NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The First Breakthrough In The Knighthood Realm
The guards looked at each other with bewilderment as they saw Jarren make his way past them without care. "Has that little brat finally understood that respect is earned and not given?!" One joked. "Just because he thinks that his father is some noble means that he gets to boss us around."
The other shot back, their tones lacking any seriousness as they went on with their shifts. Jarren now walked through a empty halls, on some occasion run into maids who made whispers casting curious glances at his figure but never dared to stare for too long.
He knew the layout and soon enough he made his way to his master bedroom. It was filled to the brim with all kinds of lavish decors, huge ceiling to floor windows that let in light and a king-sized bed that remained untouched. He crashed onto it, feeling the softness of the silk as he stared at the ceiling before a maid barged in.
Hesitant after knocking, she timidly made her way in. Looking up, she seemed scared at Jarren making a move. A face that he didn't know. 'This owner harassing his maida and treating them like toys...' He gave a light sigh as he watched her stand at the door frame.
"What? I'm not going to eat you. Or do you think that I'm so ugly that you wouldn't dare approach me?" He mused, his smile steadfast as always. Her face switched between shock, nervousness and coyness. It was clear that she was new to her role.
With a thought, he instantly knew that the old maid had quit after Jarren got a bit too brazen with his acts to the point of sexual assault. Of course the matter was sealed and the lady killed off to avoid any ears catching wind of something that they weren't supposed to.
As for the staff, they were warned about making the news public. It would seem that the new girl had been informed with how he played with his staff and because of this, his father was forced to make most of them male, the cooks female but Jarren barely went there thus they were free from his grasp.
"It's not that but... the tavern wants someone to foot the bill for last night." Her tone grew weaker to the point of a whisper but he heard it clearly, amused with her mousy voice. She had anticipated him to lash out, demanding her to simply consult the financial officer but he calmly asked.
"How much is it?" Pleased with this outcome, she felt more confident. "Two hundred blue malcore crystal shards." He watched her movements, how she fidgeted her hands. He rose to his feet and without warning closed the distance between the two.
Her chest heaved, as if waiting for something more to happen however her hands were filled with a small bag. "Five hundred blue malcore crystal shards. Go buy yourself something pretty while you're at it. Also have these letters delivered to my two friends." And with that, he made his way back to his closet, picking his new clothing.
The girl remained startled, thinking that he would try something more provocative but he didn't and she was greatly pleased. "Of course and thank you, master." And just like that, she took her leave. He let out a soft chuckle as he finally found out what he would be wearing.
He prepared it on his bed before making his way into the shower. Normally a maid would be tasked with this but he chose to do it himself. Flaring the water with a fire spell that he concocted, he dove his body into the steamy water and let it rest.
Finally the sweat from last night washed clean off his skin. Refreshing as he closed his eyes, letting his body soak in the moment. 'I should do something about this body. A bronze initiate is rather pathetic for someone of my standard.' He could have ascended to any rank he wanted, from the lowest to the highest in an instant but he refrained from doing so.
'It'll be so boring after that. Sure heads will turn but it'll get pretty boring after that.' Choosing the slower and more grounded path, he realized that he would get more genuine and savory expressions that way. His chest heaved up and down, his breathe slowing as he sunk deeper into the tub.
'I prefer to do things solo, Jovien and Serrant so I hope that you're not all that offended with me.' The letters he had given to his maid stated that he no longer wanted to be friends with the two, to the point of insulting them for the love of it.
'Four days to breakthrough from Bronze Initiate to Iron Strider. Should be believable.' He chose to first focus on his body before proceeding with his malcore ranking. Stepping out, he didn't need a towel as he was alone and made his way back to his bedroom.
Clomere marched through the halls, her chest heaving as her mind speculated what would have occured. She had heard whispers of how Jarren had his way with his servants, especially women but what she was met with was completely opposite. He was calm and didn't make her feel uncomfortable at the slightest.
But what she couldn't wipe off her mind was his smile, the smile that didn't ask for too much, just enough. As of plastered on his face and impossible to remove. She had also heard of his spendthrift habits at brothels and taverns alike with his posse, another myth she had yet to debunk.
Handing the money over to the errand boy, she made her way back to the kitchen where she was greeted with an audience. "So how did it go? Where did he touch you?" One shot up, a cook. Clomere looked at the source with bewilderment, her voice now calm.
"Nothing happened, he merely gave me two letters and the money for the tavern." Her tone light and given how happy she was seemed true. "What?! That brute didn't bother-" Before the cook could finish, she was intercepted with another voice. "I'm glad that your first experience with Jarren wasn't that bad Clomere but don't expect it to last."
The head chef mused, past her prime as she was in the age of fifty. She had stuck around long enough to know Jarren like a nephew she didn't want to be affiliated with. She had seen his games, his theatrics, those who he hung around with alongside his flaws which were plenty.
"Well here, his breakfast. Just make sure you don't linger about for too long." She mused, her smile masking her worry. Clomere grabbed the tray and made her way back to Jarren's room. With her hands full, she barged in only to be greeted with a scene she wasn't ready for. Jarren was in his undergarments, his back facing her.
"Ah! I'm so sorry my Lord!" She shrieked as she tried to retreat but unable to as the door had closed behind her. "Just put the tray over there." His tone implied a calmness that she couldn't quite understand. He put on his pants before donning his shirt. The clothes all felt like a tight glove that snug him in all the right ways.
Clomere had placed the tray next to him and turned away, ready to head for the door. "I don't think that I'll be able to eat all of those biscuits by myself." A statement that sent chills down her spine. "Ah, no thanks! I- I mean I'm so sorry but I can't at the moment!" Floundering with her words, he offered that unnerving smile of his making her stutter even more.
"As your lord and master as you put it, I order you to have a meal with me. But feel free to deny this request." Her hands curled into fists, she wanted to leave so badly but the look on his face assured her of peace and tranquility that she wouldn't be able to find elsewhere.
"As you wish, my Lord." She gulped, forcing herself to walk back to his bed and took a chair next to it. From here the two sat casually, akin to friends however her body was tense, her motions stiff. "You don't have to be so afraid of me Clomere." He started off, taking a light sip of his tea.
'How does he know my name?' Her mind pondered at the thought but before she could dwell on it for too long, he went on. "I'm not going to touch you in any way that you've heard off from the staff. I do know about the tales that drift around these halls about me."
She wasn't sure whether to believe him. Unsure whether he was sincere or it was simply a trick or his. "Arrange it such that I won't be affected for the next subsequent days. Four days should cover it. Even if it includes my friends." Taking his last bite of the biscuit, he washed it down with cinnamon tea.
"Wha- Why?" It wasn't in line for a servant to question the motive of their master but the question slipped out of her tongue. "I'll attempt to breakthrough into the second rank of knighthood." She hadn't anticipated for him to answer her question so casually.
"So if you don't mind." Placing the fine china back on the tray, he gestured at the door, ushering her to leave. The door clicked behind her and he positioned himself in a meditative position as he started to focus on his body. It didn't need him four days but two minutes to do so.
Focusing on the bones in his body, he imbued mana into them, slowly deteriorating but reformed now stronger than ever. The process was agonizing to the average person but he, his face never flinched.
He was drenched in sweat throughout as he felt his bones fracture, it felt as if his bones were being scratched by molten iron ever so slowly. The bronze color in his bones slowly wore off like old paint and replaced with a new shiny iron lustre. His marrows were now constituted of iron perforations that ran all over his body.
His skin now glowed with a faint silvery hue. It felt like rebirth, he could sense that his physical prowess was much better in comparison to before. He could now take damage with resilience and if placed in the same position as last time, he was sure that the old him wouldn't have frozen up and acted to save his life.
As for techniques and arts, his mind was a myriad for such tapestries that belonged to kingdoms and ages that were now myth. Those present in this world coming off as rudimentary and basic to a horror like him. A feat that was meant to take four days now took him ten minutes. With the remaining time, he chose to let his mind wander.