The Quantum Wanderer

The following couple of days are just plain.  Apparently, I now have a nickname in the guild.  I am also known as Marcelo Lionheart.  Not because of courage, but because I am capable of having several females with me, and they are also under the impression that the females are the ones doing the work, just like in a lion pride.  I don’t really mind.

Today the girls are picking up their material in their particular schools.  The Command school apparently has a simple military uniform.  The Knight school, the clothes are a blue uniform, with a half plate on top of it.  The Magic school it is a blue wizard robe.  Funny enough, the most energetic of the girls with this new chapter is Aquamarine.  I keep imagining how her first interaction attempts went, from the side of the humans.

They also receive a notification, informing that the first day of school, that would generally happen on the first of the seventh month, will be postponed by a week, due to the recurring event of the dragons migration. 

As the night approaches, we start to get ready for the ball.  I get ready kind of fast.  The clothes are elaborate, but I still can manage.  Rudolph tries to help a little, but having someone else help you dress is so weird.

The girls are getting dressed in Cecilia’s room, so that the process is kept from me.  I go down to the living room, to wait for them.

When they come down the stairs, I am absolutely speechless.  They are all beautiful.  The dresses are beautiful, of course, but they are insanely attractive.

“Ladies, you all are absolutely stunning.”

Now I realized we have a problem, we don’t really have a chariot or something.  I should probably get one, and a big one to fit all of us, for that matter.   I call Rudolph.

“Do we have a chariot, or anything like that?”

“Not really, sir.”

“Is there a chariot service that could take us to the ball?  I don’t think that making the ladies walk around like that would be appropriate.  I should have realized earlier.”

“It’s ok, Marcelo, we can walk, we are not made of glass, you know.”  Cecilia interjected.

At this point, I was actually saved by external forces…  A guard comes around, and informs us that the Duke is also going to attend the ball, and that he is in front, to give us a ride.  His chariot, as big as ever, is able to accommodate us as well as him and his wife.

“I didn’t know you were coming to the ball.  Did the viscount invite you as well?”

“No.  This is more of a…  how does Leopold calls it?  Sneeze prevention.” And he laughs wholeheartedly.

I giggle.

“Do you think it can get that bad?  I would like to think there would not be this level of issue.”

“Don’t worry.  Even if not invited, the viscount is going to be as happy as…  Well, Sophia with her crow.”  He giggled and gestured to his wife.

“We saw her playing with her brother today.  They were playing the ‘god’s war’.  The supposed battle between Wrax and Nergal.  Since she only has one crow, thanks the gods, in their play she said ‘now that you killed ‘death’, I am going to kill you!!!!  Die!!!  And then Caius pretended to fall dead on the ground.  She actually named the bird Rebirth.  I must commend on the bird’s patience.  Not only on those plays, but also on the tea parties, that she insists on having real food for the crow.

“Edward mentioned that you have this talent for providing headaches…”

We all laughed.

In a short while, we got to the ball.  Since we are closer to the door, and the skirts are occupying a lot of space, we get down before, and then help them get down from the chariot.  I gesture Edward and his wife to go in the front, but then I realize that I don’t know what is the best action here. 

“Edward, what is the protocol here?  Matter of fact, you are a noble from the empire, while I am a peasant.  I don’t care much for those things, but I don’t want to stir the pot too much.”

“I can’t say I care all that much, to tell you the truth.”

In the end, it was decided that we would go in the front, so that he could be announced.  Of course, it didn’t work.  The guards were fawning over Edward.  When we arrived at the door, the butler was on the outside, on his knees.  Pretty much like Rudolph.  It’s funny when you see people you meet everyday, and realize that they actually are something big.

 He gets announced, and gets in.  We wait our turn, and then we get in.  To someone that doesn’t really care about the whole thing, it is very funny.

Still, when the girls enter the room, it goes quiet.  And I can understand why.  I enter last, and take a look at the room.

There are around some 60 to 100 people in here.  It is hard to judge, the room is really big.  There is a quartet of chords in the corner.  It is interesting that their instruments are actually alike the ones in Earth.  I wonder if perhaps another hero brought in this kind of culture.  For now, they are playing some ambience music.

There is a big chandelier in the middle of the room, with some light spells, and close to the wall, there is a table with some glasses with some sort of drink in them.  It is good, but not as good as the liquor that Rajesh offers.

Opal and Shandon stay by my side, while the other girls decide to explore.  Cecilia is interested in the whole experience, she never had a ball before.  It is not common among peasants.  Aquamarine is interested in the human relations.  Siratra is with Aquamarine.  And Ruby is with Cecilia, looking around.  I don’t think Ruby ever stops in a place.

I look at Edward, and he is talking to the viscount.  He gestures us to come closer.  Seeing that we are meeting new people, the other girls also approach.

“This is Marcelo and his…”  He looks at me, asking for help.

“Wives.”

“Marcelo and his wives.  Opal, Shandon, Aquamarine, Ruby, Siratra and Cecilia. Since my friend told me that he was going to come to a ball, I decided to come with him, to make sure that he is well treated…  You how some nobles can be…  And these parties, with so many of them…”

“Yes, yes, of course.  Even I cannot vouch for everyone here.  Such is politics.  But tell me, Marcelo, are you a noble?”

Opal was going to give everything away.  I signaled her to not mention it, there were only two results possible.  The first one, they believe and phreak out.  Or they don’t, and I just sound stupid.

“I can’t say that I am.  I do have some perks, as a mithril adventurer, but that’s about it.”

“Adventurer?  That must be so dangerous!  What kind of quests have you picked up already?”

“Some hunting here and there.  I also did some escort in the past.  We managed to get some coin, I can’t complain.”

“Ohhh…  By the gods, this is so exciting!  Tell me, do you know who was the one that hunted the dragons?  We saw the materials available in the auctions.  The price was just a little outside what I could offer, though…”

“Some of the adventurers say that it was just a dragon cemetery that someone found.  And because the meat has apparently so much mana, it doesn’t go bad.  Others believe it was a hero, but I haven’t heard of any hero currently.  Have you, Edward?”

He almost choked, but he kept his cool.

“I don’t know.  I myself have heard that the guild has been keeping this information under wraps.  Can you imagine if there were a group with that level of power?  If a group like that were to exist, they could do whatever they wanted!”

“This is all so interesting!”  The viscount was excited with the whole thing.  I inspected him, he was a level 35.  Not high, but not so bad.  I just wonder how many times he was carried to get there.  Either that or he is another Leopold that fakes a personality.  The viscount continued.

“What about the dragons migration?  Do you believe it is going to happen?  What are your theories behind it?”

Edward was the one to answer that one.

“Well, the guild is really putting its name on the line for that one.  We are even postponing the first day of the semester in the schools!  I really hope they are right on this one, or the guild would loose a lot of credibility.”

I continue.

“I believe it is going to happen.  Apparently their source of information was credible.”

At that point, we hear an announcement from the door.

“His Excellency, Anthon the emperor!  And his first wife, Andrea!”

There is this ooh, aah sound, and people turn to the door.  Anthon is there, in his usual military uniform, with Andrea by his side.  Everyone is murmuring around.  The viscount’s eyes are bulging, and he is holding his heart.

Everyone takes a knee.  I was about to, just following protocol, but Edward held my shoulder, and shook his head.  Anthon gestured for everyone to stand up.  He went up to the table, and grabbed a drink, and came towards our group.

“Hi.”

Edward bowed, and I followed suit. 

“What were you guys talking about?  I noticed that the chit chat here was lively.”

“We were talking about the dragons’ migratory behavior.  The viscount asked our opinion on whether it was really going to happen or not.”

“Oh?  Marcelo, what is your opinion.”

“Your excellency, I had just told that for the guild to trust their source of intel so much, it must be really credible.”

He giggled a little.

“Indeed.  Where are you all going to watch it?  Edward, you’re going to watch it with me, right?”

“Of course, your Excellency.”

“What about you, Marcelo?”

“I have a long task for that day, and I have given my word already.  I think I will have to watch it from the road.”

“And you, viscount?”

“I prepared a party for the day, and then we will move to the gardens.  I wish the guild had mapped where they are going to appear, so that we could watch it in the best place possible.”

“Your Excellency, do you think the population is ready for the event?”  I asked.

“As ready as they ever will be.  We have prepared them the best way we could.  Do you have any theories on why this is happening?  Other than what the guild informed, of course.”

The viscount was the one to answer.

“I heard that this is to signal Wrax’s second coming.  But those things are tales to make children behave.”

“Oh, definitely.”  Edward said, while massaging his chin.

We chit chat a little bit about some generic subjects, such as productivity in the farms, how the war is going, about some scandals on the mystery of a bishop from the church that disappeared suddenly, the relative to Arthuria’s king that went crazy, and the rumors about the demons new religion…  The viscount even suggested that Wrax might be being summoned by the demons.

After a little bit, the quartet start to play louder, and a more danceable waltz. 

The emperor is the first to dance with Andrea.  After the first song, he is followed by Edward, and after the second song everyone joins in.

It looks like a waltz dance, but it is heavily choreographed.  I am trying to remember the steps, and I think that the high dexterity actually helps.  I was never really any good on dancing.  I turn to the girls, and ask who wants to be first.  I inform them that this is not something I am quite used to, I will try to avoid stepping on their feet, but no warranties.  Cecilia wants to go first, she is holding herself to not start jumping in excitement.

As we start dancing, I see that some other gentleman approach my girls.  Opal doesn’t even answer them, while they go trying from one girl to the other.  The only that ends up dancing with someone else is Siratra.

I use this time to whisper in Cecilia’s ear the things that I like in her, how I value her.  I can see that her cheeks are kind of red.

I feel a bump to my back, and I look behind me, there is a person sitting on the floor.  I stop, and extend my hand.

“Here, I am sorry, I didn’t see you…”

“TAKE THIS PEASANT HAND OUT OF MY WAY!  HOW DARE YOU BUMP INTO A NOBLE!”, and he slaps my hand away.  I take a look at him, he is in his early forties in level.

The music stops playing, and now he and I are the main event in the party.  And the guy just will not stop talking.  He is actually smiling while creating the confusion.

“I am offended.  I demand a trial by combat, to the death.”

I look confused, to Edward, Anthon and the viscount.  Edward and Anthon shrug.  The viscount is kind of scared, trying to difuse the situation.

“Please, milord, he already offered you an apology.  Certainly this should be enough.”

“Silence!  I will not be talked back by a viscount!”

At this point, Edward moved up.

“Viscount, who is this?”

“This is marquis Trueblade, from Arthuria.  He is visiting the city, his son was trying the exam to the Knight school.”

The marquis stands up, and sets his clothes straight. 

“I demand an honor trial by duel.”

Edward holds the bridge of his nose.  I get close to him, and whisper.

“What does he want?”

“In the empire you can solve honor issues in a duel.  Robbery, civil issues, murder, they don’t follow that rule.  The only case is for honor justice.  He is actually using a loophole, the does say that.  I am going to try to fix this…”

“No, it’s ok.”

I turn to the marquis.

“As you wish, marquis, let’s get this over with.”

“Good, my guard is going to champion for me.”

I look at the guy.  His level is actually high for a person in this planet, he is low fifties.  Of course, at this point, I don’t really feel that much difference between a guy like him and a normal person on the street.

“Fine, he can champion for you.  But you said this is a duel.  If he looses, you die with him.”

“Humph, that’s actually pretty fair, I liked it.  And so it will be.”  Said Anthon, nodding.

I could see that the viscount’s face was sweating since the start of the whole altercation, but now the marquis’ face was a little sweaty as well.  We all go to the garden.  I start unfastening the cufflinker, so that I don’t break it in the process.  The guard and the marquis are some 15 feet from me.  I can’t resist my curiosity.

“What is your name?”

Both of them stop talking, and turn to me.  The guard responds.

“Michael.”

“Michael, why are you doing this?”

“I am his retainer, this is my job.”

“Money, then.  Do you have a family?  What is going to happen to them if you fall here?”

This guy stops for a moment.  I don’t really care, but I am always curious about what makes other people tick.

“The marquis will take care of them.”

“You mean, his son, right?  If you fall, he falls.  Anyway, not really my concern.  You are doing this for money.  It’s not the first time you do this kind of thing, this is not a fluke.”

“You are the weirdest person I have ever dueled, mister.”

I am offered a sword by one of the emperor’s guards.  A very nice, mithril sword.  I really have to get a sword made of this.  I check the balance, it is very good.  The marquis come close, and whispers in my ear.

“After my guard is done with you, I am going to have the bitch that kicked my son ravaged by my guards.”

“Just wait your turn.”

He steps back.  Right now, Michael and I are in the garden, with these people around us.  I can feel him activating the mana, he is reinforcing himself.  I do the same, starting with my brain.  Time slows down.  I reinforce my muscles as well, to be able to move in an accelerated fashion.  He sprints forward, it looks like he is moving in slow motion.  I place the soul absorption, he might have some nice skill.  I parry him, also in slow motion, and stab him from beneath his chin.  The sword comes out on the other side of his head. 

I let time come back to normal.  His sword drops, the body goes limp.  I see that the marquis is trying to run away, I throw the body of his guard over the people, and it hits him in the back.  He falls forward.  When he turns around, I am already, holding him by his neck.  Muninn and Huginn choose this time to land on my shoulders.  If I had to guess, they followed us here.

His eyes are bulging.  I remove the adrenalin from his body.  I do a war cry.

“DIDN’T YOU SAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE MY WIFE RAVAGED?”

I grab his hand, and squeeze it.  I can feel a lot of bones breaking in my hand.  He screams.  I give him a minute to recover.

“Pleaase, no…  I just said that to rattle you…  Plleeeaaase…”

“It worked.”

I squeeze his shoulder, and the same feeling of a lot bones breaking underneath my hand.  He screams again in pain.  The natural numbing that adrenalin would bring is never there.

“Since you were going to go after my wife, should I eradicate your family?”

“NOOO, PLEASEE…”

I take out the sword that is still in the guard’s head, and cut off the noble’s head with it.  Everyone is silent around us.  I try to shake off some of the blood, but it is still a little dirty.  I use some water magic, and clean it up.  Then I hold it by the blade and hand it back to the guard that had lent it to me.

“Thank you.”

He nodded, very slowly, and grabbed the sword.  He mouths something, but I can’t really discern what it would be.  I am assuming it is something like ‘welcome’, but I could be mistaken.

I take another look around.  One could hear a pin drop.  I don’t really know what to do, so I clap my hands.

“Well, I am sorry for this.”

People are just muttering some words, like ‘it’s ok’, ‘don’t worry’.  Edward starts to giggle, until he start full blown laughing.

“Well, my friend, I am sorry, I think that the party time is kind of gone.”

People start to leave slowly, one by one.  They don’t say goodbye, they don’t really react.  I think that the whole thing may have been too much of an spectacle.  This is strange, considering that they were about to watch a duel to the death, and they weren’t bothered by it.

The only people that are now kind of acting normal are the girls, Edward and Anthon.  When I get close to them, Opal jumps me, and kiss me furiously.

After a little, I stop her.  After this, the party is almost empty, and Edward gives us a ride home.  This all comes to show me how bad some nobles are.  It’s a good thing that I know at least a couple that are nice.

When I arrive at home with blood on my clothes, and rips on my shoulders, where Muninn and Huginn landed, Rudolph is really scared.

“Are you alright, sir?  What happened?”

“It’s alright.  The shoulders are torn because Muninn and Huginn landed…”

“And all this blood sir?  Should I get a healer?”

“Not necessary.  A noble challenged me for an honor duel thing; this is his blood.  This is not salvageable, is it?”

Rudolph relaxes a bit, and starts looking at all the blood.  Then he realizes something.

“Sir, did you kill a noble?  By the gods! What is going to happen?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think much is going to happen.  Anthon and Edward were there, they kind of let me that I was in the right…”

“You mean the duke and the emperor?  By the gods!  Sir!”

He needed to sit.  A maid brought him a cup with water.  I shrugged, and decided to have a shower and retire.  I got a little sad that the dragonesses didn’t get to do any dancing.  It might be a good idea to do a ball later.  Where should I do it?  Here or in the demon empire?  I have to plan a ball for the dragonesses as well.