CHAPTER 518

“That could have gone better.” Xavier muttered as Arianwyn and Levy both rejoined the group before they returned to the manor for dinner.

“I don’t think so.” Ajax said. “Arianwyn, and Elara for that matter, could have beaten any of the three of them.”

“Yeah they would have, that’s not what I meant.” Xavier said.

“The elves won all the duels.” Lexi said. “It doesn’t look good for us, and how things look is what matters about this.”

The reason Xavier was worried about how things looked was because of how the more prideful noble Houses would react in order to regain some perceived honor, this could damage their budding alliance with Sylvanthal.

“Would Tom beating Leandra tomorrow help?” Ajax asked as he watched his brother already having moved to talk to the elf as soon as the final duel had ended.

“Not a lot.” Xavier shook his head. “Not only would it be Fluffy that would be winning that duel but Tom was born a commoner. It would have to be James, Levy or Ramus as well as Anna Lexi or myself that take a few wins.”

“Good news is that the Empire is sending more than one person our age.” Lexi said as she tapped the pocket where a note Lancel had given her a little earlier rested. “It seems the Empire has a bit of a grudge against House Leafsong and they are sending multiple people who are the appropriate age and level to duel him. We can duel them.”

“Won’t that antagonise the Empire?” Ajax asked.

“No, it should be fine.” Xavier agreed with Lexi’s reasoning. “I’m not saying we should look for a fight but we don’t need to avoid them either, especially since not all of the Empire nobles are going to be looking to make a good impression.”

Xavier was actually a bit worried about what might go down between the visiting nobles and House Hearthbound given the presence of Kate and Jake. Discussions had died down considerably once they returned to the manor. Most nobles just stayed for dinner before calling an end to the evening following the pitiful result from the duels.

“I’m sorry about this.” Arianwyn said once most of the nobles had already left and there was more privacy for her and Elara to stray from the rest of the elves and talk with Ajax, Xavier, Lexi, Anna and Benedict. “Fealin pulled a fast one and by the time I realized it all the duels were already set.”

“I doubt it would have matter.” Ajax said drawing the attention of the elves by being more proactive in a conversation as opposed to how passive he usually was when the crowds were bigger. “The only way you or Elara might have lost was if I was fighting. Fealin simply chose his opponent and set it up for Emeris to do the same.”

“You think quite highly of yourself.” Emeris said.

Fealin had been surprised by Ajax paying him a compliment despite not feeling any antagonism from the young Duke, so much so that he had missed Emeris looking annoyed at Ajax’s observations.

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“I don’t think so, in fact he is giving us quite a lot of credit by not saying we would have lost for sure.” Elara cut him off. “Both Arianwyn and I already lost to Ajax and that was before he delved another twelve dungeons. Not to mention he cleared more floors than most people do in a single delve.”

“You think Emeris’s fight might have turned out different if he wasn’t fighting Benedict?” Fealin asked, interested in what he could get Ajax to divulge about Xavier, Lexi or Anna’s fighting style. The question is interesting enough to even quiet Emeris from objecting further, something Fealin.

“The duel format wouldn’t have been ideal for Xavier so that fight could go either way but from what I saw today both Lexi and Anna would have won.” Ajax answered.

Leandra was shocked at how much more engaged Ajax became as the number of people had been reduced. She had heard he didn’t have great social Skills and remained more reserved in crowds but this was something else. She had initially doubted her family’s judgement of him but now she could see what they saw when they met him in Sylvanthal.

“In a fight against mages I would have used my Domain.” Emeris said with glee.

“So would Lexi.” Ajax’s throw away words as he popped another spoonful of food into his mouth left the young elf speechless, much to everyone else's amusement.

“You’ve mastered the use of a Domain?” not even Fealin managed to keep all of the jealousy out of his voice as he turned towards Lexi.

“I wouldn’t claim I’ve mastered it.” Lexi said with a shake of her head, she had a long way to go with all of the affinities that made up her Destruction Domain, Vibration Mana especially since she had just barely scratched the surface of what those spells could do. “But I can use a Domain.”

“You knew about this?” Emeris turned an affronted look towards Arianwyn and Elara. He had known they had traded the knowledge of how to develop a Domain but since only the small traveling group had known about Lexi’s Domain the news had yet to spread.

“Daddy can I come watch the duels tomorrow?” The silence was cut through by a whisper from Jake as he hung on to Tom’s arm.

“You can come but you have to stay with your uncle.” Tom wanted to ensure his son’t safety and with the Empire around the safest place would be near Lancel who would be by Ajax and Lexi’s side. “And that’s only after school.”

The duels wouldn’t be taking place before school was over anyway but Tom wanted to cut off any argument about Jake skipping out on lessons just because he didn’t want to miss out on the duels. The progress he had made with farming skills was impressive and Tom knew how important early experience was now.

“School is an interesting idea.” Arianwyn clung to the topic in hopes of easing the tension coming from Emeris. “Did you enjoy your time at the Academy that much?”

“I learnt a lot at the Academy.” Ajax answered. “It made me realize just how much people miss out on because they don’t know what they don’t know. It seemed like a good way to spend some of the gold I had found in the dungeon.”

When Xavier had asked him this very same question Ajax had actually expanded more in how he saw this as the perfect way to give commoners a chance to really look for something they are Skilled in and a way to prepare them for a fast track to the Academy. So much so in fact that Ajax had warned them that the Academy would need to expand or raise their standards in the coming decades.

Both Arianwyn and Elara realized Ajax was holding something back so they decided not to push the topic further. Before the elves took their leave however Emeris had something he had to get off his chest before they left for the evening.

“It might not be tomorrow but before we leave I will prove you wrong.” Emeris squared off against Ajax.

“I look forward to it.” Lexi said from beside Ajax. “I haven’t gotten a chance to have a Domain battle with someone around my level.”

“Would it be okay if I came in the morning to discuss some alchemy?” Leandra also asked. “I have to say I am quite interested in this cement you have created.”

“That would be fine.” Ajax said with a smile. “It’s something I am quite sure it is something our Houses can trade in the future. The lack of abundant rocks in Sylvanthal would mean that regular cement wouldn’t be feasible for large construction but the Mana infused kind could be, and for that an alchemist is required throughout the entire process.”

With that the elves took their leave. “I’m glad you’ll have fun in the morning.” Lexi said as she and Ajax both headed for their room to turn in for the night. “With how large the Empire visit will be the rest of the day will really take it out of you.”

Unlike Gryndor the Empire didn’t have a large foreign visit taking place at court where most of the nobles were now gathered. Their visiting party would have more nobles than just those young enough to take part in the duels. A few older Barons and Viscounts were actually here to try and prove their superiority over the elves.

Lexi had no idea just how prophetic her words would turn out to be as she went to sleep.