I woke up to a funky smell right against my nose. I flipped my hand over my face and felt the slight weight I hadn’t notice lift off my face as well. I groaned and opened my eye slightly and groaning again. Akasha was a danger to others while she slept, her foot had been mushed against my nose yet again. It also made me rather keenly aware that we all needed to get a bath.
Then I remembered how I’d fallen asleep last night, this time difference was a bit of a mind fuck though, she had been given her own bed.
I eyed her a little curiously, when did she crawl into my bed? Then I simply smiled a little and shook my head as I slowly stood up out of my bed and made my way to the small table with a tiny mirror in one corner of the room. I felt in a good mood for some reason, giddy even.
I looked at myself in the mirror after I had taken off my bloody upper clothes and removed the bandages and carapace covering my wound. My eye was a deep grey with small red streaks in it now, the pupil cross shaped and slightly jagged. The other was now fully healed, safe the eye itself. I frowned a little at that, I had a scar reminding me quite a bit of Scar’s from Lion King going down my face but small. Maybe a centimeter or so as the impact site of the whip had been just right bellow my eyebrow. I willed a small cross to appear in the empty socket and it mimicked what my other eye looked at like a ghost pupil or something.
The sides of my head had begun to grow a little and was more like a grown out buzz cut now with the neck long black hair at the top of my skull now swept back or tied back in a knot these days. My beard was a nicely thick but short cover around my face. Something like when Chris Hemsworth’s was shorter and trimmed, yet slightly thicker.
I took out a knife and trimmed it a little more, making it look more like it was just freshly cut and well done.
My face was that rugged handsome yet I’d noted the slightly androgynous take my form was taking. I was suspecting my physiology ability might be fucking with my shape there and I really couldn’t do much about that. Instead right now I was like a mix of rugged yet that slightly refined look some men had. Like they were great conversationalists but could also put up a fight if forced to.
My body on the other hand was that athletic build you could see in athletes of sports requiring a very balanced body to really excel in. It just wasn’t sculpted instead it was toned with defined muscles but not overly so lending my body this sort of subdued strength instead of outright displaying strength.
I had to admit I enjoyed my body now, before, back on earth I’d been slightly out of shape but not fat or anything. That natural athletic body type yet I’d done nothing with it, allowing a slight gut to come into reality as I hadn’t paid much attention to my fitness.
As Robert my body had been slightly more muscular closer to an action hero like Arnold, Sylvester or Jan Claude.
I sighed slightly and using the wash basin I cleaned up my face properly as well as my body a little better. Then I grew a tasteful eye patch of chitin over my eye socket, banishing the ghost eye as I’d almost forgot I was keeping it active. It turned out to be a cover just over my eye, kinda reminding me of a certain Commander Francesca in the movie Sky captain and the world of tomorrow. I had thought of going a Mad-eye moody route but decided not to.
With that done I tied my hair up in a topknot and put on a linen tunic before looking over at Ashes and Dust perched on the posts of Akasha’s bed.
With a silent command I ordered the two to stay on look out and silently sneaked out of the room. Leaving a slumped over and almost faced down Morice, looking like he’d just come home from a bender on his bed and the ever wildly positioned Akasha sprawled over my bed.
I headed downstairs and spoke to the innkeeper who seemed confused at my new accessory and the fact I was just walking around like nothing had happened. Something I realized I should be confused about too, I was fully healed apart from my eyeball. How was I all healed up?
Shaking my head and deciding to figure it out later, I instead ordered breakfast after a bath for all three of us to wake up to and start the day.
Once I’d paid and returned to the room I noticed the glint of glass just under my bed. It was a medium grade healing potion, or the empty vial of one. I looked from it to the groggy girl now waking up on top of the bed and smiled. She looked at me and noting the healed look to my face she leaned forwards and hugged me. “I’m sorry.” She said half crying but keeping herself in check.
I’d been surprised at the surprise hug so early in the morning but couldn’t say I hadn’t expected it after her behavior last night. “For what?” I asked gently as I pulled her back to look at her face, her lip quivering slightly as I saw her struggle with her tears again.
“That you took one of those potions without permission to heal me?” I asked gently and she nodded at me, I noted the tears threatening to spill out in the corners of her eyes and my smile grew even gentler as I hugged her tightly. “I’m not mad at you Akasha. I couldn’t be mad at you for doing something you felt was right and in an effort to help someone else. Its a quality I find admirable to see in you.” I said gently as I pushed her back to look at her face.
I ran a finger gently along her cheek before I placed both hands on either side of her face and used my thumbs to run over her face to take away her tears. “Yo-you aren’t mad?” She asked her breath catching a little in her throat as she calmed down. I continued to smile at her and then leaned in to kiss her forehead.
“I’m not Akasha, I’m proud of you.” I said before flicking my finger at her nose teasingly. “You’re a better person than me.” I said with a little laugh at her confused look back at me. She’d been worried about me while I’d been thinking of the horrific things I wanted to do to the brat that’d taken my eye. Despite living most of her life as a slave, kindness hadn’t been beaten out of her. I got a far away look in my eye as I thought about it, jostled out of it when I heard Morice groan behind me and then I noted the look Akasha was staring at me with.
Like she was worried I was still suffering under my wound or not. I let out a slight sound, like the beginning of a gentle chuckle as I smiled and pulled the eye patch to the side. “I’m all healed, but I can’t regrow my eye just yet.” I said and she looked at my empty eye socket with a frown.
I made the blue iris of mana appear and winked at her. “Doesn’t mean I can’t regrow it when I want to.” I then said with a gentle but cocky grin and she looked at me with wide eyes before she began to giggle at what I did next. My blue cross shaped iris turned into a little bunny made of mana that started to jump and dart around Akasha’s head, hiding in her hair.
She giggled as I had the bunny come out and bump it’s nose against hers before I turned to look at a Morice that clearly wasn’t a morning person.
“You look like you just went on a bender on the boulevard.” I said at him as I stood and watched from the corner of my eye as Akasha watched the bunny run around and take different poses to amuse her. The focus needed to keep the bunny running around was like trying to hold a meaningful conversation while holding up a heavy ball in one hand. Manageable but you still felt the strain it caused.
“Boulevard?” Morice groaned before hissing and Dust began to lightly chuckle in his deep voice. Dust’s voice reminded me a little of the ominous voice Vincent Price had used for thriller. Hell his manner of speaking was very Vincent Price like. Only Dusts voice was just a little deeper and smoother somehow.
“Yes its a street known for a lot of bars, taverns and dance places back on earth.” I answered.
“No, just a few drinks downstairs and then I fell asleep.” He replied sending a rather pointedly annoyed glare towards Dust who’s chuckling turned low enough not to annoy the young man.
“Well I’ve ordered a bath for all of us to start the day. I don’t know about our little Baroness here but I think the two of us need it at least.” I said with a joking tone as I first gestured at Akasha with her new nickname and then at me and Morice.
He only smirked at me but then grumbled a little, he wasn’t a morning person that was for sure. Soon enough myself and Morice were lounging in separate bathtubs that had been brought into the room and filled. Thankfully I got the employee that helped with the baths to take care of Akasha in another room, both being women after all.
“It’s a new dawn… It’s a new day, its a new life… foooor meee~♪ Aaaand I’m feeling…. Goood~♪” I sang that short lyric from one of Michael Bublé’s songs with gusto as I felt the warm water soak into my muscles and loosening them up. Sinking into the warmed up water to ease my sore body. I was in a lounge singer mood today for some reason though a little bit of Latin cha cha sounded good too.
“You seem in an easy mood.” Morice said behind me, we’d decided to have a small wall partitioning us and it seemed both of us had the back of our heads pointing at one another.
“Well I guess it’s because I got a good night's sleep?” I wondered aloud before dismissing it with an internal ‘Nah’. “I can’t be mad after nearly two months really. Don’t get me wrong if I have the chance to rip that brats eye out I will take it but… It isn’t as...” I paused waiving my hand slightly in the air, trying to conjure up the right word.
“Practical?” Morice answered and I agreed. “I still don’t get it. Why have you let go of such a clear and rather justified grudge?” He asked and I thought back on his experience with me. I supposed I didn’t really come off as a forgive and forget type of person to him, hell I wasn’t. I’d just learned patience.
“I could get something out of it.” I said with a slight smile as I let out my senses, the dome around me could even covered the ground floor, like magical sonar. “After all now I have another card to play in case I require it.” I said my fangs growing a little as I smiled a toothy grin as I observed the people in the tavern downstairs eat and drink a little. “Imagine how an emperor would react to knowing his nobles just go around whipping or wounding visiting nobles? He’d lose all diplomatic power with other countries at best… war at worst.”
I smiled, a war with me wasn’t something this Emperor of Alocia should want. I’d ravage his empire at best and if he harmed Morice or Akasha? I’d leave him a specter ruling an empire of dust and bone. My eye hardened a little at the thought but then again wouldn’t that just waste time? Granted I could get experience in ruining an empire but neither was it ideal. Ideally a mutual cohabitation would be worked out. Especially if I was to become a teacher at that school Nafir had mentioned. I sighed getting tense over something I needed to be relaxed over wouldn’t do me any good.
I sighed again as my mood was ruined a little by the topic. I created a guitar out of mana and began to play a slow tune. I’d heard it in the movie Desperado, what was it’s name again? I wracked my brain as I continued to play absently, not noticing the upbeat tempo it had begun to grow into. I had begun to play and even began to humm and let out the occasional ‘Ay, ay, ay , ay’s’ along with other mutters of the less than half remembered lyrics. The melody was really the only thing I was interested in.
Morice had fallen silent after my answer to his question but now he suddenly stood from his bath and came over the side of the partition with a towel around his waist.
“What are you playin...g...” He had begun before he just stared at me sitting in the bath with a blue glowing guitar and plucking the strings absently while staring off into space. “How in the seven the hells are you doing that?!” He then asked staring at me.
I came out of it and looked over at him and smiled a little. “Mana materialization and manipulation?” I answered with an almost cocky grin.
Morice gave me a look that clearly wouldn’t let me get away with such an answer. I sighed a little. “Mana can be made into as similar a material as the strings or body of a guitar if you know the object well enough, hell even sound like the original.”
Morice didn’t seem so convinced and I turned the guitar slightly and began to pluck at it absently in a flamenco rhythm. “A Musician of a skill level over beginner has learned about their instrument, they know it’s quirks. Not as well as masters of course, which I don’t claim to be by any means, but I’ve learned a few instruments, one back on earth and more during my time in Wolfsgard when I got the chance to. Now I had to almost relearn them all again but when you have what I do then getting back to your old skill level is easy.” I answered and Morice seemed to realize I was leading him down to the answer to his question.
“And that is?” He asked, I’d told him about how my nights were spent in study with the council but I’d never told him more than that simple statement.
“Imagine how you can fully focus on something when you begin something.” I started and he nodded at me. “Now imagine being able to keep that focus and speed of knowledge retention for twenty four hours without need to sleep, eat or rest. Then lengthen that by six weeks.” I said and he looked to have gotten the idea of what I was going on about.
“Now imagine I spent almost the entirety of two weeks just learning to make materialized mana take on some of the properties of what I made it into. Like the wood of the guitar, its mana structured like wood in the shape of a guitar but isn’t. I won’t be able to create a sword and fight with it like any other sword, it would be fragile by sword standards even if I tried to have it mimic mythril or the like.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Then whats the use for mastering those two skills to that degree?” Morice asked a bit confused now at the versatility of these two skills. Then he stiffened up as he felt the point of a dagger at the back of his throat and the clearly missing sound of me plucking at the guitar.
“Just because I can’t make a usable sword doesn’t mean a mana arrow isn’t just as dangerous as a normal one. I can attack from every angle in a specific radius around me. Just because a sword I create won’t be able to take a hit or two doesn’t mean I can’t stab you with it. Then of course we have this use for the skill.” I said as I let the mana dagger at Morice’s throat dissipate and created a rank three magic circle at the tip of my fingers which pointed at him.
“With this I can empower and silently cast spells from any angle that I’d like to. Zalruk told me that at master levels I can even create ghostly busts of people and have them speak in their own voices if I have the memory and concentration to do so.”
I watched Morice as I moved my hand and conjured another rank one magic circle on either side of the rank three one. It was my limit for mana and I’d be able to activate the two rank one’s but I’d then need a few seconds to regenerate that tiny bit I’d need to activate the third afterwards. “Multi casting?” He asked as he sat down on the bed next to him, still wet from the bath.
“Multi casting from any angle I please.” I said pointedly and Morice looked to have gotten the implications these two skills could make happen.
“But if you use mana manipulation to create the circles and materialization to make them visible can’t you just create the circles and activate them without anyone getting to see them?” Morice then asked me and I sighed a little as the biggest peeve I’d had about the whole thing came to light.
“Apparently the magic has to be visible in the air to actually take effect. But if I get strong and fast enough in this casting method most would only see a flash of light before the spell went off.” I answered before I leaned forwards and drew water up to my face and over my head before grabbing a towel myself.
”Ok… then why use that to make instruments?” Morice said but I noted the slight look he’d had before he’d spoken. To him I’d been without spells when I took him on as my apprentice and now all of the sudden I had them.
“First for my own enjoyment as I’ve found music is… dear to me, soothing and healing even at times... with the right melody of course. Secondly it’s good practice on both materializing mana but also causing it to give off sounds, which might allow me to have mouths speak different spells before the flash to confuse enemies.” I said as I took two more towels and threw one at Morice to towel off with.
“I’m going to teach you spells. Don’t worry but I first have to reach a certain point of mastery to be able to properly teach you. I’m not going to half ass your education under me by any means. It would be nothing but a disservice to you.” I then said as I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. His countenance lightened and he nodded with a smile at me in return.
“Now let’s get dressed and get some breakfast. I’m starving and I’d rather be able to manage a few bites before our resident glutton gets a hold of our meals.” I said with a smile and Morice began to chuckle a little at that. I’d figured her gluttony was caused by malnutrition by her life as a slave and would calm down after a month or little more of actually nutritious food but if not… the girl might eat me out of house and home if I didn’t get some proper income going.
The rather large number of differing resources, money, equipment and other items Morice had managed to clean out of Bedlevs black market stash houses wouldn’t last forever but for now we had no problems with money at least.
The two of us were seated in a corner of the inn’s tavern eating a hearty breakfast of sausages, bacon, eggs, bread and potatoes. Akasha arrived with even worse bedhair than before after her bath and she sat on my lap as I combed her hair with my nails. In actuality I’d used my carapace to create small teeth like those on a comb at the edges of my fingertips and used that to properly comb her hair. My manipulation of mana transferred somewhat to the carapace itself which made me think of differing uses that might afford me. After all wasn’t the fuzzy bumblebee also clad in an exoskeleton?
Wouldn’t that mean I could have the carapace take on more properties of clothing in the future with mastery over it? I’d have to experiment with the council when next I fell asleep to get to the bottom of it.
A melody suddenly began to drift through the air and the low murmurs of the crowds conversations began to lower as an elf dressed in rather gaudy clothing was strumming a lute. The bard wore something I’d seen Legolas wear to gatherings in the movies, just whine red for his pants and an awful purple for the top. I wasn’t much for fashion but what he wore somehow hurt my eyes to look at for too long.
The elf himself was like a feminine version of Legolas, same length of soft blond hair and hairstyle but much slimmer and effeminate. He was a man as the beard on his face was so well trimmed it looked painted on almost.
Then he began to sing in elvish, I had to admit the language sounded made to be sung. It had been what had drawn me to it as Robert and I placed Akasha down on the table next to me and leaned back to enjoy the music as the elf strummed a tune. It was the easy listening type of music I’d enjoyed when I went to a lounge bar one time. That had drawn me to Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Dean martin and Santana to name a few.
Those thoughts made me remember the conversation I’d had with my brother about how strange my musical tastes were. From one moment I was into heavy metal and even some techno then the next I was into lounge singers and classical music. I smiled to myself as I remembered the answer I’d given him. “Music speaks to a part of you that resonates with it at the time. You never really feel the same day to day so why limit yourself over something you can enjoy at your own leisure.”
I hadn’t released I’d said it out loud and the silence of the room had just fallen when the Elf finished his first song right before I spoke. “You’re a fan of music?” The elf asked as he looked at me with a smile and I cursed a little in my mind, I’d have to work on not muttering things out loud.
“Something like that.” I said with a smile in return. “Though your instrument isn’t one I’m familiar with in it’s use.” I said and the elf gave me an understanding nod.
“Oh I don’t know, I’d like to know what music Baron Aesir enjoys.” Magistrate Nafir spoke as he entered the tavern with one of his silver clad guards. He had a kindly smile but an impish gleam in his eye. What is this old fox planning? Then I remembered one of our number that wasn’t there and I looked around for Abhorash.
The door darkened behind Nafir as there stood Abhorash, still clad in his armor and looking like he’d like nothing more than to throw the Magistrate out the door. I smiled a little and spoke in Icelandic, my minions learned the languages I knew when I created them and they were intelligent enough to speak. “Abhorash, don’t go causing us trouble with the right hand of the emperor of this empire now.” I said calmly and even the elf stared at me.
I hadn’t known that Icelandic sounded too much like the language used for spells. When the black tower of metal nodded to me and walked over to stand at my side I noted a few of the patrons give slight sighs of relief.
“My lord, why tolerate any of their presence?” Abhorash spoke to me in Icelandic and I noted the gleam of interest grow in Nafir’s eyes.
“We need them. They are tools to be used and then perhaps discarded if reason dictates we must.” I answered before I stood up and gave a courteous bow to Nafir, then switched to the common tongue they used. “Magistrate Nafir, I hadn’t expected you’d arrive so... early” Or at all for that matter but I kept that last part to myself.
I stood and straightened out the second set of clothing I had that wasn’t something I’d use for training clothes. A white under-shirt and a black vest paired with a blue solid Ascot like tie with a black pair of trousers and calf high dress boots. Then to top that off I had a solid double breasted frock coat that reached down to my calf's with a top hat. The coat was black with the Aesir family crest embroidered on the left breast pocket, the image of a howling ogrewolf. Draped over my shoulder was the ogrewolf cape the head of the beast positioned in such a manner as to look like it was biting down onto my shoulder but staring directly ahead of me.
Freshly groomed and bathed I looked the picture of nobility, though the scar and chitinous eye patch I had fashioned must have given him slight pause when he looked me over properly after he’d gotten closer. “Yes... well His majesty the emperor was rather mortified at hearing about the incident yesterday. As such I am here more in an official capacity than I had intended to. He invites you to an audience.”
He spoke like he regretted things had to go onto such a stage but I had internal alarms ringing off. They were so loud I was afraid that if someone put their ear to mine they’d hear the sirens going off in my mind.
“I… see...” I replied looking uneasy as I looked from the silver clad guard to Nafir and then from the corner of my eye I noted how Abhorahs had clenched his fists enough to make only a little creak come from his armor.
With a slight gesture for him to calm down I looked Nafir deep in the eyes, a pointed and meaningful look. “And what can I expect from this… audience?” I put emphasis on audience hoping Nafir got the hint.
He gave me a slightly reassuring look but I still knew I couldn’t or rather shouldn’t trust the man. “Abhorash...” I paused as I then reached out my hand and the shadows began to coalesce and grow from next to me and Garmur and his pack slowly rose up out of my shadow.
His new form was easier to have him pass off as a living creature now. He’d evolved slightly as the shadow infused soul I’d placed into him matured with his form. Now he looked like a very large wolf with pitch black fur and glowing blue eyes.
The guard immediately pushed Nafir back and took a ready stance which caused the menacing growls of the five wolves surrounding my group to make everyone around us freeze. “Garmur...” I began as I let my fingers run along Garmurs scalp which made him raise his head up in enjoyment. “You and your pack will work with Abhorash and protect my children understand?” I asked and the light bark that came from him made me smile before I looked pointedly at the guard.
“If you draw your weapon...” I felt the simmering anger that was burning a hole into my insides rise to the surface and the guard swallowed a little as he took a step back and visibly forced himself to relax.
“Now, now. Let’s all calm down.” Nafir said clapping his hands to calm everyone down. “This is Palak Fimek. I trust him as he’s an honorable man.” He said placing his hand on the guards, no Palak’s shoulder and gestured to him like the man was on display.
“I asked him to come with me along with his squad to show your children to your new lodging that I promised you yesterday while the two of us meet his majesty.” He said in a calming and diffusing tone.
With a narrowed eye at Palak I then moved with Nafir out onto the street with Morice, Akasha and the rest following behind me. Once we had all gathered with a total of six guards with Palak included to guide my children and four for myself and Nafir.
I gestured for Palak to come closer and whispered to him, allowing intimidating growl to activate under my voice as I whispered into his ear. “If any harm comes to my son or daughter, even a hair out of place. I’ll rip your soul out your ass, do I make myself clear.” I growled and I noted the deep swallow Palak did as he stared at me with wide eyes.
“I don’t think you have to scare a royal guard like that. They know their tasks.” Nafir said looking at me with disapproval. He must have heard what I’d said and I felt it said more about him than Palak that he was so calm. Perhaps this Palak was a royal guard freshly in that task? Or not as experienced with the world?
“In your words Nafir, I’m overprotective of my children.” I said pointedly right back at him and he gave a grudging nod. “And human life carries very little value to me.” I then said as I walked to Nafir’s side, Palak didn’t look all that happy with the implications of his new task now as he very courteously began to guide Morice and Akasha.
Akasha happily riding on top of Garm’s back with Abhorash staying behind both of them and the other four wolves around before the guards themselves. I felt it was a pointed reminder to Nafir of how much trust I placed in others I didn’t know.
Nafir just shook his head at me and the two of us walked surrounded by guards towards the royal quarter of the city. We were quiet as we walked through the lower city and most of the middle city before Nafir spoke up. “I must tell you something… Felix. The Emperor will put an identification orb into your hands and you will have to display your status to him. The abbreviated version is fine but your classes, name and titles must be displayed.”
His words made me uneasy, the more of these practices I heard about the less I felt mortal disguise would be of much use in capital cities til it was high enough of a rank.
“And seeing those you think I’ll just be left alone?” I asked the Magistrate almost sourly. “I mean you’ve got a rather clear demonstration of what those with non-standard classes can expect hanging outside your own city gates.” I almost growled, I wasn’t happy at all with Cambells fate after we’d parted ways. I just hoped that his belongings hadn’t been burned and something of use might be hidden among them.
“Ah… yes...” Nafir said realizing just the trouble he’d brought to my footsteps without realizing the implications that might have for me. “I’m afraid you will have to convince the emperor of your… honesty in meaning no harm to the empire.” He then said apologetically at me.
I stopped and noted the uneasy looks from the guards as they looked from Nafir to one another and then to me. I leaned in and spoke calmly but just loud enough for them to hear me. “I’d like to see him try. I might have barely two months left before I go insane but I think I can manage your empire in that time.” I said as I looked deep into Nafir’s eyes and allowed my eye to slowly begin to glow red.
“However I appreciate the warning so please by all means allow me some peace to think on it while we walk.” I said and Nafir looked at me quizzically for a moment before simply nodding and we continued on walking.
Before long I was staring up at the palace of Alocia’s emperor. I was rather amazed at the architecture. It was like someone had studied European palaces and castles along side the Turkish and middle eastern palaces and then blended the two styles seamlessly with an elegant and majestic flair all of its own. It was breathtaking really, the Taj Mahal didn’t really even compare to this palace.
When entering the palace proper I noted that the outer walls of the palace had been made with proper defense in mind as well. So not only flaunting wealth but practical enough to include some proper defenses to the mix as well. Now I felt uneasy about meeting the emperor, more so than before. I wasn’t highly educated, I hadn’t managed to get into a collage or the like and while I’d been called intelligent I had felt a bit like it had been more courteous than true. Then again back on Earth I hadn’t paid much attention to others around me safe family and I think everyone has the same thoughts in their head when their parents or family call you handsome or intelligent. You want to believe them but a part of you feels their just saying it to lighten your mood.
With those types of thoughts and several other imagined on going conversations with the emperor utilizing all my experience with royals going on in my head. I entered through the gates of the Palace proper, hopping that it would go well at least.
I hadn’t even noticed when Ashes and Dust had taken their perch on my shoulders when we entered the Royal quarter.