Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Secrets

I took one of the elevators up the Verga Tower, heading to the 60th floor.

Once I arrived, both Vetsmon and Umara were waiting. Behind them was an open floor with tall wall to wall glass panes giving a view of the city all around us, and massive columns scattered throughout the lobby to support the other half of the building above us.

I smiled.

“Hey man. Thanks for helping us out.”

“Please, I’m just glad you finally get to see my home! Welcome!”

“One hell of a home…”

We clasped hands and hugged for a moment before I separated and turned to Umara.

“Everything settled?”

“Of course. Vetsmon prepared us a room up above. How was your business?”

“It went well. Tomorrow my mentor’s friend will concoct the Crown, and the day after I’ll be getting the operation.”

“So soon?”

Vetsmon blurted in surprise.

When I nodded, he thought for a second.

“Crowns can take weeks, even months to make depending on their complexity and power. So either your Crown is being made by the best Alchemist around, or it’s weak. Are you sure the man your mentor recruited is good?”

“Don’t worry about that. He’s reliable. I apologize if I can’t give any details right now, but no matter what, it’s going to be a good Crown.”

“If you’re sure. Come, my parents are waiting for you. I told them you were coming.”

I let Vetsmon lead as he took us up several more floors, occasionally flashing a badge at a sentinel or magical engraving. I pieced out the Verga Paladin Peerage in the few brief glances I caught of its front.

At the end of a white-walled hall were a large pair of doors, various armored statues flanking a path of red felt carpet leading up to it. Two sentinels bowed at our trio and heaved to open the also incredibly thick doors, a huge lounge sprawling out behind it. It was a living room the size of an entire property.

As we entered, a couple stood up and made their way over to us from the pair of grandest seats situated in the middle — Vetsmon’s parents.

“Mr. and Mrs. Verga, a pleasure to see you again.”

“The pleasure is ours, John.”

Once close enough, his father swallowed my hand in a thick and weathered hand of his own. His mother, still as tall as I was, leaned in to hug me.

After we embraced for a second, she leaned back, a playful grin spreading on her face.

“We continue to hear so much about you, even beyond our son. You can’t seem to keep your head low, hmm?”

“Unfortunately, my exceptionalism makes that difficult.”

“Haha, well, I at least find great joy in hearing about such an amazing summoner. You’re bringing some long overdue pride to our name. So long as you can, keep doing what you’re doing.”

“Of course, Madam. I’ll make sure Vetsmon relays all of the spicy details.”

We both laughed for a moment before the father waved.

“Please, let us sit. We wanted a small bit of your time to… catch up. And to welcome you to the Holy See. I understand it’s your first time here.”

We all walked over to a closer cluster of couches, Vetsmon sitting between myself and his parents, and Umara sitting by my side.

“I’ve only seen one city that can compare to the grandeur of this one.”

“Let me guess. The Whetted City?”

“That’s the one.”

“If I may ask, what do you think when you compare the two?”

“Well…”

I thought about the main differences between these cities. There were few, but one difference made this place a level greater than the Whetted City.

“Both of them have amazing architecture and art. I had this discussion with Umara, but this kind of culture and wondrous capital instill a great sense of pride into all who view it. It distinguishes itself by its achievement. But this place doesn’t just have the culture and statues. It also has the religious devotion that even an isolated community can’t compare to. It unifies the population and further encourages virtue.”

“Mm, I couldn’t have said it better myself. This city rivals the Kingdom’s capital in every way. In fact, many often debate about whether or not humanity is a people of the Kingdom or a people of the Church. Many say that it’s a conflict between the two, but I would argue that there’s nothing to fight about. The people are of the Church, that much is certain. And nobles are not of the people. That’s where the only conflict lies.”

“I would agree.”

I had a small smile while relaxing back into the couch.

“I have my own personal hatred for the nobility, but regardless, it’s clear to everyone that those of such status live in a world separate from the rest of the population. It’s a product of natural course, but the disconnect will inevitably breed hostility between the classes.”

“Why do you say it’s natural? Although today’s nobility is corrupt, there have been times when it was not so. They lead the people. In fact, we do the same here at the Holy See. 8 Towers that act as the fingers of God to protect the world from evil. But that does not make us separate from the rest of the population. We are one cohesive whole.”

“What you’re saying isn’t wrong, but I’m of the mind that the very nature of this world both necessitates and inevitably leads to the disconnect between all forms of nobility and the people. Just rule may be the reality, but it is a fleeting one, bound to devolve into oppression over time. That disconnect, unfortunately, means the people will never have any form of independence.”

I habitually took out a cigar as I spoke, lighting it and letting a lazy curl of smoke drift into the air.

“You needn’t look any further for the answer to why than magic itself. Magic creates the Magus, and the Magus, forced by the hostility of nature, must rise to power and fight back. Disregarding everything else, this fact means that the Magus wields power that the ordinary will never be capable of fighting against. And so he becomes king by default. No matter if he is a benevolent king or a tyrant, he will always be king. And how can a king be of the people? It’s the very antithesis to what a king is.”

“What you speak of is true, but only the Magi ensure humanity’s continued existence in the struggle against the Scourge. Does not their critical role warrant them some authority?”

“Yes, the Magi are essential. But it’s exactly that which makes the Scourge similarly so. Hate them all you want, only their overwhelming presence occupies the ultra-powerful and holds corrupt Magi in check. Without the Scourge, those powerful Magi have nothing to do with themselves. And so, as humans naturally seek conflict, they turn on each other. I can already see it. The war, the tyrants, the absolute control the Magi would have over the ordinary. It would be a nation ruled by the hands of a select few…”

I drifted off, just imagining the bleak dystopian society in a world where power only enhanced the capabilities of tyrants. Because here, absolute power truly was absolute. On Earth, it was always a facade that a single well placed bullet would rip through with impunity.

Human nature was a fickle thing. Conflict was written into our DNA. Humanity couldn’t go 10 seconds without something to fight against, and if they did, they would certainly fabricate something. It was why things could never be too good. It was why a utopia was just that: an ideal, forever unachievable, eternally hoped-for society.

So in a way, in this world, the Scourge could be considered a good thing. They were the enemy to fight against, something to unite humanity. And while internal conflicts certainly still happened, nobody could afford to escalate too far; the existential threat on humanity’s doorstep made sure of that. It kept everyone in check, because even the tyrants understood that they couldn’t rule over everything if everyone was dead.

I looked at Vetsmon’s father, of whom I still didn’t know the name, with focused eyes.

“Just as the pride of your city’s architecture and religion unites your people, so do your enemies. You have distinction because there are those who stand against you, or beyond you. But take that away, and the only thing you are capable of distinguishing yourself against is your fellow man. Remove the one thing that prevents you from taking over the world, and realize that someone else has another idea of how the world should be taken over. What then, other than war?”

“...”

Nobody responded for a moment, all pondering my words.

It was a scary future, and so much as thinking about it invited dangerous ideas.

If one hoped to defeat the Scourge, then one had no choice but to think of the aftermath. You needed to think about a world ruled exclusively by humanity and what that would entail. And so, this world would enter an era of unceasing warfare.

The Scourge was hated for its unyielding drive to end humanity, but should humanity be incapable of coming to a consensus, the resulting world would be just as bad, if not worse. It was a fatalistic Catch-22. To think of defeating the Scourge was to flirt with human warfare; to disregard the possibility was to live under existential threat forever. Which world would truly be better?

“To ask all of humanity to govern itself under a single set of rules is an impossible task, just as it is preventing an unchecked noble class from becoming tyrannical.”

“...It’s a lot to think about, isn’t it?”

I heard a chuckle come from Vetsmon’s father, making me snap out of my reflection and return a smile.

“Yes, it is. Thankfully, I still have a long way ahead of me to mull over it.”

“Indeed. By the way, I don’t believe we’ve properly introduced ourselves. Last time, we got sidetracked.”

He stood, putting out his hand.

“My name is Ignatius Verga, Lord of the Verga Peerage. This is my wife.”

“Willow Verga. It is a pleasure to befriend a wise young man such as yourself.”

“John Cooper, and the pleasure is mine.”

I shook both of their hands, finally having a formal introduction.

We sat back down with smiles, Ignatius speaking first.

“I’d like to thank you for being an essential member of my son’s squad. It is clear that you have been an integral part in his survival and prosperity in recent months.”

“Of course, sir. And I couldn’t ask for a better knight to protect me. I’m frequently made painfully aware of my own mortality, but with Vetsmon there, I find confidence knowing I can entrust my back to someone.”

I reached over and patted the man’s shoulder, making him smirk.

Ignatius shifted his gaze to Umara.

“And I hope the young lady is doing alright, given the recent pressure?”

“Of course, Lord Verga. I’m very lucky to have multiple people who support me. I at least know that I can find true friendship in those I entrust my back to.”

“And I take pride in the fact that my son is proving to be a reliable man and fighter. I know you all only have one more trip to the frontlines, and that your paths may diverge afterward. But I sincerely hope that all of you are able to create some everlasting bonds. I would argue that there are few things as important as friends you can trust.”

“I would agree.”

I nodded with a smile, Ignatius standing with his wife.

“Now, it’s getting late. I’m sure you’ve all had a long day, so allow Vetsmon to show you to your room.”

“Thank you for the hospitality.”

“Of course. Enjoy your stay, and if there’s anything you need, please let us know.”

With that, the discussion ended, all of us retiring for the night.

Vetsmon showed Umara and I our rooms. The two of us were left to ourselves on the 70th floor of the Tower with an incredible glass wall view of the nightime city.

There were some attendants to take care of us, basically room service, and so we were able to arrange ourselves some dinner.

After all that was said and done, I stood in front of the glass wall, taking in the view. This wouldn’t be the first time, and certainly wouldn’t be the last time, I had seen expansive cityscapes wrapped in night, but I still felt like I could stare all night.

That’s when I suddenly had a thought.

“Umara, I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“How would anybody know if we had sex?”

“H-huh? W-wow, that’s sudden.”

Pinkish-hued emotions surged from our mental link for a second before she managed to collect herself.

She went silent for a few seconds before offering a response.

“You said you come from another place without magic, so I can assume you don’t understand what happens when a virginity is taken.”

“Anything special?”

“Yes. Sex between Magi rarely results in children, but there’s a special phenomenon that helps overcome that, and it’s why keeping your virginity until marriage is so important. It’s called the Inception, and it's established the first time a couple has sex when at least one virgin is involved. It tends to be the woman who maintains her virginity in noble society, but it’s even better when both parties are virgins.”

“So this process helps have children?”

“It vastly increases the small chances until the first born comes, yes. After that it diminishes.”

“I see. Now, how do you know when the Inception occurs?”

I asked with a bit of nerve. Rayla was my first partner in this world but not my first in my life. Neither of us were virgins, but I just wanted to be sure I didn’t miss anything; would virginity be magically reset when I came to this world?

Umara, slightly flushed, considered my question a bit longer.

“...I’ve only heard about it, but it’s said that it’s like your bodies fuse for a bit. That and there’s a lot of heat.”

“Interesting.”

I rubbed my chin. That definitely didn’t happen with Rayla. Sure there was heat, but that was body heat and alcohol. I assumed what Umara was talking about was different.

That said, at the time, I had only been Authority 2. I didn’t even know if that whole sex system had been effective at the time. Since then, I had come a long way, and I would certainly be advancing even more before Umara and I got married.

I wasn’t even sure how Psyka could affect my fertility. I could understand if it was Vigor, even Mana. But not the power of the mind. The bit Umara and I gained through our Temperings could probably be discounted, though I made a mental note to ask her later.

Well, it would be something to figure out when the time came to cross that bridge. However, I decided that since we were on the topic, it would be a good time to bring something else up.

After some silence, I turned to her.

“Given that information, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Yes?”

She tilted her head at me, inquisitive face unable to hide the small spike in anxiety clear in her Aura.

“Well, I’m not a virgin.”

“...”

“I lost it a long time ago, well before I arrived in the Kingdom. I told you that I had relationships before, and a couple of those involved sex. If you really want to know the details, I lost my virginity when I was 15.”

“That young?!”

She blurted out in astonishment, making me nod.

“Yea. Let’s just say the culture there is pretty different from here. It’s not so uncommon for kids that age to be having sex, though looking back on it, I wish I hadn’t just based on principle.”

“...That’s insane. Even ordinary people don’t usually get married until at least their 20s.”

“Hm… I thought it would be younger. Unfortunately, that’s only part of my history. I’d like you to know this now, but I did have sex with one person one time not long after I arrived in the Kingdom. You know on our first trip, that girl who had come to see me off?”

“...You didn’t.”

Her face fell, anxiety getting replaced with a slight tinge of aggression.

I diverted my gaze a bit.

“Yea, we did. I was Authority 2 at the time and it was during my first Gala. Well, we had been working together for a month or so and we had gotten really drunk. Or, at least I did.”

“You work with her?!”

“I don’t work much anymore, but yes. But you can rest assured. I didn’t feel anything like an Inception, and even afterward, once she learned that you and I were together after we came back from the first trip, she basically never talked to me again.”

I let out a sigh as Umara processed the news. It was one thing if I had a distant history. It was another if one of my partners was recent, and someone she had met.

But thinking back to that whole fiasco had me a bit depressed. Beyond all else, Rayla was a good friend. I didn’t like how things ended, and the Magisterium occupying all my time certainly didn’t help.

I could feel Umara’s steely gaze on me as my mind drifted, snapping out of it when I heard her taught voice.

“What, are you thinking about her?”

“Mhm. All I can say is that the situation then had been… complicated. I don’t like how things went, but it’s done now. We haven’t talked in months.”

“...Ugh!”

Umara stood and stomped off to the kitchen, making my brows raise as she grabbed a bottle of alcohol.

“Are you okay?”

“Shut up! How complicated was it? Why do you look so depressed?”

“She’s a widow. She lost her husband to the Scourge.”

“...”

Umara froze, bottle in hand, as I continued.

“He was converted as well, came back as a monster and had to be put down. To say she was traumatized is an understatement. And I guess at the time I was… pitying.”

“...Fuck.”

She set the bottle down, standing there with her head lowered.

Then I heard a sniffle, watching as she wiped away a tear.

My head tilted a bit. She was crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“She never deserved that. Nobody does. And just thinking about how it’s possible scares me.”

“Yea, me too. But someone has to fight and take that risk. Even when they don’t want to.”

I walked over to Umara, putting my hands around her face and lifting it.

“Umara, I’m sorry. This changes nothing, and we both know that. I love you, and there’s nobody else I want to spend the rest of my life with. But I didn’t want to keep those secrets from you. It wouldn’t be fair. Now, you know almost everything about me.”

“...Almost?”

She glanced into my eyes with a glint, making me chuckle.

“Yes, almost. For one, I’ve got a lot of blood on my hands from my time in the black market. I haven’t told you just how much, but we’ll come back to that later. As for the other details… well, that’ll be left for when we get married. But who knows, perhaps you’ll figure it out before then.”

“Okay, now you’ve made me curious. Just tell me.”

“Sorry, my dear, but I need to retain at least some of my mystery. I can’t have you getting bored of me, after all.”

I pat her cheek before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead.

After that I went to bed, shelving the topic, and drifted off into warm sheets.