“Radiation. It does not affect cats.” Archibald explained briefly, freely stretching on the carpet. “So we went through without a problem.”
“So, you are not just a soft kitty; you are a useful kitty, too?!” False Anna concentrated on the catorian again, and contented purring once again reverberated in the Reverse. Archibald was flicking his tail and arching his back like a real cat.
“Oh, kitty, you must be hungry! I have milk and sour cream for you. Would you like a saucer, or do you prefer a cup? Yaropolk, are you OK?”
All this time I had sat quietly in the armchair and done my damnedest to stay calm and impassive. In order to do that I tried a number of methods – recalling poetry, thinking of trigonometry theorems, counting books on the shelves… Each method helped somewhat, but only up to the point when the treacherous thought of the video camera turned on in my head made its way to the forefront in my mind. And then I urgently had to come up with something else to calm down.
“Sure, I am fine. Could I have a cup of tea, if it is not a problem?”
Anna took out a remote control and the noise of a heating kettle could be heard from behind the nearest bookcase. That made me look at the space around me with new eyes. I had only heard about “intelligent buildings” systems, but had never seen one personally. It was amusing, encountering a “smart home” in the Reverse, used by the echo of a mighty Paladin of ancient days. Anna had perished about fifteen hundred years before; therefore the lady sitting in front of us was at least that old. So, did that mean that she had spent fifteen hundred years here, in the Reverse of the estate? In that case her behavior was not strange at all. She had simply gone mad from sitting forever in solitary confinement sometimes alleviated by guests.
“While the kettle is heating, tell me the latest news!” Anna demanded. “What happened to the mages? What was their punishment for the death of the Paladins? Is Katrina really as pretty as she looks in the pictures, or are they just airbrushed really well? Who will be selected next year for the team for the Games? How many…”
Anna was remarkably on top of events in the real world. Archibald was answering her questions casually, even lazily; swishing his tail softly, creating the atmosphere of relaxation and cozy comfort. I did not understand the logic behind the catorian’s actions, and was about to break my silence when I saw that Steve was waving his hands at me quite actively.
“The aura!” He whispered as if someone else could hear him. “Conversation with the false Anna creates an aura! Plus 50% to all attributes for a year!”
I looked in surprise at the two Paladins engrossed in conversation, and for the first time noticed a gesture aimed at me personally. The catorian was showing me his fist, indicating that should I spoil anything, no one would ever find me again, no matter how long and hard they searched.
So then, the whole line-up for charging Elizabeth’s pendant was just a front? Twelve high-born and super strong players of our game world came to the estate every month in order to talk to Anna and receive an aura for a year? And there would be no point insisting that Iven did it out of sheer altruism. In reality it was much more likely that Iven made a pretty penny on allowing the select few to come close to the echo of his beloved. But how did he manage to make her immortal? I was practically itching from my desire to look around and search for the pendant.
“I beg your pardon, fair lady, but would you allow me to wait on you and my teacher? I would be happy to serve tea and milk to you!”
Archibald used the opportunity to nudge the hostess, convincing her:
“I told you, as a Paladin he is only so-so. With his ignoble manners he’ll always be a servant. He considers it a joy to serve others!”
“But of course, Yaropolk!” Anna even flung up her hands. “Iven had promised to bring me a robotic assistant, but he was having trouble arranging for permits to import one into our world. They keep telling him that Earth is too backward for artificial intelligence to be introduced here. Nonsense! This Bernard does not have a clue! And I already have one, anyway!”
“Will you show us?” Archibald asked, turning the other ear. “Yaropolk, why are we still waiting for our tea?”
“Yes, yes, I am running to make it!” I shouted as I did, in fact run. Despite her pretty appearance, Anna scared me. She scared me quite a lot. In her presence I felt so uncomfortable that even the astonishing aura could not offset it.
“It’s not here.” I heard Anna’s sulky voice. “Iven took it for some sort of calibration. We were quarrelling and I accidentally burned out the controller. My robot turned out to have a very willful and nasty character! But you are so completely different! Stay with me. Iven and the others will like you!”
“Oh, I am sure of that!” Archibald grinned.
“The Pendant!” Steve shouted with joy, highlighting his find in red. Directly behind the bookcase there was a huge space that was used for everything: sleeping, walking, preparing food, and all sorts of other activities.. The space was divided with low 4-foot partitions; there were lots of portraits hung on them. So many that it would be enough for a few museums. To the right of me was a huge, amazing full scale portrait of Elizabeth. The thing we were looking for was sparkling with precious stones, hanging on the top of the frame. Iven had not even bothered to hide it, considering that just being within the Reverse guaranteed the protection of the pendant.
“What’s keeping you?” I heard Archibald’s shout, and it made me spring to action. A quick move of my hand and all three items from the “Joy” set were settled in the virtual shelf of my inventory. Done! Now we had to get to Elizabeth and present them to her.
“Your tea, please.” I did not hide the joy in my voice, and Archibald cast a glance towards me; then grinned, as he understood the reason for my glee.
“At least some use from a slovenly student.” Archibald took a sip and closed his eyes from pleasure. “I so enjoy Karla silverberry! It’s such a pity it’s so hard to come by! Anna, could you share just a pinch of that with me? Gerhard, Iven’s boss, is an avid fan of this tea, I want to do something nice for him. I will say it’s a present from Iven, too. Maybe he’ll get some bonus in his service for that.”
“Certainly!” Anna was quite happy with the idea. “Let your student take the whole bag, Iven will bring me more. My love would not deny me anything.”
“No need to give away your whole stash.” Archibald protested. “You don’t know when Iven will come to visit you again, I would not dream of depriving you of such a pleasure.”
“Oh, he comes to visit me every week.” Anna waved off his concern. “So it’s no big deal. And it will be a pleasure to help him in his service, so you may in fact take the whole thing.
Archibald lifted himself up on an elbow and with a nod pointed me towards the kitchen. The catorian’s eyes were very eloquent: “Don’t you even think stopping with a bag of tea!” I was in total agreement with that. Since I was given permission to use the kitchen it would be silly to confine myself to the small stuff. I should stuff my inventory to the brim, and there were two purposes to that: first: obtain some pleasant, and, as far as I was able to tell, rare items; second: inflict some financial damage on Iven. Hopefully, substantial damage.
While the catorian chatted with Anna, I was sweeping the shelves clean. I decided against touching the paintings on the partitions: I was not sure they were of any value to anyone other than Iven himself. As for the cabinets, I emptied them entirely, not even wasting the time to open boxes and bags.
“We ought to get going.” As soon as I emerged from behind the bookcase, Archibald, with much flourish, started preparing to depart. “Should I convey anything to Iven?”
While the woman was contemplating, Archibald behind her back was making gestures indicating that we had to finish it up here. I was again in full agreement with that. The demonstration of her power against Devir was still quite fresh in my mind.
“Would you like to look at the paintings?” Anna behaved as if she had never he
ard Archibald’s last sentences. “Iven always brings something. He says they're people he knows.”
“We would love to, but unfortunately we have to…” Archibald was slowly retreating from Anna, making soft steps backwards.”
“I have not dismissed you.” Anna cut him off angrily. “Your student may leave‒he is boring‒ but you will stay here. Let’s go see the paintings!”
Anna stood up quickly, spread her hands and the bookcases flew to the sides, crashing to the floor and spilling their contents.
“This is so that you would not get into your head to kill yourself and escape.” A small leash appeared in Anna’s hands. Archibald froze in place, and the woman put the collar around his neck without a problem. “I'm your mistress now. And I am ordering you to go look at the paintings.”
“Aren’t you a smartie!The slave’s collar is a high level submission artifact‒ just when I needed one!” The catorian said coldly, and tore off the collar in one fluid movement. The next moment it ended up around Anna’s neck before she could even make a sound. The Paladin ordered her: "Freeze and answer questions. Are you an echo?”
“Yes, I am one of the echoes of the Great Warrior Anna.” The creature spoke mechanically, standing in an unnatural posture as if stuck.
“Why were you not able to complete the last hall?” Archibald wanted to know the answer to the question to which he was not able to find himself.
“I don’t have radiation protection. Iven promised to bring it, but still has not received the permit to import it to Earth.”
“Anna did not have an aura. How did you get it?” The catorian kept questioning.
“Nobody knows. The aura has been there since the time I was created; I can turn it off when Iven requests.
“Does he request that often?”
“Only when he comes alone. During the last three hundred years Iven brings guests and orders that I entertain them with the aura activated.”
“How come you don’t die?”
“I am tied to the Reverse. I exist while the Reverse exists. If I were to die, the Reverse would disappear as well.
“Did Iven create the anchor?”
“No. The Light Paladin does not have that kind of strength.”
“Who?”
“I have no right to disclose the information.”
“Yari: I will confirm just in case: you have definitely collected the pendant?” Archibald turned towards me and I nodded quickly. I had never seen the Paladin in this mode: the cold in his eyes could put the Arctic to shame.
“I order you to name the one who created the anchor!” The catorian resumed his interrogation. He did not care what would happen to the echo.
“Lumpen!” Anna said and the space around us exploded with all the colors of the rainbow, and then turned to complete darkness. A moment, and the darkness dissipated as well, landing us in Elizabeth’s bedroom. The Reverse did not exist anymore and neither did the crazy echo.
We showed up right in the middle of a family scandal. Wailing Sophie was kneeling by the bed; Iven was looming over her like a predator. The head of the house had failed to get into the treasury, and now was looking for a victim.
Our appearance did not go unnoticed, and the protective dome appeared immediately around the gold-clad Paladin. Baring his sword, Iven assumed a defensive stance; Archibald’s reaction was immediate and predictable; his blade flashed in the light.
The pause lingered, but nothing was happening in the room. I was certain that the main battle between the two Paladins was now being held at levels inaccessible to vision, so I decided not to waste time, and to remind those gathered around what was the reason why of all of us were gathered here:
“For the theft of the pendant of Lady Elizabeth, for abusing power and authority, for lying to brethren in class, for misleading the entire game community of the game world Earth, I sentence Paladin Iven to ten respawns, reduction of grandeur by 200 units and to payment of a fine to the Game in the amount of five thousand granises!”
Three pairs of surprised eyes stared at me, as they had not expected such a turn of events.
“And go eat shit instead of an appeal, you gilded turkey!” I added to myself, proud of my actions. Immediately a message flashed before my eyes:
Verdict is confirmed
Verdict is deemed optimal
Case “Stolen Pendant” is closed. The task is assigned to the nearest Headhunters
Award for correct verdict: basic Energy level increased by 300
Quest “Stolen Pendant” is completed. To receive your reward contact Paladin Iven
Chapter Ten. The Secret of Lecleur Estate
IT WAS SO SAD that the feeling of glee was so rarely available to me. Mostly that was the prerogative of Archibald and Dolgunata. Previously I had never been in a position to avail myself of all the pleasures that emotion offered. I was such a silly and naïve person! Looking at the distorted face of Iven, who was so astonished that he even lowered his sword, I felt incredible joy and elation. Darkness take them all‒ it was so nice to feel that I was worth something in this Game!
“You owe me a reward.” I stretched out my hand and Archibald supported my claim with loud laughter and applause. That jerked Iven from his shock, and he realized how the pendant could have ended up in my hands. The Paladin's formerly noble face twisted in malice, and a deep purple flush replaced his aristocratic pallor. It only took a fraction of a second for the tip of his sword to fly up and stop within a hair of my throat.
“What happened to her?” His narrowed eyes zeroed in on me, searching for the slightest change of expression. I tried to keep my cool as best I could:
“My reward.” After all, hanging close to the teacher and his other student did something for my character: I was enjoying my moment of triumph. “Or are you trying to take it for yourself”?
“What happened to her!?” The Head of the Battle Wing kept pushing, without moving the sword.
“That brings me to the conclusion that the reward cannot find its hero because of the greed and self-interest of the individual responsible for dispensing it.” It seemed I caught a vibe and was riding with it. “I’ll report it to the Emperor’s Viceroy; let him sort this mess out; I wash my hands of it.”
Just in case, I hastened to get as far as I could from menacing Iven and his equally menacing sword. I came up to Sophie, who had suddenly turned from the main character of a family drama into a spectator, and did not conceal her relief in that respect. I offered her my arm gallantly and helped her get up, thus demonstrating indifference to Iven’s subsequent actions. Of course, I was just showing off, but on the other hand I was sure that in case of a direct attack Archibald would not allow me to be killed or maimed, if only because he would want to see this drama to the end.
“Before you demand your reward you need to complete your task! The pendant is still not in my hands.” The right emphasis in my conversation with Iven produced the desired result, and he realized that the Reverse had given me not only the pendant, but also some valuable information unfavorable to him, which made the possibility of meeting the Viceroy an extremely undesirable prospect for Mr. Chief Fighter.
“It’s not supposed to be in your hands. The pendant never belonged to you, and the quest was to find it. I did; I received the message from the Game on completion of the quest, you saw it yourself.” I turned towards the bed of lady Lecleur. “And now I will return the pendant to its rightful owner.
With those words I grabbed the pendant from my inventory and put it in Elizabeth’s hand. Two bolts of lightning flashed in the room: a gold and a silver one. Both Iven and Archibald rushed from where they were so fast that the eye could not follow their movement. A horrendous hit on my chest sent me flying to the opposite wall. The flight ended with an equally horrible crash. My protection squeaked and disappeared just at the first blow, so I was met by the wall in all its harshness. Accompanied by the inevitable stars and sparks. My consciousness was trying to prove its independence,
so voices from the outside world were having a hard time filtering through. The catorian was doing most of the talking:
“…my student… only I have the right… golden-assed puffball…”
“We need to either find an armor-smith or head for respawn.” I heard Steve’s doleful voice as the outside world sounds faded again.
“What happened?” I asked with surprise.
“Watch.” The sparks in my eyes faded, replaced by the video record of the instant just before I had found myself crashing into the wall. Iven and Archibald were like sprinters crossing the finish line together; Iven, however, had an advantage: he raised his sword in advance. Archibald twisted his arm, taking the blow and diving under the opponent’s arm, but was unable to fully dampen the impact. Iven’s sword went through my great energy protection as if it wasn't there. My Daro armor was next, parting as if was made of paper, but then Archibald came to my aid. He parried the blow of his brother in class, preventing him from completing the movement and cutting me in two. However, the blow was strong enough to send me flying. Steve showed me my breast plate with a huge hole torn through it. It was true: I would either have to find a smith or respawn. With a hole like that I was not worth much in battle.
“How dare you, in my house!” My consciousness fully returned as the actors on the scene changed once again. Iven was the only permanent fixture in this farce of a tragedy. Now our small group was augmented by the irate daughter of the golden Paladin. By all appearances she had inherited her character from her father, which made their reunion particularly colorful. The small bony old lady was standing on the bed, wrapping herself in a blanket and looking at Iven upwards, but threateningly. Her small height was not preventing her in the least from challenging her father’s authority. Apparently I had not missed much, since Iven had not even sheathed his sword – either there was no time or he was too involved in arguing with his daughter. He was standing in the middle of the room, inhaling and exhaling heavily, trying to find arguments to defend himself. His sword moved in unison with his breathing. Sophie, totally exhausted from the stress, retreated into a far corner to get away from the quarrels of her relatives. And only Archibald, having made sure that Iven was not trying to threaten me any more, was enjoying the situation. The catorian sheathed his sword, sprawled in an armchair, and was leisurely eating grapes from a dish on the bedside table. He looked like a sophisticated US Academy member judging Oscar nominations.
The Quest (Dark Paladin Book #2) LitRPG Series Page 33