Not (Just) A Mage Lord Isekai
Chapter 112 - Thoughtful Gifts

The festival had only been a vague thought in the back of my mind for most of the week, a niggling reminder that I'd have to wade through the worst part of my position as Magus Dominus.

Acting like the high and mighty lord they expected me to be.

Wading around in the mud while shaping a greenhouse out of stone and sand had been more satisfying. Taking the trial and having my mind rewritten by Conflict's strange magic was less painful. If not for the week he'd insisted was the bare minimum time before we'd be ready for the next trial, I would've preferred doing another instead.

There could be no more distractions though, because the festival was only a day away. Of course, there'd been decisions to make as the festival was planned. Most of which I'd relegated to Tamrie and Xoth. Not all though. Such as what we'd be serving as the main course.

Mainly because I'd be the one who had to secure it.

As Conflict's rollerbug's deposited vast amounts of raw materials just to the east of Tetherfall, Inertia was working to perfect her balloons. Already simple balloons were being used in Tetherfall and Verdant Point to augment the lifts. The Tethered were also using them to create temporary Ropeways.

They were planning to create a Ropeway that stretched all the way from Tetherfall to the heart of Mistvale, without using the Waygate. The balloons were so popular, Inertia had requested a length of heartwood to trade for more sails. I'd approved two.

Those balloons meant we'd increased what we could lift over the bluff separating us from Vaserra and the Frost Riven. It also meant we could trade with her.

Which is what I was doing.

"You prepared for the Last Calm?" Vaserra asked, once the greetings were done.

One of her people had spotted us approaching, and when she'd joined them atop her fortress, she'd started barking with laughter. She'd said the balloon we'd anchored nearby reminded her of a nibbler.

Which was exactly what we'd come for. A bunch of nibbler meat and some of the blue fruit.

"Yes. We're not asking for a handout though. We've got lots of our own food to trade. Just thought we'd all appreciate a bit more variety," I said, pulling out several dishes made from the tubers of the mats.

Vaserra had sampled a couple of the tubers on her last visit, but she and her companions had mostly fed themselves on the spoils of their hunts.

After testing all the dishes I'd brought, Vaserra was smiling. "These will make an excellent addition to our own Last Calm. I would gladly have given you what you asked for, if not for how much the sheep require. This is a trade I make with a light heart, though it does not absolve me of the debt that I owe you and your people."

"Great. Was going to invite you to join us, but I guess you've got your own things to attend to," I said, accepting her outstretched arm and clasping my hand around it.

"The Ice comes for all who put off their duty," Vaserra said. "Perhaps after the Howl has passed, and the new harvests are sewn."

"I'll hold you to that," I said, patting her arm. "For now, I need to get back."

"May your Ice fly true and your blood never burn," Vaserra said, nodding to me.

"May your Ice fly true and your blood never burn," I replied, before making my way back to the balloon, where supplies were already been exchanged under Tamrie's watchful gaze.

"She's pretty," Tamrie said as I approached.

"That's what you're focused on? You do know she literally ripped out her father's heart, right? That she's able to summon an avalanche that could bury all of Tetherfall?"

"Don't mean she's not pretty," Tamrie said with a shrug, using her pencil to tuck her loose strand of brown hair back. "Just means she's got more'n enough pull to sweep a man away."

"Guess so," I said, my attention moving to the barrels being brought over to the balloon. It was a slow trip, but it was faster than trying to lift Fang back and forth over the walls. Besides, I'd wanted to test the balloons for trade. If anything went wrong, I was the most likely to make it out safe.

Tamrie had decided I wasn't allowed to go alone, and that had been that.

"Think people will appreciate it?"

"More'n like," Tamrie said, nodding as she gestured with her pencil. "Those blue fruit are a nice complement to the roots. The ab-board stomping around like he's a man said they've had them together before."

"Tanis?"

"Aye, that's the one," Tamrie confirmed before stepping away, shouting at a pair of men racing their barrels towards us. "Hey, watch your roll! Just about took off your mate's leg!"

They grumbled their responses, but they both slowed down. They grumbled even more as they packed away the square crates we'd brought our supplies in.

"That's the lot of 'em," Tamrie said as she checked over the barrels.

I nodded, storing most of them in my collection of rings before loading the last few in the balloon. Then I moved over to the controls, using Tie Rope to release the lines that'd kept us in place.

Pulling at the line that would adjust Soar's thrust, I grunted. While strapping the glider to the bottom of our basket had mostly worked, the angle of the rope leading between the glider's controls and the basket had a tendency to snag.

With the glider pulling us along, we made our way towards the bluff. It was just as steep on the Frost Riven's side, though they had a mountain nearby that was slightly easier to climb.

I cursed as we drifted closer without the balloon having gained enough height. The damn thrust had gotten stuck on one side, which ended up pushing us further north as the ballon spun in a slow arc.

"Showing me the sights?" Tamrie asked as we drifted along in front of the mountain range.

"Seems like it," I said as I finally got the glider to cut its thrust. By pulling hard enough on the cord to snap the attached cable.

Tamrie snorted as I held up the severed cable. I just sighed as I walked over to the back of the balloon and cast Gust, putting us back on course. It also sent Tamrie tumbling into the side of the balloon beside me. I made sure to grab her so she couldn't go over the side.

Might've done that on purpose.

"Give a gal a little warning afore you sweep her off her feet," Tamrie said, pulling herself upright.

"Okay. Warning," I said, before casting Gust again.

My second attempt sent us floating back towards the Waygate. Tamrie let out a laugh as she kept her arm wrapped in the balloon's netting. For whatever reason, she'd taken to riding in the balloon a lot better than she had to the gliders.

After an hour of carefully applied Gusts, we set down near the Waygate. I unloaded all the barrels of fruit and salted nibbler from the extra rings, then made my way to the Waygate.

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The festival was the next day, and everything was almost ready. I just had to put the finishing touches on Tamrie's gift.

A lot could change in a week.

The temporary structures I'd helped erect for the refugees had been replaced by another set of temporary structures. But unlike the shelters that had been little more than logs leant against themselves, the new structures were proper buildings. They had doors, proper chimneys, and yes, they still had the tunnels connecting them that the refugees from Spellford preferred.

They were also built on solid foundations. Foundations Vetrov assured me would hold up when the Howl came through. She'd been less certain about the buildings themselves, as that wasn't her area of expertise.

Not that they hadn't been reinforced. Vetrov was using her mana constantly. While I tried to keep a reserve, in case of emergency, she seemed to be almost compulsive in using the staff. Since she was always using it to fix or improve things, I decided not to say anything about it.

In addition to the new shelters, several crude warehouses had been setup in Verdant Point. One of which had been left empty to serve as the dancing hall. It was situated just across from the staging area, set in the south side of the valley.

The entire area had been festooned in colorful fabric. Most it was repurposed. If I looked closely, I could make out the shape of shirts and pants.

Somehow, that made it more beautiful. At least to me.

There were several balloons scattered about the area, all of them supporting the nets of the Tethered.

A few people were still bustling about, making last second preparations, but most of the rest were simply gathered around the stage, watching the sky. It was a mostly sunny day, but storm clouds seemed to be gathering to the east. Felt appropriate to be holding the festival right before the storm hit. Even if it tried to ruin the festivities, we were prepared.

I adjusted my robe one final time. Despite Calbern assuring me it was perfect, it felt tighter than usual. My hand drifted to my pocket, where Tamrie's present waited. I almost wanted to just give it to her now, if only for the distraction. I'd meant to give it to her earlier, but a last minute disruption had called her away.

Then I'd been pulled away to see to some last minute repairs to a cooling enchantment.

After, Calbern had directed me to a partially obscured platform behind the stage. The other future council members were there as well, except Tamrie. Xoth looked nearly the same as always, though that meant he simply looked like the most appropriate out of all of us, his elegant robes hanging off him like a second skin. Beside him, Alister was pacing nervously. Calbern had arranged a set of robes for him as well, though the man had already wrinkled them greatly.

Selvi was waiting beside me, looking through a report she'd been compiling on her sentries. We'd received word from the Vox Knights, and they'd tentatively agreed, though they'd asked her for several details first. Instead of a robe, Selvi had chosen a simple dress with one of the finer clothes we'd acquired from one of the visiting captains. While the dress was simple, she'd fashioned a scarf from wool she'd harvested herself from the mist rams of Mistvale. Still imbued with the effects it'd once granted the rams, the magical wool cast a fine mist about her, giving her a sort of ethereal aura.

Looking out once more, I tried to catch sight of Tamrie or Calbern. They were in charge of the special activities, including the council announcement, which should start soon. After all, I was pretty sure the entirety of both Tetherfall and Verdant Point had gathered.

Finally, I spotted Calbern striding towards the stage.

There was still no sign of Tamrie though.

Guess it didn't matter, cause Calbern raised his voice.

"Welcome, people of Verdant Point, people of Tetherfall, and those with us visiting from Spellford," Calbern said, his voice cutting through the crowd with his mere presence.

They stilled, all eyes turning to Calbern. Even I found myself looking towards him.

"As you all know, today we celebrate the final days of the Summer Tide, a reminder of our perseverance in the face of all the world throws at us," Calbern said, holding up a hand as a few people started randomly clapping.

They died out and he continued. "We have several events today, including the bluff race, which I am looking forward to winning."

This earned a number of laughs from the Tethered, though the refugees mostly looked confused. Which made sense, the bluff race had been Selvi's idea, an adaptation of the Tide Running event Tamrie mentioned they held in Spellford.

As the laughter died down, Calbern continued, "Our first event is the only official business we shall subject you to today. The naming of the advisory council, as well as the official declaration of Magus Dominus Perth's new domain."

This time when someone started clapping, Calbern didn't shut it down. To my surprise, soon everyone was clapping.

It was while they were still clapping that Calbern gestured for me to join them.

Glancing about one last time for Tamrie, I sighed before stepping out, holding a hand out to the crowd. I almost took a step back when the clapping intensified and someone started cheering.

Instead, I drew on Perth's experiences to bolster me, continuing to wave until I came to stand just in front of Calbern.

"Very good, master Perth," Calbern's words barely reached me under the roar of the crowd.

The other council members joined me, Calbern calling out each of them by name and title, specifically their new titles as members of my council.

When he called out Tamrie's name, I was surprised to spot her coming up from the far side of the stage. She was a little out of breath, and that lock of hair was still stubbornly out of place, but she looked…

Different felt insufficient.

The woman I knew was a mousey girl with unruly brown hair, one who could barely be bothered to straighten her dress, nevermind her hair.

The council member who joined me on stage felt every bit like she belonged there. Her dress was a sophisticated combination of layers, one that occasionally showed small gaps to hint at the flesh of her calves or arms, but little else.

It was such a shocking transformation that I missed Calbern's prompting to take over the ceremony.

He had to subtly nudge me to remind me of my place. I coughed, turning back to the crowd, which caused a laugh to roll through them as Tamrie stood at my other side. I smiled with them. After all, it was important they know I could take a joke at my expense. Everyone liked to make fun of the people in charge.

Once the laughter died down, it was my turn to speak. Since I didn't have the natural presence of Calbern, I turned to magic, using a modified version of Hush to amplify my voice, and only my voice. "Hi everyone. Glad you could all make it. Ah, I see Egerta brought the whole family. Hi guys," I said, waving to the crowd of children near the back.

Another laugh rippled through the crowd as the eldest of Egerta's children waved back alongside her mother. Both had golden swords over their shoulders, though I was mostly certain the smaller blade was made of soft wood painted yellow.

"I'll keep this short. Calbern has introduced my councilors, and we're all here to make that official. We've already completed the vows, so all we need to do now is have them take their tokens of office," I said, holding up a badge with my crest on it.

Turning back to my councilors, I called Xoth forward first. Mostly cause I knew I could count on him to get things right. He bowed to me, then stood silently, waiting as I affixed the badge to his chest with a simple self-weaving enchantment.

"Stand proud, councilor Xoth, for now does your duty truly begin," I said, giving him a solemn nod, which he returned.

Then came Alister, who, despite not having to say anything, still managed to be stutter as he approached. His bow was stiff, and he just about jumped off the stage as the threads on the back of the badge started weaving through his robe.

"Stand proud, councilor Alister, for now does your duty truly begin," I said, trying to give him an encouraging smile. He tried to respond, but it came off as more of a rictus grin. He retreated back to his place, and probably would've continued straight off the stage if not for Xoth gently catching his arm and steering him back into place.

Selvi managed to approach with as much dignity as Xoth had held, giving a polite bow, the mist of her collar leaving a trail in the air. Stepping forward, I pressed her badge in place along the sole place on her shoulder that had been left clear for it.

"Stand proud, councilor Selvi, for now does your duty truly begin," I said, offering her a genuine smile. She nodded, and with her badge affixed, she took a step back, offering me another tiny dip, a smile stretched across her usually dour features.

Finally, Tamrie approached, her head held high. But I recognized the signs of nervousness. The way she pressed her fingers into her palms, the way she was biting the corner of her lip, the gentle puff of air as she attempted to blow the ever errant strand of hair into place.

I grinned at that.

While I'd been waiting, I'd been struck by a brilliant idea.

Tamrie offered me a curtsy, lifting several layers of her complicated dress at once, and for a second, the effect reminded me of a particularly intricate water rune. Fighting down a chuckle, I pulled her gift out of my pocket.

It was a hair clip, one with the same self-weaving enchantment I'd placed on the badges of office. While I'd been waiting, I'd realized I could affix them together. So that's what I did.

I tucked that errant strand of hair back, slid the hairpin into place, and attached the badge firmly beside it.

"Stand proud, councilor Tamrie, for now does your duty truly begin," I said with a smile.

However, instead of turning and leaving the stage, Tamrie reached up and touched the hairpin I'd just placed in her hair. Then her eyes swept outward towards the crowd.

I followed her gaze. There were a lot of people leaning in and whispering to each other. Egerta was giving me a pair of thumbs up from the back, her sword leaning against her knees.

Beside me, Tamrie let out a loud sigh. Then she chuckled as she threaded her arm through mine, pulling me back towards the center of the stage, letting Calbern take over once more. As we did, she said, "Well, you right tumbled that, didn't you, Perry."

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