"Of all the beasts that roam the realms, none are more treacherous nor perilous to encounter than the noble's son, for he wears the mask of civility while his fangs thirst for blood."
Rean the Cultivator in his bestselling pamphlet, Cheap Advice.
2736 MA.
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4522 MA
Governor’s Mansion, Rovos, Kartas
Vyas tensed as the insult cut through the air, his body stiffening and his eyes narrowing. His head snapped in the direction of the affront, the fire in his chest fueling his words. "And just who do you think you are?" he demanded, his voice dangerously low and sharp.
The young man sneered, an air of arrogance emanating from his every movement. His deep black robe seemed to drink in the surrounding light, casting an ominous shadow around him. The haughty tilt of his chin and the cold, disdainful look in his eyes further accentuated his contempt for those around him. "I am Edroc Alvis, a member from one of the most esteemed families in the Vasco Kingdom. That you couldn’t recognize my visage on sight merely exposes your ignorance. No wonder my refined tastes are beyond the comprehension of simpletons such as yourselves."
Maya, sensing Vyas' growing anger, placed a calming hand on his arm. "Vyas, don't let him get to you. It's not worth it."
Vyas took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "You're right, Maya. It's not worth our time."
Lord Edric scoffed, his voice dripping with condescension. "How quaint. The little country bumpkins know when to back down. Do yourselves a favor and return to the backwoods where you belong."
Maya's patience finally snapped, and she turned to face Lord Edric, her eyes blazing with fury, mouth ready to spew vitriol.
But before Maya could say anything, the entire gala came to a pause. The chatter and laughter ceased as everyone's attention shifted towards the stage. The host of the event, Governor Palai, dressed in the all-black robes formal in the Vasco Kingdom, cleared his throat and looked out at the audience with a practiced smile.
As Governor Palai took to the stage, his eyes scanned the room, making sure to establish eye contact with as many attendees as possible. His warm, charismatic smile drew everyone's focus towards him, while his confident posture and gestures conveyed a sense of authority.
"Esteemed guests, cultivators, and mages," he began, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture. "I am delighted to welcome you all to Rovos, a shining jewel of our great Vasco Kingdom. It is truly an honor to stand before such a diverse gathering of brilliant minds and talents."
As he spoke, Vyas could feel something slightly off about his words, a sense of carefully crafted charm that left an uneasy feeling in his mind. However, he couldn't help but be taken by the Governor’s mannerisms, watching as he smoothly transitioned between gestures, leaning in to emphasize a point, or raising an eyebrow in mock disbelief.
"Tonight, we gather to celebrate the arrival of those who have chosen to spend the next few years in our magnificent nation. I have no doubt that you will learn to love this land just as much as I do," Governor Palai said, his voice rising in passion as he gestured towards the audience, as if to include them in the embrace of his love for the kingdom.
In response to his enthusiasm, a murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, while others exchanged glances, contemplating the sincerity of his words.
"In Rovos, you will find a city like no other, where the old and the new coexist in perfect harmony. Our proud history and the dawn of industrialization have woven together to create a prosperous present and a promising future."
He paused for a moment, allowing the audience to soak in his words. Vyas was growingly impressed in watching the man speak. He really knew how to give a speech. Vyas was especially taken with his careful construction of words and a mastery of knowing when to let a moment hang.
"As you embark on your journey at the Auberon Institute, let LJKSDFJKL:DSJ:L our culture and the cutting-edge advancements in our society inspire you to reach new heights. Carry on the great traditions of our esteemed institution, and together, we shall witness the birth of a new generation of leaders and visionaries."
Governor Palai's expression grew more serious as he continued, his hands clasped in front of him, conveying the gravity of his words. "However, let us not forget that with such a diverse group of individuals from far and wide, cultural differences are to be expected, and grudges may arise. I must remind you all that in Vasco, it is not appropriate to fight on streets or in bars. If conflict is unavoidable, I urge you to take your grievances to an arena and resolve them with honor."
He locked eyes with various members of the audience, his gaze firm yet persuasive. "Remember, we are all united in our pursuit of knowledge and excellence. Let us set aside our differences, and work together to achieve greatness."
As his speech concluded, Governor Palai raised his glass in a toast, his voice ringing with conviction. "To the future cultivators and mages of the Auberon Institute, may you find success, camaraderie, and unwavering determination in our glorious Vasco Kingdom!"
The room erupted in applause, the guests raising their own glasses in agreement. The lively atmosphere of the gala resumed, and the string quartet began to play once more, filling the air with enchanting melodies.
The applause from Governor Palai's speech gradually died down, and the lively atmosphere of the gala resumed. Vyas scanned the room, relieved to find that Lord Edric was nowhere in sight. Maya, on the other hand, still had a fire in her eyes as she searched for him, clearly disappointed she hadn't been able to give him a piece of her mind.
Vyas placed a hand on Maya's shoulder, gently urging her to let go of her anger. "Let's not waste our time on him. There are so many other interesting people here to talk to."
Maya sighed, her shoulders dropping as she conceded. "You're right, Vyas. I just can't stand people like him."
Their conversation was interrupted as they bumped into the group of friends Vyas had met in chapter five. "Hey, Vyas!" called Ami, her eyes bright with excitement. "Fancy meeting you here!"
Vyas grinned, motioning for Maya to join them. "Maya, these are people I met while watching your takedown of the golem: Ami, Henri, Ollo, and Deriana."
Maya smiled as she greeted them. "It's nice to meet you all!"
Ami clapped her hands together, her eyes wide with awe. "Your performance was incredible. Watching the way you demolished that golem was masterful!"
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Maya beamed at the praise. Henri, being a cultivator himself, understood the difficulty of her accomplishment and was effusive with his compliments. "Seriously, to destroy a golem's head with just your fists? That's an incredible feat. I can hardly believe I witnessed it."
The conversation shifted as Vyas and Maya shared their thoughts on the gala. "Tonight’s been amazing," Vyas remarked, looking around at the lavish decorations. "Just so many new experiences – the instruments being played, the food, the spectacle of it all."
Ollo nodded eagerly, adding, "The food has been fantastic. I'd love to give my compliments to the chef, but," he gestured to the massive tables filled with food, "there must have been at least a dozen different artists at work tonight."
Henri spoke with his own observation. "For me, it's the people who have been the most interesting. Being nobility, I've attended countless galas and balls. But few have been as lively as this one, with people from all over the continent. I've had such intriguing conversations tonight."
Ami agreed, her eyes animated as she told her friends about a fascinating encounter she'd had."You won't believe it, but earlier, I met this towering man with just this wild, thick hair. I’ve never seen a man with hair that long, so I struck up a conversation. Turned out he was from a tribe that lives deep in the Lyvan desert. It was incredible listening to his stories and learning about his culture."
Deriana couldn't resist teasing Ami, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "Really, Ami? Or were you just interested in spending more time with the mysterious, exotic man?"
Ami blushed, but before she could protest, Maya jumped in, a mischievous grin on her face. "Speaking of interesting encounters, Vyas here had a similar situation with a woman with short brown hair. He just couldn't help himself from getting to know her better."
Vyas could only eke out a groan in frustration.
Ami, misinterpreting his reaction and thinking she had found a kindred spirit, placed a supportive hand on Vyas' shoulder. "It's okay, Vyas. Seems like we both have a weakness for charming strangers."
The group laughed, with Vyas rolling his eyes but unable to suppress a chuckle. "That's one way to put it, I suppose."
Deriana suddenly stiffened, her eyes fixed on something across the room. "Excuse me," she said, giving her friends a tight smile. "I just saw someone who needs a bit of help. I'll be right back."
The group continued to chat, the conversation flowing easily as they shared stories and experiences from their lives. At one point, Vyas sighed, his expression turning thoughtful.
"You know, one thing that's been incredibly difficult for us is trying to figure out suitable patrons," he confessed, his voice tinged with frustration.
Maya added, "Yeah. I was hoping me and Vyas could spend the month before the start of the term traveling, but it looks like the entire time is going to be filled with us trying to choose patrons. I didn’t realize just how much work it would be."
Ollo and the others exchanged glances, realizing that their own backgrounds afforded them the luxury of not having to worry about securing a patron. Still they empathized with their struggles, their expressions filled with understanding.
Henri nodded, "I can imagine how much work it must be. It's not something we've had to worry about, but we know just how important it is."
Ami, perked up with an idea. "Hey, why don't we all meet up for lunch tomorrow? We've been living in the city for years and attended the Academy. A couple of us even have family that rubs shoulders with some of the city’s elite, so we might be able to offer some advice or insights about some of the people who’re interested in you two."
Maya's face brightened at the suggestion, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "That would be brilliant!"
Just as Maya was about to continue the conversation, a loud commotion suddenly erupted from the group Deriana had approached earlier. The group turned in unison, their eyes wide with curiosity and concern as they tried to make sense of the disturbance.
Maya’s eyes widened, concern obvious on her face. "What's going on? Is someone in trouble?"
Henri sighed, glancing in the direction Deriana had gone. "Deriana spotted a childhood friend of hers and went to see how he’s doing. He’s part of Vasco nobility and his family got tangled up in a political scandal recently, and it's made life pretty difficult for him."
Ollo decided to elaborate, "Yeah, the whole situation has been pretty messy. His parents are nobility, and apparently they've been accused of potentially mismanaging some of the crown’s money. It's been the talk of the town."
Ami shook her head sadly. "I can't imagine what he must be going through. It's bad enough to have your family dragged through the mud, but to have your friends distance themselves from you in public... that's just awful."
Ollo nodded in agreement. "It's really sad to see. Deriana has been trying to be there for him, but it's not easy. She's just going over there now to see how he's holding up."
Maya's eyes widened, her fists clenching at her sides. "That's awful! What kind of friends would abandon someone out of no fault of their own?"
Before Ollo could respond, Deriana returned, her somber friend in tow. The young man's face was a mix of anger and pain, and as he looked at Maya, his voice was cold. "And who are you to criticize my friends?"
Maya was taken aback by his harsh tone, but turned to face him. Both Vyas and Maya immediately recognized his face, it was Edroc Alvis, the noble from earlier in the night.
The tension between Maya and Edroc was palpable as they exchanged tense glances. She held her ground responding, "If they were real friends, they shouldn't have turned their backs on you when you needed them the most."
"My parents have been wrongfully accused, and their innocence will be proven soon enough. Until then, I am dealing with the repercussions," he replied, his voice cold and defensive.
His eyes flickering with a mix of anger and annoyance, "It was my decision to distance myself from my friends. The idea that they and their families might be dragged into this scandal through no fault of their own is unacceptable. A true friend wouldn't demand they risk their own reputations for such a temporary and trivial matter. It would be a stain on my honor, but I shouldn’t expect that a pair of country bumpkins to understand."
Henri and Deriana exchanged worried glances, sensing that there might be something more at work. Deriana gently touched Edroc's arm, guiding him towards Ollo for a separate conversation. Meanwhile, Henri approached Vyas and Maya, attempting to defuse the tension.
"Hey, I'm really sorry about Edroc," he said, his voice sincere. "He’s an arrogant git, but he's usually not this blatantly rude. The whole situation with his family must be really getting to him and he might have had a bit too much to drink."
Vyas clenched his jaw, his opinion of Edroc still low but decided to hold his tongue, recognizing that Henri was just trying to smooth things over. Maya, however, couldn't hide her anger and simply nodded in silence.
Ami, trying to change the subject, brought up a suggestion. "Why don't we all meet up at the Celestial Phoenix's Court for lunch tomorrow? We can chat more about everything then."
Vyas smiled, grateful for the change in topic. "Sounds great. We'll be there."
Maya, her anger slowly dissipating, agreed. "At noon, then."
The two of them excused themselves, heading to get a drink while leaving the others behind. As they walked away, Maya turned to Vyas, her voice thoughtful. "I guess we'll have to get used to encountering people like Edroc at Auberon."
Vyas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I knew that nobles and aristocrats tend to look down on others, but it's different actually experiencing it firsthand."
A playful grin spread across his face as he added, "At least we don't have to just accept it. We're going to an institute of cultivation and magic, after all. I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to show him up and embarrass the hell out of him during classes."
Maya chuckled, her eyes sparkling with determination. "You can count on that. And remember what the Governor said during his speech? We can always challenge someone like Edroc to a duel in the arena if they insult us. That way, we can put him in his place while staying within the rules."
The two of them laughed together, their spirits lifted as they continued to enjoy the gala.