Not alone

There was seventeen people gathering around the table. Everyone was waiting the Duke and the Royal-guest.

Before setting down ready for the dinner there had been a lot time for people to socialize with each other while having few snacks and drinks. It appeared to be that there was seven other nobles coming with the Royal to meet the Duke. For once was Sofia thankful for her broken arm when the nobles had decided to dance a little bit. One had come to ask her, but the arm had saved her. The noble didn't seem to be angry about the denial as Sofia showed him the arm. All that noble had done was cursing the knight who did this to such beautiful lady to be eaten by the Calamity Dragon.

Thankful to her Bullshit passive skill, Sofia managed to explain how she had severe amnesia and how she was a sorceress who had a hidden master. After hearing her being a sorceress, the nobles had relaxed and laughed about Sofia's story.

One of them had told her a legend from his childhood when he had seen a sorcerer trying to use tier eight violet magic "chicken-hex" which would transform the target into a chicken with 25% possibility. Apparently the sorceress was fighting a mountain troll that had woken up from it's winter slumber and walked to the edge of a city. Later on they had eaten the biggest chicken, the world had ever seen so far. Also probably the worst tasting one too.

The noble was a drunk.

But now as all the guests sat around the table, it was getting a late.

The house butler walked into the room and automatically everyone, except Sofia who had some delay, stood up from their chairs.

"The Duke and The Prince Lucian wish you all to start eating without them. They wanted me to inform that there is some urgent matters they have to discuss before eating. They know that this is extremely bad manners and beg forgiveness from all of you."

The butler bowed.

There was some murmuring and angry as well as worried stares around the table. It has to be something really important. And knowing that the Duke was a war veteran and the Prince was a possible inheritor of the crown, this gave chills to many people. The war from two years ago was very alive in memory. The five year great war with Arka Empire.

Normally Blue Dragon Kingdom didn't have to fear about long term engages since it was an island and supporting a landing and capturing land from it, was extremely hard and stupid. But the war wasn't like that, it was a civil war where other part was controlled and supported by Arka. Such war was not common to Blue Dragon and had hit it really hard. Only time, the Blue Dragon Kingdom had been wounded and it had really bled blood in battle was that war. And in reality the Kingdom was still bleeding as not all the traitors were captured and punished. This was what Lisa had told Sofia.

Butler was spouting out such drivel names for dishes when he was talking about the incoming meal that it gave Sofia a slight headache. It didn't sound like the language Blue Dragon Kingdom used. The common language was called Ileria which would sound similar to Russian.

So far Sofia had come to conclusion that this was the only language from this world she could speak. And it came out of her mouth without thinking more of it.

Every now and then, she heard something else coming from the nobles mouths. Lisa had said that nobles liked to use Gorain as their formal speaking. It was the native language of the White Dragon Kingdom that had been at war with Arka Empire for years as it was located directly next to the Arka without having mountains or huge waters to protect itself. Though the White Dragon Kingdom having half of its landmass covered by desert, it's language was considered to be the most beautiful like a mix of French and Italy. The bad news about the desert was, that it was located on the other side of the White Dragon Kingdom than where the Arka Empire was. So in the end, the White Dragon Kingdom as trapped between nature and Arka.

Sofia didn't really understand why in the first place she was summoned to join this party, unless the Duke wanted her to be harassed by drunk nobles. As the evening continued, the nobles seemed to start to forget their worries and a relaxed aura had filled the room.

Sofia was surprised about that not all of the guests turned out to be arrogant and selfish nobles from her imagination.

And... there wasn't really young people. Everyone Sofia had talked to, looked like they were something between thirty and forty year old and their levels were either hidden or "approx." 30. These people were strong.

As Sofia was trying to keep face while tipsy noble woman was telling about her husband, someone poked Sofia's shoulder. It was Lisa.

"I must apologize for interrupting your discussion, but the Duke wishes to speak with young lady Rivermore."

"Eh?"

"Haah?"

Both women had same reaction for different reasons, but Lisa just showed them a wide smile.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Sofia was guided in front of a small room on the third floor.

Lisa had left while waving at her "just doing my job" - smile on her face.

Sofia knocked the door few times. Nothing happened.

One minute.

"This is miss Rivermore. The lord Duke has summoned me."

Five minutes.

Eight minutes.

'Eeeh. What am I suppose to do now.'

.

.

.

Sofia decided to slowly open the door and peek inside. There was no one there.

"Um... hello? Lord Duke? Um..."

There was three bookshelves full of documents and old books. They were not organized and more like looked that they were just temporally laying there. The room had four small chairs, a world-ball map and a metal pot. What did catch Sofia's attention was an active oil lamp sitting on a table with unfinished document and writing tools.

Something touched her right shoulder and pulled her inside the room. Door closed silently. And not a living soul saw what had happened.

Sofia was almost sideways leaning on nothingness.

Before she could scream a voice interrupted her and her scream died inside her throat.

"Just a joke."

Sofia was assisted to stand normally again.

"The first time we met was such a bullshit situation that I had to use all my mental capacity to not laugh at your lies."

The Duke turned visible just half a meter away from Sofia's face.

"Eh."

"Don't worry. I don't bite. A lot."

"Eeeeeeh?"

'Wh---at?'

"Hey Ronald, don't just stay hidden there. She already got scared once. Hehehe."

Another figure turned visible. Behind the Duke was quite handsome brown haired man. He had no facial hair, all cleanly shaved off. Dark green eyes and sharp shaped face were staring at Sofia. He was wearing dark blue cloak and on it was silver dragon head icon.

'That.. that is the..'

"The Prince Lucian?"

The Prince looked at the Duke.

"You are sure about this right?"

"My eye is telling me that she is a damn level four. What are you suggesting her to be, if she is like that? Bloody hell."

"Just making sure."

"Excuse me. What..."

"Ronald you want Whiskey?" The Duke went to the closest bookshelf and took one book out of it. There was hardly any paper inside the book. Instead it had a half full bottle of glimmering dark orange liquid. The picture inside Sofia's mind about calm and controlled old man had been utterly shattered.

"Miss Rivermore it is? I think it is better for you to sit down for a while and let us explain a bit. Just to inform you, this old fart told about you just a while ago. I wasn't here to precisely meet you. But since I am here, I as well might do it too. And no, don't pour me."

"Miss? You want?" The Duke was shaking the bottle.

"I am..."

"I pour a half."

'It might actually come to be that I need a drink.'

"Thank...you."

She sat down on a chair with a whiskey class on her arms and watched the two men. They both had an old gaze inside their eyes. Ron sat down on a chair too and stretched a bit.

"So I suppose we start with introductions?" It was man called Ron.

"Ladies first." The Duke took sip from his class.

"Um ah... my name Sofia Amanda Rivermore."

"And?"

"And what?"

'What else he wants?'

"I suppose I introduce myself then", it was the Duke," I am Henry Donald Erickson Goldberg. I am an English commodore from 18th century. My ship sank and well, here I am. I made my wish and ta-daa!" The man opened his arms like to welcome everyone watch his new play.

"Ta-daa?"

"Yeah! Ta-daa! I found myself deep in this damned shit hole!"

"Huoh. Don't mind him too much. The person in question is a little senile. My name is Ron Glory Buckminster. I am from 20th century. I stepped on a mine and you can picture the rest. And well, same as Henry, made a wish. What he meant earlier was to ask, where are you from?

"I am from 21st century. I... went to sleep and woke up here."

"Nothing happened to you? By this, young lady, I mean you just went to sleep?"

"Uh... um.. that is a problematic. As I do really have an amnesia. And what you are saying is that something happened to you before you ... died?"

'I think I am not telling them that I am actually a man. I have a feeling it would lead into some misunderstandings. But still, I am dead? Is that what these people are telling me.'

"Well you did come to this world by wish of some sort. At least we are assuming that to be the case here since you and us aren't only people here who don't, in the first place, belong here. Why we know this of you? In this world, your level cannot be under ten when you are that old. It's something that is linked with your age and the minimum for adult is level 10. And look at you! You are not definitely a child with that body. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of us. There is one crazy magi at the far-far north, but we prefer to not speak with her. She isn't right in her head by any diagnose."

"Ah um. So why are you telling me this?"

"Hmmh? Why not? People like you and us are extremely rare. We simply want to help you and know more about you. Isn't that right Henry? And more importantly you don't feel like an evil person. That's what Henry said."

"Good for you to say as you ain't the one dying here." Henry was pouring himself a new drink.

'Dying?!'

"Ah, don't mind him. He wished to live forever. And now he just reincarnates infinitely in this place. Pretty bad fate if I have to say. He got lucky to reborn into noble to be honest. Now he is quite sick and probably has only few years left with that body. Wasn't that right Henry?"

"Fuck ... Drinks * ... you."

"Reincarnates infinitely?"

"Yeah. He got blessing called "Eternal life". His body dies and then he wake's up as a baby. Takes about fifteen to twenty years always before he is able to contact me. He also has an eye that sees other people's levels without restrictions. Only problem he has is that every time he dies the level goes back to one. Even if he learns everything he can, the bodies he reborn with do have their limits. And he is also quite heavy drinker. Has been at least so long as I have known him."

"Can we.. slow down a bit..."

And so they did. Sofia drank her drink and gazed the ground for a while. Nothing was on her mind. This time she had been hit by a falling cow.

"You fine now? Want another shot?"

"I am fine... so this thing is unique to everyone?"

"Yeah so far we have come to that conclusion. Anyway, not like Henry. I am mortal. Got a blessing "Flesh Mirror" that gives me shape-shifting capabilities that are far superior form any magic I have encountered so far. Don't worry. I am not an assassin. And in reality, I am quite old, my figure doesn't fit my age at all. In any case, I am seventy nine. Being a magi probably will buy me enough time to see Henry's next form, but that might be the last one I see. So far I have seen only two lives. How long did you say you have been circulating this world Henry?"

"It was 1769 when the ship sank, you count it yourself. Here miss, another one." Henry had already poured half a class.

"T-thank you, but sorry, I think I am already a little bit tipsy. I am do not like to get drunk."

"Ah, I see. Well miss, what is your blessing?" Henry said and drank from Sofia's class.

"I think it is a little bit hard to explain, but I am basically half-immortal. There is only some conditions for me to die, which I am not telling. I wish to stay alive by any means."

'Lets see if this is enough of an blessing for them. It looks like I am not exactly like them, but they don't look to be bad people. Just lonely.'

"Ah, that is quite a good blessing. It is almost same as Henry's, except without the shitty part. And you can also end your life if it comes down to that."

"Hey miss, I just want to know one more thing. That thing, you are carrying inside your original clothes. That magic. What is it? It felt really weird even for me. If you let me investigate and research it, I will teach you magic and shelter you. How about that? I am not able to cast magic myself really well with this body, but I can assure you that I have one of the best collections of magic books here and the knowledge inside my head would be yours to take. It has been about fifty years since I met something that has captured my interest as heavily as you and your... what ever that is? So, will you become my disciple?"

Henry put his drink down and smiled at Sofia. There was tremendous pressure emitting from the man, like his life was depending on Sofia's answer.

'Move forward, don't stay put, otherwise she will wait for nothing. This is your chance! Who ever they are, use them, use this chance, say...'

"Yes, teach me magic. I need to learn. What comes to that magic inside my robe, what ever you find out, please tell me about it too."

"Well that is that. Henry told me that he was hoping this outcome. Well, hah. Shall we talk some more during the next days miss Rivermore? I am sure there is a lot you want to know. I am going to stay here for two more days, but then I have to go and take care of this Kingdom's matters. After all this Prince is dead and I have a huge mess to solve."