Another Lavish Party

Another lavish party. Another waste of expensive food and wine.

My master has been throwing more of these lately. Being a butler to this man is like herding cats, if the cats were drunk, rich, and convinced the world revolved around them. He is a fool. A rich, aristocratic fool, yes, but a fool all the same.

One of the old Eldoran families. Possibly related to the emperor somewhere. Far, far back, buried in lineage and dust. Now? Just a taboo noble wasting his fortune on food, wine, and whores. No woman will ever marry him. He has carved too deep a mark into high society for that. Even associating with him is frowned upon.

That’s why his parties attract such… unusual company.

Raimex chieftains from the border realms.

Industrialists and businessmen sniffing for investments, or simply free luxury.

The odd orcish diplomat passing through the capital.

This is not why I moved to Eldara.

Eldara will make you rich, they said. You’ll come home with enough to buy the whole town. Nonsense. The city only needs bodies for its factories. I thought service to a lord would be better. Cleaner, at least.

But the staff here keeps shrinking. Some are “no longer required.” Others we simply can’t afford. Now there are only a handful of us left. The cooks work themselves ragged to push these courses out. Half the cleaners are gone, their duties dumped on those of us who remain.

And me? I stand here. Watching him eat.

Listening to the scrape of silverware on porcelain. Breathing in the scent of roasted pork glazed in honey and spice. Knowing full well the leftovers will be the worst cuts. Always are.

Waiting. Always waiting.

I am beginning to despise my employer.

Very much.

“Jeffery!”

“Mm, apologies, sir.” What does he want now?

“Miles away again, Jeffery?”

“No, sir. Just planning the evening’s work.”

“Hm. Sure.” He waves a hand. “Bring out the next course, will you? And I could do with more of this wine. Very refreshing.”

“Yes, sir.” I bow, why do I still bother? I think he hates it as much as I do.

At least the kitchens will offer some peace.

Except. Wait. Where am I?

The kitchens should be this way. But this corridor… it’s wrong. Not different. Wrong. It curves in on itself, looping back toward the dining hall.

I haven’t walked that far.

“Ah, Jeffery! There you are!”

“Sir, I…”

“Excellent work tonight. This cheese, where is it from?”

“You asked for the next course and…”

I stop. His wineglass is full. Bottles line the table. The plates are cleared. When did that happen?

“Ha! Good one, Jeffery.”

“Sir?” My voice sounds thin.

“Well don’t just stand there, my boy. I’m ready for dessert!”

“Dessert? Sir, I…”

There’s a trolley in front of me. Where did that come from? Was I pushing it this whole time?

“Jeffery, are you feeling alright?”

“Sir, may I excuse myself? I’m feeling unwell.”

“Of course.”

I bow again, damn it. The room tilts. “The rest of the staff can assist you.”

“The… rest of the staff?”

“Good night, sir.”

He watches me go with an expression I don’t like.

“Yes, Jeffery. You should get some rest.”

Finally. Freedom. Except, where are my quarters?

This hallway is decayed. Cracked stone. Dust. Silence. Where is everyone?

Click.

The wall shifts.

No, not a wall. A door. Hidden. The statue beside it is an opening mechanism.

It’s heavy. So very heavy.

Beyond it lies a chamber older than the house itself. Like a museum, if museums collected things that should not exist.

Artefacts of impossible design. Languages that share no alphabet with any living tongue. Magi-tech, ancient, refined, terrifying. Paintings of alien landscapes. Cyclopean cities that defy geometry. Maps of continents that resemble ours… almost.

And at the centre. A purplish glow. The air seems darker around it.

“This place is wrong,” I whisper.

“It took you much longer to find it this time.”

That voice.

“Sir, I, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Jeffery.” He sounds tired. “Your mind is failing. I knew you’d be drawn back eventually.”

“My mind is fine!” My mind is going, how dare he. My mind is fine. Damned this fool.

“Your mind is broken,” he says gently. “And I am not a fool.”

How did he.

“I never meant for it to affect you this badly. I hoped I could fix it.”

“Sir, I don’t understand.” His face, by Sol, his face. “Sir, were the others not helpful enough at your function?”

“Jeffrey, the others. There are no others. It has just been you for decades.”

“Decades, no sir. No. I started, I started…” I was, it was, last spring. “I started…”

“I am sorry, but it seems your memories are all mixing together. Let me ask you dear Jeffery, what happened this night.”

“It was another one of your parties sir. You had people round. A feast.”

“It was just me Jeffrey. Like every night.”

“What, no, it was a party. There were many of you. Multiple courses.” What is this. He is trying to trick me.

“No trick Jeffrey. I haven’t had a feast like that for well over thirty years. Ever since the empire started prioritising its industry over its people. It has been difficult to justify. Not to mention every lord is usually followed by a magi-tech enhanced individual. I can’t have them find this place as well.”

“What is this place sir? What is that thing?”

“That thing.” That was a long sigh. “That thing is a relic from the past. Was never supposed to be found. But you are curious. You were curious. I thought I would never get you back. That perhaps your mind would find a way back.”

“Sir, please.”

“Its okay Jeffrey, you won’t remember this tomorrow.”

His eyes, there so dark. Black. What is he.

“This won’t hurt, it never hurts you.”

I can’t move, what is that power coming from him. “Sir, I can’t move! Sir why! What are you doing?”

“Just resetting things. We will fix this Jeffrey. One day…”

“Sir, I! I! Argh!”

…

…

Damned, I tired. First day in this job. Glad I bagged this one, and not one in a damned Zayne-tech factory. Hopefully I can make some proper money here. Argh, why is my neck hurting so much. Must be this new bed. Time for a new start.