"Well, it turned out to be quite the ordeal, didn't it? It must have been a learning experience."
I pondered in silence.
Lord Valualeta, Inorai, sat beside me on the bench. She was leaning back like some kind of delinquent with her arms splayed on the headrest, even behind my head, with her head thrown back. A stranger might even think she was actually interested in watching the moody London sky that always looked to be on the verge of crying this time of the year.
It was several days after the rather odd incident at Adra Castle, and I'd spent the whole time hounding the Professor for an explanation as to why he didn't let me have a look at that spear Gray was hiding. Her little box even started shouting rape when I took him in my hands for a proper analysis.
Gray had no answer to give either other than a shy, 'It's the lance of King Arthur', but even that explanation was rather lacking.
Then there were the complaints from my sister but since I was only gone all of half a week, I hadn't really missed anything... Well, aside from a little incident where Flat 'accidentally' doused some of Svin's stuff in gasoline and then 'accidentally' burnt half his room after Yvette just so happened to test out her new Ruby mystic eye.
Before I could ask for details regarding that, I was passed an invitation to a picnic with Lord Inorai Valualeta Atroholm... and even I knew not to say no to that.
That was where I now found myself, with one of the twelve lords beside me, refusing to say anything other than meaningless shit that was just a waste of time that could be spent doing something important... like bothering Gray for answers.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave."
Inorai grabbed my sleeve before I could get up, a thin smile on her wrinkled face. "Well don't be in such a rush, it's such a beautiful day."
"Yeah, and I'd rather spend it with a beautiful person."
She paused for a second, then let out an amused laugh. "What? I spend at least half an hour staring at this beautiful face in the mirror every day. Surely, you're excited for our date a little bit, at least."
Inorai was old, wrinkly, thin, silver haired, old.
"Yeah, get a new mirror... better yet, get new eyes."
The aged lord just laughed again.
"Settle down, boy." She reached into the sleeve of her green dress and pulled out a sealed envelope. "Here, this is what I called you for. It's from the Department of Policy."
...
...
Weren't those the guys that were notorious for murder-
"No need to be scared."
"I'm not scared."
"Let's go with that."
Since we were sitting outside Mystile, the Department of General Fundamentals, the few passers-by were magi. They most certainly recognised this annoying person, and for that very fact, they steered well clear of us with heads ducked and gazes lowered.
"Now, I'm certain you're aware who rules that department."
I narrowed my gaze, leaning back against the hard wood of the bench. "...Barthomeloi? That's it, right?"
"Indeed." She nodded. "Barthomeloi also leads the Aristocrats, and is one of three great families presiding over the Clock Tower."
Of the three great families, the Barthomeloi were the Aristocracy Faction and the Valualeta and Trambelio were the Democrats in favour of a meritocracy.
What was amazing was that the power balance was slightly tipped in favour of the Barthomeloi despite the fact that other two great families were aligned in direct conflict with them. I imagined their head was probably some broken magus.
"I don't get-"
She cut me off by raising her hand. "I'm getting to that. You must have realised that the Policy Department was vying for Adra and its secrets, yes?"
I nodded.
Hishiri Adashino faked her own death to investigate the will without scrutiny, so she could steal the inheritance out right from under everyone's noses. Unfortunately, me hijacking the workshop completely put a dampener on that particular mission of hers.
Even now, Adra Castle was technically mine.
"Well, of course those nobles can not stomach the thought of being outdone by a commoner so terribly. Don't misunderstand, I find your actions quite incredible. I'm dying to know how you managed to convince that Edelfelt girl to relinquish the castle to you."
"Oh yeah..." I scratched the back of my head. "That happened too."
Contrary to what this lord probably thought, Luviagelita's reasoning was rather clear cut instead of being politically motivated. And that reasoning was that she didn't want the shitty place because she had dozens more superior to it. The research sucked too so she dumped that as well.
Crazy rich people.
Still, I got a castle out of it so I had no reason to complain. I never really expected her to make the fact public alongside my actions though. It was almost like she was trying to impress me... or show me off... maybe even both.
"Ooh, so it's like that? Ah, youth~."
How the fuck-
"I have been a Lord far longer than the one who birthed you has drawn breath, my boy."
...
...
"Congratulations are in order, I suppose. For her as well. She was in quite the rut with her craft before you. It is a shame that the Edelfelts get you though, we could have used your circuits to rejuvenate some dying lineages." She prattled off like I wasn't even there, staring at the sky, "Say, would you be interested in selling your sperm? I imagine it could fetch quite the hefty sum."
I did a spittake, then deadpanned, "No."
"Why?"
"Cause it's fucking weird, why else?"
Even sperm banks were the weirdest concept to me, fathering children I wasn't even going to know was certainly NOT on any of my bingo lists.
"If you change your mind, the option will be there."
"I won't."
The old woman shrugged her shoulders and continued, "Anyway, the news made quite the ruckus, and bruised a fair number of egos."
Something told me bruising egos in a family older than the literal AD calendar wasn't the best of ideas but... hey, it was exactly the type of shit I'd do so I didn't really care.
"So nobles, being nobles, explained away their incompetence by... finding... records that make you a Clock Tower student for a decade or so."
"Crazy. So I was studying here when I was nine? I didn't even know."
I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought even as the realisation set in that I was getting wrapped up in some political game for power without ever even coming into contact with the players.
"Just so. And, because they can not be outdone by someone of a low rank. You are awarded the rank of Cause, or rather, you have been at the rank of Cause for a year now. It's still highly exceptional to reach Cause in a decade however, so do expect some level of attention directed at you."
I fiddled with the sealed envelope in my hand, twirling it between my fingers.
"That is the official recognition. Ah, documentation."
"...One of the Twelve Lords personally came to give it to me?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes.
"Heavens no. I merely came to rub in the fact that you owe me for this lest you conveniently forget again."
There it was.
"You must be wondering how. Let us say, I greased the wheels a bit for this faux promotion in place of death and experimentation."
The information regarding abilities she was privy to was like the tip of an iceberg and yet, that tip was still worth bringing over to her side for what it meant.
Still, her words reminded me of my promise to Luviagelita. The promise she discarded but the one I resolved myself to fulfill all the same. Prestige. Renown. Honour. A high position among these people who obsessively delved into the supernatural and made its mystery their own.
"Say... would I be able to get higher if I aligned myself with you?"
"Oh? Perhaps you misunderstand. It is unheard of for a New Ager to reach even Cause, especially one that is the first of his lineage to join our ranks. It is a rank for members of families at least half a millennium old. "
Technically, I'd just straight up skipped the two ranks of Frame and Count to jump right to Cause, a rank only three below the highest rank of Grand. Not to say I didn't deserve it, I was literally him. Realistically though, I only attained the rank because the nobility just wanted a convenient excuse for being outdone by someone they wouldn't even spit on for fear of wasting said spit... not based on merit.
All I needed was a Grand-ranked magus to study to reach that level. Finding one wasn't going to be so easy though and I doubted I could do my analysis without them noticing seeing as... they were fucking nation topplers.
"I like your ambition. And, If you truly deserve it," With a pleased smile on her wrinkled lips, Lord Valualeta pressed a hand against the green fabric covering her chest. "Then, so be it, boy. You will find none more ready than us to support you. It is our earnest belief that those with talent should be at the top, not those with connections or prestigious blood."
That was a crazy ass thing to say after telling me my intentions were misplaced for someone with no old blood. And I wasn't so stupid as to think that she was just that based. No, clearly, even here, I knew for a fact that the only reason she was supporting me was so that she could further solidify her own position.
However, there was nothing wrong with that... for now.
"To the end of growing as a magus, allow me to give you a bit of neat advice. You should lean into your affinity if you want to see faster results. No magi should need this advice but I'm certain you forgot."
Right... my affinity.
Inorai gracefully rose to her feet and began floating away.
"Congratulations on achieving Cause, Henry. I imagine your professor will be quite proud."
She quickly disappeared... and the second she was gone, a chill crept up my spine. I genuinely trembled, and I had no idea why that was the case. Sweat formed on my brow, and my fingers grew jittery. Someone... or something was watching me. Whatever it was, it was far beyond me as of now.
"Congratulations from me as well... It is rare that I am so thoroughly... trounced."
It felt as though the wind itself had whispered those words but then Hishiri Adashino of all people came into sight. No, the creepy bitch was standing right behind me, and leaning forward to stare at me from the side with her head tilted unnaturally. Her hands were still resting over her stomach.
Yet, I knew the sudden chill wasn't from her. I could rip her head off right now if I wanted to.
"And from the Lord of Policies as well."
Lord of... Wait what? Barthomeloi?
Her gaze trailed off to one of the Victorian-era buildings overlooking the park. I followed it and... found no one.
Her words came like the hiss of a poisonous snake even though her face was unnaturally beautiful.
"Know that we are slightly impressed... and interested."
...Yeah, that wasn't foreboding at all.
I could only assume that I had caught the eye of some dangerous person.
How dangerous, I possessed no way of knowing.
-
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