[37]

Morning came too fast, and I woke without feeling rested. Casting my newer spells took more out of me than old ones did, but at least it finally paid off. Head splitting, I dressed in a fresh set of robes and looked over my notifications.

+1 Rank Detect Magic

+1 Rank Detect Poison

+1 Willpower

It took a near week of casting the spells daily to rank up my first, and most basic spells. However, from what I learned by reading—no thanks to my spell casting instructor—spells were harder to increase than skills, requiring many more hours of practice. Doing so would provide a bonus to range, duration, power, and lessen the fatigue of casting the spell, but each spell could only go from rank 1 to 5.

Hidden Weapon, my new charm, took the most out of me. It was less of a spell and more like a ritual, with a long chanting sequence that lasted nearly five minutes. Visualization was important to creating a new form for my poleaxe while I chanted. I found it challenging enough that I had to cast the charm twice, as the first time the new form of my poleaxe did not come out the way I envisioned it. The weapon was too big to turn into a ring like I initially planned, so I settled for a solid wooden bangle. A mental prompt was all it took to tighten the new jewelry around my right wrist, ensuring that it would not slide around during training.

From there, it was as simple as giving a mental command to return it to a weapon. I practiced making it spring into my hand, then back again several times before I had to sleep off the throbbing headache.

Raxx was in his usual cheery mood when I entered the living room, animatedly talking to Izzy about a fight with a giant sea crocodile. Hexing him the night before was something that I still regretted, and I made plans to apologize again. Fifteen seconds of spouting nonsense did not seem worthy of the negative reaction he had. At the least, I needed to find out why it bothered him so much. Otherwise, I doubted I could properly make it up to him.

The temptation to let it go was strong, especially after he slapped me on the back good-humoredly. In his mind, all seemed forgotten, which made it doubly hard for me to dredge it back up.

“Hey, Raxx, can we talk about last night?” I asked, doing my best to hide my nervousness.

Raxx’s smile dimmed a little, but he nodded his head.

“I really want you to know that I didn’t mean to upset you like that. Not only am I still sorry, I promise I won’t do anything like that in the future, okay?” I said solemnly.

“I overreacted,” Raxx said. “If you had done that to Joy, or Elaine, or anyone else, I would have laughed along with you. The thing is, I’m a [Windsinger]. Do you know what that means?”

I shook my head, never having heard of the class.

“Sajon is my patron God, and I have worshipped him since I was a pup. To the Harak, the voice is as sacred as the wind that moves our ships. We believe our laughter pleases Sajon; it is how we commune with him—that and telling our singing stories. When you took my voice, I thought I failed him. A Harak, or any beastman ascending, is a rare thing, and not meeting the expectation of Sajon devastated me.”

“I am so, so, sorry, Raxx!” I said, mortified. Forgetting to use Haunt in fights made me feel like a failure. I was afraid to use my power, but Master Rohan had convinced me I was being too conservative with it. Trying out a new ability on Raxx was my way of trying to open up and overcome that failing. Now, I did not know what to do.

“You are forgiven,” Raxx said, giving me a hug. “The fault lies with me as much as you; I should have had stronger faith in Sajon.”

I did not know how to respond to that. My inaction lasted only a second, and I returned the hug instead of offering more words.

An unexpected knock at the door drew our attention from bro-ing things out.

Izzy scoped out the window, searching the surrounding street, then checked through a peephole before opening the door.

Elaine Highrow stood in the doorway, giving us a wide smile.

“Morning everyone!” Elaine said, kissing Izzy on the cheek as she passed her by.

“Good morning,” I said, unsure why it felt so good to see her.

Raxx nodded to her, then headed back to his room to give us some space.

“I hope you don’t mind me dropping by so early,” Elaine said, with a playful half-smile.

“You came at exactly the right time,” I said.

“Oh?”

“Yep, we were just about to leave. Is that for me?” I asked, looking down at the paper wrapped box in her hands. An absurd yellow cloth bow embellished the container.

“It is!” Elaine beamed. “Tomorrow, we will be publicly announcing our courtship by attending the Start-year parties together. I wanted to get you something that I thought you might like.” Her smile turned into a blush.

“Well… thank you,” I said, not knowing what to do. No one besides my father had ever given me a gift before.

“Go try it on silly! While we still have time for breakfast. If it doesn’t fit, I will have to get alterations made.” She chuckled, slapping my arm.

I went to my room, and she followed behind me, throwing herself on to my bed. Izzy followed behind us, acting as both a chaperone as much as my guard, but plainly ignored our conversation. I wondered how many years it took Izzy to learn how to be there, and watching, yet mentally distant from the droll lives of teenagers.

“Hey, this is as nice as mine!” Elaine said, making snow angels on my sheets and wrinkling up the bed I just made

It did not bother me; I liked that she was feeling more comfortable around me. I wished I could feel the same way.

Stepping into my restroom, I opened the box up to see a marvelous high collared black and gold-colored jacket trailing a white clover design around the lapel, and down the opening. Black pants made of a similar high-quality material sat under it, as well as a ruffled white shirt that looked to be made of pure silk. It was an extravagant gift, more expensive than any clothing I had ever owned.

“How’s it going in there?” Elaine called. “I don’t hear you getting dressed!”

“Elaine, I can’t take this. This is way too expensive.” I said, feeling the dashing outfit over with my fingers.

“What’s the point of courting a Duke’s daughter if you don’t get expensive gifts?” Elaine said, giggling.

“I didn’t think we were actually courting,” I countered.

She said nothing to that.

I briefly regretted it, hoping my coarse words had not hurt her again. Pretending was something she likely did her entire life, but I never had the luxury. Hard truth was never far. Acting scared me as much as she enjoyed it. We needed to find a way to meet in the middle.

“All right, how’s it look?” I said, stepping into my bedroom, feeling every bit like a two bit coxcomb.

“Wow…” Elaine gulped, turning a curious shade of red, and glancing down at her feet. “I-It l-looks fine.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, worried. I felt like an absolute dunce in formal wear.

“Yeah! Looks great, okay? Let’s go get breakfast.” Elaine said in a hurried voice.

“I think it’s a little tight here,” I said, lifting the white lacy shirt grasping my stomach.

“Oohhhh-kay, going to wait out in the living room for you,” Elaine said, hopping off my bed and heading out.

Izzy rolled her eyes at us.

I shrugged at the both of them, heading back to the bathroom to get changed.

By the time I was almost finished getting dressed again, a mental tug pulled my attention away.

Quest

Court Lady Elaine Highrow

Buy a gift for Lady Elaine Highrow to wear

I could not help but sigh. Where was I going to get money for that? I was almost broke and had only a few contribution points. The kind of present a Lady like Elaine would wear would be outside of my ability to provide. Further, I did not know when I would have the time. Today would be a hard day of physical and combat training, and tomorrow was the day of the parties.

It did not feel right to ask Raxx for help, though gods know he had enough jewelry. Joy was a commoner that spent her entire life around books, and Izzy’s fashion sense involved three different sized war hammers. Angelina was the only person I thought of that could solve this quest, and she was not here.

Ugz was hiding from Elaine above me on the bathroom ceiling. I looked up to him, “Have any ideas?”

He ignored me.

Elaine joined us on the morning walk and even stayed with us throughout breakfast. Unlike the time she joined us before, I noticed everyone looking at us and whispering like we were visiting dignitaries. I was not sure if it was because of feeling better about being near her, or my much increased Perception score. Faces in the crowds of my fellow students watched us go to the sausage and egg line like we walked down the wedding aisle together. Sneers, laughs, and many other emotions caught my attention, but I hoped it was my overactive imagination.

Elaine seemed to be completely unaware of what I saw, smiling and saying things to her many random friends and acquaintances.

Getting used to the attention from the opposite sex was still a big change for me; but Elaine being at my side somehow shifted the dynamic. Looks were less lusty or blush-y, and far more calculated and envious. From both sexes. It does not need to be said again how breathtaking Lady Highrow actually was.

In particular, I caught sight of a red faced Reynold, complete with a thin scar across his cheek from where I cut him. I wondered why, with his resources, he kept the defect. Surely he could have afforded some healing cream? Maybe it was penance, I reasoned, for losing in the first place.

When we sat down at the table, Joy looked decidedly unhappy from all the extra attention we brought down on her. She said nothing to us, but it made me feel guilty, anyway.

We chatted while we ate about what the day had in store for us, but while discussing Master Rohan, Izzy caught our conversation.

“You guys are excited about Fifthday?” She said.

Raxx, who did not have his mouth full, asked, “No? Should I be?”

“Well, yeah. Today you get to go to your first dungeon!” Izzy said, grinning evilly.