Chương 18: Dinner Party Part III
(I've used variants of that pickup line with high rates of success.)
Jillian blushed and covered her mouth. Everyone else was holding their breath. The silence in the room would allow a pin hitting the floor to be heard.
I decided to go for the straight forward approach. It took quite a bit of thinking but I had been wrestling with this for a while. As long as it isn't too intimate, it shouldn't matter if I am in a relationship with someone my age in this world. Without a doubt, I'd at least hold off on the fun stuff until I'm with a partner that is at the age of consent of the place I lived in back on Earth. That age being 16. I wasn't even a legal adult yet back in my old life anyways.
Satisfied with her reaction, I turned to Anna. "Is there any way we could get some music playing up in here? This isn't a party without music."
Anna smirked. "I like your style, Cal. Very bold." She got up and walked over to a device on her desk that resembled a speaker.
I shrugged. "Back where I'm from, alcohol is known as liquid courage. And what is that? I've never seen one of those."
Anna nodded. "It's this new thing that is very popular among nobles. It records sound and replays it. It's called a music box. It is enchanted so that it can hold a variety of pieces."
I raised my brow. That piqued my interest. Apparently they have a magical version of an MP3 player in this world. I was a massive fan of house music back on Earth so maybe I could bring some of that here. UGHH SO MUCH TO DO! "What kind of music is on it?"
Anna smirked. "There's this new type of music that everyone our age is listening to. I think it's really cool."
I started to get excited. Maybe they had some exciting music like back home. That would make it so I had one less thing to do. "Well, let's hear it Miss DJ!"
She pressed a button on the music box and the signature crackling of an old record could be heard. A swinging voice could be heard on the track. "A one, a two, a one two three four." The drums kicked in with the high hat being smacked with the drumstick. It was light enough where it didn't overwhelm the rest of the track. Occasionally, the snare or tom would get hit. Over this, a piano was being played. Chords were singing out in a melodic fashion, striking each time a beat would swing to the next. The chords moved up and down the keys. Accompanying the piano was a walking bass line. It moved up and down the octaves, supplementing the piano chords.
This percussion rhythm went on for about twenty seconds until the melody kicked in. Right before the melody started, the bass and piano paused, leaving the drums to freestyle for a few beats. Then it happened. A harmony of horns crashed into my ears. The sax, the trumpet, the trombone, melding together so perfectly to create this euphoric sound.
When the music first started I was already standing. I froze when I realized what it was and a single tear rolled down my face. This was jazz. I was a part of the jazz band in high school back on Earth. Very few things brought as much joy to me as playing music did.
Anna was looking at me, quite confused. "What's wrong? Do you not like it?"
I took a deep breath, wiping the tear off my face. I then shook my head. "No, it's perfect."
I turned to Jillian and offered her my hand. "May I have this dance?"
She didn't even reply with her words. All she could get out was a nod as she took my hand. I gently pulled her out of her seat.
If I was being honest, I would have never done this if I wasn't drunk. I had never actually danced before. Thus, it was time to observe. Unfortunately, no one was getting up. It appeared they were all waiting to watch Jillian and I.
I sighed internally as I tried to figure out how I should dance. I thought back to the videos that my jazz teacher showed the band. I remembered a quote he said. "Whether you're dancin', playin', or just listenin', jazz is all about the feel. Groove to the beat, to the music. Let your body flow and let that feelin' take over. It's not about flowin' to the jazz, it's about lettin' the jazz flow through you."
I took a deep breath and just went with it. I let the music take over as I grabbed both of her hands and started to dance. She seemed apprehensive at first so the movements were awkward. Gradually, she started to go with it, and we started to move to the groove. Our steps and our moves swung with the beat.
Since I was a bit taller than her, I guided her into an intimate move. I let go of her with my left hand, letting her move outwards. I then pulled her back in with my right, guiding her into a spin as I raised my arm over her head. As she spun around and faced towards me again, I locked my hand on her lower back and let her momentum bring her to me. I then leaned forwards and she bent backwards.
She was looking right into my eyes. I could see emotions of confusion, amazement, and happiness mixed in her expression. I let on a toothless half smile, winking at her as I pulled her back up and returned my left hand to her right. We then continued dancing.
At the end of the night, it turned out that my suggestion of music really made the night. After the stressful first week of the academy, it felt amazing to let loose, myself included. With everyone stuffed to the brim, danced out, and drunk, we parted ways.
Based on their lengthy goodbye hug, Yanni appeared to have grown closer to Anna. Maybe the alcohol helped with it. Jacob also gave his fiancee, Rebecca, a short kiss on the lips before leaving. That just left Jillian and I.
With my left hand in my pocket, I casually approached her. From being quite the social kid in my previous life, I naturally learned how to make a girl feel special. I decided to mix it with what I presumed were the customs here so I met halfway between the other two couples. I looked her in the eye and wore a gentle smile. I lifted her left hand with my right and gently pressed my lips to it. After about a second, I pulled my lips away and smiled at her gently. She was blushing.
I slowly let go of her hand, allowing our fingers to run across each other. "It was a pleasure meeting you tonight."
Jillian nodded and for the first time that night, she spoke. "The pleasure is all mine, Callum." Her voice was like music to my ears, so beautiful, so soft, so soothing.
I couldn't help but smile. "Would you care to join us for breakfast tomorrow? Rebecca, you should come too."
Jillian nodded. "It would be a delight."
I nodded. "I'll see you in the morning then." I then turned and left, not wanting to drag out the moment. Once I walked out of the room, the level of drunkenness I was finally set in and I began to stumble.
Jacob laughed hysterically. "How the hell did you pull that off?"
I shrugged as I leaned against the wall to maintain my balance. I made a gesture, making a wave with my hand. "I'm smoother than a mutha fucka."
Jacob rolled his eyes as he walked over to me and supported me by putting his arm underneath mine. "Let's get you to bed."
I nodded a little too hard, making the hallway spin. "Bed sounds nice."
Yanni was giggling in the background.
I spit in annoyance. "Stop laughin' at m..."
Jacob put his hand over my mouth to stop me from talking. "Shush. Let's just get you in bed."
I sighed in defeat as I was too drunk to fight it. I struggled to stay standing as the world spun around me. It was not very fun.
The last thing I remember was blinking and then waking up with a piercing headache in the morning. As soon as I opened my eyes, I rolled over and buried my face into my pillow. The light was too bright and my eyes were too sensitive. I reached over to my bedside table and discovered a glass of water. Keeping my eyes closed, I lifted my head and took several gulps of water. It made me feel a bit better.
I opened my eyes slightly, keeping them in a squint. "Fuckin' hangovers. I need a shower."
A voice then came from next to me. "You could say that again."
I looked over and saw Okami with an annoyed expression on his face. "Learn how to have fun. It has its backlash but it's worth it."
I didn't even wait for a response before going to shower. The hot water running over my body felt amazing. I probably stood there for at least 20 minutes under the water.
After getting out, I brushed my hair, put it up in a bun, and got my casual wear on. Students were not required to wear their uniform on weekends so I stored it in its chain link bracelet form. The bracelet was very similar to a cuban link. I liked it a lot.
As I was about to sit down for a few minutes, there was a knock at my door. I sighed. "Coming."
I opened the door to find Yanni and Jacob waiting for me. Jacob was waiting at the door while Yanni was posted up with his hands in the pocket, leaning against the wall.
Jacob smiled. "Ah, you're alive!"
I grimaced. "Was I that bad last night?"
Jacob chuckled. "It's fine. You kept it together in front of the ladies. As soon as we left, you were incoherent. What's the last thing you remember?"
I sighed. "Walking out of Anna's room."
Jacob nearly choked. "Geez, all the fun stuff happened after that. You were a riot. You kept bickering with Yanni and then crawling across the floor in your room. I was starting to wonder if the circus was in town!"
I laughed in embarrassment. "Let's get some breakfast. I'm hungover and need something in my stomach."
Jacob nodded. "You can say that again."
We headed over to Anna's room, meeting up with the girls. We all walked in pairs. I, of course, walked with Jillian.
We partook in some casual conversation on our way to the cafeteria. Apparently she and Rebecca had been close friends since they were very young since their fathers worked together a lot. She is only a second generation mage in her family and they are new nobles. Her father was the first one to have a rank in their family, getting the last name of Walker bestowed upon them by the royals after reaching the rank of Archmage.
I told her about my old and new parents from this world and about how I learned magic from an archmage. She was enthralled by my stories of growing up as a commoner. As a sheltered noble girl, she didn't get out much. I was honestly surprised that she wasn't as snobby and judgemental as other nobles due to her upbringing. The royals and Yanni are a different story due to how their upbringing was. They would regularly be exposed to the lives of the less fortunate and did hands on work to improve the kingdom.
After breakfast, I separated from the group. I had a certain professor to talk to. I called Mason using my commlet. His voice rang out in my head. "Who is calling at this ungodly hour?"
I nearly fell to the floor laughing. "Rough night, professor?"
He scoffed. "That's putting it lightly. I was forced to attend a gala and then was paraded around for an unlawful amount of hours like a prized steed. I hate people."
I laughed. "Are you well enough to do a checkup?"
Mason coughed. "Did you just ask me to do a checkup?"
I sighed. "Yes I did. Something strange happened and I want to get the best opinion."
Mason laughed. "Okay. I can do that for you."
As soon as the call ended, I found myself in his lab. I sighed. "Professor Mason, you could have just told me where your lab is."
Mason shrugged. "Now that wouldn't be fun. Anyways, what's wrong?"
I sighed and hopped up on the examination table. "The other night, I had a nightmare. Once I woke up, I was covered in this mud-like substance and felt like I had just run across the continent without rest. It came off in the shower but I still felt dead so I meditated. Once I did that, I felt my energy return with each breath. A massive amount of natural energy was being absorbed through my breathing. Do you know what any of this means?"
Mason thought for a moment before a light bulb went off in his head. "I've already examined your mana flow before so let me do it again. Then I can definitely tell you if it is what I think it is."
I nodded and took off my shirt, making it easier for him to check my mana flow. He walked up behind me and placed both his hands on my shoulder blades.
He gasped after a few seconds. "How is this possible?"
I started panicking. "Is it something bad?"
Mason ran around in front of me. "No, no, it's amazing. Your mana is flowing much stronger than before. I estimate that it is about 150% stronger."
I contorted my face in confusion. "What does that mean? In English please, doc."
Mason laughed. "Our bodies have a certain resistance to mana. Do you get that?"
I nodded. "I'm not stupid. Resistance is the inhibitor of the flow of energy. For example, various metals have different resistances to electrical current."
Mason raised his brow. "Electrical current? Whatever, you can explain that to me later. What's important is that the resistance in your body has decreased, strengthening the flow."
My eyes widened as I understood what he was saying. "Is it dangerous?"
Mason shook his head. "This has never happened to a human before so I can't tell you for sure."
I titled my head. "Does it happen to other races?"
Mason thought for a moment. "Yes… but from what I can see, you are fully human. Unless you were… no, no. That's not possible. I would know."
I was getting concerned. "What's not possible?"
Mason shook his head. "Nothing. It's not important. All I can tell you is to keep an eye on your condition and get a sample of the mud if it happens again so I can study it. Only more research can tell me what happened."
I sighed as I hopped off the table. "Thanks, professor."
Mason smiled. "Happy to help my favorite student!"
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