“That doesn’t explain why I should wait.” Despite myself, my inner dwarf was revving up for some haggling. “All I see is a list of [Skill Scrolls] I should be able to pick from.”
She handed me the piece of parchment. “By all means, please, take your pick.” She grinned evilly. “Let me know when you figure out what I was talking about.”
Taking a closer look at the list of available [Skill Scrolls] I quickly came to see what she was talking about. “These are all borderline useless. [Coif Clean]? [Grape Grenade]? [Rust Removal]? I mean, the last one is halfway useful, but these all suck.”
She pouted. “[Grape Grenade] is one of my few non-poison damaging Skills.”
“Sorry, but you know what I mean.” I grimaced in embarrassment. “None of these are useful to a [Starlord] like me.”
“Exactly.” She sat back like the bird that got the canary. “Get it yet?”
What is she going on about? These are useless… Oh. I’m dumb. I really do need to poach her later.
“If I don’t help you, you won’t let me access the good stuff. Right?” My inner dwarf railed at the concept of her having the upper hand, but I didn’t exactly have much to bargain with.
Yet.
Leaning in, she grinned. “You’re a smart one. I guess that’s how you got one over on young Gareth.” She threw out King Evergreen’s name like it didn’t matter, which, in hindsight kind of made sense. Her position had outlived at least one, if not two previous kings, so why should she worry about the current iteration’s impression of her?
Dwarven blood surging in my veins, I settled in for the long haul.
There’s no way she’s going to get the better of me. How could I ever look her in the eye as her [Suzerain] when I poach her otherwise? She’d laugh me out of the building.
What followed was one of the longest and loudest shouting matches I’d ever witnessed, let alone taken part in. Nearly four hours of screaming, ranting, bargaining, and borderline insults later, we both sat back in the afterglow of our negotiation.
In the end, we’d agreed on one pick from her full list of [Skill Scrolls] before heading into the Tower, and two more after getting her clear of the rebels in town who wanted to kill her so she could leave for Sunhome before her time was up. It was her proposal and, while I’d argued for all three picks up front, I actually wanted to delay my later picks.
It turns out that more options isn’t always better. To be clear, it usually was, but I was starting to get overwhelmed by the number of options for Skills and those were just the ones I actually knew, not including those I had dominated. I figured a bit of Tower-Climbing would help me solidify my Skill foundation and let me know where I was still lacking.
With a pop, Gabrielle pulled a cork from an ornate green bottle with gold filigree all around the neck and label. She wafted the heady bouquet from the bottle before presenting it to me. “I’ve been keeping this for just such an occasion.” When I took the bottle, she waved a hand at the table to deposit two wide brimmed dessert glasses before settling back on her couch with a satisfied sigh. “I haven’t had to pull out those tricks in almost a hundred years. You’re something special, [Starlord].”
A glance at the label, topped with the bouquet from the open neck, told me all I needed to know about the bottle we were going to partake from.
“Eight hundred and sixty-three years of aging, all in preparation for this morning.” With grace seldom seen, I deftly filled both glasses sans a half inch to the lip to allow for aeration. “If I remember my wine history correctly, that was your family orchards’ best year in the last millenia. No?”
She chuckled. “As I’d expect from the Sunbeam’s scion.” She shook her head, “It was a gift for my two hundredth birthday from the family head. I decided not to sell it or even open it until I’d met someone outside the family who could actually bargain me into a corner.” Lifting the glass to her luscious red lips, she took a small sip.
“The tannins are balanced, the acidity is crisp, and the sweetness just right. A truly exceptional vintage. My great grandmother should be proud.” She held her glass close to her chest as she sat back, as if waiting for my response.
Picking up the wine glass, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and, surprisingly, my [Essence Reading] triggered as I did my best to absorb the contents of the bouquet. Unlike usual, it read out loud in my mind as I took a small sip.
[Rowan Honeydew’s Finest - Legendary
Description - Rowan Honeydew’s Finest is a masterpiece of viniculture, a deep amber liquid that shimmers with a golden glow. Its complex bouquet, a symphony of orchard fruits and spices, unfolds on the palate, revealing layers of sweetness, acidity, and a lingering warmth that lingers long after the last sip. Drinking this vintage for the first time will permanently increase the imbiber’s Charm stat.]
What in all the world is this delightful liquid! This is both more complex than any wine I’ve ever had, but I think it’s probably just plain better than all but the bottle Mom broke out of the family vault for Grandpa’s three thousandth birthday. Notes of apple, orange, and a hint of [Tantelope] all dance across the palate in total harmony with a strong honey finish almost like a mead. This is to die for, no question.
[Charm Increase: 107 → 127]
What?! With difficulty, I didn’t spit out the delectable liquid at the notification. Twenty Stat points for one sip! Is it the [Tantelope] or is it something to do with the apples they were using? I don’t think I’ve ever seen [Tantelope] used outside of fancy desserts… that has to be it.
Doing my best to keep my cool, I opened my eyes to find Gabrielle just a foot in front of my face. Her glass was behind her on the table as she stared at me with wide eyes.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Well?” She practically glowed with happiness. “Was it everything you ever wanted in a drink?”
“The [Tantelope] has a hell of an effect, if I’m correct.” Something came over me and before I knew what was happening, I drew her down into my lap. To my surprise, she didn’t resist as she curled up against my chest. “In addition to being absolutely delicious, it also gives a permanent Stat buff for [Charm]. I’d say it was more than effective if you were trying to get on my good side.” My mind whirred as I considered the situation we were in. I wasn’t all that attracted to her, despite her obvious beauty, but something made me want to pull her in and keep her close.
She practically purred. “Ten points for me, but with [Starlord] you probably got closer to twenty, right? Gran Gran always swore this was her Magnum Opus and I’m inclined to believe her after finally trying it for myself.” She threw her arms around my chest and held me tight. Before I could consider what it was she was trying, her body shook as she began to sob.
This is the first taste of home she’s had in years, I’d be willing to bet. I was wondering why I reached out for her and that must be it. Somehow, I picked up on her longing for home and my body moved on its own to comfort her. I wonder if [Dominus’ Insight] will agree?
As the governess wept in my arms, I braced for the Mana drain of [Dominus’ Insight] and the results didn’t disappoint.
[Gabrielle Honeydew is a young elf too long separated from her family. Her role as the governess of Chalcedony requires her to show a cold exterior over her genuinely warm heart. What she lacks in combat ability she more than makes up for in mercantile skill and political acumen. Born to a family of little importance, she’s worked harder than any of her contemporaries to gather up a Skill Scroll vault of impressive size in a desperate bid to raise her family’s lacking status in Sunhome. The woman she refers to as Gran Gran is Rowan, the Honeydew family founder. Rowan has decided to leave Sunhome forever if her favorite descendant, Gabrielle, doesn’t return before the end of the year. Vassal Approval: 99%]
“It’s OK.” I whispered as I stroked her long blonde hair as soothingly as I could. “I’ll get you back to your Gran Gran before the end of the year. I swear it on the System.” A screen appeared in front of my face, but I willed it away. I already knew what it said.
[System Oath accepted between Arthur Neilson and Gabrielle Honeydew. Failure to adhere to this agreement will result in severe penalties.]
We sat there for a few minutes, with her sobbing into my chest as I alternated between rubbing her back and stroking her hair. At one point, she tried kissing me, but I politely rebuffed her.
“You’re smart, beautiful, and a shrewd negotiator, but please, not now. Give it a few weeks and let me know if you still feel the same way.”
It looked like she wanted to argue, but in the end, relented and went back to hugging me like nothing had changed.
Sitting there, I pondered romance for what might have been the first time since I learned of the concept.
What exactly am I looking for in a partner? While I can appreciate the appeal of a well muscled man as well as anyone, I’ve never even felt a spark of desire for any of them. As for women? I’ve literally seen a goddess in all her glory and felt next to nothing. What’s wrong with me?
My vision started to go dark as I leaned against Gabrielle in the middle of a panic attack. In her grief, she didn’t notice and just clung to me tighter. I surprised myself by pulling her in closer than even she expected, clinging to her as an unlucky rabbit would a rock in a raging river.
Grandpa’s over three thousand years old and living even a hundred without Grandma has nearly killed him. As Dominus’ [Suzerain], I likely didn’t have any stat caps, so my lifespan was effectively endless. I don’t want to spend eternity alone.
“You won’t be alone.” The faint voice I knew belonged to Dominus drifted in my ear like a summer breeze. “Trust that I’d never let that happen to you. As my Chosen, your journey will take you far and wide. One day, you’ll encounter someone truly special, a person who will hold a place in your heart like no other. When that happens, you’ll know exactly what to do. I promise.” Dominus’ voice was tender, like a loving mother’s caress.
I don’t know if you can hear me dearest goddess, but if you can…thank you. It’s been years since my last episode, I thought I’d grown out of them. You stepped up when my Mom wasn’t able to join me and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me so far. I look forward to a long happy life with you at the top of the pantheon once more.
“Flatterer.” She half laughed, half choked before stopping and getting serious. “Now be quick in picking your [Skill Scroll] and get back to your party. Things are still in motion, even if they’re not obvious.”
Anything for my favorite goddess.
With a sigh, I gently released myself from Gabrielle’s clutches, despite her protests. “Shh, it’ll all be fine. I just need to look at that list of yours before going back to my friends at the inn. We’re planning on diving into the Tower around noon and I still need to meditate.”
She wiped tears from her eyes, the lack of streaks revealed the lack of beauty products on her perfect elven skin. “You’ll come back to get me, right?” Her eyes welled up with tears once more until I put a hand over my heart.
“My System Oath is my bond in this case. I’ll return for you as soon as I reasonably can.” With a bit of effort, I shimmied out from underneath her and laid my fingers on her shaking hand. “The list, please.”
The look in her eyes said she was considering forcing me to stay for a while longer before she shook her head vigorously a few times before waving a hand over the coffee table and depositing a four inch thick and ten inch long roll of parchment. “Sorry it’s not sorted, but I never really planned on using them for myself so I just added the names and mastery levels and left it at that.”
Picking up the roll, I slowly unrolled it, letting my eyes scan over each inch as it was revealed. “That should be fine, thank you Gabrielle.”
“I’m going to meditate over here while you look.”
I could barely hear her as my mind raced at the possibilities contained within Gabrielle’s [Skill Scroll] collection.
With this many [Skill Scrolls], I bet I could… I could master [Skill Dominance]! What wonders would that let me achieve? My eyes skipped down the list, though I made sure to at least read each Skill’s name and mastery level. I wonder if she’d let me–
Dominus roared into my ears once more, this time like I’d heard my aunts screaming at my cousins. “Don’t become a paper tiger. Master [Skill Dominance] the right way. Doing it as you’ve just surmised is the reason one of your predecessors died. They had all the Skills in the world, but no practical experience using any of them. They died to a lowly Uncommon C rank [Swordsman] in fair combat because they couldn’t figure out which Skill to use on someone as lowly as them.”
Got it, learn Skills the old fashioned way if possible and don’t abuse my soon to be mercantile partner. Noted. I’m still taking what I’m owed though, I earned them.
“As is your right by conquest. Just be sure to actually use the damn things after you learn them. Alright?” Her voice softened. “You’re my–”
Dominus? What happened? What am I to you?
No matter how many times I tried reaching out to her, nothing happened. I even tried [Dominus’ Insight] and got a System error almost a minute later that refunded the whack of Mana the Skill used to activate.
My Status still shows my [Chosen of Dominus] trait, so she has to be alive. She must have just gotten busy. I shook my head. Time to pick my newest Skill. I wonder if I should pick a combat spell? The mere thought of it made me start to gag as I remembered Mindy’s body bleeding out on the floor of the shop she shared with her sister. Panting, I mentally shook myself. Maybe, but it’d have to be the perfect option or I’m just going to pick something else.