Chapter 175: Sleepover

Callum Veres smiled wryly at the blue goblin devouring his plate of steaming food.

Callum glanced at the red-headed dwarf sitting on his other side, “Thank you again, Kitty, for inviting us.”

“I just wanted the three of us to get together and relax a little before the final exam. I’m glad you were able to make it,” Kithina smiled brightly.

“So am I.” Callum glanced across the table, “And thank you, Madam Gidget, for hosting us in your lovely home.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure to host a son of Veres in our humble home. I only hope the food turned out well,” Kithina’s mother bowed her head.

“It did. Very well,” Stryg said between bites of food.

“I’m so happy to hear that, please help yourself to more,” Gidget nudged another plate of savory meat to the goblin.

Stryg pulled the slab of meat onto his own plate without hesitation, “I can’t believe you guys got actual venison.”

“Oh, do you like it?” Gidget asked with innocent eyes.

“I love it. Venison is my favorite, but there aren’t any deers in Dusk Valley, so it’s hard to come by,” Stryg took another bite.

“Well, I’m glad we had some. By the way, Kithina helped me make it,” Gidget said with a knowing smile.

“Really?” Stryg looked over at Kithina.

“...Yes?” Kithina said.

“It’s delicious! Back in my old tribe, they would have unanimously named you head cook,” Stryg said enthusiastically.

“T-thanks,” Kithina nodded.

Gidget held in her victory laugh. The plan was working well. Kitty was too slow to act in her romance, so as her mother, she would help her daughter’s love life.

Gidget had asked Kitty what Stryg's favorite food was and called a favor from a friend at the market to acquire the rare venison. She then made Kitty help her prepare it. At first, Kitty seemed reluctant but as she cooked she became more eager to share the food with her friends.

Gidget glanced at her daughter, Kitty may have been a slow learner, but at least she was finally taking some action.

“And I brought a couple bottles of Fire Breath to wash the food down,” Kithina’s father, Grolm, shook with deep laughter.

“Honey, save that for after dinner and not too much either. We don’t want our guests getting drunk when they have a big exam tomorrow. And Skobby, book off the table, now. You’re being rude,” Gidget pinched her son’s hand.

Skobby winced, “Mom, they aren’t the only ones who have a final exam coming up. The Civics Academy has this big final in a few days. The other first-years say it will be the most brutal test by far. If I don’t study as much as I can now then I won’t get a chance to hang out with my friends at the Festival of the Gods.”

“At least you will be here for the festival. My class and I are going to be gone for over a week. By the time we’re back the festival will be over,” Kithina grumbled.

“Listen, I’m proud that both of my children are in Hollow Shade’s prestigious academies, but that doesn’t excuse reading at the dinner table. Put the book away, Skobby,” Gidget said with a firm glare.

Skobby begrudgingly closed the book, then tossed a couple of pieces of meat at the two large dogs waiting beneath the table.

Gidget turned back to her guests, “Time sure has flown by, summer is already around the corner. It’s already been a year since you both visited. You should come by more often.”

“If you’ll have us,” Callum smiled politely.

“Wasn’t there a pretty drow with you guys last time? What was her name again?” Grolm asked.

Callum and Kithina stiffened. Stryg’s fork paused, his expression darkened. The dogs whined in fear.

Gidget noticed the change in mood immediately. She gripped her husband’s arm, “Dear, why don’t we talk about something else?”

“One sec, honey. I’m trying to remember. I think it had something to do with fruits, maybe? Peach, was it? No, that's not right,” Grolm shook his head.

“Plumela... Her name is Plumela... Most people just call her Plum,” Stryg said quietly.

“Ah, that was it, Plumela, like the flower!” Grolm snapped his fingers. “Whatever happened to that girl?”

Stryg didn’t respond, he simply stared at his food.

“She graduated and left for Undergrowth to pursue an occupation as a researcher,” Callum interjected.

Grolm’s smile fell, “Oh, what a shame. I mean, good for her. I just meant it’s always sad to say goodbye to a friend.”

The room fell uncomfortably quiet.

Kithina cleared her throat, “Dad, let’s have those drinks now.”

“Agreed,” Callum nodded.

“Uh, okay. Sounds good to me,” Grolm laughed.

“Honey, why don’t we head over to the living room, have the drinks next to the fireplace,” Gidget suggested.

“Great idea,” Grolm got up from the table and hurried away with the dwarven bottles.

Everyone, save Stryg, stood and began making their way to the living room.

“Kitty, can I talk to you for a second,” Stryg muttered under his breath.

“Huh? Yeah, sure,” she nodded.

Skobby glanced at the two with curiosity. Gidget pushed her son through the door and left Stryg and Kithina alone.

“Real quick, before you say anything, how do I look?” Kithina asked.

“What?”

“It’s a simple question, do I look good or not?” Kithina slowly spun around in her red dress.

Stryg’s eyes wandered towards her chest, “You look… good.”

“As in the pretty girl next door or the sexy woman that walked into the room?”

“Neither?”

“Oh, come on. I need your help here as a friend. I didn’t catch Callum secretly looking my way even once through dinner. I have to figure out what went wrong.”

“Why am I part of this? I need to actually talk to you,” Stryg sighed.

“Yeah, no worries, we’ll get to that. Does this dress make me give off more of the pretty or sexy vibe?”

Stryg shook his head, “Neither, really. When I look at you, all I see is you, Kitty. That’s the vibe you give off.”

“Wow, you really are of no help.”

Stryg flicked her nose.

“Ow, shit! Why the nose!?” Kithina stumbled backward.

“It doesn’t matter how beautiful you look, I don’t think Callum will stare at you.”

“I knew it, it's my freckles isn’t it,” Kithina rubbed her bright red nose.

“What? No. It’s because you're short.”

Kithina frowned, “Excuse me? I may be a few inches shorter than you now, but we are both small!”

“True, but Callum’s maids aren’t. They’re all tall. Even the silent one waiting over in the living room is tall. You think it’s a coincidence that he surrounds himself with tall, beautiful women?”

“But… but, he dated Freya Goldelm before, didn't he? She is a dwarf, like me,” Kithina bit her lip.

Stryg cleaned a piece of meat from his teeth with a clawed finger, “...How did Feli say it? Oh yea, having a preference doesn’t mean you won’t like someone outside of that scope. Personally, I like really curvy women.”

“I know, you’re always staring at women’s asses when we go drinking.”

Stryg held a finger up, “But, recently I find myself liking a petite vampiress.”

Kithina furrowed her brow, “Ignoring the fact that you’re married, what made you change your mind?”

“A lot of things I guess... At first, I hated her, I was going to kill her, really. Then I found out she wasn’t the person I thought she was. Turns out she and I had a lot more in common than I thought. Meh, what am I even saying? I’m not cut out for these kinds of talks,” Stryg scratched his head.

“No, go on, I’m listening,” Kithina sat next to him.

Stryg sighed, “...I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes getting to know a person changes the way you see them. Then it doesn’t really matter what they look like... even if everyone else thinks they look strange, you might see them as beautiful.”

“...You’re not just talking about how you saw her, are you?”

Stryg stared at his own blue hands, “I don’t know.”

Kithina clicked her tongue, “Right, well, thanks for shattering my self-confidence, I guess. So, what do you want to talk about?”

“I’ve been training a lot recently.”

“Yeah, we barely see you anymore outside of class. I’m honestly surprised you managed to make it tonight.”

“Your mom is a good cook. Anyway, I’ve been training a lot, but I haven’t managed to multicast once.”

“Stryg… You know multicasting isn’t meant for adepts, much less novices.”

“And yet you can cast two spells at once. How?”

“The professors say I’m an exception, one in a thousand magi or something like that,” Kithina shrugged.

“Yes, but how? How do you manage to multicast?”

“Do you know how multicasting works?”

Stryg nodded, “You split your focus and will simultaneously.”

“Close. You don’t split them in half, it’s more like you make a second copy in your mind.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“In practical terms? Yes. But remember, we are talking about the mind, anything is possible there,” Kithina tapped her head. “The concept is important. Instead of imagining cutting your will in half, try imagining doubling your will.”

“That’s it?”

“No. That’s just what I know. The rest comes naturally to me,” Kithina grinned.

“...Never become a teacher, you suck at it.”

“Hey, you’re the one who asked me for advice. I told you what works for me, you have to figure out what works for you.”

“Yeah, whatever. Let’s go get drunk,” Stryg hopped off the chair.

“I’m not trying to get drunk tonight, we have to head out to the valley in the morning. And I don’t think my family has enough alcohol in this house to get you drunk,” she giggled.

“It has increasingly become more difficult,” he frowned.

“...Hey, Stryg.”

“Hm?”

“I’m glad we’re friends. I don’t think you look strange, I think you are strange and that’s a personality quirk, not a physical trait,” she winked.

Stryg found himself smiling.

“You’re wrong about your freckles, I think they look nice,” he said quietly.

“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” Kitty blinked.

“Whatever,” Stryg walked out the door.

~~~

“I don’t think I can drink anymore,” Callum groaned.

His maid sat on his lap, her limp body rested in his arms.

“M-master,” she mumbled.

“I don’t think she can handle any more of my drinking either,” Callum licked his bloody lips.

“Haha! Stuuupeeed biiiaaatch!” Kithina pointed a shaky finger at the half-conscious maid.

“Kitty, get off the table!” Gidget yelled.

“NEVVAHH!” Kithina jumped off the table and fell flat on her face.

“So much for not getting drunk,” Stryg said dryly.

“Another?” Grolm raised the bottle.

“Gladly,” Stryg raised his empty cup.

A knock rang on the front door.

“I’ve got it,” Skobby ran to the door.

An armored vampire in a green cloak stood in the doorway, an emblem of a woman holding a large shield in front of her was etched across the vampire’s breastplate.

Skobby’s eyes widened in recognition, “Y-you’re a Gale.”

“Indeed. And I have come to pick up young master Veres,” he nodded.

Callum sighed, “It seems I have stayed too long. Madam Gidget, thank you again for everything, the food was incredible. Mister Grolm, always a pleasure. Skobby, good luck with your exam. Stryg, Kitty, I’ll see you both in the morning.”

The Gale warrior lifted Callum’s maid into his arms, “The carriage is waiting outside.”

“Farewell, everyone,” Callum stumbled.

“Careful, young master,” the Gale warrior steadied him.

“I may have had a bit too much to drink,” Callum laughed.

“So it seems, let’s get you home.”

“Have a good night,” Gidget and Grolm bowed together.

The door closed behind them.

“I should get going too. The walk back should clear up my buzz,” Stryg placed his cup down and stretched his arms.

“Wait, you don’t plan on actually walking back, do you? After drinking so much? At this late hour? With all the sentinels patrolling the area? You have no idea how dangerous the Commoner District can be at night,” Gidget said.

“I’m a mage, the undead sentinels won’t touch me if I have my silver nameplate with me, which I do. Besides, I’m not drunk,” Stryg shook his head.

“Nonsense, you drank more than anyone else here. Stay here the night, you can leave in the morning when you are well-rested. I insist,” Gidget placed her hands on her hips.

“...Do you have any more venison?” Stryg asked.

“You bet,” Gidget smiled.

~~~

Stryg blinked his bleary eyes. The sun’s rays were peaking through the window. It was already morning. He sat up on the couch, “Kitty, we need to leave!”

He could hear Kithina groan in pain from her bedroom. As her body began to come to from the hangover, her mind processed Stryg’s words.

“Oh, shit!” She screamed.

After a few minutes of running around the house, Kithina got ready and went to the door. Gidget handed Stryg and her a simple sandwich of bread and cheese.

“Stay safe out there, you two,” Gidget smiled.

“Thanks, mom,” Kithina hugged her.

“Thank you for the food,” Stryg said before he left.

“Why is it so bright?” Kithina squinted as she stepped out of the house.

“It’s called the sun, I hate it too,” Stryg walked down the street.

Kithina stumbled behind him, “My head is killing me. How much did I drink?”

“Not really the issue right now,” he pointed at the main street.

The street was packed with people trying to get to one place or another.

“Ugh, everyone is busy preparing for the Festival of the Gods. We are so getting late,” Kithina groaned.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Stryg began channeling orange mana through his veins.

“Are you kidding me? Those people aren’t just going to make room for us to pass.”

“They don’t have to. Get on my back.”

“Is this gonna be like last year’s final exam?”

“Probably, but faster. Hurry up and get on or I’m leaving you,” Stryg crouched.

“You’re lucky I’m too hungover to think about this clearly,” Kithina clambered onto his back.

Stryg wrapped his arms around her legs and held tight. His agility spell flared to life, the veins in his body darkened. He flexed his legs and vaulted into the air. Kithina screamed as they flew up over a dozen feet. Stryg landed on the roof of the nearby house. He glanced down at the busy street below then at the next roof.

“I can do this,” he took a deep breath.

Stryg jumped.