Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Lucan came out of the hall to the expectant gaze of his father. With the princess’s words still on his mind, he looked upon his father’s visage differently.

“How did you do?” his father asked.

“Well,” Lucan said. “I’ve earned enough Orbs for my Iron body.”

Sir Golan exclaimed gleefully “Splendid! Come, there is time for you to see to that before we depart. While you do, I must go offer the princess the courtesy of an escort.”

Lucan saw that Cordell had arrived at the Hall. The man-at-arms received a gesture from his father, upon which he led Lucan to a nearby street where they found a relatively secluded alley. Cordell procured a wooden box from somewhere and Lucan took a seat.

He would elevate his Physique here. He felt it was a bit rushed, but there was a saying, ‘The best boon is a swift boon.’

He summoned his blessing and took a look.

Race: Human

Level: 4

Vital Orbs: 10

Mind and Body

Physique: Copper III 0/10

Spirit: Basic 0/1

Skills (0) 0/100

(Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman

(Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv4: Novice (0/1)

(Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1)

His next leap in Physique would be significant. The norm among professional soldierly was a Physique between Iron and Steel. While Physique enhancements added to one’s naturally existent strength without discrimination and it was difficult to measure their whole strength after enhancement, it was expected that a man at Iron Physique would be twice as strong as a healthy man. Lucan looked forward to it.

He focused on his Physique and willed his Vital Orbs into it.

An urgent heat welled up in his chest and passed through his limbs, searing muscle and bone with a pull and twist. It was as painful as his first Physique improvement, though this time he was more familiar with what to expect. Eventually, the pain receded and his body settled down. A renewed feeling of strength was born within him, as though he carried an additional reservoir of power on his person.

He stood up and nodded at Cordell who’d watched over him. Then he summoned his blessing once more, a nagging part of him wishing to affirm his achievement.

Race: Human

Level: 4

Vital Orbs: 0The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

Mind and Body

“What does that mean?” Lucan asked as they walked through the camp, shadowed by two of the princess’s knights.

“It’s as ambiguous as it sounds in truth,” she said. “Though it was surprising in a pleasant way. I cannot speak much about it. Though few people can compel me to do anything, it turns out that the spirit is one of them after the baptism. It came with its benefits, however.” She raised a hand and a faint glow of green came over her skin. “The trade was more than fair.”

“You must have answered all his riddles,” Lucan’s thoughts came out of his mouth. It was more of a pondering than a statement.

“I did indeed,” the princess said. “Enough about me, though. It’s your turn.” She gave him a knowing look.

Lucan nodded. He still remembered her rules. He’d inquired about her affairs for a bit, and now he would have to repay her by answering her own inquiries about his affairs.

“Tell me about the South,” she said.

It was a simple question, so Lucan obliged. He told her about their territory, their neighboring estates, the threat of the Wildermen and the warlords of The Shattered Kingdom. The princess listened quietly, nodding at appropriate times and humming thoughtfully at others. Eventually, as the evening grew old, she bade him good night and he returned to his tent.

He got the chance to speak with the princess again on briefer occasions, and she once even summoned his father to converse.

Before the sunset of the thirteenth day since their departure and while they were preparing their camp, they spotted a party coming from the direction of the capital. Seeing an unfamiliar noble banner, a few of the princess’s guards rode to inquire while the rest made and secured their camp.

Eventually, the Royal Guard affirmed that they were envoys of Bitis leaving the capital and heading east. It was even deemed safe enough for the princess to walk around the camp, since some of the knights recognized one of the envoys and ascertained their allegiance.

As they passed by their camp, Lucan watched the delegation with curiosity, upon which, the princess stepped up beside him. “Bitans, they were here to ask for a pittance from my father as usual.”

“Your Highness?” Lucan looked at her quizzically. “They’re here for coin?”

The princess chuckled but without much emotion in the act. “Of course, what else are they good for?”

“Why?”

“You said you read history, you must know theirs. You don’t know what they do, what their very Kingdom was born to do?”

“Yes,” Lucan nodded. “Mostly, they were meant to keep the old Empire in check. With their mounted archers and their assassins countering the Empire’s army, they have historically succeeded.”

“And you believe they did it for nothing?” the princess said. “The Bitans don’t produce much. They’re not mercantile people either. They only know war, and an old form of it at that, one that was fashioned to master the battlefield against the Empire. Centuries ago, when the Empire splintered, there was an unwritten agreement between the young Kingdoms of the Elder Lands to provide Bitis with coin in exchange for them bearing the threat of the slumbering giant alone. Since then, the threat has waned further and further, and some of the Kings don’t see a need to continue with that agreement, including my father. It’s more of a tradition now, an old, costly one. And my father barely abides by it, giving them as little as possible.”

Lucan was surprised. While some of the books had hinted that Bitis would sometimes receive goods or coins during times of war against the Veti Empire, none of them had mentioned a permanent agreement for a stipend to be paid to the Kingdom. Of course, Lucan knew why the Kingdoms kept such an agreement unwritten. It could be misconstrued as a tribute to a higher power which would have its own political implications. He would have to try to understand the depths of apparently shallow hints like the ones he’d seen in the future, since he’d missed such a significant agreement simply because it had never been explicitly written in one of his books. Or perhaps he should get to know more about history from people like the princess. He was certain to hear things he’d never known before.

“They’re heading east now,” Lucan said. “They expect the guilds to pay them?”

The princess nodded regally. “And their expectations will be met. The guilds will pay generously.”

“Why?”

“Recognition,” she said, giving him an excited smile. It was the first time he felt her truly interested in something she spoke of since they’d spoken about her mother and his. “The Union’s political position isn’t enviable. They’re young, without a monarch of appropriate prestige to represent them, and their relationship with the Mer does them no favors in the Elder Lands. Most of the Kingdoms either ignore them, begrudgingly deal with them, or tolerate them as my father does. By paying Bitis the same amount the old Kingdom of Essia used to, they are trying to cement their position as its successor instead of the thick alliance of tradesmen they are.”

Lucan listened aptly. This was an interesting topic for him. Although his books provided an appropriate background for the Elder Lands’ politicking, nothing could match up to someone who had current knowledge and sufficient understanding of regional politics. The princess seemed to possess both.

“It seems I have guests,” the princess said, looking in the direction of the approaching envoys who were likely coming to greet her. She turned to Lucan kindly. “If you will.”

Understanding, Lucan nodded, lowering his head to the princess before leaving and allowing her to receive the envoys’ respects.