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16-Mounting Pressure

  Not to brag, but I have always considered myself fairly attractive for a man, and still, the blond teen before me could have given me a run for my money. He was a little older than me, maybe around Jake’s age. So, probably a third-year student... What was he doing on this side of the tower?

  “Master Grahamson!” the guy gave me a toothy smile, “It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance! I must say, I am something of a fan of yours.”

  “Ah…” I winced, “I am terribly sorry buddy. I am truly flattered, but I don’t swing that way.”

  “I beg your pardon…”

  “Oh! So, you weren’t… Ahem… The pleasure is all mine! You will have to excuse me; I-I think I didn’t catch your name.”

  One of his eyes twiched there for a second, but in a heartbeat that toothy smile of his was right back.

  “The name is Theodore of Venerac, hair to the Baron of Venerac. As I said, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “Likewise, my lord.” I bowed most courteously. Despite my early slip up, I was trying to be in my best behavior since my discussion with Jake the other night, and this guy was as good a place to start as any, “How may I be of service?”

  Theodor then put on a very punchable smirk --quite the fit with his dashing good looks, but I managed to behave myself. I am quite proud of that.

  “On the contrary, my friend. The real question is whether if I can help you.”

  “Help me? Sorry my lord, I don’t follow.”

  His smile widened.

  “You see, my dear friend, it has come to my attention that you find yourself into a truly dreadful situation. Pardon my indiscretion, of course, but is it true you’ve been forced into lady’s Richia’s personal entourage?”

  “Well, yes. That is essentially what happened.”

  He let up a somewhat exaggerated gasp.

  “It must have been quite hard on you! I am frankly surprise at your composure.” Theodore pointedly glanced up the grades, where Lady Richia stood glaring at us from among her usual cohort of bootlickers, “I am aware that my dear cousin can be capricious at times, and it doesn’t help that uncle dotes on her a bit too much.”

  “Capricious!? She almost impaled me with a freaking fork…!” I protested. “Wait, did you said cousin?!”

  “Now, now, master Grahamson, you cannot go around saying such things! We wouldn’t want to fuel more of those outlandish rumors that circulate about her ladyship’s character.” He chided a tad too earnestly to be sincere, giving me a little wink at the end, “and, yes lady Aprabat and I are, in fact, second cousins from my father’s side, though I wouldn’t blame you for not noticing the semblance; dear Richia has inherited most of her beauty from her late mother, and little to nothing from our side of the genealogical tree… But enough about me. For what I see you find yourself in quite the pickle.”

  I don’t know why, but I wasn’t vibing with this guy. Maybe I was feeling threatened by his dashing good looks; you know, like in two majestic lions sharing the same territory… Whatever the reason, this Theodor fellow robbed me the wrong way, so I decided to play dumb for a while until he showed his hand.

  “Oh? How so?”

  Smooth! Man, look at me, all respectful and cautious! Jake was going to be so proud of me!

  Theodore blinked.

  “Were you not practically forced to serv my cousin? Are you not in dear financial and legal straits? Have you not publicly insulted the woman you are going to serv and there for is in the best position to make your life verry, verry difficult…?”

  “Fine, fine! I get it! Sheesh! I was just playing coy you know? There was no need to… ahem… I meant to say; my lord is quite well informed…”

  “I am glad you think so!” he smiled a tad too cheerly, not missing a bit, “Then you may be pleased to know, I am the solution for all of your troubles!”

  “You are?” I ask in genuine confusion.

  “Well, of course. That little fee you owe the city is nothing but a pittance for me and, I do not say this to brag, but I also have the political sway to shield you from my cousin’s ire…”

  “W-what? Are you offering to bail me out of my debts and protect me from Chi… I mean, lady Richia? B-but why would you do that for me?”

  “Why in did. I, of course, would not be so generous without a reason. You would have to find a way to earn my esteem.”

  He gave me a penetrating look. I frown at him.

  “Are you sure you aren’t coming on to me?”

  His eyes twiched again, his smile fraying at the edges.

  “I advise you to think carefully on what I said before answering.” He said through clench teeth, ignoring my last question. Then, with a pointed look over my shoulder, he added; “Besides, It appears the time for our conversation is over. I will take my leave.”

  For a moment, as Thoedore strolled away, I saw a barely reptilian form shimmered and disappeared against his back… a diamond chameleon huh? So, he was a full magus. Another reason to be careful around him.

  “What are you doing!?” someone hissed at my back, snaping me from my musings.

  “Aren! Long time no see bud! How have you been!?”

  “Uhh? F-fine I guess… Wait, no! Do not change the subject!” he yell-whisper into my year, “Do you have any idea what you have done!?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Aren bit his lip, taking a pointed look around the classroom. I frown and followed his gaze. At first was hard to tell, because the noble-borne students were verry subtle about it, but the commoners had caught on somehow and they weren’t nearly as careful:

  Every last person in the room was glancing my way, and a certain girl with a widow’s peak openly glared at me, as if to kill me with her eyes alone.

  “Why are they all looking this way…?”

  “Not here!” he hissed, grabbing my shoulder, “We need to go! Now!”

  We left the lecture room for the maze-like passages of the tower, and even then Aren have me turn a couple corridors before stopping to explain himself.

  “What were you thinking?! That was Theodore Venerac, the son of Baron Venerac!” Aren practically screamed at me.

  “He said that much…” I said squinting at Aren in confusion, then I shook my head, “sorry, I don’t get it. Why are you freaking out like this?”

  “Why am I freaking out?! Why aren’t you freaking out?! Theodore is Richia’s worst enemy and she and all the damn class heard him buying off your loyalty!”

  “Buying off my what? So, he wasn’t making a pass on me?”

  “What? Why would he… For all the spirits Blake, this is serious! I haven’t seen Richia that angry since I…! What I mean is that she is bound to do something crazy again!”

  “Wait a minute, she is going to do something crazy because some guy came and talk to me?!”

  “Not just some guy!” He screamed, “Listen! His father, Baron Venerac rules a small territory on the south-west, right in the brother with the Yagan Empire and the Princedom of Signora. His territory is not big, but the trade that passes through there is. He has deep pockets and has endeared himself with much of the county’s lesser nobility. What is worst, he is ambitious; For years Baron Venerac has been trying to make his son Theodore the next count Aprabat.”

  “You mean Theodore wants to replace Richia?”

  “Or marry her.” He said darkly. “Though neither will happen as long as count Aprabat draws breath.”

  “Sheesh, man! That sure is messed up, but I fail to see what it has to do with me.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Aren grimaced.

  “I am afraid Theodore just played you against lady Richia.”

  “He did what now?!”

  “Is no secret her ladyship has a... bit of a temper…”

  “Now, that’s an understatement…”

  “Shut it! But yes, you are right. She is out of control, especially since I… That is not important. The point is, even if she can get away with almost anything within Aprabat’s borders as the count’s official heir, she still has a reputation to preserve, if she wants her future vassals to recognize her as their ruler. Her resent behavior has not made her any favors there. You publicly humiliating her in the exams either. Now, if my guess is right -- and I am sure it is, Theodore made a point of seeking you in front of her and made all those offers to put lady Richia firmly against you.”

  “Wait, what? She already has me mugged in an alley and tried to kill me on sight! How can she be more against me?!”

  “You don’t’ get it! Before, you were an irritating upstart stupid peasant that was overreaching and have to be made an example of…”

  “Hey! That’s a bit harsh.”

  “Now you are a threat. A potential enemy spy in her inner retinue. You must either be brought under her thumb or quietly disposed of.”

  “Oh… I’ll give it to you, that does sounds worst… But I guess the problem is mute. I am not taking Theodore’s deal. He kind of rubs me the wrong way.”

  “No! You still don’t get it! It does not matter if you take his deal or not. What matters is what lady Richia thinks you did! Knowing her, she probably jumped to conclusions and believes you have been working with Theodore all along or some nonsense and then, in her rage, she is sure to make you pay for it. Worst case scenario, she makes a public mess out of this like the last time. But even if all guess well and we somehow convince her you are on her side, other noble’s might believe Theodore has a pawn in her lady’s cohort, and that alone is a problem.”

  Crap. Jake wasn’t going to like this.

  By that point Aren was biting on his thumb nail, passing up and down the aisle. I wished he stopped it already; watching him was making me queasy.

  “So, that sucks, but I was wondering, is there something I could do about this or maybe someone I should talk to? Like the count or the Chamberland, or the guard captain …?”

  Then he mercifully stopped. His head drooped and he gave a wiry sigh.

  “There is no use… We will have to talk to her… Take a walk after class, it does not matter where you go, but stay away from the castle while I talk to her. That is going to take a while, so only go there after past midnight, to be on the safe side. When you arrive ask immediately for an audience with her, it does not matter if it is in the middle of the night, what is important is that the other servants see you are desperate to win back her favor. Then, the next day they might put a good word for you, that can make all the difference. When she grants you an audience, bow and scrape if you must, but do your best to earn back her favor…”

  We stood in silence for a while. I wasn’t sure about this plan of Aren’s to say the least, but hey, it bitted nothing, and I was kind of touched with him jumping to help, so I patted his back and said:

  “Wow, bud! You sure know your staff! It is grate to have you on my side.”

  “Don’t touch me!” he pushed my arm aside and stared at me coldly, “we are not friends.”

  “Wait, we aren’t?” I tilted my head in confusion.

  “No, we are not, you simpleton! You have insulted my lady and court the woman I love. I am only helping you because, right now, lady Richia’s reputation can’t withstand another of her fits of fury.”

  “Ah… What? Hold on a second; The woman you love…? You mean Jane? And Richia is what? Your ex? You know she almost stabbed Jane in the eye, don’t you? I mean, I am only in this mess because I had to stop that for happening… Now that I think about it, wasn’t all that because of you?”

  Aren went redder and redder with every statement.

  “Y-y-you know not what you are talking about! T-the workings of the noble class are alien to peasants like you, so shut up!” he spluttered, turning his back on me, “I-I will go to the castle and wait for lady Richia to make your case. Don’t try anything stupid!”

  He ran off. I think he was crying too. I frown at his fleeting form.

  Whatever was going on between him and Jane aside, was he mad at me for insulting Richia? What was wrong with him? Jane too for that matter. They seem like good people, but the both of them have been oddly defensive of that bitch. She attacked people in broad daylight, for fuck’s sake!

  “Maybe is some kind of stockholm syndrome…” I was musing outload when I almost stumbled with a girl hugging her knees behind the corner, “Jane?! How long have you been there…? Wait, what’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

  The answer to that last question was; yes, she had. In fact, she was still crying. Unfortunately, the rest of my questions would go answer, because, without a word, she turned and ran for the opposite direction Aren had.

  “Dammit people! Running in tears is not conductive for communication!” I screamed in frustration.

  *

  “You might already know this from your books, but the material components of a ritual only exist to funnel the spirits into the desired patterns. Hence, what shape the ritual takes or what components does it use are ultimately irrelevant. A ritual is powered by the movement of the spirits through the Ether; what we magus call the ‘spirit formation.’ You can mix and switch the runes and components all you like, as long as you make the spirits do what they are supposed to. Why, in theory a magus with enough willpower should be able to skip rituals all together by micromanaging a few hundred spirits at once…! Of course, you would most likely get a severe concussion if you try that, so please don’t….”

  Professor’s Kragmad’s lesson followed after the lunch break, and it was as interesting as ever, but I couldn’t put my heart into it. Jane, Aren and even Chin-face where nowhere to be seen, and the rest of my classmates were all throwing glances at me when they thought I wasn’t watching.

  Honestly, I was feeling gloomy. Seeing Jane ran away like that and having Aren tell me we weren’t friends had put a damper on me. I liked those two! They were honest people that wore their hearts on their sleeves, just my type of crowd! Having they reject me like that had stung…

  “Professor?” ask a dark-haired girl wearing glasses, “You say that all rituals can be twiched like that, but what about the spirit contract ritual? Surely none would dare to...”

  “An excellent question, miss Ranova!” The professor interrupted, almost giddy, “In fact the particulars of the spirit contract ritual, or the summoning ritual, as it is most widely known in the international community, very wildly between different magus traditions, though must found their roots in Agorian rites. For example; our version of the ritual makes the contracted spirit take the form of an animal companion but, in the Yagan Empire most magus have their spirits turned into crystals and invaded within their own bodies. I have even heard of some traditions where they trapped the spirits inside objects to give them supernatural abilities, as if they were some sort of eternal, superefficient enchantment that is bound to only one person…”

  “But that is horrible! What happens then to the poor spirits!?” the same girl gasped.

  “Well, it is widely debated whether if spirits are really cognizant of the world as we understand it…” and down they went into a tangent that eat up the remaining two hours of class.

  It was clear professor Kragmad was passioned about the subject, but he failed to see how much it upset his students. For my part, as much as I liked the professor, I was with my classmates in this one; imprisoning spirits sounded cruel, and I wasn’t incline to further explore the idea, no matter how useful it could be.

  That said I mostly tuned out the rest of the discussion and went back to Mrs. Chandler’s the moment my class eneded.

  I know, I know; It is a bit anticlimactic to go back there the verry noon after all those pancakes and tear felt goodbyes, but I needed to talk with Jake after all that crap with Theodore. Normally I wouldn’t for fear of having him freak out, but I have promised to him I would conduct myself with more care, and part of that was letting him know from the start when I thought I was getting into trouble.

  Jake was a signior student with a spirit companion, so he had a verry different schedule than I did. The sun was up, so he probably was still moving rocks for the construction crew, but Aren had told me not to go near the castle before midnight, so I had time to wait .

  Imagine my surprise when I found Jake sitting on Mrs. Chandler’s doorsteps, his head dangling on his hands. The pain in his eyes when he looked at me almost tore me apart.

  “A group of thugs went to the construction site and started braking things in front of us, but when we tried to stop them, they presented verry official documentation that made them untouchable… They say they would come back the tomorrow and the day after unless I was fired from my job… They said…” his voiced cracked, “That I wouldn’t find work in the county for the rest of my life… not even as a magus… Now I-I am afraid they’ll make trouble for Mrs. Chandler… What… Just what did you do?”

  I have never been that pist in my entire life.

  “I am sorry. I’ll fix it.” Is all I said as I squeezed my brother’s shoulder and run past him into the house.

  Mrs. Chandler was surprised to see me back so soon, but she quickly provided me with the pen and paper I asked. I wrote a letter to Drake and Dad explaining all that had happened as I did the same to Jake, who was still struggleing with his own emotions. Then I left him with the letters and ran for the castle.

  The castle staff was waiting for me and I new the way. This time around getting to that bitch’s chambers was easy; I was her new chaperon after all. When finally made it, I ran past two servants at the door and went inside despite their protestations. I erupted on the same room as last time to found Aren and Richia in the middle of a heated conversation, but they both turn to look at me in shock.

  “Blake! I told you to stay away until I…”

  “You made your point.” I told her, ignoring Aren, “you can ruin the lives of those I care about.”

  “And what if I can?” she sneered.

  “You can, but you will stop immediately.”

  “Oh? And why should I stop? Already I think you are behaving better, and it has only been a few hours since I have your dear brother by the balls.”

  I glared at her.

  “Yes, you can make my brother livelihood your hostage, but I can do the same with your stupid reputation.”

  Aren swore and Richia’s face darken.

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Oh, but I already did at the entry exam, remember?! Just on the top of my head I can think of a couple nasty rumors that would fit right in with that temper of yours. Heck, I don’t even have to lie, I just have to make public what you did to my brother, sit back and watch the fireworks. And the best part is, you won’t be able to lay a finger on me, else you face whatever threat your grandfather made to you.”

  “No one will believe you.” She said after a long inhalation, “You are just a commoner.”

  “Correction, I was just a commoner. Right now, I am your new chaperon. Isn’t my whole job to deal with this kind of rumors? Besides, I am sure good old Theodore would be more than happy to help those rumors spread along.”

  “I knew it! You were working for him!” she sneered, “You mangy dog! A part of me was hoping to see that arrogant bastard deal with that disgusting crassness of yours, but of course you would bow and scraped to your master!”

  “I barely met the guy today! And honestly, I don’t even like him! But I’ll suck up to him like a barnacle if that helps me make you miserable!”

  “You rat, how dare you…!”

  “But, we don’t have to go there,” I interrupted, “Let my brother be.”

  “What?!”

  “We both can hurt each other, but we don’t want to get hurt, so why don’t we back off and keep each other in line?”

  “Are you threatening me, peasant?” she spat in a dangerous tone.

  “Think of it as me doing my job.” I grimaced, “What better way of making sure no more rumors pop up than ensuring you don’t act like a rabid dog the first chance you have?”

  We stared at each other in silence, Aren’s worried eyes darting franticly from me to her.

  “I’ll let you think about it.” I spoke. “You two were in the middle of something, so I’ll let you to it. Good evening my lady, my lord.”

  I flashed them a smile that didn’t reached my eyes, bowed, and left.

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