He Who Fights with Monsters, #1
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon
Contents
49. A Voice From Home
Overview
Rufus uses a high-grade Magic Society speaking chamber to confront his father about spying, pitch an academy graduate station with the Gellers, and learn Emir will be delayed for months. Accepting the delay, Rufus returns to the team and pushes to give Jason a rare martial arts skill book, but only after a preparedness test.
Summary
Rufus visits the Magic Society’s luxurious speaking chambers, guided by deputy director Pochard Finn, and initiates a high-quality water-projection call with his father, Gabriel Remore. He confronts Gabriel over secretly monitoring him; Gabriel admits it, citing safety concerns. They discuss Jason: Gabriel’s outworlder framing (die immediately vs. thrive) clashes with Jason’s paradoxical survival.
Rufus then pitches an academy initiative: establishing a graduate station in Greenstone in partnership with the Geller family, leveraging real-world experience to mature new adventurers. Gabriel agrees to raise it with the family and schedule weekly coordination meetings, positioning Rufus as the local lead.
When Rufus asks about Emir’s arrival, Gabriel reveals a months-long delay due to a promising lead in the Godspear Islands and ongoing obligations, effectively extending Rufus’s time in Greenstone. Resolved, Rufus ends the call.
Rufus storms into Jory’s courtyard where Jason meditates, Farrah reads, and Gary cooks. Citing the delay, Rufus demands “the book book” recovered from under the lake. Despite prior plans to give it to Emir, he argues the contract never specified the book and time has changed priorities.
Farrah vents about Emir chasing Mirabelle’s dubious lead in the Godspear Islands, insisting their site is correct. She summons her stone chest and produces a massive, ominous tome marked with crossed scythes over a skull. Rufus declares it his promised gift to Jason: a powerful martial arts skill book. However, he insists Jason cannot use it until he passes a readiness test.
Who Appears
- Rufus RemoreCalls his father, proposes an academy-Geller graduate station, learns Emir’s delay, and moves to gift Jason a martial arts skill book pending a test.
- Gabriel RemoreRufus’s father; admits to monitoring, supports the graduate-station idea, reveals Emir’s months-long delay, sets weekly meetings.
- Jason AsanoMeditates at Jory’s; slated to receive a rare martial arts skill book but must first pass Rufus’s test.
- FarrahRetrieves the enormous skull-and-scythes tome; frustrated Emir follows Mirabelle’s lead; agrees Jason can get the book.
- GaryCooking during the discussion; concurs with gifting Jason the book; provides light commentary.
- Pochard FinnMagic Society deputy director who escorts Rufus to the premium watergreen marble speaking chamber.