The conversation didn’t last long and once they were done we had a promise from Anderson that he would bring the viscount to talk. He said knowing what he does of him that he would definitely want to talk to us. On their way out the twins were tasked by Anderson to bring Tommy and James to town to do some shopping. With the amount of gold they have and people knowing they were orphans he was worried they’d be mugged, I for one appreciate the concern. I didn’t send them with a list of any sort, I trust they know what they still need and will be somewhat responsible, and if they come home with some toys or whatnot, I can’t really complain. They are children after all.

As it was getting late I had tiara and Sara put the others down for bed and had Panzer keep watch outside the house. Nervously i begin eying my ever growing mana, I really can’t wait to meet this viscount.

• • •

The next morning the kids awoke to the bounty that Tommy and James brought home, fresh vegetables, meat, even fruit. And the things they were the most excited for: the toys. I saw it coming but they sure did buy a lot, I mean fair enough when you didn’t exactly get a bunch of toys growing up until now but hey it’s like Christmas in the dungeon. But what’s Christmas without snow? Looking outside I see a green field and the usual pest control going on. Man when am I going to get any adventurers here to help me get some mana?

So uh, kami? Is there any option to change the weather in the dungeon, just for the day?

‘Choose preferred weather:

Sunny Cloudy Rain Thunderstorm Snow Blizzard Hail Hurricane Tornado

Any natural disaster options cost more mana to choose and will cause a constant drain on your mana to maintain.’

I can have tornados in my dungeon? Yeah let’s not, I pick snow for today, please have it match the weather outside the dungeon after today kami.

‘Understood’

I watch as very suddenly snow begins to fall and snow fills the yard, some how it fills much faster than the snow falls, but once it reached about knee high on the smallest of the children here it stopped and became a beautiful winter wonderland. The foxes fur all very suddenly faded into a white coat and my bats even became white somehow. Widow and panzer seemed interested in the snow but they themselves seemed unbothered and unchanged by the new layer of powder.

Focusing on my mana I shaped it I to fox skin cloaks and jackets for the kids so they won’t be too cold, I got widow to get some other spiders to weave some gloves and she seemed to get really into the weaving herself, making a new thicker coat for herself just for the occasion.

I look inside and see the kids are all still enraptured by the new toys as Tommy and Sara finish putting all of the new food away.

Hey Tiara, get everyone’s attention and go to the front door, we have some new clothes I want you all to put on and go outside with. There’s a fun surprise waiting out there for you all.

She seemed only mildly confused but gathered everyone and called out to Tommy and Sara to follow. Putting on the fox skin clothes they opened the door to see the white landscape latex out in front of them. I heard all sorts of happy exclamations from them all and I assured Tiara that they would be safe to go and play outside while we wait for the viscount to arrive.

She relayed this to the others and they all clamored out to play, I sent my rat paladin Pan to go watch them and keep them safe while I had widow go inside to follow a recipe for stew I remembered for the group. Some carrots, potatoes, what I assume is some sort of beef, and a few other choice veggies and herbs later we had the beginnings of a nice stew going. Kind of sad we don’t have any red wine handy but we make do with what we have.

About an hour after the kids began playing outside Bruce alerted me to some new visitors, it was only two people, odd I expected more. Focusing on the area toward town I see Anderson and a young boy, around fourteen at best. I send Tiara their way to get things started and to invite them inside for some stew.

As she begins to approach Anderson starts things off. “Tiara this is Fredric Shieldless, the viscount of Seroxia.”

Tiara curtsied to the young boy, “I am Tiara, the voice of the dungeon.”

The boy seemed like he went to bow but caught himself and responded with a nod of his head, “very nice to meet you, are you sure I am safe here?” He turned to ask Anderson.

“Probably safer here than at the manor you live in if I am to be honest.” Anderson responded with a half smile.

“Yeah, and I’m sure everyone else would love to meet you too!” Tiara added with obvious excitement.

With that they headed inside, Tommy saw them going in and followed along. Pan saw what was going on and simply nodded to himself knowing widow was inside and went back to helping the children build a snow man.

Inside I got to watch with amusement as the poor boy froze up upon seeing widow. She was busy stirring the pot of stew but saw who was coming inside.

With a smile that I could place somewhere between devilish and motherly she waved at him and said “feel free to make yourself at home, the food is almost done if you would like some, it’s master Darwin’s recipe so I’m sure it will be divine.”

The boy simply nodded and sat down at the table, Anderson sitting beside him. Tiara sat at her usual spot and I figured now would be a good time to ask a few questions before I get to the real problem at hand. Tiara parroting what I said verbatim.

So why don’t you have some sort of guard? I mean Anderson is pretty strong but I thought a noble would have more guards.

Anderson visibly flinched at my question and went to stop the conversation but Fredric interrupted him. “No it’s fine. I don’t have any guard because there’s nobody I trust at my estate anymore. My father was the only living relative I had left and he was poisoned not too long ago. Whoever did it thought they would be able to seize control but didn’t account for me somehow. So now I am in control in name only, but it’s others that get to make the decisions.”

That’s, very sad. But doesn’t anyone want to protect you at all? Any knights, maids even?

Tiara forwarded my questions.

“As far as I’m concerned, no.” He answered a bit sour. “Someone killed by dad and I don’t trust anybody in that damn manor to keep me safe, everyone has a price.”

Well I guess you’re entirely correct, do you want to know my price to protect you and return your power?

His head shot up, a mix of hope and weariness on his face, “you could do that?” Even Anderson seemed a bit weary.

Yes I can, you just need to give me but one thing.

“Anything!” Fredric almost yelled. Anderson now holding him down with a hand on his shoulder.

It’s very simple, I just want Seroxia.