by Jackson Bale
Henrietta---rolls---her---eyes,---”Oh,---and---I---can---only---imagine---who---asked---him---to---tell---a---story.”
Henrietta---shakes---her---head---and---points---up,---“Get---up---and---go---to---your---room.---No---dinner---until---you---finish---your---studies.”
“But-”
Henrietta---squints,---“[Head---Maids---Charge],---To---your---room---now!”
Garrus---watches---as---Izabelle---jumps---off---the---couch---and---silently---walks---after---Henrietta---without---saying---another---word.---Compulsion---type---skills---are---strong---but---are---usually---restricted---to---being---used---on---certain---classes.---Of---course,---children---can---still---be---affected---if---the---child---already---considers---the---person---an---authority---figure.
Rathic---watches---his---daughter---and---[Head---Maid]---walk---down---the---hall---before---entering---his---study---and---closing---the---door.
“I---hope---my---daughter---wasn't---too---much---of---a---bother,”---Rathic---says,---walking---towards---a---seat---right---across---Garrus.
“She---was---hiding---under---the---table,---apparently---from---her---lectures.---She---was---delightful---to---talk---to,---though---I---do---think---you---should---keep---better---track---of---her,---for---safety's---sake.”
Rathic---smiles---politely---before---lifting---his---leg---and---putting---it---over---his---other,---“If---you---had---any---intention---of---causing---harm---to---anyone---in---my---household,---then---my---[Butler]---would---have---noticed---it---and---you---would---not---be---allowed---in---my---home,”---Rathic---says---confidently.
Garrus---nods,---both---towards---the---explanation---and---the---hidden---threat---laced---in---those---words.
“That---is---understandable,---but---I---was---referring---to---children's---tendency---to---slip---their---tongues---Rathic.”
From---Garrus’s---first---experience---with---Rathic,---he---had---found---the---man---to---be---very---good---at---keeping---his---feelings---hidden.---The---man’s---expression---barely---changes,---but---this---time,---Garrus---was---able---to---notice---the---slightest---flicker---of---annoyance.---Though---it---only---lasts---for---a---fraction---of---a---second.
“Interesting,---I---do---hope---you---will---keep---quiet---about---my---name---and---who---I---actually---are.”
Garrus---nods,---“I---promised---to---keep---your---secrets---and---that---promise---still---stands.---Though,---I---don't---actually---know---who---you---are.---I---may---have---heard---the---name---Rathic,---but---I---am---not---sure---where.”
Rathic---sits---back,---thinking---silently,---and---all---Garrus---can---do---is---let---the---man---do---so.---He---had---promised---to---work---with---Rathic,---and---a---smith---does---not---go---against---his---word.
“I---am---a---[General].”
The---timing,---or---the---stony---expression,---or---even---the---idea,---causes---Garrus---to---burst---into---laughter,---only---stopping---when---he---realizes---that---Rathic---is---not---laughing---along.
Garrus---frowns,---“You,---a---[General]?---Rathic,---I---have---met---[Generals]---before.---Being---around---them---is---like---being---under---water.---It---is---suffocating---and---not---at---all---pleasant.”
Rathic---stony---expression---changes,---one---showing---a---smile.
“What---you---had---felt,”---Rathic---starts---speaking,---his---words---become---crisp,---clear,---seeming---gaining---clarity,---“Is---the---[Generals]---rampant,”---and---then---it---hits---Garrus,---his---mind---seemingly---warping,---the---air---becoming---thick---to---breathe,---a---trickle---of---fear---entering---his---conscious,---”usage---of---aura.---Those---[Generals]---you---met---do---not---know---how---to---control---their---aura,---their---emotions,---and---thus,---compared---to---me,---they---are---utterly---weak.”
And---then---it---hits---Garrus,---like---a---wave---of---heavy---ice---cold---water,---his---mind---trying---to---make---sense---of---things,---but---fear---is---taking---over.---He---starts---to---shake.
“Hm.”
And---just---as---quickly---as---it---had---come,---the---pressure---just---disappears.---A---pressure---several---times---worse---than---those---[Generals]---Garrus---had---met.
Garrus---starts---breathing---hard,---looking---at---Rathic---who---patiently---waits---for---Garrus---to---come---to---his---senses.
It---doesn't---take---long,---but---Garrus---is---now---quite---rather---rattled.
“That,”---Garrus---starts,---unsure---what---to---so.
“That,---Garrus,---was---aura,---an---ability---that---all---leadership---utilize.---[Lords],---[Kings],---[Emperors],---[Generals],---[Sultans],---are---classes---that---naturally---begin---to---utilize---aura,---though---every---person---of---any---class---can---use---it---to---an---extent---if---they---train---it---right.”
Garrus---gulps---and---slowly---nods,---“Your---secret---is---safe---with---me.”
Rathic---smiles---and---nods---back,---“Thank---you.---I---have---great---respect---for---Dwarf---smiths,---both---for---their---skills---and---for---their---honor.---It---is---a---rare---thing---these---days---and---is---something---I---cherish---a---great---deal.”
Garrus,---hearing---those---words,---from---a---[General]---nonetheless,---seems---to---sit---up---straighter.
Rathic---leans---forward,---“On---that---note,---let---us---get---down---to---business.---I---have---a---great---deal---of---wealth---which---includes---an---enormous---amount---of---weapons---and---armor---that---is---in---various---forms---of---disrepair.---I---would---like---to---hire---you---to---repair---them,---and---if---possible,---improve---them.”
“Fixing---armor---and---weapons---of---lower---Rare,---Uncommon,---Common,---and---Poor---is---within---my---ability,---but---improving---armor---and---weapons---beyond---the---rank---of---common---is---most---likely---impossible,---especially---if---they---require---metals---or---a---more---powerful---forge.”
Rathic---moves---his---hand---and---glides---it---down---his---well---trimmed---short---beard,”---Very---few---of---my---stock---is---of---poor---quality---with---most---being---in---the---common---and---Uncommon---rarity.---I---can---pay---you---a---decent---wage---per---armor---or---weapon---you---fix---and---a---bonus---for---any---weapons---or---armor---you---improve.”
Listening---in,---Garrus---can---only---nod---in---silent---excitement.---As---a---[Blacksmith]---over---level---80,---working---with---poor---or---just---common---items---is---actually---quite---a---bore.---Most---[Blacksmiths]---exceeding---level---fifty,---and---especially---sixty,---prefer---working---on---Uncommon---rarity---items.
“Then---it---is---a---deal.”---Garrus---says,---extending---his---hand.
Rathic---extends---his---own---hand---and---the---two---shake---on---it.
A---human---[General]---and---a---dwarf---[Blacksmith]---come---to---an---agreement,---a---simple---trade---of---services.
Unfortunately,---the---human---had---forgotten---something---very---important,---a---tradition---of---sorts---whenever---a---large---deal---is---struck---with---a---dwarf---smith.
Garrus---smiles,---“Smiths---Oath---and---the---Drunkards---rum.”
And---now,---the---human---[General]---stops---shaking---the---dwarves---hand,---slowly---realizing---that---he---had---made---a---slight---mistake---as---he---hears---those---words.
Rathic---sighs---in---annoyance.---He---retracts---his---hand---and---moves---it---to---rub---his---head.
“Where?”---he---asks---in---defeat.
Garrus---smiles,---“The---Drunken---[King].”
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Rathic---watches---in---annoyance---as---Garrus,---the---dwarf---he---is,---chugs---a---mug---of---beer,---and---not---just---any---beer,---one---of---the---more---expensive---ones.
The---saying---a---‘Smiths---Oath---and---the---Drunkards---Rum’---is---an---old---dwarf---tradition---that---when---a---deal---is---struck---with---a---dwarf---smith,---then---the-
--deal---is---only---truly---finalised---if---the---dealer---can---make---the---smith---pass---out---via---alcohol.
Which,---to---Rathic’s---annoyance,---is---costing---a---great---deal---of---coin---considering---how---watered---down---the---alcohol---in---this---tavern---is.
“Wench!---I---require---another---one…---one---of---these,”---Garrus---waves---his---empty---mug---towards---an---older---man---that---is---clearly---a---patron---of---the---tavern---they---are---in.
The---older---man,---also---excessively---drunk,---looks---to---the---dwarf---who---is---waving---his---empty---mug.
“Who---you---calling,---*Burp*,---wench,---shorty,”---the---man,---a---level---27---off---duty---[Guard]---yells---back---with---a---snarl.
Garrus,---confused,---blinks---quickly.---His---expression---turning---angry---before---he---throws---his---empty---mug---across---the---tavern.---The---man,---drunk---as---he---is,---attempts---to---dodge---by---moving---backwards,---unfortunately,---Garrus---has---surprising---good---aim---while---intoxicated.
“What---da---fuck---you---do---to---da---pretty---wench---you---tall---shit!”
The---[Guard]---which---had---been---struck---in---the---face,---snarls---back.---He---gets---up,---grabs---his---chair---and---throws---it---towards---the---dwarf,---but---misses---completely---and---hits---another---drunk---patron---which---falls---and---slams---into---another---group---of---drunks.
Rathic---watches---in---annoyance---as---the---tavern---comes---alive---and---the---drunks---begin---to---all---get---up.---Cursing,---yelling,---and---finally---a---full---on---brawl---begins.---Chairs---go---flying,---tables---get---broken,---[Guards]---are---fighting---[Farmers],---[Soldiers]---fighting---each---other,---[Drunkards]---striking---anyone---close---to---them,---[Traders]---getting---in---the---crossfire---and---forced---to---join---the---fight.---Garrus---is---waving---a---table---leg,---the---[Tavernkeeper]---is---already---passed---out.
Rathic,---sighing,---drinks---his---beer---and---gets---up.
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Chapter---Fifty---Two:---Beer,---Love,---War...---in---that---order.
It---was---night,---it---was---slightly---chilly,---and---Scarlet---was---utterly---awake.---Normally,---a---[Captain]---in---charge---of---the---guards---of---a---city---would---be---sleeping---right---now---to---prepare---for---the---next---day.
But---Scarlet---wasn't---sleeping,---not---because---she---didn't---want---to,---but---because---of---what---had---happened---before---night---fell.
She---went---and---touched---the---class---stone.---She---hadn't---done---so---for---probably---a---week---since---the---incident---involving---the---[Thieves]---and---[Rogues],---but---it---was---there---that---she---found---her---class---had---changed.
She---was---no---longer---just---a---[Captain],---but---a---[Guard---Captain],---a---prerequisite---class---to---the---much---stronger---[Watch---Captain].---Apparently,---she---had---hit---level---73---and---the---world---had---granted---a---class---upgrade.---She---had---gained---two---skills.---[Night---Vision]---and---[City---Guardian],---a---skill---allowing---her---to---sense---any---and---all---those---under---her---command---within---the---city.
In---essence,---she---is---too---excited---to---sleep---and---her---new---skill---had---just---informed---her---that---a---couple---of---her---[Guards]---are---unconscious.
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“So,---it---looks---like---we---have---ourselves---a---tavern---brawl,”---Scarlet---exclaims---with---a---smile---as---her---eyes---lock---onto---the---tavern---and---the---couple---of---men---passed---out---in---front---of---the---entrance.
Taking---a---look---around,---Scarlet---finds---that---the---odd---twenty---or---so---[Guards]---she---had---brought---with---her---are---chuckling,---sharing---her---smile.
Always---fun---to---break---up---a---brawl.
“Let's---go---crack---some---skulls,”---she---says---as---her---steps---quickly---take---her---forward---and---into---the---tavern.
“This---is---the---city---Gu-”
She---stops---as---her---gaze---roams---the---inside---of---The---Drunken---[King]---tavern.
Destroyed---chairs---and---tables.---Shattered---glass---everywhere.---Various---colored---liquids---on---the---floor,---many---of---which---are---not---alcoholic.
Over---thirty---people---are---unconscious…---except---for---one.
Scarlet's---eyes---roam---to---an---undamaged---table---and---chair---where---the---man---is---sitting---while---drinking---from---a---bottle---with---an---annoyed---look---on---his---face.
Thanks---to---her---new---[Night---Vision]---skill,---she---is---able---to---recognize---the---individual---to---be---the---one---named---Roth.
Her---skill---also---allows---her---to---see---several---unconscious---bodies---surrounding---Roth,---clearly---of---people---who---had---attempted---to---fight---the---man---and---failed---spectacularly.---Roth---doesn't---even---look---harmed---in---the---slightest.
Which---only---enforces---her---[Lady’s]---warning---that---Roth---is---a---very---capable---and---dangerous---man.
“So,---Roth,---mind---telling---me---what---happened,”---she---asks---sweetly,---extending---her---arm---and---pointing---at---the---tavern---in---its---entirety.
Rathic,---still---looking---annoyed,---rubs---his---face---before---answering,---“Smiths---Oath---And---The---Drunkards---Rum”.
As---Scarlet---and---her---[Guards]---hear---Rathoss’---reply,---they---immediately---start---to---laugh.
“He---got---you---too,---eh?”---she---says---chuckling---in---delight---as---she---looks---at---those---unconscious,”---where---is---Garrus,---I---have---to---see---this.”
Rathic---sighs---before---pointing---at---the---back---wall---right---above---the---barkeeper---and---the---half---body---sticking---out---of---the---wall.---The---body---has---short---legs.
Another---round---of---laughter---begins,---this---time---with---practically---every---[Guard]---laughing.
“Eir---have---mercy,---how---in---her---name---did---he---get---himself---stuck---into---a---wall?”---Scarlet---asks---while---waving---her---hand---and---informing---her---[Guards]---to---start---picking---up---the---bodies---and---take---them---outside.
Rathic---shakes---his---head,---“he---thought---I---was---his---lover---and---tried---to---kiss---me.---I---may---have---thrown---him---too---hard.”
A---frown---attempts---to---form---on---Scarlet's---face---over---the---fact---that---Roth---is---capable---of---doing---such---a---thing.---Unfortunately,---the---whole---situation---before---her---makes---that---impossible.
“Heh,---looks---like---Garrus---is---going---to---be---banned---from---another---tavern.---I---wonder---how---many---are---left---for---him---to---visit---now.”---one---of---the---[guards]---says---as---he---grabs---onto---Garrus’s---lower---half---and---pulls---the---dwarf---out---of---the---wall.
“Well,---it’s---good---that---our---resident---[Blacksmith]---makes---so---much---coin,---otherwise---I---would---have---to---send---him---to---jail,”---Scarlet---says---as---she---walks---towards---Rathic,---picking---up---a---usable---stool---and---a---wooden---cup---off---the---floor.
She---puts---the---stool---next---to---Rathic’s---table,---sits---on---it---and---moves---the---empty---cup---towards---him.
Rathic’s,---seeing---the---cup,---pours---whatever---alcoholic---contents---are---in---the---bottle---into---the---cup.
She---takes---off---her---helmet---and---takes---a---sip,---“Not---bad.”
“How---much---am---I---going---to---pay?”---Rathic---asks.
Scarlet---rolls---her---eyes,---“You---didn't---start---it,---so---you---won't---be---paying---anything.---Garrus---on---the---other---hand---will.”
Rathic’s---frowns,---“How---often---does---this---happen?”
Scarlet---chuckles.
“Garrus---starting---an---entire---brawl?---Every---single---time---he---enters---a---tavern---that---d
oesn't---restrict---how---much---alcohol---they---give---him.”
She---wipes---some---liquid---off---her---lips.
“The---Drunken---[King],---I---think,---is---actually---a---relatively---new---tavern,---probably---less---than---a---year---old.---The---[Tavernkeeper]---probably---wasn't---notified---that---the---city's---resident---[Blacksmith]---is---a---violent---drunk.”
She---pauses,---confusion---etching---her---face,---“What---happened---to---the---[Tavernkeeper]?---They---usually---run---out---and---get---the---[Guards]---before---the---brawl---gets---too---out---of---control.”
Rathic---points---at---an---unconscious---man---in---the---corner,---“He---was---one---of---the---first---to---go---unconscious.”