Chapter 90: Chapter 90: To the Rescue…

(I've gone and done it again...)

Once again, Salome found herself butting into someone else's business. It must have been the fourth time this month. First, it was with the injured lady in the alleyway. Right after that, it was between Albatross and Barnaby. Then, the injured apprentice-in-name at the back of an alchemical factory. Finally, there's this time, deciding to step in once she spotted several apprentices chasing after and ganging up on one girl.

In truth, that she was in the alchemical district not once but twice was by no coincidence. By the order of her master, Elder Gesborne, she was here to spy on Kalman's workshop, replacing the previous spy due to a sudden shift in personnel. However, she was also warned not to send her beasts, her familiars as Gesborne called then, into the grounds of the workshop, being told that she would most definitely be detected if she were to do so.

As such, Salome and her familiars spent many days skulking around the vicinity of the workshop, reporting any and all happenings to Gesborne. She even spotted Albatross, who went in and out of the workshop grounds on a daily basis, something that caused Salome to worry without end, especially given Albatross's strange request for a curse the other day.

The problem was, Salome also couldn't ignore those in need of help. Despite being a mage, despite knowing the dangers, she simply could not abandon the needy. This led her to walk into many troublesome scenes.

She was well aware that she only made it out unscathed so many times before due to her position as an elder's apprentice, that one day, it was going to stop working, that one day, it was going to come back and bite her in the ass. But even so, she couldn't just let it be.

People like her tend to die young in this city.

"You... You're not from here either. Stay out of this!" the leading alchemist apprentice warned. "Or are you with her? Have you come to save your friend? Don't underestimate us just because we're alchemists. There are seven of us and only two of you."

Salome shook her head.

"I don't know her, but I can't just let this pass me by. All seven of you ganging up on one girl? Shame on you! Look at what you've done to her face. Is there a need to go that far?"

The leading apprentice turned around to look, surveying the situation. With his eyes, he saw six fellow apprentices surrounding a cowering girl, her nose bleeding and face bruised. Frankly, it looked very, very bad despite them not having done anything yet. Not *yet*, at least.

"Wait! Hold on!" the leading apprentice yelled out in protest. "That wasn't us! She was already like this when we got here! She must have ran into the wall or something."

"You can't honestly expect me to believe that," Salome retorted.

After all, it was common knowledge that even the weakest of mages had some measure of Aether-sense, allowing them to sense their surroundings within a certain distance via Aether. Even Salome, someone who only became technically a mage through artificial means, had Aether-sense. It was unthinkable that there was one amongst them that did not possess it.

Aileen Snowe, the battlemage apprentice, was one such unthinkable individual.

"I know how this looks," said the leading apprentice, "but we haven't touched her. Not a hair. We just need to know if she's stolen anything."

"I... I haven't stolen anything!"

The words, spoken while half-sobbing, came from the back of the alley. It was Aileen, finally speaking, her words more akin to pleas than anything else.

Realizing that, Salome's soft heart soften further, and on the spot, she decided that she was going to save this seemingly frail girl from this predicament. The thought that she might be deceived did cross her mind, but she would rather be deceived than abandon someone in need.

"Then why are you here in the alchemical district at this hour?" the leading apprentice continued to interrogate.

But Aileen became silent once more, making it clear to the others that she had something to hide.

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"Fine! Then we'll just have to force it out of you one way or another!"

In a way, this was simply perfect for the alchemist apprentices. Not only would the leading apprentice take revenge for being hit in the face, but through Aileen, the other apprentices would also be able to get back at the battlemages that had always looked down on them despite needing their concoctions the most out of the others.

Though they were wary of her fearsome attack, the alchemist apprentices that were surrounding Aileen began to close in. While she had proven herself to be quite strong, the fact that she was cowering before the seven mere alchemists showed that she likely could only take them one at a time. Even if she were to strike down one of them, the others would be able to take the chance to jump her.

The numbers were in the alchemists' favor.

Meanwhile, perhaps it was due to her connection to her familiars, Salome could feel that the alchemist apprentices were thinking of doing something cruel. The look in their eyes, their gestures, their scent, all these things gave it away.

While it was true that Aileen should not be in this place, Salome could not stand by and let it happen.

"Aren't you forgetting something," said Salome, catching the attention of the rest. "She's not the only one who shouldn't be here."

Salome knew, of course, that like herself, Aileen was here to watch Kalman's workshop. With her familiars, Salome was able to watch the area from all angles and caught sight of those performing the same duties. It would appear that every elder had sent someone to do it.

'That's right!" the leading apprentice cried out in realization. "Do we have to force you to talk too?"

"Talk? No, there will be no talking," said Salome as she put on her coldest demeanor. "Not from me and neither from you. Though I would like to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, it would appear that I have to silence you after all."

At those words, something of significant size descended from the sky, a shadow as tall as the tallest grown man and three times as wide. By the light of the apprentices' brightstone lamps, the shadow was revealed to be a great wolf. It too has a crystal horn embedded in its head.

The wolf had been hiding behind a factory building, and with one great leap, appeared behind Salome. It was an incredible feat of strength, fitting for it to be called Salome's strongest familiar and one of Gesborne's more powerful creations.

"What in the Abyss is that!" one of the alchemist apprentices cried out.

"It's a monster!" shouted another.

"One last chance," said Salome with a stern tone. "You either forget everything you've seen, or I'll make you disappear right here, never to be seen again."

It was a bluff, of course. Salome had no intention to slaughter those so much weaker than her. The alchemist apprentices, however, couldn't possibly know that.

***

End of Chapter 90

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