System Change

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Stella rushed back and forth, making sure everything in the room was prepared for such company. They had decided to use the top, most private, floor in the Crown Restaurant to host such an evening.

“Oh, no.” Alanah smiled. “It’s most definitely a terrible idea. But it will no doubt be fun and eventful.”

“Why not just wait until the auction? At least then, they will have something else to focus on. You know very well how Derek feels about the King.” Stella asked.

“That’s why we’re doing it tonight. I know you couldn’t tell, but Derek is strong… very strong.” Alanah explained. “It’s better to get the introductions out of the way now, since everyone is already in the city.”

Stella shook her head. “But… the City Lord is also coming. That means that, including yourself, three of the people who control the most power in the Kingdom are going to be under one roof, in the same room, having a meal.”

“Mhm.” Alanah nodded. “It should be quite fun. I haven’t been this excited in a long time.”

Stella rolled her eyes and continued preparing the room. She could only pray that the evening stay peaceful, but with both Alanah and Derek there, she knew that wouldn’t happen.

***

Derek stood in front of the mirror in his bathroom. He was wearing his finest t-shirt, jeans, and boots-which is to say he was wearing his usual clothing. There was no way he would be dressing up in one of those itchy, uncomfortable tunics and pantaloons, even if his Endurance was way past allowing something so minor to actually cause him any discomfort.

He had been invited to a gathering by Alanah. He had no idea who all would be there, and she was being cheeky and not telling him. She only told him that it would be ‘fun.’ He trusted her, so maybe it would be fun. Still, he wasn’t much of a fan of formal gatherings, no matter how much he might have changed since being trapped in the void.

He could honestly say that he was looking forward to meeting Natalie Savannah and hoped she would be there. From everything he heard about her, and what he’d seen in the city so far, she was a great City Lord-much more capable than that incompetent King.

Derek ran his hand through his hair one last time to make sure it wasn’t a complete mess, then walked out of the bathroom. If he left now, he should be able to get to the gathering a little early. It was always best not to arrive late when you didn’t know what company you were going to have.

He walked downstairs and told everyone he was leaving, and asked Silvi if she wanted to join him. However, the bunny was too busy with a baking project and didn’t wish to leave. Not even the allure of Crown prepared food could get her to leave her home with her kitchen. She had become a house bunny. A very dangerous, deadly, house bunny.

Just like planned, Derek arrived at the Crown Restaurant a bit earlier than requested, and he was soon led up to a floor that only tier four members were usually allowed to access. Tier four members like me. He smiled, remembering his membership card Alanah had updated two days ago.

“This is as far as I can go.” The man who led him to the floor stopped before the door to a room. Derek noticed the nervousness he displayed the entire time he was walk walking behind the man.

Derek nodded. “Thanks.”

The man nodded back, then practically disappeared from his sight. If Derek didn’t know any better, he would have thought that the man used some movement skill to get away from him… or the room at a faster pace.

Derek shrugged it off and opened the door. The first thing he notices was that the room was nowhere as big as he was expecting. That’s not to say it was small, but inside, only sat a single dining table with six chairs-two on each side, and one on each end.

The walls were covered in runes that Derek didn’t recognize, along with a few he did, like the light and air cycling runes.

There were already four people inside the room when he entered. Two of which he already knew. An old man with gray hair and a pristine robe sat at the head of the table. He and Alanah were chatting when Derek came in.

A sullen looking, but well-dressed Edgar was leaning against the wall on the left side of the room, it looked like he was being pestered by a man who looked almost just like him. If Derek had to guess… no, he didn’t need to guess. He was sure the two people he didn’t recognize were the King and the Crown Prince.

He hadn’t expected the King, though he should have. Of course, he would be here for the auction. And after seeing how old and frail the King looked, Derek knew there was no way the man would miss a chance to get any extra Endurance and Vitality.

However, the person he was expecting, Natalie Savannah, was not there. At least she wasn’t there yet.

Everyone glanced at Derek as he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. Edgar’s face brightened, and he hurried forward to greet him, completely ignoring his brother in the process.

“Derek! I didn’t know you were going to be here. This dinner may not be so bad, after all.” He walked forward and slapped Derek on his shoulder. “When did you get back? Were you successful in doing what you needed to do?”

Derek smiled at Edgar. It seemed that even being in the presence of the King and Alanah didn’t affect the man. Though why would it? He was a prince, after all.

“I got back a couple of days ago.” Derek answered. “And yes, my trip was quite successful.”

“That’s good!” Edgar said. Then, he got in close to whisper, even though everyone in the room could no doubt hear him. “That guy with the stick up his ass is my brother, Edward.” He pointed at Edward, who’s jaw slightly dropped when he heard the introduction. “And he…” Edgar began to introduce the King, but was cut off by Derek.

“He must be the King I’ve heard so much about.” Derek said as he shrugged Edgar off and walked forward. “A man who is second to none in the entire Kingdom.” He pulled out the chair opposite the King and sat down. “Second to none in incompetence.”

Edgar was fine. Derek liked Edgar. The man didn’t seem to be politically motivated, and from Derek could discern, he did what he thought was right. Derek couldn’t say anything about the Crown Prince, as he had not met the man until now.

The King, however… anyone who would allow someone like Gerald to become his right hand, yet not see what he was doing behind the scenes or knowing what he was doing, yet not taking issue with it, was a man who Derek held no respect for. And it wasn’t in Derek’s nature to feign that respect and be a kiss-ass.

Derek looked at Alanah as the King’s pale face began gaining color. She shot him a look back, not one of anger or shock, but one of amusement. She planned the meeting to go this way. What a sly seductress. Derek thought.

Derek quickly glanced at Edward, who had started to walk over toward the King. His smile had vanished and turned into an angry frown. Then Derek glanced over his shoulder at Edgar.

He was staring in rapt attention with a twinkle in his eye. He was also doing his best to fight a smile-doing his best, but losing. Derek could see the beginning of a grin breaking out on his face. The only thing he needed to complete his look was a bucket of popcorn.

“What… Did… You… Say…?” The King spat out each word, one by one.

“What?” Derek asked with a confused look. “Did I say something wrong? Are you not incompetent?”

“Incompetent?” Edward was now standing beside the King. “Who are you to say such things?”

Derek looked over at Alanah, in faux shock. “Is this man not the King? Did I get it wrong?” Derek shot a look back at the King and bowed. “I’m sorry, sir. I thought that since the both Prince Edgar and Crown Prince Edward were here, the only possibility was that you were the King of Cydaria. I’m sorry for mistaking you for such a fool. I have disrespected you.” Derek acted completely sincere with every word he said.

“You!” The King’s face was now completely red in anger. He jumped to his feet, sending a pulse of lightning out of his body in the process. The chair he was sitting on completely disintegrated from the lightning that hit it.

That’s when Derek realized the King was already pouring out his aura, directing it entirely at him. It… tickled.

Derek glanced at Edgar again, in concern. He was standing almost directly behind Derek, so he would be subjected to the aura almost as much as Derek was. However, to Derek’s surprise, and actual shock, Edgar had at some point summoned a beverage and was sipping on it as he watched the… festivities. He wasn’t affected by the aura of his father at all.

At that point, he also saw another figure standing behind Edgar, quietly closing the door behind herself. Derek had to rub his eyes because if not for seeing the door move, he would have completely missed her. She was short, but not a halfling or dwarf.

She was maybe five feet tall. She had hair that was as dark as Derek’s own that came down to her shoulders. A pair of big, red-rimmed glasses sat on her cute button nose. But what drew most of Derek’s attention was her eyes. They were white. White like his were purple.

Derek’s thoughts were interrupted as he heard the sizzling sound of electricity. He turned his head back to the King, only to see a ball of electricity gathering on the man’s palm. Derek glanced at Alanah once again. The woman didn’t seem to think anything of the situation.

“You should stop, Edwin.” The feminine voice came from behind Derek as all attention fell on the short, scholarly woman. She continued to walk to the side of Derek and take a seat beside Alanah. She stared the King up and down, her eyes glowing slightly, then she looked at Derek.

Her eyes traced his body. For the first time in this world, he felt utterly exposed. He felt naked in front of her gaze. Though, when she finished, she frowned slightly and turned back to the King.

“That’s a fight you can’t win.” She said.