In an explosion of pebbles and dirt, Res dropped into Granny’s backyard. “Bro, we have solved your landing problem. And the problem of how to make a big entrance. Dropping out of the sky and impacting like a nuclear warhead always works.”

With some guided pushing and prodding, Res opened the window to Ganny’s lab and let it fall shut again. His body was on fire and every last fiber of his being demanded rest. He hoped that Granny was in her lab. Jason told a joke to pass the time, but when Res laughed, he spat out blood, so he stopped. Finally, the window was shoved open and Granny’s head emerged.

When she saw his bloody state, she gasped out loud but didn’t fall into shock. Instead, she ran into the lab and again jumped out with a green potion in her hand. When Granny put the vial up to his lips, he reveled in the grassy taste and welcomed the convulsions of pain. The pain would stop after that. As soon as Res’s open wounds had closed, her eyes lit up and she hugged him.

“What happened, my boy?”

For a moment, he considered lying but scrapped the impulse. “I was attacked by a powerful leader of a big crime organization.”

Granny began to pace up and down the length of the courtyard in thought. With swift movements, she entered her lab again through the window and motioned Res to do the same. When he stood up and clambered into the room, he felt that most of the injuries hadn’t healed, but no bones had broken.

“I didn’t think he would strike so early. How did he find out your real identity? He must have made an educated guess.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Evudor that old geezer. He saw your talent in the tournament and now wants to recruit you.”

Res sighed and said to Jason: “Great. Jason, move Evudor from the list: ‘weirdos’ to ‘enemies’ ”

“Bro, you have a talent for making enemies. They didn’t attack you because of Evudor.”

Granny began to go through all her herb cabinets. “You know what Res? We are going to buy you good self-defense equipment.”

Res scrunched up at the thought of clunky chainmail. “I don’t want a sword or armor. I am a novice martial artist. Instead, I have a list of potions I need to get.”

“Of course, my boy. What are they?”

“I wanted to look into the eyesight, hearing, and smelling pills. A master craft stretching pill and body cultivation pills.”

“Great. I had no clue about swords anyway. ‘The olive branch’ has an auction today. We will need to make you stronger now so that you don’t get killed or kidnapped.”

Res gulped down a lump in his throat. ‘The olive branch’ was the most exclusive auction house in Trianon and items didn’t sell for under four gold. His father, who shat out money, could only rarely afford to take part in an auction of ‘The olive branch’.

“Bro, don’t you dare turn down an invite to an auction. You have been invited to a fucking gala.”

Res eyed Granny with concern. “Granny, I don’t want to insult you, but I don’t think you have that kind of money.”

Granny smiled a wicked grin and shoved a pile of platinum coins in his face. “I doubt it. Before you say: ‘I am not worthy of receiving that much money’, I won it at the tournament. I bet on you making it into the finals. See it as an investment.”

He hadn’t been about to say that but held his tongue. Granny looked at him for another moment, then began to fuss around with his clothing. “What did you do again with your clothes? Did you roll yourself in dirt while fighting?” Her words registered in her mind and she coughed to cover up her embarrassment.

In a jubilant tone, she added: ”You will need to dress. You are lucky that I made a spare one.” It was too late to ask what she was talking about as Granny had already disappeared through the lab’s door.

She returned with a spare pair of robes and one of his most dreaded objects – The mask of Leonard Avvenci.

One hour later, Res found himself once again in the air restricting and hot mask of Leonard. Despite his best efforts, he wasn’t able to persuade Granny to buy the potions another way. The auction wasn’t bad per se; it was the mandatory social gathering before the auction that made Res queasy. Today was the first day he felt that way about meeting and talking with people. It was all because of Serafina, the bodyguard of a princess.

“Bro, you won’t mess this up. I have already enlightened you on the complicated relationships between tsunderes in anime. You are a fucking expert now. Relax. Besides, she may not be even here.”

Res didn’t know what he was more afraid of: Serafina not attending or Serafina attending to the auction. Behind Res, his last hope of retreat, the carriage, drove off and Res was left standing next to Granny.

“Come on boy. Don’t stand there like a country bumpkin.”

Res caught up to Granny who approached the guards in front of the enormous marble entrance. When Res opened his aether sense out to the world, he immediately changed his opinion. The guards as their power glowed in his vision like a bonfire.

“Fuck bro. Those aren't guards. They are high S-Rankers. Cocky ones at that if they project their aether cultivation outwards. They would win in most one on ones with the elite royal guard. You shouldn’t grope at any bottoms for now.”

“I didn’t plan on touching anyone’s private bits.”

They were let in after Granny showed them a golden card with the Alchemy Alliance carved on to it. For some time, they went deeper into the building through a white marble hallway. It opened up into the largest and most luxurious chamber Res had ever seen. Tens of small bars were scattered around the room. The whole room’s interior was laced with gold and expensive fabrics.

Even more lavish were the room’s occupants. Important lords were encrusted in countless jewels. Beautiful countesses were clad in various expensive fabrics and furs. His first instinctual action to search all the faces was interrupted by a jab in the ribs from Granny.

“Don’t stare, boy. I hope you know how to socialize. Remember, most young lords and ladies want to be listened to.”

When he was still living with his parents, he had always avoided all social gatherings like the pocks. Now, he regretted that somewhat. Only a little bit. He was left standing there, alone.

“Bro, you have to get some of that wine. Go to one of the bars where there are people standing around. They are in the same predicament as you. It’s like that in a disco too. We should go to a disco if you invent space travel by accident. You can get hella pussy.”

Given a purpose, Res strolled towards one bar where he spotted a lost thought friend - Vincent. Before he could reach for a wine glass, a soft hand held him back. When he turned around, he looked into the face he had least likely expected to be here - Antoinette van Mayford. She was related to the royal house and one of his former classmates in the royal academy.

When she saw his mask, she sighed: “Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

Res switched into the behavior he had usually displayed in front of Antoinette. It had done the trick most of the time, so he couldn’t see why it wouldn’t work now. Besides, she would recognize his voice. “Hmmm.”

Antoinette whirled around and looked at him as if she had seen a ghost. She put on a seducing tone and asked: “Do you like dueling?”

“Hmmm.” Res turned away as if to leave, but was again held back by one of her arms.

“You are a very interesting man. Why don’t you join our conversation?”

Without asking for Res’s response, she dragged him over to a group of nobles. He recognized powerful lords and ladies and even prominent members of the royal family.

“Ohhh Bro, you have landed a jackpot. Those are some mighty fine curves indeed. Not to speak of her face. Not dumb, too.”

“She is a classmate from the academy. She suspects.”

“Bro what? You were such a banger in the academy? Shit, man, I underestimated you. I thought you were some stuck up guy, but this … Paradise.”

With every passing second, he felt control slipping away, and he panicked. Being exposed and then not being able to talk to Serafina again was the worst outcome. For a moment, he retreated into the black abyss of his mind and circulated aether through his brain. “Should I change my voice? Should I continue? Baah, this is too much work.“

When he opened his eyes again, Antoinette was tugging on his sleeve. “Come on. Don’t be shy, we are friendly.”

Res turned around and walked away. He ignored the confused shouts from Antoinette and walked back to the bar. “Bro, why did you let go of that fine of a chick?”

“I can show my genuine feelings to her for once. At the academy, I couldn’t leave her like this. Now, I am free.” With an elegant flourish, he grabbed a glass and placed himself next to Vincent. As expected, Vincent had watched the exchange and couldn’t hold himself back. He stepped in front of Res and held out one hand, which Res shook.

“I am Vincent van Lawdall. May I inquire your name? Pardon, my forwardness.”

Res made a dismissive hand motion. “You can stop with all the formalities. My name is Leonard.”

Vincent looked surprised but adjusted. “What about your behavior towards Ms. Antoinette? You know that it will ruin your entire life.”

Res chuckled as he thought back to the days where Vincent had prevented him from doing the exact thing. “Let that be my problem. I see that you have won a fencing championship. That is where you got that necklace from, right?”

The next half hour was filled with Vincent’s babbling about the art of fencing, not that Res minded. When Vincent’s monologue wound down, a servant from the main hallway announced: “Greet our honorable guest, my lords, and ladies. The princess of Osma.”

Res’s hands began to sweat when he heard the announcer. Even more so, when the princess showed up and she was accompanied by the same brown-haired beauty. “Bro. Are you serious right now? You act even worse than some of Justin Bieber’s fangirls at a concert. Pull yourself together, man.”

Yet, his pulse began to quicken and quicken, until it dropped to normal levels All of a sudden. All his nervousness was gone in an instant and his head felt crystal clear.