Chapter 14
After looking over their levels, he went back to the first status. Dozel’s offering a surprise at being the highest by a lot.
Name: Brugunnardozel of ChiShiKi Empire(109899Fe)
Race: Coeus/human 75/25
Age: 31
Unique Abilities: Grounded Growth
Abilities: Growing Shadow, RunnersHigh, SilentDeath
Skills: Swordsmanship, Shield, Armor, MinorRepair,
Cooking, FireStarting, Washing …(x14)
Achievement(s): N/A
Trait(s): 1
Current Status: Healthy
Level: 196
Wes was floored by how strong they all were. But she was the only one sub 100 years old. And she was still the strongest by quite a lot. Wes continued to Orthol’s Status window.
Name: Orthol from 23407A
Race: Human
Age: 367
Unique Abilities: ObservantFervor
Abilities: FlawlessSword, RunnersHigh
Skills: Masterful Chef, GreaterArmorRepair, ApparelsThread,
Brew Master, Mason, WoodWorker …(x76)
Achievement(s): AVowsInfluence
Trait(s): N/A
Current Status: Stressed
Level: 132
Curiosity over some of the same types of skills made Wes have questions. Along with how they were written. He decided to save the questions for later.
Name: Mordune
Race Human
Age: 74
Unique Abilities: Enraptured Soul
Abilities: Gardeners Guard, Savage Guard, Reflective Blows
Skills: Soul Spear, Bulwark's Throw, Braced Gather, Shield,
Swordmanship, SavingStaff, Bow, Crossbow, Javelin …(x7)
Trait(s): 1
Current status: Healthy
Level: 101
After taking in the levels, it left him with a bunch of different questions. Some for the three and some for Coren.
He had a feeling that if he were more informed, he would understand why Mordune had apprehension in showing his status, but he couldn’t tell from looking by himself. Wes sat back and said, “If I wasn’t just told to never show anyone my status, I would have already shown you guys.”
“I would argue that even telling anyone that you were not to show them was dumb.” Wes shot up to his feet after hearing her voice.
He bowed and said, “Matriarch, how sweet of you to visit.”
“Enough of that little one.” Nia waved him off as she pulled her body through space.
The three servants quickly shot off the chairs and hit their knees. All three of them pushed their heads into the hard stone floor.
Wes looked at the Matriarch. “Is it ok if they get up?” She nodded yes, but before Wes spoke, they were back in their chairs, sitting as they had been. They were all just as surprised. They all flinched after naturally laying eyes on the Matriarch.
Nia did not waste time; she siphoned water out of the pool behind her and fashioned a seat that looked like the one in Runar’s office. The only difference was that this one was all water. She sat back into it while smiling at all four.
“Now, why did I come? Hmmm, oh yes. I have come to offer you three an opportunity.” She motioned to the three on either side of Wes as she continued. “Wesley here will be getting trained by me until my beloved gets back. And I wish to offer you three the same training. But before I do, you must pledge levels. After all, nothing is free in the wider universe.”
The three servants all froze at the offer that Nia had just presented to them. Mordune answered first. “I will do it.”
Dozel was not one to be left behind. “I will also.”
Orthol was next to speak. “I want to as well, but I fear I am beyond the point of being of use. My body has begun to cannibalize my gains. I don’t think I would be able to honor any investment that you may give. I do not believe my body will hold up to the training or the leveling.”
Nia said, “Yes, I know. I would still like to make the offer at least.”
Orthol considered her words, “If I may be so bold. Can I suggest another in my place?”
Nia asked, “Which one?”
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“My son,” Orthol answered.
Nia brought the man whom he had seen standing behind Orthol in the lines from earlier. He was surprised at being pulled through space. It seemed he didn’t know who the matriarch was, so he did not fall to the floor in reverence like the others. He looked between his father and Wesley before figuring out that someone far more powerful than he had summoned him. He looked at the woman in the chair made of water and bowed. “Forgive my rudeness.”
Nia floated the man to the seat next to Dozel while explaining what she had just to his father. He sat quietly while Nia continued. “You will take a different role than Orthol. But your pledge must be offered the same.”
Orthol agreed immediately, Nia looked to his son, and he agreed as well.
“Now, the pledge that is required for my side of the bargain is 1500 levels. Or until level 1500. Whichever comes first.” Nia said.
Waiting for the four to come to terms with what she said, she turned to Wes and asked. “Will you have them?”
“What happens to their old contracts, and what happens if I say no?” Wes asked.
“Their duties will remain the same. They signed a standard contract to serve my family. That will be completed. But they will have the chance to tie themselves to someone whom I believe will rise above all.”
Wes felt the four around him look toward him. A sparkle in all their eyes.
“Really wish you hadn’t said that,” Wes mumbled.
Nia smiled and said something to Dozel that Wes could not hear. She brought her attention back to Wes and said. “Still haven’t given me an answer, little one. How about it? You want them?”
Wes shrugged, “sure.” He took a moment while he had the true head of the family in front of him and asked. “Am I allowed to do what I want with the servants. Like, can I change certain things I don’t like about them since they are serving me?”
Nia acted shocked. “Oh, you don’t like the contracts I designed?”
Wes shook his head. “No, that is not what I am saying. I just don’t feel like I want to ask for a bigger place to accommodate all of Dozel’s people. But I also don’t know if I am allowed to do what I’m thinking.”
“Get to the point,” Nia demanded.
Wes winced. “I would like to move Dozel and some of her family into the many empty rooms in my personal quarters. I don’t have any family anyway.”
“Out of the question,” Nia replied.
“Well, can I have a different place with Large servant quarters to accommodate them all?” Wes asked.
“No.”
“If I can’t have a different spot, then why can’t I just put them in the empty rooms?” Wes asked.
“I have already shown you favor; if I show you any more by moving one of my actual descendants out of their homes to accommodate you, I will be dealing with a revolt. As it is, you are already in our third-best class of homes. You have jumped hundreds in line for this home.” Nia finished.
“Awwe, I see, but what's stopping me from having them in my personal quarters?” Wes pushed.
“That is because you men can’t control yourselves. Too many problems have started by having servants in the sleeping quarters. I have had to execute many of my grandkids for forcing themselves on their servants.” Nia looked at Wes while passing judgment.
Wes looked at Dozel and mouthed sorry.
“That isn’t to say that there are no protocols for allowing servants in the sleeping quarters,” Nia added.
“What are those?” Wes asked.
“You must declare her a mistress.” Nia smiled.
Wes looked to Dozel. “Why do I have to do that?”
Nia was almost giddy while answering. “Because that is something that you will both have to acknowledge with our house. She will gain certain privileges and certain responsibilities. You will gain a mistress, of course, but also she will be protected from harassment from you and others.”
“Is that really necessary?” Wes asked
“Strictly speaking, no. It is not just men who have a bad habit of taking advantage of their servants. Women are just as likely to take the humanity of a person. Men just do it in that way. This protocol was put in place billions of years ago to help those under the Master survive their contracts.”
Wes considered what she was saying for a moment before turning to Dozel. He backed out of speaking when she met his eye. He looked back at Nia and asked. “Can we go back to the standard servant master relationship at any time?”
Nia nodded no, “That is a loophole that I had to close after complications. This will be permanent for her while in service. She is not to take another while under contract. Jealousy has been the death of many a master. But so many more servants and their lovers have died by their Master’s hand.”
Wes sat in contemplation. He was surprised when he heard Dozel speak. “I’m willing.”
Wes looked over at her, but she was facing straight forward, looking at Nia.
Nia had a grin on her face. “I like your boldness, young one. Now, Wes, what about you?”
Wes sank into his chair. “How far am I away from acquiring a bigger residence?”
“Only about a thousand levels.” Nia laughed.
Wes pulled his body closer to Dozel and whispered. “Are you certain you want to agree to this? It's a lot to ask of you just to have a bit more room for your family?”
Dozel took in Wes’s eyes for the first time. “Certain no, but I have been told that I should be.”
Wes felt embarrassed, “Fine, better than wasting all those rooms.”
“I need to hear the words from both of you,” Nia said.
Wes instinctively knew what she meant. “I, Wesley of 29744C, agree to take Dozel as my mistress.”
“Full names, please,” Nia interjected.
After conferring with Dozel for a moment, he said, “I, Wesley of 29744C from the Republic, agree to take Brugunnardozel of ChiShiKi Empire of planet 109899Fe as my mistress.” When the last syllable left his lips, Wes felt a slight crunch in his chest.
“I, Brugunnardozel of planet 109899Fe from the ChiShiKi Empire, agree to be the mistress of Wesley of 29744C from the Republic.” After Dozel finished, a bigger crunch slammed into his chest. And for a moment, he felt like something or someone was watching him. The pressure took him in for more than a moment, but eventually it left.
“Magnificent. You are going to bring great change to the Republic. Your bravery will be heard about in the quietest corners of the universe.” Nia finished.
Wes, gathering himself, looked over to Dozel and saw her struggling just like him, even with the level disparity. He gritted through the feeling and asked, “Wait, what do you mean?”
Dozel looked at him in astonishment. “You don’t know?”
Wes looked at her in confusion. Dozel took it for anger, and she added, “Master Wesley.”
A dumbfounded Wesley could only mutter, “What?”
Nia laughed almost as hard as he saw Argyros laugh at him back on his home world. Her pale skin transformed into a hue of pink. Lines in her face were apparent for the first time. She gathered herself. “That is why I like you. You are so ignorant, you will be a barrier breaker.”
Wes, growing a little angry at being called dumb, shouted. “Someone want to fill me in?”
Nia looked at Dozel. “Fill him in, would you?”
Dozel’s face was unrecognizable to Wes as she started. “Master Wesley, by taking me as a mistress, you have made it so you may never hold a position that leads the Republic. The Senate and Congress are off the table.”
Nia added. “That is not all, little one. Very few High Gods will want to work with you now. And you will find most orders with political backing will want nothing to do with you. Some in the ChiShiKi empire will trust you. But the other two-thirds will hate your guts.”
“Huh? All that because I took her as my mistress?”
“Yup, never done formally in the republic. By adding her to your status, most seers with that type of predisposition for spotting things like that will know. Plus, I have to announce all the mistresses to the family. Now, if anyone messes with her, they will have to answer to you. It will eventually get out as you grow. I suspect by the time you reach Argy’s level, it will hit the ears of anyone that counts.” Nia smiled
Wes lay back in his seat. If they knew the truly shitty part, I would be laughed off world.
He looked at Dozel and thought. Wonder how many people in history have had a mistress before lying with a girl. Shit, before kissing a girl.
Sighing, Wes accepted the responsibility for his actions and asked. “Okay, what's next?”
