In the courtyard of the Royal Capital Mage Academy, the stone paths were damp with the morning mist, reflecting the glow of the runes on the mage towers.
Leo threaded his way through the students heading toward the teaching quarter.
Lord Veylin's instructions echoed over and over in his mind.
This didn't sound difficult.
There were always people at the academy whose ambitions had been thwarted.
His first target was Malco, a teaching assistant in the Alchemy Department.
Rumor had it that Malco had unique insights into elemental transmutation, but after talking back to his mentor, a member of the academy council, he had been reassigned to guard the low-grade materials warehouse.
Leo waited a long time outside the warehouse before Malco finally emerged carrying a ring of keys.
"Master Malco." Leo stepped forward and bowed slightly.
Malco stopped and looked him over. "Who are you? I don't remember seeing you in my classes."
"My name is Leo. I'm an auditing student." Leo tried to sound as sincere as possible. "I've heard about your theories on elemental transmutation, and I... I admire them very much. I was hoping to learn from you."
Malco's face remained expressionless. "My theories? My theories landed me here, guarding moldy herbs and rusty crucibles. Is that what interests you?"
"No, I mean your paper on stabilizing the form of fire elements..."
"That theory is garbage," Malco cut him off harshly. "If you want to get anywhere in this academy, go listen to Professor Valerius's lectures. His theories are the 'correct' ones. At least they are when the academy council hands out funding."
With that, he stepped around Leo, firmly locked the warehouse doors, and walked away without looking back.
The sharp jingle of his keys seemed to mock Leo's naivety.
The next few days went