A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

[Banquet]

The banquet seemed to grow larger the farther they walked.

Every corridor they passed opened into yet another lavish section of the estate, each one somehow more extravagant than the last. It almost felt as though the mansion had no end, as if every doorway existed solely to reveal another display of wealth.

There were performers draped in elaborate dresses, moving gracefully to the rhythm of a small orchestra while intoxicated nobles watched with little attempt to hide the hunger in their eyes.

Elsewhere, elegantly dressed couples glided across the clean floors beneath enormous crystal chandeliers, their steps accompanied by refined music.

Further ahead stood a magnificent fountain sculpted from white and gold.

Instead of water, deep red wine continuously flowed from its upper basin into pools below, where servants patiently filled expensive goblets before offering them to passing guests.

Laughter rose and fell throughout the enormous chamber.

It was extravagant, needlessly extravagant.

Ella cared for none of it.

Her red eyes never wandered towards the dancers, nor the fountain, nor the lavish displays meant to impress every guest fortunate enough to enter.

Instead, they remained fixed upon the man walking calmly besides her.

Trismegistus maintained the same pace as before; his hands remained folded neatly behind his back. His masked face never shifted towards the spectacle surrounding them. Even the countless curious glances cast in their direction failed to draw the slightest reaction from him.

("Hard to read...") Ella studied him from the corner of her eye. ("It’s not just the mask.")

Most people gave something away, even be it the small shift in posture. Like the tightening of the shoulders or the rhythm of their breathing, even silence usually betrayed intention.

This man offered nothing; his posture remained immaculate. He seemed relaxed, yet not once did he appear vulnerable.

Even the pace of his footsteps never changed.

("What’s actually going through your head?")

She doubted very much that simple curiosity had prompted him to invite her away from the others. No, there was something else, something he hadn’t asked yet.

Her thoughts began arranging themselves.

("He has to know.") The realization came naturally. ("Koschei was connected to the Retorta Guild.") Her gaze drifted briefly towards a passing servant before returning to the Royal Guard. ("And the Retorta Guild had dealings with the Heart Kingdom.")

It wasn’t exactly secret information; anyone sufficiently placed within the Kingdom’s upper circles would have known.

("Then there’s the Deathless Fortress.") Her expression remained unchanged. ("The Kingdom used it as one of its secure prisons for criminals they considered too dangerous to leave elsewhere.")

That was where Robert had been; the memory passed through her mind only briefly.

("I was the one who killed that cockroach...") Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. ("...but it wasn’t me who actually fought him.")

There was the alchemist as well as the fox spirit; they had carried that burden. She had merely delivered the conclusion.

("This face alone would probably be enough to earn suspicion.")

The conclusion practically assembled itself.

Trismegistus wasn’t simply making conversation; it was obvious he was observing her.

Trying to determine exactly what kind of person she really was.

"You’ve been looking at me for quite some time." His voice interrupted her thoughts; he never turned his head or even slowed his pace. "You appear remarkably focused."

A small hint of amusement entered his otherwise calm tone.

"I fear this walk would become rather awkward if we continued in complete silence."

Ella blinked once, then sighed.

"Then maybe you should’ve started a conversation sooner." Her answer arrived immediately. "Considering you’re the one who asked me to come walking with you." She shrugged lightly. "I figured you actually had something you wanted to ask."

The Royal Guard let out a quiet chuckle.

"A fair criticism." He inclined his head ever so slightly. "It seems my manners have grown somewhat rusty." A brief pause followed. "You’ll have to forgive an old man."

Ella looked him up and down without much subtlety.

"Pretty energetic for an old man." Her gaze drifted towards his long dark hair. "I mean..." She gestured vaguely. "Your hair’s still lush."

Another soft chuckle escaped him.

"Fortunately," he replied, "magic has always been remarkably accommodating in that regard." His tone shifted naturally into one of explanation. "Maintaining the body is a relatively straightforward application of the Sanctorum branch. The Vigormancy sub-branch, specifically. It slows deterioration, preserves vitality and greatly delays many of the inconveniences associated with age."

He spoke almost like a lecturer.

"As long as one’s mana remains sufficient, the body can be maintained for an extraordinarily long time." Then he glanced towards her. "Though, I suspect that explanation is unlikely to impress you."

"You’d be right," Ella answered without hesitation. "I don’t really care." There wasn’t arrogance behind her words; she was merely being honest. "I’ve seen enough magic that preserving wrinkles doesn’t exactly amaze me."

Trismegistus laughed again.

"You possess an admirably direct way of speaking."

"I’ve been told," Ella answered dryly; a few moments of silence settled between them before she spoke again. "I am curious about one thing though."

"Oh?"

"You." She looked directly at him. "Someone like you." Her eyes briefly wandered across the extravagant banquet surrounding them. "The Queen’s Royal Guard, a mage strong enough to maintain wards over an estate this size and the city. And someone respected enough that half this room practically stopped breathing when you walked in."

Her gaze returned to him.

"So why are you bothering with some Duke?"

Trismegistus remained silent for several steps.

Then...

"’Some Duke,’ you say." The words carried the faintest trace of amusement. "He is considerably more than that." His voice remained composed as he continued. "Duke Bluebeard possesses influence that extends well beyond the borders of his own territory. He commands immense wealth."

The Royal Guard gestured towards the surrounding banquet.

"Everything you’ve seen here, the architecture, imported delicacies, entertainers, rare wines and countless servants, represents only a fraction of his resources. He could finance the construction of entire cities and still possess enough wealth to remain among the richest men in the Kingdom."

There was no admiration in his voice; it was as though he wished to see whether learning the Duke’s true standing might alter her opinion.

It didn’t.

"My point still stands." Ella answered just as evenly; her expression did not change. She casually flicked a strand of dark hair back over her shoulder. "I don’t really measure people by how much money they’ve hoarded." Her red eyes drifted towards another noble loudly boasting over a jeweled goblet. "Especially not people who seem desperate to make sure everyone knows exactly how rich they are."

A scoff escaped her.

"I mean..." She spread one hand lazily. "To something like me, money’s barely worth thinking about."

"Something, hm? Not someone?" Trismegistus observed, the distinction clearly catching his attention. Though his face remained hidden beneath the golden mask, there was clear curiosity in the way he inclined his head, as though that single choice of wording had told him more than Ella had intended.

Ella merely waved one slender hand through the air, dismissing the observation as though it were hardly worth acknowledging.

"I wouldn’t read too deeply into it." Her voice remained flat. "What I do think is worth talking about is something else." Her red eyes drifted back towards him. "From the way you’ve been speaking, it’s painfully obvious you don’t admire the Duke."

Trismegistus was silent for a brief moment.

They continued walking through the banquet at an unhurried pace. Around them servants carried more silver trays laden with expensive wine while nobles laughed amongst themselves.

Finally, he answered.

"I suppose admiration is not the first sentiment that comes to mind whenever I find myself speaking with the Duke." His tone remained neither contemptuous nor warm. "Respect and usefulness are often mistaken for one another. In this instance..." He paused thoughtfully. "...I would say the latter is considerably more accurate."

Ella gave a small hum.

"So you tolerate him."

"I work alongside him when our interests align."

"That’s a fancy way of saying you put up with him."

A quiet chuckle escaped beneath the golden mask.

The music continued drifting through the hall while elegantly dressed guests stepped aside almost unconsciously as the Royal Guard passed. Some offered respectful bows.

Others merely watched.

Ella ignored them.

"So," she continued, almost lazily, "what exactly makes the Duke useful?"

Trismegistus answered without hesitation.

"His wealth."

Ella raised an eyebrow.

"That’s it?"

"It is considerably more than ’it’." His voice remained patient. "The Heart Kingdom possesses many influential nobles. Very few possess the Duke’s resources." He glanced briefly towards one of the crystal chandeliers overhead before continuing. "Eor remains an exceptionally unique currency."

Ella listened without interrupting.

"It cannot be duplicated." Trismegistus spoke almost like a lecturer addressing a classroom. "No known branch of magic can reproduce it. No transmutation, conjuration or illusion is sophisticated enough to deceive the Goddess herself. The reason is rather simple, because of Iofiel."

He folded his hands behind his back once more.

"Among her many divine titles, she is revered as the Goddess of Wealth. Currency under her authority resists magical replication. One cannot simply create fortune through sorcery." He gave a small shrug. "For scholars, researchers and institutions, funding remains as essential as knowledge itself."

His hidden gaze turned slightly towards Ella.

"So men such as myself inevitably become acquainted with men such as the Duke."

Ella stared at him for a second.

Then she snorted.

"So..." She tilted her head innocently. "...he’s basically your sugar daddy."

For the first time since they’d begun walking, Trismegistus visibly faltered.

His head slowly turned towards her.

"...My what?"

Ella blinked.

"Seriously?"

"I’m afraid that particular phrase has escaped me."

She rubbed her temple.

"Right, you’re old and slang isn’t a thing here."

"I prefer experienced," he corrected.

"Same difference." She sighed dramatically before explaining. "It means you’ve got some rich old guy bankrolling your lifestyle."

Silence.

"Ah."

Another pause followed.

"I believe," Trismegistus replied with impeccable composure, "that interpretation is... somewhat inelegant."

Ella couldn’t help the tiny smirk tugging at one corner of her lips.

"So it is accurate."

"I would instead say our relationship is mutually beneficial."

"Which sounds exactly like what someone with a sugar daddy would say."

The Royal Guard laughed quietly; it was simply the amused laugh of a man who had lived long enough to find genuine entertainment in unexpected company.

"You possess a rather unusual sense of humor." He said after a moment.

"Suppose I’m just built like that."

"And do you often tease complete strangers in this manner?" he questioned.

"Only the ones interesting enough to tease." She answered, "You should feel honoured."

"Hm." He seemed to consider that answer. "I shall take that as something of a compliment."

"You can if it helps you sleep."

The conversation settled again into a comfortable silence as they continued through the banquet.

Nearby, musicians performed beneath enormous banners embroidered with the Heart Kingdom’s crest while servants replenished goblets almost as quickly as they were emptied.

Ella scarcely noticed any of it.

Her attention had already returned to the conversation.

"So..." She folded her arms. "What exactly do you research?"

Trismegistus answered almost immediately.

"Dimensional spaces."

Ella looked at him for a moment. "That’s pretty broad."

"It is." He confirmed.

"You couldn’t narrow it down any less if you tried." She murmured.

Another amused sound escaped him.

"I suppose not."

"So what?" Ella continued. "Spatial distortion? Pocket dimensions? Transportation? Barriers? Storage? Interdimensional travel? You just threw an entire field at me."

"Research is seldom productive when one restricts oneself too early." He spoke with certainty. "I find greater value in pursuing the more difficult questions first."

Ella studied him from the corner of her eye.

"So you chase problems everyone else avoids."

He nodded. "In essence."

"Sounds pretty tedious." She said, shaking her head.

"It can be, I admit," the Royal Guard said.

"Worth it?"

"I believe so."

"What makes you so sure?"

Trismegistus slowed ever so slightly, though he never stopped walking.

"Because knowledge acquired through difficult means tends to remain valuable long after easier discoveries lose their novelty. The unknown has always fascinated me."

Ella remained quiet for several seconds.

Then she nodded once.

"Fair enough."

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