The Arcane Guardians Chapter 16: Chapter 14: Moving Forward

Read chapter 16 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

When the snow dissipated into the summer night, Gaius found himself standing on a skyscraper overlooking the cacophony of neon lights that stretched out almost indefinitely. Sirius City was large. Ten million square kilometres wide, to be precise. And that was no surprise since it was the capital of the richest country in the world, Surone. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Would that his burden be shared amongst his people, even if it were merely for a brief repose.” Gaius looked grimly at the Mage looking into the distance. Though still adorned in his impressive-looking presidential robes, President Cosmo Benedictus looked wearier than usual. He turned to the boy. “Before anything, I’d like to apologise,” Benedictus said. “I haven’t been able to find out anything substantial about this spellcraft.” “Substantial? That means you did find out something at least, didn’t you?” “Clever boy. Though I do hope you’re not expecting too much.” The Mage put his hands behind his back. “I managed to trace the magic back to the Angelo syndicate. Titus and Lucia Angelo, to be more specific. I’m sure you’ve already met them; Alcaeus has been reporting to me.” “They’re Metas, aren’t they?” Gaius queried. “Metas cannot activate spellcrafts; what use is it to them?” “You were a Meta as well, weren’t you? And how did you become a Magi?” “They are trying to use the spellcraft to give Metas the ability to wield Arcani?” Gaius feigned ignorance. “That is one possibility, yes.” Benedictus nodded. “Though I can’t fathom where they would have gotten the knowledge to do that in the first place. But enough about me, did you manage to find out anything about Alcaeus?” “Other than he’s trying his best to help society, nothing. I’m sorry, Mister President, but I think you may have gotten the wrong guy,” Gaius said frankly. “The last remaining tome is not in his house; I’ve checked it thoroughly. He claims that a Magi dressed in all white took the book during one of his old missions.” “Nonsense.” The Grand Mage waved his hand dismissively. “He told me that lie before, too. No Magi can wield magic from all classes with such proficiency, unless they draw power from reality itself, like the wizard class. Which, last I heard, went extinct some two hundred years ago. If he didn’t take it, then he definitely lost it somehow. And that still means he failed his mission.” “With all due respect, sir, how important is that book, really? ” Gaius pressed. “It seems everyone is making a big fuss out of it recently.” A sharp look flashed in Benedictus’s eyes, but he covered it up with an eye-twinkling smile. “Nothing more than reality magic. I’m just trying to understand its workings a little better to cure your condition, that’s all. It pains me to see a young man suffer like so.” “Speaking of which, the magical energy that dwells within me is ancient reality magic, is it not?” The Sorcerer folded his arms. “It works on the most fundamental principle of Arcani: Reality manipulation.” “I see you have been making good use of my library, Gaius.” Benedictus chuckled, before his expression turned serious again. “It will be bad news indeed if it’s true that the spellcraft can grant Metas the ability to use magic. The balance of this world will be upset beyond recovery.” “Speaking of which, I’m beginning to think there’s a lot more to our world than what I have been told.” Gaius was glaring at him now. “Our schools haven’t exactly been teaching us the true history of the world, have they? General Theodore Faustus is a lot more than a mere general, isn’t he? Why did you alter our syllabus?” There was a dangerously long pause. “Truly nothing gets past your incredible perception, does it? I chose right to make your acquaintance.” The President let out a short, dry laugh. “Order and chaos are natural laws of the world, my boy. I only did what I needed to preserve its delicate balance.” “By fulfilling the General’s pact in his place and maintaining Magi superiority?” Gaius's