012

Noah had spent the last half hour before his training with Berenice in the library, worrying. She tried to assure him he would be fine, but he didn’t believe it. He expected to make a fool of himself in training. He was not very athletic and had no fighting experience besides fighting for his life ever since waking up in this world.

His training was outside the city’s walls. There was a military garrison just outside the range of the antimagic star, which Noah was led to by the sheeple guard Edmund through a few of the long, dark tunnels under the city. According to Edmund, the tunnels were now-depleted blackiron mineshafts. The city had been founded on top of massive deposits of the stuff.

The area they arrived at was mostly uninhabited, aside from a few military buildings and tents, though there were areas outside the city where people lived. Edmund nodded his head in the direction of a fenced-in training area, where a solitary figure stood, shadowboxing. Noah nodded in understanding, and Edmund returned the way he had come.

Noah approached the training area and got a better look at his new trainer. He was huge, and Noah was immediately intimidated. He stood about six and a half feet tall, and was bulky. He was not human. Rather, he was covered in hair, wearing only a red loincloth to cover his crotch. He also had a hairless tail. He looked like a giant, muscular rodent. He swung, throwing jabs and hooks as Noah watched. His shadowboxing turned him to face Noah, and Noah could see his unusual face. He had tiny, black eyes, and a short trunk, maybe one foot long.

“Ah!” yelled the powerful rodent-man. “You’re late!”

“What? I thought this was the right time.”

“Are you talking back, son? Drop and give me twenty right now, you weak-looking bag of shit!” The rodent-man walked toward Noah, pointing one of his fingers at the ground.

“Uhh,” Noah hesitated. So it was going to be like this, huh? Great. Noah was sure he couldn’t do twenty pushups in a row. He probably couldn’t even do five. But he figured he’d give it a shot. He dropped to his knees on the dirt outside of the training ring fence, and started doing pushups.

“Dear Eye in the sky! What are those? You call those pushups?”

Despite Noah trying his best, his form was awful, and he managed to do four pushups before his arms started to shake, and his already-terrible form faltered.

The rodent-man kicked Noah in the ribs, and Noah fell onto the dirt, holding his ribs and coughing.

“So you’re the special trainee, huh? Antimogne’s special little faggot who needs one-on-one training time with me, unlike any of the other soldiers get?” The man came toward Noah, and he flinched. He was still reeling from the kick, and hoped the man wouldn’t hit him again. “So how did you get him to give you special treatment? Did you suck on his royal cock?” The rodent man lurched forward like he was going to kick Noah again, but he just did it to make Noah flinch. “Was it as long as his arms and legs? You must know! That’s the only way the Emperor would favor a weakling like you. Is your Strength stat only a one? Stand up, kid!”

Noah stood up.

“What’s your name, you sack of shit?”

“N- Noah,” he responded, shaky from fear.

“Alright, Noah. I don’t know how long the Emperor wants me to train you for, but however long it’ll be will be too long! I’m gonna hate every minute of it, and I’m gonna ensure you do, too! You don’t deserve to be here, and I’m gonna make your life a living hell. If you want, you can go tattle to your royal boyfriend and get another trainer. I hope you do! But today, we’re training. Got that?”

“Y- Yes, uhh, yes sir?”

The rodent man just shook his head, making his trunk sway side to side. “My name is Warrant Officer Moali Merv, by the way, but to you, I’m just sir. Now, get in the training ring.”

Noah did as he was told, saying “Yes, sir” as he did so.

“I see you have a weapon on your hip. Go set it on that table. You’re not ready to practice with a weapon. Here, we learn martial arts long before we start fighting with weapons and class abilities. I’m sure you’ll give up before you ever make it that far. Later, I’ll ask you about your class and abilities, but for now, we’ll start training.”

Noah set his Tesla Rod on the table.

“Now, we’re gonna go straight into sparring. Put these gloves on. You can keep them for now, or you can leave them here, but they’re expensive as all hell, so don’t lose them. I expect to get them back when we’re done training. Tomorrow, I hope.”

Noah took the padded gloves. They were bright red and looked like regular boxing gloves, except for the golden ring at the base of each glove, which shimmered with magical energy. He slipped the gloves on and felt suddenly like his entire body was protected by a field of magical energy.

Wham! Moali side-kicked Noah in the stomach, and Noah flew off his feet onto the ground. Noah groaned with the impact of the kick, and again with the impact on the ground, but neither hurt like they should have.

“See? They protect you from any real harm when training. You’ll still be in pain, but you won’t break any bones. Probably. Now, stand up. We’re gonna spar so I can assess your skills, if you have any at all.”

“Okay,” said Noah, getting up.

Wham! Another side-kick sent Noah flying into the dirt again.

“That’s ‘yes, sir,’ you dumb little cunt!”

“Yes, sir!” Noah said eagerly, and stood up.

“Great. Now try to hit me.”

Noah looked up at the rodent man, who stood in a wide stance, wearing magical gloves of his own. There was no way he was gonna hit him. He already knew. But he’d have to try. He lunged forward.

He was instantly on the ground, writhing in agony.

“Keep your hands up, son.”

Moali had hit Noah in the head with a right hook, and sent him to the ground. Noah staggered to his feet, holding his head with one hand. It hurt a lot. He was intensely grateful he had the magical gloves. Without them, he’d probably have been knocked unconscious.

“Come on! Try again!”

He was instantly on the ground again, groaning in pain.

“Eye, you’re terrible! Alright, get up. I won’t try to hit you unless you drop your hands. Just try to hit me. See if you can land a single hit.”

He tried. He kept his hands up, and jabbed at Moali. Miss. Moali rolled his head out of the way. Noah threw a hook with his other hand. Miss. He started swinging wildly at Moali, but each punch missed. After a dozen punches, Noah was breathing hard, but he kept trying. Finally, he dropped his hands, and Moali punished the mistake with a punch to the head. Noah fell over.

“Ah!”

“Keep your hands up! Get up. Hit me!”

Noah was breathing too hard to respond properly. “Yes… Sir…”

He tried again to hit Moali, but each time he swung, Moali deftly ducked out of the way. Soon, Noah dropped his hands and ended up in the dirt.

“Idiot! Protect yourself at all times! Get up!”

Noah clambored to his knees, and stayed like that, gasping for breath. His eyes were full of tears, and he let out a frustrated groan.

“Get up!”

“I… Can’t…”

Moali front-kicked Noah in the face, and he fell backward onto the dirt. It didn’t hurt as much as a kick to the face normally would, thanks to the magic boxing gloves, but it still stung, and Noah cried while lying in the dirt, still desperately trying to breathe.

“Is this all you got? Get up!”

“I… Can’t… Breathe…”

“You think your enemy’s gonna let you stop to catch your breath in battle? Of course not! Get up!”

Noah tried to get to his knees. It was laborious, but he managed it, and then he stood up. He stuck his hands up. He was exhausted and in pain. His body and face ached. But he was ready to try again.

“Here, soldier. Breath of Vitality!”

Noah felt his muscles and lungs relax. All at once, he caught his breath. He was still in pain, but that was it. He bounced on the balls of his feet a bit, ready to fight again.

“Wow!” he exclaimed.

“I can only do that once, to extend your training. Normally, I use it halfway through training, about half an hour in. We’re only three minutes in, and I already had to use it. Eye, you’re pathetic!”

Noah furrowed his eyebrows in anger. He wasn’t pathetic! He was pathetic, but Moali didn’t need to insult him!

“Come on! You’re just gonna let me insult you like that? Coward! Hit me!”

Noah tried again to hit Moali. He never succeeded. Every punch was either avoided or blocked. After two minutes, he was again gasping for breath and, not thinking clearly, failed to keep his hands up. He ended up on the ground again.

“Stop!” he yelled in anger.

“Shut up, you faggot! You don’t tell me what to do!” Moali stomped on Noah’s leg, and Noah yelled out in pain. “Now get up!”

“I… Can’t. I…” Noah gasped for breath. He couldn’t do this. It was too hard. He was too tired and in too much pain. Maybe he could get a different trainer after all. One that wasn’t so cruel.

“Stand up, you bitch! Now!”

“I can’t! No!” Noah shouted through tears. “I can’t… Do it!”

“Yes, you can. Man up! Get up!”

“No!” He really couldn’t do it. Deep in his soul, he knew he was done. Only a few minutes of training. That was all it took to make him give up. But he couldn’t push on. He couldn’t keep getting hit, and he could barely breathe. He started to take off his gloves.

Moali growled in anger. “If you take off those gloves before I say so, you’re gonna regret it! Get up!”

Noah shook his head and sobbed. He pulled off one glove, and then the other. “I just can’t do it… I’m sorry.”

“Oh, you’re gonna be sorry!” Moali’s voice was filled with rage. He kicked Noah in the face. It hurt way more than the other blows had. Because he wasn’t wearing his gloves anymore to protect him. Noah crawled backward, and blood spilled from his nose.

“Please! Just stop!”

Moali kicked Noah in the ribs and then leaned down and punched him in the head. Noah’s face hit the dirt.

“Please! Just let me go! I’ll go!”

“You’re not going anywhere, you little bitch!” Moali continued to hit Noah. On his arms. On his legs. On his back. They all hurt intensely, and Noah cried and begged Moali to stop.

Noah tried to use his class ability to get away. “Dash!” But it didn’t work. Oh, right. It was called Ether Walk now. “Ether Walk!”

“Suppress Abilities!” shouted Moali before Noah was done speaking, and Moali touched Noah on the arm. Noah’s ability didn’t take effect.

“What the hell?” yelled Noah.

“Nice try, you little shit!” Moali punched Noah in the face again.

Noah had tried to get away, but his ability wouldn’t work. What the fuck? Moali could suppress his abilities? Moali hit him hard in the lower back, and it hurt bad.

“Please! I’ll keep training! I’ll keep training! Just stop!”

“Oh, it’s too late for that, you stupid faggot! Come here! I’m gonna make you regret your insubordination!”

“Leave me alone!” Noah screamed, crawling in the dirt to try to get away from Moali. Moali grabbed his legs with his thick hands. Noah felt Moali’s small claws digging into his calves. Noah tried to kick, but Moali was too strong and had Noah’s legs firmly in his grasp. He pulled Noah toward him. He punched Noah in the back, and Noah screamed in pain.

Noah felt Moali’s hand go to the waistband of his pants, and pull down on them.

“What the fuck are you doing? Fuck off!”

“Shut up, little bitch!” Moali shouted, smacking Noah’s face with his hand, which then returned to pulling down Noah’s pants.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m training you, you pile of human shit! You have no chance in a fight. No chance! If you want to survive, you’ll need to beg and plead for your life.” He pulled down Noah’s silk underwear, revealing his bare, pale ass. “You need to pay for your life with your body. You need to hope they spare you if you let them use your faggot body.”

Noah now realized what Moali was doing. He intended to rape Noah. But he wouldn’t really do it, right? He was just teaching Noah a lesson? In any case, Noah struggled and cried. His hands clawed at the dirt, but he couldn’t get away. He felt a hand, wet with saliva, slide between his ass cheeks and wet his asshole. He wasn’t really going to rape Noah, was he?

Noah sobbed violently. “Okay! I’ll train! Please!” He turned his head and saw Moali had pulled aside his red loincloth, revealing a thick, brown penis. It didn’t have a head like a human penis, but instead just tapered to a blunt point where the urethra was. Moali was fully erect, maneuvering to place his dick between Noah’s ass cheeks. “I’ll train! I’ll train!” begged Noah through tears, but Moali continued to get into the position he would be in if he actually decided to rape Noah in the ass.

Noah felt Moali’s dick move between his asscheeks, the slender tip pressing against Noah’s asshole. It was so big. It wouldn’t fit. There was no way he was actually going to fuck him in the ass. With a dick that big, it wouldn’t be safe. His dick was, like, ten inches long, and thicker than a soda can at the widest part. If he really shoved it inside, it would hurt like hell. Noah tensed in fear.

“Please. Please. I’ll do anything.”

“Even train?” asked Moali.

Noah turned, looking back at Moali with one hopeful eye. “Yes! God, yes! I’ll train!”

Maoli let out a chuckle. “Yeah, right. Fat chance. You wouldn’t last another two minutes. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve had a tight little ass like yours before.”

Noah’s heart sank. Moali implied he would actually enjoy raping Noah, and now a part of him really believed he’d do it.

“Please! I’ll train, I swear! I swear! I won’t give up no matter what!”

Moali smirked, looking Noah in the eye. He leaned forward, pressing his body weight against Noah’s ass. He felt pressure against his asshole from Moali’s penis.

“No! Please! I’ll train, I promise!” Noah cried out. But Moali didn’t stop. He pressed hard against Noah’s asshole with his dick until the tip started to press inside Noah’s ass. Noah sobbed and scrambled in fear.

“No! No!” he screamed, and every part of his body twisted and struggled as he tried to escape. But it was in vain. Moali had a good grip on him, and Noah wasn’t going anywhere. “No! No! No! Stop! I’ll train, I swear!” Even though he knew his struggle was utterly in vain, he struggled violently anyway. He couldn’t help himself. He had to get away.

One of Moali’s hands was pinning Noah down. The other hand tightened on Noah’s left ass cheek as Moali forced his cock further into Noah’s ass. There was very little lubrication – only a bit of saliva – so he was relying on sheer force to get it inside. Noah cried out in pain. Moali’s cock pushed like a huge, hot iron into his ass. It burned intensely as it slowly went in.

Noah screamed and struggled, and the dirt around his face was wet with his tears and saliva. He begged and pleaded, but Moali ignored him and pulled Noah’s ass toward him, pushing his cock further into Noah’s ass. It was halfway in. He still wasn’t at the thickest part, and already Noah could feel his asshole stretching tight. Moali’s dick was too thick. Noah’s ass couldn’t take it. He sobbed from the pain alone. His asshole was so tight, he felt like it would split open.

It did. Moali gave one last hard shove, and his dick went all the way into Noah’s ass. This was met with an anguished scream from Noah. He felt a white-hot pain as the ring of his asshole split open slightly to accommodate Moali’s huge dick. Moali groaned in pleasure as Noah’s pale asscheeks met his hairy hips. Noah struggled and desperately clawed at the dirt, but Moali pulled back, and pushed again into Noah’s ass. This time, there wasn’t as much friction, as Noah’s blood lubricated his dick, but it still felt like he was being stabbed in the ass.

Noah was nauseous from the pain; he felt himself start to disconnect from his environment. The pain was so intense. Slap. Slap. Slap. Noah felt Moali fucking his ass and heard his hips slapping hard against Noah’s asscheeks. It didn’t feel like it was happening to him, even though it hurt so much. It felt like he was watching it happen to someone else.

“Yeah! Mmm… You like that, you little faggot? I bet you do.” Moali leaned forward, and Noah felt his hot breath on his neck. Noah cringed. Moali’s short trunk touched Noah’s cheek, and slithered to his nose, where the dextrous muscle grasped his nose tightly. Moali moaned in Noah’s ear. His hot breath smelled faintly like rotten meat.

Moali’s trunk felt for Noah’s mouth and tried to slip between his lips, but Noah pursed his lips tightly. Moali’s trunk was contented to grab Noah’s nose tightly again. Moali grunted with every thrust, pressing Noah harder and harder into the dirt.

At some point, Noah stopped struggling. His arms lay limp on the hard dirt as Moali raped him from behind. It still hurt like hell, but Noah felt totally helpless. He couldn’t escape. He couldn’t Ether Walk away. All he could do was lie here and take it. He just hoped Moali would be done soon.

“Yeah, that’s right. Just lie there and take it. That’s all you’re good for. Just take my dick in your ass. Yeah…” Moali groaned. Noah prayed it would be over soon. The pain was too much. He felt his mind become dull. The pain was too much. He was in shock. He couldn’t take it. He needed it to stop, but it wouldn’t stop.

“Please…” Noah whimpered. It was too quiet for Moali to even hear. Moali kept thrusting into Noah’s limp body, getting faster and more aggressive with each penetration. Each exhale of Noah’s breath was a quiet scream nobody could hear. It had to stop. It had to stop.

Finally, it did. Moali pulled Noah tight, and yelled out a cry of pleasure as he came inside Noah’s ass. Noah felt a squirting sensation and a feeling of heat inside of him as Moali’s cock pulsed. Finally, Moali lay still on top of Noah, his trunk idly feeling Noah’s nose. His breathing was heavy.

They lay like that for a minute before Moali got up and pulled his loincloth back into position.

“There you go. That’s what you deserve, you stupid faggot. You’re no soldier. Now fuck off back to the palace, you spoiled shit.” Moali took the magical boxing gloves and put them back on the wooden table. “Your abilities will be working again in around fifteen minutes. Don’t do anything stupid until then. Or do. Like I care.”

Noah lay in the dirt, motionless. His whole body hurt, especially his asshole, which was bleeding at a slow, steady trickle. His breathing was shallow. His eyes focused on a single point in the far distance. He could sense Moali walking around him.

“Come on, get up already. Go back to the palace. Don’t be dramatic.”

Noah didn’t move. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

After a minute, Moali spoke again. “Get up. Quit over-reacting. You got what you deserved for your insubordination. I’ve had men hanged for insubordination, you know! You got off lucky. Now get up and go home!”

But he didn’t move. Moali kicked him. Not hard – just enough for Noah to feel it. He lay there, motionless.

“Whatever. You wanna lay there all night? Be my guest. Have fun laying there. I’m going back to the barracks. Stupid bitch.”

Moali left, and Noah lay in the dirt. His mind was blank. All he could focus on was the pain, and the feeling of deep violation and helplessness. Before he knew it, the sun had set. Hours had passed. They felt like nothing. He sat up. The bleeding had stopped in his ass. Another few hours passed. He stared vacantly into the distance. Why? Why did this happen to him? He didn’t remember standing up, but he was walking back through the tunnel to the Toldenhold. The sheeple guard at the gate was confused that his face was bloody, because normally the magic boxing gloves prevented injury during training. Berenice was asking him why he was gone so long, and what happened to him. He didn’t respond. She was tending to his injuries, and running to get help, and then he was being wheeled out of the city again. A life mage healed his external injuries. Then he was taken back into the city. The pain was much better, except for the pain inside his ass that the mage didn’t know about, which still burned. He felt empty inside. Berenice was asking him again what happened. Soon, he was in his bed, dressed in silk pajamas. They were orange, with white accents. It was dark, but Berenice was with him, sitting in a chair next to the bed, holding his hand. He fell asleep. Moali was waiting for him in his nightmares.

---

Noah awoke in a cold sweat. Berenice was asleep in the chair next to his bed. He had dreamed he was trapped under a burning log, and Moali was torturing and raping him. But he appeared to be safe. He looked around to be sure. He squinted his eyes. The bright light bothered him more than it usually did. Nobody. Just Berenice. And a few kids running around in the courtyard outside his large window.

“Ah, Noah, thou art awake. Wouldst thou talk now?”

Noah rubbed his eyes, and held his head. He had a headache. There was a weird kind of pressure in his head. Fortunately, the bruises and cuts on his face had been healed the night before.

“Okay,” he replied.

“Thou needest not speak of anything thou wisheth not to, Noah. Yet, prithee, recount unto me what hath transpired.” She held his hand, squeezing it.

Noah stared at her for several seconds before answering. “Sorry, what?” He wasn’t feeling quite right. Maybe he was still waking up.

“What hath occurred, Noah? Who hath set upon thee?”

“Oh, right. It was Moali.” Noah’s heart rate increased just upon speaking the name out loud.

“Who?”

“Moali. The trainer at the garrison.”

“What? Wherefore would thy trainer attack thee so? What hath occurred?”

“I-“ Noah swallowed, and winced at his headache. “I don’t know. I just couldn’t keep up with his training, and he got mad. He started beating me, and… And he raped me.”

“Noah! Alas! ‘Tis dreadful! We must converse with the Emperor forthwith!”

Noah groaned. We must converse with the Emperor forthwith. What? She wanted to tell the Emperor? It was bad enough having to tell Berenice.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Prithee, Noah. This Moali fellow must be brought to justice. And thou requirest a new, better trainer. Prithee, Noah. Come. The Emperor is benevolent; he will aid us.” She put her hand on his shoulder to encourage him to stand from bed, but he shied away from her touch.

“Stop!” he yelled at her. She froze. “Sorry, Berenice. I-“ He winced. His headache was hurting more as he woke up. “I just don’t think we should bother the Emperor. It’s fine.”

“‘Tis not fine! Thou wert raped, Noah! Thy thoughts are muddled. Arise! Prithee! Let us go!” She tried again to pull Noah from bed, and he resisted slightly but allowed her to stand him up.

Once he was on his feet, he felt he had a bit of double vision. The room spun a bit, and he felt a bit like throwing up. After a few seconds of standing, the feeling receded.

“Come, Noah.”

“Okay,” he said, holding his head with both hands. They walked out of the room, and Noah allowed her to lead him to the throne room.

Berenice had some words with the guards, and then some louder words, and then one of them slipped inside the door. A few seconds later, he returned and motioned them to follow him inside.

Noah didn’t find the Emperor’s visual magnetism as disorienting as the other times. Maybe he was getting used to it. Or maybe Noah was just disoriented already.

My guard doth say thou must report a crime? Please tell me all about what thou hath witnessed.

“‘Tis Noah, Your Highness. He hath been assailed and violated sexually!”

You were not witness to the crime yourself? If not, hold tongue; let Noah speak his truth.

“I cannot let Noah speak for himself, Your Majesty. He is confounded. Methinks he hath suffered a cranial injury that the life mage who healed him knew not of.”

Speak both, then; Wait, I do on bated breath. Who hath beset young Noah so severely?

“He claimeth ‘twas his trainer, Your Majesty. Moley?”

Ah, Moali, he’s well known to all. A trainer peerless in the skills he hath. His repute in training is without a stain, Though his reputation as a man Is one of manners rough and words unkind. What did young Noah to incite his ire? The man is cruel, but he’s quite effective.

“I know not. Noah, why not speakest thou what hath happened, alright?”

“Okay.”

“Proceed, Noah.”

“I was just training with him, and I couldn’t do it anymore. I was out of breath and in pain. But he kept making me fight, and I couldn’t do it. I took off my training gloves, And then he got angry and started hitting me. And then he pulled down my pants…” Tears started to stream down Noah’s face.

Ah, shame hath struck, yet lessons oft come so. Thou shalt not turn from training now again, no? Forgive me, Noah, yet Moali’s talent Makes men of boys and bends them to his will. His touch suppresses their abilities; Without This gift, to train many a humanborn Would prove quite hard, yea nigh impossible For those with iron skin or poison touch. Esteemed in training arts, his worth’s extreme. He is the rain; thou art the sapling limb. Heed his words well and grow, young tree.

Berenice chose her response carefully. “Thy words bear wisdom. Pressure doth indeed forge diamonds from mere coal. Yet, rape, Your Majesty? And such a savage beating? Is it not excessive?”

For insubordination? You know, in war Defiance such as this would earn a noose. A rape, as such, seems slight and quite deserved. A soldier must obey without exception. Yet, Noah, I am not without a heart. I see how much this injury doth pain thee. This stress will forge thee stronger in the end, And if resentment lingers for Moali, When stronger, thou may thy sweet revenge Have against the man, I’ll stop you not. Despite his value, you may hurt or kill him.

“But Your Majesty! I beseech thee! He needs must be-“

I’ve said my part; begone and let me be.

Antimogne waived his finger. Noah and Berenice felt themselves being pulled away from the Emperor to the throne room door, and soon, they were standing in the hallway.

“Ugh,” said Noah. “I don’t feel very good.” Berenice was about to reply, but Noah leaned over and vomited on the black hallway floor. “Oh… I need a paper towel.”

“Fret not, Noah. The slaves shall cleanse it. Come, let us go to the life mage once more.”

Berenice stopped him at his room to get some gold coins in case they wanted to visit the artifact market outside the town after they went to the hospital. Then, Berenice walked the dizzy Noah through the tunnel out of the city. He stopped several times because he thought he would vomit again, but he was wrong. He only managed to dry heave. His vision was spinning as they walked, and his head pounded.

“I think I haves a concussion,” said Noah.

“Aye. Come.”

They found the hospital, which was outside the city walls because the antimagic star prevented life magic from working properly within its diameter. Berenice told them his symptoms, and soon, a life mage of high level came and healed his concussion. Noah also admitted the stabbing pains he was feeling inside his ass, and the life mage healed his rectum too. Noah’s dizziness and nausea subsided.

“Art thou feeling better, Noah?”

“Yeah. My headache is gone. I don’t feel pain anymore. That’s good.”

“Great! Shall we venture to the market? Perchance, we may find some useful artifacts.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so, Berenice. I just wanna be alone.” Rather than look her in the eye, he looked down at the floor. He was sad.

“I understand, Noah. But ‘twill benefit thee to be around people rather than confine thyself to thy chamber alone, aye?”

Noah sighed. “Okay. Whatever.”

“Very well, let us go! Come along! ‘Twill be such a merry time!”

“Yeah.”