Gaia's Champion Ch. 37 - Teaser (Patreon)

“There is also a list of bookstores, much like mine that do bear investigation! I’m pretty sure ones that I’m thinking of have at least one of these books we are looking for! Possibly even two!” Valerie told them as she grabbed a pen and paper, jotting down the names of these occult bookstores.

“Well, that would certainly be a big help!” Eva commented, thinking that such knowledge should always be in the proper hands.

“Is there anything else you can think of that could help us find such books faster?” Phalmina asked, remembering that they were on a timetable.

“Hmm. There is someone who might be able to find more books for us. Hell, he might even have a few of additional tomes of the Artificier! Even if he doesn’t, he could certainly direct us to the places where they can be found!” Valerie said with a slight wince.

“Wait, wait, wait! Just who is it you are talking about Val?” Dominique questioned, looking over at her former mistress.

“You know the man. You’ve met him a few times and you know him well,” Valerie told her onetime apprentice.

“Not him!” the Egyptian woman argued.

“It has to be him! He’s the only contact I have that consistently delivers the items I need, on time!” Valerie argued.

“Who is this… him you are referring to?” Amy asked, curious about what was going on.

“This him is a contact of mine who is a fence, and a damn good one at that! He procures special items, books, artifacts, and more, all across the spectrum. Both magical and mundane, he has no issue getting his hands on them. Considering it’s how he makes his living these days, it’s not surprising that he’s been consistent with delivering what he promises,” Valerie stated.

“I would assume that what he delivers is the real McCoy?” Jason asked, making sure that Valerie wasn’t just playing up the man’s skills.

“That he does! I have no idea how he does it, but somehow, he finds a way to get his hands on what it is I’m looking for. I have yet to encounter a fake that he sold me, as everything I have is the original article,” Valerie reassured Jason.

“But you’re leaving out a few key facts, Val,” Dominique sighed, shaking her head.

“Which is what?” Sheena queried.

“The fact that this fence is a warlock, and a rather powerful one at that!” Dominique told them, raising more than a few eyebrows at this news.

“A powerful warlock? Just how powerful is he?” Phalmina asked a little worriedly.

“Powerful enough to where he was the Dark Father of his own coven! Killed quite a few people during his heyday as well! Good people who would have been a big help to us today had they survived!” Dominique told them, hoping some of the others there would see that dealing with this man was a bad idea.

“Dealing with a Dark Father?? Are you insane?!?” Darnell questioned, knowing that warlocks who held such a title were no pushovers and more dangerous than they seemed.

“Normally, I would agree with you, but not since he swore the Oath of Neutrality and Defense,” Valerie rebutted, which caused Dominique and Aaliyah to look at the woman in shock.

“Oath of Neutrality and Defense?” Luke wondered.

“An oath that is taken while standing upon a place of power, to take no sides and to stay out of the affairs of light and dark. The magic called to swear this oath is binding and holds them to neutrality for life. If they violate that oath, then their magic is stripped away and they then become normies, never to wield magic again,” Aaliyah explained.