154 The Empire (1/2)

I brushed the guy's hand off my shoulder, turning towards him, ”So you're telling me you speak for the entire empire?”

The lanky green alien looked away from me, looking around at the guards, ”Well, uhm, no. Not exactly.”

I waved my hand in a circle as I shook my head, ”Then you're talking for someone. Who is it?”

The lanky alien coughed into his hand, caught off guard. He must have expected the whole empire shtick to rattle me more than it did.

”I speak for, ahem, for Duchess Caprika. She is the duchess sent here for controlling this town. She told me to summon you.”

I scoffed, ”Tell Caprika she needs better manners.”

The guards looked at each other. The lanky alien scratched his bald head, ”Ok, so I must've given the wrong impression. I didn't mean this meeting as a threat. In fact, I'm quite nervous. This is my first time speaking with someone Caprika spoke so highly of.”

I glanced at my friends. They shrugged. I turned back around, ”Ok...I can accept that, though I have no idea why I'm so highly valued.”

The green alien raised a hand, ”One of our scouts saw the devastation of your last mission.”

I nodded, ”I guess that makes sense.”

The messenger waved his hands, ”Let's restart this. I'm Aric. I'm the assistant for Caprika. I'm her messenger for asking for your assistance with a task.”

I sighed, ”And what would that be?”

Aric shrugged, ”I have no idea. Caprika neglected any details, besides for the fact that you would be generously compensated for your time.”

I turned towards the others, ”You guys think this is a good idea?”

Kessiah waved at me as she turned around, ”You do you. I'm going to bed. I'm tired after a long day of shopping.”

Althea looked away, ”I could come if you want.”

I shook my head, ”I was asking more so if it was a good idea rather than if you guys would come with me.”

Torix raised a finger, ”If I might interject, I believe it is. The Empire owns over 12 worlds. Their reach is expansive, and when they say generous compensation, they mean it.”

I turned back towards Aric, ”Alright, I'm game. I'll see what it is that she wants. I need to turn in a quest first for the Soldiers of Fortune first though.”

Aric clasped his hands, bowing at me a bit, ”Ah, they've already closed. If you'd like, we'll accept the contract and pay you twice the share that they were offering. Think of it as a gesture of goodwill.”

I raised an eyebrow even though he couldn't see under my helmet,

”Alright, I'm fine with that.”

Aric bowed, ”Then I'll take you to her if you wouldn't mind leaving at this moment.”

I shrugged, ”Yeah, sure. Why not?”

Torix walked up beside me, ”I'll accompany you. I enjoy watching your method of handling these types. I expect it to be amusing.”

Aric looked between us, ”Then we'll be off?”

We nodded, so Aric turned around and walked towards the Empire's guildhouse. His guards stayed beside him, so I tried analyzing them. I couldn't since their perceptions were too high. I activated my personal intercom system,

”Looks like their pretty high level.”

Torix whistled, ”They are indeed. Both of the guards are over level 2,500. We would disintegrate them at a moment's notice in combat, however. So far, we've nothing to worry about. I'll inform you if we do.”

”Sounds good.”

We paced up the castle. At the doorway, Aric pulled out a crimson card from his own galactic storage. A glowing panel beside the doorway passed a bright light across the red ticket. It blinked, and the wooden doors opened. It didn't look half bad.

The inside carried the same rustic appeal as the outer castle walls. Polished wooden beams supported tapestries and trophies from hunts. Spikes, teeth, skulls, claws, bones, scales, everything a creature can leave behind, they had it mounted up. They spaced everything out, making it look clean and dense but not cluttered.

As we walked through the bright hallway, we reached a split in the hall. At this split was an espen receptionist sitting at a desk. As ancient as the stone table was, a modern touchscreen display was at the receptionist's disposal. She wore a headset, several holograms over her eyes. I enjoyed the aesthetic, to be honest.

While I looked around, she looked up at us, her holograms dissipating. She smiled, her teeth sharp, ”It's good to see you Chancellor Aric. What may I help you with?”

Aric smiled at her, his mouth full of horse teeth, ”I'm here to show this warrior to Duchess Caprika.”

The holograms appeared over the espens eyes. The receptionist typed into a projection, looking back up at us, ”Caprika will be seeing you now. Do you need directions?”

Aric shook his head, ”Of course not. Good day to you.”

She sipped some kind of root juice from a mug, ”Same to you. I hope he's better than the last candidate.”

Aric's eyes widened, ”You and me both.”

He turned towards his left. We walked down the hallway, paintings and fancy jewelry set up for display. Alric raised a hand, looking back at us but still walking forward,

”For the sake of brevity, allow me to discuss some history with you. How much do you know of Giessen history?”

Torix answered for me, ”Very little.”

Aric nodded, looking back forward, ”Then let me tell you some precursory knowledge. I neglected these details with the last promising candidate. He was made out to be a fool by Duchess Caprika. I don't wish for the same embarrassment for you.”

I frowned, ” So she likes humiliating people? Sounds like an asshole.”

Aric coughed into his hand, ”Acgh. Could you perhaps avoid referring to her with vulgarity?”

I figured I should be honest.

”No.”

Aric scratched the back of his bald, green head, ”Well, do as you wish. I will warn you, there may be consequences for speaking in such a manner to a Duke of the Empire.”

I rolled my eyes, ”I'll take my chances.”

Aric sighed, ”Very well then. It's your life your risking. Anyways, I'll give you a quick rundown of some relevant details. Giess is home to two primary sentient races. You've no doubt seen the espens. The gialgathens are much rarer, though equally prominent.”