Ultimate Level 1

Each of them laughed, looking at their chosen appearance for this masquerade.

“You look… stunning, my love,” Fowl teased as he winked. “A blond beard… who would have known.”

She shook her head and tapped her head.

“And bald… very brave of you.”

Their warrior laughed and pointed at Max, who was grinning.

“Well, since he has a head of red hair, I figured one of us should be bald to keep the mystery alive.”

Tanila was wincing as she shook her head.

“It feels strange… to see him with a full head of hair,” she admitted. “After so long… I kind of prefer the shaved look.”

“And you two look like twins,” Max stated as he pointed at Cordellia and their mage. “Did you both plan on doing white hair or was it by chance?”

“I wouldn’t have picked this but she said I shouldn’t change. No one would suspect us of being the party that was down in Windsor Wheel.”

“It’s true,” Tanila replied. “Now, the attendant says they have found the place you told us to go. Are we ready?”

Taking a deep breath, Max nodded and tapped on the carriage door, letting their attendant, who shook their head for a moment, take them in.

“Uh… forgive me. I had not realized the change you promised would be so drastic,” Spencer said. “Fear not. I have already made a mental note of how you look now and still know the passphrase in case one of you approaches with a different appearance.”

Tanila accepted the older human’s hand and stepped down, looking up at the Evening’s Respite, where Max had said they should stay while waiting for the Choosing Day.

Large stone walls were raised up four floors, and the outside looked almost on par with the Heavenly Pineapple. Columns sat near the front entrance where the steps that waited for them to climb had a pair of servants, eyes locked on who would come from the carriage and ready to spring into action.

“Keep moving. I’m ready to stretch my legs,” Fowl called out.

As they filed out, Max took a deep breath. The last one to leave the safety of their ride, he recognized the town instantly, and a longing to run to his parents’ home fought to overwhelm him.

Never have I felt you more conflicted than today. Surely you can’t be this overwhelmed by simple emotions? What happened to the boy willing to die to resist my temptations at greatness and power?

You know what it is. Love.

Yes, I’m well aware of what it is, but the surprise at how it threatens to make you act like a fool is still surprising. Tread carefully. I would not risk exposing yourself to anyone here.

Nodding at no one, Max let his elven friends take an arm, moving up the steps with Fowl and Batrire in tow.

“Good evening, sir!” exclaimed the male attendant on the right. “Welcome to the Evening’s Respite! How may we take care of you today?”

“I need the top floor, all of it,” Max replied, his eyes holding the gaze of the man he recognized but couldn’t remember. “My friends and I will need a private butler and chef and wish to not be disturbed unless we come down on our own.”

“Yes… yes sir!” he exclaimed and snapped his fingers. “I would assume no luggage?”

A simple nod was all he gave, and the other servant moved, opening the door and bowing as they waited for them all to enter.

Inside was a world of wealth in a town that most never witnessed.

This is the father’s place of the boy who got two skills… Their family has been in power for so long that even the mayor defers to them and the money they get from the bank they run as well.

Only a few tables were set up, with fine chairs, and a booth far off had custom woodwork along the walls that provided privacy.

A woman in an expensive dress stood behind the bar, her hair blond, perfectly done, and a well-practiced smile already present. She nodded at them as they came in.

Silver and marble made up the bar, and fancy chairs, with fabrics Max could have never imagined recognizing or even touching lining each of the eight taller seats at the bar. Behind it was a well-polished mirror and a variety of colorful glasses and lightstones, which gave off a magical look.

“Would any of you care for a drink?”

A small grunt came from Fowl, and Max nodded, walking with both Tanila and Cordellia by his side as if all this were beneath him.

“You play this role almost too well,” their mage whispered. “You can see the way she is studying you.”

“I had a good teacher,” he replied, smiling as if she had just told him a joke.

Both women laughed, their light voices carrying across the room.

“We’ll take your booth and some of your finest mead and ale,” Max said, freeing a hand and placing twenty-five gold coins on the counter. “When our floor is ready, we will relocate up there. Here is enough to start the tab for the drinks.”

The woman’s cheeks flushed for just a moment, and then she nodded, motioning for them to move to where Max had mentioned.

“Very well, sir. I shall bring your drinks to you right away! Please relax, and I’ll get some snacks as well.”

Max turned and moved without waiting, leaving the girl and the money as they strode toward the booth.

As they slid in, he studied the room, letting his Sonar pick up everything he could.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Who is that?”

“I’m not certain,” the male attendant said. “They came in out of nowhere, stopped right outside, and filed out! He asked specifically for the top floor, which most wouldn’t know about.”

“Did you send for the master?”

“Yes!”

Grinning, he pulled out a small magical object that Everett had given him.

A box, no bigger than his thumb but with runes carved all over it, looked lifeless in its dull brown appearance but when he poured just a little bit of mana into it, the runes lit up and a small barrier washed over them.

“We can talk freely now.”

“Gods, Max, you act like a pompous noble! Walking in here with your head high and giving orders like that.”

“Well, we would have let you be the pompous arse, but each of us agreed your intelligence isn’t high enough,” Batrire teased her man. “Besides, I’m not about to let you walk in with two elves on your arms.”

They all chuckled and laughed as their warrior rubbed his bald-looking head.

“So now what?”

Looking at Cordellia, Max shrugged.

“We’ll drink and eat, and I’m certain Mr. Sandahl will be here soon enough. I have no doubt he’ll be anxious to see who has come to his place and tossed gold around like it’s nothing.”

“And after that?” Fowl asked.

“We relax. Later we can walk through part of the city, and I can show you a few things. Besides, we still need to scout the location I sketched out a few days ago.”

Their warrior was about to speak when Max motioned at the servant coming with snacks.

“Pardon me, but would you five like some refreshments while Tiffany finishes collecting your drinks?”

Nodding, they watched as the young girl, perhaps only nineteen or twenty, trembled slightly as she set the tray down on the table and backed away.

“For your trouble,” Max said, sliding a silver coin toward her.

Her blue eyes shook as she stared at the coin, and a wide grin grew.

“Thank you, sir!”

As she walked away, a slight skip in her step, an elbow gently hit his ribs.

“You’re not going to create another following of women, are you?”

***

“Welcome to my establishment, Mr. Gilfer. I am Mr. Sandahl, and if there is anything I can do to improve your stay, please do not hesitate to ask for me!”

The way the older man bent and acted set Max’s hackles on edge. His long brown mustache was greased and formed into handlebars, and the expensive clothes that covered his pudgy body reminded Max of the suit his son had worn on Choosing Day last year.

“I think we shall be good for now,” Max replied. “We may go out and explore the city from time to time, but there will be no need for an escort. I have a few adventurers in my entourage to keep me safe.”

“A wise thing. One can never be too careful when traveling. Just know if you need any help or have business that must be conducted while you are here, my bank is directly connected to the Bank of the Queens in the capital! Anything someone such as yourself might need, I can make sure is acquired.”

Sighing a little before taking a sip of his drink, Max nodded and then cocked his head.

“The decorations outside. A festival?”

“Correct, sir! In just three days, our city will have the choosing shard come through, and each of our youth will be granted their skill to start off their path! Have no worries. This year should be a great year.”

The tone of Sandahl’s voice conveyed something, and Max detected it easily.

“Has there not been some good years?”

Grimacing, the man nodded, wringing both hands slightly.

“I am afraid that even with my own son gaining two skills last year, the whole town was forced to endure a tragic moment.”

Their eyes were locked, and after Max motioned for him to continue, the proprietor took a deep breath and continued.

“We had an unskilled last year…”

Everyone in the table shifted slightly, and Max could feel the gaze of some of his friends for a moment.

“That does seem unfortunate. Does that happen often here?”

“Oh no, sir! Typically, only every three or four years, so this year should be a great year indeed! Now then, instead of discussing such terrible things, is there anything else I can get you?”

Shaking his head, Max pointed upward.

“I’m assuming our floor is ready?”

“Absolutely! I will have Tiffany escort you up there whenever you are ready!”

Glancing at the others, they each nodded, and Max moved to stand up.

“Then have her lead us there now. We’re ready for a little privacy and rest.”

***n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“This isn’t a bad view,” Tanila stated as the five of them stood on their private balcony overlooking a portion of the city. “While not the tallest structure we’ve been on, it does give one a glimpse of how far the town goes in two directions.”

Max nodded, holding her close as he stared out over the houses and businesses that filled the town he had called home most of his life. They still had three or four hours of good light before the sun would set, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the area he knew everything would be centered around in the coming days.

“That’s a lot of decorations,” Fowl muttered as he leaned against the stone railing. People are still putting up stuff.”

“It’s a big thing here,” Max replied. “Your whole life comes down to this one moment, and if it doesn’t turn out how you think… one might find themselves on a path they didn’t expect.”

“Still seems so different,” Cordellia stated. “In our kingdom, you simply visit the local adventurer’s house, and there your skills are assigned. Most often, everyone gets what they want, even if they haven’t really said it out loud.”

“Kind of like someone who was expected to be a weapon or armor smith becoming a warrior?” Batrire teased as she hip-checked her man.

“Yeah, that wouldn’t happen, but if it did, no one would care. Each gift has a reason for being given by Thuyja… or at least that’s what I used to think,” their ranger replied.

“What if this is all just random?” Fowl asked. “I mean… could the gods really spend that kind of time directing our paths? Wouldn’t most of the decisions be something destined by whatever rules Max said could be in place for each world?”

Seeing how his dwarven friend was looking at him, Max shrugged.

“All I know is everything I thought I knew a year ago has changed. Regardless, tonight, I need to scout a little bit. You four get some rest. I’ll be back.”

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