Ambient Mage

With our outfits finished, Aura and I made our way to the royal palace.

This ceremony would be split into two sections.

The first section was the reward ceremony, and the second would be the ball.

There was a similar event later in the game, however, this early on, I had never had this event occur.

This never happened in 'Total Brake'.

It made me a little nervous, even with the Duke's word.

As the carriage passed through the gate into the palace, I began to recall the people receiving awards today.

In the first group, who will recieve the award directly from the king, the order was:

The first would be, Princess Charlotte of course.

Next is Aura, followed by Michael.

Then Claudia followed by Maria.

Myself, and then Rose.

The 'backbone' of this whole operation.

Naturally the healers, and other important roles would receive recognition as well, but as a whole, not individually.

Now though, it's time for the ceremony.

***

The throne room, more like a hall really.

The nobles and guards were along the sides of the hall.

The royal guards were next to the throne, and I even caught one of the emperor's guard here.

Of course the guard captain of each was dressed in their honor outfit as well.

The 6 of us stood together conversing about the ceremony.

Wierdly enough, Charlotte was not with us.

However I had an inkling about where exactly she was.

Honestly receiving rewards from the king in game was not at all scary.

But now?

This was nerveracking.

"The award ceremony of the royal capital will now begin."

Fanfare started to ring out.

A corps of knights, stronger than myself, began to parade down the aisle and stand in line as they stared each other down.

The knight then passed the scroll onto the royal guard's captain.

He began.

"We are gathered today to reward the young heroes of this empire."

"Young men and women, who just days ago, saved the talents, the lives of the empire."

"Today we honor and reward you."

"Present yourselves."

"Princess Charlotte von Masvis."

The hall door opened, with Charlotte being walked in by who I assumed to be her assigned knight.

A way of the royal family trying to override the ceremonial sword she gave me or simply for ceremony's sake?

"Kneel."

Charlotte knelt on one knee, with her head down.

"You may raise your head."

The king began.

"My daughter, Charlotte, you have done wonderful things for the empire."

"You shall receive 10,000 gold, a bestowed name, a titled land, one item from the treasury, and this medal of valor."

"Do you have any remarks?"

"No, Father Emperor."

"Then return."

With that Charlotte returned to us.

Aura was already standing while Charlotte took a seat next to me and Rose.

She smiled at me as we heard the captain begin speaking.

"Aurelia von Svarmet."

Usually it would be at this point I would walk her, but this wasn't that kind of ceremony, so she walked herself.

"Kneel."

She took to one knee.

"Raise your head."

"My neice, you have done well in keeping your peers safe."

"You shall receive 20,000 gold, an item from the treasury, this token which allows you to call upon an imperial blacksmith to enchant your item, and this medal of your valor."

"What say you?"

"I receive it gratefully, your majesty."

"Then return."

Aura sat back down.

"Michael Arkhad."

Michael began walking.

I saw his foot catch the carpet, but he managed to correct his footing and avoid tripping or pulling the carpet.

"Kneel."

And he did.

"Raise your head."

"Second son of the Arkhad Marquis, Michael."

"You have made an achievement for yourself here today."

"You shall receive, 15,000 gold, an item from the treasury, a title, and a medal of valor."

"Do you have any objections?"

"I have none, your majesty."

"Then, Baron Michael, please rise and return."

And he did.

"Claudia Evenfold."

She left us and began to walk to the emperor.

"Kneel."

"You may raise your head."

"Claudia Evenfold, your service to the empire has been recorded, and today we honor you."

"You are to receive 30,000 gold, an item from the treasury, access to the imperial library, and a medal of valor."

"Are there any remaining questions?"

"No, your majesty."

"Then return."

As she headed back, I started to get more nervous.

But it did seem like the emperor chose these rewards to cater to us.

Or at least whoever chose them did.

"Maria Ardeni."

She walked towards the emperor, she was scared I could see her legs shake.

Thankfully no nobles commented on it.

"Kneel."

As she tried to get on one knee her other leg gave way.

She quickly managed to get both knees on the ground without it looking unnatural.

"Raise your head."

"Maria Ardeni, you have shown bravery in peril, for that here are your rewards."

"You are to be given 35,000 gold, an item from the treasury, a capital benefit that will give you the right to purchase any item from any store no matter the price for half, for a half year, and a medal of valor."

"Do you have any uncertainty?"

"I do not, your majesty."

"Then return."

She stood up, legs shaking less than before, and sat down next to me again.

"Knight Lucas."

I walked up the carpet to the front of the stairs in the throne room.

I stared at the emperor.

He was on the younger side.

That is to say however, he was an older man, maybe 40s.

"Kneel."

The guard captain said to me.

I kneeled on one knee, with my arm on my chest.

"Lucas, young knight of the Svarmet duchy, your actions have been resounding throughout the empire, and your heroics will be remembered."

"You are to receive 10,000, an item from the treasury, a titled land, and a medal of valor."

"Your majesty, we cannot allow that."

"Your majesty please revise this."

"Your majest, this subject implores you to change the reward."

So it seems this was chosen by the emperor himself.

I'm almost certain the titled land was the reason they were set off.

He thought for a little while.

I adjusted my and body to the horror of those paying attention.

The guards began to scrutinize me, before the guard captain spoke in the emperor's ear.

"It seems the you have yet to fully recover from your injuries in the dungeon."

"I will allow you to dispose of the position and take stand."

"Thank you your majesty."

The nobles once again started to cause a ruckus about my rewards.

"Very well, Knight Lucas, are you opposed?"

"No your majesty."

"Then, knight Lucas, your baron title and lands, shall be relinquished, and instead you will be given the title of viscount."

The surrounding nobles were shocked, but with their voices already having consented to a amendment of my rewards they had no say.

"Do you contest this?"

"No your majesty."

"Then return, Viscount."

I could feel the glares of the nobles as I walked back.

"Rose Castellan."

She stood up.

"Kneel."

She took to the same position as me.

"Daughter of my empire's vested merchants, your administrations have withstood danger and chaos.

"Receive these: 30,000 gold, an item from the treasury, an opening of trade volume in the metals trade, and a medal of valor."

The nobles grumbled again.

A few nobles raised their voices in disgruntledness.

"Do you have anything to say in regards to changing your rewards?"

"I do your majesty."

"Oh? Then speak."

He looked quite amused and happy.

"I wish, that instead of an increase of trade volume in the metals, I wish to have 65% of the empire's allocation of funds in the agriculture trade."

"45%."

"60%."

"We shall negotiate at another time, but your request has been heard."

"Do you have any other statements?"

"I do not your majesty."

"Then return."

Rose stood up with a satisfied face only a merchant could make, and the emperor too had a smile on his face.

After the main proceedings, everything else went fairly smoothly.

Everyone involved in the main defense and rescue teams were rewarded with gold, and other items, including medicines, some weaponry and armaments, and one person even managed a semi artifact.

Aisha, Celeste, Mark, Harry, and my other teammates, were heavily rewarded since their achievements were quite high as well.

In terms of achievements, I was ranked second, because technically, Charlotte had been there during the Ninmurta and the Tyrant's defeat, and I was passed out for a day and a half.

"With the rewards given, I now announce the beginning of the ball."

The nobles began to file out of the side doors, while the students went out the main door.

I quickly met with Aura, who looked giddy as could be.

She whispered to me in my ear.

"One more promotion like that, and my fiance position is yours."

I'm ashamed to say something was rising and it wasn't the sun.

"What are you two over here giggling about?"

"Mark met us in the massive group of people."

"Oh hey, Charlotte."

"Hey Mark, down to mess around later next weekend?"

"Sure."

Charlotte and Aura narrowed their eyes at me.

"What did you do to get thesse two glaring at you Lucas?"

Celeste swung her arm around Mark.

"Nothing, just me and Mark making plans to do dumb things."

"Huh, well.."

She leaned close to me.

"Those two-"

I covered her mouth.

"Does no one here have an apprehension to saying those things?"

Everyone laughed.

"What's so funny you're laughing without us?"

Morgan found us with Aisha in tow.

"We'll tell you in a minute, but the room is almost empty, we should get going towards the ballroom."

As we walked there we managed to grab a few more people on the way.

So our group looked less of a group of friends and more like a class.

"It feels like most of the guys in the Estelle hall are here right?"

"It feels great, though, nobody likes Andras."

I saw the Lotenheim family head.

Well, even if he heard it, there wasn't anything blatantly wrong with Mark's words.

Although it could be misconstrued as contempt for nobility, I don't think hanging around with said nobility and a royal would allow that to happen.

Charlotte got the leg up on Aura, or so she thought.

"Lucas will you dance with me?"

"Actually, Lucas won't be dancing at all tonight, due to his injuries."

"Are they healable?"

"Yes?"

"Perfect, I'll ask father for a healing artifact to heal him."

"Charlotte, no, that's abuse of power, just use the duchy's one."

"After all it's just a few bone aches and soreness from Lucas' side of things."

Claudia looked at me as if I were a sad puppy.

"They aren't asking you at all. Why is that?"

"Because I would never say no."

"Oh...."

She put her hand up to her mouth, her eyes betraying the smile she covered.

Why do I feel like I just said something wrong.

"Lucas for now, wear the Swardcrest."

"Alright."

I put the bracelet on, and it extended it's way up my arm towards my shoulder, stopping at my bicep.

"This should allow you to move around without hurting yourself."

"Mom and Dad didn't want you to have this and overexert yourself so, for the time being use it to take off your inner alterations and return them to the carriage."

"Then we can rejoin the party, once everyone's done their things."

***

Aura had another dress lined up for herself.

This one was a regal purple that faded into a black at the ankles.

The jewelry on her person in the ceremonial dress carried over.

With the exception of the earrings which she changed out for smaller ones.

Charlotte, moved out of her royal outfit, and into something more fitting for herself.

As did everyone else.

I hoped the ball would go as well as everyone looked, but not everything goes as planned.