The Dream Weaver

The Dinner

After skimming through all the needed books in the shelf, Daemon walked towards the front desk. The Oldman was still scribbling down something from the ancient books. He didn't notice Daemon at all. So, Daemon cleared his throat in an effort to call the Oldman. But it was of no use as the Oldman still wasn't ready to give up his attention from the books.

"Hey, old man." He called out to the him. Still no response. Daemon started to feel annoyed. He didn't had time to rest since he left his castle this morning. He felt exhausted due to the prolonged use of his ability 'Eidetic memory.' He very much needs some sleep before their departure to the High Castle tomorrow.

Feeling irritated Daemon slammed his fist on the table very hardly, that it shook the entire table. The Oldman jolted up in wariness from the sudden sound of something slamming on his desk. What he saw when he looked over was Daemon's snickering face. Oldman's face contracted like a ripe tomato with anger.

"What?" He shouted angrily.

"I'm done over there." Daemon said with slight grin on his face. This too obviously didn't sit right with the old man.

"So why are you here. You do know that you can just exit through the doors, right?" he spoke through gritted teeth.

Daemon didn't reply anything he simply gestured his hand in a way that felt like he was asking for something.

"What?" Shouted the Oldman.

"My ring." Daemon said.

"Oh." amused the Oldman, like he just remembered something. He opened his drawer and pulled out the ring. "This?" Oldman asked Daemon which he answered with a subtle nod. The Oldman simply tossed the ring in the air. By the trajectory, Daemon was very sure that the ring cannot be caught even if he stretched a bit. He instantly raised his hand. Suddenly the mana in the atmosphere started to vibrate and thin layers of water droplets started to form in the air. Soon the water droplets connected with each other to form a streak of water, which then simply engulfed the ring in the atmosphere. The water along with the ring travelled back to Daemon and in a smooth swift motion, the ring slides back into his finger. After the act, the water simply dispersed to its original form of mana in the atmosphere.

"So, you can do mana manipulation. Not just simple spells but actual control over mana. Which is an advanced arcane arts."

Daemon just looked at the old man straight. Gone, his smiling face and now shrouded with extreme caution.

Seeing his wary face, the Oldman couldn't help but smile.

"Ha. You don't have to get too much anxious. My aiming is extremely poor compared to what it used to be. Might be because I'm getting too old." He started to scratch the back of his neck.

"Run along now. Don't waste this Oldman's time anymore." With that the old man returned to what he was doing.

Daemon was no fool. He knows exactly what the Oldman did. Though he didn't quite catch the trap when the Oldman intentionally threw the ring afar.

It doesn't matter if he saw something like this anyway. It's not like I did something a university student can't do. He thought in an effort to calm himself. But he very well knew for someone who didn't complete even the primary education this level of mana control is very hard, not impossible but very hard.

Well I used to be a prodigy so I can just blame it. He thought and started walking to the doors without saying anything. That is until he heard the Oldman's voice again.

"It's a good thing you are not completely senile." Said the Oldman without bothering to look up from his work. Daemon also didn't bother to look behind him. He continued with his walk. Though if someone saw him from the front, they can see the corners of his mouth twitching annoyingly.

*****

Daemon quickly went into his assigned room. Esther had already informed him of the stay. The guest room was on the second level of the palace. He climbed the stairs and walked through the long corridors. There were many rooms on this corridor as all of the guest rooms are pretty much on the second level while highly important guests like other kingdom's representative visits for diplomatic reasons, they are assigned to the top floor where the royal family are staying.

Daemon quickly found his room as the door has a name plate with his name. He opened the door and entered the room. He thought about taking the shower first before heading to the bed. He was in no mood for food. He was about to undress when someone knocked on the door. Annoyingly he opened the door to see his brother Reiner standing there.

"What now?" he asked.

"Where were you today. After Marakins little incident I hadn't seen you anywhere?" Reiner casually asked.

"I was in the royal archive."

Reiner was amused. "How did you got permission to enter archives. My dear brother didn't sneak in or something. Right?" Reiner said with a teasing smile. He knows Daemon is annoyed but outright made him more annoy because it is fun to see his brother's annoyed look.

"You..." He sighed. "You think I will break into the royal archives?"

"Well, if it's you then there is no guarantee you won't do that."

"Well guess what. The Queen gave me permission to enter" Daemon said with a slight grin.

"The Queen. She gave you permission. Why?" Reiner asked with doubt. Though he knows for sure Daemon never lies. Still, he asked.

Daemon knows arguing with Reiner only earn him more questions.

"Well, she felt sorry for what Marakin did to a poor kid like me." Daemon said with a devilish grin. He wasn't proud of what he did to Marakin. But was it worth it? Yes. Absolutely worth it and got complete satisfaction from it.

"Ah, yes the same poor kid who trash talked him and got him on trouble." Reiner said with the same grin Daemon has.

"So, what happened to him?" inquired Daemon.

"Well from what I heard he was taken to his dad by Ser Duncan. He made the situation lighter by telling his dad and didn't bring it up to the king which would have made it harder for both the parties."

"Well, that was clever. I didn't want to deal with the matter any way. So now that you have quenched your thirst for knowledge, get out." With that Daemon started to close the door but was interrupted by his brother. Again.

"Now what?" Asked Daemon crossing his hands to show his annoyance.

"That wasn't the only reason I'm here for."

"Then?"

"The King has invited us for dinner."

"You're kidding me, right?" Seeing Reiner's impassive expression, he knew it was true. "Who else will there be?"

"Well, the Dragonborns will also be there"

Daemon was already feeling exhausted and when he heard the Dragonborns are also invited he has lost all the appetite again.

"Oh" Added Reiner "The crown prince and the youngest princess will also be there"

"The crown prince and the princess too? come on I don't even have any appetite" Daemon pleaded.

"Father's order. Come to the dining hall after you freshen up" With that Reiner walked away.

I shouldn't have woken up in the morning at all. I shouldn't have. He cursed his bad luck and shut the door behind him and made haste for the bath. After all you don't want to make the king wait for you.

****

Daemon hasted towards the dining hall. He was worried that he might be late. But the dinner was only getting started. All of the 'participants' were already in the hall. He was the last one to arrive.

The servants were serving all type of exotic foods on a large rectangular glass table. The duke along with their sons and the king with his children were seated. Daemon approached them and apologised for being late. the king haughtily welcomed him. Daemon can sense their eyed on him. One of them particularly was trying to tore a hole through him just by staring. He knew who it was.

After Daemon sat, unsurprisingly Marakin, who was sitting on the other side stood up and apologised to Daemon. saying he was just playing and nothing was meant to be taken too seriously. His face was very red. He was clearly angry. For a moment Daemon thought Marakin will explode. But showed surprising restrain.

The dinner was just for making the mood lighter before their departure tomorrow, there wasn't any heavier matter in the discussion. Just some casual talks. Daemon was feeling little uncomfortable because the princess was scrutinizing him. It was obvious she was trying to make a conversation with him. But he outrightly ignored her by pretending he didn't feel any gaze on him. He knows, since she is a princess, she wouldn't outright make a conversation with him, with someone who she is not acquainted with. He was not in a mood for some casual talks with anyone least some royal member at it. All the while, Marakin was trying to strike a proper conversation with her which she ended by answering minimally.

The whole dinner was very civil. Weirdly enough. After the dinner everyone returned to their respective rooms for a good night sleep before tomorrows travel.