- Day 15 -

William, Part 1

With the day almost half gone, I [Warp] into the Merchants Quarter where I first met Sarah, the book peddler and decide to walk from there towards the Merchants Guild. I decided to walk as I tend to find it allows me to organise my thoughts somewhat.

While I do have a plan for entrapping William in mind, I’m finding it hard to keep my concentration on him and the task at hand, what with the events of this morning keep popping into the front of my mind.

It’s not the situation with Risk that’s got me so out of rhythm, but rather the spar, and the fact I was able to read Gruff and Risk so thoroughly.

As cocky as I know it sounds, I’ve always been good at reading people and a situation, but that fight was on a whole different level. Their actions seemed like they were being played in slow motion for me… I knew what they were thinking and how they planned to act, hell, it even felt like I knew before they did at times...

Logically, the only thing or things I can think of that might explain it would be my INT and WIS stats…

I wonder if my intellect and wisdom are increasing outside of a scope I’m capable of comprehending?

I don’t scare easy, but I feel like I’m being changed and I don’t even realise it consciously. And yes, the paradox of that also weighs on me as, in the beginning, I found all of this amusing and game-like but now and in all seriousness, the thought of losing myself or being overwritten scares the shit out of me…

I know this is probably just an irrational fear as I still feel like me... but then again, would I even know I had changed if I was being overwritten gradually?

Ugh. I guess at worst, I would just become me two-point-zero, as if the change wasn’t gradual, I would be far more aware of it… right?

...Though if this is the effects of INT and WIS, what would happen if I suddenly increased PER to similar levels...?

I'm not sure which is stronger, my fear or damn curiosity!

I continue to pass through the busy winding streets while trying to process these thoughts before eventually coming to the artisans' hub. From here, it took me a while to find the Merchant's guild as I was expecting some grand-looking building. However, the guild is by far the plainest looking building of all the large buildings I've visited in the Capital thus far. What with its plain grey plastered walls, simple double iron doors and grey slatted roof. I don't know why but I was expecting gilded gold and silver everywhere, I'm kind of let down by this...

The thought only lasts a moment as I pass through the double iron doors while nodding to the mercenaries standing either side of them and into the entranceway--

Okay, now this was more like what I was expecting.

Passing into the building feels like entering another world, and yes, the irony of that sentence is not lost on me. Describing the room is to define a piece of art, all I can do is break it down, but to really understand it, you would have to see it for yourself.

The floors of the entranceway are gold and white slabs in a diamond-shaped alternating pattern, and the room is oblong in shape. The walls are polished marbled oak with ornate golden etchings of geometric shapes interlinking with one another like some sort of code? Or perhaps I'm actually looking at another language I don't yet know? Though I guess I would have learned it if that was the case.

The ceiling is high, with a smooth white embossed edging defining it away from the oak walls. A large lumi crystal hangs from the centre, and a single long red-carpeted staircase lays against the left wall, looping up and around the walls to a walkway directly above the entrance I walked in.

Various expensive looking furniture and art pieces line the room, and I couldn't even begin to estimate how much gold in assets is just sitting in this room alone. Lot's of well-dressed individuals are dotted about the place in various groups chatting and I must be a hot topic as most are staring at me while prattling away.

I decide William is most likely to be upstairs near the front of the building as it's where I'd want my office, so I head up, ignoring those who try to stop me by asking questions. Following the carpet round after heading upstairs and I'm eventually brought to a broad set of double red doors with golden looped handels. If this isn't the head honchos room, it's definitely something important, so I attempt to go inside.

..Damn, it's locked, naturally--

"Sir Draconis?"

I turn to see William at the door to the office before this one.

"Ah, Sir Trove. I was hoping to find you."

Makes sense actually, this is probably a meeting room of sorts.

Sensing my attention still on what's behind this door, he chuckles.

"That's the 'War Room' so to speak. We only use it when all the Merchant heads of the various cities are here for talks. Please, come."

He gestures for me to enter his office before disappearing from view. I naturally oblige him.

"Please, take a seat."

Williams office is smaller than expected. It has more of an expensive 'home office' vibe going on, what with the rows of bookshelves lined with books, the red Victorian styled sofa and solid oak central desk. I may not like the guy, but it seems I do respect his tastes.

"Thank you. How fares your day?"

He chuckles again, nodding to me before speaking.

"I didn't think you the type to make small talk Draconis, but it's been good. I managed to settle a few things and make a tidy profit so I can hardly complain.. May I enquire to the reason for your visit?"

William opens a drawer in his desk and lifts some papers out before taking the pen from a nearby inkwell.

"Straight to business. That's fair as you're quite right, I'm not one for small talk. I need assistance locating a patch of Ralgis Flowers, they're a--"

"A mountain flower, quite rare in fact, and also quite potent in alchemical properties... Don't look so surprised Aburi, I hardly got where I am by chance you know."

"My apologies, I should have known... Then, perhaps you also know where this 'Aimless Rock' is located in Firian Canyon?"

The canyon I refer to is literally two days by horseback north-west of the Capital. The 'Aimless Rock' is something I made up based on what I read about the area. It won't be easy to put two and two together to find a location that might be considered the area I speak of but there's definitely a location that fits so it's perfect.

"Aimless Rock? I can't say I've heard of it.."

"Well, it was worth a shot. I'm sure I'll find reference to it in the library later... My actual reason for coming here was to see if you could simply obtain some of the flowers for me?"

William puts down the pen and leans back in his chair.

"It’s quite the rare flower Draconis… Is this a personal request or is this necessary for our goals?”

“Honestly a bit of both really... I’m experimenting with blending it into our curatives. It should increase their potency by twenty or thirty per cent.”

That’s not a lie. I’ve always found a successful lie needs to be around seventy per cent truth to be believable. When dealing with someone of high intelligence, you're better staying as close to the truth as possible as you never know what facts they may have that you aren't aware of--

“I can make no promises, but I’ll look around… Though your best bet is probably that ‘Aimless Rock’ you spoke of… Can I ask what makes you confident this flower grows there?”

“A herbalist at the market this morning told me after I enquired about the flower. It was him who spoke of a hidden patch of them there, though it took me purchasing his entire stock to get that out of him.”

“Ah I see, so I assume you plan to send some mercenaries to Firian Canyon once you locate this 'Aimless Rock' to collect them for you then."

Baited.

"With a mountain of rare herbs possibly just sitting there? Come now, would you? No, I plan to head out there myself to see if the tip pans out. If my experiment pays off, we’ll need as many of these flowers as possible for the expedition after all... If you do happen to come across any though--"

"Of course. I'll keep my ears open about 'Aimless Rock' as well. Whatever I can do to help us reach our shared goal."

"Much obliged Sir Trove... Well, that’s really all I came for... I can see you’re busy so thank you for seeing me--"

“Please Draconis, any friend of the General is a friend of mine, and I can always make time for friends. Do drop by again.”

I will... You slimy little rat bastard.

I shake his hand before leaving the guild at an average pace without paying attention to anyone or anything thing in particular.

Next stop, the library!

The library is in the lesser noble estates, so I decide to take a carriage back through the Capital. I've somehow managed to put my silly fears away and turned people watching, something I've become fond of. Making up stories for the various people who're rushing around like headless chickens... I'm certain my odd chuckles, if witnessed, would make people think I belonged in a sanitarium.

The journey is quite quick as we didn't hit any traffic along the way, but after arriving at the library, I became rather annoyed at my carriage driver who decided to try charging me a full silver for the ride. It's not so much the sum I'm concerned with, but rather that every other carriage journey I've taken thus far had been entirely free. Needless to say, the argument got a little heated but ended when I decided not to waste any more time and just paid it.

- Silver King Coin x15 -> x14 -

Upon reflection though, I wonder if it's because I'm not human nor in the presence of a noble that I was charged? Either way, I can't rule it out.

I head inside to feel shocked as I notice a lone person sat behind a table, surrounded by books. He would be about mid-thirties, wearing a grey wool-like jumper with his long black hair tied low, back into a tail.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"I-I wasn't staring."

You were, but I can understand why.

"I know. I was wondering if you could help me find books on Firian Canyon, specifically anything relating to Aimless Rock?"

The man looks at me with slight confusion before answering.

"...I don't know of any Aimless Rock at Firian, but there's Aimless Peak near Harris?"

Damn, I hadn't accounted for the possibility of something with a similar name.

"No, my source definitely referred to it as Aimless Rock and was certain it's located in Firian Canyon."

"...Well it might be in the more obscure texts... Try the third floor under... H-3, I think."

"Thank you."

He smiles warmly, before nodding and returning to his book as I head towards the central cuboid staircase, proceeding up to the third floor.

I head to the corridor labelled H at a relaxed pace and again lift the Firian Canyon book from yesterday before heading back downstairs to a free table.

I take my time to study some of the pages I only barely skimmed yesterday before leaving it at the desk and trotting over to the man once more.

"Hi? Sorry to bother you again but you really helped me out last time... So I was wondering if I may trouble you once more?"

He seems to find me amusing.

"I'm Aburi by the way, Aburi Draconis."

I bow slightly.

"I-It's no trouble. Please. Rus, I mean my name. It's Rus.. Rus Taylor. Um, what are you looking for?"

Hm? I see... That's quite the fluster.

"Ah, a couple of things actually. Something comprehensive on the history of this Kingdom and any texts relating to Alchemy or Medicine."

"That's quite a wide-ranging request... Let's see.”

Rus seems to ponder the request for a moment, raising his thumb to his lips before seemingly having a brainwave.

“Well for history, you obviously want 'Our History' by Siu Reddart the first. Now it's a little controversial, but it's the most factually accurate in my opinion and it just so happens I have it here."

He pushes a ridiculously massive book over to me before continuing.

"Medical and Alchemy texts… Hmm, I can’t say I’m really sure on those I'm afraid. Your best bet is probably the fifth floor, most likely corridor 'V', but that's just a guess."

"I'll take your educated guess over stumbling around any day, my thanks, Sir Taylor. If you ever find yourself in need of an Alchemist, please look me up in the city centre. I'd love to repay the favour."

Rus smiles for a moment before remembering to talk.

"...I-I will Abu, ah, I mean, Sir Draconis. Thank you."

I take the immensely heavy book from Rus's table and carry it over to where I was sitting. I doubt I'll be able to read all of this in one sitting, let alone remember even a quarter of it but I'll flick through and try to remember the facts that I'll need to get by with.

...

"Sir Draconis? The library is closing now, we have to leave I'm afraid."

"Ah, Sir Taylor. Thank you for letting me know and also, thank you for recommending this book. I've been completely enthralled by it!"

He chuckles while putting a hand over his mouth.

"Siu Reddart was quite the character, wasn't he? There are a few other books by him here, but they're from his later years... He became quite jaded and less passionate in later life I feel, so I believe that's his greatest work."

I find myself nodding despite not having read the others.

I was going to take the books back to where I got them from when Rus stops me, telling me there's no need. I assume the statis magic will put the books away for us so I instead head out of the library with him towards the carriage station, so we can continue our conversation.

"Hm, you mentioned before that many consider the book controversial?"

"Ah yes. Did you not notice? There are times when Siu becomes quite critical of the rulers of the kingdom, to the point of treasonous towards the royal ancestry line. It's widely believed that Siu only managed to keep his head because the King at the time was so liberal and believed in scholarship and understanding over blind loyalty. If it wasn't for King Malus Sinki the first, I doubt Sui's books would have even made it into the great library..."

Rus pauses for a moment to flag the carriage runner to get him a ride.

"I know the current King wants Sui's books removed and is actively seeking mages to understand the magic at work there... Personally, I hope they never figure it out though."

I'm with you on that. 'Knowledge is wealth'.

"I've read a bit about King Malus. His reign was unexpected as the older brother drowned while hunting with his father, King Alus Sinki the fifth?"

"The fourth but yes, you're quite right. It was quite the scandal from what Siu tells of it. King Alus ended up taking his own life as well out of guilt."

...Sure. Considering how clever this Malus character was, I can guess at what really happened.

"Oh wow... I've taken up so much of your time Sir Draconis."

Rus climbs onto the carriage.

"You’re joking Sir Taylor, it was a pleasure to be in the company of someone so intelligent. I do hope we will be able to converse like this again."

I bow slightly.

"Me too.. I'm at the library most days, please do come see me if you're nearby."

"I most certainly will."

I wave him off as the carriage pulls away. It's strange, but I actually enjoyed that overly polite...and dangerous conversation...

*Zip*