5.39 Guestwork (Patreon)

Difference: Minimal

There wasn’t an immediate opportunity to relay what Irwyn had seen. Instead, they were introduced to the facilities of the Dry palace. The area they entered through was aligned with the North, placed right between the Eastern and Western wings that were meant for habitation. This middle area was filled with facilities and luxuries which qualified it to be one of the most exorbitant residences in the entire Federation.

A dueling room was naturally the first place Elizabeth inquired about, which their new guide quickly brought them to. On the way though, Alice detected a rather fascinating effect: The hallways were shrinking to let them travel faster. No outright teleportation—as that could be rather dangerous if interfered with—but the effect would still be noticeable, especially if they walked at normal speeds. 

That brought up a different question. How did the magic know where they were headed. To that, the local worker admitted that there was a golem turned artifact that could perceive intent as an outwardly projected force. Worrying as it was not something Irwyn had heard of before, and bordered on mind reading—which could be dangerous to them. Because of the noticeable discomfort, they were quickly reassured that there was also a room dedicated to training how to not unintentionally project that kind of intent.

They made it to the dueling room as they finished the conversation. Though perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a hall, as the place was seemingly bigger than the palace looked from the outside. Under normal circumstances, it could only withstand the peak of Conception, however, if provided additional power it had secondary protections that could contain even the battle of Domains. Not a direct assault, but a few stray attacks and leftover magic were manageable at a cost of much mana. Irwyn doubted they had the same definition of what “much” meant in that regard.

Afterward, they were toured across other facilities. Besides the parlors and dining rooms—which they were also assured there would be more of in their own wing—some of the facilities were indeed fascinating. Exotic displays with rare curiosities, several small libraries, and both kinds of pool room to name a few. 

The biggest category, though, came down to “training”. Entire chambers dedicated to practicing hyper specific skills with the greatest efficiency. Most were dedicated to Flame magic as could be expected, but there were several which were meant for other elements or could be used universally, such as a range for target practice. It honestly reminded Irwyn of the Trial, half of which had consisted an even more tailored version of similar exercises. 

It was also explained to them that it was necessary to reserve these, as the Federation could ill afford to leave those facilities empty. But as direct guests they had high priority—most visitors did not have the right to reserve at all and would simply arrive at a gatehouse below the palace, hoping some just happened to be unused. And even that already required a certain degree of influence.

There were also a few more of these which the guide had left for last. Placed at the very South of the palace, they were led to a locked door, painted red with warnings written over the walls. Moreover, there was a guard of sorts placed next to it. Not one actually armed, nor particularly powerful in magic, but visibly wielding a key. 

“Beware that passing the boundary by itself is dangerous for the careless,” their guide informed. “The ambient heat immediately rises to levels unsafe for normal biology, which could lead to even Conception mages fainting. As a safety rule, entry is only allowed in pairs.” 

“I will just stay here then,” Waylan said. All eyes turned to him.

“When did you even get to us?” Irwyn questioned while their guide gaped in surprise.

“Right before we got inside here,” the sneak grinned. “Nice place.”

“This leads past the boundary of the Isthmus, right?” Elizabeth guessed.

“Indeed, my lady. Inside, you will find lines drawn on the ground. Stepping past each of them is the equivalent of traveling ten kilometers further inside the Isthmus’ extraordinary environment. Domains related to flame will likely not find even the final fifth line hazardous, but your companions need to be aware of their limits.

“There are side rooms with instruments for further practice within each line. However, be very careful as anything that ignites will never stop burning. Even the air itself. The structure is designed to not be easily flammable, but if something catches fire despite that, it needs to be carried out. There is a small alcove next to the entrance which is outside the boundary and meant exactly for this kind of extinguishing. Since most of the staff cannot easily even enter past the first boundary, the guests are responsible for bringing out any fires or requesting help if they cannot.”

That would likely not be much of a problem for Irwyn in particular. He was actually excited to test what effect the Isthmus would have on him and it was rather convenient he would not have to fly far out to experience various intensities of it. He likely would have to eventually, once he exhausted the usefulness of relatively early areas, but it was very convenient for the moment.

They did not enter for the right away though, as the guide brought them to their living wing instead. What it didn’t have in training facilities, it made up for in bedrooms. It became quickly apparent that it had not been build to accommodate groups of five, but entire court’s worth of personnel. When asked, the guide said each of the two guest wings could accommodate 100 guests and up to 400 additional staff each. Afterwards it was also noted that such numbers were rare. Most of the time, visitors would consist of ten or so influential mages and between half to twice as much that in trusted followers.

That quickly brought discussion to who occupied the West wings. The guide quickly deflected that it was not their place to reveal such things, but that they could help arrange shared dinners or pass along messages. In fact, they had blind staff members entirely dedicated to forwarding written missives they could physically not read. After some prodding, they were at least told that the other guests were a rather large group led by a Truth mage.

As a last part of the tour, their guide noted down the bedrooms they had picked. Elizabeth gleefully insisted to share one with Irwyn, while the rest of their group picked their own to be somewhat nearby. At most a few corridors away.

The guide thereafter distributed small bells to each of them. If anyone needed anything, all it took was charging them with a bit of magic, then giving it a small shake, which would notify the nearest staff members. Waylan was instead given a version that would be activated by three strong shakes as he did not have mana to fuel his. Perhaps Irwyn shouldn’t have been surprised the Dry palace had such thorough measures, even when many high-end places he had been to did not account for non-mages at all.

Her parting words were a reminder that meals needed to be scheduled independently, as many powerful mages would chose to go for days without food while studying or practicing. They could pick practically any room—including their bedrooms—as well as time, and choice of cuisine, the staff would also happily help coordinate such schedules if anyone fancied shared meals. Truly keeping with the theme of exorbitant luxury.

Once they were alone, they picked a small but comfortable parlor nearby to convene on what to do next. Or generally speak about their impressions, because the Dry palace was so exaggeratedly extravagant Irwyn was at a loss for words.

“It is a nice place, but I cannot keep myself from being disappointed,” Elizabeth admitted.

“Not enough to get the nicest guesthouse in the city?” Irwyn joked.

“The whole Federation,” Alice corrected.

“That’s not it. It is just that I hoped for a bit more flare. Most Flame mages would flinch at just seeing us, but now we are just quietly put out of sight without so much as a murmur.” 

“Because few have even seen you from a distance yet,” Desir pointed out. “How do you think rumors start and spread? If you want to be the talk of the town, take a walk somewhere public, then visibly return to the palace. I guarantee there will be a hundred bar conversations about you two by the end of day. Thought that is definitely not wise, because then someone all the way in the Duchy of Black will likely hear about it too.”

“It’s not necessarily rational. Just my Pride slightly prickling, because I have always been imagining much more attention when I finally came here. Or at least more than just a few encouraging words from the Archduke.”

“Which might still happen,” Irwyn pointed out. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we were summoned for a longer chat when the state of the War is more certain.”

“You two might not be able to easily leave, but I want to explore the city,” Alice interjected.

“Sunset is in a bit over an hour now, I think,” Desir mused. “Even during the War, I expect a city this size will have a fascinating nightlife. But we shouldn’t squander the opportunity for training this place gives us.”

“I think we can afford an outing after how today has gone,” the Time mage reiterated. “Come on, it will be fun.”

“Don’t stay behind on out behalf. I am eager to look what the Isthmus is about,” Irwyn encouraged. “There was also something about the other guests. I noticed a Light mage of some sort glaring at us as we entered the palace.”

“My suspicion is they are a large contingent of nobility from the Duchy of Yellow,” Elizabeth guessed. “The City Yellow still holds, but their second Beacon city, Dawnholm, had been evacuated—likely through Abonisle since they are not too far apart. There are few better places than here to find shelter and secure vaults for the most influential people from there. It would certainly match the timing.”

“Or is still being evacuated,” Desir opined. “It has still only been a few hours since the attack.”

“If the Truth mages had fled, I don’t expect there is anything left to salvage.”

“Abonisle did not have any stationed. Why is it assumed any were even there?” Irwyn asked. 

“The Duchy of Black is in a much more delicate situation politically,” Elizabeth explained. “Since Abonisle had been my father’s springboard to power before it ever became a Beacon city—or more than a fortress island at all—the old branch families that oppose him have minimal presence there. Our Duchy has two other Truth mages that oppose him, and they both dwell not too far from City Black, and used to stay in the City proper before being slowly pushed out over decades. Usually, a beacon City would have one at least presenting to be present most of the time.”

“You say that, but Spireholm had none either,” Desir pointed out.

“The inner City is—or was—enclosed in a notoriously hard to enter bubble. Breach by a Titled Lich would not go unnoticed. And Time mages are much more mobile, so they will move from place to place often.”

The conversation turned to less serious topics from there. Eventually, the group split as the party group, as Alice called them, ventured to find someone on staff who could recommend worthwhile establishments. That left Irwyn and Elizabeth alone. 

They could perhaps spend their evening with a few duels or focus on trying out all those training facilities. Irwyn was indecisive on that point, since he was rather curious about what effect the Isthmus would have. The decision was delayed as Elizabeth thought to peruse how extensive of a tea leaves collection was kept at the Dry Palace.

The answer was very. To the point it may well take weeks to try all of the interesting ones. The list was such that it could not reasonably be conveyed verbally and had to thus be delivered in several pages of text with brief descriptions. They settled on one at the top of that list that had been supposedly grown on the Isthmus itself, making it deeply seeped in Flame.

Irwyn highly enjoyed the blend, to the point it may become his favourite. Elizabeth ended up disappointed, as there was the slightest trace of Light mana which fouled the entire experience for her. By the time they were finished, a different disturbance arrived. One of the servants came to seek them accompanied by a very ornamentally dressed blind man. Though they were not even a mage, those empty eyes contrasted with something approaching a regalia as he greeted them.

“I bring messages, your graces,” the man announced, bowing deeply and presenting two letters with outstretched arms.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth easily accepted them. She did not even blink at the gilded envelopes and quickly read through both.

“Anything interesting?” Irwyn asked. The two servants had immediately left them alone again.

“We are cordially invited for dinner tonight by Orianne di Searborne. Who seems to be a member of the other group staying in the Dry Palace.”

“Do you know who that is?”

“Not the Truth mage. House Searborne does have one, but his name is Damien. Who may well also be staying under this roof. I honestly cannot remember if their holdings were in Dawnhold, since I paid less attention to nobility from across the border.”

“No good reason to reject, is there?”

“We could, but I don’t think it’s worth overthinking. Even without Desir. It could be just politeness.”

“Or maybe we will find out why someone had been glaring at us,” Irwyn pondered. “They might try to play some sort of trick. Cause a scene.”

“While we are guests of the Archduke? Unlikely.”

“You say that, but I cannot think of a reason why someone would seem so furious at us. They might not be rational.”

“Could just be general distaste for House Blackburg,” Elizabeth opined. “There is some inevitable friction between us, given the mythological implications. The minor war that had been interrupted by the Rot did not help either. The losses were basically negligible, but it raised tensions.”

“Why are the two even placed together then? It always seemed strange to me, since the elements are so anathemic.”

“Sources and immovable landmarks,” Elizabeth simply said. “Besides the lake around Abonisle that already existed at the time and had to be guarded, there is also a massive Source of Zaex, an incredibly rare mineral extremely suited for anchoring Void magic. Much of City Black is built with mixtures of it. For example, the Voidways would have been almost impossible to erect otherwise, even with an Edict. The characteristic black shade is actually the reason for the name Blackburg—the first construction using it had been a great fortress. Some of its old ramparts are still standing across the City.”

“And the Duchy of Yellow had similar needs?”

“Exactly. Brightbreak was not the original Ducal House there. The bloodline of their founder has since gone extinct but had once been called Lightsnare. City Yellow is build over a pit of rampaging Light magic from an ancient Edict that may well cause half the Federation to exist in a perpetual day if it was not being constantly siphoned. There might have been more, but I am honestly not sure. Countless Sources had been transferred to the Federation since then, so I barely know the history of the most strategic ones.”

“Either way, the dinner is probably fine,” Irwyn returned to the original topic.

“The leader of their group is not involved, so it cannot be too serious. If it comes to it, I can feign offense over that or some other plausible slight and end things early.”

“And the other letter?”

“Something much more pleasing.” Elizabeth smiled with clear satisfaction. “The Archduke wishes to meet with our entire group at the Ducal palace tomorrow. At 15 minutes to noon.”

“Right before…” Irwyn started than trailed off. 

Even if he could speak the whole sentence it would not be wise to speak out loud. It meant they would likely be with the Duke at the time the counterattack started in full. And the Duke definitely had a way to view the event remotely.

“Yes.” And it only made her brilliant smile grow wider.