Supreme Magus novel Chapter 37

The whole thing happened in an odd fashion. Lith received a letter instead of an holo-call, and despite being addressed to him it was delivered at Nana’s house.

Being the host, Nana took the liberty of reading it before handing it to him. She was just concerned for Lith’s wellbeing, off course.

The letter said in a perfect penmanship:

"Dear Lith,

Thanks again for slaying the monstrous magical beast. You have served the County of Lustria and deserve to be rewarded accordingly. To this end, I would like you to join me in my manor in ten days since receiving this letter. We have much to discuss. I urge you to contact me as soon as you can via Lady Nerea’s communication amulet.

Count Trequill Lark."

"What does this mean?" Lith asked Nana.

"It sounds so serious to be ominous. It doesn’t even seem something a joyful and spirited person like the Count would write."

"Hmmm." Nana nodded, eager to avoid the outrageous accusation of being nosey.

"I can smell good news and bad news.

The good news is that isn’t anything serious. Despite the somber tone, worthy of a payment order, Lark used a letter, this means it’s nothing urgent or important, since he could afford to wait for the delivery and the reply.

The bad news is that all the above stinks of formality and etiquette. I fear that you are in for a whole day of boredom, while attending all the official business regarding your prizes and whatnot. As I always say, little imp, no good deed goes unpunished!"

"That’s my line!" Lith inwardly screamed. "Not only you open my mail, you even steal my shtick?"

Even the following holo-call was awkward. Count Lark was uncharacteristically calm and composed, managing to not make any question about magic to Lith, nor losing his monocle, not even once.

After hearing that Lith had accepted his invite, he stated that his personal tailor would stop by later to take Lith’s measurements, and that he would send his stagecoach on the set date, one hour after dawn in front of Nana’s house.

Then, the Count politely but promptly ended the call, saying he had many things to attend. For Lith was like talking to a complete stranger.

The tailor arrived less than an hour later, he didn’t give Lith any mean look or nasty remark. On the contrary, he somehow recognized him at the first glance, complimenting him for his height.

Despite being only eight years and a half, Lith was already over one meter and thirty-five centimetres (4’6") high, and in the County of Lustria any man above 1.75 metres (5’9") was considered tall.

"Keep growing up so fast and soon you’ll be as tall as the Count, young man."

After the man left, Nana whistled in surprise.

"Good gods, I know him. That’s the tailor that personally prepare the dresses for the Lark’s family. It’s even worse than I thought. This occasion must be something really big, like being invited to a ball kind of big.

This is one of those rare moments when I’m happy not being part of high society anymore. Prepare yourself for long awkward silences, insufferable small talk and being showed around like some kind of exotic beast."

Lith spent the next ten days in his usual routine, obsessing about Nana’s words was pointless, since he had already taken those things in consideration when he decided to tighten his relationship with the Count.

Except dancing, of course. Lith had always hated dancing, even back on Earth, mostly because of his two left feet. But even that wouldn’t worry him much, there was no way for him learning Court’s dances in so little time.

Even if he managed to find a book about it and added it to Soluspedia, knowing was not doing, he would still need to practice. He could only suck it up and endure.

When the fated day came, a luxurious stagecoach stopped in front of Nana’s house. It was all white, with the décors painted gold, drawn by four snow-white stallions.

A valet descended, bowing to Lith before giving him a small wooden box.

"My Lord, would like you to change into your new outfit, before getting into the stagecoach, good sir."

So much respect was dumbfounding for Lith, so he bowed back without a word, before going into Nana’s living quarters to change.

He came out wearing deep blue velvet pants over hard leather shoes, a snow-white silk shirt and a blazer matching with the pants, with the Count’s family crest gold embroidered over his heart.

"Holy sh*t! I’m probably wearing more money than my family’s farm is worth. Judging from the crest, I guess Nana was right, he is going to introduce me to someone, and he needs that someone to know who I belong to."

Lith was alone on the stagecoach. After opening the door for him, the valet went sitting beside the coachman.

The ride lasted over half an hour, despite the horses’ remarkable speed. Having nothing to do, Lith spent the whole time using Accumulation. His deep cyan mana core had yet to change by even a shade, it definitely needed more work.