Jonathan
Tablos sighed: “We must discuss what we saw there. Also, you will certainly have realized that the math says that void element magic should be without cost for you, as well as maybe spiritual magic. Why maybe? Because we do not know enough about it to say how affinities affect spiritual magic. But it almost certainly won’t be without cost, as well as void elemental magic. The reason for this is, that with the training modifier you will hit a threshold when you cannot lower the cost of a spell. It would only be logical if this also applies to affinities. You will be able to cast even powerful spells quite often, but not without pause…”
Jonathan interrupted him abruptly: “How do you even know these forms? You have no idea about these base costs because you cannot measure them, you are unable to measure the amount of mana someone can store and yet you have incredible precise data for this one point? It does seem unlikely if not impossible! So where do you have this information from that you accept it as the absolute truth?”
Tablos was quiet for a minute or two. After that he began speaking: “This information comes from the void. Some creatures of it travelled a long time ago to this world and spread this information. Or this is how the story goes. But while we are unable to test if this is correct, we also cannot test if it is incorrect. So we generally accept it as truth. But we wanted to speak about other things, can we get back to them?”
He looked around, saw no dissent with his decision and continued: “As I said, you will only get the cost of casting a spell down to a certain threshold, which is also individual for every person, at least we assume it is. I will train you in magic, at least at first. But now to something completely different. You have noticed these strange men that have spectated as you got tested?”
Jonathan affirmed this and also mentioned that he thought that the Archmage, as well as the Minister of Commerce, did not like this circumstance.
Tablos looked unhappy and answered sarcastically: “Yes, about that. A few of the more powerful nobles already tried to get you transferred to them, citing that they can help you more and, if you get powerful, which of course would be impossible without them, you could really help the kingdom. They also tried to use some obscure laws to try to make the king do their bidding. But, luckily, most of what they are trying is impossible. Unfortunately, one is dangerous. He is the one from which’s territory Elise comes.”
Elise seemed distraught by this news and exclaimed: “Oh no, what does this pig want?”
Tablos sighed and answered: “He says that you are still his subject, at least until you graduated from school. This statement affects a grey area, and the honourable Mage Lord Trison Wagred uses all his influence to try to make this an undeniable fact.”
Jonathan looked at the Archmage and asked: “What is his goal? I do not know how much control a Lord has over his subjects, but I see no real long term advantage in this behaviour.”
Gerard Wertin answered, which surprised Jonathan, he thought Tablos would continue speaking about this: “He wants to force Elise to marry his son. Theoretically, this is possible, but it is difficult. Then he could try to force a bad marriage contract onto her, which would make Elise basically a slave of his son, and would put you under his control through his son and Elise.”
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Jonathan laughed: “I do not think it would work quite as he imagines it would. I am not really forced to follow Elise’s commands, she only has a small bit of influence over me. But I also do not like persons like this Lord.” He began mumbling to himself: “Is it too early to introduce a revolution? Should I? No, bad idea, I do not know enough to pull it off…”
Wertin asked suddenly: “What did you say at the end?”
Jonathan answered innocently: “Oh, nothing, nothing. I only thought loudly if this world is ready for the introduction of a few concepts of my world. But I decided that I do not have enough information to decide if this is the case, so I will let it go.”
Wertin looked at him suspiciously: “I hope you plan nothing that could damage the kingdom. We must find a solution to this problem. Do you have any ideas? You do have a fresh perspective, so this is not impossible.”
Jonathan thought and asked: “Why is this possible. What can he do to force Elise into this marriage?”
Gerard sighed: “As the Lord of her parents and herself he can ask for her hand in marriage as tax. The contract could be written by him, without input from anyone, because it is his tax.”
The boy thought for a while and asked: “What is her worth? How much of the tax would she replace? One would assume that the tax is bound to the amount of land her parents are tilling. Because the other Lords make me and with it, her, seem incredibly powerful, also valuable, this could easily exceed any amount of tax he could levy without being completely obvious about that this is trying to get someone to be someone else’s slave.”
Tablos answered: “But it is not as easy as that. Because she has no value on the open market, and she cannot have one because she is a human being, he can choose her worth completely arbitrary. Because of another obscure law, there is a minimum worth, but it is not much, not enough to argue with the scenario you mentioned right now.”
“Hm, we cannot marry her to someone else, or can we?”
“Not in time. Even if we would find an acceptable partner, Elise would accept him and we would be able to draft the marriage contract, because of how he plans to do it, we cannot get her safe in time, but good idea, I had not thought of it until now.”, answered Wertin.
“This is a problem, in so many ways. I assume we cannot relieve him of his power easily?”
Tablos laughed and answered: “No, it is impossible to relieve him of his power. And killing him would create too many problems. Also, before you ask, we are unable to make Elise nobility on such a short notice without…” Tablos stumbled. Was that possible?
He asked: “without her having accomplished something worthy of being raised to the nobility. It must not be an important title, any title at all would be enough, but this is still difficult.”
“What would be needed to get such a title? Would an invention, work?”
“Maybe. If the invention is important enough or could be made look important enough that the king, who is very much on our side, has enough of a pretence to give her a title, it would, why?”
“I have seen no stirrups. They are pretty easy to produce and have revolutionized many things in my world, not least of all warfare. I do not think they will have an impact as great as they had in my world here, but they should have an impact.”
After they spoke for a while it was clear that in this world no stirrups existed. It was decided that Elise’s name would stand behind the invention, somewhat financed by Tablos with a credit that would be paid back over time, until the interest-free credit was paid back, Tablos would get a small share of the profits. Jonathan would also get a permanent share of the profits.
In the next week or two, everything would be managed, so that the marriage contract, which the honourable Lord Trison Wagred planned to finalize in two months’ time could never happen. At least that is the plan.
Before everyone left the room, Heras Hager began to speak: “The plants are growing well. I used the help of a void mage to get a pocket of space where time is accelerated, so I could already harvest the first batch. I used everything to replant. I also reduced a bit the amount of magic used, so it will take a bit longer this time. Let’s see what they taste like in a month, Ok?” Jonathan laughed and answered with a resounding yes.