Accommodations — Maribelle

Ferry leads me through the busy streets. It’s a bit overwhelming. I haven’t seen another human for two years, and now I’m in a swarm of them. It’s making me really anxious, especially since everyone is giving me weird looks.

“Maribelle, stop releasing your aura. You’re scaring people.”

“Oops. Sorry.”

I look behind me. Many people are giving me frightened stares. Along the road I walked, my footsteps are marked by patches of cracks in the cobblestone.

Hopefully nobody will bother me about the damage to public property.

I take special care to make sure my aura isn’t leaking out. I never held it in during my training, so it takes a little bit of concentration.

Once we walk for another block or so, people stop looking at me. We’re heading towards the wealthier part of town, closer to the center. Was Mom rich before?

“This is it,” Ferry says.

The place reeks of incense, perfume, smoke, and liquor. I can hear men shouting, and live music from inside. The architecture itself is garish. The stone walls have been painted with bright pinks and yellows.

“Are you sure about this, Maribelle?”

“Yeah.”

He pushes open the door. The room is filled with sofas on which men in suits are lounging with lightly clothed women, some of the girls around my age. There is a bar at the back, and a band playing string instruments.

A pretty woman with dark hair greets us.

“Hello there, come inside,” she says.

We step into the room. The air is thick and humid.

“Would you like a drink?” The woman asks.

“No thanks. We’re here to speak with Adriana. She’s an old friend of our mother,” Ferry says.

“Who’s your mother?”

“Her name is Natalia Ellis. She used to work here,” he says.

“And your names?”

“I’m Maribelle, and this is my brother Ferris,” I say.

She looks at me thoughtfully.

“Are you perhaps looking for work, Maribelle?”

“No.”

She winces back from me and squeaks slightly from the pain. Oops, I let it out again. Ferry shoots me a glare.

Nope, I’m not apologizing for that one.

“Um, sorry. I’ll go tell Adriana you’re here,” the woman says, before quickly scrambling away.

A few minutes pass as we stand near the entranceway. We get more strange looks, especially after that little outburst of mine. I don’t think I like this place.

An older woman comes down the stairs. She’s wearing a red silk dress and she walks with a confident demeanor. Her eyes go wide when she sees me. She strides across the room and approaches us.

“You must be Maribelle. You’re the spitting image of your mother. Are you really just twelve? You’re an astoundingly early bloomer. Natalia must have fed you well.”

“She did feed me well, but that’s not important. I want to ask you something.”

“Ask me what?”

“Why did my mom work here?”

Adriana purses her lips, holding her breath for a moment as the looks into my eyes.

“Natalia came to work for me to pay off her father’s debt. She was popular, and managed to make the money she needed in just a year. Her father passed away shortly after that, but she kept working here for a while, saving up money. Several years later, she got pregnant with you and told me that she was moving out of the city, saying she was going to live somewhere peaceful. She departed on a caravan, and I never saw her again.”

“Did you care about her?” I ask.

“Yes. She was like a daughter to me. Is she well?”

“She runs an inn in Lika, a village to the south. She’s happy.”

“What are you doing here then? And how on earth do you have an older brother?”

Ferry clears his throat.

“Natalia adopted me. I’m an orphan. As for why we’re here, I’m going to join the adventurers guild, and Maribelle will be enrolling in Salsvale academy.”

“You both have magic? That’s incredible. Salsvale academy though? I hope you know they have a rather exorbitant tuition.”

“We know. We’re planning to pay with the money I make at the adventurers guild. I’m expecting to be silver grade.”

“Well, that would be something.”

“Anyway, that’s why we came to you. Natalia said that you might be able to help us find a place to stay until we can get on our feet.”

“Our arrangement will not involve me working here,” I add.

“I can’t just give you rooms for free. Though, you said you expect to be a silver grade adventurer? If you’re that powerful… how would you feel about doing some favors for me?”

“What kind of favors, exactly?” He asks.

“Well, I’ve been having some trouble with a group that calls themselves the Bloodroots. Perhaps you could scare some sense into them?”

“You want me and Ferry to beat people up for you?” I ask.

“Not you, Maribelle. Gods, no. Just your brother, of course. If he helps, whatever happens, I’ll give both of you food and a place to stay for the next few months.”

“Sure, I’ll do it,” Ferry says.

“Good. Would you be able to start tonight?” She asks.

“He’s had a long day. You should let him get some rest first,” I say.

Adriana frowns at my request.

“No, It’s fine,” he says.

“Stop acting so tough, Ferry. You were almost eaten by a dragon today.”

Adriana raises her eyebrows skeptically.

“Don’t say things people won’t believe, Maribelle,” Ferry says.

I snort at him. I’ll say what I want.

“She’s right though. I could use some rest. I still have a cracked rib.”

Adriana rubs her lip with her forefinger.

“That sounds serious. I know awakened heal faster than normal people, but a broken rib? How long will it take for you to recover? I wouldn’t want to send you out if you’re in bad health.”

“You should’ve told me about your rib, Ferry. I can pull the crack out of your body. It will hurt like crazy, though.”

“No, it’s not that bad. I’ll be fine after a meal and a night of rest.”

“Very well. I’ll get you both a place to sleep for the night. Then, if you administer a little thoughtfully applied violence for me, you can stay for the next few months. Sound good?”

“Sure,” he says.

I laugh.

“You’re a thug now, Ferry.”

He glares at me.

Adriana claps her hands together.

“I can take you to your room now, if you like. Do you not have any bags?”

“Not anymore,” I tell her.

“Did you get robbed?”

“No, it just got lost. It’s a long story.”

“I see.”

She leads us upstairs, into a room with a big bed, and not much else.

“Thanks, Adriana,” Ferry says, flopping onto the bed immediately.

“While he naps, can I get something to eat?” I ask.

I’m excited for a meal. I haven’t had normal food for years. Bezvillia only fed me roasted vines and weird roots. She claimed they were highly nutritious for humans but they tasted terrible.

“Sure, right this way.”

We head back downstairs and she gestures for me to sit at the bar.

“Dale, can you get Maribelle something to eat?” Adriana asks the bartender.

“Something with meat, please, lots of meat,” I add.

Adriana sits at the bar next to me.

“I’ve been wondering, Maribelle, what are your robes made of? I’ve never seen the material.”

“Oh, I have no idea. They’re a gift from a friend. They’re nice, aren’t they?”

Adriana lightly touches my sleeve as she examines the grey fabric.

“Smooth and light, but it also feels durable. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s incredible.”

“Yeah, it’s comfy stuff.”

“I would pay good money for this. Who gave this to you? I might have to track them down.”

I chuckle.

“Can’t tell you… it’s complicated. But, next time I visit them, I’ll ask about the fabric for you.”

“Thank you, Maribelle. I appreciate it.”

The smell of meat on the grill wafts out from the kitchen. It smells so good, is that my food? My stomach grumbles with ravenous desire.

“Oh, a new girl?”

I turn to see a large man looking at me. He’s wearing a purple suit jacket, and has nicely combed brown hair and light blue eyes.

“No, mister Valbeck, she doesn’t work here,” Adriana says.

Valbeck?

The man’s eyebrows jump up.

“Oh my, your aura… did I offend you, young lady? My apologies.”

Huh, maybe not the whole family is scum. I was jumping to conclusions.

“It’s fine,” I say.

“May I?” He asks, gesturing to the seat beside me.

I shrug. He sits down.

“Are you from Salsvale? A girl of your age with such a strong aura, I’m surprised I haven’t heard of you.”

“I’m from out of town. I’m here to enroll in the academy.”

“Ah, yes. That would explain it. What’s your name?”

“Maribelle. You?”

“Joseph Valbeck.”

“Any relation to Damien?”

The man frowns slightly at the mention of the name.

“Yes, he’s my nephew.”

“I met him once. We didn’t get along.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. He can be a little abrasive sometimes. To be honest, he’s been causing us trouble recently. A few weeks ago, he ran off to the southern mountains to get out of his duties to the family. He still hasn’t come back. Spoiled brat.”

“Are you sure he’s okay? The southern mountains are a dangerous place. I heard Kalamath is moving again.”

“That dragon’s on the move? That’s terrible news. Perhaps you’re right. We sent someone to go look for him, but they haven’t returned either.”

A serving girl emerges from the kitchen with a steak on a platter.

“Oh, is that mine?”

“Yes. You asked for meat.”

“It’s perfect.”

I inhale deeply as my steak is placed in front of me. Is smells so good. The serving girl lays out utensils for me.

“Oh, I don’t need a knife.”

I snap my fingers, and the steak is dissected into bite-sized cubes. Joseph chuckles.

I stab a cube with my fork and eat it. I haven’t had meat in so long!

“Mmm! It’s good!”

I devour the juicy steak one cube at a time, diligently chewing each bite to savor the flavors.

This is bliss.

“Your skill with entropomancy is impressive.”

“Thanks,” I say, covering my full mouth.

“So, what’s a respectable young lady like yourself doing in a place like this?” He asks.

I hold up my finger, swallowing the bite of steak in preparation for talking.

“Adriana is an old friend of the family, so she’s giving me a place to stay before school starts.”

Joseph flashes Adriana a scandalized look.

“You’re having this dignified young lady stay in your brothel? That’s absurd. Maribelle, how about you stay at the Valbeck mansion over the summer. You can get to know my son. He’s also going to be enrolling in the academy this year. You’ll be classmates.”

Adriana places her hand over her mouth and stays quiet. Good. This man clearly thinks I’m a noblewoman for some reason and she better not spill the beans.

“Of course. I would love to stay at your mansion.”

I spear my last cube of meat with my fork and put it in my mouth with a big grin.

“Would you like to go there now, Maribelle? Don’t worry, Adriana, I’ll come back later.”

“I would never fret about you not returning, mister Valbeck.” Adriana says.

Should I bring Ferry in on this? No, he’d never be able to pretend to be a noble.

“Yes. I’m ready. Shall we go?”

Joseph clears his throat and smooths out his suit jacket.

“Very well. I’ll escort you there,” he says, offering his arm for me to grab. I don’t take it.

“Lead the way,” I say.

We exit the brothel and head deeper into the central area of the city. The streets are lined with mansions and flower gardens. It’s beautiful.

“Maribelle, may I ask what family you’re from?” Joseph asks.

There it is, the question that will make or break this game.

Admittedly, the fact that I’m no longer capable of lying will complicate things a bit. I’m having a lot of fun here, and I wouldn’t want to ruin it.

Fortunately, I have a plan. There’s a story Ferry once told me about a nation that was destroyed by a dragon. Apparently any nobles who survived would have had to go into hiding.

“I will not say the name of my family. On an unrelated note, do you perhaps know of Elania?”

He turns towards me, his eyes going wide.

“You have. Good. I’m sure you’ll be able to think of something reasonable to say, when you’re introducing me.”

“So there were survivors? Are you really from—”

“Shh,” I interrupt him, pressing my finger to his lips.

He nods.

Heh. Too easy.

“Anyway, is there anything I should know about your family before I meet them?” I ask.

“Maybe don’t mention Damien. He’s a bit of a touchy subject at the moment.”

“Understood.”

“Actually, we’re almost there. Our mansion is that building up ahead.”

He points to a very old and very tall building of carved white marble, complete with ostentatious displays of colorful flora on every balcony.

“It’s bigger than the neighbors’ mansions.”

“Naturally. We’re the wealthiest house in Salsvale, aside from the Arvali, of course.”

We walk up the stairs to the front doors of the mansion. A butler is waiting there.

“Welcome home, my lord.”

The butler opens the door for us and we step inside. The interior decoration is a display of wealth beyond anything I could have imagined. There is a beautifully woven purple rug on a perfectly polished hardwood floor, a huge double staircase with hand-carved scenes of ancient battles engraved on the rail posts, and a massive crystal chandelier above it all. Every wall is covered in portraits of noble men and women. There are flowers in vases on decorative tables placed in aesthetically pleasing places.

I love it.

“I feel right at home,” I say.

Joseph smiles at me. It’s a somewhat sad smile. He grieves for my imagined hardship.

“Joseph, you’re back early. Who’s this?” A man asks.

He has dark hair and dark eyes, and is about Joseph’s age. He is wearing casual clothes, consisting of white linen pants and a wool sweater.

“Richard, this is Maribelle. She travelled to Salsvale to join the academy. I’m considering her a prospective fiancé for Kevin, so I offered to house her as a guest for the rest of the summer.”

Wait, what? Did he just say fiancé? Who the fuck is Kevin?

“Maribelle, this is the current head of our house, High Lord Richard Valbeck.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say.

“It is customary to bow when introduced to a High Lord,” Richard says.

He must be Damien’s father. Obviously I’m not bowing to him.

“Well? I’m waiting.”

“Don’t be such a pompous twit, brother,” Joseph says, saving me.

I thank Joseph with a smile. Richard scoffs, glaring at me.

“So, would you like to meet my son?” Joseph asks me.

“Sure,” I say, happy to get away from this conversation.

Joseph leads me upstairs and knocks on a closed door. He speaks loudly to whoever is on the other side.

“Kevin, are you in there? I met a rather interesting young lady. She’ll be staying with us for a while. Would you like to meet her?”

“Hi Kevin!” I shout.

The door opens. Kevin is a fairly skinny boy, with messy brown hair, wearing reading glasses. He isn’t taller than me, so he’s a no-go for fiancé.

He’s awakened, but just barely. His aura feels super weak. Joseph and Richard both had stronger auras than me, with Richard’s being even stronger than Ferry’s.

“Uh, who are you?” He asks.

“I’m Maribelle. It’s nice to meet you. We’ll be classmates next year.”

“Oh, I see.”

We shake hands. I think he feels awkward.

“Well, I’ll give you some time to get to know each other. I’ll be in the lounge, if you need me.”

Joseph walks away, glancing over his shoulder with a grin. Kevin stands there for a moment, twiddling his thumbs, staring at me. I smile at him.

“Um, do you want to come in? It’s my study,” he says, gesturing towards the open door.

“Okay.”

I step past him, entering the room. There is a sofa and an armchair, as well as a desk. The desk is covered in a messy pile of books, some of them open, all of them fiction.

“You like to read.”

“Yes. Father says it’s a passion, but Lord Richard says it’s an obsession. I’m going to read every novel ever written, even though that’s impossible.”

I flop down on the sofa, stretching out across it.

“Huh, I thought the height was a dealbreaker, but maybe you’re not so bad after all.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re going to do something impossible. I like that. I have a passion too.”

“For what?”

“Power. The magical kind. I’m not interested in politics.”

“I see,” he says with a grimace.

“That bothers you?”

“No, it’s just… is that why your aura is so strong?”

“What do you mean? My aura isn’t strong at all. Even your dad’s is stronger, and he’s obviously not that impressive.”

“How can you possibly say that? My dad is a gold grade adventurer! He’s really strong! The fact that you’re even comparable to him is ridiculous!”

“Have you ever seen dragons? Cambians?”

“What? No, I’ve never seen a dragon.”

“Well, that explains why you think your dad is strong.”

“You… are you saying… the impossible thing you want to do…”

“Yes, I think you understand.”

“Wait. Could it be… you too?”

His eyes go wide, and he lowers his voice to a whisper.

“Did someone come to you in your dreams, to give you something?” He asks.

I laugh.

“Did you say yes?” I ask.

“What? You know about that? Um, I didn’t realize it was real. I still don’t really understand.”

“So you did. You said yes.”

He nods.

“Which god?” I ask.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you,” he says.

“Mine was Bezvillia. Her name is lost, because she was banished in the pantheon wars.”

His eyes turn into saucers.

“I refused, though,” I add.

He lets out a sigh.

“Oh gods. You scared me. For a moment there, I thought you were serving a dark exile.”

Yup, Bezvillia warned me that I might run into people like him. The gods are making soldiers. Unfortunately, it seems like he got his seed of power from a member of the white pantheon. They’re all Bezvillia’s mortal enemies. We will almost certainly be on opposite sides of the coming war. On the other hand, maybe I can bring him over to the good side and convince him to betray the god he’s supposed to be serving.

“Well, I think it’s cool. You’re just like the ancient heroes,” I say.

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”