Chapter 24

  Two Birds One Fist

  As it turns out, the speed at which Madame Bloom moves is close to the speed of light. As she has already reached out to get my instructors.

  The reason why Madame Voyou stopped me, and part of why she seemed so frustrated with me, was that she was hired to be my direct mentor for Music Resonance. Meaning she apparently achieved her goal of taking on a capable apprentice, while realizing I would never be someone who could take on her class.

  As for the rest of my day, well it turns out, just like normal, I am even more of a ghost now to my other professors. Not that two lifetimes of knowledge don’t make most core classes easy to understand. Meaning I could and did use the remaining two classes on studying my tome on basic Mana conversion to Life attuned Mana.

  The beauty of the Skill was its emphasis on the golden ratio of convergence. At first, it seems that the wasting of a Skill slot on such an ability would be useless. As it isn’t until step three that you even see a change, and minor at that. The idea that it takes two complete cycles to create one mote of focused mana is a bit much.

  What is the difference between a PALM and an AL? Apparently not much, other than the way the energy is condensed, as both counted for one point of Mana. The easiest way to think about it is a yin versus a yang structure, but even that is misleading. Honestly it is fascinating. But I can see why it would be a Skill most would avoid, especially as it seems to require you getting to step six and beyond to have it really be worth your time. Meaning if you were to use it in combat, you would likely have to start at the beginning and continue your focus throughout the competition.

  Then again, why a Healer would enter combat is beyond me, but that was the Skill and why it was such a dense work for effectively detailing the process of amplifying mana. The only hard part truly seemed to be the math, and the conversion ratios, but having already known the Fibonacci sequence from my past life, the minor variation seemed trivial.

  Actually, trivial is not the word at all. Rather the word I’d look for is more comprehensive. Basically, the Fibonacci sequence that I was used to told you the What that would happen. While this Skill told you the Why and How it happened. After seeing the patterns and the building and interlinking designs of the Mana structure, figuring out how to create more mana from the same process seemed easy. Well easier than waiting an hour for your body to naturally produce a set standard of Mana.

  That was what I learned during class.

  Then when I went to my side hustle, I was almost surprised to see my Master, Madame Bloom already seated at Ronaldo’s Pastry shop, waiting.

  “Hello?” I began, and Madame Bloom just stared at me glaringly for a moment. Only after a second did I realize I needed to acknowledge her, “Master.”

  At my full recognition Madame Bloom nodded her head and proceeded to speak. “Go on, perform your daily task. But then know that we have much work to do today.”

  At that ominous forecast, I went back to the back of the shop, found the Trash, and disposed of it. Making sure to clean off the counters and stains that had begun to stain. Once that was complete, I came out and sat down at the table where Madame Bloom was, my customary custard already set and ready for me. It was so fresh that I could see the steam rising from it in the crisp air.

  I sat down, but felt immediately uncomfortable, particularly by the powerfully built man standing to Madame Bloom’s right. Along with the hulking coachman, I know that isn’t his actual title, but I can’t stop equating him to that title. Particularly as the Blooms are the only family who still insist on using carriages to travel. Though, I think even the carriages have been modified in some ways, as every carriage ride I have been in, is both smooth and expedient.

  Madame Bloom gestures for me to eat, and realizing that it is more of an order than a request, I do as instructed. Only once I begin to eat, does Madame Bloom begin to talk.

  “As per our agreement, you are going to be trained in the use of Improvised Weapons by Mr. Yi here,” she begins while gesturing over her right shoulder towards the man whose name apparently is Mr. Yi. “Since you are also supposed to be learning about using your newly acquired healing Skills, Mr. Yi has come up with an interesting solution to both teach you about combat techniques and healing abilities at the same time.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  I feel that there is about to be something dark here. Is there a war going on that I am not aware of? Or maybe take me to a dungeon? If so can it be the Spirit dungeon? These are my thoughts, as I continue to eat my custard, while watching Madame Bloom and Mr. Yi for any signs of deception or insights into what is going to happen next.

  “To answer your question that you are no doubt having at this moment, you will be the sanctioned healer for The Pit, tonight.”

  At that a few stray bits of information come back to me. I know for a fact that people like my cousin Mithanial DiVoratore, along with students like Veronica Smoulders, and Johny DiVoratore all boast to their friends about not only going to the Pit but also competing in its prized fights.

  The Pit is effectively a sanctioned Fighting arena with taxes going to the capital. From my understanding the only reason why it is considered unsanctioned is the lack of liability on the organizers. What does that mean? Well they get the protection from the capital due to revenue generation, while not having to pay disability due to injuries sustained.

  Only once I get to the last thought does my participation seem to make sense.

  “I will be acting as a healer to get front row viewing for myself and Mr. Yi, where I will get firsthand insight into fighting techniques and counters. Then I just need to heal anyone who gets injured?” I ask, trying to make sure I understand the procedure.

  With that, the same faint smile forms on Madame Bloom’s lips that I’ve recently become accustomed to. I now equate that same look to that of a vampire before they bite deeply to drain blood from a suitably subdued target.

  “I’m glad you are quick on the uptake. You will of course be wearing a mask and robe to prevent your identification. But don’t worry that robe will have house Bloom’s official seal on it, as you will be a representative of our House. That should keep the less brazen fools from trying to abduct you.” Madame Bloom states, her words not reassuring in the slightest.

  “And for those fools that are more adventurous?” I press.

  “Well, that is why you will also have Markan join you as well,” Madame Bloom states and gestures to her left at the larger of the two people I mentally call coachman, finally I have a name for the larger one. But the actual driver is still unknown and still just driver in my mind.

  Markan for his part clasps his hands before him, and bows in a form of respect towards me.

  I nod, taking these last few moments to finish off my custard. Then with a second’s thought I use Trash to get rid of my waste. With nothing but a clean plate remaining, I push it aside and gesture to Ronaldo that I am done. Ronaldo sees the gesture and instinctively takes a step forward to grab the dish, only to stop once he realizes that Mr. Yi and apparently Markan are there. Seeing the two Ronaldo just nods in acknowledgement and turns away.

  “Shall we?” Madame Bloom asks, after seeing that I am done with my custard and that all topics to be discussed for today have apparently been covered.

  I nod.

  And with that, we enter the carriage, where Markan goes to the front, sitting in the shotgun seat next to driver, and I enter the back with Madame Bloom, and Mr. Yi.

  Where to my surprise is a hanging hooded robe. One that is all black but has distinct bright green outlines and the unmistakable golden outline of House Bloom, the sunflower etched over the heart area.

  Surprisingly, I put it on, just like I would for a graduation gown, though there are more parts to it, as a flap underneath helps adjust the height of the robe to keep me from tripping over the hemming. As for the supposed mask? It is a thick dark base plate that covers my lower lips. And a thin see through black veil as if I was in mourning at the top. Even my hands are supposed to wear black gloves that also have three green accents going along the back of my hand and ending between my knuckles.

  In the end I feel more like an executioner more than anything, but surprisingly, I almost feel excited.

  No sooner do I have the healer’s robe and mask in place than we are there. Again, there has to be some type of magic that is in use, as I refuse to accept the idea that Ronaldo’s is that close to The Pit. Also, with how smooth the ride was, I didn’t even know we were traveling. I almost expected them to wait for me to get dressed first, before moving, but that was apparently not the case as they didn’t even care about my safety in case of an accident. Shame.

  “Now remember while you wear this robe and mask, you are not to speak. You can gesture and people will respond, but part of the show is that you don’t speak.” Madame Bloom states, giving one last directive.

  I am about to ask why, but then my mind basically figures it out. If we are going through the whole process of hiding my face and features with the robe, then my speaking would basically ruin that illusion by all but declaring who I am.

  I nod.

  Now that we are there, Markan opens the door and gestures for all of us to leave. Knowing that I should show reverence to my Master, I gesture for her to leave first. At which point she just smiles, “no, no. I am far too old to partake in these shenanigans. Just know that Julius and Tobias will be coming back to pick the three of you up later tonight.”

  After she speaks, Madame Bloom watches me like a hawk. I am about to ask her what, but realize this is likely more of a test for her to make sure I don’t break the rule she just assigned me. That rule being don’t talk.

  Instead, I just nod. At which time Madame Bloom smirks brightly, and nods to herself, as I apparently passed this test.

  Only once we are out do I begin to think. I don’t know what to do or where to go exactly, relying on Markan and Mr. Yi’s directives. As such I go over the nugget of insight Madame Bloom just gave me about the potential name of the Driver. Either Julius, or Tobias. Then again, it could be a third name entirely as his shift might end? I don’t know. By the time Mr. Yi begins to lead us down the dark tunnel I realize just how limiting this hood and veil are, as most of my peripheral vision is cut off from the mask.

  Yet, even still, I realize that this might be great training for my Eagle Eye Skill as I need to focus intensely on the world around me to see anything.

  “Yeah, it’s over here,” the voices of excited strangers walking past fill my ears. Along with the roar of a sufficiently inebriated rowdy crowd could be heard as we got closer and closer to what was clearly the back entrance for a large establishment.

  With so many people around, identifying unique sounds became a sort of game to play. My game soon stopped as we came up to a giant metal door with two large bouncers on each side.

  Not even saying a word, Markan pulled out a glowing golden badge of some kind. Then Gestured to me, and Mr. Yi who was positioned behind me.

  The guard on the right side of the door glanced at the badge, then at me and paused as our eyes met. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then I saw a blue burst of energy enter his eyes as I felt the all too familiar surge of scanning magic enter me.

  After a second of the violation, he stopped, stared at my eyes again. Only then did I realize why he had almost questioned the stop. Even through the veil my purple eyes must be a dead giveaway that I am not a natural member of house Bloom.

  Still, there were no further questions, as the guard reached back behind him, and wrapped his knuckles against the door in a staccato rhythm. Then a few seconds later, a person from the inside opened a slit in the door. No questions were given, but Markan seemed to already know what to do, as he once again produced the glowing golden emblem. Markan even waited long enough for the person behind the door to break eye contact with the emblem before gesturing over his shoulder to me, and then to Mr. Yi. The man behind the door nodded.

  Clink, clink, whir.

  Then almost as if the metal door was held together by a mechanical pully system, gears and cogs began to spin loudly, before the door could finally be opened.

  These people did not take this job lightly, which should have been a sign. But since the Madame stated this was what I was to do, it was what I was to do. This was apparently the life of an Apprentice.

  With that, the door finally cranked open, the way a bank vault would, and we were finally allowed to enter. Where I would perform my first true act as a newly minted healer class, as an Apprentice healer trying to help out at the local underground fighting arena. What could possibly go wrong.

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