The Ball (2)
Before we begin I am NOT a clothes expert. Ion know anything. From my brief research, for males, in Japan (which the far east is clearly based on) a Hakama is formal outdoor clothing. For women it is a Kimono. For casual indoor clothing, a Yukata, Samue or Jinbei is used apparently. I found an image explaining all of this so if this is wrong then blame that image.
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Jogo Pov:
Standing to get my measurements taken for the clothes, I take a look at the clothes drew onto the paper.
There are many options, but I chose an Hakama to wear, which has a black bottom half and a red top half.
"Miss Hanami, we have taken the measurements of Young Jogo. There is not enough time to make new clothes from scratch, but if you don't mind we already have clothes similar to this, which we can alter just in time for the ball."
"Yes, that's fine Riku, thank you for your time." Hanami says with a graceful bow.
"How long until the clothes are ready?"
"The clothes will take just 2 hours miss."
"Thank you again, come on young master, we will go to a restaurant for a quick meal before we return home."
"Alright, lets go now then Hanami."
Making our way out of the store, we make our way back to the streets.
"Young master, the restaurant we are going to is not common for the mobility and more is more commonly visited by merchants and adventurers. The people inside will not be what you are used to. They are... a bit loud and crass."
"That's okay Hanami, what is it called?"
"It is called 'The Queen's Boulevard'. It was named after an old queen of a country called Lakrios. The kingdom Lakrios was mentioned in that Argonaut story you've read. It is unknown who wrote the story of Argonaut, but much evidence suggests it originated from that kingdom. The restaurant was made in honour of the queen of Lakrios from the supposed time of Lakrios."
"Hanami, is this restaurant... full of hero loving people. If it is then I don't want to go. It sounds boring."
"Fufu, no, adventurers are far too realistic to be idealised with the idea of heroes. Merchants are also individualistic, the direct opposite or heroes so they couldn't care for heroes either young master."
"That's better then. How far away is this restaurant?"
"I know of a shortcut young master. Follow me through these alleyways."
Following Hanami, we enter an alleyway. For some reason the lamps are off and there is an odd atmosphere. Usually in alleyways like this there are homeless people, according to father they are people who are poor and have no job.
In the alleyway, there are rats scuttling around in the trash, filled with different foods that have been there a long time if the mould is anything to go off of.
"We aren't far now, just a couple more minutes then we will be there."
"Hanami, why are there no homeless people in these alleyways?"
"I don't know, they could be out on the street at this time or left due to not wanting to catch the eye of one of the nobility. They may be killed just for 'smelling' and ruining their mood."
"Hmm, it's still a few hours before the ball. All the nobility will be getting ready for the ball. It doesn't make much sens-"
I was interrupted by seeing three men and one woman. The woman was wearing beaten up adventurers gear. She was holding a somewhat rusty axe and a shield with the right side of it splintered and broken.
The three men were hidden by the the darkness of the ally, but I could see the gleaming of their weapons.
"J-Jogo, let's go this way." Hanami said, panicked. She grabbed my hand and not so subtlety tried to ignore the strange people. She was dragging me towards a corner of the alleyway, going towards the opposite direction of our destination.
"Ah, ah, ah. Where do you two think you are going. Judging by the dear missus clothing you two are clearly nobility and have a LOT of valis. You two are going to give us it all. If you don't want 'young master' to lose a finger... or a limb... or his life." The strange woman demanded. Who does she think she is?
Due to me and Hanami listening to the woman, the men came behind us, blocking our escape.
"Now then, what is your answer?"
Whispering to Hanami, hopefully bypassing their hearing "Hanami, do you want me to get rid of them?"
"Young master? What do you-"
"Shut up! Stop planning. You have 10 seconds to decide or we will decide for you!" The woman, clearly the leader, screamed. She sounded like a small dog, yapping. Or a piglet more than that, she looked even uglier than one too.
"Hanami, I have a plan, follow my lead." I say, concocting a devious plan.
"We have decided." I then quickly take the valis from Hanami's purse, "Come and get them."
If this was before unlocking my flame magic I would be much more hesitant. Especially without a sword. Even with a sword, I still wouldn't be confident in escaping with Hanami. But, with my magic, I am certain I can win.
Watching the man get close I can tell these people are amateurs. They should've asked us to throw it towards them instead to minimise risks.
I then channel the energy into my arm and fist.
2 more seconds then he is in range...
Just as he reaches for the purse I punch him in the stomach, setting his garb alight and flickering with embers.
The man gets sent flying, knocking onto a pile of garbage. The garbage sets alight with the man inside the torrent of flames.
That man is dead. That was my first time killing someone yet strangely I don't feel too bad about it. He would've killed us anyways, judging by the look on that woman's now distorted angry face.
"Wha- How did you just do that brat! You know whgat, it doesn't even matter. I'm going to kill you both now. Very painfully."
Listening to the woman prattle on gave me more time to think about my abilities. The fire ball is far too destructive to be used this close to Hanami. I must think of a more controlled attack.
"Jogo behind yo-" Not giving Hanami the chance to finish I quickly spin on the spot, using my flames to add to my momentum, striking the other man straight into the body.
Due to my inexperience using my 'magic' I let a bit to much energy go into that attack. The flames cover his whole body, the blast opens his lower body right in front of me giving me a clear view of his charred intestines.
The flames quickly cover his full body turning him into ash.
2 more.
The woman is staying back, watching warily. She is no longer furious and is instead watching carefully, waiting for an opening.
The man watches in horror as his friend burns to death.
"How did you use magic without a chant? Wha- yknow what fuck this. I don't get paid enough for this." The man exclaims with clear confusion.
Just as he's turning I quickly grab Hanami then throw her toward nearby garbage, hoping to break her fall. I then put my hands together, with my fingers aiming toward the man, compressing my flames and energy into the tip of my fingers which sends a blast of high speed flames. This attack quickly hits the man, exploding on his back once again setting somebody on fire.
(*AN: Sorry for breaking up right here but think of Choso's piercing blood, but with flames, like a laser.*)
Not bothering to watch the man burn, I turn my attention to the woman. She is twirling her axe around looking hesitant to attack. She keeps looking towards Hanami, likely thinking to take her hostage or throw the axe toward her to distract her.
"Are you next miss?" I say trying to act scary. It clearly worked due to the woman flinching at my words.
"Tch, who cares if you have some chant less magic. All magic has some condition before it's use. Be it a chant or rituals. Yours will have the same. I've figured it out too. You can only use your flames for one attack before having to charge another one. You also will need to chant as chant less magic is completely impossible. You are likely whisper-"
Not bothering to hear her chat nonsense any more, I quickly send a... what was that attack called? I'll have to think of a name. Piercing flame. Yes. I send a piercing flame toward the woman. Unexpectedly she moves out the way, sending the attack toward the sky.
Piercing flame is too slow. I'll have to think of another way to speed it up.
"Your attack is slow brat. Why don't you join m-"
Not letting her finish, instead of standing around doing nothing I channel flames onto my feet, almost flying toward her. I then go for a kick to her middle section.
She blocks the attack with her arms, but the flames char her and create smoke obscuring both of her vision.
Taking advantage of the woman's state, I channel more flames onto my hands. In addition to that I duck, put my head into the gap between her arms and body then grin at her. I put the palms of my hands onto her chest then blast my flames, forcing her body to go soaring through the air and hit into a wall.
She tries to stand back up, but judging by the gargling sounds she is making she isn't getting up again. I then send a fully charged 'piercing flame' toward her neck, which pops her head off like a bottle of fancy alcohol.
Walking toward miss Hanami, I wipe my hands on my clothes, patting out any fires.
Grabbing her hands then wiping her body of any dirt I say
"Come on Miss Hanami, lets go the restaurant. Uhm, actually before we do we should likely go a another store to clean us up. We should also buy some perfume miss Hanami, you smell"
"Young master... how did you do that?"
*Cough*
Clearing her throat to recompose herself Hanami nonchalantly stands up.
"Never mind young master. I have lost my appetite so we should just go for a quick drink and some new temporary clothing. Let's be on our way young master."
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Chapter end!
Bit shorter than usual but I am in my Minecraft phase. Nobody need any more explanations.
Jogo is a bit strange. His cursed energy and strange upbringing have caused him not to really feel anything when he is killing people. He was taught by his father, discipline and the will to harm anyone who tries to harm him. I will explore that at a later date.
There will be a couple more chapters of the ball. The chapter titles may be a bit misleading, but I am going to make the chapters titles be an arc instead of a unique title, unless it is a special chapter.
See you next time!