My starpower flared, its heat bringing the world back into focus. I had to remain calm. Surely Mom and Dad will believe me over her, that smirking bitch. “So what will you do with that?” I couldn’t show weakness, couldn’t show that it might affect me, although it’s probably too late.
Vogelgesang looked into the sky and took a deep breath. “You see, young master, I want you to become your best self.” This must be a lie, but she can’t lie. “And here the environment is weak.” There was loathing in her voice. “To truly flourish, it is necessary to face challenges. If you were to go to the school, you would undoubtedly become someone strong, maybe even stronger than Richter.”
Assuming all her words are true, this offer is too tempting. I get to become an adult, learn magic, and I’ll get access to the Archive. That would be a dream come true, but something just didn’t feel right. “This school. What sort of place is that?”
Her pupils narrowed into thin strips. “It is owned by Lord Rame, the last copper dragon. He created it to rapidly raise the next generation into people ready to rise to the top of society. In three years, he promises to turn children into intelligent adults capable of wielding starpower at Knight rank.”
Query: Knight Rank
“People are considered Knights when their SE rises to 100” - Soul Introspector
I couldn’t see the trick. It sounded like exactly the kind of place I wanted to be… Was I really considering it?
“Listen here, Vogelgesang. If I were to go to that school, I would need some things.” Someone as old as her was bound to be rich. “I want my own starship with FTL-travel capabilities, and I want you to tell nothing about my past to anyone.”
Her eyes went wide for a moment. “This can be arranged… Starport lot is never closed.” She grinned widely. “Would you like a pact for that?” Again, she stared at me creepily.
Yet, she agreed just like that. “No pacts.” I shook my head. She must be underestimating my needs. “I don’t want some shitty ship, I want a jewel that can be my home, my weapon, and my transport. Something top class that will last for generations!” And something that could be used to escape the invaders or their overpowered minions.
She nodded. “I’ll happily fly you to the school on that same ship, young master, but there will be no coming back after that.”
My starpower flared stronger. I saw the Betrayer, saw his promise of invasion. Who was I to ignore divine providence? I might not unite the galaxy, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to die without doing my best. Whether I face time-travellers or immortal horrors, I won’t despair.
My eyes turned back towards the mansion. It was my prison and my home, something defining my entire world. My overzealous parents, the annoying, useless mentors, the boring books, and trash diving… Now that I have thought about this, maybe it’s better to leave. It’ll only be three years.
“Hey, elf.” I sighed, stifling my starpower. “Let me grab my stuff, and we’ll be on our way.”
“As you wish, young master.”
---
The starport was more like a pancake, with many layers of metal that went deeper and deeper within the moon. I didn’t even know such a place existed under the space elevator. There were so many ships it boggled my mind.
The tiershen starship dealer sweated a lot. Her furry dog-ears, placed promptly on the sides of her head, were lowered in a display of submission as I berated her.
“I don’t want this speed-focused transport ship; I want a flying palace! Do you understand?”
The massive triangular craft certainly looked modern and slick, but it wasn’t anything to write home about. It didn’t even have the ability to go FTL, and who even needed a ship that can’t go FTL? That was a waste of money.
“I’m sorry, sir, let me show you another one…” The brown-haired dealer awkwardly rubbed her hands, looking over the many parked ships, most of which were awful.
“How about someone with more experience decides. Vogelgesang! Find me the best they have. It doesn’t matter how many levels we have to go to!”
Vogelgesang put a hand over her mouth, surely suppressing a giggle. “As you wish, young master.”
The starship dealer raised her hands, hurriedly shouting, “Please wait, sir. Techniques are not allowed here!”
The elf started glowing intensely, her light shining over the starport. Then she danced. Her fingers moved with such precision and eloquence that it was as if she were drawing a masterpiece in the air, her legs twisted in such a way that it was hard to consider it human. The light coalesced around her and then exploded into a blue shine, which faded immediately.
Divination Dance Technique
Type: Symbolics:
Form Affinity: Sapphire
Description: It finds something through spiritual connection. I have no idea how.
Mastery: I can’t even begin to guess
The starship dealer immediately bowed and spoke, stumbling over her words, “I a-apologize for being insufficient. Please forgive my incompetence.” She was staring at Vogelgesang and her predatory eyes, which seemed to devour the shaking girl. My scouter told me she had 11 SE – barely anything.
“You are forgiven, child.” Without batting an eye, Vogelgesang swiped her hair and smirked. “See, young master. After you finish school, you shall become capable of this and more.”
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I shook my head. Of course, Vogelgesang had to act over the top. Aren’t we supposed to be lying low? I decided not to voice my concerns. “Did you find me a ship?”
Vogelgesang nodded, licking her lips. “You will like it.” Just like that, she strode towards the elevator.
I turned to the afraid dog-girl. Scouter told me her name. “Bianca. No need to be scared, Vogelgesang can’t harm anyone; she has a pact.” Her ears rose slightly at that. “Follow. We’ll need your help to buy the ship. Just keep quiet about us visiting, okay?” I winked at her.
Bianca touched the base of her neck before standing up prim and straight. “Y-yes, sir…”
I sighed. “Don’t call me sir, I’m five.” The dog-girl nodded, and we walked after Vogelgesang.
We entered the elevator. Vogelgesang stared teasingly at Bianca and started pressing the floor buttons in a seemingly random order.
I sighed. Of course, she had to mess with me. “What are you doing? Do you want us to ride here all night?”
Vogelgesang smirked as the elevator froze. “No worries, young master. I know what I’m doing.”
Bianca stared at the elf with wide eyes. “H-how did you know the code for the VIP floor?”
Dismissively, Vogelgesang glared at her. “Do not question me, tiershen.”
The elevator fell down with insane speed, riding down and down. After several minutes, it stopped. As the door burst open, the most wondrous sight appeared before my eyes.
Massive luxurious ships of all shapes and sizes were stationed near each other. They were much bigger than those on the second floor and much more elegant. As I scouted them, I realized that each of them had FTL functions, and not only that, they were equipped with powerful weaponry. Exactly what I needed.
“Why didn’t you bring us here from the beginning?” I said to the dog-girl accusingly.
“You see, sir, these starships are reserved.” Bianca’s ears lowered.
There just had to be a catch. “Vogelgesang, did you just want to show off?”
Vogelgesang confidently walked out of the elevator, her eyes set on someplace deeper.
Flaring starpower, I ran after her. “Wait for me!” She didn’t wait, not for me, not for the ship dealer.
After passing dozens of lots, I managed to catch up to her. Breathing heavily, I spoke, “What are you doing?!”
Vogelgesang silently pointed her finger at a starship. A circular craft the size of a building, shaped like a flying saucer, only decorated to look magical. Dozens of runes covered its black surface, despite that it looked dusty…
Just as the dog-girl caught up to us, Vogelgesang said, “Bianca, this craft has not been reserved.” There was a dangerous glint in her eyes.
The tiershen fixed her suit and grabbed a data-pad, staring into it. “No… It hasn’t been.”
I scouted the ship.
Lacrimony (Residence-Type Model 4441)
Type: Starship
Description: An old model of a starship, designed to work as a personal deep-space explorer vehicle for high nobles. It’s fully self-sufficient, capable of remaining in deep space for years.
Outfitted with: FTL-engine, Stardrinker Generator, Generic Starpower-amplifier, Plasma-bomb Launchers, Stealth Capabilities, Geist Suppression systems, Hydroponics, Spatial Storage, Advanced Automatic Navigation system, Sector-Range Scouter, Gravity Training Rooms, Bathing Complex and three bedrooms. Everything inside is super-luxurious.
I refused to gasp and instead looked closer at the ship. If my scouter was correct, this was exactly what I needed. “Well then, I’m buying it. Let’s get this over quickly.”
Bianca gulped. “I-I’m afraid it’s not possible to transport the amount of elementum needed to purchase it in one artifact…”
I glanced at Vogelgesang. She chuckled and put a hand under her neck, pulling out something. A chiseled emerald amulet, glowing slightly. Within it, I could see a whole galaxy spinning. Some sort of illusion?
Mark of the Beast (Original)
Description: An artifact, gifted by the Demon Overlord to his close friends. Allows unbound traversal through the Galactic Noble Federation. Qualifies the person as a Lord. Allows extradimensional storage of elementum and more.
Bank: 3 trillion elementum
A gasp left my mouth. I forgot to breathe. 3 trillion elementum. You could get a high-class meal for 100 elementum, a spaceship for a million, and an FTL cruiser for 30 million.
She could buy herself a whole military, buy a planet and turn it into a utopia for thousands of years, buy literally everything, and yet she chose to do nothing with such a mind-boggling sum. Worse, she became a servant to lowly Barons on a rim world moon. What kind of retirement is this?
It became clear – I lowballed. I should’ve asked for a hundred million elementum, maybe more.
Vogelgesang licked her lips and stared at the poor saleswoman. “How much?”
Bianca forgot to breathe too, the fur on her ears and hands stood up, as if she was struck by lightning. She gasped for air before clenching her teeth and bowing, refusing to meet Vogelgesang’s eyes. “I-it’ll cost 58 million 144 thousand 300 elementum, my Lord.”
“Bring a transport hovercraft, I will fill it.” Vogelgesang chuckled and turned towards the ship. “We shall inspect Lacrimony, Lord’s honor.”
“Yes…” Before I could interject, the dog-girl went running, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“What the hell is a Lord?!” I tried my best to hold back any anger.
“Title three ranks higher than a Baron. You see, I raised the current demon Overlord when he wet his bed… Such a shame I don’t get to see him anymore.” I couldn’t understand. Surely for someone like her, there must be a better way to live. She was above everyone in the star-system, above even the ruler of the planet Wunt.
“What are you?”
“My name is Vogelgesang, as you know already. Now let’s look at your ship, young master. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Cold sweat broke on my back. Maybe it was a mistake to make a deal with her. Yet there was no coming back.
Vogelgesang touched the surface of the ship and started drawing a symbol on it. There, a glowing portal opened, leading inside. An ancient wooden hall appeared in front of my eyes… Maybe this wasn’t such a bad deal.
---
In just a moment, I will leave Glanzvoll, leave Kemeret, leave my parents. Such thoughts constantly cycled within my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about the terrible future, couldn’t resist the allure of unrestrained magic.
I was lying on a luxurious red couch within one of the many launch tubes of the space elevator. Sitting near me on the captain’s chair, Vogelgesang fiddled with many of the buttons on the command deck. She was staring at the holographic projections on the console, mapping something out, preparing for launch.
The ship wasn’t what I expected. It looked rustic, floors made out of metal perfectly disguised as wood. It appeared more like an ancient wizard’s home than a futuristic flying saucer or a blend of both. This ancient house aesthetic contrasted hard with occasional terminals and holographic screens floating within the command deck. And yet, there was a pendulum clock, bolted to the floor, its arrows pointing at symbols I didn’t understand.
There were two windows on the sides of the room, through which I stared outside. Somehow, what these windows showed changed depending on what I wanted to see. Like a 360-degree camera that floated all around the ship, showing me the inner walls of the space elevator and occasionally the sky.
“How long until launch?” I couldn’t stop biting my nails. My life was going to change irreversibly.
Vogelgesang turned to me with a raised eyebrow and then petted my head. “Now.” Before I could realize it, the starship flew up, but there was no inertia, no recoil. Everything inside remained as still as before; only the view outside the window changed.
Space. My old friend. It was the same as before, so beautiful, so tranquil.
The elf stared at the sun. “We shall refuel from the star and then plot a course towards the school. You can sleep in your quarters, young master. In just a week, we will arrive.”
I couldn’t stop looking into the window, so mesmerized by the endless expanse. Soon I will fly out there myself – like the space wizard I was always meant to be. Three years was not that long.
