End of an Era (Project Chrysalis Book 2) by John Gold (always you kirsty moseley .TXT) 📗

“He finished his basic education.”

“We’ve had seven of them finish since the orphanage opened.”

“Sure, that’s not unusual for us. But he’s the only one who’s also completed three specialist exams in the last three months.”

Malcolm was enjoying the conversation. His brother didn’t speak often about his work, considering it his duty to keep information about his wards secret.

“Ah, so that’s why he’s your Caesar.” Malcolm pulled open the boy’s file. “You’re impressed?”

“It isn’t just that. After every four hours in the game, he does some exercise. His health is ruined, so he has to spend all his time in the med capsule, and that’s even where he does his exercises.”

“Wait, what do you mean? Is he sick with something incurable?”

“No, it’s accelerated physiological development syndrome. His brain is constantly overloaded, he bleeds, his nervous system wears out very quickly, and he’s going to run out of glial cells in his brain very soon. It’s hard to say what’s going to happen. The med capsule just kicks the can down the road, constantly healing him. In the meantime, Anji does his best to fight off the symptoms of nervous overload without knowing how it’s going to end. He’s the first among equals, every bit a Caesar. He’s not going to rule for long, though.”

Both of the brothers were professionals, prepared to do their job to the best of their ability.

***

My years of travel have taught me the simple truth that you can never relax. Even when I’m fishing, I use telekinesis to hold up an enormous boulder weighing more than a ton.

I need forbidden knowledge about magic. Father told me these are the Godless Lands, which means that nobody will get on my case about using forbidden magic.

In our orphanage, peace and quiet reign. The orphans are thrilled to be somewhere everybody understands them, somewhere their intellect doesn’t make them stick out. That’s made everyone competitive in our studies, too. The kids all try to finish their yearly exams as soon as possible, and Malcolm has mentioned government premiums we could get if we maintain this rate. That’s not what’s on my mind right now, however.

Orphans sell information and can also be paid to get items you need. It’s time for a small announcement.

“Hi, guys. I have a quick offer for you. A friend of mine is looking for forbidden books on magic, and he’s prepared to pay good money for anything you find. The better the book, the more he’s willing to pay.”

“Oh, wow! How are we supposed to get in touch with him? We’re all scattered around the world.”

“You can contact a player named Femida. Head to an auction, create a private contract for the book with her, and list the price as a thousand gold. If the book is a good one, she’ll buy it and send it to my friend. My broking fee will depend on the value of the book. That means I want to see some good money changing hands, so the rarer the book, the better. Contracts will be completed every Monday, so have the books ready by then.”

My little announcement gave me access to the worldwide web of orphans, so I don’t have to worry about divine wrath anymore. I’m sure Femida will agree. She will only benefit from my becoming a stronger battle partner.

Fem comes back on the third day.

“Why didn’t you check with me?”

“Would you have turned me down?”

“No, it’s just that this puts me in danger. Okay, anyway, what’s the point? There’s going to be a lot of books. Do you have enough cash?”

The girl’s a businesswoman.

“I have quite a bit of money, so it should be fine. The bigger problem is that we don’t have an auction here for you to set up lots and complete contracts. The nearest city is five days to the east, though that’s just half a day at our speed.”

“Ooph, so we’re going to run there and back once a week just to complete contracts and buy forbidden books. Why didn’t you just do it in your own name?”

“Fem, you have no idea how many people out there want to find me and ruin my life. That’s the reason I’m collecting books and information about the forbidden arts.”

The first thing I’ll make is seek amulets for father, mama, and Rosie. All of us have three rings that let us know where the people we care about are and what condition they’re in. Nobody cares that I used blood magic to make them. Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask…

“Father, how did you get out of the cell? You picked the lock, so you must have marauder or thief skills.”

Father flashes one of his signature smiles.

“Ah, it’s time.”

Mama nods in reply.

“Eleven years ago, I had a very different life. I had the marauder class, and I robbed and killed. Once, though, my gang was caught. I was lucky we had a smart king who decided we’d be of more use doing corrective labor, and he offered to cut back and soften my sentence if I changed my class and way of life. I became a fisherman and spent the next five years in special prison villages. It was in one of these villages, in the south of Ovidius, that I met your mother. The lock picking skill heightens your sensitivity, though the experience sticks with you your whole life, and it was this that helped us break out.”

“So, that’s why your level is so high! What about mama?”

She had been listening to our conversation.

“It was the same as with your father, only I was an assassin. That’s how I know how to make poisons.”

Quite the family, a marauder, an assassin, and a renegade mage. I hardly dare guess what kind of class