Solomon. Braavos.
As the sun set over the horizon and the stars and moon began to light up the firmament, I set out for the Pearl Coast. The activity of the city had fallen somewhat as the working part of it rested, and the streets were mostly filled with only those who could afford it. The taverns and inns, however, were filled almost completely, given the lights burning in them and the multitude of voices.
And as I walked slowly through the alleys of the city, a debate was going on in my head. It mostly centered around Shiro's request, and more specifically, Semiramis'.
Right now, the amount of mana the Servants receive is just enough to allow them to use their minimal abilities. Noble Phantasms are powerful, especially for the current era of this world. And while in Shiro's case it is ineffective against ordinary humans and not particularly noticeable, this is not the case for Semiramis at all.
Her Noble Phantasm, the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis, is a Huge Flying Fortress that Semiramis can use as both a base and a weapon of mass destruction. To the inhabitants of this world, such a structure is, to put it mildly, out of reach, unless you count dragons. And the power it carries will make every lord and commoner who learns of it or sees it obey.
Plus, there's enough space in the Gardens to house the population of a small town, and that's if you don't count the tower-like palace that sits in the center of the fortress.
Right now, the world is fairly peaceful. It is developing, albeit slowly, and the priorities of its inhabitants are prioritized around money, influence, and families. They know that with enough quantity and quality of these factors there is nothing to fear, but what if a floating impregnable fortress appears in the sky? Priorities are augmented by a new entrant - magic, of which the Gardens are an obvious manifestation.
Infrastructure and the order of things will change. Who was nothing will be able to become everything, and vice versa. Kingdoms and cities will face unrest and even civil warfare, as someone will definitely feel that he is better than others and therefore worthy of more.
It's also worth mentioning that the Age of Gods is almost over and I didn't feel any fairies or spirits, at least not yet. Soon the Age of Man will come, and the Gardens will stall progress and breathe life into the passing Age. All in all, the emergence of the Gardens will bring great excitement to the fate of this world, which I would like to avoid for now. However, if the situation calls for it, the Gardens will have to see the light of day, which is what I told Shiro.
And then there is the matter of the White Walkers. According to legend, Azor Ahai should deal with them, but now that I'm in this world, things are getting more complicated. Just like Kinvara said, I'm the one who has become the main figure on the field, and it's hard to argue with that.
Solomon's Noble Phantasm, the very first of the three available, is not just powerful, but almost omnipotent. When activated, it gathers magic from the entire planet that humanity has possessed, and it can be channeled into very different things, from obvious destruction that can drill the planet through, to something on a larger scale - the destruction of human history, as it was in Solomon's memories. Magic is a circumvention of the rules of the world, which means that there are still a carload of uses for this Noble Phantasm.
My attitude towards its use or this world... I don't know. I just don't have any big thoughts. Right now I just want to let this world prepare for change, and explore it a bit. I don't see myself in the future, as I just have no idea what I'm going to do or who I'm going to spend my time with.
I used to really think that immortality was a wonderful thing, as I would have time to learn everything the world has to offer, but now my opinion has changed. The Starks, Halon and the others I've befriended are mortals, which means they'll grow old and pass away, and I'll meet their descendants - grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on.
Semiramis and Shiro will either want to return to the Throne or create their own family, where I have no place. They will have their own lives, and I will have mine. I will only be an inconvenience. And they will also leave, if they are fully resurrected and the situation will be the same as with the first ones.
Of course, I can think of the Red Men, especially Kinvara, who will no doubt be willing to follow me, and they live as long as their bodies are supported by R'Glor's magic, but he will be gone, and so will they.
And in the end, I don't know what to give myself to. I just don't. I don't want to feel the pain of loss, much less get used to it, but at the same time I don't want to lose my humanity. And I will lose it, since I'll either become an emotionless piece of flesh if I close my heart, or devastated if I don't.
I grinned ironically.
A vicious circle, huh?
So the time passed unnoticed, and I almost reached the Pearl Bank. At some point, however, I was abruptly grabbed by the arm and pulled into a deserted alleyway between the houses. In front of me stood a figure with a bag at his side, shrouded in a plain brown cloak, that let go of my arm and moved slightly away from me. And at the same time I could smell the slight odor of baked goods that the figure exuded.
- I apologize for my impertinent behavior, sir, but these are the orders of the mistress. - said the figure and removed his hood. It turned out to be the same saleswoman from whom I had bought bread and who had handed the letter to Lina, and there was a guilty expression on her face. But the same cheerful and polite smile remained.
- It's alright," I nodded calmly, "I understand you're here to see me off, Mistress....
- Yuni, sir. You're right, my job is to escort you. And please, I am not a mistress, you can just call me by my first name. - She bowed her head and corrected me.
- Okay, Yuni.
- Here, put this on, sir," she opened her bag, which contained a cloak identical to the one she was wearing, "And then we can depart.
- Oh? - I stared at the cloak with an incomprehensible look.
- Don't look at me like that, master. Mistress still needs to maintain authority and rules.
- Rules?
- You really haven't been in town that long, huh? - Yuni sighed - Every client who comes to Madam's office for an appointment is accompanied by someone from her entourage, and their identity must be concealed. Madam's work has a certain charm that makes some people tend to behave extremely... fanatical. If the client's identity were to be known, then with insufficient security, he might suffer some rather... unpleasant consequences.
- Even so? - I wondered.
- Even so," she nodded, "I remember one client who spent his entire fortune to get to the mistress. And he did get in and even got the painting, but two days later he was found dead in one of the canals of the city, his house was burned down and the painting of the mistress was stolen. This happened before the Mistress even enacted these rules.
- That's... staggering," I shook my head, "But then how does the client get the painting if the identity is supposed to remain secret.
- Mistress has the right people. - She stated with a smile.
- But I took the painting and reached the temple quite calmly.
- No matter how fanatical some of Mistress' fans are, no one will risk challenging the red men and the faceless ones. - She said, to which I nodded briefly and accepted the cloak.
Once I had it on we headed towards the tavern. Of course, our group of two was accompanied by multiple stares from the people around us. And when we entered the tavern and began to go up to the third floor, its customers stopped doing their business and began either whispering with each other or just silently watching.
Incidentally, since that banquet at the Tarmo mansion, one detail or another had spread through the city like wildfire. Apparently, I had underestimated the Artist's fame, as every commoner who interacted with me in the slightest, i.e. merchants, artisans, simple laborers, tried to... suck up to me.
However, just like Yuni had said, no one dared to invade my personal space, pester me and all that sort of thing, as how crazy one would have to be to provoke two powerful faiths. The painting itself was in the red temple, as there was no point in carrying it to the black and white house, and there are simply no other options.
My work that Velano had asked me to do was finished. He said he was grateful and would remember it, but also added that he would like me to get to the bottom of it. If possible, of course. Ideally, since there was no magic involved, there was nothing stopping me from ignoring his request, but if something to do with Oris came up, why not get to the bottom of it? If only for a sense of accomplishment, I'd say.
Going upstairs, I didn't notice any changes in the interior, but here, in addition to the Artist herself, were her three maids that had assisted her in her work during the banquet. She was taking her arranged seat by the window overlooking the city and painting some sort of picture while her three assistants stood silently to the side of her.
- 'I have brought him, Mistress. - Yuni said respectfully and bowed.
- Good, I'll call you when I'm done. You can be free, Yuni. - Without taking her gaze off the host, the Artistry said, to which Yuni bowed once more and went back downstairs, then continued, ''Have a seat. I'll be done soon.
Taking a seat in one of the available chairs, I focused my gaze on the Artist while taking a closer look at her maids.
Each of them was different from the other: different color of eyes, hair, skin, build. But the gaze...
They watched my every move with the corner of their eyes, like a trained killer or predator that doesn't reveal itself until the hunt begins. Their gaze was cool and calculating, which was unusual and... interesting. I guess they, in addition to being the Artist's assistants, are also her guards. A good decision considering what I heard from Yuni.
After about an hour, she finished her work. The artist slowly got up from her chair and moved to the couch opposite the chair I was occupying. One of her assistants began to clean up, another carefully took the canvas and placed it facing the window, and the last one stood silently behind her mistress's shoulder.
- You are very interesting, Mr. Solomon. - With a stoic and mask-like expression, the Artist began, interrupting the silence.
- Interesting? Interested in what exactly, Mrs. Artist?
- Don't play dumb and ignorant. I had heard about you before, about what a dangerous and powerful sorcerer you are, but at that evening I saw for myself. You watched me like a vulture or a stalker, of which this city is full," she said in a monotone. "Others might think you were impressed by my skill or beauty, but not me. And we both know the real reason, don't we?
Quite a rough start, I'd say. I wouldn't expect someone like her to act that way. However, it doesn't matter, at least not to me. But her words are true. My interest is centered on her magical skills. Not that this is anything out of the ordinary, but apparently my interlocutor thinks otherwise, judging by her tone.
- What does this have to do with your invitation here? - I asked with a polite smile.
- I found out that you are quite close to one "woman". - She said icily, but the last word sounded as if she was utterly disgusted to even think about her, whoever it was. She may or may not have already done so, but my "mother" has definitely lured you in somehow. Which means she will definitely send you to get rid of me. To wash the 'shame' off her face and clear your 'good' name.
I raised an eyebrow.
Painter was practically spitting out some words while maintaining a cold stare, and I just didn't understand what she meant. It was like the context of the conversation had gotten away from me from the very beginning and didn't want to go back.
- I still don't understand what the point of our conversation is, Mistress Artist.
She made a very tiny gesture with her head in response to my words, as the next second three razor-sharp daggers settled at my throat, heart, and groin. Her maids surrounded me, forming a semicircle, leaving only their mistress in view. They stood absolutely still, as if they were machines, programmed only to follow orders.
- There's no point in explaining to you what you already know," seeing my sincere bewilderment, tiny signs of irritation appeared on her face, "She prepared you, didn't she? What did she promise you? Power? Gold? My magic? What?
- I believe there has been a misunderstanding between us. And as much as I hate to bring others into this, you're not afraid of the Red Faith and the Black and White House? Your actions seem illogical and ill-conceived to me. - I said calmly, and the dagger that was pointed at my throat almost made contact with my skin.
- There is no misunderstanding, just a fact. What about them? There will be no problem if you consider my actions as a mere demonstration," the Artist said with absolute certainty and shook her head once more. In response, her maids obediently stood behind her, putting away and hiding their daggers - I invited you here to make a deal. I don't know what 'mother' has offered or will offer for my head, but I'm offering you twice as much. Do I interest you?
Outwardly I didn't react in any way, but inside there was confusion.
How did Velano's routine request to investigate his brother lead to this?
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