Suijin quickly exited the Inn and Alex faced the City Chief and the Priest with tears in his eyes. “Thank you for coming. At the very least, I will have time to say my goodbyes. Priest, can I ask you to do some praying for the Earl? Despite how some Nobles act and how they treat the commoners, Earl Kayden Burke was always a good man, and the commoners that live and work on his lands were always well treated. He will definitely be missed.”
“I already said some prayers for him as soon as I heard the news, but his name will be with me during service for the entire week. Earl Kayden was always a good friend of the Church, and he granted a place for every orphan that left the Church embrace to live when those orphans got old enough. Like I know you also do that on your lands, and your father used to do it as well.”
Alex made a slight smile and quickly cleaned up his tears. “It was Earl Kayden who said to my father many years ago that sheltering someone that didn’t have an easy childhood was the duty of a follower of the Gods. It has been a while since the last time I was in my lands, but I think my keeper is still receiving every orphan that asks to work and live there like I instructed him.”
“Yes, I can guarantee he is doing that. Last week I got a message from two of the orphans that reached adulthood and went to your estate. They are very happy there. ”
Alex slowly nodded, and the Priest signalled with his head to the City Chief, and after a quick farewell, they left, leaving Alex to his thoughts. The food arrived, and they all ate in silence without knowing what to do or say to lift the heavy mood.
James Macdonald interrupted the silence with a question, “Mister Alex, is Suijin so good with Water Magic to the point where he can make your friend get better until we arrive? I am also very good with that type of Magic, but for me to recover a bit the health of a dying man… And how can he get to your lands in a few hours if we are two days away like you said?”
“Mister James, I don’t want to lie, so please ask nothing about him, okay? I guess I need to explain myself since you all heard from the City Chief. I was a Viscount in Beliersia because I inherited the estate and then the title from my father, who was an Earl when he retired. It appears that I now have twice the amount of land and people under my command. Like if I didn’t already have enough to worry about!”
James Macdonald cleared his throat. “Aham… Mister Alex, or should I say, Earl Alex… your father comes from a Noble bloodline?”
“No need for the Earl. I don’t want to attract attention from any outsider. My father was granted the Earl title because of his service to ‘The Republic of Beliersia’ and the alliance after the events of the war with ‘The Galtian Khaganat’. His remorse about what he did during the war darkened his soul to the core, and he retired to a faraway place to live a more peaceful life. I visit him from time to time, but I try my best not to talk about his estate and the people that are still wishing for his return because I know it brings terrible memories for him. For all the years they knew each other, Earl Kayden was with my father during the war, and they both shared a common history. I know we have a Quest to do, but I need to go visit my friend before he passes away. His estate is on our path to the Capital of Beliersia, so I think we can stop there for a rest. And for me to visit him…”
James Macdonald swallowed a piece of meat and said, “Of course we can make a stop there. We are not on a tight schedule, so you can spend time with your friend for as much as you need.”
“Thanks, that means a lot to me. I owe so much to Earl Kayden. He taught me a great deal about being a Noble and my duties in the Chamber of Lords, more than my father, actually. His lands and mines are regarded as the most profitable in Beliersia because, following some changes I implemented when I was young, we always had a harvest surplus. We also have a lot of industries that give work to many people, and we provide the countries of the alliance with several products.”
James Macdonald frowned a little and asked, “In… industries… I am not familiar with that term.”
“Oh, that’s right… There are some methods that can be used in a large building to do a bunch of products in sequence, with one worker doing one task and placing the product on a moving surface to get to the next worker so that he can continue with a different task. There are also ways to make a moving shaft to make ten products in a row instead of just one at a time. Few countries use these methods because of the amount of investment and work in the beginning to make everything work flawlessly, either by creating the equipment or training the workers. Most countries prefer to use Magic because it’s easier, but that doesn’t mean it’s better than my methods. In fact, the use of Magic is a downfall in some situations.”
“Interesting… Do you think we can have a look at some of that? I am rather curious.”
Alex went silent for a couple of seconds, listening to the whispering advice of Shinatobe in his right ear, and then made a slight smile. “I think we can trade a visit and an explanation. I may need the help of these beautiful women for my visit to the Chamber of Lords. Arriving there all alone will be troublesome, but together with an Elfian, a Mermaid and a Fairy, will for sure grant me some peace of mind. None of those Lords will dare to approach or underestimate me as soon as they see three members of the most powerful Races in this World. I hope you don’t mind, Miss Bethany, but Humans are a bit normal, for the Chamber of Lords.”
Bethany Mathews nodded. “It’s okay, I prefer to visit those industries instead of being near a bunch of Nobles. Are all of them Humans? Not even an Elfian in that Chamber of Lords?”
“There is, of course. ‘The Republic of Beliersia’ has a lot of Nobles of different Races, and there is also a very nasty Rabbit-kind among them. I say nasty because he doesn’t tolerate the politics and schemes of the other Lords, but he is a good friend of mine. The first time we met, he was rather rude, and I took the tip of his right ear as a punishment. When I was younger, I used to lose my temper rather easily. I still have that tip adorning the back of my shield.”
Anika Wright vigorously nodded. “I would love to accompany you, Alex! As long as you let me hold your arm to be your company for the day!”
Alex gave a slight smile. “One Mermaid on one side, a Fairy on the other, and an Elfian at the front, acting as my scary bodyguard. I know a few Lords that will get quite a scare.”
Pearl Pearson took a bite of a piece of bread and spoke while glancing at Wenammy, who was trying to hide her nervousness, “Or Wenammy can be in front and I will hold your other arm. She could be way scarier than me!”
Wenammy quickly contradicted her. “No! Mister Alex already said I would hold his arm! And I’m not nearly as terrifying as you are! Your serious look puts fear into every Human we come across!”
Alex laughed when he saw Pearl Pearson looking at Wenammy in such a way that she curled up in her seat. “Ahahah! Thanks, I needed this. I was feeling a little down, but hearing you two talking like that put me in a good mood. With you three with me, my meeting in the Chamber of Lords will be a breeze. And if some of them try to approach me to convince me to give my support to some of their ideas, you can look at them angrily to make them go away, right?”
Anika Wright increased her Magic, and her long blue hair moved as if she was underwater. She spoke with such pressure on her voice that Alex’s raised hair behind his neck warned him that danger was near. “Or I can do this, to warn those pesky Nobles that I am not to be taken lightly!”
Wenammy unrolled her six wings that came from a few disguised openings on the back of her blouse, and her increased Magic made her white air move around as if a sudden tornado was inside the dining room. “I can do this… Most Humans piss their pants when they see me like this.”
Pearl Pearson also increased her Magic, and while the ground was trembling and Alex was feeling pressure in his chest caused by the increase in gravity, she said, “Two fools… If I increase my Magic, none of you will be able to lift a finger! Earth is life, and an Elfian has a strong bond with Nature and the soil!”
Anika and Wenammy gasped for air because Pearl’s Magic was concentrated on them, making them feel as if their weight had increased five times. She then dispersed her Magic and continued eating as if nothing had happened, leaving Anika and Wenammy taking deep breaths to regain their composure.
Alex raised one eyebrow and faced Pearl. “That was a good one. I once used that Spell to crush a group of Goblins to the ground, but I was out in the open, and being able to do that at his table and only to those two is a feat not easily achieved. It seems you trained a lot to do such a thing.”
“I am glad that you understand how much control and training is needed to do this. Most Humans don’t know everything that is possible to do with Earth Magic. A lot of Mages only create holes or rock walls, few immerse themselves in the control and training this kind of Spell needs. If you were able to crush a group of Goblins, it also means you trained a lot.”
Alex slowly nodded with a sad look on his face, remembering the endless hours and days that Shinatobe forced him to train. “Yeah… a little blond pest forced me. Not even during my sleep she let me rest. Her voice is still haunting my dreams, with the words ‘Train! Train as if your life depended on it because one day it will!’… She was so annoying!”
They all laughed because they easily understood who Alex was talking about.
After dinner, they retired to their rooms. Gabriel Dawson was all smiles when Anika Wright grabbed his arm in the dining room, angry because Alex refused to share a room and a bed with her. Wenammy went to another room with Pearl, Bethany Mathews and James Macdonald went to a room of their own, sharing an accomplice look between them.
Okami gave one light kiss on Alex’s lips, and she disguisedly put one hand behind Alex’s left ear, taking on her closed palm the small dot of light that was Kagu-tsuchi, while whispering to Alex that she would take him to the City walls to help the guards patrol the vicinities.
Alex entered his room and sat on the edge of the table, lost in thoughts.
A tiny ball of light flew from behind Alex’s right ear and turned into Shinatobe in her teenager body form, dressed in an almost see-through nightgown.
She made a slight smile and dissipated the surprised doubts on Alex’s face for seeing her like that. “I think you could need a distraction to take your mind away from your worries. There is nothing more you can do for your friend, but tonight, there is a lot you can do for me. What do you say? Are you up to be a little crazy with me?”
Alex slowly got up and kissed her naked right shoulder while softly removing the strap of her nightgown, leaving it hanging from only the strap on the other shoulder. “I am here to please, my dear Shinatobe.”
She gently took his right hand and kissed his index finger, then licked it from the palm to the tip, ending with a gentle suck while looking at him with lustful eyes. “Oh, you are going to please me, alright. I have a few places in dire need of your devoted attention. It would be better if you got ready to not sleep tonight, because I have been waiting for this night for a very long time, and I might be a little hungry. I won’t be satisfied with only one particular activity, I may need a few, with some kinkiness in the middle.”
While she was nuzzling him to the bed, Alex answered, “I am here to obey. I don’t know if I am experienced enough for this, considering my upbringing, but I will try my best.”
Shinatobe spoke in a low voice while slowly licking his neck, “With our contract binding our soul and feelings, you are in for a surprise. Okay, try not to faint. The first time can be a little overwhelming, because you will feel what I feel, and I will feel what you feel. With that, our feelings and sensations will intertwine, and you may lose track of where you end and I start. Worry not, I will be gentle and if I notice that it’s too much for you, I will slow down my hunger. As soon as you get used to the sensations, I will go full-throttle.”
“The way you are speaking, it seems like you are going to ride me like a horse!”
Shinatobe answered while resting her butt on Alex’s thighs, “That’s an excellent idea… Come here, my pretty pony. I want to go for a ride! Hihihi!”
…