Pi’ve sat facing the open space of the bar, with the entrance door behind him. On the left side of the room was a long bar table, with stools lining it. To the left of Pi’ve, a wizard sat writing in a thick book. Further into the pub, there were tables with benches, tables with chairs, and some free standing, comfortable chairs with small tables and candles alight. The wizard started vigorously emptying his tobac-pipe into an ashtray, using the end of a knife to scrape out the waste. The room was made out like an L turned upside down. Pi’ve sat in the far end of the longest part of the room, furthest away from the corner where the wizards having the meeting sat behind the wall.

  It occurred to Pi’ve that an important meeting like this ought to happen in a closed space, and not in the open like this. Perhaps they were aware that someone was going to try and listen in, and that doing so while the meeting is so accessible, would make the perpetrator easier to catch. But they did not know Murgun could turn invisible…

  The doorbell had rung, and as several seconds passed, Pi’ve was sure that Murgun had entered. That was until two wizards entered one after the other. ’Hey, don’t push,’ the foremost of them said. ’I’m sorry, I did not push you,’ the latter answered. Pi’ve was caught off guard as these two wizards entered. They greeted Pi’ve, but as his sureness that Murgun would enter faded, he forgot to greet them back.

  Ah, but of course. He would not have entered alone, would he? He was smart; he was a wizard like Pi’ve, and had the ability to turn invisible. Murgun was his name, and he had been prevalent in Pi’ve’s short comeback to Thergiam and the wizarding society. He had been accused by Terler, another wizard from Thergiam, of spying and listening in on meetings which he was not invited. Pi’ve had overheard Murgun and Redrig talking about a Crystal Palomy, and hopefully he would— no, he had to— expose Murgun before he could get to that Crystal Palomy.

  Pi’ve, while the bell over the door rang and the two wizards found a table, kept his eyes locked in his book. was its title. A book he had received as a reward after the tutorial. He had been reading for merely a minute before the door had opened. “”

  Pi’ve kept reading. He could not sense Murgun walking anywhere, although he was sure he was here somewhere. The other two wizards had gone off to find a place to sit. Yet, it was as if the wooden floor still had someone walking upon it the way it bent and sometimes creaked, like feet treading upon them.

  Pi’ve knew that Murgun had to place himself near the meeting to hear what they said, and looking around the room, pausing in segments, he saw that there were only four possible spots for him to realistically be— being that he was seated, that is. He could be seated near the end of the bar table, for the stool was pulled out; it had been when Pi’ve entered. He could be seated in one of the comfortable, cushioned chairs, or the table furthermost from Pi’ve was close too, but Pi’ve expected him to sit on the chair right by the meeting. It was so close to the table where the meeting was, that if they had an attentive nose trained to smell Murgun, they probably would.

  “”

  Pi’ve chanced a peak up from the book. He was tentative in his scanning of the room, because he knew that Murgun was aware of Pi’ve being here too, and he would be suspicious of his presence. Murgun would surely glance back at Pi’ve as much as Pi’ve tried glancing at him. Pi’ve just hoped he looked comfortable and as if here by chance. Small, second-long glances made it clear to Pi’ve were Murgun would be least likely to sit. The bar stool. It was too obvious. It was right in the line of sight for Pi’ve. Although Murgun did not know that he was being watched himself. Pi’ve continued his guise of pretending to be here to read his book.

  “”

  He lost himself for a minute reading the book. He would bring it to Gaudol to learn water magic. It had not been his intent to do water magic, but he had seen Gaudol do it, and that, he had though, would be the easiest for Gaudol to aid him in learning.

  He noticed that he had spent too much time on the book. He had to make a move. He decided that he had to take a chance and move a bit closer to where the meeting was. In doing so, he could check if Murgun was sitting on the stool furthest by the bar table, or not. He placed his book in his inventory, and then he rose and moved to the counter. He sat down on the stool, and as he did not push against anything, he knew that Murgun was not there. One of four possible places had been checked, leaving three places for Murgun to likely be sitting.

  He could hear the meeting sitting so close as he did. They were sitting just around the corner to the left, but Pi’ve could not see them, meaning that they could not see him either. If he was noticed by the wizards in the meeting, he would surely be thrown out, or at least be chewed out.

  ’… and now that the Crystal Palomy has been checked, I believe it is prudent for us to consider where we would like it to be reallocated. It would be a shame for it to be at Kedri’s for much longer, now that we know that it is safe.’ Some wizard said.

  ’Indeed. It should not stay at Kedri’s office much longer. Well, what are our options? Is there any region, or establishment, where we see a Crystal Palomy being useful, even just sometimes?’ Pi’ve heard someone else say. As he heard it, he had also recognised another name, and that was Kedri’s. The wizard working at G. L. & Homes a floor above the B. P. S. S. Where Pi’ve worked for Barna and had taken this job. Did he have a Crystal Palomy in his office? Pi’ve assumed Murgun surely knew where that was.

  Pi’ve knew that he had to work fast, because what else did Murgun need to know? Murgun wanted the crystal palomy, and now he had that information. If he wanted, he could leave now, with the intention to sneak into Kedri’s office and steal the object.

  Pi’ve paid the barkeeper for his second cup of tea and turned around in the swivelling stool. Pi’ve took out his Pipe of Clarity and soon the smoke rose steadily into the room. Pi’ve contemplated his possibilities. He thought, but tried to keep his eyes from wandering, because in the back of his mind, he knew that Murgun was seated somewhere in this room, and it was difficult to keep his eyes from wanting to have a look. Where would it be most logical for Murgun to be… As the smoke from his pipe rose, it seemed to not disperse as it had previously. It lingered, and it travelled across the room. Even if Pi’ve tried to not look for Murgun directly, he could not keep from following the smoke as it spread.

  Something happened to the smoke suddenly, and Pi’ve had to pause as he looked up from sipping his tea. What had he seen just now? He had seen the smoke, now by the opposite wall of the pub, and it was as if someone had blown the smoke away. Simultaneously, Pi’ve could somehow see the outline of a hand clasped around a staff. Ah! There you are, Murgun.

  Pi’ve pulled out three Alons and places it on the counter for the bartender forgetting that he had already paid, rose to his feet, and tried to slow his speeding heart. He then turned the corner and faced the meeting, cleared his throat loud enough so that the wizard speaking stopped and turned around.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  ’Excuse me. I am sorry, but I need your attention.’ Pi’ve said.

  ’Pi’ve. What are you doing here?’ Tiselle said in a calm tone, though her face showed a clear frown.

  ’Do you know this fellow?’ The man beside Tiselle said, but before she could answer, Pi’ve decided that he had to get to the point.

  ’I have something most revealing to show you, and before you decide to indulge more information to people who should not hear it—’

  ’That would be you, wouldn’t it.’ The wizard who had spoken before Pi’ve interrupted the meeting said.

  ’— I would… No. Not me— I have something to show you.’

  ’Outrageous!’ A wizard with glasses and long, grey hair said, but in her flustered state, she fumbled for words before she could get the next ones out. ’Do you not know that this is a meeting of high confidentiality? How dare y—’ the lady said.

  ’— now, now, Gloria. Show us quickly now, so we can get back to our meeting. We really do not have time for this.’ A thin eyed, ancient wizard said. ’And then you must leave.’

  Pi’ve opened his status menu, and focusing on the skill, he felt time suddenly slow, as the wizards around the table all stared at him, waiting for him to show what it was he wanted to show. Pi’ve, right hand tightly holding on to his staff, lifted his left arm slowly as smoke from embers. He turned around, and activated the skill, towards where he knew Murgun sat.

  Time resumed, and as quick as lightning, Murgun sat there. Fully visible. Murgun seemed to not understand at first, shifting slowly, but incrementally more uncomfortable in his chair. He tried keeping his composure, but when all eyes shifted from Pi’ve— who was the only one at first looking directly at him— to him, he trembled visibly. Murgun’s mouth seemed to be fighting the urge to say something, yet how could he be sure that he had been exposed, still he kept quiet, but not for long. A collective gasp reverberated throughout the room.

  Murgun’s face suddenly turned red, firstly in embarrassment, but then in rage, and he rose quickly. His grip on the staff visibly firmed, and it looked like he was about to utter something as Pi’ve saw a dim light coming from the gemstone on his staff. Black smoke shot out from it, hurling towards Pi’ve. The black smoke stopped on an invisible shield and spread around him as fierce and thick as smoke in heavy wind. He had aimed at Pi’ve’s face. After the black smoke faded, he saw Murgun being held by some invisible force up against the wall, his staff lying on the floor.

  Pi’ve too was suddenly yanked down in a chair, and he could not move. He tried to stand up, but something seemed to press against him heavily, like a blanket of stone. Meanwhile Murgun was screaming profanities, Tiselle was walking towards him with her staff pointed at him. Another wizard soon stood in front of Pi’ve, his face angry.

  ’Release Pi’ve, Tom.’ Tiselle said.

  ’What? But— he—’ the wizard named Tom stammered, pointing at Pi’ve.

  ’Release him, now.’ Tiselle said calmly. Tom, doing a double-take towards Tiselle, reluctantly released Pi’ve.

  While the commotion happened around Pi’ve, he remained seated, because as he had used the spell, he had also received some notifications. He saw that in the top right corner of his eye, a scroll, rolled together, and the number three attached to it, meaning that he had three new notifications to view. Although an almost unmanageable urge tempted him to open them, having seven wizards whizzing around him made him able to fight the urge, for once.

  ’Release me! I am a wizard of the Table of Wizards, and I command you to release me. I am on orders from Dandrian!’ Murgun cried, but to no avail, as he was still held against the wall. Some wizards became tentative when they heard Dandrian’s name, and Pi’ve felt the tangible respect which that name conjured. Had it not been for Tiselle, he was not sure if the rest of the wizards would still have him under arrest.

  ’Dandrian has not given you any order to be snooping upon this meeting, Murgun. Does anyone have rope?’ Tiselle said, and Pi’ve pulled out rope from his inventory which he still had from the tutorial, and gave it to a wizard with a green cloak. ’No, I want some stronger rope. , does anyone have that?’ Another wizard did have that, and Tiselle ordered the wizard to tie Murgun’s hands together, and as they did that, Pi’ve finally decided to rise from his chair.

  ’You are done, Pi’ve! Finished, you hear me?’ Pi’ve could remember only once beeing more afraid than he was looking at Murgun in his rage. ’With everything I stand for I will come for you! I will come for you and I will make you eat—’

  ’Silence him, Nolon!’ Pi’ve heard Tiselle say, who was looking back and forth between Murgun and Pi’ve looking more and more uncomfortable. ’— And I will break your skull!—’ Suddenly, with a swish of Nolon’s hand, Murgun’s tirade was silenced.

  Tiselle remained in the pub as five wizards escorted Murgun out. Pi’ve sat down again, overwhelmed by Murgun’s words. He had to fight the urge to run, feeling like he was under attack. After a while, there was a silence hovering about in the pub. The wizard which had written in the large book previously had risen from his seat, and he left looking rather flustered. The barman stood, rubbing glass mugs, minding his business, as if nothing had happened.

  ’There will be reimbursements, surely?’ the barman said, only lifting his eyes slightly.

  ’Oh, yes. There will,’ Tiselle said, turning to Pi’ve. ’That, Pi’ve, was rather irresponsible— No, no firstly, what kind of spell was that?’ Tiselle seemed to come down from some sort of stress. ’Obviously, you were right,’ she said, running her hand through her hair. ’But, you are so young, and if Murgun knows how to become invisible, then he is also a very capable wizard, and your spell should not be good enough to override his. I am trying to be angry, but… This has made me very confused.’

  ’The spell I used is called Manifest the Obscured, and will reveal any concealed object or person.’ Pi’ve said. Tiselle squinted, it seemed like she did not understand.

  ’That is a very peculiar name for a spell… I have not heard many name the spells they use, outside of the most common ones, that is… names we all use…’ Tiselle said. She looked torn between being disappointed and perplexed by Pi’ve. ’You need to stop, Pi’ve.’ Tiselle said suddenly. She did not look angry, but she did seem concerned.

  ’Stop? What do you mean “stop”?’ Pi’ve said, looking up at Tiselle.

  ’As I said, I have talked to Barna. He has told me about your shenanigans in Thergiam. It seems like you have a knack at creating disorder, and I had my doubt of the absolute skill you have at it— he complains a lot, that man— but seeing you… It could have been done in a much better way, Pi’ve. The reaction Murgun had— I have never seen anything like it in any wizard. I do not like how this looks. This was not for his own winning only. There are more wizards in on this… surely.’

  ’Redrig.’ Pi’ve said. ’Ask, obviously. There are more, yes, no doubt.’ Tiselle looked dumbstruck at Pi’ve as he said this.

  ’Redrig? No. Absolutely not—’ She said, shaking her head as if what Pi’ve had said was preposterous.

  ’Indeed. Redrig.’ Pi’ve reiterated, although he felt somewhat stung by Tiselle’s comment about having to “stop”. He had just gone where the wind had taken him, plus some intuition. He did not want to elaborate anymore. Barna knew that Redrig and Murgun was close friends. understood. Hopefully.

  ’So. What will happen to him?’ Pi’ve said, nodding towards the entrance.

  ’Him? Oh, Murgun. The dungeons, I expect.’

  ’… Dungeons?’

  ’He will be placed under strict control, with guards. His staff will be revoked. He will be called into a hearing— and you will witness— to answer for his illicit activity, and the jury will decide how long he will have to stay.’

  ’So it was illegal what he did?’ Pi’ve asked. It had never been said that listening in on meetings you should not was illegal, in fact, Terler had said that it was not.

  ’Well, it’s in a grey area. Lying is not illegal, and neither is breaking the trust of someone. But, what should you do if a person breaks the trust and lies to a whole community and uses it to extract and exploit information? It will be a collective decision if this merits sanctions or not, and of course I believe it will, but then again, the collective will decide the way and how long he will serve.’

  ’Hm… What will happen to me?’ Pi’ve said.

  Tiselle guffawed. Tension was released. Pi’ve turned to her, and he could not keep from smiling himself. ’Pi’ve— I think you have shown that even though you do some eccentric things, you will be alright.’ She said, and the orange gemstone on her staff begun flashing, and then a small item appeared from thin air. Pi’ve’s eyes widened.

  ’You have an inventory?’

  ’Inventory? I have an expanded pouch. Here, see. That is what you have, no?’ Tiselle said, as she opened her cloak a little to reveal a small pouch fastened to her belt.

  ’Satchel.’ Pi’ve said pointing to the satchel hanging from his shoulder. He grabbed the silver cylinder she held up to him. Oh! He remembered that it was the cylinder which Murgun had received from Ask. Perfect. If this had information about Murgun’s illicit doings, then he could give it to Terler, and the job would be done, and well too. ’Thank you. I saw Ask give this to Murgun in the square.’

  ’Open it then.’ She said, and Pi’ve grabbed the round top of one of the ends of the cylinder, and twisted.

  Inside there was a parchment rolled up. He pulled it out of the cylinder and unfolded the scroll.