The throne room was resplendent, with its seamless marble floor, a velvet carpet rolled out all the way from the entrance. On both sides of the room were stained windows, rays of the sun shining through them and illuminating the room. Guards in ornate plate armors flanked them in perfect lines, forming a corridor with the carpet at its center. From the cushioned ebon throne on a pedestal, an imposing looking man was staring down at them, as Eulisses and company approached the throne.
The mage and cardinal went down on one knee, head held down, and greeted the figure with a respectful “Your majesty.” while the princess gave him a quick but elegant curtsy “Father.” The man nodded at them and told the two kneeling to rise, his deep voice echoing in the hall. He then focused his gaze on Eulisses, giving him a thoughtful look before addressing him.
“So you are the man our daughter has summoned from another world. You are different, both from what we expected initially and from what we have been told moments before.”
Eulisses has calmed down since the cathedral, no longer overreacting comically to hide his nervousness. This man is who I have to convince of the benefits of us cooperating. The princess seemed eager for it, the cardinal cautious but not in disfavour, while the mage seemed skeptical with no preference for the outcome.
He gave a flourishing bow, looking much more impressive in his elegant getup. “I greet you, your majesty. I am Eulisses Malinor, wizard and researcher of immortality.”
“We are Rufus Esaburg, ruler of the Esaburg kingdom, in which capital, the city of Baymere, you currently are. We are sure you must have many questions about your situation, but we believe our daughter has already given you the gist of it?”
Eulisses gave him a nod in agreement, recounting what the mage, Fiona Lockwood, explained to him on their way to the castle. “Yes, your majesty. As I understand it, you - as in ‘this world’ - are about to witness an event you call ‘Planar Convergence’, where inhabitants from another realm can slip into yours and cause havoc and destruction.“
The king furrowed his brows and spoke in a grim tone. “In short, yes. The last such event happened around 200 years ago, and it wiped away nearly a third of the continent. The mighty Wrachurid Empire was nearly destroyed and many smaller kingdoms were. We can’t let such a thing happen again.”
My research into the planar barriers might come in handy here. If they operate under the same rules, but at least my magic seems to work here, so some of the laws I know seem to apply. I checked with the cardinal, our gods are unknown to this world. As are our realms and the names we call them by. I am hesitant to call it a different reality altogether, as to what the implications of it existing would be.
“Despite my personal firepower as a high tier spellcaster, some of my research also dealt with planar barriers. I might be able to do something about the effects of this ‘Convergence’ of yours, given the right materials, assistants and the like.”
The king looked at him, pondering. “You claim to have abilities that we might need, are willing to give your aid and ask for things in return, that we are in a position to grant. We haven’t talked about one matter though. Despite your current appearance, your true nature is something different altogether.”
“Indeed your majesty. I have … transcended the confines of mortality and I must say it's refreshingly unexpected not to be met with hostility for it. You show a foresight that few humans possess in dealing with me in the way you do.”
A smirk stole itself on the king's face upon the compliment. “You are not the only sentient non-human being we have in this kingdom, wizard. For as long as you respect our laws, we shall treat you no different than we do them.” He paused. “However, not every one of our citizens might see it the same way, many superstitions surround your kind, some of them not not entirely unfounded, we are sure. We would ask you to maintain your … illusion that,” he threw a glance towards Fiona, who discreetly shook her head, which Eulisses didn’t miss, “even the best of our mages seem unable to see through.”
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Unable to mask the pride he felt, Eulisses responded. “It is more than just a simple illusion, your majesty, as it has a physical component to it. You would be able to even touch my skin or clothes and feel … something. I shall uphold my mortal shroud when in the company of others, you may rest assured.”
The king raised from his seat, which had everyone stand just a bit straighter, even Eulisses, on the kind of pressure, his presence seemed to emanate. “We shall welcome you then as a guest, Eulisses Malinor. You will be given a room here at the castle, where you can rest, if you are in need of such a thing. In the coming days, you can discuss the details of our cooperation with my daughter and treat her words as mine. The audience is concluded. Ashfield, stay for a little longer. We have something else we wish to discuss with you." They all paid their respects and everyone but the cardinal turned to leave.
Outside of the throne room, Eulisses was greeted by a maid, who bowed towards him. “Milord, I am to show you to your room in the guest-wing and act as your guide for anywhere else you would wish to go in this castle. His majesty has granted you full access”
Already knew of the outcome of the audience then? And the weight of his presence, the king seems to be a different calibre of ruler than the ones back in my world. Then again, maybe I was just unlucky to be under the jurisdiction of the incompetent ones. I would really like to pay the library a visit if they have one here but it is turning late and I really want to rest my mind.
Before he could turn to leave for his room, Eulisses was held up by Felicity. “Mister Malinor, I would like to meet up with you tomorrow morning, if that is alright with you? We have many things to discuss.” She gave him an innocent look, but Eulisses couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was put on. If her father trusts her with important negotiations, she can’t be as naive and innocent as she looks. This one is dangerous. I will need to keep a clear head, lest I be willingly exploited, I hope she doesn’t give me that smile again.
He agreed to the meeting and followed the maid to the guest wing after then bidding the princess and the mage goodbye.
The path from the audience room to the guest wing was showing off many works of art, from lifelike statues in all manner of poses, to paintings depicting past members of royalty or scenes of landscape and what he could only conclude to be the capital of Baymere with its castle which halls he was currently walking down.
The country seems to have a rich history. Eulisses noted. If only a fraction of the portraits have been depicting past rulers, quite an old one too. I wonder, has this kingdom always held the name of Esaburg or were some of the portraits of a different dynasty? It may be a good idea to familiarize myself with my new associates, if there is enough time. I’ll have to ask the princess, when they expect this planar convergence to happen exactly.
As they arrived at his room, the maid opened the door and asked him in. The room was generous and lavishly decorated. Opposite to the entrance, another door, framed by equally sized windows, led outside to a balcony overseeing the city. A big canopy bed with an uncountable number of pillows on it stood at its centre, but Eulisses took note of the ornate wooden desk and cushioned seat that he would have killed to possess back at his tower.
It is weird, as I cannot really feel whether it's bare wood or fabric that touches my hip bone when I sit. But somehow it’s making me feel uncomfortable if it’s the former, imagining wood grating on bone sends imaginary shivers down my spine.
He thanked the maid for showing him the way, upon which she pointed to a stand next to the door with a brassen handbell on it. He discerned the faint inscription of runes on the bell. “If you need anything, milord, please ring this bell. I will be notified of it and rush here.” With these words she bowed to him one last time, before leaving the room, silently closing the door behind her.
This room is worthy of a foreign dignitary. He let out a snicker. I guess depending on how you look at it, you can actually count me as one now. Eulisses went to the bed, unsure of how to lie down properly on it with the plethora of pillows that lay in his way. Oh, screw it! He thought to himself before proceeding to unceremoniously throw all of them at the ground and folding the blanket, leaving the mattress bare. Similar to his seat, Eulisses preferred to lie down on something soft when he went to rest, but he had no need to rest his head on an additional pillow or to tuck himself in.
This has been an eventful day. I may be finally rid of Addia and her fanatics but seem to have gotten myself tangled up with another complicated matter. Judging by what I’ve heard, I cannot really escape it while in this world, so working to actively prevent it might be the better call. And if I can learn to understand the mechanics behind this ‘convergence’ in the process, well … I may get my own realm yet. And who knows? Maybe I’ll even make some breakthrough in my main field of research, I have been stuck in that department for far too long now. The future is uncertain but it seems to be ripe with excitement and opportunities. I am glad to be un-alive!