GoldFinger
patreon
Ch 246 - Intro to the questline.
🕑 Added 2022-05-23 09:57:49 +0000 UTCI returned to Brakebills later that day with a crate of port and some snacks stuffed in my bag ready for the party tonight.
To be honest, I'm not big on partying being an intovert and what not, but if it helps me make friends for the first time in a while, why not?
As I walked down the path to the Physical Kid's Cottage, I whistled happily, humming Pharell Williams's Happy.
A new life in the college.
My kids safe in a far off isolated world space.
The worms dead.
New friends. And soon, even Wanda will be here.
I couldn't help but smile.
The sky looked bluer. The sun felt warmer on my skin and I had a skip in my step. Even the air felt refreshing.
Of course, the world corrects it's mistakes fast enough.
Walking past the administration building I crossed paths with the Dean.
"Glad you're here. I was just about to go looking for you. Walk with me. We should talk." He requested, falling into lockstep with me.
"Okay? Why?" I asked, frowning.
"What is it?" He spotted.
"You damn well know what." I replied.
He rolled his eyes.
"Are you still mad about the mind contr-"
"ArE YoU StiLl MaD AbOuT tHE mInD ConTRol?" I mimicked, "Yes, I'm mad about the mind control."
"It was necessary. If you had just told us the truth-"
"And you would have just believed me? No verification, perhaps via fucking mind control?!"
He sighed.
Heh! Annoying him is fun.
"I'm more surprised you're not mad about me stabbing your lady love."
"Because we're not petulant children." He replied.
"Aww, you think so highly of yourself! It's cute." I mocked, "When the shoe's on the other foot, I wonder if you'll still feel the same?"
"Another threat?" He asked.
"Just speculation. For now." I smiled cheekily, furrowing his brows even more.
Hehehehhehe.
Yes! Worry! Worry a whole lot more and forget about keeping tabs on me.
"This is not what I came here for. Look, I'm sorry-, we are sorry about the attempt on you but this is important. So let me be frank.
The list for the students this semester has been posted. Your wife is on it. But there is a problem. The school board checks everyone that enrolls into the school. For future job applications in the magical industry and such. And if they find any discrepancies, they will launch an investigation. I have given a leave notice due to health conditions for your wife. Minor ulcers. So remember that of they ask about it.
That should buy you a month at most. So get your wife into the school or get her out. Either way, be quick about it. My life depends on it."
"Your life?" I scoffed.
"The contract we signed. Word as bond. I keep your secrets. If the board finds out, I will have to answer to them. And it won't be pretty. Especially if they find out I'm harbouring an extradimensional being. So either I break our contract, reveal your secrets and die to the backlash.
Or I don't, and Irene finds out, assumes I'm compromised, and kills me herself after a healthy dose of torture."
Then I remembered something nfrom the show.
"Oh right! Her uncle has a torture dungeon in the basement."
"Yes." He confirmed, "So get on with it. Please."
He gave me this pitiful look that almost made me consider forgiving him.
Almost.
But I also needed his experience for the future. To keep the plot moving in the right direction and reduce the worload for me.
I sighed.
"Fine. I'll get on it."
"Thank you." He huffed, and turned around to leave.
"But on one condition." I added.
He stopped in his tracks.
"No more spying on me."
He narrowed his eyes in a glower, considering it, but I didn't buy his bullshit.
"I know the loopholes in our contract Henry. I left them in specifically because I knew all about them. And I'll know if you use them. And if you do, the Beast's actions will look like child's play compared to what I will do. So don't." I said with a finality to my voice.
He sighed and just nodded.
"Good." I smiled.
.
"Are you ready to partay?!" I asked as I entered the cottage, only to find everyone just lying about, listless and rubbing their temples.
"Keep it down." One of the girls on the couch groaned.
"Ah, hangovers. Yes." I realised.
"Doesn't mean we aren't going to partay!" Eliot teased, handing me a cyan drink.
"Our signature cocktail. You didn't try last time." I looked at it curiously.
"It's to die for." He assured.
I shrugged and took a sip.
"Mmmhm! This is good." I complimented.
"I know." Eliot gloated as I finished it.
"Where do I put the port?" I said, pulling it out from the bag.
"Under the counter. And give me the snacks." He swiped the chips and nuts from my hands emptying them into jars and tupperware while I placed the wine down.
"So....." I began.
"So, nothing. I have to prep for tonight." Eliot shot me down before I even began.
"You didn't even hear what I had to say!"
"I can already tell it's going to be bothersome." Eliot smiled, booping my nose playfully.
"Well, I suppose you aren't wrong, but it will also be hella exciting! I'm talking blood pumping, legs shaking thrill ride."
"No. I'm not sleeping with you yet." Eliot teased, "Maybe later tonight..."
I snorted in laughter and he followed.
"It's...hah, it's a quest." I panted, controlling myself.
"Quest? Like dungeons and dragons?" He asked.
"I hear you bitches talking about dragons?" Margo came down the stairs, leaning over.
"Jay has a quest for us." Eliot wriggled his eyebrows.
"Oh, a quest? What are the rewards?" She asked.
"You know, in a quest the journey is the reward. The real-"
"If you say the real treasure was the friends we made along the way I will punch you." She cut me off, giggling,
"Show me the money!"
"Well there is a monetary reward too....."
"How much?" Eliot snapped to attention.
"How much would the kingship of Fillory be worth to you?" I asked cheekily as their eyes went wide.
Well at least Margo's.
Eliot hadn't read the books so he didn't know shit about it.
Yes. It was time. I was planning on speedrunning the Fillory arc.
And since Eliot was destined to be Fillory's High King, he was crucial to the questline.
And Margo came with Eliot in a pair.
They were inseparable. No point offering a quest to only half of the power couple.
If I was going to get them, best to recruit them early.
Hence, here we are.
Stepping right into the royal line of succession.
One of four rukers of Fillory, Narnia style.
I'm gonna make one of those crowns mine.
But first, let's convince these guys to come along.
"You've got to be shitting me. Fillory is real?!" Margo exclaimed.
"Yup. Got the quest from Jane Chatwin herself." I lied, "And I'm extending it to you. The quest to Fillory's throne. It's a tough ask, sure but not impossible."
"Wait, what is Fillory and do I get to be king? Like a king king?" Eliot interjected.
"Fillory is this magical kingdom in another world. Think Narnia or Middle Earth.
And yes. Like a king king. A High King in fact. With all the royal majesty, robes, servants, a castle and a ruby encrusted crown."
"And the gold shitting beetles." Margo added, homing straight on the money bags.
"And the gold shitting beetles. Yes." I agreed.
"So how many people are in this quest of yours?" Eliot asked.
"It's a four person quest but ideally, you should bring eight people, just to even out the.... how do I put it...?"
"This quest has a body count doesn't it?" Margo frowned in realization.
"Well....kinda. Remember the third year class that went missing?"
"No..." Margo gasped.
I tapped the table awkwardly.
"Yeaaah."
"So no quest then?" Eliot interjected.
"I mean I don't know about you guys but I want to live to a full forty years before my liver inevitably fails under the pressure of my glorious party life and I die glamourously at a high point of my life."
"Look, guys, I don't know what to say.
I was thinking of who to recruit and you guys are my friends so I wanted to get you guys the first bidding."
Margo thought for a moment and looked back at me.
"How dangerous is it?"
"The third years never returned so..."
"Pretty much certain death." Eliot finished it for me.
"Yeah." I said when my phone rang and a small smile blossomed on my face.
I knew who it was from. And I needed to go. Now.
"Look, you guys think about it. Take your time. No pressure." I assured them, "One of my leads came through so I gotta take this. See you later?"
"Wait, what leads?" Margo asked.
"A lead on another ... quest?" I replied hesitantly.
Man my acting chops deserve an Emmy!
"And exactly how many quests are you on right now?" Eliot asked.
"About a dozen or so." I shrugged.
"A dozen?!" Margo scoffed in disbelief.
"Yeah. A couple in Fillory, some on Earth. One of them is just a fetch quest, another is related to a possible apocalypse, and then there's the one about slaying the evil god. It's a mixed bag really."
"Okay that sounds horrifying and I feel like I should be worried about the lackadaisical way you said that." Margo noted.
"Eh, don't worry. What's the worst that can happen?"
Eliot threw up his arms.
"And you've jinxed it."
"Yeah. We're talking about a literal apocalypse."
"I know. Not the first apocalypse I've averted. Chill. It'll be fine." I waved them off.
"Excuse me?" Margo said wide eyed.
"Yes, mister." Eliot caught me by the collar, like a kitten, "We need answers."
"All in due time." I said as the phone rang again.
"I really gotta take this guys." I said, removing Eliot's grip on my collar, "It's important."
"Sure." Margo said sarcastically, but when I didn't respond, she sobered up fast.
"Be careful. Don't die on us." She said.
"Yeah. We need more llama stories." Eliot added playfully.
I snorted in amusement.
"I'm not going to die. I'm just contacting a lead on a simple fetch quest. I'm leaving all the dangerous ones for later. Relax. I'll probably back by tomorrow."
Eliot sighed in relief and Margi gave me a mean stink eye, befire huffing as Quentin walked in.
"Guys..um..I need uh...a drink?" He sounded tired.
"You sound unsure." Eliot poured him some wine.
"I just had the wierdest dream. I was on this lath with these clock trees. Like the ones in Fillory. There were blue moths flying around and this girl, from the Fillory books too. Jane Chatwin she...."
I smiled as he told his story and Eliot and Margo's eyes wandered over to me.
But the phone rang for a third time and this time I picked up the call.
I waved at them as I walked out and watched their expressions turn cinflicted.
Hehehehehe.
Quentin had some perfect timing.
Played right into my hands.
Unfortunately, I'll have to leave them stewing for a while.
The call and the caller are more important right now.
And I know when to make my exit and leave people wondering.
As they say, better to be silent and let them wonder than to speak and remove all doubt.
Or as John Greene said in his book the Laws Of Power.
Always say less than necessary. Lessens the chance of you saying something stupid or revealing your hand.
As an added benefit it also cultivates an air of mystery and power. Just what a magician's impression should be!
Comments
Nitish sontakke
All in due time. Am writing it as we speak.
Leonardo Sampaio
I need moar!!!more!!!! Great chapter.
