If the lower level had a simple but comfy feeling to it, clearly showing the customers would find something to satisfied them, the upper level was on another level, both literally and figuratively.

The waitress and waiters serving there were clearly chosen among the finest the Flower Treasure Chest were employing, all well built, beautifully prepared and dressed to delight the eyes of the rich. All the workers, male or female, had in common a light maid dress covering just enough to let imagination work a bit.

The place was more richly decorated, golden and silver drawings decorating the different walls and furniture. A bar was present in the room, proposing a vast choice of drinks not even showed on the lower level, the same idea was applicated for the food.

There were customers, less than on the lower level of course, but a good number nonetheless. Some decorated soldiers, nobles men and women, well-dressed merchants, all talking in small group...and all human. Maximilian remarked that the only non-humans in the room were some of the workers. An elf was behind the bar, as dignified as one could be, politely bowing to any customer ordering a drink, although none of them would even bother to respond to the politeness. Several beastkins and non-human were walking fast to go fetch the customers order, not wanting to make them wait for a second too much. All around the salon were decorated doors, certainly leading to other places of delight and wonders, some of which Maximilian would have gladly tried if he could judge by the decorations indicating where the doors were leading to.

*I see this one as a swimming mermaid and some kind of water spirit drawn on it...waterplay? or maybe some kind of special bath...Now that I think about it, I would enjoy a good bath...I'm clean but God knows I would like a good bath...what about this one...*

"They truly let anyone in the upper Salon nowadays..."

As Maximilian was observing the upper salon doors, he heard some men and women talking.

Looking on the side, he saw a group of young nobles, men and women, looking at him while laughing a bit. The one who had just talked was in the middle, long blond hair and a scornful look on his face as Maximilian looked at him.

*Oh...looks like I found the cool kids of the class...*

Not bothering with an answer, Maximilian stepped further in the salon, continuing his discovering. He arrived at the bar, looking a bit at the numerous colourful drinks waiting to be chosen in the glass bottles behind the barman.

"Welcome to the upper Salon, Sir. Is there a drink in particular I could serve you?" politely greet the Elf, probably for the hundredth time since the sun had gone down.

"Good evening to you too." answered back Maximilian, surprising the elf for a second. "A lot of those are new to me, is there one you recommend?"

Maximilian request put a little smile on the elf's face who quickly straightened himself as if remembering his place.

"Certainly, Sir. I hope Sir will forgive my curiosity, but is Sir looking for a strong drink or would it be pleasing to Sir if I served something more smooth?"

"I don't fear a strong drink, but I don't particularly desire on. I trust your choice, surprise me."

The elf bowed once again before starting to prepared Maximilian's beverage.

"While you're working, would you mind giving me some information?"

"I'm afraid this Elf doesn't know a lot, but I would be glad to help you if I can, Sir." answered the elf.

"I'm looking for lady Planter, do you know if she is present?"

"It is highly improbable, Sir. Lady Planter is taking care of tonight tournament last details, it is taking all her time. But if you're willing to wait until after the tournament, you may have a chance to see her."

"I heard she would be the one rewarding the great winner tonight?"

"Sir is well informed. Indeed, more than the money, numerous are those hoping to be able to choose one of lady Planter's rarest flower to pass the night with."

"Tell me...those 'rarest flowers', who are they exactly?"

"Simply some of the most beautiful creatures you will have the chance to see or, if you are lucky enough, approach. Lady Planter has made a journey around the world to reunite the most exotics, the most talented ladies you can imagine. Some of them you could very well catch sight of in this very room, but you'll have to fight against the numerous pretenders trying to win their favours for a night, be it men or women."

"They are that appreciated?"

"Even more, it is not rare to see people fight for them."

"They must be really special, then..."

"More than you can imagine, Sir."

"Be careful, I have a lot of imagination." answered Maximilian with a chuckle.

The elf, having finished the preparation, put a long glass before Maximilian, filled with several layers of differently coloured liquid.

"Nice looking, what is it?"

"An Elf delicacy, Sir. We call this ërlan'shidär."

New skill acquired: elf language.

*...Mastered, holly cow I CAN SPEAK ELF LANGUAGE!!!* mentally exclaimed Maximilian, barely able to contain his excitation.

"'Layers of passion'? Intriguing name." said Maximilian as he took a sip from the long glass while the dumbfounded Elf was looking at him.

"Sir understand the Elf language? I'm impressed," honestly said the Elf.

"Not more than I am by the taste of this drink, it's awesome!" said Maximilian as he gave a tip to the barman.

"Thank you, Sir."

"No, thank you, you made me discover something I already can say I'm fond of...thank you" concluded Maximilian, the last words in Elf language, before going away from the bar, leaving behind an even more surprised Elf, hearing a human speaking his native language for the first time.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Having fun, commoner?"

While Maximilian didn't know why, the group had apparently decided to make him their target. The blond one was out of the group, stepping in his direction.

*Bad choice of target, boy...* thought Maximilian with a sigh.

Surely feeling strong, followed by his friends who must have been from the same kind of rich noble families, the blond young man was clearly an idiot. Who, in his right mind, would tempt his luck with a stranger twice as large as himself?

This kind of idiot, it seemed.

"I asked you a question, commoner. When a noble like me honours you by his attention, the least you could do is being thankful for it."

Maximilian wasn't even looking at him right now, tranquilly sipping from his glass.

"See? Told you he would be too scared to even look at me!" mocked the young noble as he looked at his friends who were clearly having fun.

Giving Maximilian a mean look, the noble tried to jostle him, trying to make him fall, Maximilian didn't budge.

*Wow...That's a dumb one...*

Calmly stepping away, Maximilian felt the man getting behind him, taking something looking like some kind of cane, more a tool for style than a needed help.

"How dare you turn your back to me, commoner? Do you know who I am?" exasperatedly asked the blond noble.

Maximilian simply sighed, still not bothering to talk nor look at him.

"I am the son of..."

Maximilian slightly raised a hand, making him stop his sentence as he wondered what he could want to say. While he and the group were looking at his raised hand, he made a discreet gesture with a finger from his other hand.

Once what he wanted to do was done, Maximilian looked over his shoulder, an impassive look on his face.

"...Your ass is on fire."

With those five words said, Maximilian calmly went away, continuing his discovering walk of the place.

Maximilian's sentence managed to surprise the young noble long enough for him to realise the place was heating up a lot.

"YOU'RE BURNING!!!" screamed one of the ladies of his group, pointing at the back of his trouser literally starting to burn.

The rich customers found the next scene quite amusing, seeing this young noble's airhead son running around with his trousers on fire, pursued by his friends desperately trying to throw some water on him to extinguish the flames.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Are you here to participate in the tournament too, Sir?"

Fortunately, all the peoples in the room were not like those idiots. Maximilian was presently sitting in an armchair, discussing with an old but very pleasant nobles couple. The lady was talking while the man enjoyed a cup of tea, and the man was the one talking when the lady was drinking from her cup. On their sides were their personal maids, two beastkins young ladies with a big fluffy brown tail going up to reach above their head and a slight brown/red fur covering their bodies, at least what Maximilian could see with the maid dress on them.

*Squirrel kin...that's new, I've never seen this kind of beastkin before...*

"Indeed I am, are you two contestants too?"

This made the old lady chuckle.

"Us? No Dear, no, we have since long ago passed the age to have this kind of fun. We like to watch others play, though."

"And, why not, bet a bit, when the match is interesting enough." added the old man, presenting his cup to the maid on his side so she could refill it.

"Oh Gustave, you make us pass for some greedy merchant running after every coin passing before our eyes." scolded the old lady with a light laugh.

"Sorry Dear, you know I like to have a bit of a thrill sometimes. You see, Sir, I was once an adventurer, but with the years passing one after another, I finally decide it was time to settle down, to leave a city life. It was the best choice of my life, I met this delicious creature..." complimented the man as he held his wife's hand with a tender smile. "...and haven't even thought about leaving her since."

"Not that my father hasn't tried to make you..." chuckled the lady.

"Madam's father was against your union?" questioned Maximilian as he took one of the little pieces of salted cheese on the plate between him and the couple.

"That is a euphemism. Do you remember how he chased after me with his crossbow that night when I managed to sneak in your room?"

"Yes I do, you ran away half naked while my father was trying to aim at you. Lucky you are he was never a good shot." remembered the lady.

The old couples and Maximilian discussed for a bit before a slight bell sound was heard in the salon. Everyone turned to look at the salon's centre where a mature woman sided by magnificent ladies of different races began to talk.

"Ladies and Gentleman, let me welcome you all to our Elementard tournament. I am Lady Planter, but this a lot of you already know..." said the woman with a light amused chuckle, soon imitate by the majority of the crowd.

"...Please allow me to recall to you all what will be the rules of tonight event. The playing rules are unchanged, no cheating or trying to hide a card in his sleeve, I'm talking to you Sir Kalinur!" laughed the lady as she addressed a smile to some merchant who quickly rolled up his sleeves, showing his naked arms to her.

"Nothing that could displease you, Lady Planter!" laughed the man, seconded by the other members of his group.

Nodded with a smile, the lady continued.

"...as member of high society, I wait from you all some Fairplay and good behaviour, remember that none of my flowers likes a brute...although some of them might like to be...a little bit thorny sometimes."

Once again, the crowd showed her approbation by a good laugh.

"Each contestant will have the same chance, no difference between nobles and merchant, poor or rich...that is as long as they can pay the fee, of course. The final winner will be rewarded with money, naturally, but also by the privilege to chose on of my dearest flower..."

Joining gesture to speech, Lady Planter made a large gesture showing the ladies behind her who curtsied as one.

"...and try to win her favour without having to battle against other...interested young men and ladies."

In a second, Maximilian understood why people were so inclined to win those ladies affection.

All were so beautiful it was almost unbelievable, and none was looking like the others, apart from twins who were not leaving each other's side. There were a bit of everything, human, elf, orc, beastkins, even a lovely looking dwarf lady.

*Good, seems like dwarf women don't come with a beard...The man who thought this had some strange fetishes!*

All were dressed in magnificent clothes, some in robes, some with nearly nothing on them, just enough to make the crowd go wild. All had some kind of fragrance coming from them, almost imperceptible.

While Maximilian was enjoying the view, Lady Planter continued her presentation.

"As a lot of you already know, some of my flowers have to stay in their garden, but be sure they would be thrilled to meet the lucky winner. Now..."

Lady Planter slightly clapped her hands, her flowers and herself leaving the centre of the room to let a table and two armchairs, all in wood, literally coming from the ground like fast-growing bushes. the crowd applauded the trick, while Maximilian was analysing the furniture.

*What kind of magic is this? None of them had a catalyst...the energy came from the ground itself, is that some kind of druidic magic?*

"I will now ask everyone desiring to participate to step further. Come around the table and place your key on it, don't forget to prepare the fee of fifty golden coins, please be aware that no bargain will be accepted." precise Lady Planter.

Some people went for the table, nobles men and ladies, merchants, they were fifteen.

Lastly, Maximilian stepped in the circle they had formed under the curious and/or mocking look of the crowd, clearly judging him on the fact he wasn't known by the different groups.

"Commoner? Why are you here? Haven't you heard what Lady Planter has said, fifty golden coins will be needed for you to enter this tournament!" taunted the young noble Maximilian had set on fire earlier.

Politely nodding as if he was seeing him for the first time, Maximilian smiled innocently.

"I'm happy to see you haven't turned to dust. how is your butt going?" asked Maximilian, making a good part of the crowd laugh as they remembered the scene.

"SCREW YOU COMMONER!"

"Please show a bit of politeness, don't forget we have a charming audience to please." answered Maximilian as he bowed to Lady Planter and her Flowers, some of them smiling at his gesture, other slightly returning it, others not really paying attention.

Maximilian was going to advance when he was blocked by the noble's cane on his chest.

"I don't know how, but I know it's you who did this to me, be sure I'll remember it, commoner..."

"You're talking about setting you on fire or making you look stupid? Because for the first one you have no proof and the second one you have to blame your dear mother for it." answered Maximilian on an amused tone, making some of the crowd laugh once again.

The noble growled as he went to the table to put his golden key on it plus a purse he emptied, filled with golden coins.

"Who will be counting?" asked the noble.

"That would be me." answered one of Lady Planter's flower, a drow. The black elf lady looked a bit like Alariel, but her eyes, hair, lipstick and nail polish were golden coloured, like the dress she was wearing, the down piece ample and the upper part like painted on her, doing wonders with her voluptuous chest.

*Alariel win in that area...not that she has anything to be shy about, though.*

As she approached, the noble stepped back a bit.

"Lady buttercup." greeted the noble.

She answered him with a polite smile before opening the purse, counting the coins at an impressive speed.

"Welcome to the tournament, Sir." simply answered lady Buttercup as she gave a piece of paper with a number written on it to the young noble.

One by one, the different people willing to participate gave their golden key and entrance fee to the drow, each receiving a piece of paper with a number on it.

"Your turn, commoner. You can still flee before ruining yourself..." taunted the young noble.

"My, I thank you for the consideration you have for me, but I would like to meet this pretty Lady Buttercup, so I might as well give her a little something while I'm at it, don't you think? For example, my entrance fee."

"Do what you want, I would like to see you taking out fifty golden coins from this empty bag of yours."

"Empty bag?"

The young noble laughed contemptuously.

"What? You thought a bag of stone around your shoulder would foul anyone? Everyone noticed the empty purse at your belt since you stepped in our circle. That and this big bag you carry with you is a good indication. I don't know how you managed to come in here, but you're nothing more than a stranger with clothes a bit better than the normal vagabond."

While the young noble was shutting up a bit, proud of his little speech, Maximilian looked at himself a bit.

"I suppose my clothes are meant to be useful more than they are meant to be...well, like yours, only covering a poor excuse of a man and easily burnable. But, on the other hand, I like them, I find them nice and...your opinion doesn't matter."

Not waiting for the young noble to continue, Maximilian went for the table.

"Lady Buttercup..." greeted Maximilian as he slightly bowed to her.

"Sir...is there something you wish to give me?" greeted back the drow with a charming smile.

"There are a few things I would be happy to give a woman as beautiful as you, but a lot of them would have to be given in private. For now, I will only give you this..."

Maximilian took out fifty golden coins and put them on the table.

"This will pay the fee, but I'm afraid I'll have to see your key, Sir." asked the dark elf.

"Naturally, although I'm afraid our friend over there is partially right, I don't have a golden key."

Around him, a murmur of indignation mixed with sneers started to be heard. Not paying attention to them, Lady Buttercup talked to him once again, the charming smile not leaving her face.

"Although I must admit I'm surprised you managed to get in here without a golden key, I'm afraid you'll have to leave, Sir."

"I don't think that will be necessary either, Lady Buttercup." answered Maximilian as he searched in his Havenbag.

"And why is that s...oh..."

The beautiful lady, as well as the rest of the crowd immediately went silent as Maximilian showed his key, golden with diamonds on it.

"Is my participation to this tournament a problem?" innocently asked Maximilian.

"No, not at all, welcome in the upper salon tournament, Sir." answered the drow with an amused smile as she was watching the crowd silent response. She gave him the last paper with a number on it and he thanked her by a slight nod before going back next to the young noble, mouth slightly opened.

"Close your mouth, you're going to swallow something." calmly said Maximilian as he passed next to him, going back to the bar where an amused elf was more than happy to served him another of his special preparation.

...........................................................................................................................................................

" I tell you he has to be some kind of noble. Who else has the wealth to buy a diamond pass? Even rich merchants don't have the money for it, keeping their gold to bet..." said a noblewoman to a group of fellow gossipers.

"I've never seen him before, is he the son of someone here?"

"He doesn't look like anyone I know, maybe a bastard?" proposed another member of the group.

"He isn't dressed like us, that's for sure. His clothes look like something people were wearing decades ago...although strangely enough, his clothes are in a good condition."

"Maybe is he some adventurer who has come across an ancient treasure?"

"In that case, why keeping old clothes when he could buy new ones? that's strange."

"He is strange indeed, but quite nice to talk too." said Gustave, sitting next to his wife with their maids siding them.

"Lord Gustave, have you talk to him before?"

"Only a bit before Lady Planter started her speech, he said his name was Maximilian Baltazard Van Nilmerus." said Gustave's wife.

"Nilmerus...Nilmerus...never heard that name before..."

"Maybe a distant cousin of the Nimeral noble family?" proposed a lady in the group.

"Improbable, the Nimeral's all live inside the walls, they are happy to claim it as much as they can."

"Indeed...but, now that I think about it, wasn't it their oldest son who was talking with him earlier? They don't seem to get along, he called him a commoner."

"You're right, the Nimeral's son doesn't seem to like him...but I think we all here can think about a member of our families we aren't fond of, isn't that right?" said Gustave.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the first match will soon begin, the two first number are the five and ten. If the two participants could come to sit at the table..."

Lady Planter called the two first players, a merchant lady against a nobleman, encouraged by their friends.

"We would like to remember our dear customers that bets are to be agreed by the two parts betting, plus at least a third person as a witness. Good luck to all of you!"

The nobleman, gentleman, let the lady decide on heads or tails, the lady began the first turn.

Maximilian stood from his place at the bar, willing to use the different plays to gather information and, why not, some money on the way.

He first went near the old noble couple he was talking to earlier, feeling he could use them to bet with others.

*Why not betting a bit with Gustave? Only a bit though, this old couple is too nice for me to take much from them...*

"Maximilian, how do you enjoy the tournament so far?" greeted the old man as Maximilian approached, making some head turn in his direction.

"Interesting would be a good way to describe it, Sir."

They looked a bit at the two players like the other were doing.

"Are you familiar with Elementard bet?" asked Gustave.

"I think so, you can bet on each turn result as well as the match result, right?"

"Indeed, are you the betting type, Maximilian?" questioned Gustave, a sparkle of excitement in his eyes.

"I do enjoy the thrill, though I would feel bad to take your money, Gustave, your wife and you have been such a pleasure to talk to."

The old man chuckled.

"Thank you for the compliment, but you seem confident on the result..."

"I am lucky when it comes to guessing who will win a turn, actually."

"Really? Intriguing, would you be willing to bet, then?" proposed the old noble, getting the interest of some around them.

Maximilian was observing the way the upper salon customers were playing. Unlike the lower level players, the contestants were taking their time, thinking about what to do, but also giving a bit of time to the ones betting.

*I guess they have something to win in the process, their friends must take bet for them...easier for me, I have all the time I need to see what I need to in the player hands and on the picking pile...easy win...*

Maximilian shrugged, a little smile on his face.

"Why not, what do you want to bet on?"

"Let's see...let's begin with...ten silver that the lady will have lost no more than two life points at the end of the first turn." said Gustave as he pulled out ten silver coins he put on the small table before the armchairs.

Maximilian observed the players cards, thinking for a second.

"I bet...she won't have lost even one life point at the end of the first turn." said Maximilian as he also pulled out the coins.

"I heard the bet, I confirmed." stated one of the nobles present.

The turned was played, the lady made the man lose two points, he defended poorly, but she was able to defend just fine, easy when her hand was almost only made of defending cards and the man had only a two points attack card in his, she didn't lose any life points.

"Sir Maximilian wins the bet." stated the noble serving as referee for the bet.

"Well guessed, Maximilian, you sure are lucky about this.

"Didn't I told you? I am very lucky."

Another noble in the group stepped in their conversation, interested in the conversation.

"Would it be possible to bet too? I like the idea of a man claiming he has so much luck, I want to test it!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

Several peoples started to bet here and there, Maximilian having a little success in Gustave's group.

"If everyone is ready, I am too, let's have some fun!" stated Maximilian.

.........................................................................................................................................................

At the end of the first match, Maximilian had won twenty-two golden coins and seventy-five silver coins.

*Not bad for a first play, I will easily win back what I spent to enter this place...but I'm also winning some grudge from sore losers...* thought Maximilian as he saw some dark looks from the ones having to pay him.

Maximilian was playing against a merchant for the second match.

He went at the table under the look of almost everyone in the room and faced his opponent, a heavy looking black skin merchant so covered in jewels he was looking more like a decorated Christmas tree than a man.

The man nodded politely to Maximilian without a word before seating, Maximilian did the same. Behind the man came a thin looking young man, tanned, with simple clothes on him. The thin young man bowed to Maximilian.

"My Master greets you. He isn't speaking your language, I will humbly serve as an interpreter, kind Lord."

Maximilian realised the merchant was looking at him, but also at his slave to understand his answer from time to time, a little smile on his face.

As he sat, Maximilian felt a little, almost imperceptible, jolt of magic running along his spine.

New skill acquired: Druidic magic: control.

New skill acquired: Druidic magic: resistance.

By reflex, Maximilian Maximised the two new skills.

*Why did I obtain a defence skill? Am I being attacked without noticing? No, it's something else, maybe a passive druidic spell that made my assimilation skill activate. Whatever, I will stay on guard and now I am ready to take druidic attack if needed.*

His thoughts were interrupted.

"Good evening, Sirs. I am Lady Borage and I will be your referee for this play."

Maximilian looked on the side where another one of Lady Planter rarest flower was standing.

*wow, an harpy...no, I'm mistaking, she's a birdkin*

Lady Borage didn't have hair, not like humans. Where the hair were supposed to be were long magnificent feathers, all different kind of blue and reaching her shoulders. Her eyes were bright yellow with a black iris, her lips coloured in shiny blue while silvery powder had been applied on her white skin around her eyes. Her gracious body was exquisitely dressed in a long robe, made of very long feathers looking like the ones of a blue peacock, slightly opened on the back to let through a long and brightly coloured tail of feathers, having the same kind of colours than the ones on her head.

The foreign stranger looked at the birdkin lady before whistling, appreciating the beauty of the flower. The piercing look of the blue lady immediately showed she wasn't appreciating the way he was acting.

"Please excuse my Master, kind Lady, his action was nothing more than a way to compliment your beauty."

The man spoke to his servant in a language Maximilian didn't understand at first, but...

New skill acquired: south tribes language.

*I'm going to become a moving linguistic dictionary if this goes on...On the other hand, if I'm going to journey around the world, I might as well now how to talk with the people I will meet correctly, maximised.*

"This bird would be a fine acquisition for the Sultan's harem." said the man to his servant before laughing a bit and nodding politely to Lady Borage, showing a face far more friendly than what he was intending by his words.

"I will excuse him this time, but only because I like his necklace..."

The lady was apparently appreciating the man's ornament, his golden necklace decorated with little blue sapphires.

"...let's put this incident behind and begin, are the two contestants ready?" asked Lady Borage as she looked at the two players who nodded, the merchant acting as soon as his servant had translated.

Maximilian was the one who would go first. As soon as the man saw his cards, he showed them to his servant, not hiding his confidence.

"See this? I picked a ten points defence card to begin with, I am lucky tonight!" revealed the man, so sure no one in the room would be able to understand him apart from his servant he wasn't the least careful.

*What an idiot...* sighed Maximilian, keeping his poker face.

"Bet! Bet!" exclaimed the man in everyone's language before Maximilian had time to place a card.

"He speaks our language?" questioned Maximilian.

"Only a few words he wanted to learn, he was quite excited to face north players." answered the servant.

"Very well. Lady Borage, would you do us the honour to be the referee of the bet?" politely asked Maximilian to the bird lady who nodded with a polite smile.

"If you both agree on the betting, I'll be the referee of it, although I'll have to ask this man's servant to confirmed both of you have agreed."

"I am okay with that, what about you?" asked Maximilian to the servant who then translated to the black merchant who nodded with a bright smile."

"I saw him bet, he is rich. I can take a lot of money from him in one turn, after that he will be desperate and that will make him play bad, or he won't accept and feel inferior...he is not a noble nor a merchant from what I heard, he mustn't know how to bet right, like all commoners...Translate this: I bet thirty golden coins he won't be able to do me more than...four damages points this turn of his...he will fall for it, I am sure." concluded the heavy man with a confident smile.

The servant translated as ordered, making the crowd gasp as they heard the bet value.

Maximilian looked at the man's card, then at his, quickly checking if he had what he needed.

"I accept the bet, Lady Borage, do you confirm?"

"I witnessed the bet, the two of you may place the money on the table."

The two did and Maximilian played a ten attack points fire card, waiting for his opponent to act, he placed the only defence card he had, the ten defence point wind card, with a victorious smile, already seeing the money as his.

"My Master defends, Kind Lord." stated the servant.

Maximilian revealed his card, making the smile disappear from his opponent face in a second.

"Sir Nilmerus win the bet!" claimed Lady Borage as the crowd cheered, for the most part, the others sorry to have lost their own bet.

"Thank you for the money, Sir." politely thanked Maximilian as he put the coins on his side of the table, purposely letting them there to taunt his adversary.

The merchant hit the table slightly, not pleased to have lost his first bet.

"I have to take this money back! This man has the beginner's luck, that's all! Another bet!" said the black merchant as his servant translated the last part.

"If your Master is willing to play and ready to pay, I also am." answered Maximilian with a smile while Lady Borage slightly chuckled, hiding her smile behind her sleeve.

.........................................................................................................................................................

"NO!!!" shouted the man in his language as he hit the table, making the piles of money tremble.

Maximilian had just won the second round and, incidentally, took approximately two hundred golden coins with de different bets the man was doing, one after the others. The last bet was to get back a hundred coins he had already lost. Because he was missing a few dozens golden coins, he had to bet his necklace.

"Sir Nilmerus wins the match!" declared Lady Borage.

"HOW COULD HE BEAT ME?!" exclaimed the man has her raised from his chair.

"Master, please stay calm." begged the servant in the man's language, not willing for the two of them to be in trouble.

"CLOSE YOUR MOUTH, WORM! DON'T YOU SEE HOW MUCH I HAVE LOST? IT IS YOUR FAULT! YOU CERTAINLY MADE A MISTAKE!" shouted the man as he took out a martinet from his belt, threatening his servant with it.

As he raised his hand to use his weapon, his hand was gripped by Maximilian.

"Your servant has nothing to do with your loss, only you is to blame." stated Maximilian in the man's language, making him open his eyes wide as the crowd became silent.

"You...you speak the language of the south tribes?!" asked the merchant, clearly not believing his ears.

"I do." simply said Maximilian, still holding the man's hand.

"You...you tricked me! You didn't tell me you could understand me!"

"You never asked, you haven't talked to me once during our play, only to this man serving you so he could translate, what he did perfectly I can assure you. If you have a tiny bit of honour, don't blame your defeat on others. "

Maximilian let go of the man who lowered his hand.

"I...lost...victory is yours and I am ashamed of myself, please excuse me I have to go."

Passing next to his servant, the merchant did something like a slight polite nod, surely the best the young man could expect in his situation. The servant bowed to Maximilian, thankful, before following his Master out of the room.

The crowd was a bit quiet for a few seconds, Lady Borage came to him.

"Would you mind telling me what happened?"

"Simple version? He is a sore loser and wasn't expecting someone here to understand his language. This man was telling out loud what his cards were..."

"That's...not a good strategy."

"Peoples tend to do stupid things when they are convinced to have the upper hand..." stated Maximilian as his look quickly passed on the crowd, stopping for a second on Lady Planter who he could have swear evaded his look.

Quickly bringing back his attention on the blue bird in front of him, Maximilian smiled.

"With that being said, here, for you."

Maximilian had put the coins in his bag and had now the necklace in his hands.

"For me?" asked the bird lady as the blue precious stones were reflecting in her eyes.

"Of course, I won my share and you clearly will wear it better than me." joked Maximilian, making some people in the crowd laugh.

"That is a pretty present, could you..." asked Lady Borage as she turned to present him the back of her neck.

"With pleasure."

Maximilian carefully put the necklace around the beastkin's neck, the golden jewel beautifully enhancing the elegance of her dress.

"It fits you well, Lady Borage!" complimented a noble lady, seconded by other cheers and some polite applause while the bird lady slightly curtsied to thank then. Once done, she turned back to face Maximilian. She approached him, pulling out one of the beautiful feathers on her head and used it to slightly caressing his chin.

"My gift for you, to thank you in return..."

Taking the offered feather, Maximilian used the back of his hand to caress it.

"I'll take care of it, thank you Lady Borage."

.........................................................................................................................................................

The tournament continued, Maximilian betting here and there and winning money. He tried several times to approach lady Planter or one of her flowers, but all of them were surrounded by so many peoples it would have been impossible to have a private conversation. That and Maximilian had a feeling Lady Planter was avoiding him, even if just a bit.

*Nothing to worry about, I soon will be able to meet this lady Planter nonetheless, if not because I won the tournament, I'll simply ask for special treatment. I should enjoy the moment, I still cannot exactly sense the Queen or her daughter, it is bothering me...this druidic magic is strange, not like ones I've felt before.*

While he had a bit of tranquillity, he tried to scan through the magic barrier, but wasn't able to.

*If I try harder, it's going to broke, and it could be bad if the magic it uses was to explode...I guess I'll wait and see.*

He played his next match and the one after without much trouble, although his opponents were more careful about their bets with him. Lady Buttercup and Borage were the referees once again, one then the other.

While waiting for his next match, Maximilian was sipping at his glasses for a bit, sitting at the bar.

"Excuse me, Lord Nilmerus?"

Turning around, Maximilian saw one of the two Squirrelkin maid serving Lord Gustave and his wife. When she saw him looking at her, she politely bowed.

"My Masters, Lord Gustave and his spouse, would like to have you at their table for a light meal while we wait for the semi-final."

"I understand your Master don't resent me for the lost bet?"

The maid shook her head, a slight smile on her face.

"Not at all, they enjoyed your previous conversation and would like to treat you. A simple way to show their support for your several wins in the tournament."

"How kind of them. Very well, I'll be glad to join them."

Another difference with the lower level was the comfort. Since the tournament was taking longer than the lower one, several groups of nobles had formed and were ordering several drinks and foreign delicacies, enjoying the current play while feasting and betting.

The maid led Maximilian back to her Master's table, where several snacks had been brought. There were Gustave and his wife, plus several nobles and merchant enjoying the meal and drinks while discussing some last kingdom news.

"Sir Nilmerus, glad to see you decide to join us! Come, take a seat, there is plenty to eat and drink." greeted Gustave, seconded by several other people present.

Seating with the others, Maximilian was almost immediately presented a cup filled with sweet smelling beer.

"Interesting flavour." commented Maximilian when he tasted it.

"Isn't it? I heard they bring it directly from the Dwarf kingdom."

"Something those midgets are good for..." stated a merchant at the table, making some of the peoples laughed.

"Sir, you seem to be enjoying this beer a lot, but not the ones making it..." innocently remarked Maximilian.

"What? Does it surprise you? It's not like there were a lot to like about them. Noisy, smelly, greedy, I have a lot of adjectives for them." stated the man, getting approving nods from some of the peoples at the tables.

"So...they are exactly like us, that's what you mean?" asked Maximilian, still maintaining the innocent tone.

The merchant gargled in his beer cup while Gustave and his wife chuckled, the two reactions seconded by others at the table. Apparently, not every rich merchant and noble were anti non-humans.

"What do you mean, like us? What can they have in common with us, humans?" questioned the man, visibly sure of his idea.

"You said they were noisy, smelly and greedy. Very well, let's not talk for a second..."

Putting a hand behind his ear, Maximilian tried to listen to the sound of silence, but the people around the table talking, shouting, some even singing, wasn't allowing him to.

"...I see only one dwarf lady in this room and I am pretty sure she isn't the noisier one in here. For the smelly part, well, how many dwarfs do you know?"

"What?"

"How many dwarfs do you know? I mean really know, ones you talked to, not some you pass next to in the lower level street."

"Ah, got you there! You'll know that I have to treat with several dwarf merchants and smiths for my work, so I do know some Dwarfs!" stated the man, thinking he could win this little exchange of ideas.

"So...the only dwarfs you know are merchant coming from their capital, arriving here after several weeks on the road, and smiths, passing their days near the forge where the fire is so hot it melts metal...I don't see how a human would smell any better in those conditions..." explained Maximilian, getting approving nods from several people around the table.

As the two were talking, some other peoples were coming to listen, the exchange of ideas apparently some kind of attraction for them.

"An...and what about the greedy part?! You cannot say a dwarf's not greedy!"

"They are...like humans are."

"No we're not!" defended the merchant.

"Really? As a merchant, you're going to tell me you aren't looking for your best interest in a transaction?"

"Maybe, but..."

"And in the same idea, would you not take advantage of any possibilities? Even if it meant fewer profits for the other party?"

"That may be the case, but..." tried to defend the merchant, not really knowing how to counter the truth.

"The dwarfs us humans are used to knowing are the merchants, the artisans. They are workers, sellers, the same works us human tend to do with as much ruthlessness as they do. I don't blame you for thinking they are greedy, they are, all intelligent culture has its own greedy people."

"So you admit they are greedy!" stated the man, victory in his voice.

"I never said they were not. All I want you to do is see their qualities as much as you see their defaults."

The man sneered.

"Qualities? Please enlight us..."

"Very well. You said they were greedy, but have a dwarf once come back on his words concerning a contract?"

"Not that I can think of..."

"It's because Dwarfs are like mountains, they don't change direction with the wind. Once a dwarf has made a contract with someone, it is almost impossible for him to go against it."

"Really? And why so?"

"Why do a bird fly? Why do a fish swim? It's in their blood. They are raised to seek what's profitable, as a merchant, but won't be the ones trying to rub you, it is their pride as merchants. Naturally, like in every race, some are bad, not a lot, but some. Of course one could try to rip you off, but I can surely claim at least nine dwarf merchants on ten will be the most honest kind of merchant you could find."

"So Dwarfs are honest? I recall having one not delivering my order in time, though..." thought another merchant at the table.

"What happened when he finally delivered it? Didn't he give you something, a supplementary good, a present or maybe some help?" questioned Maximilian.

"Let me think...yes! He offered me a beer keg, the beer was good."

"See? When they have something bothering the contract, they don't like it. For their heart to be at ease, they have to do something to compensate."

"I...did not know that. How come they never tell us this?"

"They are proud. You may judge them on their size, but their heart is as big as ours. Another good thing about Dwarf is their talent at smithing."

"That I can agree on!" stated another merchant around the table. "I had the chance to see some of their work, very impressive."

"Yeah, but telling is not showing, friend. One thing you consider great can not be so great if judged by others." said Maximilian's verbal opponent, getting nods from others.

"You are right, why not judge by yourself..." said Maximilian as he pulled out something from the Havenbag before putting it on the table.

"My my, this is a beautiful piece indeed." judged Gustave as he saw the thing.

Maximilian had put one of the numerous equipment he had found in Dragnïr's treasure chamber on the table. It was a golden gauntlet, finely made, with gemstones and jewels on the joints.

"This is a part coming from an entire armour set, some noble of the Dwarf kingdom must have been wearing it some centuries ago, but look at that, no trace of attrition whatsoever. And inside is engraved the coat of arm of the clan responsible for this work."

The merchant, after checking he could by a look to Maximilian, took the gauntlet in his hands, weighing it, observing it on every angle. He spoke to one of his friends around the table, passing the golden equipment to him.

"You are a jeweller, what can you tell us about this?"

The man put his cup down, took out a tissue to clean his hands, then a monocle he put on his eye. He examined it too, then whistled.

" All is real, no false stone..."

He slightly hit the metal with his nails, listening to the sound it was making.

"The sound is telling this is pure gold...If I had to put a price on it...at least three hundred golds, surely more if I had the time to examine those stone better."

Hearing the price, the crowd around the table gasped, the looks going from the gauntlet to Maximilian.

"And you said this is only a part? What happened to the rest of the armour?" questioned the jeweller as he reluctantly gave back the expensive thing to Maximilian.

"I have it, of course. The set was complete when I found it." simply said Maximilian before drinking from his cup, the crowd gasping so loudly Maximilian thought some would fall unconscious.

"You...have a complete set of armour made like this gauntlet?" questioned the jeweller, almost drooling with envy. "Do...do you realise the worth of a piece like that?"

"I have a vague idea, yes. If I estimate the worth of the gold, plus the quantity, the precious stones and their number....something like two thousand and five hundred golds."

A lady and a man fell unconscious, making Maximilian chuckle.

"And I could get twice that much if I sold it at the Dwarf kingdom."

"Five thousand gold?! Why would they pay that much?" questioned some peoples around the table.

"Because of whom it could have belongs to. Judging by the quality, it had to be wear by a noble. I think we can all agree no commoner could dream of having enough to pay for it..." said Maximilian, everyone agreeing around the table.

"One thing about the Dwarfs, they revered their ancestors as much as we do our gods. Imagine how much the church would pay for...I don't know...let's say some equipment once worn by Carendar himself."

"A lot, that's sure."

"See? Once again, us humans act like the dwarfs." stated Maximilian as he put the gauntlet inside the Havenbag.

"If you don't mind...aren't you a bit too protective of the dwarfs? Where does this love for them comes from?" questioned one of the ladies around the table.

Maximilian looked a bit around, more people had come around, their attention was taken by the people's reaction about the costly gauntlet.

"It's not especially about dwarfs, I tend to look at every race like that. I won't hesitate one second to kill a dwarf, an elf, an orc or a beastkin if one was to attack me, like I would do with any human attacking me. But, on the other hand, I am glad to say I count several non-humans as my friends. I tend to judged someone on who he is, not what he is. A pretty lady is a pretty lady, her race only enhanced how beautiful she looks..."

Chuckling a bit, Maximilian continued.

"On the other hand, a pillock is a pillock, no matter the race he is."

His last sentence made several peoples around the table laughed.

"I find this way of thinking interesting, Maximilian." said Gustave, apparently of the same opinion.

"But I am not the only one here thinking like that, Lord Gustave. You all around this table, aren't you longing for a meeting with one of Lady Planter's flower? I know everyone has his own taste but I am sure not every one of you is longing for a human here...ain't I right?"

The shy look some exchanged confirmed he was right.

"See? You all, even if not willing to say it, are aware of other races beauty. You may try to hide the truth behind false racism, be it to not displease your close ones or friends, but deep inside, you know I am not totally wrong."

"But that doesn't mean you're totally right either..." said an unpleasant person entering the group around the table.

Maximilian sighed as he recognised the blond noble.

"Still not reduce to dust I see, good job keeping your ass away from torches this time, Boy." greeted Maximilian as some people around the table chuckled.

"We'll see how you do when we will face each other in the final, commoner." taunted the young noble.

"Let me tell you what will happen...you will lose and be a sore loser, threatening me with who your father, mother, uncle or aunt is. I won't give a damn, you will try to attack me because you're not used to someone disciplining you the least tiny bit, then I'll kick your burned ass and you will go back to your parent somewhere on the upper level, crying like, may I take a guess, a little bitch?" calmly stated Maximilian.

A long silence followed his sentence. Then, Gustave, quickly followed by other older members of the groups, started to laugh out loud.

"Like a little bitch!" repeated Gustave, doing an impression of Maximilian.

The young noble, red with anger, decided it was better to not say anything else and went away.

"Good job with this one, Maximilian. Some youngsters tend to be a bit too pretentious this day." complimented Gustave.

"You're right...but in the end, it will be decided by the cards."

.........................................................................................................................................................

"Sir Nilmerus wins the match!"

For the final, the referee was Lady Poppy, a human lady who Maximilian could describe as a ' Spanish beauty'. Her long and wavy black hair, going down to her shoulders, were decorated with a single red flower placed juts a bit above her left ear. She was dressed in a flaming red dress looking a lot like the one worn by flamenco dancers. Her brown eyes had judged the game, her burning temperament dissuading any cheating attempts, that and the black and red fan covered by tiny silver claws she had in her hand.

"Im...IMPOSSIBLE!"

Naturally, as Maximilian had expected he would, the young noble made a scene. What Maximilian didn't expect was the slap coming from Lady Poppy right on his face, making him shut up in a second.

"Silence, boy! You lose the game, be a man and accept it!"

The young noble looked at the Lady, dumbfounded, while the crowd was having a good laugh. He quickly left the room with his group before the humiliation got even worse, tears of rage in his eyes.

Once the young noble's group was gone, cheers came for Maximilian, winner of the tournament.

"To the victor goes the prize." said Lady Poppy with a charming smile as she kissed his cheek, her red lipstick feeling as hot as embers.

"Congratulation, Sir Nilmerus!" proclaimed Lady Planter as she approached the playing table with her flowers, a big purse of gold on a plate transported by Lady Buttercup and his diamond keys inside a small chest transported by Lady Borage.

"As promised, this purse of a hundred gold coins is yours, as well as your key, allowing you to...meet one of my pretty flowers."

Maximilian was going to answer when a door, situated in the opposite direction from the exit, opened.

In stepped a Lady, at least it certainly was a lady if judged by the form under her dress, composed of several long finely made pieces of cream coloured fabric turning around her body, tightly covering her upper body as well as her waist and legs, showing perfectly well the feminine forms under it.

Her face was hidden, as well as her hair, by another fabric around it, like a lady of the desert would have around her head. Only the emerald green eyes were visible.

"Lady Dandelion? Is something wrong?"

Murmurs began to come from the crowd.

"Lady Dandelion?"

"If she's here, do you think she would?"

"It's possible..."

"I need to get more money to bet!"

Maximilian didn't really understand what was the commotion about.

The new lady passed next to Lady Planter, touching her arms without a word, nodding in Maximilian's direction.

"Are you sure? Against him?"

The hidden Lady nodded before sitting.

Bringing back her attention on Maximilian, Lady Planter took the purse off the plate.

"Sir Maximilian, may I interest you in a bet?"

Lady Planter's words clearly interested the crowd, unused to see the owner herself bet.

"What kind of bet?" asked Maximilian, curious.

"A simple double or nothing. I would like to bet your reward in a play against my champion, Lady Dandelion." explained Lady Planter as she put down the purse on the table, waiting for his answer.

Maximilian thought for a bit while he was encouraged by the crowd, visibly willing to see the party go on.

"Are there special rules for this match?" questioned Maximilian.

"The same as the plays before, the first one to win two round wins the play." stated Lady Planter as she let go of the purse, certain to have won his attention.

"...Alright, but in that case..."

Maximilian passed next to the owner, coming near Lady Borage who looked at him curiously.

"I will take this, My Lady." said Maximilian as he took the key from the chest before showing it to the crowd and, in a theatrical movement, dropped it next to the purse.

This, of course, surprised everyone.

"What are you doing, Sir?" asked Lady Planter.

"You want me to risk my reward? Very well, but it will be double or nothing for all my rewards."

"Must I understand the money isn't enough?" severely questioned the owner.

"Money is nothing more than metal, I can win more by many ways. The chance to privately meet the ladies around you, on the other hand, is a reward worthy of the risk." stated Maximilian, the crowd voicing their agreement.

Lady Planter thought for a bit, took a look at her flowers, then at the Lady sitting at the playing table, then nodded with a confident smile.

"Very well. Double or nothing for the money AND the key!" announced the owner, the crowd excited for the event to come.

.........................................................................................................................................................

*She is good, really good. Even with my clear advantage, I can feel the pressure. If it wasn't for my capacity to read cards, she would have destroyed me.*

Maximilian was admiring the Lady's way of playing. She had a talent for it, always perfectly knowing what to play to defend or attack the best way possible. Maximilian was keeping a little advance on her, but not by choice.

*For the first time in this tournament, I experience what it is to play against someone really good.*

"I must say, you truly are good at this, Lady Dandelion."

The Lady didn't answer, only slightly nodding to show she had heard him.

*Is she mute or does she not want to talk? Let's see...*

Maximilian scanned the Lady, then smiled as he saw the information written before his eyes.

*Oh...*

Maximilian let a turn or two passed in silence, listening a bit to the crowd around the table, as well as Lady Planter's flowers speaking amongst themselves. After he managed to win the first round, he sighed.

"Things are going well, but you are a tough opponent, Lady Dandelion."

Once again, she answered with a nod.

"Please excuse Lady Dandelion, Sir. She isn't the speaking kind." politely apologised Lady Planter as a maid brought Maximilian a glass of the drink he had ordered earlier.

"No, it's me who apologise, I should have understood the first time. I simply thought she wasn't understanding me..."

Maximilian drank a bit from his glass. In a second, he felt his head getting a bit heavier and his vision a bit blurrier.

New skill acquired: drugs and poison knowledge.

New skill acquired: drugs and poison resistance.

*Oh shit! Maximised!* Quickly thought Maximilian, keeping his poker face.

In a second, the strange feeling disappeared.

*Did...did they try to poison me? Wow, that's cheap!*

A quick look in Lady Planter's direction made him understand she was well aware of the condition of his drink.

*Oh you...this is going to be fun.*

Playing the game to make the suspect believe he was effectively drugged, Maximilian opened his eyes wide a moment as if fighting the blurry feeling.

"Is everything alright, Sir?" politely asked Lady Planter, a little smile on her face.

"Y...yes, I think the tasty things I've been drinking and eating tonight are finally getting to me, that's all." answered Maximilian with a voluntary weak smile. "Let's pursue the game please..."

"Of course, the second round is beginning." stated the owner, now confident her champion couldn't lose.

His new defence skill allowed him to drink without any effect, the drug was apparently only meant to make his mind unable to think straight.

Once done with his glass, Maximilian asked for a tea, playing the part.

"A tea?" questioned Lady Planter, a bit amused.

"Yes...I have the feeling I shouldn't drink more alcohol tonight..." answered Maximilian as he, once again, opened his eyes wide for a second as if fighting against the drug.

Lady Dandelion was part of the plan, using what she thought was a good occasion to launch an all-out attack on him as soon as the round began, using one after another her strong attack cards.

*And like I said, once they think they have the upper hand, they do stupid things...*

Maximilian let her attack, defending just enough to keep enough health points he was healing right after.

After some turns, Lady Dandelion was done, having wasted all her attack and defend cards on him.

"You...are done attacking?" weakly asked Maximilian.

Once again, only silence answered him, although he could have sworn the green eyes looking at him were trying to kill him by a simple look.

"Then...I think this is my win." stated Maximilian as he put down an attack card, face up as she had no card to play, a ten points attack card.

All around him, the crowd shouted, some of joy, some of anger, but the room was certainly not quite.

The result clearly surprised everyone in Lady Planter's group, she and all her flowers not knowing what to say.

Still playing his act, Maximilian raised his hands, victorious.

"To me the money, and two keys to see the pretty ladies!" chanted the supposed drugged man.

Another purse of gold was brought as well as a second diamond key, the crowd cheering, for the most part, while the rest was already leaving.

"Congratulation, Sir!" said Lady Planter, wonderfully playing her part.

"You have won this bet, and can choose two of this pretty flowers you wish to see in private." declared the owner as the flowers curtsied as one, all but the mute lady who was already going back to the door she had come from.

"Must I choose two of them directly? Or can I see one first and another one after?" questioned Maximilian.

"You...can choose, you own the keys." answered Lady Planter, accepting the idea.

"Very well, in that case...Lady Dandelion!"

The said lady froze with her hand on the door knob as every flower turned to look at her before looking back at Maximilian, curious and/or not pleased for some.

"Lady Dandelion, Sir? Isn't there any other of my flowers who could satisfy your desire?" asked Lady Planter.

"Lady Planter, I think all your flowers could very well satisfy a lot of my desire. But, as I have the privilege to have two keys, I would like to use one to have Lady Dandelion play another match with me...but this time in private, without the crowd looking at us. I want a private play of elementard." said Maximilian.

"You...is that all you want from Lady Dandelion?" asked Lady Planter, surprised.

"Right now? Yes. I think luck wasn't on her side this time and I'm willing to see if I can beat her once again...would it be fine?" hesitantly asked Maximilian, once again acting as if he was fighting against the drug.

Lady Planter quickly came next to Lady Dandelion and whispered in her ear. Focussing a bit on them, Maximilian was able to hear what she was saying.

"Do not worry, he drank so much drugged alcohol it is even surprising he is still standing, he will soon fall asleep. Play the part for a bit, he won't bother you for long."

The hidden Lady nodded and opened the door, inviting Maximilian to follow her.

"Thank you." said Maximilian as he passed next to the other flowers to follow her while the rest of the crowd was leaving, the main attraction now over.

.........................................................................................................................................................

Behind the door, a long hall lead the two to what Maximilian though was Lady Dandelion's room. Everything was there, large bed, closet, mirror and other furniture, all finely made in dark wood. The ceiling was hidden behind large pieces of fabric of different colours.

Before the bed was at playing table and two comfy chairs made to play elementard.

Lady Dandelion sat and signalled Maximilian to do the same.

Once in the chair, Maximilian felt once again the feeling of magic running along his back.

*So it's here too, but stronger...I am nearer the one using this magic...*

Silently, the Lady sat in front of him and distributed the cards, her eyes not leaving him.

"You are going to make me shy if you don't stop looking at me like that, Lady Dandelion..."

She hastily looked away, signalling him to begin the turn.

"Now that we are alone, I would like to talk to you."

He was answered with silence once again.

"I know, I know, you're not the talking type. Trying to speak to you nonetheless must make me the king of incivilities..."

She defended against his attack, not saying a word.

"But, then again, I think Lady Planter, who ordered for me to be drugged would, in that case, be the Queen of incivilities..."

The lady froze, her eyes slowly coming back to him. As he saw her worried look, Maximilian let a little smile appear on his face.

"And what about you all, the flowers, knowing what was happening but acted like it was nothing? This would make you, what? The Princess of incivilities?"

The lady forgot to play her turn, her attention on him.

"On the other hand, it's not like we had to speak about incivilities for you to be a Princess. Isn't that right, Katerina?"

In an instant, the Lady was out of her chair and ran away while branches came from the ground, the table and the chairs, all around Maximilian, turning around him to imprisoned him on his chair.

"Don't move or this branches will crush you!" echoed a voice around the room.

Looking around, Maximilian didn't see anyone, a quick scan indicated him the voice was magically spoken through the branches themselves.

"And who do I have the pleasure to speak to?" politely asked Maximilian, not the least worried about his prison of wood.

"I am the one protecting Lady Planter's Flowers. You who threatened one of them, you won't move until I say so." imperiously said the voice.

"Oh...is that so? Alright then...and speaking with you, is that possible?"

"..."

No answers came, apparently, the one controlling the branches wasn't willing to talk anymore.

*Very well, if you take it like that...now that you're using your magic directly on me, I can clearly see the way of energy leading to you...if you can project your conscious by using druidic magic, I wonder...*

.........................................................................................................................................................

Fleur, sitting on her tree armchair, was currently using her power to maintain the man in place while the Princess was seeking help.

*Mother Planter isn't far, she will soon take care of that man, helped by the flow....*

"Hello!" Fleur jumped in her armchair as the man's voice echoed around her.

How could he be there? Did he manage to escape? How come she didn't notice him moving around the upper level?

Focussing once again, she felt he was still there but...something was strange, she was feeling his energy running along her branches, all the way to...

"You're here..." stated Fleur.

"Indeed...well, not really, but you are more than able to understand what is really happening. This is a strange feeling, I don't think I like this."

"You shouldn't be here, get out." calmly ordered Fleur as a wave of energy hit Maximilian's consciousness.

"Wow wow wow, no need to be rude, Lady, I just wanted to talk. May I remind you you were the one attaching me to a chair?"

"You...are still here?!" said Fleur, this time starting to get worried.

"Yep...but I think I'll go now, I hear someone's coming. One little advice, I'm going to get out of this chair soon, so if you feel what your branches feel, you should make them disappear...and quickly."

Then the presence was gone.

Fleur looked around her, using her magic to be sure she was really alone.

"How?....Who is this man?!"

.........................................................................................................................................................

"I have to say I am truly a lucky one. I bet a lot of people would sell their soul to be questioned by...how should I say it? Such a magnificent bunch of interrogators!"

In front of Maximilian were Lady Planter, Princess Katerina and all the Flowers. Although, Maximilian's sincere compliment wasn't well received, their face showing less than good attention for him.

"Sir Nilmerus, if that really is your name. You will tonight tell us all you know, my flowers know a lot of ways to make a man talk..." threatened Lady Planter.

"And I'm sure a lot of those ways are truly a bliss, but...as I am sure this is going to take a while, me telling you I'm not an enemy, you not believing me, torture and all kind of things like that, I suggest we stop right here this thrilling talk and make this easier. I am a friend of Queen Alexandria, Princess Arima and Lady Kitsu. I know the three of them are hiding here, but I had trouble locating them until a few minutes ago..."

"What do you mean?" inquired Lady Planter, not at ease with the calm tone the man immobilised on the chair by her daughter's branches was using.

"I'm talking about the pretty Lady using this branches to maintain me here. While I was waiting for you to come, I had all the time I needed to see through her magic barrier and now I know the ones I came to see are there."

"Impossible, what could make you think the Queen is hiding here in the first place?"

"Your friend Tallel told me it was certainly here Kitsu would thing of hiding. Now to be frank I didn't know Princess Katerina was here too. Now that I think about it, it is a pleasure to meet you, Princess."

Realising she was completely discovered, the Princess took off the fabric around her face, revealing a pretty face looking a lot like her mother's, but with shorter hair, cut semi-long, probably to hid her face easier.

"I see you take after your mother for the beauty, you could have shown yourself beside the other flowers without any problem."

"Enough flattery! How can we know you're telling the truth?" questioned the Princess.

"Simple, ask your sister, your mother or her maid, all three of them will tell you the same thing, I'm an ally."

"You could be a spy..."

"And I could kill every single one of you without the least difficulty. But, if you hadn't notice, I choose to play the part, participate in the tournament and am still patiently waiting here when I could...well, this is bothering me...Lady Planter, does your daughter feel everything the branches feel?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"I am going to break free to show you how easy it is for me, but I wouldn't want to hurt her needlessly."

"How considerate of you..." said the Lady without any conviction.

"As you wish...I'll start with this arm then..."

Maximilian raised an arm, breaking the branches like it was nothing. All around the room, a scream of pain echoed.

"FLEUR!!!" screamed Lady Planter.

One of the flowers, the dwarf lady, ran at Maximilian, a short axe in hands.

"YOU BASTARD!!!" shouted the small lady as she jumped, aiming the axe at his head.

Maximilian used his free hand to seize the weapon's blade, stopping the girl movement midair.

"Please stop this, I don't want to hurt any of you." honestly said Maximilian while the dwarf lady was trying with force to pull back her weapon from his grip.

"This bastard his strong!" exclaimed the dwarf lady, not letting go of the weapon's handle.

"I'll help!" said Lady Poppy as she ran at Maximilian, turning on herself with high speed with her fan in her hand. Just as the small blades on the fan were about to cut through Maximilian's throat, he freed his other arm to grab the ladies weapon too, making another cry echoed in the room.

"Fleur! You monster! Stop hurting my daughter!" ordered Lady Planter, rage and pain in her voice.

"Stop trying to kill me then!" answered Maximilian.

"Don't worry, Lady Planter, he won't be able to stop us all!" said Lady Buttercup as the rest of the Flowers present pulled out a weapon and dashed at Maximilian.

"Oh for God's sake, I said STOP!!!" shouted Maximilian, letting his aura out.

...........................................................................................................................................................

In the dark of the night, two red eyes shined and a voice, filled with hatred, was heard.

"Found you..."

Milne started to run in the red district direction at an inhuman speed, weapon in hand.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Lady Planter was panting hard, a knee on the ground, protecting the Princess as she was looking at the man in the chair with all her flowers laying around him, unconscious.

"What kind of monster are you?!"

"For the last time, go ask the Queen and the others, I am not an enemy. Why the hell does no one ever believe me without me crushing them? I would like, one time, to have a peaceful talk without someone having to suffer. Princess Katerina, go.fetch.your.mother!" finally ordered Maximilian.

The Princess looked at him with anger, then at Lady Planter who nodded at her.

Once the Princess was out of the room, Maximilian put his hands on the broken branches.

"Please..." started to beg the older woman.

"I'm not going to hurt her more than you made me..." said Maximilian.

Some golden light came from his hands and went inside the broken branches, growing them back in a second before making them free him.

"What did you do?"

"I repaired what I broke."

"Fleur? Are you alright?" inquired the Lady.

"I'm afraid she can't hear you, for now, she was kinda shocked by the pain and the relief of my healing. But I can assure you she is okay."

Lady Planter looked at him, not really knowing how to react.

"You...you truly aren't here to hurt us?"

Before Maximilian had the time to answer, Katerina was back with her Mother.

"Your Highness..." greeted Maximilian to the very surprised Queen.

"What happened here?" questioned the Queen.

"...a small misunderstanding between me and those charming ladies, nothing to worry about."

"Are they..."

"Dead? Of course not, why would I hurt them? They clearly acted to protect your family and their friend. To be frank, I like them more now that I saw how they could react to protect others. They will be up in no time and..."

Maximilian stopped in his sentence, something was bothering him.

"What's the matter, Sir Maximilian?" inquired the queen when she saw his worried face.

"Your Majesty, where is Arima?" asked Maximilian as he felt something.

"She will arrive soon, she was sleeping with Kitsu and..."

"MAXIMILIAAAAN!!!"

A shout filled with hatred echoed, coming from the upper salon.

"What the hell?!" said Maximilian as he passed next to the ladies in the room, hurrying to the salon, followed by them.

...........................................................................................................................................................

The upper salon was, fortunately, empty of any servant or customers. The exit had been locked by Lady Planter and her flowers before going to see Maximilian, forbidding anyone from entering from the lower level. The one who had called Maximilian had visibly entered by a window, breaking it on the way.

"Milne? What are you doing?!"

"ARIMA!"

"MOTHER!"

Milne, her blade under Princess Arima's neck, was holding her hostage. Kitsu, her shoulder red with blood, was on the side with a knee on the ground, clearly in pain.

The scared young Princess, her eyes teary, was pleadingly calling after her mother.

"LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER!!!" screamed the Queen, losing in an instant all her royal grace.

"SILENCE, DEMON!" barked the Inquisitor, her blade dangerously pushing against the Princess' throat.

"Milne! You called me, I am here. What do you want of me?" asked Maximilian, using his presence to caught the inquisitor's attention.

"You! You killed her! You killed Nilem!" accused Milne, her eyes filled with hatred and madness.

"I did n..."

"DON'T LIE!!!" ordered the Inquisitor, threatening the Princess once again.

Maximilian raised his hand in a surrendering sign.

"You win! Look at me, I have no weapon..."

As he spoke, Maximilian focussed on the ground behind Milne, using earth magic mixed with the new druidic skill he had newly acquired. Without a sound, some long and very thin branches started to grow out of the ground.

Maximilian got on his knees, his hands still showing.

"I am on my knees, Milne..."

"Your bag! throw it away!" ordered Milne.

"I obey." said Maximilian as he carefully detached the Havenbag from his belt and threw it away.

"Your other bag too!"

Still obeying, Maximilian took off the bag containing Dragnïr's egg and put it on the ground, pushing it on the side.

As he was winning time, the plant was still growing at a fast pace, quickly reaching Milne size without her noticing.

"What now? I am at your mercy, let go of the Princess."

"Certainly not! I know the truth, my eyes have been opened, I know those are demons in disguise, just like you! You all infiltrated our dear kingdom to destroy us all! YOU.KILLED.MY.SISTER!!!" accused once again the inquisitor in a shout.

The shouting noises seemed to have woken up Lady Planter's flowers, the beautiful ladies arriving in the room, weapons in hand.

"YOU! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!" ordered the Inquisitor as she pointed at them with her blade.

*NOW!*

With a single thought, Maximilian made the plant move, circling around the Inquisitor's every member. As soon as he saw an opening, Maximilian dashed and saved the Princess from her captor.

"No, no, no...NOOOOOOO!!!" shouted the inquisitor louder and louder.

Surprising Maximilian, Milne's blade shined with black energy, making the plant turn into dust.

"Go to your mother!" said Maximilian as he slightly pushed Arima behind him, placing himself between the inquisitor and the royal family.

Observing his plant turning to dust, he saw that, more than burning, the plant was dying, rotting so fast it was disappearing in an instant.

"Lady Planter, take the Queen and Princesses, go see your daughter. If she wakes up, order her to not intervene, this weapon is too dangerous for her."

"But I..."

"GO!"

The old lady nodded and took the royal members with her, guiding them to the door leading to where she needed to go. On her way she helped Kitsu up, taking her with them.

"Flowers, go with them!"

"We won't."

The door closed when Lady Planter, the royal family and Kitsu had passed, blocked and now guarded by the Flowers, weapons in hand.

"We don't know what's happening, but we saw how you helped them, we won't let her pass!" said Lady Buttercup as she raised her golden blade.

"Very well, just...do not try to kill me again, please." jocked Maximilian while he didn't let his eyes go away from Milne, who had finally managed to completely kill his plant.

"Bah! It's only a bit of time won for you, Demon! You will soon perish under my Holy blade, enchanted by the Cardinal himself!"

As she raised her weapon, Maximilian felt the energy coming from it.

*This thing his rotten to the core, the energy coming from it is monstrously bad...I think it's better I don't even get touched by that blade.*

"PREPARE YOURSELF, DEMON!!!" shouted Milne as she dashed at him at a speed far too great for her level, dark energy surrounding her.

In a second, Maximilian created two ice blades covering his hands, paring the inquisitor fierce attack. As soon as the blade touched the ice, it began to turn black.

*What the!!!*

Not taking any chance, Maximilian broke the ice turning black and created another one, only for it to start to turn black as soon as it was touched by the blade.

New skill acquired: Curse magic: resistance.

*Fine, just what I needed! Maximised!*

As soon as his new skill was maximised, the ice stopped turning black almost completely. It was still getting infected, but the speed at wich it was changing was not alarming in the least.

While he was paring the inquisitor fierce attack, Maximilian was thinking.

*Okay, now I have to take care of this thing before I can focus on Milne. If this is a cursed weapon, I should be able to purify it like I purified Lin-Lin slave seal. At least it won't kill me if I fail!...Hopefully...*

Maximilian gripped Milne hand, stopping her attack. She tried to punch him but he was quicker than her and headbutted her, pushing her back then using earth magic to immobilise her on the ground for a bit, making her drop the blade.

The cursed weapon, as soon as he took it in his hands, started to emit cursed energy, clearly trying to gain power over him.

*Not gonna happen you freaking maleficent paper cutter!* thought Maximilian as he started to pour holy magic in the weapon, fighting back the curse in it.

The curse was strong, but not enough for him. In a short time, the dark energy disappeared and Maximilian dropped the blade, panting a bit.

"What a fucking piece of rotten shit!!" cursed the man.

"No! My holy blade! What have you done, Demon!!" helplessly said Milne as she was kicking and hitting at the stones chains on her, trying to get them off.

Coming above her, Maximilian looked her directly in the eyes.

"Milne, listen to me..."

"NO! I WON'T LISTEN TO ANY OF YOUR LIES!! YOU WON'T PERVERT MY SOUL, DEMON! DEMON!! DEMOOOOOON!!!"

And she felt unconscious as Maximilian hit her in the guts.

"For God's sake, shut up already! Boy, she sure is noisy."

Coming to pick up his bags, Maximilian looked at the ladies guarding the door, looking at him without a word.

"She won't wake up before long. I need to see the others, let me through."

Seeing the ladies were hesitating a bit, Maximilian sighed as he simply cautiously pushed them on the side with wind magic, entering the room behind them.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"That's what I feared, the wound is infected. It's going to hurt a bit, Lady Kitsu."

Maximilian had quickly examined Kitsu's injury when he had arrived, the fox lady had been attacked by Milne and her cursed blade.

Putting his hand on her naked shoulder, Maximilian used holy magic to cure her, making her hissed a bit at first when he had to purify the rotten flesh.

*Good thing the flesh was still alive despite being rotten or it would have been far worse.*

"Done. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, thank you for your help." thanked Kitsu has she put her dress back on.

"Who was that lady, Sir Maximilian? An Inquisitor? Are we still safe here?" questioned the Queen, worried.

"She was alone, I scanned the place once I was done with her. What worries me is the weapon she had."

"Indeed, this thing is cursed." confirmed Kitsu.

"Not anymore..." said Maximilian.

"What? How is this...you purified it, right?" asked Kitsu mid-sentence.

"Yep."

"...I'm not going to question that, I'm just happy you did. What about the girl, is she dead?"

"No, unconscious."

"Why isn't she dead?" asked Lady Planter.

"If she were, it would be far more difficult to have some answers...unless you or one of your flowers can make dead body talk?"

"No...you're right, we must interrogate her." admitted Lady Planter

"Let's bring her here so we can take care of the salon without causing a ruckus." suggested Kitsu.

"Good idea."

...........................................................................................................................................................

Maximilian was with the Queen, Lady Planter and Fleur in the room, the man examining the inquisitor, a hand on her forehead.

"What do you feel?" inquired the queen.

"It's as we thought, she's cursed too." stated Maximilian.

"So...was she responsible for her actions or not?" asked Lady Planter, the question visibly interesting the queen also.

"Not completely. This cursed his messing with her mind, she cannot be reasoned with...but maybe I can help."

"How?"

"It's a cursed, working exactly like the one on the sword, only having a different effect. Using holy magic powerful enough should destroy the curse."

" Should?"

"That, or it will kill her, fifty percent chance."

The queen looked at Kitsu and Lady Planter, unsure.

"Sir Maximilian...you don't seem that concerned about her..."

"I'm not. She's the one responsible for Lin-Lin's capture. If I were to listen to myself, she would be dead already. On the other hand, the one who saved Lin-Lin before I arrived love this inquisitor. I give her a chance, I will try to save her and let chance decide if she must live or not. Good for her if she does, but I won't cry if she dies."

Placing his hand on the woman's chest, the other on her forehead, he concentrated, focusing on the dark energy inside her.

As soon as he began to pour holy energy in her body, she began to tremble, shaking violently. Using his hand to maintain her on the ground, Maximilian didn't stop for an instant, treating Milne's curse like he did the sword.

A minute passed, then Milne stopped moving, silence fell in the room.

"Is she...?" questioned the queen.

"She lives..."

With a simple hand gesture, Maximilian attached her with stone chains again.

"Just in case she was willing to do anything stupid. Interrogate her when she wakes up, I have to go."

"Already, why?" asked the queen.

"Several reasons. I came here to be sure you were alright, you are. I'm happy to inform you that Princess Arima's guardians and the rest of the group are safe and hidden at the Golden Amazon, helped by Talel and her family..."

"They're fine then, the Inquisition would need to send more than one or two guards to scare Talel." stated Kitsu.

"That's true, I've already seen this woman scaring an orc chief with a roar once..." nodded Lady Planter.

"But...what about Arca? With an arm gone..." inquired the queen.

"It's fine, I healed her."

"..."

The two women looked at him dumbfounded while Lady Planter didn't seem to understand what it was about.

"No time to explain, we have a lot to discuss and not enough time I'm afraid. You need to assemble your strengths, your Majesty." stated Maximilian.

"Why?" asked Kitsu.

Seeing the curious look of the others, she explained herself.

"Sorry, but...Sir Maximilian, you are powerful, I mean really powerful, can't you do something about the situation and we would be done with it?"

"What, you mean attacking the castle all alone? Yes, I could, but I won't."

It was Maximilian's turn to be looked at strangely.

"Try to think about it. The people have suffered a great deal because of that Cardinal actions, but in their eyes, it isn't him the culprit, the crown is. If I take care of everything by myself, he will die as a martyr, killed by an assassin of the crown or the non-humans as he was 'protecting the holy light of Carendar'. After that, the peoples will go mad, turning against the crown or the non-humans, it will be hell. It is you, your Majesty, who must lead this army we're making, show the people you fight for them, show them the crown is their ally...show them the true face of the Cardinal. Do that and you will retrieve peace in your kingdom...I'll be by your side for the fight, of course."

"You are right, I need to show everyone they can still count on the crown...they need to know who is to blame for all this! Very well, if we want to face the Inquisition and the Cardinal's private army, we need as much help as we can." said the queen.

"The problem is who can we ask help from?" asked Kitsu, thinking out loud.

"If I trust what I've observed until now, quite a lot of people actually. The majority of your enemies are misled by the Inquisition propaganda but, if we could bring to your side some Inquisitors, this would change everything."

"Inquisitors? Siding with us? Sir Maximilian, that's impossible! Don't you know they are the very ones who chased us out of the castle? They tried to kill us!" declared Alexandria, the souvenir of this making her frown.

"That may be true, but have you thought about the fact that, maybe, not every Inquisitor was willingly following the Cardinal?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The white Inquisition."

"Sir Maximilian...the white Inquisition has disappeared, their members are dead or missing, we can't count on them."

"Please excuse my honesty, but you're wrong. I discussed with a white Inquisitor not that long ago, and I think I can find a way to make him an ally."

"How?"

"I'll explain this in a short moment. Soldiers patrolling the city are, for the most part, only waiting for a signal to take arms on your side. Some nobles, even though they won't say it out loud, are favourable to the Cardinal taking control because of his non-humans policy, but they aren't all thinking that way. Once the battle will begin, you can expect the help of some of them, but I can't give you any precise number."

" What about the others? The rainbow guard has been missing since we got separate at the castle. They were with the chancellor and the non-humans working at the castle." asked the queen.

"I didn't get any more information about them, you Majesty. I've sent some of my seeds to search the lower level, but they still haven't found anything." said Lady Planter.

"Seeds?" questioned Maximilian.

"That's how I called my low-level agents, Sir Maximilian." explained Lady Planter.

"Your agents? Okay, just a second, I know you are a friend of Kitsu and the owner of this place, but clearly, there is more to it..."

"Indeed. I am what you could call an information dealer. While this place is indeed a house of pleasure, it also serves as a headquarter for my business. My 'rarest Flowers' as I call them are my most trusted agents, very talented when it comes to getting information from peoples without them realising it, they are also serving as my bodyguards when the situation requires it. When Queen Alexandria asked me to hide her oldest daughter, I was glad to accept."

"The Queen has entrusted her daughter to you like that?" asked Maximilian.

"It was my idea." explained Kitsu. "I knew Planter was the best choice to hide her in the open, now to think she would make her her elementard champion..."

"Don't look at me, she was the one insisting on doing something, and believe it or not, she actually managed to beat every single one of my flowers at this game, so once we found her the good dress, why not?"

"Okay, okay...so you're leading some kind of spying business here, is that right?"

"That is indeed one of the numerous things we do. But don't misinterpret, my actions will never go against the crown, more so when the enemies is a racist pig who would be glad to see my family in chains." seriously stated Planter before giving a loving look to the sleeping green girl in the tree armchair.

"That is another thing we'll need to discuss later...for now, where could we find this chancellor?"

"Why not the slave level?" proposed Kitsu, wondering.

"The slave level? Is that what I think it is?"

"If you think of a less-than-lower level where the slaves without an owner are to live, then yes, it is what you think it is." sadly stated the queen. "One of the things I'm working on changing."

"Fine, a good place to look for non-humans hiding, I'll go take a look once I'm done with the white Inquisitor."

"I can send some of my agents to accompany you." proposed Lady Planter.

"No, thank you. Not that I wouldn't enjoy the company of one those delicious ladies, but I'll be faster alone." refused Maximilian.

He bowed to them and walked for the exit but stopped, thinking about something.

"Before I go, there is something I need to do to help us organised a bit. Your Majesty, take this."

He threw her a stone ring.

"Put it on, it will allow us to contact each other. Lady Planter, forbid the entry to the upper salon tonight, I'm going to use it." calmly ordered Maximilian.

"I don't remember having sworn allegiance to you, Sir." said Lady Planter.

Without turning nor stopping on his way, Maximilian said.

"I don't need your allegiance, only your contribution. See this as a payback for trying to kill me."

...........................................................................................................................................................

"What is this?" asked Kitsu.

Maximilian had just finished something he had in mind. His awakening memory had given him a new idea he was happy to try immediately. On the ground, where the playing table used to be, he had made a circular platform appeared. All around the three centimetres high and one meter in diameter stone platform were pictured runes, all slightly shining.

"This is a teleportation point."

All the ladies in the room were surprised, the ones who were with him earlier as well as Lady Planter's Flowers.

"A teleportation point? What is it?" asked Arima, standing next to her sister.

"It's the same thing as a teleportation crystal, only this one can only be used by the people I authorised. If I find a trusty ally, I'll contact you, then send him or her on this platform."

"How are we sure the one coming from there won't attack us?"

"Plant your flowers around it if you don't trust me. It is literally impossible to anyone to use this without my consent, it would activate the barrier I placed on it and...well, nothing would arrive...nothing living at least."

"Why placing this here? Won't it be a bit apparent?" asked Katerina, dubious.

"I'm not going to let it here after we're done, don't worry. If the Queen trust this place enough to stay here, let's use it as a meeting point for her forces leaders."

"If you're sure about this, then alright." agreed the queen.

"What are you going to do now?" asked Arima.

"I'm going to get your Mother some new allies...and deprive our enemies of some reinforcements."

"How so?" inquired the queen.

"Quite simply actually, you see..."

...........................................................................................................................................................

*I don't think you have totally forgotten what hope is, white Inquisitor...*

Thinking about the man he was talking to earlier, the old Inquisitor sighed.

Sitting on a roof with, he was silently looking at the pure white shield between his hands, the symbol of Carendar graved in gold still shiny even after the years, showing how well the man took care of it.

"This idiot managed to make this old heart beat a bit faster..."

"Good thing, cause I need you pumped up for what's coming next."

The voice coming from behind him surprised the old Inquisitor, almost making him fall down the roof.

Maximilian quickly caught him, raising him on his feet.

"Are you trying to kill me!?" panted the old man.

"That would be counterproductive."

Getting his breath back, the old man took back his proud straight position back, putting back his shield under his coat.

"What do you want? If you followed me to play another match, I'm not in the mood right now..."

"I'll be brief. I want you to help the Queen against the Cardinal."

The old Inquisitor laughed without any joy.

"But of course! Let me get my white horse and shiny armour then I'm on it...seriously kid, what do you want?"

"What I just said."

The man waited for a second or two to see when Maximilian was gonna admit it was nothing more than a bad joke.

"You're serious? You're asking me, an Inquisitor, to help the one literally most wanted person in the kingdom at this moment?"

"You didn't seem so against the idea when we spoke earlier."

"Words are words, nothing more than ideas spoken out loud."

"Well, let's say this idea spoken out loud has brought a result. So? What do you say? Willing to help or not?"

The man scratched his chin, examining Maximilian.

"Even if I accepted...we would be outnumbered by far, the Cardinal has the Inquisition behind him...I suppose you're gonna offer me something in return?" stated the man, clearly not expecting anything worthy of mentioning.

"That is the case."

"Something worthy of me going to war against the Inquisition itself? I'm listening..." taunted the man with a smirk.

"Simple, I'm gonna set your son and grandson free, as well as those willing to fight with us."

The old Inquisitor looked at him silently for a second, then laughed out loud.

"Brilliant! So simple I didn't though about it...and here I thought you wouldn't dare to mock me with the few private things I told you about me...ASSHOLE!!"

The old inquisitor punched Maximilian who simply took the man's fist in his hand, stopping his attack without a problem.

"What...how?"

The Inquisitor looked at the man's eyes, all serious. He stepped back just a bit.

"You're done? Listen to me, Queritch. I'm going to save those people, I only need you as a guide so I don't waste time. Are you in or not?"

"But...we would be stopped right away! you're not from the Inquisition and I'm far from being loved by everyone in there!"

"Do not worry, I've been there before...we talked about it, remember?" calmly asked Maximilian.

"What? No, we didn't, I'm old but not senile! I remembered we talked about the Cardinal, the white Inquisition, the attack who hap...."

Stopping mid-sentence, the old Inquisitor opened his eyes wide.

"You? It was you, the monster who devasted everything?"

"Yep...so? Are you in or not?" asked Maximilian as he extended a hand.

"...I'm in, help me save my family and your Queen can use me as a freaking meat shield if she wants to!" answered the man as he shook Maximilian's hand.

Smiling with all his teeth, Maximilian nodded to him.

"Welcome in Queen Alexandria's army, White Inquisitor Queritch."