Arz rested for a few days. He bathed, cleaned his clothes, organized his new ingredients, and filled out his notes while staying at the inn only a few blocks from his actual home. It was probably the longest he had rested since starting his adventures.

  And the whole time, all he could think about was whether or not he was making a terrible mistake.

  Working for the Guild is what led to his family’s death. Why would he work for them again?

  For other people. Even if he was drunk, Isilhorn had a good point. Everything Arz was learning was useless if all it did was sit in the tome in his study. Learning just to learn would only entertain him for so long.

  Learning to help people in need was worth it and it was something Ziylara would be proud of and something Alorala would have wanted to help with.

  He didn’t like it, but working with the Guild was the best way to get his revenge. Working with them, being funded by them, didn’t mean he had to be friends with any of them.

  He could make that work.

  A firm knock on his door would normally be a surprise, but as soon as the sun was up on Monday morning, Arz was already dressed and geared up with return potions and all sorts of other mixtures that probably didn’t do anything. He opened the door to Higgrion and sighed.

  A group of guards waited behind the captain, including the young man named Arivel that Arz had once tricked. Isilhorn was near the back and mouthed his apologies.

  “I wasn’t expecting something so ugly so early,” Arz said.

  “The Guild of Wizards is requesting your presence,” Higgrion said dryly.

  “Oh, requesting? Well, in that case, I might as well tag along.” Arz tucked some hair behind his ears and strode out of the room, forcing Higgrion to step aside. “An honored guest? Me?”

  The guard captain grumbled.

  “Arivel, wonderful to see you,” Arz said. He put his arm over the guard’s shoulder and guided him toward the stairs. “How have you been?”

  “Uh, good, sir.”

  “Sorry about last time.”

  Arivel gave him a look but didn’t respond. Arz couldn't help but laugh.

  “What story do you think I should tell? Should I go on about the AZ-32s and their crumbling civilization or the vast empire of the slimes that spans multiple worlds, even including a massive building out in space itself?” He sounded insane, even to himself. How would people react when he told them about the frogs? The robots were probably the most believable thing he had seen.

  Isilhorn quietly explained that Arz wasn’t actually crazy, despite how he sounded. Otherwise, the procession was quiet as they left the inn and headed back to the main road to the Prime Wizard building.

  Arz attempted a few more jokes and anecdotes about his adventures, but nobody was biting. Before long, Higgrion was out in front, leading the way to the Prime Wizard building. It dominated the distance with its lewd windows.

  After more attempts, Arz was able to get a few pieces of personal information out of Arivel. Only that he was the oldest in a small family of poor bakers. How could bakers be poor? People loved bread.

  “Where is this bakery?” Arz asked.

  “Off of Gallantry Street, sir.”

  “Is it good?”

  Arivel gave Arz a look of confusion. “Do you expect me to say my family’s bread is terrible?”

  Arz shrugged. “Is it?”

  “It is the greatest in the city, sir.”

  “Then what do you say you lead me there after our meeting? I could use some fresh bread.”

  “I don’t believe I can do that, sir. I’m still on duty”

  “We can figure it out.”

  Higgrion stopped at the top of the stairs. Other guards were already opening the oversized doors.

  “I shouldn’t be surprised that you are here,” the captain said. “You look terrible, by the way.”

  “Oh, I feel worse. Can we go inside? I have little interest in speaking with you.”

  Higgrion mumbled something to himself and led the procession inside. Arz looked up at the ceiling in the vast chamber. The building was so much bigger than it had any right to be. Every time Arz stepped inside, it was a new experience. The Prime Wizard building was such an odd place. He still thought that after everything else he had seen.

  “Don’t make an ass of yourself,” Higgrion said right outside the Guild chamber.

  “I should be saying that to you, but I don’t think you can help it. You kind of look like one, you know.”

  “Look like what?” Higgrion asked as he reached for the door.

  “An asshole.” Arz grinned and nodded to the captain as the door swung open.

  Higgrion was about to respond, but the Guild of Wizards all stood as Arz strode into the chamber. A tray with tea was positioned right in front of an empty chair on the end.

  Jaralath stood at the opposite end of the table. His long, white beard had grown even longer, while the hair on his head had retreated even farther. “Arz Kurana.”

  “Is that a question?” Arz asked. He walked to the cushioned chair in front of the steaming tea and sat heavily. He took a sip and thought he might die. It was aromatic and delicious.

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  Jaralath signaled for the Guild to sit. They sat at the same time while keeping their eyes on Arz. He didn’t let the attention stop him from enjoying the beverage.

  “You requested this meeting,” Jaralath said. The old man looked to Ennbias, who couldn’t help but glare.

  “After escaping from prison again, I figured it was time to negotiate. Did you get my notes?”

  Jaralath held up the torn notebook page. “A guard brought it to my house over the weekend.”

  “Weekends are made up. Just because you don’t work doesn’t mean other people get time off. I have no sympathy.” Arz set the tea aside and scooted closer to the table. He let his eyes pass over each Guild member, making sure they noticed how serious he was. “Whether or not you try to stop me, I will keep doing what I’m doing. At the very least, I’m doing it in honor of my daughter, and at the very most, I’ll do it to ruin all of your lives. I’m trying to lean toward the other side, to make Alorala proud, but you’re all making it difficult for me.”

  “We are willing to negotiate, Arz,” Jaralath said.

  “Good.”

  “Captain Higgrion said you disappeared right in front of him a few weeks ago. Where did you go?” Jaralath asked.

  “I was testing out a new recipe. When the portal opened, it pulled me through. I had no time to gather supplies. I ended up in a place called Doumenus with metal people called robots.” He thought about the whole adventure and the best way to phrase it. “I traveled through space to different planets with people made of slime until I ended up on top of a mountain in a thunderstorm. I was able to open a portal back to my study with a lightning strike.”

  The Wizards sat silently, all watching Arz.

  “I wish any part of what I just said was a lie. There were frogs and, uh, cities locked in bubbles of time.” Arz shrugged. “I don’t know. I wrote down as many details as I could manage. It’s difficult to fully explain, especially while I’m still conducting some research into the different things. The frogs, though, will go without research for now. I don’t want to see a frog anytime soon.”

  “How did you survive?” Jaralath asked.

  Arz tapped the side of his head. “My brain.”

  Ellazahl rolled her eyes, which made Arz smirk.

  “I’m sure there is a grand story. Now, Arz, this was your idea” Jaralath said.

  Arz nodded. He sipped his tea while holding up a finger to signal for Jaralath to wait. Arz smacked his lips together and reclined in the chair. “A friend told me I could be helping people instead of just trying to make your lives more difficult. When I traveled to Doumenus, I was gone longer than I thought, and I almost died countless times. Having anyone to back me up would be greatly beneficial. Even if it is just someone who knows how to create a portal based on my recipes.”

  “After everything, you think you can negotiate?” Ennbias asked. She leaned forward on the table. Her short hair bobbed when she leaned forward. A brown scale with a neon orange ring surrounding it hung from her neck.

  “Uh, yes.” Arz gestured to them. “You’re all here, aren’t you?”

  Jaralath exchanged looks with the whole Guild. “Yes,” he said with obvious hesitation.

  “Any thoughts on my terms?” Arz asked. He took another sip of tea.

  “Captain Higgrion will not stay away,” Jaralath said. “He is the captain of the guard.”

  “Yeah, I noticed he was there this morning too. Unfortunate, but I will concede on that if I can make an amendment. The scribe I’m requesting also needs to be capable of taking care of Sal when I’m gone.”

  “Who is Sal?” Ellazahl asked.

  “My electric eel.”

  Several members of the Guild looked at each other and back at Arz with some confusion.

  “Yes, Orikori can handle most tasks assigned. His primary focus will be writing your notes, though he will be available for more as needed,” Jaralath said.

  “Orikori?” Arz looked at all the members. “This person is not part of the Guild, right?”

  “Not officially. He is employed by Bralincote.” Jaralath combed his fingers through his beard before resting his hands on his protruding stomach. “Does this fit with your requirements?”

  “I’ll decide after I meet this Orikori, I guess.”

  Jaralath slowly smiled. “Does this mean you are officially part of the Guild of Wizards?”

  Arz sighed. “Absolutely not. But, I will consider you my allies if the terms are kept.”

  Jaralath didn’t look thrilled by the response, but it was in their best interest. The old man had been in Arz’s study before and failed to understand how any of it worked, even after reading from the tome. It was embarrassing, really. Without Arz to explain the alchemical formulas, the Wizards were nothing more than old people.

  Well, they were still old.

  “I believe it would be best for the public image if you were a member of the Guild of Wizards,” Ellazahl said. “I insist.”

  “No,” Ennbias said quickly. “He’ll make a fool of us.”

  “I believe we’re avoiding him doing that by allowing him to join,” Trallos said.

  “Hm.” Arz watched and listened to the chaos as they debated whether or not to include him in their little club. The only one who showed no emotion was Ogatharix, which wasn’t abnormal.

  “Fine,” Arz said. “If it makes it easier for me to work, you can say I’m part of the Guild. Does that make me the youngest Wizard?” Arz scowled as he asked the question. “Let’s actually call me the youngest Guild member. Please don’t call me a Wizard. I can’t use magic.”

  Jaralath sighed. “What do you want to be called?”

  “Arz. I thought you knew that.”

  “This is a mistake,” Adrezor said.

  “Not visiting a tailor more frequently is the mistake. Get some sleeves that reach your wrists. It gets cold in the winter.” Arz smiled at the tall Wizard.

  “You’re dismissed, Arz. Orikori will meet you back at your study. We sent him ahead,” Jaralath said.

  “You really were confident, weren’t you?” Arz asked.

  “The guard you sent insisted you wanted to form an alliance. My assumptions were correct.” A hint of a smirk curved Jaralath’s lips.

  “You are such lovely people.” Arz looked around. “Where is that Arivel fellow?”

  “Captain Higgrion will be escorting you back to the study.”

  “I promise I don’t need an escort. I do, in fact, know my way to my own home. Arivel promised we could stop by his family’s bakery. I would much rather prefer his company than Higgrion’s.”

  Jaralath waved his hand, dismissing Arz. Clearly, the Wizard was done talking with him.

  “Am I expected to sit in on these meetings or is it more of just a member in name? Are you going to put it up on a plaque? If so, can I draw a portrait of myself? I am a talented artist. You wouldn’t guess it.”

  “You will be invited to meetings and can attend when you have availability,” Ellazahl said.

  “Oh. Got it. Unfortunately, I will never have availability.” Arz nodded. “Thank you for such a hostile welcome. Wait, I meant hospitable. Wait, no I didn’t.”

  “Higgrion,” Jaralath shouted, “Please escort Master Kurana out of the chamber so he may return home.”

  Arz turned to the stone doors as they slid inward with a smirk on his face. This had worked out far better than he had expected.

  Arz walked out of the Guild chamber and passed right by Higgrion.

  “I thought you would be tossed in a cell,” Higgrion said, sounding thoroughly disappointed.

  “Actually, I’m the ninth member of the Guild now. Which means I’m your boss.” Arz turned to Higgrion and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’d like you to call me Master Kurana from now on.”

  “You cannot be serious. They actually let you join the Guild of Wizards?” Higgrion’s face scrunched up in such furious anger that Arz expected the man’s brain to just shut off.

  “Make sure to have an appointment if you need to stop by my study in the future. Oh, and find someone to fix my door as soon as possible.” Arz patted Higgrion’s shoulder as he walked past. He smiled broadly at all the guards who had escorted him, and nodded to Arivel. “Sure is a lot of porn in this building,” Arz said loudly, letting his voice echo through the massive building. “Perhaps you can show me where the bread is made now?”

  Arivel looked to Higgrion, who waved him away.

  “It would be an honor, sir.”