Jason Asano
Race: Outworlder.
Current rank: iron
Progression to bronze rank: 0% (0/4 essences complete)
Attributes
[Power] (Blood): [Iron 0]
[Speed] (Dark): [Iron 0]
[Spirit] (Doom): [Iron 0]
[Recovery] (Sin): [Iron 0]
Racial Abilities (Outworlder)
[Interface]
[Quest System]
[Inventory]
[Map]
[Astral Affinity]
[Mysterious Stranger]
Essences (4/4)
Dark [Speed] (3/5)
[Midnight Eyes] (special ability): [Iron 4] 39%.
[Cloak of Night] (special ability): [Iron 3] 08%.
[Path of Shadows] (special ability): [Iron 3] 21%.
Blood [Power] (4/5)
[Blood Harvest] (spell): [Iron 3] 04%.
[Leech Bite] (special attack): [Iron 2] 89%.
[Feast of Blood] (spell): [Iron 2] 00%.
[Sanguine Horror] (familiar): [Iron 2] 16%.
Sin [Recovery] (4/5)
[Punish] (special attack): [Iron 2] 85%.
[Feast of Absolution] (spell): [Iron 3] 96%.
[Sin Eater] (special ability): [Iron 3] 21%.
[Hegemony] (aura): [Iron 2] 67%.
Doom [Spirit] (1/5)
[Inexorable Doom] (spell): [Iron 2] 67%.
He would only start down the path to bronze rank once all his essence abilities were awakened. Jason didn’t feel put upon by his lack of awakening stones, as even Humphrey didn’t have his full set of powers yet. According to Humphrey, it was Geller family tradition to supply their scions with enough awakening stones to get started, while the rest had to be earned.
The Adventure Society was known to give out awakening stones for exceptional service, although rarely. Usually it was for unexpected success when a contract proved more difficult than expected. Some open contracts also offered stones as rewards for those with the greatest contributions. The competition would strongly drive performance.
Otherwise, awakening stones could be purchased through brokers, almost always at auction. They came up semi-regularly, but the prices were exorbitant. Rufus advised him to be patient and work hard. The Adventure Society made sure stones found their way into the hands of good adventurers.
Returning to the city in the morning, Jason stopped at Jory’s clinic before returning to his lodgings on the Island. Jason’s inn was expensive, closer to a luxury hotel than the inns and hostels of the delta towns. Downstairs was a sumptuous lounge, dining hall and bar. When Jason entered the lounge from outside, he spotted the landlady, Madam Landry, berating a tall man in scholar’s robes.
“…think you can sleep in my lounge area like it’s a common flop house!”
Clive was profusely apologising. Somehow his gangly height seemed lesser than the tiny woman scolding him.
“I fell asleep while awaiting an acquaintance,” Clive said. “I’m happy to pay the fee for a night.”
“So you do think it’s a flophouse!”
“No, good lady I can assure you that…”
Clive continued struggling until he spotted Jason, his eyes lighting up.
“Mr Asano!” he called out.
Clive fled Madam Landry in Jason’s direction.
“Here, good lady,” Clive said. “This is my acquaintance, Mr Jason Asano.”
“Who’s your acquaintance?” Jason said, voice and expression full of offence. “After you slept with my wife?”
“What?” Clive said, flustered, head swivelling between Jason and Madam Landry. “Wait, you’re not doing that to me again.”
He jabbed a finger in Jason’s direction.
“You don’t even have a wife.”
“Not anymore,” Jason said. “She ran off with this tall bloke from the Magic Society.”
“You absconded with Mr Asano’s wife and have the nerve to use my inn like some cheap tavern!” Madam Landry said.
“I never touched his wife!”
“I’m off upstairs for a rest, Madam Landry,” Jason said. “Probably best if you showed him the door.”
“You have a good rest, Jason dear,” she said. “I know you’ve been working hard.”
Clive watched Jason disappear up the stairs, and was shuffled outside by Madam Landry. He stood out on the street, looking at the door that had been closed in his face.
“What in the world is going on?”
65
Curious Urges
Jason tugged his bowtie into shape in front of a large standing mirror.
“That’s an unusual outfit,” Gary said. “A bit more snug than I like. I think the locals have it right, fashion-wise.”
They were in the lounge room of the suite shared by Rufus, Gary and Farrah. Gary wore evening wear that showed off all the colourful drapery favoured by Greenstone high society.
“I had Gilbert make it up,” Jason said. “It’s called a tuxedo.”
Jason enjoyed the hang of a well-tailored suit, but he found himself missing his armour. He had been wearing it almost constantly, through battles and danger until it felt like a part of him. Still, a night at the symphony involved neither battles nor danger, so perhaps it was best to feel a little different. And even if it did, his tuxedo had some strengthening treatments and a few enchantment tricks to facilitate a quick escape, if necessary.
“Not enough colours,” Gary said, still eyeing off Jason’s clothes.
“I like it,” Farrah said, emerging from her own room. “Simple and elegant.”
“Why does Rufus always take the longest to get ready?” Gary asked. “He doesn’t even have hair. I’m ready, I’m pretty much all hair.”
“I remember not having hair,” Jason said. “Didn’t care for it.”
“It’s nice to be going out again,” Farrah said. Jason moved so she could take his place to check her outfit in the mirror.
“Agreed,” Jason said. “The program was in three parts, right? A nice, long evening at the symphony will be just the thing, I think.”
“Danielle said she invited us because she thought you would enjoy it,” Farrah said. “She knows you've been working hard.”
“I ran into Humphrey out in the delta, yesterday,” Jason said. “We did a job off a noticeboard together.”
“How was that?” Farrah asked.
“Well, I stood there while and he killed the monster immediately, so… straightforward.”
“Everyone’s ready?” Rufus asked, stepping out of his room.
“Of course we’re ready,” Farrah said. “You’re always the last one out.”
“Did you wax your head?” Gary asked Rufus.
“No,” Rufus said. “I did not wax my head.”
“Really?” Gary asked. “Because it looks like you waxed your head.”
“There is something of a sheen to it,” Jason observed.
“Maybe I rubbed in a little moisturising treatment,” Rufus admitted.
“You did,” Gary said. “You waxed your head.”
“I did not wax my head.”
“I think it looks nice,” Farrah said. “Very shiny.”
Unlike the theatre district, which was located in Old City, the Grand Concert Hall was very close to their lodgings in the guild district. They walked the short distance through the wide streets, the sun low, but still hanging in the summer sky. The concert hall was a magnificent, circular building that Jason walked past every day on his way to the Adventure Society campus. With two lengthy intermissions scheduled, Jason intended to take a look around between performances.
They joined Danielle Geller and her son Humphrey in their private box. When the first interval arrived, the rest of the group headed in the direction of the drinking lounge restricted to private box holders. As they left, Danielle discreetly stopped Jason.
“I have a friend I would like you to meet,” she said quietly, handing him a piece of paper. “I said you would find her during the first intermission. You won’t make a liar of me, will you?”
“You aren’t pushing me into a box are you, Lady Geller?”