Chapter 37

Tom’s day with his tutors ended, and he took a walk outside to check on Alpha Core as he always did when the lessons concluded. He noted that the others had slain some of the burrowers and the gnolls, so he Spawned some more. He was gaining a slow but steady trickle of experience from the others delving the dungeon, and was now level thirteen.

One more and it would be even with his age, he reflected idly. Just a musing.

Aside from maintaining his dungeon, he didn’t have anything else to do for the day, so he was pleased when Grant appeared, walking up along the path with the clear intention of starting a conversation. Tom greeted the old man reborn as a young one with a handshake and a few pleasantries before they began walking through the paths that encircled the Weaver Estate.

“You really don’t need to keep thanking me every day,” Tom informed the former senator. “It doesn’t really cost me anything to Summon people. I can do it once a year for every Core I control, it seems. So you’re just lucky that you’re the one who came through when I use my ability.”

“I think it’s far from accurate to say that I don’t owe you anything,” Grant said. “I’m not pledging my undying loyalty or vowing to trade you my firstborn son or anything. Firstborn in this world, at least. I am simply expressing my gratitude for the opportunity you have given me. I do owe you gratitude, at the very least, even if there’s no expectation that I repay you for the gift you have given me.”

“I suppose that’s fair,” Tom admitted. “It’s not like I mind our walks, Grant. I didn’t mean to imply that.”

“That wasn’t how I took your meaning at all,” Grant assured him.

“How is the leveling progress going?” Tom inquired. “The last I heard, you had reached level six.”

“I am presently level nine. I understand that the system awards a new Skill every ten levels, and I am looking forward to seeing what I get,” Grant answered. “And I understand that my own efforts in the dungeon contribute to your growth, is that correct?”

“Yes,” Tom admitted. “It’s a bit selfish to ask people to delve my dungeons, since I’m putting them at risk and benefiting from their actions.”

“Tom, there is nothing wrong with a mutually beneficial arrangement,” Grant said seriously. “By managing the Alpha Core dungeon, you are keeping it in check and preventing it from spawning anything truly dangerous. You are also able to warn us about anything which might pose a serious threat to the delvers. And finally, you operate on a human timescale, rather than that of a stone. As such, you are willing to reseed the dungeon for us each morning before we set off hunting for the day, which greatly increases the pace at which we have been gathering experience.”

“I guess, when you put it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad,” Tom admitted.

“What do you want out of life, Tom?” Grant asked.

Tom frowned, surprised at the question. “I don’t know, to be honest.”

“That’s actually a very astute answer for a fourteen year old, Tom,” Grant said. “I may not look it any longer, Tom, but I am an old man. I’ve raised four children and helped raise seven grandchildren. I’ve seen hundreds of teenagers acting so certain about what they wanted out of life, and few of them ended up moving in the direction that they originally planned.”

“Do you miss your family?” Tom asked.

Grant waved the sentiment aside. “I’d be lying if I said no, but I had a good long run and left them as solid of a foundation as I could build for them. That’s not what I was getting at when I brought up my children, Tom. I’m trying to talk about you. I am simply trying to say that I’ve been around the block a few times, and I think that you could benefit from some of my experience.”

“You’re not the only one who wants to tell me what to do,” Tom said.

Grant laughed. “That is very true. However, you should realize the difference, Tom. I don’t want anything out of you in return. Nothing that you haven’t already given me. I don’t care if you swear your allegiance to Welsius and King Fenard or not. I don’t care if you defect to one of the other nations, each of which would take you in a heartbeat. I don’t care if you strike it out on your own like Antoine wants you to and try to found a new nation. What I do care about is seeing you wind up with some sort of happiness in your life.”

Tom was surprised by the man’s words. “I didn’t know you knew about all that stuff. Who knows that I’ve been talking to Queen Gloracia?”

“If the servants know, and they do, then I’m quite certain the king knows as well,” Grant answered easily.

“She hasn’t really offered me anything that King Fenard isn’t giving me already,” Tom admitted. “I mean, she’s promised me five mansions. But I already have one, why would I need five? An army of servants? I already have people who won’t even leave me a lone to bathe by myself. More money than I could ever spend? What would I do with that?” Tom sighed. “I don’t know what I want, and I never thought that would be such a big problem.”

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“I personally never suffered that problem,” Grant admitted. “When I was young, I wanted to be President of the United States. A lot of children do, I suppose. Unlike Welsius, the position is decided by election, you see, so anyone can rise to the honor. But few take it seriously. I did. I joined the army, because being a veteran looks patriotic. I ran for office, winning a mayoral campaign. And from there I moved up and up to higher echelons of power until I was so close to the top, I could taste it. But I never had the numbers to run for president. I just didn’t have the name recognition or any of the other factors which would have pushed me into the foreground.”

“I don’t really understand what you’re talking about,” Tom admitted. “Jessica explained a little bit of her world to me along the way down here, but not very much.”

Grant waved the topic aside. “It doesn’t matter. While I was never rudderless in my previous life, I can empathize with what you are going through as you decide which path to take, Tom. And I want to help. Even if that help only takes the form of being a sympathetic ear or a sounding board, I am here for you. That’s all I’m saying.”

Tom considered the man’s words for a few moments. “King Fenard wants me to become a Royal Knight. He says it’s a great honor or something.”

“It sounds like it is,” Grant agreed. “Or at least, it’s probably intended to be one. Although I’m certain it comes with a significant amount of drawbacks, as does any position of power or authority. Is that what has you hesitating?”

“Gloracia pointed out that if I became a knight, then our private talks would become a matter of treason,” Tom said.

“Ah,” Grant said. “You’re wondering if the position is offered as a means to ensnare you by cutting off your other options.”

“Do you think that’s why King Fenard is pushing it?” Tom asked.

“Possibly. He’s not a foolish man from what I’ve seen. He probably does mean to honor you with the position, but that’s unlikely to be his only reason for extending the offer. Binding you closer to himself and his nation is most certainly also part of the purpose, and I doubt that restricting your other options is counter to his intentions.” Grant paused to consider something. “Tom, have you ever heard of the term ‘soft power?’”

“No,” Tom admitted.

“Soft power is the ability to influence others through non-coercive or non-aggressive means. Offering you a position of honor within his government ties you closer to the nation of Welsius, and by swearing an oath of fealty, he likely believes that you will become less likely to leave his employment or work counter to his interests. King Fenard is trying to manage you using soft power, Tom.”

“And that’s bad?” Tom asked.

“I wouldn’t say that at all,” Grant said. “You have a very valuable Skillset, Tom. It makes sense for Fenard to try to secure your services. Using soft power rather than, for example, threatening you or your family to ensure your compliance, is a measured response. And one that’s more effective in the long run, if it succeeds.”

“Do you think he’d do that? Hurt me or my parents if I don’t cooperate?”

“I don’t think so,” Grant said. “But I haven’t even been in this world two months, Tom. I don’t know it well enough to answer for certain. Welsius seems like a fair land to live in, but I’ve only seen the surface level. I don’t think they’d employ draconian tactics against you, Tom, but I don’t know for certain that they wouldn’t.”

“What do you think I should do?” Tom asked. “Should I join the knights or not?”

“Personally, I think that you’re much too young to make a lifelong decision such as that,” Grant answered honestly. “I understand that in this world you are legally an adult once the system grants you a class. But you’re still only fourteen years old. In my world we require our soldiers to be at least eighteen before we accept them into the service of our nation, and even then we only demand four years of loyalty. As I understand it, once you are a royal knight, the only way for you to truly retire is death or disgrace. Fourteen, to me, is just much too young to accept such a mantle. I see no reason why you must be a Royal Knight to serve Welsius as a Controller.”

“So you’re saying I should reject it?” Tom asked.

“I’m saying that you’re a young man, and you have your entire life in front of you. I would counsel you to wait until you’re certain of yourself before making a decision that will effect you every day going forward,” Grant explained. “Outright rejecting the knighthood might not be seen too well, to be honest. It’s part of what makes it such a good move on the king’s part; there’s no way to turn it down without looking unpatriotic.”

“So then what should I do?”

“I don’t know,” Grant admitted. “I can think of several options, but I don’t know you well enough to say which one is in your best interests, nor which one you would prefer the most. Furthermore, I think you should delay at least until you have your parents here to discuss matters with. I understand they are on their way?”

“They should be soon,” Tom answered. “With some guards and a girl I know. I guess she’s a Mage now. I’m not surprised, she was always clever.”

“Well, I shall look forward to meeting them,” Grant said. “They must be fine people to have raised you as well as they have.”

“Thanks,” Tom said. He shuffled. “What should I do if they want me to accept the knighthood?”

“It’s your decision to make, not theirs, Tom,” Grant reminded him. “So if they pressure you into it and you’re not ready, then remind them of that. For that matter, the same advice goes for the king. If he begins to pressure you, explain to him that the reason you are delaying isn’t because you’re ungrateful for the opportunity, but because you are taking the decision so seriously that it is impossible for you to make it on the spot.”

“I’ll do that, next time he flies over,” Tom promised.

They spoke for a while longer on the subject of his prospective knighthood, as well as a number of less consequential matters.