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Celestial Chronicles
Chapter 40 - Revelations

Chapter 40 - Revelations

“What are you thinking about, Ethan?” Claire asked, seeing that he had lost track of their conversation and was engrossed in the scenery in the carriage’s window for a while. Ethan turned his gaze back at her and shook his head.

“Eh, nothing. I am starting to understand that the journey back home might take much longer than I initially anticipated. Also, I did not expect you to have some autocratic world-spanning organizations that would be interested in making me a test subject. That is all.”

“What? Why autocratic?” Claire asked, looking between Ethan and Alice.

Ethan raised his eyebrows and asked, “Come on, Claire. Do you not think the people focused on making mana available to everyone would not have some autocratic tendencies? You tell me, do they have exclusive memberships available to those whom they deem fit?”

“Well, but of course. But that does not make them autocratic, though,” Claire answered, baffled.

Ethan shook his head, “Of course, it does not. All right, next, do they have a policy every member of the order has to follow?” Claire thought for a second and nodded reluctantly.

“Great! Next, who usually gets to say what project the Order should focus on and who would have a say on trying out the new product and deciding what to do with it?”

“Oh, that is easy,” Alice said. “Besides the key officials in the Order’s headquarters, the local nobles in each region have a financing pool they contribute to in order to finance the Order’s research projects. So it is only natural that the leader of the nobles in the region has a say in what to do with the financed project.”

“There you go then. Centralized decision-making machine, with some delegation, those with money and power have the most say over who gets access to what. So let me ask you, how common are the dimensional satchels or bags?”

Claire thought for a moment with a finger next to her lip and said, “Well, I can tell you that they are pretty expensive, so rare enough. Only those who can pay in platinum tokens can afford one.”

“And let me guess, the mostly the only people who have that kind of money are the nobles?”

“Not necessary. Plenty of guilders have access to that kind of funds. But besides them, yes, the nobles,” Claire frowned. “I never thought about it this way. So what you are telling me is that the Order is not doing good work to advance magic for good in all of Erde?”

Ethan shook his head, “No, I am not saying they are not doing good work. I am just stating that the Order is most likely controlled by those with money and power, posing as the good guy with the masses when they make a trinket or two available. The bare necessities, I mean. Without knowing too much, I can bet you a token or two that they keep the good stuff to themselves, and it never makes it to the open market.”

“Why does it sound like you do not approve?” Alice asked, slightly offended. “After all, the nobles risk their funds to advance certain fields and develop new things. So what is wrong with being part of the decision-making process and getting early access to the thing you risked your entire clan’s future?”

“I understand your position,” Ethan started. “Where I come from, we have a similar system where those with the thickest purse make the most critical decisions, building systems, and organizations around them to make their lives more convenient and rake in more money."

“All the while, they talk about noble causes, mission statements, and why their organization which is not paying their taxes, is not paying them for the good of humanity. A trinket or two thrown to the masses keeps people docile and endorsing the system, feeding addicts their medicine and giving them the means to earn some coin to buy more,” Ethan continued.

“A self-feeding machine where one is always struck chasing the dream that will never come. Believing in half-truths until you discover that it is too late to make a difference. That there was no difference either way. You either hold the purse, or you burn your life away on the whims of those who hold it instead of you,” Ethan finished his rant and exhaled.

He saw both women staring at him speechless and said, “I apologize, ladies. I did not have to unpack that on you. It is just that I feel strongly about certain kinds of a system we were born into back home. Sure, it had some merits allowing one to get lucky, but in the end, it did not change much for the masses besides moving away from slavery and endorsing its new kind.”

“I understand, Ethan. Does it sound like there was limited opportunity for people back home? I am not sure what the exact situation was, but the citizens of Morwhea have many opportunities around them. After all, Erde is still largely populated due to the monsters spawning in the wilds. Each year, humans, dwarves, and elves advance further in the frontier, finding new territories and resources,” Claire said with conviction.

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“Yes. We all are in the same boat, after all. Everyone is trying to make the world more inhabitable and safer,” Alice added.

Ethan sighed, seeing that the women had their own views, as did he. There was no need to drag old baggage after him. This is a new world with its own rules, he thought. “Well, enough about that. What were we talking about? “Ethan asked.

“Oh, I was about to ask. What do you think? Will you ask for the Order’s opinion on your abilities?” Alice asked.

Ethan shook his head and answered, “Not yet, no. I do not want to be pushed into a cage like a lab rat and experimented on if what you say is true about my abilities and origin being a mystery and rare occurrence. Best keep it under wraps. I hope you understand and agree.”

Both of them nodded quietly, thinking about the implications of what associating themselves with Ethan had bought up on their immediate future. Claire was the first to shake her head, dismissing the grim thoughts, and said, “Well, enough about that. Let’s talk bout something more cheerful.”

“Yes, let's,” Ethan agreed. “Why don’t you tell more about yourselves? Given our transport, you surely must be some important ladies back in Veer.”

Alice brightened up visibly and said, “Well, that may be somewhat true, depending on the perspective. For example, my father manages a minor trade operation between the capital and the north, while Claire’s father is a researcher.”

“Oh, nice. Is that true, Claire? What is your father’s research focus?” Ethan asked with interest.

“He focuses on the very same topic we discussed. Ancients scriptures and sigils related to the application of mana. How to use long forgotten language that can somehow generate magical effects.”

Ethan looked intrigued, recalling the runes he had found in the castle’s library and Gloomy’s pillar. Then, thinking it over, he asked, “And is he also a member of the Order?”

“No,” she shook her head. “He is an affiliated researcher, so all his discoveries stay with him. Though, he has to fully finance his work and negotiate for resources and knowledge with the Order. A difficult position to be in, but if it works out, it will pay a hundredfold. Not to mention the decision-making process is a lot swifter, with fewer politics.”

“What is his aim? “Ethan asked. “I mean, he does not want to study ancient texts and relics just for fun?”

Claire chuckled, “Actually, that is exactly it. Although, no, my mother keeps him focused, given that he married into the family from the outside. He was a farmer before, you see. They were young. You know how the story goes.”

Ethan nodded, “So he is the enthusiast with a dream, while your mother is the more practical one, focused on keeping him from plundering the wealth.”

She laughed and nodded, “Yes, that is it. Lots of arguing, late nights of researching for him, and even more time spent by my mother to keep his eye on the prize. You cannot imagine how much time and resources were spent hunting for important tomes. Ancient knowledge does not lay about after all.”

“Are you thinking of following in his steps?” Ethan asked, deciding not to mention his discovered books just yet.

Alice chuckled as Claire lightly elbowed her in the ribs, looking first at Ethan and then at the carriage’s wooden floor. “No, unfortunately, I cannot. Mother wants me to go to the capital and establish family connections there. We are a minor nobility, after all, here in Veer. But, on the other hand, Alice is well known and has much better prospects.”

“Oh, that is not true, Claire,” she admonished. “You are plenty known. And not because we hang out together or because your father is as eccentric as they come. Come on, think about it. Our studies of wine will make it one day to the king’s library. Who else has the guts to taste and catalog all the wines in the kingdom? Think about the elven lands - what we will do once we get there! The tastes, the information. The parties!”

Ethan looked at the enthused Alice and asked, “Sorry? Wine studies? So you are trying to become a sommelier?”

“What is a ‘sommelier’?” Alice asked.

“Em, the best I remember it, is a knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in the finest restaurants, specializing in all aspects of wine service and wine and food pairing. A person who knows all there is about the wine.”

Alice nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, that is it! You know there is an opportunity in wine. After all, everyone is so focused on consuming it without knowing the various aspects, both magical and non-magical. We will be the first of its kind. ‘Sommeliers’ - what a curious word.”

Claire shook her head at her friend’s antics and said, “Alice, do not forget that we still live under the late duke’s wife’s patronage. And she has her own thoughts on the subject.”

“Claire, do not worry about her. Mrs. Latimer has enough worries as it is, keeping the nobles in line. She is a kind woman looking out for us but lacks the strong hand needed to make important decisions. She will not worry about the two of us while her son is gone doing god knows what.”

“Wait,” Ethan interrupted them, the name they mentioned triggering a memory from the castle. “You said her name is Latimer?”

Alice nodded, “Yes. Lady Irene Latimer. You know of her?”

“I recall the name, but from where?” he clicked his fingers, remembering. “Dammit, that fat f-, from the castle. Was her son’s name Vargas by any chance?”