The stealthy trip to the sealed library proved everything.

And nothing.

“Our Great Lady of Darkness and Secrets, we the guardians of the Shadow Archives recognize your power and authority. But by your own decree, we cannot let you enter.”

Of course not.

At least the overwhelming sense of panic and denial had faded

“Lady Alahino, return after the necessary measures are complete.”

Alahino.

Funny how her ‘memories’ hadn’t volunteered that name.

Not Megumi. Or Miss Furukawa

So … wasn’t she even more the Pretender now?

“What will you do now, my Lady?”

Megumi smiled wryly.

“My job, dear little Pei. My job.”

Megumi and her companions had barely exited the massive gateway to the temple vaults when a mob pounced upon her. The black garbed priests spoke at once, all saying basically the same thing.

“Why didn’t you appear before us first, Great Lady?” 

“Why answer the summons of those petty goblin cultists?”

Megumi drew their attention, giving Hazadul and Pei a chance to avoid notice.

“My Dark Magisters, I am pleased to see you. Let us all assemble and relocate to the more spacious Grand Hall. Go, gather your retinues …”

“But my Lady, we’re already gathered.”

Megumi scanned the crowd. Sixty to seventy people of various heritages surrounded her.

“There should be more than this in high priests alone … where is everyone?”

(our Chancellor did mention significant depletion in Dark Magisters)

“Dead or missing, Great Lady. Didn’t you know?”

The ensuing muttering demanded immediate intervention.

“I hope none of you believed me all-knowing. You’ll be disappointed.”

A few looked honestly surprised. Most clearly knew.

“I source my information much like anyone else: through my own efforts or that of others. I simply have a few special methods of gathering and retention.”

Megumi paused before continuing.

“Now, let me look upon each of you.”

With focus, she could bring up personal information for each priest.

“Most of you are familiar to me. Some are new or quite changed …”

“Surely you remember me, my dearest Great Lady?”

Megumi frowned. The database was giving oddly obtuse responses.

“Grand Magister Kadoharin. You speak with such familiarity.”

“Should I not?”

The haughty, hundred-and-forty-year-old river dragon looked quite secure in his boasting.

“Our Great Lady dropped a hint, you old fart. Now apologize like a good old boy.”

“I will not be called a boy by you, boy.”

Kadoharin towered angrily over a smugly confident … human!

The sharply handsome man wore a short black robe over sturdy black traveling clothes. Besides the feathery black hair and hint of neck scales, he was otherwise fully human.

With a reference finally before her …

‘He’s about two meters. He’s four. That makes me ten – no TWELVE? I should be 158 cm!’

No, not important right now.

“Magister Gueng Zhin, I barely recognize you. You were a fresh acolyte last I knew.”

The man swept a deep, flourishing bow.

“My Great Lady, this humble child of light is deeply honored at your notice.”

“My dearest Lady, pay no attention to mountain tribe filth …”

Megumi bristled at the insult.

“Magister Kadoharin, I’ve recently taken as family a young lady of mountain tribe ancestry. Choose your words carefully. A slight against my little Pei is a slight against me.”

Hazadul hadn’t taken Pei very far.

“Sirs, please don’t argue in my Lady’s presence!”

Kadoharin’s jaw dropped. Someone whispered,

“So it’s true …”

Before any arguments could ensue, Megumi intervened.

“To the Grand Hall! The Presentation of Secrets begins!”

The Grand Hall and its towering rings of galleries offered a perfect venue for multitudes to be seen and heard in grand style. The cavernous room did have its disadvantages. Sitting out on the circular floor left Megumi feeling greatly exposed. She also swore she could smell her half-eaten meal from here.

“My Lady, thank you for bringing me.”

As if Megumi felt Pei was safe anywhere but at her side.

“Stay close. It may get dangerous.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

The tension was making her ill. Which was unfortunate. The two dozen Magisters were desperate to outdo each other, sharing secrets of awe and wonder.

“The pressurized steam cycling the piston back and forth allows circular motion, creating efficient, nonmagical transport of people and goods.”

“Oh, My Lady! Have you ever heard of such an amazing thing?”

Megumi tried not to snort at Pei’s enthusiasm.

Oh my child, if you only knew.

Lady Danitu, Dark Magister from the prefectural capital, bowed gratefully to the cheering audience. She then conceded the presentation platform to Magister Kadoharin.

Hmm, Megumi had promised Ms. Dian office work in the prefectural capital …

“This secret comes from our Lady herself – an alchemical, pain-relief formula derived from willow bark tea and other extracts. This non-magical white powder …”

Megumi instantly recognized a favorite research material …

Aspirin.

The enraptured audience gushed,

“Great Darkness, that’s incredible!”  “Show us a sample!”

The grinning dragon deflected.

“The process is nearing final refinement …”

The crowd immediately turned.

“Boooo!”   “Prove it or shut it!”

“Old man, how about you make way for someone with a truly amazing secret.”

“This is an amazing secret!”

Megumi honestly felt bad for Kadoharin. Aspirin would be a superb asset.

Magister Gueng stepped up and waited.

“I bring word from the west. Lucian of Mitanos lives again.”

 The crowd erupted in rage.

“Impossible!”  “Liar!”  “Death to Lucian the Golden Devil!”

Hearing that name stirred Megumi’s heart. Part longing, part piercing agony.

“Stay your anger! Lucian has reportedly claimed none other than our Dark Lady of Secrets as his Heroic Patron! He praises her name as he travels and even claims kinship!”

Kinship?

KINSHIP?

HI-KA-RU!

This whole mess was her brother’s fault. She just knew it!

“My Lady?”

Oh, when she found him …

“My Lady!”

Frantic pulling at her arm finally broke the angry haze.

“Pei?”

“My lady, your priests!”

Kadoharin and Gueng Zhin were facing off in rage.

Oh no!

“A duel,” they declared in unison.

“TO THE DEATH!”