Chapter 213: Take Another Step

September 3rd, 625

“So you went and finally did it, huh?”

Umara nudged me with her shoulder, playing with some of the food on her tray. 

“Couldn’t hold back from using that big brain of yours?”

“I figured it would be too much of a waste. Sometimes I just have to step up and help out when people are underperforming.”

“People as in the entire Kingdom?”

“Eh, potato tomato.”

I shrugged, earning a snicker from her. 

Tana pointed at me with her fork from across the table, “We’ve been using some of these planes and helicopters. They’ve already made a huge difference even though we only have a few of each. We’re able to respond to calls for help in minutes instead of hours with the helicopters, and those monsters can’t even touch the planes.”

“That’s the idea. They’ll be even more effective once we get the bombs dropping.”

Umara questioned, “Bombs? Like the chemical explosives?”

“No. Mana bombs,” I activated my telepathy, speaking into all their minds, [We managed to figure out a way to turn White Crystals into Elemental Crystals. These Elemental Crystals are pure mana, and it allows you to detonate all the mana within the Crystal at once. It’s capable of incredible devastation but we had to lock down on the information because of that. Still, Sawn will be rolling them out as weapons, and they’ll be fielded by the thousand. We’re talking the entire power contained within a crystal exploding out all at once, power that we can manufacture like common enchanted items.]

[That’s a dangerous invention,] Feiden frowned, [What happens if you scale it to an Authority 11 or 12 Crystal?]

[That, my friend, is what you call a weapon of mass destruction. You could wipe out entire cities with that power. Believe me, I understand full well what I created, and I’m trying to get Sawn to crack down on the information. But it’s a relatively simple process and since we’re going to be mass producing these things, I don’t know how long the recipe will be contained for. Either way, it’s a small price to pay for the blow we’ll be able to deal the Scourge.]

“So long as it gets used against the right enemy.” Tana muttered, leaning back into her chair. 

There was a bit of silence before Umara bounced a bit and nudged me with a smile. 

“Hey, hey, when do you think you’ll be able to come into special operations? My mother told me the news.”

“What news?” Tana asked. 

Umara smiled at her, “The Ancestors are finally backing off a bit, and after the showcase made him rich and famous, people no longer have a valid reason to keep us from being together. The fight is finally fair now and my mother has taken her hands off.”

“Oh.” Tana’s brow raised, a grin surfacing a second later, “Well congratulations, you two.”

She clapped, Umara smiling widely and leaning against my shoulder. 

I put my arm around her and rubbed her arm a bit, “To answer your question, I’m hoping to advance to Authority 7 before the year’s end. After that it’s up to Gurns, but you can tell him that I’d be more than happy to join whenever.”

“I think the unspoken agreement is to recruit you when you advance.” Umara sighed, “We’ve talked to him before, tried to convince him, but he’s still biased since you’re a summoner.”

“I don’t blame him. I’d like to think I’m proving myself though. Gurns has recruited people from the Snow Doves before, so since I’m in that platoon, he’s probably watching.”

“We’ll make sure he is. God knows you’re even more lethal than a knight. If he’ll take us, there’s no reason for him not to take you.”

Tana snickered, “Yeah, all that just so you guys can do stuff together.”

Umara reddenned, “Shut up, Ghost.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, Witch.”

“Witch?” I asked.

“Yeah, your girlfriend is a Witch.”

I glanced down at Umara, “We need to get you a hat then. I’ll put in an order, send it to you.”

“A hat?” She looked back up, our faces close.

“Every Witch needs a pointy hat. Pinky promise me you’ll wear it.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, “I can feel your amusement.”

I laughed, “I promise it’ll be cool! But you’ll have to wear it. I’ll make it armored and everything. I want you to tell me what functions and enchantments you want too. Whatever it is, I’ll get it, but you have to wear it.”

Her eyes narrowed further in scrutiny, her chin against my shoulder. 

I gave her a quick peck on the nose, making her face scrunch. 

I stuck out my pinky again, which she finally took. 

“Fine, fine. If you insist.”

“I do. You’ll look amazing, promise. I think I might get you a broom, too.”

“What the hell would a broom be for?”

“It would be your staff!”

“And that’s where I draw the line. No brooms!”

“But it would be so funny!”

“I’m not a comedy piece!”

We bickered a bit more before the two of us quickly quieted down. Feiden turned at that point as well, all of us facing a few newcomers.

There were three of them, one man that led two. The one in front, an Authority 8 Warlock, was a tall blonde man with a rather refined disposition. I got the noble vibe from him, painting most of the picture right off the bat. 

Umara spoke through my telepathic connection, [That’s Sigvard Dhruv, son of Duke Dhruv. He wasn’t initially a suitor but ever since I arrived here, he’s made himself one.]

[Goodness girl, you attract trouble no matter where you go.]

[This is more of a nuisance, but yes, I’m sorry in advance.]

[Eh, it’s the price I pay for having such a hot girlfriend.]

I noticed her redden a bit more. Satisfied, I turned to the newcomer. 

He spoke first, looking at Umara, “Good afternoon, Lady Talerria.”

“Hello, Dhruv.”

“You are John Cooper?”

He turned to me next. Instead of responding though, I took out my cigar case. 

I plucked one of the brown rolls and cut one end before activating the lighter and burning the other. 

I took a few breaths, exhaling some smoke before nodding. 

“Yeah.”

He looked down at me with conceit, “Do you believe to gain an upper hand by making me wait? It is childish.”

“Attempting to gain something implies that there’s value to be had. I am unable to rectify that fallacy with my thoughts regarding this situation. To be blunt, I’m currently more concerned with this cigar. But you have my attention, for now. Can we help you?”

I smiled at him, the familiar taste of the cigar filling my mouth. 

Sigvard rolled his eyes, “To think the inventor of the plane would be so crude. Thankfully my business only extends to Lady Talerria.”

“Well then, by all means.”

I straddled the bench I was on, pulling Umara into my chest and letting her lean into it. Then I handed off the cigar. She took it and puffed it a few times before nodding to Sigvard. 

“What do you want, Dhruv?”

“…My father has invited you and your family to attend a gathering at our estate in a week’s time. There will be many in attendance, including the Second Prince.”

“If my boyfriend can attend with me, then I’d be happy to.”

“According to my knowledge, you aren’t considering any suitors during your time in the military. I don’t believe you can have a boyfriend.”

“Ah yes, I forgot about that.” She flicked her finger, “Hey, dear, when were you thinking of proposing? You know, since I can’t call you my boyfriend.”

I smiled when she turned her head up to mine, “Eventually, darlin’. We’ll need to do it when it hurts them the most.”

“And you call me the troublemaker.”

“They started it.”

“People might call you immature for saying things like that.”

“Well I never did lose that teen spirit. I think I’m still in my rebellious phase.”

That earned a couple chuckles, Umara putting the cigar back into my mouth and glancing back at Sigvard.

“I maintain. I bring my boyfriend.”

“He is not on the guest list.”

“Well then I certainly see no reason to go.”

“You will attend with your family.”

“No, I will not,” She snapped, “And you will not speak to me as if you are in any position to command me. Fail to muster respect and you will see yourself out.”

“As if you are in any position to command me.”

“Oh but I am,” Umara lifted her hand, little snakes of fire swirling through her fingers, “Because I’m more than capable of throwing you out myself. Would you like me to prove it?”

I saw one of the men beside Sigvard step forward, and right after I saw Tana appear behind him, blade pressed against his spine.

My brows raised. That was a rather devilish move to play. Seemed she had learned some biology from Umara.

I raised my hand, “If I may interject.”

Feiden relaxed with my words, sitting back down, though when he stood up, I wasn’t sure.

I turned to Sigvard, “Look, I know you’re jealous of me and all-”

“Hah! I could never be jealous of a commoner like you.”

“Man, you really know how to say that like a slur. Anyway, I gotta say, this really isn’t the way to go about courting a lady. I know you’ve had a platinum spoon in your mouth all your life, but-”

“What is platinum? Our spoons were silver, or is that concept so foreign to you?”

I turned to Umara, flailing a hand, “Is irony completely lost on this guy?”

“You should lower your expectations, dear.”

“It would certainly save my sanity. Anyway,” I looked back at Sigvard, “You really gotta engage in some introspection, because this isn’t the way to get a girl to like you. I don’t know how you could possibly see this situation going any other way besides making this fine specimen here hate you. You gotta see it from their perspective, maybe ask yourself: If I were a chick, and I met myself, would I wanna suck that guy’s dick? ‘Cause they don’t do it for just anyone! I get you have money and all but unless you’re planning on paying for high class whores and trophy wives for the rest of your life I think you really gotta bring down the dick meter a dozen or so notches. You feel me?”

I looked at him for any sign of approval, instead finding a most visceral face of disgust. Then I glanced around to find Umara looking back at me, flushed, Feiden covering his face, and Tana staring into the air with a pondering expression. 

It took a few seconds for Sigvard to respond, “What vulgarity. It truly amazes me to see how revolting someone can be. It makes me question whether or not you truly invented the airplane.”

“Well if I didn’t invent it, I’m getting paid millions of coin for nothing. Which would have been more than welcome but I can’t have everything my way. At least we have a monopoly.”

“What’s a monopoly?” Umara suddenly asked.

“It’s when you’re the only seller of a product. There’s nobody who makes the same thing and therefore no competition. We can set the price of planes however we want because there’s nobody else who makes them. And so I make assloads of coin that I can blow on pointy hats for my Witch.”

“You better not spend too much.”

“For my Witch I’ll spend 100 million. Hahh, I remember when we barely scraped together a million with both our savings for some storages. Fun times.”

We both chuckled a bit, Tana returning to her seat. We chattered a bit longer before noticing that Sigvard was still standing there.

Umara turned to him before I could, “Why are you still here?”

Sigvard frowned further, “Does your family know about this continued affair with a commoner?”

“Dhruv, you should really listen to my boyfriend. This is hardly a way to earn a girl’s fancy, and you’ll never be able to earn mine. You may have had my pity if you were a half decent person, but now you’re quickly acquiring my hate instead. So do both of us a favor and cease this useless pestering.”

“Do you still believe that you can go marry a commoner? Neither of our families will allow it, and I’m your best candidate.”

“Do you still dare call him a commoner? He-”

“Hang on, Umara.”

I interrupted her, turning my gaze toward Sigvard before taking the cigar out of my mouth and blowing some smoke.

“Sigvard Dhruv, let me make this crystal clear for you. Umara is mine, and not even the King will take her from me, let alone some whiny little asshole from some backwater Duchy. I don’t care about how much money, influence, or power your family has. I don’t care about your father, I don’t care about your mother, I don’t care about your whores. So please, go bitch and moan elsewhere. I won’t be here for long and you’re ruining what little time I have with my friends.”

“You… fucking imbecile,” He seethed, “Who the fuck do you think you are?!”

“Alright, we’re done here.” I sighed and stood, officially annoyed. Umara rose with me, Feiden and Tana following. 

She linked her arm with mine, “We can go to my room.”

“Girl rooms have cooties.”

“You’re such a child.”

“Hey!”

Sigvard shouted, making me roll my eyes and turn. 

“Dude, I’m about to put a hole through your foot. Pipe down.”

“You couldn’t hurt me if your life depended on it, summoner! The fact that you think you wield any strength at all is a testament to your stupidity!”

I stared at him for a second before looking down at Umara, “If I kill him, do I get to take his spot in special operations?”

“Knowing Gurns, he would probably let it slide for as long as it took for the Dhruv Duchy to find out.”

“I suddenly have a good impression of the man.”

We started walking again, Sigvard stomping forward. 

“Hey, summoner! You will learn to fear my family! ”

“Dhruv, take another step and I’ll send you out of the building.”

Umara gave a casual warning as we continued. A few seconds passed in silence as we approached the door. 

Then I heard a step. It was Sigvard, and he took a step back. 

So Umara turned and cast a spell, a thin needle of fire sparking from her palm and condensing before shooting a drop of bright orange liquid toward Sigvard. 

He barely raised his barrier, and the drop collided with it. It exploded on impact, sending all its force across the face of the barrier and sending Sigvard flying across the mess hall. 

He hit the far wall and then went through it, tumbling across the ground outside. That’s when I looked to the side, finding the other two individuals with Sigvard on the floor with bloody faces. 

I looked at Umara, “Nice spell.”

“I learned from the best.”

She smiled back at me, Feiden and Tana appearing to our sides as we left. 

Once at the room the four of us talked for a couple hours. At some point though, Feiden and Tana decided to leave. 

We knew why, but we didn’t stop them. It had been two years and Umara and I were a bit starved. 

All of 5 minutes passed before we jumped on each other. We still weren’t going to take things all the way, yet. That just meant we were doing everything short of conventional sex. Anything to stave off the horny for however long it took for us to reunite again. 

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