Novels2Search
Cruel reality
Chapter VII

Chapter VII

Typos, errors and suggestions are well received

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Chapter 7

Nine, is the number of people with the power to rule, and of course the set of skills to prove it,at least in the nine kingdom area.

One of them is queen Aglarel.

When crowned queen she was bestowed with a single skill.

Her bestowed skill is called aura sight a severely rare skill.

It allows for one to discern between allies and enemies, for a ruler like her this skill was and is indispensable, with all the schemes and usurpations the nobles try to accomplish.

When activated it allows one to see an aura in every person.

That aura at the beginning is only blue for allies, red for enemies and the neutral parties has no aura whatsoever.

Of course the skill can see much more when leveled up, but the condition to surpass the bottleneck has not been met for at least 6 generations, but its said that the last person who did could see the very souls of people.

This skill did not change until five months ago, when the ‘irregulars’ first appeared.

Unlike every other denizen of this world, when brought to the throne chamber they had a golden aura contrasting the neutral status the other babies had.

Of course it wasn't that much of a surprise because the goddess Liara prophesied the coming of them, the adventurers that would come to change everything.

Actually it wasn't her directly but the High priest that supposedly had a divine revelation, and happily announced it to the world, the last time something like this happened was when the red plague desolated the land.

All in all it wasn't much of a change, just people with a different aura, at least for now because she was slightly afraid if she couldn't label them as enemies or allies.

That was until today, when she met two parents and their ‘irregular’ son, none of them with a ring.

It wasn't something strange for nobles to lose it on purpose and waste the court time, but these people wear ragged pieces of cloth, it would seem strange if they could afford a new ring.

One of her guards who escorted them there said that they never had a ring.

Thats strange, but there were previous cases, not in her mandate, but there were people that lived too far away and for a reason or another the wanted their child to be blessed in the elven kingdom.

But just when they were about to bless the boy, he said something that clearly excited the queen, it was the knowledge of the ancient elven language!.

The common populace would think that is not  such a great feat, but she who knew there were spells, and ruins only accessible to the one who can read that language, it was a great opportunity to gain such an accomplished minion, and maybe a playmate for her daughter, or maybe plaything, unless she killed him he would serve his purpose.

All kind of plans formed up in her head, thinking of the power she would gain, but when she asked for the blessing status, she became devastated.

By order of Gaia the ‘irregulars’ must not be forced.

They can be given the choice but being forced to do something they did not want to would come at a greater price later on.

The goddess did not threaten but simply warn.

Yes, she was devastated, but not as much as her daughter.

She tried to calm her down and after promising she would do everything she can, could the princess finally calm down.

She tried to use her skill to see if there was any chance for the strange party to be enemies or allies, at least to be neutral as they can be influenced.

But she did not see any color and whenever she pointed her sight with the skill activated only a black blur could be seen.

That let her dumbfounded, because it was the first time something like that happened, and the first time an irregular showed something different that the three plus one colours she was accustomed to.

After they left she ordered for the ending of the court and she left in a hurry with her royal guard closely followed by her daughter.

Her direction was the temple.

When she arrived she went by the guards standing by the entrance, who started to rise their weapons but when seeing who she was they let her and her retinue trough.

She ignored the questioning look of the workers and resident that still were there in this time of the night and went directly to the high priest chambers.

After slamming open the door and be presented by opulence only comparable to the nobles manors she was staring at a man’s back sitting on a wooden tabouter writhing with a quill in a parchment.

Noticing that a persons had entered the room he slowly turned around and stared at the enraged face of the queen.

“What is the honor?” he asked nonchalantly.

“Can your goddess tell me, why an irregular had a black aura!?” She asked annoyed by the mannerisms of the man.

He looked at her for a while trying to see if she was telling the true and then grabbed a staff leaning on a wall besides him.

He stood up and started chanting some words which provoked a white light to gather at the tip of said staff, and spread in all its contour, making small carvings on its profile to stand out.

A little more than half an hour passes and the glowing stops.

The man profusely sweating and hyperventilating, wipe his forehead and sits trying to regain some air.

“And?!” Demands the queen.

He looks at her eyes but doesn't answer right away, after some more time goes by he who regained his composure speaks again.

“The goddess has told me that a child and two adults residing in this city have a way to hinder your skill usage” and after a brief pause he adds “Is the answer to your liking?”.

How could this be?, if there really was a way, it would mean that her skill to discern enemies would be useless, and if her skill was useless she could be assassinated!.

That must not happen, she swear to herself she would do something, even if it means to go against Gaia.

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A shimmering light that comes from the curtain just in my eyes wakes me up.

I groan a little because the bed i'm lying on is soft and extremely comfortable, at least enough to want to sleep at least another five hours.

As the the lights multiply i give up and open my eyes.

The first thing i notice are my friends sitting on the chairs by the table.

Baltoz is maintaining his giant sword with a white stone, which seems to sharpen the edges while Eos is leaning on the table seemingly extremely bored and as she see me getting out of the bed, she looks happy to leave this place, i don't know how i know she is happy as she is wearing a mask, but i still know.

*You forgot that if she takes it off she doesn't have any meat*

I take a look at my surroundings looking for my ragged cloth and put it on me, and see the king size bed hasn't been used. Guess that’s the reason for Eos boredom.

“Shall we go down?” I ask them.

“Yes!” answers Eos without losing time, opening the door and going away.

Baltoz and me follow suit.

As we reach reach the restaurant bar area we see Eos already occupying a table and calling us to sit with her.

I wait for a while for the waitress to come, but apparently she doesn't like to work and is just sitting on the bar talking with the bartender.

I call to her and notice is not the servicial lady from last night but a grumpy old pudgy woman with grey hair, she doesn't look dwarven so i assume its just a fat human, and by her grumpy demeanor i'll hold the question about the room size for the lady in the night shift.

I ask for some breakfast, and this time i remember to just ask for me, she doesn't ask why i don't order three, and i don't really think she wants to know.

Later she brings a pink beverage in a cup, and some bread with butter and honey.

She is grumpy but the kitchen certainly does not reflect her mood.

After eating breakfast i ask them if theres something they'll like to do, six months in this city certainly would allow us a lot of free time… and i don't really have anything to do after the six months so i guess i'll find a goal.

Baltoz talks about the only hobby he had in the darkness was to maintain the weapons, and Eos is eager to look for new clothes but reminds me to not dispose of the current cloth, seems they hold sentimental value or at least is what i inferred when she talked about them with such care.

Mhh then now i know what they want to do, at least in the short term, but what about me?.

Top priority is Bernard, i don't know why i want to save him but i won't let him die.

With that in mind we head out, but we don't really know where we should go.

*Why don't you ask her?*

And right in front of me i see a woman dressed in silver armor helmless and with a flowing red hair that reaches her hip. Its the guard Bernard was previously talking to in the palace entrance, what was her name? Relia i think.

“excuse me, Relia?”

She turns around and inspects me.

“Aren't you the boy that was with Bern?”

“ahh.. yeah” I say while scratching my head, i wonder what's the relationship with ‘Bern’, not that i care too deeply about that.

“I was wondering if you could give me some direction”

“Sure, any friend of Bern is my friend”

Such outgoing personality she has.

“My friend here” I say while pointing at Baltos”Has a hobby of maintaining weapons, is there a place to do that or something alike?”

She blinks at me and look at me with some strange look.

“Well of course blacksmithing is what you think when you hear what his hobby is”

… im seem to be lacking in common sense apparently.

*You certainly are*

Stop talking!.

*Ughh dont be like that*

“And a place to buy clothes?”

Interjects Eos.

She gives a quizzical look at her, seems neither of us has common sense… at least i'm not alone.

*You have me*

At least i have Eos.

*Mhh…*

“Well thats the tailor, but you'll have to work for him to get some decent equipment”

“I'm ok with that” She says.

“And i w.” but i don't get to finish my question when Relia interrupts.

“You first need to go to the temple, as a new adventurer you'll find it pretty useful”

Mhh i guess she knows i lack common sense and points where i could get some.

“Ok, thank you”

I take the hint and wave goodbye not before she tell us where to find the blacksmith and the tailor are located in the commercial district, by the south entrance, and i guess is where i saw all the stores and stalls.

We head to the square, and i hand over the loot we got from the kobolds to them so they can sell it, earning some money would be nice.

We part ways and they head to south… those clothes sure are shabby, can't wait to change them and stop the disdain stares from paserbays.

I turn around and head to the temple meeting a queue of ten people waiting to enter the place.

The line advances slowly and  i learn by overhearing conversations that you can learn healing spells, ask for some kind of ‘buff’ and get special professions.

Finally my turn comes up when i'm fed up hearing a conversation between two people behind me about what they were going to do today and debating about the best hunting place, of course i took note of them, but still an entire hour about the same theme with aired bickering between two people would make anyone fed up.

In front of me stand two guards holding metal lances in chainmail with a green tabard depicting a forest with a river crossing it.

I instantly note a look of disdain after they look at my current shabby self, i really want to change my clothes.

“Show your ring” Grunted the left one.

After i show the copper ring with a grey stone, they let me pass but the displeased look only intensifies, looks like if i didn't have this ring they would have lynched me.

*Look like wealth discrimination*

I just let out a sigh acknowledging his words. Still i will remember them and everybody that treats me this way.

*Way to go*

This time i ignore him.

I enter the temple and see magnificent sculptures depicting the goddess in the fountain, but this time theres another statue besides her depicting a beautiful woman, if you could call Liaras statue beautiful, the other statue beauty would be out of this world.

Both statues are in the center room fenced by a purple metal fence in a ring shape.

Behind i see a desk that i guess is an information one with a girl dressed in a deep green robe sitting behind.

I approach it and certainly the disdainful look doesn't miss the chance to show in her face, which greatly ruins the already ugly face, and i don't know why but seeing an ugly elf for the first time makes something inside me depressed.

She won't start the conversation, and its because of me, because i previously saw how she talked friendly while smiling with her previous customer.

“I was told to come to some kind of class, where do i have to go”

I say not wasting any time and wanting to leave right away.

She shows a sign of disgust and points at her right where a large sign showing a sketch of the building, small arrows pointed that the place i should go is to a left corridor, up a stair and i would be just in front of the door i'm supposed to go.

I thank her, just because i won't lose my composure and principally because i knew she would be mightily angered when a lowly peasant, of course in her eyes, showed more nobleness than her.

Chivalry stat has been created!

Chivalry +1

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Chivalry

Every noble must have this stat to show their qualities of high moral character, showing magnanimity and majestic appearance.

This stat will greatly influence interaction with royalty and nobility.

This stat will allow to influence the masses much easier.

Majestic oppression effectiveness will depend on this stat.

Equipment now has a Chivalry rate.

Cannot distribute point to this stat.

Instead of a normal goodbye, i cross an arm in my chest and bow to her just to make her a little more infuriated and of course i succed making of her brows twitch uncontrollably.

Chivalry +1

Great, i guess i'll keep doing these kind of actions… but what kind of skill is majestic oppression i think remembering that the only time i saw this skill was in the throne chamber.

Majestic Opresión: lvl 1 (0.00%)

You generate a majestic aura that oppresses your enemies.

This skills depends greatly on Chivalry stat.

Creatures in higher level requires more level and Chivalry.

I elegantly walk through a horde of people gawking at the weird me. I guess if i saw a ragged kid walking like a noble i too would look, in the middle of my walk Astraea who is already accustomed to sleeping inside my ragged clothes wakes up and starts walking besides me.

Because of my stunt i gained 3 more points in chivalry before reaching my destined place.

Inside i found a room filled with small individual desk with a large pouch resting above each of them, and in front a platform at least 30 centimeters above the floor where a larger desk is placed.

The room was filled with different kind of people, mostly elves, although i could certainly see that most of them were like Bernard, there were some who had darker skin, i assume are dark elves.

The attire of some of them denoted a noble birth, while other much more humble wear a simple shirt with matching pants and shoes of varied colors.

The nobles equipment is one i couldn't really believe, some of them have a black metal cuirass with golden and silver engraving that i'm sure i won't be able to afford in the foreseeable future with a red leather scabbard at their sides sword included with a gem of different color in the pommel and a shield matching the cuirass, some of them opted for different weapons and instead of the metal cuirass, robes or leather armors, but they all shared one thing, the expensive looking equipment.

And the lower birth resident in the room have no weapon, of course there were some exemption still they would never reach the quality of the rich ones.

I spot a desk in the front row thats empty, actually its a full line thats empty, dividing the rich from the poor.

And while i sit the strangest thing happen, at least half strange, the nobles of course take a glance at me and decide to empty another two seats so they aren't near me...and so do the poor ones.

Seems i'm so poor that i'm being obstatrised by the rest, well it doesn't matter to me because i plan to take the rest of the sacks with me, and being away from them will make it easier for me, of course if somebody else wants a sack that doesn't belong to them, they will have to fight me for it.

*You are clearly resentful*

Of course i am!! who do they think they are!

I sit and wait and so does Astraea who coils herself and sleeps in my thighs,time goes by and its been already 20 minutes and no one showed up.

I take out my dagger and start making tricks with it to pass time, like throw it from behind me and catching it, passing it from one finger to another skillfully, actually when i started the second trick i didn't stop i keep doing it for several minutes to the point i don't need to concentrate to do it.

After a while of doing that three nobles  approach, the one leading in a pompous way, all of them female light elves.

Although i say pompous she is actually quite stunning with her long silver hair and perfect porcelain skin, wearing a red leather cuirass that accentuates her hourglass figure, and a pair of daggers at her sides… i think i know where this is going.

*You sure do*

“You plebeian hand over that dagger* She says in an authoritative tone.

I look directly at her eyes and in the same tone i ask her in a way that hopefully awards me some chivalry points.

“If its not too pretentious of me, could i ask you, who are you and what gives you the right to command me?”

She was taken aback and the plebeian whisper and hold their breath… i don't think any other plebeian have answered like that to her.

“I am Evalen high noble of the house of Karthas, and yes with only that i have the right to demand from you dirty mongrel”.

Whoa dirty… the only part of my body thats dirty is my face, the rest was clean thanks to my assimilation skill, i have to remember to clean when i get back in the inn at night.

“Still, this is mine and not even royalty will take it from me”.

“Don't lie, theres no way a dirty mongrel like you could have that kind of dagger, i'm sure you stole it!” said a brunette elve next to her.

“Thats a serious accusation you are implying, do you have any proof?, or is it just the rambling of a child?”

The look they give me says that my speech is rank above theirs and the windows popping out confirms it.

Chivalry +5

Charisma stat has been created!

Charisma +3

Charisma

A special personal quality or power of an individual making him capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people.

Majestic oppression skill updated!

Majestic Opresión: lvl 1 (0.00%)

You generate majestic aura that oppresses your enemies.

This skills depends greatly on Chivalry stat.

Creatures in higher level requires more level and Chivalry.

Area of effect and quantity of people affected determined by charisma stat

If the reward for speaking and acting like this is always this good, i may adopt it as my way of life.

Evalen face contorted and a fierce look is directed at me.

She pleases her hands on her daggers and when she starts pulling them walking step make them stop.

Everyone hurriedly sit in their place just before the steps reach the room, of course the glaring daggers of the three girls are still pointed at me.

Standing at the doorpost is an old beardless man with white long hair, he is dressed in a white robe and a green tabard just like the guards at the entrance, and wearing round silver glasses resting in his long crooked nose.

He looks around the room and walks to his desk a little dissatisfied and with his first words i know why.

“First of all, i do not care about your family, you're all going to be treated equally and if you infuriate me you will be treated like you deserve, contrary to that if i behave like you should you'll be treated like a normal student”. He said giving a slight wink concerning the last words.

I think i like what he is saying and im sure those noble bastards are going to get what they deserve.

*Revenge is a dish best served cold, specially if you don't have to smear your hands*

I agree!, hehe.

“Now, lets talk about this course, this course will last a week, you'll be taught about all you need to know about adventuring”.

Ahh so thats why Relia sent me here, well i'm glad because i wasn't planning to stay here for the rest of my life… just thinking about what that princess would do to me is sending shivers to my spine.

“Now, the required age for this course is fifteen years old, there are exceptions of course, so can you tell me why are you here?”. He says while looking straight at me.

“I need to leave this city for… personal reason, in six months”.

*Hehe, we all know the reason, don't feel the need to lie to him*

He silently nods and continues with his speech.

“This is the schedule so note it down, for the ones that didn't bring any kind of means to do it, i took the liberty to add it to the beginner satchel” Says while pointing at one satchel laying in a desk.

I open the one in front of me and analyze the contents. (transformar a windows)

Black leather notebook.

Low quality notebook containing low quality parchments.

Great for begginers

.

Small yellow bird feather

Material of low quality mostly used as a quill

Low quallity Inkwell

Inkwell filled with the most cheap ink.

Small poach.

Magically imbued to carry large quantitys of money.

Great for begginer adventurers with low quantity of coins

Wow this poach is quite impressive, i wonder how it works.

Quest updated!

The strange inn sizes II

Difficulty : D

Not only rooms can be enchanted but recently you found out all manner of objects can be as well.

Reward: Information in specific magic.

Failure: Not knowing will haunt your dreams.

Automatically accepted.

Without saying another word he turned around facing the wall and started moving his hand in a certain pattern, then letters started appearing where his hand had passed, after a while there was a neat table depicting the schedule of the week.

[quart=Day,Quantity of hours]Class,Shedule[/quart]

[quart=1,2]Introduction,8:00 to 10:00[/quart]

[quart=2-3,6]Mana,13:00 to 19:00[/quart]

[quart=2-3,6]Combat,13:00 to 19:00[/quart]

[quart=4,4]Foraging,8:00 to 12:00[/quart]

[quart=5,4]Alchemy,8:00 to 12:00[/quart]

[quart=6,12]Blachsmithing and Tailoring,6:00 to 20:00[/quart]

[quart=7-8,34]Mercantilism,5:00 to 5:00[/quart]

[quart=10,-]Test,-[/quart]

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[b

Chapter 6[/b] width=50%]Chapter 8

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