[h3][color=598527]Uicle[/color], [color=tan]Ovak[/color], and [Color=Goldenrod]Khan[/color][/h3]

Uicle quietly went back to the teacher’s table, a gauntlet in his free hand, as the last of his resurrected knights crumbled into rusted dust. Uicle let all of their souls (except for the one whose hand he was carrying) go back into the Pit. They were no longer needed, and had done their purpose. His gaze was fixed on Khan and Ovak, and he made a beeline for the Archmage and the Headmaster, stepping up behind them. He placed the gauntlet on Khan’s shoulder, and his free hand on Ovak’s shoulder. “Khan, Ovak.” He began pleasantly. [color=598527]“I believe I have something to talk to the both of you about.”[/color] In unison, Uicle’s hand and the hand of the gauntlet rose to smack the two mages upside the head. 

[color=598527]“Ovak, you’re an idiot. I told you to take it easy and not use magic, and the next thing I know you’re running off with Ssarak’s girlfriend and sending magical messages galore. You just got out of bed from nearly killing  yourself and now you’re just using magic willy nilly? Tsk! You’re not a novice to be taking risks like that, Ovak. Khan, I know who you got whatever you’re hiding from, and we’re going to talk about that later. With Lucillia. And Tyrael. And Ovak if he hasn’t broken a hip. You’re still an idiot to for even thinking about having it.”[/color]

Khan had been busy, his scales tingling with the sense of being watched. His eyes flickered to the side and spotted Uicle coming casually toward the pair causing his chatty nature to fall into silence. Ovak raised a eyebrow but immediately realized the reason as he heard the clicking of the armor suit the teacher’s soul inhabited step into place behind them. The headmaster felt something slightly weighty placed on his shoulder and his head turned to spot a gauntlet resting there. Uicle used a pleasant voice despite his spiritual rasp then immediately the hand thumped him upside the head, hard. 

Unlike Khan, who had been rather slow to react, Ovak’s head jerked forward and narrowly missed Uicle’s physical reprimand. His hand held up to prevent a repeat of it as he spoke, allowing Khan time to nurse his aching head. [color=tan]”Underhanded reprimands will just encourage me, Uicle. As for the messages, I was just praising and nudging a few students in secret to key directions. I also know my limits. Believe me.”[/color] 

Ovak’s eyes looked to Khan, his eyes flickered with slight worry over what Uicle had mentioned. [color=tan]”So, you actually kept it in this time?”[/color]

The headmaster averted his gaze, his hand still rubbing his head back until the pain faded. His mind was elsewhere for the moment as he tried to brush off both Uicle and Ovak. He aimed to play stupid with the form first in hopes he didn’t give his secret away, his voice forcibly calm.  [color=goldenrod]”Uicle, that plant is locked away and completely contained. It wouldn’t get out unless I let it out, Rathel assured me. Also Val put a Rune on the jar’s bottom to freeze it if it did escape.”[/color]

Khan took a breath then continued. [color=goldenrod]”Does that make you feel better? As for keeping it, it would’ve wasted Rathel’s efforts. Despite him being a demon, it didn’t sit well with me.”[/color]    

Uicle snorted in disbelief as Ovak spoke. [color=598527]“Sure you do. And I’ll make sure that the slap is overhand rather than underhand then, Archmage. Do you know that over half of the students here have no idea who you are? You’re a myth. A figure of legend. Or, you’re an old man that sits next to Khan and looks important. To be in the student’s lives, Ovak, you need to be excessively careful with yourself. Or I will be excessively careful for you. And if that means I have to slap the idiocy out of you, well then it’s a good thing I don’t get tired or sleepy.”[/color]

Ovak merely chuckled then settled back into his chair, his head turned away and fully choosing to ignore Khan’s attempt to redirect the topic. Deep inside it troubled him however to see Khan risking himself on one path he would later regret. If the students didn’t notice it then likely it was meant to happen, through the idea of Kudd getting a new pawn was creating a sourness in his mouth he couldn’t be rid of. Through Uicle was right, Ovak couldn’t change that matter now. To do so would mean he would risk his own health and the temporary gift he was given, something very few seemed to have asked or addressed yet much to his relief. 

Uicle’s head swiveled to stare at the headmaster. He continued to stare as the Esyire finished his lie, wishing for once that he had a face that could fully show his irritated disbelief. [color=598527]“Do not lie to me, Khan and don’t try to play dumb.”[/color] He spoke quietly, but vehemently. [color=598527]“You know damn well what I’m talking about. And you know damn well it’s not that murderous plant of yours. Or did you think I would forget? I know! Your masterful plot to prevent this conversation was to hope that the teacher who remembers the information all his golems give him would forget the really important piece of information your demon gave me! Brilliant!”[/color] Acidic sarcasm dripped from his tone and the gauntlet tightened on Khan’s shoulder. [color=598527]“Give me one good reason, aside from the fact that you’ll just have Zaad move it, if you already haven’t, to not go into your room and destroy it.”[/color]

Khan’s eyes narrowed and his spine gained a cold shiver down it. His fingers tightened on his chair arm while the gauntlet tighten on his shoulder, warning him against his earlier actions. The Esyire gritted his teeth and waited for Uicle’s acidic tone to cease. [color=Goldenrod] “Because we both know he won’t have made it that simple, would he? As for Zaad, I appreciate if you didn’t go forcing your soul into my demon’s minds. Likewise Rathel had no right to tell you despite his good intentions. I’ve already tried to destroy it through various mean save one: going into the Inferno to give it back to him personally.”[/color]

[color=598527]“And I’d appreciate it if you told us when you’re hiding something that dangerous.”[/color] Uicle retorted,  glaring at the Esyire. He snorted at Khan’s words about destroying it, resisting the urge to slap him again. [color=598527]“Here’s a radical idea! Why don’t you give it to Rathel, and have him toss it into some dark place of the Inferno? Or, even better, [i]toss it in the bottom of the ocean.[/i] Anything, really! Just get rid of it. I know how this works. He promises you power, promises to give you the way to save yourself and those you care about. It’s how Aarem got me and it’s how he’s going to get you unless you [i]get rid of it.[/i]”[/color]

Khan's teeth gritted, his eyes focused on Uicle as he spoke. [color=Goldenrod]"And it ends right back in my desk the next day! It's got an Inferno rune on it Uicle and you really think-"[/color] 

Ovak interrupted Khan immediately as he held his hand out, his face looking staring forward and looking completely calm. [color=tan]"I might suggest you two take this time to discuss your opinions elsewhere as you're attracting attention. This mess isn't exactly the best place to converse about such serious issues. As well as I fear Khan might try to shut himself in his office and having that chat would be extremely problematic."[/color]

The dark skinned man looked from Khan, the headmaster's head turned to the side in silence, then to Uicle. He was hoping the soul got his hint this wasn't an issue to delay with but it wouldn't the first time he was ignored. [color=tan] "As for Kudd, it's very hard to deny him what he wants. Just like Aarem, as you have experience to back that truth up, and completely angering a God never ends well. Khan has already defied them five times so a sixth would not be ideal."[/color] 

[color=598527]“I’d just have a Golem break down the door.”[/color] Uicle snapped back, still glaring at Khan. He face palmed as Ovak spoke up. [color=598527]“Ovak, there was a reason I wasn’t saying his name. You know, so people [i]don’t[/i] think that Khan is ready to join Kudd?”[/color] He hissed at the old mage, still not looking at Ovak. His head immediately snapped back to Ovak, however, when he heard the final sentence. [color=598527]“Five? What do you mean, five times?”[/color] He swiveled his head to look at Khan. [color=598527]“Perhaps you’d like to explain [i]that[/i] rather than your little ‘gift.’”[/color]

Ovak smirked, his finger tapped his ears while he spoke, noting Khan’s silence. [color=tan]”I’m not an idiot Uicle, but if you haven’t  noticed no one has heard us despite your voices having been raised several octaves. I had to use magic,”[/color] His hand revealed Val’s hidden silence Rune from under his hand and currently glowing a deep indigo so Uicle wouldn’t immediately slap him upside the head again. [color=tan] “To keep any conversation between the two of you to barely a whisper. So now, if you both will please take this conversation elsewhere before you both become the death of me.”[/color]

His hand replaced the Rune back into his robe pocket then allowed the two, through he was lightly sighing at the pair and wondering when Ucile would actually trust his judgement. From his vision corner, he studied Khan’s reaction to the information he had just let slip as Uicle quickly caught on. Unlike the teacher, Ovak had known the Runes on Khan weren’t Inferno Runes. They were something much worse and a fact he survived it five times was a miracle in itself. At Uicle’s request, Ovak glanced at Khan to add one last statement. [color=Tan] “You can explain or I can, Khan.”[/color]

The headmaster bit his lip in silence, his hands folded in his lap as he looked down at the engraving etched into his hand back. His finger stroking the rune impulsively while he paused enough to consider what Ovak had uttered and how much he should speak. It was little surprise to him that Ovak had figured out the truth about his magic, through he wondered why the Archmage chose now to speak about it. [color=Goldenrod] “You figured out the Runes weren’t Inferno based, didn’t you? When, how?”[/color] 

[color=Tan] “I’ve seen them before a long, long time ago. They’re not very common on Tiien so it was very strange to see not one, but five different ones on a single individual. As for when, I knew when I first saw them and you arrived at the College. Before I started to fall ill. It was a conversation the old Demonomancer master and last Rune master back while you were a student. It might explain why His first attempt didn’t work after our ‘guest’ poisoned you.”[/color]

The Necromancy teacher’s hand fell back to his side as he saw the rune, reluctantly. Uicle spoke with forced calm, evident even with him being in a suit of armor. He was furious and worried all at the same time. Unfortunately for Khan, he was more angry than worried. [color=598527]“Khan. I’m sure the demonstrations can carry on without us. You and I are going to have a long talk in your office, during which we’ll divulge all of our dirty little secrets to each other. Trust is built upon honesty. And no, this isn’t an optional or postponable talk. You are coming with me or we’ll have this chat right here and now.”[/color]

Khan’s shoulders fell as his hand reached for his cup, surprisingly Dragonspit, then downed it in gulp. His throat and belly burning, he gripped the top of his cane then scooted his chair backwards. It screeched a bit making him and likely Uicle flinch as he turned on heel to follow. His limb clearer than it had been in months while he tried to keep up with the suit leading the way to his office, his feet gingerly setting a pace. His hand reached for Uicle’s gauntlet which he passed back to the Necromancer along the way.