Olive garden wait list

If you message me, please tell me about yourself and include a/some photo(s) of yourself right away. Putting it in the very first sentence hoping people will actually read it? 😅.
Not your typical redditor I guess as I don’t consider myself to be a ‘nerdy gamer’ or watch anime 😅. I’ve posted on here a few times before about being in a new city and a bad breakup and needing a distraction. I’ve connected with some interesting people and even though I’m not in touch with most of them anymore, I did learn a lot about men and myself from those interactions. So, I’m here to try again but this time I’m looking for a meaningful connection that’ll last, hopefully.
Interested in talking to Americans/Canadians (around NYC/Toronto would probably make the most sense, I can explain why if we hit it off, but I guess anywhere on the east coast of the US is fine). It’s an accent thing, (the standard accents, what you hear on tv I guess), I’m into all races/ethnicities. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in NY/NJ and I’ll be moving to North America for work within the next year as well, if everything goes according to plan (won’t be giving up my Danish citizenship and could go back anytime. I love Denmark. A lot of people ask about this so thought I’d explain).
I’m a happy and positive person in general (with a bit of sass/sarcasm once you get to know me, but it’s all in good fun and I can definitely take it as well). I do get mad/annoyed/sad at times but it usually doesn’t last long. Honestly though, I hope you do too, cause it’s human. The important thing is to be able to talk about it. If you’re not a good communicator and if you can’t handle emotions, let’s not communicate at all.
I’m into socializing with my friends (it doesn’t matter what we do really, I’ll have fun as long as the company is good), going to the gym/being active, cooking, watching tv, occasionally gaming on my PS and a bunch of other stuff.
I’m educated and have a successful career, but I definitely enjoy my free time and I’d probably vibe with people that are similar. I’m super independent - right until I see spider or need to open jars :p. Not religious and not into drugs of any kind.
If you wanna know more, and if you’re a decent human being, I guess I’ll catch you in my DMs/chat and feel free to ask!
If you do contact me, please include a photo of yourself and tell me a bit about yourself. I did the same, right? If you don’t, I won’t be responding.
Alright, so here’s proof that I am me: https://ibb.co/m03P4kn
And here’s another photo of me: https://ibb.co/hMQDLXx
And here’s another one: https://ibb.co/0GyV3qr
It may not seem like it, but I smile a lot and it’s super easy to make me laugh, I promise!
Born and raised in Denmark, but ethnically I’m… a secret for now ;). My skin color ranges between olive - tan/brown. I’m 5’3 but into taller guys (6’0-6’2).
Like I said, into all races/ethnicities but I do have a preference to at least a bit of melanin. Prefer men around my age (maybe 31-35?). Not into youngeolder men, married/engaged/cheating men, polyamorous people… yeah I could keep adding to the list but I hope you get the idea. Oh, and no drugs.

Really enjoyed writing Ashe, but didn't like the title or how short it was and wanted to expand upon it. So I C/Ped the extremely short chapter here, made a lot changes, and resumed where I left off. So this is the new and official Chapter 1\. Changed the title too! Once this goes up, I might just delete* Ashe altogether we'll see. Until then, here's another for you guys. A proper chapter. Longer too. Back on the computer, so that's fun. Enjoy!*
Title subject to change!
Read Ashe here (unless it's gone lol): https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/13mkfre/comment/jkvjcro/?context=3
///
The dead stare of a long-disintegrated child looked up at them. Remnants frozen in time as a monument of ruin to the wasteland before her. A lifeless, shattered. Echos of what used to be. It used to beautiful. Maybe in memory, it stays there. Isolated, but perfect. Perhaps, in another lifetime, they could have considered such a sight tragic.
But now? Now, it was simply a byproduct. One of many at that.
Oblivion wondered if it was a form of hypocrisy. To care for their own children, the ones they were responsible for feeding and caring for. The very same children who required the life-filling nutritional energy only essence, only Souls, could provide in sufficient quantity and quality. At least, until they found a long-term alternative. How then, was it fair, that they could stare into the monuments of ash and brimstone without remorse? To sleep well in the void of space as the killed world after world? To render galaxies extinct and universes as little more than drifting debris of dead space?
As it turned out, Oblivion didn't care to find the answer.
In truth, they didn't actually care to answer a question they'd already established an answer for. The thought experiment was simply that. An experiment. Something to do, at best. The attention upkeep for a Living Extinction class such as themself rarely warranted such self-scrutiny, but times could be dull, seeing as the bare minimum of effort that it took to kill planet after planet after planet bore no grief to their heart not any guilt over the lives violently ripped away.
"Yo." A voice cried out. In response, the bored decimator tilted their head up to see their one and only partner hovering above them, floating in the shattered sky just a few feet above. They wondered if it was weird to take note that their friend's feet were remarkably clean. "You okay?"
Oblivion nodded. Their eyes glazed back down at the ashen remains of the child. It's face frozen in fear, their dreams, hopes and ideas dashed away. All so that their own children could have dreams, hopes and ideas on their own. Cataclysm, their partner, drifted down next to the standing red-skinned killer. Both Soul Rippers stood side-by-side amidst a lifeless chunk of what used to be Callus II, a world once renowned for its natural beauty. Destroying it hadn't actual yielded much Soulfood, or essence, as it was already halfway evacuated before their arrival. But once they did arrive, escape was impossible, not that it stopped the local resistance from, well, resisting. No, the planet's destruction was intended to damage moral moreso than it was to yield any form of "economic" bounty. Not that it didn't of course, food was food afterall, but it was an already sparsely populated planet. Since it was strongly suggested that the destruction of Callus II would cause significant unrest, maybe even rebellion in the remaining population centers, Oblivion figured it only fair they do their duty. Hence, another byproduct of a looong list that kept expanding, unlikely to end anytime soon.
"We got new orders from the ladies up top. Wanna guess what?" Oblivion's head tilted up, eyes gleaming with a current of curiosity. She gestured with her hand towards the broken debris scattered about. Of a long-dead world around them.
Cataclysm smirked as she shook her head. "Nah, nothin' too crazy. Got something new this time." She paused. 'Word is... we got allies now. Real, honest folks that wanna, and get this, work with us this time around."
A frown creased the white-haired woman's features. She turned to look at her partner's increasingly grinning expression.
Oblivion asked the obvious question without words. Mute as she was, it'd taken some time for Cataclysm to get a proper read on her partner's flow with any accuracy. Maybe it was because she was one of the not-quite-insignificant few that carried whatever gene caused the highbreds to be amquadsinistrous instead of the standard amquaddextrious. Which, naturally, caused her childhood to be filled with more than a few hiccups when you're a part of a species that heralds 4 arms to 1 torso. But the challenge was welcomed. It allowed her to be the Soul Ripper she is today. Her upper-hand twirled its index finger into a speedy frenzy, purple Vydent energy streaming from the tip into a swirling tight ball barely half the size of her thumb. The casual level of control over her Vydent flow made Cataclysm's partner wonder if it was weird that they noticed that, in addition to her feet, their friend's nails were also very clean.
Oblivion, for her part, remained focused on the current revelation. Confused at their friend's wording more than anything. Vassals that chose submission, to forgo their freedom and independence and live as official dependence of the Highbred Collective was the standard play-by-play. The trade-off, of course, being that in exchange for willingly allowing oneself to live as, essentially, glorified cattle for food and breeding purposes for denizens the Highbred Collective, the said cattle, referred to as thralls, would be legally protected under relatively well-regulated supervision and oversight in order to protect both their privacy and livelihood. The Gyfolten Principle in particular ensured, under extremely strict law and application, that humane treatment be provided in abundance for all enthralled vassals, unless otherwise specified by the vassals themselves. It was one of the very few choices offered to any and all opposition they defeated, excluding special exceptions naturally. The decision to live was choice often preferred, typically over those whose only other option was watch hard-won territories be conquered, captured, destroyed or a mixture of all three.
That was the only form 'allies' her people took. For a species to be able enter an honest partnership with the highbred race was... nearly unheard of.
Only one race had ever managed such a feat, and they were long extinct. The white-haired decimator pointed as her own head in a clawing motion, its question clear.
"Nope, not enthrallment." Cataclysm responded, still grinning even when she popped the 'P'. "Like I said. Full on allyship. Partners even!" The excitement in her voice was evident. Almost infectious. Oblivion's frown only deepened, confusion warring with contemplation before her eyes suddenly widened as the realization hit her. Cataclysm took the moment to mentally pat herself on the back for being able to translate the powerful mute's particular form of communication.
"Yep. There it is. It's aaaallll over your face BeeBee. No thralls, no vassals, no crazy shit. We got ourselves real volunteers this time around. People who wanna actually negotiate and even talk with us. Heh, three guesses as to who just got sattled to provide 'security' for the upcoming 'diplomatic mission'." She used air-quotes. "And the first two don't count."
Oblivion blinked.
Somehow, her partner's smile split her face even wider, a dance of mischievousness flashed through her glowing purple beacons. She slowly started to rise higher into the ruined sky moments later.
"Well! Guess you'll just have to fiiiind out when we get there. Planet we're going to is called 'Earth' by rest of the galaxy. So... ready for a lil' road trip?" /// The journey to Earth was a rather uneventful.
Surrounding her was a comfortable dome of dark red vydent energy, solidified into a comfortable hardlight seat that was easy on the eyes. It surrounded her like those capsules she'd seen on TV, forming both a protective barrier between herself and the vacuum of space as they traveled through FTL. Spacious too. She even had a nice comfy pillow and the 'chair' reclined as high or low as she pleased.
So, while uneventful, it most certainly a comfortable experience.
Pinelock was their assigned Solar Soother, an Energizer whose sole job was to provide speedy and smooth transportation for Decimators like Oblivion and herself when they didn't want to enter FTL themselves. Cataclysm remembered being in such a role eons ago, using her own vydent energy to ferry bigger and better Decimators from star system to star system. It paid decently, but she wasn't in it for the essence. The job was, at best, a luxury afforded for the powerful. Like being a limousine driver for an excessively wealthy businessman. It helped her connect with those powerful killers back in the day, helped her better understand their motivations beyond the barebone necessity of "kill or be killed".
With that thought in mind, the blonde Soul Ripper made a mental reminder to tip their chauffeur when they arrived at Earth as she leaned back into the provided pillow. Just as her eyes closed, she began thinking about her partner.
She remembered feeling incredibly nervous when upon first meeting her. The stories surrounding the then average Soul Ripper, wondering which ones were true and which ones were just hearsay from her various obsessors. Oblivion was a living legend, both inside and out. A genius and warrior both in fact. Back then, Cataclysm admired their tenacity. She read their info-profile. How Oblivion heralded many obsessors in her early days, rising to prominence primarily through utilizing some seriously impressive enthrallment tactics, drowning her would-be killers in a sea of bodies by utilizing some prolific insect race to force them to expend their vydent energy reserves. After that, it was a simple matter of killing off whatever opposition remained, though mercifully chose to personally spare or adopt many of the children of the deceased. All-in-all, it was a typical power story, up until the moment the Red Bastion, the main governing body of Highbred at the time, attempted to recruit her to their cause once she'd grown beyond their means of subjugation. And when their efforts ended in futility, Oblivion remained standing, the Red Bastion did not. Without leadership, the remaining populace moved on, formed their own groups, established a new primary Obelisk of Dominion, and the events were eventually relegated to the history logs. Whatever obsessors didn't try to outright kill the white-haired Soul Ripper decided to become dedicated housewives, pledging their hearts and mind to Oblivion and only her. Which was standard Obsessor behavior. What got her popular was the sheer volume of subsequent Supplicants that followed, asking to join her harem. Oblivion declined, of course, but the aftermath of so many offers are ultimately what rocketed her to the position she has today.
"A relatively bloodless rise to power really." Cataclysm though to herself. "Though I gotta wonder how she felt back then. What made her want to be a Soul Ripper in the first place? And why?" Even today, Cataclysm still didn't know. It was one of the few things she decided she'd have to be okay with never knowing. Over the years, as their bond grew, she thought she had a pretty good grasp on why her partner did what she did back then. But in truth? She still had no clue. And likely never would. What she figured she should know, however, is a little information on the race they were visiting. The humans of planet Earth.
"Speak?" Oblivion's voice gently echoed in the blonde Soul Ripper's mindscape, her voice somehow a whisper carried with all the authority of a command. But it was a genuine question, and Cataclysm was happy to answer honestly. She was a master at filling in the gaps by now. "Well, you just did, but shoot. What's on that mind o' yours?"
It was always an exceptionally rare moment with an even shorter timeframe that Oblivion chose to speak, and even when they did it was always, always through their telepathic connection. So, whenever they did offer to speak, Cataclysm vowed to always make time to truly listen. And as she waited for the powerful decimator to speak their piece, the blonde Soul Ripper also found herself wondering about the new world they would be shortly arriving at. About what made this 'Earth' so special. And most importantly, what made its denizens so different from the rest of the galaxy?
For the first time in a long time, Cataclysm knew she finally had something to look forward to.
​
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Thank you so much for reading, Chapter will be far longer as they progress, haven't quite settled on a word count just yet. When Chapter 2 is up, it will be posted either at the top or the bottom, here. This is really my first real time posting here and, unlike previous unposted projects, I really want to improve my consistency in writing and craft a fun story while doing so. Until then, thank you for reading, please feel free to leave constructive criticism or feedback at your leisure, and I hope you have a great day!
-Highlord V.

If you message me, please tell me about yourself and include a/some photo(s) of yourself right away. Putting it in the very first sentence hoping people will actually read it? 😅.
Not your typical redditor I guess as I don’t consider myself to be a ‘nerdy gamer’ or watch anime 😅. I’ve posted on here a few times before about being in a new city and a bad breakup and needing a distraction. I’ve connected with some interesting people and even though I’m not in touch with most of them anymore, I did learn a lot about men and myself from those interactions. So, I’m here to try again but this time I’m looking for a meaningful connection that’ll last, hopefully.
Interested in talking to Americans/Canadians (around NYC/Toronto would probably make the most sense, I can explain why if we hit it off, but I guess anywhere on the east coast of the US is fine). It’s an accent thing, (the standard accents, what you hear on tv I guess), I’m into all races/ethnicities. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in NY/NJ and I’ll be moving to North America for work within the next year as well, if everything goes according to plan (won’t be giving up my Danish citizenship and could go back anytime. I love Denmark. A lot of people ask about this so thought I’d explain).
I’m a happy and positive person in general (with a bit of sass/sarcasm once you get to know me, but it’s all in good fun and I can definitely take it as well). I do get mad/annoyed/sad at times but it usually doesn’t last long. Honestly though, I hope you do too, cause it’s human. The important thing is to be able to talk about it. If you’re not a good communicator and if you can’t handle emotions, let’s not communicate at all.
I’m into socializing with my friends (it doesn’t matter what we do really, I’ll have fun as long as the company is good), going to the gym/being active, cooking, watching tv, occasionally gaming on my PS and a bunch of other stuff.
I’m educated and have a successful career, but I definitely enjoy my free time and I’d probably vibe with people that are similar. I’m super independent - right until I see spider or need to open jars :p. Not religious and not into drugs of any kind.
If you wanna know more, and if you’re a decent human being, I guess I’ll catch you in my DMs/chat and feel free to ask!
If you do contact me, please include a photo of yourself and tell me a bit about yourself. I did the same, right? If you don’t, I won’t be responding.
Alright, so here’s proof that I am me: https://ibb.co/m03P4kn
And here’s another photo of me: https://ibb.co/hMQDLXx
And here’s another one: https://ibb.co/0GyV3qr
It may not seem like it, but I smile a lot and it’s super easy to make me laugh, I promise!
Born and raised in Denmark, but ethnically I’m… a secret for now ;). My skin color ranges between olive - tan/brown. I’m 5’3 but into taller guys (6’0-6’2).
Like I said, into all races/ethnicities but I do have a preference to at least a bit of melanin. Prefer men around my age (maybe 31-35?). Not into youngeolder men, married/engaged/cheating men, polyamorous people… yeah I could keep adding to the list but I hope you get the idea. Oh, and no drugs.

Everyone was so kind last time a posted a riff on here. This is the final song with me strumming this time. Thank you for listening ✌🏻
Lyrics Grab the shears and trim the hedges Winter scorched her leaves and burned the edges The weeds have grown, beat back the bramble These thorns stick my side This burden feels like it’s too much to handle
Plant the lot and fence in the garden The animals want in they’re always starvin The overgrowth is so unkind Rake up the leaves, they’re piling up inside of my mind
I’m just trying to stop the liar He’s always shouting out my name In my heart, invincible summer She warms me up, shining out all my shame
The flash flood came and wiped the soil There goes my hard work the pain and toil Plant the seeds and start again And wait out the time, it takes to find What you’ve been missin
I’m just trying to stop the liar He’s always shouting out my name In my heart, invincible summer She warms me up, shining out all my shame

I'm trying to buy a xg7 block for my Dell/Alienware 3090 card, and I bought one in the past for a Dell 3080, it fit no problem. it looks like this one:
https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/custom-liquid-cooling/cx-9020015-ww/hydro-x-series-xg7-rgb-30-series-reference-gpu-water-block-3090-3080-ti-3080-cx-9020015-ww
amazon has the same picture for their 30x0 reference which is where i got the first one: https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-Hydro-Reference-Water-Block/dp/B08SBQMPVJ
However the last 2 they have shipped looks exactly like the 2080ti reference card option on amazon's listing, but on the box it says "RTX 3090 AIB Edition". Corsair does not appear to have this block on it's website. and google "3090 AIB Edition" brings up just a few sketchy sites.
I don't want to open the box and mess up the thermal paste trying to see if this fits, and don't want to wait another 2-3 days for a new one to ship just to have the same incorrect card shipped. Looking at the block layout I highly doubt it, but just in case, is the card that they shipped me a new/replacement version of the 3080/3090 reference edition?

Hello fellow Bonnaroo goers! So I need a little help with something. I've been on the wait-list to join moon colony camping for months now. Two cars of people I plan on going with have their moon colony camping passes. I am looking for anyone, that is of course willing, to help me get a moon colony camping pass! I am willing to work out anything just to camp with my friends! Hope to see everyone this year, and Happy Bonnaroo! :)

A management company who I will leave nameless followed me on Twitter. (I did not follow them first) - I do not have representation yet and am in the process of making my list to begin queries, and this company is one I already have on there. I was planning on starting the query process in 1-2 weeks (2max) after I finish my 2nd pilot script. I was waiting to have 2 scripts on hand just so I can be prepared in case I actually get a response or a "what else you got?" That being said, now I'm wondering if I should just query this management company on Twitter with my one pilot? (it's done well via festivals, also got 1 win in small festival and one of those cool 8's on blcklst) Or should I just wait and query them via email when I have my second pilot ready to go?
Thanks for reading, and have a good night!

The Great Hall stood tall against the cloudy day, expelling white smoke from the multiple chimneys on its thatched roof. The outer walls made of a dark gray stone and the overall brutalistic style of the building, gave the Great Hall a certain ‘Big Bad Evil Guy’s lair’ vibe. Upon further inspection, I noticed traces of mana weaved in between the stone which made me wonder if the whole building had some sort of protecting enchantment in place. It made sense considering the whole town was a bastion between the Farlands and the Ebros Kingdom.
Despite my initial assessment of the city, Farcrest’s marketplace flourished all around me. Food, weapons, tools, all kinds of crafting ingredients. No matter what direction I looked I found new things to identify. Other than the abandoned northern district, the city looked like a bustling trade center.
I continued walking through the street market towards the Great Hall.
Red banners with the Marquis crest, a man killing a wolf with a lance, hung from the inner walls. The gate was guarded by a small contingent of soldiers dressed in shiny armor and armed with long albarests. I was tempted to use [Identify] on them but remembering Elincia’s reaction, I refrained from doing it. I didn’t want problems before even starting my life in this world.
As I reached the closed gate, a guard blocked my path.
“What is your business in the Marquis’s Great Hall?” The guardsman asked, glancing at me with unfriendly eyes. The man inspected my appearance from head to toe and he didn’t seem to like what he was seeing. My clothing was humble to say the least.
“My name is Robert Clarke, Scholar from the City of Light. I’m here for a passage permit into the Kingdom of Ebros.” I said with a haughty voice. A good teacher was, in essence, a good actor, and I took pride in my classroom management.
As expected, my words seemed to pique the guard’s interest.
“Farcrest isn’t a border town, Scholar. How did you even enter the kingdom?”
The guard was unsure if he was really talking to a commoner or someone of high birth. Or maybe he thought I was a high level individual? It made sense that people with higher levels looked down on the weaker.
Considering Elincia’s reaction to the story about the teletransportation, I decided to continue with the same lie. If I had to guess, portals weren’t all strange in this world.
“A magic accident teleported me into the Farlands. There I was picked up by an Alchemist harvesting ingredients who brought me here to Farcrest.” I explained with a serious tone.
“Should’ve said that from the very beginning… sir. Portal magic is no joke.” He stuttered.
The guard swallowed the story.
“It is not.” I nodded.
The guard must’ve assumed I was the one responsible for the portal incident because his demeanor changed instantly. If I had to guess, portal magic was a high level technique.
“This way, sir.” The guardsman said, guiding me through a lateral door at the base of the wall and into a narrow and dark corridor. As much as I wanted to enter through the main gates, I assumed it wasn’t worth opening it for a single person.
We emerged into a cobbled courtyard by the side of the Great Hall where a small army of workers unloaded carts with crated goods under the attentive glance of an overseer. Regrettably, I couldn’t tell what was inside the heavy boxes.
“Trade seems to be healthy considering Farcrest is a frontier town.” I pointed out in a vain attempt to make the guard talk.
“It’s been that way for a while now.” He sparsely replied as we walked to a wooden building attached to the Great Hall. Outside the building, an angry middle aged woman dressed in a gambeson with the Marquis emblem was training a group of fresh recruits who barely knew how to hold a sword. The kids couldn’t be much older than Zaon.
Instead of walking towards the building, we approached the training group.
The soldier saluted and the woman knight raised her hand, stopping the frenetic swinging of the recruits. Her eyes were of a stark gray color and her lips were a fine line under her aquiline nose. Her skin was tanned and covered in small scars of a hundred battles. [Awareness] told me she was the don’t-fuck-with-me type.
“Captain, this man says he arrived at Farcrest via failed teleportation.” The soldier explained my situation.
“Another one?! I can’t believe this is the second time this year.” The Captain chastised the soldier as if it was his personal fault. Then, she turned around to face me. She was taller than me and her rolled up sleeves not only revealed lean and bulking muscles but a skin covered in scars. Those weren’t fashionable superficial scars but ones which distorted the skin and muscle.
“Tell me you are not from the Ansan Kingdom. It will cost us a small fortune to send you back.” The Captain said.
I understood that was my cue to speak.
“My name is Robert Clarke, a Scholar, and you don’t need to send me back to my homeland, Captain. I am more interested in traveling to the Imperial Library than returning.” I said with a small bow.
“I’m Captain Izabeka Kiln, leader of the city guard. I like you already, Scholar. People who complicate things are too common in these places.” The captain left the bundle of parchment and walked around the table to inspect me closely.
I made a mental note to not complicate things in front of the woman.
“Come on.” The captain left the group of disoriented recruits behind and walked towards the Great Hall. “We have to ensure you don’t have any suspicious hidden titles before giving you your passage permit.”
“Hidden titles?” I asked with a tremble in my voice.
“You have not been in a System Shrine before?” The Captain looked over her shoulder and gave me a confused glance.
I shook my head. Hidden titles could mean two things; there was a method to hide one’s titles from being identified or there were titles that could only be unlocked at a System Shrine. The second option made sense considering the lack of progress my class had even after twelve levels.
“I warn you, Robert Clarke, I’m a level fifty seven Knight, if you do try anything stupid I’ll crush your spine before you could even blink.” The captain said before addressing the guard who had guided me there. “You, maggot, look after the Scholar’s belongings. He is my guest.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The soldier said, extending his hand to me.
I gave him my backpack and nobody questioned the suspicious wooden shotgun butt protruding out. I felt naked without my weapon, however, the shells were safe inside my pocket.
“You don’t have a suspicious title do you?” The captain asked as we entered a beautifully adorned corridor with painted murals and ornamental banners hanging from the ceiling. The decoration was surprisingly tasteful.
I swallowed hard.
“I don’t think so?” I replied, remembering what Elincia had told me about locked titles.
We walked in silence through a carpeted corridor. The brass-framed windows reached the high ceiling and gave us a wide view of the interior gardens. There was a bush maze, fountains and clumps of all kinds of flowers.
We reached a glass door to a crowded balcony and the captain signaled the guards to let us through. On the balcony there were men and women dressed in expensive suits and dresses of vibrant colors. Broad rings of gold and precious stones adorned the noble’s hands while the women flaunted beautiful necklaces and earrings. If the Marquis was there, he was hidden among the crowd.
Captain Kiln took me to the side of the balcony, far from the noble clump and pointed down to the garden. Two men dressed in fencing attire were standing at opposite sides of the garden while the squires helped them with their padded jackets. In the middle of the fighting area an old man with braided hair and stern look acted as the referee.
“Have you witnessed a judiciary duel before?” The captain asked.
I shook my head.
“Then it’s your lucky day, Scholar. Sir Janus insulted Baronette Tirno during the last feast.” Captain Kiln said with a lupine smile.
“What did Sir Janus say?” I inquired.
“Janus said Tirno’s lovers during their days in the Ebros Knights Academy looked just like his mother.” Captain Kiln let out a tired sigh.
I glanced down at the dueling area. Baronette Tirno was a tall and slender young man of blonde curls and piercing looks. He wore a blue and black jacket with a crest similar to the Marquis symbol, so I assumed he might be related to the Marquis. Tirno moved with ease under the padded jacket and made a flourish with his rapier before blowing a kiss to the balcony. The gesture was answered by a wave of giggles and sighs.
For someone with a soiled honor, he was enjoying the moment.
Sir Janus, on the other hand, was a brutish looking man with the physique of a beer barrel. An unkempt bristly black beard covered his face and his small black eyes resembled the ones from a pig. Janus looked more like a well-armed murder hobo than a knight.
“Tirno has the reach advantage.” I said as the squire handed the rapiers to Janus.
“Good, you can use your eyes.” Captain Kiln said and I wondered if every woman had a similar level of sass in this world.
The referee, an old man dressed in a white and yellow tunic, stood at the center of the arena and cast a spell creating a golden dome of twenty meters in diameter. A second later the dome became translucent, barely blocking the view of the duelists.
“He’s a Fortifier. Any skill used inside the area of the bubble should stay inside instead of killing you. Well, none of them have magic classes but with high level combatants any extra precaution is welcome.” Captain Kiln explained.
Down inside the bubble, Tirno and Janus walked five paces away from the center, turned around, and saluted with the rapiers. Then, they adopted a fighting position I wasn’t completely familiarized with. It seemed they were going to start sprinting instead of fencing.
A sudden gust of wind rose, kicking up a dust cloud, and Tirno disappeared just to reappear by Janus’ flank. I gasped. Had he used a skill or was it his natural speed? Janus raised his sword and parried just in time. Then I noticed my mouth was wide open.
“Want to bet?” Captain Kiln asked with an entertained expression on her face.
“I don’t have money or valuables other than a quarter cheese wheel.” I babbled back, too entranced with the fight to pay attention to the woman.
The captain slid a silver coin down the railing and left it in front of me. I recognized a gambling addict that shouldn’t be gambling when I saw one. I glanced at the coin and then I looked down at the arena. The duelists were still testing each other. Baronette Tirno had an elegant style with quick transitions and nimble footwork. Sir Janus, on the other hand, stood like a heavy boulder in the middle of the yard.
“Two silver coins and I will tell you exactly how Lord Tirno is going to lose.” I said with a taunting smile.
The captain’s interest was piqued and soon after there were two silver coins in front of me and another two in front of the woman.
“I love to fleece know-it-all Scholars.” The captain said despite the fact she was betting against her own money.
I ignored the banter and focused on the duel. After the initial explosion of speed things had slowed down. Still, they moved faster than any HEMA practitioner or olympic fencer I had seen in my life.
I remembered Zaon talking about class growth. It wasn’t a surprise that the kid was apprehensive of becoming a Soldier when there were classes that could move like those two men. Not even with my Lv.5 [Swordsmanship] was enough to reach those speeds.
[Awareness] filled my brain with information. Tirno fought with deliberately elegant movements trying to find an opening on the opponent’s defense while Janus adopted a style similar to what I knew; he tried to control Tirno’s sword and deliver a strike without jeopardizing his own safety.
“Sir Janus is going to end the fight by stabbing the Baronette in the hand.” I calmly said, channeling all my fencing knowledge. Judicial fencing wasn’t about killing your opponent, although it happened frequently, but about incapacitating it before it could harm you.
“Alright, I’m going for Tirno.” The Captain said.
The balcony was in complete silence. Rapiers clashed, but none managed to control the weak of the opponent's blade to create an opening. The amount of stamina both men displayed was astounding, even compared to top tier athletes from Earth. If I were to train for a hundred years I could hardly reach their levels of speed and coordination.
Suddenly Lord Tirno put aside all attempts of defending and lunged forward, aiming at the center of Sir Janus’ chest. Sir Janus stepped back with a nimbleness uncharacteristic of a man of his span. To get away from Tirno’s blade, Janus raised both arms and pulled back his body. In that awkward position, Sir Janus counterattacked with a downward stab aimed at Lord Tirno’s hand and withdrew from the engagement to avoid Tirno’s afterblow.
However, the afterblow didn’t come. Lord Tirno’s sword fell to the ground as the man bursted out cursing. As he retreated to his side of the arena, I caught a glimpse of bright blood flowing from his right hand.
New word learned!
Words learned: 3,001/215,000
Rank: Talkative Teenager
I made a mental note to not mention that word in front of children.
“I lost.” Captain Kiln sighed, bringing me back to the present.
“Not yet, he’s going to continue. Look.” I replied as Lord Tirno’s aid bandaged the wounded hand. The noble man snapped at the squire to hurry up but no matter how much bandages he applied, they quickly soaked in more blood. Suddenly, sick of waiting, Lord Tirno pushed his squire back and retrieved the sword.
“It’s over.” Captain Kiln sighed again.
Down in the garden, Sir Janus repeatedly hit Tirno’s blade until it slipped from his bloody hand. Then Janus prompted his rival to retrieve his sword just to repeat the process. Three times Tirno raised his sword and three times Janus slapped it from his hand.
“What a shitshow.” Captain Kiln grunted just as Sir Janus disarmed Lord Tirno for the last time and chased him across the garden hitting the Baronette’s legs with the rapier’s flat side until he found shelter inside the Great Hall.
Sir Janus took a bow towards the balcony and threw his sword in the squire’s direction. The Captain slid four silver coins to my side of the handrail.
“Better spanked than dead.” I pointed out, pocketing the coins with a winning smile on my face.
“Sir Janus is a lowborn who reached knighthood because he was accepted in the Ebros Knights Academy. His position in the court is frail and yet he acts like an idiot.”
The squires cleared the garden and the nobles who had been observing the duel started vacating the balcony. I learned a couple more insults from overhearing their conversation, some of the nobles were fuming and I pictured them plotting against Sir Janus in the near future. A hurt noble’s ego was dangerous in this world or the other.
“Abei!” The captain suddenly called.
An old robbed man emerged from the group, clearly annoyed by the interruption.
“What is it, captain?”
The man had a shining bald head and a majestically bushy beard. Unlike the young man from the tower, Abei didn’t look like a cheap street magician but a full fledged sage.
“We have one of those portal hoppers. A Scholar.” Captain Kiln announced. “I thought you would be interested.”
In a single sentence, Abei’s face was cleared of all irritation. The old man made his way through the balcony with an eager stride and, unlike the captain, didn’t bother to measure me up with his eyes. Instead he jumped directly to the questions.
“Where are you from and how did you get here, young man?” Abei struck me like the kind of person who would look into a loaded shotgun’s barrel to satiate his curiosity.
“I’m Robert Clarke, humble servant of the City of Light. I arrived here due to a teletransportation accident.” I introduced myself, already expecting what will come next. The questioning.
“The City of Light? Never heard of that place.” Abei stroked his beard and looked around searching for an encyclopedia just to remember he was outdoors.
“And I never heard of Farcrest until I popped out here.” I replied with a shrug.
Abei nodded, understanding my predicament.
“You don’t seem to be scared for someone so far from home.” The man looked me directly in the eye. I was slowly getting used to being questioned.
“Three days in the Farlands is a hell of a cure for fear.” I replied.
The Captain gave me an approving nod. People of this world trusted too much in the System and too little in the common sense.
“Why am I being treated with such deference? I'm nobody after all.” I asked, eliciting a jolly laugh from the old man and I braced myself for a long story.
“People who are exposed to teletransportation spells usually are wealthy, noble or high level, so it's only logical to protect such individuals when the integrity of the kingdoms depends on them.” Abei explained. “Anyway, we need noble witnesses to grant you the permit. Let’s go to the audience room.” The man added as he invited me through the glass door into the Great Hall.
Before I could cross the doorway, Captain Kiln grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Just don’t do anything stupid and things will go well. Understood?” The woman asked with a stern voice.
“Understood.” I replied, knowing perfectly well that doing stupid things, like jumping heads on into a dangerous world full of magic creatures, was exactly my specialty.
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---
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Spritz' referral program is described here (clarification: funding Spritiz card IS a qualifying bill payment).
Spritz' bill-payment bonus is described here.
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Please feel free to DM me to ask questions. I appreciate you using my referral link!

Spritz Finance lets you easily use your crypto for everyday expenses. They currently offer a virtual debit card, crypto-wallet-to-bank transfer, bill payment using crypto and paying anyone to his/her bank using crypto.
Right now, if you sign up through my referral link and fund your Spritz virtual debit card with $50 or more with your crypto, you get $50 instantly! You can shop with your Spritz card or transfer your money to CashApp. There is also a separate promotion that rewards you a $10 matching bonus for your 1st payment for EVERY bill you have! I was able to score $110 total, for paying $10 each for all my 11 different credit cards.
Plus, I will personally thank you by sending you $10 for using my referral, upon payout confirmation!
Spritz accepts several kinds of crypto, but I recommend using MATIC (Polygon) because its transactions are dirt cheap (5-10 cents each time) and fast (seconds). Do use MATIC on Polygon Mainnet, NOT MATIC that's ERC-20 on Ethereum chain (Learn more). I'll be using MATIC throughout this guide, though you can use any supported crypto.
---
To Get $50 Referral Bonus + $10 From Me:

1. Sign up for Spritz Finance using my referral link: https://app.spritz.finance/signup?grsf=iytq7z
2. Verify your identity to finish your account set up.
3. If you don't have a crypto wallet yet, set one up. I recommend Metamask, and you can follow this guide.
4. From a crypto exchange, send at least $53 worth of MATIC (Polygon) to Metamask. Make sure you're withdrawing to Polygon mainnet, NOT to Ethereum/ERC-20. You want to have extra room of $3+ in MATIC for paying transaction fees later and $1 extra when withdrawing your bonus credit. Make the send amount $53 + $10 x number of your bills, in MATIC, if you are going for the bill-pay bonuses as well. You can read my tips section for how to transfer your crypto the same day and saving $ on fees when sending your MATIC.
5. Back on your Spritz page, press "Spend" to set up your Spritz virtual debit card.
6. Click "Fund with Crypto" and connect your wallet (Metamask etc.). Select/switch to Polygon network at the top of the screen.
7. Enter $50 or more for the funding amount. Remember, you'll want to leave $3+ worth of MATIC in your wallet.
8. Press "Fund with M" and confirm in your wallet to finalize your transaction.
9. You'll see $50 added to your "bonus credit" INSTANTLY!
10. DM me and tell me the email address you registered with Spritz. Upon confirmation of both our payouts, I will send you $10 via CashApp, PayPal etc.

In Step 5, you can choose "Off-ramp" instead to cash out $50+ your crypto to your bank account to qualify for the $50 referral bonus.
To Get The $10 Bill-Pay Bonus Many Times Over:

1. Within 7 days of signup, go to "Pay" at screen-top to begin a bill-pay.
2. Add an account to pay. You can add a variety of bills including credit card and utility bills.
3. Press "Pay with crypto", connect your wallet and enter at least $10. The max matching bonus of $10 is added in the final amount.
4. Press "Pay with M" and confirm to send the payment.
5. Repeat the steps above for other bills. You get $10 for making your 1st bill payment for EVERY bill you have! I got $110 total for paying off 11 different credit cards :) If your credit card balance is zero, you'll just get $20 statement credit for use later on!

How To Withdraw/Use Your Bonus Credit:
You can use your bonus credit in one of the following ways:

1. Top up your Spritz card to shop with it <--- (You can transfer to CashApp)
2. "Off-ramp" payment (transferring crypto to your bank)
3. Pay a bill
4. Pay someone

Press "Apply" to apply your "reward balance". Do note that you do have to add minimum of $1 in MATIC for one of these transaction.
Tips On Moving Your Crypto (MATIC etc.) To Your Wallet:
Coinbase is a great choice if you're starting out with crypto because it's easy to use. But Coinbase and many other exchanges will make you wait a few days until you can withdraw your crypto you buy from regular ACH bank transfer. If you want to buy and withdraw crypto the same day, try this method:

1. Buy bitcoin with debit card in Strike app (cheap fee)
2. Send bitcoin to an exchange (cheap fee)
3. Buy MATIC with bitcoin on exchange
4. Send MATIC to Metamask

This page lists exchanges with low withdrawal fees for MATIC. Kraken and Crypto .com are good choices.
---
Spritz charges you nothing if your monthly total transaction is below $100. After that, you start to incur small fees. See Fee Table.
Spritz' referral program is described here (clarification: funding Spritiz card IS a qualifying bill payment).
Spritz' bill-payment bonus is described here.
USA only. There is no credit check.
Please feel free to DM me to ask questions. I appreciate you using my referral link!
https://preview.redd.it/qzs521fr6o4b1.jpg?width=632&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db61c6fcc4ea192905773c33caa0aa1dd499e652
https://preview.redd.it/1vajmrgr6o4b1.jpg?width=581&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9bd478b65b9dcb91abab4f4a5fe175eeb5eb5ab
https://preview.redd.it/hdc66mjr6o4b1.jpg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3335b2bc6801ee216d08e442fc52f8204217aa66