Chapter 182: Middle Ground

"Well that was fun," Syryn grinned as he set down two cups.

"Not you too, Syryn."

"Why not? I too might have become a victim of Art's fuck and dump scheme."

The anti mage frowned at Syryn's words. "I wasn't planning to fuck and dump you."

"Aww, was Art serious about a demonic old man like me?" Syryn's eyes narrowed to slits as he smiled.

"How old are you?" Artemus asked after a pause.

"Older than our combined ages at the very least. I'm a crusty old man. I probably smell like mildew and-"

"But you still looked young in the puzzle box. So you aren't a crusty old man and don't smell like mildew."

"Mmm"

"Does Rowan know?"

Now Artemus was asking dangerous questions.

"He does."

"Everything?"

"Yes."

"I see. So you must also know that Rowan has secrets. The higher-ups aren't saying much yet because he's an invaluable asset. But some aren't as happy about his growth. Don't get him into trouble, Syryn," Artemus said as he took a sip of tea.

"Trouble? What makes you think I'd make trouble for him?" Syryn asked. Rowan couldn't have possibly told Artemus about Blue or the corpse tree.

The anti mage's dark eyes held Syryn in place. "Let me tell you a story, Syryn."

"Okay..?"

"It was a fine evening when I was on my way to the manor. I walked through the lost path to save time because I was running late for a meeting. So when I stumbled across a well known blonde blue-eyed anti mage talking to a big glowing squid right at the spot where I needed to open a rift, I thought I was seeing things." Artemus' stare had become distinctively reproachful.

"Well-"

"Having had little sleep, I considered for a second that it was a consequence of exhaustion and the stories you and Sebastian have told me about glowing squids. Imagine my consternation when Rowan told me what had taken place."

"I rescued a lost creature of magical origin."

"You kidnapped a creature of magical origin."

"He came with me willingly!" Syryn scowled at the anti mage.

"He wasn't yours to take, Syryn."

"So everything just belongs to the Sanguine, does it? Why not take me in as well then?"

The anti mage hadn't touched his beloved tea since they'd begun arguing about Blue.

"We're better equipped to deal with magical creatures. It's what mage hunters are trained for, Syryn."

"You mage hunters act like the good guys but don't you also conduct experiments on creatures like Blue. Why can't you just let him be? He's safe inside the rift." Syryn was getting worked up now. He wasn't sure what he would do if Artemus insisted on taking Blue.

"I don't know what you've been imagining but we don't hurt them in the process."

"Still invasive. He's sentient, you know. I'd say he's like a four-year-old child." 

"Syryn, even though I think that you're hindering the further discovery of the squid's origins and abilities, and though I would prefer to have it examined by experts, I'm not here for the squid." 

"You aren't?" The mage blinked in surprise. Syryn had to re-evaluate the wisdom of his decision. The mage hunters could probably send Blue home.

"I brought it up because you have to know that your actions have consequences for Rowan. Use that clever brain of yours and think about how this reflects on his character if it were to get out that he broke the rules for his lover."

"It's not like it isn't true, isn't it? Rowan broke the rules for me. As a Sanguine, he's failed," Syryn stated the unfiltered truth. "But it's not like I hold the mage hunters in high regard." They were Syryn's enemies, or at least they used to be. "The more rules he breaks, the happier I am. I think you should learn from Rowan."

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The anti mage regarded Syryn with a cool stare. "Not everyone has the leisure to be a bad boy, Syryn. If society was made up of people like you, chaos would reign."

"And if everyone was a stickler for rules with a stick up their ass like you, the world would be a damn boring place to live in."

Mage and anti mage regarded each other silently. Syryn was first to take a sip of his tea.

"I came here today to speak to you about the caravan murders," Artemus continued as if they weren't just having a staredown.

"You can't just change the topic like that, Artemus."

The anti mage raised his brows. "You wish to debate then?"

"Yes. Well, no. I think we should come to a middle ground before dropping the topic. I'd rather we not have this discussion again."

Artemus nodded. "Alright, what are you willing to concede?"

"People like you ensure that chaos doesn't reign in a peaceful society."

The anti mage smiled despite himself. "High praise, Syryn."

"I try. I think I fall for the good guys because I'm a chaotic piece of shit. That's got to be it."

"It's a sound theory. Opposites do tend to attract."

"Is that why you like Sebastian?"

Artemus was unwilling to engage in Syryn's change of conversation. He steered it back to the previous topic.

"I concede that chaotic people are the spice that flavour the lives of boring people like me."

"But will you spice Sebastian's life like he's been asking you to?" Syryn was a master at this.

"I'm the bland one, Syryn. It is Sebastian that flavours my life."

And if that wasn't some sort of confession about his feelings then Syryn was going to eat his own shoe.

"Are you avoiding him, Mu-mu?"

"If you call me by that goosebump inducing name again, you can consider this discussion at its end."

"Artemus, nooo, I'm sorry! Please, I won't call you that anymore."

"I'm not avoiding him, Syryn."

"Then?"

"I'm busy."

"And that's why you're at my house drinking tea this late at night, talking shop with me, when you could be out with Sebastian. I get it. You're busy."

The anti mage smiled again. "I am here to talk about the caravan murders."

"Right, so what about it?"

Artemus cleared his throat after downing his cup of tea. "We've made no headway in this case. I had a few priests examine the preserved corpses and they detected dark magic. But they were unable to say what was the purpose of the spells."

"Did you ask a priest with a black jewel between his brows?" Syryn asked the anti mage.

"Qairu," Artemus spoke with distaste. The brother in law did not approve of Alka's ex.

"Ask him," Syryn told the anti mage. "If there's any priest out there that can detect dark magic and make sense of it, it's him."

"And how do you know this?" Artemus asked.

"If you keep asking nosy questions, I won't help you anymore, Art."

"Fair enough."

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