Cyrus was not above jogging. In fact, he often found that he needed to jog in order to keep up with his new, long-legged friend. The mage's life had felt something like a mix between a whirlwind and an avalanche, which was completely unusual for the man who had up til now made his living enchanting objects and selling simple scrolls. He wasn't quite sure how he had ended up here, in this immaculate mansion, constantly trailing behind Kazu, whose personality was not as neat as his home, trying to keep up to speed with both the man and the troubling news that kept crashing down on them. Cyrus could not remember if he had actually agreed to all of this or if Kazu had just swept him up and carried him away before he could decline, but at least the predicament he had somehow fallen into was an exciting and challenging one.
There were scrolls and books everywhere. Cyrus had no idea how many he had read through since he had entered the study that morning. Many of them had probably been read several times as his tired mind failed to register the contents, but he pushed on, eager for the chance to find something vital that could change the game before another mysterious game could occur. When Kazu hurried out of the room, Cyrus did not think twice about following, finally getting used to the strange man's habits. As scrolls fell, Cyrus used his own magic to collect them and add them to a neat pile. If nothing else, his ability to effortlessly levitate objects was improving.
"What-" Cyrus began to inquire, but Kazu was calling to his butler and did not even seem to be aware that his new assistant was stumbling along behind. Had something happened? The mage had been too absorbed in his own studies to notice the paper revealing the news of the morning, but clearly it had put Kazu into some sort of frenzy. Had something changed? Were things getting worse?
Oliver was much less fazed by the behavior. He had been the butler of this mansion for several months now, and the eccentricities of his master were old news. As such, he was already in the kitchen when Kazu and Cyrus made their way down, waiting for the first pot of coffee to finish brewing. He had expected to have to bring the mens' breakfast up to the study, but a good butler was flexible. As soon as he heard the steps, he prepared a tray with mugs, cream, sugar, and a full carafe. A second tray of fruit and simple pastries would hold the scholars over until the hot food was ready. Oliver placed these on the table as Kazu sat down, saying nothing as he returned to cooking as he knew the words probably wouldn't be registered anyway.
"I-" Cyrus was out of breath by the time they reached the kitchen, struggling to hold scrolls and books in his arms as his levitated stack began to tumble. "I'm right here."
The mage carefully began set the texts down next to the table when Kazu finally revealed what he had learned. Cyrus dropped the rest of what he was carrying and looked up in shock.
"Someone else died?" he echoed. "Who? How? What was different?" Cyrus was too excited by the development to sit and instead fumbled around to find his pen and some blank paper so that he could make notes. "Does it give us any leads?"
There were scrolls and books everywhere. Cyrus had no idea how many he had read through since he had entered the study that morning. Many of them had probably been read several times as his tired mind failed to register the contents, but he pushed on, eager for the chance to find something vital that could change the game before another mysterious game could occur. When Kazu hurried out of the room, Cyrus did not think twice about following, finally getting used to the strange man's habits. As scrolls fell, Cyrus used his own magic to collect them and add them to a neat pile. If nothing else, his ability to effortlessly levitate objects was improving.
"What-" Cyrus began to inquire, but Kazu was calling to his butler and did not even seem to be aware that his new assistant was stumbling along behind. Had something happened? The mage had been too absorbed in his own studies to notice the paper revealing the news of the morning, but clearly it had put Kazu into some sort of frenzy. Had something changed? Were things getting worse?
Oliver was much less fazed by the behavior. He had been the butler of this mansion for several months now, and the eccentricities of his master were old news. As such, he was already in the kitchen when Kazu and Cyrus made their way down, waiting for the first pot of coffee to finish brewing. He had expected to have to bring the mens' breakfast up to the study, but a good butler was flexible. As soon as he heard the steps, he prepared a tray with mugs, cream, sugar, and a full carafe. A second tray of fruit and simple pastries would hold the scholars over until the hot food was ready. Oliver placed these on the table as Kazu sat down, saying nothing as he returned to cooking as he knew the words probably wouldn't be registered anyway.
"I-" Cyrus was out of breath by the time they reached the kitchen, struggling to hold scrolls and books in his arms as his levitated stack began to tumble. "I'm right here."
The mage carefully began set the texts down next to the table when Kazu finally revealed what he had learned. Cyrus dropped the rest of what he was carrying and looked up in shock.
"Someone else died?" he echoed. "Who? How? What was different?" Cyrus was too excited by the development to sit and instead fumbled around to find his pen and some blank paper so that he could make notes. "Does it give us any leads?"
