PaulMichaels
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IGIWS: FIRST DRAFT: Ch.288: The Meeting with a Stubborn Old Man.
🕑 Added 2024-10-15 02:48:40 +0000 UTCBack in the throne room where Cyndre, Rianna, Ysandra, Saffron, and the rest of the King's council was waiting for Fennic to arrive. Quinus, Percy, and Sir George entered the room as they stood in front of the throne.
"Huh?... Did I miss Grand Master Fennic?" Quinus asked out loud as he looked around the room.
"He's on his way, your Highness... It seems that something else has come to the palace right when the Grand Mage arrived," Lord Gawain advised the Prince.
Quinus looked at his father's councilman if a confused expression.
"What does he mean, Father?"
Cyndre sighed, "Supposedly, There's some strange airship that's been parked in the palace grounds. It has House Coldforge's banners on it," he answered his son.
Quinus took in this information and a smile formed on his lips as he realized what it was.
"So, those wily dwarves pulled it off... I have to see their ship once I'm done with Fennic," Quinus said, in a calm and pleased tone.
Rianna and a few others were curious.
"Pulled what off, Your Highness?" Ysandra asked the young Prince.
Quinus looked up at his parents' advisors and smiled.
"I drew up a few designs about making a airship with the dwarves when I stayed in Ironside during my months stay there. Arathar said it was impossible, but it seems that he decided to build it behind my bad," Quinus answered with a chuckle.
"Wait? You had the dwarves make an airship?"
Quinus nodded, "Yeah... They said it was impossible, but they were willing to try if I paid for the materials," Quinus replied. "So, if Arathar is with them, we'll probably be getting a invoice from him soon," Quinus joked, as he started laughing.
But his laughter was interrupted by the doors to the throne room being opened as everyone turned their heads towards the sound.
Fennic walked into the room followed by Brice, Zellin, Hajdah, a group of dwarves, and Fennic's guild members. Arathar stayed outside of the throne room due to him not caring about seeing the King or Queen. His business was with the Crown Prince and he would speak with him when everything was over with Fennic.
"I see his Highness is making light of my appearance... I guess I such leave," Fennic grumbled when he saw the smiling face of Quinus. Fennic could feel how much power was flowing in a person's Mana Vein and it disgusted him that the Crown Prince wasn't mage. If he was then Quinus would have been his greatest student, but the Prince lacked the ability to cast magic and Fennic wasn't going to waste time teaching a mundane.
Lady Saffron Fairchild and Hajdah both looked at the old mage with a sour look on their face. While Ysandra closed her eyes in disappointment with the Grand Master's grudge against Quinus. She thought after all this time that he would have been the bigger man. But it seemed that the Grand Master's ego was larger than the Fiafyr Kingdom itself.
"Some things never change," Saffron whispered.
"He's just mad because he's an old fool," Ysandra whispered back, which made Saffron chuckle a bit.
King Cyndre was surprised to see the dwarves were here even after Lord Gawain had came back to inform him of their arrival.
"So, you did arrive... Baron Zellin Coldforge, it's a pleasure to see that you've made it," King Cyndre addressed his ally and friend. This made Fennic's eye twitch as the King ignored his threats to leave.
The Baron gracefully walked up to the King and Queen and bowed his head respectfully, "Your Majesties, it's an honor to finally meet you after you lent us your aid with the Monster Stampede... Rest assured that you have the Galfrei Domain by your side," Zellin replied.
Queen Rianna smiled politely at the dwarf, "Baron Coldforge, thank you for the hospitality that you shown my son and his hidden fiancee... My son was very pleased by your domain's efforts and he has spoken highly of the Galfreians... You will be a welcomed friend," she replied.
This made Zellin's grin grew wide as he was pleased to hear the Prince was very happy with his domain.
"Then allow me to present our gift to the Crown Prince and the Princess—"
"Ahem!" Fennic loudly coughed as he had enough of everyone ignoring him.
"But I can present it to them later, after your meeting with the Grand Master, Your Majesty," Zellin replied.
"Thank you, Baron," King Cyndre said as the dwarven lord went back to the other dwarves and his fellow nobles.
"Grand Master... We appreciate that you made time to see us again," King Cyndre politely smiled.
Grand Master Fennic had a dissatisfied look on his face as he slowly examined the throne room full of people who were looking at him with mixed emotions.
'Had their opinions of me changed after all this time? I might need to swallow some pride,' he wondered as his gaze returned back to Quinus. 'No! Not a chance! That brat is the reason I've lost my respect among my peers. Maybe I should just leave,' Fennic thought, angrily as he scowled at the crown prince.
Quinus sighed when he noticed Fennic's gaze, 'Damn... He's still pissed at me... I guess I should be the bigger man and apologize. It is my fault after all,' Quinus thought.
"Grand Master, may I have a moment to speak with you alone," Quinus requested.
Fennic raised a brow in confusion but he kept his guard up. "You want me to speak with you alone? Why should I entertain your request?"
"It would be an insult if the Grand Master were to deny the Crown Prince's request for a private audience, Grand Master Fennic," Saffron commented.
"Well, it was an insult to do what the Prince did to me when he channeled his mana through my body like he did! That was a huge disrespect and I was humiliated in front of everyone, Headmaster Saffron!" Fennic argued.
"That's enough, Fennic! That event happened over a decade ago and you were the one to accuse the Prince of being lazy during the test. If anyone should feel humiliated, it should be him. You've held a grudge long enough and that's what's disappointed, Grand Master," Saffron chastised.
"I have every right to feel this way, Headmaster!" Fennic countered.
Quinus knew he needed to end this pointless argument before it escalated. So he decided to say the first thing that came to his mind.
"Then, allow me to formally apologize, Grand Master. For making you feel humiliated during the test... I was young and I should have known better than to use my mana as I did. So I sincerely apologize," Quinus bowed his head and kneeled on one knee in front of the Grand Master.
There were several gasps in the audience hall. Fennic wasn't expecting the Prince to humble himself in such a manner. And it was clear that the prince was sincere in his apology. But the Grand Master wanted to milk this moment for all its worth. He's been humiliated for so long and he wasn't going to let Quinus off the hook so easily. So with a smug smile, Fennic prepared himself to humiliate the prince.
"And what do you hope to achieve by—"
The side door to the Throne Room opened to Rya, Nieren, and Dalia. Fennic was ready to make a snide comment to whoever was coming in, but his tongue was caught in his mouth when he saw the breathtaking Dark Elf and he sensed a similar power radiating from her. It was the first time he's ever seen a Dark Elf and the descriptions in the books didn't do the race justice.
Fennic was completely dumbstruck as he watched the stunning beauty walk down the carpeted aisle to where the Prince was kneeling. She was looking at him with an amused look.
"Are you proposing to someone behind my back, Quinus? Is there something you should tell me?" Rya teased.
Quinus looked up at Rya with a smirk, "I'm just doing what needs to be done, my love. And if getting down on my knees to apologize to the Grand Master so I win his favor for your benefit, then I'll gladly do it."
Rya couldn't help but giggle, and she could see the look of utter shock on Fennic's face. He looked like his soul had left his body as he couldn't believe that this Dark Elf has chosen Quinus over all the people in the world.
Hanna, Balthazar, Ulysses, and Livia were stumped when they saw their Guildmaster being rendered speechless. They had no idea how their Guildmaster could be so shocked and unable to speak. Some of them worried that the Dark Elf cast a curse on him.
"I-Is the Grand Master, okay? Do we need to take him to a doctor?" Balthazar asked Livia.
Livia shook her head, "No. Something happened when he was staring at that Dark Elf. And now he can't seem to say a word. He's never had this happen before. It's like his tongue has been cut out. But I sense no spells cast by her."
"Then, what happened to our Guildmaster?" Ulysses asked.
Hanna, on the other hand, had a feeling she knew what had happened. Fennic seemed to have affection towards demi-human females and he did something similar when he first met Mystic Laika.
'H-He's a horny old pervert!... I-I need to break him out of his trance before he gets humiliated again,' Hanna thought as she hurried over to Fennic's side and poked him in the rib.
He mumbled something under his breath that no one could understand.
"Haah! Grand Master!" Hanna elbowed him in the ribs and Fennic flinched at the pain and looked down at his number two.
"W-What! WHAT is it!? I was deep in thought..." Fennic said defensively.
"Deep in thought, huh?" Hanna responded with a skeptical look, "You were just standing there, staring into space. Are you sure that you don't need a doctor, Guildmaster? You aren't getting senile, are you?"
"WHAT! NO! Stop it, Hanna!... I swear that you are overthinking things..." Fennic was annoyed that his subordinates interrupted him from his thoughts.
Hanna's cheeks reddened, and she glared at her boss, "Overthinking things? Then, why don't you tell us what was so important that you couldn't even respond when you were being asked if you needed a doctor?"
Fennic ignored her and dismissively waved his hand, "That's none of your business. You were the one who interrupted my thoughts."
Hanna wanted to retort back but she sighed as she decided not to pry any further.
Rya smirked as she knew what was going on with the old man.
'So, he has a thing for exotic women... Maybe I can use this to my advantage to mend the relationship with the Mage's Guild and the Royal Family.' Rya smiled mischievously at the thought.
Then she turned to Fennic and asked him, "Are you okay? You seemed to have gone silent when you saw me... I hope I didn't frighten you, Grand Master Fennic, was it?" She asked in the most innocent voice that Rya could muster.
Fennic nervously ran his fingers through his long white beard, "Ahem!... Y-Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, my dear. And yes, I am indeed Fennic, Grand Master of the Fiafyrian Mages Guild. How about you, my lady?"
"Oh, me? I'm just a humble Dark Elf named Rya," she said as she bowed respectfully, "It's nice to meet you, Grand Master."
"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Rya," Fennic replied politely causing everyone in the throne room to look at Fennic as if he grew two heads.
'This guy is usually so brash and rude to everyone. Why is he being polite to a stranger? Especially a Dark Elf at that?' The King's council members were wondering why Fennic was behaving so nicely to a random Dark Elf. Hanna was annoyed at how her boss was acting towards this Dark Elf. She knew that she was playing him like a fiddle and Rya wasn't using any magic.
Rya gave him a flirty smile, "Oh?... You're just as kind and wise as my Fiance said you were and you've aged so well. You can't be a day over 80."
Fennic started laughing while scratching the back of his head, "Ha ha ha! W-Well I do try to eat well and exercise!"
'Alright, Rya. You've buttered him up now it's time to reel him in and end this stupid feud between him and Quinus,' thought the Dark Elf.
She gave him a innocent smile and batted her long lashes, "Oh? And you are so humble too. But I don't understand why you hate my Prince?... Didn't he apologize for his behavior?"
"I... What?" Fennic looked perplexed and a bit embarrassed as he realized that his hatred towards Quinus was a bit unreasonable.
Rya placed her hands on her hips, "My Fiance has apologized for his behavior and he is a good man... So can you find it in that big heart of yours to forgive him?"
"I... Ugh!" Fennic was at a loss for words as he didn't know how to respond.
"Oh, please, Grand Master. Please, can you give him a second chance?" Rya put her hands together and gave him puppy dog eyes, "Please? Can you do it for me?"
Fennic started blushing as he stared into her violet eyes, "W-well, if you really want me to then I guess I could try and forgive the boy—"
"Hold it right there!" Balthazar exclaimed as he jumped in front of his Guildmaster.
"You're trying to charm our Grand Master, but we aren't going to let you get away with this, Dark Elf!" Ulysses growled.
"You think that you can get away with charming the Grand Master?! You are sorely mistaken! I, Livia will put a stop to your wickedness, Dark Elf!"
Fennic watched as three of his members started to confront the Dark Elf. He felt embarrassed as the three younger mages prepared to fight Lady Rya inside the Throne Room of the King and Queen, who looked at his people with disapproval.
"That's enough, everyone! No one is fighting anyone here!" The Grand Master tried to calm his guild members down.
"But Guildmaster!" Balthazar pleaded.
"No! You three are making a mockery out of the Guild, and I won't stand for it! Now apologize to Lady Rya for your rude behavior, or you'll all be expelled!" Fennic demanded.
The three younger mages stood there in shock as the Grand Master took the side of the Dark Elf.
"B-But she might have cast charm on you," Livia protested.
Hajdah, Laika, and Saffron all sighed at the three mages while Hanna shook her head, and Fennic pinched the bridge of his nose with his right hand.
"I'm sorry, your Majesties and Lady Rya... It seems that I haven't taught these three about sensing spells. It's a acquired skill that takes time to master. I assure you that once they learn how to detect such spells, they'll be better behaved."
The three still kept their guards up but they noticed that the seasoned mages behind the Grand Master were shaking their heads.
"We're sorry, Lady Rya. It won't happen again," Balthazar bowed.
"Y-Yes! We're sorry, Lady Rya," Livia and Ulysses bowed as well before walking back to Fennic's side.
The Grand Master sighed once more before looking at the Prince who stood up, "Well, Prince Quinus... What is it that you wish to ask me?"
"My fiancee wishes to learn more about the arcane and she can do that if she can get access to the Guild's library... Can you please grant my fiancee's wish, and give her access to the Tairal's Magic Library?"
Hanna, Livia, Balthazar, and Ulysses all had looks of concern while Fennic was deep in thought. After a few seconds he looked at Rya with a serious look on his face.
"Very well. I'll allow Lady Rya to gain access to the Guild's library... If she is a mage."
Rya raised an eyebrow at Fennic's offer while Hajdah and the dwarves laughed a bit. Fennic glanced at them with an annoyed look before Rya got his attention.
"What spells will I have to cast for your approval, Grand Master Fennic?"
"Hmm? Just show me what elemental affinity you have, and I'll approve it," Fennic nodded.
"You want me to show you what element I have affinity with? Sure, that's no problem," Rya replied as she outstretched her hand palm up. It took her no time to create a one small rock, one small fireball, one waterball, and a wind sphere that became visible when it caught some smoke from the fireball. Rya had the four elements rotating and orbiting around her right hand as she grinned, "What element would you like to see next, Grand Master Fennic? Would you like a lightning ball, or would you like an earth spear? Maybe I could conjure up an ice cube?"
Fennic and his four members were dumbfounded to see a multi elemental mage with all four major elements. It was rare to find someone who had two elements, let alone four. Even Saffron Fairchild was stunned to witness Rya's magic in action. Hajdah had written to her about Rya's magic but seeing it was a whole different matter.
"A-All four?" Hanna stuttered, "That's incredible..."
"Well... I can cast Green Word spells as well, but there are no plants in here, so I can't show you that," Rya stated as she created an orb of blue flames with her left hand.
"Lady Rya... I'm impressed," Fennic stated, "I'm surprised the prince didn't marry you sooner..."
There was some chuckling in the room while Rya kept her four spells floating around her hands.
"Well... Politics is what is keeping us from marrying Princess Rya to my son, Grand Master Fennic... We need to get a majority of the Major Lords on our side to approve her as Quinus' wife and future Queen," Cyndre stated.
Fennic's face soured, "Who in the right mind wouldn't approve of a multi-elemental mage as the perfect wife to the Crown Prince!?"
The Nobles and the King's council all grumbled a bit before they became silent.
"There are a few obstacles among the nobles, and the biggest one holding us back is Princess Rya's fear of her ability to produce the next heir due to her race. And we don't want any civil unrest because of it," Lord Brice informed the Grand Master.
"That's ridiculous! This is why I hate politics!..." Fennic blurted out, and then he looked at the Prince and Princess. "So, you must be looking for a magical solution to creating a child, aye? Well, I can warn you that no such tome is located within my library."
Hajdah chimed in, "But Saintess Rya can read dead tongues, Fennic... Maybe she can find something that has been lost to time."
Fennic looked at the Dark Elf with intrigue, "Is that so... Well... If you can translate the tomes then I will grant her unlimited access to the library..."
"Do I have to worry about Marquess Duval, trying to pull a fast one on me if I leave the palace grounds?" Rya asked as she was staring at the King and Queen.
Lord Brice stepped in, "No... It will be harder for him to banish you from the palace grounds through the Emergency Measure, now that most of the Major Houses are against it and all the Major Lords are coming to the Capital City for Ingram Revelia's coming-of-age party for this coming Friday," the Head of the King's Council replied, "The Marquess doesn't have much political leverage anymore. Duval would need less Major Lords on his side to have an emergency vote, and it would still fail because the majority of the nobles would not like the idea. It's a bad move to try to do that without a good reason."
"Okay... I hope you're right, Lord Brice. Because he keeps passing Measures to allow the Alliance to enter the palace grounds with little repercussions—Oh! And be prepared to hear a complaint about my conduct towards Prince Zane Stoneworthh," Rya informed the room.
King Cyndre had a worried looked while Rianna chimed in, "Why? What did you do, Princess?"
Rya looked at the Queen, and she replied, "He was making a scene in the palace hallways and he sought it fitting to discipline Princess Hilda in front of everyone... But I think I should have let him..." she muttered under her breath for the latter part.
"What was that, Rya?" Quinus asked as he couldn't hear what Rya muttered.
"I said I should have really taught him a lesson," Rya lied as she didn't want Quinus to know that she was pissed at Hilda's behavior towards her.
Quinus grimaced, "Yeah, thank you for dealing with him, Rya... It would have been me that the Prime Minister would be trying to reprimand if it was me that stopped Prince Zane. I can't stand that bastard," he growled out.
Rianna sighed, "We'll deal with Duval when the time comes... But please give us the details about what happened between Zane and yourself, Rya," the Queen said.
"Of course, Your Majesty... I'll do that once we are finished with our guests. Because it's quite long," Rya answered.
"Of course, Dear... Thank you," the Queen smiled warmly.
Fennic liked how this was turning out. 'Maybe the princess can help me in my own goals... Let's see what she can find first within my library before I can ask her for help,' he thought.
King Cyndre nodded, "Grand Master Fennic... Is there anything else that we can do for you? It has been a very long time since we've had someone from your Guild come to the Palace," he stated.
"Hm?... No, Your Majesty. I'm pleasantly surprised by how mature your son has become. I feel a little silly about all the trouble he's caused me for all these years."
Quin's head snapped toward the old mage and a vein in his temple was threatening to burst. 'This old bastard is still accusing me of some bullshit that was his fault!? Gah! I want to punch him in the damn—'
Rya grabbed Quinus' arm and hugged it while showing a bright smile on her face. "Now, now. We all make mistakes, Grand Master Fennic. I'm sure that you might have done some things that could rub people the wrong way by mistake."
Quinus took a deep breath and exhaled. Rya's hand squeezed his forearm. And the prince gave her a soft smile and a nod.
The old mage grunted, "Indeed... Maybe I put too much expectations on the Prince... Well, I'll head back to the guild and request that Princess Rya is allowed entry whenever she pleases within my library... Master Hajdah, Headmaster Saffron... Once Princess Rya is ready, please escort her... I pray that my other guild members won't behave like these three," Fennic stated while gesturing to his guild members that looked embarrassed by their own actions.
"Don't worry, Fennic. We'll make sure that none of your members do anything to offend Princess Rya. Please have a safe journey back to your guild, Grand Master Fennic," Hajdah said with a smile. Saffron nodded as well.
"With that out of the way..." Fennic turned back to the King and Queen. "Thank you, Your Majesty... Please allow me to leave," he bowed.
"You're welcome, Fennic," the King replied with a nod.
"Good day, Your Majesties," Fennic turned to the other two. "And the three of you have a pleasant stay at the guild. Master Hajdah, Headmaster Saffron, and Mystic Laika." Fennic turned and walked out with his four mages following him.
Everyone stayed silent for a minute after the Grand Master left. Then, the king looked to his son and gave him a nod. "I am proud of you, Son. You have finally grown up and will make a fine king in the future. Now, what trouble do you think Duval will give us for what, Princess Rya has done?... We should prepare before Duval does something foolish."
Everyone in the throne room listened to Quinus, Rya, and all of their friends who were their when Rya stopped Zane from hitting his half-sister. They brought in some of the staff and guards who witnessed the fight as well. Lord Brice, with the help of Gawain and his aides came up with counter measure for when the Prime Minister would retaliate.
Gawain had suggested a few things to help strengthen their argument and Lord Brice and the King agreed with all of the points.
After that Baron Zellin Coldforge gave the Royal Family a gift of a second Airship that was in the middle of construction, while Arathar came into the throne room to give Quinus his enchanted gauntlet that neutralizes incoming elemental spells. Saffron Fairchild and Baroness Ysandra Fairchild were both impressed as Quinus tested out the gauntlet when Rya shot a few spells at him.
Then, Earl Nathaniel Valerian and Baron Johnathan Dule were called in and had a talk with the King later that day as Rya went to the Mage's Guild with everyone.
Ultimately, the King had the court call in the Prime Minister Duval Wrightwood. They needed to head off his complaints before he started a ruckus.
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Micheal Kennedy
Thank you for the chapter
PaulMichaels
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