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the Project	By : theLureln Category: +M through R > Magic: The Gathering Views: 11901 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Magic the Gathering characters or settings, anything else is mine. This story is not being written for profit.

Chapter List
- 1-the Project
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-10
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
- 27-27
- 28-28
- 29-29
- 30-30
- 31-31
- 32-32
- 33-33
- 34-34
- 35-35
- 36-36
- 37-37
- 38-38
- 39-39
- 40-40
- 41-41
- 42-42
- 43-43
- 44-44
- 45-45
- 46-46
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            In the eternity of moments following the dragon’s request, Venser nearly asked if the Dracogenius was out of his mind. However common sense prevailed and he avoided saying something that would likely get him eaten, instead blurting out, “You can’t be serious.”
            Niv-Mizzet arched a plated eyebrow at him, his expression still placid but also implacable. “Do I strike you as the sort to waste my time with a joke?”
            The man ran a hand down his face and began to dazedly pace across the wide chambers, obviously reeling with confusion. “When you said I’d owe you a favor, I had no idea it could be something like this.”
            The Firemind folded his legs beneath him to sprawl down across the decorative floor of the aerie, head cocked to one side. “Do you object to what I ask?”
            Venser snorted at him. “Of course I do.”
            The dragon slowly dragged one enormous talon across the ground, an absentminded gesture that nonetheless reeked of threat. “Why? It’s not as if you don’t already have an interest in the female.”
            The man opened his mouth to protest, then realized it was pointless because the Dracogenius already knew the truth. “That’s different,” he finally answered.
            “I don’t see how,” Niv-Mizzet chided, as gently as he ever did, the effect somewhat ruined by the enormous fangs in his great mouth. “You have feelings for her; I am simply giving you further incentive to pursue them.”
            Venser narrowed his eyes at the dragon; even though that was technically the truth he didn’t want his hand to be forced. “Why should you be interested in any of this?”
            The Firemind tried to blink innocently, but it looked ridiculous on the great reptilian visage. “I’m merely interested in the well being of my guild servant.”
            The man snorted, his suspicions mounting by the second. “Can you tell me the names of anyone else in the library that sits near Lorissa’s desk?”
            The Parun couldn’t and they both knew it. He was trying to decide if he was displeased or approving of Venser’s perceptive and difficult nature. Even though the human seemed quite scatter brained around Lorissa, it was obvious he was incredibly shrewd when not distracted. This was simply further proof in the dragon’s mind that having him bound to the guild would be beneficial. “Fine, let’s just say I have an interest in her particular well being. She has highly influential family members throughout the various guilds. And she is quite useful herself to one of my most powerful mages.”
            That was an explanation Venser could believe, although he had a feeling there was more to it. He couldn’t accuse the Dracogenius of that however; he was probably already pushing his luck in this conversation. “I’m afraid I’ll have to respectfully decline, think of something else to ask me for.”
            Any pretense of a congenial air faded from the Firemind as he slowly rose back up to his full impressive height, lowering his enormous head until it was almost level with Venser. The man swallowed nervously but refused to back down, although he was wondering how much of his power he could access and if it would be enough to keep from getting toasted.
            “I’m afraid you don’t understand boy,” the dragon rumbled, “It is not negotiable. Either you do as I ask, or any cooperation between us ends. Immediately.”
            “Why are you doing this,” Venser demanded, frustrated with the obvious threat when it wasn’t even necessary. “You know I am interested in her. Why not let things take their course?”
            “Your pace is too slow,” Niv-Mizzet replied, expression implacable.
            “Why does that matter,” he asked, and then frowned as a realization dawned. “Wait, does it have to do with the man who came to see her today?”
            The parun felt his respect for the human grow; even as his deduction was also a hindrance. “I do prefer someone more stable and predictable for her. The man who visited her is someone from her past that I unfortunately believed would be a suitable match. He was not. You, however, will do quite nicely.”
“Congratulations you have managed to compliment and insult me at once,” Venser grumbled; no one liked to be referred to as predictable.
“I didn’t realize your ego was so fragile,” the dragon snorted, stretching his great wings behind him as he settled down onto his massive hindquarters. “The fact is; the girl is under my protection. I have a vested interest in maintaining a good relationship with her family; something that presumably holds true for you as well considering how intertwined you have become in their lives. Outside of feeling rushed, I don’t see what you really have to object to.”
This was a discussion that could go in circles or end up poorly; neither option was favorable. He was certain that Niv-Mizzet was being sincere; although he doubted the Guildmaster had told him the entire truth behind his request. It was true they seemed to have the same objective in this instance and the dragon had been gracious enough to allow him the use of his library. Although now that he thought about it, that could have simply been a means of throwing the two of them together to see if they were compatible. Venser should have felt outraged by the thought, but he was actually grateful to the dragon in that regard. He would never have gotten to know Lorissa so well without being assigned to her care while he was at Nivix. He actually owed the Parun for a great deal more than he realized.
There was also the fact that if he didn’t agree to this, he would no longer be welcome at Nivix. He wouldn’t be with her every day. No more walks together in the morning and at night. No more sharing jokes about daily mishaps around the aerie. No more just being with her all the time. Right now things were so fragile, the very start of a beginning and if he didn’t see her as much it might slip through the cracks. He knew how she was about work; she had very little free time and most of that was spent with her family or sleeping. It would be too easy for them to grow apart, and he wasn’t confident anything would develop further if he wasn’t around her as much.
Especially now, with that other man reappearing in her life. He knew absolutely nothing about the guy, other than that he was possibly a Planeswalker and definitely powerful. He had also obviously hurt Lorissa and, if his behavior from their interaction in the library was any indicator, was intent on making amends. That would block any chances Venser had of being with her.
“The man that came to see her today was also going to an audience with you,” Venser remarked, eyeing the Firemind as he shifted in place again, his massive tail curling around to cover his taloned feet. “Do you know him well?”
“As well as anyone can I suppose,” the dragon’s response was evasive.
“Well enough to believe he doesn’t suit Lorissa,” the man pointed out.
“Correct,” Niv-Mizzet concurred. “Initially I had hoped they would be well matched but I am afraid he has too much on his plate to handle and very little in the way of common sense when it comes to women.”
Venser let out a long, slow breath, weighing his options. Lorissa had been shaken up by the other guy’s appearance. They were going to be meeting tomorrow night and he had no clue what the outcome of that would be. This would be a terrible time for Venser to lose his welcome at Nivix. He needed to remain near her as much as possible, so she could be reminded he was available. But he hated being manipulated in any way; and while it was his intention to pursue her on his own, he didn’t appreciate being forced into it. He teetered on the brink of indecision, pacing in front of the dragon who regarded him with a patience gained from millennia of existence.
It suddenly dawned on Venser that neither Lorissa nor the visitor had bothered to make an introduction. They’d been too caught up in their exchange to pay attention to anything else and it had been too awkward a conversation for him to join in on. “What’s his name?”
“Jace Beleren,” the Dracogenius answered, not elaborating on his position or importance in Ravnica as it was not yet common knowledge.
Venser’s body stiffened upon hearing that name and he paused in confusion. It was familiar to him and yet not. It triggered an intense reaction in his body, his pulse immediately accelerating and his mind suddenly swirling with random thoughts. Something in his deepest subconscious whispered to him that this man was an enemy; not to be trusted but to be kept at a distance to be observed and neutralized if necessary. He could feel something struggling at the back of his memory, fighting to be realized but too unfocused for recognition in his train of thought. And suddenly all he knew was that this man could never have Lorissa.
“About your request,” he grimly replied, turning to face the dragon and meet his eyes head on. “I accept.”
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