After dinner, they all went along the main corridor, with the Princess chatting with one Noble and glancing occasionally at Nozomu, who had two young girls talking with him.
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Robert and Taisetsuna were a little farther behind, and they noticed the Princess doing it, and Robert whispered. “It seems your friend really caused an impression. I never saw her so interested in any of our Nobles that came to visit her, or foreign dignitaries.”
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Taisetsuna slowly nodded while biting her lower lip, realising that Nozomu was gathering a lot of attention from several women, and that was starting to annoy her.
Then, the Princess turned to one door, and a servant quickly opened it. Inside, several tables with four chairs, already set with teapots and cups, ready to be used.
As they sat, the maids served everyone, and Nozomu looked around, staring at the several paintings on the wall and the tapestries on the floor. On the far left wall, there were several life-sized statues of what he thought could be former rulers because of the crowns over their heads. Even with so much to feast his eyes upon, what called his attention was a painting that covered most of the wall at the back.
Puzzled, he got up to approach it and watched the scenery in silence, completely amazed. There it was, in all its glory, the drawing of a mighty Fire Dragon, flying in the sky next to a Water Dragon. Below, on the ground, a white and a red unicorn stared at them, with Magic gathered at the tip of their horns, ready to fight. Hidden behind rocks and trees in the scenery, several people were peeking, as if waiting for the fight that was about to start.
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A young Noble, a friend of Diana Olesk, the one that kept on talking to him during dinner, went to him and stared at the painting as well. After a couple of seconds, and because Nozomu remained in silence, looking at it, she spoke. “I have a similar painting at my home. It’s not as grand as this one, but still quite impressive. The Unicorns look like the ones that came with you.”
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“Yes, I noticed that. But I am most impressed by the Dragons. So far, I have only seen pictures in books. I hope one day be able to see one up close.”
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“You better hope not. Dragons don’t like people very much. They think we are less than bugs, not even worthy of being looked at. They have higher respect for Unicorns because they are almost as powerful with Magic as they are. Most of the time, Dragons challenge Unicorns for a fight, and it always causes a lot of destruction around. There are few Unicorns alive because Dragons often win the fights. And there are not many Dragons because they also fight among them and it takes a long time for a Dragon to hatch from an egg. A lifetime for us, but a mere leaf in the wind for them. Time means nothing for them because they live for millennia.”
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Nozomu nodded, and then he remembered something. “Wait… if God Raluth cleanses the World every three thousand years, does that mean dragons are the only beings that survive the cleansing?”
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From behind them, the Princess’s voice answered. “No one knows for sure, and the Dragons don’t consider other beings worthy of their knowledge. You may have more luck than most people, Nozomu. Every year, when the Academy starts, two Dragons go there. They like to show off and check on the new batch of Adventurers to make sure none of them is foolish enough to go after them. I met them when I went for my admittance tests. Magnificent beings, those two. I never saw them anywhere else, but every time I go to the Academy to make my usual speech at the beginning of a new year of classes, they are there.”
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Taisetsuna was near the Princess, and she asked, “Do they only go to watch the students? And scare them?”
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“Well, they also like to mock the new students. They made a strange promise to a Principal, hundreds of years ago. If a new student could ever beat them, they would be their servants. I have no idea why they made that promise, but until now, they are undefeated.”
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Taisetsuna muffled her laughter and winked at Nozomu, who wondered what she meant. “What? You want to fight them?”
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“Yes, with you. We are going to make two new friends, Nozo! They are Magical Beings, and they use their Magical bodies and their Magic to fight. Meaning…”
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“Oh! Right! If we have Rampage and Furnace with us, it would be even better!”
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The Princess stared at the two smiling youngsters, not knowing if they were being serious or not. Nozomu looked at the painting again and crossed his arms over his chest while saying, “I wonder if we will be able to convince them to take us on a flight. Or having them tell us why God Raluth cleanses the World. Because that is a weird thing for a God to do. If it really happens, that is.”
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That last remark earned him a slap on the back of his head from a frowning Taisetsuna. “This is the second time that you have said blasphemy, Nozo! You are always reading books. You didn’t read one about religion?”
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“I did, but it still puzzles me. I know about the general belief that God Raluth created this World and every being living on it, that he lives inside the World and every three thousand years he resurfaces to judge the state of the world. If he disapproves, he kills every living being and makes new ones. I also know about the Three Commandments. ‘You shall always be honest and faithful. You shall try not to kill anyone unless they pray to a different God. You shall keep your religion to yourself.’ I think questioning beliefs is not being a blasphemer, it’s being curious.”
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Another slap on his head from the still frowning Taisetsuna shut him up. The Princess laughed and went to her table again, with Nozomu still looking at the painting. The young Noble girl made a slight smile and pointed to her table. “Do you want to join me so that we can talk some more?”
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“I don’t mind, but you will get bored rather quickly. I am not that interesting as you may think.”
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“Well, if I get bored, there is some sewing material in that closet on that wall, together with paints, brushes, and paper. This is the room that we use for entertainment, but I believe I won’t need any of that because for sure you have a lot of interesting stories to tell.”
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Nozomu walked to the table, staring at the closet. He pulled the chair for the smiling girl and noticed two other girls also smiling at him, while another seemed annoyed. He greeted them and asked, as he was sitting. “If this is the entertainment room, are there also games in one of the several closets around?”
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One girl nodded and said, “Yes, that most Nobles enjoy, like chessly and bowlingit. Judging by your puzzled look, you don’t know them, right?”
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“I do. I have read about them. I also know them by another name, but the way to play is the same. Playing those games now won’t be very fun, because one takes a long time, and the other we have to throw balls on this floor and make a lot of noise.”
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“What games do commoners play, then? Something boring, probably!”
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Nozomu faced the annoyed look of the unknown girl and said, “You know, you are rather pretty, but making a face like that and looking down on others doesn’t go well with it. In fact, it makes you look rather ugly and rude. I was led to believe that Nobles were at the top of society, not only because of their family history and money, but also because of their education and manners. Lucky you for being young, which means there is still time for improvement. Unless you intend to shame the entire Noble class, that is.”
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While the other girls were muffling their laughter and the annoyed girl was all red, Nozomu said, “Maybe we could play a game that I created some days ago, called Battleship. We just need paper, some ink, and feathers, and we are all set. We can even make some sort of tournament.”
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His words puzzled the girls, and one of them immediately got up and grabbed his hand to go with her to a nearby closet. While the other Nobles on the other tables were looking, Nozomu and the girl returned with the materials, and Nozomu explained the rules of the Battleship game to the curious girls. Taisetsuna made a big smile and went to the closet as well, bringing materials to her table.
She began drawing the grid, with Robert watching what she was doing. The Princess was at a nearby table, and she approached, curious about the weird drawing.
While Robert was holding the paper that Taisetsuna gave him, she explained the rules of that game, and they both hid the papers with the grids from one another and drew the position of their ships.
They began playing the game, and the Princess went to her table to make a grid for herself as well, and she challenged an older Noble to play with her.
In mere minutes, all the tables had four people playing, and they all decided that the ones that won would go to challenge the winner of another table.
After one hour, Nozomu was at a table playing with the Princess, and Taisetsuna was finishing placing her ships, with Diana Olesk on the other edge of the table, grinning.
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She folded her paper and addressed the still distracted Cat-girl. “You know, we could make some sort of bet to make things more interesting.”
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“We could, but I don’t think you have something I would want as a prize, so I will pass.”
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Diana pointed to her bracelet, made of silver and half-precious stones. “I bet you would be very interested in this as a prize.”
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Taisetsuna raised her eyes, glanced at the bracelet, and shrugged. “Maybe, if I wanted to be accused of stealing it the moment I tried to sell it.”
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“Not if I wrote a letter and signed it. That would allow you to sell it if you want, without anyone making too many questions or doubting you.”
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Taisetsuna disguised a smile because she could guess what was coming after that proposal. “I guess. And what do you want as a prize if you win?”
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Diana glanced to the table where Robert Keskula was playing and spoke in a low voice. “If I win, you will stay away from Robert and you will stop seducing him.”
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Taisetsuna grinned and spoke loudly, “The future Countess Diana Olesk is accusing me of seducing you, one-day-to-be Viscount Robert Keskula! She just offered me a bet, and I am supposed to stay away from you if I lose!”
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From the other table, Robert answered, “Why do you think I care? If you run away, I just need to run faster to catch you! What are you supposed to get if you win?”
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“She offered me her bracelet! And a letter saying that she gave it to me so that I could sell it if I want!”
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To the surprise of the red-faced Diana and all the Nobles in that room, Robert Keskula, the best catch of all the single Nobles in the country, answered, “Taisetsuna, if you win, I will offer you a prettier bracelet! If you lose, I will offer you a ring! But I won’t let you sell it, because it will be a gift, and we don’t sell gifts!”
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Taisetsuna made a scary smile while facing the embarrassed future Countess and said, Guess I have got a better offer for your bet. Shall we begin, future Countess? I kind of want a pretty bracelet now."
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“You... are going to be sorry for this... I will win, even if it’s the last thing I do…”
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Taisetsuna stopped herself from laughing and put more paint in the feather before answering, “This is just a game, future Countess, just a game…”
…
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