A Bright and Shiny Life

It's odd. It takes a few hours to go through everyone's wounds, during which I do unfortunately have to grow a few herbs for some lingering ailments. I expected the itching to intensify from being stuck here, but instead, it subsides and stabilizes at a manageable level.

It's the act of healing, I think. Their emotions as I examine them, touching them to take their pain away. How the faces all have this look of… submission. Is it mere distraction, or something else? Something that satisfies me in a similar way, if not to the same degree?

…I should get more clients like them – by which I mean violent ones. Maybe find time to go to them more than once a week.

Unfortunately, the itching starts to come back on the way back to the dorm (fortunately, curfew is laxer when coming back from the weekend, though I do get another warning for pushing the limit). Needing something to keep my mind relaxed, I fill the tub with the hottest water and slip in.

I'm a bit worried, since there's been times when baths haven't helped the itching before, but it seems I'm not too anxious about anything else, and so find myself quickly relaxed. I don't have any assignments due until midweek, but they're a welcomed distraction so I end up falling asleep doing math while using my plant grower spell.

I skip going to the Ontealogical Imperative the next morning, since it's easier to meet Ser Terry on the way to class that way. Emily, having not used her private location for her matutinal study session, joins us. We quickly get into a lively conversation on what she missed during the study group, though the Count hadn't thrown any impossible questions into the mix, so she managed to finish the assignment on her own.

The itching is manageable with them, and I think I keep the tension from my face. Is it because I'm not really tempted to sacrifice anyone here? Of course, there are so many noble scions about, but even with the liquifying beam, I'm sure to be caught if I go after them right now. Besides, I don't think I'd sacrifice Ser Terry even given an opportunity without some drastic event to change our relationship. Emily? Maybe if she keeps raising her frozen cream prices.

Just as we gain sight of the building, I stop and groan. "Ugh… I nearly forgot. I have to befriend Princep Theodore."

They look at me quizzically and Emily speaks. "I thought you said his sister told you to stay away from him."

"She did," I say, making an exaggerated face, "but now a different sister is telling me to do the opposite. Payment for helping me out with another brother… It's complicated. I'll tell you at study group if you want."

"Hold you to that," Ser Terry beams annoyingly.

"Great, well, since you're already holding me, do you have any suggestions on how to do this?" I ask.

Emily shrugs. "Shouldn't be too difficult to join the annoying idiots he surrounds himself with. You already got half of the requirements down."

I give her a playfully menacing smile. "I suppose I should be grateful you haven't decided on which half yet," I say, causing a slight smirk. "Unfortunately, the sister specifically said sycophancy wouldn't cut it."

It's Ser Terry's turn to shrug. "Perhaps just talk to him?"

I shake my head. "What, with all the others around him? I won't be able to get a word in, and if I do, I'll draw way too much attention. Especially since we all snubbed his offer last week."

"Well then, ask about the assignment. He seems excited about the subject." Ser Terry suggests, reasonably.

I nod, thinking it over. "Yeah, that's probably the best approach. Sigh. This would be so much easier if I hadn't already rejected his offer."

"Don't worry," says Ser Terry, "he didn't seem too upset about it."

"Yeah…" I mumble, nonetheless worrying about it as we walk into the classroom.

Most of the class is already here. There's some sort of cultural thing specific to the capital. It's normal in the whole empire to treat being five minutes early as on time, but I suspect there's some sort of recursion effect specific to the capital where people have extended it to ten or fifteen minutes. At the very least, the only people not here yet are from elsewhere.

I glance over the classroom. Clarra isn't here yet, but Adrian is sitting in our normal spot with Erik. Erik is still working on the assignment, though less frantically than last week, while Adrian is calmly practising altering an illusion spell that causes their hair and face to shift shapes and hue.

Princep Theodore is of course present with his usual group, plus Denton, who scowls at me upon my entering. Well, maybe not at me, but at us for not being early enough for his preference.

Seeing the annoying mage next to my target almost persuades me to delay my approach, but it's the best opportunity I'll likely get, and Talia will be cross if I can't honestly say I made an effort.

"Princep Theodore?" I ask, approaching respectfully, which nonetheless causes the gossip to suddenly stop.

"Yes?" The Princep says with a welcoming smile.

"I was… wondering if you got all the question?. The last one seemed to have another way to go about it, but I couldn't quite figure it out, so I had to change approaches." I half lie. There was another way to go about it, but I got the answer right the first time, and my methods have greater advantages besides.

"Of course, I'd be happy to talk about it! Let's see!" It's disconcerting how earnest he seems as he pulls up the assignment on his nexus disk and hands it to me.

We go over each other's work quickly. As I thought, he went with the simpler answer despite it having disadvantages.

"Oh yes, I thought about that method, but I discounted it because I thought mine was better," he says excitedly and without a sense of criticism. "I don't see any problems with yours though, so they should be marked the same. Good job!"

He thinks his is better? Seriously? That simple technique full of vulnerabilities?

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Thankyou your highness. And well done to you too… Though weren't you worried about how close your technique comes to causing distortions? It seems like any sort of interference might push it over the edge."

Theodore tilts his head, clearly excited to be talking about it. "Yes, I was worried. But the question didn't say that we were in a situation where we might be countered, so I chose to focus on other criteria such as simplicity and speed."

I suppose he is right that his method does have the advantage there, but still. "I think Count Vithal would say that we should always be concerned about being countered by opposing divination, your highness."

He purses his lips thoughtfully before making an enthusiastic nod. "Yes! I suppose you're right! I guess you took her stories from Caethlon to heart better than I did."

"…Yes, I suppose that's right."

"Well, what a great insight! Are you sure you don't want to join my study group?"

"Uh…" As much as I need to befriend his highness, I don't really want to stop going to my present study group… Wait, why not? I guess they're pleasant, but are they worth more than fulfilling Talia's request or just the inherent value of getting close to a Princep?

Before I can reassess my answer, though, the Princep answers for me. "Oh, right, you don't want to abandon your friends. I forgot, sorry. Well, how about this? Why don't we form an additional study group with just the people who got number five right last week? Or, not a study group, since I doubt we'll need it for this class, but maybe something more advanced for fun."

"That…" sounds like a research group, which I'm already part of one for this subject. Though I suppose there's no reason to tell him that I got invited to research with his admired war hero when he didn't. Besides, it'll probably be lighter than the official group, and at the very least, it'll be nice to be part of a research group whose goal isn't hunting me down. "…sounds fantastic. I'd be glad to work out a time." I glance at Denton, who very much does not look happy about this turn of events, but seems resigned to it.

"Great! I'll send a servant to schedule it with everyone." Feeling dismissed, I make my way back to my normal group. As I do, the sycophants erupt in requests to join the new group, which Theodore brusquely dismisses. "No, no, of course you can't join. You didn't even get number four without my help."

Emily is not happy and makes a gesture to Adrian to cut the sound. Adrian, amused, complies by not just erecting a zone of silence around us, but also creates a visual overlay to disguise the visual cues of our conversation.

"You did not just drag me into spending time with his high annoyance," Emily says with a scowl.

"Sorry," I say, "it wasn't the plan, but it seemed like a good idea. I mean, he does seem rather good at the subject. We'll probably learn a few things. Besides, you aren't seriously going to refuse and make me be in a group alone with his Highness and Denton, are you?" I end with a pleading note I've seen Allan use.

"I should. It would serve you right." Emily mutters.

"That would be inadvisable," Adrian says. "As much as I want to follow my father's directive and avoid this generation of Princeps, refusing a second invitation would be seen as a snub. Not only insulting Princep Theodore, but also could be seen as supporting his rivals. Not something I, nor I think you, would want."

Emily grumbles and crosses her arms. "Fine, but you owe me."

"…Most grateful," I say, turning my attention to the growing sycophantic tumult.

The class is informative as usual, the Count hands out another assignment afterwards and the group goes to our usual spot in the nexus chamber.

"Okay, out with it then," Emily says, turning to me. "What's your deal with the Princeps? That's three you've gotten yourself tangled up with now?"

"Four," I mumble. Should I tell them… Yeah, I guess I have to. No reason not to, I guess. So, I tell them everything regarding my Princep interactions, starting with the chance encounter with Vincent at the party and only leaving out anything that might suggest an alternative motive on my part.

Their reactions are mixed. Erik is of course overly serious, but that's just his default state. Clara is confused at what the issue is, not understanding the danger the Equinoctial poses. Not that she thinks there's no danger, but rather assumes it's physical and offers to protect me before we explain it better. Emily and Adrian are both amused by my predicament, though seemingly for different reasons. Ser Terry, though, is… angry.

"Why didn't you tell us you were having problems? We could have helped." Ser Terry speaks tersely, straining to control his volume despite Adrian having already cast his silence spell.

I shrug. "It's not a big deal. I'm handling it."

"Are you?" Ser Terry asks, pointedly. "Because it sounds like you're expanding the number of people you know who can ruin your life… You said he pushed you against a wall?"

"A hedge. He wasn't trying to hurt me, just assert dominance."

Ser Terry's face, already flushed with anger, grows redder.

"Now," Adrian says before Ser Terry can make a rebuttal. "Malichi does seem to be handling it as reasonably as he can." I find myself smirking at being sided with, but that quickly stops when they turn to me. "But Malichi, you really should have come to us with this. The others might have been useless, but I at least could have given you some good advice. After all, we're friends, aren't we?"

Everyone else chimes in with agreement at that. Even Emily makes some acerbic comment that somehow indicates support.

Their show of concern… confuses me. They're saying we're friends, which I guess if they say so, then it's true. But surely they must realize how complicated things can get if they help me. I suppose Ser Terry and Clara are from outside the empire, so maybe emphasize different priorities. Erik is just always serious and probably views it as a knightly duty or something not to turn away. Emily has a sort of aloofness to her that maybe she thinks will let her float above the trouble, and maybe she's right. But Adrian? Surely they should be hesitant to express such support?

"I guess I thought you'd be more calculating about it," I say to Adrian.

"Hm?" they intone. "Ah, I see how you might think that. But you misunderstand something. Our family are advisors. We gain influence by advising. It's better to help friends get out of situations than cut off risks because that means they're more likely to come to us in the future. It might be a different matter if our support was action, but so long as we stick to advice, it's usually better to keep relations. Don't you think?"

"…I suppose that makes sense. I won't make that mistake again," I say with a sincere nod.

Clara interjects. "I get why you didn't trust the shifty mage, but why didn't you come to us? Even if we couldn't help, just talking can be nice."

"…I suppose you're right." Why didn't I? I guess I was so focused on how it could impact the mission, I neglected to realize that it fundamentally doesn't have anything to do with it. That I'm just so used to hiding important things that I hid this one just out of habit. I suppose I should work on that. After all, people are mistrustful of those who seem like they're hiding things, and that could affect the mission. "I'll try to be more open in the future."

It is irksome though that I'm being criticized for not going to them for help when three of them didn't do the same for me. Best not to think of that now, lest something slip out.

"Great," Adrian says with a smile. "With that settled, shall we get started on the assignment?"

"It's not settled," Ser Terry says, grimacing. "We still haven't discussed how we're going to help him."

"Eh," Adrian utters with a brief look of dismay. "I must admit, I don't really see anything we can do at the moment. If Malichi had come to us before, there were a few things I could have suggested, but right now his course seems set. All I can say is that I'll be at the Equinoctial and will try to help if I can, should anything happen."

"Can you get us invitations?" asks Ser Terry.

Adrian shakes their head. "That wouldn't be advisable. Emily might be fine going with her background, and Erik does have some useful family connections, but even they haven't built up enough support to go there safely, and the more people who go, the more likely it'll be that something will happen. No, right now the safest course for Malichi and us is for him to follow his plan."

Ser Terry grumbles then turns to me. "Fine, we'll do it your way. Just promise me you'll be fine."

I look at him askance. "I can't promise that. The reason why I'm risking Cecilia's ire is because I know how dangerous this could be for me. There's simply no way I can assure you that nothing will happen."

"Just… say it, okay? Even if you don't believe it. Say it so that you will believe it."

"…Okay. I'll be fine."