07-10-2014, 06:28 PM
In his periphery Tony saw Elias hesitate and look back towards the Chancellor. He did not fault the man his feelings, but if he wanted to pursue the objective to the end, it was something he would need to come to terms with. "There is no shame in regret, Elias."
He decided to talk about himself, rather than the man directly. "I failed and for that I am sorry for the Chancellor. Sometimes we must take chances to achieve our goals. Something I am sure you are already acquainted with."
Tony led them back through the front entrance, explaning as he was wont to do. "Best be seen exiting the way we came. If anyone saw us go in, sneaking out would look suspicious."
A brief scan of the area revealed no onlookers, only the occasional student or Professor going about their day as usual in the distance. It seemed like it was a good thing the Chancellor's precinct was not frequented often these days.
Tony turned to face Elias, who seemed to be seraching the area laid out on the piece of paper. "Any luck?"
Elias shook his head in the negative, seeming frustrated. Perhaps he thought Tony had acted to quickly with the Chancellor. Well, he would have to deal with it. It was in the best interests of the man, although he doubted that telling Elias that would lessen the frustration.
Tony gleaned somewhat of an understanding of Elias. He had felt it himself before. The man's attire and attitude was likely far less a statement of rebellious impetuosity than it was a calculated decision. The world he knew had turned it's back on him - just as it had on Tony - and he had found a solution. Or Tony was completely wrong, but did not think so. He had experienced a decade of change in himself and seeing it through others like him. He knew what it could do to men and women, Elias' disposition was far from the worst he had known.
"Then we must regroup. I shall take you to my home to meet others like us. If these people are truly that dangerous, we will need their help."
Hours later Tony introduced Elias to the men he had gathered in the apartment Claire was forced to carry him to. Thought of the fiery young woman made him smile and he made a mental note to check on her when he could.
"This is Elias Donovan, he is one of us."
Tony said with an unusual bluntness. It was not necessary to cajole these men. They all nodded , they all understood what it meant. "He needs our help, and we shall give it to him."
Again the four men nodded. It had been the same with each of them, they would not hesitate. "Now introduce yourselves!" he ended with a cheerful smile.
First among them was Veso Yashliv, a bald man in his late twenties who had become something akin to Tony's second in command. The other men looked up to him and his level head made him a fast learner. He was already as powerful as Tony was, and he suspected the man could go further, if not as far as Michael. He took Elias' hand in a firm grip with a steady gaze. " A pleasure to meet you, I am Veso Yashliv."
Next was a stork of a man, little more than a boy despite his 24 years. He gave Elias a confident grin. "Always ready to help out a fellow magician. Hans Sherroer at your service."
He finished with a flourish of power induced glamour.
"I am Dan,"
the quiet dark-skinned man said with a flash of white teeth. His accent suggested African decent but he kept his past close to his chest. He was not particularly outstanding, but he listened and took his training extremely seriously.
Last of all came the towering figure of Yuri Schaklinov whose scarred face belied a more temperate nature. His face was not the worst of his scars. "My name is Yuri, I will do what I can."
He decided to talk about himself, rather than the man directly. "I failed and for that I am sorry for the Chancellor. Sometimes we must take chances to achieve our goals. Something I am sure you are already acquainted with."
Tony led them back through the front entrance, explaning as he was wont to do. "Best be seen exiting the way we came. If anyone saw us go in, sneaking out would look suspicious."
A brief scan of the area revealed no onlookers, only the occasional student or Professor going about their day as usual in the distance. It seemed like it was a good thing the Chancellor's precinct was not frequented often these days.
Tony turned to face Elias, who seemed to be seraching the area laid out on the piece of paper. "Any luck?"
Elias shook his head in the negative, seeming frustrated. Perhaps he thought Tony had acted to quickly with the Chancellor. Well, he would have to deal with it. It was in the best interests of the man, although he doubted that telling Elias that would lessen the frustration.
Tony gleaned somewhat of an understanding of Elias. He had felt it himself before. The man's attire and attitude was likely far less a statement of rebellious impetuosity than it was a calculated decision. The world he knew had turned it's back on him - just as it had on Tony - and he had found a solution. Or Tony was completely wrong, but did not think so. He had experienced a decade of change in himself and seeing it through others like him. He knew what it could do to men and women, Elias' disposition was far from the worst he had known.
"Then we must regroup. I shall take you to my home to meet others like us. If these people are truly that dangerous, we will need their help."
Hours later Tony introduced Elias to the men he had gathered in the apartment Claire was forced to carry him to. Thought of the fiery young woman made him smile and he made a mental note to check on her when he could.
"This is Elias Donovan, he is one of us."
Tony said with an unusual bluntness. It was not necessary to cajole these men. They all nodded , they all understood what it meant. "He needs our help, and we shall give it to him."
Again the four men nodded. It had been the same with each of them, they would not hesitate. "Now introduce yourselves!" he ended with a cheerful smile.
First among them was Veso Yashliv, a bald man in his late twenties who had become something akin to Tony's second in command. The other men looked up to him and his level head made him a fast learner. He was already as powerful as Tony was, and he suspected the man could go further, if not as far as Michael. He took Elias' hand in a firm grip with a steady gaze. " A pleasure to meet you, I am Veso Yashliv."
Next was a stork of a man, little more than a boy despite his 24 years. He gave Elias a confident grin. "Always ready to help out a fellow magician. Hans Sherroer at your service."
He finished with a flourish of power induced glamour.
"I am Dan,"
the quiet dark-skinned man said with a flash of white teeth. His accent suggested African decent but he kept his past close to his chest. He was not particularly outstanding, but he listened and took his training extremely seriously.
Last of all came the towering figure of Yuri Schaklinov whose scarred face belied a more temperate nature. His face was not the worst of his scars. "My name is Yuri, I will do what I can."