Micky woke up in not in the infirmary like he was expecting, but in the principles office. Admittedly he was expecting to be called in here a while ago considering, but he wasn’t expecting to be delivered here like this. Of course, there were still many students that were sleeping it off in the training field, the inns will be crying tonight!
Micky awoke to see the guild master that looked more like a secretary and the secretary that looked more like a lazy guild master. He then saw Prin in a corner also awake. Of course he also saw that it was nightime out the window. He was surrounded by his teachers, the people ‘he’ hired. Micky half thought he had done something wrong, half thought it was because of the incident with the guild master’s son, half knew that it was because he was a ‘noble’ or should he really say noble’s pet.
“What’ed I do now?” asked Micky. The people in the room started laughing.
“Alright, alright Mr. Anderson, enough jokes. It’s down to business. We have some things to discuss.” Said the guild master as she, he, it smiled. Micky still couldn’t get the fact that this makeup wearing well dressed woman was a man, but apparently that’s what she, he identified with. It didn’t matter to him any, but it still bugged the edges of his mind with [Does Not Compute] error messages. Probably because despite it being a man she was hot…
“We brought you here because we figured you didn’t want everyone knowing you were a rich ass noble. Not that it matters” Said the gnome.
Micky looked around the room questioningly.
“She means that everybody that needs or truely wants to know knows. It’s just the type of thing a rumor is, that and a few silver in the right pockets can move mountains. I’ve seen it happen, it’s entertaining.” Said the giant.
“You’ve seen a moving mountain?” asked Prin.
“Oh child, I’ve seen plenty of mountains move, sometimes of their on volition. No, I’m saying if you put a few silvers in the right pockets, especially of a powerful [Brown Mage] or a group of em’, they literally move mountains.” Said the giant.
“Alright, alright, enough idle chatter. We are here to ask the young noble about what his designs are for this class and what he wishes for from his tutors. We already have several that are mandatory from our benefactor. Two of which were brought in specifically. So please do not argue.” Said the guild master.
“I have tutors?” asked Micky.
“Yes, we understand that it may be frustrating to a young noble such as yourself but please bear with it.” said the guild master. Micky didn’t know how to feel about that.
“I understand.” Micky said. The adults around him released a breath he didn’t realise they were holding. Apperently they thought he was going to be unreasonable about this, like a certain guildmasters son. But Micky wasn’t even a noble, and Jimmy hadn’t been that unreasonable until just recently.
“Good, here’s a list of your tutors, and those that would be interested in tutoring you. Interestingly enough you impressed some of them. Although, I wouldn’t recommend the merchant. He just wants to know what your alternate trade route is, something we all already know, it’s pointless.” Said the guildmaster.
Micky looked over the various tutors. His physical and magical one on one training were mandatory. There was also an edicate instructor as well as a noble hobby instructor. Micky wondered what the heck a noble hobby instructor was? Or even what was a noble hobby? Was it a hobby that gained nobility? Micky shook his head, he needed to go over this.
“Now that you have your potential instructors, let’s discuss what you want out of this class. We can already see that you have one [Chosen] so we assume that you have need of three more? And are you willing to take on more attendants? There have been some interested parties that wish to become staff for your [House] should you need them. In addition we would like you to choose a focus for the class itself. There will be a lot that will be covered in this class, but even with six months we can’t cover everything.” Said the guildmaster.
For some of that at least Micky had an answer. “Dungeon delivering, dungeon delving and survival.”
“What?” said the guildmaster.
“I would like that to be the focus of the class.” Micky said.
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“I see. That can be arranged.” Said the guildmaster cordially. Meanwhile the other teachers were slapping the orc on the back. He looked at the half ork and mouthed take that buttface.
“I’ll have to look over this list to see what I want for my tutors, I already know I would like to study alchemy from this alchemist. As for hiring for my house? I will have to arrange that later.” Micky said.
“We understand. However these tutors here, are non-negotiable. We have already received word that they will be instructing you. Considering your difficulties, we expect that it will likely be the end of the week before you can actually begin your instruction.” Said the guildmaster.
Micky nodded. “Is there anything else?”
“No that’s all we need.” said the guildmaster.
“Then I will take my leave. Have a good day.” Micky said. He just wanted to get out of there and didn’t notice his faux pas, but considering his ‘position’ he hadn’t done anything wrong.
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Micky and Prin decided to make their way back to the inn. It had appeared that the training field had become an impromptu sleeping location. However Micky and Prin would much prefer to sleep in an actual bed. Micky alone had had enough of the camping life for some time, though he knew it would come back to him in no time.
Of course that would be true if they weren’t abducted. Both Micky and Prin had their heads covered with hoods and a rag dipped in alcohol covering their mouth and nose. Slowly they faded out of the waking world. Micky was starting to notice a trend. Blacking out was not the part of his hero books he wanted to replicate.
Micky woke up with Prin, untied and seated. There was a lamp overhead but it was facing away from their abducters. Micky couldn’t see their faces but he was pretty sure he knew who they were. It didn’t hurt that they were whispering about things as they looked at his list of potential tutors.
“This one is necessary to have, but he should also take that one… Oh you’re awake, good.” Said Guard Dee. Micky just stared at them. Or what he assumed to be them in the blackness, he couldn’t really tell.
“Yes, you need to be more alert. And get a better guard.” Said Guard Dumb. Thes characters weren’t sparing Prin any of her feelings. The fact that they took her so easily means they were probably second or third promotion at least. There was no way that Prin was going to be able to even put up a fight.
“We think you should take these classes.” Said Guard dumb.
“No.” Said Micky.
“What?” Said Guard Dee.
“I said no, I’m not your servant. You can’t boss me around like I’m some loyal subject. I’m doing this because I’m Jimmy’s friend, but don’t think you can just do what you want with my life, or the life of those I care about.” Said Micky.
*Clap, clap, clap* “Bravo! Spoken like a true noble! Or even a hero! Maybe you’ll be the MC of one of your hero books someday! But seriously you haven’t realised you the count’s pet yet? They are literally training you up to be a good little pet for Jimmy, I can’t believe you haven’t noticed...” Said Guard Dumb.
“What?” Said Micky.
Guard Dee shook his head as he came into the light and sat down. Guard Dumb sat down next to him. “Kid, I get it. You came from a small village were being a [Citizen] puts you at top of the dog pile already, but these are real nobles we are talking about. They buy and sell people all the freaking time. Your life literally means nothing, all the more for being a [Pink Mage]. For all that the counts have lavished you with, it is literally nothing for them. You are literally just a pet for them to train up and present to Jimmy.” Said Guard Dee.
“No! Jimmy isn’t like that! Your lying!” Said Micky.
“It’s true, the Aldersons aren’t so much into buying and selling people. But that is Just because nobody strikes there fancy.” Said Guard Dumb.
“Jimmy would never do that! Do you even know him?!” Micky was screaming now.
“And that’s the best part of this whole farce! Jimmy tried to get you out of it, but the moment you accepted the count's goodwill it was over for you. Of course, Jimmy never wanted you as a pet. It was just one of the reasons he wanted to distance himself from you. Of course don’t think it was because he was being nice, he is still nobility through and through. Things weren’t going his way so he ended them, that was it.
It was a beautiful relationship between two non nobles, but then reality set in and he didn’t want that anymore. But the counts found the perfect present to give to their boy. You know they feel really guilty about him? Do you know his nickname? ‘Peace Offering’ because it was the last time the two counts were diplomatic.
You’ll need to know this if your going to survive around the counts. There are people that kill those around them simply because they exist, because that’s what it’s like to be true upper nobility.” Said Guard Dee.
Guard Dumb continued for Guard Dee. “So Jimmy is the peace offering because they had attempted to get back together again as things fell apart between them. It was the last ditch effort to save this diplomatic farce. It failed miserably.
But they both have nothing against their children. And really their children have nothing against each other, mostly. It’s surprisingly cordial for nobility. They don’t even try to murder each other! They instead leave that to their sycophants and courtiers.
Of course, if they ever succeeded the only reward would be their entire family, house, name, and clan being eradicated in the counts family grief, but power makes the desperate idiotic. So Jimmy is the entire family’s guilty conscious. And they are all fiercely protective.
Oh, and as a bonus, while the counts can’t see what a farce and a horrible monster wave this will be, Jimmy’s siblings more then can. So they will be playing with you to no end. But all of this is because of Jimmy. So enjoy being a pet, I can tell you that it’s much better then being a pawn.” Guard Dumb finished by throwing the piece of paper with the list of tutors towards Micky.
“Oh, and get a house and some servants. Don’t mind that your not nobility yet. The counts will set you up with a [Bourgeoisie] soon. And rent a real house, this place is just unbefitting of a real noble, it’s bad enough you already spent a week here.” Said Guard Dee.