The Arcane Guardians Chapter 65: Chapter 60: Leverage

Read chapter 65 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

Felix kneeled over his sister, his face contorted with worry. It took him a few moments to realise he had absolutely no idea what he should do. He reached for her instinctively— “No! Don’t… come closer…” Marcia barely managed to squeeze out the words from her rapidly constricting throat. Strange green symbols were flashing in her eyes and clouding her irises. A flash of red barely missed Felix as it shot towards the woman. Felix stared in surprise as a hawk dropped a spellcraft at least five times its size beside Marcia. She groaned weakly as she rolled to her side, flipping the book open. Dark green glyphs floated out of the spellcraft immediately, following a barely visible current of air into Marcia’s nose. Colour returned to her face as she inhaled deeply, letting the magic symbols flow into her mouth as well. Felix’s expression darkened with recognition. Marcia shut the spellcraft after several seconds of inhaling corrupted magic. Felix gave her another few seconds to stabilise herself. “You’re one of them?” He folded his arms, questioning her sharply. “You’re addicted to these spellcrafts as well?” “What? Are you going to give me a big-brother lecture now?” The woman chuckled softly, unfazed by his tone of voice. “I’m the Kingpin of Narcotics, dear brother. Is it really so surprising that I partake in my own crime?” Felix released his breath loudly. She was right. Who was he to tell her how she should live her life, especially when she had been living without her brother for eighteen years? Besides— Hold on, something did not add up. “I thought Metas couldn’t consume corrupted spellcrafts? I heard Lucius mentioning that,” he asked. “Why are you affected by these spellcrafts?” Marcia cast her gaze downwards. “You’re right. But ever since the explosion in Titus’ castle, I’ve gained the latent ability to interact with Arcani like a normal Magi. I even picked up a little Necromancy myself.” Felix’s eyebrows remained creased. He didn’t mean to peek, but Marcia had just reinforced her mind block so considerably that he could sense it even if he wasn’t paying attention. “Anyway, I’ve got my addiction under control,” the woman continued. “I just took it up to numb the pain from…” Her voice trailed away. “Point is, everything is under control.” She shook her head as if to fling some bad memories out. “I’m the most powerful woman in Sirius city, now that the Guardian Council has been dissolved by the Ex-President Cosmo Benedictus.” “W— What?” Felix blurted out. “Why on Earth would he do that?” “Saw them as a threat to his rule, perhaps.” Marcia shrugged. “He paid dearly for it, though. Benedictus was dragged out of his house and burned alive by a mob of Metas after his racist policies were exposed to the public. Nobody else was on his side to help him, and he couldn’t fight off thousands of people, as powerful of a Magi as he was.” “So who rules Surone now?” Felix asked. “Pollux Isles. Since our country was plunged into a civil war, they took the chance to colonise us. There are barely any constables left to police crime. Fat load of drones, though; our new Sultan is a bit of a technomagick freak. Even our prisons are…” Marcia’s eyes sharpened for a moment. “Felix, I just thought of someone who can help you!” Her voice rose in excitement. “It’s not a spellcraft, but there were rumours of a man; someone who claims he has the means to travel worlds using a tome from Janus himself.” Felix’s heart leapt. “Truly? Where can I find him?” “In Sirius City’s most heavily guarded prison. Devil’s Gate Gaol.” He slumped his shoulders. “I don’t suppose I can just waltz in there and request a visit?” “Security is tight, and the building construction itself was designed to keep unwanted visitors out.” Marcia shook her head. “It used to be the Guardian Council headquarters, after all.” Felix’s mouth hung open in surprise before he composed himself. “Any idea about the identity of our quarry?” “No, he was an unregistered Meta. That guy is in solita