The party stood at the street a corner away from the Barony of Luxden, a sprawling estate that looked less like a noble’s residence and more like a paranoid king’s last stronghold.
The outer walls were too high. Not absurdly tall like a castle’s fortifications, but just high enough to not be practical for anything else. Rows of metal spikes lined the tops, each one adorned with actually glowing magical runes that suggested more than just sharp pain for anyone foolish enough to climb.
The main gate was guarded by four armored men, each standing rigidly at attention. They didn’t fidget. They didn’t chat. They didn’t even glance around idly the way normal, half-bored guards did. No, these men were like knights, but professional.
Anders clicked his tongue. “The man built himself a fortress.”
“I mean, I would too if I collected expensive enchanted knives,” Lena whispered in his ears before he patted on Blorbo’s surface. “Luckily, we got exactly what he needed. A royal table.”
And Blorbo looked completely different. The masking magic wasn’t just supposed to make Blorbo look normal. It was supposed to make him look high-end.
Whose masking magic? Who else?
Blorbo had seen two of the most skilled liars and deceivers in the party had worked their magic on him. These were what his Skill Appraisal was able to register.
Spells Cast by Anders:
[Mimic’s Frame – Beginner-Level Spell – Level ???]
→ Alters the user’s posture, presence, and general aura to match a desired role. Normally used on people, but Anders overclocked it onto Blorbo. Now Blorbo feels like he belongs. A simple table, in a rich man’s house. Nothing weird about that.
[Feather’s Drift – Basic-Level Spell – Level ???]
→ Originally meant for silent movement, Anders repurposed it to make Blorbo look weightless. The way the light catches his surface makes him seem delicate and refined, like he was crafted by artisans who charge five years’ wages per chair leg.
[Structure’s Veil – Beginner-Level Spell – Level MAX]
→ Blorbo doesn’t just look expensive, he feels expensive. If someone touches him, they’ll feel the polished grain, the varnish, the sheer quality.
[Paid in Apathy – Basic-Level Spell – Level ???]
→ This one’s crucial. It nudges people’s minds just enough to make them not care. Nobody wants to get blamed for messing up a noble’s property, so if a guard even thinks about inspecting Blorbo too closely, their instincts will whisper, “Don’t touch it. Not worth the trouble.”
Spells Cast by Ducaz:
[Gilded Mirage – Rare Spell – Level ???]
→ This isn’t just an illusion. Ducaz’s signature scam magic tricks the mind. To an onlooker, Blorbo doesn’t just have gold inlays and ornate carvings—he has a story. He feels like an heirloom passed down for generations. Someone, somewhere, must have died for this table.
[“Sacred” Presence – Rare Spell – Level 4]
→ Used previously for temple scams, this spell makes Blorbo radiate prestige and importance. The guards will subconsciously assume he’s valuable, even if they don’t know why. It also deters theft, since anything that looks this sacred is usually cursed.
[Gaze of the Gullible – Rare Spell – Level 4]
→ A classic Ducaz special. This doesn’t make Blorbo invisible—it makes him obvious in a way that nobody wants to question. The richer he looks, the less people want to admit they don’t recognize him. No one wants to be the idiot who questions "the Baron’s new antique table" in case they’re supposed to already know about it.
[The Robber’s New Shine – Rare Spell – Level ???]
→ Blorbo now has a perfect, glossy finish. A royal polish so immaculate that it reflects light in an unnatural way. This has no practical purpose other than making him look ridiculously expensive. Ducaz is just showing off.
“Maybe we have overdone it,” Anders frowned as he looked at Blorbo.
“Nah,” Ducaz waved his hand.
What do you mean NAH? I’m the most high-end table anyone here has ever seen! When you bring me in there they’re gonna thought I’m the baron and the baron will look like my furniture! We’re going to be so busted.
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Of course, there had been a reason why Anders had insisted on over-preparation. A good reason this time.
“They hired someone from The Watcher’s Watch,” Anders had said. Blorbo had no idea what that name meant. He just knew it sounded ridiculous.
“Which one’s that?” Lena peered outside from the side of the wagon.
Anders rested his elbow on the wagon’s edge, eyes scanning the Baron’s estate like he was expecting the very walls to sprout ears. “The Watcher’s Watch is an independent security guild. They have no allegiance and no kingdom loyalty. You pay them enough, and they’ll guard anything.”
Huh. Sounds too normal.
Lena frowned. “So they’re mercenaries?”
“No. Mercenaries fight. Watchers watch.” Anders exhaled sharply. “I don’t know where the spellcaster is, but I can see the spell. It’s a passive detection spell.”
Okay. What’s the name of the spell?
Anders continued, “C-tier. Not something you can just sneak past with good footwork.”
And the name?
“It won’t expose you right away, but the longer you stay in its range, the higher the chance it will mark you.”
What’s the name?!
Wait. I just realized Spell Appraisal didn’t catch that passive detection spell. Maybe I can recognize spells when they’re cast, but can’t recognize ongoing ones that have already been cast.
Lena crossed her arms. “Mark you?”
Anders clarified. “It doesn’t just out you. It brands you with a magical trace that security can track for hours, even days, depending on how long you lingered inside. If I go in alone, I can’t remove it from myself. But…”
I don’t like the way this is going…
“... if we go in as a delivery team, with an object that gets detected instead of a person…”
Great. I’m bait.
Lena’s face lit up with realization. “The Veil will mark the table instead of us! But then Blorbo will be caught…”
“He’s a furniture. They don’t do much, you know,” Rob said.
I have feelings! I HAVE BEEN MADE TOO HIGH-END TO DIE LIKE THIS.
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Daniel Newwyn
