“Amazing!” Weed remarked. “Especially those two, Sparrow and Humming Bird! I have never seen anyone jump that high even with wind element. It was nearly thirty feet in the air! And to sumersault while descending! That’s so cool! Where did you find them?”
Arthur just gave a cold smile. “They find you when you need them.”
“…” Weed wondered what that meant. Weed pitied the fact that he could not personally talk to those two and learn more about their occupation. He had a hunch if he talked to them or something he could learn some skill from them or some sort. However, as time was short he had to quickly prepare for the arrival of the guests. With the final touches in place, Weed finally received the message he had been waiting for…
TRRRINGGG!
TRRRINGGG!
TRRRINGGG!
TRRRINGGG!
Weed was bursting with happiness. He gave out a laugh like a mad man. He was only expecting one message but he got so many! He quickly put the 10 stat points into strength and defense. He then quickly checked his stats;
‘I might be a little over powered for my level…but only if this was Royal Road…in RREV physical stats become meaningless if you can’t upgrade class…or don’t have an element…’ Weed looked at his stats one more time and closed them.
He quickly headed to his room that was assigned to him and maids followed. They expected him to take a bath sooner or later and the chance had finally come. They all were just waiting to pounce upon him. Arthur had already scolded them several times and told them to stop bothering Axillaris but to no avail. Rather it had the opposite effect! Just his name was mysterious and rare that more rumours would sprout up!
“Arthur…this can’t go on!” Weed complained as he locked the door to his room behind him. “Imagine their shock if they learn that Axillaris entered the room but out came the high elf! Word will surely spread.”
“I agree.” Arthur replied. “This is an absolute secret and under normal circumstances, I would have never revealed it. However…”
Arthur pulled one of the candle torches in the room and the wall next the open shower slid aside.
Weed grew excited as he watched. ‘Secret Passages!’
TRRRINGG!
‘What the…???’ Weed wondered what the message meant brave forth and discover more, when another message popped up;
TRRRING!!!
‘A C-LEVEL QUEST!’ Weed quickly read the message again and again. This was the biggest quest he had ever received. Weed knew these were one of those awefully long quests to complete since it didn’t have any time limit. He could only imagine what the rewards could possibly be for such a difficult quest. Weed was also sure he wasn’t the only one who had discovered a secret passage in Lavias. Many players before him must have also found one. ‘I guess the rewards are common to all…so it couldn’t possibly be something unique…’ Weed said to himself to keep him from getting excited. Weed decided he would keep an eye out for secret passages in all cities in the future.
“As you may have guessed by seeing this, there is an entire network of these running through the mansion but please use them with care, we don’t want anyone find out. If you go down straight from here, take a left and a right, you will end up in the garden shed.” Arthur explained.
“Just behind the ball?” Weed asked as he remembered seeing a garden shed.
“Yes.” Arthur said with slight hesitant. “Please don’t ever use this again. This is only a one time crisis. I out my complete faith in you, in this matter.”
Weed nodded. “I understand, it must be a secret that the Lord does not want others to know off…”
“Yes…” Arthur replied as he averted Weed’s gaze and peered down the window. “You must hurry! I can see nobles approaching the mansion. I have left some instructions here for the ceremony! I know you haven’t had time to rehearse so I detailed them out as much as I could.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Arthur!” Weed called out.
“Yes?”
“Some fireworks please for the occasion.” Weed said as he began undressing to change clothes.
“I promise you there will be plenty.” Arthur replied with a devious smile as he left.
Weed was really excited as he thought about Arthur’s smile. ‘The bugger must have plotted some serious fireworks, must be the grandest display in all of Lavias. This quest is going to be a super success!’
Arthur left the room and Weed stopped unchanging. Weed peered down the window and looked around. ‘Liar…there are no nobles coming…’
Weed then looked at the clock in the room; both the hands of the tall clock were pointing at six. ‘Its only six thirty…we have plenty of time till the guests and nobles arrive. I guess then I can explore the secret labyrinth a little! But first the notes!’
Weed quickly went through Arthur’s notes about the ceremony. There was a bunch of translated elvish text that he had to speak out of memory. A few hand gestures and ultimately pray for good crops. If done well, the city would witness boost in productivity and crops would yield a bummer harvest. Weed read the titles of the notes, ‘A prayer to Freya’.
‘Sheesh! Who reads conducts this gibberish…I wonder how do players control themselves from laughing every new year?’ Weed wondered as he finished reading the notes. Weed read the lines thrice and practiced a few of the movements, till he was confident he could pull of the ceremony without a hitch.
He then threw aside the notes and pulled the lever to open the secret passage.
‘Time for a little exploration adventure!’
Weed’s skin began glowing as it became darker and darker…Weed did not like his glowing skin but he came to accept it as it was helpful when he didn’t have a torch in hand. Even in the Northern City’s forbidden caves, his glowing skin came in handy.
Weed first quickly traced the steps to the garden shed. It was just as Arthur had pointed out. Before the exit of the secret passage, there were secret holes to open and peer through to see if there was anyone outside. These holes took the usual spots in paintings as eyes etc to conceal the person’s eyes within the painting / statue.
As Weed walked through the thin narrow passage, he realized at times he was walking between the spaces of thin walls. He could hear conversations of maids and guards. The maids were talking mostly of him and the guards were complaining that most of them had been sent back for the evening shift. They all were looking forward to the grand festivities.
“I hear Monsieur Axillaris, is so handsome that a maid caught glimpse of him without his veil for a second and fainted!”
“That is old news! I heard that a maid was peeking while he was taking a shower and saw his…and it was…”
Weed blushed red in embarrassment as he heard their baseless talks even though they were NPCs. He had yet to take a shower…clearly these women were discussing baseless rumours and they didn’t see anything.
As Weed moved forward and walked over a thin old creaking arch staircase quietly like a mouse, he could hear the guard’s conversation.
“I really wanted to attend this celebration!”
“Me too!”
“The foods great and the drinks are free.”
“I know!”
“Sir Arthur is bringing all his men for the show.”
“The Elite Corps?”
“Aye!”
“Bahh! Some elite corps they are! There training is no different from ours…”
“You just want to attend the ball, don’t you?”
“…”
Weed continued moving on. He found many exits, entrances and dead ends in the secret passages. It wasn’t as big as he imagined it to be. There were times, where he had to crawl on the cieling to get to the otherside or literally roll to move underneath floorboards. In all there were only 7 entrances and exits and numerous dead ends. Had it not been for Weed’s memory he would have been lost here.
Weed opened his settings and checked the in game time. ‘Time to go back.’ He said to himself as he was fairly satisfied with his exploration.
When Weed returned he found a parcel from the lord on his bed. It was a brown paper packaged parcel and fairly bulky. It had a single note stuck on it which read, “Wear this. – Richard”
TRRRING!!!
Weed smiled in glee. He could see why players were desperate to work for nobles and lords. The rewards and freebies were simply too good! Weed removed his clothes and got into the lukewarm open tub.
TRRRING!!!
Weed happily laid back in the tub. The warm water healed his sore, aching and exhausted muscles.
‘Its going to be a long night…’ Weed thought as he laid back. ‘Convincing other players will be the challenge…I am sure enough I can take care of the NPCs…but if someone suspects me even the tiniest bit…I am going to be at the receiving end of their sword…though after what I plan to do to them…sword wouldn’t be all that they would point at me…’
Weed had a grim smile on his face. He remembered the times when he was outside in the real world and kept watching the news on how much progress players had been making…it only left Weed with the feelings of jealousy. Now was his opportunity to catch up with them in one go…
‘Achooo!’ Weed sneezed out. A sudden ‘cold chill’ swept over him.
‘What was that?’ Weed wondered as he got up, the lukewarm water became cold… ‘or maybe I was lost in my thoughts I haven’t kept check on the time…or did someone open the door?’ Weed thought with a frown.
Nonetheless, after the relaxing bath, Weed felt completely refreshed.
“Monsieur Axillaris.” A maid called out. “I have been sent by my Lord, Arthur Ireka, to help with your attire and make up.”
Weed quickly put on a bath robe and let the lady in.
“So its true!” The woman said under her breath as soon as she caught a glimpse of Weed.
“What is?” Weed asked.
The woman blushed red. She did not mean to be heard. “Nothing Monsieur! Its just as the rumors say! You are indeed very handsome!”
“And your name?” Weed asked as he sat down in front of the dressing table.
“Beth! Head attendant to Arthur Ireka and part of the first division in the elite corps!” Beth replied in attention.
“Please begin and I am to understand what you discover about me will remain a complete secret?”
“Yes!” The woman replied.
Beth quickly applied different creams and perfumes to Weed.
“Is this necessary?” Weed asked, as Beth began combing his hair.
“…” Beth didn’t know what to say. Beth quickly went on to do Weed’s eyebrows and eyelashes.
‘These nobles sure are high maintenance.’ Weed thought. He could not imagine himself in real life getting such beautification treatment. It was a lot like when his mom would go on a day long trip to the spas…
Beth turned Weed around and brought out a mirror. “Is this to your liking?”
Weed’s mouth dropped open upon seeing his reflection. “Isn’t it too feminish?”
“…” Beth remained silent and began packing away her cosmetic make over items.
Weed was aghast as he checked himself out. ‘I ALMOST LOOK LIKE A GIRL!!’
Weed opened a package for him sent by the lord which was lying in the room.
Weed was slightly miffed by the color. It was pink…not the ideal choice for a male but then he decided to go ahead and quickly wear the dress especially since nobles had already begun arriving.
Beth helped Weed with the traditional dress wear as she described it. Once Weed fitted into it, she was quick to say “I will be taking my leave.” With that Beth disappeared in a hurry. Weed could have sworn he heard her giggling. Weed turned to the mirror and was redered speechless. It wasn’t as special as the silver silk cloak…but still fairly expense given the embroidery and detailed lace work... what left him speechless was…
“WHY THE F*CK IS THIS A PINK WOMAN’s DRESS?” Weed shouted out angrily.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authors Note:
1. Happy Reading!
2. I lied, I wrote more than one chapter. ;)
3. Some formatting issues been taken care off!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
