Augmented Aspects: Chapter 71 48 Hours (Patreon)

Chapter 71

48 Hours

An hour a level, that is what I was currently clocking myself as going, at least according to my quest tracker that had finally changed the number associated with it, after seeming to be broken for the past six months or so.

Hidden Quest Updated: First Acanarus Tower Climber: Your goal of getting a recognized degree from Arcanarus University has been noted. Explore the tower, reach the fiftieth floor and receive the reward that you seek. Reward: Experience, Arcanarus University Diploma, Title: Arcanarus University Graduate. Floors completed (3/50).

That is correct, for the first time in six months, I have left my happy spot of being squarely stuck in the town of Crossroads on the second story of the tower and was now on level three of the Arcanarus Tower. At this rate, I only had to keep a cover for the next forty-seven hours. Which at the rate Lady Legrand was currently heading means that I might just be able to avoid planning out a possible wedding ceremony. At least, that is the current level of danger vibe I am getting from this woman. Still, even Rahul had to deal with something like this, which he found she was just lonely and needed companionship. The trick was to play even more infatuated, scare her off by doubling down, this would end the relationship and mean that my persona of Tobias Spiritlight would likely be banned from the Legrand empire, not a complete loss, other than my Tier IX creation badge. Still, this is still early in the process, I just need to try to weasel my way back to a more understandable territory. And it would appear that I have approximately forty-seven hours to course correct and reset expectations.

“You know, I was thinking. In order to truly know someone, you must first know their favorite…” I begin, but purposefully keep my answer short as I want to understand the woman before me.

“Oh, this is like a game newlyweds play to understand more about each other.” Lady Legrand states, a note of excitement in her voice, as this did get the noted attention I wanted, but her placement for the importance of such knowledge is way too far along for my tastes, but still, this is progress, so I’ll take it.

“They could, or it could be done by friends, consorts, acquaintances, really anyone you truly wish to know more about.  To begin, my favorite hobby is to read.” I begin, no lie, and again something that is seemingly innocuous, at least at first glance.

“Oh, I too love to read. Tell me, what is your favorite book?” Lady Legrand states.

“Ahh, ah ah. That is not how the game is played my dear. Now, you must tell me a truth about yourself. It can be anything from your favorite meal, to the way you avoid doing a particular chore by focusing on something else. Basically, anything that makes you, you.” I say, still keeping my voice as Glenn’s, unfortunately I started with that voice, so changing it now would seem out of character. Though I do try to dial back the resonance that his voice has.

“Hmm, a truth about myself?” Lady Legrand begins, then I can see the moment she realizes something dirty, and for a moment I pause, as her first words are utterly shocking. “Did you know, my favorite obsession is gambling. Well not gambling myself, but to watch it, to see people push themselves for millions of gold coins, only to fall just short. Just the thought of gambling causes me to get all excited. I know it is not ladylike, and I could never lower myself to such a standard, but I can almost feel the thrill and emotion from others around me. I feel their joy, and their loss. It is just thrilling to see and behold.”

Hearing that, I inwardly curse myself and this system.

“So that’s why you are on this train specifically, you are going to see the tournament?” I ask, feeling I already know the answer.

“Nah, ah, ah. That is not how this game is played.” Lady Legrand says, a delighted smile forming on her lips as she can clearly tell I am interested, and that she now has me.

“Well played.” I say, “what do you say we alter the rules slightly. For this next round, we can ask clarifying questions based on what we have already said, or let us tell more about ourselves.”

“Oh, I like that.” Lady Legrand states, as she excitedly claps her hands together. “I’ll go first.”

This is good, as I don’t mind telling my favorite book, nor my favorite series of books. “Very well then, proceed.”

“Good, now my question for you is. When you said you were not worthy of my full affections, did you mean you were comfortable with the role of concubinus? Or were you just putting on airs.” Lady Legrand says, moving in closely, oh so closely for this.

At that, I realize what she did, and I can only smile in defeat, and state “well played.”

She used my exact loophole that I had slipped in, the one about asking on anything previously spoken about, to talk about our conversation prior to this. Not just the question about books, but anything. Of course, her first question was to go in for the kill, to see if I would be willing to settle for the role of being her male magical concubine. Realistically, this might be the best possible outcome, as it would likely mean I could operate in the shadows mostly, it would also mean that I would likely receive the full brunt of what could otherwise be called compulsive and controlling tendencies. Seeing her like this, I can’t help but feel this will end badly rather quickly if I just agree to this concession. As I can already imagine myself being a virtual prisoner stuck inside some dungeon somewhere.

“My darling. While I would relish any chance to be with you. I find that I would be dishonest with myself if I was only seen as a second place option.” I begin. “Also, I do not feel I have been entirely forthright with you. While part of my reason for coming here is to get my diploma from the fiftieth floor, another more selfish reason for me to come here, is so I could join the poker tournament.” I admit.

Not a complete lie, I wanted to join up with the cars that house the Tournament, so I can steal everything they have, but my statement is not entirely a lie, just really stretching the truth.

“Can you even afford to enter?” Lady Legrand asks honestly.

At that, I let out a sigh, and answered truthfully. “Sadly no. I had hoped to get there and try to win a few hands to play my way into eventually going into the tournament, but it was all just a pipe dream.”

Seeing her, I can all but see the moment avarice struck. “How confident are you in your ability to win?”

“Oh, I’m very confident. I might not look it, but I have quite a few skills that should help me to win the tournament.” I say, knowing that this is completely true. My skills should help me win the tournament. Additionally, I know that the spells I made last time to bypass the restriction cuffs that were placed on me, should be easily bypassed. That or even if these cuffs are somehow different, that means I should just slightly alter the spells I created last time, in order to fully gain access to my skills. Not going to like, I was still a bit traumatized by the fact that I couldn’t read the cards at first, but that was a minor inconvenience. Right now, however, I am engaged in what could only be considered the first round of gambling. I can get a ticket in, and judging by the hungry look in Lady Constance’s eyes shows that I might have gotten her to bite rather hard on my bait.

With that Lady Constance Legrand leans back, trying to hide her expression behind her hands, and a well-placed fan, but I can see through the deception and can tell that I have gotten her.

“Well then, with someone of your caliber, I don’t think it would be too much to assume that you would need a sponsor? Someone who could put up both the cash and experience needed in order for you to enter?” She asks.

I pretend to waffle with this question, though it is clear that she thinks she is playing me. “A sponsor would go a long way, but I fear it is just a pipe dream for someone like me.” I admit, and it was. Up until a few moments ago, I had fully expected to have to steal what money and experience the Tournament had while here on the train. Now that I am no longer on a compressed timetable, I can wait until the tournament has gathered all the cash and experience from every contestant who enters, and then attempt to steal the money, all while being an active participant in the tournament. In my mind, I already have a number of different ways that this could be pulled off, but first, it all hinges on these next few moments.

“What would you say if I offered to sponsor you? I would pay both the gold and experience on your part, in exchange you would sign a temporary binding contract that would have you serving under me, and me alone until you paid back the initial payment, plus a slight ten percent bonus?” She begins.

I am about to comment, when she continues. “Of course, should you win anything of significance, all earnings would be split fifty-fifty, after you paid back the original investment fees of course.”

Now this was highway robbery, but nothing that was to be unexpected. Seeing that we are still in the negotiation phase, and that I am still bound by the Broke flaw, I try to go for a deal similar to what I had with Glenn.

“How about this. I will always pay back the money with the noted interest. But on the off chance that I finish in the top percentage of the tournament, then you take a hundred percent of the gold and I take one hundred percent of the experience without any payback or interest accrued on the experience as that will all be written off as a business expense on your end.” I state.

I can see the gears in her mind turning, as she is contemplating this, but finally shakes her head, “no deal. I want the experience as well.”

At this, I smile coyly. “My dear duchess. You should think about the ramifications of this, your country is at war. Surely coming home with three million gold coins would be a far better appeasement than just half of that? Besides, it is not like it would come from your experience pool either. If I had to guess it would come from one of these guards around you.” I say, gesturing to the people not only in this car, but in all the other cars around this one as well.

“You are remarkably perceptive. Yes, that had been my plan all along. How about this, let us make an official statement before the gods.” Lady Legrand stated, as she paused. Then staring directly into my eyes, she began speaking.

“I heiress Lady Constance Legrand of the Legrand empire do hereby ask an arbiter of the gods to come and witness this soul contract with Mr. Tobias Spiritlight.” Lady Legrand stated.

A soul contract? I had never seen one before, though supposedly they were the way contracts used to be upheld before the age of literacy. This was a way people would be quote as good as their word, for the gods would make sure the terms of the contract were fulfilled.

There was a momentary pause. One moment the world was rumbling below us, as the train quickly made its way through the different levels of the tower. Then the next second, everything stopped.

A quick glance around with my Angel’s Sight showed that the world around us had paused completely. The guards who had been leaning forward stayed leaning forward. Tea that had begun to be poured remained in its still state of animation. The money and experience that was being held in the Ten heavily armored cars owned by the Gambling Tournament were just there, waiting for someone to molest them. Unfortunately, I was seemingly cut off from my powers, as we were in a pocket dimension that seemed to only contain myself and Lady Constance.

Whoosh.

Then one second an all seeing golden eye appeared to blink its way into existence right next to us. Lady Constance looked around, clearly unable to see the giant floating eye right next to us.

“Huh, that is odd.” Lady Constance Legrand said, as she looked around.

“I think it worked.” I say, pointing to where the glowing eye is sitting.

“Huh? You can see it? Wow, that is…wow.” Lady Legrand said, as she once again seemed to look at me with a newfound hunger. Honestly, I was beginning to think she was more than a little unhinged, but I was already committed to the con at this point, in for a coin, in for a continent and all that. “No matter. Arbiter. I wish to sign a soul binding contract with Mr. Spiritlight here. The terms and conditions are the ones that we spoke about over the last few minutes. I will sponsor Mr. Spiritlight in the upcoming poker tournament. Mr. Spiritlight is expected to reimburse me for the money plus a daily interest rate. All winnings will be split fifty-fifty, with the money coming to me and the experience going to Mr. Spiritlight here. Until the point when the money plus interest is paid off in full, Mr. Spiritlight will be considered to be under my direct employment, to perform any task I so choose.”

There was a pause as the eye appeared to wait for Lady Legrand to continue. When she did not, the eye merely blinked, and then turned to me.

Hidden Quest Found: A Tournament Sponsor: Lady Constance Legrand, of the Legrand empire wishes to sponsor your spot within the tournament on the condition that any cash earnings be given to her. While allowing you to keep any experience. Furthermore, it is expected that you perform well enough to not only buy back your initial cost for entry into the tournament, but pay back a daily 1% interest rate as well. The interest rate will begin once this quest is accepted. Do you agree to these terms?

I read that, then my heart all but cringed at the idea of paying back 1% interest per day. Last time I had been in a three day tournament, meaning that the five silver I paid would be a pittance in comparison to the costs here.

“No, the interest and terms do not begin until the actual money exchanges hands and is handed over to the Tournament officials at the start of the tournament.” I state, trying to fix the fact that this quest would also make me pay an additional 2% interest before we even start this tournament.

The eye took in the information, and then blinked. Then a new set of quest details popped up before my eyes.

Hidden Quest Updated: A Tournament Sponsor: Lady Constance Legrand, of the Legrand empire wishes to sponsor your spot within the tournament on the condition that any cash earnings be given to her. While allowing you to keep any experience. Furthermore, it is expected that you will perform well enough to not only buy back your initial cost for entry into the tournament and will pay back a daily 1% interest rate as well. The interest rate will begin once this the money is turned over to the tournament officials, and your spot in the tournament is guaranteed. Do you agree to these terms?

“Yes.” I say, feeling slightly better that the eye even went the extra step to say that my spot in the tournament had to be guaranteed.

The eye blinked. Then turned form me, to Lady Constance.

I could see the moment the quest was presented towards her, as it appeared in the sky for her as well, visible only to my senses, but it was there nonetheless. It showed exactly what I had agreed to but was stylized for her being the quest recipient.

“Yes.” Lady Legrand said, a smug sound filling her tone.

The eye then blinked, as it clearly accepted her acknowledgement of the terms and conditions.

Warning: Soul Contract Signed. You currently have a soul contract in place. This is a quest that is unavoidable and bound permanently to your soul. Failure to succeed, or failure to pay back the required amount will result in your having to fulfill the terms and conditions of the contract. Time until the soul contract event starts: 46 Hours, 2 Minutes…

I let out a long breath, as I realize I might have stepped a bit too far into this one.

Silence.

There is a heavy silence in the room. Then suddenly the duchess in waiting begins to laugh.

Giggle.

It is the odd laugh that one would ascribe to serial killers and people not used to being seen in polite society, something that appears utterly incongruous with her normal status and appearance, but I am beginning to wonder if there is something darker lurking just under the surface with her.

“Everything all right?” I ask, not quite certain what I had gotten myself into, or if I wanted to cut all ties with this operation and bail now.

“My dear Mr. Spiritlight, everything is just perfect. You know, I prayed for a person just like you to come here to my life.”

Oh goodness, one of those people that prays for people to come to her life. Now I have nothing against prayer, god, the gods, what have you. I do often find it odd that people pray to a higher being to put something in their path, versus taking it upon themselves to find a better way to walk the path before them. So when someone states that they prayed for just such a miracle, they are really saying, they didn’t want to do any work and were happy that something came along to do the work they were unwilling to perform. At least, that is my interpretation of people who make such claims. Who knows, this duchess could be slightly different.

“You see,” she continues. “my family is the majority owner of this tournament. That is why I am here on this train right now. I had been entrusted to watch over the family business, to make sure things went on without a hitch. I was even given up to five free entry passes for people like you. People who are oh so interesting. Now, even if you win, I lose nothing. But should you lose, I will have my very own personal Tier IX mage who can not only cast Tier IX spells, but create them as well. You Mr. Spiritlight are my new favorite toy.”

And just like that, I realize why this girl seemed so off. There was just something about her that made me dislike her, and there it was, she was tied to the very group that stole my experience. Only now, the stakes for revenge are a lot higher, but nothing I can’t handle. I hope.