I entered the library early in the morning, before breakfast, which was my normal habit. The guard watching went to stand against a wall off to one side, out of the way. I took a seat at my usual table and began copying the book with Eldarin Script into an empty one. Each loop perfectly aligned, each stroke angled to near perfection.
It wasn’t perfect yet, since there were still minor improvents I could make. Tutor Damian had pointed out several minor improvents I could make. That was the power of a tutor, recognizing how a person could improve their skill through correcting their action, rather than repetition. He wasn’t up yet, but that wasn’t an issue since I would just get started right away with whatever work I had to complete. Waking up early had been imprinted onto my soul just like a skill due to Squire Jessica and Squire Sabin waking up early to starting training.
I heard soone else enter the mansion’s library and looked up to see the First Prince Maximillian. It was an informal setting, I was a noble, and mber of the household. Inclining my head towards him, showed I recognized his presence, but wasn’t going out of my way to bother him.
Instead, he ca over to bother . I shook my head at my guard, who just nodded back. He wouldn’t interfere. No need to cause a fuss since it was just the Frist Prince. It was better to be polite. “Good morning, Justin. Working on so skills?” he asked as he took a seat across the table. He was almost twice my age, but his father had probably told him to try and make friends with , I thought cynically.
“Yes, First Prince. I am working on my Eldarin Script and Writing Focus,” I replied.
“Two tier 2 skills. You are as impressive as the rumors suggest. Ah Transversal of the Dungeon by fad playwright, Aaron the Orator. A classic and a travesty of writing, quite the contradiction,” he said.
“My tutor swears by it,” I replied.
“Only because it is so mind numbing it forces you to pay attention otherwise you won’t improve your skills. No one wants to actually read that garbage. Aaron was fad for his oratory skills, not his writing skills,” the First Prince said.
“Thankfully I am getting close to finishing, since it is what I spend most of my ti on,” I replied.
“Oh, I would have thought you would be training fighting skills? With your mother being who she is,” he said.
“She is away with all her Squires at the mont, so I am focused on other skills right now. I can’t wait to go down into the dungeon again. There is nothing more exciting than fighting monsters,” I replied.
“Exactly what a future legend would say. Oh, we both know my father wants to make friends with you. Your mother is quite scary, you know?” he asked .
“I know. Have you been in the dungeon?” I asked.
“All curated and handheld. To get my initial 20,” he replied, and I nodded at this. Noble male heirs got an initial 20 levels right away to help them excel in various skills and make it harder to kill them. Then they would get a lot more after they were married and had kids. “No fighting skills at all.”
“Really? That seems, well, a bit weird,” I replied, and he shook his head.
“My entire skill selection is micro managed for optimal rulership. It can get exhausting, but it is my role in life. What of you? Does your mother select everything?” he asked .
“Yes. She confird I wanted to follow in her footsteps and didn’t hold back. Her Squires haven’t held back in the slightest,” I replied while warming up to the First Prince. A part of knew that it was probably his skills affecting , but he seed like a genuinely pleasant person.
“Martial skills sure sound exciting. So, you are planning on becoming a spellblade like your mother?” he asked . I nodded at this.
“Yes, at least I think so. It requires a lot of work, but is very versatile and powerful on its own,” I replied.
“Personally, I always thought being a pure magic caster would be best, very powerful,” he said.
“That’s if you want to just fight other people. Fighting in the dungeon requires rationing of Mana. Less burst fights and more of a grind. That is why being a spellblade offers the best of both options,” I replied, and the First Prince nodded at this.
“It seems you have given quite a bit of thought into your future profession. If only everyone put as much thought into such things as you have. Are you thinking of sticking with a sword or do you have another preferred weapon?” he asked.
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“The sword for now. But that might change in ti. I am learning a range of weapon skills. What about you? What does the heir to a Kingdom learn all day?” I asked.
“What fork to pick at dinner to not start a war,” he said, and we both chuckled, since knowing the forks for dinner was a part of Eldarin Etiquette. “There is a lot of focus on international relations, since our nation heavily relies on trade and growing food. I actually have the Farming skill,” he said. I blinked in surprise.
“Really? That seems…well I wouldn’t expect a noble to have that skill. Most look down on it?” I asked.
“They do, but our nation depends heavily on farming. I would prefer to look know what I am talking about when I discuss farming related issues. While I will have advisors, a King’s duty is to lead, not let others lead him,” he explained, and I nodded at this.
“Down in the dungeon, I will most likely be adventuring alone. Maybe I might form a team if I can find people to trust,” I said.
“Trust is hard to develop. The most rare and precious thing. That is why as nobility, or at least for , I prefer to be upfront in all my dealings to avoid misunderstandings,” he explained, which made sense. The First Prince really was nothing like I expected. I figured he might be a bit stuck up like my older half-brothers, but he was the complete opposite of that. He really was a great guy.
“Well you probably know the backgrounds of people who will advise you a couple generations back. Adventurers co from a more varied background,” I replied.
“Indeed. Once I learned the history of your mother, the Supre Warlady, it is impressive. A re peasant girl, rising up and killing her way through the dungeon to erge as a supre legend. It makes one realize that if she can do it, that it is possible for anyone,” he replied.
“I know, but that is where I feel a lot of pressure,” I said, opening up a bit to the First Prince who nodded at this.
“I get that feeling to so extent. You have one incredibly exceptional mother, and I have eighteen generations behind that I can’t disappoint. The pressure can get a bit much, but I always enjoyed a challenge,” the First Prince said, and I nodded as he kept smiling.
“Well I just have to continue studying and training,” I said.
“So, are you thinking of going to the dungeon or broadening your horizons a bit? The College of Advancent would welco soone like you with open arms,” he said.
“It is hard to say. I will probably listen to what my mother tells , but my guess is the College of Advancent to focus on skill growth and build a stronger foundation. But if I can get in so more fighting in the dungeon, I wouldn’t object,” I replied.
“Ah a true adventurer at heart. It pains to say this, but our kingdom doesn’t have much of an adventurous or martial spirit. All trade and food production. Our claim to fa is the School of Growth, focused on farming skills. We have the best farrs in the world but ask for more adventurers and people hesitate or find excuses,” he said with a sigh.
“Why? I an the dungeon is a path to money and power. Sure, the start isn’t easy, but with hard work, people can rise up?” I asked.
“So do of course. But they all leave to other places. We have tried instituting more friendly policies for adventurers, but it is a struggle to attract and keep talent. People set up schools and training institutions in other countries, while our marital talent remains low,” he said.
“You can’t just hire so elites?” I asked.
“We have, but legends are the true power of countries with much more enduring legacies. But talent attracts talent. Even with our best efforts and way too much money to count, it has been a struggle. Now there is your mother and yourself in the future.”
“? I am nowhere near a legend yet,” I replied.
“For now. But with a mother like yours, I have no doubt it is only a matter of ti. You don’t have to commit to anything or make any promises. I would just ask that you consider our humble nation of Terander in the future when deciding where to live,” the First Prince said.
It did make sense. This nation was quite nice, and the First Prince was a great guy. I didn’t even mind that he was trying to influence . Just having to think about where to live wasn’t such a big deal. I slowly nodded at this request.
“My future is still uncertain, but I won’t forget my ho,” I said.
“Excellent. Sorry if I am such a bore. But you know parents, always demanding new things from us children,” he replied with a smile, and I nodded.
“You aren’t a bore,” I replied.
“Well, I will leave you to your studies. It was good speaking with you Justin. I look forward to future conversations,” he said and got up. I got up and bowed slightly as he left out of respect.
That was when my father ca to the library with a frown. “The First Prince spoke with you?” he asked .
“He was pleasant. He just asked to think about making the Kingdom of Terander my ho,” I said. My father let out a sigh of relief.
“The royal family has very strong social skills that they have trained relentlessly with. Your Focus stat was no match for the First Prince. Think carefully about what happened, what you talked about, and write it all down. And be careful in the future,” my father said. He looked at my guard who didn’t react. My father let out a sigh and shook his head. No guard would dare stop the First Prince from having a casual conversation.
“I have other issues to deal with. Be careful,” my father said and then rushed off. I frowned as I got out a blank piece of paper and began copying everything that had occurred.
I had been ntally compromised.
I couldn’t believe it. The First Prince was so nice and easy to get along with. But was that , or his skills? My head felt like a ss. He wasn’t even demanding, but it was a wakeup call regarding ntal skills. If he had hostile intentions or had been a monster, I would be in a much worse position.
Even though I knew the First Prince had manipulated with his skills, I couldn’t help but think that he was a really great guy. Social skills were truly insidious once they were leveraged against a person. No wonder nobility was considered a full-ti job with specialized skills. As the heir to the King, he probably had much more specialized skills. Even with his young age, he would have gotten the best education and Tutors growing up.
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