(Written while listening to: "In Taberna Quando Sumus" by Arany Zoltán on YouTube)
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Laito has found himself surrounded by loud minstrel music. Dancing, drinking and gambling people. In some corners one could even see some pairs "going at it" in full display with extreme vigor.
In simple words: the atmosphere was lively.
He tried somewhat to blend in while avoiding drinking himself. Which was quite difficult considering the body he had right now was of a ten years old, so he stood out. It wasn't "his" body though, as Nightmare Spell just injected his soul into a most similar body found within this Trial's scenario.
Despite seemingly joining the party, he maintained vigilance at all times.
After all this was a Nightmare Spell trial, so he expected a lethal danger behind every corner. Still, the presence of the powerful Transcendent somehow almost calmed his nerves.
Almost.
He was scanning all the carousers, his attribute [Keen Sight] on full display.
He found nothing out of the expected though.
—
Lord Gandeon behaved quite wild, he was the epicentre of the revelry.
—
The three Awakened Knights were already on the ground seemingly wrestling with each other for some random reason.
Ascendant Fang was…- halfway to dead drunk at this point.
"Splendid!" Laito approached the drinking Master Knight.
"Soooooo…- You know some nice Sorcery aye?" Laito tried to begin the conversation smoothly. He failed.
"Forget it kid! I know s'mthin more interesting though…-" He slightly slurred.
"Oh! I'm all ears." Laito got interested
"Okay soo…-" Fang talked drunkenly "Did ya know that…-" He was somehow building suspense without telling anything yet.
"Did ya knew that…- Ssssuposedly Lady's Irabeth's flaw…-"
"Yea?" Laito tried to hurry the drunk's talk.
"
–
'Wow. What a worthless piece of "Knowledge".'Laito stared at him incredulously.
"No no no. You just don't get it kid. Shesh supposed to remain "pure" in damned "heart, mind and body" like a damned Unicorn shesh is." The senior Knight continued unabashed.
"You shee…- the rumor goes that the empheror himshelf wanted a piece at herr, but she refused…- aaaand here shesh issssh…- exiled into thish "beautiful" landt…-"
'I'm sorry Master Fang…- but unless I have to fight her, this information is completely useless to me. Actually! It's useless either way, as she could just wave her sword in my general direction and erase me from existence, if she wanted to.' Laito summarized in his mind the worth of details shared by Ascendant Knight.
'Well…- that's it for "gathering information" from him…- now, whose next?' He asked himself.
He noticed his "guardian" Awakened Gastoc also passed out in his pukes, lying in the remote, dark corner of the tavern.
He glanced in the direction of mighty Lord Commander, The aged Wise Wizard was currently busy with drinking liquor from the bellybutton of a hooor.
To the cheers of surrounding Knights and other wenches.
–
–
'Yeaaah…- better not to approch…- THAT.' He nodded to himself.
So he searched for the next target for "interrogation".
And just a few tables further away was sitting…- Saint Tirabeth Lux herself, busy with casting a "Death Glare" at now completely unconscious Master Fang.
'Ah, I get it!' Laito had an epiphany. 'He's a moron!'
–
'Soon to be dead moron, as it currently seems…- Sheesh, she's pissed off. Nope. I'm NOT dealing with it. Laito out.' He stood up and decided to end his night.
But before he made even a single step he saw Saint Tirabeth motion at him to approach her, for a "talk".
'Ugh, great. So my entire world is going to face an apocalypse, because I was killed by a pissed off woman at a drunken medieval tavern party.' He complained internally, but still obediently sat in front of her at the other side of the table.
"So." The Pure-Gold Justicar began, while subtly composing herself by taking a few deep breaths.
"How have you been doing Soot? Unfortunately, I was too busy recently and couldn't monitor your progress. Considering the importance that…-" She glanced at the Lord Commander, who was now trying to bury his head into a pair of huge boobies. "-... He…- is placing towards your training I think that it is something I should pay more attention to."
He blinked slowly, slightly surprised. He also wondered quickly about how much the Lord Commander actually told her, as she is a "Second-in-Command" in the Incandescent Order.
"Well…- Master Marigold said that soon we will go to get me some "actual" fighting experience, whatever that means. I already can ride and take care of horses…-
stratagem, sneaking, lock-picking, diplomacy, etiquette and stuff were all interesting things to learn...- though there's now way that I will ever use these "seduction" skills with a face like mine. Also I believe that most of what I learnt were just the novice level." He recounted.
"And tomorrow afternoon I am supposed to have my…- first lesson with…-" His eyes wandered towards the Tavern's center.
"Eh…- Lord Commander" It's better not to describe what he was doing at that point, except that someone did manage to find a sax for him…- which looked kinda out of place in medieval scenery.
"Impressive training pace. At this rate, you will progress into becoming an actual Knight very soon. Although under normal conditions you were supposed to awaken your Aspect first…- Lord…- Commander…- said that we have to work through your Knighting without it." She tried to remain composed through the Tavern's chaos and she succeeded. Mostly.
"Thank you, I am just doing my best Lady Tirabeth."
She raised her hand to stop him.
"While not on duty just Tirabeth is fine. As you see…-" her eye twitched slightly "Incandescent are quite…- lax, in terms of hierarchy recognition."
"Of course, Tirabeth."
"
Laito's face paled as he reminded himself of how she "disappeared" an entire gaggle of dangerous undead with just pointing her sword at them. 'Yup, she still wants to silence me after all.'
"Of course. I wouldn't dare to refuse you Tirabeth." He answered with forced smile.
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[4 years left until MHA plot beginning]
[Chapter End] The story is not over yet