Starkraven Manor

✧ ✦ ✧

How did I get myself into situations like these, I often wondered.

Still reeling from the pain in my loins brought on by the ones who had nabbed our coinpurses, Zero and I ducked through the busy market streets, pursuing them closely.

“Tch. We can’t let them get away!” I exclaimed, still holding onto their invisibility cloth. “If we do, we can kiss all our hard-earned Dān goodbye.”

“Right!” Zero agreed.

Not to mention the Ashen Fang which had also been taken. For the second time, I might add.

Ember wasn’t as big as Redrook by any stretch, but for a thief it still fielded plenty of hiding spots in back alleys and inside buildings that were unfamiliar to two tourists like ourselves, were we to lose sight of them. As small as they were, it wouldn’t be hard if Zero and I didn’t keep up the pace.

“We’ve gotta find a way to pin down those two, somehow, before we start to lose steam.” Zero suggested. “Without destroying the neighborhood, I’m pretty sure Shion would be pissed if we did…”

Based only on size, one might venture to think that they were unruly children but the kick the female thief delivered was as strong as any grown man’s. I could understand Zero not wanting to unleash ”earth spear” on them though. With that in mind, I came up with a better idea in the heat of the moment.

“The road’s narrowed a bit, now’s our chance!” I said, noticing that the street had also grown less crowded. “Use it, earth wall.”

“Alrighty!” Zero nodded, taking his broadsword off his back, and dragging it behind him. “Richter scale: seven-point-zero! Earth wall!”

A wall emerged right between two buildings, blocking the thieves from advancing forward and giving us a split second to catch up.

“Stop by order of the Adventurer’s Guild Master!”

I’ve been waiting to play that card.

I could see the panic in their body language, and it looked like we might be able to apprehend them for a moment. However, they nodded subtly to one another and surprised us by immediately cutting in two different directions, effectively splitting up.

Damn it!

“What do we do now, partner??”

“We’ll take one each! I’ll go left, you go right!”

“Roger that, but watch yourself!”

I nodded. We would just have to meet up at the governor’s mansion later after we had succeeded in our respective chases, I decided.

I trailed the female thief down the left alley, sidestepping trash and debris, while Zero pursued her counterpart in the opposite direction.

“This feels oddly nostalgic…”

Chasing a girl clad in black through a busy market, dodging obstacles, and trying to get back my dagger from the hands of a thief.

If I had a nickel, which… I guess I don’t anymore.

Shion had instigated a chase once before to get my attention, and as beautiful as her running form was, I would later come to find out that the only reason she was able to evade me was because she used her time powers to speed herself up. Or she just said it to make me feel better, but that’s besides the point.

I was getting absolutely boatraced this time, with few excuses to fall back on. A merchant suddenly rolled a fruit cart out in front of me, but I had grown from the last debacle as I deftly avoided a collision. I increased my pace, finding a second gear.

“Geez, just give up already, mister! It’s only a few coins!”

The girl had the gall to say that to me when she realized I was harder to shake than expected. I could hear the exasperation in her voice, and a bit of fatigue, but I would have her imagine how I felt having to chase her down.

“Yeah, but they’re my coins, and that’s my dagger!” I shouted, pushing past a confused bystander. “Now give it back, you damn brat!”

“I’m warning you, you’re gonna get hurt again if this carries on.” She cautioned me. “Oh, and I’m not a brat, I’m probably older than you!”

“Whatever you say, squirt, but I seriously doubt it!” I matched her strides.

Meanwhile, I could see the sun shining off the surface of the Ashen Fang which the robber held loosely at her side. As I drew closer, it began to vibrate slightly, but the disturbance increased steadily the closer I got until finally…

“Ouch—!” The girl cried out as the dagger shook itself from her grasp, gashing her hand quite deeply in the process. I saw the blood trickle from her wrist onto the gravel behind her.

Like it was possessed, the dagger flew back to me like a boomerang, allowing me to snatch it by the handle and place it firmly in its sheathe.

“Holy—!”

Well, you don’t see THAT everyday.

I was in awe for a moment by what I had witnessed, but then I remembered what Milton said about named weapons.

“—named weapons like that one tend to have preferred partners. He and I don’t seem to be a good match, unfortunately.”

Guess he meant it literally… go figure.

Though, I wondered why it hadn’t rejected Alpha, I knew better than to think too deeply on such questions during a chase.

With one thing down and accounted for, all that was left was getting back our money. While easier said than done, I finally began to gain some ground as the thief nursed her bleeding hand. We approached the main square where there was sure to be a guard presence, or someone from our caravan, god willing.

“End of the line, kiddo! The coinpurses, now!”

“Not quite…” The girl took off her red scarf, wrapping it around her wrist to remedy the injury. Using her other hand, she collected what appeared to be a handful of black rubber balls from out of her pocket. “Try getting… through this!”

She tossed the rubber balls behind her. Upon making contact with the ground, they exploded into a huge cloud of black smoke, throwing me into a coughing fit as I kept running blindly through it.

“Shit!” Visibility was gone, and I was disoriented, trying to follow the street as I remembered it before I lost sight of her.

No, I’m gonna lose her trail! Just a little… a little bit more…

“—!”

The smoke finally cleared, but it was too late to move out of the way. I crashed forehead-first into a large plank of lumber that two orcs were carrying, not having seen them out ahead of me. I was knocked clean off my feet, landing on my back in the dirt.

“See ya, mister!” The thieving girl gave me a salute from beyond the fountain in the square.

“You…”

I lifted my head a bit before passing out.

. . .

Seeing stars, I finally came to, groaning in pain as a small crowd had gathered around me. They were probably debating on how to split my belongings, truth be told. Among those curious onlookers was someone in as sorry a state as I was, Zero who was covered head-to-toe in the juice of some red fruit.

“Let me guess, the other thief got away too?”

“Afraid so, partner. One moment I have him cornered, and the next I crash into a fruit cart…” Zero held out his hand. “Slippery bugger got away with more than just my money, I think my pride took a hit too…”

“Yeah, same here….” I sighed deeply, accepting his offer to help me up. “I can’t believe we just got bushwhacked by two middle schoolers, this is the worst.”

Who were those pipsqueaks anyway?

“Listen,” Zero began. “If Shion asks why we took so long in the market, we’ll just tell her—“

“Tell me what??”

I heard a voice that turned the situation from a little embarrassing to downright mortifying. Zero and I exchanged the same trepid look as Shion approached.

“Will one of you please start explaining what the heck is going on, and why Zero smells like an unripened tomato??” Shion, hands on her hips, panned her gaze between the two of us for answers.

“There’s a good explanation for this.” Zero said. “And… Ren is gonna tell you exactly what it is!”

“…”

Thanks, man, real great.

“Ren-kun?”

“Alright…”

I supposed there was little choice but to come clean. I proceeded to tell Shion the full tale of how we had been in the market browsing and caught the thieves in the act. And then I explained the following chase, and subsequent failure. All the while Shion nodded, maintaining a neutral expression.

“I see, it seems you two had a rather tough time.” I expected her to be angry, but that was far from the case. “I’m just glad nobody got hurt, but it’s unfortunate those two got away. I think this qualifies as a security concern for the moot.”

“They were using this blanket thing to make themselves invisible, do you have any idea what it is?” I asked, handing it over. Unlike before, it appeared as if it were a normal white sheet, and no longer invisible.

“I think I’ve seen something like this before… A moonsilk shroud.” Shion examined the cloth. “If you apply mana to the fabric, it can give off the appearance of being invisible. Though it’s just an optical illusion. The worm that produces the silk is quite rare though, and expensive to procure.”

“If they could afford this thing, why were they hassling us for loose change?” Zero pondered.

“Well, that’s just it.” I said. “They can’t afford this thing. Most like, it was stolen, and I’m betting from somewhere nearby.”

I doubt the owner will be too happy their stolen merchandise is being used to commit more thefts though.

“Well, we can look into that at a later time.” Shion folded the cloth and tucked it away in her satchel. “Most of the council is still out sightseeing so we’d best get you two back to our lodgings and cleaned up before Ren-kun meets with them. You’re both filthy.”

“Yep.” Zero and I agreed in unison, not a shred of shame between us.

“Now, let's get a move on.” Shion said. “We’re expected at Starkraven Manor.”

19.2

On a grassy hill overlooking the city of Ember was the large estate of Governor Mikail Starkraven. A beautiful flower garden stretched for as far as the eye could see along the red brick path through the compound.

The plantation-style house that greeted us at the end was characterized by its huge marble columns holding up the veranda, and the view of the ocean to its right.

Zero whistled, crossing his arms.

“Snazzy.”

“Remember that we’re guests here, so try to practice proper etiquette.“ Shion warned us, mostly looking at Zero. “My master had to pull quite a few strings to have the moot held here, and not to mention room and board for us all.”

There were upwards of fifty people in our caravan that made the trip, and they were all being welcomed to stay here at the manor. It sure beat accommodations at the inn, in any case. Shion, clearing her throat, knocked twice using the steel door knockers and awaited a response from the other side of the entryway.

“Just a moment.” A voice replied.

The door creaked open to reveal two individuals standing in the foyer. A maid, and a butler, identical twins as well as demi-human catfolk. They both had ashen colored hair with a white streak in their bangs on opposite sides, but the maid also wore a ponytail.

“Honored guests, welcome to Starkraven Manor.” The maid greeted us with a small curtsy. “I am a maid in the service of the Governor of Ember, Master Mikail Starkraven. My name is Nana, and the young man next to me is my younger brother, Hachi.”

Nana and Hachi, huh? What very Japanese-sounding names.

“My master, Headmaster Argo, and I thank you for your kind hospitality.” Shion bowed, proceeding to take off her shoes, and set them aside. We did the same.

“Yo, thanks for having us.” Zero smiled, waving once.

“Pardon the intrusion.” I parroted my two companions, glancing around. “This place is seriously huge… wonder how long it took to build…”

I had a bit of a fascination with architecture. Zero, meanwhile, looked eagerly at the butler, expecting a similar spiel and introduction. However, he tilted his head in confusion when the man said nothing.

“Oh, dear, please excuse my brother. He is entirely mute, but his sentiments closely reflect mine.” The maid, Nana, explained in apology. “He meant no disrespect, Master Zero.”

“Ah! no worries!” Zero waved his hands, realizing he was the one staring in the first place. “And you know me??”

“Of course, it is my job to know the names of every guest, Master and Mistress.” Nana smiled lightly. “Hachi is of the same rank and responsibility that I am, so please feel free to lean on him when I’m not around, and I speak for every staff member here when I say that we are thrilled to be serving you. Guest quarters are this way, please follow me.”

And very Japanese customer service skills too… These guys are good.

The sweet smell of scented oil hit us as we stepped in, originating from deeper from within the mansion. There was no shortage of fancy fixtures, thick and luxurious carpeting, and not to mention crystals and shells adorning nearly every wall.

It fit my perfect image of a regal seaside estate. I could hear Boccherini’s “Minuetto” playing in my head as if to emphasize the upscale environment. If someone had told me a month ago that I’d be staying in a place like this I’d have laughed in their face at the absurdity of it all.

“Can I take that look to mean you are pleased, Master Ren?” Nana caught me with a whimsical look in my eyes.

“Ah? Yeah, for sure.” I nodded, clearing my throat. “I’m just so used to sleeping in a cot at the inn back in Redrook. This is like the Ritz-Carlton in comparison, I’m genuinely impressed.”

“Ritz… what was that?” She was confused.

“Woah!!” Zero suddenly exclaimed, drawing our attention. “You guys have an indoor pond? And fish too??”

There was a pond with a rock waterfall, and some kind of koi carp swimming around as we crossed over a wooden bridge into the main reception area. Zero leaned down, sticking his hand in the water.

“Zero…” Shion sighed.

“It’s quite alright.” Nana giggled. “The master loves fresh fish, so we raise a number of them here, and they really add to the scenery if I might say so.”

As Nana continued the tour, I happened to inspect her maid uniform out of curiosity. It was quite well fitted to her petite frame, and the quality of the fabric seemed to match her esteemed surroundings. It was the standard black and white color combo, and she had long black sleeves that ruffled white at the shoulder and a red bow tie.

Her brother, Hachi, meanwhile, wore a black tuxedo with the same bow tie. As I looked closer I caught sight of something like a bandage across her palm and wrist. She suddenly pulled her sleeve down further when she caught me glancing her way.

“Clumsy as I am, I accidentally sliced myself this morning while gutting the fish in preparation for tonight’s dinner.” Nana said to everyone, making a brief bit of eye contact with me. “I’m quite embarrassed, but I will not let it affect my duties, rest assured.”

“Hm. That so…?” I replied.

“Happens to the best of us, right Shion-tan?”

“To you, maybe.” Shion shrugged.

After a solid tour of the premises, at last we had finally reached the guest wing. Hachi handed us a brass key and motioned towards the room we’d be staying in with a polite smile.

“Master Ren, and Master Zero, these will be your quarters for the duration of your time here.” Nana explained. “I do hope you enjoy your stay, there’s a magic bell within if you would require room service. And Mistress Shion, shall I escort you the rest of the way to the executive quarters, where our other guests of honor are waiting?”

“Yes, thank you very much, but could I ask you to please wait for me at the end of the hall? I’d like to speak to these two first.” Shion suggested. “If that would be alright?”

“Of course, please take your time…”

Nana and Hachi bowed and then stepped away.

“Right, so Ren-kun, are you mentally prepared to face the council?” Shion asked me.

She sure doesn't waste time, does she? 

“We decided on getting this out of the way today before the deliberations begin for the moot, I’m sorry to spring this on you so suddenly.”

“Nah, nah, it’s alright.” I chuckled a bit to clear the tension. “Though I would be lying if I said I was completely unaffected, I knew this was coming. It’s no different than a big exam, or a job interview, I guess.”

“Exactly right!” Shion nodded, brimming with a positive energy. “I’ll be there with you too. Just go in and be yourself, no matter what they try to tell you. Confidence is key, as they say.”

“Right…”

“You’ll be just fine. ‘Kay?” Shion assured me once more before turning to leave. “I’ll see you later in the conference room.”

. . .

Trying not to think about what could possibly go wrong, I changed into the nice pair of slacks that were provided within our spacious guest room, and prepared myself for a meeting that could have big implications on my future.

Zero, meanwhile, showered away the fruit smell before wishing me well. He had his own assignments to attend to by coordinating his efforts with the heads of security for the upcoming moot, and Guildmaster Milton.

As for me, at last, it was time to meet the Institute for Practical Magic’s Council of Five. I took a deep breath in the mirror, nodding to myself.

“It’s showtime.”