Lord Joyde The Madman: Heylo, everybody! How are you all doing?

Writing chapters for this story while at work seems to have become a cultural part of it.

I must think quick and think well.

Only to fix mistakes later on when I get home.

Ahhh, such beautiful Chaos!

Don't mind me guys and girls! I'm just a line break...

Half an hour later... - Sorcierre (Merchant District) - Alice's Point Of View...

A knock on my carriage's door woke me from my trance."Lady?... we're here." Mister Uveane's soft voice roused me further as I found myself stretching my sore limbs.

Did.. did I fall asleep?

Alice, please do not be alarmed by these implausible "trances" which you fall into from time to time.

While I have no concrete proof of it yet in your case, Father would often fall into such trances only to wake at an exact moment when important events would happen. I do believe that they are a natural adaption of the human brain to the influence of Chaos; that is to say become nigh completely shut down for a set amount of time and use the Chaos Energy coursing through it to passively know when to wake up.

The... the human brain can do such things?!

W-woah.

The difference between a humans brain and its body is the difference between me and a shovel.

Both are tools set to accomplish a purpose, but the capacity of each is incomparable.

Comparing yourself to a tool is rather disheartening, Tius. So try not to do that."Thank you, Rethrill." I said as the carriage door opened to reveal a slightly worried coachman.

I took one look at his wretched clothing and promptly decided to buy him some clothing once we reached Merriel's emporium. But first: Ulfo's painter set.

And in order to buy the aforementioned item, it seems that I would be entering a shop named The Colors of Mana. Colors of mana, eh? Interesting name, most likely placed there due to the fact that art is not comprehended by many.

Just as the *colors* of mana cannot be properly seen by the human, or rather mortal, eyes."Wait outside." I commanded my coachman, much to the pleasure and approval of the nearby ladies, who seemed to swarm him within moments almost as if drawn in by some unseen force.

Maybe Chaos makes people more attractive in the eyes of others?

As you have learned beforehand, Chaosborne beings all radiate their own personal "Aura Of Violence".

This aura has many uses, seduction is... not one of them. Although, there are people who seem to adore or are attracted to such violence.

The allure of danger is as dangerous as it is seductive, indeed.

So basically, it makes the infected seem dangerous and those attracted to them are people who are into danger?

Oh well, there is no better aphrodisiac than fear, as they say. Fear of death is countered by a need for reproduction.

I would like to question exactly where you gained this... "knowledge" milady, but you are correct nonetheless.

What? I may be Chaosborne, but I wasn't one from the start, Tius. I'm just as interested in these things as pretty much everyone else.

I have no such desires, milady.

And that is exactly why I said *pretty much everyone else*.

Anyways, lets enter the shop before the store clerk comes out to shoo away the beggar creepily standing outside of their door."Hello?"

Entering inside of the shop revealed a vast expanse filled with all manner of artwork, from statues of legendary heroes to colorful dresses and magnificent paintings. A tinge of instictual waryness echoed within my mind, revealing the fact that the entire shop was filled to the brim with illusions. Thankfully, these illusions were all contained within their own selective magical fields, ones far greater than any I could create.

Somehow, I managed to restrain myself from shattering all of these illusions, partially because I liked all the strange, moving colors. Also because I didn't want to pay for their restoration as they were quite clearly just there for show.

But the former is definitelly more the reason why, I swear it!"Hello? How may I help you, young lady?"

A tall beastkin man appeared before me, wearing what looked to be a clowns outfit from my perspective... but I better not comment on all the colors. Green pants, red shirt and a yellow overcoat with purple boots and formerly white-but-now-multicolored cloth gloves. Bloody hell, there should be a limit to lu-...

It was here that I decided to take a look at my own outfit and blinked."Hm! Pardon me young lady, but you seem to have had the same thoughts as I did just now! Indeed, it seems our sense for clothing is much alike, though I would prefer more color myself~." The tall clown... clerk... owner, the tall MAN, decidedly stated in a sing-along voice.

"I have a crimson overcoat back home which is supposed to go with the outfit but uh, its a bit too hot for me to be wearing it right now." The man seemed to accept my reply in earnest."Oooh! A crimson overcoat? Yes, that would indeed bring much needed *power*, to your good looks. Ah; but where are my manners?!"

He bowed before me in an estatic fashion and I had to admit that I liked this mans level of energy. He radiated so much of it that it made me feel better somehow."My name is Nanners, Nanners of Cottonfur."

A nod and an extended hand was offered to the clownish gentleman after I bowed as well."Alice Pendragon. A pleasure to meet you, mister Cottonfur."

"Likewise, young miss." He stood up from his kneeling posistion back to his full two meter height."Now then, once again; how may I help you?"

I scratched the back of my head in slight embarrassment as I didn't really think this through. In the end, I just decided to be totally honest."Erm, I'm not a painter myself but I, uhh.. ah this is so embarrassing, I want to buy a painters set, non-magical or at least for use by someone who isn't a mage, for my fiance."

"Ooh? A fiance? Well, I hope the guy in question is a prince because otherwise he does not deserve a lovely young lady such as you~!" It took me a bit not to blush from the mans well-versed flattery.

With a beaming smile on his face, the man pivoted on his heel and turned around."I think I know just what you need, litte miss. Please, make yourself comfortable while I go grab the goods!" Another cheery exclamation as I finally took note of his brownish fur and the small, round tail on his back, poking out of his flamboyant clothing.

A bear-kin?

A mage bear-kin?

Got to be a one-of-a-kind person, even without all the flamboyance.. though, considering that the bear-kin are said to be proud warriors with no real respect for anything non-martial and a deep hatred of magic, ... yeah, I better shut up and not mention anything even remotely connected to his race.

Poor guy has probably lived through a horrible childhood and his eccentric sense of style is just a compensation for his parents lack of proper attention, or even love. Maan, the guy basically healed the permanent gloom all around me and I just brought it back like some kind of twisted ex-lover.

Thankfully, the man in question was immune to my inner musings, which means he dispelled my aura of violent depression once again with somewhat frightening ease. Must be empowered by the illusions around us.

Anyways, he brought before me a large wooden box which had numerous colorful pictures painted onto it. Each one seemed to be done in exquisite detail and some even appeared to radiate magic."Here we are. Now, I assumed that your fiance is around your age so I brought you what we painters call an appretice's set. Other than the brushes contained within which allows the user to more easily etch their imagination onto whatever surface they are currently working on, there is no magical items contained inside."

I checked through everything inside. There were all sorts of paints, paintbrushes, 3 pieces of canvas as well as the wooden structure required to hold them, an artistic palette, some speciallized towels, an intricate cup which I think is used to store water, some soap and exotic oils as well as a child-sized apron."Hm, this seems nice. How much for all of it?"

"Since this is a set; that means you cannot buy things separately, I'd be willing to sell it all for five gold pieces." I blinked."Just five?"

Mister Cottonfur seemed taken aback by my question and appeared to place a finger on his chin as if in thought."Ah, you must be a noble! That said miss, five gold coins is no small amount to us common folk~."

I shrugged and handed over the gold."Though there is little about you that I'd call common, sir."

He chuckled deeply at that."Indeed. In any case, I suppose you would like some help to carry this crate of good, no?"

Much to the mans surprise, I quite easily lifted the crate with my small arms, but not before flexing, feeling proud of myself."Nah, I'm much stronger than I look!"

With that, I left the flabbergasted beastkin in his shop and placed the crate into the back of my carriage with ease."B-but... that had to be over... fifteen kilograms at the very least?!"

Ehh, thought it was more. Either way, I waved the still-stunned man goodbye and dragged my coachman back into his seat."Now; Master Merriels Weaving Emporium." I casually reminded him, causing the dark elf to nod in a submissive manner, much to the dissapproval of the ladies around him.

Back the fuck off, thank you very much!

A few minutes later...

Much like beforehand, the dark elf was swarmed by women the moment he leaped off the carriage and I admit to finding it all just a little bit too much for my taste. I didn't even wait for him to open the door before leaving the carriage and looking at the Weaving Emporium in front of me.

The building was in much better shape than before. The previously beaten wood has been repaired and recolored, the shelves have been fixed, the mouldy food removed and replaced with finery, the counter still seemed to be a bit worse for wear but it no longer had dust permeating it inside and out.

A small purse of coin has been carelessly left on the aforementioned counter, telling a tale of carefree wealth. Come, take it! I clearly do not need it.

Sigh, I sure hope that I can help Master Merriels wife beat some sense into this man... I promptly walked behind the counter, much to the surprise of the other customers and placed the pouch of coin on the lower shelf, hidden from plain sight, before walking over to the workshop door. My actions quirked several surprised eyebrows, many of which seemed condescending or dissapproving yet a very few of them pleased."Master Merriel? Are you in here?" I lightly knocked on the door.

Which caused my fist knock quite deeply into the wood. I blinked, the people around me blinked. Master Merriel opened the door and blinked."Huh. Guess the woodsman wasnt lying about the door being shitty."

He shook his head and I found myself staring into my own fist."B-but... I didn't even use any strength?" I exclaimed in a somewhat stupefied manner as Merriel nodded."Its fine. You've done quite a lot for me young lady, I can forgive a broken door. Anyways, how may I help you today?"

A single look behind him revealed that the workshop was still in its rather horridly filthy shape, but that just may be its natural state of being. The tailoring machine almost appears to be otherworldly clean in comparison as it continued spewing out intricate, beatific cloths."I err, I came here to apologize for last week. I uh.. well, believe it or not, I didn't even open the note you delievered to me due to paranoia until I read the after-note."

He blinked once again and promptly ushered me into his workshop."Ah, I see. I figured that may be the case, though my wife insisted that the *creepy maid* threw the letter out after we gave it to her."

"That said..." He continued after a clearing of the throat."Did you manage to find some apprentices for me?"

That sentence hit me like a bag of rocks."I uh, no. Ah dammit, I even told myself to ask that annoying granny about it and I still forgot."

Much to my displeasure, the old man seemed to become extremely amused at my lack of diligence."It seems that there is still some child left inside of you, despite all the rumors."

"All of the rumors?" Merriel nodded in a somewhat grim fashion."Yes, rumors. Rumors that you did some very questionable things and are friends with very questionable people, but I'll not tell you of any of them. After all, assumptions can easily lead one astray and I am sure that you aren't as naive as you appear, young lady."

"I... see? Thank you?" I offered with a questioning glance as the man returned to his work, appearing somewhat bothered by my presence already."Anyways, is that all you came here to do? I'm afraid that I'm not ready to give you another share yet, young lady."

I waved my hand in negative."I'm not here for the money, Master Merriel."

"Then why are you here?" He questioned me with a slightly worried expression. Hey, hey... I'm not some demon that you need to be constantly worried about.

Indeed.

Techinically, you are far worse.

Thank you for that extreme note of confidence, Tius. Now then, where was I?

Oh yes, the clothes for my coachman."I need some clothing, preferably a tuxedo for an adult man- or human teenager, for my coachman to wear. Also some male underwear for the same person."

He appeared to hum in thought, seemingly relieved."I see. Well, may I see this person?"

A nod was his answer as I quickly ran out and grabbed my coachman, the dark elf seemed to let out a breath of relief at being taken away from all the female attention."Here, this is the guy."

Merriel took one look at the slave and winced. Then he grabbed a strange magical device, a runestone of some sort and channeled mana towards the elf which formed a bluish light which seemed to traverse the dark elf's entire body in moments. Merriel then nodded towards me."I'll have an entire set of clothes ready for him by the days twain."

Days twain? I think that means high noon."Alright. How much for the entire set?"

Merriel shook his head in negative, much to my surprise."I'll just consider it part of your tithe."

A blink and a shrug was his answer.

Milady, may I offer a suggestion?

Back on Fathers world, there existed schools and academies alike which each had their own unique uniform for the students and sometimes the teachers which attended the institutions in question.

Perhaps, you could forge another contract with Master Merriel and perhaps even the Headmaster himself? To partake in the contract to provide uniforms for basically everyone within this city would certainly be a profitable endeavour.

My golden eyes shone even brighter at the allure of greed, the promise of coin making me salivate suddenly."U-uh.. wh-what the?!" Merriel was taken aback by my sudden appearance and even Rethrill seemed to blink in uncertainty.

"Master Merriel! I just had an epiphany!" Thank you, Tius. If you ever get a body, I'll make sure you have all you need in life.

Oh?

Well, thank you, I suppose.

I ... live to serve, you.

Biting back a reply to Tius, I casually explained my idea to Merriel."So you know how the city has the five-leafed clover as its symbol? I figured that maybe we could forge a contract with the headmaster to make special uniforms for all the students, to help those who don't have enough clothing or resources of their own and to distinguish them from the other residents."

Now, both of the men around me blinked in surprise, though the elf's reaction was much more tame than the ecstatic tone of the master tailor."Ah! Yes! T-that, thats an amazing idea, Alice! It would take a lot of work at the start and would be impossible for me alone to accomplish but... no actually, I don't see how we could make this work. The headmaster would never even allow us to contact him-" I stopped the man from speaking and promptly rushed towards my carriage once again, the dark elf following behind me like a loyal puppy.

"Stay here." I commanded him, much to his dipleasure, as I opened the door to my carriage and roused the blue crow which had made itself a home inside."Headmaster, could you come with me for a moment?"

The bird shot a stupefied look at me before magical energy surged from within it and its eyes adopted a pinkish color."Lead the way, Alice." The bird spoke and I nodded, guiding it to the workshop inside.

Once there, I presented the bird to Merriel."This is what I assume to be the headmasters familiar or something of the like. He can speak to us from beyond it."

"O-oh! T-the Headmaster! I am unworthy of your presense!" Merriel uncharacteristically threw himself to the ground, eliciting a dissapproving glare from both me and the headmaster. Deciding not to question it though, I explained the situation to the bird.

The Headmaster nodded, the feathers moving in unison with his current neck."Hmm, yes. A specialized set of uniforms for my students... perhaps differing between the years of study they have achieved here? We would have to discuss their appearance though, wouldn't want anything too alien to the normal populus."

"Feel free to discuss the details with Master Merriel here, headmaster." With that, I waved the two men goodbye and went back inside of my carriage, but not before turning towards my coachman and saying."The next stop is an alchemist or someone who can heal minds. My goal is to acquire potions of restful sleep."

Uveane nodded, still seeming somewhat surprised at the fact that I bought him clothing."Thank you by the way, mistress."

"Its nothing. Mostly its for my sake and not yours, anyways." I dismissed him with a rather venomous tone, surprising the both of us as I blinked. The carriage began moving after an uncomfortable silence.

"Uveane." I called for him from beyond the carriage wall."Yes, milady?" He immediatelly answered my call."I.. I'm sorry for my tone with you. I-.. I have no idea what the hell is going on. Do you.. have some kind of magic aura around you?"

He seemed to contemplate for a moment before nodding."Its a curse on my family. Apparently, some ancestor of mine managed to seduce and rape a priestess of Ydona, the goddess of love and because of it, every woman I dislike will adore me and those I might actually be interested in are automatically hostile. This is probably why you talk as you do when conversing with me."

"Psh, don't think that the both of us being cur- what the fuck?..." I promptly slapped my cheeks."I- er, sorry about that. Anyways, thats.. really sad."

He seemed to smile a bit at my antics before nodding yet continuing on in a cheery tone."Well, thankfully the Goddess didn't account for men~."

"Ah. So you swing that way?" He offered me a rather knowing grin for some reason."Thats an interesting way to put it, milady. Considering how you *swing*, much the same way."

I grinned right back at him."Actually, I see things both ways~." He appeared taken aback from that before turning his head away from me in embarrassment."... lucky you."

Don't mind me guys and girls! I'm just a line break...

Thats it for this chapter of Destiny; Infernal!

I have to go back to work now.

Certainly hope that you've all enjoyed the chapter!

3.5k words in two and a half hours without any pre-written sample?! Man, I'm getting good at this.

Long time coming, that one.

Anyways, read and review! And Good Morning/Day/Night to you all! ADIOS FOR NOW!