Blood Shaper

Kay waited for the cheers to die down, but they continued for several minutes and it eventually reached a point where he had to stop it. He raised one hand and stared out into the crowd as the sounds ebbed. Bit by bit the crowds watching began to quiet. When he was able to be heard again Kay started speaking.

“This is going to be a time of change for us all. Not only are we stepping out on a larger stage as we become a nation, not only will more people come here to try and make new lives for themselves now that we’ve proved we can survive and grow, but the very mechanism by which those changes are brought about is a change. Avalon is now considered a nation, not just by the world around us, but by the System itself. With that recognition comes opportunity and by taking those opportunities and and putting our best effort in we will not only withstand the winds of change, but use them.” He paused for emphasis before continuing, “In that vein, I shall be using one of the newfound responsibilities granted to me by my title as King here and now, by appointing Avalon’s first noble.”

People in the crowd began to perk up and more than a few looked personally excited. Many wealthy merchants, low status children of nobles from other nations, and hangers on galore had come to Avalon in its early days looking to wrangle a title of their own from Kay, and more would be coming with the future waves of immigration. The idiots Kay had had to deal with more than once over the topic had all sadly not received invitations to attend the coronation ceremony and a small number of that lauded group were the victims of tragic minor accidents that prevented them to get to the public seating before it filled up. Kay could just imagine at least one of them standing up and starting to walk to the main stage at that moment, completely sure in their self centered world that they were the person going to receive the title Kay was about to grant. The less foolish of those after titles were at least smart enough to realize that they weren’t on Kay’s favorite people list and weren’t getting anything today, but the fact that he was appointing a noble at all meant that their shared goal was one step closer.

“Many of you here today will not know the name of the person who I will bestow this honor upon, and even fewer will know her face. She came to Avalon at it’s very inception, before we’d even named it, before the idea of a city as grand as the one we have today was even a glimmer in anyone’s eye. With her she brought other people looking for a new place to live, with valuable Skills that helped us all. As time has passed she has brought valuable information to us, done direct service for me and for Avalon by fighting monsters, finding valuable materials, and more besides. But even beyond that, she brought Avalon one of the most incalculably valuable things possible for a city or a nation to posses.”

Kay turned slightly and pointed in the direction of Avalon’s walls. “Out there, on the walls of our city, our defenders fought back against the enemy that invaded us. Among them were troops directly led by the courageous woman who I speak of. All of them were equipped with weapons that are not new, but with power that is.” He held one hand up high and created a large model of a gun out of blood, showing off its shape to everyone. “Some of you may recognize this shape. This is a ‘firearm’, or a ‘gun’. These weapons have existed for many years, the information used to create them both brought here by Outworlders and discovered by native Torotians many times. In the world I originally came from they were the weapons, used by every army in the world. Here, they were a mere curiosity and minor tool, because the System did not recognize them.”

Murmurs and looks filled with tension began to pass back and forth throughout the crowd, especially among the delegates from foreign powers and other strong groups. The Elder form the Shattered Clans looked up at the model of a rifle floating above Kay and shook his head sadly. Several organization’s representatives clustered together and began whispering furiously.

“That is no longer the case. I call before me Cinderella Sauber, Avalon’s second Class Line Progenitor.”

The crowd burst into a roar of noise as Cindy stepped from her place among Kay’s ministers and advisers and walked up to him. The crowd of spectators shook and rumbled as the noises of shock, awe, and approval burst from the stands, while the noises from the delegates mostly consisted of shocked ones, with a few hints of dismay or fear mixed in.

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Ignoring it all, Cindy dropped to one knee in front of Kay as they’d practiced.

“Do you, on this day and in this moment,” Kay addressed her, his voice still ringing out over the entire square, “Swear to follow and obey the laws of Avalon, to serve your people as a noble of Avalon, to place yourself between the threats that will come against those in your charge, and to lead them into a better future?” They’d debated what the oath he’d ask her for would be for a long time in preparation for this moment, and eventually everyone had agreed that a short and sweet one would be best.

“I so swear.”

Kay triggered the ability his new Noble Title granted him and gave Cindy a Noble Title of her own. It wasn’t like using any of his Skills, it was more like maneuvering through his System screens. He just thought about doing it and it was done. He noticed Cindy glance to the side at her own screens right as he finished concentrating. “Then rise, Duchess Cinderella.”

She stood, still facing him, which conveniently hid her massive scowl from the excited crowd. Kay smirked slightly and she glared daggers at him for using her full first name like that. She’d told him ages ago that she didn’t like to be called that, and here he was using it while announcing her official title for the first time, meaning everyone would be calling her that for a long time.

Kay turned off the magic item hidden in his clothes that he was using to project his voice. “I told you that I’d get you back for constantly teasing me about this.”

“I’m going to get you.” She growled at him.

“What was it you said to me? I think it was something along the lines of, ‘Do your worst, nothing you think of will be the least bit scary?’ That’s what it was, right? I’m sad, I put a lot of work into this and you don’t care at all then.”

“I’m going to… Something! This isn’t over Kay!”

“Calm down, it’s not like anyone knows that story over here. Even if they do it probably sounds like a plausible story and not a children’s tale.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You are not going to talk me out of getting you back. You want a prank war? You’re getting a prank war dammit.”

With their powerful senses upgraded by their high tier bodies they could both hear Ahthia when she muttered to herself. “We’re doomed. Our King and first Duchess and they’re both children starting a prank war with each other.”

“Well, if that’s what you want,” Kay told Cindy, ignoring Ahthia, “Then I guess I’ll win twice in a row.” Before she could respond he reactivated the magic item and began addressing the crowd again. “In honor of the Duchess’ appointment and to reward the service she has performed for Avalon up till now, I have had a powerful magical weapon commissioned for her.”

Cindy stared at him, completely confused. Legitimately so, since she was in charge of all their firearms production and training.

Kay reached into his portable pocket space created by his Inventory Skill and pulled out a simple yet elegant wooden case. Polished to an elegant shine, he had to hold it with both hands in order to balance the lengthy item. Flicking open the clasps with tendrils of blood from his cuffs, he spun the case around to let Cindy look at the contents. Her confused expression morphed into one of surprise as she inspected the weapon, then to understanding and outrage as her head whipped up again to glare at him.

“A powerful weapon to serve her as she has and will continue to serve Avalon, until something even better comes along. Made by the combined efforts of our own skilled craftsmen and powerful figures we hired to assist, I dare say they have created a masterpiece for her.”

Kay took a moment to glance down again at the rifle made completely out of incredibly tough magical glass. It was fogged glass like in a shower so it wasn’t translucent, but there was no denying that it was a weapon made out of glass. Kay desperately wished that he could give it a name for her, but it would be really weird if he just went out and called it “Cindy’s Slipper” in front of all these people, since no one would get the reference. The gun was everything he wanted. Heavily enchanted and simultaneously very light and quite durable, it was a useful, powerful weapon that had a usefulness that completely outweighed how annoyed Cindy would be to have to carry it.

He spun the case back around and closed it before setting it into her arms. She continued to glare at him, but followed the schedule they’d practiced and stepped off to the side, now at the front of the group nearest Kay.

“Now, while there are many more announcements to make, decisions to come to, and changes to prepare us all for, the business of government can wait.” Kay announced, a wide smile growing across his face as he looked out over his people. “Because now it is time, for celebration!” He thrust thrust his arms upward and a series of fireworks went off, timed to his announcement. Magical and traditional fireworks, the latter of which were very rare, lit up the afternoon sky as servants and workers began rushing out to move people and begin preparing the square for the next part of the ceremony, a massive festival and feast.

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