[center][h1]Hyznia[/h1][/center]
[center]Outer Wall[/center]

Life within the walls of Hyznia is anything but slow. You'd expect a giant castle city rampant with libraries to be a little quieter but today of all days made Rem wish he'd stayed outside a while longer. Which was more dangerous, listening to the rant of a master wizard who wants to snoop in on you and take advantage of your hard-fought journey or traversing the mud pits barely a few units of travel outside and praying you don't step on a trapjaw tongue. The people that get out of such a mess only walk again with body mods. Shudder the thought.

"Now, now, mister Vano. The reason we study and live together here is so that we can collectively gain from the successes of our peers." The annoying Master Pharos continued. This man was truly a nuisance to the lives of all travelers. He was part of a research library within the inner walls of Hyznia that insisted on collecting all new findings from the mages that liked to travel outside. Rem had absolutely no intention of telling him anything. After the way his mentor's theories were handled they weren't ready for his hard-earned research.

"Again. Respectfully, Master Pharos, I do decline your request. I have nothing any more valuable than Master Haedrig's own findings. If his theories have so little value to be left outside the library then so too do mine." Rem gave him a polite nod and spread out an arm, motioning for Pharos to move on.

The collector scratched his long and 'wizardly' white beard. The elder mage had his balding head covered by the hood of his purple cloak. Pharos closed his book with a disgruntled 'harumph!'. "Mister Vano, even those within great places on the council still report their findings. They are a treasure to our enclave. Perhaps one day you'll learn it's better to share and let others judge."

"Perhaps one day indeed, Master Pharos. Stay warm. It's chilly on these ramparts tonight."  Rem turned to look out over the clear sky as Master Pharos shuffled down the stairs of a nearby tower. There were no clouds and the wind blew brisk and free. The world outside was dangerous but there was nothing to hold it back. In here true knowledge was stifled and thrown away. The treasures that Master Pharos insisted upon were mages that only shared small portions of their research, enough to sate knowledge seekers and earn renown as intelligent theorists. Mages that didn't hold their real secrets did not last long in positions of power. Knowledge, power, work and knowing when to keep quiet. These things ran hand in hand here.

Rem had only been back for several days but that was enough to stock up his needs; food, supplies, etcetera. Someone was to meet him here on these very ramparts this evening and that someone was not Pharos. The man probably used magic to find wizards as they returned. It was eerie how quickly he'd track you down.

Rem couldn't help but allow his thoughts to drift to the outside, to Senna prowling the outskirts. He couldn't bring her in. She'd be no more than a test animal for researchers. There's always a better way. He sat down and leaned back against the wall. It was going to be one hell of an evening.