Walking around without any kind of pain in his chest was a novel experience, as surprising as that might sound. Oh sure, he had experienced worse things from those infernal Energy chains that bound the wisps, but never for long and he had always had Meditation to soothe him soon afterward. The opening of his Well had taken a long time— forty-five days when all were accounted for.
Well, forty-six if I count tomorrow, Tercius thought.
The days had been spent with a strict policy of never practicing spells or using skills, a very strict diet, and a lot of repetitive, very painful, sessions of targeted development. He could have taken medicine to numb the pain any time he wanted, to rest, but that would put him under for hours. When nights came and he wanted to rest, the medicine he had been given to drink would make him woozy within minutes.
Two days ago, all of that had stopped. Two days ago he had expanded his Well enough, metaphysically, for the Mistress to officially proclaim him Neophyte Tercius, in front of a dinner table full of masked faces. During that dinner, Tercius had realized that with a mask on, a grimace seemed almost a tight smile and he had wondered if that was the true reason for the infernal masks. The only time Tercius was allowed to take off the bloody thing was in his room, in the examination room, and the single's baths. Even when he had gone to the bloody sauna, he had been obliged to wear the dark headpiece until the fog had been thick enough to obscure the view of others present.
The late hours of the day were almost upon him and it was the first evening in a long while which he wouldn't use for reading one of Master Ilio's tomes on Magik, under orb-light. Tercius had one more night to spend under this roof and when morning inevitably arrived, he would depart this part of his journey. But before that happened he had one more obligation, or so he was told.
A party.
The Mistress was known to throw one every few days, a week at longest. He had witnessed a dozen parties in his stay in the House and they reminded him of parties he had seen during his college days.
Well, there are similarities… certainly, Tercius grudgingly shrugged his finely dressed shoulders. But I never saw a party end in an orgy before… well… maybe I was excluded from that part of a party… just like I am now…
Meditation was coming in handy, while he prepared. Any time nervousness about this party appeared, he briefly flashed the skill and squashed it down. Even though he had resolved to stop relying on skills for everything, now was not the time to start. Millie and Sior had offered to help him bathe and dress, like every day since they were assigned to him— and just like every time they asked, he had declined.
As he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he noted that a time for a haircut was to be placed atop the list of things to do ASAP. The dark locks of hair had covered half of his forehead, and he had to use some kind of gel-like paste that Sior brought over to tame everything properly. At least I hope it's meant for this… it sure smells nice…
Sior and Millie had prepared a matching set in dark blue— pants, a shirt, a vest, and even shoes, all in his size— and he just put it all on. With the black mask on, he looked… mysterious. He liked it. The mask… it gave him something… he wasn’t quite sure what exactly… but it felt great. For a moment, at least.
He used Meditation to erase that feeling.
Tercius felt that it was getting hot inside of his clothes and his nerves were the most likely cause. With deep breaths, he prepared himself to step out of the room, only to stop in his tracks. On the floor in front of him, with two front legs placed atop his new shoe, was Amber. He had almost knocked her off.
“What is it?” Tercius asked, gazing into her dark gold eyes.
The Familiar Bond transferred her intention and Tercius took a moment to parse through the sensations. There was a feeling of … something… then of coldness and then warmth flooded in, a sensation of using his nails to grab onto a cloth… He felt a cold sensation on his neck, something smooth…
Tercius was getting better at interpreting her intentions through the bond, and if he was not mistaken she was getting better at sending them. Tercius took a moment to interpret the jumbled mess of everything that came his way. I won't stay alone! It’s cold being alone! We go together! Together we stay warm! Pick me up and place me on your shoulder!
He had indeed intended to leave her in his room, but now that was not an option. She was usually very obedient, but only when she had someone with her. Her tantrums over being left alone involved a lot of urine, probably because she knew how much it bothered him.
He picked her up and let her hold onto his brand new vest, her nails digging in deep. “There! Happy now?”
She pushed her small head against his neck, a satisfied rumble rising from within her. Warmth flooded the bond, and Tercius relaxed. It was truly strange. On one hand, he was angry that she was using his aversions to coerce him, yet even aware of that, he wasn't able to stay angry at her for long. Well, angry or not, this kind of blackmail will have to stop. Hmm… should I somehow get over my aversion, or train her to stop? Maybe both? Maybe I should reciprocate? Next time she pisses on my bed, over being left alone for a little while, I should piss on hers… I can't imagine that something like that is pleasant for a sensitive nose…
Letting it go, for now, he stepped out of his sound-proofed room and locked the door behind him.
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A deep booming sound echoed off the walls, passing through Tercius and leaving him tingling. Amber hissed but remained as she was. Tercius enjoyed the primal beats of the drums as he made his way to the party area. Bards were regular visitors at the House, even those who developed their Wells long ago. Drums, mostly, but also lutes, pipes, and more, the live music filled the walls of the House.
He spent some twenty-odd minutes, browsing the food-filled tables feeding both himself and Amber before the bulk of the guests arrived. Once people started appearing Tercius went up a floor and started observing from his higher vantage point. The band of mage musicians started playing proper songs, while their colleagues, the mage dancers, twirled around the room as they entertained the guests.
The Dancers used Ruces mixed in with some Ruges, so technically they were more orthodox than the Bards, who didn’t even use Magik to cast their spells, yet both were very respected branches of magi with long traditions. Most of both groups seem like pleasant individuals, which is likely a plus for an event like this.
The dancers were a very diverse group to behold, Tercius noted as he placed his elbows on the banister. A young woman was jumping about, with the long bright yellow dress that went from her hips and covered her legs completely. A top of similar color covered her chest, leaving her stomach and most of her back completely exposed. The dress combined with her skin color, which was just a bit darker than Tercius's own, and her black hair made him identify her as a Northern Sogean.
On the other hand, there was a young man, pale as the snow that had enveloped the area months ago, that had a brown leather jacket and pants with some kind of painted markings over his torso, and feathers were woven into his blonde hair. Just the pale skin and blonde hair marked him full-blood Nogean.
The whole group was made up of very distinctive individuals, with separations that were so easy to observe, yet all of them played the same dance. They all jumped together and twirled when the music was just right.
“Enjoying yourself?” a female voice said to his left. Tercius threw a quick glance around and realized that she was clearly speaking to him, as there was no one else present.
A mask hid her face and a dark sparkling cloak covered her hair, but he spotted a curl of orange in there. Green eyes and very red lips smiled at him.
“I’m underage, lady,” he said and returned his gaze to the show that went on downstairs. It happened from time to time that new arrivals approached him, before they had a chance to learn of his physical age. By now, it didn’t even phase him that much. So far, everyone had left after he mentioned the word ‘underage’, as if a pack of those demons were chasing after them.
“Yes, I know,” the woman said and came to stand near him.
“... oh …” For a moment his brain short circuited. Here was someone who was obviously content to ignore the law! When he composed himself, only one question remained, How do I get out of this? He had given some thought about what he would do in a situation like this and came up with a few good ones. “... maybe in four cycles we can talk about it, but right now I’m not comfortable with something like that…”
“What?” The woman said, confused. “Comfortable? Four cycles? It will be too late then---”
“Late?" Tercius frowned. Is she saying that fifteen is too old for her? Hells… Maybe… maybe I'm just imagining it?
"Quite late. How about we find a quiet place to talk?"
Even if he was imagining it, the woman gave him the creeps. This was something that went well beyond his comfort zone, he could just feel it. Tercius headed towards the stairs. "Good evening to you, lady,”
“Wait a moment, I need—” the woman said loudly, as she followed after him, but Tercius interrupted her.
"Lady..." Tercius shook his head, careful of Amber on his shoulder. “I don't need to know what you need. Leave me alone…"
He walked down the stairs with rapid steps and the bloody woman still went after him! Thankfully, the music was loud enough to suffocate her voice as soon as he gained a few meters of distance. There was a crowd around the buffet table and he made use of them to make himself scarce. He entered into their fold on one end and went for the next room. Hells, that was… something else… Tercius thought. Should I warn someone? Why do I feel like I should?
Tercius made his way outside, where the darkness of the encroaching was repelled by burning torches. Walking around the edges of the dark gardens, bypassing guests that had already started the afterparty, he slowly made his way around the mansion.
There was another entrance for servants on the back where he could--- the woman was waiting for him in front of the door where he planned to reenter. The mask covered most of her face, but the green eyes, the red mouth, her bronze skin, and dress confirmed it.
A long nasal exhale came from the woman and suddenly all of the sounds disappeared. The music and the sounds of conversation that went on just behind the woman, stopped. Tercius’ mind tingled with recognition and he realized that the woman had done something similar like Mistress Helfira did that day in the Court. No one could hear them and they couldn't hear anyone. Tercius raised his hands forward. What is going on? He could slip past her, maybe even push her away if he ran really fast—
“Now, then.” the woman said, as she raised her amulet towards him. Suddenly, it flashed. Before his eyes the dark metal amulet warped; a circle with a triangular indent melted and lost color quickly becoming a yellowish white triangle with a red tip. “I need to talk to you. Now.”
***
As he followed after the perverted woman— no! The Head Archivist!— Tercius felt numb, mostly, thanks to the occasional Meditation flash.
It was clear to him why she came for him. Although almost fifty days went by since that night at Seliana's went by, and not one of those days had gone by without at least a few thoughts that drifted to that topic. Because he couldn't actually do anything about it at the moment, he had tried to steer clear of it. Still, a few good ideas about how to initiate the contact and what to do after the contact was initiated had come across his mind, but now all of that fell away.
She had come for him.
I can work with this… Tercius thought as he glanced at the woman's back. But… Can I play a convincing kid now?
A deep breath later and he was as ready as he could be for something like this.
They made their way in silence to the underground part of the mansion and found a seat for themselves in a small well-furnished room. The woman sat on one leather couch and he made his way to the other. There was a plush carpet filled with geometric patterns between them, some three meters across.
"First of all, I believe introductions are in order," the woman said and reached behind her head to remove the dark sparkling hood, and she allowed spring-like orange hair to curl around her masked head. She untied the mask and revealed a face of a woman in her early forties. "My official title is the Second Chair of the Head Archivists, but you can call me Mistress Kalina."
Tercius was honestly surprised and more than a little confused at what he saw. There were things in this picture that somehow didn't fit, and it kept scratching at him. She looks so… young… Suddenly, it dawned on him, She had called Mistress Helfira 'little'.
He somehow doubted that this Head Archivist had called Mistress Helfira 'little' based on her height. Although Mistress Helfira looked young enough to be placed in her mid-sixties, she was a woman in her late seventies, a few cycles short of eighty. It had sounded like a term of endearment, to his ear, and not a jab at Mistress Helfira's height.
He realized that the silence had stretched and his discourtesy had shown itself. Mistress Dea would be so disappointed...
He got up, undid the knot that kept his mask and exposed his face. Placing his open palm over his heart, he made a small incline from the neck. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mistress. My name is Tercius,"
"Now then. You and I have met once before if you recall? Although I did have my robes back then, didn't I?" The woman said with a smile.
Tercius nodded.