Machinist of Mana

The day had finally come, and I had a dinner party to attend. This was going to be an interesting affair, riddled with rules and meeting new people, a fresh experience. My mother of course was stressed, she seemed to always be stressed, but mostly because she meant well.

Most of my afternoon was spent with either Mrs. Lutte or my mother, going over the many rules and regulations on attending such a party. Of course I wouldn't be alone, there would be a number of chaperones for the youths tonight, both to observe how we did and correct any terribly bad behavior on the spot. For us this was almost like a training exercise, preparation for what would come when we were adults.

It was a relief when we finally arrived, mostly because I would no longer have to listen to it all anymore. Even on the way I was getting lectures and reviews from bothered adults.

I followed in just after my parents as the greeted the Starshine couple and introduced me. I'd of course met the lady of the house, and the father seemed well disposed, almost chortling when he saw me in my miniature suit before mastering his expression.

That done I was shown to one of the side rooms. As this was practice things were as close to proper as they could be, but there were still some changes. Normally the adults spent time in the lounge as everyone arrived, instead we were in a side room that had been set up to look like one. When the time came for dinner we'd not be going to the actual dining room, but another sitting room that had been arranged as such.

Rowenna and Lucas were to one side, much as their parents were above, greeting guests and making introductions, they were of course the first of the kids that I spoke to.

“I'm so glad you could join us tonight,” Rowenna said as I stopped near them.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I responded with a smile.

“Of course, we both found our last meeting quite enjoyable,” Lucas added with a smile that told me he wanted a rematch.

“As did I.” I would have been happy to keep trading such offers with him, but I heard someone else joining us, and they had a job to do.

Quickly the brother found one of his friends, a lad by the name of Wright, who I was hurriedly introduced to. It gave a good excuse to make small talk while we waited for the other guests. Wright was an interesting fellow who loved boats and sailing. While I knew almost nothing of sailing ships I could and did enjoy some light conversation about steam boats, something both of us knew enough about to participate in.

In due time a butler, probably the second of them, called us all to dinner. Each boy found the girl he was to escort and we headed in. I of course was to escort Rowenna. The rules on who was to escort who and sit where were frankly Byzantine, but it seemed that someone had arranged the guest list so that I would sit by the girl. I nearly rolled my eyes, and made a mental note to tell mother off later.

Soon enough food was brought in. At a second table the watchers sat, keenly looking over us, but as they did the butler did the same with the servers and maids. They too were on the younger side, because this was their training as well. If a mistake was made here it would be embarrassing, but not disastrous as it might be if someone offended or misstepped around one of the adults.

“So Percival, have you done anything interesting over the past few days?” Rowenna asked as we began.

“Other than the tourney? I did go to some lectures on science and mechanics at the Royal Society. I wouldn't bore you with the details but there were a number of demonstrations.”

“Oh that's up near the Basker Greenhouses. They have the most wonderful collection of flowers from all over the world,” the girl across from us, Lavine, said. We'd only been introduced in passing, but it appeared she wanted to talk about that, so I happily changed the subject.

“Can't say I've ever been, anything in particular you suggest seeing?”

She did indeed have several things she would suggest, enough that when she mentioned the section fed heat by underground tunnels someone else decided to speak up. It was Wright to the rescue.

“I heard there's been more sightings of the little green man around those,” he said offhandedly.

“Little green man?” I asked, having not heard about that.

“There have been rumors of a small misshapen green man, or men, dwelling in the tunnels and whatnot beneath the city. Personally I think it's just a joke to scare people,” Rowenna said.

“Sounds almost like a goblin,” I observed, something that got me a few odd looks. “I saw a few such creatures at a circus some years back. I think they said they were from an island.” I remembered them quite clearly, a species from stories in my previous world that appeared here.

“Wait, they're real? The rumors say...” Wright began conspiratorially, only to be cut off by a distinct cough from one of the adults. Looked like he was wandering too close to a sensitive subject. “Well, there are many rumors,” he amended.

While we had to drop the subject for more mundane topics he did pique my interest in it. Maybe one of the little monsters had made its way under the city, at any rate there were adults to deal with such things, and they'd probably snuff it out if it should ever get too sloppy.