Cairo

Darkness creeped through the closed like a slow functioning poison that office Dr. Savas used so much it was considered his house by his staff. There were no windows and only a cheep ventilation system that barely pumped any oxygen out at all. Frequent migraines and sluggish movements were a common everyday occurrence, and each time Dr. Savas cursed himself for forgetting yet again to upgrade the system. As his migraine pounded in his head, he leaned back into his chair, removing his glasses to massage the bridge of his nose. His eyes flickered closed, his head tilting towards the dim light on his desk. A knock on the door startled him awake, but he paid no no mind to it has he placed his glasses back on his face. The door cracked open as his assistant walked in with an stuffed paper envelope in her hand.

"This is from your acquaintance in the Fire Mages." She placed the document on his desk before turning around.

"What's with that look?" Dr. Savas asked.

"I don't regard him well," she said, folding her arms. Her nose crinkled.  "I'm aware you both fare amicably with each other, but I've seen how he treats people and the kinds of things he sends you. He's not someone you'd keep around for self-betterment purposes."

"He's a fine young man, and this is a part of my job. These are things the Government has to deal with."

"The Government, Su!" Her voice raised a notch as she swatted her hands down to her sides. "You no longer work for them. Besides working here, there should be no interactions. What you're doing secretly is a breach of your retirement agreement and the confidentiality your acquaintance should be keeping for the Government. It's been years already, and it's my opinion that you should stop this before your nose gets stuck in something it shouldn't belong in. Let bygones be bygones and stop this."

"Then I'm glad your opinion doesn't dominate my life," Dr. Savas snapped, slamming his hand on top of the envelope on his desk.

The woman took a step back, her chest expanding as she took in a large breath. Her eyes sparkled in the dim lit room. She turned for the door, but her hand was grabbed by Dr. Savas.

"I didn't mean it like that," he whispered. "I've been in a mood lately, you know that. These things just make me tense. There's a lot of pressure, and with the boy out there... my mind is running in many directions at once. Forgive me."

She sighed, her body relaxing as he stroked his cheek. "He said it was top classified information, and that it'd be wise look at it before someone realized he gave it to you."

"Every time he sends me something, it's the same thing," Dr. Savas said, picking up the envelope. "The Government is in shambles, the Fire Mages are pitted against one another. I don't know what Xiucolat's trying to accomplish keeping information from even the Fire Mages, but it's destroying this country."

"Why do you say that?"

"That boy out there—even the others—I've hinted to about some of the things I know, but they didn't so much as bat an eyelash at me. I know Coaltirce is keeping secrets from everyone except for Aidan, but Aidan is keeping secrets from Xiucolat..." He shook his head as he opened the envelope, pulling out a wad of papers he started to barely glance over. "You're right. I shouldn't involve myself with them anymore. These things might end up the death of me one of these days."

"You've never stopped," she said, "and I know you never will. It's pitiable. You're greedy in your pursuit of knowledge, Su. It's one of the things I hate about you."

"I wonder why Aidan sends these things to me," he mused.

"I have a feeling you know exactly why."

The words slid through his ears like grease, his mind reeling like gears of clockwork as his eyes scanned each word written. She sighed, knowing that whatever she said wouldn't be heard. Closing the door as quietly as she could, she left him to his reading, but it was half an hour later that she came running back through the doors.