Kapitel 201: Gerald 1 295 AC
The streets of King's Landing…
It had been years since he'd walked them, years since he'd taken the ship to Dragonstone, thinking to teach some brat the basics of alchemy, and here he was, feeling the pitter-patter of the soft rain atop his cloak.
It was gentle, calming even, but it didn't fool him.
This was Prince Arthur's Storm. It had followed them from the well-named place of its birth, and it was following them still. The bulk of it just hadn't caught up yet.
He could feel it in the air, in the way the wind shifted the rain and the sky buckled at points. The vast mass of it was behind them still.
No doubt it would arrive just in time for the wedding, a swirling pillar of power.
'Fitting'
He smiled as lightning crackled between his fingers, a sign of the magic he had been lucky enough to learn.
The storm's coming would at the very least bolster his own meager powers this night as he went about the task given to him. It could well be necessary, given how stubborn the order might be.
Carefully he weaved his way up from the port through flea bottom. Even in the rain the smell there was atrocious, but this mission obligated a certain degree of covert movement, and one more cloaked figure drew no one's eye in those streets, no matter the mind that lay beneath it.
He glanced up as he approached the Hill of Baelor, grinning as he saw the lights within the Red Keep, up there where his Grandfather no doubt sat, but where near all would no doubt be less than his master.
He imagined that Prince Arthur must be quite enjoying himself, knowing that his own development, his own power so far exceeded there own.
It was a shame to be true, that the workings and wirings of this throne had taken away so much time from his research into the reanimation of necrotic tissue (A possibility that the Prince had shared as a mere trifle, bless his grandiose heart). But it was a work of majesty nonetheless, and once it was all adequately assembled it would…
Well, it would be spectacular and give the Prince an unparalleled degree of control over the electricity in the city, but even he couldn't say for sure of all of it's exact functions. He simply lacked the innate understanding of the power that his master held.
'Ah, but enough of that thought.' He grinned beneath his hood as he stared up at the shimmering black dragonglass and polished Basalt fronting of the alchemist's guild-house.
Stepping forward, he rapped on the door slowly.
The slot slid open, revealing a chamber lit by green fire and a pair of dark eyes staring out at him.
"We aren't taking any-"
The man's voice died in his throat as he saw the tiny silver seal of flame, dangling from the third finger of his right hand and lifted before the slot.
"Ah, my apologies, I will open the door at once."
The heavy metal bolt slid back, allowing him entry, and he stepped inside, pulling his hood back.
"Welcome to the Guildhouse of King's landing Wisdom…"
"Frey, boy." He said, turning his gaze towards him. "Now go, inform the other Wisdoms that I have come to speak with them."
"Ah… but my master said!"
"Your master is no wiser than I, and if he thinks he is you may go and fetch him."
As the boy scarred off, Gerald felt his eyes drift about the chamber.
Had it really been so long since he'd left here?
No, in truth it had not, less than a decade, and yet it felt like half a century. He was not so old, though his hair had gotten grayer in that time, and in the last year had become white, tinged with green at the base, after an unfortunate result in an experiment.
There were no very old alchemists, not anymore. And if there were any they were the ones too terrible at their craft to have become Wisdoms by the time of the purge.
He could remember it like it was yesterday, the chief wisdom and his immediate successors dead within a week after Aerys' fall. And in short order, the rest of the Wisdoms were dead as well. He could keenly recall the months of fear as any that tried to take up the mantle disappeared.
It was more than a year before Wisdom Kavin Hallyne lived and then went on to promote the rest of them, himself included. It would be his old friend he would make his case to tonight.
The sound of soft muffled movement brought his eyes back to the hallway, where he saw the man himself approaching, his eyes green as the substance. Two other Wisdoms stood behind him, bald, short, and fat, Wisdom Lanus glared at him openly, while the broadly built Wisdom Tyan kept a more measured expression. He was wearing his beard long now. He had probably stopped burning it off.
Kavin blinked dully at him, his pale skin wrinkling in concentration as his gaze sharpened.
"You are Changed, Gerald."
"Indeed, I am, for I have found power beyond that our guild has held for centuries." He smiled broadly. "I come now to offer that you all join me in this new pursuit. That we might lend our talent to a leader that appreciates our talents, and indeed practices them himself."
"So the rumors are true then," Tyan said, raising an eyebrow. "You have taught the Rogue Prince Magic."
"He is hardly Rogue, his conquests, and realm are both sanctioned." Gerald smiled. "But yes, I have taught him, though he has long surpassed my feeble understanding. Prince Arthur lives and breathes magic, more, I think than he knows."
Kavin sagged slightly. "And you did not bring news of this back to the guild?"
"I hardly had the chance." He raised his hand. "He is a demanding ruler, and work is never short."
"That does not change the facts." The Grandmaster said, shaking his head. "And our own powers have swelled as of late, old secrets recovered, once more performable."
Gerald sighed. "Then you mean to have me prove myself?"
"We mean to make you leave, you-" Lanus started, but Kavin raised a burn-scarred hand, beckoning him to stop.
"What is it that you want Gerald, or should I ask what your master wants?"
"He wants the guild to relocate to Storm Sky, out from King's landing, to share secrets and knowledge with it, and to integrate it into his government."
The men stared at him for a long moment, but before it looked like Lanus was going to start up again, Tyan spoke.
"What does he offer us."
"Power, legitimacy, research facilities and a wide body of able-minded and literate apprentices. I myself have raised over two dozen adepts, and more are coming from his schools at all times, a far better pool of wit than this rotting city has to offer."
"It is not so simple, Gerald, we have clients here."
"He'll foot the bill to pay all of them off completely if you agree to relocate to his territory."
That stopped the three men hard.
He saw that Kavin's eyes sharpened intensely.
"What secret of ours is so great that he-"
"There are several he desires, it's true, ones that did not work in past, for we have found other magics grow now as well, and some compatibly, albeit in small ways," Gerald spoke honestly, many secrets sat in the library of the alchemists. "But what he desires most of all is sorcerers to work his will and construct his wonders. Even with all of our resources, there is too much to do and we are stretched thin. Thirty Thousand men need a million bullets all needing a tiny charge of diluted substance at their base to give them light, and that is not even speaking of the new alchemy, his science of lightning."
Kavin looked at him for a long moment.
"You were right." He said at last. "You will have to prove yourself, in the methods described in the old tomes, ancient knowledge you lack, for you left it here with us." The pale, black-haired man sagged in his heavy robes. "I will tell you now not to think us conjurers of cheap tricks. Not anymore, we have no need to fool our clients when the magic burns so brightly."
Gerald nodded, he knew the rough outline of what the man spoke. He had felt it, and the prince had too, whatever Bulwark had held magic from the world was crumbling, like a falling dam on a rushing river, streams broke through, and with each day the magic grew stronger. "I will accept that challenge."
"Very well then." Kavin nodded, clutching his amulet. "Let us move to the arena. We will see if your new master has truly surpassed our order, and the knowledge we hold."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein