Published at 8th of November 2026 11:08 am

Chapter 382: High Achiever

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Introductions! declared the Patriarch, and he waved to the nobles around him.

I am Zoryth, began the Person sat on the Patriarchs left side. Brother to the Patriarch, Ritualist of this House. It is I who maintains the spiritual defences of the estate, among many other duties. He said this rather smugly, while flicking a thin smile around the table over his hands, which were pressed together, fingers in a steeple, while the tentacles of his beard roved around them.

You may call me Mavryn, said a stern-looking, armoured Person sat on the Patriarchs right side, past Edrin. General of House Thrynn. I command the army.

He is very experienced, the Patriarch put in. Knows his business better than any in this room.

This room and out, grumbled the General.

I am Veshara, said one of the two sat beside Zoryth, and this is my sister, Zhalyss.

My lovely daughters, added Zoryth fondly.

We are to serve as captains under the General, added the other, Zhalyss, then the two of them preened like some sort of strange species of cat, their long tentacle hair stirring while they stared with a strangely challenging air around at all the humans, and most especially at Junko, who gazed back with vague confusion.

And I am Edrin, son of the Patriarch. The young man straightened. I hold command as the Generals lieutenant.

You will all defer to Mavryn in matters of combat, said the Patriarch. He made it clear by the way he looked at his son and Zoryths daughters that he included them in his words too. Is this clear? There was a general rumbling of assent. And this is my steward, Austhyk, he added, gesturing to the tall Person stood by his shoulder. He handles many day-to-day affairs. The tall Person inclined his head.

Following that the Patriarch asked the humans to introduce themselves, which they did with the air of put upon school-children. Nicolai was already aware of who was who and who held what Role, except for a pair of brother-sister Cultivators, both with the same pale skin and long black hair, who identified themselves as Lin Leng and Lin Yue. They held the role of Merchant and Diplomat, respectively.

So three Assassins, two Spies, three Champions, a Diplomat, and a Merchant, said the Patriarch. Plus myself, one Ritualist, one General, one Lieutenant, two Captains. I know what my Role does, and I am sure the General here and my brother know what they should be doing, too. As to all the rest of you, Im not so sure. So far as I can tell, only one of you has actually made use of the main function of their Role. He looked right at Nicolai, smiling wryly. Our high achiever. Four times in six hours, in fact! You were eager, werent you?

I like to keep busy, replied Nicolai, a default answer. He could feel the frowns of Junko-and-friends from the side, and hoped the Patriarch would move on quickly. He was not so lucky.

Who were you killing, if I may ask? continued the Patriarch.

Nicolai opted to avoid answering that question via the simple method of ignoring it. My role seems rather simple, he replied, and I have learned a little of what the others do, but I would appreciate having the full picture. Were you going to explain?

Eager to get to the meat of things, hmm? In more ways than one. The Patriarch chuckled. Well, as you say, Assassins are simple. Holders of that Role cut a hole in the Restriction. Not a particularly large hole, but the shape can be varied creatively. Plenty of space to put a knife in someones back, eh? We know all about that, in here! This with another sunny grin to the world in general. The Patriarch was in concerningly good cheer, far more so than the man had been any previous time Nicolai had seen him. Practically manic, Psychology observed. You three Assassins, now pointing to Tanaka and John along with Nicolai, will be using that to remove people I want removed. You are arrows in my quiver, bullets in my how do you say

Gun, supplied Wu, at the same time as John said, Magazine.

Whatever. The Assassin is a simple answer to complex problems. You go and you kill. Ideally when I tell you to do so, not of your own volition, but I suppose impulse control can be difficult amongst humans.

Nicolai pretended not to see the Patriarchs pointed gaze.

As to the Champions, he continued, smiling at Junko, Serrin, and Marlowe, before directing a slightly confused glance at Maverick. You are fighters. There to face down the enemy in glorious, honourable combat. Your Role grants you a number of useful, combat focused abilitiesautomatic Shields and healing, for instancebut alas, for those who arent Assassins the Restriction cannot be ignored. All my forces must wait until a challenge is made for a Bell Tower. Then it will release, and the enemy can be slaughtered. However, fortunately for you, you can challenge people to a duel. If they agree, you get to kill them. You will be working closely with my son, and Zoryths daughters.

You should join my cohort, Summoner, said Veshara, only for her sister to let out a little moan of dismay. No, mine!

Junko looked vaguely horrified by the notion. Ill go with him, she said, pointing to Edrin.

Serrin and Marlowe looked at one another then said, in unison, Me too, which caused the daughters eyes to practically boggle.

Precisely who goes where will be up to me, broke in the General.

The General has his own powers, which he can use to strengthen those fighting beneath him, continued the Patriarch. The Lieutenant and the Captains have similar abilities. So, you Champions would do well to stick close to at least one of them. Now, our two Spies. Wu and Yue. Ha, I had better not get that confused, hmm? You can take on the forms of others, and forge various Tokens. Everything you need to get right into the action. Ill be expecting a daily report on what the Morvain Patriarch had for breakfast. Finally, the Diplomat, and the Merchant. He waved a hand toward the Lin siblings. One stops people fighting, the other makes money. Simple enough!

A brief pause followed, the Players around the table digesting the rapid-fire information. The Patriarch didnt give them long. Why, I almost feel as though we have all been working together for years, rather than having only just met! he declared. Lets get straight to business. Mavryn, how do we stand?

The General leaned forwards, elbows on the table, hands clasped together, and took a long, slow look around at them all.

While the General gathered himself, Nicolai received a nudge over Local. Someone was sending out a connection. He recognised it. Wu, whose grasp over her arts had clearly continued to grow since the last time hed seen her. He allowed the connection.

I was surprised to see you here, she spoke. Though I suppose I shouldnt be. Of course you found your way into one of the more major Houses. Though in truth I thought youd end up with Veyron.

They were too annoying, he replied.

Do you find our new master an improvement? She was sitting there outwardly still and quiet, watching the Patriarch expressionlessly. Hes not boring, Ill give him that, she added.

Im not sure. Its hard to get a read on him. Psychology prodded him. Theres something off, he added.

How so?

The others are slightly uncomfortable. More on edge than youd expect just from meeting us.

Maybe theyre just nervous to be meeting the Summoner, I sure am. Everyones talking about her. Howd you end up with her group?

A random sequence of events drew us together, he answered, smiling faintly. She really was curious, to be probing so bluntly.

She and her gang seem pretty enamoured with your young friend, but Im not sure theyre so keen on you, she noted leadingly.

Theyve yet to be entirely charmed by me, but Im sure thatll change soon.

If charm is what youre aiming for, you might want to carry fewer weapons. Im surprised you can even sit down.

I think they add to my charm, if anything.

And why is it, may I ask, that you have decided to invest in new friends? Was I not enough? For just a moment she looked his way, forming a tiny pout from across the table, there and gone in a flash.

Its good to have friends, he answered. Look at you, all that empty space either side. Must get chilly, having no one to watch your back.

But I do have someone to watch my back, right in this room.

He couldnt help but scan those sitting around the table again. And who would that be?

Why, its you.

He let out a quiet snort. I suppose you do. Having another professional here was undeniably a good thing. He could understand her better than others.

They ended the connection and he focused, rewinding to catch up on the seconds hed missed. The General had started droning a few moments ago.

holdings are in the south of the sector. Were bordered by Morvain to the north and east, House Braxil on the west. There are a hundred Bell Towers in this sector, and we control eighteen of them. Eight are part of this compound, but its solid. Morvain will likely strike where were weaker first. We control the Gambling House, which is comprised of four Bell Towers and has two more nearby it. Harder to take than a lone tower, but far easier than this compound, and if they seize it they cut away our main source of income. Our remaining four towers are on the other side of the compound, bordering Braxil, but theyre a minor threat.

Morvain is hungry, put in the Patriarch grimly.

The General nodded. Even before the official start of the war, theyve been probing continuously. The odds of them launching an attack on the first day are high. That will be next week, so any other business should be dealt with now.

They wont take it, declared the Patriarch. We will hold strong, and we will defend the Gambling House! That is where Morvain will strike, and when we repel them, Braxil will know to steer clear.

Mavryn nodded. They border Veyron, and Semerel, as well as us, and there are signs those two might ally. With luck, Morvain may be too busy fighting them to try us. But we should expect an assault. If we can repel it, well have bought some time.

And then we can take their towers, spoke up Edrin, grinning at his father.

Precisely, said the Patriarch, smiling like a cat.

Of which there are eight bordering us, put in the General, well defended by an army of undead and ritual wardings, all close enough to work together against attackers. Even if they are focused elsewhere, taking any of those towers will be far from easy.

But that is what we have you for, is it not? said Zoryth, smirking at the general. And not only will you be aided by my daughters, proven able commanders, but even Edrin! Who Zoryth trailed off, shrugged. Well, perhaps he will surprise us.

Edrin scowled at his uncle. Meanwhile, the Patriarch burst out laughing. Oho, you hear that Edrin? You will have to do better than just being rescued, is what he is saying!

I was ambushed! the younger Person hotly replied. They had twice my numbers, and there were two of them! And I still held them off!

With the help of these two, said Zoryth, waving dismissively towards Nicolai and Serrin.

You should have left him be, put in one of the daughters, which caused the Patriarch to laugh so much he seemed apt to fall from his chair. It ended with the daughters looking smugly toward Edrin, who shot a betrayed look at his father then scowled at the table.

I think he wouldve done just fine on his own, declared Serrin, who Nicolai had sensed stiffened as he watched all this. He was handling them very well, actually, we barely had to do a thing. This pulled a surprised, yet thankful look from Edrin.

I doubt it, replied the Patriarch promptly. How many were there? Zoryth, do you recall how many the Morvain brought to ambush my son?

Zoryth looked a little surprised to be asked, but at length he smiled and replied, Im not sure, the number seems to grow with every recounting.

Really? I thought you were well aware. Anyway, that does remind me. I mentioned I would reward you back then, did I not? The Patriarch asked, gazing at Nicolai.

You did.

Take a hundred Merit Points, each of you. And I hope you will be as useful in what is to come.

And has there been any progress, spoke up Edrin, shooting a sulky glance at Zoryth, on finding out how Morvain knew I was moving at all? Do we still not know? I thought you volunteered for that, uncle.

These things require patience, nephew, said Zoryth. Rooting out a spy is somewhat more delicate work than surviving one.

Why not let the actual Spies handle it? said Edrin, looking to Yue and Wu.

Zoryth sighed, shaking his head. Really, nephew. What do you expect these newcomers to do? They have only just arrived and have no understanding of our House. Leave the spy to me and my daughters. His daughters nodded along, snorting and shooting mocking looks at Edrin, who scowled stonily back.

But the young man began.

It is being handled, Edrin, the Patriarch cut him off, flapping a hand dismissively, surprisingly unconcerned. Let us continue,' he added, looking to the General. What of House Braxil?

What a miserable dynamic, said the Mask. Maybe, replied Psychology. But there is something going on. The Patriarch is planning something. Nicolai could feel it as a focused presence, drawing on an increasingly large share of power as it watched with great interest.

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