Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

Klix didn't come get me.

I felt a little bad that I had sat out of training in case I could work some more on Astrid. But I couldn't go back and do the afternoon over again.

At five, Miel finally called it a day and directed everyone to the showers that the Scarlets used. I didn't feel particularly dirty, since most of what I'd done was watch, so instead of following them, I went to the front lobby to wait for Gesai and the rest to get back.

The lobby was huge, with a high ceiling, grand staircases that led to a visible second and third floor, decoration in the form of art, flowers, and I saw a couple statues. There were a couple of Scarlets that were on duty and a few others that came through occasionally. I sat on one of the marble benches by the stairs, but I wasn't paying much attention to any of that, which is why I jumped when a golden woman in her seventies touched my shoulder.

"Gah!" I shot up and did a quick backstep, catching the attention of the Scarlets. I was pretty sure I heard one of them chuckle.

"I'm sorry to startle you." The woman with the blackest eyes I'd ever seen began to fidget with her equally black hair, which was really weird for me to watch an older person do. She flashed me a smile. "I'm Kater Zorn, writer." She held out her hand. "Are you the Vowler?"

I eyed her hand. The Scarlets weren't reacting, but that just meant they didn't think my life was in danger. It didn't mean I needed to drop my guard.

I shook her hand briefly. "Atlas Vowler." I did a very exaggerated bow. "At your service."

"Oh, you're adorable." Kater giggled.

Yep. If I hadn't been creeped out before, I was now. I mentally tried to shut down my magnetism or whatever it was. That was something to ask Klix about because I really didn't want to start having women old enough to be my grandmother hitting on me.

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I forced a smile, though it didn't spread all the way across my face. "Can I help you with something?"

"Well, if you're offering…" She paused, which I was sure was for dramatic effect. "I was wondering if it was true that your father was staying here to recover after almost dying in Mive."

I started to correct her, but remembered that I didn't know what the official story was.

I shrugged. "What dad does is his business." I tsked, "He doesn't explain himself to me."

"But you were there, you saw the fight between him and Mive."

"What are you talking about?" I really needed to read what people were saying about the incident. I started to give her the watered down version of what happened, but there was something about her that gave me the feeling that she'd be able to pick up on anywhere that I took artistic license.

I sighed. "Look, since you're fishing, I'll give you something, but I doubt you'll find it exciting or juicy."

The older woman clasped her hands together. "I'm all ears!"

"I got separated from Dad before anything happened. Then the Dungeon Break started throwing monsters everywhere and the only thing I was thinking about was how to stay alive."

It was the truth. A very watered down version, but 100% the truth.

'Oh…" She looked down for a moment, then got excited again. "What happened that got you separated from your father? Car chase? Bandits? Stealing artifacts from the palace vault?"

I shook my head. "You've got quite the imagination." I saw the bus that we'd driven pull up outside, so I started walking towards the door. I paused as she hurried after me. "You seem too interested in my life, so I'm not sure if I should answer any more of your questions without one of my teachers here." I eyed her. "And given that the answer is embarrassing, I'd rather not say."

"So I was close!" She reached out to touch me, but I pulled away so she missed.

"No!" I shook my head and held up both of my hands. "You're way off. Look I'll answer the question, then you have to go and leave me and my friends alone." I pointed at the door.

"Promise!" She held up her pinkie, but I wasn't touching her.

I walked over to the door and held it open, then looked at her.

"Ice cream."