The Path 017 (Patreon)

"You want me to show off...?" asked William, surprised. 

"It's already widely known that you trained under the Ebonsword," said David. "Those who wish to exhibit their strength or superiority are bound to target and challenge you. Demonstrating your strength at the party and gaining the backing of the Assembly of Excellence should deter most."

"Did you think of this yourself, or did someone put you up to it...?" asked William.

"What do you mean...?" asked David.

"While it is true that exhibiting my strength would deter some, it will also expose my hand to those with the means and motive to conspire against me," explained William. "I don't mind entering this social club if it will help you, but I have my own position to think about..."

"The Assembly of Excellence is the most prestigious gathering within the Royal Academy," stated David. "All students are required to join at least one club, so you would be disadvantaged if you missed this opportunity..."

"I never said I wouldn't attend. But while I appreciate you wanting to help me, it's unneeded," maintained William. "You know better than most that I prefer doing things at my own pace."

Furrowing his brows, David surprised William by asking, "Why are you always like this? I do something to help you, but instead of thanking me or showing gratitude, you behave like I overstepped my bounds and did something to inconvenience you. I'm your older brother, Will. Can't I look after you just once?"

'Mmm...I guess I wounded his pride as the older sibling...' mused William, simultaneously wondering if his and David's interaction had anything to do with his recently received Quest. That was one of the downsides to some Quests, particularly those with elevated difficulties. They were incredibly vague...

"Fine," conceded William, smiling cheekily as he added, "Just don't blame me if I show off too much and end up infringing on your popularity."

Surprising William a second time, David contended, "It's fine, even if you do. After all, you will hold down the fort here in the Capital. It's far more important for you to form connections than I. That's half the reason I'm doing this. If I left you alone, you would fool around or spend all your time training..."

Having fulfilled his purpose and said what he wished to tell, David turned to depart.

"Leaving so soon...?" asked William.

"There is a curfew. If I'm not back before the gate closes, it will harm my reputation and affect my grades," explained David, approaching the door to William's room and grabbing the handle before turning back to add, "Be careful if you choose to tour the city. The Central District is relatively safe, but there are Demons, vagabonds, and general ne'er-do-wells beyond the central wall. Never venture anywhere alone..."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," replied William, but he and David both knew he hadn't taken the warning to heart. Not because it wasn't good advice but because he was much more aware of the dangers that lurked behind the scenes than his elder brother by birth...

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"I would like to go shopping for clothes and other articles," said William, surprising Therese, Ryza, and Amira as they ate breakfast together in the lounge attached to his bedroom.

"I understand your desire to venture out and explore," said Therese. "But the estate has its own team of skilled tailors, seamstresses, cobblers, and blacksmiths. They should be able to prepare anything you require and at a much higher quality than commercial goods..."

"Yes, I am aware," replied William. "However, there are benefits to having a few sets of poorer quality clothing on hand. They could prove useful if I need to blend in among commoners. More importantly, they will allow me to glean insight into the true nature of certain people..."

"Oooh? Is Master planning to stir up some trouble~?" asked Ryza, excited by the prospect.

"It's more accurate to say I'm preparing for it," said William, adding, "Ever since we arrived in Axial, I've had the distinct impression that someone or something is targetting me. My Master taught me to trust my instincts, so I want to be prepared for anything."

"You believe someone is targetting you...?" asked Therese, her expression and tone weighted with gravity.

"Wouldn't the opposite be stranger?" countered William. "The other Great Constellations have been increasing the pressure on our family these past few years. If they really want to stir the pot, eliminating the future Lord of Eastwarden is a good place to start."

"Then...should we write to the Lady and request that she dispatch a group of Knights to protect you?" asked Therese.

Shaking his head, William explained, "That would be viewed as a slight by the Knights entrusted to guard this estate. The odds of anyone targeting my life within the Academy are also slim, so I'll be most vulnerable during large social gatherings and similar events."

Preempting Therese's response, William raised his left hand in a silencing gesture, stating, "I already have a few solutions in mind, so while I won't tell you to rest easy, you shouldn't fret too much. Complacency may be a sin, but if you make a habit of worrying over every little thing, you'll be left paranoid and susceptible to mental influence."

"We can't do nothing..." muttered Therese.

"Who suggested that?" asked William, smilingly cheekily as he added, "So long as you perform your usual duties and support me, everything should turn out well. As for apprising my Mother of the situation, I will personally pen her a letter. But I already know how she will respond. So long as I am self-assured and believe I have things under control, she may take action behind the scenes but will otherwise trust me to handle things."

Unable to refute William's words, Therese closed her eyes and exhaled a profoundly exasperated sigh. She knew better than most how exceptional William was, but that only increased her anxieties. There were virtually no limits to what he could achieve if allowed to fly free and flourish. But, the broader a person's wings, the greater the shadow they cast and the more others felt compelled to clip them...

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'This is so surreal...' thought William, sipping on a frappucino-like drink while navigating a fairly modern, high-end shopping center just outside the Central District. It reminded him of the time he had visited the Mall of America in his first incarnation, but it was constructed from predominantly white stone. More notably, the manufacturing of waste polymers, such as plastic, had been outlawed more than five hundred years ago. In its place,  products were constructed from synthetic Magic Crystals, templated from those that naturally occurred deep underground or matured in the bodies of powerful Magic Creatures, aka monsters.

"Ooooh, Ma-I mean, Will! Come and take a look at this~!" exclaimed Ryza, staring starry-eyed at a group of animated mannequins on display in front of a high-end boutique called Alainis. However, this one catered to female Warriors and Mages, particularly those with deep pockets. 

Making his way over with Therese and Amira, William's brows perked as one of the models, presumably intended for a Mage, was basically a half-black-half-white leotard with double-breasted frills and fishnet stockings. It also came with a stylish steepled hat and a high-collared overcoat, but it didn't exactly scream 'practical.' Rather, it was an outfit that demanded attention...

As the mannequins, a type of golem, were programmed to do everything they could to attract customers, the one wearing the skimpy Mage outfit performed a sexy pose, winked, and blew a kiss at William. The latter was unaffected by the automaton's charms, but as its design was based on a fairly famous model and actress, the only thing preventing a large group of reprobates from forming around it were the many laws prohibiting such untoward actions in public. Cameras and the like existed in Axial, but only a select few were allowed to own them.

Approaching William's group, a well-dressed male employee briefly sized them up before adopting a broad, professional smile and asking, "Would you like to come inside and see what other items we have available? Our designs are based on those of Master Craftswoman Alainis Emeraldgrove and handmade here in our store. Outside of genuine, Master-made goods, you won't find higher quality items in all of Axial!"

"I assume you have private dress rooms...?" asked William.

"But of course!" responded the man, clapping his hands together three times, causing a trio of female staff to emerge from the boutique, one for each of the women in William's retinue. The well-dressed man was the on-duty Manager of the boutique, and he could tell at a glance that William, Therese, Ryza, and Amira were at least tangentially related to a Noble family based on the material and make of their clothes. More than that, their clothes lacked so much as a hint of branding, suggesting they were genuine, made-to-order goods.

All but confirming the Manager's suspicions, William nodded approvingly and said, "Excellent. Lead the way," as if he were accustomed to issuing orders. He also lacked the 'edge' of someone who wasn't sure they could afford something, so money likely wasn't a concern for him.

"Of course, Sir. Right this way~" mused the Manager, bowing his head low and respectfully as he gestured to the boutique's entrance. What followed was an impromptu fashion show as Therese, Ryza, and the taciturn Amira each tried on more than a dozen different outfits. William had the privilege of not only judging them but watching them change, but as it was nothing he hadn't seen before, he started getting bored after a while. Therese had a mature charm, and Ryza and Amira were extraordinarily beautiful young women, but as William had long suppressed any desires he felt toward them, they had about the same level of magnetism as the mannequins on display in front of the boutique...

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Though he had no idea where the venue was located, even with a map and directions, William was able to reach the location where his 'debut' was set to take place, a large ballroom near a lake on the outskirts of the Royal Academy, without issue. However, instead of arriving in a carriage, he approached the venue on foot, wearing a simple black tee with jeans, a stylish leather belt with a Gryphon-themed buckle, and a sleeveless black jacket that allowed him to wear his aged Dragonhide gauntlet on his right arm and his golden bangle on his left. Most conspicuously, before he set out for the venue, he had Therese use her Magic to adorn his left arm with a temporary sleeve tattoo depicting the visage of a Gryphon and some of the runic patterns associated with Leshien.

Having never seen William before, the personnel assigned to greet and escort attendees to the ballroom unsurprisingly barred him entry. Lucky for them, they had the good sense to ask if he had an invitation instead of chasing him away or telling him he didn't belong there.

"You...you're the Gamma Star of House Oirthear...?" asked the woman who received and checked William's invitation.

"In the flesh," replied William, grinning wolfishly with crossed arms and an overbearing demeanor. While thinking of ways to circumvent his enemies' plans, he decided that the simplest thing he could do, other than running away, was behave like a jackass. People loathed jackasses, but they also viewed them as easy to influence. If his enemies believed they could use him to further their own goals, not only would it buy him time, but it would allow him to make a list of all the people he would need to deal with in the future. Simply put, William had elected to become a double agent, putting himself in a position to root out some of his family's enemies while him the pretense necessary to cut ties with them in the future...

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