Author note: Sorry for the delay. Over a week has passed already... thankfully, I have the biggest chapter to date, coming at 6.7k words, literally the size of three old chapters. And please pardon the few typos.
Still, as an apology to keep you waiting, I have added a sneakpeek at Jinn's profile at the end of the chapter.
Adios fellas.
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Chapter 40: Budding Gamblers
There were only a few contestants in the Agility test, and a third of them seemed to have a gift related to Agility. Since no external equipment was allowed, only the speedster augmenters had any chance of winning in this category, while many of the other augmenters wisely chose to partake in other categories.
Perhaps someone like Melina, with high proficiency in Wind and Levitation, would be able to compete, though she was unlikely to fare well closer to the ground. Win or lose, I wished to participate in it as well. No matter how many Haste rune imprints I stacked, it would not last me more than two laps, where the contestants had to complete ten laps.
Looking at their momentum, I believed I could only pass the first round, with no chance of winning against a true speedster.
For the elimination round, there were no hurdles in the Agility test, letting Priam showcase the full capacity of his gift without failing. Among the two dozen competitors in his group, he came first, though there were a couple finishing closely behind. Only the young boy who swindled our money barely made it in time to pass the first round. He tumbled over and lay down on the floor, huffing exaggeratedly.
I sniffed, easily seeing through his act.
“Isn’t Priam only at the second step of Noble Class?” Diana asked. “Is there no one at a higher stage than him in the group?”
There surely were, and more than a couple, including the swindler. It was just that Priam’s gift was top-tier even among Speedsters, and most others that passed were not too inclined to show off from the first round.
Every game had an element of preparation. While absolute power reigned supreme, there was nothing absolute in Noble Class. The more you could hide your abilities and recognise the depth of your competitors, the better you could plan ahead to your advantage. Even the smallest facts could differ a winner from a loser, even if their capacity balanced each other out.
In the days preceding the competition, my mind had been so preoccupied with advancing the Demon Hunter Honour that I paid it no mind. But it looked like I needed to change that.
“Something on your mind?” Eran asked, after answering Diana.
“I need to collect information on my competitors,” I muttered before eyeing my parents. Mum could very well point out the shapers with surprising depth, while Father could read aura like a book.
“You should start with the local gazette,” Mum said, gesturing towards a couple with a whole bunch of colourful newspapers unfolded on their lap. “They seemed to have published a special edition especially for the competition. You won’t find anything critical, but it can give you a general direction of whom to look at.”
I nodded and then added as a reminder, “I think I can move to the fifth step already.”
The Demon Hunter Honour evolution was insufficient to pave a whole step in the Noble Class, but it elevated my essence seed and Aspects enough to carry out further binding with [Vigil of Protection].
“You can attempt it when we get home,” Mum agreed.
Once I reached the fifth step, I would be more at ease. With the Prime Seed, my fifth step could almost be equal to a regular sixth-step Noble Class, not that there were many sixth-step shapers among my competitors. Even the Merriwind heir I fought yesterday was at the third step. There were only a handful of Augmenters a step away from Prestigious Class, but Augmenters supposedly had an easier path early on.
Even still, Shapers had nothing to complain about, with the higher lifespan and a slightly smoother path to Fabled Class compared to common Augmenters.
There were still some other queries I wanted to verify as I advanced towards Prestigious Class, though most of them might not be relevant for my competitions. Either way, I had three trustworthy sources in my parents and Master Kaius to get my answers, though the latter seemed to have disappeared into the wind right after delivering me the blade. If not him, Aunt Emi would be coming in a couple of days. I could always ask her about the Shaper path.
Finishing my rumination, we marched off the stand before dividing from the adults to move our own way, whereas my parents were to attend a meeting with a local alchemist. After much searching around, Mum had finally found an alchemist sufficiently capable to meet her requirement.
Mum wanted me to be there with her to meet the Master Alchemist, but I declined, accompanying my friends instead. But I would surely be there during the process. Only a blighted fool would give up the chance of watching masters of two fields create something unbelievable.
Apart from the prefectural competition, there were other things to watch during the festival. There had been multiple musicals, plays, and stage performances going on every evening. Regrettably, I had to refrain from any such distractions even though I had a great interest in many of them.
Priam joined us, accompanied by Aleya, who only joined today after taking care of her personal business. Priam exchanged winning gestures, slapping palms, grinning from ear to ear. Aleya covertly passed a pouch, saying it was this month’s due.
I was about to stow the pouch into the blessed stone, but the magistratus’s daughter challenged me with a look, saying, “Count it first.”
She gave me no room to wiggle out, so I could only duly oblige. There were exactly ten gold crowns inside, each one equal to eight regular gold Leafs.
“Satisfied?” I asked, finally storing it in an inner pocket.
She nodded. “Your trust warms my heart, but it's always better to be open with wealth, even among friends.”
There was some truth to her words.
“You might not care about a couple of missing coins, but it would set a bad precedent between us. Even if the issue is as simple as a counting error.”
I had not finished speaking when an arm coiled over my shoulder.
“Did you watch how fast I was?” Priam asked. Despite the grin and confident air he radiated, it was evident through his aura alone that he was most relieved that his performance was not bad.
It seemed he had not noticed his competition yet. Should I tell him?
In my silence, Diana chimed jovially, “You were so fast I could only see a blur.”
Then someone moved from my rear out of nowhere. “Of course, of course,” an unfamiliar voice echoed, “I knew you were such an expert the first time I swindled. I mean, the first time we met.”
I turned to find an olive-skinned boy, exactly the youth who swindled our wealth with the cup shuffling game. He noticed my gaze and revealed a jovial smile in my direction, his eyes widening, perhaps recognising the big fat cow among our group. Well, I did lose the most.
I considered the lanky youth. He was almost as tall as Eran, beating me by half a foot, with spindle limbs and an angular, gaunt face. His eyes were bright blue, scanning our group as I scrutinised him.
“It's you,” Eran said with a dark look. “Want to swindle more Leaf out of us?”
“If you’re giving away, I won’t say no,” the boy grinned back, “although my shop got busted after some patricians complained to the authority.”
“How much have you swindled from them?”
“Its not swindling, I won fair and square,” he coughed when everyone shot him a scathing glare. “It's only a tiny amount, nothing that will burn a hole in their pocket,” he paused. “I’m Leaf, by the way.”
“Like the leaves in a tree?” Eran asked.
“No,” the swindler smiled, twirling a copper coin between his fingers, “like a Gold Leaf.”
“Good name,” Eran snorted.
“I know. I gave it myself.”
“Enough with your bullshit,” Priam snorted, slapping him on the shoulder. “When are you going to return our money?”
Leaf scrunched his nose. “There might be a problem in that. You see, I may have already spent it all. But no matter. I can help you recover all the Leafs and perhaps even some more.”
“You cheat!” Priam yowled. “You said you’ll give it all back. I should have known better than to believe a swindler.”
“Believe me, you all will earn back more than you lost,” Leaf said in the most earnest tone, his gaze meeting all of us. “Just listen to me, I have a lot of experience in running these games and”
“You want us to gamble more?” Eran asked, his expression darkening.
“Um, not more. Only a tiny amount.”
“You think we are all big suckers,” I glared at the youth.
“No, only a generous amount.” Leaf coughed and corrected quickly, “No, what I wanted to say is Generous. Yes, rich and generous with a big heart, only comparable to Saint Silverheart himself.”
I shot him an odd glance. Funny, someone is using my own grandfather’s name to swindle me.
Leaf did not seem to notice my strange look or the correlation, continuing, “I’m sure you can spare a measly few coins. I assure you, on my very name, you’ll get back what you lost and even earn a large surplus.”
I believed that was something a swindler would say.
But of course, not everyone was able to see through Leaf. “What exactly are you talking about?” Priam asked.
“It's better if I show you,” Leaf said, leading out of the colosseum.
“Priam, I won’t give you any more coins to gamble on,” Aleya said, admonishing.
“Give me a break already. Didn’t you see how well I performed?”
Aleya sighed, looking around at us, well, more like at me, for help. I was unsure how I could assist when her brother would not even listen to her.
“I need to buy a gazette,” I said, turning in the other direction.
Leaf appeared in a blur beside me. “The prefecture competition edition, isn’t it? Let's go, I’ll get you one. Consider it an apology for the other day.”
I sized up the youth and the earnest gaze he was shooting me. Despite that, I could not help but feel that he was up to no good.
“I can also help you size your competition,” Leaf continued, before whispering into my ear. “I have a connection to a very reliable intelligence dealer. They can help you get more than what you are looking for.”
I gave him another look, deliberating. Hmm, it did not hurt much to see. It was not as though he could force me to gamble.
Under Leaf’s lead, we stumbled from the main street to a narrow blue stone lane, moving left and right as the pathway grew narrower and narrower until we could only move in line, shoulders brushing chipped walls.
“That’s it,” Aleya said in her most commanding tone, “we are not going any further.”
She did not have to accompany us, but being the only adult among the group, she seemed to have taken it upon herself to ensure that we did not involve ourselves in any shady businesses.
“It's just ahead,” Leaf said. “It's all proper business, you have nothing to worry.”
She sniffed when Leaf stopped before a rather prosperous tavern named Lucky Drinker. Although it was deep within the more impoverished region, it was still within the inner city, not a place that quite tolerated nefarious business. At least not openly.
“Come in,” Leaf invited. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Even though it was early afternoon, and the masses were busy with the festival, the tavern was already half full, with various odours, sweet, sour, or pungent, wafting about. More than a few pairs of eyes darted at our arrival, sizing up our forms or the equipment we wore.
“Don’t worry about them,” Leaf said, moving past the aisle of segmented booths which provided the barest privacy for the patrons. “Come this way.”
He paused only when the tavern keeper appeared, a plump woman with dyed brown hair and fair skin.
“Leafy dear, you’re early today,” she said. “Don’t tell me you’re already out of the competition.”
“Not yet,” the youth said with a big smile. “I’m taking them to the betting chamber.”
The woman spared each one of us a look before mumbling something with Leaf. With my attributes, I should have been able to listen in, not to mention the proximity. However, that was not the case. Before I figured out the exact mechanism allowing it, Leaf was already standing before us.
“Normally, only two people were allowed at once in the chamber, but I called in a big favour with Rosie here to get all of you to enter together. No need to thank me.”
I rolled my eyes, while Priam snorted, “Nobody is intending to.”
The room next door was not as wide as the tavern, with identical wood flooring and a few furnishings for sitting. Two closed antechambers, each with only a barred window, were set on the north side of the chamber. Only one lazy man sat snoring in one of them, with the sign ‘open’ hanging on it.
“I swear,” Priam warned the young booker, “if you scheme to get more Leafs out of me, I’ll jerk your head like an old penny box until the coins come out of your mouth.”
“Hoho, you kid,” Leaf let out a fit of laughter, but stopped when he found nobody joining him. He coughed, peering at the unkind gazes judging him. “Anyway, what better ways to earn back your loss than by betting on yourselves. Your name is Priam, right? Let me see your odds.”
Shifting towards the left wall where big blackboards were hung, Leaf moved through the tables of names and categories to find Priam.
“Priam Octavious, not bad. It's 1 to 3.4.”
A gusset of air rose, and Priam was already standing next to him, squinting at the list of names.
“What about my odds?” Eran asked, his curiosity pulling him closer to find his name as well.
I found it earlier than him. “3 for Endurance,” I said, pointing, “and 5.4 for going into the final round of Fencing, and 27.5 for winning it all.”
“Just to be safe,” Eran stared at it for a breath and then asked, “If I put any coins on me winning the Fencing competition, I’ll get 27.5 times that much.”
“Pretty much,” Leaf answered. “Well, minus the house fee.”
For a second, Eran considered it and then let out a sigh, giving up. “Let’s see yours, Ari.”
He moved to the Noble Class segment, searching for my name in the category of duels.
“It's 7.1,” Priam said. “Heh, my odds are actually better than yours.”
“Wait, let me look.” Eran scurried to stand next to him, while my eyes gazed upon all my odds. Duelling, being arguably the main event, seemed to be the most influential among the gamblers as well, given the number of slots they had divided it into.
Either way, I could not help but feel somewhat offended at my odds.
1 to 1.1 for Top 64.
1 to 1.3 for Top 32.
1 to 2 for Top 16.
1 to 2.6 for Top 8.
1 to 4.5 for Top 4.
And finally, 1 to 7.1 for the championship.
I bet they were worse before I fought Melina. Thinking of her, I found her name, and my offence grew larger. Her odds of winning were actually better than mine. It was 1 to 5 when I had actually defeated her at 7 to 1.
While I was busy wrapping my head around the odds, my friends were already bringing out shiny coins from their pockets or purses.
“I only have 18 silver Leafs on me,” Eran sighed, before giving it all to Leaf. “Put it all on Arilyn winning the duels.”
Leaf gladly took the money before asking, “Reaching the top 64 or further?”
“Reaching the final and winning it,” Eran returned.
“I have 2 golds,” Diana said triumphantly, bringing out two gleaming gold Leafs from her satin purse.
“Your bet on?” Leaf asked, taking the coins with great courtesy that only gold Leafs deserve.
“Same as Eran.”
The same story went for Priam as well, though for the first time, he was poorer than the innkeeper’s daughter, courtesy of Diana finally being able to craft some elementary fabricators. But that did not matter right now. I needed to stop this madness before it took them all.
“Wait, what are you fools doing?” I cried.
Before entering, none of them had any intention of gambling, after they lost a large part of their savings the other day. Now look at them.
“Aleya,” Priam continued as though he didn’t hear me, “can you lend me some coins? I’ll give it back after I get my prize money for reaching the final round.”
“No,” Aleya said. Finally, someone with some sense. I had not yet released a breath of relief, waiting for the adult to help them see reason, when she too brought out two gold Leafs. “I’m waging myself. All on Arilyn.”
I rubbed my forehead. “Not you too.”
“I personally detest gambling,” the magistratus’s daughter said, “but I’d be a blighted fool to not wager on a winning lot.”
Diana and Eran nodded sagely, while Priam poked his sister, asking for a loan.
“Not another word, I already owe so many coins from you that I lost count.”
“Come on, I’ll give it back after I get my prize money.”
“You say that, but you never do.”
“This time I will. I promise, Aleya.”
The only one who seemed to share a little of my emotion was actually the young booker, who looked at me in utter befuddlement.
“Big brother of mine,” he coaxed, shifting closer to me, “are you by chance an illegitimate prince of the empire? Secretly trained on mountains and finally readying yourself to debut through winning the competition?”
“Kah! That’s exactly right,” Priam laughed. He slammed his palm on my shoulder as though he had already won the gamble. “That’s exactly who he is.”
Leaf narrowed his eyes, sizing me up once again. “I mean, he does have the look.”
Even my best friend and fellow apprentice could not hide their mirth hearing him.
“Arilyn Arcis O’Ryon,” Leaf read the name from the list, considering out loud. “There’s no Patrician house with the surname O’Ryon, or is there?”
“Enough of this nonsense,” I said, unable to bear the theatrics any longer. “Eran, do you remember what my mother and your parents said after you lost money gambling the other day?”
Mum’s exact words were, “Only gamble for fun, never for earning.”
“And Diana, are you so rich after earning a few coins that you gamble in gold coins now?”
At least she had the decency to appear abashed.
I was about to go to Priam, but my lips froze upon finding Leaf ready to wager all the money he had received.
“You get back here right this instance,” I shouted. “You’re not taking their money.”
“What? What money?” The youth turned, showing empty hands, his face ridden with no sign of guilt.
I glared at him, whereas the youth moved nonchalantly, distributing tickets pertaining to each of their wagers. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
“You all.” I peered at each of them, exasperated. “Fine, don’t come to me when you lose.”
“Why?” Eran asked. “Are you going to lose?”
I scrunched my nose. “No, but”
“Then it settled.”
I considered his look and snorted, an idea dawning on me. “Fine, you love gambling on me. I’ll do the same.” Bringing out a single coin from the pouch I had gotten earlier, I tossed it to Leaf. “Set it on Eran winning the Endurance test.”
“Blighted gods, a Crown leaf,” Leaf beamed, biting into the hard metal, perhaps for authenticity or perhaps just to have a taste. He seemed like someone too obsessed with wealth.
“Ari, stop, you can’t”
“So now I can’t?” I snored. “Just watch what I can and cannot.”
I was wondering to put the coin on Priam’s odds when a palm clasped on my shoulder.
“Don’t waste wealth just ‘cause you’re irritated,” Aleya said. Her gaze turned to Leaf. “You, give the coin back.”
“Umm, what coin?” Once again, he showed his empty palms.
“The one on the back of your left palm, between your ring and middle finger.”
Leaf turned his left palm, and there was no coin. “There’s no coin.”
“It’s on your sleeve right now,” Aleya sneered. Leaf was ready to go on again, opening his sleeve. “Stop with your lousy tricks. I can do it already.”
Leaf took it as a challenge.
Aleya was truly angry. Before it could escalate into something physical, I added, “I have faith in Eran winning, just as you showed faith in me.”
She met my gaze, measuring it and finally acquiesced. “Fine. But do not bet anything on this fool.”
“Hey,” her brother whined, rubbing his shoulder where he got a slap. “I’m doing just fine.”
I could wager on him reaching the final round of fencing, though there was not a high chance of that. As for Agility, there was no chance of him winning it this year.
“Just fine he says,” Aleya sniffed. “Please, I have seen Arilyn dice through cursed flies and devourers alike. What were you doing back then?”
“I fought too. I killed a dozen of those nasty flies.”
“It was no more than seven, and only the lesser ones, I know because I was there, saving your sorry arse before you get yourself encircled.”
“Big talk for someone who could not do half of what Arilyn did when he was half her age.”
“Ugh! I’m only three years older than him.”
“And still failed to manage a quarter.”
Sometimes it was endearing to watch the siblings bicker, but decidedly that was not the case now. Turning my gaze to the board, I found my odds for the crafting competition were much more trustworthy. Only 1 to 2, with Tera having a lower number at 1 to 1.4.
“There are a few,” Leaf said, “in your competition who can achieve half of what they were talking about. But of course, you have nothing to fear, big brother. It's only half.”
I spared him a displeased glance, but clearly the fellow was not stopping.
“So what if Kelvin can stop spells with his bare chest. What if Lady Melina knows the name of the wind? What if Marnus Nerva can win duels without moving a muscle, or Paximus, who had forsaken the helm of a knight, even after defeating a prestigious knight. None can stand to you. You’ll be the dark horse that ends their fable before it even begins. You’ll be the woe to their defeat. The champion to their---”
Unable to bear any more, I interjected, “Paximus defeated a knight?”
“Apparently so. I heard the Grand Knight of the order came to apologise and take him as his squire, but Paximus, being the valiant warrior he is, refused, not even giving face to the Grand Knight.”
“Enough with the theatrics."
“Well, I was not there, only heard the rumours, and you know people have the habit of romanticising knights.”
“Did he defeat a knight, not?” I asked.
“That,” he paused. “There’s some authenticity to it. Although, despite what many rumourmongers claim, it was a friendly spar.”
Still, that was something. Even at the peak of Noble Class, defeating a Prestigious Class Knight was no easy task, especially since all the orders of knights have their own inheritance and relics. Either way, his odds reflected the tale, standing at 1 to 1.8 for winning the duels altogether. He had the worst gambling odds among all the names I sifted through the list.
“What about the other names you mentioned?” I asked. If there were no other people named Kelvin, then it was the burly youth with Cassius, though I was more impressed with Cassius himself than his friend. Kelvin had odds at 3.5, with Cassius slightly behind.
“Kevin is a knight squire in the order of Iron Knights. The fellow is huge, and not just for his age. Lady Melina is, of course, the daughter of Orin Merriwind, the Guardian Knight of Klearon...”
There were only a couple of other names within the unit of three, with only a single name having worse gambling odds than Paximus.
Marnus Nerva with the odds of 1 to 1.3.
“Who is this Marnus Nerva?” Priam asked, frowning. “I think I heard the name somewhere.”
“You’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t,” Leaf said.
Well, I had not. What does that say about me?
“Marnus Nerva is the evident winner of the competition,” Leaf announced. Then he seemed to see the odd look in my eyes and added, “Of course, that what everyone says. Everyone bet their life savings and their neighbours on him winning the duels. Look at his odds.” He let out a shrill cry. “Blighted ashes, 1.3?! Its 1.3 already? At this rate, even the winner will lose money.”
“How do winners lose money?” Diana asked, sounding a little concerned. Perhaps for both her coins and me.
“There’s house fee,” Aleya explained. “The gambling house takes a cut. What is the percentage here again?”
“Only a moderate 18%,” Leaf said with a proud smile.
“EIGHTEEN PERCENT!” Everyone except Aleya and me cried in unison. If you folks learned about the taxes now, you'd be crying a river.
“Why don’t you rob us already?” Priam said, miffed.
“You folks are overreacting,” the young booker said with a shake of his head. “You think gambling is tax-free, don’t you? Well, I hate to break it to you, but that isn’t the case. 18% is completely within reason. After the bookers and higher ups gets their cut, the house is barely left with a couple of crumbs of the big pie.”
“Unless you alter the odds to your benefit, of course,” I added.
Leaf’s chest rose, his mouth opening, taking huge offence. “We are a prestigious house that deals with high stakes. Our reputation is well-renowned. Ask anybody, we never swindled a single penny from your winning, as for altering the odds when nobody’s looking? Well, we do it only when we are losing money, and at a great moderation.”
If I took any of his words seriously, I would be a bigger fool than the fellow who decided to cross the deadlands without water.
“Leaf!” shouted the man in charge of taking the bets. “Stop uttering horsecrap to our patrons. I swear, half of our bad name came from your snivelling tongue.”
The young swindler was mildly peeved, but did not confront the older man.
“You’re talking about Marnus Nerva,” I pointed out, trying to get back on track.
“Oh, yeah, Marnus is a shaper, coming from House Nerva of Endirya, I think.” Leaf paused, trying to remember what little things he could sell to us. “He’s more private than most other contestants, but he has fought in the last few Rift breakings. I even heard he had already gotten the Prestigious Demon Hunter Honour beforehand. Hmm, the elements he showed heavy mastery of fire and earth.”
What a coincidence. I had gotten the Demon Hunter Honour as well, and my most potent elements were Fire and Earth. Well, if you ignored the terrible, terrible diabolical force of Lightning. But Melina had some of that, too, only she could not quite channel it during our duel.
“Wait, you said his house is from Endirya?” Aleya asked. “Not from Klearon?”
I arched an eyebrow. Endirya was a prefecture perhaps not measuring up to Klearon and its region in area, but it was much more affluent, with notable guilds and many Patrician houses.
“Not only that, but I heard he’s also almost the uncrowned heir to the house,” Leaf said, “here to win accolades for himself and House Nerva to consummate his standing as the only heir.”
A silence fell into the chamber until finally Eran asked the burning question on everyone’s mind, “Why are they allowing someone from Endirya to participate in the prefecture competition in Klearon?”
“It is just as you think it is,” Leaf said. “Every year, there’s one or two noble lordlings from other prefectures who join the competition and hog whatever prize and honour they can land. After all, in greater prefectures or states like Endirya, or Rayas, the competition is much higher.” Leaf paused to spare me a glance. “By any chance, are you the same?”
I did not bother answering, deep in thought.
“We all lived in a southern mountain valley of the Candor Mountains,” Aleya snorted, coming to my defence.
As if that did not narrow it down, Priam added, “My father is the Magistratus of the valley, and he has to report to the Prefectus of Klearon.”
“Well, that clears things up,” Leaf said, giving a meaningful glance in my direction.
I guessed my enchanted attire gave the wrong impression. While it was not the most eye-catching, anyone with an eye could see it was a lavish set piece.
“To answer your question,” Leaf said, “it’s not against the law for someone from another prefecture joining the competition here. The law is simple. Someone has to be affiliated with Klearon for at least two years to make the cut.”
“Still,” Eran said, making a fist, “this is so infuriating.”
“Good for you that they don’t care much about the Common category.”
I noticed Diana’s sombre look and could not help but joke, “Already worried about your coins?”
She shot a miffed look. “Are you not worried at all?”
“I am...” I said, “intrigued.”
“That’s the spirit,” Leaf said, wiggling his spindly arm around my shoulder. “I know a good sport when I see one.”
Batting his arm away, I shot a warning glare. “If by intelligence this is all you can offer, I think you should procure my gazette now before we went our way.”
“Why leave so early?” Leaf whined. “I believe your generous and heroic heart can bestow a few more coins, common gold be they may. If not on the valiant efforts of your companions, believe in thyself, and wager, as you finally have a worthy foe to trample. Vae victis!”
Black lines appeared on my forehead as I shook my head. “Which theatre do you act in?”
“Solien Play House,” Leaf actually answered. “But I left a couple of years ago.”
“Over actor much?”
“Nah, I left myself. The wages they offered are worse than a bucket of horse manure could sell for.”
I sniffed, “Out of everything you said today, that is the only believable sentence if I heard any.”
“Ah, you wound me, big brother.” Leaf rubbed the right side of his torso, bending over.
Heart is on the left, numbskull.
“Sod off, I’m at least a year younger than you.” I groaned in exasperation.
“Of course, of course, age is but a number. It is thy heart that you’re bigger, and I cannot help but”
“Enough already,” I cut in before his rant could go further. “Bring me the information you offered, or we are leaving.”
Perhaps he had had enough, or perhaps he noted the seriousness in my eyes and finally relented. “Give me just a moment, perhaps wager a few more coins to entertain, I’ll go and return in an instance with the most trustworthy intelligence.”
With that, he dashed off, leaving a burst of wind in his wake.
“He’s something alright,” Aleya said in exasperation.
That I had to admit. With sudden curiosity, I searched his name on the list of Noble Class Agility category, and my eyes widened.
Leaf Orden’s odds were 1 to 8, far higher than Priam and any other contestant in the category. My lips could not help but curl up, sniffing at the conspiracy.
Without much consideration, I brought out another crown Leaf and crept to the counter.
“Arilyn, are you not...” Aleya reminded and then faltered when she heard the name I called.
“One crown Leaf on Leaf Orden winning the whole Agility category.”
The booker in charge lifted his head to scan my face, a strange look appearing on his face. “Young master, you’re wasting your coin. That boy isn’t even worth a copper chip to bet on. Why waste your gold when you can bet on yourself?”
Now you’re simply confirming my suspicion.
I repeated my earlier phrase. The booker was still reluctant to take it.
“How about this? You take this bet, and I’ll bet more on myself.”
I could see the cogs moving in the man’s head immediately.
“No less than two crown Leafs,” he called, “and you have a deal.”
“You can have four,” I snorted.
“Ari, are you certain?” Eran asked.
“It is a considerate sum of money,” Aleya added, “even for you.”
Perhaps a couple of months ago. Now, it was merely one long evening’s work. The Ward Formation I made in the opening round of the crafting competition could net me fifty gold Leafs of profit after a little tweaking.
“Don’t worry,” I assured them, “I know what I’m doing.”
After setting the bet, I inspected the two new tickets, storing them away, my lips curling up involuntarily.
Leaf, you little swindler, you called me big brother with a big heart, how can I not show a little bit of generosity to my little brother?
Thinking of the devil, the scrawny youth dashed in with a gust of wind right at that moment.
“The gazette is free of cost, as I promised.” He handed me a rolled-up paper, though my eyes were on the number of stapled pages. It was sufficiently thick to be a notebook. “I first thought about only taking information on the competitions you are partaking, but knowing big brother’s big heart, I took it upon myself to bring in intelligence on categories your friends are participating in as well.”
He sure is as shrewd as anyone I have met.
“Let me have a look first,” I said, almost taking it off his hand. But of course, Leaf was swifter, moving away.
“Brother, payment up first,” Leaf asked, holding up a palm. “What if you have a look first and find the information not to your liking? Who’s going to pay the informant then?”
“What if the information is untrustworthy, or commonplace?”
The speedster met my gaze, measuring up. “Looks like we are at an impasse.”
“Offer me a single page of some notable character’s information. Hmm, actually show me my own or Paximus’s information, that way I can verify its authenticity.”
“That’ll certainly solve it,” Leaf said jovially. “With Big Brother’s big heart, I won’t have to worry about him taking advantage of poor Leaf.”
“Just quit it already. We’re losing daylight.”
Leaf perused through the dozens of pages at a thunderous pace before frowning at one. He moved on to another page. Satisfied with it, he unclipped it and handed it to me.
It held all the information on Paximus.
“Shrewd as ever,” I snorted, my eyes leafing through the information offered on the page. It was quite thorough, denoting not only Paximus’s Dawn and Enhancement essence, but a speculation on his gift, his strength, weakness, as well as the lightning spear he procured recently, the spear I reforged for him. “If the information on other candidates is thorough, we have a deal.”
“I won’t lie, there are a couple of odd ones with little information, someone with contrasting information, but the rest are all thorough.”
I believed one of the odd ones there was myself.
“The informant set the price at 20 Gold Leafs, but considering our relation, and the dealings ahead of us, I manage bring it down to sixteen. Just toss up two of those dark gold chips, and it's all yours.”
“You think I’m a big sucker?”
I’d believe it from anyone’s mouth but yours. I had already set aside the leftover of the pouch Aleya gave me earlier for it, not knowing how much information costs. But once the buck asked for two Crown Leafs, I knew he was pulling the number from his arse.
Although we were barely acquaintances, I could already judge his character. A free-spirited fellow like him was either generous with a heart of gold or as mean as a miser. Even a kid could tell he was not the former.
“Twelve gold Leafs,” Leaf said, smiling embrassedly. “Final price.”
I peered at him, trying to read his aura without it being too invasive. I was not particularly good at it. Father lacked the talent as well, whereas even though Mum’s aura was weaker compared to his, she was astonishingly good at it. She could not read my mind, but she could tell when I was hiding something because I had given up on lying to her from an early age, learning the futility of it.
Leaf had much better control of his aura than Priam, who had already moved through the Noble Class at a startling pace, yet had little control of his aura. I blamed the essence tonic he drank to even the gap. It did not give him time or the systematic progression to be used to his aura.
Gaining nothing useful, I chanced on halving his initial number, “1 crown Leaf and you’ll let me skim through the papers.”
“But”
“You have my word. If the information is as thorough as you make it out to be, and you're not withholding anything for another quick buck, I’ll give you the coin immediately."
The speedster heaved a breath. “You’re really not as gullible as those young nobles,” he said before giving the notes to me. “This is all I got.”
Without commenting on that, I perused through the intelligence, my higher mental faculty allowing me to take in the information quickly. I only faltered a little on my own information, scrunching my nose. They really did not know I’m a shaper, it seems.
That also meant the informant’s connection was not as deep as Leaf let on. Then again, they had to have men at either Karmel or Elinum to have more information on me. Other than that, however, the intelligence was as good as I could get without having any connection to the information brokers.
Since I gave my word, I fished out another dark gold coin and tossed it to him. “A pleasure doing business with you.”
With that, we turned to leave.
“Oh, you might want to fix your odds at the Agility category. It's too high.”
****
“I have returned!” I announced as soon as I got back, triumphantly showing off the goods. “Not only have I acquired the gazette you mentioned, but also vital information on my competitors.”
Mum was perched on the couch, sifting through some notes. She spared me a glance and then looked at the papers in my hand.
“You make your mother proud,” Father said, sniffing on tea.
“How astute!” Mum exclaimed.
Blighted ashes, the theatrical air is too contagious.
Mum took the notes from my hand, skimming through them with an odd smile on her lips. “So much knowledge, it must have cost a ton.”
“Only a crown.”
“Only a crown he says,” she said, turning to Father. Then she tossed the papers she was holding. “Here, I got you the same information with a quarter of that crown.”
I caught the notes and did a double-take. “Mine held information on Eran and Priam’s competition, too, so it came with a premium.”
And I did not believe that fellow would even give me the gazette free of cost.
“So you think if your father and I went buy intelligence on the competition, he’ll forget about his little apprentice?"
I met their gaze, then looked at the papers in my hand, my expression souring. “That scrawny little”
“Language!”
===========
The betting odds need some work, but I'm sleep deprived, and tried to make the math mathing.
(You may see a few changes in the profile, don't worry about it.)
[Profile]Jinn O’RyonPath: Blight Ripper (Fabled)
Honours: Blight Defier (Legendary), Master of Sword (Epic), Aura Master (Fabled), Ta’Shin (Fabled), Jinn of Ryon (Fabled), Wielder of Ouroborus (Fabled), Rift Walker (Prestigious)
Attributes: [+140%]
Attuned Sword Aura (Ascended): +1566
Blade Perception (Greater): +999
Blight Resistance (Greater): +999
Apex Constitution (Greater): +999
Forged Soul (Greater): +223
Heroic Heart (Major): +877
Uncommon Recovery (Advanced): +319
Gift:
Nullification
SoulWard/Soul Relic:
Blight Ripper Robe
[Redacted]