Chapter 86: Baron Miracle
The path to the castle was completely uphill. Built to function as a natural defense.
Gabriel moved quickly, distancing himself from the clamor of Miracle City.
The slope was difficult to traverse, being constant. On its sides grew century-old oaks whose canopies partially hid the sky. With solar rays penetrating through the branches, illuminating the path.
As he ascended, the fortress began to impose itself on the landscape.
A tower could be seen from the distance. Remaining totally alert to any anomaly.
Finally, the enormous stone outline fully emerged over the hill. It was an ancient castle.
From afar it was possible to observe its resilience.
The thick walls bore scars of ancient sieges, while the battlements remained watching the horizon as if still expecting a war.
"A fortress of generations..."
He did not take long to reach the main entrance. The huge doors remained open, although protected by two guards armed with spears and short swords.
As soon as they saw him approach, both hardened their expressions.
Their hands automatically descended toward the hilts of their weapons.
"What is your purpose here, sir?"
Gabriel slowed his pace.
His appearance was not exactly the best.
The bandages were stained and his clothes continued to be disheveled. He had beer stains on his fabric that worsened his look.
He probably still had the smell of alcohol clinging to him.
Without a doubt, he was the least appropriate guest for a noble.
"I have a meeting with the Baron."
The two guards exchanged a glance. They raised their eyebrows in doubt.
"In that condition...?"
Gabriel did not even need to observe his appearance again. He understood what kind of thoughts it caused.
"Inform Baron Miracle that a storyteller has come to see him." He said with confidence.
The silence stretched while doubts remained present. The guards had to decide quickly.
They looked at each other trying to understand if it was a madman or just a drunk.
Finally one of them called a young soldier.
"Go and inform him."
The boy disappeared behind the doors. With the two guards remaining motionless.
They did not dare reject him solely because of his appearance. After all, Baron Miracle had a reputation for relating with completely unpredictable people.
If that man really had a purpose inside, denying him entry could cost them dearly.
A few brief minutes passed and finally the young soldier returned running. Approaching and whispering something in the guard’s ear.
He whispered for a few seconds.
The man’s expression changed immediately. Releasing a deep sigh of relief.
"Come on! Don’t stay there all day! They are waiting for you inside."
The guard turned halfway and began to march with a slow step. Only the other remained outside on guard.
Gabriel soon crossed the imposing doors. But before continuing he was subjected to a thorough inspection.
They checked that he was not hiding any kind of weapon. And finally, upon confirming it, they allowed him to proceed.
On the other side of the courtyard a young maid waited disciplined. Who performed an elegant curtsy.
"Sir, please follow me."
Gabriel walked behind her without asking questions.
The interior of the castle was much larger than it appeared from the outside. Various stone paths connected secondary buildings, inner courtyards, and small gardens.
Plants grew freely everywhere. With rose bushes, vines, and shrubs.
Small trees were carefully pruned, giving a sensation of order and serenity.
It did not represent a kind of ostentatious luxury. It was only something that attracted a carefully planned beauty.
He observed the gardens attentively, absorbing their charm.
"The Baron cares a lot about plants, doesn’t he?"
The maid smiled discreetly.
"The Baron is excellent; he naturally pursues excellence." She said while continuing to walk.
But a strange enthusiasm shone in her face.
"He says that nature is part of an ideal vision."
The maid seemed absolutely fascinated by that idea. Probably idealizing the Baron himself.
Her words had powerfully caught Gabriel’s attention. Her language was not that of a common servant. There was a degree of education behind her expression.
He immediately formed a picture in his mind. Combining literacy and reflection.
The Baron apparently was an excellent person who not only cared for his gardens, but also educated his workers.
He silently kept that detail.
After walking through several hallways they arrived in front of a stone room. The maid opened the door.
"Please."
Gabriel took a step inside. But his posture stiffened.
Inside there were two other maids. And occupying practically the entire extent of the room, there was a huge tub filled with hot water from which soft columns of steam rose.
His face began to contract slowly. He looked at the tub and finally at the maids.
When he looked at the tub again, he finally understood. The three women remained observing him.
"Is... this for me?"
The question sounded almost resigned.
One of the maids timidly clasped her hands.
"Sir, don’t make things difficult for us."
Gabriel slowly closed his eyes. He had no strength to argue.
***
Time passed quickly and soon his bath had concluded. It was the first time he experienced a similar experience. Although, from an optimistic perspective, they had not been men.
Gabriel left the room with his hair still damp. The bandages had been replaced by completely clean ones.
He wore a simple tunic.
Over it rested an elegant dark cloak whose edges were carefully embroidered with golden colors.
One of the maids finished adjusting it.
"It is to care for the prestige and honor of the Baron."
The fabric was of excellent quality. Reserved only for honored guests.
Haven’t they noticed that I’m a little drunk? he thought with sarcasm and some relief.
That could involve another strange detoxification task.
Even so, the warm bath had managed to clear his head. The maids seemed satisfied with the result.
The difference from the man who had arrived a few minutes earlier was enormous.
They led him again through different corridors. During the journey they insisted several times on etiquette matters.
How he should bow his head, when to speak and when to remain silent.
He made the effort to listen patiently. But personally he doubted he would even remember half of what was narrated.
Until they finally arrived at their destination.
Before them rose two huge oak doors. They were carved with figures of peacocks and were shiny.
Two servants pushed them simultaneously. The doors began to open.
Contrary to his expectations of finding a dark, cold, and excessively solemn hall, he found a totally different room.
Light entered generously through a huge window. Maintaining a warm atmosphere inside. The stone walls retained a rustic appearance that was surprisingly cozy.
There were shelves full of books, decorative plants, and a huge foreign rug.
They seemed like carefully selected elements to form part of a noble’s personal office.
At the back of the hall rested a huge seat. It gave its back to the entrance, hiding the owner from Gabriel himself.
The person seated calmly contemplated the exterior landscape. At that moment a booming voice interrupted the silence.
"Are you the storyteller?"
Gabriel observed the man’s back, responding calmly.
"The only storyteller."
The Baron continued looking out the window. As if conversing with his back turned was the most natural thing in the world.
"You are quite eccentric, aren’t you?"
A sonorous laugh reverberated through the walls. It seemed genuinely amused.
"Perhaps... That is my purpose."
The Baron finally responded.
Those words immediately caught Gabriel’s attention. His words mixed purpose in his response and not a different personality.
That response fit perfectly with the ideas he himself had developed during the last few days.
As if acting that way responded to a concrete function and not a simple whim.
"I have completed my trial, sir."
The Baron, contrary to what he expected, simply remained silent.
"Five well-told stories..."
In fact, you have done it. Congratulations, storyteller." He responded calmly.
Gabriel continued waiting. His intuition told him that it was not over yet.
The Baron spoke again.
"But I have a question."
"Yes?"
The grave voice arrived without the slightest change in tone.
"Why did your mother die?"
He held his breath for an instant. The question had been so abrupt and direct that it took him a second to react.
It was not formulated with compassion. It was simply a straightforward question.
"My mother...? She died from her advanced illness, sir." He responded with a heavy voice.
The Baron let out a slight sigh. He still did not turn, hiding his expression.
"Don’t try to confuse me, Gabriel. I always deliver appropriate and possible trials." His voice remained serene.
But the atmosphere had begun to sow tension.
"Your mother should not have died. Not within a month."
Gabriel felt his heart pounding hard against his chest. The words remained without dream or guest.
Gabriel clenched his painful fists. He had no answer.
His mind began to wander over all the events he had lived since arriving in Miracle City.
Then the Baron spoke once more.
"Your original trial did not consist of telling stories. You were supposed to become a healer willing to surrender with absolute conviction to filial devotion."
The atmosphere became unbearably heavy.
"But now... An anomaly occurred."
A drop of cold sweat ran down Gabriel’s back. The Baron apparently knew secrets that even he did not know.
It was not simply a trial trapped in a small ordinary city.
The noble was the true enigma.