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“Yes, please tell me you found something,” Mira groaned, shutting the book in her hand.
“Not directly, but in research, when we’re stuck, we often change perspective. It’s an ancient artifact, so instead of thinking about Mercer, maybe we should look into Dark Magic artifacts.”
She thought back to the Relic of Death, wondering if there was a way to destroy it or if anyone had ever tried. “What if the answer isn’t in books? What if we should talk to an expert on illegal Dark Magic artifacts?”
He scoffed. “Do you happen to know one of those?”
She smiled. “Yes, I do.”
—
They left Osterbury through the southernmost magic gate and traveled through two spheres until arriving at Kadaro. The last time she had been to this sphere was during the war, when she was sent to pick up ingredients.
She stepped through the gate, and a man in a defender uniform asked her for her paperwork. When he was satisfied, he waved her through. Normally, the snowy mountaintops and the city were visible from here, but today thick fog swallowed the old city. Just a few historic buildings and thick maple trees peeked through the mist.
Rylan walked past the defender and put his papers back in his coat. Then they coin traveled to the address Tanaka had given her.
They arrived moments later in a room made entirely of black marble. It had no windows. No furniture. No light except for the small lantern in Tanaka’s hand. It would have looked like a cave were it not for its rectangular shape.
“Excuse the secrecy.” Tanaka’s voice echoed along the shiny walls. “This is where I conduct discussions with prospective clients. The room’s address is ever-changing and far away from my collection.”
“Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice,” Mira said.
“Take this as a sign of my appreciation for the Relic of Death.”
Rylan exchanged a glance with her. She would have to come up with a lie about the relic later.
Tanaka checked his gold watch. “I only have thirty minutes before my next meeting.”
“We’re here about Mercer’s amulet.”
His eyes widened. He lifted the lantern higher, and the blue brocade of his coat sparkled in the cool light. “You have it? You have the amulet?”
She shook her head.
Tanaka took a step closer. “But you know where it is?”
“I don’t. This is more a hypothetical question. For an essay we’re writing for class.”
The artifact dealer’s excitement dimmed. “I see. What is your question?”
“Is there a way to destroy it?”
Tanaka inhaled sharply. She supposed for him the mere question of destroying an invaluable artifact was sacrilegious. “Impossible. It’s infused with Dark and White Magic. The master of the amulet would have to possess both in order to destroy it.” He chuckled at the absurdity.
“Right. So in theory, if there was someone who possessed both powers, how would they destroy it?”
“The amulet didn’t always belong to Mercer. It had many names over the years. What many don’t know is its original name: the Andurian Flame.”
Rylan perked up. “That means an Andurian spell could destroy it.”
Tanaka nodded. “Relics from that period were always constructed with ancient spells. Many of them are powerful, but they had one major flaw: The spell to create the relics also has the power to destroy them.”
“That’s why the relic’s creators infused it with White and Dark Magic,” Rylan continued.
“Precisely.”
“What is the spell?” Mira asked.
