Night descended rather quickly, as it was the winter season. In the Outer Circle, the common folk finished their work, and quickly went home to eat or pubs to meet friends. The Market Quarter shined brightly in the night as people enjoyed themselves.

Compared to the Market Quarter in the Outer Circle, the Inner Circle was not nearly as brightly lit. However, the level of energy in the air was the same, if not more. The aristocracy and people of high influence that lived in the Inner Circle held many parties throughout the cold, dark winter months. No matter what season it was, Pherkad the capital of the Polar Kingdom was always lively.

A silver carriage pulled by a team of four horses travelled down the King’s Road in in the Inner Circle. The carriage’s sides had the coat of arms of the Richter Family emblazoned onto its sides. Being a family heavily involved with the House of Justice, it was no surprise to most people that the Richter coat of arms was a black hammer and quill crossed. Inside the carriage, the passengers were deep into conversation. Looking outside, Quill finished giving Mask his briefing.

“We’re almost at the Brandt’s manor. Do you understand what you have to do?” Closing her notebook, Quill looked expectantly at Mask.

“Mm. I have to frame the eldest son of the Brandt family, disgracing him in some way that results in him embarrassing the family enough so that his father makes the second son the heir instead. Is there a suggested way to do this?”

“Heh, that’s part of the mission. We have some idea of what can be done, but that’s up to you to figure out. This mission is designed to see how resourceful you are when confronted with an unfamiliar situation. An infiltration mission among the nobility is harder than what we would usually give first time contractors, but Center has high expectations for you.” Quill smiled sweetly as she explained.

“That’s fine with me. Doing things on the fly isn’t the best way but I guess I have no choice in this situation. Why does the mask matter though? I don’t feel comfortable in this one.”  His face covered by a different mask, Mask seemed a bit surly. Instead of his original mask that had no features, this new one was designed to look like the face of a wolf.

“You’re going to a masquerade ball that’s going to be attended by most of the people of influence in the city, perhaps the kingdom itself. You don’t really think that the House of Brandt would allow just anybody to walk in?” Chuckling, Quill took out a letter stamped with an insignia in the shape of a flame. “This is your invitation, and also identity while we’re at it. You’re to be the Knight-Captain Wolff of Fort Northstar. He’s one of my family’s allies and, coincidentally hates to be at any of these parties.”

“So he has an alibi if I get caught here, is that it? I impersonate him while he’s stationed in Fort Northstar hundreds of miles away with his troops.” Shifting his weight, Mask leaned back in his seat with his arms still crossed. “You do know that I hate these….frivolous events as well right?”

Smiling like a panther, Quill’s teeth shone in the near darkness of the carriage’s interior. “Oh, I know now, of course. But you’re just going to have to grit your teeth and get on with it. The only thing you have to worry about if you fail this task is that the organization won’t hire you. We’ve got ourselves covered.”

“What, the Knight-Captain can say that the messenger delivering the invitation was captured and that I was some unknown imposter if I fail?”

“Huh, you’re not as politically inept as most fixers that aren’t from the nobility. That’s the gist. Here is a prepared Memory Clone from the real Knight-Captain. He hates socializing in these events, but that’s not to say that he is not acquainted with most of the guests that are going to be attending the event tonight.” Bringing out a white orb from the inner folds of her jacket, Quill handed it to Mask.  “Take your time and absorb all the information from this Memory Clone. We left earlier than we needed to so you could have the time to get used to the Knight-Captain’s memories.”

“No need. It’ll just take a moment.” Grasping the Memory Clone with his left hand, Mask crushed it against the forehead of the his wolf mask. Instead of shattering instantly, the white orb was neatly absorbed by Mask. Images flashed in Mask’s eyes and voices spoke in his mind. “Done. Knight-Captain Wolff certainly has some colorful opinions of the aristocracy.”

“Mm. That was quick. Are you trained in Memory Magic?” Although she was shocked internally, Quill knew that some of the Memory Magi were able to absorb information and understand it at a much faster rate than normal people.

“You can say that. Right. I’ll be leaving first. See you later.” Opening the carriage door, Mask quickly stepped out. The silver carriage had stopped in a side street near the Brandt Manor. Although Mask would be impersonating Knight-Captain Wolff, Center’s organization had no way of procuring a military carriage to further complete the disguise. Not surprisingly, the Royal Army was not keen on having anybody not of military rank travelling in a military transport of any kind. Needing some way to get past the security, and unable to bribe the Inner Circle guards without spending massive amounts of gold, Quill’s family connections was the only practical option. As soon as he got off the carriage, Mask seemed to disappear into the darkness of the alley. No footsteps were heard as he walked into the darkness.

“I never would have thought that Mask was a memory mage. Perhaps he tampered with the Memory Clone he submitted to us? No, Keeper is a High Memory Mage. He reviews the Memory Clones before we give them to Center for review. If there was any tampering, Keeper would have seen it. Only the most powerful memory mages can get past a High Memory Mage’s notice. Driver! Head towards home. Our job is done here.” Nodding, the Richter house’s driver cracked the reins and the silver carriage moved towards a different section of the Inner Circle.

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After the carriage left, a shadow crept along the wall towards the Brandt Manor. Seeing nobody around, Mask chanted silently to himself. After a short while, Mask’s body seemed to get more muscular. His height grew, and his facial features themselves changed. Even more strange, Mask’s clothes seemed to change and adapt to the physical changes that the body were undergoing. After about a minute, a different Mask walked out of the shadows. Still wearing the same formal military uniform, but a different man in nearly all physical respects. No longer lanky, Mask was now taller and much more muscular, befitting a man who has known nothing but war for most of his life.

As Mask was walking towards the gate, another masked partygoer ran up to him. The man shorter than Mask by nearly a head, but just as if not even more muscular.

“Knight-Captain Wolff! I certainly didn’t expect to see you here. Why, I never thought you’d deign to come to a party like this.” Laughing loudly, the shorter man caught up to Mask nearly instantly.

“Knight-Captain Berger. We haven’t met in a long time. How is Fort Greystone? I’ve heard that the East is experiencing some minor revolts?” Holding his hand out, Mask shook Berger’s hand firmly. Berger’s mask was fashioned in the shape of a bear. It really suits him, that bear. The man’s just as hot tempered to his foes and can probably take more punishment as well. Mask was starting to get used to Wolff’s memories as more time passed since he absorbed the initial Memory Clone.

“Ach, don’t even mention that to me. It’s those bloody peasants in Count Roth’s lands that are bitching and moaning about increased taxes. That red haired lordling always pushes the people who live on his land just short of a full blown peasant rebellion. All that is really happening is that some of the more unsavoury folk are turning bandit along the smaller tributary roads that aren’t patrolled as often.” Screwing his face up, Berger shook his head as he sighed. “It’s not a real emergency, so I’m not allowed to deploy any of my troops. Roth doesn’t understand any of this, or at least he chooses to ignore it. I think now he just has messengers deliver letters requesting aid twice a day.”

“Mm. The Warden of the East didn’t mobilize any forces to stop these bandits? It doesn’t seem to be a huge problem if nothing official is being done.” Walking up to the gate, both Mask and Berger flashed their invitations to the guards. The guards immediately opened the gate and allowed the two Knight-Captains to pass. Mask smiled underneath his wolf mask. It seems that my disguise is working even better than I thought it would. I’m glad that the real Knight-Captain Wolff is clean shaven. I wouldn’t have any idea of what he looked like if he didn’t shave himself each morning. The Memory Clones being made can’t skip unnecessary memories, so they’re a bit inelegant in this regard. Although, why do I think that they’re inelegant? It’s not like I’ve seen any other types….maybe I imagined it?

Deep in thought, Mask didn’t even know that he had reached the entrance to the Brandt Manor until the steward coughed slightly. Berger elbowed Mask for additional effect.

“Gods, Wolff. I know you don’t like to pay attention at these events but we haven’t even gone into the manor yet.” Chuckling, Berger handed his invitation to the steward. “I’ll see you inside. I think we have to enter separately. Boys, let’s go in and get smashed!” Waving for his guards to enter alongside him, Berger walked inside.

“Now entering, Knight-Captain Berger of Fort Greystone!” The steward’s fine tenor reached the entirety of the hall. Walking down the steps, Berger nodded to the people that he knew before walking towards a group of people also dressed in military dress uniforms.

“Mm. It seems that now is the time for the military dignitaries to arrive? I see minor lords and military personnel but none of the more influential lords and ladies.” Looking at the steward, Mask seemed more lupine than usual.

“Sir is most observant. The standard procedure at most of the events hosted by Barons and higher involve this sort of ordered entrance. Of course, House Brandt is one of the five High Houses of our Polar Kingdom. Being a Duke as he is, the Lord Brandt is of course most insistent on this kind of entrance order.” Explaining with a flourish of his hands, the steward looked at Mask oddly. “But Sir Wolff has never expressed such interest in the social workings of the nobility before?”

“It is never too late to learn and adapt to new things. When on the battlefield, one must constantly change strategies to match whatever the enemy might do. I have heard my strategist say that the political arena of Pherkad is similar.” Baring his canines in a smile, Mask walked into the hall.

“Ah, very good Sir.” The steward was somewhat shaken by Mask’s presence. He was not used to being directly addressed by such a brute of a man, even if he is a Knight-Captain. “Now entering, Knight-Captain Wolff of Fort Northstar!”

The moment that the steward’s voice reached the entirely of the crowd below, curious gazes and whispers flew about. It was no secret that Knight-Captain Wolff was generally disdainful of social events hosted by the nobility. The last time he was invited to a noble’s party, the poor Baron found out that although Wolff did indeed come back to the capital, the Knight-Captain went to a pub and got wasted with the common folk instead. In the year since, the aristocracy stopped sending invitations to Wolff. Why he chose to come to the Brandt’s masquerade ball was an even bigger mystery.

Nodding to those few that Mask knew the actual Knight-Captain Wolff liked, he quickly descended the steps to where Berger and the rest of the military crowd were talking. The men and women in military dress uniforms all nodded to Mask as he drew close.

“Heh, we certainly weren’t expecting to see you here, Wolff. Still no guards as usual?” One of the women laughed as she handed Mask a glass full of wine. Taller than everybody except for Mask impersonating Wolff, Lange gave off a rather intimidating aura. Her mask was shaped to look like that of an golden eagle’s beak. “Why, it’s as if you’re a lone wolf. Hehe.”

Berger groaned out loud the moment Lange said that, and quickly stopped when Lange elbowed him in the ribs. Sheepishly looking at Lange, Berger turned his attention to the finger food available at a nearby table.

“Mm. Still no guards. It’s good to see you, Knight-Captain Lange. How’s the situation in the south?” Accepting the glass, Mask started to gulp down the wine.

“Ah, it’s the same as usual. There’s been no change in the activity of the Tribes along the southern border. I think they’re settling in for the winter. It’s always peaceful this time of the year since nobody really wants to assault the Kingdom’s fortified defenses in the dead of winter.” Shrugging her shoulders, Lange started to sip her wine as well.

“Bah, it’s always business with you two. Why can’t we just enjoy the evening and people watch for once? I haven’t been to a masquerade ball in years, and seeing how many of the nobility lose their masks over the course of the night is always worth a chuckle.” Another Knight-Captain sighed as he came close to the two.

“Still as easygoing as ever, Knight-Captain Becker. It’s good to see you in good health after the White Ghost incident.” Raising his glass for a toast, Mask grinned.

“Gods, you know how much I hate that incident. Who knew that flour would turn into an extremely flammable dust when in the air?” Raising his hand to his face, Becker grimaced as he remembered the burns he had suffered.

Chuckling, Mask turned to talk to the other Knight-Captains attending the masquerade ball. Even though only a small portion of the Knight-Captains were able to leave their duties to attend this party, their individual presences were enough to intimidate nearly all of the minor nobles in attendance so far.

Making small talk with the other military personnel, Mask took great care to look around the hall for possible avenues of escape and chances for mayhem if needed.

Mm. There’s nothing to do now but wait for the higher nobles to arrive. The host isn’t even supposed to show himself until all of the guests of honor have arrived. Oh, but this food is phenomenal. I can see how some nobles can be so fat if this is what they eat on a daily basis.