Great Journey: Whims of Fate

Social gatherings typically lasted a week, with activities ranging from hunting and auctions to art viewings, concerts, and banquets. The point was to enjoy oneself while engaging in conversation and subtle diplomacy.

Given that this world had no internet or television, this was the best form of entertainment they could manage. Bastion would have been bored out of his mind if not for the existence of magic, specifically, free-cast magic, the unattainable dream of every person from Earth.

So when he attended his first social gathering, he was surprised to find that the main event was a magic competition.

"Details?" Bastion asked Elyra, who managed his schedule.

"The competition is restricted to Apprentice Rank. Participants may use any singular method at their disposal to destroy as many targets as possible. The closest targets are worth 1 point. Beyond them are targets worth 2, 4, 8, and finally 16 points for destroying the largest one at the far end," Elyra explained.

"So the best strategy is an area spell that hits both eight point targets and some extra to go above 16?."

"It is too large of a distance between targets so the current optimal strategy is to take down the 16 point target."

"Sign me up, but insist I go last."

"Yes, Master."

Since he was already here, he might as well have some fun.

The targets were mounds of earth arranged in a reverse cone formation. At the front was a line of multiple 1-point targets. Behind them were fewer 2-point targets, followed by four 4-point targets in the middle. Further back stood two 8-point targets, and finally, at the very end, a single target worth 16 points.

Apprentice Rank skills and spells were typically either wide-area close-range attacks or narrow single-target strikes, with power roughly equivalent to a gun. As such, there were very few practical means to score more than sixteen points in the competition.

Bastion quickly noted that freecast magic was the optimal path to victory. Apprentice Rank spells, while useful in typical combat, simply lacked the power or area coverage to earn a high score. Freecasting, on the other hand, allowed the accumulation of magical energy before release, enabling far more impactful results. 

Once the competition got underway, Bastion found himself disappointed by the level of magic on display.

Fire Bolts barely scratched the 8-point targets. Water Bolts missed entirely. One participant used a Burning Hands spell and managed only 4 points. It was, in Bastion's eyes, an embarrassing performance. These were supposed to be the noble children of powerful houses, born with natural talent, raised with access to training, and statistically stronger than commoners.

Instead, what he saw were children who had squandered their gifts. It was clear they hadn't trained seriously. Their talents had been wasted.

Finally, a young man stepped up with visible confidence. He used freecast magic to form a large Fireball, which exploded and knocked over targets totaling 12 points. The crowd erupted in applause.

'Finally, someone who understands the assignment,' Bastion thought.

Unfortunately, as Bastion had feared, even those with access to free-cast magic lacked the imagination to truly harness its potential.

The competition continued until it was finally Bastion's turn. So far, the highest score achieved had been 16 points, earned by an older participant whose Fire Bolt managed to knock down the 16-point target directly.

Bastion approached the range and walked to the right, stopping halfway between the center and the edge. With a flick of his hand, he began crafting a stone projectile shaped like a rocket, complete with a detailed internal chamber to mimic a real-world fuel delivery system and stabilizing fins.

He filled the interior with a combination of wind and fire magic, took a breath, aimed, and launched it.

The projectile struck a 1-point target, then a 2-point, followed by a 4-point. Finally, it drilled through and shattered the 16-point target in the back, totaling 23 points in a single shot.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

Then, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.

Bastion stood as the clear victor with a seven-point lead.

In truth, he could have destroyed every target at once using a dust explosion. But that would have been overkill. This method had been more elegant and more respectful to the event. That was why he had insisted on going last.

In the end, Bastion won a handful of platinum coins, and many nobles approached him either to discuss magic or to ask for advice.

He became acquainted with several noble children and made a few useful connections. It was not much, but he had done his due diligence.

The remaining social gatherings were fairly standard: garden parties, formal banquets, or collection viewings. None offered anything particularly novel.

At one such event, Bastion ran into his step siblings, specifically his three step sisters, all of whom had married shortly after graduating from the academy.

From their confident interactions with the other nobles, they seemed to be doing well. They had influence, and Bastion made a mental note to keep them in mind should he ever need access to their circles.

Among the people Bastion reconnected with was Victor, his stepbrother, who had married into nobility. The two spoke during one of the gatherings, where Victor proudly shared stories of his new life filled with luxury, comfort, and indulgence.

Victor was part of a harem, though not in the traditional sense. He and several other men were married to a single noblewoman, a Viscountess who owned mountainous land rich with mines. She was a half minotaur, though she appeared fully human aside from her towering seven foot height.

Her heritage granted her incredible strength and stamina, but what truly demanded a household of multiple husbands was her boundless libido. According to Victor, she was insatiable.

Despite what one might expect, there was no jealousy or rivalry among the men. Instead, they had formed a close knit brotherhood. They supported one another, shared advice, and even helped recruit new members to join their unconventional family.

Victor claimed to be one of the alphas in their group, respected and admired for his exceptional endurance in bed. He was always there for his brothers when they couldn't endure, making sure their queen was satisfied.

Bastion made a mental note to keep Victor in his network. Considering his future plans, access to mines would be invaluable for supporting his upcoming projects.

Lastly, there was the primary reason he was expected to attend these social gatherings: finding potential wives.

In a nutshell, Bastion was disappointed. 

The women who threw themselves at him were all gold diggers, seeking the lavish lifestyle that being married to a duke could provide. Bastion made a mental note to choose one at random when he ran out of options. All he needed was one child to be the next heir, just as his father had chosen him. 

In the end, he did meet some potential candidates.

One of them was Zari Tharnyx , an Apprentice Rank Warrior and the daughter of Victor's wife from one of her older partners. She was reportedly a near-identical copy of her mother.

At 7 feet (213 cm) tall and 25 years old, Zari had short brown hair, amber eyes, and tanned skin. Her figure was accentuated by her extremely large breasts, and she wore an outfit that resembled a tan sports bra paired with a tan long slit skirt. She had rippling muscles that complemented her hourglass shape complete with six-pack abs and tattoos. She was Bastion's very image of an amazoness

Even for Bastion, she was a giant of a woman who wasn't shy about her body. She came onto Bastion quite hard as well.

Unfortunately, she already had quite the body count, and although it wasn't a problem for Bastion, there was a high likelihood that she would prefer a harem of her own rather than joining Bastion's. So, he dropped her low on his priority list.

Next came a set of twins: Flora and Fauna Crestwood. Both were human, standing at 5'6" (1.67 m) and aged 27, with long green hair, green eyes, and fair skin. They had delicate frames and modest chests. One specialized in plant-based summoning, while the other was a traditional beast tamer. Rumor had it they possessed some elf lineage and were deeply connected to nature.

If Bastion had to nitpick, it would be their eccentric personalities, one was quiet and demure, the other a wild child. Both were notoriously difficult to hold a proper conversation with.

They had once been quite popular, attracting many suitors, but interest often faded after initial meetings. The twins were notoriously picky and insisted on choosing a partner who satisfied both of them equally. Even if only one of them was being courted.

Apparently, Bastion passed with flying colors, judging by how their conversation ended. Still, he chose to put the matter on hold until after graduation. There was no sense in jumping the gun now.

Lastly, there was Ariel Valemont, a half-hawkwoman standing at 5'8" (173 cm) and the daughter of a Baron. Unlike regular hawkmen, she had normal feet and hair, but retained her elegant white wings, with a single feather sticking out above her right ear. She had long silver hair, silver eyes, and a stunningly seductive figure, with generous curves and toned thighs. To Bastion, she looked like the ideal angel.

She considered herself a decent archer, but her low Strength made it difficult to level up. Though she longed to become an adventurer, her physical limitations kept her grounded. It was why she remained with her controlling father, even as her heart yearned for adventure.

Ariel also carried herself with a pleasant demeanor, attracting many suitors. These men were eventually stonewalled by her father, who demanded additional land or territory in exchange for her hand in marriage, a price most nobles were unwilling to pay for a woman.

Bastion had Sibelle investigate, but no wrongdoing was found, so the father would have to remain. Ariel was his current top pick, and Bastion had told her as much, but he would have to wait until after he became the duke to take any real action.

There were other notable women as well, but there was a reason they remained single even after graduating from the academy, much like the previous four candidates.

In any case, Bastion completed his schedule as planned and was finally on his way to the academy.

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