Guilds

“A message has been left for you, Empress Kyra” The butler says as I open the door in the morning. A night of good rest has done well for my spirits and eased the frustration that I never realized was building inside me, but it’s still good that he’s speaking politely.

He expresses his deep respect with a shake of his head, which Chip informs me might as well be a low bow.

Could it be a trick through manipulations of translations?

Possibly.

Do I care?

Not really.

With all the different peoples, cultures, and species running about, it’s impossible to fully understand them all. I just wish I had time to ask questions and dig into their cultures, all to understand a little bit more about these people. Just yesterday’s explorations prove that I don’t know anything about some of these people. Ignorance is a poor excuse for failure when I’m meant to be leading an empire.

“Who delivered the message?” I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and refocusing myself. The butler offers me the letter and I accept it, but there’s nothing written on the cover.

“A runner from the local guild house, I believe.” He replies, quickly going on to explain further. “There are many smaller guilds here, but they meet frequently in the guild house to discuss issues that involve them. They wield considerable influence over local trade.”

“Okay, but if Baron Irulei, and the monarchy behind her, demand that they stop all trade with us, then what’s the purpose of a meeting?” I ask, as Nel cleans up the room. A habit that she’s developed, she looks up at me as I ask the question.

“The guilds must adhere to the dictates of the nobility.” Nel says shaking her head. “Unless Baron Irulei overturns the decision, then we’ll be unable to find trade partners here.”

“It’s not always so simple.” The butler says, hesitant to go any further. “I would suggest listening to their offers before coming to a decision.”

“Very well. Thank you for delivering the message. Is there anything else?” I ask.

“Yes, our local lord, Grenwitch, has requested a formal meeting to discuss important matters. If you would give a time, he will arrange to be free whenever is good for you.” His willingness to work to our schedule implies a shift in power between us, but potentially some nature of political manoeuvre as well.

Or I think so, I’m not exactly well practiced in this sort of business. I’m still coasting by on pure power politics, threats, and bluffs.

“Is now fine?” I ask, adjusting my dress to ensure that I’m presenting myself properly. It’s passable.

“Give me five minutes and I’ll have the meeting prepared.” The butler says, closing the door and rushing out towards Grenwitch.

Nel, finished with cleaning the room, starts adjusting my dress, pulling at the sleaves and fussing over a few creases that magically disappear at her touch. I catch her hand and pull her in for a kiss. She’s still anxious. She’s always anxious, though sometimes she hides it better than others.

“Let’s go see what this is all about.” I suggest, pulling her out and walking down to the room where our newly adopted murder insects are staying. They jump in surprise as I open the door on them, but rush around excitedly to stand before us before I can even say a word.

“Are you hungry?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“A little.”

“Always!”

The energetic little critters cry out. They’re surprisingly adorable and about as childish as one would expect from kids, but they follow us with the same quiet seriousness when we leave the room. It’s a little sad, but I’ll have to wait until we return home before I address it.

With their skillsets, given some time to grow up, they could make for decent guards, scouts, or hunters. Then again, who knows, maybe they want to design dresses, or make nails, or something.

Whatever they choose to be, they’ll need training, food, and shelter. There’s too many variables to make any long-term plans, but at the very least we need that academy up and running in short order.

We intercept the butler in the halls as he makes his return. He spins on his heels and turns towards a lunchroom where food is quickly prepared for all of us, our little hidden adopted kids as well. Grenwitch, the local lord, is settled in at a table with warm cups of tea set out for us. It would seem, at a glance, that he’s been here waiting for us for a while, but through my Skill I had the benefit of seeing him rushing about a few moments before our arrival.

Still, the servant working by the teapot is as calm and collected as ever. Though she seems less and less impressed with her employers as the days go on. I suspect she was the one who had to put the alcohol cabinet back into order.

“Good morning.” I say, taking a seat at the table without hesitation. Nel follows me, stirring a small block of sugar into her drink. While I describe it as tea, it’s not as if it’s made from any tea leaves I’m familiar with, it’s hot water steeped in some blend of roots, leaves and dried fruit, and it’s nicer than most of what I’ve had back on earth.

“Yes, good morning.” Grenwitch responds, nodding his head slowly our direction. “I just wanted to speak with you briefly about the terms that Irulei has set out for you.”

“She’s under a lot of pressure that woman.” I say, leaning back on my chair and picking up a biscuit. It’s not as sweet as I’d want it, but the chunks of dried fruit are nice at the very least.

“Yes, yes she is.” He says, nodding slowly. “The decisions brought to you come from both the noble and royal factions within this nation, and she doesn’t have any chance of refuting their decisions.”

“Is that what you want us to talk about?” I ask, as the butler arrives with a proper meal. A pleasant tea is nice, but Nel would never permit me to skip out on breakfast.

“While you claim to be in contact with the dungeons themselves, it would be remiss of me to fail in my duties.” He says, leaning forwards a little. “The terms set out by Irulei that restrict your movement to nearby caverns, and limit trade, are not enforced by any restricting rule of Frey herself. The lord of your own cavern will likely want to explain it to you as well.”

“So, if we break the rules, we’ll be bothering the Arch monarchy, but not the dungeons?” I ask.

“Yes. It may lead to a large-scale conflict, and there are rules surrounding such conflicts that we must take care to follow, so as to avoid bothering Frey or Arduelle.” He says. “Should you press a war, I strongly urge you to speak with your lord and understand what limits your actions.”

“I will.”

“The same limits bind all of us living here.” He continues, pressing the point firmly. “It might be of interest, even if you wish to avoid war.”

“I’ll take that into account.” I say, nodding slowly. “I thought that there were only a few rules, though.”

“For weaker individuals, that is the case, but for those who control entire caverns, there are some more restrictions.” He explains. “You might also want to speak with the dungeons themselves if you do converse with them as you claim. I am just their servant, and I wouldn’t wish to overstep.”

“I’ll speak with them about it.” I reply, digging into my breakfast as Irulei shows up. She’s dressed properly and walks with significantly more poise than she had in our earlier meeting.

“Greetings.” She says, taking a seat for herself and sipping at a cup of tea, each movement sharp and precise. “I hope that your morning hasn’t been unpleasant.”

“Not at all. Yours?”

“Passably pleasant.” She replies, all the anxious panic faded away in the light of morning. Knowing that we’re not here to kill her certainly settles her down a bit, and she’s not a completely talentless noble.

“We’re still clueless about who is behind all this nonsense with the attempt on our lives.” I say. “Have your people had any more luck?”

“Unfortunately not.” She replies firmly. “A local gang has been troubling in a number of ways, but I very much doubt that they’re responsible for this. I’m paying for investigations regardless.”

“Well, we’ll be leaving soon enough anyway.” I reply, somewhat hoping that the villain behind this has properly given up. Another part of me will only be happy when I see them dead.

“Feel free to visit again.” Irulei replies. “I hope that our hospitality will be improved.”

“I’ll be welcomed?” I ask, “I thought the entire reason for our meeting was because your leaders are trying to mess with me.”

“Yes.” She replies slowly looking down at their own drink. “As such we’ll allow you to come here at your leisure, so you can complain to us, and we can ignore you. It’s a matter of pride, and even something of a game among the more influential members of the court.”

“Ah, is that so…” I say, finding no better words to reply with.

“Usually it doesn’t involve assassins.” She says, continuing in a whisper, turning her head towards me to make a point. “Not on our own lands, at least. Other caverns are fair game.”

A warning? I seriously doubt that she’s making a threat considering how scared of me she is, so I’ll have to take it that way.

“Even more of a mystery, then.” I say, cutting into my breakfast.

The rest of the meal is surprisingly easy, and it seems that Grenwitch has an interest in the arts that he’s more than eager to discuss with us. Irulei is less enthused but follows along politely. Apparently, there are theatres and galleries in the city caverns that we should find the time to visit, though from his explanations I’m sure I can paint half the cities that he described.

The kids are all quiet and polite through the entire conversation, though when I pay close attention, they’re still looking at each other, either talking through messages or just through expressions. They’re energetic, but extremely well behaved. It hurts to think that they’re, by natures own rules, meant to die, leaving only a few survivors to continue on and have a swarm of children of their own.

When released from polite conversation, Irulei and Grenwitch give us their farewells and invite us over again while apologising for ‘the incident’ as they put it.

Leaving them behind, I take a look at the message from the local guilds. The message is simple, an invitation that is good for anytime through today. The phrasing of it is rather vague, and there’s no reason given for the meeting, but I suppose that parts implied.

“I don’t know much specifically that would help us here.” Nel says as we head towards the guild house. I have a class to return to before the day is out and we’re not in a position to be taking our time with this.

“How important is it that we get on good terms with them?” I ask.

“I think it’s more important that we do not overly aggravate them.” Nel explains. “So long as they can make a profit from trading with us then they’ll do what they can to open up trade channels. Trying to draw them into our city could cause trouble with our own developing businesses, and they’d likely demand more from us than we would be smart in offering.”

“So, we’re just meeting to feel each other out, in the hopes of opening up trade? Simple enough, I guess.” I say. “Do you think any of them could have been behind the assassins?”

“I can’t really imagine it.” Nel shakes her head.

“Getting rid of us could allow their monarchy to take control of our city and cavern, opening up the markets that are currently closed.” I suggest.

“It’s a ridiculously high risk for them.” Nel explains. “It wouldn’t be a smart move, and the potential gains are too theoretical. It’s not impossible, but I doubt they’d risk it.”

“Okay.” I accept her conclusion as we come to a stop before the indicated building. I’ve already been watching it through my stolen eyes, but it is still much more interesting to see it from my own perspective.

The large structure is made mostly from stone, and it’s in a style completely unlike what I’ve seen elsewhere. The tall pillars are covered in distinct lines that break into swirls at the top, similar markings adorn the walls, leading my eyes upwards.

The paint is applied in the same pattern, simple and bland, if present at all, at eye level, while turning to a chaotic mixture of colour higher up. Yet, the chaos has an order all of it’s own, and the clashing waves blend together into absurdly stylised images on the ceiling of the façade leading into the building. I’m not entirely sure if there’s meant to be meaning to any of the shapes, but it does remind me a little of the modern arts.

Even as we head inwards the walls around us are filled with bland, simple colours, stone grey, and mottled brown. Deeper into the halls, the mess of colour on the ceiling seems to have dripped down onto the walls, forming more intricate images. Realistically designed art styles paint portraits and landscapes, as small plaques are written before them, explaining the people and their contributions to the local community.

Yet, these beautiful images start turning back to chaos at the lower walls as if bleeding back through to the ceiling of whatever lies beneath us.

This place is more of a museum than a meeting place.

“Ah, you’re here!” A young man leaps excitedly up to us, surprising me. I can’t see very clearly inside of this building, with only a few sets of stolen eyes wondering the halls alongside us.

“Yes, we are.” I reply. “What’s going on? Where should we be going?”

“This way, this way!” The young man waves us closer and leads us through the long halls and into a massive room, busy with conversation.

Much like a parliament or a lecture hall, there’s a wide array of seats set out in a large oval, the outer most seats the highest up. What separates it the most, is the small podium at the centre of it all where a young woman is currently standing addressing the gathered guild leaders, concluding a speech by the sounds of it.

“I understand that there’s a lot of competition in the textile markets, but I truly think that our cavern can become one of the biggest producers, and one day, with new Skills and experts, we can become the best of them.” She proudly steps down from the platform, with a wide smile as she’s applauded by the gathered members.

She’s far from the only person here with intentions of addressing the gathered guild heads, but Nel and I are run right to the front of the line. We receive curious looks from most of those we pass, and rather few are bothered by our cutting of the line.

“Now this is on rather short notice, but we have a special visitor today, the Black-tree Empress has deigned to visit us in person. Now, young Empress, tell us, are you here to address us formally, or will you permit questions from the guilds?”

“Nel?” I ask her advice as we step onto the stage, the show has already started, and as unexpected as it is, it’s too late to back out now.

“We don’t really have much to ask of them.” Nel says, loud enough to be heard all around. “We’re not here to plead for anything, it’s more a curiosity to us. So, I wonder what questions they might have for us instead.”

“Very well.” I nod at her suggestion and turn to take in the sitting guild heads. It’s a strange stage, and no matter which way we face there’s voices speaking behind us. It’s as if it was intentionally designed to unnerve the speaker, and confuse them as they try to figure which way to face, and which of the guild members they should directly address with their words.

Thankfully with my borrowed eyes I have a good view of all that’s happening around me. I even go as far as closing my eyes to focus more on the three-dimensional image of the room in my mind.

There are people of all species, and they’re looking down at us hungrily. Yet, knowing that not a single one of them could overpower us, and that even as a group they’re impotent against us, it warms my black heart. A steely confidence fills me as I listen to their whispers and wait for the first question.

“It seems that they’re rather shy.” I say to Nel as I walk in slow circles around the stage. Nel pauses a moment, smirking as she notices that my eyes are closed.

“I’d like to ask a question.” An older man says, standing up and leaning on the table. If he’s gathered this many wrinkles on has balding, ape-like face while fortified by a crystalline mana density, then he must be truly ancient.

“Go ahead.” I pause and face the man, giving him my full attention. I’m largely expecting some annoying nonsense from him, especially considering the stage that we’ve been led to.

“I’d like to know how directly you’ll be controlling business in your city and your cavern, and further what you hope to make your city into. Can you explain these topics?”

A sharp question, and far too many intelligent eyes.

Shit.

I was expecting stupid games, not actual competency.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Skills & Stats

~Mana Form:

Current mana density: 18470 units

~Mana distribution:

Defence: 20/100%

Offense: 20/100%

Mana sense: 20/100%

Recovery: 20/100%

Gluttony: 10/100%

Misc.: 10/100%

Efficiency: 100/100%

~Favourited Skills:

-Tag and Film

-Trapping

-Stealth

-Mana surge movement

-Annihilation defence

-Annihilation flame burst

-Annihilation net

-Eyes of an Empire

Adaptions:

-Quick perception mind

-Annihilation Heart

-Clean bowels