Chapter Sixty-Four

After last night's near-disastrous group meeting, Harmony needed time to herself. Ambrosia had another concert, making her busy tonight singing with the Flows. It was time to tackle her greatest rival. In a bubble bath, Harmony finally cracked open Thibodeux on Evolution and started to read.

Evolution: a natural biological progression triggered by achieving your twenty-fifth level in both class and profession. No different from getting your first underarm hairs, or having your voice drop, except it happens all at once once your skills and level reach the proper milestone. Upon making your choice a blanket of energy coats you and you undergo changes rebirthed anew, often sticky, sometimes looking and feeling younger, a better more advanced self.

So the first chapter was a glossed-over facts of life chapter. Good little boys and girls get to be their perfect selves with choices inspired by what they’ve done in their lives. Max’s dead-end choices gave options like cursed acolyte or enslaved thrawl, and even with choices closest to what he wanted the man now had a hard time being himself around her. Adric, who was killed by his choice, had been doomed to be mourned. But after seeing Jessica, evolutionary changes could not be denied. Whatever happened to that woman? Did Tyler discard her? She hadn’t been at any training sessions, but only guild members or their servants could get into that training ground.

Easy to think herself into a hole, Harmony forced herself to read on. In the same way, evolution is a progression of our class and profession. The skills you gain will be a progression of skills you’ve selected. It may not always be obvious exactly what skill the new choices offered are building off of, but your training done with me on skills will show many of those same benefits to your new skills as well. That is the strength of Thibodeux on Skills.

What about the strength of her training? There is no way she wouldn’t know what skill the new one will be built off of, or how well-connected they are for what she can do with them. Like with everything about Thibodeux, many of the underlying pinings were there, about practice, measured growth, and common assumptions. It didn’t feel right for her.

Harmony hate read further. Bare bone facts like needing to have all your skill slots filled before you evolved, and all skills developed to the point of stability. Another reason skill stones were so valuable was that many lower classes failed to evolve because they couldn’t afford anything except the dirty dozen they often refused to use.

There was only so much pain she could take before she threw the book across the room. The sting of potentially damaging a book was eased by knowing she could repair any incidental damage. That was how she got her hands on most of Tyler’s collection. Even with the book gone the aggravation lingered. Now it was late and she couldn’t sleep.

Ambrosia would be at some post-concert party filled with key fans, journalists, bards, and musicians. As much as Ambs would be delighted if she made a surprise visit. That wasn't a crowd Harmony wanted to be around.

She lightly touched her primal bond, was Adric awake? It shouldn”t have been a surprise to find him at the door so fast. He did have an adjacent room, but Harmony knew he spent most nights in Bowe’s feathery coils since his return from the palace tower.

“Everything all right, Harm?”

The come-when-she-even-hinted-at-calling was a bit much. But since he is here… “I’m looking for a way to blow off some energy in a place respectful of my position and privacy. Nothing too dangerous. This is your hometown and you're a prince, so you might have some ideas.”

A smile bloomed on Adric’s face. Certainly one of the cutest pets ever. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me something like this!”

Then the bodyguards got involved. The suggestion of Roots, an underground black market and gambling den was nixed. As was the Chaos Cavern, which was too random in planning what would happen. Both were more about privacy and a gentlemen's agreement of what happened there stays there due to illegal activities. Why they were early suggestions did open up some unasked questions about the prince’s wild times of his youth. They settled on Reign at Night. A club that was exclusive to those who have authority with a focus on privacy.

Nick said he and the rest of the bodyguards can fold into the staff. He had connections there.

“I’m not sure they’ll accept me. I’d hoped to get a letter reinstating me, but it hasn’t happened yet.” Adric said with a little worry. “I could always be your plus one. Non aristocratic guests are allowed if escorted, though it is frowned upon.”

“Just speak with authority. You have it. Why that isn’t enough proof is silly.” Power is politics. Tyler’s lordling books made that very clear.

It was disappointing Hyacinth opted out of joining her. But he wasn’t a people toad unless those people needed to be eaten.

Reign at Night existed next to the city’s housing for lords who didn’t have other options. Ambrosia had dubbed it The Cellar, as many less distinguished aristocrats were also retired there. A mix of young and old authority. Compared to many of the large towers Harmony had seen it looked a little run down. It was worth having to show up to dinner to not go there.

Except for one who would wait outside, the bodyguards folded into the staff minutes before Harmony and Adric stepped up to the large black door with a golden crown painted onto it. A small slot that slid open and closed sat underneath the crown. Adric knocked and it slid open. “Who claims authority?” Asked a deep voice

“Prince Adric Highsmythe.” His voice rang with authority, clear and crisp.

“And Lady Harmony White.” Her authority came out with a bite of annoyance she came to burn off and a bit too heavy as she felt the weight slam out. Damn nerves. Internally authority shifted annoyingly. The recent level helped, but until evolution, trying to use it would be an issue.

The man behind the door grunted like he’d been punched. With a dramatic clacking of several locks and chains, the door swung open. Harmony stepped in first, Adric trailing behind her.

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Dim lighting and a slight haze of spice sticks hung in the air. Plenty of staff, but all of them dressed to blend in or actively using stealth type skills. The illusion of privacy while help was within arms reach. Letting them do their jobs, Harmony switched her attention to the aristocracy in the club. Her peers. She wasn't impressed.

Looks of fear, condescension, superiority, and annoyance came her way. Not a single hello. “Why would you find this a good place to hang out?”

“Back rooms are more social. These are all leeches hoping you need something or will acknowledge them so they can get a bit more power. [Analyze] them and check their authority.”

Using [Analyze] on a person like that felt both disrespectful and too much of a sign that she cared about such things. She reached out with the skill but in a broad sense seeking authority. Low was an understatement. If they had been friendly she might have given them attention.

With a flick of [Dust] synergized with [Manipulate Dead], Harmony cleared the lingering smoke from the air for their walk to the back.

The doors to the back rooms opened to a livelier scene. Young lords and ladies played strikers, tossed darts, and laughed at gossip or scandals. The authority average here was a step up from the front room. Self-selecting groupings, or are the weaker ones relegated to the front?

“Gods be dancing, Willow, is that Saddy Addy?” Exclaimed a young man in a very expensive blue shirt.

“I don’t know. He looks a bit too kept to be him.” Answered a tall blonde next to him.

Adric walked to the pair, arms open to give them a hug. “Jacob, you know I don’t like that name. I’m no longer the mourned prince, so Saddy doesn’t fit.”

They met in a group hug.

“Willow was toying with the idea of calling you, Arf because that’s the sound a dog makes.”

“You wanted to gift him a set of jeweled leashes,” Willow snapped back, poking Jacob. “All in good fun.”

The tone was more cruel than fun. Jacob and Willow. The prince and princess who’d escorted Adric to his captivity in the Palace Tower. As Adric took a step back Harmony stepped in close. [Shadowed Graves] spread out upon activation but for only a moment, enough to cover the pair briefly and smack them with fear. It was a big investment to start the field skill, so you might as well let it expand if you wanted access to the full effect for an extended period. This act was a total waste of energy. Harmony mixed fight and flight to create the heart-pounding fear of wanting to run but being unable to do so. Half a second, so it didn’t cover more than herself, Jacob, and Willow when she dropped it.

No authority, but death coated her voice. “ Good fun? Adric gets even a scratch from your fun, and you’ll see my version of fun.”

The pair shivered in place.

“Oh, cousins, this is Lady White, holder of my leash. She’s been making a game of running the tower alone. Her delivering the bastard’s severed head was the most amusing thing.”

“H-h-honored.” Princess Willow stammered out.

“The sheets don’t do you justice. Sadly, we have places to be and can’t stay.” Prince Jacob managed much more composed, but with the inflexibility of leaning on a social skill to manage it.

Willow managed a curtsy as Jacob did a little half-bow before the two shuffled off quickly.

“You knew they would be here.” Harmony accused Adric.

“They commonly like to slum it here. I suspected they might be here. Feel better finally being able to tell them off?”

“Yes,” Harmony admitted grudgingly

The visit here was worth that. Maybe a drink, then head back to bed?

“Harmony?” That voice. Harmony turned to face Lord Tyler. At his side, a very annoyed-looking Jessica wearing little to nothing. The sunfire berserker's eyes flashed with a brief heated red glow.

“Tyler, Jessica, what an unexpected surprise. Adric here is showing me some of his old haunts.”

“You should join us. Jessica wants to come with us to the Deadwoods. Thorne says only at her own risk, and since Adric is coming it might be good to socialize some. Just a few drinks.”

With no good way to politely refuse, and Jessica possibly joining the expedition Harmony accepted. It might be good to reconnect with the former coworker.

The three of them settled into a booth at the corner while Tyler popped away to grab some wine. “It’s good to see you’ve finally evolved.” Harmony started as some small talk.

“Like you care.” She responded with a flash of heat.

As a bitter old sun priestess who was also a maid, Jessica had represented a future that Harmony recognized as one of the reasons why she took the risk on the undead pet scroll. Now she looked younger than Harmony but was still bitter.

“I do. I’d go insane if I was stuck like you were. My greatest fear was to be stuck unable to progress, and you managed to do that. It’s inspiring.”

Jessica looked so taken aback and shocked that Harmony was briefly afraid she’d said something wrong. “Tha-Thank you. I thought you hated me after my behavior.”

Jacob and Willow flashed in Harmony’s mind. “I reserve hatred for those who actually do things that deserve it. Work conflicts and minor attitude issues can be things of the past. We all grow and learn.”

“Concordia Winery, the green year, second floor!” Tyler announced on his return, carrying a bottle and some glasses.

He poured the wine while Jessica snuggled into him.

“I know why I’m joining the trip to the Deadwoods. Why are you?” Adric asked after they all had a few sips.

The glance she gave Tyler was brief but longing. Worse was that it didn’t seem like he noticed. “I need to prove myself worthy. I owe Lord Tyler for what I’ve become. Supporting him as he gets ready for the Ascendant Games is the last I can do.”

“You don’t need to do that Jessie. Your advancement with Len set the stage for me to form my skill was payment enough. The Deadwoods might be considered dangerous, but we have a competent crew. Thorne said your joining was fine, but also that we don’t want the group too large as it might scare off some of the spirits and oddities we’re seeking.”

“Soon, you’ll be gone for months in those terrible Ascendant Games they’re making you do. I can be with you and help you now.”

“If that's what you want.” Tyler conceded. “But let’s do a toast to it.” He raised a glass. “To a successful trip to the Deadwoods and finding the right spirits to bond.”

Harmony held back a snort. It was apparently lost on Lord Tyler that of this group, he was the only one on a mission to do that, but they joined him anyway. With the way Jessica doted on Tyler, clearly, it was a more complicated relationship than one could assume. As long as anyone was between her and Tyler, Harmony would take it.