A Rank Exam ❀ 2009
He had taken an interest in many things, particularity on the development of the composition of lacrima's. He had purchased a few sleeves of information from some people who were on the more shady side of the business, yet they held all the information regarding what other companies and larger organisations knew about the mysteries of Lacimas, most of it was cooperation based. Pure knowledge meant for commercial use in technology. Yet here and there he swiftly highlighted and noted down further information about the use of it in pharmaceuticals, records of medical uses came in handy and someone named GG Thompson had appeared to look into the effect that lacrima's had upon other organisms. Some of the data he read over indicated to deeper meaning, eluding to further research in less commonly accepted areas. Yet those pages were just skimmed over, the thoughts didn't sit well with him yet there was nothing the youth could do. He had manged to set up a base of sorts, well that sounded really fancy but really it was just a few dry rooms salvaged from some underground wreck. It was the one which he had stepped foot in after being asked to retrieve a few things for that weird mage Astrid. A violin, ring and picture of some family, well it had paid well, the experience had been worth it. That and the wreckage of a fallen guilds city deep underwater was far better protected than he could have ever guessed. It had even begun to feel comfortable, a vague feeling of home associated with the place.
The days had been long, after being left alone for a while the mage had gotten down to doing his own thing, gathering odd shards of lacrima. Some came from rather odd sources, second hand technology salvaged, pried open to reveal a small crystal which was considered worth something only to him. Other times it had taken some funds, taken from treasures found or jobs completed his own savings depleted for the sake of acquisition. However with the majority of the lacrimas gathered they were of low quality, refining and building them up, concentration the lacrima as much as he could. Even with time the results were hardly that much better, just good enough to run a few small experiments and get hooked on the possibilities of what he could do with higher quality goods. His feet sat hooked over his workbench, tapping nervously in thought as he considered where the future would take him, half a dozen powdered lacrimas and two dozen more still in their natural state sat in various storage containers around the room. He needed items of higher quality, yet they were not only expensive but also hard to acquire, as he had learnt while stepping into the other side many transactions and deals were only between those who knew each other and were on good terms, for a stranger, and a stranger without friends it would not be an easy path. Perhaps there was a way into the circles, yet he was a public figure, not the most well known but it wouldn’t be hard to get information on him, and hold it over his head. Going too deep down that path would require him to relinquish what he had in the gods light of the public eye.
There had been some new members recently, their youth and simple mindedness reminded him of his own state upon joining Black Rose, just a farm boy wishing for a place of stability where he could grow, not knowing fully what lay under their covers until much later he had only helped secure their image of a sweet legal guild. Not that it mattered much now, of course he had found out about their alternate activities, yet that had come later. It hadn’t quite pushed him over the edge, yet a guild that he had placed his trust in had then broken it. The turmoil that had ensued afterwards. It stayed forever in his mind, the deep reminder of what the mages of this country had to push through in order to complete their never ending endeavor of ensuring peace. He had his own dreams, goals would be a better word, dreams were unachievable thoughts of children, goals were planned methods of achieving something.
For now he needed something to bring in more funds, whilst the greenhouses and most things related to gardening were paid for by the guild he could hardly allot funds for his little basement laboratory. That conversation would go wonderfully oh he could just hear it go down. ‘Lester whats this eighty three thousand jewel gone to? It’s filed under basement repairs.’ no no that wouldn’t do, he needed funds of his own. Yet perhaps there were a few jobs which would allow him to exploit that, not in such a harsh sounding way of course, yet if he could manage to find a job that he would enjoy doing then all the more interest for him.
Swirling his stool around the youth lent back on the bench, letting the nights cool air sweep across his skin, sweat had boiled up over the late hours of worrying and contemplating his dilemma, whilst a floristry business wouldn’t be hard to start back up it wouldn’t bring in the kind of money he needed. Being a mage brought in some funds, yet most of the jobs offered by the guild were straight lance legal and low paying. Dipping his toes into the other world would mean risking exposure, or getting involved in worse, perhaps there were a few odd jobs he could do. Not getting involved with anything, yet something higher paying than helping old ladies across the road. Which by all means he did adore yet, he needed to move forward in life, currently he was just sat in a stagnant pool of uselessness.
A huff escaped him, he brought over the screen which was so similar to a handheld ilac, a way to get higher class lacrimas, as well as finding, the two things he as looking for could be merged into one but it would take some digging around. Fingers tapped at the screen, the screen flickering slightly as his eyes registered every line of information. Brief sentences written in a salesman like way, it meant to elude to more. Each one which seemed of interest he would open in another tab, whilst some seemed interesting the commissioner of the job was a less savory person. Getting involved with those types would likely end up with him being blackmailed. He had no intentions of leaving the guild, the search engine had been set to jobs with a medium or high pay, no combat, research based. Still then the pages numbered many, he could quite easily research something within his own hole in the sea, this base suiting his interests quite well. Combat jobs would only lead to publicity or doing something he didn’t agree with, some things weren’t worth flat bills. An hour passed, perhaps it was two, but without the sun down here all he could see was the artificial lighting and occasional windows surrounded by the blue of the ocean, he found things which interested him. One of which providing lacrimas for research, he would have to find as much as he could out about the lacrimas, with a wide aim provided upon starting the job. He would just have to hand over all research. The message was short, but they gave him Lacrima’s every month, at the end of the month he would hand over research in return for pay and if he wished: another batch of lacrimas. New ones were getting found often, some could be used in interesting ways whilst others were nothing more than glorified stones. A quite message notifying his interest would get them thinking, a brief explanation of his interests and a inquiry for more information. The one who had posted the message seemed to be the owner of a larger business from what he could gather ,it looked into various areas and researched odd magical related things. Yet there were a few auctions for antique furniture and rich furnishings. Someone of taste.
It didn’t take long to get a message back, probably just some lower class good who had been told to reply to anyone who inquired about the job with a copy paste of the same information, a contract, needing a place of exchange of goods, there was land above, slightly to the north was it, either way he could easily mete up at the tavern there. ’Locations in the small town at these coordinates, Tavern on fifth.’ He did spend time reading over the contract , something which many people didn’t do. The meetup would be in a few days, then they would give him the first batch of lacrimas, probably lower class than they would give him later on but it would only be a fair call to test his skills before handing off those wonderful things with such high quality. They would be there, he would too.
He had changed the location, realizing that it would be harder to get above water than to teleport back to the crystalli and then onwards to crocus, one of the upperclass bars had suited their needs, he had gotten there earlier, blending in easier with a fine suit and a glass of something strong, lent against the railing of the balcony outside to watch the streets below flow as if it were a torrent or avalanche of snow, changing direction with every large rock it encountered the movement never stopped. He had slowed his mind, just noting each presence in the room behind him the footsteps of the waiters, new entrants to the room. Large and heavy, slow moving, fast and confidant or timid. Each one rung different, a bell with a slightly different shape had its own unique tune. That was until one paused at the door to the bar, only for a brief moment before striding across the floor towards him. That was it, waiting at the door Lester inclined his head, still staring across the city. ”It’s signed, all agreed to. We can discuss meetup points in a month. Would you mind leaving the briefcase and bag of items on that chair there.” He did not wish to show his face more than necessary, not to mention the glow below, each light swirling through the crowd was enchanting as always. It seemed the lackey was only happy to oblige, a sports bag and briefcase placed on the chair holding the door open whilst he promptly left with the folder the rising star had provided. A slightly sickening feel rose in his stomach, yet this was what it meant to be higher up in the order of things. Not just a mere citizen he had gone up the staircase, metaphorically part of the foyer gathering, not yet inside the conference room where it all happened he was still getting the whispers. The bag would prove to be heavy. A few bits of equipment and lacrimas inside he felt a lisle out of place, a briefcase in one hand and a large duffel across the other shoulder. Certainly wouldn’t draw looks or get people pondering. His card swiped upon exit, the drinking glass left on the counter with the stinging taste of alcohol still smeared across his teeth it contaminated every breath of air he took.
Going back would only prove fruitless, in a way it was perfect, he adored Lacrimas and would to get to research into them, in time as he built trust the lacrimas would only improve in quality and at the end of it all coin would flow into his account. The only thing he could worry about was what they were doing with his information, would they ask him to research the possibilities of new weaponry? He couldn’t get too deep. Perhaps he could stop after a couple of months.
