This chapter is sponsored by The Bitch in the Fantasy World Patrons:
• Adventurer GrimV
• Adventurer The orc warrior 261
********************
********************
10:13 p.m.
Vivian stood in front of a mirror naked as she held 2 dresses on each hand.
She presented the first dress over her body. It was a one-piece black dress.
Hmm…
She pulled the dress away from her body and then presented the other dress. This time, it was a one-piece strapless black dress.
Maybe…?
She pulled the strapless dress away from her body and studied it.
Hmm...
It seems that it would be easier to wear and remove this dress…
But the problem is…
If I want to run or jump around, I'd have to tighten the waist area or at least wear a belt…
If not, the top would fall and my breasts would be flapping all around…
She threw that strapless dress on the chair and began wearing the one with a strap.
***
10:25 p.m.
Vivian wore nothing but a black cloak with gold accents, a plain one-piece black dress, and a pair of black gloves and boots as she stood in front of a window.
Fog at night…
Nice…
More cover for me…
"Some Silent Hill shit."
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak!
Her eyes transformed into her demon form; black eyes with yellow irises and she swept her gaze outside the window.
Nothing…
Click.
She opened the window and was greeted by the cold autumn breeze. She continued sweeping her gaze outside the window and then concentrated as she strained her ears.
After about a minute, she relaxed.
I think it's safe…
And even if some Guard sees me…
If they aren't wearing a Magic Item with the Vision Magic Effect, they'd only see a figure clad in black…
On the other hand…
If they are wearing one, well, I just have to avoid Guards...
Thud.
She raised her boot and stepped on the window sill.
Vooom!
***
10:31 p.m.
Ka-cha!
The front door of a house opened and 3 people stepped out: a man in his mid-40s, a woman in her early 40s and a young man in his early 20s.
When they got into the pavement, they turned around to face 3 people who were standing by the door; a man and a woman, both in their late 30s, and a young woman in her late teens.
"Maresha, I'd hate to see you and your family go…!" the woman in her late 30s said with teary eyes.
Maresha, the woman in her early 30s, smiled.
"I feel the same way, Lucinda, but we'll see each other soon at the wedding."
Lucinda turned to the man in his late 30s beside her.
"Lysanias dear, can't they just spend the night here?"
Lysanias placed his arm around her and smiled.
"Lucinda dear, you know it's against tradition to have the groom and bride stay under one roof a week before the wedding," he said and then turned to the man in his mid-40s. "Isn't that right, Meshach?"
Meshach smiled and then gave a slight bow.
"That's true."
Lucinda pouted.
"That's a stupid tradition! That didn't stop you from sneaking into my room's window a week before our wedding!"
Lysanias let out a wry smile.
"My dear, you do remember that I did that to give you something to wear on our wedding day, right…?"
"I vividly remember that my parents almost caught us in my room because you refused to leave and wanted a long and passionate kiss!"
Lysanias cleared his throat.
"My dear, please, you're embarrassing our family in front of Meshach, Maresha and their son. Even our own daughter couldn't lift her head anymore."
Meshach, Maresha and the young man in his early 20s let out an understanding smile. Meanwhile, the young woman in her late teens could only hold her head down to hide her embarrassed expression.
"It's fine, really," Meshach said.
"Weddings simply bring that up in people, so I know where you're coming from," Maresha said.
Lucinda turned to the young woman in her late teens who was still holding her head down.
"Linda, is what your father saying true?"
"Mother…" she said and then bit her lip.
Lucinda turned to the man in his early 20s.
"Mordecai, is this true?"
"Mrs. Lucinda…" Mordecai said as the understanding smile quickly faded away from his face when he saw Lucinda pouting at him, leaving him tongue-tied with his gaze bouncing between Lysanias, Lucinda and Linda.
"Mordercai," Lysanias said. "You'll be part of our family soon, so you have to start calling my wife your mother."
Mordecai straightened his back and then lowered his head.
"Yes, sir, Mr. Lysanias...!"
Lysanias let out a sigh.
"How are you so gifted in numbers yet so dense on other things?"
Lysanias was a traveling merchant while his wife and 2 daughters managed the store. As for where Mordecai fits in, he started working in Lysanias' family's general store since he was 15 years old.
Meshach smiled and lowered his head.
"Please excuse my son."
"I mean, father," Mordecai said as he raised his head.
Hearing Mordecai call him 'father', Lysanias nodded and then stepped forward.
Tap, tap.
He tapped Meshach's shoulder.
"Not you too, Meshach. Stop being so formal with me," he said and then turned to everyone. "We'll all be family soon, so let's stop being so formal with each other."
Meshach smiled and lowered his head.
"Yes, Lysanias."
Maresha and Lucinda smiled and nodded.
"That's true."
Mordecai lowered his head once again.
"I PROMISE TO LOVE, TREASURE AND PROTECT THIS FAMILY FOREVER!"
"Mordecai, keep your voice down. It's already late," Lysanias said.
Mordecai lowered his head even lower.
"Forgive me, Mr. Lysanias -- I mean, father!"
Lysanias closed his eyes and massaged his temples.
"Elemental Gods, what am I going to do with you?"
Meshach, Maresha and Lucinda all burst out in laughter. Even Linda, who was still embarrassed and keeping her gaze down, couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Lysanias offered his hand to Meshach and both fathers shook hands.
"I'm proud to call you family," Lysanias said and smiled.
"I, as well," Meshach said and smiled.
Lucinda and Maresha hugged each other.
"Welcome to the family, I'll see you at the wedding~"
"Welcome to the family and I'll see you at the wedding as well~"
When Lucinda and Maresha let go of each other, Lucinda went over to Mordecai and hugged him while Maresha hugged Linda.
"Welcome to the family, my son~" Lucinda said.
"Thank you, Mrs. -- hmph!" Mordecai yelped as Lucinda tightened her hug. "Mother…!"
"I'm thankful to the Elemental Gods to be blessed with a beautiful and kind daughter like you~" Maresha said.
"Thank you for welcoming me to your family, mother~" Linda said.
"I'll go fetch the carriage for a moment," Mashach said and then walked away.
Lysanias turned to Mordecai with a serious expression.
"Mordecai."
Mordecai straightened his back as he faced him.
"Yes, Mr. -- father!"
"I'm only going to say this once, man-to-man. I love my daughter with all my heart and will do anything to make her happy even if it means I would be thrown into the void after I die. If one day, you don't love her anymore, please return her to me."
A serious expression appeared on Mordecai's face.
"That will not happen, father, because I will always love and cherish her for the rest of my life, even after I die and reunite with the Elemental Gods."
Lysanias offered his hand and both men shook hands.
The sounds of hooves could be heard approaching from a corner. It was Mashach who emerged from the fog-covered dimly lit streets with a carriage being pulled by a Karfax and he was coaching it.
Mashach worked as a coachman. Meanwhile, Maresha was a housewife and a part-time seamstress.
After Maresha and Mordecai climbed over the carriage, they both gave a nod and smiled to Lynasias, Lucinda and Linda.
"See you all at the wedding," Mashach said with a nod and smile before whipping the reins of the Karfax and then driving off.
***
10:41 p.m.
Inside the carriage.
Maresha and Mordecai rode in silence. They both sat beside each other on the back seat and busied themselves with whatever.
With Mordecai, he would bounce between thinking about his soon-to-be married life with Linda and their future children, and the years of memories he spent walking on these familiar streets and shops which was currently covered with a thick layer of fog under the dark, cold night.
"I'm proud of you, son," his mother's voice trailed through his ears.
"Thank you, mother," Mordecai said without looking at her.
"I was hoping that you would marry someone who had 2 True Magic Art Affinities, but I guess it's fine since they're a Merchant family."
Mordecai didn't say anything and continued focusing on the window.
Maresha was born with the Fire and the Dark Affinity. She didn't know who her parents were because she grew up in a Charity House located in the Holy City. And since she didn't have the Light Affinity or at least 3 True Affinities, ever since she was young, she had always dreamed about becoming self-sufficient and a Knight.
When she finally reached 15 years old and was finally eligible to get a Class, she immediately left the Charity House, applied at the Temple of Wizards and then landed 2 jobs at the Holy City. During the day, she worked as one of the clerks for a tailoring shop. Meanwhile, at night, she worked as a waitress for a tavern to save coins so that she could afford to go through an Awakening Ceremony for her [Dark Affinity].
But before she even reached 15 years old, since she had the Fire Affinity, she had already tried burning herself to open it. However, despite all of the self-inflicted burns she suffered through the years, her [Fire Mastery - Level 1] never appeared.
It took her about 4 months of sticking to a very strict and tight budget to save 50 gold coins. And when she finally got it, she immediately rushed to a Temple of Priests facility to open her Dark Affinity. However, even after 100 shots of [Dark Arrow], her [Dark Mastery - Level 1] never appeared.
Despite that, she still didn't lose hope.
She started to save 50 gold coins once again for 4 months. And when she got it, she immediately rushed to a Temple of Wizards facility and paid for an Awakening Ceremony for her Fire Affinity. But even after 100 shots of [Fire Arrow], her [Fire Mastery - Level 1] still didn't appear.
Faced with another setback, it still didn't make her lose hope. However, this time around, she started becoming a bit desperate.
She loaned about 200 gold coins from different lenders. And with those coins, she used 50 gold coins to undergo another Awakening Ceremony for her Dark Affinity for the second time and then spent the remaining 150 gold coins buying Healing Potions to heal herself while trying to open her Fire Affinity herself.
At 17 years old, she was broke, tired and depressed with a debt of 200 gold coins from different lenders that kept increasing every month due to compound interest hanging around her neck. She tried to hide from the lenders but they always found her. And when she reached 18 years old, she had enough, left the Holy City and ran to She'kel Village. However, after about 2 months, some of the lenders found her and the same cycle continued.
But before some of the lenders tracked her down at She'kel Village, she worked as a waitress at an alehouse at She'kel Village and was secretly dating a couple of Guards. And one night, while she and a Guard Lieutenant went home together, Meshach was the coachman of the carriage they rode.
At that time, Meshach was only 21 years old, but he already owned his own Karfax and carriage. The original owner of the two were his grandfather and he passed them to him after he retired from being a coachman and then shortly passed away.
Meshach was completely smitten by Maresha's beauty. But because he was only a coachman and he only had one Affinity; True Earth Affinity, Maresha only used him as nothing more than a free chauffeur while only giving him the least amount of attention she could possibly give.
However, that changed when the lenders finally found her and began telling everyone about her debts. The men she was dating immediately cut their ties with her, while some men tried to offer to pay her debts in exchange for sexual services.
But out of all of the men she dealt with, it was only Meshach who offered to pay her debts without asking for anything in return.
And when she reached 19 years old, although Meshach was still far from paying the entirety of Maresha's debts, they got married and she bore him a son. And that son was Mordecai.
And just like Meshach, Mordecai was born with only one Affinity -- True Earth Affinity.
Meanwhile, for Linda's family, her father, Lysanias, was born with the True Earth Affinity and the False Poison Affinity, her mother, Lucinda, was born with the True Wind Affinity and False Light Affinity, and Linda herself was born with only the True Wind Affinity.
"I can't wait to tell your grandfather, grandmother and your sister the news."
"Yes, I can't wait to tell them," Mordecai said with a genuine smile on his face.
Since he wasn't from a Merchant family, although he worked for Lysanias' family since he was 15 years old and then also showcased his natural talent for arithmetic to Lysanias and his family which made him a valuable employee, he spent 3 years secretly courting Linda and they spent 1 year having a secret and pure relationship. In fact, he could count on 2 hands how many times they kissed and held hands together.
***
10:55 p.m.
Meshach pulled the reins of the Karfax when they finally arrived at their destination.
The house that Meshach and his family lived in was located in a poor neighborhood but wasn't exactly the slums, only a step above. It was a two-story building but around 80% of the first floor was renovated to accommodate the carriage and the Karfax while the second floor was where the family lived. However, the kitchen, the bathroom and the toilet were located on the first floor.
Ever since Meshach was born, the house always looked like this because he came from a long line of coachmen. And if he were to trace his lineage, he came from 12 generations of coachmen and all of them were part of the Temple of Tamers. Only Mordecai, the 13th generation, who decided to deviate from their family's long-held tradition, joined the Temple of Wizards, pursued the life of a Merchant's clerk, and will soon be a Merchant once he marries Linda.
Ka-cha.
One of the side doors of the carriage opened, and then Maresha and Mordecai climbed down.
Click.
Ka-cha!
Moredcai, who was holding the key, unlocked the side entrance door of the house and then entered with Maresha. Once inside, Maresha proceeded to climb the stairs while Mordecai went to open the main entrance door which was a wide double door.
When the main entrance door was now open, Meshach coached the Karfax and the carriage to enter it.
"I'll close the side and the main door," Mordecai announced as Meshach started climbing down from the coachman's seat to unfasten the reins on the Karfax.
Meshach didn't say anything and simply nodded.
Vooom!
Chud!
Mordecai was already close to closing the main entrance door when someone suddenly appeared in front of him and grabbed one of the doors.
"Who--" he said but stopped.
Meanwhile, the Karfax behind him that his father was unfastening the reins off began thrashing.
The person who interrupted him was a woman that sported a medium length straight purple hair with bangs and red highlights, and was dressed in all black.
As someone who works as a merchant clerk, naturally, Mordecai is used to entertaining customers. And looking at the woman in front of him, he knew in an instant that this was a type of customer who would never be seen in Lysanias' family's general store, not because this type of customer looks down at their store, but because the items or products being sold at their store were more catered to the poor people or in the copper and silver coins price range.
The black cloak with gold accents that the woman was wearing, Mordecai could tell that it was worth between 75-100 gold coins.
Her black dress, around 25-30 gold coins.
Her black gloves with gold cuff-links, around 20-30 gold coins.
Her boots, he was a bit weak on the subject of footwear because some could look great but were actually made out of poor quality. However, if he were to make a rough estimate, between 20-50 gold coins or 20-60 gold coins.
He simply was weak on the subject of footwear.
And her perfume, it was a smell that only ladies from the higher echelons of society would wear. And if he were to make an estimate, it would be at least 100 gold coins.
Mordecai let go of the handles of the main entrance door, stepped back, and then offered a slight bow..
"Forgive me, My Lady, but if it's my father you're looking for, he's already preparing to rest for the night."
His merchant clerk side immediately kicked in. Since he mentioned that his father was already preparing to rest for the night, if the woman continued to insist on availing his father's services, his father could charge more.
The woman let go of the door she was holding and then casually stepped inside. But instead of replying to him, she swept her gaze around for a moment and saw her nose twitch a bit at least twice before finally returning her attention to him.
"Close the door," she said with a tone that sounded like she was used to ordering people around -- there was no hint of hesitation, no hint of forcefulness, it was simply natural.
Mordecai was taken aback for moment because she didn't expect her to be a foreigner. The accent alone informed him that she was from the Luxen Kingdom. Nevertheless, although someone might be able to fake their status by wearing expensive clothes, the commanding presence of her tone earlier was definitely of someone who was used to ordering people around, so he lowered his head.
"Yes, My Lady," he said and then resumed closing the doors.
In his head, whatever the reason why this foreign Noble woman was here, only the Elemental Gods knew. However, based on his experience as a merchant clerk, whenever a person from the higher echelons of society comes to you, welcome it, because no matter what, you would always get some benefit -- a sale, a referral, etc.
Meshach, who finally managed to calm the Karfax down, turned to check on his son. And when he saw the woman standing in the middle of the first floor studying her surroundings, he more or less had the same reaction as his son.
The woman turned to him and then flashed a smile that wasn't exactly a smile.
"And you must be the father. Big family? Please. It's been weeks since I've had a proper meal and I've been working soooo hard these past few days."
********************
********************
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
By the way, I've posted this chapter at WebNovel, Royal Road and Patreon. However, the main is P-a-t-r-e-o-n (Immortal_Shades) because I want to post pictures and videos there without any restrictions.
https://www.patreon.com/Immortal_Shades
Don't worry, the chapters there are free. And if you want to donate because I have no talent in being a writer, feel free to consider any of these titles:
• Adventurer - $2
• Guard - $3
• Merchant - $4
• Mercenary - $5
• Knight - $6
• Priest/Priestess - $7
• Necromancer - $8
• Aristocratic Noble - $9
• High Priest/Priestess - $10
Thank you once again and I will see you at the next chapter.