LIFE AS A GUEST

Chu rolled off a king-sized bed containing a straw-stuffed mattress and an embroidered quilt lining. The bedpost towered to the high ceiling while decorated by spirals of thin veils of red cloth.

The thick white canopy hanging overhead held a captivating embroidered pattern weaved by golden threads.

The vast expanse of the room swallowed the huge bed. A polished marble floor extended towards the far walls of solid stone which then rose to meet the lofty ceiling supported by massive wooden beams.

An engraved wooden tub sat in one corner opposite the bed, adjacent to a stone cabinet holding a large basin and earthen jug.

Dressed in only his trousers, Chu pushed open the massive double doors leading to the wide upper balcony while inhaling the crisp morning air. The chill on his bare chest warmed under the rays of the sun.

"No wonder the rich would rather squeeze the last dollar from someone rather than part with this lifestyle. One needs serious willpower to resist this temptation."

He sighed in thought while knowing only a few days of this living had gnawed at his adventuring heart. Luckily, he did not face this allure alone. Placing his hands on the marble balcony, he inhaled deeply while turning to his bed.

Chu strolled lightly over to the large bed and then cast a gentle gaze at the sleeping figure. A slight breath escaped the twitching nose as the body turned while clutching a thin pillow. A silvery line exited the side of the open mouth ending in a blob that swung like a pendulum.

Grabbing another pillow, Chu walked over as his soles disappeared into the lush fur rug circling the bed.

He then jumped onto the bed while administering a beating.

"Ah, what's wrong? An ambush?"

"Don't ah me. What the hell are you doing here again? First, you sliced the mattress in my room to see why it's soft. Now you sneak into my room to tarnish my reputation? What the heck will the servants think?"

Chu lambasted as he then raised a leg and pushed Ming by the ass down the bed. With a thump, the larger teen landed onto the rug with a groan.

"Have mercy on me Chu. Why can't we share a room? Sakura and Dyna are sharing rooms, so too is Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. Why can't we?"

"You damn well know why. Don't use me as an excuse to run away from that maid. You should have thought about it before you did all that sweet-talking."

"But I didn't know she would have entered my bedchamber that night. She scared the crap out of me. How am I to know the unspoken rules of nobles?"

Chu sighed. The idiot did have a valid point in that they truly lacked knowledge about noble etiquette. Mrs. Thomas imparted some knowledge, but only on relevant topics. Some things they needed to learn themselves.

"Well, at least Mrs. Thomas sorted out the issue for you. You'd better spend some coins on that poor girl. Lucy said she cried all night on being refused. Who knew servants also had to worry about this."

Nobles held the life of their servants in the palm of their hands. A slight, interpreted in some way, could lead to death.

The sound of a bell vibrated across the villa indicating the time for breakfast.

"What are your plans for today?"

Chu asked over the table filled with platters of bread, meats, and fruits. Two maids waited behind the chairs so as to replenish the trays or assist in their requests. At first, he felt uncomfortable but Mrs. Thomas chided him.

'They don't work for us so don't give them a hard time. Any action perceived as a fault could have them punished.'

"Lucy and I are heading into the city with big sis. We discovered a huge marketplace filled with loads of stuff."

Miki said while munching on a melon-like fruit.

"Mrs. Thomas is taking me and Sally to shop for clothes in the city."

Brella chimed with an excited face. For the past few days, Mr. Thomas drove the carriage into the city to deliver these groups of tourists.

"Sakura is taking me to the Brook Farm. The old geezer from the Brook House in the city will then meet us there. He has spotted deer terrorizing his fields and wants to negotiate a price. The wrinkled coot from the Yu Clan apparently bragged to him about us."

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Dyna sighed. When they arrived these maids and servants yelped, with some even fainting on seeing her charges. Later, she roamed with them to ease the minds of the servants. The Yu Clan maintained a large farm next to the estate. Strolling through the fields, she encountered the overseer cursing the destruction left by a band of boars.

Being a conscientious young girl, she presented her group of deterrents along with Sakura. A day later, the Yu Clan Patriarch fawned over them while handing over the payments. Since then, Houses and Clans with estates bordering the open plains nearby sent messages from the gate.

The gatemen and outdoor servants treated these little princesses with genuine respect. No noble dared to cross into the estate knowing it belonged to the Tower. Thus the only way to attract attention lay in flattering and bribing the groundsmen.

"The Brook House is a middle-class noble family in Limerock. I met the Head of the house, at the gate yesterday. Most of his guards are out with his caravans along the road, and the adventurers can only scare the fleet-footed deer away. By tomorrow he'll be happy."

Sakura said causing Chu to nod. The city did not cower his companions but flamed their adventuring heart. The steward of the villa entered the dining room and with a sweeping bow, then handed over a sealed letter to the boy. Chu accepted it and tore it open.

"Ah, well my plans to roam the city are scrapped. I have finally been summoned to meet the Council."

***

Within a large hall lit by candle chandeliers and oil lamps hung from the stone walls, the mages of the council gathered.

"I think Disparte hit the nail on this one. That boy is unfathomable."

"He is sharp, I give you that. I have never seen such a shrewd merchant. My first impression definitely did not place him as a commoner from the wilds."

Mage Tarot said while resting his hands on the semi-circular stone table. At the center, a chair and stone podium remained empty.

"That's not all, he apparently also has a gibing tongue. Rumors from the north gate say he impressed the guards and merchants by raising the status of the Tower. The kid is not as simple as he seems."

A thick wooden door creaked open, interrupting the conversation. A scarlet-robed mage bowed at the entrance before entering while leading a young boy. The mage ushered the boy to the vacant seat near the podium and then retreated.

The thud from the wooden doors sealed an unusual combination of wizened old men seated around a boy with a smooth chin.

"The Council greets the young inventor. Might we ask the purpose of your visit?"

Chu stood up and bowed. He then proceeded to the podium and naturally grasped the ends with his hands.

"I have visited the Tower for two reasons. Apprentice Tye opened my eyes as to the importance of knowledge so I request access to the Tower library. The second is to widen the views of my family. I would consider it a great favor if the Tower could help with this during my brief stay."

Chu said while locking gazes with the old men. He never planned on concealing his true intentions of using the library. What he did hide, was the reason he sought this knowledge. Even if someone lorded over him and acted as a spy, they could never tell what his true purpose lay.

"For a Heaven Gifted, the Tower library is always open. Some books might also require permission from a mage depending on its content. As for your companions, we can schedule a tour of the Outer Circle and then possibly find a suitable task."

A mage replied. The Outer Circle contained lots of areas requiring labor. The Council could easily palm-of the companions in such places. Since the boy possessed a keen intellect, the Council decided to avoid beating around the bush.

"Young Inventor, the Tower will gladly help in nurturing your quest for knowledge. We all, however, hope that you will understand that the world operates on equivalent exchange. Therefore it would..."

Chu cut short the mage with a wave of his hand. Since he began speaking he never sat down as a show of respect. To avoid the mage thinking that he had intended to disrespect him by cutting him short, he rattled out his thoughts.

"Please accept this humble one's apology for cutting into your words. This little inventor has heard the stories of the legendary mages since birth. I have already passed on an invention to Apprentice Tye concerning the grinding of special gems."

Chu scanned the crowd while continuing.

"Heaven provides knowledge to make the life of the common man easier. The Tower serves as a perfect conduit for turning ideas into reality. I will assist where I can during my stay in helping to explain certain inventions. Please rest assured of that."

The meeting progressed as Chu mostly answered questions as the Council probed him concerning his visit. After about two hours, they finally released him from the room to conduct their unusual discussions.

***

"What do you think?"

A white-robed man asked while looking at the talisman resting on the stone table. An hour ago, this magic imbued parchment spent the time stuck onto the podium where Chu engaged in the discussion.

"The magic particles are scattered and scarce. He has no chance to become a mage."

Another old man said as he also peered over. On the yellowed surface, faint, tiny, black stars dotted the entire rectangular talisman. Their number might possibly be counted on two hands.

"What about a lifestone?"

"The sun circle in the center of the talisman remains dark. Not that I also expected him to be a Sersen."

A Council member answered. If the talisman indicated the boy to be a Sersen, then these old men might laugh their heads off. As for someone possessing the capabilities of becoming both a Sersen and a Mage?

Such a question would only cause old men to weep with tears of laughter. Something like that had never occurred in the last thousand years.

The mage sitting in the middle of the semicircle sighed.

"Well, one can only hope. Thinking about it, the Heaven's would never allow a genius inventor to also gain additional powers as a mage. Open the library to him to satisfy his curiosity. The old languages will soon dispel his thirst and cast him back onto the path of an inventor."