Chapter 348 – The House of Echoes

Chapter 348 – The House of Echoes

Kai leaned with his elbows on the kitchen table, holding his head, the notes for History of the Merian Republic and the Seven Great Houses spread before him. The names seemed to blur as he reread the genealogy of House Damarre for the third time to fix it with Mnemonic Mastery.

Dorianthus VI, Dorvalis III, Dorimalis VII… No, Dorum—shit! Would it kill them to come up with more than three names for their children? No wonder their House fell to ruin.

His head throbbed, overstuffed with the notions he had crammed in the few last days, and now the skill strain was adding to it.

They said I couldn’t strain a memory skill. Damn liars.

“You’re gonna give me a headache if you keep going,” Rob said from the couch where he lounged, holding a textbook above him as he casually flipped the pages. “You don’t need to learn every cadet branch. Professor Ermellie says everything’s in the exam, but only checks the main family line and those in the Clique of Traitors.”

“Uhm, I heard she put in niche questions last semester.”

“Yeah, two out of three hundred. You only need to get two hundred right to pass. Stop torturing yourself. The basic courses barely count beyond the first year. At worst, you’ll get a couple less credit.”

Valela got a perfect score, and I can’t break my streak.

“It’s fine. I’m almost done with this chapter.” Kai massaged his eyes, repeating the names from the beginning. “I just have to—”

A knock on the door brought him a traitorous wave of relief.

“It’s for me.” Kai stood from his chair. His back made a satisfying crack as he stretched it. Holding the n.150 room token with two fingers, he channeled a tendril of mana to the brass pommel across the room. The locks clicked. It was a trick Rob had shown him last week—though using mana took more effort than walking for most students.

“It’s open!” He called, recognizing the presence outside.

Finally time.

“You opened fast. So eager to—” Flynn entered, frowning when he saw Kai meters from the door. He wore the same burgundy uniform of Mana Studies students, though the lining of his clothes was black instead of gold, and his crest depicted a sword, longbow and spear crossed over a shield.

“Huh, neat trick. You ready to go, Mat?”

“Just a moment.” Kai shut his textbook with a clap and went to grab his coat from the rack on the wall. The snow had abated during the last week, but the cold hadn’t.

“‘Kay. We got time.” Flynn left the door ajar, stepping inside and looking around the living room, hands in his pockets. “You guys are really tidy. I really envy you. My roommates are a mess. You can’t imagine— Oh, hey Bert! I hadn’t noticed you there. Nice to see you. How are ya?”

“Good.” Rob turned the page of his textbook, attention on the words, friendly voice laced with a sharp edge. “And I told you it’s Rob.”

“Right! My bad. I can never remember which way you abbreviate Robert.”

“Maybe get a memory skill?”

“Well, I—”

“We can go.” Kai stepped between them before their teasing escalated, pushing Flynn out the door. “We should get going. I’ll see you later, Rob. If Rain arrives before me, tell him he can grab the notes on my bedroom desk. Bye!”

They stood in the corridor outside when Flynn cheerily waved back. “Bye, Bert!”

“You—” The dorm wards cut off Rob’s reply as the door shut.

Really, what’s up with them?

Kai shook his head and headed toward the stairs, giving his friend a look.

“What?” Flynn glanced back, his face appearing innocent and unaware.

“You know what. Why do you keep poking at him?”

“I’m not. Bert’s just a great name! I once read the tales of a great hero with that name. It’s not my fault that Bert doesn’t appreciate my goodwill,” his smile was mischievously gleeful.

“Yeah, it must be that,” Kai said. From the first time he’d introduced them, they’d been like two gulls fighting over a scrap of fish. He couldn’t really blame Flynn since half the time, Rob started it. They only agreed on one thing: their refusal to elaborate or even admit why they bristled at each other’s presence.

Uhm, maybe it’s ‘cause they’re too similar? At least for some aspects. Not like all my friends have to get along. As long as it’s harmless teasing. They’ve yet to stab one another.

Leaving the warmth of the dormitory, they trod onto the winding paths through the buildings. Hobbes had traitorously come to lie on Flynn’s shoulders, meowing till he got a piece of salted fish.

Little ruffian.

The cold air helped Kai clear his head; he had more pressing matters to worry about today.

Time to find if the lead’s worth anything.

He and Valela had debated whether they should go together, but ultimately decided that revealing their close relationship to an information guild was a bad idea. If House of Echoes was half as good as people said, they’d already have intel on Matthew Reece Veernon. Inquiring about Elijah was already a thorny matter—even using the cultists’ journals as an excuse.

There was a difference between suspicions and confirmed intel. He didn’t want to offer more reasons for scrutiny.

“Where are we going?” Kai asked. Once he’d gotten his treats, Hobbes blinked away without another care. “You never told me how you found out about the House of Echoes?”

“Shh! Not here.” Flynn raised a finger to his lips and hurried their steps. “Don’t say their name out loud.” He gave a side glance at their back and hunched to make himself less conspicuous.

“What?” Kai whispered, hurrying to follow his gaze. This late in the evening, students huddled in the warmth of their dorms, leaving the pathways deserted. Even Hallowed Intuition was silent. “Does the House really know if we say their name?”

Could that absurd rumor be true?

Flynn led him through a circuitous path for a couple minutes before speaking. “You mean, the House of Echoes? No, not really. I’m pretty sure that rumor is bullshit, but—Ow!” He massaged his shoulder where Kai punched him. “I was trying to create a little mystery. I thought you could use the distraction. Why are you the only one allowed to act dramatic?” he asked, waving his arm with a theatrical flair.

Kai pursed his lips. “I’m not dramatic.”

“Of course not.” Flynn rolled his eyes and moved back to avoid another jab. “I’d forgotten about your savage side. Shouldn’t mages use diplomacy before violence? The House of Echoes really doesn’t like people throwing their name around. That part is true. Everyone who tries to make their locations public has unfortunate events befall them.”

Kai grunted, unsure if he should believe him. “You still haven’t told me how you found where their branch is.”

“Well…” Flynn ran a hand over his chin with an enigmatic smile. “As you told me: a mage never reveals their secrets.”

“It’s a magician, not a mage. And it’s tricks, not secrets. Either way, you’re neither.”

Why did I ever think teaching him Earth sayings was a good idea?

Flynn staggered back, eyes wide, miming a stab through the heart. “How can thy words always cut so cruelly? I’m magical enough!” He snapped his fingers, making a spark of Lightning crackle over his hand. “That looks mage enough to me, doesn’t it? You’re only looking for an excuse to steal my secrets.”

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“Alright, keep your mystery. But be careful calling yourself a mage. Some people around here are quite sensitive about titles.”

“Yeah, I know you mana dorks are all touchy-feely. Hey, how was that? Did I use that correctly? Mana nerds?” Flynn grinned at him like a puppy waiting for praise.

“It was… better. But really, be careful.”

“Worry not, bud. I always check if people are nearby. And I have this now,” Flynn tapped the enchanted silver stud in his earlobe. “Won it in a bet. It stops speech from carrying far. It’s weaker than normal sound wards, but more discreet. Pretty good if people aren’t trying to purposely eavesdrop on you.”

“That’s actually… quite neat,” Kai admitted, studying the runes. The enchantments didn’t look too elaborate, but cleverly made. “Looks like custom work. It must be worth quite a bit.”

Cloaked too. I almost didn’t notice it.