บท 23: The Royal Training
Mikhailis glanced sideways at the maid speaking to him, Lira, who was instructing him on proper noble etiquette. She was a short woman, with chestnut hair tied neatly into a bun, her expression always serious but never harsh. He was in a special private royal room, specifically designed for lessons like this—an elegant space with rich, dark wood furniture, soft lighting, and a view of the garden through large windows. The room felt unnecessarily formal for something as basic as learning how to sit and drink properly, but here he was, going through the motions.
"Shoulders back... glass raised... sip slowly..." Mikhailis muttered to himself, mimicking Lira's instructions.
To be honest, it wasn't that hard. Back in Ruslania, he had attended various formal events with his brother Dimitri, where even the smallest details like the angle at which you held a glass were scrutinized. It wasn't a life he had chosen, but it did mean that these lessons felt a bit redundant. And yet, he found himself following along, allowing the maids to marvel at his 'natural talent.'
"Perfect!" Lira exclaimed after a moment, her eyes wide in surprise.
She stepped back and exchanged glances with the other maids standing nearby.
"I must say, Your Highness, you move with such grace. It's as if... well, one might think you're of noble blood."
Mikhailis shrugged, a small smile playing at his lips.
"Ah, me? Noble? Nah. Maybe it's just... I don't know, raw talent?"
Lira blinked, clearly caught off guard by his nonchalant response, but then she smiled softly.
"Talent or not, your movements are impeccable. I was told this lesson might take at least four hours, but you've already mastered the basics in one. Remarkable."
"Four hours, huh?" Mikhailis raised an eyebrow and stood up, stretching a bit.
"I guess that means I get the rest of the day off?"
Lira chuckled lightly, though it seemed she was still trying to figure him out.
"I suppose you do, Your Highness."
Mikhailis noticed the other maids whispering among themselves, their eyes still on him. He gave them a quick wink, causing them to giggle quietly before they bowed and left the room. Lira, however, lingered, watching him with a curious expression.
"You really aren't from nobility?" she asked.
He grinned, hands slipping into his pockets.
"Nope. Just a guy who likes to watch anime, raise insects, and maybe crack a few jokes. Nothing too special."
Lira's brow furrowed slightly, but she gave a small nod.
"I see. Well, if you ever change your mind about that, I wouldn't be surprised. Then please excuse me, your highness. Please have a good rest,"
With a final polite bow, she left the room, leaving Mikhailis alone. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair as he made his way back to the royal chamber.
The moment he stepped inside, Rodion's voice echoed from his glasses.
<Well done, Mikhailis. You managed to avoid any major blunders. I suppose I can mark today as a success.>
Mikhailis chuckled, flopping onto the plush couch in the center of the room.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, partner. Anything I should worry about?"
<One thing. If the maids suspect you're of noble lineage, it could be a sign that someone is already feeding information to outsiders. Likely one of the three maids in the room, or perhaps even Lira herself.>
He frowned, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
"A spy, huh? That's not exactly a comforting thought."
<Indeed. If they report their suspicions to anyone with ill intentions, it could make your position more precarious. I suggest informing Queen Elowen.>
Mikhailis waved a hand dismissively.
"Nah, no need to bother her with that. I'll just keep playing the fool in front of the nobles. Let them think I'm harmless."
<An interesting strategy. Though I must say, 'playing the fool' suits you rather well.>
Mikhailis couldn't help but laugh hearing Rodion's cheeky words.
"You've got jokes today, huh? Well, at least someone's keeping me entertained."
He stood up and made his way over to a small glass case on the far side of the room. Inside was his latest project—his chimera ant. Its shiny, armored body glistened under the soft light, and its tiny wings buzzed quietly as it crawled around inside the case. Mikhailis watched it for a moment, admiring its precision and strength.
"Looking good, buddy," he said softly, tapping the glass. But before he could get too absorbed in the insect's movements, Rodion interrupted.
<It's time for your history lesson, Mikhailis.>
Mikhailis groaned, walking over to the large bookshelf lining the wall.
"Do I really have to? I'd rather study my chimera ant."
<Unfortunately for you, the kingdom doesn't run on bugs. I've already prepared the materials. The history of this continent, the introduction of magic—everything you need to know. It's all right there. Just scan it and let me summarize it for you.>
Mikhailis pulled a few books from the shelf, heavy tomes filled with endless text. He sighed, tossing them onto the table with a thud.
"Fine. But you better make it quick and easy. I'm not trying to get a history degree here."
<As always, I aim to please.>
He grabbed his robot monkey from the corner of the room and set it up to scan the books into PDFs. As the machine hummed quietly, Mikhailis sat down at the desk and rested his chin in his hands, waiting.
After a few minutes, Rodion's voice returned.
<Alright, here we go. The continent is called Eldaria, a sprawling land made up of several kingdoms and cities, each with their own unique characteristics. Silvarion Thalor, your new home, is part of the Arcane Order, which believes in preserving natural magic. They see magic as a living force, tied to nature. Meanwhile, on the other side, you have the Technomancers' League—progressive kingdoms that want to blend magic with technology, which they believe will make them stronger.>
Mikhailis raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a classic good vs. evil setup."
<It's more complex than that. The Technomancers aren't inherently evil; they're just... ambitious. And reckless. They use forbidden spells and technology that can destabilize the natural magic of the land. That's why Silvarion Thalor, with its ties to the natural world, is at odds with them. They fear that the Technomancers' experiments could destroy the delicate balance of magic.>
"Ah, so it's more like a moral gray area. Got it. More like, I've heard about it from Elowen already. What else?"
<There's also the City of Adventurers, located in the center of the continent. It's a neutral city, where people from all walks of life—mages, warriors, scholars—gather to take on quests, hunt monsters, and seek fortune. It's governed by a council made up of the strongest adventurers, and it's known for its lawless nature.>
Mikhailis leaned forward, intrigued.
"A city full of adventurers? Now that sounds like my kind of place. Bet there's all sorts of interesting people there."
<Indeed. Then there's the City of Learning, a hub of knowledge and magical research. It's home to the largest library on the continent, where scholars from all over come to study ancient texts and experiment with new spells.>
Mikhailis raised an eyebrow.
"I'm guessing that's where the nerds hang out?"
<If by 'nerds' you mean some of the most powerful and influential mages on the continent, then yes. It's also where some of the greatest magical breakthroughs have occurred. Many of the spells used in battle today were developed in the City of Learning.>
Mikhailis chuckled.
"Alright, alright. Anything else?"
<There's also the Free Kingdoms—small, independent territories that don't fall under the rule of either the Arcane Order or the Technomancers' League. They're wild and unpredictable, often ruled by warlords or powerful mages. Some see them as dangerous, but others see them as a refuge for those who don't fit into the established orders.>
"Sounds like a fun place to visit. Maybe I'll head there one day," Mikhailis muttered, leaning back in his chair.
<And finally, you have the Abyssal Wastes—a desolate region to the far north, said to be cursed and inhabited by creatures of unimaginable power. Very few venture there, and even fewer return.>
Mikhailis smirked. "Yeah, sounds like a place to avoid."
<Indeed.>
Mikhailis stretched his arms above his head, feeling the weight of all this new information sink in.
"Alright, so Silvarion is all about preserving magic, and the Technomancers want to mess with it. There's a city full of adventurers, a city of bookworms, and some crazy wasteland to avoid. Got it."
<That's the simplified version, yes. Now, if you're ready, I suggest you start reviewing the political alliances between the Arcane Order kingdoms. I've already compiled the necessary documents.>
Mikhailis sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with. Then we can proceed with our next experiment,"
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