Adam returned to Capital in a cheerful mood, he had done what he came for, and even more.
While walking through the commoners' district in the evening, he had seen the same old but stable houses with some planks sticking out of them and people walking on the streets who seemed tired but happy to go back home. Some strays, lay among the walking, cuddling among people themselves to keep the warmth. The animals weren't a rare occurrence, so no one really paid attention to them, unless they just got outside to give them the scraps of the dinner. Some cats jumped on the roofs, moving in the direction of their homes.
One in particular was very interested in cuddles, a grey molly, female cat. Generally, a very pretty cat, she would seem like the cuddliest little beast if her ears weren't damaged, and even that diminished her snuggleness only slightly as that scale was elevated beyond reason by her chunkiness.
She clung to the legs of nearby pedestrians, begging for cuddles, or more probably, food.
Adam approached the cat and bent over to pet her. After feeling his touch, she attached herself to his hand, not letting him go without a fight. Adam didn't mind a cat begging for attention and petting her even more. After a moment he noticed that the cat was swollen, not fat. He picked her up, above his head and inspected her. The cat wasn't truly chonky, she was pregnant.
'I guess even though learning magic went relatively easy, it still was quite tasking on my mind. I need to lay down, if I confused a pregnant cat with a chunky one, who knows when I will confuse a carriage for a house.' He thought.
Adam didn't know what to do next, leaving her by would crush his heart. He was just standing there, with a cat in his arms, thinking of what to do next.
Eventually, his conscience won, and he took the cat for a snack.
Pedestrians were watching him from the corner of their eyes, wondering what maniac would just get a cat from the street and go with it somewhere. Was he just a good-hearted man? Or maybe they thought he was a cat meat conesseur?
Regardless of bystanders' ideas, the boy with a cat in his arms arrived near a stall, where meat was sold
"How much for a piece of meat? One that wouldn't outright kill this little girl from overeating." Adam was aware of the dangers of giving too much food to a starving person, as the cat didn't have a healthy amount of fat, he assumed it was starving.
"Four coppers." Answered the seller.
Adam paid him and left with a cat, poking its head in the direction of a peace of meat wrapped in a big leaf.
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Adam woke up feeling something slap his face, opening his eyelids he saw the cat on his chest, staring deep into his soul with its sparkling eyes. She demanded food.
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"So, what's up with the cat?" Asked Max during breakfast, apparently, news spread quickly. "Steven thinks you will keep it, but isn't it pregnant? I will sure be bothersome"
"I don't know, I took it out of pity. My conscience didn't allow me to leave a pregnant kitty in the cold." Now, he had to do something about it, take the responsibility. "I will keep it until she gives birth, then I will think it through again."
"Feline aside, after hearing about the cat, I didn't send you your suit for tonight's party, the cat would cover it with fur. Come to my room after breakfast to collect it. I am living in chamber 32."
Now came the difficult part of the morning, after Max's persuasion Adam let Steven teach him how to properly behave at the table, which was honestly horrifying.
After waiting for the teacher to show up, the torture began.
First was the posture, not that hard to accomplish, but harder to maintain. Then came manners of speech, as Adam was prepared to speak to such people by the title of lord, it wasn't that difficult. But the worst was left for the end. The cutlery.
"Which one is for salads?" Asked Steven. To which Adam responded by pointing at the smaller fork.
"No that's for the meat, try again." Steven taught with an iron hand, hammering knowledge into Adam's mind. It turned out that the bigger one was for salads.
Comparing it to comprehending a new element would be asking for a beating. Elements at least made sense, but who the fuck used a larger fork for salads and a smaller one for meat? Those people lost their minds.
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Adam ended up meeting with Derek after collecting his new suit.
Derek got himself a room inside one of the better taverns, near the central square. Adam got to know that he spent his days in leisure, waiting for his nephew to come to him, and update him about their current situation.
Why would Adam meet up with Derek? He was supposed to meet him after acquainting himself with the capital, but he forgot. Well, either way, his uncle just got himself his first job as Adam's attendant. He became a cat sitter.
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Many carriages were present at the central square this afternoon.
From each carriage, came out one or two young nobles and headed to the castle, which was specially decorated for the occasion.
Adam came with Max, on foot. They were dressed in fine clothing, a jacket, pants and a white shirt. All under a coat that was supposed to be left at the entrance of the building. All with Steelarm's insignia on them. Adam's jacket and pants, were arctic blue, indicating his affiliation to the ice element. Max's one was grey, on the other hand.
They walked into the castle and were led by an attendant into a huge hall, decorated with gigantic chandeliers, fine carpets, sculptures and paintings. Across the hall, stood many tables, filled to the brim with delicacies.
The hall was already full of people when young mages waltzed into it. Despite it being a party focused on this year's ascendants, most of the older nobles, of the new generation, came either way. Despite this, not that many people were present, after all only a few years divided the youngest and the oldest of people present.
"Adam, be careful and remember to speak politely to everyone, but don't use titles for anyone, apart from our seniors." Reminded him Max, to which he only nodded.
After Max's reminder, they separated. Max had some friends in high positions to greet, and Adam decided to look around and get to know some people.
Adam felt weirdly suppressed inside that hall, everyone apart from him was familiar with this type of situation. His nerves were going crazy, even more than when he first hunted monsters, back in the first days of the year.
The young mage couldn't decide who to approach, he made up his mind several times but every time, he just chickened out. Eventually, he saw a group of people, nobles like everyone else here, chatting and suppressing their laughter in a side of the hall, beside one of the tables.
Seeing the cheerful atmosphere and happy faces, Adam gained enough courage to approach someone other than his own shadow.
"Hello, do you mind me joining your conversation? I am Adam Axigna, an Aspiring Mage" Adam introduced himself, for him, coming near strangers and starting a conversation was truly a hard task, but not impossible.
The strangers, he chose were two boys and three girls. All wore fancy clothing, with four different crests on their garments.
"Nice to meet you, I am Feers Galeb, the young master of the Galeb family." It was the tallest that spoke first. He towered over Adam and had blond, short hair and blue eyes. His clothes had the crest of the Galeb family on them, the same that was on senior Harep Gabel's robe. While introducing himself, he gave Adam a handshake. It seemed that he was used to dealing with mages, who don't use his official title.
"I'm Cesar Malmond, the future Duke of Malmond." The second boy introduced himself haughtily. He was slightly taller than Adam, probably around 190 centimetres tall. Had black hair, longer than Feers, and Black eyes. He also shook Adam's hand.
"Hi! I am Eloy and this is my twin sister, Heloy. We are daughters of Count Rasto." The first sentence was said by Eloy, and the second by Heloy. They were near identical, beautiful figures, with long brown hair and blue eyes. Despite their identical appearance, Adam could still recognise each of Rasto's twins, like probably everyone in the hall as the twins wore different clothes. Like, how stupid would someone have to be to let identical twins wear uniform clothing on a gala?
"Hello, my name is Sylvia Warbear. I am a daughter of Marquess Warbear and I am also an Aspiring Mage, just like you, Adam." Said the last girl. She was slightly short, shorter than anyone here, she was about 160 centimetres tall, with heels on. Her figure wasn't very pronounced, but admirable. Sylvia had long Brown hair and green eyes, not as green as Adam's, his were a lot more vivid. Her dress was red, if she had the same standards as Max in assigning colours for clothing, it meant she was a fire mage.
"So, what brings you to the capital? I heard Max Steelarm brought someone along, are you the person I heard about?" Asked Feers, after everyone ended up introducing themselves.
"Yes you are right, I came with Max as his subordinate for the next six months. I am in debt with his father after he helped me. What about you? Do you live here, or did you come only for the gathering?" Asked Adam in return.
"No, I live in my family's territory. I guess I would come here more often if I was an heir, but as you can probably tell, mana doesn't like me." Answered Feers while looking down at his clothes.
"Miss Warbear, how about you? I didn't see you in the Magic Tower." Inquired Adam. "Though, it would be understandable, as I spent most of my time sightseeing the Capital."
"I just came to the city. There was no possibility of you walking into me. But maybe we could exchange some pointers someday? I would really like to hear the perspective on the magic of someone my age." Asked Sylvia, looking into Adam's vibrant green eyes.
"Surely, I would love to." Replied Adam.
"Max lived in the south from what I heard, is the weather there hotter than here, just like rumours say?" Questioned Cesar, the future duke, after a brief pause. Curiosity marked his voice. "I always wanted to go there, but my dad told me off by saying that there are dangerous monsters in the southern forests."
"I didn't know about the letter part, as I rarely left the town and even then I haven't ever ventured deep into the forest. But from my experience, the weather between here and the town of Ferston isn't much different, apart from the winds that blow harder here. Though, I can't say for sure cause of my short stay in the Capital." Replied Adam.
Just as one of the twins was about to say something, a bell rang. Everyone turned in its direction and saw a young, handsome boy standing on a chair. Crown Prince, as Adam later got to know, Alan Derdenia, had the same black hair as his cousin and uncle, a triangular, handsome face and blue eyes. His clothing was black, with white stripes and the royal crest on the chest. The colouring got Adam confused, he was dressed in black as if his main element was darkness, but the royal family was famous for being an iron-affiliated leanage.
"Hello, I am Alan, the crown prince for those that don't know that yet." Stifled giggles escaped the mouths of some dumbasses without an ounce of sense of humour." I would like to thank you for accepting my invitation, and officially start the party!"
Cheers erupted in the audience, followed by pairs walking toward the centre of the hall.
To the dance floor.