"Brrrr, cold." Shivering, I clutched the woollen edges of my cape, pulling them tightly around me as my teeth chattered in the biting cold. "What kind of idiot leaves the windows open in the winter." I bitterly grumble as a gush of ice-cold wind flowed down my collar before I managed to close the tall window.


    I could hear something moving behind the varnished door making my mind wonder as when Lady Siri was ready an awful silence fell around her.


    Today''s plan was to bring Siri to meet other faithful and to satisfy whatever spiritual needs they might have. I had asked Annette to buy vinegar and lard in lieu of the wine and oil used in the south to be poured as libation for the Aspects but only enough for me and her. I knew that up north the worship of Pruina was most common but I knew very little of that specific Cult. From where Annette hailed from, Pruina was a minor Aspect while in my homeland she was an Aspect most people made sacrifices to only before Winter, worshiping her like any other Aspect. And even if nominally all of the Faithfull regarded each Aspect with the same respect, the differences between regions, in the style of worship alone made each region seem to be devoted to entirely different Faiths, not to mention differences between each Cult of individual Aspects.


    And in the end, even if I knew how Pruina was worshiped in Firmusa, Siri had never spoken about which of the Aspects she worshiped, if she even devoted herself to one. A common thing I heard from merchants stopping at our lands was their shock regarding how those living on the frontier or near it choose who to revere, rather than sticking with a single Aspect. One of them even said how strangely pure it felt since the constant influx of migrants made any regional quirks more minor than those from more monolithic and established regions.


    "...not wake up?"


    "I''m sure." Siri''s voice reached my ears before the door opened.


    "How was your day, Lady S-Siri?" My mind stopped for a moment as I greeted the adorably dressed high noble, wearing a short-sleeved shirt tucked neatly in a black dress held on by suspenders. Not a single raven black hair was out of place as she stepped out with an unusual skip in her stride.


    "Bestest." Siri replied in broken common.


    "That''s not a word." I peered into the room and saw a strange clay figure sitting like a rag doll on the tea table. "Why are we not going?"


    "My apologies." Siri''s maid closed the door to the servant''s room addressing me in a way which reminded me of the first time Annette spoke to me.


    "Annoying." The pale mage grumbled under her nose.


    "Lady Siri, you didn''t mention that you''re bringing your maid with you." I turned to address her, jealous of the way she seemed unbothered by the cold lashes of wind on her bare arms.


    "Is that a problem?" She replied with an unusual amount of edge aimed at me.


    "No, today there are no classes unless we count the lessons you are heading to so there is no problem with your maid coming with us," The elf behind us seemed to react to my words. "I''m simply a bit surprised, you don''t usually bring your maid along."


    "I know."


    Oh, that was not a good expression.


    "Lady Siri, do you need something before we head to the temple?"


    The girl tapped her chin thoughtfully, her eyes drifting across the clear skies above. "I might need flowers."


    "Flowers?" Siri seemed to shrink as two pairs of eyes gave her a puzzled look. One of the women gingerly raising her arm to her head.


    Hmmm, not that ridiculous actually. To offer flowers in the middle of the long winter must have been a great task, and isn''t the purpose of an offering to show our dedication? I wonder if that is just something high-borns do or if is it a wider tradition... Firmusa is only like three weeks away from Hero''s Vale. I need to ask father about fishing out the water lilies during the winter.


    "I don''t think there is a florist anywhere nearby and it is inappropriate to pick flowers from the garden around us. We are going there for a brief moment, but you''re always welcome to present your offerings later at any time of the day."


    Siri nodded along taking my hand in graciously exit the subject. I rather liked that part of her, I had seen even a viscount thinking twice about taking a helping hand of a baron in fear for his reputation. But Siri simply took it and moved on with a strange carefree attitude as if she had all the time in the world.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    I led the two around the Academy and suddenly turned into a small almost unnoticeable alley. The temple or rather a poor substitute for one was as far away from the eyes of the mages as possible and few of the natives even knew of its existence. At first, I felt angry that temples were supposed to be guesthouses for the Aspects, the greatest examples of human hospitality and goodness. And yet after half a year of living in Oriripol, she simply pitied them.


    How could someone live all their life in search of power only to be inevitably kissed by the cold lips of death? I shuddered at the emptiness which flashed across my eyes remembering a conversation she had.


    "Are you okay, Subject?" Lady Siri stepped closer to her, even if she hadn''t touched me I could feel the air around her cool further.


    "Yes, I got distracted, that''s it." I explained giving her a reassuring smile. "Which of the ships to the Lands Beyond bears your name Lady Siri?" My hand rested on the door as I unthinkingly asked.


    "Ehhh?" The girl paused in the middle of the tight alley.


    "She is asking you about..." The elf lowered her face and whispered to Siri''s ear before making a thoughtful face. She bit her lower lip as she seemed to go over her next words. This was a rather roundabout way of asking which Aspect she reveres and I realised that I must have sounded awfully like that one relative who refused to speak normally. "What do you think happens to your soul after you die."


    "? ???''? ???, ????? ??????." The gifted human spoke quietly into the elf''s keen ears and yet each word was like a bell ringing next to her ear.


    The elf made a face causing the girl to make a defensive one in return.


    "Especially when you are with me." The tall servant replied with a small smile on her lips. A strange sight for the otherwise emotionless servant.


    Now I need to know what she said.


    "???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?????????? ????." Siri tugged on the knife-ear''s cuff as her eyes met mine.


    "Lady Siri was explaining to me that when the call of the Aspects reaches her, the ship Elemosina will bear her. Although she is not rushing to reach the sunny lands of the Dove." Iris explained in an equally old-fashioned way.


    When she does it, it sounds correct. And I can see she is not even trying. I monologue in my head before switching to the contents of the pleasant voice. Elemosina, sister of Corin, the Aspect of Love, Mercy and Justice. I wouldn''t have expected that she is rather merciless in her outlook on warfare but at the same time Elemosina is about upholding Justice. I still very much pity those unfortunates unlucky enough to be commanded by her in the future no matter how unlucky that might be.


    "Then I hope that we may sit next to each other as I will head to the Aurorium with followers of Corin." I put my weight on my hand and pushed the heavy door open.


    A familiar room with furniture arranged as if the room was a circle emerged from the warm light of the brazier in the centre. Two figures quietly sought favour with the Aspects.


    "Hmmm, thought more people would show up today." I spoke as I lifted a small basket set aside by Annette before.


    "Lady Sofia?" A half whisper filled the hall.


    "Sandwich?" Siri''s unmoderated voice was like thunder in the quiet space.


    "Lady Siri is here too I see," Vilkas emerged from the half-twilight and approached us. "I need to thank you again for the enchanted item you made for me." He pulled on the fingers of his gloves before warming his hands next to the small fire.


    "What did you pray for?" I asked noticing a fresh bandage on his hand and a crimson gleam on the shrine behind him. Unlike proper temples where life-like statues of Aspect were adored, they only had access to small forearm-sized shrines one could find at any house which focused on symbolism rather than beauty.


    "Praying to Idicac for strength and will for the upcoming tournament."


    "By cutting your palm? You are truly a barbaric idiot."


    "Says a frontierwoman," Vilkas replied swiftly. "To cool your mind this is my off-hand and I don''t know why you looking at me like that, are you in a habit of offering flowers to the Aspect of War in your neck of the woods?"


    I fought off the urge to look at Siri. "You have any idea why no one is in? It''s a rather busy morning on the day following the full moon." I asked curiously as the lard I held on a tin platter began to melt.


    "Same reason as I''m here. People want to catch up on things before the tournament starts."


    I nodded before bringing the hot fat to a shrine and pouring the hot contents of the small vessels on the stone in front of the brass shrine of Corin in the shape of a sparrow. A quick prayer later I uncork the vial with the vinegar taking the sour liquid in my mouth before spilling it.


    "Never gets better." I added feeling Vilkas''s eyes on my wrinkled face.


    "And you dare to look at me weirdly." He peered over my shoulder at the shrine before following me in scanning for Siri.


    "Why is you''re face all weird." Lady Siri asked as I almost bumped into her.


    Was she watching me all this time?


    "It''s an old rule of hospitality. The host needs to drink and eat anything his guest ate to prove your goodwill."


    "A good tradition," The Firmusian seemed content as she spoke, her eyes washing over the room once more. "What is that?" Her ghoulishly pale finger pointed at a glass artwork centrally positioned so it divided the even number of shrines in two.


    As I was about to speak the figure who had been listening to us stepped closer and greeted us before turning her head toward the high noble.


    "That is an icon depicting Heros, all sixty-seven of them being led forward by the Light." Alicia Fischerg explained.


    "That doesn''t explain it." Siri casted her eyes down as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Iris stared at it before she left to stand outside. I didn''t like the face she was making. Is the glass cursed and needs to be guarded?"


    "...Lady Siri, your maid is an elf. Heros protect humanity from danger. You should know about this the most, ask any of your countrymen about the raids from the east. Elves are evil by nature, using our souls in their sorcery." Alicia explained after a moment before she rested her hand on Siri''s shoulder.


    "She is not an elf, human. I asked my Subjects not you."


    "Then what is she?"


    "She is mine." The high noble stared daggers at the noble from Flinter.


    "Leave it," I grabbed Vilkas''s cloak as the pale mage angrily stormed off. "I have no idea why you decided to anger her." I turned my head to the third person.


    "Because she has the power to make or break Firmusa. And if it falls Flinter falls too in a fiery inferno. That maid could slit her throat at any moment and anyone near her. She has access to the royal family themselves, as soon as Lady Siri becomes the matriarch of the House both she and the king will perish at the first sight of an elven army."


    "Yeah, but there are far better ways of saying it than what you did here," Vilkas chimed in. "Iris might be an elf but if you paid attention rather than rudely listening to us you would have noticed the look in her eye. She would have sooner gut us all than see harm happen to Lady Siri. Also, it''s hypocritical of you to speak of doom and betrayal. Flinter is ruled by a half breed not to mention you are studying in Oriripol."


    "How rude," Alicia raised her hand to her face looking offended before watching me for my response but I gave her nothing. "Gors, both of you."


    "Are you going to stop me again?" Vilkas looked down at me.


    "No, but you seem not to practice your own words. There were a million ways you could have played this without being cursed."


    "I may not like elves, my good uncle perished in the line of duty against them but to see Lady Siri react like that. I have to pay her somehow, a single meal doesn''t quite cut my debt."


    "Then you are going to make a hundred more women storm off then." I jested.


    "Then I hope none of them are attractive."


    "Seriously." He is such a pervert.


    "Cut me some slack, I''m a poor little spare." He replied sarcasm filling his voice before he opened the door for me and I saw Iris combing through Lady Siri''s raven black hair. One could really mistake them for relatives from a distance.