Ambient Mage

My last dance with Rose was a waltz, and due to her leaning her head on my chest, many began to gossip about how intimate the two of us were.

"Rose, what exactly did you imagine me wearing?"

"Huh?"

Her bewildered face came off of my chest momentarily, before falling back down into it.

"Can I not say?"

"You don't have to."

She was breathing slow, but her heart was racing, I could feel it, and she knew.

Her face tinged red as we continued our dance.

I leaned my head down a little as we danced.

"But you will have to eventually."

After that moment of teasing Rose, we actually relaxed and reveled in being in each others arms.

Naturally, there were going to be those who spread nasty gossip, but they were in the minority.

Most of those who did gossip, wanted to know the relationship we shared since, a student who was a viscount was rare, and an upcoming businessperson with such an 'intimate' relation with said viscount was sure to be a good investment as well.

The two of us naturally attracted much attention with the last dance, which was somewhat part of the plan.

However, I think the both of us enjoyed ourselves.

Finally as the third song came to it's end, everyone began to change partners, if they hadn't already.

Some liked a new partner every song, others preferred to dance multiple songs with their partner.

I am one such person.

Afterwards the fourth song began to sweep into the room, and I began looking for the two princesses.

And in doing so almost backed into Charlotte.

Perfect.

"May I have this dance?"

I held my hand out to Charlotte.

"Yes."

She took my hand in hers, and we began our first dance.

"So how was your first partner?"

"Leo was a decent dancer, if not a little inept."

"I guessed that would be the case."

"What makes you say that?"

She said sarcastically.

"So, I found out from Morgan, what she did to you four, but I never found out what you said back in return."

"Lucas."

"Yes?"

"Don't ask questions you're not supposed to."

"Alright, then."

"Instead talk to me about more interesting things, like what you want to see me in."

She said quite coquettishly.

That was very 'exciting'.

During our dance when we got close enough nearly touching our bodies together I told her.

"You'd look great in any clothes, but even better with none."

That certainly did it, throwing her off a beat.

If only momentarily as she self corrected to match my pace again.

"That was dirty Lucas."

"I'm not sorry."

"No, you wouldn't be, so in return, just wait for me."

She smiled.

At first in a scary way, which melted into a soft caring smile.

Once again gossip started about me stepping on my partners foot, but neither of us could be bothered to deny or corroborate the story, as it would entail telling what really happened.

"Hey Lucas, if you're still here at 10:00, if you come to the top of the clock tower, I'll have a nice surprise for you okay?"

I nodded in response.

With that her hand 'slipped' to my thigh, before she corrected it.

Stimulating indeed.

After our third song, the music had a break.

I walked over to where Morgan had been sitting.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I've just been sitting here."

"Nobody bothered you right?"

She turned her head.

"Right?"

"Well, there were a few people that came to ask me to dance."

"You didn't want to?"

"Unless it's you or like Aisha, I don't want to dance."

"Are they still bothering you?"

"They're right there still staring at me."

She looked at the people.

I turned and looked back at them.

They weren't anybody important, not to mention some of them weren't even enrolled at Atrevoir.

"Did you mention you were a Genoa?"

"No?"

"Her name has a lot of pull you know."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Look, you ARE Morgan Genoa."

"Would that make you Lucas Genoa?"

"Hell no, you are much more a disciple than I am."

"She occasionally 'guides' me, but my mana path and magic already has a path made for me."

"You however were a clean slate, and really became a daughter to her you know."

"Huh?"

"Well, most of the time she's with me she talks about how 'super proud' she is of your talent."

"I haven't seen her since the day before the dungeon, but if we walk in together, she'll probably gush about your ascension to the 4th circle."

"She won't she'll just tell me to work harder now that I am in the 4th circle."

"Here, you know what, if she doesn't praise you for your ascension, I'll take you out for the rest of the day, to celebrate, I mean I was anyways, but we'll do one for just the two of us okay?"

"Sure."

"So then, raise your head and say who you are with confidence, you already have her mana path and her beginner magic, who could deny you were?"

"But what happens if people try to kill me for the legacy?"

"Aurelia and I will take you to the duchy, and the royal family will likely do their best to protect you since, you are an archmage's disciple, and they wouldn't want to lose you to another kingdom."

"I get it, I get it, I'll reject anyone who bothers me, okay?"

I knelt down to her level."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I promise, okay?"

"Alright then, make sure to grab something to munch while you're here, don't want a hangry Morgan walking around."

"I'm not a child, Lucas."

"Oooh, fiery."

I waved my hands, before standing up.

"Don't eat to much, you're dancing with me soon, and I don't want you to fall asleep."

"Who's going to?"

She stared holes in me.

Time to go.

I quickly moved to Aurelia who was talking with her family.

"Knight Lucas, greets the suns of the Svarmet Duchy."

"Lucas!"

The duchess said.

"Sorry, Madam, it was too funny not to."

"Lucas you realize that as a viscount you outrank a knight right?"

"But I am a knight first viscount second."

"Oho, are you saying you wish to be a viscount underneath the duchy?"

"If your highnesses would take me."

"Of course, Lucas, you are like our own child, why wouldn't we?"

They laughed.

"Also, stop calling us Duke and Duchess in public, just call us comfortably."

"Like mother, or?"

"Of course not, for example Lady Alicia, or Lord Stephen, you are a noble now."

She said.

"But don't let it get to your head kid. Remember Matthew is 2 years from inheriting a count title and is currently your noble equivalency."

"Yes, Lord Stephen, Lady Alicia."

With them allowing me to call them almost as equals, every noble ranking under them and and those under the rank of duke would be hard pressed to not do the same.

A method of pressure on the social area of political networking.

"Ah the music is starting again shall we?"

The Duchess extended her hand to the Duke who took her hand and led her to the ballroom floor.

"May I?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

She took my hand, as she ran out onto the ball room floor.

I spotted the Duke and Duchess already ready smiling at each other.

"Envious Lucas?"

"Just a little."

"Well, in the future, I imagine we won't lose out to them."

"What about right now?"

"What do you mean."

"Let's out dance them."

Her eyes lit up and we started to dance with fervor.

The first dance was on the slower side once again.

Our moves took us far, but not out of our area, deftly moving between people, not touching.

The second was very fast paced, and saw us moving quickly to accomodate our less than fully matured bodies.

Although nothing like the balls of the past, where we were only allowed to dance with the children due to our lack of height and speed.

"Hey Aura."

I said while we were moving fast between the others.

"Yes?

"What exactly did you say in response to Morgan's question?"

She looked unaffected, but she her eyes fluttered quickly momentarily.

"You asked Rose and Charlotte that too didn't you?"

"Yes I did."

"Well, I said I wanted to to see you in a suit that had a form fitting inner layer."

"Wow, you know what you want huh?"

"Mhm."

We continued our dance for a short while.

"Hey what would you like to see me in?"

"Honestly? A dress just like this one if maybe showing a little more skin, does it for me?"

"Really?"

"Then down there are you?"

She did not know how to hold back.

"If you want to find out, we'll have to find out tonight won't we?"

"Sure."

She would not take a loss.

I slid my hand down her back as she did the same.

We smirked at each other realizing we were doing our best to make the other frustrated, during the dance.

"After this, let's stop, we don't want to have to leave the dance suddenly right?"

"Okay."

She nodded realizing she may have to anyways.

After the second dance, we slowed down again.

"Hey Aura."

"Mhm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

We rested our heads on each others shoulders as we slowed down and separated.

For the final dance of the night, the royal family wanted to recognize some nobles who had done some incredible things for the nation.

So the families' of the nobles were also naturally allowed to go first.

One boy, another of the Marquis' children approached Morgan.

This wasn't great.

I wasn't sure how to handle this in a way that it wouldn't blow up.

"You. Dance with me."

He stood in front of Morgan, and I began moving towards her, attracting the attention of some nobles, as I was one of the few people moving currently.

"I'm sorry, I already have a partner for tonight."

"Then where is he? I already said to join me, I won't say it again."

"I will not."

"You dare to embarrass the name of Marquis Renair?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You insolent."

I observed his mana level.

3rd tier mid rank.

Not a match for her in lightyears.

"Stop."

She got up and walked over to me.

"Do not touch me, you disgust me."

"And who do you think you are to rebuke me?"

His yelling had already attracted some attention, and this attracted a whole lot more.

His father came over.

"Father, she-"

He hit him on the head.

"Apologize."

Morgan looked at me.

I shrugged in response.

But before I could say anything about leaving the ball, she spoke.

"Morgan Genoa."

Her voice wasn't loud nor soft, but even.

The ballroom's movement and sounds came to a halt.

Only the sounds of fireflies could be heard.

There were a few mage towers and the mage association was also apparent at this ball.

So her words sparked a fuse.

One of the submasters of the imperial mage tower stood up and walked to us.

"Can you take responsibility for your words?"

I stepped in front of Morgan.

"Can you take responsibility for judging her?"

He looked shocked, and angered.

I didn't care.

"Morgan, if you're going to show off, nows the time."

"What beginner magic of Genoa's would you like me to perform?"

She looked at the submaster with clear disdain in her eyes.

"Spatial fire."

He looked aggrieved as if he had been humiliated.

His fault shouldn't have been so high handed.

Morgan began to cast to which, Mother Alicia called out.

"It's best if you don't reveal the formula now."

"So I'll cast an barrier over you while you cast. Therefore, Lucas, step away."

"Yes, Lady Alicia."

With that I stepped away and let Morgan cast.

After a mere moment the barrier vanished and a dark flame sat in Morgan's hand.

"Dark magic?"

I replied in her stead.

"Combination magic, your request was too low level for her, so she combined the cursed flame cast of Genoa's with the spatial flame technique."

He looked at me even more angry.

"Go ahead designate your target."

I said to Morgan, which sent the submaster scrambling for an object.

"This orb, this orb."

To which she obliged.

The flame quickly vanished and reappeared beside the orb.

The spatial flame, a combined attribute of Genoa's line.

A combination of spatial and fire magic attributes.

Naturally anyone with high enough attainment in both of these could do it, but not like Morgan did, she did not need a portal, she simply warped the flame, something only possible with Genoa's mana path, as said by herself.

This proved beyond a doubt Morgan was who she said she was.

But the orb bothered me, because even after it burned, it didn't melt the orb.

So I pierced it with the help of Alea.

'Daddy why did you ask Alea to do that?'

'Because he was trying to do bad things.'

"You. What did you do?!"

"Stopped a greedy mage from trying to reverse engineer bloodline magic."

The crowd collectively gasped, to which the submaster promptly gated out.

"Rude."

Charlotte said joining Morgan.

"I'm very sorry princess, heir to Genoa, the Renair family wishes you a good time."

The father who seemed quite sensible, left with his family in tow.

And Morgan who seemed to be no longer agitated, extended her hand to me.

"How would you like to dance with this mage?"