Elijah alerted the others about his lead on a possible other convergence.

This was good and all, but Morgana didn’t think they had time to handle the research.

She had previously told Elijah to pursue it to whatever end it would lead.

She was taking that back this time.

They barely had the resources to spare on that thing.

The scope was far beyond what she originally expected.

Elijah did continue on. He just wasn’t privy to all the council’s resources.

Morgana was counting on it. She knew those words wouldn’t stop him. She just couldn’t spare the resources.

’I guess I’m handling this on my own then.’

He had just gotten off the call.

"When Elsa gets the scholar on our side, we may present our case to the Wise Men."

"I guess we’re just going to count on her before we can proceed," he said.

Elsa had finally arrived at the Library of Valentine.

He was a scholar who held immense political power thanks to his vast contributions to society.

"This will be my first time in one of these Wiz libraries," Elsa said as she walked in.

She had to navigate quickly. She knew she wasn’t actually there for books or knowledge. She sought a scholar. She needed Valentine.

She reached out to the receptionist at the front desk.

"How may I help you, madam?" the receptionist asked.

"Well, this is going to sound strange, but I need to speak to the Wiz," she replied.

The receptionist looked up at her.

"Excuse me, madam. I didn’t quite get that," she responded.

"Well, I need to speak to Val," Elsa repeated.

"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist followed up.

"Well, it’s not that I do," she replied.

"Well, I can’t help you, madam."

This was the reply she got.

"I don’t usually do this, I promise," Elsa said as she reached into her purse and pulled out her mage license.

"Look here. I’m a member of the Mage Council. Tell him I need to speak to him," she said.

The receptionist, now realizing who she was speaking to, straightened up.

"Well, madam, we’ll need to verify that license."

"You’re going to have to place it on the scanner. Let’s just be sure it’s not a fake."

"A fake? No, no, it’s not."

She handed it over for verification.

Licenses were usually verified using a special type of mana meter.

Elsa continued.

"It’s whatever, really. I mean, it’s not like I’m one of the more popular mages on the council. It’s whatever."

"I’m actually surprised you didn’t notice me at first glance. I get noticed all the time, so what’s up with that?"

A ping was heard.

The license was verified.

Everything she said received no response.

The receptionist simply typed some digits into the phone beside her desk.

The roof began unfolding tile by tile.

"Here," she said as she returned the card.

"Sorry for the delay. The Wiz will see you now."

She pointed upward.

Elsa summoned her staff to fly.

The ceiling only revealed they were multiple meters away from the scholar’s office.

She leaped onto her staff.

Despite the distance, Elsa made it there in mere seconds.

She was on the top floor.

The ceiling linked all the way up to the top floor’s base. The hole she came through closed up, folding into itself this time.

"I’m not quite fond of you. Elsa, was it?" Valentine said.

He was seated with his back facing Elsa, toward the wall.

"Okay. So you know me at least."

"Why wouldn’t I? Morgana dear and I talk about everything, and in case you need to know, we talk about everyone as well," he said.

"Well, we need your help. Will you help us?" she asked.

"No."

Simply put, no.

"I will not help you."

Valentine gave his answer immediately.

"Why not? You help Morgana all the time. What’s the difference this time?" Elsa asked.

"Well, you said, ’We need your help,’" Valentine quoted.

"’We.’ You said ’we,’" he added.

"What was I supposed to say? By ’we,’ I didn’t just mean the council. At this point, it may be the whole world," she clarified.

"Yeah, I’m still not interested. That barely does it," he responded.

"If you’re done, then you may leave."

As he said this, the floor beneath her opened up.

Elsa fell a couple of centimeters. She didn’t fall far because she immediately summoned her staff for airborne mobility.

"Rude. I wasn’t done," she said.

"Oh, I hadn’t noticed," he responded.

’How does Morgana put up with this guy?’

’I’ve heard almost all of these scholars were douchebags. I guess it comes with the territory.’

’How does she work her way around him? He’s not that hard to crack. He can’t be.’

"Hey, what are you doing over there?" he asked.

"Are you thinking of a way to get me on your side or something? Like you’re actually putting thought into it."

"Wow. I’m surprised."

"You don’t have to stress yourself, love. You can just ask what I want, and I’ll do whatever you want should you—"

Elsa cut him off.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Now you’re talking my language."

"Transactional. Just the way Morgana and I do it," he said.

"I don’t quite follow," she responded.

"You’re no kid. I’m sure you got the implication."

’Wait. So what? Morgana’s been laying with this guy?’

’Morgana? I thought they’d already broken up.’

’I can’t believe it.’

"Well, if what you want is for me to sleep with you, then I can’t. Anything else?"

"Eww," Valentine simply said.

"I don’t want you. Why would I want you?"

"I’ll do it if I get one more from Morgana."

’Shit.’

’How do I guarantee something like that?’

"You’re not even asking the impossible of me," she said.

"And you are?"

"You want me to represent you against the Circle of Merlin."

"You want me to plaster my face around the case of the decade."

"This could very much result in a war."

"Well, don’t you?"

"Let me ask you something then."

"On a scale of one to ten, whose job seems more impossible?"

"Now, can you do what I need you to, love?"

Elsa was shocked.

She stammered.

She wasn’t really going to say anything.

’I never told him about any of that.’

"Now you can’t speak."

"You’re no different from the others. I’m guessing you’re shocked."

"Whatever."

He stood up and turned his chair.

He walked up to her.

They were now face to face.

"I’m a Wiz, after all."

"I’m a Wiz."

"Keep up, love."

He said this as he walked toward his vast bookshelves.

"So what are you doing? Where are you going?" she asked.

He picked up a book.

He opened to a page he had bookmarked earlier.

"What does it look like?"

"I’m preparing my case."

"We’re appearing before the Wise Men after all."