And He Returns (Mirage)

[Thomas Cosa]

[

53rd of Winter, 512AV

Cold.

And wet.

"Is there any reason an overseer hasn't seen to us, yet? Thomas muttered, silently damning each and every droplet of mist that clung so desperately to his skin. His clothes, surprisingly light for the winter season, offered him no protection against the ever present mists of Port Silence.

"Perhaps all overseers are currently escorting other parties to the Citadel?" Stranger offered, it's metal body uncomfortably cold in the mists.

Thomas snorted, rolling his eyes, "Yes, Stranger. Every overseer is busy," he snapped, squinting into the fog hoping to see an incoming shape.

"Then they will return when finished, as programmed, Thomas," Stranger replied, in it's familiar monotone.

The pulser sighed, remembering again the golem's limits. Stranger was incredibly intelligent, even by human standards -- but that didn't mean the golem understood the intricacies of subtle human emotion and language expression, like sarcasm. "I'll have to add that into his directives one day," Thomas thought, wrapping his arms around his shaking body. A smile cracked his frown as he remembered when Stranger first observed that particular behavior, and he had to explain the concepts of cold and hot to the golem; something he had never had to do before. It had been an interesting conversation, one-sided mostly, but a valuable experience. He briefly wondered about teaching the golem more abstract concepts, like justice and religion, but before he could consider the complexities of that conversation, a metallic voice called out from the mist.

"Thomas Cosa?"

"Obviously," Thomas called out bitterly, hugging his body tightly.

"Response not cataloged," the golem responded, coming into view. It was smaller than the giant overseers, but of a similar design. "Do you identify as Thomas Cosa?" the golem asked again, stopping before the pier.

"Yes. Yes, I identify as Thomas Cosa," he answered coldly, the weather making him irritable, "Will you be escorting me back to the Citadel?" he asked, wanting to end the exchange as soon as possible. While he wasn't terribly excited to be back on Sahova, at least the inner caverns were warm and dry.

"Yes. I will be escorting you to the Archwizard's office, follow, please."

Thomas smiled, straightening his posture as he followed after the golem. He had expected, or hoped, that Mashaen would ask to see him sometime after his arrival, considering the nature of his voyage.

...
"Destination reached. He awaits you, Thomas Cosa."

Thomas nodded, the door to the Archwizard's office opening without prompt.

"Archwizard Mashaen?"

[Mirage]

The Archwizard was bending over one of his work benches, fiddling with a strange device that looked like a cube but it's many sides easily twisted and slide over one another. As Thomas entered he would look up, "Ah, Thomas, come in come in." His body had changed since the last time Thomas saw the Archwizard. He was still in the body of an older man, long white beard falling to his waist, though this one's beard was much bushier. Green eyes and hard wrinkles lined his face, though there were hints of life lines at the corner of his eyes.

Setting down the cute the man would wave for Thomas to come over, to join him by the lite fire pit in the wall. Bending down with some effort Mashaen grabbed the poker that leaned against the bricks, stocking the flames until the roared to life once more, "Master Farke has told me about your journey, and that the negotiations had gone well all things considered. He has written a full report in your stead, you should offer your thanks to him for his generosity."

Setting the poker aside once more the Archwizard straighted, folding his hands into the sleeves of his robes as he looked to Thomas, "How did you enjoy Ravok? As you hail from Syliras I imagine it must have been quite a shock." He chuckled, eyes moving to Stranger that curled about the boy's neck, "Ah and Stranger, did you enjoy the trip as well?"

[Thomas Cosa]

Thomas entered at the Archwizard's invitation, crossing the threshold with some hesitation. It was obvious, considering his condition, that Mashaen wouldn't look the same after a season; after all, no body was permanent, at least for the nuit. Even so, Thomas was glad to see the Archwizard had chosen a similar body, an old one, and liked to imagine that whoever had owned the body previous had died a simple, and peaceful death. Perhaps surronded by loved ones, even.

But he knew it was far more likely the body had once just been a simple slave, past his prime. Perhaps even a drunk that wandered into the wrong alley of Sunbearth. Still, he could hope his hero had different standards than the rest of the undead population.

"I will have to see him, perhaps arrange a gift, if it's within my abilities," Thomas nodded, remembering how well Farke had handle himself throughout the negotiations. It was his job, he supposed, but Thomas had been impressed by how easily the nuit had seemed to integrate Sahova's desires into the conversation. "He, of course, did wonderfully. I doubted my own value to the expedition consistently throughout, especially compared next to Farke," he remarked, offering a shadow of a smile as he scooted closer to the open flame. Thomas had already decided it best to play humble and gratuitous when he next met the Archwizard, in an effort to stay in his good graces.

"Ravok was...different than I had expected. Cleaner, more organized. Perfect weather, " Thomas added jokingly, understanding now that Ravok's outer image was due completely to the Rhysol's influence. He wondered if Syliras had been much the same when their god had been alive and at the pinnacle of his power.

"Ravok was orderly, and pleasing aesthetically. I saved many of what we saw in my memory, so to better learn about the city and it's inhabitants. The people seem overly suspicious, but content with their general existence," Stranger clicked, rolling off Thomas'' neck, propping itself up on his left shoulder, "I learned much of human behavior, Thomas allowed me many answers to my questions."

Thomas smiled, pleased with Stranger's answer, if not overtly so, "And we should thank you, Archwizard. For the opportunity to see beyond the Citadel's walls, and help in something so useful for Sahova. I'm glad to see you are pleased with our efforts."

[Mirage]

Stroking his beard the Archwizard smiled, "As expected from you Stranger. You do not disappoint." He said, his eyes flicking back to Thomas, "And I am glad you enjoyed the trip Thomas. There is no need to thank me. I merely like for those Wizards under me to have experience of the outside world so that they can perform their tasks here all the better." He let the word 'Wizard' hang in the air a moment before chuckling and turning to walk to his desk.

"You are back now, and what you have done and seen in Ravok should forever be remembered, but not dwelled upon. You have far too much work to do here now." Walking around to sit in his blush chair, Mashaen would rest his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers and looking through them at the boy, "We must find you a new lab in the Gug Andjak, furnish it and ensure that all your required materials are available to you for use. Perhaps an apprentice or two to help you in your research as well. What do you say, a Gadgeteer and an Animator? I am sure Masters Kromby and Filch will not mind lending you some of their own." Looking down and opening one of the drawers at his desk, the Archwizard pulled out a wring and set it on the wood before Thomas, pushing it forward, "Ah yes, and you will be needing this."

The ring was silver, in the shape of two intertwining serpents. When Thomas put it on the two snakes would wriggle and crawl over one another, their eyes glittering emeralds and upon their heads was the Mashaen's own personal symbol.

"Well then Wizard Cosa, are you ready to get started?"

[Thomas Cosa]

"Of course, Archwizard Mashaen," Thomas nodded, hardly able to contain his excitement; this was of course, a well deserved promotion, in the pulser's mind. He would have been lying if he had said he wasn't expecting it, but he had been expecting to be promoted within Lab 15, like Cid had. Instead, Thomas has seemingly garnered Mashaen's attentions, and with them, his own personal lab in the Gug Andjak and the opportunity to work directly under the Archwizard himself.

"I will do my best to impress you, Archwizard," Thomas said, eagerly removing his master apprentice ring in favor of his wizard's one. The two silver serpents reacted almost immediately, wiggling and twisting around his ring finger, each head proudly holding the Archwizard's insignia. "What will be expected of me?" Thomas asked, wanting to start almost immediately.

Now he was someone.

[Mirage]

"Ah, you will continue on as you have before your journey. Designing functional models of golems, and then having them inspected and recreated by Lab 15. However, now you will be working on more specific design requests that will come from me personally." Mashaen steepled his fingers once more, "Go now and inspect the empty private labs in the Gug Andjak and select one to your liking. Then provide me a list of the materials you require and we will begin furnishing the lab this very day. Also, go and find your assistance from Lab 15 and deliver their names to me with your list of required items. I will have then transferred to your care."

Looking through his fingers the Archwizard seemed in thought, "Perhaps speak with Wizard Cid to find an appropriate gadgeteer. His work of late has been exceptional. You would do well to keep him as an ally for the future." He looked up, "Make the preparations, and you will receive your first orders after all is in order. Now begone and tend to your new duties Wizard Thomas."

He waved his hand in a clear dismissal, already looking to a pile of paper work on his desk, taking up a pair of glasses to set them on the bridge of his nose.

[Thomas Cosa]

Thomas nodded at the master's dismissal, quick and silent to leave the lab. The smile that had been tugging at the corners of his lips since Mashaen announced his promotion broke, and Thomas allowed himself to forget everything he had survived to get him to that point; the hostile, sterile environment that was Sahova, the deadly politics, the hidden dangers. Thomas focused only the quickly brightening light that was beginning to be his future.

"You should congratulate me, Stranger," Thomas chided the golem, strolling casually around the Gug Andjak, "It would be the polite thing to do," he reminded Stranger, peeking into one of the lab's closest to Mashaen's.

"I congratulate you, Master Cosa,"

"Wizard Cosa, Stranger. The title needs to change here, Master could work on Ravok, or anywhere else besides the isle. Here...," he paused, looking into another one of the labs. White and sterile, the animator supposed it could work, but would've preferred a larger lab -- one with a window as well, would be nice, he thought, smiling. "Here, though, the title Master, especially unearned could be consider presumptions," the animator continued, starting back down towards the caverns; perhaps Cid would have some advice, and an idea as to who to pick for his assistants.

"Understood, Wizard Cosa. Title for personal address has been changed."

"Thank you."

The pulser and golem duo trekked their way down into the winding caverns below the Citadel, the pathway lit only by magelamps and glowing arrows. It was a long walk, one he supposed he would have to get used to, but eventually the sounds of factory, and yelling, and the metallic sounds of Lab 15 echoed throughout the hall.

Home.

The animator walked out onto the cavern floor, immediately spotting the familiar gadgeteer, and glad to see his old mentor.

"Wizard Cid," Thomas smiled politely, bowing his head in respect, "I've returned."