Mythshaper

The room next door was not as wide as the tavern, with identical wood flooring and a few furnishings for sitting. Two closed antechambers, each with only a barred window, were set on the north side of the chamber. Only one lazy man sat snoring in one of them, with the sign 'open' hanging on it.

"I swear," Priam warned the young booker, "if you scheme to get more Leafs out of me, I'll jerk your head like an old penny box until the coins come out of your mouth."

"Hoho, you kid," Leaf let out a fit of laughter, but stopped when he found nobody joining him. He coughed, peering at the unkind gazes judging him. "Anyway, what better ways to earn back your loss than by betting on yourselves. Your name is Priam, right? Let me see your odds."

Shifting towards the left wall where big blackboards were hung, Leaf moved through the tables of names and categories to find Priam.

"Priam Octavious, not bad. It's 1 to 3.4."

A gusset of air rose, and Priam was already standing next to him, squinting at the list of names.

"What about my odds?" Eran asked, his curiosity pulling him closer to find his name as well.

I found it earlier than him. "3 for Endurance," I said, pointing, "and 5.4 for going into the final round of Fencing, and 27.5 for winning it all."

"Just to be safe," Eran stared at it for a breath and then asked, "If I put any coins on me winning the Fencing competition, I'll get 27.5 times that much."

"Pretty much," Leaf answered. "Well, minus the house fee."

For a second, Eran considered it and then let out a sigh, giving up. "Let's see yours, Ari."

He moved to the Noble Class segment, searching for my name in the category of duels.

"It's 7.1," Priam said. "Heh, my odds are actually better than yours."

"Wait, let me look." Eran scurried to stand next to him, while my eyes gazed upon all my odds. Duelling, being arguably the main event, seemed to be the most influential among the gamblers as well, given the number of slots they had divided it into.

Either way, I could not help but feel somewhat offended at my odds.

1 to 1.1 for Top 64.

1 to 1.3 for Top 32.

1 to 2 for Top 16.

1 to 2.6 for Top 8.

1 to 4.5 for Top 4.

And finally, 1 to 7.1 for the championship.

I bet they were worse before I fought Melina. Thinking of her, I found her name, and my offence grew larger. Her odds of winning were actually better than mine. It was 1 to 5 when I had actually defeated her at 7 to 1.

While I was busy wrapping my head around the odds, my friends were already bringing out shiny coins from their pockets or purses.

"I only have 18 silver Leafs on me," Eran sighed, before giving it all to Leaf. "Put it all on Arilyn winning the duels."

Leaf gladly took the money before asking, "Reaching the top 64 or further?"

"Reaching the final and winning it," Eran returned.

"I have 2 golds," Diana said triumphantly, bringing out two gleaming gold Leafs from her satin purse.

"Your bet on?" Leaf asked, taking the coins with great courtesy that only gold Leafs deserve.

"Same as Eran."

The same story went for Priam as well, though for the first time, he was poorer than the innkeeper's daughter, courtesy of Diana finally being able to craft some elementary fabricators. But that did not matter right now. I needed to stop this madness before it took them all.

"Wait, what are you fools doing?" I cried.

Before entering, none of them had any intention of gambling, after they lost a large part of their savings the other day. Now look at them.

"Aleya," Priam continued as though he didn't hear me, "can you lend me some coins? I'll give it back after I get my prize money for reaching the final round."

"No," Aleya said. Finally, someone with some sense. I had not yet released a breath of relief, waiting for the adult to help them see reason, when she too brought out two gold Leafs. "I'm waging myself. All on Arilyn."

I rubbed my forehead. "Not you too."

"I personally detest gambling," the magistratus's daughter said, "but I'd be a blighted fool to not wager on a winning lot."

Diana and Eran nodded sagely, while Priam poked his sister, asking for a loan.

"Not another word, I already owe so many coins from you that I lost count."

"Come on, I'll give it back after I get my prize money."

"You say that, but you never do."

"This time I will. I promise, Aleya."

The only one who seemed to share a little of my emotion was actually the young booker, who looked at me in utter befuddlement.

"Big brother of mine," he coaxed, shifting closer to me, "are you by chance an illegitimate prince of the empire? Secretly trained on mountains and finally readying yourself to debut through winning the competition?"

"Kah! That's exactly right," Priam laughed. He slammed his palm on my shoulder as though he had already won the gamble. "That's exactly who he is."

Leaf narrowed his eyes, sizing me up once again. "I mean, he does have the look."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Even my best friend and fellow apprentice could not hide their mirth hearing him.

"Arilyn Arcis O'Ryon," Leaf read the name from the list, considering out loud. "There's no Patrician house with the surname O'Ryon, or is there?"

"Enough of this nonsense," I said, unable to bear the theatrics any longer. "Eran, do you remember what my mother and your parents said after you lost money gambling the other day?"

Mum's exact words were, "Only gamble for fun, never for earning."

"And Diana, are you so rich after earning a few coins that you gamble in gold coins now?"

At least she had the decency to appear abashed.

I was about to go to Priam, but my lips froze upon finding Leaf ready to wager all the money he had received.

"You get back here right this instance," I shouted. "You're not taking their money."

"What? What money?" The youth turned, showing empty hands, his face ridden with no sign of guilt.

I glared at him, whereas the youth moved nonchalantly, distributing tickets pertaining to each of their wagers. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"You all." I peered at each of them, exasperated. "Fine, don't come to me when you lose."

"Why?" Eran asked. "Are you going to lose?"

I scrunched my nose. "No, but"

"Then it settled."

I considered his look and snorted, an idea dawning on me. "Fine, you love gambling on me. I'll do the same." Bringing out a single coin from the pouch I had gotten earlier, I tossed it to Leaf. "Set it on Eran winning the Endurance test."

"Blighted gods, a Crown leaf," Leaf beamed, biting into the hard metal, perhaps for authenticity or perhaps just to have a taste. He seemed like someone too obsessed with wealth.

"Ari, stop, you can't"

"So now I can't?" I snored. "Just watch what I can and cannot."

I was wondering to put the coin on Priam's odds when a palm clasped on my shoulder.

"Don't waste wealth just 'cause you're irritated," Aleya said. Her gaze turned to Leaf. "You, give the coin back."

"Umm, what coin?" Once again, he showed his empty palms.

"The one on the back of your left palm, between your ring and middle finger."

Leaf turned his left palm, and there was no coin. "There's no coin."

"It's on your sleeve right now," Aleya sneered. Leaf was ready to go on again, opening his sleeve. "Stop with your lousy tricks. I can do it already."

Leaf took it as a challenge.

Aleya was truly angry. Before it could escalate into something physical, I added, "I have faith in Eran winning, just as you showed faith in me."

She met my gaze, measuring it and finally acquiesced. "Fine. But do not bet anything on this fool."

"Hey," her brother whined, rubbing his shoulder where he got a slap. "I'm doing just fine."

I could wager on him reaching the final round of fencing, though there was not a high chance of that. As for Agility, there was no chance of him winning it this year.

"Just fine he says," Aleya sniffed. "Please, I have seen Arilyn dice through cursed flies and devourers alike. What were you doing back then?"

"I fought too. I killed a dozen of those nasty flies."

"It was no more than seven, and only the lesser ones, I know because I was there, saving your sorry arse before you get yourself encircled."

"Big talk for someone who could not do half of what Arilyn did when he was half her age."

"Ugh! I'm only three years older than him."

"And still failed to manage a quarter."

Sometimes it was endearing to watch the siblings bicker, but decidedly that was not the case now. Turning my gaze to the board, I found my odds for the crafting competition were much more trustworthy. Only 1 to 2, with Tera having a lower number at 1 to 1.4.

"There are a few," Leaf said, "in your competition who can achieve half of what they were talking about. But of course, you have nothing to fear, big brother. It's only half."

I spared him a displeased glance, but clearly the fellow was not stopping.

"So what if Kelvin can stop spells with his bare chest. What if Lady Melina knows the name of the wind? What if Marnus Nerva can win duels without moving a muscle, or Paximus, who had forsaken the helm of a knight, even after defeating a prestigious knight. None can stand to you. You'll be the dark horse that ends their fable before it even begins. You'll be the woe to their defeat. The champion to their---"

Unable to bear any more, I interjected, "Paximus defeated a knight?"

"Apparently so. I heard the Grand Knight of the order came to apologise and take him as his squire, but Paximus, being the valiant warrior he is, refused, not even giving face to the Grand Knight."

"Enough with the theatrics."

"Well, I was not there, only heard the rumours, and you know people have the habit of romanticising knights."

"Did he defeat a knight, not?" I asked.

"That," he paused. "There's some authenticity to it. Although, despite what many rumourmongers claim, it was a friendly spar."

Still, that was something. Even at the peak of Noble Class, defeating a Prestigious Class Knight was no easy task, especially since all the orders of knights have their own inheritance and relics. Either way, his odds reflected the tale, standing at 1 to 1.8 for winning the duels altogether. He had the worst gambling odds among all the names I sifted through the list.

"What about the other names you mentioned?" I asked. If there were no other people named Kelvin, then it was the burly youth with Cassius, though I was more impressed with Cassius himself than his friend. Kelvin had odds at 3.5, with Cassius slightly behind.

"Kevin is a knight squire in the order of Iron Knights. The fellow is huge, and not just for his age. Lady Melina is, of course, the daughter of Orin Merriwind, the Guardian Knight of Klearon..."

There were only a couple of other names within the unit of three, with only a single name having worse gambling odds than Paximus.

Marnus Nerva with the odds of 1 to 1.3.

"Who is this Marnus Nerva?" Priam asked, frowning. "I think I heard the name somewhere."

"You'd have to be living under a rock if you haven't," Leaf said.

Well, I had not. What does that say about me?

"Marnus Nerva is the evident winner of the competition," Leaf announced. Then he seemed to see the odd look in my eyes and added, "Of course, that what everyone says. Everyone bet their life savings and their neighbours on him winning the duels. Look at his odds." He let out a shrill cry. "Blighted ashes, 1.3?! Its 1.3 already? At this rate, even the winner will lose money."

"How do winners lose money?" Diana asked, sounding a little concerned. Perhaps for both her coins and me.

"There's house fee," Aleya explained. "The gambling house takes a cut. What is the percentage here again?"

"Only a moderate 18%," Leaf said with a proud smile.

"EIGHTEEN PERCENT!" Everyone except Aleya and me cried in unison. If you folks learned about the taxes now, you'd be crying a river.

"Why don't you rob us already?" Priam said, miffed.

"You folks are overreacting," the young booker said with a shake of his head. "You think gambling is tax-free, don't you? Well, I hate to break it to you, but that isn't the case. 18% is completely within reason. After the bookers and higher ups gets their cut, the house is barely left with a couple of crumbs of the big pie."

"Unless you alter the odds to your benefit, of course," I added.

Leaf's chest rose, his mouth opening wide in offence. "We are a prestigious house that deals with high stakes. Our reputation is well-renowned. Ask anybody, we never swindled a single penny from your winning, as for altering the odds when nobody's looking? Well, we do it only when we are losing money, and at a great moderation."

If I took any of his words seriously, I would be a bigger fool than the fellow who decided to cross the deadlands without water.

"Leaf!" shouted the man in charge of taking the bets. "Stop uttering horsecrap to our patrons. I swear, half of our bad name came from your snivelling tongue."

The young swindler was mildly peeved, but did not confront the older man.

"You're talking about Marnus Nerva," I pointed out, trying to get back on track.

"Oh, yeah, Marnus is a shaper, coming from House Nerva of Endirya, I think." Leaf paused, trying to remember what little things he could sell to us. "He's more private than most other contestants, but he has fought in the last few Rift breakings. I even heard he had already gotten the Prestigious Demon Hunter Honour beforehand. Hmm, the elements he showed heavy mastery of fire and earth."

What a coincidence. I had gotten the Demon Hunter Honour as well, and my most potent elements were Fire and Earth. Well, if you ignored the terrible, terrible diabolical force of Lightning. But Melina had some of that, too, only she could not quite channel it during our duel.

"Wait, you said his house is from Endirya?" Aleya asked. "Not from Klearon?"

I arched an eyebrow. Endirya was a prefecture perhaps not measuring up to Klearon and its region in area, but it was much more affluent, with notable guilds and many Patrician houses.

"Not only that, but I heard he's also almost the uncrowned heir to the house," Leaf said, "here to win accolades for himself and House Nerva to consummate his standing as the only heir."