The Quantum Wanderer

Next day, I am thinking about next steps. I pay attention the girls during breakfast. The weak link in terms of survival, even with the enhancements, is Cecilia. Perhaps I should get her some levels up. But even with the soul absorption spell, we are going to need a lot of monsters to raise it significantly.

The best place to do something like this is probably an ant or termite nest. Lucky enough, I think that Dávrin would be willing to help with this. I could just clean a nest for him. I look at the girls on the table.

“Cecs, I think that we should improve your levels.”

She chokes on the juice she was drinking.

“What do you mean? Since we met, my level went from 35 to 43 already. Most people take several years for something like that.”

“No, I mean really pumping the levels. I am going to check the details, but we can probably clean a nest of ants or termites. With the soul absorption, I think we can really raise your levels.”

“What about us, my lord? Our levels are so low as well…” Ruby says.

“I told you, Ruby. We don’t have anything high enough level to raise yours. I am not going to start killing elders unprovoked to get levels, that is not quite right. We also have enough meat to last for millenia.”

“Can I get at least some ants, then? Just for some quick fun…”

“Let me see how this goes. Once Cecilia is done with killing the ants for leveling up, you can get the rest.”

“Ok…”

Ruby has a very distinct sense of fun. I worry about what she would become if she had more power. I tap my mouth, and I tell her.

“Now give me a kiss.”

Her frown is undone, and she gives me a kiss on the lips. Later I open the portal for them to go to school. After I close the portal, I use the dwarves’ Comm Gem to get in touch with Dávrin.

“Hello, friend! Good morning! How can I help you?”

“Well, do you have a couple of minutes? I wanted to run something by you.”

“Sure. Do you want to come over?”

“Sure.”

I open a portal, and I go to the room the girls and I used in the palace. A couple of minutes later, Dávrin comes through the door.

“My friend! How can I help?”

“I think it may be good news for you too. I was thinking of doing some hunting to raise Cecilia’s level. It occurred to me that I could use this to clean the ants, or termites, for that matter, from another city.”

“I couldn’t possibly impose this on you, my friend.”

“You would not be imposing anything. I could always search for an unrelated nest, but if you can also make some profit with it, why not? You can provide me a map with directions to the city.”

“You are mentioning the most absurd thing as if you were just breaking a piece of soft rock.”

“Well, I have some strong companions.”

We both laugh open heartedly.

“Can I assume you are going to at least share a meal with us? I have to check for the availability of resources to take ownership of the city you are going to liberate.”

“I don’t want to get in your way. You have already done a lot for me. The house is absolutely spectacular! Anthon was sad that he couldn’t do the same in his palace.”

He laughs. “Come, let’s go to my study.”

We go to his study, and he sends in for his advisors. While we are waiting, I can’t contain my curiosity.

“Dávrin, I heard something about a dwarven exodus… Is this just a rumor?”

“I don’t know exactly what you mean by that, but several surface dwarves got back to their cities. The surface was just a temporary measure that became permanent. One of the problems with our cities is that they don’t have much room to grow immediately. We have to carve it from the stone. So some dwarves accepted living in the surface for a period.”

“Don’t they like it?”

“Why would they? Ugly women, bland food, weak booze, unappreciative clients. Surface dwellers don’t know how to treat blades, don’t recognize the fine work. Do you need more?”

I laugh a lot. Andvari and Viggr enter the room, and kneel before us. Dávrin tell them to stand up.

“How can we assist, your majesty?”

“Our friend here were just exercising his absurdity. He said that he is in need of culling some monsters, so he decided to clean up another city for us.”

Their eyes bulge. Andvari looks up.

“Your highness, we don’t have ways to pay for it.”

“Don’t worry about, guys. I would probably clean a nest somewhere, so I thought that it could be beneficial for you guys as well, so why not?”

Viggr raises his head as well, there is a tear there. I remember how invested he was with the recovery of Stonehenge. I turn to him.

“Hi Viggr, how was the occupation of Stonehenge?”

“It had no problems whatsoever, lord.”

“I am glad to hear. By the way, I am not a lord.”

“As you wish, master Marcelo.”

At this point, we hear a commotion on the door, that opens abruptly.

“Master Marcelo! How nice to see you again! Are you staying again with us?”

I laugh. The guards come into the room, after him, almost panicking. Dávrin laughs as well.

“Uncle, you should stop bullying the guards. I heard what you did last time.”

“Bah! Who they think they are?”

We all laugh some more.

“Master Brokkr, your presents were the target of envy for both emperors. The human and the demon one.”

“Pfff.” He looks at me as if I am just stating that the sky is blue.

“I cannot praise your work enough. And now, the sharpening magic can hold for a very long time.”

“Really? How long? Have you tested?”

“I don’t know how long. Keeping the blade with the enchantment on gets trick, so I don’t keep it by default. I didn’t find anything that it wouldn’t cut like butter though. And the enchantment held.”

He seemed pleased. Meanwhile, Andvari, Viggr and Dávrin are in a heated discussion over a map. Brokkr looks at them.

“What are they talking about that they are ignoring us?”

“I told them that I was intent on clearing another ant or termite nest, might as well clean a city.”

“You are way too nice with us, master Marcelo.” And he keeps combing his beard down with his hand.

“I don’t know about that. I am glad that both of us think that way, though.”

I take a look at the three of them talking about their options.

“Dávrin, I am sorry to interrupt, but I think that you are going to need some time to decide and prepare. Let me know when you guys get to a conclusion through the Comm Gem. I think I am going back to Ironhold.”

They turn to me and Brokkr, we say our goodbyes and I portal back home. I go downstairs, and I meet Rudolph. I remember about Hikari’s marriage.

“Rudolph, what is the protocol for marriage gifts?” I hand him the invitation, so that he can take a look. He reads it a couple of times. He sighs.

“Lord, the present is supposed to be a reflection of your social standing. But that would be a complicated issue, because the presents are also supposed to be a public matter. And lord, if I can be honest, the emperor’s meals are comprised of Fenrir…”

I laugh. I take a look at the holding bag that Dávrin had presented me the other day. I pick up a pendant and show it to Rudolph. He laughs.

“Lord, Anthon wouldn’t be able to gift that.”

I take a look at the bag. I see a dagger in there, and I pull it out in front of Rudolph.

“That’s a king’s inheritance, lord. Even I can see that. The details, the gems. I am pretty sure the blade is not going to be a common steel blade either, lord.” And he is laughing again. It is contagious, even I am laughing right now.

“Can we have some gift made? I don’t know, something in the reasonably successful merchant/mithril adventurer level?”

“That’s a bad timing, but I think that everyone is going to be on the same boat, so to say.”

“Why? What happened?”

“A lot of the finest artisans are dwarves. They have a knack for it, lord.”

“I know that much.”

“They have left the city in troves. There are a lot of rumors surrounding that. Very few of them actually stayed behind. I heard that some nobles were even trying to hold them in their cities by force.”

This is my time to laugh. I remember my previous exchange with Dávrin.

“Is this allowed in the empire?”

“No, the emperor put out an edict reinforcing that non-slaves cannot be forced to stay against their will, with heavy sanctions, akin to enslaving innocents penalties. I don’t know about other countries, though.”

“Can’t we commission something from a non-dwarf?”

“Of course, lord. But with the smaller competition, prices of anything fine went up. Way up. Not even nobility, that up to now used to acquire luxurious products on a daily basis are buying anything.”

“What if I ask Opal to do something?”

“That may work, lord. Although…”

“Yes?”

“Can you ask her to do something simpler? The details in the other pieces are also…”

“I am going to ask her.”

After a little time, sunset is coming up, and I open the portal for the girls to come home. They wash up, and get ready for dinner.

Once we sit at the table, I start talking to them.

“Cecs, I got in touch with Dávrin today. He is choosing an ant infested city that we can use for your training. We may use more than one day on that task.”

“Sure, do you think it takes long?”

“It is going to be tiresome. It may hurt a little when your level goes up too fast as well.”

“Oh no! I have too much money, and store ran out of stuff to buy! What a problem!”

I shrug. It is actually not that bad, though. I turn to Opal.

“Opal.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You know that we are going to Hikari’s wedding, right?”

“Of course.”

“We have to give them a wedding gift. I thought that one of your statues would be perfect for that.”

“No problem, my lord.”

“But… You can’t make something too good.”

“Huh? What do you mean, my lord?”

“It came to my attention that we are kind of outside the common sense.”

“That’s the understatement of the year.” Cecilia comments, still chewing.

“Thank you, Cecs. Anyway, we want to gift them a nice statue, but not something as detailed. Perhaps something a little cruder…?”

She looks at me displeased.

“The thing is, your ability is uncanny. It is far too superior to what we could use as a gift for them… You’re just that good. Do you think you can do something on the quicker side? Perhaps reduce the amount of time you have to produce one statue? Perhaps hurrying would make it less… Stellar?”

She blushes a little bit and is back to smiling. She nods. We talk about how their day was at the schools.

Rudolph brings a letter to me. It has Edward’s seal on it. It is asking me permission for his kids to come here to play in my backyard playground.

I answer it by saying that I have no problems with that, as long as I don’t have to remove the other children, and hand that to Rudolph.

He takes the letter away.

After chatting a little bit, we retire for the night.

Next morning, we have breakfast as usual. After breakfast, I portal the girls to the school. Shortly after that Rudolph tells me we have visitors. I go to the door, and Sophia, Caius and Cesar are there, accompanied by a couple of maids and some guards.

Sophia courtesy, while the kids bow a little bit.

“Good morning, sir Marcelo. As per the duke requested, we came here to escort the kids to the playground.”

“Sure. My only rule is that there everyone is equal, ok? Please don’t scare the other kids.”

“Of course.”

The maid courtesy, and the group go over to the kitchen, to reach the little park in the back. I get a little worried. I know that Edward does not throw his weight around. But…

“Muninn, can you please keep an eye on the kids? If any disturbance happens, can you please let me know?”

Muninn caws.

I put on my adventure outfit, and I go to the guild, I want to hear some news. I get a table, and start having some ale.

“Lionheart!”

“Hello, Griffin. How are you?”

“I am fine! I just got a very good paying escort mission. Another group of dwarves is migrating to the mountains.”

“Nice for you. Are there still any in the city?”

“Not many. It’s funny how they have their secrets. I heard that they received some sort of message, and that now they are uniting under a banner.”

“Perhaps it is something simpler. Perhaps they were just offered a better place live.”

“Are you kidding? This is the best nation to live in. Not much corruption high up, the guards don’t shake you down. The taxes are reasonable. Laws make sense. Have you ever seen how the Holy Kingdom and Arthuria are like? Have you ever tried going to the Holy Kingdom with your crows?”

“What about the smaller countries?”

“You are subject to local lords a lot more. For good or bad, there is a central law system in the big countries. It may have a lot of issues, but there is some consistency. Smaller countries depend a lot more on the humor of those in power.”

“What is your theory?”

“Mine? They are being united, together with the dragons, under the banner of Wrax to take over the land. You didn’t forget the dragons’ parade already, did you? And the rise of the church of Wrax?”

“Nope, I did not. It was impressive.”

“Damn, it was. What are your theories?”

“I don’t have any. It’s not like having a theory is going to change anything. If something like you said is true, the world is about to end.” I giggle. “In your theory, if Wrax already has the dragons, why would he bother to unite the dwarves?”

“To make us unable to defend ourselves. All the best smiths, gone. All the best artisans, gone. Last I heard, the only kind of armor available right now are the ones based on termite carapace, there was a termite culling somewhere.”

He gets closer to me, and lowers his voice. “And the power that be is hiding stuff. Where was this culling? Who did it? It would take a lot of mithril adventurers to do it, and I didn’t receive any invite. Did you?”

“I can’t say that I was invited to any expedition, no.”

“What about you? Have you taken on any new quest?”

“Not really. I have traveled around with the girls a little bit, though. They love traveling. And considering that all of us are mithril, we can go quite a distance to relax.”

“How are your wives, by the way?”

“They are well. You know that they study at the schools, right?”

“Knight school, right?”

“Four of them. The fifth one is in Magic School.”

“How do you deal with 5 wives?”

“What do you mean?”

“I deal with one, and time and again I have to sleep on the couch…”

“That’s tough. I don’t know how to answer. I think I was just lucky with the ones I got.”

“That’s a good excuse. I kind of envy you. I can’t even deal with one wife and one mother-in-law, to tell you the truth. Do you have to deal with five mothers-in-law?”

“I actually only have to deal with one. And I haven’t met her yet. But I believe that I am going to meet her pretty soon. There is only so much we delay that, right? Jokes aside, it just happened because we are kind of far from where Cecilia’s parents live.”

“I wish I had that luck.”

“I don’t know if it is good or bad luck. They could be nice people.”

“Not really, it is their job.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have had to let my kid overnight with my in-laws a couple of times, right? Every time that happens, the kid gets spoiled. Even though the stories my tell me of her childhood are just tough. We confronted them a couple of times, and they said that they had to do what they had to do to raise her right. It is the job of a grandparent to spoil the child rotten.”

I laugh. That is true.

“How long is your escort job going to be?”

“It is a 4 week escort job. The place we are going is pretty far, apparently. The carts are being pulled by monsters instead of horses, so I hear that we would be twice as far if we were on horses. We were promised the beasts after the trip, besides the payment in gold. It makes no sense, though.”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

“We are going to a point in the middle of the forest, close to the mountains. There is nothing there, as far as I know. I wonder what’s the point.”

“That’s the life adventuring, do the deed, don’t ask why.”

“Yes, you are right. Anyway, nice to see you.”

“Nice to see you too.”

I imagine how this whole process is going on the other cities. And the other impacts. There are probably going to be a lot of bandits on the road. Dwarves are know for carrying mithril blades, armors and shields in the least. Sometimes they are gold artisans, and the value just shoots up.

That would actually a good exercise for the Knight school. I wonder if…

Muninn interrupts my zoning out, by pressing his paws a little bit on my shoulder. I look at him, and I receive a scene in my mind. The maid is holding the other kids from using the toys in the playground, so that it is only available for Cesar, Caius and Sophia. I stand up, pay my bill, and go over to Edward’s home. He is in the School, so I go there next.

I get to his secretary, and I ask to speak with him.

“Hi friend. How can I help you?”

I tap on his table, and Muninn lands there.

“Muninn, can you show him the scene? Edward, can you please get closer?”

Muninn sends him the scene. I look at him, and I do a ‘what now’ gesture. I can see that he got angry.

“I am going home right now! I am going to solve this! Do you want to come with me?”

“Sure.”

I ride with him in the coach. We go to my house, through the side path, and he sees exactly what Muninn had shown him. Some kids sitting on the side, while Cesar, Caius and Sophia played with the toys, with the maids attending him. The first maid saw his expression, and froze. She touched the shoulder of the other one that saw Edward’s expression and froze as well.

“You two. Come. Sir Marcelo, can I leave the kids here for a minute?”

“Sure. Don’t worry about them.” I walk to the kids that are sitting on some bricks on the ground delimiting different areas, and holding sand in.

I look back at the house, and I see a couple of maids looking through the window. I gesture them to come down. I want witnesses. The two maids come in, and I open the door to the kitchen so that other people can listen.

“Hello kids, do you know who I am?”

A kid answers in a sad voice. They seem scared somehow.

“Yes, sir. You are the lord of the house. We are sorry, sir.”

“Sorry for what? You did nothing wrong.”

“We shouldn’t be around nobility, sir.”

“Ok, we have had a big misunderstanding here. First of all, I am not nobility. I am an adventurer. And these apartments and this playground were built for the families of the people helping me. So you were doing nothing wrong.

“Now, that being said, the people that did something wrong are receiving talking.” I make a severe face, while nodding. “Perhaps some spanking later…” Some of the kids giggle at the stuck up maids getting a spanking.

“But Sophia here never asked for that. Neither did her brother or her cousin. They are innocent on this. So I expect them to be treated well, ok?”

The same boy answers with a cautious “Ok…”

“Now, who wants to play Nergal and Wrax? Sophia makes a killer Wrax. Right Sophia?”

She puts her hands on her waist, tap her shoulder, and the crow lands there.

“BWAHAHAHA… KNEEL BEFORE WRAX, ANTS!”

The comic relief just broke all the tension. Muninn flew to my shoulder, and cawed. The kids looked at Sophia, then looked at me.

“No, I am not Wrax.” I laughed and went inside the house. Rudolph came close.

“Lord…?”

“Yes, Rudolph?”

He bowed down.

“Thank you.”