The Silver Moon Tavern resonated with the constant movement of the locals, while Kaizen and his group subtly infiltrated the social landscape of the magical city.
The incessant rain outside provided a melancholy soundtrack, and the tavern's soft lights and warm atmosphere created a setting for lively conversations.
The members of Kaizen's group, acting as if they were experienced locals, spread out around the tavern, intertwining in the conversations of strangers without arousing suspicion.
Alina, having a keen eye and even keener ears, found a table of mages discussing serious matters of local politics. With an expression of restrained interest, she joined them, choosing her words carefully so as not to arouse suspicion.
"This election to the Magic Council has generated a lot of tension between the districts. Do you feel that too?" asked Alina, having heard about this very council in this group.
A woman at the tables nodded. "Oh, you have no idea. Interests are more divided than ever, and alliances are shifting like the wind."
"Yes, and I don't even know if we'll be able to resolve these differences this year." Another said.
"Don't tell me we're going into another year with the same Council, or I'll put a frog down every one of those old wizards' throats."
Andrew was still confused about what Kaizen meant when he told him to use his charm, but he almost understood what it was when he approached a table of hooded mages and saw their gazes. They measured him from top to bottom and looked at him with a mixture of contempt and anger, which made him change direction immediately. On the other hand, when Andrew turned, his eyes found another table. At this table there were two women, and they started whispering to each other while looking at him. In this way, Andrew finally understood.
'Damn, Kaizen, I have a girlfriend...' thought Andrew.
Even though he was hesitant to use his charm like that, he offered them a more restrained smile and approached.
"Those guys over there are scary," he commented.
"Don't worry about it, my love." One of them said.
The other, one with blonde locks, came around the table and sat down next to Andrew. "They must be jealous of you."
Andrew wasn't a child, he knew exactly what such a direct approach meant.
'Ohho! The mages in this place are really quite... shall we say, advanced, aren't they?" thought Andrew, blushing a little.
However, unlike Andrew, when Xisrith approached that table of grumpy and discreet men, even with her more serious and direct tone, they didn't give her the stink eye, because the look on Xisrith's face was like that of a beauty. Thin and small, as many of these old men liked their women to be.
"What do you think of the Tower of Elders' recent policies? Any significant changes?" she asked, being direct. Normally she was diplomatic and being direct was a diplomatic tactic often used by women when they wanted something, and this tactic was the one the women at Andrew's table were using.
"I'm finding it interesting."
"It depends, that flight permit law is ridiculous. It's just another way for them to collect taxes."
"I completely agree. Flying on broomsticks is child's play and only for the authorities to patrol. A real wizard knows how to use magic teleportation circles."
For his part, Kaizen exchanged a few words with Orin, the tavernkeeper.
"From time to time, this town has its charms," Kaizen commented casually, as he drank some more Star Essence and looked at his friends milling around the busy tavern.
Orin, noticing the young man's wise look, replied with a more reserved expression. "Certainly, young man. Sometimes I watch from here and think that this place still has hope."
"What do you mean? Do you sometimes think it doesn't?"
"Most of the time I think so, actually. It's hard to say why, but, you know, as mages our talents are limited to our amount of mana. So, no matter how hard I train and how talented I am with my mana refining, if that son of a bitch teenage noble mage fights me, I'm going to lose. The hierarchy of this mana-
based society borders on the ridiculous."
Kaizen smiled, agreeing with the tavernkeeper's observation. He raised his glass of Star Essence, the effervescent drink reflecting the varied bright colors."You're right, Orin. Sometimes the social structure of this place seems to be so rooted in inequality. We mages should be united, not divided by unfair hierarchies."
The tavernkeeper sighed, picking up a cloth to wipe down the counter as he looked around the tavern full of customers. "Yes, young man. And while we are here, making do with the simple amusements that life offers us, like this cheap Star Essence, in a cramped place, the rich are now upstairs, in the noble district, throwing yet another lavish party in their palaces."
Kaizen stopped sipping his drink on the spot, realizing that he had got onto an interesting subject.
"You know, young man, things weren't always like this, back in the day..."
"Wait, did you say something about the rich throwing a party?"
The tavernkeeper looked confused and then looked around, as if he feared being overheard by unwanted people. Then he leaned forward, whispering confidentially. "Yes, not everyone knows, but there's a big party going on in the noble district today. It seems they're deciding something important."
Kaizen's eyes lit up with intrigue. "A party, right?" Kaizen pondered an idea for a moment, knowing that infiltrating such a party would be risky, but he knew that this was a great opportunity to get the mark that led to the Citadel of the Magi. "That's great news, it's a shame most people don't know about it. It would be a great opportunity to shake up this society."
The tavernkeeper sighed again. "That's true, young man. But, you know, since the rebel Adohorn left, the politics of the nobles has become beyond our grasp. But maybe one day we'll understand what they get up to up there on their golden thrones."
Kaizen stood up, extending his hand to the tavernkeeper. "Anyway, thanks for the chat, Orin, now I have to go."
Orin was a little confused by the sudden end to the conversation, but nodded and returned the greeting.