Time to Read:
Thadus may have requested a second serving. However, it was merely because he paid enough to receive four. He was not a big eater, commonly.
The fiend said nothing about this matter, and Thadus could certainly notice this. Instead, when someone new sat next to the fiend, they started chatting, asking if there was anything of note lately and how the other mortal was faring.
This mortal was truly a communicative one, asking anyone how they were and what they had to share. It was truly an infuriating practice for anybody to watch.
“It would appear as if thievery has risen,” the fiend said, hands behind their back as they strolled at a leisurely pace toward the Northern Market. “It is truly a regrettable situation for Rockforge, but they established this city-state at this location for the resources to extract, despite there being sparse options for one to grow in this area. It would have been more beneficial to have selected a location in any possible direction where there is more fertile land, or, at the very least, forests to forage from. The farmers of this city-state are truly struggling quite a bit.”
“No land is infertile. Ite merely demands for the use of the correct spells,” Thadus argued.
“Then, does Sir Caster know what spells are needed to fertilise the land, and in a way that allows Sir Caster not to return regularly to recast it?”
“I’m not an agricultural caster. It is not my expertise to use spells for the purpose of agriculture.”
“True, Sir Caster seems to be one who invites catastrophes,” the fiend said, voice casual.
Thadus sniffed at the offense. How could someone dare to say something such as this to a spellcaster? This mortal was indeed a lunatic.
He rather not dwell on that topic for too long.
“Why do you need this token? Can’t you ask for a new one?”
“Sir Caster may not know this, but us mortals have various kinds of tokens. These are necessary when travelling. If you cannot prove where you are from, you are not allowed into any city, including the one you originate from. This does not apply to a Lord Spellcaster such as your own exalted self, however, any traveller, any merchant moving between city-state, any shepherd and farmer, needs one of these.”
They turned off the main street into an alley, and Thadus reluctantly followed them. He did owe them now that he had been compensated. He couldn’t tarnish the reputation of spellcasters, especially when around someone who knew much about spellcasters.
As they walked through the shaded alley, the fiend’s attire suited for such a location, this person continued, “The lowest of these are guild issued tokens. Most of them are issued by merchant guilds, but there are a few more. Farmers, miners, shepherds and other of similar professions use guild tokens to enter and exit the city-state they are aligned with, however these might also allow you to travel between two or three city-states. Though this depends on how good a relationship a state has with another.”
They looked over their shoulder, their pale complexion standing out, but the hood casting a deep shade over their eyes.
“There are times when a city-state will refuse all guild tokens from a certain area or state due to the relationship growing sour even when trade is good. This is common when these cities are lorded over. If the city-lord is elected, then it may be because the other state simply had a lord they don’t like or have a differing opinion on. In other cases, it can be because a city-state became a vassal, or the opposite — they rebelled and declared full independency. These are very complicated relations.”
Thadus snorted, finding it a ridiculous system. Truly inefficient.
“House-issued tokens are given by highly wealthy or high noble houses. These tend to be only between cities where said family has a sway because of extended family. These are especially powerful if the city lord happens to be of that house, or if a regent’s royal line had a noble house married into their line.”
The fiend continued until another ally crossed the one they were following and turned once more, while explaining, “Finally, there are state-issued tokens. These are needed if one needs to travel much, and are considered universal. Refusing a state token is considered a declaration of war. As is losing another state’s token. These token are required to be returned to the origin state, were something to happen to the bearer. These differ in that there are different levels among the state issues ones. A messenger or diplomat would not hold a similar token to that of a royal, while a city lord’s would differ from that of a monarch. These are commonly only granted to a person once in their lifetime, and one may not hold a guild or house token while having a state-issued token in their possession.”
“That certainly sounds like a hassle to manage,” Thadus commented dryly. “A very mortal invention.”
“Indeed. It is a very mortal invention,” the fiend agreed. “But I need mine back. I’m not from Rockforge and I do wish to return home when it is time for me to do so, and I have some more city-states to visit before I return to whence I came. I hope Sir Caster will help me with this matter.”
Thadus had no other option than to do so. He had his reputation on the line.
“You mortals are quite inefficient.”
“This system is how we have managed to create order among the city-states. We have many more individuals among the mortal kin than caster kin, and as such is the case, there has to be a way to retain good relations between the different city-states.”
The spellcaster huffed.
“I believe it is common practice among spellcasters to offer one’s name before asking for a discussion. May Sir Caster allow me to know this.”
Thadus was quiet for a while, trying to determine if he could be said to have asked for a discussion. He merely asked for a question. That couldn’t be considered a discussion. It was simply asking.
“Thadus,” the spellcaster replied nonetheless.
“Lord Thadus…” the fiend thought for a moment. “That name rings true to Eden, Bliss and Paradise Tower, dos it not? May I be so bold to presume that Lord Thadus is from one of these locations?”
He paused for a beat, then said a simple, “No.”
This mortal truly knew far too much.
— Humble One! Why must you travel with him? I will not accept it.
— Don’t act like that. This is a perfect opportunity and I can make use of him. I know spellcasters.
— I don’t believe you, Humble One! I have never met a single one who knows you! Get rid of him! He is danger!
— …
— It is true!
— You have met none because I can’t possibly know every spellcaster.
Author’s Note
Trying to balance the more serious things while making this story funny is hard sometimes. Especially in a place such as Rockforge. I also don’t want Thadus to be always the same, yet still pretty consistent. So I try to put him in situations that are horrible for him, but want to vary them.
The worst thing that’s probably happened to him is the fiend.
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