his expression chill.
"Even so, why with this first-year...?"
Suspicious, naturally. A fresh first-year, fresh out of newbie status. And paired with a known troublemaker—couldn't look good.
"Night roads are dangerous, right? Might run into thugs. As you can see, he's got some muscle, so I asked him along."
"Hmmm..."
Watching silently, Maness wondered if this would fly. Thugs at a magic academy? No way that convinced anyone.
"Well, better safe than sorry."
It worked? Snowrobe was a place where the absurd sometimes passed. Against Maness's worries.
"If you can't find it, don't stay out too late. Might be faster reporting to the student council."
"Thanks for your trouble, Professor!"
The prof smiled warmly at the second bow and went on his way. Maness blinked, trying to process the scene right before his eyes.
"Perfect."
"...What is?"
"Got our faces in the prof's mind now. Even if an alarm goes off, we're off the suspect list."
Too optimistic? Maness decided not to dwell.
"Anyway, let's move. Duty office is empty on patrol—golden chance."
"You timed the patrols? Reliable."
Page was proving his points nicely—satisfying.
"Nah. Patrols aren't scheduled, and some profs skip 'em altogether."
The unexpected answer furrowed Maness's brow as he hurried after.
"Then what if the prof had been in the office?"
"What else? One of us plays bait."
Trust plummeted in an instant. Reliable? Doubt flooded in, but results were good—no room for complaints. Ends justified means.
"Hold up."
In the Oferon Hall corridor housing the duty office, Page had been moving silently. He blocked the way. The sole lit spot on the first floor bore a "Duty Office" plaque. Page sneaked under it, pulled a hand mirror from his pocket, and angled it along the floor to peek inside.
"Three steps forward, four right."
Calculation done, he pocketed the mirror and drew a round object.
"Keep watch here. Duty office has a scene-recording magic tool—gotta smoke it out."
"...Isn't this too blatant?"
"Fine. Special material—traces vanish quick. As long as they don't pin the idiot stunt on us."
Idiot stunt, straight from the horse's mouth. Maness trusted Page's enthusiasm for now, turning from the office to scan the shadows.
Pewf—
A short burst, and the presence from behind vanished. Clattering followed, but Maness focused on the corridor.
"This way!"
Page bolted out like a shot, heading for a corridor window. Maness followed as it opened with a crisp clunk.
Clatter—
Light landing. Scanning around, Maness caught a bizarre sight. Page hadn't grabbed one key—he'd yanked a whole bundle.
"Magic... magic life-form..."
Page inspected them one by one by moonlight, barely hiding his panic.
"You... can you just take the whole bunch?"
"Who's checking keys at dawn? They're in an open cabinet anyway—one missing or all, same diff."
His hand snagged the "Magic Life-Form" key and separated it.
"If this drags to morning, that's a problem."
"......"
Guy had a talent for escalating. First time points felt wasted.
*
Thanks to Page knowing the paths, the lab wasn't far. Rushing to avoid dawn encounters or disciplinary action if caught mid-struggle.
"Whew, total hellhole."
Some other labs had lights on. Peeking in, fourth-years puzzled over something, oblivious.
"Prepping graduation projects already?"
"Yep. Magic Tower hopefuls can't skimp on sleep alone."
At Snowrobe, graduation meant showing your flair. A capstone that aided Magic Tower entry.
"Extending this endless learning grind to the Tower? Can't wrap my head around it."
"No Tower ambitions for you?"
"Back-alley rat like me, loving cages? Snowrobe was half-forced by the boss. Post-grad, I'll roam the continent with the crew."
Page halted mid-grand vision, eyed a door, and tested a key.
Click—
The lock sprang open cleanly.
"Spotted the plaque in this dark? Impressive."
Unlike the duty office, the corridor was pitch-black—hard to read signs.
"No parlor tricks, no eating in the alleys."
Page slid the door open smoothly, gesturing politely—like yielding first move. Obvious ploy against potential traps, but after his help, Maness's turn.
He stepped in without hesitation.
"...Whistle."
Maness let out an involuntary whoop. The magic life-form lab was vast. Equipment and tables like other labs, but beyond: a grand garden behind glass walls, home to toddling mini-golems, jellyfish-like floaters, and more mingling.
"Whoa, nice view. First time for me too."
No moonlight inside, but soft artificial glow added elegance.
"Good—no need for lights."
No corridor spill from the glow meant clear vision.
"Now what? Tear it apart?"
Page cracked his knuckles eagerly. Maness shook his head.
"Looking for the logbook."
"Logbook?"
"Need to know who made which life-form."
Volatile departments like this kept meticulous records. Accountability—who answers if something like the wisp incident blows up. Though Metaph's reaction suggested profs and students handled their messes, records endured.
"Profs usually manage those."
Their eyes locked on one spot: the inner room, plaque reading "Professor's Office." Obvious next stop.
The door looked ordinary—no keyhole on the handle.
Clunk—
Twisting yielded a dull refusal.
"Trouble."
"Know the lock type?"
"Mana input acts as the key."
Clunk—
Page yanked irritably and stepped back.
"Profs' room with this? Get it?"
"Needs professor-level mana."
"No shortcuts."
Passing slumped Page, Maness gripped the handle.
"Didn't hear me? Only profs can open it. Even top fourth-years couldn't."
Simple was good. Mana quantity. Clean resonance.
Page sighed at the faint hand tremble.
"No point struggling—"
The sigh lost meaning.
Click—
Crispier this time. The handle turned fully, door yielding to reveal the office.
"...How'd you open it?"