ILIAS PAYNE
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It didn’t take long to find our quarters. Our room, which I could only guess was the same as every other room in this building, was the size of a small tavern. Three large beds were lined up against one wall while shelves with books and a table with board games and playing cards were lined along the opposite. The only other room was a privy, meaning there must’ve been a public bath somewhere in this building.
“Master Ilias, will you please take the middle bed?” Erina asked as she put her things on the one to the far right. “I don’t want Master Thaddeus sleeping in a bed beside me.”
“What do you have against me?” Thaddeus asked. “And why are you referring to us as masters? It doesn’t sound right.”
“Unlike you, I was taught how to speak properly. You said you descended from royalty, right?”
“Not royalty. My family used to be a noble house.”
“Then there. I’ll refer to you as master.”
“So, what do you guys want to do?” I placed my things on the middle bed and changed out of my travel clothes. “We’ve got a couple of hours before dinner starts.”
Thaddeus jumped onto his bed. “We’re staying here for a week and we’re not allowed to have contact with the outside world. I heard from the other participants that there are services here to accommodate us. Everything will be free as well so let’s go explore the place.”
“Not right now,” I said. "We’re spending the next two weeks with each other and you two didn’t start on the right foot. Why don’t we stay here before dinner and bond?”
“Fine. How do you want to start then?”
“Why don’t we tell each other why we’re taking the exam?”
“You go first then, boy-genius. You suggested it after all.”
Erina and I made eye contact. “Why did you decide to take the exam”
I can’t exactly tell these two that I used to be the world’s greatest swordsman who was unable to perform jynx, but I couldn’t lie to them either. Our party has to be built on trust.
I’ll tell them the truth, but not all of it.
“Let’s just say that I thought I would be spending my entire life without the ability to use jynx. I was… scared to be the outcast. I was going to be pathetic. So when I discovered that not only could I perform jynx but everyone I looked up to hailed me as a prodigy, I told myself that I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. Two of my mentors are State Jynxists and I told myself that I wanted to be like them. I wanted to shoot for the moon and make sure I didn’t land among the stars.”
“How are you hailed as a prodigy, Master Ilias, if I may ask?”
“I was able to perform intermediate spells on my first try at the age of six. I learned incantationless jynx at eight. Oh, and for some reason, I have twenty-two gates.”
The both of them jumped up from their relaxed poses. “Twenty-two?!”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“That’s insane!” Thaddeus remarked. “I only have ten.”
“I only have seven…” Erina said. “You’ve got more gates than Master Thaddeus and I have combined.”
Both of them looked relieved that they had someone capable on their team, but it seemed as if they’d realized how outmatched they were. Sure, I may be strong, but the first phase was something I couldn’t face alone. They boosted my spirits with their impressed reactions, it was time for me to return the favour.
“Thaddeus, why don’t you go next?” I suggested. “You’re a descendant of the legendary house Mobley. Tell us why you’re here.”
“Let’s see where I can start…” Thaddeus crossed his arms in thought. “You two know everything about what happened to House Mobley after the death of Minerva, correct?”
Erina and I nodded.
“Our house went on the run and hid on an island just off the coast of Mifune’s Peninsula. After a while, the Nelbrandts took over the throne and ended the hunt for my house. We moved back to the mainland but since we didn’t bring any of our riches when we fled, we had nothing and became commoners.”
“At least you’re safe now,” Erina said, sitting up and hugging her legs.
“House Mobley used to be looked up upon. We even helped Decan save the very city we’re in. But sadly history is written by the victors and our house was labelled as traitors. Now we’ve crumbled to nothing. I want to bring back honour to my family name and I thought making a name out of myself as a State Jynxist would be a good starting point.”
“Where do you and your family live now, and is it safe?”
“We’re living in a fishing village near Port Town. The pirates scare us, but Brigadier Clegane has done a good job protecting us so far.”
“Who cares if your name has been forgotten?” she said. “At least you and your family are living a safe and free life. That’s all that matters, doesn’t it?”
Thaddeus laid back down. “Your turn, Erina. Indulge us.”
She broke eye contact and stared at the ground. “I don’t really feel like telling you right now.”
“What for? Ilias and I were just open with you. If there’s no trust or bond between us, how do you expect to pass the first phase?”
“Thaddeus, don’t push it,” I told him. “Erina, if you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to tell us anything.”
She took a deep breath in. “No, Master Thaddeus is right. The reason why we’re doing this is to build a team and a team needs to have trust among its members.”
We stayed quiet until Erina gathered the courage to break the silence.
“I come from a town in the south. About eight years ago my father was the colonel holding jurisdiction of our town. He kept us safe and was loved by everyone. Unfortunately, he had a weak heart and one day it got to him. The Capital sent someone to replace my father and that colonel is the devil himself. He taxes us for protection fees from sellswords under his thumb. Ten gold coins for an adult and five for a child. If you don’t pay that then he won’t be able to protect you from the sellswords who will burst into your house and take you away. He also takes half of the money we make.”
“Why don’t you report him?”
“You don’t think we’ve tried? He’s part of the government, he hides his tracks well, and he bribes anyone that tries to interfere.” By this point, streams of tears were flowing down Erina’s face. “Everyone enters the military as a private. The exception is if you enter as a State Jynxist where you’re instantly promoted to major, which is only one rank away from colonel. A colonel is the lowest rank able to hold jurisdiction. I came here to become a State Jynxist and take back control of my town.”
“Hey, Erina, I’m sorry about earlier,” Thaddeus said, his face red. “For accusing you of being the impostor.”
“It’s fine. I was the most suspicious anyways.”
It looks like we’re finally getting somewhere.
“By the way, what are your Tarot cards?” I asked. “Mine is The World.”
Thaddeus raised his hand. “Mine is The Magician, I said it earlier. I kinda forgot what it means but it has something to do with talent.”
“I just got mine a couple of days ago when I arrived at the Capital,” Erina said. “I’m The Star. It’s supposed to symbolize hope and faith.”
“Three Major Arcana cards? Actually, Roswaal said he was The Devil so that makes it four.”
“Why bring up Tarot cards?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. I just find it interesting, especially when all three of us have cards with big meanings.”