Chương 86: Chapter 23

"To us!" Ren cheered, raising his goblet of wine to toast the rest of their Lance and Apricot's. The wine had flowed freely the entire evening following their debrief. Goblets clinked as everyone accepted the toast with varying levels of enthusiasm. The twelve students sat around a long table within Fire and Ice, one of the finest dining establishments in Arcadia's fourth layer.

"Congrats again on getting first place this time around, Apricot," Shaya said, smiling at her friend as they sat next to each other.

"Indeed," Oraeus added from the other side of Apricot, scooched close enough to her that Shaya could consider it intimate, "infiltrating a bandit lair and taking them all in alive is an impressive feat."

"Aw, thanks," the small woman said, looking between them with a blush.

"It's the result of all our hard work and having Lan back."

"The Lance functioned quite well in my absence under your leadership," Lan deflected, cool as usual, then turned his attention to Oraeus.

"And congratulations on getting second place, and still walking away with some choice monster parts despite everyone's missions focusing on banditry."

"Yeah, thanks, 'Jinx,'" Bri smirked, looking pointedly at Shaya, "maybe you could stop tempting fate all the time?"

"Psht, nonsense"—Shaya crossed her arms—"we'd get less loot that way! I still have to make up for my lost stipend and cut last time." Bri snatched the last of the duck while Shaya was in her defensive posture, earning her a betrayed look.

"Did you just trick me to get the last of the food?"

"Yep—always cheat, always win, right?"

"That's my line!"

"I know, I figure you have to respect my victory now."

"…There will be a reckoning, Bri. Mark my words!"

"I don't think so," Bri said, licking the grease from her fingers, "especially not when you see the gift we got you."

"…Gift?" Shaya said, looking confused.

"For what?"

"For balancing the scales," Bri replied, pulling a large box from under the table and sliding it towards Shaya.

"Our Lance came together to get this for you after our first mission."

"Thanks, folks." Shaya took the gift box from Bri, lifting it slightly from the table to get a sense of its weight.

"You really didn't have to."

"That's why it's called a 'gift,' Shaya," Oraeus explained with a sardonic smile. Shaya shot the infernal noble a sour look, but couldn't maintain it. She was happy to see Oraeus slowly warming up to the group and getting more comfortable cracking jokes. And Apricot's giggle at his lame joke just warmed her own heart too much to hold a grudge.

"Alright, alright," she sighed, pulling the box closer to her.

"Thank you, it means a lot to me that you went out of your way to do this for me and think I'm worth it."

"I dunno," Ren said, "I'm not sure if someone that can get burned by Oraeus really deserves a gift, is it too late to take it back?"

"Yes, Ren," Samorn chided with a smile.

"The gift is for the risks she took to get us through our first deployment."

"And for punching Azreon in the face," Shepherd added.

"Is that what you meant by 'balancing the scales'?" Shaya asked, turning to Bri with a cocked eyebrow.

"Yep," Bri nodded, "that's how we Knights of Justice refer to it, obviously."

"I really have to question the Astorian definition of 'justice.'" Shaya snorted.

"But I'm sure you're a shoo-in for the Order now."

"Why thank you—now open your gift!" The table went quiet as Shaya removed the lid from the heavy wooden box and gasped at the contents. She stood up to get a better view, shaking her head in disbelief. With trembling hands, she pulled out the front part of a cuirass shaped from the inky-black shell of the undead Titan they had bested in their first deployment. The smooth cuirass was left the shell's natural colour, but buffed to a matte finish that would allow for stealth.

Despite that, the cuirass did include a subtle flourish: a rampant gryphon holding three arrows was etched into it.

"I'm surprised you could figure out my family's heraldry," Shaya chuckled, restraining tears of joy, "given how faded all my clothing is."

"Samorn asked around," Bri explained, grinning up at her, "just to make sure we got it right."

"It was nothing, really," Samorn said, waving away the praise with a mischievous smile.

"Bri is the one who suggested we do this in the first place."

"No I didn't," Bri said quickly, blushing.

"I simply raised the idea we were all thinking about and suggested a suitable gift."

"Uh-huh," Ren said, "I'm pretty sure you're the one who twisted my arm—literally—until I agreed."

"To be fair," Shepherd added, their sharp smile growing, "I was ready to join in."

"Which was definitely the turning point." Ren nodded, shuddering at the memory.

"Auric says that it's harder than iron and lighter than steel," Shepherd said, turning their attention to Shaya.

"And we went with a design that would allow you to keep your mobility, since we know you've been wishing for more flexibility in combat."

"Yep! Shepherd was awesome for finding that out," Bri said, still blushing, then looked at their silent companion, "and Oraeus is the real hero here, he's the one who inlaid the armour with enchantments."

"Nothing significant," he replied, "just using the Titan shell's natural Amethyst reserves to fuel a basic protective spell against necromantic energies." Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Now I'll never beat her in a duel," Shepherd complained, crossing their multi-jointed arms.

"It's just a breastplate, pauldrons, vambraces, and greaves, Shepherd," Oraeus soothed.

"Just aim better."

"That's easy for you to say," they retorted.

"You can predict where she'll move, the rest of us have to figure it out quickly while she's attacking us." Oraeus shrugged.

"I can't help that being perfectly rational attracted the optimal esper."

"While I'm always happy to listen to how awesome I am…" Shaya said, looking at everyone from her Lance, "thank you, all of you. This is an awesome, kingly gift—and it sounds like there's even more to this. You're the best Lance a woman could ask for."

"Hear! Hear!" Ren said, raising his goblet for another toast. Apricot and her Lance joined in the toast, then the small woman looked to Lan sheepishly.

"Sorry, Lan, we didn't get you anything."

"That's quite alright," he chuckled.

"I didn't punch Azreon in the face, so I don't see how I deserve a gift."

"I still can't believe he and his Lance jumped up to fifth last mission," Lucurian said, shaking his head and taking another sip of wine. Apricot's Ruby mage was a tall, ropey Veyeiran wearing warm, summer colours, his voice a smooth tenor.

"I guess he is capable of learning," Calanna added with a smirk. Their Lance's Azurite mage was Vayeiran like Luc, possessing the same minor inheritance from their God Cirithill and affinity for summer. Cal was the polar opposite of Samorn, her wit mean-spirited and her ego abrasive.

"He's not a complete idiot," Shaya said, surprising her friends and even herself.

"There's at least some level of cunning to him, even if it only seems to be toward sadistic ends."

"I'm surprised to hear you, of all people, say that," Cerud said. Apricot's Amber mage was a surprisingly short and wiry Zothirian, given that Amber mages were often the frontline shield of their comrades.

"I watched what he did to you during our Abjuration class, he and Basillo are both loathsome individuals. At least they seem to be reining that in, for now."

"I think he's an idiot because he judges people based on shallow information," Shaya explained with a shrug.

"It would be hypocritical to write him off based on our brief—albeit awful—interactions. That's his shortcoming, not mine."

"Well said," Apricot's Jade mage, Melda, added, her voice gentle and introspective.

"I'm happy to see Una's Lance jumping up to third place. That advancement at least feels well-earned. I remember the amount of damage they all sustained in our first deployment." She shuddered.

"It was foolish of them, but they at least went down fighting tooth and nail."

"Agreed," Shaya said, a few of her Lancemates nodding as well.

"I'm meeting with her and Bari after class tomorrow to go over a new spell I want to learn, so I plan to congratulate her then. And offer to sell her some of my loot."

"Oh?" Ren said, eying the waitress appreciatively as she cleared the empty plates from their table.

"I didn't think you were keen on sharing with rivals."

"I still need the money," Shaya chuckled.

"And I don't need two giant raptor femurs anyway."

"Why'd you go with a bone instead of hide or claw?" Cerud asked.

"Those monsters looked nasty."

"Given that Fraxils' mutation manifested by transmuting their bodies into wood or plant matter," Shaya said, "I figure that their bones would likewise be in a strange between-state, and Bari confirmed my suspicion. The femurs should take to both wood and bone manipulation spells, making them excellent and durable hafts."

"What are you going to make out of it?" Apricot asked, expression curious as she leaned back to give the waitress space to set down tiny plates of dessert.

"You'll have to wait and see." Shaya grinned, then thanked the waitress as she left. Everyone dug into their desserts: a deep-fried, crisp pastry stuffed with hot, melted chocolate that oozed out when you bit into it, and a side of whipped cream garnished with fresh fruits. It was as if heaven was consumable, and Shaya was all for it. Based on how silent everyone at the table grew, she guessed they were likewise in rapture, just as they had been each time a course was delivered to their table.

It had been some time since Shaya had allowed herself to enjoy sweets, her more rigorous diet cutting them in favour of lean meats, hearty vegetables, and affordable grains. The diet was starting to show results, her figure shedding some of the fat caused by her predilection for honey cakes back in Mangdae, and that gave her muscles more definition. Soon, she'd expect her more intense workouts to give her muscles a more chiselled appearance as well.

In a strange sense, she was thankful for the famine, uncertain if she would have been able to stick to it if she could have afforded to eat sweets.

"The food here is sooo good," Shaya moaned, not even embarrassed by it.

"I can't believe you managed to get us a private room here, Samorn. I bet the other diners can barely hear how awful we are."

"It is my pleasure," she replied, eating her dessert with delicate motions.

"Fortunately, my family's forests are famed for the quality of our venison and boar, so I have a few connections to the restaurants of the Empire. They come in handy when I want to treat friends—or myself, if I'm being honest."

"What amazing connections to have." Bri sighed in satisfaction, swirling her wine before sipping more of it.

"Mhm!" Ren agreed, fluffy tail flicking with pleasure.

"I'm glad the food shortages are being addressed," Shaya said, everyone around the table adding their affirmations.

"It feels good to get back to a certain sense of normalcy, not worry about riots, and be able to afford food again." Conversation resumed once dessert was finished. After Apricot excused herself from the table for a minute, Shaya leaned towards Oraeus conspiratorially.

"So, things seem to be working out with you two, eh?"

"Indeed." A blush touched his dark cheeks as responded with a smile.

"We share many interests even beyond academia and magic—such as an interest in the avant-garde artistic movements in both our kingdoms. She's even an artist herself, much like I was prior to coming here."

"I'm glad to hear it," she said, honestly.

"But you know I'll have to kill you if you hurt her feelings."

"Ah, yes." Oraeus snorted.

"I was waiting for this ritual. And what makes you think I would do that?"

"Oraeus, you're a high noble. I'm sure your father will expect you to marry into one of the huge, polyamorous love affairs you high nobles are fond of. Do you think he'll take kindly to you fraternizing with a foreigner?"

"First," Oraeus said, looking mildly offended, "we aren't 'fond of' the polyamorous family units that are common amongst high nobility. Those are born out of necessity, given the immortal nature of our aristocracy.

"Second," he sighed, "you're not mistaken. At best, I may be allowed to bring Apricot into such an arrangement as a lesser partner. Which, before you ask, I know she wouldn't appreciate. I've surreptitiously brought up the topic of polyamory in Vulkhad, and it is uncommon due to the smaller number of nephilim there." Shaya nodded.

"Just as long as you're both aware of what you're getting into."

"Thank you for caring for your friend," Oraeus said with a near-smirk.

"Even in your own childish, brutish ways."

"My pleasure," Shaya said, grinning as she leaned back.

"She was defending my honour, wasn't she?" Apricot asked Oraeus as she returned to the table.

"Indeed," he sighed, sliding her two gold coins.

"You predicted the timing perfectly."

"You just need to work on your intuition a bit more." Apricot smiled, pocketing the coins.

"Instead of relying so much on your magic."

"Am I really that predictable?"

"Apparently," Ren snapped, sliding a few silvers to Shepherd and Bri.

"You didn't bet one way or another, Samorn?" Shaya asked, looking amused.

"Oh, I did," she replied with a smile that bordered on sinister, "but I trade in favours, not currency."

"That fae esper of yours has really rubbed off on you," Bri said, a little frightened of the woman. Shaya shared her friend's concerns and made a mental note to never bet against Samorn.

"So," Ren said, "we're full of delicious food and the night is still young—where to next? Taverns? Taverns."

"I must retire after dinner, I'm afraid," Lan replied.

"You're no fun anymore," Cal pouted.

"I liked you more when you were willing to carouse with us."

"We ran into Azreon and his minions every time we did that," Lan countered, more sharply than Shaya felt the situation called for.

"Besides, I'm a busy man."

"What do you think, Shaya?" Bri asked.

"I don't know…" Shaya said.