Casual Heroing, Chapter 238

LUCINDA, STOP WORRYING! 😭😭😭

Next chapter comes out on February 14th!

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Chapter 238 – Doubt

"Enjoy, Joey Luciani," [Prince] Brutus said, his voice a mixture of sincerity and formality. "Hopefully, you’ll be the Human to reconcile our races."

Joey raised an eyebrow, processing the [Prince]'s words. His mind briefly considered what the [Prince] might actually mean before he simply shrugged it off. "As you said before, I've got many people to meet tonight, Your Highness," Joey replied, his tone dismissive but polite. "And I’m sure they're waiting eagerly."

And so, [Prince] Brutus finally let the group free to explore the place on their own, with the [Guards] parting ways and allowing all of them in, including Aemilianus.

However, Lucinda, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't mask her concern. "Aren't you nervous?" she asked Joey. Her voice betrayed a hint of anxiety, her eyes searching his for a sign of apprehension.

"Why should I be?" Joey replied, his voice light, almost carefree. "It's just some talk. He’s messing with me—that’s all."

Lucinda's frown deepened. "Joey, he's the [Prince]. Do you think he’d just say that?" she pointed out.

Joey's response came with a nonchalant shrug that almost made Lucinda lose her bearing. "These are political games, too, I'm sure. But who cares? Come on? I can't be bothered." He paused, his gaze drifting off into the distance. "Also, reconcile our races?” He cringed. “I don’t come from Teiko. If I went there and tried advocating for peace or something, I'd probably get stabbedby the Humans."

Lucinda observed Joey's casual dismissal of the [Prince]'s words. Part of her wanted to believe in the simple, bumbling Joey she had first encountered at the Watch, the Human who had appeared in Amorium as if from nowhere. Yet, there was another, growing part that recognized the complexity and depth that lay beneath his seemingly carefree exterior.

As Lucinda's thoughts wandered, Stan stepped forward. "Joey," he said, his voice low but firm, "sometimes, people are thrust into unexpected positions. Don't underestimate your role."

“Yo,” Joey met Stan's gaze, his expression revealing a hint of acknowledgment, “don’t worry, alright? Let’s just enjoy this." Joey reassured him and, with a slight shift in his tone, added, "And by the way, did you take care of what I told you we needed?"

Stan nodded, which made Lucinda frown.

“What is it?” Lucinda asked, looking between the two.

“Precautions,” Joey smiled mysteriously. “I like Elves, but... you know. Just precautions.”

...

The cool evening air of the Valeria estate bristled with the chatter and laughter of the elite as the garden, aglow with luminescent flowers and lanterns, welcomed the guests for the Day of Blooming celebration. Joey, accompanied by Lucinda, made his way toward the palace entrance.

As they meandered through the throng of nobility, Joey's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden approach of Lisith, the Vanedeni woman; her white hair shimmered in the dim light, and her red irises were fixed on Joey with an intensity that immediately gathered his attention.

“What was that about exactly?" Lisith's voice cut through the noise around them, her tone sharp yet curious. "Just you not being an Elf? Because I don’t know if they’ve noticed, but I’m a Vanedeni. And so are you, apparently, Joey Luciani."

Joey, not bothered by the sudden attention, just rolled his eyes and said casually, "Honorary. I've never been to Kome. But my teacher is a Vanedeni, though."

Lucinda, standing beside Joey, listened intently, her eyebrows knitting in surprise. This was news to her. She knew he had a mentor, but this was the first she heard about Joey being taught by a Vanedeni and how it gave him a special status. She glanced at Joey, her eyes searching for answers in his calm.

Lisith's expression softened slightly, a hint of respect flashing in her eyes. "Our name might have faded from the common people’s minds, save for their stories, but it still carries a considerable weight around the Nobles and the Royals. They know better than mess with us—they're still afraid of the Tax."

"The Tax?" Joey frowned.

"After her people won the war," Aemilianus explained, "they imposed a tribute on the rest of the world. No one was excluded from it. It went on for many centuries before... well."

He didn't continue, but Lisith, with clenched teeth, did.

"Before those animals caught us unprepared."

"Well, it's alright. Let's not rehash world wars while we're at a party, maybe," Joey said. "Thank you for coming to my help, but I don't like hiding behind titles or people. I'll manage even if they don't know I'm a..." Joey hesitated.

"A Vanedeni, clearly, Joey Luciani," Lisith narrowed her eyes.

Lucinda observed the exchange, her admiration for Joey growing.

The sights and sounds of the party felt distant as the white-haired woman didn’t move and kept barring their way. Musicians played melodious tunes that floated through the air, mingling with the soft rustle of leaves and the distant laughter of guests.

“Joey Luciani,” Lisith, with her intense red eyes boring a hole in him, spoke gravely. “There’s a war that you’re part of now. If your teacher made you a full Vanedeni, you’re a part of us as much as I am. The Vanedeni are feared and respected, but they are also embroiled in conflicts that stretch far beyond the boundaries of Amorium."

"A war, huh?" Joey frowned.

She nodded gravely. "Yes, a war with the Ahali.”

Lucinda, standing a step behind Joey, felt a shiver run down her spine. The Vanedeni were legendary warriors known for their prowess and feared for their ruthlessness. The idea that Joey, who had walked into Amorium with nothing but a bewildered expression, might be linked to such a formidable race was insane.

"A war with the Ahali," Joey echoed, his brow furrowing. "I remember hearing about them. They're supposed to be incredibly strong, right? Almost like...superhumans?"

Lisith's expression darkened at the mention of the Ahali. "They are abominations," she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "Creatures born from the twisted experiments of Dragons. They are the antithesis to everything the Vanedeni stand for."

Joey glanced at Lucinda, seeking some sort of confirmation. She nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination. "The Ahali are indeed formidable," she said quietly. "A few have passed through Amorium before.”

“Monsters, them and their filthy masters,” Lisith spat out.

The conversation was suddenly interrupted by Aemilianus, who seemed to be growing increasingly uneasy. "Uh, Miss Lisith," he interjected, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness, "I believe I saw [Archmage] Marcus's carriage earlier."

The mention of [Archmage] Marcus sent a ripple of tension through everyone but Joey. Lisith looked displeased. Aemilianus, always the jolly fellow, actually looked worried. But it was when Lucinda's eyes widened in realization, and she turned to Joey that the matter was explained. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Joey, Marcus is a Dragon."

Joey's gaze shifted from one face to another.

"A Dragon?" Joey repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "As in, a real, fire-breathing, winged Dragon?"

“Marcus doesn’t use his natural appearance. He’s morphed into an Elf most of the time,” Aemilianus explained. “It would make his disciples and the people at the Academy extremely uneasy otherwise.”

Lisith nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes, one of the few who have chosen to walk among us in a less disgusting form. But make no mistake, [Archmage] Marcus is as much a Dragon as any that were slain in the skies of Kome."

Joey took a moment to process this.

He looked at Lucinda, seeking some semblance of normalcy in her familiar face. But even she seemed to be grappling with the magnitude of the information.

"So, what does this mean for me?" Joey finally asked, his voice steady but his eyes revealing a storm of thoughts. "Am I a part of some ancient feud now? Are the Dragons and the Vanedeni at each other’s throats? See, I’d rather not get burnt alive because of some millenary spat.”

Lisith regarded Joey with narrowed eyes. "It means, Joey Luciani, that you are more than just a Human who stumbled into Amorium. You carry within you the legacy of the Vanedeni, whether you choose to embrace it or not. And with that comes power, responsibility, and, inevitably, danger."

“What does that even mean?” Joey frowned. “You fight every Dragon you see?”

“I wish I could,” Lisith nodded somberly. “But I have other obligations toward my people that trump, momentarily, our enmities. The Dragons will be punished. But not now. There’s too much going on in Kome at the moment.”

“Well,” Joey exhaled, “you said power, responsibility, and danger? Heh, I guess we’ll deal with that," he repeated, more to himself than to anyone else. "Sounds like a typical Tuesday for any warmongering nutjob." He attempted a lighthearted chuckle, but he saw Lisith looking at him in a rather unfriendly way.

The white-haired Vanedeni stood like a solitary tower of strength, seemingly out of place amidst the merriment of the Day of Blooming celebration. Her red eyes swept over the man in front of her as she balled one of her fists.

“Joey Luciani, I believe you should be punished as well.”

The air was immediately charged with tension.

Joey stood relaxed, but his posture shifted ever so slightly.

“I didn’t mean offense, milady,” Joey said. “I just don’t like how the Vanedeni seem to have a bone to pick with just about anyone.”

Aemilianus, sensing the escalating tension, stepped forward with diplomatic grace. His voice was calm as he broke the uneasy staring contest. “Joey, milady, would you both mind observing the truce of the Day of Blooming?” he asked, his gaze shifting between them.

The verbal exchange between Joey and Lisith had happened so fast that Lucinda was thoroughly confused. It had escalated to near-violence in a matter of seconds because of something Joey had said, and instead of apologizing, her date had just doubled down. Against a Vanedeni, nonetheless.

Lisith’s reaction was visceral. Her hand, which had reflexively moved towards where her sword would normally be, halted mid-air. She looked momentarily disarmed, caught off guard by Aemilianus's request. Her eyes, still ablaze, softened slightly, acknowledging the sacredness of the day.

“I shall observe this sacred day,” Lisith conceded, her words strained as if each syllable was a battle.

“Joey Luciani, you get a pass today. Dragons, too. But if I see any Mermaids or [Mages], I shall take their head and tongue on the spot,” she declared, her voice laced with a venomous promise.

“Mermaids?” Joey was confused.

“Joey,” Lucinda slapped his arm to silence him.

“Mermaids are not fond of the Vanedeni. They brought the Ahali to Kome during their most sacred holiday,” Aemilianus explained in one breath.

“The Mermaids should be exterminated,” Lisith clenched her jaw. “Mummer was too lenient with them. We should have taken care of them like we did with the Dragons.”

That name, Mummer, briefly sparked a memory of a book Lucinda had read about Kome. If she was not wrong, Lisith had just mentioned the [Gardener]-[Hero] of her people who had dived alongside tens of thousands of other [Gardeners] and [Druids] to exterminate the Mermaid Empire at its peak.

“And you,” Lisith turned her attention to Joey, her gaze piercing. “You should do the same to any Mermaid you meet if you want to be worthy of the weapon you carry.” Her words were a challenge.

“I need to have a word with you,” Joey suddenly said, surprising both Lucinda and Aemilianus. “Would you mind stepping outside? Peacefully, obviously.”

Lisith held his gaze for a moment and nodded.

“Lucy, I’ll be right back,” Joey smiled at the redhead and stepped away from them.

...

Lucinda watched Joey and Lisith leave, feeling all sorts of emotions. She was a bit worried about what they might be talking about, but at the same time, she felt a strong determination grow inside her.

Aemilianus, standing next to her, said with quite a bit of respect, "He’s really something, isn’t he?"

Lucinda quietly agreed, realizing just how important Joey had become to her. He wasn't just a talented baker who showed up in Amorium out of the blue. He had quickly become a big part of her life, making her see things differently and encouraging her to do better.

As Joey and Lisith got further away, Lucinda thought about her own path. She understood that if she wanted to be with Joey, to really be his partner, she needed to become stronger. She couldn't be a burden, especially since Joey was dealing with important people and taking on huge responsibilities.

Lucinda promised herself that once she got home tonight, she would work hard on her magic, practicing until she couldn't practice anymore.

It’s the least I can do, she thought.

She even thought about joining the Nine Towers Academy for a second, despite her previous doubts and the presence of people like Titus and Augustus.

Maybe, she thought, I could find something there... a hidden class held by some powerful [Mage]. Something that could give as much as Joey got from his teacher.

“So, what is your magical training aimed at?” Aemilianus interrupted her thoughts with some small talk.

“Body enhancement,” she said, almost distractedly.

“Oh, you know, I heard that it’s really popular right now at the Academy. But... you don’t want to go?”

“I don’t think so,” Lucinda muttered. “Joey’s taught me enough that I want to try and do my own thing.”

“Well, I did the same,” he smiled, “and ended up being an [Archmage]. Mind you, you might have to do a few unsavory things nonetheless, but it’s much better than being around that pit of snakes at the Academy.”

It was at that moment that it dawned on Lucinda, confused by Joey’s casualness with Aemilianus and this man’s easy-going attitude, that she was in the presence of an [Archmage].

“Did you really make it all the way on your own?” She asked.

“Well, not on my own,” he shrugged. “You’ll need someone along the way. A partner, a dealer, maybe a few shady business deals. Who knows, right? But yeah, you always need someone. There’s no hiding in a cave and practicing magic all day like some of the idiots at the Academy romanticize about. You need to practice magic, get challenged, and meet the people who’ll challenge you. Go fast, break a few bones, you know? That’s how [Runners] make it to [Couriers], and that’s also how [Mages] make it to [Archmages]... well, usually. You can also play politics for the better part of your life and pray you don’t get stabbed over messing up someone’s dinner.”

Lucinda laughed at that and placed a hand in front of her mouth, slightly embarrassed by her outburst. But as Aemilianus started talking about his thoughts on the Academy’s menu and food selection, she saw Augustus standing near the entrance.

“Aemilianus, sir, I have someone I need to talk to. I must excuse myself,” she smiled.

“No worries,” the [Archmage] winked at her. “I think I’ve just been summoned myself.”

Lucinda felt more confident thanks to his words. "Thank you," she said, grateful and ready to walk up to Augustus and have a serious chat with him.