Another test

Dinner service hadn’t even finished when the Maou’s voice rang in Gob's head. “Gob. I know it’s early but I’d like you to come on duty now.”

Gob had been having a lazy day sorting through some of the miscellanies that he had found in the junk pile. There were a lot of books so he had decided to sort them by category. He had a pile of fiction, non-fiction, instructionals and administration. He had just started a new category that he had called illustrated fiction. The stories were short but had pictures on several of the pages. The characters in them were particularly appealing. He was separating them out and then he planned to organise them as they were labelled by volume.

He was holding the first volume of what seemed to be a romantic series when he heard the Maou’s voice. “Of course, sire. What would you like me to bring you?” he answered out loud.

“Just you Gob. Transporting you now.”

Without a moment to think he found himself transported to the Maou’s stately quarters. It was always a little disorienting and he put the book he was holding on a dresser as she steadied himself.

“Gob, come and see,” called the Maou, who was sitting at his desk examining something.

Gob shook his head and wandered over to the desk. The Maou had a bracelet in his hand. At first, it seemed to be silver but as it got turned in the light Gob could see that there were fine lines running through it. At first glance, it seemed as simple a piece of jewellery as you could imagine but up close the subtlety of its design made it exquisite. Gob let out a little sigh of awe.

“I know. She’s a talented girl that April.” He looked at Gob and gave him a little smile. “She seems quite taken with you.”

Gob blushed. “That’s er, nice to know,” he stammered.

“Indeed. She’s quite charming too. I might have invited her to my bed if someone I knew hadn’t got there before me.”

“I’m sorry, sire,” he said, a little unnerved that he might be considered a love rival to the most powerful known being.

The Maou laughed. “Don’t fret Gob. I have many women to choose from. I’m happy for you. Is it serious between you?”

“I don’t know, sire. I think she’s great but she says she is married to her work and I…” He trailed off. He had almost said that he hadn’t been faithful to her. He was sure the Maou wouldn’t care about that but it might lead to him letting slip about Tallie.

“I understand. I’m glad she is. She is a formidable crafter. You can see the lines in it? It’s quite wonderful.” He slapped the table making Gob jump. “I have to try it. That’s why I wanted you here. I need to put all my effort into limiting my mana. If I then have to concentrate on attaching the bracelet too I might lose my grip on my power. I need you to put it on me when I give the signal.”

Gob understood and like the time before, the Maou steadied himself and focussed. After a while, he nodded to Gob and he fastened the bracelet. The Maou held himself in an almost meditative state for a few minutes. All was still for a moment. Then, with a look of frustration, he quickly unfastened the bracelet and it clattered to the floor. Gob retrieved it and looked at the Maou. He looked a little crestfallen.

“It was better Gob, much better but it still wasn’t enough. I think I had got my hopes up a little.”

“Why are you so **** for this, sire?” Gob risked asking.

“I’m young, Gob. Not compared to some races but by demon standards, I should be in my prime but I keep thinking about letting myself die. I don’t have an heir and the world would fall into chaos. I don't actually like the idea of war and suffering. I know that is a little unusual for a demon but I think I am a little unusual. The thought of what could go wrong stops me from just ending it but I don’t get much satisfaction from being alive.

“If I could just experience something new. Vulnerability. I want to be ****, out of control in a way that wouldn’t destroy the world. I want to lose a fight that I tried to win. I want to feel intimidated. I… I don’t know. The whole idea just seems exciting to me. Even now, I’m telling you this but I know that you have **** but to listen. When everyone is **** to like you, it is hard to know if someone actually does.”

Gob reached out and put his hand on the Maou’s. If that had been during the day as he sat in state, a guard would have run him through but here he decided to risk it. His hand was warm and soft just like any other. “If it helps, sire, I like you. You are nice to me and you don’t judge me. That means a lot around here.”

The Maou took Gob's hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “Thank you, Gob. That means a great deal.”

Gob decided to try and bring the mood back up. “So, what needs to happen next? What will improve it?”

It worked and the Maou seemed to brighten a bit. “I suppose I should talk with April. Let’s do it now.” He said, a spark of enthusiasm entering his eyes. “April, I want to chat,” he said, seemingly to the air and then suddenly April was standing next to them looking startled. She was in her white panties and cropped vest. She must have been relaxing in her quarters. “Oops, my apologies April. I should have given you some warning.”

April quickly got a handle on her surroundings and spotted her work on the Maou’s desk. She didn’t seem to care about her situation. “Did you try it? Did it work?” she asked, excitedly.

“It was wonderful but not enough I’m afraid,” said the Maou.

“Okay, but it was definitely more effective than the first one?”

“Considerably.”

“That’s great.”

“It is?” the Maou and Gob asked in unison.

“Yes,” said April. “It proves my theories. I just need to weave the lines closer. I can only get so much finer but then we can try adding multiples.”

“Smaller,” mused the Maou. “What if I were to shrink the bracelet down?”

“Can you do that?” April asked.

“Certainly. I do not have the finesse to create something like this but making it smaller as no problem.” He held the bracelet in his hands and it shrank down small enough to fit on his finger. “Will that do?” he asked, holding the ring out to April.

She took it and examined it closely. “Yes, the structure seems identical. Would you try it?” she asked giving it back to him.

The Maou smiled excitedly. “Gob, will you assist again, please? Be ready to pull the ring off my finger if I say. I’d rather not break it with too much magic.”

They followed the procedure again and Gob slipped the ring onto the Maou’s finger. Then, they waited. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. The Maou wasn’t moving, his face in a slight frown. Eventually, he said “Take it off,” with a sense of urgency and Gob quickly pulled the ring from his finger.

The Maou looked at April. “Do you think you can improve it?”

“Was that better?”

“Yes, there was a distinct delay before the power started to flow back. What do you think?”

“I think I can do it with your help. If you can shrink them down I can make an oversized ring, I can make the metal weaving finer and have it on a much larger ring. Then you shrink it down and all that work becomes finer still. In theory, I could make the ring massive but eventually, the benefit to that will be lost but then we can try multiple rings.”

“April, you are a marvel. Begin first thing in the morning.”

“Yes, sire,” said April with a smile. She gave a little courtesy which looked odd in just her underwear.

“Thank you and goodnight. I will send you back now,” said the Maou and with a gesture, she was gone. He turned to Gob and said “Thank you, Gob. I’m glad I have you to help me with this. You are dismissed. Unless…”

“Unless, sire?” Gob asked.

“Unless you would like me to send you after our talented little gnome? I’m sure I can spare you tonight.”

Gob couldn’t help but smile. He had been struggling to remain professional with a scantily clad April in the room. “I think I’d like that, sire.”

The Maou smiled back. “Have a good night Gob. Speak to you soon.”

Before Gob knew it he was standing in April’s quarter. April looked surprised for a moment but quickly smiled at him and pulled him into her bed.