Greyashe chapter 270 is entitled 'Collaboration.'

Previous chapter 269: A unique existence. V

Next chapter 271: Event Horizon.

Summaries page.

-Short summary-

Thanks to Aschner, Van slowly realizes just how big a change magic will be to his life and his journey. Meanwhile Claire takes the Goddesses to a familiar locale to prepare them to impress a possible benefactor...

-Long summary-

After Achner and Van exit the room, Aschner locates Alekto and explains the new situation to him. Alekto seems to understand everything well enough, but quickly becomes crestfallen when it becomes apparent that he will not be allowed to kill Van. He glares at the boy who can't help but give a quick smirk. Alekto asks one more time in vain acknowledgement if he won't be permitted to kill Van, to which Aschner replies in the affirmative, although he adds 'not yet at any rate'. This pacifies the beast master who then turns and smirks at Van who grits his teeth, and then remembers about his friends. He tells Aschner that he will need to contact them to allay their worries about his current safety. Aschner quickly denies this request, claiming that it is outside the realms of their deal. Van grows impatient and realizes even with his mind 'repaired', Aschner is still as cunning as ever. Van doesn't have a full understanding of his magic, and because of that he won't be able to escape from Aschner's grips, and even if he should find a way he wouldn't be able to properly defend himself. In short, even though it's not in the traditional sense, the boy is a captive. As if Aschner can read his mind, he notes that this means Van will be stuck with them for a while but he then claims this is for the best. Van eyes him incredulously and asks Aschner what he means.

Aschner points out that the farseer's magic is just as unusual as his existence. Normally magicians take the elements as their powers, or wield exceptional strong chaos magic. There really isn't a such thing as magic that is unique to the user. He asks Van to recall some of the fights he's been in, and ask himself....other than those who use the 'classic' elements, had he tangled with any other magician? The boy thinks about it and realizes he hasn't. Even Kutkh had just been supernaturally fast, and his mind nimble.....keeping in mind of course that he was supposed to be a god. Aschner then continues that it is in theory possible for a magician to gain this kind of individual magic idenitity but by the time they have become one with agape to that point, they're already mostly insane. Such individuality would require the mind to be able to focus, something it couldn't do if it were in a unrequited love affair with an agape that would no sooner have the user kill several innocents and then himself. Which means in essence, Van has gone insane.

Van is about protest, but Aschner continues. He doesn't mean the sort of 'stark raving mad' that people associate with insanity, more like a slow festering madness unnoticeable to the person suffering it, so obviously it would be unnoticed by those around them. He once again asks Van to think; would he have ever considered something as crazy as tampering with another's mind before he realized what his magic would be? In fact, he probably had already started thinking about simply 'changing' the mind of anyone who doesn't agree with him now. This is the worst kind of madness, as it's simply agape presenting a 'possibility' to it's user in a way so subtle that the user believes that he thought it up himself....which would mean they wouldn't even realize that they're going mad until several had lost their lives and the path to redemption had all but disappeared.

Van wants to protest, he really does...but Aschners words are right. All of them. He wants to know the conditions for his magic, already hoping to become stronger and use it to stop his enemies. He begins to realize the implications of the magic he has picked up and actually begins to regret his decision. Aschner suddenly beckons the boy to follow him, and the three, (Alekto goes with them.) go into an adjacent room. Once there Van is hit full force by the smell of burning death.

In the middle of a circle lies a charred corpse, dried blood with burn marks cover the entire room, and the few guards in the room stop their work as Aschner strides to the corpse. He then barks orders at the guards to gather the Kaizer mage's body and prepare it for a burial. He then motions to Alekto, and the beastmaster takes great pleasure in shoving Van forward. The boy has to use inhuman effort to keep from falling and vomiting at the sight of the corpse. Aschner tells Van that this is what happens to those who have great power, but continue to try and tempt the fates. He shakes his head and asks Lupine why he had to continue with his research of the terra flame despite having two successes? Van's eye sparks, and he immediately remembers the name.....didn't Claire know and hate this person? He then remembers what the guard had said to Alekto when he had arrived with him, that someone had died and something had escaped. This was obviously the person who had died, but what had escaped? Considering Aschner's comment about 'two successes', Van quickly surmises that something similar to Claire had once been here.

Aschner states to Van that he is now in the 'big leagues'. He intends to find a way to stop the sentinents and save people from the end scenario, even if it costs his life. There is no going back now, and as such he will train Van to keep agape from destroying him from the inside out. As long as he doesn't do anything stupid, the ex-headmaster will ensure his safety. Alekto makes a comment under his breath about not being so sure if he can hold himself back, but a glare from Aschner silences him. The farseeing boy can only silently regard the corpse in front of him, wondering just how far away he is from this fate.

Meanwhile Claire, Aimend, and Aine have reached a familiar locale....the site of the 'Age of fire' ceremony Verdecil. Claire and Van had been there at the beginning of their journey, and Clare can't help but smile at the nostalgia. She declares to herself that she will find Van again and they will have to once again visit this place. Aimend asks why they're here, to which Claire responds flatly that the two goddesses in their current state are far too weak to be of any help to her. Aine grits her teeth and starts to cash in her part of their bargain, but Claire reminds her that they have an investigation to do first. Aine fumes and stalks off on her own, muttering curses. She doesn't get far as a boy nearly runs her down trying to get to Claire. Claire opens her arms wide and the two embrace. Aimend asks who he is, as does Aine since she always likes to get the name of the person she's about to kill. Claire introduces him as Calim, a native fire dancer.

Calim is happy to see Claire is okay, since it had been ages since they last saw each other. He asks about Van, in which Claire responds that he should be doing fine, but she's here on business. Calim sobers up upon hearing this and asks professionally what she needs. Claire gestures to the two goddesses and asks if his people wouldn't mind unlocking their full potential like they had done hers. Aine and Aimend look at each other and then Claire, the same question forming. Claire answers before they ask, stating that before she can go any further, she needs a certain 'benefactor' to be in their corner. If he won't help, they'll be in dire straights, and the only way that he'll assist them is if they come at him seriously, which is why this is necessary. Aine asks if they'll have to fight this person, to which Claire responds obliquely 'it may come to that, but let us hope not'. Aimend quickly volunteers, claiming that her friend Claire should know best. Claire wants to correct her again, but at this point it would be a waste of time. Besides, she actually had come to like Aimend throughout everything they've been through. All eyes are on Aine who groans and also decides to go along with Claire's plan. Claire smiles enigmatically and Calim leads the ladies away. Claire then sighs and decides to follow the two, as it is because of her recommendation that they're doing this. She hopes that her memories don't lead her astray and that this benefactor will help them.