Chapter 116
Those Who Never Want to Lose Again
“Hooahmm…” Martell yawned. His body shivered lightly as he fiddled with his pants before getting out of the outhouse. It was no pleasant thing, going out to do your business during a cold night. Especially when the seat was as cold as the grave.
As he walked by, the boy spied Nick through the window, sobbing with manner unbecoming of a man. Whatever Connie and he was talking about might be the cause. He shook his head and tiptoed his way to the kitchen when he found Illumca the Dark Elf, sitting on an ornamental stone with her moonlit eye gazing at the Tower’s token in her hand.
“What are you doing up so late?” Martell asked. His sleepiness was blown away by the cold breeze blowing against his cheeks.
“I am thinking,” she replied flatly.
“Oh. I’ll leave you to that, then.”
“Wait,” Illumca stopped him. “Do you…think I should accept the man’s invitation?”
Martell folded his arms and appeared to think about this for a short while before returning the question with one of his own. “Do you want to?”
“…” she palmed the token with a look of confusion. Ever since she was born, she very rarely made her own decision. The one and only real choice she made was the choice that allowed her to live in her current body. It was a vague desire that arose from her love for Connie. But this choice was something more personal. She wanted to learn about herself. About magic.
She then gave him a strong nod of the head. “Yes. So far, I’ve learned everything about being an assassin from Kelly’s memories. But if I want to be stronger, I need to learn magic.”
“But I thought Elves are naturally gifted with magic.”
“Not enough. You’ve seen the power of an Unrestrained Candidate. If I’m just relying on my gift, I won’t be any different than the other Assassins. Not just learning magic. But understanding magic.”
“You sound like Mistress.”
“I am the closest one to her. Of course, she will rub off on me.”
Martell gave an annoyed shrug. “Then you already know what you need to do, why bother asking me for advice? I’m just a kid.”
“A kid? A kid does not do what you do. You lie as easily as one breathes,” she said with a brief curve of her lips.
“Well, that’s rude.”
“Even so, you are dependable for someone of your age,” she continued. “That’s why I asked you.”
Martell felt a shiver in his spine when he heard her compliment. “You are weird today. Very weird.”
“Maybe it’s the moon,” the Dark Elf said, turning his gaze from the token towards the full moon hanging in the sky, draped by the grey cloud. Dark Elves are very fond of nights like these.
“It’s a beautiful moon tonight.”
The boy gave a small shrug and returned to his room, where he slid under a blanket and snuggled up under it. He had dragged the bed up to a corner and slept with his back pressing onto the wall. He had slowly gotten used to the comfort of safety, but it was not an easy transition.
Before he dozed off, he glanced at the moon beyond his window and thought. It is beautiful.
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The next morning, as they were having breakfast, Martell popped a question at Connie.
“Mistress, do you remember the instrument that Teacher used?”
“You mean, the Guqin?” Connie took a sip of the tea that Illumca just poured for her.
“Yes. Yes,” Martell said, in a rare show of enthusiasm. “Can you make it for me Mistress?”
Connie laughed when she saw his ears twitch like a dog expecting a reward. “Martell, my boy, the extent of my skills at carpentry is making a door with so much lacquer you can’t open it without bits. It’s impossible for me to make something so precise as a Guqin.”
“Oh,” his ears droop down in disappointment.
Then, an official from the Castle came knocking. Connie did not bother stopping from dribbling honey onto her bread and gave a look at Martell, who immediately understood. He jumped off his chair and went out, before returning a few beats later with a letter sealed with the King’s Seal.
“So, it finally came,” Connie accepted the letter and opened it with the side of her thumb.
“What does it say?” Akula asked as she bit on a beetroot. She had gotten used to sitting on a bench now.
“In a week’s time, an award ceremony for our deeds will be held. Titles and promise of land will be involved.”
“I don’t need land,” Illumca said flatly.
“I doubt Calendia would also like to have its land given to those not from its land. We should be able to exchange the reward for something else if we need,” Connie added. “Enough about politics, anyone has plans today? If not, I’d like to -.”
“Sorry, I’m heading off to the Smithy today,” The Centaur said, washing down her meal with a slosh of ale. “I’ll see you in the Evening.”
Martell, who had been thinking about something, perked up and replied. “If I may, Mistress. There is precious little time I have before the AL-Khemiyans return to their country. I need to make the most use of it.”
“Very well. Go,” Connie waved him off before he jumped off and followed Akula out. “And you, Illumca?”
“I am planning to go to the Tower today,” She said. “I want to see what I can learn from the Wizards.”
“The Tower of Three Rivers, is it?” Connie rubbed her chin. “Would you mind if I go with you? I’m also interested in Magic.”
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“B-but don’t you have other plans?”
“Oh, it’s just a quick errand,” Connie answered.
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Clank…clank…clank.
The sound of iron hitting iron filled a workshop at the corner of the Business district. Its owner was a sour-looking and ornery dwarf named Grido. So mean and set on his ways was he, that he refused to take on an apprentice. Especially not a human apprentice.
He was bending a horseshoe when he noticed the sunlight being blocked by a large shadow.
“Greetings, Grido Brownbeard. Is it finished?” Akula asked.
The dwarf grunted and gave the horseshoe he was holding, one last hit before throwing it onto a pile of its brothers. He went inside his house and brought out a large metal lance that was about 2 meters long.
Akula took the lance and gave it a thorough inspection. Her eyes gleaming with appreciation.
“That is a dwarven masterwork, I can tell,” Grido’s gruff voice spoke. “Leave it to a regular human and they’ll undoubtedly make a mess of it.”
“That is why I leave it to you, Grido Brownbeard. My father spoke highly of your skill.”
With a simple tug at the base of the lance, it opened to form an umbrella. The force that is generated as it opened caused a wind to blow and made the stout Grido flinch. Akula’s muscles contract so as to resist the sudden weight caused by the transformation.
“My Yadin Sukheri looks better than ever.”
Sukheris in Grasslands Culture were used often to honor guests or for ceremonial purposes. But another type of Sukheri also existed. The Yadin Sukheri. Sukheris created for use in war. This was a weapon unique to the Tonsuldes of the Grasslands. Not only was it useful as a lance; it could also be used as a shield.
And in the hands of a worthy Tonsulde. nothing could be more deadly.
“Next time I meet that man, I’ll show him my true strength,” the Centaur promised herself.
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After parting ways with Akula, Martell headed over to the Al-Khemiyan compound. He actually, had no lesson today. Today, he came to the Al-Khemiyans because he needed to ask their Hero something.
Last night, he met his departed teacher once again, the Autumn Rain Cicada, and realized what it is that he was looking for.
Guqin, as far as he knew, did not exist in this world. It was an instrument from Connie’s old world. If she could not make it, then no one can. Fortunately, Martell was anything but stupid. So he chose to take another path that was most possible to get him what he desperately wanted.
The guards were familiar with him and let him in.
Inside the compound, he saw the Red Prince and his family gathered in the pavilion, watching a rare scene of their Hero doing physical work. Kim was wearing a man’s clothes for ease of movement as she ran laps around the courtyard. Kasheem was running with her, shouting encouraging words at her.
“Good morning, Haynim Abbas, Maziri Azerah,” The Beastfolk boy bowed in greeting.
“Ah, little Martell,” Azerah smiled as the child in her embrace reached for the young Beastfolk. “Come, come. Have you had breakfast yet?”
The child quickly crawled over to him and Martell gently picked him up. The toddler reached out to his soft, furry ear and played with it.
“What are you doing here? I thought Alugor had finished teaching you?”
“Yes. Today I have something urgent I need to ask Lady Sooyoung.”
“That will have to wait until she is finished with her training, I’m afraid,” the beautiful man offered a bowl of rare fruits to him, which he took politely.
On the other side of the courtyard, Kim was panting heavily, sweat dripping from her face. Her glasses foggy from her hot breath and the cold wind. “I’m…finished.”
“Unfortunately not, Maziri Sooyoung. You still have to do three more laps,” Kasheem said. His breathing was still orderly and there was no sign of fatigue on his face.
“Oh, God! Kill me now!” she groaned. She hit her trembling legs with her fist and pushed on to run the last three laps.
After she was finished, Martell came over with a towel and gave her a great big smile. “Great job, Lady Sooyoung.”
“Hah…haaah…I’m dying,” she complained. She took a goblet of water that Hirun brought to her and finished it in a few gulps.
“Why are you running like this?” Martell asked.
“It’s my compulsion,” she answered. Her legs trembling while she held onto Martell’s shoulder to get up. “These days it’s been forcing me to exercise. Today, the mission was for me to run around the courtyard. The points are nice…but I’m really not made for physical work.”
“I see. So even a pampered Hero has problems she cannot control…”
“What?”
“It’s nothing,” Martell replied. “By the way, Lady Sooyoung. I have a private matter I wish to ask of you.”
“Of course,” she answered with a smile. “Let’s go to my room.”
Hirun bowed and quickly followed behind them.
“Hirun? Why are you following me?” Kim asked.
“To have a man with you alone in a room is not proper, Maziri Sooyoung. Not proper at all.”
“I am sorry, Maziri Sooyoung. Though I trust Martell, propriety needs to be observed. My sister can keep her silence,” Kasheem added.
“Of course. My lips are sealed,” Hirun gestured at her lips with a smile.
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Once she arrived at her room, she promptly threw herself onto the bed and buried her face deep into the pillow before asking him. “Please be more ladylike, Maziri Sooyoung. You are in front of a guest.”
“Mmrg…” she groaned into her pillow. “So, what do you want from me?”
“Do you know anything about Guqin, Lady Sooyoung?” Martell said, straight to the point.
“Guqin? You mean that Chinese instrument?” she asked. Surprised by the familiar word. “Did Connie tell you about it?”
“I don’t know about Chai-niche,” Martell answered, then gestured with his hand. “It’s an instrument about this size. With seven strings. You play it on a table.”
“Yes, I know that. That’s a famous instrument in my world. Why do you want it?”
Hearing that, Martell got down on his knees. “Please, can you get me one? I heard that with your System, you can exchange points for anything!”
“How do you know that?!” the girl suddenly stood up and ran to the door, checking for people, before closing the door with alarm. She then asked again, this time more quietly. “How do you know that?”
“Um, I’ve heard some maids talking about it in the kitchen,” he gave Kasheem’s sister a surreptitious look.
“Hii…run?!” Kim grimaced as she stared dagger at the loyal but foolish maid.
“I – I didn’t –“ the maid waved her hands defensively, but Kim could see the uncertainty in the girl’s eyes.
“W-was it supposed to be a secret?” Martell asked.
“It’s supposed to be,” Kim groaned.
“I promise I’ll keep my silence.”
“In exchange for giving you the Guqin?”
“No. I’ll keep it a secret regardless,” he gave his promise instantly. To exchange trust for what he wanted would be the fastest and most rational way. But it would lose him and his Mistress a friendship. A friendship that could go a long way.
“My request for a Guqin is a personal request of mine. It does not have anything to do with my Mistress. Therefore, I am willing to exchange it for anything. I’ll work to pay you off if you need it.”
Kim gave him a helpless smile. “Connie has very good luck to be surrounded by good people like you. I can try and look at my System if it has a Guqin. But I cannot promise you that I will exchange you for it. My points are not easily gathered.”
Kim then raised her hand and called on a large screen which was about half the size of the room. Its green glow slightly blinding to her eyes. It was invisible to others, so they could only see her waving her hand around madly.
“Gugin,” she called out. Instantly the screen blurred to show hundreds of musical instruments. From the mediocre to the masterworks. She was not versed in the arts, and definitely not in choosing something she only knew the name of. All she could do was to look up the better-looking ones haphazardly. These ones had beautiful names and histories that boggled the minds.
“Found them,” she sighed. “They are not exactly expensive. But it would take more than half of my current points for the named ones.”
“How much is that?”
“Roughly ten High Potions cost 1 point. The famous ones here cost five thousand points.”
Martell calculated the numbers in his head and gave her a look of utter shock. “Fifty thousand Gold? That’s enough to buy a house by the Castle! I-I can’t afford that!”
“Ummm…” her eyes continued looking until it fell on one that looked old and used. It had no history and a very simple name.
“There is one that is cheap. About one hundred points.”
“Yes! That’s fine!” the Beastfolk boy shouted excitedly. That much he could still borrow from Connie and pay it back reasonably in a few years.
“Alright then. Turn your back. I cannot let you see the process. You too, Hirun.”
The two did as she requested. A bright green light filled the room for a few seconds before Kim allowed them to turn around.
On her arms was a battered case made out of thick leather that had begun to crack and peel off. The smell of dust and moth filled their noses.
“Cough,” Kim quickly pushed the dirty thing onto Martell’s arms and grasped for her inhaler. Hirun came over and rub her back to ease the symptom.
All the while, Martell looked at the dusty case as if it was the most precious thing in the world, and daintily opened the case.
At the sight of the instrument within, Martell let out a sigh of contentment.