Chapter 159: Chapter 159

“Hey, don’t get too worried,” Henry said. The eldritch creature let out a brief chuckle. “It’s not like you’re the one who has to deal with this. It’ll be fun to see what Reena and Nolan do.”

“Did he?” Reena asked, dropping into a deep courtesy before the Princess. Her tone shifted to a formal, polite one that Damien had never heard from her. “Then I shall do my best to oblige you. Was there something in particular you wanted, Princess?”

“There were a few things, actually,” the graceful woman replied. “But please, call me Yui. Princess is far too formal for a simple dinner like this.”

While the two women spoke, Nolan shot Damien and Sylph a glance. He subtly jerked his chin towards the back of the room and shifted to try and covertly block the woman’s sight of them.

“Aw, that’s cute,” Henry said within Damien’s mind. “He’s trying to save you. What a change from that little brat you first met. I almost like him now.”

Great sentiments to have while we run away and leave him to the wolves.

Reena gave Yui another courtesy, dropping lower this time. “I am honored, Princess Yui. Please, tell me what you might want from me.”

“I’d heard that both you and your brother had been doing quite well in your classes,” Yui said. “Recently, one of my tools broke. My father mentioned that your brother is in Advanced Rune Crafting. Would he be able to fix it?”

“Of course. It would be his utmost pleasure,” Reena said, shooting Nolan a firm look.

The noble cleared his throat, inclining his head. “I would be glad to see what I can do, Princess. I’m still quite new to Rune Crafting, though. I fear I might mistakenly cause more harm than I solve.”

“Nonsense,” Yui said. “I’m confident the Gray household is more than capable enough to do this. And please, call me Yui as well. That offer was extended to your entire table.”

Nolan bowed again. “Thank you, Yui. I am honored.”

“It is simple courtesy,” she replied. “The tool is up at our table on the first floor, if you’d be so kind as to join us.”

“Gladly,” Nolan said, sounding anything but. The princess started to turn, but paused as she spotted Damien and Sylph awkwardly edging away from them.

“Where have my manners gone?” Yui exclaimed, brushing past Nolan. “I didn’t even greet you.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Damien spotted Loretta and Valentine beating a hasty retreat into the crowd. He couldn’t help but be jealous of them.

Yui stopped before Damien and Sylph. “Forgive me, but I don’t know your names.”

“Ah… I’m Damien. Damien Vale.”

“I’m Sylph.”

Yui raised an eyebrow as she gave Sylph a once-over. “Bold choice of attire. I haven’t seen something like this before, especially on a woman. Subtle, yet effective.”

“Tailor Shanta made it,” Sylph provided. “The Tailor that works for the Gray household.”

“I must pay this man a visit. I must admit that I’m slightly envious of you. You look much more comfortable than I feel,” Yui said. She turned to the man and made a gesture to him. “Memorize that name, Gaves. We’ll be visiting him tomorrow.”

The man nodded, but he didn’t let his eyes dip far. They were in constant motion, scanning the room like they couldn’t sit still for more than a few moments.

“Please join us as well,” Yui said. “I would love to learn more about you. The Grays are notoriously picky, you know. They don’t treat just anyone to lunch, so seeing two people that I’ve never met before at their table is quite a shock.”

Shit shit shit.

“Relax,” Henry said, cackling at Damien’s misfortune. “You were more confident fighting the Corruption than you are talking to some girl. She’s just another noble.”

The noble in line to inherit the throne. I’d say that’s a bit different.

“We’d be happy to join you,” Sylph said, mirroring Reena’s tone as nudged Damien in the heel with her toe. He’d zoned out for too long talking with Henry.

“Then let us not waste another second,” Yui said. “I fear I’m ruining everyone’s social hour. Please, continue on as usual!”

The two people flanking Yui put their hands on her shoulders and she gently lifted off the ground, floating up to her table. Nolan inched towards them.

“It’s a small test,” he whispered. “Get up to her table without taking the stairs as soon as she sits down. The flashier, the better. Just don’t break anything.”

As soon as the princess sat down, wind rippled around Nolan. He and Reena both launched into the air, floating up to Yui’s table. It wasn’t quite as smooth as the magic Yui or her friends had used, but it had the same effect.

Damien decided on the simplest method of getting up to the table. He used Warp Step, vanishing and reappearing behind one of the chairs before Nolan could even get halfway up. Below him, Sylph blended into the background.

There was a soft thud beside him a moment later as Sylph blurred back into view, brushing her suit off. Nolan and Reena touched down beside them and the Princess gave them an award winning smile.

“Amazing! Flight and teleportation skills. As expected of the Gray family. Please, sit down.”

They all followed her request, and Damien couldn’t help but notice that the table had just enough chairs for all of them. He could feel hundreds of gazes from the nobles below them burning into him as well as those of the two people accompanying Yui.

Why do I feel like these two are less her friends and more her bodyguards? They’re scary.

“You’d be right,” Henry said. “They’ve got a decent bit of magic for someone their age. Now stop talking to me and pay attention so you don’t embarrass us both.”

Yui nodded to the red haired woman, who made a gesture and reached forwards. Her hand vanished, reappearing a moment later with a wooden staff clutched in it. She handed it to Nolan, who had sat on Damien’s right. She also pulled out a carving tool and set it on the table beside him.

“This is my dad’s old fire staff,” Yui said, lowering her tone. She flushed slightly. “I might have accidentally damaged it, and I’d really like it to be fixed by someone not affiliated with the castle. It would be very much appreciated.”

Nolan swallowed, turning the weapon over in his hands. “How was it damaged, Prin – Yui?”

“I was training against Gaves and blocked a sword strike. A few of the runes broke, and they got rubbed out when I tried to figure out what happened,” Yui admitted. “I think the damage is just in the middle section.”

Nolan found the section she was talking about and stared at it. From where Damien sat, he was pretty sure that there must have been at least twenty runes missing. The whole weapon was covered with them, so it was far from a simple design.

Nolan is screwed, isn’t he? I barely know how to fix that myself.

“You could do it,” Henry said. “You’ve got enough of my memories to fix something that simple. But Nolan – yeah, he’s doomed unless he’s made some huge leaps and bounds in progress since you last tutored him.”

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Reena shot Nolan a sharp look while he examined the staff. Damien didn’t need to hear her speak to understand what it meant. ‘Show off or we’re both in deep shit.’

Nolan drew a deep breath and picked up the carving tool. He sat there for several moments, tool in one hand and staff in the other.

Damien gathered a miniscule amount of Ether at his fingertip and formed the smallest orb of destructive energy he could. He turned so that his shoulder blocked his movements and moved his finger along a napkin so faintly that it didn’t even cut into the cloth but just scarred it slightly.

Nolan started carving the staff, one slow movement at a time. While he worked, Damien slipped the napkin onto his lap as if he were getting ready to eat again. He scooted his chair back ever so slightly so that it wasn’t covered by the tablecloth.

“Are you also going to a mage college, Princess Yui?” Damien asked, forcing down his nerves. Everyone turned to look at him including Nolan as he broke the silence. Damien tapped his leg impatiently and Nolan glanced down. His eyes widened ever so slightly.

“I am,” Yui said. “I attend Kingsfront. I presume you and Sylph both attend Blackmist together with Nolan and Reena?”

“They do,” Reena said. “They’re the rank one and three students in our class right now.”

“Very impressive!” Yui said, clapping her hands. “I’ve been hunting that title myself, but I’m stuck at third place right now. Perhaps we’ll be able to meet during the intraschool tournament. Wouldn’t that be fascinating?”

“Very,” Damien said, desperately hoping he never saw the princess again after today. “It would be an honor to compete with the Princess.”

“Oh please,” Yui said. “If we were competing, it would be as fellow students. Otherwise nobody would ever fight me and I’d win everything without even trying. What fun would that be?”

“That’s true,” Sylph said, nodding as she spotted Nolan working to copy the runes Damien had drawn. “Winning a fight under your own strength is the most satisfying thing you can do.”

“I like your friends, Reena,” Yui said, giggling. “None of the nobles speak this frankly to me. Could you imagine one of them encouraging me to fight? I had to beg to attend a mage college for ten years and nobody supported it until the Queen said I could.”

“That’s just how they are,” Reena said, swallowing.

There was a small crackle from the staff. Everyone jerked towards it as Nolan lifted the carving tool, eyeing the newly cut runes on the wood warily.

“Did you do it?” Yui asked eagerly.

A flame flickered to life at the top of the staff. Nolan handed it to Gaves, who examined the weapon for a moment before giving the Princess a curt nod.

“Amazing! I owe you, Nolan,” Yui exclaimed, giving him a quick hug. Everyone at the table other than Damien and Sylph stiffened, but Yui sat back down as if nothing had happened.

“I hope this isn’t too forward, but who among you is the best fighter?” Yui asked, glancing from Damien to Sylph.

“Sylph was the first place student,” Reena provided.

“I suppose that does explain why you chose to wear a suit,” Yui mused. “Sylph, would you be willing to spar with me? I’m always looking to test my limits, and I would love to know how I stack up against the best Year Two student at Blackmist.”

“We haven’t had our ranking battles this year yet,” Sylph said. “I might not be the strongest anymore.”

“Formalities,” Yui said. “Please?”

Sylph shrugged. “So long as I don’t get locked up for fighting you.”

“I promise!” Yui said, jumping in excitement. “Look at that, Gaves. Maybe I should have gone to Blackmist. I have to beg the students at Kingsfront for a fight, but Sylph didn’t even hesitate!”

“That’s because you wipe the floor with them every time you spar,” Gaves rumbled. “You can’t blame them.”

Yui turned her nose up. “That’s probably half because they’re too scared to actually hit me. It’s not like we have anything to worry about with Bella here.”

The princess gestured to the silent woman beside her. “This is Bella, by the way. She’s a healer, and a talented one at that. We don’t have to worry about hurting each other, since she can heal just about anything.”

“Other than death,” Bella said, a note of warning in her voice.

“We’ll be careful,” Yui promised. She cleared her throat and glanced down at the teeming mass of nobles below them. “Do we have to wait until the social hour is over?”

“You’re the Princess,” Gaves said. “You don’t have to wait for anything. Would you like me to bring us to Seaview’s private arena?”

“Oh, yes!” Yui said. “So long as you’re sure you don’t mind, Sylph.”

“It’s fine with me,” Sylph said with a shrug while Nolan sent her a wide eyed stare. Damien couldn’t help but think the same thing, but he wasn’t about to say anything now that Sylph had agreed to it.

Gaves concentrated on the air before them and pulled out a small metal rod. He pressed his thumb against it and the device let out a small hum. A purple portal formed in the air beside them, rippling gently. Yui slipped through it without an ounce of hesitation. Bella followed after her.

Sylph followed the women in and Damien hopped into the portal after her. Space rippled around him and he found himself dropped onto a small, sandy ring sized just large enough for two people.

There was a short brick wall around them that was just barely taller than Damien, with two rows of stands above it. There were some runes along the top of the wall, presumably to stop spells from frying the crowd on accident.

Nolan and Reena stumbled out of the portal, followed by Gaves. The purple energy vanished once he’d walked through it. The man herded everyone other than Sylph and Yui up to the stands.

“What are we going to?” Sylph asked. “First blood?”

“That’s no fun,” Yui replied. “How about five hits or incapacitation?”

“That works for me,” Sylph said, giving the princess a small nod.

“I’ll officiate,” Gaves said, stepping forward and hopping back down into the arena. “Are you ready?”

Both girls nodded.

Henry, how did we end up at this position again?

His companion’s only response was evil laughter.

“Then you may begin!”

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