Chapter 60:

  “It’s my pleasure to meet you, Stryg.” Gidget stood up and extended her hand.

He glanced back and forth between her face and hand. He tilted his head, unsure of what to do. Plum leaned into his ear.

  “You’re supposed to shake it,” she whispered.

“What?” Stryg frowned.

  Gidget remembered that Kithina had said the boy was standoffish when they first met. Gidget supposed he was simply uncomfortable around strangers.

  She lowered her hand and forced a smile. “Why don’t we head over to the dining table? The food is already set.”

“Great idea, mom,” Kithina sighed in relief. She hoped to avoid any conflict with Stryg tonight.

  “That would be lovely, thank you,” Callum said.

  The group stood up and went to sit at the dining table. Skobby took the mastiffs back into his room. The scared hounds didn’t resist this time, in fact they seemed eager to get as far away from Stryg as they could.

  The table was lined with Gidget’s best dishes, including potato cream soup, freshly baked cheese bread, and marinated spicy lemon chicken.

  “The food smells delicious,” Plum said, practically salivating.

“It really does,” Stryg agreed.

  “Yes, it does look… appetizing,” Callum said. He was used to five-course meals made by some of the most skilled chefs in all of Hollow Shade, but he tried hard to be a courteous guest.

  Gidget noticed the maid was standing a few feet away from the table. “Oh, I’m sorry, Kithina told me only three of her friends were visiting. Give me just a moment to get a chair for you.”

  “Please, do not worry about me ma’am. I am simply here to serve my young master to the best of my ability.” The maid bowed politely.

“Nonsense, I insist,” Gidget shook her head.

  “Thank you kindly, but I’m afraid I will have to decline. I have already eaten and I must be ready to serve my young master whenever he calls on me.”

  “She’s fine, really. Just pretend she isn’t even here. The maids are trained to be like background scenery. Always present, yet only relevant when called upon,” Callum assured.

  “Well, if young sir Veres says so,” Gidget nodded reluctantly.

She didn’t know much about aristocrats, but she assumed they all behaved this way. Honestly, it made her a little uncomfortable.

  Skobby came back from his room and took the last seat, “Again, sorry about the dogs everyone. I’m Skobby, by the way, Kitty’s younger brother.”

  “I love that nickname, Kitty, sounds so cute,” Plum smiled.

  Kithina looked away with rosy cheeks, “Anyway, I know finals are coming up in a few days, but I just wanted to invite everyone over to dinner as thanks for your help this year. I would have never been able to finish our group project if it hadn’t been for all of you, especially you Plum.”

  “I was happy to help, besides I can use the information for my own final’s writings,” Plum smiled.

“Well, don’t hold back everyone, help yourselves,” Grolm gestured.

  Having a room full of magi was intimidating, but he believed the best way to deal with them was like all people, through tasty food. He grabbed his plate and began to serve himself.

  Stryg didn’t hesitate and served himself as well. The rest soon followed.

“It’s so good,” Plum practically shook with joy. She took another bite of the chicken.

  “I like the soup,” Stryg said, already on his second bowl.

“I’m glad you guys like it, my mom’s a great cook,” Kithina smiled.

  “Yeah, it’s nice,” Callum said with a small wince.

“So, you guys are all Kitty’s classmates right? Then you're all magi too?” Skobby asked.

  “Skobby, let my friends eat their food in peace.” Kithina glared at him.

“What? I’m just saying. They probably have cooler magic than you right?” Skobby grinned.

  “Actually, I’m not technically Kitty’s classmate,” Plum answered. “I’m a 3rd year at the academy and a librarian’s assistant. I only help these three with their group project. While I am a mage, I don’t know if I would say I have cooler magic. Kitty can literally make her skin sword-proof.”

  “Thanks, but I’m not that skilled with durability spells yet,” Kithina lamented.

  Callum nodded, “Nonsense, Kithina you have improved greatly with your yellow magic. I also have to agree with Plum on the flamboyance of my magic. I don’t think potions are nearly as flashy as chromatic yellow’s ability to harden one’s skin and bones. My ward spells even less so. I’d say Stryg’s magic is quite impressive though.”

  “Right! Stryg’s a manifold mage, he has a larger array of magic,” Plum said proudly.

“What’s a manifold mage?” Skobby asked in curiosity. His sister had only told their family a little of the ongoings of chromatic magic.

  “It’s someone who can use more than one kind of chromatic color. Stryg is a chromatic black and grey,” Kithina answered.

“What kind of magic does that entail?” Gidget asked, unable to help herself. She wished to know more about her daughter’s love interest.

  Stryg hadn’t said a word, too busy stuffing his mouth with cream soup and cheese bread. He wasn’t really interested in talking very much anyway.

  Luckily, Plum answered for him. “Grey magic allows him to use the drain and curse spell forms. Suffice to say they are both very dangerous spell forms. A lot of battle magi are grey magi. Though, you’re probably more familiar with black magic. You know the sentinels outside patrolling the streets? That’s black magic at work.”

  “Wow, black magi must be quite busy then,” Gidget said.

“Yep. Oh, they also can control shadows too,” Plum said.

  Grolm froze, spoon halfway towards his mouth. He turned to Stryg slowly, “Wait. You’re that mage aren’t you? The one from the Merry Crescent. I’ve heard the rumors. A blue goblin, that’s you right?”

  Stryg swallowed his food, “Huh?”

Gidget turned to her husband, “What rumors?”

  “A bunch of people at my usual pub were talking about it. Do you know the Merry Crescent tavern?” Grolm asked.

“No,” Gidget shook her head.

  “It’s on the south side of the district. It’s one of the few taverns that sell true dwarven Fire Breath alcohol,” Grolm sighed in reminiscence.

  “Now I see why you know the tavern,” Gidget said in a deadpan voice.

  “Hehe, well, my friends at the pub were telling me how a goblin mage had gone to the Merry Crescent. No one knew he was mage, I mean when have you ever seen a goblin mage before? Anyway, the point of the story is that some guard picked a fight with him and the mage called down these shadows from all around. They say the shadows came out of nowhere and devoured the guard’s flesh, like the shades from the wall. Nothing was left of the guard, not even bone,” Grolm explained.

  He looked at Stryg, “That’s you right? The one in the rumors? I mean it’s not like there are a bunch of blue goblins walking around through Hollow Shade.”

  Gidget saw Stryg in a new light. This mysterious handsome goblin was clearly dangerous. She needed to be careful with her words and so did her big-mouth husband.

  Plum elbowed Stryg lightly, “What’s this all about?”

“Hm? Don’t worry about it,” Stryg went back to eating.

  Plum frowned, but said nothing.

  Telling Plum wouldn’t prove productive in any form. Still, Stryg was surprised that the rumors had actually spread this far. Not to mention they were overly exaggerated, but it was nice to hear others talk about him in fear. He was finally feeling like a proper goblin chief. He still needed to figure out a name for his tribe though.

  Callum made a mental note to look into the Merry Crescent matter. Kithina knew Stryg was ruthless, she shouldn’t have been surprised that Stryg had actually killed someone.

  “Did you really kill a guard?” Skobby asked with excitement.

“So, how are classes going?” Gidget said, intent on changing the topic.

  “Pretty busy, it’s my final semester, and the tests are a pain,” Plum groaned.

  “Yeah, they are pretty hard,” Kithina agreed. “Our first exam is with professor Loh Noir. She’s really strict and kind of scary. Honestly, I’m a little worried.”

  “Indeed, Loh is a drow to be reckoned with. Her test will undoubtedly prove challenging. Luckily, we have Stryg on our side. I know he’ll have our back,” Callum looked pointedly at Stryg.

  Callum hoped the words would get across to his fellow hybrid. Stryg needed to understand that they needed to work as a team in order to pass Loh’s exam.

  “Are you really strong?” Skobby asked Stryg.

“Not strong enough,” Stryg muttered. He gripped his spoon tightly and kept eating.

  “He’s being modest,” Callum smiled. “Stryg is an excellent student and without a doubt one of, if not the most capable mage within our year.”

  “Woah, you’re some bigshot, huh?” Skobby looked at Stryg with starry eyes.

  Gidget smiled to herself. Kithina sure knew how to pick them. Handsome, humble, and talented. Maybe he wasn’t such a dangerous guy after all.

  “Okay, I think I’ve had enough solid food,” Callum said. He motioned his maid over.

“Here you are, young master,” the maid said.

  She offered her wrist to him. Callum’s fangs sunk in and drank the familiar blood with relieved satisfaction. The maid bit her lip as she held back a moan.

  Skobby watched the exchange with interest. Gidget winced. Kithina sighed. Plum was still miffed at Stryg, who was ignoring the whole affair.

  Grolm laughed, “I heard vampires drink, but I never thought it was like this. Nice.”

Callum pulled away from the maid, “Vampires can eat anything like other species. But, they still need to drink blood to live.”

  “It seems like a very intimate affair,” Gidget noted.

  “Not really, I mean some vampires see it that way, in a romantic light you could say. This one’s just one of the maids I feed off on a regular basis. Nothing more,” Callum said.

  He didn’t see the need to mention that he slept with his maids, however. Gidget seemed uncomfortable enough already.

“Would you drink the blood of your lover then?” Grolm asked.

  Gidget kicked her husband under the table.

“Ow,” Grolm flinched.

  Callum paused for a moment, unsure of how to answer the question. “Actually, my fiance is a vampire, so I wouldn’t drink her blood anyway.”

  “You have a fiance?” Kithina asked. Her throat felt tight.

“Indeed,” Callum smiled sadly.

  “Why do you look so bummed out?” Grolm asked.

  “We’re not very close. Let’s just say I’m not too much of a fan of the engagement. But, alas, it was prearranged at my birth,” Callum explained.

  “Of course it was,” Kithina looked down at her food.

She should have known better. He was the son of a powerful aristocratic family. Of course he had a fiance. Kithina never stood a chance.

  “How about you Stryg, is there anyone in your life?” Gidget asked.

Stryg stopped eating, “...As in romantically?”

  “Yes. She means is there anyone you love in your life,” Plum stared at him as she ate.

“Oh, no there isn’t,” Stryg said and went back to his food.

  “Maybe anyone you like romantically?” Plum asked in a strained voice.

“Nope,” Stryg kept eating.

  “I see,” Plum frowned.

“Sounds just like Stryg,” Kithina giggled.

  “Do you have a problem with that?” Stryg glared at her.

“Nope, none at all,” Kithina took a sip of water.

  Gidget looked at her daughter in surprise. Kithina was being so direct. She thought her daughter was shy and quite frankly, awkward about romantic interactions.

  “Hey, Stryg, why don’t you try some of the chicken,” Plum suggested.

“I’m not sure, it smells a little off,” Stryg looked at the food skeptically.

  “It tastes amazing, you gotta try some,” Plum said with doe eyes.

  He shrugged, put some of the lemon chicken on his plate and took a bite. He chewed it for a moment before his pupils widened into ovals. He spat the chicken out.

  “What the fuck!” Stryg shot to his feet. “Is this poison?!”

  He had never felt such a wretched taste. His sensitive tongue was burning in agony. It was nothing like the sensation of alcohol.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you the chicken is spicy,” Plum smirked.

“You’ll be fine kid, just drink some of this.” Grolm passed him a glass of wine.

  Stryg ripped the glass out of the dwarf’s hand and chugged it down.

“It still burns,” Stryg wiped his lips.

  “Not bad, you drank that all in one go.” Grolm patted his beard.

Stryg looked at glass, “This is nothing.”

  “Is that so? Could I possibly interest you in some Fire Breath?” Grolm asked.

“Do you have some?”

  “Right here,” Grolm pulled out the bottle. “That is, if you can handle it.”

Stryg grinned, “Is that a challenge?”

  Grolm admitted defeat after the eighth shot. Stryg only felt buzzed. The others simply watched the whole challenge go down with laughter. Callum stayed silent, content to drink his maid’s blood. Plum got drunk from the wine. Kithina just had water. Skobby had a little bit of wine, before Gidget stopped him from drinking anymore. The rest of the night proceeded smoothly.

  Once dinner was over and the guests had long gone home, Gidget took her daughter aside.

  She grabbed Kithina’s hands, “I think it went well, besides your father’s excessive drinking. As for your ‘friend,’ well, he seems like a good guy, if a little rough around the edges.”

  “Mom,” Kithina groaned.

  “I know, I know. You’re an adult now and you can make your own choices. I’ll respect that. Just remember, even if things don’t work out between you two, you’re a catch Kitty, never forget that.”

  Kithina smiled, “Thanks mom.”

“He is pretty handsome, though,” Gidget winked.

  “Mom,” Kithina laughed.