Published at 16th of February 2024 2:20 pm

Chapter 15. Brotherly Rivalries

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“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lillin asked.

Intermediate Dungeon Combat ended just before the twelfth bell, and Nox’s next class wasn’t until two in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Lillin had no afternoon classes. So, the pair opted to get an assortment of food from the cafeteria and eat in the green space next to the nearby library. It had benches and picnic tables for students; the pair weren’t the only ones dining outside. Nox and Lillin were the worst dressed of them. They were the only pair not wearing a pressed pair of the university’s long coat.

“Just a little mentally exhausted,” Nox replied, rubbing his cheek. “The brew took care of my wounds but didn’t wipe my memory of them. I still feel the stinging on my cheeks and the rawness on my shoulder. It’s unnerving at times. I’d rather sell healing brews than take them.”

“Better not to get hurt at all,” Lillin said. “You know I could’ve taken that blow, right?”

“You would’ve taken it too well. I told you we need to be careful. What do you think would happen if the professor and the entire class saw you take a hammer blow and walk away uninjured? How would you explain it with nothing but gravity and spatial magic?”

Lillin shrugged. “I’d figure something out?”

“No. I’d have to figure something out. We were in the middle of a fight, and we both did what we needed to do. Let’s put it behind us and both be more careful, alright?”

“We can access dungeons now. I suppose nothing else matters.”

“Exactly.”

Nox wasn’t one for overeating, but he was ravenous. The light breakfast, followed by four hours of combat training, had burned the little food he consumed. He had a plate piled with smoked beef ribs, mashed potatoes, charred greens, and gravy. A small bowl of prawn chowder sat on the side. He had a mug of citrus juice, and honey cakes, too. Lillin had the same but in greater quantities.

The other students dining in the park shot them disgusted glares. A handful also appeared concerned. After living as the merchant queen’s disinherited son, Nox was used to unwanted looks. He had long learned to ignore them. Lillin cared even less than him. The pair ate ravenously, stuffing their faces. Nox inhaled the chowder and half of the rest before slowing. He was savoring a roast potato when a gaggle of unwanted presences approached them.

“Have some self-respect, Nox,” Edward said, sneering at him. “Mother might have banished you, but you’re still a prince.”

“When you eat like a pig, brother, it reflects badly on us,” Louis added. “At least stay in the cafeteria when you and your—” He glanced at Lillin. Disgust flashed across his face. “—toy are engorging yourselves.”

“Eddie. Louie.” He nodded at the pair. “What brings my lovely little brothers to me on this beautiful day? Did my display stir the ol’ inferiority complex again?”

“Don’t call me that!” Both brothers hissed in unison, speaking in the almost exact tone. Their faces adopted the same expression, too. Nox found the reaction rather comical. They reminded him of villains out of a bad pantomime. The outburst drew a few chuckles from their entourages.

“How are you here?” Louis asked, his cheeks reddening. He fidgeted, glancing at the similarly well-dressed students laughing at him.

“This grand establishment’s scouts recognized my potential,” Nox replied, grinning from ear to ear. “I have you to thank for that, Eddie. Your defeat cemented my position—”

“You cheated!” Edward growled.

“Why else did you forfeit?” Louis asked. “If Mother didn’t protect you, the royal guards would’ve strung you up. You’re lucky we didn’t face off, Nox. I would’ve—”

The lordling stopped talking when Nox burst into a fit of laughter. “Mother protected me?” He laughed even harder. “You want to know why I forfeited, Louie? It’s because Mother begged me to. She didn’t want her special little boy humiliated.”

“That’s a lie! Mother would never—”

“Our dear mother will never admit to it, of course. She threatened to confiscate everything I won from the tournament if I blabbed about it, but what can she do to me now? I’m banished. She has no authority over me and even less in Ygg.”

“She’s the merchant queen,” Edward protested. “She could demand they hand you over!”

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“On what grounds?” Nox chuckled. “You need to learn how politics and diplomacy work to do well in your future role, Eddie. The Gedge name won’t protect you forever. How do you think the merchant queen’s reputation will fare if she throws her weight around to steal my belongings?”

“I still don’t believe you,” Louis said. “You and Lillin are criminals.”

“Think what you will.” Nox stretched, raising his gloved left arm high above his head. Its counterpart hung from his waist. “Where do you think I got this beautiful weapon? It's certainly not from the vault’s middle pavilion.” Louis’ eyes widened as reality finally sunk in. He still appeared unwilling to believe the truth, but the evidence spoke for itself. “This belonged to my father. If you visit the vault, you’ll find its case in the heart’s left rear corner. The plaque will say Ratra’s Bow, and someone took a dagger to the description. I don’t know whether it was Mother heartbroken over the death of her first love or your father crumbling under his insecurities.”

Edward’s hand shot to the sword hilt at his waist, baring his teeth as he spoke. “Talk about Father again, and I’ll cut you down.”

Meanwhile, Louis didn’t continue the conversation. He glared at Nox for a moment before briskly walking away. His entourage hesitantly followed. Edward and his hangers-on followed moments later. Only a group of three remained. Nox knew at a glance that two of them were siblings. The male and female pair both had silvery-blonde hair and blue-grey eyes. They both carried themselves with the practiced grace of nobility. The matching brow, noses, and chins confirmed they were siblings. Nox would’ve happily bet money on them being twins. Meanwhile, the man accompanying them looked like he originated from beyond the Sapphire Straits. He had dark-brown eyes and curly brown hair—traits Pallav had, too.

Instead of initiating conversation with them straight away, Nox resumed his meal. The beef had gone cold and lost its pink hue, but that didn’t deter him. He dipped a slice in gravy and horseradish and took his time savoring the flavors. Lillin hadn’t stopped eating throughout the conversation. In fact, she had an amused smile on her face, as if it all had been nothing more than a show to accompany her lunch.

The smug expressions on the two well-dressed men’s faces faded. Annoyance and then discomfort replaced them. Nox was in no rush and let them stew. Then the male half of the twins stepped forward.

“I’m Victor Oakheart of House Oakheart. You may have heard of us. We trade a fair bit with the Trade Empire and are the continent’s leading supplier of copper.” He waved at his sister. “This is my sister, Annabelle.” Finally, he nodded at the dark-skinned man. “And this is Roque Singh. His family owns several fine eateries spread across many Imperial cities. He’s my oldest friend and the best vanguard in our class.”

“I’m also Annabelle’s fiancee,” Roque added, putting an arm around her waist.

“I’m sure my half and stepsiblings have filled you in on my identity,” Nox said. He waved at his companion. “Meet Lillin Grey.”

“No fancy titles or backgrounds for me,” Lillin added through a mouthful of food. “Just an orphan that survived by making the right friend and watching his back.”

“How can we help you?” Nox asked.

“Roque and I were beyond impressed with your performance,” Victor said. “We completed the beginner course, and this is our second semester in the intermediate. You’re the first to defeat Professor Wolfhammer’s summon on the first try.”

“Most of the class is busy talking crap, but we respect skill and talent,” Roque said, eyeing Nox’s honey cake. “We were wondering if you’d consider attempting a delve with us.”

“We’ve put our cards on the table,” Nox replied. “Isn’t it fair you do the same before we make a decision?”

“Of course!” Victor shot him a saccharine smile, but Nox saw annoyance flash across the aristocrat’s face. “I haven’t decided whether I’ll walk the power of Battle Mage or Aether Warrior. My core uses the duality of attract and repel as its focus. It might not sound particularly impressive, but it makes me a reasonably hardy monster killer.”

“Vanguard.” Roque raised his hand. “I’ll cement myself as an Aether Warrior as soon as my core transcends. Bodily reinforcement is my specialty. I have a Sigil of the Warrior, too.”

“So what do you think?” Victor asked. “Would you like to work with us?”

“I can’t decide without hearing from everyone, can I?” Nox met Annabelle’s eyes. “What do you bring to the team?”

“I’m a support mage,” she replied, fidgeting and looking off to the side. “My core is focused around the Farsight cantrip. It makes me a competent diviner.”

“No ambushes or traps can get us as long as we have Anna on our side,” Roque said, slinging an arm around her shoulder. “She’s our living security ward.”

“So? What do you think?” Victor stepped closer to the duo. He reached for one of Lillin’s pastries as she almost impaled his hand with a fork. The lordling leaped back, frowning. “Between your mana bow and Lillin’s gravity magic, we’ll have all the necessary elements to take on a dungeon’s elite guards and perhaps even a boss monster.”

“Give us a bit to think about it,” Nox said, sounding his best not to sound enthused. “Lillin and I will get back to you once we’ve made a decision.”

The male pair appeared displeased. Roque attempted to press the matter, but Viktor thanked Nox for his time and pulled his friend away. Meanwhile, Anna hovered for a minute before her brother’s cold summon pulled her away.

“I vote we accept the offer,” Lillin said. “They look entertaining.”

“No. I’d rather not tangle with aristocrats unless I can help it. Viktor and Roque want to use us and have their own agenda. I’d rather not give in to their facades and then pay for it later.”

“What about, Annabelle? Don’t think for a second I missed you eyeing her.”

“She’s cute but too subdued. I don’t want to deal with someone stuck under their family’s thumb.”

“You’re no fun.” Lillin sighed, rolling her eyes.

Nox didn’t want to admit it, but he doubted they’d get any better offers. More importantly, the longer he kept Lillin from cutting loose in a dungeon, the worse things would get for him.

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