Chapter 281
Kyle looked at Arhades for a moment, then at the obsidian dragon, then back to Arhades. “What is it you’re looking for here? While we’re on the topic, why are you here?” If the velgian was trying to get Kyle to commit to hunting C Grades in front of an Archdrake Supremacy overseer, it was quite possibly the worst trap ever laid. Unless, of course, Arhades thought that Kyle was an absolute idiot.
“I believe it would make sense to answer the second question first. The reason I’m here is simple; to meet you. For reasons that will make sense shortly, facilitating a meeting like this on the Hub would be… complex. However, when your travels were brought to my attention, I saw an opportunity for us to meet, and I took it.”
“Hold on,” Kyle said. “Why would my travels have been brought to your attention?”
“I already mentioned that your Practicum’s irregularities were connected to my presence. I learned that my uncles leveraged their positions in the Mercenary’s Guild to interfere, and I felt compelled to investigate further. To that end, I deployed some resources to notify me as you drew permits. This one just so happened to be a solar system where I was owed a favor, so the timing worked out.”
“Why the hell would your uncles care about my practicum? Wait, and who the hell even are your uncles?” Kyle asked, bewildered.
Arhades didn’t answer, instead shooting a glance at Soffrinax. The dragon let out a low, rumbling laugh like thunder. “It appears there are matters best left unheard. You are welcome to go to the manor and finish your conversation there, with guarantees of privacy.”
The dragon’s eyes flashed for a moment, as he refocused on Arhades.
“Understand, young velgian, that should any harm befall my invited guest before he returns, safely, to his home, I will be honor-bound to seek retribution.” With that, the whole cavern seemed to tremble, the dragon’s presence on full display.
If Arhades was bothered, he didn’t show it. He simply nodded, bowing slightly. “I understand. On my honor, no harm will befall Mr. Mayhew. I truly want to balance the scales, nothing more.”
Eileera stepped forward, looking at Kyle first, then Arhades. “Gentlemen, follow me, if you please. Once you each are ready to depart, I will have carriages waiting to take you back to your lodgings.”
They followed her out of the winding caverns, with Kyle sending another quick note to Suierrillax through his nav bracelet to include the developments. He felt C.H.A.D.D.’s nervousness, through Pack Leader’s Instinct, but it was also coupled with resolve. C.H.A.D.D. is ready to fight, if it comes to it, Kyle realized.
While Soffrinax’s promise of protection was comforting, if the velgian truly had the connections to mess with his Practicum, he couldn’t rule out nepotism softening any consequences. Arhades was looking to hurt Kyle he would have to be ready. Of course, Kyle wasn’t the same as he had been back during his Practicum. The scars on his stomach ached as he remembered a glowing purple eye looking down on him. Even if Arhades had undoubtedly improved, he was still a D Grade, like Kyle. No, if things devolved to combat, Kyle wasn’t afraid of losing. His only concern would be dealing with the fallout.
He kept identify active as they walked, looking for any irregularities in the movement of Arhades’ mana. None came, and soon they were walking through the open door of the estate.
“Do not be concerned,” Eileera whispered as Kyle walked past.
He didn’t reply, simply following Arhades into the banquet hall that waited on the first floor. As the door closed, Kyle saw various runic formations light up with power, and his sense for the room outside was reduced to nearly nothing.
For his part, Arhades simply walked over to a nearby chair and sat down, gesturing for Kyle to do the same. “I told you before, Mr. Mayhew, that I am not here with ill intentions. I simply wish to pay back a debt, while helping us both along our paths. If that is unappealing to you, then I will attempt to balance the scales in a different way. I am not your enemy.”
“If you were in my position, wouldn’t you also take precautions?” Kyle shot back, remaining standing. “When one of the most powerful D Grades I’ve met comes strolling into a meeting on a random planet years after we last interacted, I can’t imagine being anything other than cautious.”
Arhades seemed to rock back in his chair for a moment, before his eyes widened with understanding, resuming his previous comfortable posture. “Ah, I see now. While I cannot blame you, I’d hoped that you of all people may understand how tiresome it can be when others are suspicious of you, based solely on your strength. Tell me, Mr. Mayhew, how often have you been held in contempt, simply because you were more powerful than those around you?”
When spoken that way…yeah, I can understand that, Kyle thought. It didn’t mean that he would drop his guard, but the velgian’s words echoed much of Kyle’s experience, both on Earth and after slaying the shrike Matriarch.
“You asked for a private meeting when I asked questions about your uncles. Who are they?” Kyle asked, bringing the conversation back to the matters at hand.
“My uncles are Perhades and Bolphades, the twin prodigies of the Alabaster Courts. Other than the Guildmaster, they are the undisputed most powerful mercenaries within the Mercenary Guild. One stands near the peak of the arcane; while the other is a master of all forms of physical combat.
“They are prideful. They are arrogant. They are petty. They are vindictive. My reasons for going through the Practicum were my own, and yet they viewed my success as theirs. They wanted; no, demanded, nothing less than exceptionalism. And yet, after your Phase Two, a backwater nobody put up a performance worthy of attention.”
A contemplative expression washed over Arhades’ face, his eyes seeming to lose focus for a moment.
“I didn’t find out until some time later what they’d done. Intentionally pressuring the committee to change your Phase Three in an attempt to cripple or kill you. Done to teach you a lesson for damaging their pride.”
Kyle just stared at Arhades for a moment, taking it all in. “You’re telling me that your uncles did all of this just because they thought I was getting too much attention?”
“I’ll admit, it seems excessive, even for them. But their involvement in the incident is unquestionable.” Arhades folded his hands, and his eyes sharpened as he looked directly at Kyle. “Make no mistake, Mr. Mayhew. I am not my uncles. The attention the world chooses to give me means nothing, so long as I can accomplish my goals. My path is balance, and where I created a wrong, even unintentionally, I will strive to correct it.”
“What exactly are these goals of yours?” Kyle asked. At this point, Kyle was curious; even if he was almost certainly going to end their conversation with a parting of ways. Arhades’ family had apparently tried to kill him once already, which didn’t bode well for a long-term working relationship, after all.
“It’s quite simple, really. I am going to master both arcane and martial combat, ascend to A Grade, slaughter my uncles, and begin working to reform the Alabaster Court.”
Kyle just stood, dumbstruck at the casual explanation. Arhades spoke of reaching A Grade as casually as one might mention their lunch plans. To say nothing of the blatant premeditated murder and government reform.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Kyle said, after a moment.
“Of course I am,” Arhades replied smoothly. “Having goals is important, after all. Now, is your curiosity about me sated? If so, I would very much like to move on in our discussion.”
Kyle had easily a dozen questions running across his mind, but for the sake of propriety, he set them aside. “I think I have a picture, at least for now. So, what is it you’re proposing?”
“At its simplest, a hunt. I have been made aware of a pack of C Grade beasts threatening the livelihood of a local ranching operation, and have been granted special dispensation to handle the issue. I have been allowed to bring in partners, and by virtue of your defeat of a C Grade, you are qualified.”
“Despite what my aura shows, I haven’t actually hunted any C Grades,” Kyle began, before Arhades lifted a hand.
“The simple fact that you survived an encounter with a C Grade makes you qualified, Mr. Mayhew. Ultimately, I want this to be an opportunity for you. It only seems fitting, after my family’s actions likely narrowed your field of options significantly.” He paused for a moment, then continued. “As C Grades go, these creatures appear to be about as weak of variants as people like you and I could hope for. Furthermore, unless my dossier on you is woefully inaccurate, they should be a good match up for both of us.”
“Why do you say that?” Kyle asked, more than a little bothered that Arhades had gone through the trouble of making a dossier in the first place. Who does that?
“The creatures are large, slow, and almost entirely reliant on physical strength and durability. From the reports I’ve received, they don’t appear to regenerate quickly from their injuries. While they’re certainly dangerous, and would be a major threat to somebody like your acquaintance, Tillienne, I doubt they will be beyond our abilities. Particularly if we work together.”
“And where exactly are these creatures?” Kyle had to admit, the idea sounded tempting. With his final skill just around the corner, combat against some C Grades could be just what he needed to cross the threshold, and approach C Grade himself.
“It is a Gray Conglomerate world, primarily rolling fields and heavy woodlands. Pragmus Meat Purveyors is the company who owns the planet, and their resources are currently stretched thin.”
Kyle was familiar with the name, though something didn’t quite add up. “So Pragmus is willing to hire a couple of D Grades to go deal with a C Grade threat? Surely they have better options.”
“Don’t underestimate the cost of hiring C Grades,” Arhades said, his tone serious. “But in this case, the Alabaster Court is footing the bill. Opportunities like this are somewhat rare, and they want to give burgeoning talents like myself a place to sharpen ourselves. I’m offering to share that with you.”
“Will the Court have other representatives there?” Why am I entertaining this? Kyle thought to himself. Sure, the opportunity sounded great. But could he really trust the velgian?
“None whatsoever,” Arhades said. “Should you agree, it would be the two of us. If not, I would encourage you to think about what would balance the scales. Selfishly, however, I hope you would join. You seem like the type of person with whom it would be beneficial to stay on positive terms.”
Kyle knew he should say “no.” It was the smart thing to do. The safest, too. But part of him was still so curious. Maybe it was the sheer confidence the Velgian carried, but Kyle wanted to see it in action. Can he really fight C Grades? How much could that help me?
“How long do I have for due diligence before making a decision?”
That wasn’t “no,” he admonished himself.
“Three days,” Arhades replied. “I am expected there to report, and won’t delay any longer than that.”
“Then I’ll have an answer for you in two,” Kyle said. “And for what it’s worth, I don’t think there’s anything that you owe me. As far as my accounts are concerned, we’re square.”
Arhades rose, extending his fist toward Kyle. “I am glad to hear it, even if I feel differently. I suppose I will be taking my leave, then. I’ve left Eileera a copy of my contact information while I’m on Filmir, she and Soffrinax can facilitate the discussion. Though I do hope you’ll join the hunt. I must admit, I’m curious to see the power that caused such a stir.”
Thinking back to all the messes he’d been involved in, he fought to keep a smile off his face. Careful what you wish for.