Arc IV Chapter 6
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 6
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7
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
The grumpy gatekeeper welcomed them from behind his counter, armed with a log book, an abacus for the purpose of calculations, and hawkish scrutiny. ¡°Greetings. Name and occupation. State your purpose and intent. Be succinct. Time is precious.¡±
Lambert was rummaging through his pockets with a certain sense of futility and obvious annoyance. He was searching for something. ¡°Lambert. Adventurer. We are adventurers from the local adventurers¡¯ guild. We are returning from a completed mission.¡±
The clerk looked up from the top of his counter, scrutinising their entire group with his icy glare. His clicking tongue betrayed his mild annoyance. As if they were wasting his time. ¡°From the adventurers¡¯ guild ... I see ... Show me your badges.¡±
Lambert knew the drill and presented his golden badge for identification.
Aurora''s eyes followed the movements of his hand. His badge were little more than a glorified trinket. Nothing elaborate. Nothing remarkable. No work of art, just a plain gilded metal badge decorated with some sort of crest, presumably that of the local adventurers¡¯ guild. Yet the badge served its practical purpose, verifying his affiliation beyond any reasonable doubt. Lambert and his party were indeed adventurers.
The clerk judged the badge genuine after a brief inspection and returned it. ¡°Gold rank ... ¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
The clerk folded his hands. ¡°Then why the hell are you bothering me and wasting my time? According to article 5, paragraph 7, point 3 of the unified tax and toll code of the city of Freyburg, registered adventurers are officially exempt from gate toll.¡±
Lambert tries his best to defuse the situation and pacify the visibly angry clerk. ¡°I know. I know. Trust me, I am well aware of article 5 paragraph something. ¡±
¡°Then what are you doing here?¡±
¡°Because we are not alone. We have picked up a girl along the way.¡±
¡°A girl?¡± The clerk raised his eyebrow.
Lambert nodded.
Rising from his seat, the gatekeeper leaned over the counter. His watchful eyes spotted her.
Aurora and her doll waved back at him, armed with a bright and charming smile. The clerk didn''t react in the least. His stone heart remained unmoved by mere human emotions. His realm was one of law, order, rules, and regulations.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
The clerk returned to his seat. ¡°Lambert ..., who is this girl? Please don''t say she is your niece ... That would be the oldest trick in the gatekeeper book¡±.
Lambert scratched his hair. ¡°Oh well, I guess she is ... our companion.¡±
¡°Your companion?¡± The gatekeeper sounded less than convinced.
Lambert confirmed, ¡°Yes, our companion.¡±
¡°...¡± The clerk resorted to a heavy sigh. ¡°Let me guess, the girl has no documents whatsoever ...¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°No noble privilege ...¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°No official permit ...¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°No valid letter of introduction ...¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°You are taking her under your tutelage, aren''t you?¡±
Lambert merely nodded.
The clerk sighed and scribbled something down in his register and stamped it. His quill moved with the dispassionate enthusiasm. ¡°That makes twenty silver for the girl.¡±
¡°Wait, what? Twenty ?¡± Lambert didn''t believe his ears. Aurora couldn''t tell whether twenty silvers were a lot, or not, but judging by his prompt reaction, it had to be a considerable sum.
Meanwhile, the clerk couldn''t care less about Lambert¡¯s pained purse. ¡°Wasn''t I clear enough? Twenty silver, not more, not less. Twenty for any first entry.¡±
¡°This is open robbery if nothing else! Twenty silver are a small fortune!. You can''t do this! Twenty for a single girl? That¡¯s ludicrous?¡± Lambert protested, wildly, gesturing with his arms.
The gatekeeper remained unfazed.¡°Lambert, I am only following regulations and procedures. Be glad that you are even allowed to take some random peasant girl inside with you. The regulations are usually quite strict about unregulated immigration. The city doesn''t need any more paupers filling the streets. The walls harbour have enough peasants already.¡± His cold gaze fell onto her. His disgust was apparent.
Aurora and her doll pouted. ¡°I am not a peasant~.¡± Yet everyone ignored her.
Lambert continued arguing. ¡°But still ... Twenty silver ... for a girl ... Come on.¡±
The clerk defended his position. ¡°I assure you that our intention is not to impoverish your person, ...
¡°I strongly doubt so.¡±
¡°... but to keep all the moneyless rabble out. I hope you understand, we are only acting according to the regulations.¡±
Lambert was forced to concede defeat. ¡°I get it, but can''t we receive any reduction? Look, the girl is practically already part of the party. Look, aren''t her cheeks adorable?¡±
The gatekeeper was less than impressed. ¡°If she is practically already part of your party, does that mean she is registered with the adventurers¡¯ guild?¡±
¡°Well, no.¡±, Lambert admitted.
¡°Does the girl per chance possess burghership?¡±
¡°Not that I am aware of ¡¡±
¡°Does the girl have a letter of introduction? A letter of recommendation? Any official document?¡±
¡°... No.¡±
¡°Is she a noble, a cleric, or perhaps a scholar?¡±
¡°...¡± Lambert turned to the girl and her doll. In her ragged clothes, she looked neither like a noble, nor like a cleric, nor like a scholar.
The gatekeeper remained thus unforgiving. ¡°No exemptions. No reduction will be tendered. The price given stands. Twenty silver.¡±
Lambert grumbled, but to no avail. He started counting the silver from his purse. Their little princess was gradually becoming quite expensive. Hopefully, the ungrateful brat was worth every last piece of silver. ¡°One ... two ... three ... five ... seven ... ten ... thirteen ... sixteen¡ twenty ... Here. Here you have it.¡±
The clerk accepted the coins. The transaction was completed. ¡°Twenty taler. You may pass.¡±
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The midday sun broke over the bustling city of Freyburg with the warm, yet delicate rays of a late summer day. Amidst horses, carriages, and heavy carts groaning under the weight of their loads, travelling folk and common townspeople populated the vibrant streets, bringing life to the proud capital of Schwarzwalt.
Noise and fumes permeated the air. Stores opened their doors and shops threw open their gates. Stalls and vendors offered wares and goods from far and close, among them exotic goods from countries only known from hearsay and rumours. Spices and herbs, metals and gems, fabrics and dyes, weapons and armour, they all changed their hands in exchange for honest coin. Freyburg was indeed a city of trade and commerce.
The party reached an open square covered in cobblestones and market stalls. A central fountain promised refreshment and potable water. Tall buildings of stone and mortar flanked the square from all directions, towering over their lesser neighbours. Even the most grandiose cottages and manors of the countryside, nothing but, paled in comparison. Judging by their central location, their size, and their ostentatious grandeur, all these buildings appeared to be important.
No wonder that a little girl like her felt lost in such a large city. All the chaos, the people, the crowds, the unknown, unsettled her. Little Aurora only knew the tranquil life of the castle and of the academy, a life surrounded by loyal maids and servants. The bustling city life was a curious experience for a sheltered noble girl of her status. The streets resembled a foreign world.
Among stone and wood, stood the proud adventurers¡¯ guild, the home of honest adventurers and cut throat bandits of dubious reputation alike. A wooden sign board hung above at the entry with a familiar crest welcoming her. So this was the adventurers¡¯ guild ...
Adventurers¡¯ Guild
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Arc IV Chapter 7
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 7
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7
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora was a happy girl, the very definition of happy girl, graced with a bright, radiant smile and the cutest doll across the entire land.
After much pleading, begging, and deploying other means of persuasion, Iris finally relented and bought her a large cup of hot chocolate crowned with a generous dollop of whipped cream atop.
Sitting on her chair with her feetsies kicking the air, her fluffy head reached above the surface of the table despite her petite stature. Her tiny hands raised a humongous cup of sweet, steaming happiness. Her doll shared her moment of triumph from her lap.
Her soft lips tasted the sweet, musky, sugary flavour of milk and chocolate. Her nostrils inhaled the irresistible fragrance of cocoa, as her heart enjoyed the small luxuries of life. As a wise man once said, you must cherish the small things in life. She certainly did so, even if it was just a cup of hot chocolate.
Apparently, the lands of Arcadia were well acquainted with the temptations of cacao. Upon entering the adventurer''s guild, her doll spotted across the room a girl, across a sea of brawly and unruly individuals calling themselves and their likes adventurers despite their amalgamation of gear and equipment. Protected by an entourage of guards, the young mistress enjoyed a suspicious brown creamy beverage, which reminded her of hot chocolate. The unidentified beverage looked and smelt delicious.
...
...
...
Little Aurora also wanted a hot chocolate. A decision was taken and a plan hatched. Little Aurora turned to Iris for help. Tugging and begging Iris into submission, she succeeded in breaking her stubborn resistance.
Cocoa was a luxurious commodity, an expensive import from across the sea, from the East. Yet a polished piece of sparkling silver wandered from Iris'' pocket across the counter of the adventurers'' guild in exchange for a single cup of hot chocolate. Success. Her plan succeeded. Iris was two kreuzer poorer, yet a cheerful Aurora was one hot chocolate richer. A profitable trade, in her opinion, albeit others might disagree.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Aurora savoured every little sip of her decadent cup of hot chocolate, as creamy milk and liquid cocoa coated her guilty lips. Iris was such a kind woman. Her kindness must be repaid one day. Her doll seconded her opinion.
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Lambert returned from his strenuous negotiations with the guild receptionist. His hand was holding a leather bag, full of chinking coins, for a supposedly satisfied and happy adventurer.
Yet he was neither satisfied, nor happy. Instead, his face betrayed minor hints of annoyance. The rattling bag hit the wooden surface of the table with a loud clatter, before an ever grumbling Lambert took a seat. Judging by his mood, he probably also needed a hot chocolate.
Lambert pinched the bridge of his nose, his exasperation apparent. ¡°Stupid commission fees ... Blood sucking parasites, all of them ... But at least, the elves kept up their end of the bargain. They paid well for some scholars. They promised us 400 pieces of silver, and they kept their word. We got our 400 silver minus 20% commission fee for the guild. So 320 taler in total.¡±
¡°That''s a proud sum ...¡± Iris commented.
Lambert agreed. ¡°Very much so. The mission got some nasty surprises, but I can''t say our elven friends didn''t pay well. Quite the contrary. We can''t complain. Their coin should see us through for the next month.¡±
Even Aurora nodded in earnest agreement. 320 silver. One silver equalled one taler. One silver taler equalled ten bronze kreuzer. So that meant 320 taler were the equivalent of 1 600 hot chocolates. All things considered, that was an impressive number of hot chocolates they could provide her with.
Suddenly, Lambert narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°One problem, however, remains ...¡±
Aurora tilted her head in confusion with her hot chocolate clutched in her hands. Her eyes blinked.
...
...
...
A heavy sigh escaped Lambert. Its meaning was clear. They both knew this was going to happen sooner or later. ¡°Tell me, little one; what are we supposed to do with you?¡±
¡°... ... ... What are you talking about?¡± Aurora feigned surprise.
Leaning back in his chair, Lambert folded his hands, deliberating his options. ¡°Our mission has ended, lass ... We have even got you into the city ¡ We didn''t need to, but we did.¡± His stare intensified. His eyes hardened. ¡°So, what are we going to do with you now?¡±
Aurora''s round purple eyes widened in fake realisation. ¡°You can''t mean ... You aren''t going to abandon me, are you?¡±
¡°...¡± Her question met collective silence.
¡°Iris? Rudolf? Michael? You aren''t going to abandon me, right?¡± Her pleas found no ear.
Everyone averted their eyes, unable to face her sight. Only the iron Lambert found the courage to meet her gaze.
Aurora hugged her doll, tears welling up inside her. ¡°Can''t I please stay with you? You know that I have nowhere to go ... I am not even remembering my name ... You mustn¡¯t send me away.¡±
Her words struck a nerve. Lambert''s confident smile faltered under doubt and hesitation. His fa?ade of false bravado cracked even so slightly. ¡°... unfortunately, you can''t, ... you can''t stay with us ... That''s ... impossible ...¡±
¡°Why? I don''t mind following you. You are all nice and friendly. You care for me.¡± Aurora sparkled with new-found hope.
¡°...¡± Lambert''s very eyes betrayed hesitation. ¡°Listen, we are not the church. We are adventurers. We neither have the time, nor resources to rear a little girl ...¡±
¡°Really?¡±
A single innocuous word interrupted Lambert, weakening his resistance. Against all logic and reason, his heart was thawing. Why? Just why must she so annoyingly cute under her ragged garbs? Her giant, round, purple eyes. Her lovely lips. Her soft, fluffy cheeks. Her delicate dolliness.
¡°Unfortunately, we must.¡± Lambert spoke with an edge of hardness in his voice. ¡°We can''t guarantee your safety. In fact, you are a liability. You can''t defend yourself. You can''t fight. You were lucky to survive the demon. You were lucky to survive dread wolf, but luck is fleeting. Things could have easily turned out differently.¡±
¡°So you are really going to abandon me?¡± Aurora lowered her head.
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Arc IV Chapter 8
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 8
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7
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°No, we won''t abandon you. We won''t forget ... you. We will continue to look after you. We will find adequate accommodation for you, don''t worry. Promised.¡± Lambert assured her with a smile that inspired even less than the slightest amount of confidence imaginable. Aurora had the nagging suspicions that Lambert might potentially be lying.
Little Aurora crossed her arms and hugged her doll.¡°Such as?¡±
¡°We haven''t decided yet, but there are various possibilities.¡± Lambert deflected, evading her question.
Yet she didn''t budge. ¡°Such as, Uncle Lambert? What are these ¡®various possibilities¡¯¡±
¡°You are stubborn, child, aren''t you? I would have preferred it went unsaid, but I think that an orphanage would be the right place for you. The church will take care of you until you turn of age. Until then, you will remain under their tutelage and supervision.¡±
In the meanwhile, Aurora was less than pleased with this outcome. Being sent to an orphanage, of all places, didn''t sound particularly appealing.
Lambert sensed her displeasure. ¡°Trust me, the orphanage is not a bad place. The church will provide food and shelter. You might even enjoy a free education, if you are fortunate. They might teach you the secrets of magic, as long as you display adequate potential. As far as I am aware, you are fascinated by magic, aren''t you?¡±
Aurora merely nodded. It was true, her interest for the arts of magic was strong indeed.
Lambert wore a diplomatic smile. ¡°Just ask Iris, she knows best. That''s where she made her first foray in the matters of magic. She learned the fundamentals from the church. Right, Iris? Orphanages aren¡¯t so bad.¡±
Their domestic mage offered a weak smile in response. ¡°Lambert is right ... Orphanages do have their merits.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora fell silent. They were cornering her with logical and reason. A most problematic development for a cute girl and her doll companion were neither keen on.
Being sent to an orphanage, being imprisoned for the rest of her life by a religious organisation was not any part of her plan. She had come this far, and now she had to face a life in an orphanage? Not her! Unfortunately, Lambert had a point, a good point, their goodwill was finite. They weren''t willing to tolerate a leech, even a cute little leech, of her degree forever.
As such, Aurora faced a severe dilemma. ¡°Hmm, ... you said I can''t stay with you, didn''t you?¡±
Lambert crossed his arms. His posture defensive. ¡°I did.¡±
¡°Because staying with you will put me in danger?¡±
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
¡°More or less.¡±
¡°Because I can''t fight?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Because I can''t defend myself?¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
Her headsie started working furiously. There must be a way to sway him. Her gears were turning until finally an idea emerged. A sparkling light surfaced in her eyes. ¡°I think I have a solution.¡±
Lambert furrowed his eyebrow. ¡°I am listening.¡±
Aurora raised her index finger, bringer of excellent ideas and impeccable advise. ¡°Why don''t I also become an adventurer? Just like you! I will learn how to fight, so we can stay together forever until the end of times.¡±
¡°... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...¡±
¡°What?¡± Aurora tilted her head. For some reason, a sea of incredulous stares met her proposal.
¡°Ahahaha. Hahahahahahahahahaha. Ahahahahahha. Hahahahahahaha. Hehehehe.¡± Lambert exploded in bursting laughter. ¡°Ahahahahahahahaha. Ahahaha. Hahahaha. Ahahahahaha. Hahahahaha. Ahahaha. Ahahahahahaha. Hahahahahaahahaha.¡±
His sudden outburst attracted much unwanted attention. The entire guild was staring at them in confusion until Lambert finally regained his composure. ¡°You? An adventurer? I hope you are jesting, little princess.¡±
Aurora and her doll pouted in rightful indignation, strongly disapproving of his unjustified ridicule. ¡°I am not ... jesting. I am serious. I want to become an adventurer. Just like you.¡±
¡°Please, enlighten me then as to how, little princess. How do you want to become an adventurer? Just look at you, your cute doll, your soft cheeks, your fluffy hair, your pale skin, your meagre non-existent musculature. Your hands can''t even lift a sword!¡± Lambert shook his head. ¡°Tell me, how the fuck is a little girl like you supposed to become an adventurer? Are you taking our profession as a joke? Being an adventurer requires hard training and effort.¡±
Aurora didn''t exactly disagree, yet she disagreed. ¡°I know, but ...¡±
Lambert crossed his arms. ¡°No, forget it. Trust me, you are better off at the orphanage.¡±
¡°Please.¡± Aurora begged him.
¡°No.¡±
¡°Please~.¡±
¡°No!¡±
¡°Pleashe~.¡±
¡°Fuck no!¡±
Aurora hugged her doll. ¡°... Is there really no way?¡±
Lambert''s face darkened. ¡°Aren''t you listening, no ...¡±
¡°Lambert, don''t be like this, I think we should give her a chance.¡± Of all people, Iris intervened on her behalf. ¡°In fact, the guild offers a program for people like her. We could sign her up for it.¡±
¡°Sign her up for what? What program are you talking about?¡± Lambert met her words with incredulity.
Iris raised her voice. Once again, the teacher in her surfaced. ¡°The guild has a special program for aspiring adventurers. The guild provides every year a certain number of available places, which will then be allocated to a certain number of applicants. The applicants will be provided with tutelage and lodging for the duration of their training, until they graduate and are promoted to full fledged adventurers.¡±
Aurora and her doll were sharpening their ears. The program sounded much like the equivalent of an adventurer academy. Not the worst idea probably, considering the mortality of the adventurer profession.
Lambert blinked, his confusion plainly visible. ¡°... ... ... That''s a thing?¡±
Iris beamed. ¡°It was a rather recent idea of the guild master. If she shows promise, she will pass. If not, she will fail and kicked out.We can vouch for and sponsor her, to increase her chances of being admitted. You know perfectly well, Lambert, that your word in particular carries weight with the guild master.¡±
Her words made Lambert fume. ¡°Are you crazy, Iris? The child will only get herself killed! And now you plan to risk our good name and reputation! Have you gone insane? How can I vouch for her in good faith?¡±
Armed with her usual gentle smile, Iris continued conspiring against her companion, supported by a devious little devil. ¡°Lambert, please, give her a chance. Have some faith in her. I am sure she won''t disappoint us. I am sure she will give it her best.¡±
Aurora and her doll nodded in wholesale agreement. ¡°I will. I will double and triple my efforts. I will show you all what I am made of!¡± Of one half cuteness and one half cuddliness.
¡°...¡± Lambert harboured a less enthusiastic outlook.
Aurora recommenced her assault, pleaing. ¡°Please, Uncle Lambert!¡±
¡°No.¡± Lambert remained unmoved.
Thus, Aurora was forced to resort to her last most lethal weapon in her arsenal, a deadly hug. Her little arms embraced Lambert in a cuddly hug. Her best puppy eye supported her efforts. ¡°Pleashe.¡±
¡°...
...
...¡±
¡°Pleashe.¡±
Lambert grumbled, biting his lips. He struggled as his resolve wavered. ¡°Ah, damn it, you win. I give up. You get your chance, girl. I will even pay ... for your gear if necessary.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
Lambert nodded. ¡°Be glad that I feel like it today. Because my brain still says no.¡±
Aurora jumped in joy together with her doll, rewarding him with another hug.¡°Thank you, Uncle Lambert. You are the best.¡±
Afterwards, she returned her attention to her doll. ¡°Did you hear? We are going to become adventurers~. Isn''t that wonderful?¡± Her doll nodded.
A slight smile graced Lambert''s lips, as he watched a girl overjoyed. Her happiness was infectious, her innocence heart warming. The girl ... was different from them. Such was obvious to the naked eye. The girl wasn''t like them.
They all were marked by the hardships of life, having lost their innocence long ago, forced to mature beyond their years. The very concept of childhood was alien to their like, to men and women of common birth, a privilege rarely enjoyed. Yet the girl in front of them retained her impish childishness, living in her own precious little world free of troubles and worries.
He knew that they come to regret his choice, yet he didn''t change his mind. They wouldn¡¯t forsake their little mystery girl. Henceforth, their fates were intertwined. He only hoped that he made the right decision.
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Arc IV Chapter 9
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 9
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10
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Erika, a ubiquitous name, a name frequent among the common classes, and the name of a certain hard working adventurer¡¯s guild receptionist. A demure woman with hazel hair and a fitting pair of light brown eyes, Erika pursued her duties with the diligence demanded by her profession. Hailing from a respected family of artisans, from a proud line of blacksmiths, her family had been calling for generations a modest workshop in the outskirts of Freyburg their own. It was her grand, grand, grandfather who finally acquired the privilege of full citizenship. Ever since, her family sought their luck behind the protecting walls of Freyburg.
Her family struggled, but fate looked upon them with benevolence. Through the hard work and sweat of her forefathers, their business flourished, and her family amassed a modest fortune to lead a simple, but comfortable life. Unlike her less fortunate brethren, unlike the much disdained paupers and beggars who filled the streets of Freyburg, Erika had suffered little hardship. In fact, she was among the few fortunate enough to enjoy a formal education. While her brothers took on the mantle and responsibility of the family craft, her parents sent her to pursue an academic career, as she was granted the privilege to study the literary arts under the tutelage of church.
The clergy absolved her from the curse of illiteracy, teaching her the arts of reading and writing, even instructing her in the basics of mathematics and accounting. Both sets of skills would prove useful later in her life, as literate and numerate personnel was scarce highly sought-after in a prospering city such as Freyburg, especially personnel versed in the fields of accounting and bookkeeping. No trade without proper administration. No commerce without bureaucracy. That was what her teachers used to say.
Her educational background led eventually to where she was standing today, earning her a stable occupation. The guild was searching for an additional receptionist, and thus she was hired. Her credentials spoke for her.
¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~¡±, Erika hummed along, while organising her precious files and documents. Archival and diligent documentation were an integral part of her work, simple tasks that filled her with abundant joy. Having everything neatly and tightly organised was a beautiful sight to behold. Everything was in order. Everything was in their places. Everything was where it belonged. A perfect example of impeccable efficiency!
Some people might resent or despise the sight of venerable parchment, but not her. Her heart appreciated the beauty ink and paper harboured, wishing for little else. Letters and numbers, paragraphs and column, comprised her little kingdom. This was her true calling. This was her little world. ¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ? ? ??? ~. ? ? ? ? ?? ? ??? ~.? ??? ? ? ?? ...¡±
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
¡°Hello~, is this the guild reception~?¡± A girlish voice called for her, and Erika was swift to respond, greeting her newest customer with her brightest smile ... At least, she tried so. Her mysterious customer was nowhere to be found ... Where was she?
The girl raised her hand. ¡°I am down here~.¡±
Erika lowered her gaze until finally locating her mysterious customer. Short and petite in stature, the girls'' fluffy head barely reached the high counter. No wonder that she had overlooked the girl. ¡°Oh my. Hello, little one, welcome to the adventurers'' guild. How may I help you?¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Together with a doll tightly enclosed in her arms, the girl studied her. Her dolly eyes of profound purple observed her, eyes full of childish innocence and hope. Such a cuddly child.
The girl posed a timid question,¡°Does big Sister have any time for me~?¡±
Erika maintained her smile. A smiling receptionist was a good receptionist. That was rule n. 1 of the adventurers'' guild staff handbook. ¡°Of course, little one. Tell me, what do you need? Do you want to post a mission? Are you hungry, or thirsty? Or did you perhaps get lost?¡±
The girl tilted her head, thinking,¡°I have a question, is this the place where you can register to become an adventurer~?¡±
Her words only served to deepen Erika''s suspicions. The curious little airhead in front of her truly did appear to be lost. ¡°Correct, this is the official registration point for aspiring adventurers. They may submit here their application here and apply for registration.¡±
Sunken in thoughts and hiding behind a pensive expression, the girl and her doll studied her with scrutiny. ¡°Hmm.¡±
Erika maintained her polite smile. ¡°...¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°...¡±
The girl hugged her doll. ¡°I was told the guild offers a junior program for beginning adventurers ...¡±
Realisation struck Erika, as it dawned on her where this was going. So the girls was one of them. ¡°Indeed, the guild offers such a program. I presume that you intend to apply, don''t you?¡±
The mysterious girl nodded vigorously, confirming her suspicions. Meanwhile, Erika decided to play along. Her chances of being accepted ranged from slim to non existent anyway. Not that the girl knew. It wouldn''t hurt to hand her a registration form.
Rummaging through her stack of paper and folder, her search produced a form. ¡°Applying at such a young age, all alone. A brave decision, I must say. Here is your application form. Please fill it out and return it. Your request will then be processed.¡±
The girl accepted the form and was staring at it with a certain degree of incredulity and curiosity. ¡°Hmm.¡±
Erika deployed a gentle smile. ¡°Do you per chance need any help? If you want, I can lend you a hand with filling out the form. Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone.¡±
The girl returned a radiant beam. ¡°No, thank you. I have everything I need. Just wait a moment. I will be back soon.¡±
As thus, her mysterious visitor, from one moment to the next happily, bounced away like a kitten with her doll in her arms and a form in her hands. What a curious girl.
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After successfully claiming her registration form, Aurora and doll returned to Lambert, as they had encountered an unexpected obstacle on her path to adventurerhood, which required external support.
Her hands tugged at Lambert''s overcoat. ¡°Nice Uncle Lambert, nice Uncle Lambert, nice Uncle Lambert ...¡±
¡°Oh, already back?¡± His eyes blinked in surprise and what might qualify as hints of mild annoyance. ¡°This was ... fast ...¡±
Little Aurora and her doll presented their form to him. ¡°I need your help ... with this form.¡±
¡°For what?¡± Lambert furrowed his eyebrow.
For what she could, but couldn''t, as she couldn''t, because she shouldn''t. What she shouldn''t, because she mustn''t. Because she mustn''t, she thus didn''t despite she could.
¡°... ... ... I can''t read ...¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°... ...¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Everyone fell silent.
¡°Well, ... that ... makes ... a lot of sense.¡± For once, Lambert agreed with her without employing any sort of persuasion.
Erika
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Arc IV Chapter 10
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 10
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10
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Confronted with the incessant assault of a little girl''s pleas, Lambert was slightly unsure about what to do with the application form handed to him. Handling written matters usually didn''t fall within his area of competency. For good reasons. ¡°...¡± Fortunately, he had an optimal solution to this pressing problem.
¡°Ahem, Iris ...¡± Lambert cleared his throat before handing over the form to his esteemed colleague and domestic erudite mage. ¡°Here! For you!¡±
¡°Wait ... What ... Why me?¡± Iris blinked, dumbfounded by the sudden change of events.
Lambert wore his typical diplomatic smile, his best typical diplomatic smile. ¡°Your handwriting is exceptional, Iris. Nobody at this table has such beautiful handwriting as you.¡± Or at all, for that matter ... His shoddy handwriting was beyond atrocious, a failing he was painfully aware of. They were not much better than ancient, time weathered hieroglyphs in terms of readability.
¡°...¡± A sigh escaped Iris¡¯ lips, as she grudgingly accepted his shirked task. Not that she wasn''t used to being relegated to writing duties by him and company. This was neither the first time, nor would it be the last such. ¡°Seems that I have little choice, as usual.¡±
Having accepted the form into her hands, Iris produced a pen and an inkwell, her private belongings, from her personal satchel. Dipping her pen into the inkwell, her hand was prepared to commence. ¡°We can now begin.¡±
Lambert studied the form over her shoulder. ¡°I guess that we start from the bottom with the least problematic questions first. Starting with the simpler parts might save us some time.¡±
Iris started reading aloud before pausing. ¡°Credentials ... ... ...¡±
They both stole a quick glance at their girl, her soft cheeks, her fluffy hair, and the cute doll tightly enclosed in her arms.
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Considered her childish, almost innocent, appearance, the adorable pair didn''t look particularly intimidating, threatening, nor ¡®adventurery¡¯. Quite the contrary, their little princess and her doll felt misplaced amidst the harsh world of adventurers. Adventuring was a cut throat business for the brave, the desperate, and wood headed fools, a life ill suited for little girls. The girl wasn''t cut out for this kind of life, yet she was also exceedingly stubborn and strong willed. Hopefully, she would prove as resilient as stubborn, as dissuading her from applying was impossible at this point.
¡°Put our name below.¡± Lambert cleared his throat. ¡°We are vouching for her ¡ extraordinary potential ... and capabilities. Make sure to write that down. That should suffice to get her through the application process.¡±
¡°Are you really sure about this?¡± Iris'' hesitated.
¡° ... Quite.¡± Lambert reassured Iris his with a simple nod. ¡°Our girl will require all the support we can provide.¡± He truly meant his words.
Scribbling ahead, her pen was dancing across the milled paper before pausing.
Leaning back in his chair, Lambert watched her. ¡°Is something amiss, Iris?¡±
¡°The next point is combat experience ... What shall we put in there?¡±
¡°Nothing¡±, Lambert waved off, stealing a glance at their young, cuddly prot¨¦g¨¦e. ¡°Ignore it. I doubt that she has any to begin with anyway, so no sense in faking it, right?¡±
¡°That''s not true. I do have combat experience, Uncle Lambert! I have fought a dread wolf and demon, and even survived!¡± Aurora pouted, objecting in the strongest terms possible.
Lambert clicked his tongue. ¡°I disagree, running away and hiding barely counts as fighting, does it?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora grumbled and pouted, muttering under her breath. ¡°Uncle Lambert is being unfair. No justice for little girls in this land.¡±
Ignoring her complaints, Lambert rolled his eyes at her melodramatic tendencies. ¡°Iris, let''s move on to the next point.¡±
Her eyes scanned the application. ¡°Next are skills and abilities ...¡±
Drumming his fingers on the table, his mind started strategising. This wasn¡¯t going to be easy. To lie, or not lie, that was the question. So far, she didn¡¯t look particularly good on paper. Unless they were fudging details a little bit, but such was risky. Getting caught with a falsified account was neither in their, nor in her best interests. ¡°Skip it for now. We will deal with it later. I will come up with something to sell the guild on her.¡±
¡°Very well. Next point is place of birth.¡±
Lambert turned his gaze to their girl. ¡°Can you help us?¡±
¡°Sowwy, ... I don''t... remember yet.¡± Aurora shook her headsie, continuing her tradition of withholding vital information.
¡°Thought so.¡± Lambert sighed. The girl and her amnesia. What a hassle. ¡°Iris, just write down Freyburg. Tell them that we picked her up in the suburbs and took her in. Make up some eye watering story about her being a poor orphan, her parents dying from an illness, and whatever. The city is full of children like this. The guild shouldn''t question our story.¡±
Iris furrowed an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure? What if they find out the truth?¡±
Lambert dismissed her concerns. ¡° Don¡¯t worry, or do you seriously think they will look into the background of a simple orphan? Unlikely. And even if, they won''t find anything. We have no idea whatsoever who she is, so they do neither. As far as they are concerned and as long as we don''t tell them anything, Freyburg sounds entirely plausible. After all, where should our ¡®orphan¡¯ have come from otherwise?¡±
¡°Right ...¡± Iris agreed despite some reservations on her part. ¡°The next one is age.¡±
Lambert turned his gaze at their ¡®orphan¡¯. ¡°Lass, any idea how old are you?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora chose silence in this matter.
¡°You are certainly short.¡± Lambert studied her figure, inspecting her from head to toe. ¡°Your muscles are underdeveloped. I would say that you are around eleven, or twelve years old at most. You could easily pass for ten, given your frail body.¡±
Aurora mentally pouted. Hey, she wasn''t ten, she was fourteen! And she wasn''t short. She just didn''t hit her due to growth spurt yet. The latter would surely arrive one day.
¡°Iris, write down fourteen. That should be the best age to get her accepted.¡±
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Arc IV Chapter 11
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 11
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10
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Fourteen?¡± Aurora raised her eyebrow in a display of slight incredulity.
¡°Yes, do you have any problems with that?¡± Lambert was calculating in his mind. ¡°You are now officially fourteen. If anyone asks you, you are fourteen, and not younger, got it?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora raised no objection following Lambert''s sudden burst of impetus. In the end, the matter was settled rather quickly. Not that she complained. After all, fourteen was her true age, despite her petite stature suggesting otherwise.
¡°No problems? Good. Let''s continue. I want to get over this form sooner than later ... Is something the matter, lass?¡±
Aurora raised her hand. ¡°Well, I don''t want to disagree, but isn''t it dangerous that we are potentially lying about my age?¡±
¡°Nah.¡± Lambert dismissed her concerns with supreme confidence and a wave of his hand. ¡°Rest assured, you are most certainly neither the first adventurer, nor will you be the last adventurer to lie about your age upon application. If every applicant told the truth, the world would have run out of adventurers long ago. They shouldn''t pry into it too much.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora had nothing to add. Practical considerations clearly outweighed any technical and administrative concerns.
¡°Very well.¡± Iris scribbled down her true, untrue age. ¡°Now to the last point ...¡±
Iris looked up from the form, her face visibly troubled. ¡°It seems that we need a name for her ... The guild wants her name.¡±
...
...
....
Lambert drummed his fingers on the table, scowling. ¡°A name ... That''s indeed troublesome.¡±
His gaze turned to her. ¡°Do you remember anything? Do you have a hint or clue for us?¡±
¡°Not really.¡± Aurora shook her head, continuing her helpless girl act.
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An exasperated sigh escaped him. ¡°I guess, it''s time to think about a name for you. At least, for the time being, and until you recover your memories.¡±
Iris seconded his opinion. ¡°Lambert is right, you definitely need a name. You can''t go without one forever.¡±
¡°I guess you are right.¡± Aurora hugged her doll, hardly able to deny their requests. Their motion had its merits from a multitude of angles.
¡°I suppose that''s something that we all can agree upon.¡± Lambert stroked his chin, thinking. ¡°Do have you any suggestion how you would like to be called? Do you have any preferences? We are flexible, after all. Not that we have much of a choice.¡±
Aurora contemplated her options after consulting with her loyal doll. Both of them knew that regardless of whatever name they would be given, it must exude an adequate degree of dignity and decorum. It must be a name befitting her status. ¡°My doll says our name must elegant and graceful. I agree with her.¡±
¡°Elegant ... Graceful ... That''s quite vague, to be honest.¡± A frown crossed Lambert''s lips, who chose to ignore the fact that the girl was talking with her doll. ¡°Iris, any suggestions?¡±
Their domestic mage looked puzzled. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡±
Lambert leaned back into his chair. ¡°The reason is simple, you have an academic background, and our girl here wants an elegant and graceful name. As such, you are perfect for this task.¡±
Iris conceded his point. ¡°I guess so ... But just because I studied doesn''t mean that I am your private lexicon, but I guess that I can make an exception this time. You wish for a graceful and elegant name, right?¡±
Aurora nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yes, Sister Iris! I would like a noble name, a strong name, a name with dignity!¡±
Iris crossed her arms, thinking and pondering before commencing an impromptu discourse on Arcadian history. Rummaging through her memory of historical records and figures, piece by piece, a name formed in her mind, one that she was certain would fit her specifications. ¡°What an odd request for a girl with your age ... A noble name ... A strong name ... But I suppose that I might have an idea. It''s an ancient name, but still fairly common today among commoners and nobles. It''s the name of a saintess of old, known across Arcadia, and hailed in folklore and legends. The woman was a slayer of dragons and demons, and was revered by the masses. The church respected her and even the nobility and the crown were forced to acknowledge her despite her humble birth. Her name was Angelika. What do you think about it? Isn''t it a pretty name? It would suit you.¡±
Aurora blinked. ¡°Do you think so? Doesn''t it seem it a bit grandiose to name me after a heroine of legends?¡± The name was adequate, yet it felt too conspicuous for her taste in terms of popularity.
Iris raised her index finger. ¡°I don''t think so. The name fits you perfectly. After all, we believe in you and your future, little one.¡±
Aurora raised a sceptical eyebrow. ¡°You do?¡±
¡°We do?¡± Lambert seconded her motion of distrust.
Iris smiled him away. ¡°We do. We believe in you very much, right, Lambert?¡±
¡°Well, ... Ouch!¡± Lambert flinched in pain, kicked hard across the table. Iris made her message clear. ¡°Of course! Of course, we believe in you.¡±
¡°That makes me happy~.¡± Aurora hugged her doll and beamed. They really believed in her. Even Lambert did. He just needed some gentle encouragement to do so.¡°But aren¡¯t there any other names you can think about, Sister Iris?¡±
¡°Hmm. Hmmm. Hmmmm. Hmm. Hmmm. Hmmmm.¡± Iris was contemplating. ¡°Hmm, well, what about Edelgart in that case? She is a figure from the early imperial era during the time of the Arcadian empire, an empress if I remember correctly. A noble name, for sure.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± Aurora considered the new proposal, thinking for a long moment, before her doll finally gave her approval. Aurora''s mind was made up. ¡°I will take it.¡±
Lambert crossed his arms. ¡°Then it''s settled, your name is now Edelgart.¡±
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Erika hummed along through much of the rest of her uneventful workday. Until a certain little customer once again sought out her assistance at the counter.
¡°Hello~, I am back, as promised~.¡± The strange girl and her doll had both returned with the application form in her hands.
Erika greeted her familiar face with a smile. ¡°Welcome back, my dear. I guess that you need my help after all. Shall I help you to fill out the form?¡±
The girl and her doll looked at the form and then shook their cute heads vigorously. ¡°That''s not necessary. I asked some friendly adventurers to help me.¡±
Erikea beamed. ¡°Oh, that''s wonderful~. It''s always useful to have some fellow adventurers helping you. That''s the true spirit of a guild, helping each other. ¡±
¡°I guess so.¡± The girl offered a pensive nod before placing her filled out form across the counter. A serious expression occupied her face. ¡°I want to apply to become an adventurer.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Erika returned a polite smile. So it was, as she had feared, the girl truly intended to become an adventurer. ¡°Understood, I will see what we can do.¡±
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Arc IV Chapter 12
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 12
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10
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Of the many things that Aurora had expected, the present outcome was certainly not among them. Caught in the byzantine wheels of the adventurer¡¯s guild¡¯s bureaucracy, she and her doll were directly and without delay summoned to the office of the guild master. Her application was received, stamped, and, much to her astonishment, processed within mere hours in an impressive display of administrative efficiency. An incredible speed for the age of scribes, scripts, and parchment.
Positioned behind a massive oak desk and with Erika standing by his side, the guild master welcomed her and Lambert with a friendly a smile beneath his trimmed beard, yet his deep blue eyes displayed a certain calculating coldness appropriate to his position, only complemented by the numerous battle scars running across his cheekbones. The guild master was a seasoned veteran, a man of many bittersweet battles, an old grey wolf turned clerk and administrator at the later portion of his life. An intriguing change of life, all things considered.
The guild master scrutinised the application form lying on his desk before glancing up at her and Lambert, exchanging looks between the form and them in quick succession, his confusion apparent. Until the guild master finally took the word. Touched by age yet firm, his voice resounded through the room. ¡°My name is Wolfgang. I am the acting guild master and representative of the Freyburgian branch of the Eastern Arcadia adventurer¡¯s guild. I must apologise for calling a girl of such tender age and you, Lambert, at such a late hour, but I think that both of you know are well aware as to why you have been summoned. Especially, you Lambert.¡± His eyes narrowed and his glare intensified. ¡°I always thought that you are a reasonable man in the past, so what exactly are you trying to pull here this time?¡±
Lambert averted his eyes, feeling the weight of his guilt, meanwhile Aurora merely furrowed an eyebrow. The tone of familiarity in Wolfgang¡¯s words didn''t go unnoticed. Did they know each other? Lambert and the guild master seemed to have a history with each other.
Wolfgang focused his attention on her. ¡°Am I correct to assume that your name is Edelgart?¡±
Aurora nodded vigorously with the unwavering confidence of a child as to not arouse suspicion. She succeeded. ¡°It is.¡±
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¡°And you were born in?¡±
Aurora lowered her gaze. ¡°Well, I don''t know. I only remember growing up on the streets of the city after my parents died before being turned over to an orphanage. That is where Lambert and his party picked me up.¡±
¡°I see ... ... ...¡± Wolfgang closed his eyes and a moment of silence followed. ¡°According to your application, you are already fourteen years old. I find that hard to believe. Nothing against you, child, but you seem to be ... quite short for your age. Are you really fourteen?¡± Lambert stole a discreet glance at her. There was only one right answer.
Aurora clenched her fists, brimming with the flames of hope and determination. ¡°I am. I know I am short, but I am sure that I will hit a growth spurt ... soon enough, ... one day.¡± Her little act worked beautifully, confounding his suspicions.
¡°... ... ...¡± Wolfgang was drumming his fingers on his table, contemplating his options. ¡°You know, girl, you are good. I am impressed. I really am. Despite all my years, I can''t tell whether you are telling the truth, or not. Either your words are sincere, or you are an ice cold liar without even the slightest sign of hesitation. Either is fine to me. The latter is for sure a useful skill to have when it comes to the adventurer business.¡±
Wolfgang turned his head. ¡°Lambert, you are telling that the girl has no combat experience ... No credentials ... No training ... Is that true?¡±
Lambert hesitated for the briefest moment. ¡°... It is.¡±
¡°And yet it''s you, of all people, who is standing here, before me and vouching for her! Lambert, seriously, what were you thinking? Is this supposed to be some sort of elaborate prank? Is the child paying you for this, or what?¡±
Lambert scratched his hair, his nervosity palpable. ¡°Well, if you put it this way, then it sounds worse than it actually is.¡±
Wolfgang pressed his assault. ¡°You know exactly what I mean, Lambert. Regulations and rules exist for a reason. The adventurer¡¯s guild is a professional organisation, and not an orphanage. Our purpose is to provide trained and experienced personnel, not to take in homeless children. You should know that, Lambert, our reputation comes first. I see no point in accepting an unskilled and inexperienced girl. We have certain standards to fulfil. Besides that, I am not a proponent of recruiting children, a girl no less.¡±
Lambert, ever the diplomat and negotiator, tried his best. ¡°Relax, Wolfgang, since when does the guild ever take regulations and rules seriously? We both know that paper is patient. Theory is one thing, reality another. Back in my days, they took everyone without even a second thought, and now you are making such a fuss.¡±
Wolfgang planted his aged and bony elbows on his desk. An unflinching stare met Lambert, and by extension her. ¡°Lambert, that was one, two decades ago, after the war cut into our numbers, but times are changing. The guild is changing. So tell me, why should we take her? Why should we waste our limited resources on her, an urchin without any qualifications? You should know better than anyone else that I can''t approve her application even with you backing her. The guild is already looking after enough of her like. At least, the usual applicants appear here with a some degree of experience or even prominent background, and even then I must reject most of them. Meanwhile, your girl comes from nowhere with absolutely nothing to show. I am afraid that my decision stands. And now get your sorry arses elsewhere. Get her apprenticed to a weaver, or whoever. Whatever little girls are doing these day girls these days.¡±
Aurora sensed the tide of conversation was turning against her, yet Lambert didn''t succumb to the temptation of surrender. He kept fighting for her, even challenging the old man. ¡°Wolfgang, can¡¯t you be somewhat flexible and make a small exception for her?¡±
The old man¡¯s heart remained entirely unmoved. ¡°Lambert, no matter what, I won''t change my decision. So get out of my office. You are wasting both of our time. ¡±
¡°Wolfgang, please, for the sake of old times, can''t you admit her?¡±
Lambert''s words elicited an immediate reaction from the veteran guild masters. ¡°Are you trying to appeal to my sense of sentimentality? Do you honestly think that will work with me?¡±
¡°No, not really, Wolfgang, I know you only too well.¡± Lambert flashed a victorious smirk, still having a last ace to play. ¡°Do you remember ten years ago? I think that it''s time to call in the favour from back then, Wolfgang.¡±
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Arc IV Chapter 13
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 13
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10
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Wolfgang scowled, pursing his lips. He thought for a long moment. ¡°Are you sure, Lambert? Do you truly want to waste the owed favour on her? You might regret doing so.¡±
Lambert responded with a smile of certainty. He was a man who had made his decision. ¡°Quite. If that is what a make, then it shall be so.¡±
His words finally broke the last of Wolfgang''s resistance. A whistling noise escaped his teeth, as the guild master shook his head in resignation. ¡°I never took you for a sentimental man, Lambert, and yet ... If you think that the girl is worth it, very well, I see no reason to continue opposing her admission. Following the next week, the girl will start as a mere copper adventurer and work her way up the ladder from there.¡±
Aurora perked up, her cloudy face clearing up and her arms hugging her doll. Victory. Triumph. They had won, thanks to uncle Lambert¡¯s persuasion skills, overcoming the mean, misguided guild master.
Even Lambert joined her jubilation, putting a firm hand on her shoulder.¡°Lass, did you hear that? Don¡¯t waste this chance, child. Don''t disappoint us.¡±
Aurora nodded. She wouldn''t, nor did she plan to.
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Thus, a long and rather uneventful day, at least in comparison to previous life threatening encounters of the demonic kind, ended. Aurora settled in her bed, curled up in her blanket and prepared to sleep early. Crystals were an expensive mean of illumination, and candles only provided subpar lighting. Unfortunately, Iris could afford neither for her private chambers. They lived in a preindustrial time and age when artificial light had not yet conquered the darkness of the night. The day ended with sunset and started with dawn.
At least, her bed was warm and cosy, her blanket fluffy, and her pillow soft. They were not necessarily up to the standards of her noble background, but a bed was a bed, and she hadn''t enjoyed the supreme cosiness of a real bed for weeks after spending the entirety of her new life sleeping on straw on the ground. Even the simplest bed marked a definitive improvement over the rudimentary conditions in the field of the harsh adventurer life. Her poor back already thanked her for the respite.
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Next to her, Iris was slumbering sunk in dreams, sharing her precious bed with her. They were sleeping together, a decision Aurora approved of in retrospect. For obvious reasons, mostly for monetary reasons and reasons of privacy, Lambert and the party decided to accommodate her at the guild''s inn, lodging her in Iris'' room. Thus, they were both now effectively living together, sharing a room, a room was appropriate to her social status and income. Compact and cramped, space was a limited commodity in an urban environment. Especially, in a city as pulsating and prospering as Freyburg.
Spartan, not to say minimalist, in design, a wooden floor, a polished beech parquet, met the timber walls clad in oak. An open window allowed sunlight and fresh air to enter. Furniture was sparse, but functional. A bed. A wardrobe. A number of chairs. A small table exiled into a forgotten corner. A series of shelves, a single one even filled with a handful of books. A lone desk, clearly intended for solitary work of the intellectual kind. Yet her lodgings boasted, much to Iris'' delight and immense pride, of a private bathroom and even a personal bath, with the latter being reminiscent of a wooden barrel cut in half.
Unlike her, Iris didn''t last a minute once her head had settled on her pillow. Tired and exhausted, Iris escaped into the land of dreams, leaving her alone in a dimly lit room, only illuminated by the serene grace of the full moon. It was a magical night. The moon stood high among the stars in all its splendid glory, further amplifying her mana. Her powers yearned for the comforting darkness of the night and the gentle presence of the moon. It was the time of day when her mana was the strongest, the most vibrant.
Aurora patted her doll, her most loyal companion. Her lustrous hair spilled around her face. The doll was the last remnant of her previous self, of a life of a girl who once was. She would always cherish the doll in her memory. That was the least she could do to honour a very brave girl who found a premature death before her time. Powerful forces had conspired against her. It was not her fault that she had failed. Aurora would live her new life now in her stead, a new life bestowed upon her because of her sacrifice.
Her lips kissed her doll on her cheek, rewarding her with a tender kiss. Her doll was resting beside her with her eyelids closed, sleeping beneath her warm blanket, enclosed by her arms in a tight embrace. ¡°I might not be her, but good night. Sleep well and sweet dreams.¡± Silence followed, the absolute silence of a cold night shrouded in darkness.
¡°...¡± Aurora waited and waited. Of course, her doll never responded. Reality was a cruel mistress. Despite all her love, her doll remained naught but a doll. Her doll didn''t speak. Her doll didn¡¯t live outside childish fantasies and desires. In the end, her doll was just a mere toy, an inanimate object. Maybe it was better that way, after all.
Her eyelids closed and sleep befell Aurora under the watchful glimmer of the brilliant moon. The moon passed and the serene light of the stars graced the earth until a demure pair of purple eyes pierced the veil of the night. Unseen in the cover of the night and seemingly forever lost, for the briefest moment reawakened, brilliant purple gazed upon the eternal beauty of the stars.
What ...
...
Where ...
...
Why ...
...
Who ...
...
When ...
¡
Ho ... w ... ...
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Arc IV Chapter 14
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 14
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11
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Fumes of molten metal and burnt ash permeated the air. The black soot of industry and metallurgy hung thick over the metalworking quarters. Fuelled by the energy of wood, coal, and coke, the infernal fires of the forges and smithies never ceased their work, always craving for more ore, more metal, more steel. The furnaces and chimneys of Freyburg burned day and night without respite, producing an endless stream of goods and tools, of weapons and armour. Today it was her turn to make use of their services.
Bouncing around under Lambert''s supervision, Aurora and her doll explored the workshop, while nagging her companion with incessant questions, much to the latter''s visible annoyance. Yet she was but a curious child, and curious children ask questions.
¡°Uncle Lambert! Uncle Lambert, what are these? What are these?¡± Aurora and her faithful doll pointed at a pair of sparkling vambraces, her round purple eyes staring at the most curious object with a glimmer of childish curiosity. After all, she was a little girl with a doll, inexperienced in so many aspects, ignorant of the noble art of warfare and all matters pertaining to war. Little girls with dolls didn''t understand anything about such dangerous and peculiar topics as weapons and armour. Obviously, she was thus fascinated even by the sight of a pair of polished vambraces. Lambert bought her act.
¡°Hmm?¡± Her raised a baffled eyebrow. ¡°These are vambraces. They serve to protect your forearms. You can say that they are a more sturdy version of your leather bracers.¡±
¡°Oh!¡± Aurora gaped in awe, repeatedly poking the metal arm guards. They were displayed in the open on a shelf, surrounded by a wide assembly of weaponry and armour, to the point of making her feel like visiting an armoury. The forge offered a wide range of metallurgical products, ranging from humble swords to exquisite mail armour and gauntlets, from functional halberds to full sets of refined plate armour. The forge offered much and so much more. Yet none of such was destined to become hers. Unfortunately, their products were all beyond her means and the apparent willingness of Lambert''s purse.
They had visited an adventurer shop, where they acquired more appropriate materiel for a girl of her stature and strength. He promised her to sponsor her efforts, and he kept his word, buying her a set of fresh clothes and some necessary gear and equipment for her future profession. A chestnut brown corset covered her chest with feather like strips of leather reaching from her waist to her mid thighs. Beneath, a long sleeved linen chemise caressed her soft skin from her lower waist up to her shoulders. Meanwhile, a pair of thigh high boots with an arrangement of cute dancing tassels adorned her legs, supported by a set of sturdy trousers and woollen stockings.
Not to mention, she was even able to secure, through various means, a set of fitting miniaturised clothes for her doll. Her request baffled the vendor and, yet her cuteness and much pleading persuaded both, the vendor and Lambert, of the immense and exceptional importance of her request. Stylistic uniformity must be maintained, no matter the cost! She and her doll required matching clothes and matching hairstyles. A few hours of waiting later, she accomplished her goal, and uniformity was restored. . All in all, it was a most productive morning. Adventurer girl Aurora was thus officially prepared for the summer season until winter was coming.
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After obtaining a pair of matching clothes and gear, they were now visiting a forge for far more modest purposes. Stingy, or rather resourceful according to his opinion, as Lambert was, they were currently procuring a weapon appropriate for her petite hands.
¡°Uncle Lambert~, Uncle Lambert~, what is this?¡± Aurora and her doll pointed at a humongous two handed sword with a formidable a cross guard, impressive in size and weight, easily taller than her and her doll put together. The massive blade was obviously far too heavy and bulky for a small child of her stature, yet she asked.
¡°What is what?¡± Lambert followed her eyes. ¡°Ehm ¡ ¡ ¡ this is a Zweih?nder.¡±
¡°Oh ... A Zweih?nder! Sounds dreadful!¡± Aurora marvelled at the giant blade in awe.
¡°I would say ¡®dreadful¡¯ is a slight understatement when you are on the receiving end.¡±
¡°Uncle Lambert, and what are they used for?¡±
¡°As far as I know, they appeared first during the imperial era as a type of heavy mercenary sword, but these days, they are mainly wielded by heavy infantry and dismounted knights. Lambert, stroked his chin, rummaging through his memory. ¡°Zweih?nder are used to break tight pike formations and bludgeon the enemy to death if necessary. You jump straight into the enemy line, trying to wreak as much havoc as possible.¡±
¡°Oh! They sound useful!¡± Aurora gazed at the sword in awe, her hand reaching for the blade of her dreams.
¡°Uncle Lambert~, can I get one~? Can I get a Zweih?nder?¡±
...
...
...
¡°¡¡± Lambert blinked in disbelief at her after nearly choking.
¡°...¡±
¡°¡ ¡¡±
¡°¡¡± Aurora tilted her head, dumbfounded.
¡°¡ ¡ ... Are you serious?¡± His blank stare clearly questioned her mental sanity after exchanging a series of quick looks between the sword and her.
¡°¡¡± Aurora nodded vigorously.
An annoyed sigh escaped his lips. ¡°Listen, Edelgart, take a good look at the sword.¡± Lambert motioned at the blade. ¡°Here Zweih?nder ... Big sword ... Massive sword ... Heavy sword ... Do you follow me?¡±
¡°¡¡± Aurora nodded.
Lambert motioned at her. ¡°Here Edelgart ... Small girl ... Little girl ... Weak girl ... Do you see any potential problem with this arrangement?¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora tilted her head. ¡°Not really, not that I can think of. But I guess you are right, the sword might be a tiny bit too heavy for me.¡±
Lambert seconded her opinion with a healthy potion of sarcasm. ¡°Yes, just a tiny, tiny bit too heavy for you.¡±
¡°I am glad that you agree~.¡± Aurora beamed before moving on to the next shiny toys catching her interest, a group of very spiky looking sticks. ¡°And what are these, Uncle Lambert~?¡±
¡°These are ¡ halberds. Nasty weapons.¡±
¡°Oh, halberds, and these?¡± Aurora pointed at another row of equally pointy yet less spiky sticks. ¡°Are these also halberds?¡±
¡°No, these are pikes¡±, Lambert corrected her.
¡°But they look the same¡±, Aurora mused. ¡°What''s the difference?¡±
Lambert grumbled, visibly annoyed by her multitude of nagging questions. ¡°Halberds are shorter, less pointy and more spiky. Pikes are longer, more pointy and less spiky. That''s the difference.¡±
¡°Oh, Uncle Lambert is such a wise uncle, right, Dolly?¡± Aurora consulted her doll. Her doll agreed.
¡°... ... .... let''s say, you learn one thing or two when your father was a soldier.¡± Lambert accepted her praise after some hesitation. He certainly didn''t think her even for a second crazy and insane for talking with her doll.
¡°Oh, Uncle Lambert~, Uncle Lambert~, Uncle Lambert~, look, there is a sparkly armour there! Can I get this one?¡±
¡°What are you looking at now?¡± Lambert scowled before his eyes fell on a full set of ostentatious of sophisticated, polished plate armour. The mere sight of it nearly gave him a heart attack.
¡°Uncle Lambert~, can I get this one? The armour looks very safe and sturdy. We should buy it! We also should paint it black ¡ Uncle Lambert?¡± A cold glare met her from behind.
¡°Are you trying to ruin me, or what, Edelgart?¡± Lambert looked less than amused.
¡°I am not.¡± Aurora shook her head, rejecting his baseless accusations. She never aimed to bankrupt him with her fanciful proposals. It was merely an unintended side effect.
¡°Then stop asking for ridiculous stuff.¡± His glare intensified. ¡°Do you have any idea of how much a full set of plate armour costs?¡±
¡°Ehm, a lot?¡± Aurora made a guess.
¡°Yes, quite a lot.¡± Lambert sighed, his exasperation visible. ¡°Actually, a little more than quite a lot.¡±
¡°Hmm¡±, Aurora and her doll mused in a pensive mood. ¡°I guess plate armour must be expensive, then.¡±
Lambert pinched the bridge of his nose at the sight of so much foolishness. ¡°... ¡ ¡ Sometimes, sometimes, I think you must really be a genius.¡±
¡°Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Lambert~!¡± Aurora beamed happily. ¡°I always wanted to be a genius!¡±
¡°... ¡ ¡¡± No comment from Uncle Lambert. Without a doubt, he must be lost for words, once more awed by her unparalleled intellectual prowess. According to her conclusions, she must be thus really a genius of unprecedented proportions. That sounded logical.
Armour
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Arc IV Chapter 15
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 15
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11
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
After successfully annoying Lambert with her open display of stupidity, they further explored through the interior of the shop, wandering around with her in tow trailing behind Lambert like a faithful kitten. They were searching for far cheaper and more affordable alternatives, for more fitting weapons for the purpose of personal defence.
After passing various longswords, too difficult, spears, too unwieldy, axes, clubs, and even war hammers, all of them inappropriate, they arrived at a small selection of far more modest and, most importantly, cheaper steel weapons, weapons that according to her companion she was actually able to wield. Aurora didn''t object for the sake of productive cooperation. Lambert scrutinised the selection before consulting her for her opinion. ¡°Does any of them appeal to you, Edelgart? Any preferences?¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± Aurora and her doll tilted their heads, thinking. ¡°Not that I would know of.¡±
¡°Look, I have an idea. I know the perfect weapon of choice for you.¡± Lambert started to rummage through the assortment of weapons before producing a blade of conspicuously suspiciously short length¡°Tada, a dagger! Why not go with a dagger? It''s short and nimble, light and practical, and not to mention easy to use! One stab here. One stab there. Every child can do that. In short, it¡¯s perfect for you! You should give it a try!¡±
Lambert handed her the dagger in question, depositing it in her little hands. Aurora didn''t even bother to hide her scepticism. ¡°Hmm, are you sure about this, Uncle Lambert? A dagger is quite an ... underwhelming choice. Shouldn''t we opt for a short sword instead?¡± Or even a massive Zweih?nder! They would even get a discount, as they were on offer! That sounded like a true bargain!
¡°Edelgart, you can trust me and my experienced judgement, a dagger is the right choice at your stage. I know the right weapon when I see it. And if you truly want a short sword, just use a bit of your precious imagination. You have plenty of it anyway. Use your imagination and imagine your dagger being a ¡®short sword¡¯. Simple, right?¡± His lips smirked with confidence, yet little Aurora ended up with vastly more questions than answers.
Her eyes studied her ¡®short sword¡¯, which was decidedly on the shorter end of available blades. ¡°And yet it''s quite short. Uncle Lambert, I think that you are stretching here the definition of short sword to the extreme.¡±
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¡°How so?¡±
Aurora motioned at the blade. ¡°Well, the blade is short. Quite short. Perhaps too short.¡±
¡°Of course, it''s short. After all, it''s a SHORT sword, got it? Doesn''t that make sense to you?¡± Lambert offered his explanation in a moment of lucid brilliance.
¡°... ¡± Aurora offered a blank stare of patent dissatisfaction. ¡°That might be true, but my sword is still quite short. That fact remains unchanged.¡±
Lambert raised his index finger to lecture her, dismissed her concerns with his repertoire of sophistry. ¡°And that makes it''s a SHORT short sword. After all, what is a short sword if not short? That''s what their name says.¡±
¡°What impeccable logic ...¡± Aurora and her doll refrained from objecting, not particularly convinced by his argumentation. ¡°Well, I admit that the blade is at least light and nimble. I guess that''s something.¡±
¡°Obviously, as said, this dagger is what you need. The optimal weapon for a girl of your stature.¡±
¡°... ¡±Aurora chose to pretend that she didn''t hear the last part. Her height., or rather lack thereof, was a delicate matter.
Lambert continued his monologue, ¡°A weapon more than adequate for your current skill level. Sturdy, useful, easy to conceal, the dagger will serve you well, although you won¡¯t be doing anything too dangerous for quite some time. I doubt that the guild will place a newbie in any danger.
¡°... ¡± Aurora stared at her dagger with a number of last doubts remaining. ¡°.... But what if ... What if I am attacked by another demon, or even a mighty dragon? What then? I can''t fight them with a dagger!¡±
Lambert rolled his eyes in open dismissal. ¡°Edelgart, firstly, that is a highly unlikely scenario. And secondly, believe me, if you happen to meet another demonkin, or a dragon, then your dagger providing inadequate protection will most certainly be the least of your worries.¡±
Aurora and her doll didn''t argue his point after her attempted extortion failing miserably. His statement was one of the more persuasive kind. ¡°I guess you are right.¡±
¡°Of course, I am.¡± Lambert rolled his eyes in derision. ¡°Anyway, I guess that settles our debate. We will get you a dagger, or do you have any other wishes?¡±
Her eyes wandered towards a selection of vastly more elegant models, works of superior craftsmanship appealing to her refined tastes and befitting a girl of her status. They made her dagger look plain, unrefined, unsophisticated, uninspired. ¡°To be honest, I don''t like this dagger.¡±
¡°How so?¡±
¡°The grip doesn''t feel right in my hands. If it''s possible, can we maybe get another dagger?¡±
¡°...¡± Lambert raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious of her words. For good reasons. ¡°I guess that is a compromise that we can make. Tell me, which one do you want?¡±
Aurora motioned at a certain fine specimen. A sleek, elongated blade protruded forwards from the hilt, the latter shielded by a simple cross guard. It was an elegant weapon for a civilised girl. ¡°Uncle Lambert~, can I get this one~?
A sigh escaped his lips. ¡°And of course, it must be the most expensive one. Seriously, how are you doing this, Edelgart? How are you managing to always pick expensive stuff ?¡±
The same way that he always knew that she was picking expensive stuff! Through intuition and good instincts!
Aurora tilted her head. ¡°How much does it cost then?¡±
¡°Around five taler, I would say.¡±
¡°Oh, isn''t that cheap?¡± Aurora asked. Five taler were fifty kreuzer. Fifty kreuzer were twenty five hot chocolates.
¡°... For sword, yes. For a dagger, no. Certainly on the more expensive side, although you made a good choice. A bit pricey, but an excellent dagger regardless, a Vittorian stiletto in fact, unless I am wrong. I guess you must love to stab people in more ways than one.¡±
¡°Oh, a stiletto.¡± Her purple eyes marvelled at her personal stiletto. Sneaky, stealthy, deadly.
And thus, Aurora and her doll acquired a ¡®proper¡¯ weapon. Not what she considered even remotely as being well armed, but it was a first step in the right direction. After all, everything begins small. Her enemies would come to learn to fear the wrath of her stiletto!
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Arc IV Chapter 16
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 16
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12
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Today was an important day. In fact, it was such an important day that Lambert, in his infinite wisdom, decided to accompany her, a common occurrence in recent times. He was standing right behind her, watching over her. According to them, grumpy Lambert and gentle Iris, she apparently couldn''t be trusted yet with being left alone. Such a silly notion.
She was a big girl! She was already fourteen! That was old enough to look out for herself, despite her spotty track record, despite unfounded allegations, despite misguided accusations, and despite misplaced assertions on Lambert''s part. Right, Dolly?
Her doll nodded vigorously, signalling her ample support. Her doll was definitive proof of the rightfulness of her thoughts! She was clearly old enough to fend for herself!
Aurora and her doll stared at her cute, lovely badge with a mixture of distrust and suspicion, her eyes focused on a copper badge placed before her on the wooden counter for her to claim, a badge that would make her the cutest adventurer all across the lands of Schwarzwalt. The guild provided her with a small, but fine steel plate, decorated with elements of polished copper, and marked with the distinctive crest of Freyburg''s proud adventurer''s guild.
The badge reminded her of those of Lambert and his party, with the only difference being that hers was made of steel and copper, meanwhile theirs were embellished with a thin layer of gold leaf. At least, she suspected so. She doubted that the guild was so generous and charitable as to hand out genuine gold badges. That was an undertaking beyond their budget and benevolence.
Her hands reached for the badge, claiming her prize. From now on, the badge was hers. ¡°Sister Erika~, Sister Erika~, what is this?¡± Her gaze turned to the helpful guild receptionist.
Erika returned a polite business style smile, her hands presenting the badge as if it was for sale, and she was a potential customer that had to be convinced of its utility. Old habits died hard, as the saleswoman in her showed. ¡°This ... This is your adventurer¡¯s badge.¡±
Yet her words didn''t exactly answer her question. ¡°An adventurer¡¯s badge ...¡±
¡°Yes, it is your very own adventurer¡¯s badge¡±, Erika confirmed.
¡°And what is its purpose?¡± Aurora furrowed her eyebrow.
Erika raised her index finger before initiating a lengthy monologue, ¡°Your badge is an essential part of the life of every licensed adventurer. Your badge serves as official proof of your guild membership before the authorities, as you are granted herewith certain rights and privileges. You are now able, for example, to leave and enter the city as you wish, without restrictions, fully exempt from all gate tolls. With this in hand, you can now rent a private room in the city, if you wish so. And last but not least, the badge allows you to accept guild missions, guild commissions, and to claim your rewards, aside from giving you access to various other exclusive guild services. Such as our private guild library, or our training grounds, or our guild inn if you are in need of lodgings. You even receive a discount whenever visiting affiliated guild shops to purchase gear, weaponry, potions, supplies, or other useful items.¡±
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¡°Oh.¡± Aurora and her doll marvelled at their shiny, mighty copper badge, bringer of limitless possibilities. Apparently, the badge was used for identification purposes among the common populace, besides serving as a fully fledged travel permit.
Erika beamed. ¡°I hope that makes everything clear? Or do you perhaps have any questions?¡±
Aurora merely nodded. ¡°None that I know of.¡±
¡°That is wonderful ...¡± Erika clapped her hands together. ¡°Ah, silly me, I nearly forgot to mention, the badge serves of course also to determine your guild rank.¡±
¡°My guild rank?¡±
Erika nodded, ever the cheerful guild receptionist and clearly destined for her occupation. ¡°Indeed, your guild rank represents the total of all of your experience, knowledge, skill and prestige within the guild hierarchy that you have accumulated throughout the years. Your guild rank demonstrates your proficiency and strength as an adventurer. In a certain sense, the rank system functions both as a protection mechanism, especially for newer, less experienced adventurers who cannot yet properly weigh the risks and dangers of their profession, and as quality assurance for potential clients. The rank system was designed to guarantee a certain uniform and standardised level of service and professionalism. Not only would we endanger the lives of our members and clients otherwise, but also risk the reputation of the guild. And what is a guild without its reputation?¡±
¡°I guess... nothing?¡± Aurora shrugged, an imaginary question mark floating over her head.
¡°Correct¡±, Erika praised her for her correct answer, although the question was rhetorical, with the answer being on the more obvious side. ¡°Anyway, as you can see, your badge features a layer of copper, which identifies you accordingly as a copper rank adventurer.¡±
Aurora studied her badge. It was indeed clad in copper. ¡°That sounds ... logical. So I assume, the higher my guild rank, the better?¡±
¡°Exactly, the higher, the better, even though the higher ranks are obviously limited to the most experienced and talented adventurers. If you want more information, then you should consider asking your companion. Lambert here is a senior guild member, a veteran of the trade, and gold rank adventurer. He should be able to provide you with much insight.¡± Their gazes turned to the adventurer in question.
¡°What? Why me?¡± Lambert pointed at himself, slightly dumbfounded. ¡°Isn''t explaining part of your job, Erika?¡±
¡°I guess so, but I and Edelgart will still see each other often enough in the future. And it doesn''t hurt if she gets to hear it from an actual adventurer with experience.¡± Her words did little to persuade Lambert. Quite the contrary.
Lambert furrowed an eyebrow, patently confused. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡±
Aurora agreed. What was that supposed to mean?
Erika returned a secretive smile, her index finger blocking her lips. ¡°That''s a personal secret, but you both will see soon.¡±
Aurora and Lambert exchanged a series of confused looks. Neither of them had any idea what she meant.
¡°Anyway, share some of your hard earned wisdom with Edelgart.¡±
¡°...¡± A heavy sigh escaped Lambert''s lips. He grumbled, his unwillingness clearly written all across, yet he relented. Whether he relented out of a sense of genuine friendship, or out of a sense of pure resignation remained unanswered, though. ¡°Whatever, I guess we should start with the basics. The rank system consists of ten ranks, ranging from one, to ten, divided into four different tiers. Each rank is assigned a certain metal or alloy, which corresponds to your badge, and by extension to your rank. Your copper badge identifies you as a copper rank adventurer. My gold badge identifies me as a gold rank adventurer. Easy to understand. Easy to comprehend.
As Erika has already said before, your rank is based on your alleged experience and skill, which are the deciding parameters. Complete beginners and youngsters usually start in the bottom tier, basically the beginner¡¯s tier. They start at copper rank, and then progress through missions and training to bronze, and later iron rank. If you climb the ladder further, you eventually reach the second tier, the first proper adventurer tier and with it the steel rank. That is the rank more experienced personnel usually joins at. They already join as fully fledged and trained adventurers, effectively skipping the beginner¡¯s tier. Next follows the veteran tier, ranging from silver, to gold, to platinum rank. They provide the gross of the guild''s financial and combat strength. Most adventurers eventually progress to silver. Some even make it to gold. And a few chosen make it even as far as platinum.¡±
¡°Silver ... Gold ... Platinum ...¡± Aurora tilted her head. ¡°You are a gold adventurer. Doesn''t that make you a high ranked adventurer, Uncle Lambert?¡±
¡°It does.¡± Erika nodded from behind the counter. ¡°Lambert might not look like it, but he and his party are among our most senior. You should consider yourself fortunate, Edelgart, to be taken under the wing.¡±
Lambert clicked his tongue, visibly annoyed by his newly gained prominence. ¡°Are you trying to flatter me; Erika?¡±
Erika shook her head, beaming like a little sunshine, her interpersonal skills as impeccable as ever. ¡°It''s not flattery if it''s the truth.¡±
Lambert rolled his eyes. ¡°If you say so, Erika. Anyway, beyond platinum, lie the highest ranks, mythril, adamantium, and orichalcum. Rank VIII, IX, and X. They are the most selective ranks within the guild hierarchy, only reserved to the strongest and most talented parties. These adventurers are the elite of the elite, to the point the entire Eastern Arcadian branch of the adventurer''s guild only has a handful of them.¡±
¡°That is correct¡±, Erika elaborated. ¡°They are a rare sight indeed across the whole kingdom. In fact, the entire eastern branch, from Freyburg to Kronstadt, from Laibach to K?niggr?tz, only counts seven mythril parties, and a single adamantium party.¡±
¡°Hmm, I see¡±, Aurora mused. That was an ¡ informative discussion. Her doll agreed. She currently held the rank of a copper adventurer, located at the absolute bottom of the hierarchy.
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Arc IV Chapter 17
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 17
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Honour. Duty. Loyalty. To most of the common populace, to the indentured peasant bound to their land, to free yeomen, only obliged to their liege, to the craftsmen and artisans in the cities, to the richest burghers and merchants, such terms might carry little meaning. To them, they were nothing but empty, hollow words, often accompanied by a bitter aftertaste, but it was these values and the inertia of tradition upon which for centuries the ancient feudal order of Eudia rested, an order unquestioned by the nobility, the church, and commoners alike.
A venerable order, destined by fate, in the eyes of aristocracy that saw the fittest, them, chosen to rule over the masses. A sacred and holy order in the opinion of the clergy, divine and blessed by the arts of magic and the gods themselves. An order legitimised in the minds of the commoners in equal parts by continuous stability and prosperity on one side, and by martial prowess and undisputed military might on the other side, rendering any resistance futile.
Yet it was the virtues of honour, duty, loyalty that formed the basis of the sacred pact binding liege and vassal, a pact otherwise only carried by the solemnity of an oath and the mere weight of one''s words. Bound by their oath and their sense of honour, a vassal served.
A knight served their lord, a lord served their duke, a duke served their king. From low to high, they all served. In exchange for fiefs and wealth, for privileges and rights, they swore to serve their liege in good and bad times, in war and peace. It was this stable bond that the feudal order, the feudal life, the feudal world was founded upon.
A world of duty, honour, and loyalty, dominated by the nobility of the sword, elevated to their position certainly not by virtue of their superior intellect or their heightened sense of chivalry, but rather by the persuasiveness of their sword and the strength of their magic. A world that arose from the obscurity and the chaos of the past millennium when the Weltenbrand brought about an age of strife and darkness. Wars and invasions, famines and plagues, economic decline and rampant depopulation, moved the known world to the brink of collapse.
Eudia endured dark times when the cities fell and the continent burned. In these tumultuous times, warlords and chieftains, generals and commanders, powerful mages and their retinues, blessed with the strength of their bloodlines, used the opportunity of the moment to assert their rule over desolate lands and decrepit realms through the legitimacy of their sword and magic. The vultures fought over the last remnants of past glory in a fractured world, little by little establishing their own little kingdoms.
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Yet where there is darkness, there is also light. Even the darkest night is destined to end. From darkness, emerged once again the light of civilisation, reawakened and reborn. Trees were felled, forests chopped down, land turned arable, crops planted, villages founded. Ancient cities were repopulated, as trade and urban life resumed. The first kingdoms were created by brave heroes and saints whose deeds had fallen long since into the realm of myths and legends.
The petty warlords of once had turned into landed lords, counts, dukes, kings. They rewarded their most trusted companions and knights with titles and land. The kingdoms flourished, and the feudal order spread across a revitalised Eudia, but the flow of history never ceased. The world changed, slowly eroding the old feudal order as the meaning of honour, duty, and loyalty waned, turning them into the hollow phrases of current times.
The course of history exposed the frail nature of human loyalty, of oaths and personal bonds. Betrayal and treachery, plots, and intrigues, wars and ambition, proved the dubious fealty of vassals. At the same time, the rise of the cities and burghers, of guilds and merchants, provided the kings and nobles with unprecedented wealth, with unprecedented manpower, with unprecedented untapped potential.
Kings and the high nobility sought to strengthen their authority and limit the power in the hands of their landed, relying instead increasingly on a burgeoning centralised administration, on a strict hierarchy of magistrates, advocates, ministerials, stewards and officials. Their efforts bore fruit. Men of common and minor birth were heaved to offices of power and responsibility to administer and govern vast demesnes in their liege''s name, to command and organise troops. They were granted a privileged life in exchange for services. To them honour, duty, loyalty still meant something.
Erich clenched his fists, standing in the guild yard among fellow aspiring adventurers, young boys and girls. One girl even carried her doll with her, hugging it tightly in her arms. Her drowsy eyes betrayed her disinterest and open indifference. It was dislike on first sight. It was the first day of their adventurer training and the little airhead wasn''t listening to their instructors, not paying any attention at all. It was probably her cute face that got her through the selection process. Nothing more.
By contrast, he came prepared. He was always prepared. After all, high expectations rested upon him. It was he who would restore his family''s lost honour. The Schwert would rise again from the ashes of ignominy and infamy, from disgrace and shame.
He would reclaim the status that is rightfully theirs. His great great grandfather, an adventurer of considerable fame and renown, was raised to the rank of ministerial and later even baron by the House von Schwarz in recognition of his exploits on the battlefield.
His family rose to prominence through their martial ability and the latent potential of their blood. Their bloodline displayed signs of magic. Yet their downfall came as sudden as their rise. Their stellar rise attracted feelings of envy and jealousy among the old nobility. Their rivals resented their rise, regarding them as nothing but mere upstarts, opportunistic parvenus.
The day came, and they fell victim to the intrigues and machinations of the golden lion. Accused of treason and confronted with forged evidence, his family were stripped of their titles, their wealth, their possessions. Their lives were only spared in consideration of their past services.
The former Duke showed them mercy, contrary to conventional wisdom. Forty years had now passed. Two lifetimes had gone by, but their time had finally come to return. It was now upon him to lead his family back to glory. He would make his father see the grand destiny that he was born for. His path was clear. He would walk the path of his great great grandfather and become an adventurer of note, an adventurer that the nobility wouldn''t be able to ignore.
Mustering his courage, raising his chest, he was prepared to meet the future, ambition driving his every step. No matter the price. No matter the cost. Nothing would stop him.
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Arc IV Chapter 18
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 18
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Muahhhhh¡±, Aurora yawned with her hand blocking her mouth. Her still glassy and sleepy eyes beheld the fogginess of reality. Even her doll was still tired. They both hadn¡¯t got much sleep last night, as they were forced to wake up early at an ungodly hour in the morning to report for training. No precious morning nap for her and her doll. No comfy bed to snuggle and cuddle in. No tasty breakfast. What a hellish experience. The life of an adventurer was indeed hard and arduous for a little princess such as her. It reminded her of barrack life. Just with more children and fewer shouting officers, which seemed about right.
Surrounded by young boys and a few girls, by the guild¡¯s yard for what seemed like the mandatory and obligatory morning roll call. The fresh recruits received their summons and arrived early. All of them were aspiring adventurers just like her, boys and girls filled with ambitions and dreams. Only with less prestigious pedigrees, less positive outlooks when it came to their future prospects, and no doll of their own.
In general, Aurora noted a conspicuous absence of dolls, altogether, among their fellow adventurers. For some reason, nobody besides her brought their doll along to the training ground. What an unreasonable approach, completely inexplicable to her. A doll must be cherished. Matters of dolls and men aside, she was now one of them, a simple and humble adventurer. She was breathing the same air as them. Dreaming the same as theirs. Living the same life as them. Not that such changed anything about her being tired. Her heart still yearned for the softness of her fluffy bed, the warmth of her comfy blanket, and a steaming hot chocolate.
¡°Muahhhh¡±, Aurora continued yawning before rubbing her eyes. So tired and sleepy. Hopefully, their lessons would soon end. She didn¡¯t come all this way to end up in the equivalent of a school, although she wouldn''t deny and couldn''t discount the merits of a proper formal education.
Minutes passed before all their waiting at the crack of dawn finally paid off. They were waiting and waiting until two figures appeared from inside the guild, a man and a woman, a familiar face and an unknown face. One of the faces was Erika, the guild secretary extraordinaire in her shiny guild uniform. Aurora and her doll waved at her from afar. Erika wore a smile typical of her cheerful nature. Marching alongside her was a scary man. His stature was tall and his figure imposing. Broad shoulders and a muscular chest. His expression was stern and his stare unyielding. The man was a veteran, a senior adventurer turned instructor to terrorise little children in his free time. A paedagocially sound decision, for sure.
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The man straightened his back, folding his arms behind his back, with cheerful Erika flanking him. The man and Erika made for a truly peculiar duo. Happiness and radiant sunshine on one side, strict and unyielding military discipline on the other. It was a difference like day and night. They were polar opposites. Perhaps that was the reason why the guild master put them together. He surely must have had an idea behind this arrangement.
¡°ATTENTION, LADS!!!¡± The man shouted, yelling across the guild yard with ferocity. His words reached every corner. His voice commanded respect and authority appropriate to his position. ¡°Listen, lads, I am Sir Hartman! From now on, I am your senior guild instructor! From now on, I am your official drill instructor! From now on, you will only speak when spoken to, you will only think when ordered so. If you speak to me, you will address me with ¡®Sir¡¯. Do you understand, lads?¡±
¡°...¡± Profound silence followed. His inspirational speech fell on an audience of deaf ears, an audience equally dispirited and worried. Judging by their distressed expressions, it was easy to determine that overall morale had already hit an all time low. His harsh and unfriendly tone was the source of little enthusiasm. His tyrannical attitudes and overreliance on iron discipline were the cause of much concern. After all, nobody liked strict arsehole teachers. That was pretty much a universal sentiment.
¡°I said, do you understand, lads?¡±
¡°...¡± Silence. Uncertainty. Doubt.
Hartman raised his voice, barking,¡°I SAID, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?¡±
Third time was the charm. A collective nod wandered across their faces. Every last boy and girl showed their determination. Drill instructor Hartman got his point across, more or less.
¡°Excellent, I will take that as a yes. As it turns out, we do have not a group of fucking morons this year. Listen, lads, I am hard, and I doubt that all of you will like me. Some of you will even hate me, but I don¡¯t care. I don''t give a shit about what you think or say. I am your drill instructor. I am not here to be liked. The only thing that I care about is to get your useless arses through my class. I am hard, but I promise you that I am also fair. I won¡¯t allow petty emotions to cloud my judgement. I will treat you all like the adventurers you are. My orders are to weed out the useless idiots who don¡¯t have what it takes to become an adventurer! But until then, I will be your instructor! I will teach you! I will train you! I will guide you! I will form you! I will do my utmost to get the most out of every single one of you. I will turn your sorry arses into actual adventurers worthy of your badges! I will instruct you in the arts of combat and fighting. I will strengthen your determination and spirit so that you won¡¯t hesitate at the moment of truth. So don¡¯t disappoint me. Don¡¯t disappoint the guild. We place much trust in you!¡±
¡°...¡± Her fellow adventurers remained silent, but morale somewhat improved. Faces began to light up again.
Hartman appeared to be satisfied with the results of his little speech. ¡°Erika, I think it is now time for you to introduce yourself.¡±
¡°Right~.¡± Erika clapped her hands together and beamed. ¡°Greetings everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful day~. Some of you might already know me, but I am Erika. I work as receptionist here at the guild and help new and old adventurers with things such as forms, registrations, and other paperwork, but that is not why I am here today. While Sir Hartman will be responsible for your martial training, I will accompany when it comes to your academic education. I will instruct you in reading and writing. I will teach you also the basics of mathematics. If you all give your best, then I am sure that we all can achieve much together. So be sure to give your best~.¡±
Aurora looked around. Judging by everyone''s faces, she wasn''t the only one who liked Erika much more.
Hartman cleared his throat. ¡°Good, with introductions now out of the way. Erika, the wax tablet, please.¡±
¡°Here, Sir Hartman.¡± Erika handed him a wooden tablet.
¡°Thank you, Erika.¡± Hartman accepted the tablet and opened it. ¡°Time for the roll call. I hope you all know the drill.¡±
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Arc IV Chapter 19
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 19
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Ebner!¡± Hartman shouted, his voice reverberating across the sand dusted training ground. His eyes swept through the ranks of fresh recruits. It was the most classic example of a traditional roll call. All for the sake of maintaining order and discipline. Order and discipline were the core tenets of martial education.
¡°Present!¡± The boy stepped forwards in his full gear, eliciting Aurora''s momentary attention and a fleeting glance. The boy was of average height and undescriptive appearance, with chestnut hair and green eyes. Hailing from the common folk, he lacked her noble pedigree. What the boy did not lack, though, was conviction, so much was clear even from afar. His eyes were burning with determination, as were everyone else''s. Whether boy or girl, everyone present was here for a reason. They were all hand picked from innumerable applications. It showed. Morale among the recruits ran high.
¡°...¡± Hartman acknowledged the boy''s existence with a mere nod before ticking off the boy¡¯s name on his wax tablet. His stylus cut into the malleable wax with precision. ¡°Next, Eckbert!¡±
¡°...¡± No reaction from the crowd.
¡°I said, Eckbert!¡±
¡°...¡± Still no reaction.
¡°... ... ...¡± Hartman was chewing on his lips, his mood darkening ...
¡°Present!!!¡± A shout originated from far behind. Better late than never. The boy was rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. ¡°Sorry, Sir Hartman, I missed your call. I didn''t ... pay attention for a moment.¡±
¡°Tch ...¡± Hartman clicked his tongue before eliminating another name from his list. A visibly annoyed frown crossed his lips. ¡°No problem, Eckbert, but next time please pay more attention. We are here on a training ground, and not on a playground. The guild expects a certain standard of diligence from its adventurers. I don''t want or need any slackers in my class, do you understand me?¡±
¡°...¡± Eckbert gulped before nodding vigorously. He was lucky to have escaped worse.
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¡°Good. Trust me, a healthy dose of discipline makes life easier for all of us. Fewer worries and hassles for everyone.¡± Hartman returned to his wise wax tablet. ¡°Edelgart!¡±
¡°Present!¡± Aurora raised her right arm, responding at the top of her lungs, mainly out of her fear of being overlooked among her taller colleagues. Judging by her surrounding fellow adventurers, she was by far the shortest person present, even among her female peers. Everyone else was at least two heads taller than her. How discouraging.
Hartman furrowed an eyebrow before ticking off her name on his tablet. His stylus danced across the surface. ¡°Calm down, lass, save your breath for later. I appreciate your enthusiasm, girl, but no need to be so energetic. I hear you loud and clear ...¡±
Hartman suddenly stopped, even going as far as to neglect his precious wax tablet. His eyes narrowed at her, scrutinising her figure with unprecedented rigour. ¡°...¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± Aurora and her doll both tilted their heads. A giant question mark was floating over their heads.
¡°...¡± Hartman''s gaze intensified and the uncomfortable silence continued. Yet his gaze lacked any signs of hostility, animosity or antipathy. It was rather blatant bewilderment paired with surprise that filled his eyes. Together with him, everyone present was staring at her. Everyone''s attention, everyone''s curiosity was directed at her. Aurora felt their piercing glares. They were coming from all directions.
¡°...¡± Aurora was rubbing her chin. Had she done something wrong?
¡°...¡± Hartman''s eyes wandered downwards, drawn to the source of his bewilderment. ¡°Edelgart, are ... you really holding a doll in your arms?¡±
Finally, realisation hit Aurora. From one moment to the next, everything made sense. Instructor Hartman was of course admiring her cute doll, which was only proper. Her doll¡¯s incomparable cuteness must have startled Hartman.
Aurora beamed, proudly presenting her doll in her arms. ¡°Yes, Sir, this is my precious doll~. Her name is Dolly~!¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Hartman returned a blank, soulless stare. Her statement only caused further confusion. ¡°Edelgart ..., tell me, why are you carrying a doll around with you? Why the hell do you bring a doll to my training ground ¡? I don''t believe that I need to tell you that this is no place for a doll ...¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora''s shoulders deflated, as her hopes were brutally crushed and sadness befell her. Hartman didn''t seem to approve of her doll. ¡°But ... But Dolly is an essential part of me~. Dolly is my friend~!¡±
Their judging gazes, their belittling smirks, their mocking sneers, their derisive smiles, they were everywhere. Nor did her ears miss their secretive laughs, their open chuckles, their deriding giggles. Her doll made her the target of endless derision and ridicule.
Aurora hugged her doll tightly. Her doll did nothing wrong, yet her fellow adventurers ..., they were laughing at her and her doll behind her back, falling upon them like gleeful vultures upon their helpless prey. They were laughing at her expense. ¡°Tch, Dolly ... Friend ... What a stupid girl ...¡±
¡°WHO THE FUCK WAS THIS!!!¡± Hartman turned, his furious gaze sweeping through the ranks of recruits behind him, searching for the culprit. ¡°WHO is the little dimwit COCKSUCKING SCUMBAG who couldn''t keep his fucking mouth shut? WHO IS THE LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT!?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Profound silence followed. For obvious reasons.
¡°Nobody, huh? Having the guts to bitch behind my back, and yet our little bitch doesn''t have the balls to stand up to me!¡±
¡°It was me, Sir!¡± A boy raised his arm after finally finding the courage to confront the raging Hartman. The boy was either brave or foolish, or possibly both.
Hartman narrowed his blazing eyes at the perpetrator. ¡°So it was YOU!!! Who are you, boy? What''s your name?¡±
¡°My name is Ludolf, Sir.¡± Ludolf straightened his back, despite the murderous glare levelled at him. The boy grew smaller and smaller.
¡°Did I give you permission to speak, Ludolf?¡±
¡°No, Sir!¡± Ludolf shouted.
¡°Did I ask you for your opinion, Ludolf?¡±
¡°No, Sir!¡±
¡°EXACTLY, YOU DIMWIT!!! And now SHUT THE FUCK UP, Ludolf!!! I am talking to Dolly here.¡± Hartman focused his attention on her and her doll. ¡°So where did we leave off, Dolly? Ah, yes, it was about you and your little dolly.¡±
¡°Well, ehm, excuse me, Sir Hartman, but my name is Edelgart, not Dolly.¡± Aurora raised her hand and an objection. She might look like a doll herself, but she was not a dolly.
Hartman flatly dismissed her protest. ¡°Ah, yes, it was Edelgart ... Doesn''t matter. You look like a Dolly. You are a Dolly. I will call you Dolly from now on.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora was speechless. What kind of logic was that supposed to be? But at least, she got a cute nickname out of it. That was something ...
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Arc IV Chapter 20
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 20
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Hartman scrutinised her figure, rubbing his stubble covered chin. ¡°Are you suggesting that your doll is your friend? Is that the reason why she looks exactly like you? You both seem to share the same look ¡¡±
Aurora nodded vigorously in response. ¡°Yes, Sir, we do! Dolly and I match. Isn''t that cute?¡±
¡°... ... ... It isn''t. In fact, having a doll that looks like yourself is highly unusual.¡± Hartman scowled, shaking his head in consternation as if he had already given up on her and her sanity. ¡°Erika, do the guild regulations say anything about dolls?¡±
Erika hesitated. ¡°Well ..., not much as far as I can recall. The guild regulations hardly contemplate dolls at all ...¡±
Hartman sighed. ¡°I thought as much ... I guess you have permission to keep your dolly, Dolly. At least, for now. So take good care of her.¡±
Aurora beamed, hugging her doll protectively. ¡°I will, Sir Hartman.¡±
¡°... I must say that you are a strange girl, Dolly.¡± Hartman shook his head in resignation before returning to the contents of his trusted beeswax tablet. ¡°I have seen many things over the years, but a girl carrying her doll around these parts ... Well, that is a novelty. I guess that it''s true that you never stop learning until you die. In fact, you make me wonder, Dolly, exactly who signed you up for my class? Your physique appears to be frail and puny at best, Dolly. Seriously, I wouldn''t be surprised if it only takes a single strong gust to blow you over.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora pouted in response, puffing out her cheeks in protest. Hey, she heard that! She might be puny, but not that puny! It took a bit more than a mere gust to blow her over!
Hartman ignored her meek protest. ¡°Tell me, Dolly, who backed your application ¡¡±
¡°Ssssss. Ssssss. Ssssss. Sssssss. Ssssssss. Ssssssss. Ssssssss¡±, Erika whispered in his ear, coming to his assistance with some timely information.
¡°... What?¡± Hartman raised an eyebrow. Bewilderment was plainly written across his face. ¡°Really? Him? Are you sure?¡±
Erika nodded in confirmation, always maintaining a polite smile. ¡°Absolutely. I was present when he and the guildmaster discussed her application.¡±
¡°How ... interesting ...¡± Hartman redirected his scrutinising gaze at her. ¡°Hmm ...¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora resisted his probing stare. She had a rough idea of what the duo was discussing. It was also obvious that Hartman was planning something. The gears in his head were turning in the manner of precision clockwork.
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¡°Hmm ...¡± Hartman''s stare intensified before his hands slammed his wax tablet shut. The wooden frames snapped together with a loud click. A gleeful smirk crossed his lips. ¡°You know what, let''s just skip the roll call for today. I know you and your young blood. You are full of energy. You burn with passion. You don''t care about a boring roll call, right? You want some action, don''t you?¡±
¡°...¡± Exchanging bewildered looks, her fellow adventurers were unsure of how to respond. Aurora, in particular, didn''t like where this was going. She had a bad feeling about this entire affair.
Hartman grinned, his schemes coming to fruition, ¡°I take that as a yes. Ludolf!¡±
¡°Yes, Sir!¡± The boy stepped forwards as commanded.
¡°Dolly!¡± Hartman chose her next, much to Aurora''s surprise, vindicating her bad feeling. Her instincts sensed trouble.
¡°...¡± Aurora bit her lips before mustering a less than enthusiastic response, ¡°Yes, ... Sir?¡±
¡°Dolly, Ludolf, I have something very special in mind for you two.¡± Hartman folded his arms behind his back. A wry smile accompanied his nefarious schemes. ¡°Dolly, Ludolf, I have decided that you will face each other in a training match. A good old fight is the proper adventurer way to set your differences aside, not through words and endless discussions, but through your fists and your sword¡¯s edge. Let your weapons speak for you, that''s the adventurer¡¯s way.¡± He genuinely believed in his own words.
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora was less than amused by foolhardy Hartman''s proposal. Personally, she would have preferred a less violent and more diplomatic means of conflict resolution, something that didn''t involve her punching a fellow adventurer and didn''t promote violence among children. It wasn''t a suitable environment for her doll to grow up in.
Erika joined her side, attempting to reason with instructor Hartman, ¡°Hartman, do you really think that this is a good idea? Isn''t it a bit too early for them to fight each other without prior training?¡±
¡°Nah, nonsense, Erika.¡± Hartman dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. ¡°They are children. I know children best, Erika. The little rascals are always eager to fight, to prove themselves, right? Dolly, Ludolf, you want to fight, don''t you?¡±
Ludolf grinned with a sense of malicious glee, gazing at Aurora and her doll with the eyes of a predator. He thought them easy prey. So much was obvious. ¡°Of course, Sir Hartman, it''s as you have said, I am eager to prove myself! I am prepared to fight!¡±
Hartman approved of his words, clenching his fist. A satisfied smile ran across his face. ¡°Hmm, that''s the right adventurer spirit, Ludolf! Courage and fortitude! Never shy away from a challenge, that''s the proper way!¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora and her doll stole a glance at the boy, as she had considerable doubts as to whether Ludolf would be as eager to fight her if she was a fire breathing dragon and not a little girl with her doll.
Hartman turned his attention to her. ¡°And what about you, Dolly?¡±
Aurora hugged her doll. ¡°Well, ... I second Erika''s opinion. I think it unwise for us to fight yet ...¡±
¡°Tch, you are just scared of me, aren''t you, girly?¡± Ludolf clicked his tongue, his voice oozing a loveable mixture of arrogance and misplaced smugness.
¡°...¡± Aurora chose to ignore his feeble provocations, unwilling to give in to the ramblings of a mere child. She was above such trifling matters ...
¡°You are scared because you know that you stand no chance against me, aren¡¯t you, Dolly?¡± Ludolf smirked, crossing his arms. ¡°That is why you refuse to fight me, but I don¡¯t blame you. You are a talentless, useless girl. Better take your doll and run home back to your mama ¡¡±
¡°Silence!!! Hold your vituperative tongue, you uncultured brute!¡± Aurora¡¯s voice rang out with indignation. Her icy glare shut the boy up, taking him by surprise. He hadn''t expected her to fight back.¡°You are really trying hard to get on my bad side, boy. You know what, you surely have succeeded! You gravely insulted not only me, my honour, my family, but also my doll! You want me to fight?! You will get your fight!¡±
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¡°Time to teach her a lesson! Time to show her what real adventurers are made of!¡± Ludolf clenched his fist, his hand already trembling in anticipation. Always the passionate warrior, his motivation was running high. ¡°Shouldn''t be too hard to teach her lesson, right, Erich? After all, she is just a little girl. What can she do?¡± Ludolf turned to him, his friend, for encouragement.
Erich crossed his arms. His eyes were studying the girl and her doll. They both made for a strange duo, but it was her calculating glare that elicited his attention. Her glare was far too intense for her tender age ... There was steel in her eyes ..., tempered steel ... ¡°Be careful not to underestimate her, Ludolf. It wouldn''t be the first time that you stumble over your own hubris. So better watch out! I don''t want you to lose.¡±
Ludolf scoffed at his lack of faith in his abilities, visibly amused. ¡°Watch out? For what, Erich? Come on, as if the girl could even scratch me. She is no match for me.¡±
Erich continued observing the girl, monitoring her movements. ¡°You are probably right, but you know, Ludolf, better safe than sorry, better to err on the side of caution. Watch her footwork and don''t act rash, Ludolf. Keep a calm mind and stay focused. Don''t neglect your defence, and you will emerge victorious.¡±
Ludolf rolled his eyes. ¡°Always the serious guy, aren''t you? Relax, Erich. No need to worry, I won''t lose against her.¡±
¡°I hope so.¡± Erich mustered a faint chuckle. ¡°Also don''t go too hard on her, Ludolf. In the end, she is just a little girl. No need to be vindictive. There is little honour in beating up a little girl.¡±
Ludolf smirked, cracking his knuckles in excitement. He couldn''t wait any longer. ¡°Right. I will keep that in mind, Erich. After I am done with her. It shouldn''t take long.¡±
His friend marched off, already certain of his victory.
Ludolf and Erich von Schwert
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Arc IV Chapter 21
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 21
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Here your sword~¡±, humming under her breath, Erika handed Aurora her sword together with giving her a little headpat for encouragement, ruffling her soft hair. ¡°Good luck, time to give your best, Edelgart~.¡±
¡°Thank you, Sister Erika, I will.¡± Aurora raised her blade. Finally adequately armed and ready for combat, a happy girl was now a new wooden sword richer. Aurora was now the proud wielder of a proper wooden sword. May the enemy shiver in fear before her and her doll!
The weapon that she had been issued was a cute little wooden sword, a true practice sword. Ludolf and she were given the choice of weapon for their fight. They both chose the sword, the most noble of arms, be it for reasons of tradition, as in her case, or for reasons of perceived superior skill, as in his case. Much to her annoyance, though, she had been provided with a short sword ..., unlike her opponent. Her opponent was issued a blade of superior length, granting him a considerable advantage in terms of reach. A fact that her opponent clearly was aware of. The circumstances favoured him. No wonder that he was so eager to fight her, a little girl with her doll.
Ludolf was swinging his sword, already practising his swift strikes. His smug grin had never left his face.¡°Sir Hartman, I am ready, but I must ask, why are we using wooden swords and not steel?¡±
Hartman was quick to rebuke him. As it turned out, for good reasons. ¡°Listen, lad, I am old, but I am not stupid. I don''t need any of you idiots dead on my first day. Some of you might be already versed in the way of the sword, some of you less, but it''s still far too early for you brats to wield real steel. At least, under my supervision. It would be far too dangerous. This is a training match, and not a real fight. You are not trying to kill each other.¡±
¡°True enough ...¡± Ludolf clicked his tongue, deferring to better judgement.
Hartman folded his arms behind his back, mildly annoyed. ¡°But enough talking, we have already wasted enough time as things stand now. So get your arses moving and enter the ring. We don''t have all day, lads.¡±
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They both did as commanded and entered the ring to face each other. Powdered chalk cast a circle in the sand of the arena.
Ludolf scoffed at her and her doll in open derision, laughing. He thought little of her. ¡°Trust me, Dolly, this will be over in a blink of an eye. Your sword won''t save you. You won''t know what hit you.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora refrained from commenting. What an arrogant prick. The boy was really trying her goodwill.
¡°Present your arms!¡± Hartman shouted.
Aurora and Ludolf each raised their sword to perform a salute, holding their blades close to their faces.
¡°En garde!¡± Hartman raised his voice. ¡°Assume your stances! Show me what you are made of!¡±
Ludolf adopted a posture. His hands gripped his wooden blade with his feet set onto the sand. His stance was solid and his footing firm. In the meanwhile, Aurora was hiding her face behind her cute doll. He wasn¡¯t able to see her, right?
¡°Ready?¡±
¡°Ready!¡± Ludolf raised his blade to protect his head, forming a guard. He didn''t appear to be a beginner, which was troublesome ¡ His sword was prepared to deflect any incoming blow, prepared to counterattack at any moment.
¡°Are you ready, Dolly?¡± Hartman turned his attention to her.
¡°I am.¡± Light on her feet, Aurora was jumping around, switching between her right and left foot, putting her trust in her nimble footwork instead.
¡°Fight!!!¡± Hartman gave the sign to start.
Her enemy didn''t waste any time and immediately went on the attack, pressing his advantage. Her body size and his pronounced physique favoured him. Ludolf claimed the initiative and struck first. Leaping forwards, his blade raced across the ring, slicing through the empty air. His strike was fast, yet Aurora dodged in time by ducking. His strike missed, and his sword passed over her head.
Aurora reacted and immediately retreated, backing off to put some distance between her and the opponent.
Ludolf levered the wooden point of his blade at her. A conceited smirk crossed his lips. ¡°Seems like you are not a complete disgrace of a swordswoman, Dolly. Let''s see if you can dodge this one!¡±
Ludolf closed the distance through a quick sprint. Fortunately for her, her footwork proved adequate for the challenge, allowing her to evade his barrage of incoming blows. Unable to defeat her footwork, each of his strikes missed their mark.
A diagonal cut was followed by a horizontal slash, followed by a straight thrust aimed at her chest. Aurora spun to shift her axis. Unabated, Ludolf recovered his footing and retraced his blade for a slice. Aurora bent backwards, letting his blade hit nothing but empty air. Ludolf resorted to a final blow from below, an upwards cut. Yet his attack met with little success. No doll or girl was harmed. Ludolf''s blade sailed past Aurora''s face. Once again, his efforts proved in vain despite his all out offensive. Once again, his evasive prey eluded him.
¡°Seriously, how are you doing this, girl?¡± Ludolf snarled with murderous intent, gritting his teeth and biting his lips in rage. The first beads of sweat were running down his forehead. ¡°You are starting to annoy me!¡±
Aurora and her doll tilted their heads, her index finger leaning against her chin, thinking. ¡°Really? How so?¡±
¡°Aargh!!!¡± Ludolf was fuming, his impotent rage fuelling his scream. His fingers gripped his sword to the point of turning white as all blood drained from them. ¡°Stop dodging, girl! Stand your ground and fight!¡±
Aurora hugged her doll, patting her. ¡°Why should I? You are taller, stronger, faster and more skilled than me. You strike harder and faster than me. You would slaughter me in a direct confrontation. It would be suicide to challenge you. So why on earth should I stand my ground and fight, Ludolf? After all, I have no intention of losing.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Ludolf grumbled before falling silent. ¡°... I guess you have a point there, girl. You are smarter than you look, but you can''t dodge forever. I will catch you sooner or later. You will see.¡±
Aurora had her doubts. ¡°Are you sure?¡±
Ludolf clenched his fist. His confidence returned, and so did his hubris. ¡°Quite. You won''t escape my blade! It''s only a matter of time ... ... ... Hey, wait, what are you doing?¡±
Aurora fled the scene, running towards the edge of the ring, where she halted with her doll in her arms. ¡°Then come and get me! Catch me if you can!¡±
A frown crossed Ludolf''s face. ¡°Don''t take me lightly, I will get you!¡± He charged at her, storming after her. The great chase had begun.
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Arc IV Chapter 22
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 22
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Ludolf and Aurora were running around in circles, but much to his annoyance, she and her doll proved to be faster with Ludolf and his blade charging after her in hot pursuit. Her legs might short and her feet tiny, but small amounts of mana enhanced her endurance and stamina beyond the norm, allowing her to outpace her persistent pursuer despite his superior physique. Ludolf wouldn''t get her in a lifetime!
¡°One! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four!¡± Maintaining a steady and comfortable pace in order to conserve energy and stamina, Aurora continued running in circles with her doll and her sword in her arms while keeping her opponent at a safe distance at all times. ¡°Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four.¡±
¡°Huf ... Huf ... Huf ...¡± Ludolf was still chasing after her, yet his attempts at intercepting her bore little fruit. His movements were turning sluggish and his ragged breathing intensified by the minute as every futile step began to exact its toll. Exhaustion and fatigue befell him, the two nemeses of any soldier. It was only a matter of time before he would succumb to them.
¡°Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four.¡±
¡°Huff ... Stop ¡ Huff ... running away ... Huff ... from me, you damned brat! Huff ... Huff ... Huff ... Stop, you coward! Huff ¡¡± Ludolf shouted after her in a mixture of desperation and rage.
Aurora registered his impotent whining, but paid him no mind, choosing to ignore him instead. Her demoralising, playful chant meanwhile continued, ¡°Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four.¡±
¡°Huff ... Huff ... Listen, ¡ you¡little twit¡, Huff ... you can''t bloody do this forever, Dolly! Huff ... Huff ...¡±
¡°I can. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four.¡± Her legs were swift, and Aurora and her doll moved without tiring. Together, they were the fastest duo in the entire duchy!
¡°Huff ... Huff ... Huff ... Damn you¡, Huff ... you coward! Huff ... Stop and fight me like a man, Dolly!!! Huff ...¡± Ludolf went on a rampage, brandishing his wooden blade in open frustration. He slowly came to realise that it was impossible to to catch her. He was forced to resort to persuasion and insults.
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¡°I am not a man, though, you dolt. I am a girl, if you hadn¡¯t noticed. I am small and weak. I am allowed to run away as I wish, you numpty. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three, Four!¡± Aurora resumed her playful chant.
¡°... ... ...¡± Ludolf was at a loss, speechless and dumbstruck.
¡°Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup! Two! Three. Four. Hup. Two! Three. Four!¡±
¡°Huff ... Huff ... Huff ... I just need a ... Huff ... pause ... Huff ...¡± Ludolf finally ceased his pursuit, halting. Out of breath and out of energy, his lungs were panting heavily with his hands reaching for the safety of his knee. He needed a break after all this running. Her laps had driven him to the point of total exhaustion. ¡°Huff ... Huff ... Huff ... Seriously, how the fuck are you so damn fast? I must give you one thing, girly, you know shit about how to fight, but you sure know how to run. You are slippery and fast like a little kitten!!!¡±
Aurora hugged her doll, beaming proudly. ¡°Of course, I am. Kittens are cute. I am cute too. So obviously, I must be fast too.¡±
¡°...¡± A cold stare greeted Aurora. Ludolf didn''t laugh, visibly nonplussed. ¡°That makes virtually no sense, you know.¡±
Aurora and her doll answered with a smile. ¡°Perhaps, perhaps not.¡±
¡°But seriously, how do you plan to win this fight? Because I know what you are trying to do.¡±
¡°Oh, you do?¡± Aurora reacted in mock surprise.
Ludolf levelled his blade at her. ¡°Yes, you were biding your time. You were trying to exhaust me so that you can strike back when I am tired and vulnerable, weren''t you?¡±
Aurora merely beamed. ¡°You are such a smart boy! Apparently, you can use your precious head for once. Right, Dolly? He must be a smart numpty, mustn''t he?¡± Her doll nodded, agreeing with her.
Ludolf smirked, unaffected by her provocation. ¡°Your words will get you nowhere! I am no longer fooled by your little game now that I have seen through your ploy!¡±
Aurora started patting her doll. ¡°Well, good for you, I have time on my side and I am patient. I enjoyed a nutritious breakfast this morning and I had a warm glass of milk. I have slept well and I am rested. It might take a few hours, maybe even a few days, but I think my chances are quite good that I will outlast you. I will just wait until you collapse from dehydration, starvation, exhaustion, or sleep deprivation. Whatever takes you first.¡±
¡°...¡± Ludolf was left speechless for a moment, blinking in disbelief before raising his sword against her, its point levelled at her. ¡°Do you have no honour, girl? Your actions and your cowardice bring shame and dishonour upon your family and your ancestors!¡±
Aurora was rubbing her lips with a finger, thinking, contemplating pensively. ¡°Shame ...? Dishonour ...? As if it was ever honourable to beat up a little girl and her doll. Your ancestors must be very proud of you, Ludolf, for picking on a little girl. Your legendary deed will be forever praised in song and poems by all minstrels wandering the land, forever recorded in the annals of our kingdom, I am sure.¡± Her patronising glance took her opponent by surprise, silencing him.
¡°...¡± Ludolf clicked his tongue before shooting back, ¡°Tch, at least, I am not a coward. At least, I know how to fight. Unlike you, Dolly!¡±
His words amused Aurora. A chuckle graced her lips. ¡°And who says so, Ludolf? Who was it that told you I cannot fight?¡±
Ludolf clicked his tongue once again. ¡°Tch, don''t make me laugh, Dolly. If you knew how to fight, then you wouldn¡¯t run away all the time, you wouldn''t give me all this trouble! You are unfit to wield even a wooden sword and we all here know it.¡±
Aurora beamed, her lips forming a beatific smile. ¡°Well, if you think so, numpty, then what about if we make a little bet?¡±
The boy gripped his sword, distrusting her intentions yet not completely disinclined. ¡°I am listening.¡±
Aurora smirked in secret. The trap was to be set. ¡°I will fight you as you wish. I won¡¯t run. But if I win, if I manage to defeat you, then you will not only apologise to my doll for insulting her, but you will also treat me with the proper respect I deserve.¡±
¡°Sure~.¡± A conceited grin flashed across his face. Ludolf scoffed at her proposition, dismissing, mocking her conditions. ¡°And what if I win? What if I beat you, what then?¡±
¡°If.¡± Aurora smiled. A single cryptic word was her reply.
¡°Your arrogance will be your downfall! You will come to regret your words soon, girl.¡± Ludolf gripped his sword, gritting his teeth. Her slight went not unnoticed. He understood her message. ¡°Listen, I will take your offer, but if you lose, you two, you and your doll, will become my personal maids for a week.¡±
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Arc IV Chapter 23
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 23
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13
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora placed her doll at the edge of the ring before giving her companion a final head pat, ruffling her tender hair. The time had come when they must part. ¡°I will be back soon. Wait here for me.¡±
¡°...¡± Her doll showed no reaction, even more monosyllabic than usual. Her doll was probably worried about her. That must be the reason.
Aurora took her wooden sword and faced her eager opponent. Ludolf was certain of his victory. He believed his victory as sure as the sun was rising in the east. Nothing would stand between him and his triumph.
Ludolf readied his blade for their final match, grumbling, ¡°Took you bloody long enough, Dolly. Took you a damn hour to see off a stupid doll.¡±
¡°Hmpf ...¡± Aurora pouted, puffing her cheeks. Hey, her doll heard that. Her doll had feelings too!
¡°Not that it matters.¡± Ludolf smirked in dark delight. ¡°Be prepared to face certain defeat!¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora was less than impressed, armed with a blank stare. A bored, monotone expression adorned her face. ¡°Ludolf, I can tell you one thing, ... you definitely talk too much.¡±
Ludolf gritted his teeth in anger. No further invitation was needed. He rushed forwards, his blade cutting downwards. His blade struck, a downward cut, yet Aurora stood her ground against all odds.
Their blades met in the air and interlocked. Sword met sword. Edge met edge. Wood met wood. Aurora parried Ludolf''s powerful blow, blocking his strike.
¡°Tch, seems like you are not all talk.¡± Ludolf snarled, his anger lashing out against her. His offensive continued unmitigated. Blow after blow was raining down on her without mercy or compassion, yet none of them connect. Cut. Slice. Slash. Chop. His blows were heavy and fast, but each of his strikes was parried with precision and finesse.
Blow. Block. Strike. Parry. Blow. Block. Strike. Parry. Her blade was her shield, and her footwork her armour. Her little feet moved across the sand of the arena without losing traction, dancing around her attacking opponent.
Her resistance proved stubborn and fierce, far beyond Ludolf''s wildest expectations. His attacks proved unable to overcome her tenacious defence. It was the moment that superior discipline and technique triumphed over rash action and brute force.
Ludolf struck again, putting his full force behind his blow. Their blades interlocked once again. He wouldn''t give up. Not yet. His spirit was blazing. ¡°WHY? Why are you refusing to go down?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora deflected the incoming blow, making his sword glide along the edge of her blade downwards away from her. Aurora was quick to raise her sword once again to form a guard, prepared to meet his next blow. Her eyes stayed focused and her mind remained calm, analysing her opponent¡¯s every step. ¡°...¡±
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¡°Tch, fine by me, keep playing if you have nothing better to do, girl. It won''t help you.¡± Ludolf rushed her and attacked in a furious hail of strikes and blows, of slashes and cuts. Impatience took control of Ludolf and made him at last neglect his defence more and more. A reckless decision on his part. A wide swipe followed. Her opponent overextended, weakening his posture. Aurora blocked his attack.
Ludolf snarled, pressing his blade against hers to apply further pressure. ¡°Is this all you can fucking do, Dolly? Didn''t you learn anything else besides running and blocking?¡±
Aurora narrowed her eyes, maintaining her block at all cost. Her feet didn''t budge, giving no ground. ¡°...¡±
Ludolf didn''t cease his insults. He continued to deride her. ¡°I guess I shouldn''t have expected otherwise from a bloody amateur. You always were and will be a coward ...¡±
In a blink of an eye Ludolf''s entire world went black. The last thing he saw was the silhouette of a lone fist.
Aurora twirled inwards. Clenching her sword, her knuckles formed a solid fist. Her fist struck Ludolf directly in his face with all of her meagre force. It was sufficient. Her punch caught Ludolf completely off guard, even dislodging his chin. The effect was devastating.
¡°Aargh ...¡± Ludolf staggered backwards, his head rattled in shock. ¡°Aargh ... What ... happened ...¡±
Aurora kicked him in his balls. A swift kick struck his crotch.
Weakened, Ludolf sank to his knees. ¡°Aargh ... My ... Aargh ...¡±
Aurora didn''t show any mercy. Her connected hands struck his unprotected back from above with the power of a hammer.
Ludolf gasped for air. Beaten and defeated, unable to comprehend what had transpired, his falling body hit the sand of the ground. There he lay, wriggling in pain and still clinging to the last straws of conciousness. Only the soft and tender voice of the wind and the clamour of the city accompanied his agony. Everyone else had fallen deadly silent. Nobody dared to move. Nobody spoke. Nobody whispered. Everyone stared in disbelief. The whole yard resembled a graveyard.
...
...
...
There was only silence.
Aurora levelled her wooden sword at her beaten opponent. ¡°I told you, ... you talk too much.¡±
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¡°Aargh ... Dammit, How did this happen ...¡± Ludolf groaned in pain.
He recuperated, spluttering, unable to get to his feet. His head was hurting, the world around him was spinning like wild. He didn¡¯t know what hit him or how, but he knew that he had lost. Quite decisively so. Now the only thing that he had still left was his honour, or rather what remained of it. He had lost against a girl who was cuddling her doll ... What a shameful display, he would be unable to face anyone ever again.
To add insult to injury, the harbinger herself appeared, standing before him with her beloved doll in her arms. The girl named Edelgart greeted him with a joyous smile that belied her dangerous and ruthless existence.
Ludolf grumbled, ¡°What do you want from me? Here to beat an already beaten horse?¡±
The girl shook her head, maintaining her smile. ¡°I am not. It is time to uphold your end of the wager. You promised me that you would apologise to my doll. Now it is time for you to apologise.¡±
The girl moved her doll¡¯s arm, extending it to him. ¡°Shake her hand, Ludolf~.¡±
Ludolf hesitated, staring at the doll hand with distrust. ¡°What? Are you serious?¡±
Edelgart beamed. ¡°I am hardly jesting. Now take her hand and shake it~.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°I said, take her hand and shake it. Dolly is waiting~.¡± Edelgart moved her doll closer to him, pressing her close to his face.
Ludolf growled under his breath, yet he eventually complied despite his many misgivings. He took the doll''s little hand and shook it.
Edelgart appeared satisfied. ¡°And now apologise to my doll~.¡±
¡°...¡± Ludolf glared daggers at the girl, to little avail. Edelgart remained unfazed. ¡°I am sorry for ¡¡±
¡°Ahem.¡± Edelgart cleared her throat. ¡°I firmly suggest a more formal choice of words~.¡±
Ludolf grumbled again. ¡°I get it ¡¡±
¡°Good boy~.¡± Edelgart beamed.
Ludolf rolled his eyes. ¡°I sincerely apologise for slighting you, oh great doll.¡± His arm was shaking the doll''s hand, moving her little arm up and down as if she was a real person. What a strange feeling ...
¡°Excellent.¡± Edelgart beamed. ¡°Not to mention, you will refer to me henceforth as Lady Edelgart.¡±
¡°What?¡± Ludolf didn''t believe his ears. ¡°Are you insane?¡± Had the girl lost her mind?
¡°Not at all~.¡± The girl and her doll dismissed his objection. ¡°I am completely serious. Didn''t you promise me that you would treat me with the proper respect?¡±
Ludolf grumbled, biting his lips. ¡°I did ...¡±
Edelgart beamed with a glint of inner schadenfreude. ¡°You did. That is why you will address me as Lady Edelgart.¡±
¡°Tch, if you wish so, ... Lady Edelgart.¡± Ludolf clicked his tongue. The sarcasm in his voice was thick, but he would honour his debt.
Her being noble? What a silly thought. The girl was a deluded pretender at most, but it was best to let her indulge in her childish fantasies.
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Erich crossed his arms, observing the girl and her doll. His eyes narrowed. The girl was ... good. Somehow, the girl was able to pull off the impossible. Somehow, she managed to defeat Ludolf, his friend and confidant. Her victory was no small feat. Ludolf might be rash and impatient at times, but he was made from sterner stuff. Erich knew him. He knew Ludolf. He was a friend of his house and a skilled swordsman no less. So how on earth did she beat him?
Erich''s gaze fell on the girl named Edelgart, the target of his scrutiny. She and her doll were celebrating their victory. He should better keep an eye on them.
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Arc IV Chapter 24
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 24
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17
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora and her doll wandered through the guild with a large wooden pail in her arms, enjoying her free day. Much to her delight and that of the common adventurer, the guild boasted of a public fountain, freely accessible to adventurers, guild personnel, students, and guests alike. The fountain provided them with the precious liquid, with potable water. Obviously, running water was not yet an amenity that saw widespread use outside wealthy and nobles households. Pipes and valves were a luxury and not yet available to the common populace.
Thus, Aurora and her doll were forced to resort to more traditional methods of water transportation, namely her feeble muscles and a wooden bucket. It was a sturdy pail of wood, reinforced by a pair of robust steel rings holding the planks together. Armed with her glorious pail and doll, Aurora raced down the stairs through the guild hall to her fountain. It was a stone fountain, located directly in the guild yard and featuring multiple basins with considerable capacity.
The only issue was that she encountered a familiar opponent, height. Not that she was too short, but the edge of the fountain was too high for her to reach, Fortunately, architects far wiser than her foresaw the necessity of a stone step for little girls like her. Her pail dived into the cold water, sending ripples across the surface. Dry wood kissed the fresh water. Her bucket was growing heavier and heavier as water filled her pail to the brink. With her full bucket safely in her arms, Aurora and returned to her room, her heavy load accompanying her.
Careful not to spill any water in the process, Aurora walked across the yard, through the guild, up the stairs, down the corridor, up another set of stairs, down the corridor, left around the corner before arriving at her rooms.
Her destination were her rooms, or rather Iris¡¯ rooms. They were now living together, sharing rooms. Yet Aurora was today and for the rest of the week on her own. Lambert and his party took on a new mission, making them leave the city. In the meantime, Iris entrusted her with the keys. Aurora and her doll were now holding the fort.
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Aurora¡¯s chest swelled with pride. It was now her responsibility to guard their new home against any intruders and strangers. She would protect Fort Aurora with her life.
In exchange, Aurora took Iris'' absence as an opportunity to enjoy a bath! The prospect of a wonderful steaming bath already warmed her heart.
Aurora was even allowed to use Iris'' precious supply of imported Pavese soap. Real soap from south of the Nohrian Alps! A wondrous invention and the product of chemistry, made from potash and pressed olive oil, produced to caress her tender skin. Dirt and filth be gone! Neither dirt nor filth would stand any chance against the unlimited might of hot water and soap!
The door opened and Aurora entered, hauling her bucket to her bath, which was little else than a giant wooden barrel cut in half. Her bucket emptied its contents into the bath, yet the water level had barely risen at all.
¡°Hmm ... ¡± Aurora gazed at the barrel, her frustration written all over her face. It would take an eternity for her to fill her bath this way. Her petite arms were only able to carry one bucket at a time. This was her first bucket and there would be many more buckets to come.
Her hopes and her shoulders deflated. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. It was the moment that Aurora felt keenly felt the loss of her loyal maids and servants. It was a luxury whose presence was sorely missed. She and her doll were now on their own, completely alone, but it was far too early to despair. Not all hope was lost yet.
Aurora clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with determination, prepared to fight for her bath and soap! Sacrifices had to be made and many buckets to be hauled for the sake of cleanliness!
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Angelika was sitting in her corner and enjoying her herbal tea while perusing her newspaper. Her hands were flicking through the pages. It was the latest issue of the Freyburg Courier. As usual, her eyes were set on her favourite column ¡®Cats and Kittens. Our cuddliest and fluffiest companions¡¯.
But her favourite feline companions aside, a peculiar girl attracted her attention. Sipping on her herbal tea and her figure hiding behind the cover of her newspapers, her watchful eyes peeked at the source of her curiosity. A cute little girl with a small bucket and an adorable doll passed before her eyes.
The girl was already distracting her the entire afternoon. Time and time again, the girl and her doll were racing through the guild halls. Up and down. up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Her cute little bucket always clutched in her arms. The girl with her fluffy black hair and brilliant purple eyes worked tirelessly, toiling diligently like a cute little bee. Good gracious! So young, and yet so full of exuberance. How admirable.
Angelika giggled, a cheerful smile crossing her lips. The girl and her cuteness warmed her heart. Her doll even resembled the girl, sharing her long black hair and purple eyes. A curious sight indeed, but they made for a cuddly, adorable duo. The only question was, why was she carrying so much water up and down? Wasn''t the bucket far too heavy for a little girl of her age ...
Angelika held her breath in a moment of terror. Oh, no ... The girl nearly tripped over a loose floorboard, but fortunately, she was able to regain her balance. Angelika touched her heart, a sigh of relief escaping her. No harm befell the girl, but no doubt, this must have been a sign.
Her maternal and sisterly instincts had awakened. The girl required her help! Her honour and sense of chivalry didn''t permit her to forsake a little girl in need! They were just like kittens! It was her duty to lend her hand! Do not fear, sister Angelika was coming!
Angelika closed her newspaper and hurried to the rescue. There was no time to lose.
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Arc IV Chapter 25
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 25
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17
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Grumbling under her breath, Aurora held tightly onto her bucket and her cute doll. ¡°Stupid floor board.¡± The guild was well advised to invest in some better nails and some competent carpenters.
Her bucket limited her line of sight and a loose wooden board nearly made her trip. Fortunately, she narrowly escaped the worst. For a change, luck was on her side.
Recuperating from her near disaster, Aurora continued her laden journey ... until suddenly ...
¡°Fret not, child! Help has arrived!¡± A cheerful voice interrupted her toiling, startling her. A mysterious woman appeared before her eyes.
¡°Big sister is coming to the rescue!¡± The enigmatic woman clenched her fist in high spirits before flashing a motivated grin.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora blinked in confusion, tilting her head. Who was this strange woman? Why was she blocking her path? Why was she standing in her way? Why was she grinning at her like an absolute fool? The first impression of her was little positive. The woman was far too cheerful for her taste. The cheerful woman was giving her a migraine.
Aurora''s schooled glare scrutinised her most recent acquaintance, assessing, examining her figure minutely from head to toe. Her delicate blonde hair was fluttering in the air. A lovely flower bouquet decorated her strands, fastening them together in a charming braid. Her azure eyes veritably sparkled with the radiance of a little sun, outshining even the brightest stars. Her pure gentleness blinded Aurora regardless of the woman''s bottomless foolishness. The enigmatic woman radiated undiluted cheerfulness.
Out of nowhere, the unknown woman moved, placing her free hand on Aurora¡¯s head for a head ¡
Be it by reflex or instinct, Aurora jerked away, retreating backwards. Her suspicion increased and her eyes narrowed. How impudent! No stranger was allowed to pat her without her permission! ¡°...¡±
¡°Don''t be afraid, child¡±, The woman reassured her with a soothing tone. ¡°I am just here to help you~! Let me lend you a hand~.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora hugged her doll and clutched her pail before retreating further. Despite the woman¡¯s soothing words, Aurora¡¯s distrust remained undiminished. Stranger danger! Every little girl knew that!
Yet the enigmatic woman didn''t cease her advances, undaunted by the rejection she had suffered. ¡°Listen, a little girl such as yourself shouldn¡¯t need to carry so many buckets back and forth on your own. So let me help you. With two additional hands, we will be done in a jiffy!¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora remained unconvinced. Her help would be appreciated, but ... There surely must be a catch.
Angelika sighed in resignation. A hint of annoyance tainted her voice. Her tone grew forceful and impatient. ¡°Stop being unreasonable! Why are you so stubborn, girl? I only want to help you!¡±
Aurora responded in kind, pouting, ¡°And yet I have never asked for your help. Seriously, who do you think you are? Who are you to appear out of nowhere and impose your unwanted kindness on others? Neither do I need, nor do I want, your help. In fact, your insisting nature is grating my nerves.¡±
¡°...¡± The enigmatic woman gasped in shock, fell silent, her enthusiasm finally withering. ¡°...
¡°...¡± Aurora intensified her glare.
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¡°I am sorry.¡± The once cheerful woman lowered her head in shame. Her hopes and shoulders deflated. ¡°I only tried to help you ... I thought that you would appreciate my company, but apparently that is not the case ...¡±
Aurora hugged her doll, maintaining her uncompromising attitude. ¡°... ... ... Why? Why are you doing this?¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± The woman raised a confused eyebrow. Her question baffled the enigmatic woman.
¡°Tell me, why are you troubling yourself .. Why are you bothering? I don¡¯t understand you.¡±
The woman mustered a soft, subdued giggle. ¡°Hehehe.¡±
Aurora frowned. ¡°What''s so funny?¡±
¡°Why am I trying to help?¡± Her radiance was fidgeting with her fingers in bashful embarrassment. Her cheeks were blushing cherry red. ¡°Well, ... Ehm ... Well, to be honest, I don''t know myself. I saw you struggling with your buckets ... And I saw how you nearly tripped ... You are a little girl ... You also remind me a little of my ... So I thought that I might be able to help you. And afterwards, I could maybe even treat you to a hot chocolate, if you want ¡¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora blinked in total disbelief. She was completely speechless, even though the words ¡®hot¡¯ and ¡®chocolate¡¯ elicited her interest. ¡°Tell me, why are you trying to help me, a complete stranger, someone you are not related to by blood or kinship, someone you neither know nor have ever met before? I don''t understand, why are you doing this? What is your rationale?¡±
¡°What a silly question.¡± The woman beamed, her smile radiating nothing but limitless gentleness. ¡°Do I really need a reason to help you?¡±
¡°I suppose not¡±, Aurora conceded. ¡°I merely find your behaviour peculiar. You seem to offer help without expecting anything in return!¡±
The mysterious woman offered an enigmatic smile. ¡°Then so be it. I am who I am. No matter what, I will stay true to myself. I love to help people as much as I can. That is my creed. That is why I became an adventurer in the first place. To make the world a better place. I want to do my small part.¡±
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Aurora didn''t know what to say. Her eyes were studying the strange woman, her face, her eyes, her lips. She had no way of telling whether the woman was lying, or not. The enigmatic woman was ... kind hearted. Almost too kind hearted. Was this not a ploy? Was this not a ruse? Or was she really just an incorrigible fool? Was it possible ... that the woman ... was actually telling the truth?
...
...
...
The woman smiled and offered Aurora her hand. The dark clouds had parted as all embarrassment and sadness had vanished from her face. Her lips were shining in old splendour. ¡°I am Angelika. I am delighted to meet you.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora was staring at the hand she was offered. Time passed. ¡°So you offer me your help?¡±
Angelika nodded, her beam never leaving her lips. ¡°I do.¡±
¡°Without remuneration?¡±
Angelika nodded.
¡°Without compensation?¡±
Angelika was forced to chuckle. ¡°Oh my, so many complicated words. You are a bright child for your age.¡±
¡°Not to mention, you also promise me that you will buy me a hot chocolate afterwards?¡±
Angelika beamed. ¡°Of course, a promise is a promise.¡±
Incredulity befell Aurora. Was Angelika an idiot? She was a useful idiot, for sure. ¡°Wait a moment, I must consult with my doll first.¡± It was a good deal. It almost made her feel bad for taking advantage of Angelika and her naivety. Somehow, it felt wrong.
Turning around, Aurora started whispering in her doll''s ears in secrecy, ¡°Do you think that we can trust her?¡±
¡°...¡± Her doll nodded.
¡°Are you sure?¡±
¡°...¡± Her doll nodded once again, lured .
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora returned her attention to the waiting Angelika. Her mind hesitated, yet she accepted Angelika''s hand. ¡°My name is ... Edelgart.¡±
The woman called Angelika beamed, even going as far as to squeeze her little hand. ¡°Edelgart ... such a cute name. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
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Their little hauling operation had ended and now they were spending some merry time, together at the entrance to the girl''s room. Angelika kept her word and provided the girl with a steaming cup of hot chocolate exactly as promised.
Edelgart was taking a sip from her delicious cup, inundating her little tongue with the decadence of hot chocolate.The girl beamed at her latest benefactor with a smile of pure, sweet bliss. ¡°Thank you, Sister Angelika, you are the best~.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Angelika''s chest swelled with pride. She might have bribed the girl with a cup of hot chocolate, but it was a noble purpose. It was worth every last coin of her limited funds. ¡°I am always glad to help. Although I wonder, what do you need all the water for?¡±
The girl smiled like a little sunshine. ¡°I plan to take a hot bath. So we need a lot of water. That is why we hauled all the buckets up the stairs.¡±
¡°...¡± Angelika blinked in moment of disbelief. ¡°Edelgart, a hot bath is all well and good, but your water is ice cold ...¡±
The girl nodded. ¡°I know.¡±
¡°And you have no firewood whatsoever ...¡±
The girl nodded once more. ¡°I know.¡±
¡°Don''t you see the problem?¡±
The girl tilted her head, briefly contemplating her answer. ¡°No, not really.¡±
¡°...¡± Angelika merely sighed before shaking her head. ¡°And you call me peculiar. Anyway, I guess it is time for me to take my leave. It was a pleasure to have met you. I hope we meet again in the future ...¡±
¡°No, wait a moment!¡± the girl shouted.
¡°Hmm?¡± Angelika raised an eyebrow.
¡°Wait a moment, I have something for you~.¡± Edelgart and her doll sprinted away before returning again. Her arms were clutching a massive jar.
¡°What is this?¡± Angelika asked, her eyes drawn to the mysterious jar. It looked like a ...
Edelgart opened the jar, her hand rummaging inside. ¡°Here~. For you~.¡± Her arm produced a single biscuit.
¡°A biscuit?¡± Angelika gazed at the baked sweet made from sugar and flour.
Edelgart and her doll beamed. ¡°Yes, it is a cookie~. It is for you~. You have earned it~.¡±
Angelika was Her hand reached for her the biscuit. ¡°Thank you, how sweet of ...¡±
Sister, it is a biscuit~. It is for you~.
Her muscles contracted. Her breathing accelerated. Her neck tightened. Her lungs were desperately gasping for air. She couldn''t breathe. She needed air.
One year ago. A blonde girl. Her sister. A biscuit. A petite hand. A starless night night. A fire. A burning mansion. Flames. Smoke. Ash. Betrayal. Desperation. Pain. Endless agony. Undying hatred. Death. A thirst for revenge. Justice. Retribution.
Her hands were trembling, shaking in fear. Her blood froze and her entire body refused to move. Memories from the past haunted her. Old spectres not yet forgotten returned to invade her mind ...
¡°Sister Angelika~, Sister Angelika~, Sister Angelika~. It was Edelgart who would free her from her stupor. The girl''s little hands were shaking her whole body, tugging at her sleeves.
An expression of worry clouded her face. Edelgart looked concerned. ¡°Sister Angelika, is something the the matter? You lost consciousness for a moment.¡±
¡°Don''t worry, it was ... nothing.¡± Angelika merely smiled. It was an uneasy smile. ¡°Thank you very much for your biscuit, Edelgart. I will treasure it.¡±
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Arc IV Chapter 26
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 26
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17
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora deployed her index finger to test the waters. Her nail punctured the liquid surface, and yet her arm was quick to retract her hand. The overall water temperature was improvable, to say the least. Ill suited for any pleasant bath. As expected, the water was cold, ice cold. Not that she had expected otherwise.
The river and its mighty stream brought the gelid water from afar, down from the highest mountains of the hinterland. On its long journey, the water witness the eternal ice of snow clad peaks and the arctic gusts of frigid mountain ranges. The water travelled far and long. Thus, it carried little warmth. In fact, the water was closer to the point of freezing than to a temperature she deemed even remotely acceptable.
Needless to say, she had no intention whatsoever of catching a cold, or freezing to death for the sake of having a bath. As it turned out, her attempts at bathing proved ill fated without an adequate source of heat to warm her water. She was now in possession of a giant wooden barrel filled to the brim with water and no fire at hand, which was a problem.
Aurora''s gaze swept through the room. Her eyes scouring her surroundings, searching for a solution that didn''t exist. Angelika was right when she highlighted her conspicuous lack of firewood, but firewood was not an option. Firewood was expensive, vastly exceeding her meagre purse and her financial resources, nor was she willing to carry piles of wood all the way up the stairs just to heat her bath. She and her doll had already laboured enough for today. She would gladly forego another major hauling operation. Far too many buckets had already had climbed far too many stairs.
Fortunately for her and her doll, not everything was lost yet. As everyone knew, where there was a little girl and her will, there must also be a way!
Checking her surroundings, Aurora turned her head left and right, left and right. The door was locked. The windows were closed. The room was empty. There was nobody else present besides her and her doll. She and her doll were alone with a bath full of ice water. Nobody was watching her, and she doubted that the walls in this day and age possessed eyes or ears.
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Aurora turned to her doll, her loyal companion. ¡°Are you thinking what I am?¡±
Her doll nodded. A girl and a doll, separated by the physical boundaries of reality, yet one mind. They were thinking the same. There was a most obvious solution to her current predicament.
Aurora grinned, her schemes and plans taking form and shape. Diving deep into the water, her hand braved once again the ice cold waves, but this time it was for a good purpose. Her lips started humming as her work proceeded. ¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ??? ? ? ?? ~.¡±
Cold turned warm. The water ... Its temperature was rising. The sensation of cold faded, and the water''s glacial breath yielded to steaming vapour. A fine white mist covered the whole room, its gentle humid touch saturating the air.
It was now time to take a bath. Aurora hugged her doll with a sense of accomplishment and pride. It was a moment when her being a fire mage proved to be a blessing in disguise. Even when her magic abilities merely served to heat a bath.
Her bare feet went first. The gentle touch of warm water caressed her naked skin, soothing her muscles and nerves from tip to toe. This was truly what she had needed. The warmth invaded her body, warming her from within. It was a dream, a sheer inexplicable joy. After such a long time, she was once again afforded the opportunity to enjoy a proper taste of civilisation. It was time to liberate herself from all the accumulated dirt and dust of the past days and weeks.
Cast adrift by the treacherous current soft fate, it had been over a month since she had set a foot in this unknown and enigmatic world. It was an alien world. It was a foreign world. So much was different, yet so much also felt similar, not to say familiar. The world was indeed a small place.
Maybe it was fate, maybe it was destiny, but she was granted the gift, the privilege, the honour of a second life. And already, she had met friend and foe alike. She had eluded the murderous bladed of her assassins. She had infiltrated a group of ignorant adventurers. She had fought an oversized wolf. She had faced an ancient demon of the past. She had even joined the ranks of the local adventurers¡¯ guild. Much had happened this past month, and yet her path remained shrouded in impenetrable mystery.
Her shoulders and her head leaned against the wooden exterior of her barrel. Aurora''s lips mustered a weak chuckle. What would the future hold for her? What would the future hold for Aurora von Schwarz? Only time would tell.
For the time being, however, all her worries, all her trouble, all her woes were gone, washed away by the joy of the moment. All of them were forgotten. All of them had vanished. Time itself stood still until the gears of reality resumed their march to crush her under their weight. But not yet. For the time being, even the gears of reality had come to a halt.
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Aurora adjusted her pillow and prepared her bed. It was time for her to sleep under the warm coverage of her blanket. Yet she dedicated her attention first to her most precious companion, her doll.
¡°Good night. Sleep well and have sweet dreams.¡± Her lips placed a gentle kiss on her doll''s forehead before tucking her in besides her.
Her doll showed no reaction. Logically and rationally speaking, it was plainly absurd what she was doing. Her doll didn''t live. Her care and love were both an exercise in futility, and yet she was doting on her. Her doll had truly grown on her. She was tucking her in and wishing her good night every day and night.
Aurora closed her eyes and gripped her blanket. Hypnos was quick to strike, taking her away into the lands of dream under the auspice of a waning moon. Midnight was approaching.
...
...
...
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Arc IV Chapter 27
IV
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Arc IV Chapter 27
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17
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
A cute yawn filled the cold, dark night amidst the shining stars. Aurora awakened from the terrible dream after what felt like a never ending eternity. Her dream was a veritable nightmare, a nightmare that had lasted far too long for her liking. But her nightmare had finally ended.
Aurora was rubbing her tired eyes to dispel her drowsiness. They were travelling home after a long and arduous semester. The academy had ended, and she was returning home to her father. Yet in her dreams, misfortune befell her and Count Geralt. Their carriage was ambushed and attacked by bloodthirsty assassins. In the end, she even died through their hands, murdered in cold blood. But it was all just a dream. A product of her fantasy.
A soft sigh of relief escaped Aurora''s lips. Everything was fine now. She was alive and healthy. The nightmare was over, and she had finally regained consciousness, although in the middle of the night. It was dark and cold. It was past midnight and the moon stood high. Her conclusion was that she must have slept through an entire day, or even multiple days, but there was no way to tell for sure as to how long she had been banished to the land of dreams.
But first things first. As Count Geralt used to say, retain a calm mind and trust in your judgement. Observe your surroundings and gather information before taking a decision. Aurora honoured his advice.
Aurora moved her head, fighting her stiff neck. It was stiffer than stone, probably due to her long period of rest. The room was shrouded in darkness, only illuminated by the soft light of the moon. The room was simple, even spartan judging her noble standards. It was not a room unlike those belonging to the many inns they had frequented on their journey, but what attracted her attention most was not the lack of proper furniture and the apparent simplicity of the interior, but rather the size of everything around her. Everything was gargantuan. Everything was so gigantic. The room. The window. The table in the corner. The shelves. The wardrobe. Her bed. In fact, the blanket covering her was enormous in size.
Her eyes gazed at an immense piece of cloth reaching as far as the horizon and beyond. The blanket was truly gigantic, defying any shred of common sense. What was happening here? It was as if she had been shrunk, miniaturised, which was of course completely absurd. Impossible.
Aurora shook her head to dispel her frivolous thoughts. This was reality and not a fairytale for children. How was it possible for her to have been shrunken ¡
A tender snore freed her from her stupor, its source unknown. Yet the source must be close.
Aurora turned her head around and what she saw was the impossible. Her eyes spotted a familiar face ... ... ...
Her entire body petrified in shock, horror, trepidation. The blood in her veins froze and her breath halted. This ... This ... This ... was impossible. How ... Why ... What was ... What was happening here?
The girl sleeping beside her. The girl was her! Aurora was gazing upon her own slumbering figure, peacefully and soundly asleep beneath the cover of a warm blanket.
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There was no doubt, the girl was her. It was unmistakably her who lying before her. But if she was asleep, then who was she ¡
Her panic stricken gaze wandered downwards, inspected her arms and hands. These hands ... These arms ... They were not hers. They were not her own. They were not even human. Mechanical joints and the pale lustre of porcelain replaced where once were human skin, muscles, and bone ...
...
...
...
She had been turned into a doll. Not just any doll. She had turned into her doll. The prophecies had come true. Whether it was in jest or in earnest, people called her a doll in the past. Now the day had come that she had truly become one. Her ghost, her spirit, her soul had somehow been transferred into her doll!
...
...
...
Aurora panicked. This was an unmitigated disaster. Her breathing accelerated, which was superfluous considering her current state. She was now a doll. Dolls didn''t need any air.
Not to mention, she shouldn''t feel anything, but she clearly did. Anxiety gripped her beating heart. What would become of her? Would she awaken again? Would her soul return again to her body? Or was she now forever trapped in the body of her doll? What she now destined forever to live the life of a doll?
Aurora shook her head. It was too early to resort to defeatist thoughts. It was too early to despair. Clenching her small doll hands, Aurora gathered her remaining courage and set in motion and determination before embarking on her mission to reclaim her former body. There must be a way. Not everything was lost yet.
Aurora rose from beneath her blanket and approached her slumbering body. Now, how was she to reclaim her body? That was the crucial question.
The best step was probably to wake herself. That sounded like a good idea.
Her plan formed and Aurora went to work. Her little arms poked her own face.
...
Poke.
...
Poke.
...
Poke.
...
No reaction. Her body continued sleeping, ignoring any of her advances, not much to her surprise.
Aurora doubled her efforts and her poking increased in strength and intensity, although her result proved meagre. Not only did her efforts fail, they also achieved the opposite effect. Her sleeping body suddenly started moving, and her arms reached for her in a dangerous motion that resembled a hug.
Fortunately, Aurora was quick to escape the dangerous clutch of death, dodging the incoming hug. Her body¡¯s arms only caught empty air.
Aurora sighed in relief. This was a close call. She nearly ended up being cuddled to death. A fate most appropriate for a doll, but certainly not for a noble girl of her birth.
Aurora proceeded with her quest. Maybe it was a good idea to deploy magic. Her spirit might be trapped in her doll, but it was the soul and not the physical body that acted as the circuit between mana and magic. It was certainly worth a try.
Listening to her fractured soul, Aurora went into herself. Not yet extinguished by the cruel forces of fate, the flame of her soul was still flickering in the darkness. It was weak, but it was there.
Aurora channelled her magic. A magic circle formed and a chant a followed. ¡°Ignis, bringer of ash and destrcution, follow my command!¡± No flame sprung forth. Her fire defied her command, disobeying her.
¡°Hmpf! Ignis! Ignis! Ignis!¡± Aurora increased her efforts. Third time was the charm. A small purple flame appeared, created through sheer force of will. The flame was dancing in the night, floating over her palm.
Aurora jumped in joy. She had succeeded. This was a victory, but what now?
Her gaze wandered between her sleeping figure and her flame. It was probably not a good idea to wake herself with fire in the presence of so much flammable material. She had no intention at all of dying in a careless fire.
Thus, her quest to reclaim her body continued. Maybe the room was holding the answer to her transformation.
Mustering all her courage, Aurora set out to explore the area before being stopped by the edge of the bed. The bed was only three dolls tall, yet she hesitated. She was certainly not scared of heights. Only a little bit.
Aurora closed her eyelids and jumped into the unknown, her legs landing softly on the wooden floor. She made it. She survived the jump. Now it was time for her to investigate the lodgings.
Moving her joints, Aurora, a lone doll on her own, wandered across the wooden floor. It was a strange ... feeling ...
Her vision faded ... Her consciousness waned ... Her strength vanished ... Her grip on reality weakened with every further step. Her time was ending ...
Aurora dropped and fell, her now inanimate body hitting the wooden floor.
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Aurora was stretching her arms and yawned. The rays of dawn greeted her. A fresh, new day had begun. ¡°Good mornings~, Dolly~. I hope you had a wonderful night~ ... Dolly? Dolly~, where are you~? Don''t hide~!¡±
Her eyes scoured her bed, but her precious doll was nowhere to be found. Her doll had simply vanished ...
¡°Oh, there you are~.¡± Aurora sprinted to her doll in need to pick her up. Her hands were caressing her hair. ¡°Silly girl~, didn''t I tell you that you shouldn''t run away~?¡±
¡°...¡± No reaction. Her doll chose silence. Obviously, dolls couldn''t speak. Obviously, dolls couldn''t move. Her doll must have probably somehow fallen off the bed during the night.
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Arc IV Codex IV
IV
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Arc IV Codex IV
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Events
I - Valentia - Return to Freyburg -
II - Waldheim - settlement - confrontation with the noble siblings -
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III - Freyburg - toll guard - guild events - guild application - meeting with guild master - doll turning alive -
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Characters
Erika - Commoner - Guild Assistant -
Sir Wolfgang - Commoner - Guild Master -
Count Konrad von Altdorf - Noble - House von Altdorf - Count - County of Altdorf - vassal of the House von Schwarz - Chancellor of Commerce -
Count Emeric von Mellethin - Noble - House von Mellethin - Count - County of Erzberg - Altdorf - vassal of the House von Schwarz - Chancellor of Law -
Lord Eugen von Seydlitz - Noble - House von Seydlitz - Lord - Son of Margrave Wilhelm von Seydlitz -
Lady Clarissa von Seydlitz - Noble - House von Seydlitz - Lady - Daughter of Margrave Wilhelm von Seydlitz -
Sir Hartman - Commoner - Adventurer - drill master -
Erich von Schwert - Commoner - House von Schwert - Adventurer - former nobles -
Ludolf - Commoner - Adventurer -
Angelika - Commoner - Adventurer - helpful -
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Arc V Chapter 1
V
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Arc V Chapter 1
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18
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Noblesse oblige. Nobility famously obligates. Bound by duty, Friedrich manned the heavy wooden desk of the ducal secretariat with appropriate diligence. His rooms lacked, much to the surprise of the unaccustomed visitor, the noble opulence typical for this day and age in favour of a more functional interior. Whether this was the case due to monetary reasons, or infamous Schwarzean parsimony, or perhaps both, remained unclear. The end result was the same, though. He was provided with some sturdy furniture and a few woollen carpets to cover the naked walls and provide a modicum of insulation. A broad window overlooked the castle''s wide courtyard. An old chimney guarded in the company of stacks of firewood, prepared to fend off the frigid winds of winter.
Yet the secretariat was his realm, his office, and he was ruling over it with an iron fist and iron discipline, which was highly necessary considering the neverending flood of paper and parchment he was forced to contend with on a daily basis. Being the duke''s private secretary was a position that came with much responsibility. He was facing endless mountains of parchment, paper, and ink, ranging from royal decrees and other official documents, to private correspondence and invitations, to paltry letters of concerned farmers asking about their lost cattle and sheep. The life of a secretary might be a task of immense important to the continuous prosperity and stability of the realm, but it was an arduous one, incomparable in terms of boredom and personal suffering. Yet it was a sacrifice he was willing to endure. Already his father served the House von Schwarz in the same position, and his father''s father, and his grandfather''s father. They all had served the House von Schwarz as trusted advisers, confidants, and councillors. His very lineage, the House von Styria, embodied the concept of service ...
¡°Hmm ...¡± A heavy sigh escaped Friedrich. It was indeed an honour to serve the House von Schwarz, and yet it was also a burden at times that weighted heavily on his shoulders ... So much work to do ...
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A series of knocks rattled the wooden door. They didn''t escape his attention. Friedrich raised his voice, ¡°Enter.¡±
It was Kasimir, his retainer and friend, and his de facto right hand and personal aid. His help was always much appreciated. Kasimir straightened his back and clicked his heels together, always conscious of rank and status, as usual. ¡°My Lord ...¡±
Friedrich pinched his nose in mild frustration. Not again. ¡°Kasmir, ... listen, how often have I already told you, there is no need for formalities among us. Certainly not among friends.¡±
¡°...¡± His words went unheard. Ice cold as usual, Kasimir ignored him, being way too serious for his own good.
Friedrich sighed. ¡°Anyway, what is the matter, Kasimir? Has anything happened?¡±
¡°...¡± Kasimir nodded. ¡°Yes, a certain person has requested a meeting with you, My Lord.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± Friedrich raised an eyebrow, his surprise apparent. ¡°And who might it be? I can''t remember to have scheduled any visitors. At least, for today.¡±
Kasimir folded his hands behind his back. ¡°... It is Lord Viktor von Ehrbach. One of his aides has contacted me to arrange a meeting with you.¡±
Friedrich raised his eyebrow to newfound heights. ¡°Viktor ... von Ehrbach ... That is a name I haven''t heard of for a long, long time. I haven''t heard of him since our days at the academy. Not that I mind. So what in the world is he of all people doing here? What does he even want from me?¡±
Kasimir shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately, I am not privy to such information. His Lordship didn''t specify any reasons for the meeting, he strongly insisted on the personal nature of his visit. He wishes to speak with you, and only with you. Personally. In private. For the sake of the good old times.¡±
¡°For the sake of the good old times ...¡± Friedrich clicked his tongue, a frown crossing his face. ¡°That sounds indeed like him. I guess that he must be acting on behalf of his father. Just as usual. The only question is what they are up to this time ...¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°... ...¡±
¡°... ... ...¡±
Friedrich flapped his hand, his back seeking the comfort of his padded armchair. He would need it. Viktor von Ehrbach ... This was going to be a busy day ... ¡°Tell him that he is welcome. I see no reason to deny him a simple meeting. He travelled all the long way here, so I better hope that he must have his reasons.¡±
¡°Understood, I will see to it, My Lord.¡± Kasimir offered a slight bow and left with the confident step of a man on a mission.
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Check out my other novel and give it a try! =^.^=
Si Vis Pacem -¡¬- Para Bellum [Naruto FanFic]
Arc I Prologue
Death claims all of us in a timely fashion, but some are granted a second chance.
Armed with ambition, megalomania, and pride alone, an innocent girl reincarnates into the vast world of Naruto with the sole intention of writing history, her history. [Female OC] [AU elements]
Arc V Chapter 2
V
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Arc V Chapter 2
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18
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Afternoon arrived, as did his much esteemed guest. Viktor and his modest entourage entered his office, setting their feet in his inner sanctum and gracing him with their presence. Kasimir was guiding them.
As it turned out, Viktor was not alone. Hardly an uncommon occurrence for a noble of his rank and status. A man accompanied his lord and master, standing at his side. The man must have been one of Viktor''s retainers. Judging by his face, the man was young, barely older than him.
Friedrich narrowed his eyes, his gaze probing his visitor. The man was wearing an embroidered dolman decorated with an ostentatious abundance of buttons. Much as it was customary further east. A pelisse, a thin fur jacket, was covering his upper body, hanging loosely over his shoulders. A cavalry sabre and an oriental scabbard swung around his hips complemented his appearance. The only thing that he was missing was a busby, otherwise he would have been the perfect epitome of a hussar. No doubt, the man was a warrior of the steppes, hailing from the east. Possibly even a noble scion based on his attire. The only question was whether he was Galizyean, Valahian, Ruthenian, or even, gods forbid, Novrhelian. The latter was unlikely.
His ruby eyes were cold, serious, calculating with glimmers of stray mana. So he was a magic user as well. Not that it surprised Friedrich. Viktor had always been a cunning man of great talent. Obviously, he would thus only recruit capable individuals of comparable ability.
Viktor, in the meanwhile, had not changed much despite the years. His black hair unchanged and his attire still as pompous as he remembered. A snow white cravat caressed his neck, accompanied by layers of linen and silk, an elaborate waistcoat, and thigh boots and their stockings. A golden lion on red ground, the coat of arms of the House von Ehrbach, adorned his robes. A friendly smile crossed his lips, belying his cunning nature for those less wise or knowledgeable. Vain he might be, taken by his own beauty, but his eloquence and charisma were infamous. Others might have fallen for Viktor''s act, but not him. It took more to mislead him.
Viktor offered a courteous bow in a show of respect, lowering his head. ¡°It has truly been an age since we last spoke. I hope that time has treated you well since, Lord Friedrich ¡, or should I rather say Count Friedrich. My condolences for your loss. I have heard of what happened to your father, Count Geralt. Murdered by assassins ... What a cruel fate ... You and your younger siblings have my sympathies. Weeks have since passed, but the loss must still hurt. His death must weight heavily on you, Count Friedrich.¡±
¡°It does ¡¡± Friedrich closed his eyes, sunk deep in thought. Kasimir was flanking him, standing behind him. ¡°Your words are appreciated, Lord Viktor, though I must confess that you are among the last people that I would have expected to see again these days ¡¡±
¡°Neither have I, Count Friedrich.¡± Viktor smiled politely, almost too politely. Honeyed words and noble flattery aided his cause. His words were silken and polished, as expected of the higher circles of nobility. ¡°And yet here I am. I am forever grateful for your generous hospitality, Count Friedrich. It is truly an honour to meet you again after all these years.¡± His manners were impeccable. No wonder that the Ehrbach family found its way into the hearts of minds of so many.
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¡°An honour indeed, Lord Viktor. I rarely entertain such esteemed visitors such as you.¡± Friedrich clicked his tongue, his back leaning back in his armchair. ¡°Especially not on such short notice. It seems that you haven''t lost your habit of appearing in an untimely manner. Judging by your request, it must be an urgent matter that forced you to seek me out. So what is it that brings you all the way here to me? I am curious.¡±
Viktor mustered a joyous smile, flatly ignoring all the sarcasm thrown at him. He was a resilient contemporary, he had to give him that. ¡°No need to flatter me, Count Friedrich. However, I am afraid that I must disappoint you, Count Friedrich. You are mistaken, neither is the matter urgent, nor did I intend to pay you a visit ¡ In fact, I have already arrived here two weeks ago ... My father has dispatched me to take care of some of his affairs on his behalf.¡±
¡°...¡± Friedrich folded his hands while planning his next move in their little battle of wits. ¡°And yet you are here, standing now before me ¡ In person, if I might add. I assume that you must want something from me. Because I strongly doubt you would grace me with your presence just for the sake of the good old times alone.¡±
Viktor returned a dry laugh. ¡°Quick as ever. You haven''t changed at all, Friedrich. No wonder that the Duke chose you as his private secretary, his trusted right hand.¡±
¡°...¡± Friedrich remained wholly unimpressed. Flattery would get him nowhere.
¡°Ahem ...¡± Viktor cleared his throat. ¡°Anyway, you are correct, we require your services. Unfortunately, fate forces our hand to seek your assistance, Count Friedrich. Thus, we, the House von Ehrbach, would like to ask you for a small favour.¡±
¡°A small ... favour?¡± Friedrich furrowed an eyebrow. So this was what they were up to. Viktor had now his full undivided attention. ¡°And what exactly does this small favour entail?¡±
¡°Nothing much, we would merely like you to talk to the Duke on our behalf. You are one of his most trusted confidants, and you might be even be able to convince His Grace of the validity of our proposition.¡±
Friedrich sharpened his ears and gaze. ¡°... ... ... Elaborate.¡±
A heavy sigh escaped Viktor, his head lowered and his eyelids heavy. ¡°You see, it is a complicated matter, a hereditary matter, to be exact. You have probably already heard about my unfortunate marriage. It was twelve months ago, but it still feels like yesterday when fate mercilessly split Angelika and me apart. Angelika and her family died in a terrible fire. The blazing flames claimed their lives that fateful night, burning their manor down to the ground.¡± His hand reached for his chest, his heart. ¡°My heart sheds tears every time I remember her face, her smile, the love of my now forever gone. Her death is truly a tragedy. No day passes I do not mourn her passing, Count Friedrich. Every day, every time, I honour her memory.¡±
Friedrich was masking his surprise, to the best of his abilities. He would have never expected such tender words to ever cross Viktor''s lips. Quite the contrary, considering his character. ¡°A tragedy indeed. You have my sympathies, Lord Viktor, yet I fail to see what your deceased wife and lost love have exactly to do with me? With all due respect to her memory and pardon my bluntness, this seems hardly like a matter that would deserve a visit.¡±
Viktor mustered a chuckle, folding his hands behind his back. ¡°It does, doesn''t it? Yet it is of prime importance, Count Friedrich. You see, Lady Angelika was the legitimate heiress of the noble Lilienthal estate ... Following her death and that of her younger sister and parents, her inheritance remains thus vacant in the absence of a direct legal successor and without suitable descendants and antecedents in agnatic cognatic succession. Months have passed, and yet an heir has yet to lay claim to the vast lands and possessions of the House von Lilienthal ...
It thus seems only proper that We, the House von Ehrbach, would like to exercise our right of succession. As her beloved husband, Angelika''s right of succession falls with her death upon me. It would make me, albeit not suo iure, but iure uxoris, the rightful successor to the County of M?hren. We have already secured the support and consort of local nobles. Everything was prepared and everything seemed in order. Unfortunately, though, the Duke himself seems to disagree, even going as far as to intervene in person. He has decided to put their lands under ducal administration. His actions have effectively denied us any access. We seek to rectify this situation, with your help ... ... ...¡±
Lord Viktor von Ehrbach
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Arc V Chapter 3
V
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Arc V Chapter 3
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18
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Silence followed. The implications of Viktor''s words were more than clear.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Friedrich leaned back in his armchair, his hands folded and a sigh escaping him. ¡°Lord Viktor, ... so unless I am mistaken and if I understand correctly, I presume that you want me to help you with your little succession issues?¡±
Viktor returned a charming smile and a nod. ¡°You presume correctly, Count Friedrich. This is indeed why we pay you a visit. We would like you to use your influence to convince the Duke to loosen his grip on M?hren and, if possible, drop his objections. There is no reason to drag out this matter further. It will be the best for us all that this affair is resolved quickly and quietly without much clamour. Your assistance; Count Friedrich, would be thus immensely appreciated. The House von Ehrbach would be forever grateful.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Friedrich stared into the empty void of nothingness in a futile attempt to ignore a certain someone''s presence. ¡°Lord Viktor, you offer me so many kind words, and yet I fail to see as to why exactly I should lend you my hand? As far as I remember, it is not as if our family owes you favour.¡±
Viktor mustered a slight smirk. ¡°Do not worry, Count Friedrich, obviously, your efforts shall not go unrewarded. You and your house will be of course handsomely remunerated for your services. We are not parsimonious in our way, and we do not forget those who aid us in time of need.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Friedrich narrowed his eyes, his mood deteriorating noticeably. The temperature in the room fell. ¡°Lord Viktor, with all due respect, but are you seriously trying what I think that you are trying? Are you trying to bribe me?¡±
Viktor was quick to respond, raising his arms in defence. ¡°Oh, no, Count Friedrich, not at all. No need to resort to unfounded allegations. Consider it rather a small token of appreciation and gratitude. In fact, should the Duke have a change of heart and reconsider his stance on this matter, then the House von Ehrbach is more than willing to make a sizeable contribution to the ducal treasury.¡±
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Friedrich studied Viktor, his gaze never faltering, his fingers drumming on the desk. ¡°And about how sizeable are we talking here?¡±
¡°300 000. 300 000 gulden. That is the sum that our House is willing to provide should fortune favour us.¡±
¡°300 000 ... gulden ... That is a considerable ... sum ... indeed ... ... ...¡± Friedrich carefully pondered his words. ¡°Tell me, where do you get so much money from?¡±
Viktor placed his index finger on his lips. ¡°That''s a secret, Count Friedrich, but rest assured, we have our sources and benefactors. The sum is real and our offer more than genuine. We thus hope that the Duke will honour our humble request, even if some monetary persuasion might be required.¡±
¡°We will see. We will see.¡± A sigh crossed Friedrich''s lips. ¡°Lord Viktor, I will consider your request and forward ... your most kind offer to the Duke. Whether he will accept it or not, though, is a different matter entirely.¡±
Viktor offered a polite bow. ¡°Excellent. You have our sincere gratitude, Count Friedrich, we could have not wished for more.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Anyway, we must now take my leave. It was a pleasure to speak with you, Count Friedrich. I hope that our paths will cross again in the future. Until then, I wish you all the best and bid you farewell.¡±
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The door had closed and silence befell the room. They were gone now. Finally.
Kasimir was the first to speak, ¡°Are we going to inform the Duke?¡±
¡°We are.¡± Friedrich merely nodded, sunk in thoughts. ¡°This is definitely a matter that deserves the Duke''s attention, but considering his past actions, he already might have suspected so. They are clearly up to something. Not that I am surprised. As usual, their reputation precedes the Ehrbachs. To think that they would even go as far as trying to bribe me. Not to mention, 300 000 gulden ... That is an enormous sum ... Whoever is behind them, I guess that they must have some pretty powerful backers on board ...¡±
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Scheming feet walked the castle with purpose, among them an intricate puppeteer in the making.
His aide took the word, breaking the ice of silence. ¡°Do you think that he will take the bait?¡±
Viktor mustered a derisive smirk, clicking his tongue. ¡°I doubt so, Felix. Friedrich is a von Styria. They are the stalwart wardens of the House von Schwarz. They are loyal to a fault, but as people say, it was worth a shot. Not that they weren''t suspecting us already before. They aren''t stupid. The Duke''s action speak loud and clear. There is nothing we can do about the rumours but to wait. It is a nuisance, but we need to be patient. Time is on our side. The Duke will give sooner or later. It is only a matter of time before M?hren will be ours. We enjoy the support of lower nobility as well as the backing of Archchancellor Lucius. Father has informed me that the royal court looks with favour on our efforts.¡±
¡°... Does it?¡±
¡°Apparently.¡± Viktor was unable to suppress his gleeful grin. ¡°We truly live in interesting times. The relationship between the crown and the House von Schwarz has deteriorated following Princess Felicia''s untimely passing. The King has not yet forgotten his sister''s death. Thus, the crown and the court have once again come to see the power of the Schwarz as a threat to the realm, and it is probably not just Duke Lucius that is making his move. Especially now that the House von Schwarz is suddenly left without an heir.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 4
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Arc V Chapter 4
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18
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
A new day dawned. It was the start of a new week and the start of her most recent educational adventure. After surviving drillmaster and his punishing lessons, Aurora and her doll were now braving the challenges and pitfalls of this world''s educational system, namely, they were finally going to school, or at least what qualified in this day and age as an equivalent educational facility! The usefulness of such an institution, though, remained undoubted despite certain reservations on her part.
Armed with a solitary piece of chalk and a blank slate tablet, Aurora and her doll manned their school bench while enjoying a clear view on the teacher''s desk. That was all the guild provided her, which was already plenty. Not that she complained. Paper and parchment were limited commodities, and her utensils proved sufficient to master the most sacred and noble art of literacy. She, her doll, and her fellow adventurers would be provided with a semblance of elementary education at the expense of the guild. The education was rudimentary at best, but they were given reading and writing classes to combat the scourge of illiteracy among the classes of humble birth. The course was thus well frequented, with the classroom filled to the brim.
¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ??? ? ? ?? ~¡±, Aurora and her doll were humming in peace, while scribbling on her slate in an effort to refresh her memory after her most unfortunate case of amnesia. Her muscle memory and writing skills slowly but surely returned. Her hands remembered the lines and patterns. Contrary to other less fortunate individuals who struggled with the way of the chalk, the art of writing came understandably naturally to her. In fact, her quick progress surprised and astounded even Erika. She praised her refined handwriting and commended the calligraphic touch of her hand. Erika supposed that she had to be a natural talent, which was indeed the case.
Aurora mustered a content grin. Once again, her former self and the benefits of her noble education proved their worth.
Her hand moved her chalk, drawing a giant A across the slate. It was the letter Erika taught them yesterday. They were told to write the letter down a few hundred times in order to memorise its shape and form before proceeding to the letter B. The foundations were important. Repetition builds practice, and practice builds memory. They would work their way step by step through the alphabet before commencing with proper reading and writing. First block letters. Later on, the fundamentals of cursive, which was already everything the course had to offer. It was a rudimentary class at best that consciously refrained from touching any advanced materials. The treacherous realm of grammar and syntax, the realm of declensions and conjugations, of nouns and pronouns, of adjectives and adverbs, of verbs and prepositions, of interjections and conjunctions, of causal, final, consecutive, conditional, temporal, and relative clauses would forever remain beyond the mere, simple adventurer.
Aurora finished her work and marvelled at her chalk born handiwork. The letter A was a most important letter, according to Erika. It was a vowel and the first letter of the local alphabet. Furthermore, many important words started with A, such as Aurora. And other important words, such as Aurora. There was no Aurora without A. ¡°What do you think, Dolly?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Silence. Her doll ignored her, but she must have her reasons. Her doll wasn''t much of a talker. She was apparently more of a shy, introvert type ...
¡°Hey, you, ... what are you doing there?¡± Aurora blinked in surprise. A voice interrupted her discussion. The brash voice was coming from behind.
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Aurora turned around, glancing backwards. There was a boy sitting behind her and staring at her with his arms crossed and a scrutinising glare at his disposal. He was a fellow ... ... ... She had no idea whatsoever who the little rascal was or what he wanted, nor did she care in the slightest.
¡°... ... ...¡± The boy whose name she couldn''t bother nor cared to remember continued glaring at her.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora and her doll tilted their heads.
¡°... ... ...¡± Still glaring.
¡°...¡± Their staring match continued, but Aurora didn''t budge. This was a battle of honour! A battle she was not allowed to lose!
Who was he? What did he want? Aurora had no idea. Yet he appeared as if he wanted to strike up a conversation with her. Her hand pointed at herself. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡±
¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡±
¡°... ... ... Yes.¡± The boy merely nodded. The conceited tone in his voice didn''t escape her. ¡°I am asking you, what are you doing there?¡±
Aurora chose to ignore his lack of manners. The common populace might not be as versed as her in the intrinsicities of noble etiquette and basic politeness. Her doll and she thus proudly presented their work, showing him their slate. ¡°Oh, I was drawing my favourite letter A. I decided to practise and improve my writing skills, while waiting for teacher Erika.¡±
The boy clicked his tongue in derision. ¡°Silly girl ...¡±
Aurora pouted in response. ¡°Hmpf, what''s so funny about it?¡±
The boy smirked with a blatant sense of superiority. Her fellow student was lacking much, but certainly not confidence. ¡°Nothing. As it turns out, however, you are just another one of those illiterate country bumpkins. Hardly surprising, though, I guess.¡±
¡°Hey ...¡± Aurora protested, pouting. She heard that. ¡°No need to throw insults ... And what are you even doing here if you can read and write? Why are you attending a writing class; then?¡±
The boy rolled his eyes in frustration. Unbeknownst to him, he was taxing the limited lenience he still enjoyed to the utmost. ¡°Because they are mandatory, silly girl ... Your attendance rate contributes to final evaluation, so I can''t skip them, regardless of how much of a chore they are.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora tilted her head. ¡°That makes sense, I guess. And yet, ... who are you to judge me? Who are you to talk so high and mighty? I have no idea who you are to begin with.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Her words gave the boy pause. ¡°My pardon, I suppose you are correct, an introduction is indeed in order. Not that it matters. My name is Erich von Schwert. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Edelgart.¡± Not only did he remember her name, but he also offered her a slight bow. Impressive.
Aurora studied her counterpart with renewed interest. ¡°... von Schwert ... Are you perhaps a noble?¡±
Her question visibly startled a speechless Erich, eliciting more than just a furrowed eyebrow. ¡°...¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°...¡± His eyes narrowed and his gaze intensified. ¡°... You know, Edelgart, you are a curious girl. You say you can''t read nor write, and yet the moment I tell you my name, you immediately latch onto my surname ... How peculiar ... But to answer your question, we aren''t. At least, not any more ...¡± What an enigmatic reply on his part.
Erich returned his attention to her. ¡°Anyway, tell me, what are you doing here? Enlighten me!¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean by that, Erich?¡±
The boy clicked his tongue. ¡°Don''t play dumb, Edelgart. You know what I mean. No matter how much I am thinking about it, I don''t get it. I don''t get how you were able to beat Ludolf.¡±
¡°Ludolf, who?¡± Aurora tilted her head.
¡°Ludolf ... My friend ...¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora tilted her head further.
¡°The boy you beat up the first day ...¡±
Realisation finally hit Aurora. ¡°Ah, yes, that one ... I remember now. Yes, his name was Ludolf. So what?¡±
Erich crossed his arms. ¡°You know, he might be a bit of a braggart and not the brightest candle in the chandelier, but I know him. Ludolf is a talented fighter, so how on earth was a little girl and her doll able to defeat him? You won, yet you shouldn''t have.¡±
Aurora was stroking her chin before resorting to a smile. ¡°I guess that is an excellent question indeed~.¡±
¡°I watched the fight, Edelgart. The more I think about it, the clearer it becomes. Your movements were fluid. Your steps were smooth and controlled. You are far stronger than you let on. You are hiding your strength. In fact, you were playing with Ludolf, weren''t you?¡±
His words made her giggle, amusing her. ¡°Hehehe, I won''t deny such a possibility~.¡± And thus the boy named Erich had suddenly turned into an intriguing specimen.
¡°Which leads me to my next question, who are you? What are you doing here? What are you doing here at the guild?¡±
Aurora maintained her smile. ¡°Well, well, isn''t that obvious? I am trying to become an adventurer~.¡±
¡°Yes, you are, but you clearly don''t belong here. The way you fight ... The way you behave ... The way you act ... They way you speak ... You are different.¡±
That was like the pot calling the kettle black. ¡°And what is that supposed to mean, Erich~?¡±
¡°... ... ... It is your carefree attitude. Everything is just a fun little game to you. It is ... It is as if ...¡±
¡°As if what?¡±
¡°... ... ... Never mind, forget it.¡± Erich shook his head. ¡°Know, though, that I will watch you. I will keep my eyes on you and your doll.¡±
Aurora and her doll merely smiled before returning to her scribbling. A radiant beam was their answer. ¡°Thank you, that is good to know~. We will feel now a lot safer~.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 5
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Arc V Chapter 5
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23
rd Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
The sword is your life. The sword is your soul. The sword was the source of true livelihood for every proud swordsmen. The blade was your pride and joy, and yet also, much to the annoyance of the common swordsmen, him included, a source of constant hassles and maintenance. Even the sharpest blade dulled in the absence of proper care and maintenance, falling prey to the unforgiving tooth of time. Such was the life of the swordsman and of a certain adventurer.
Armed with a whetstone and a flask of trusted oil, Michael was tending to his precious sword in the warmth of the guild, sharpening and polishing its steel, freeing his blade from the vile clutches of rust. His blade was the tool of his aspirations, of his single minded pursuit. His goal in life was to hone his skills and perfect his craft. All to become sword master worthy of his name ...
So far, though, the path of the sword had led him nowhere, from roaming master to roaming master, from wandering knight to wandering knight, with little result. In the end, he was forced to forego his aspirations for the time being, joining Lambert''s party instead. Shortage of coin and a tight purse persuaded him that a more practical approach was needed. After all, no man could live from air and will alone. Lambert was searching for a skilled fighter. He offered his services. Lambert accepted. Thus, he the swordsman turned adventurer. Not what he had imagined, but not that he complained. The path of sword was a long and arduous one, a path of many years and decades. He just had to be patient.
Michael put his whetstone aside to marvel at his work. Freed from rust and stains, his blade once again reclaimed its former splendour, the steel shimmering in the sun in all its glory. The sight warmed his heart ...
¡°Uncle Michael~. Uncle Michael~. Uncle Michael~.¡± A certain familiar voice disturbed his pristine peace, tugging at his sleeves, begging for his attention.
Michael redirected his attention.¡°Oh, it''s you, Edelgart. What a surprise. What are you doing here?¡± Once again, his senses failed to notice her intrusion. Once again, Edelgart and her doll somehow managed to penetrate his defences with the slyness of a stalking kitten. It was as if the girl appeared out of thin air!
¡°Uncle Michael, have you seen Sister Iris?¡± Edelgart asked him.
¡°Oh, her. Well, ...¡± Michael pointed down the floor. ¡°Iris is just down the floor, in the library reading. She told us not to disturb her. She got one of her new manuals ...¡±
And there she was gone. The girl had vanished, ignoring him completely ... Not listening at all.
¡°? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?? ??~.¡± Edelgart bounced away, hopping down the wooden floor with her precious dolls in her arms and the ¨¦lan of a young kitten.
Michael merely shook his head, returning to his blade, to something he understood. Girls and their dolls. As if anyone would ever understand them.
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¡°De Artibus Magicis ac Operis Magorum. Codex Universalis Pyromantiae ... 15
th Edition. Unified Manual of Pyromancy ... Royal Arcadian Society of Magic ...¡± Iris squealed with joy, her vocal cords giggling with the heartfelt enthusiasm of a little girl. Her behaviour might not befit the sacred halls of the library, but Iris didn''t care. De Artibus Magicis ac Operis Magorum ... Codex Universalis Pyromantiae ... The title alone already promised so much fun and delight.
Her arms were hugging, cuddling her most recent addition to her private library in a tight embrace. It was a grimoire of extraordinary knowledge, a heavy tome containing the most recent advances and breakthroughs in the field of magic. The book was hard to come by through conventional means. Especially, for a person of her standing, a mere adventurer and humble mage. And yet she managed to get her hands on a copy of such an illustrious tome. All thanks to some of her old contacts in the church. It cost her more than just a few favours and she had to pull more than a few strings, but in the end, she succeeded and now she was in possession of a codex.
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Iris beamed, a radiant smile gracing her lips. Today was a wonderful day. She couldn''t wait any longer to embark on an intellectual journey into the previously unknown. After all, the art of magic was a craft that demanded continuous improvement and refinement. Spells ... Formulas ... Chants ... Glyphs ... There was always room for improvement in the world of magecraft.
Her hands opened the codex with great care, exploring the first pages of printed paper with almost religious reverence. Her senses relished in the sweet fragrance of paper, seasoned parchment, and fresh ink. ¡°Ah~.¡± It was the perfume of studiosity and youthful nostalgia. The smell of paper reminded her of old times, of simpler times. But bygone times were bygone times, and it was thus now time ... to read ... Or so she thought ...
A poking finger claimed her attention. The sight of a certain familiar doll greeted Iris. And where there was a certain familiar doll, there was also a certain familiar girl never far. The little princess and her doll formed together an inseparable duo.
¡°Ah!¡± Edelgart beamed, her lips belying her mischievous nature. ¡°There you are, Sister Iris~. Found you~. Dolly and I were already searching for you~.¡±
¡°... Oh, really?¡± Iris meanwhile was less amused.
¡°Yes~. It was a long and arduous quest! It took me nearly a quarter of an hour to find you!¡± Edelgart nodded vigorously, proud of her incredible achievement.
¡°...¡± Iris chose not to object despite Edelgart''s slightly peculiar perception of time ...
Edelgart recommenced her efforts, her small hands returning to their incessant poking. ¡°Sister Iris~. Sister Iris~. Sister Iris~. Do you have some time for me?¡± Her lyrical voice was sweet, much too sweet for Iris'' liking.
Iris deployed her usual smile in the that hope her smile would be somehow able to ward off Edelgart off the same way a talisman did a malevolent spirit. Of course, her hopes quickly proved in vain.¡°Well, not exactly ... Listen, Edelgart, today is not a good day ... As you might see, I am currently occupied with my private studies ... So, I have no time to spare ... ... ...¡±
Edelgart hugged her doll tightly, her eyes all tearful. Sadness, disappointment, dejected painted her once cheerful face. ¡°But ... But ... But ...¡±
¡°...¡± Iris steeled her resolve in the face of Edelgart''s pitiful pleas. Otherwise, her studies would never progress. ¡°It''s unfortunate, Edelgart, but I must say no ...¡±
¡°Please~.¡± Edelgart deployed the most effective in her arsenal, her feared kitten eyes. Large, radiant orbs of purple innocence looked at her with a glimmer of childish hope and expectation.
Iris remained strong, though, crossing her arms, averting her eyes. ¡°No.¡±
¡°Pleashe~.¡± Edelgart doubled her efforts, her eyes veritably sparkling.
Iris showed Edelgart the cold shoulder. It hurt, but it was necessary ... ¡°As said, my no remains a no ...
¡°Pweashe~.¡± Her words failed to discourage Edelgart who continued pressing her assault with her doll in her arms ... Her gaze was irresistible ... This was a fight that she had already lost before it even began.
¡°... ... ...¡± Iris sighed in heavy defeat before capitulating. Resistance was futile. What was not meant to be wouldn''t be. Apparently, fate had its own plans. ¡°... I guess that I might have some time for you after all. Tell me, Edelgart, what do you need?¡±
Edelgart beamed overjoyed, obviously pleased with her victory. After all, she got what she wanted. ¡°Not much. Do you remember your promise, Sister Iris?¡±
Iris merely smiled. ¡°Ah, yes, of course ...¡± What promise?
Edelgart nodded. ¡°You promised me that you would teach me magic~. Remember? Back then?¡±
Iris froze in an instant. ¡°Oh ...¡± That promise ... And thus her careless words came back to haunt her. Gone were her hopes that Edelgart had already forgotten about her promise ... Such was obviously not the case. Promises are promises, and much to her dismay, the girl remembered.
Edelgart nodded. ¡°You promised me that you would examine me, and if I showed the necessary attitude ...¡±
¡°Aptitude¡±, Iris injected, yet her correction went unheard.
Edelgart clenched her fists, full of spirit. ¡°... then you would teach me some of your magic~.¡±
Iris offered a wry smile in return. ¡°I guess I did so ...¡±
¡°Right.¡± Edelgart nodded. ¡°Now, here I am~. My doll and me are ready to study the secrets of magic~.¡±
¡°...¡± Iris pinched the bridge of her nose. As if it was that easy ... ¡°Listen, Edelgart, as a matter, I have already gauged your mana pool ...¡±
¡°Oh? Really?¡± Edelgart reacted with surprise.
¡°Yes, and as it turns out your mana reserves are average, at best.¡±
Edelgart pondered her words, thinking. ¡°I guess that means I am going to learn average magic then.¡±
Iris sighed. ¡°You don''t understand, Edelgart. I already told that magic is a rare gift, a privilege of the few. The average mana level is far below the threshold deemed necessary to perform magic ... As things stand now, you will be never able to use magic in your life ...¡±
The gravity of her swords slowly dawned oN edelgart. ¡°Not even a little bit?¡±
Iris shook her head. ¡°Unfortunately, no.¡±
Edelgart lowered her head in disappointment, clouds of depression floating around her. ¡°So you are telling me that I will never be a mage ...¡±
¡°It pains me to say, but very much so ...¡±
Her hopes were crushed. Edelgart''s kitten eyes returned. This time, however, they were close to the point of crying. ¡°I understand ... I guess that I will my leave then ...¡±
¡°... ... ... Wait, Edelgart, don''t leave yet. Wait a moment.¡± Iris sighed. ¡°It has little sense and not that you will need them, but I guess that I can teach you at least the theoretical foundations of magic if you want. It isn''t much, but it something. And you don''t require any mana.¡±
Edelgart gazed at her with saddened eyes. ¡°You would?¡±
Iris nodded, all to cheer up a sad, little girl. ¡°Yes. Wait here for me. I will get the tome and then we can start.¡±
Library
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Arc V Chapter 6
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Arc V Chapter 6
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23
rd Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Hmpf ...¡± Aurora and her doll were sitting on their chair, pouting and grumbling, her arms crossed in rightful and justified indignation and her feet dangling in the air without purpose. She was a little girl, so she had every right in the world to be unreasonable. It was her privilege.
Iris called her mana reserves average! Average!!! AVERAGE!!! Ridiculous! Ludicrous! Laughable! Absurd! Calling her mana reserves average ... Even going as far as to doubt her ability to perform magic! Nonsense! Baloney! Only because she went to such great lengths to suppress her presence and hide her mana pool from the prying eyes of a second rate ... No, third rate ... No, fourth rate mage with delusions of intellectual grandeur!
¡°Hmpf ...¡± Aurora continued pouting, puffing up her cheeks. Never before in her life, she had suffered such an inconceivable humiliation! Never before, she had been subjected to such disparaging and baseless defamation! But fortunately, she was a reasonable human being and willing to overlook Iris'' transgression. After all, her words were not the product of malice, but the result of her excusable ignorance ... It also helped that Iris provided her with a kettle of herbal tea and an exquisite arrangement of biscuits. They lessened the weight of her slight and made the decision to forgive her considerably easier.
¡°Nom ... Nom ... Nom ...¡± Aurora was thus nibbling on her biscuit, with the crumbs of his slain comrades filling her cheeks to the brim. His comrades and he turned out to be very tasty ...
A heavy thump interrupted her thoughts. Iris slammed a thick tome down on the table before her eyes, the weight of paper clashing against the strength of wood.
Aurora and her doll gazed at the tome with curiosity, still nibbling on her biscuit. De origine et principiis artium magicarum. De aethere, elementis et mana ... It was a rather lengthy title for a mere compendium on magic ... ¡°Mwhmat mis mthis, Sister Iris?¡± The crumbs in her mouth rendered her words indistinct.
Iris placed her arm on the tome. ¡°This is a beginner manual, Edelgart. This is your introduction to the magic arts ...¡±
¡°...¡± That made sense ... Aurora continued nibbling on her biscuit. Her biscuit continued being very tasty.
Iris resumed her lecture, ¡°You will read and study the manual under my guidance. I will assist you and explain where necessary.¡±
¡°Oh ...¡± Aurora and her doll tilted their heads, doing the best to feign interest. Her ears didn''t like the sound of the words ¡®read¡¯ and ¡®study¡¯. They both sounded like a lot of work and trouble just for the sake of collecting local information, but her options were sadly limited ... The fickle nature of reincarnation. ¡°So you are my personal tutor, Sister Iris?¡±
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Iris mustered a wry smile. ¡°More or less ... As for you, you can read, can''t you?¡±
Aurora nodded vigorously, her doll in her arms. ¡°A little bit. We studied the letter Z yesterday.¡±
¡°...¡± Iris mustered a heavy sigh. Her exasperation was plainly visible even to the naked eye. She had clearly hoped for more. ¡°I guess ... that is at least something ... Though it seems that teaching you will require a lot of work ...¡±
¡°Understood~.¡± Aurora clenched her fists. ¡°I will give my best~. Promised~.¡±
¡°...¡± Iris merely smiled, her gaze directed at her and her doll. ¡°Time to start the lesson. Let''s start with the basics. Edelgart, tell me, what do you know about magic?¡±
Aurora tilted her head in confusion. ¡°...¡±
¡°What is magic? What does magic mean to you? What do you know about magic?¡±
Aurora was thinking, the gears in her head working hard. ¡°I don''t know ..., so far I have only seen you and the elves in action. You have fire magic. The elves had ice and wind magic. What I know is that you can do sparkly, shiny stuff with magic. Like woosh~. And doosh~. And boom~.¡± Her hands were wildly gesticulating to animate the noises.
Iris chuckled. Her youthful enthusiasm filled Sister Iris with nostalgia. ¡°A simplistic explanation, but more or less correct. Fire, ice, and wind are indeed three of the eight elements of magic.¡±
¡°Anyway, ...¡± Unabated, Iris continued her sermon, her hand firmly placed on the tome. ¡°To understand magic is to understand nature itself. To master magic, you must first master the foundations, Edelgart. Without a suitable foundation, you build your magic on sand, do you understand?¡±
Aurora replied with a nod.
¡°The art of magic is first and foremost a method, a procedure, a technique¡±, Iris resumed her lecturing. ¡°Traditionally and doctrinally, we distinguish between the so called states and phases of magic. Magic consists thus of states. Aether, mana, and phenomenon. And of phases. Accumulation and invocation. The states denote the various stages of magic. Meanwhile, the phases denote the transitions between the different states. Aether is turned into mana. Mana is turned into a phenomenon. As you can see, Edelgart, the art of magic is a not just a mere sleight of hands. It is a well defined sequence of steps. It is the ability to use the energy residing within you to create a phenomenon. You shape reality. You shape the physical plane of existence. That is essentially magic.¡±
¡°Oh ...¡± Aurora and her doll were listening before making a mental note.
¡°Now, the states of magic are aether, mana, and phenomenon. Phenomenon is the end product of magic, its final result. It is the force that is generated by your magic. It is the flame of fire. It is the pillar of ice. It is the gale of wind.¡± Iris summoned a small flame inside the palm of her hand to demonstrate her point. ¡°Aether and mana on the other hand are more complex concepts. In fact, aether and mana are closely related. They are both forms of energy, yet they are different. Edelgart, do you know what is the crucial difference between aether and mana?¡±
Aurora shook her head. ¡°...¡± Aurora little girl. Little girls not knowing magic.
¡°Aether is in essence external, meanwhile mana is by nature internal.¡±
¡°...¡± A pair of question marks were floating over Aurora''s head, her eyes blinking rapidly.
Iris returned to her explanation, ¡°Aether is not only the most basic, but also the most ubiquitous form of magic energy. Aether is generally chaotic and volatile. It is diffused and diluted. Aether possesses the weakest presence among the three stages of magic, to the point that aether is hardly visible, yet it is the energy that surrounds us all. Aether is in the air, in the water, in the earth, in the plants and trees. Aether is everywhere and in everyone. This is the reason why we consider aether the energy of nature. It is the energy of the planet itself. Mana by contrast is a more refined form of energy. Mana is controlled. Mana is concentrated. Mana is strong. Mana possesses a far stronger presence than aether ever could. It is a more compact version of aether. It is our souls that gather, or rather accumulate, the surrounding aether and turn it into mana.
Our souls serve as conductors to transform the aether within us into mana. This is why there is mana inside all of us. We all possess traces of mana, although the strength of our mana might differ. Mana is thus not the energy of nature, but rather the energy of man. It is an energy that is born from our souls, from the sentience and sapience of man. Nevertheless, the border between aether and mana is often times fleeting. It is often hard to tell where aether ends and mana begins. Especially, when it comes to beasts, spirits and demons. Are they using aether or mana? Do they have souls, or not? Because in the end, mana and aether are closely related. Strength and concentration aside, they are essentially one and the same, which explains why mana regeneration increases or why spells are more powerful in aether rich environments. The more aether there is, the stronger your magic grows. Do you understand, Edelgart?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Fresh acolyte and attentive student in one, Aurora and her doll merely nodded. Iris was tossing a lot of technical and magic jargon at her. Hardly much of a challenge for a keen intellect of her proportions ... And yet her head was veritably spinning in the face of such an onslaught of information ...
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Arc V Chapter 7
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Arc V Chapter 7
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23
rd Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Iris raised her index finger, completely immersed in her lecturing mode. A gentle smile adorned her lips. ¡°Anyway, do you have any questions so far, Edelgart? Or should we call it already a day for today? All this talk about magic might be a bit too much for someone uninitiated such as you.¡± It was obvious that Iris was trying to divert her attention and postpone their lessons to another day after frustrating her with an endless flood of information, but Aurora wouldn''t submit so easily. She would persevere and stand her ground.
Aurora and her doll raised their tiny hands, eager to prove her participation and enthusiasm. Now she had to quickly come up with some convincing questions ... The lessons were drier than desert sand, yet they were necessary. Fortunately for her, the workings of magic exuded an air of familiarity. Names and terminology differed, yet the overall structure remained the same. Aether. Accumulation. Mana. Invocation. Phenomenon. It was a breath of juvenile nostalgia. The lessons reminded her of her own past, of older days, of simpler days.
Iris beamed at her. ¡°Yes, Edelgart?¡±
Aurora asked her question, cradling her doll, ¡°Sister Iris, so if I understand correctly, then aether and mana are more or less the same?¡±
Iris nodded. ¡°Correct. They are essentially two sides of the same side.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora had gathered as much. ¡°Aether is around us, meanwhile mana is inside us.¡±
¡°Yes, more or less.¡±
¡°But if mana is inside us all, where is it? How does it enter our soul?¡±
¡°That is ... an ... excellent ... question, Edelgart.¡± Her query pleased Iris.
Aurora and her doll raised their eyebrows. Really... Was it?
Iris took a deep breath. ¡°You see, the process of accumulation is a bit of a complex matter. As you know, it marks the transition from aether to mana. Our soul attracts the surrounding aether and turns it into mana. That much is clear. These are the basic principles. But how? How does it work exactly? The idea is that every living being is born with a so called soul. It is unique to sentient beings. The soul describes an abstract, metaphysical force within us. It is in a certain sense the inner force of our existence.
Some scholars argue that the soul is merely a subtype of magic. Others argue that it is a product of our will. The church says that it is a fragment of our innate divinity. In the end, it doesn''t matter. Whether it is a magic force or something else, the point remains, the soul is there, and that is what matters. Our soul is what enables us to perform magic. It serves as the conduit between aether and mana. It is also the catalyst between mana and phenomenon. The soul is thus essential. It plays a crucial role in all stages of magic.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded. Iris made her point clear. Soul. Important.
¡°We are all born with a soul. Nevertheless, not all souls are born equal. Quite the contrary, in fact. Some souls are weaker than others. Some souls are stronger than others. And some souls are considerably stronger than others. They burn brightly like a beacon in the darkness of the void. It is the strength of our soul that grants us mages the gift of magic. The soul waxes and wanes as we age, but its fundamental strength remains predetermined by our lineage and our blood. It is a fate we cannot change.
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Now, every soul attracts aether by nature, but all to a different degree. Weaker souls less. Stronger souls more. The stronger the soul, the stronger the pressure it exerts on our surroundings and the higher also its capacity. The stronger the soul, the more aether it attracts, the more aether it can process, the more mana it can ¡®store¡¯. Your soul serves in a certain sense also as a container. It fills up with mana until your soul reaches its maximum. Every soul can only hold so much. Any aether that goes beyond this threshold cannot and will not be processed. Does this answer your question?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora and her doll merely nodded. It did. Extensively and more than sufficiently.
Iris clapped her hands together. ¡°Wonderful. Then let us proceed to the next stage, the invocatio, better known as the invocation. The invocation is the second phase of magic and the intermediate stage between what mana and phenomenon. It is when magic energy in its abstract form, mana, transitions to magic force in its concrete form, the phenomenon, the final product of magic.¡±
Iris closed her eyes, focusing on the palm of her hand. Aurora and her doll observed her actions closely. A scarlet red aura manifested. Traces of mana were fluctuating through the air. ¡°We mages gather our mana. We draw forth the energy within us, and through the strength of our soul, through the strength of our will, we guide, we direct our mana to manipulate reality. This is the invocatio. This is when the incorporeal mana enters the physical realm. Our magic thus produces a tangible physical force, a phenomenon, something that is, something that exists.¡± Her words followed action. A tiny flame sprang forth from the palm of her hand. The flame glimmered in the room, yet there was no doubt, this was a display of genuine magic.
Iris beamed, proud of her achievement. ¡°This is what we call magic, Edelgart, but this is also where we must distinguish.¡± Her palm closed and from one moment to the next, her flame was snuffed out. What once was, was no more.
¡°...¡± Aurora tilted her head in confusion.
Iris smiled. ¡°You see, there isn''t only magic. Well, there is, but we traditionally distinguish between two main types of magic, magic and aura, ignoring for the moment various subtypes such as enchantment, seals, etc.
From a purely structural point of view, they are quite similar. Both magic and aura rely on accumulation, invocation, and phenomenon. They work and behave the same way, but what makes them different is their invocation, the required skill set, and their application.
The use of magic is external, meanwhile the use of aura is internal. Magic has a strong metaphysical component, meanwhile aura has a strongly pronounced physical component. Magic projects the phenomenon onto the outside world, whereas aura projects the phenomenon inside yourself. Or to make things simple, aura is what we call in practical terms body augmentation. Aura is an ability that allows the user to enhance your physical attributes through the use of mana. Mana strengthens and reinforces the body of the user of aura far beyond its natural limits.
It is the reason why aura, rather than magic, is such a prized ability among soldiers, mercenaries, knights, and adventurers. They tend to prefer aura over magic, because aura allows them to fight faster, stronger, longer, and harder. Aura increases strength, speed, stamina, and resilience. Not to mention, aura is far easier to use in a certain sense, and far more common.
Aura has a less complex invocation due to the fact that aura takes place within your body, where the force of your soul is the strongest and the boundaries of reality are the weakest. It is far harder, meanwhile, to impose your will on the outside world. As a consequence, the use of aura is more direct, more instinctual, characterised by a strong physical component, to the point that it is not rare for people to use aura subconsciously. They use mana without even knowing, albeit typically on a rather limited level, but still, they use aura. Because the threshold is lower, which is ultimately the reason why aura is quite common even among the general population, even among commoners. Lambert, for example, is able to use aura to a certain degree. So are Rudolf and Michael. They all are able to use aura.
Unlike magic, aura doesn''t belong to the nobility alone, although the strength of our aura is obviously in no way comparable to theirs.
The ability to use magic is, on the other hand, much rarer and much, much, much more complicated. The invocation of magic requires a very different skill set, and takes significantly more effort. This is why magic needs to be studied and mastered. Magic requires training and practice. Magic requires time and patience, no matter your blood, no matter your lineage, no matter your talent, no matter the strength of your soul. This is where spells and spellcrafting come in. The art of spellcrafting is crucial to magic. Especially, when it comes to higher and more advanced forms of magic. You were watching me when I summoned my flame, right?¡±
Aurora nodded. ¡°I was.¡±
¡°Good. Then you probably noticed that I didn''t use any chant or magic circles, didn''t you?¡±
¡°You didn''t?¡± Aurora feigned ignorance.
¡°I didn''t. You see, in order to perform magic, your mind must stay sharp and focused. Your mind is not allowed to waver, otherwise your invocation will fail, and your gathered mana will disintegrate and return to your soul. Fortunately, creating a flame is probably the most basic fire spell. It is an easy spell. It is a beginner spell. So the invocation doesn''t require much thought or preparation. A mere thought suffices for an experience mage to perform such a spell with.¡± Iris resummoned her flame in the blink of an eye. Her flame reappeared.
¡°It is not much of a challenge. However, this is not the case for higher magic. The stronger and more potent your magic, the more difficult the spell, the more focus you require, the slimmer the margin of error.
Eventually, the point will come where our talent will fail, and our magic will begin to struggle. This is where spells are needed. The art of spellcrafting teaches us about how to use a spell, how to perform a spell, and how to construct a spell. The spell helps us to focus. The spell helps us to gather mana. The spell helps us to guide our mana. The spell helps us to efficiently generate force. This what makes spells such an essential tool.¡±
¡°... ... ... ¡± Aurora turned to her doll, looking for help. Iris''s lectures turned out to be a tad more informative than she had expected to get herself into. Perhaps too informative. And worst of all, her lectures showed no signs of stopping ... Quite the contrary ... The spirits that she called. Now her commands they ignore. How fitting ...¡°... ... ... ¡±
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Arc V Chapter 8
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23
rd Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Iris resumed her discourse, unabated and unimpeded in her chosen course, driven forward by her unstoppable impetus and patent resolve now. One thing was clear, her lesson would continue for better or for worse, even if it was the last thing she did ...
¡°...¡± Aurora merely mustered a wry smile in response, unable to tell whether it was a good thing or not, but oh well ... There was not much she could do ... She was only fortunate that much to her delight and much to her considerable relief, the laws and mechanics of magic were apparently cross dimensional in nature.
Based on her memories and judging by Iris'' cursory explanations, it seemed that magic was an immutable constant beyond time and space. Minor terminological differences aside, the magic of this world resembled hers to an uncanny degree that defied any chance of mere coincidence, which was only logical the more she thought about it. Just as the laws of nature retained their firm on reality, so too the laws of magic remained unaltered despite her reincarnation.
A fact that she clearly approved of, besides the scientific and rational approach to the art of magic. This world possessed a firm of magic, both in theory and its application. They had a model ... They had a system ... They had a set of rules and principles ... They had a foundation ... Magic was not just some vague, ill defined force devoid of thought or analysis.
The magic of this world was not the product of backward superstitions and wilful ignorance, of chance and luck. Instead, this world displayed a proper understanding of magic instead. This was a world so very much like her own from a few centuries ago, a world only separated by the level of technological progress ... It would make many things much easier for her and make it easier for her to assimilate.
Iris raised her index finger. ¡°Now, listen well, Edelgart.¡±
Aurora and her doll nodded, clenching their tiny fists. ¡°I am listening.¡± They both genuinely were. Partially, at least.
Iris smiled at her. ¡°As I have already said, the spell is a mage''s friend, Edelgart, and there are three possible ways, three basic methods to perform a spell. There is the incantatio, the incantation, or more commonly known as chant. There are the so called signa, the signs or glyphs. And there are the auxilia, the auxiliaries.
These three methods provide the structure for every spell, and you can combine them between each other. You can use an incantation and signs. You can use signs and auxiliaries. You can use auxiliaries and incantations. You can use incantations, signs, and auxiliaries all together. In fact, you are strongly encouraged to do so for various reasons. Granted, most of the time, one or two methods are enough to perform the spell in question ... Heck, strictly and theoretically speaking, you require no method or spell at all for a functioning invocation, but ... the reality is different. You will need them. Otherwise, however, you are free to choose the method of your liking.
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Some mages prefer incantations as their main means of their spellcrafting. Other mages favour the use of signa for their spells. And others place a stronger emphasis on their auxiliaries, so it is not a clear cut matter of what way you should use and which not. In the end, it comes down mostly to personal preference. You use the methods you are most comfortable with. Do you understand?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora and her doll nodded. Her explanations made sense. Her expositions aligned with her personal knowledge and the knowledge of her predecessor, which lent her words credence. Some practitioners relied more on their voice, others more on the structure of their glyphs. All in all, it was an overall sound introduction to the world of spellcrafting.
Iris continued, gesticulating in the process. Her raised index finger was her trademark. ¡°Now, time for a quick run down, although we won''t go too much into detail as incantations, signa, and auxilia. They are essentially all delicate sciences on their own, well beyond the practical scope of this lesson.
However, let''s start with the incantation or chant. It is not much of a secret that there lies power, ancient power, in the use of words. Whether it is the use of words themselves that grant us their power or rather the other way around, as the majority of scholars suggest, doesn''t really matter ... The point remains, the use of chants has accompanied mankind since the earliest dawn of magic, and they are probably the oldest method of spellcrafting, and yet they have retained their prominent role ever since. In any case, a chant is a versatile and effective tool due to their evocative nature, ranging from a single word, to a simple phrase, to lengthy incantation, to complex formulas. Through the use of words, we gather and mobilise our mana.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora and her doll processed their new information. Her suspicions were confirmed, their incantations were not merely decorations for the sake of aesthetics. They served a sensible purpose beyond their silly nature.
¡°Signa, by contrast, are a younger invention, dating back at least to the time of the Age of Light and the first golden age of magic, thus preceding the events of the Weltenbrand. As far as we know, signa were first conceived and used by the ancient mages of old. It is true that the names of their creators might be now long lost to the sands of history, but the spirit of their creations live on to this day, as does the language of the Ancients. They both survived the centuries and remain the foundation of magic, accompanying ever since.¡± Iris'' hand reached for the cover of the so far neglected tome.
Aurora''s gaze followed her motion. De origine et principiis artium magicarum. De aethere, elementis et mana ... The title appeared suddenly in a much different light. It was certainly not written in Arcadian ... That much was plainly obvious ...
¡°Compared to chants, signs are a less flexible and more technical instrument. Their rigidity makes them harder to master and less forgiving when it comes to their execution, but what signa lack in flexibility and ease of use, they easily compensate for with their potency. Whether incorporeal, based on mana, or corporeal, using a physical medium, signs remain the most effective way to contain and control vast quantities of mana. Their geometric patterns and lines allow us to perform magic we once thought impossible.¡± Iris opened her palm. A small magic circle manifested, her mana creating a vibrant carmine red. ¡°This is a signum. This is what we commonly call a magic circle.¡± Her palm closed, and her circle faded again.
¡°Auxilia meanwhile fulfil mostly a complementary role. They improve your channelling. To the point that some scholars consider them a part of spellcrafting. And some do not. Personally, I do, but that is a completely different discussion between dualistic and trinitary schools of magic.
Traditionally, auxilia consists of classical accessories, such as staffs and grimoires, charms and amulets, magic bracelets and chokers, rings and earrings. They are made from classical mana conductive materials with enhancing properties, such as pure silver, gold, platinum, mythril, or orichalcum, which makes them generally rather expensive acquisitions for the common non noble mage.¡± Iris mustered an uneasy, self deprecating smile, a testament to her existing financial constraints.
¡°...¡± Aurora merely smiled in response, radiating an aura of innocence. As it turned out, accessories and jewellery were more than just mere trinkets. They were useful trinkets!
Iris resorted to her usual smile. ¡°Anyway, I think we can call it a day for today. I hope you found my short introduction into the world of magic useful.¡±
Aurora nodded, clutching onto her loyal doll. ¡°I did~. Your explanations were very helpful, Sister Iris~.¡±
¡°Wonderful~. Then it''s time to ... No! No! Wait! Wait a moment! Wait! We forgot something. Silly me, we forgot something very important.¡± Iris raised her index finger.
Aurora meanwhile tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Did we?¡±
¡°Yes, we did!¡± Her hand rested on the weighty tome that she had procured. ¡°There is a reason that I was searching for this manual. Now watch and learn.¡±
The tome opened to reveal its secrets. Her fingers were running through the decrepit pages before suddenly stopping. ¡°Here it is. Take a look, Edelgart.¡±
Aurora turned her gaze at the tome. It was an illustration that greeted her. ¡°What is this, Sister Iris?¡±
Elemental Chart
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Arc V Chapter 9
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Arc V Chapter 9
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rd Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Iris raised her voice, ¡°This ... This is an elemental chart.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Aurora marvelled at the illustration in question. Apparently it was an elemental chart, which in retrospect seemed fairly obvious, considering its title and the conspicuous arrangement of circles. Elementa magica ... the chart was named ... An elemental circle and the corresponding denomination of the element adorned each corner. The clues were thus there ... No need to consult her doll for further advice.
Iris reclaimed the words, ¡°Now, Edelgart, tell me, do you know how many elements there are~?¡±
¡°Yes~. Yes, I do~. I know the answer~.¡± Little Aurora jumped up, raising and waving her tiny hand in the pursuit of attention, putting her actorial skills once again to good use. The message was clear, notice me.
Her words elicited a soft chuckle. Her overly childish reaction amused Iris. ¡°Oh, you do? How curious~. Then tell me, Edelgart, how many elements are there~? I am listening~.¡±
Aurora''s chest swelled with immense pride, her chin high. Her question sounded like a trick question, which it was. There were six elemental circles, yet there were eight elements ... Once again, her experience as well as her empirical knowledge served her well. ¡°There are eight~! There are eight magic elements, right?¡±
Iris raised her index finger, overjoyed. ¡°That is ... correct ... There are indeed eight elements in total. Do you also know all of them, Edelgart?¡±
¡°Yes, of course~.¡± Aurora and her doll nodded in a sage manner. Their correctness was only to be expected. Her fingers started counting, one by one. ¡°There is wind~.¡± One.
¡°Yes.¡±
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¡°Fire.¡± Two. And the bestest of all elements, for obvious reasons.
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°Water.¡± Three.
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Ice.¡± Four.
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°Earth.¡± Five.
¡°...¡± Iris nodded.
¡°And last but not least, there is lightning. And of course, light and darkness~.¡± Six, seven, and eight.
¡°Splendid work, Edelgart~. That''s all eight of them! All eight elements of nature. You have got them all correct.¡± Iris applauded, her clapping hands congratulating little Aurora her most recent glorious exploit. She even went as far as to reward her and her doll for their efforts with gentle headpat. Iris'' tender hand was caressing her lustrous, black hair, much to Aurora''s unspoken satisfaction. Her headpat was welcomed and appreciated.
Iris resumed her discourse, ¡°Anyway, now, why do the elements matter? Why are the elements relevant to the use of magic? The answer is simple, aether and mana.¡±
¡°Hmm ... ¡± Aurora and her doll mustered their cutest head tilt.
¡°As we have already discussed extensively before, Edelgart, aether and mana are two different states of the same type of energy, two sides of the same coin. Meanwhile, aether is ...¡± Iris threw her a probing look, hoping for her to fill the gap. Expectations were resting on her tiny shoulders as Iris was testing her knowledge.
Aurora clenched her fists, eager to oblige. Ever the dutiful student, she would not disappoint her master and teacher. ¡°... external ...¡±
¡°... , mana is ...¡±
¡°... internal ...¡±
Her answer visibly satisfied Iris. ¡°Commendable, you were paying attention, Edelgart. You are correct, aether is external, whereas mana is internal. Now, the point is that aether does not equal aether, and mana does not equal mana. Not every type of aether, nor every type of mana is created equally.There are differences, and that is where the elements come into play.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora tilted her head in childish innocence. ¡°What do you mean~?¡± It was more of a rhetorical question from her part, rather than a genuine one.
Iris beamed, a secretive smile masking her thoughts. ¡°You will see~. Technically speaking, the elements represent a subdivision of the magic states. Neither aether, nor mana are monolithic, homogeneous forms of energy. Instead, they have different types of aether and mana.
These types all possess what we normally define as an elemental alignment. Unaligned aether aside, every type of aether as well as mana exhibits an elemental alignment, which means they are by nature intrinsically aligned to a specific element. There is, for example, wind aether. There is fire aether. There is lightning aether. There is water aether, and so forth. The elements are thus an integral part of the magic world. They are inseparable from aether and mana.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded. So far so good. Her explanations were ... informative ...
¡°When it comes to the elements, we traditionally distinguish between two types of elements, the so called six classical elements, the elementa classica, and the so called aspecting elements, or aspects, the elementa aspicientia. Together, they form the eight elements of nature.
On one side, we thus have the classical elements. Anima. Wind. Ignis. Fire. Aqua. Water. Glacia. Ice. Terra. Earth. Fulmen. Lightning. On the other side, we have the aspecting elements. Lux. Light. Umbra. Darkness.
The reason for this distinction is the peculiar nature of the aspecting elements when it comes to aether and mana. Light and darkness are considered elements according to doctrine, yet they rarely behave like elements. Both, the classical elements and the aspecting elements, commonly occur in nature in the form of aether, obviously always with certain differences in terms of strength and quantity.
As obvious as it might sound, if it is cold, there is a higher concentration of ice aether. If it is warm, then there is a higher concentration of fire aether. If there is a source of water, then there is more water aether. If there are rocks and stones, then there is more earth aether. The higher the sun and the longer the day, the stronger the light. The brighter the moon and the longer the night, the stronger the darkness. The elements wax and wane with the course of nature.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 10
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rd Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Now, what makes the aspecting elements special is their reactivity. Whereas the classical elements avoid each other and usually don''t interact, light and darkness do interact and react. Quite easily if I might add, which is the reason why you will rarely encounter light and dark aether in their pure form. Light and darkness bond. They join. They combine. Never with each other due to the antagonistic nature of the aspecting elements, but with the six classical elements. This is why we also call them aspects. Light and darkness grant their associated elements either a luminal, or an umbral aspect, transforming them into aspected elements, or elementa aspecta, such as luminal fire and umbral fire, luminal lightning and umbral lightning, etc.
This dualism between classical and aspecting elements translates, of course, also to the realm of mana, or rather to our souls. As we know, we are all born with a soul. Some souls are stronger. Some souls are weaker. Yet they all possess what we call an affinity. We are born with it. It is in our blood. Just as every type of aether possesses an elemental alignment, so do our souls. Our souls are naturally drawn to a certain element, to one aspecting element, and to one classical element. Together, these two elements form our elemental affinity and establish the elemental nature of our magic. Your affinity irrevocably determines which elements you are able to use, and which not. There are cases of elemental affinities with three, or even four elements, but such cases are mostly theoretical rather than practical ¡
As you might have already realised, Edelgart, my affinity is fire and light, or, in short, luminal fire, which means that my mana consists of fire and light.¡± Iris beamed, a smile gracing her lips. It was a sight to behold. She was the image of a proud woman, proud of her achievements and accomplishments in life, proud of her mastery of magic. Yet her pride lacked the arrogance so common among those ordained of higher birth. It won her respect.
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Aurora and her doll raised their hands, begging for attention. ¡°And what about me? What affinity do I have?¡±
Iris chuckled, visibly amused. ¡°Hehehe, as far as I can tell yours should be umbral fire, or fire and darkness.¡±
¡°Oh ...¡± Aurora marvelled long and loud. ¡°So that means that I am a fire mage too ... But I am darkness ... Sister Iris, doesn''t that make us opposites?¡± Her best impression of genuine sadness clouded her face. She was a sad little girl.
Iris, however, was quick to placate her and dispel her worries. ¡°In a certain sense, ... yes, we are on the opposite ends of the aspecting spectrum, yet it doesn''t matter ....¡±
Aurora tilted her head. ¡°How so? Aren''t light and darkness opposites?¡±
¡°You see, technically speaking, yes ... Practically speaking, no ... It is true that light and darkness are regarded as antagonistic elements, but in practice the differences are marginal at best. Light is said to be the more beginner friendly element, whereas darkness is said to be more challenging due to the more unrestrained nature of its power, but otherwise ...
Some claim that darkness is the nobler element of the two because it is less common, which is true, and the household element of many ancient noble families, which is also true, such as, for example, the House von Schwarz. They are famed for their mastery of fire and darkness. Personally, however, I think that the argument doesn''t hold up to closer scrutiny considering that the royal family itself is luminal fire ... Others claim that darkness is somehow related to evil, but that is just woeful superstition. Although, the Church of Darkness and their rather supremacist doctrine compared to the Church of Light don''t exactly help to dispel this image, but that is a completely different discussion. Anyway, do you have any further questions, Edelgart?¡±
Aurora shook her head. ¡°None whatsoever.¡± It was probably better to leave before getting accidentally drawn into a lengthy ecumenical and ecclesiastical discourse about the theological stances of the Church of Darkness and the Church of Light. That sounded like something that she should better avoid if possible.
¡°Wonderful. Then I will let you go for today. I hope that my explanations were helpful ... No, wait, Edelgart ... I still have something for you~.¡± Iris started rummaging through her satchel, clearly searching for something. For what Aurora didn''t know. ¡°Ah, yes, there it is.¡±
Her hands produced what looked like some kind of crystal. It was a white, transparent hexagonal crystal. Aurora gazed at the mysterious item with a mixture of perplexity and confusion. ¡°What is this?¡±
Iris merely smiled. ¡°This is a gift. It is for you ~. Take it~.¡±
Aurora took the crystal, albeit cautiously. The crystal was her size, fitting perfectly into her hand. ¡°...¡±
¡°This is an Auracite. It is a rare unaspected mineral and crystal. I received it when I was younger and entered the church. It is an old custom among mages to bestow a piece of Auracite upon a fledgling acolyte. We use them to train and practise our mana because of their manaconductive properties, but I don''t need it any more these days, so I give it to you. You can keep it. You need it more than me.¡±
¡°Really? I can keep it?¡± Aurora threw a questioning gaze at Iris.
¡°Yes, really.¡± Iris beamed, a radiant smile was her answer.
¡°Thank you, very much, Sister Iris~. I will cherish it.¡± Aurora and her doll shared their happiness about their most recent acquisition. A piece of Auracite was acquired! Now officially added to her inventory!
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Arc V Chapter 11
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Arc V Chapter 11
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25
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Her steps short and her feet light, Aurora was bouncing through the cobbled streets and winding alleys of Freyburg in the company of her doll, hopping up and down the busy streets like a joyous bunny and fast like a playful kitten, much to the visible bewilderment of passing gents and baffled spectators. A little girl with a doll must have been a curious sight indeed, contrasting the grey reality of everyday life.
She was a little girl on a journey! A little girl on a mission! Intrepid and dauntless, all on her own, with her precious doll in her arms, with her sturdy leather satchel around her hips, armed with a formidable stiletto.
Her journey led her north, past shops and vendors, across a venerable stone bridge, across the streaming river Frey, into the main mercantile district. Her destination were the bustling merchant quarters of Freyburg as it was time to liquefy her certainly not plundered and certainly not clandestinely acquired Valentian assets and finally put them to good use! Such measures were long overdue. Her war chest and her financial reserves must be strengthened with valid, contemporary currency. It was true that she was in possession of an appreciable quantity of gold and silver, yet the unusual provenance and properties of her coins would arouse suspicion ... They were ancient ... They were larger ... They had a higher precious metal content ... They were not an ideal legal tender in more way than one. Nor her satchel, nor was her pillow an ideal hiding place. Quite the contrary. It was a miracle that Iris had not yet stumbled across her undeclared possessions. Her goal was thus to convert her coins and procure usable currency for future undertakings.
Aurora and her doll proceeded as planned, scouting for a suitable place to exchange her metals. The merchant quarters were her first choice, which was only logical. It was where the money is. And where the money is, there is always an insatiable hunger for gold and silver. Hopefully! Luckily, fortune was on her side today and her eyes were quick to spot a conspicuous auspicious wooden sign, ¡®Gregor''s antiques and antiquities. Occidentalia, Orientalia, and Exotica.¡¯
¡°Oh ...¡± The sign roused her business instincts. The black letters sounded promising ... Very promising ... An antique and antiquity shop ... That seemed like the right address, like just what she needed.
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It was a Monday. A Monday like so many others. The first day of a new week and the de facto last day of a successful and highly profitable previous week. Gregor was counting his earnings, sorting and writing down gold, silver, bronze, and copper coins accordingly. Proper accounting was after all an essential component of business management. He and his family called a modest yet profitable business their own. For generations, from the time of his father, his father''s father, his father''s father''s father, and his father''s father''s father''s father, they were dabbling in the trade of antiques and antiquities, dealing with nobility, wealthy merchants, and patricians alike.
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Their humble shop offered everything. Ranging from more common occidentalia, to luxurious orientalia, to rare and precious exotica. They had everything. At least, he claimed so for business purposes. Vittorian cerulean glass fresh from the lagoon and Leithian lenses and optical apparati. Polished Livonian amber and Norgardian silverware. Ancient Archaian grimoires and tomes. Novrhelian matryoskas and other memorabilia. And more. From the far east, precious gemstones, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, lapislazuli from the highest mountains. Pearls and corals from distant shores. Soft fabrics and silk, elegant porcelain and jade from the fabled Empire of the Middle. Even strange armour, weaponry, and curious clothing from a far distant land named Zipangu found their way somehow into his hands.
It was a serene and peaceful existence, yet there was one bane to his existence, children. They were little diabolic creatures, unsophisticated Pygmies without even the slightest sense for beauty or elegance, harbourers of wanton destruction and chaos. They were a continuous threat to his antiques and antiquities. Constantly, running around in his shop and having their hands everywhere. Just last week, some spoiled brat of some pompous moneybag was responsible for destroying an imperial porcelain vase. The thing cost a fortune! Of course, he was duly compensated for his tragic loss, but still ... The loss of art and culture weighs heavily on his heart ... Speaking of which ...
The door of his shop opened, and the bells rang, announcing the arrival of a new potential customer and client. It was a girl ... with a doll in her arms ... In short, a child. Another clumsy town child touching and fumbling his wares out of curiosity!
Gregor''s mood worsened, and his eyes narrowed, glaring at the girl in question. The girl hugged her doll, adopting a defensive posture. ¡°What are you doing here? This isn''t a playground. So get out of here, lass! I don''t have time for you and your like.¡±
¡°But ... But ... But ...¡± The girl crossed her arms, hugging her dolls ever tighter.
¡°No buts. Get out of here, lass. I don''t want you here¡±, Gregor countered, his tone betraying his annoyance.
¡°...¡± Yet the girl remained unfazed. Her heart stood strong and a pair of large, heartfelt kitten eyes greeted him, staring back at him. ¡°Pleashe ...¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Pweashe~ ...¡± The girl reinforced her desperate pleas. Cuteness met sturbboness.
¡°...¡± Gregor gritted his teeth, sighing. ¡°Well, I guess that I can make an ... exception for you ... You can stay. For the time being. But don''t even think about touching anything, lass. The things here are antique, frail, and most importantly, expensive. I am watching you, do you understand?¡± His hand made the according gesture. He was watching her. His scrutinising gaze was following her. Always and everywhere. He was serious.
¡°I do.¡± The girl nodded, a bright beam adorning her lips.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Gregor narrowed his eyes. He still distrusted the girl. Her presence was suspicious ... ¡°As said, I will watch you.¡±
The girl started moving, wandering around. He followed her closely. Where would her path of destruction lead her?
The girl halted and paused before turning around. For a moment, the girl seemed lost, but not for long. ¡°... I presume you possess a numismatic cabinet, don''t you? Where is it?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± His eyes blinked. Gregor didn''t believe his ears. He didn''t hear right, did he? ¡°Did you just say ... ¡®numismatic cabinet¡¯?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± The girl beamed, all radiant sunshine and innocence. ¡°What so strange about numismatics? Isn''t this an antique and antiquity shop?¡±
¡°Nothing ... I was merely ... surprised ...¡± His eyes studied the girl once again from head to toe, forced to sharply reevaluate her. A single word sufficed. He had misjudged her. Her attire suggested that she was a simple adventurer, but her countenance ... The way she stood ... The way she carried herself behind the fa?ade of her smile. The girl was strange ... The girl was different ... ¡°Please follow me. I will show you the cabinet.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 12
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Arc V Chapter 12
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25
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Gregor gestured, his hand showing the way into the back of his modest shop. Close behind, the girl and her doll were following him. Their path led them to a large wooden cabinet, a cabinet imbued with the red tinted hue of cherry wood and decorated with carvings and sculptures. The cabinet boasted of countless drawers for a singular purpose, to store a plentitude of coins inside. The piece of furniture harboured coins of different provenance, coins young and old, coins from far and close, all neatly catalogued, indexed, and sorted accordingly. ¡°There it is, the coin cabinet. Is there any other way I can help you? Do you have perchance any specific coin in mind you are searching for?¡±
The girl tilted her head, her right hand caressing her lips. Her deep purple eyes were giving him a questioning look. ¡°Potentially, but first thing first ... I am curious, which coins do you offer?¡±
¡°...¡± Gregor merely raised an eyebrow, hiding his surprise. Contrary to his initial beliefs, the girl turned out to be a surprisingly tricky customer for her age ... Even now, she maintained her guard ... ¡°Well, ... we do have the majority of staple classics, more extravagant wishes aside ... We have a wide variety of coins, from north and south, from east and west, ranging from the end of the Archaic Age upwards ... Some of the oldest coins date back to about 500 to 600 years ... We have ...¡±
His hand reached for the first drawer, producing an arrangement of gold and silver coins protected by a plate of glass. ¡°We have Nowhrelian imperials and silver roubles ... We have Ruthenian koronas and taler ... We have Livonian gulden and taler ...¡±
The next drawer followed. ¡°We have Norgardian kronen and taler ... We have Alfreikian reiksmark and reikstaler ...¡±
Another drawer. ¡°Then we have the eternally feuding Etrurian city states. We have Vittorian, Milanese, Genovese, and Capuan ducats. We have Etrurian, Sienese, Pisan florins.¡±
And another drawer. ¡°Furthermore, we have Aquitanian florins. Flemish gulden. Albian pounds. Asturian and Aragonese escudos. Lusitanian reales ... We have them all ...¡±
And the last drawer. ¡°And last but not least, we even have Archean coins. We offer Archean gold stater and silver drachmas. So tell me, what does your heart desire?¡±
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¡°Hmm ...¡± Once again, the girl tilted her head, considering her options. Once again her gesture aroused Gregor''s unwanted attention ... There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind ... This kind of mannerism was ... highly unusual for a girl of her age ... ¡°I have a question.¡±
Gregor furrowed an eyebrow. ¡°A question ...? I am listening.¡±
The girl beamed, deploying an innocent smile. ¡°Do you have perchance also Valentian coins?¡±
¡°Valentian coins? Of course. Of course. Wait a moment, they should be somewhere down here ... Ah, yes, there they are.¡± His hand opened the bottommost drawer. A series of precious gold and silver coins greeted them. ¡°Voil¨¤, our collection of Valentian coins.¡±
The girl studied the coins, her purple eyes flickering between them. ¡°Are these all you have?¡±
Gregor straightened his back, clearing his throat. ¡°Not all, but they are the majority. We have here Valentian gold aurei as well as silver denarii starting from the late Age of Light to the end of the Age of Strife before the Weltenbrand. They are at least about 1 000 to 1 250 years old.¡±
The girl was stroking her chin, plotting together with her doll. ¡°Hmm ... 1 250 years ... That is a long time ...¡±
¡°It is. These coins are not just antiques. They are in fact antiquities.¡±
Her pondering self returned. ¡°Hmm ... And how much do they cost?¡±
A secretive grin formed on Gregor''s lips. There it was ... This was the question that he had waited for. ¡°That depends entirely on the coin in question. It depends on factors such as the fineness of the coin, the condition of the coin, the rarity of the coin, and of course market demand. The more a coin is sought after, the higher the price. Early silver denarii from the Age of Light are rarer and therefore priced higher. Meanwhile, late silver denarii from the Age of Strife are priced lower. They are far more common. You still find them from time to time in the ruins of Valentia. Unfortunately, late denarii already suffer from a strong case of coin debasement. Their silver content is far lower than that of their predecessors. The later the coins, the worse it gets. Less and less silver. More and more copper and lead. The same is true for the gold aurei, which of course influences their price.¡±
¡°I guess ... that makes sense ...¡± The girl was scrutinising each coin, as if her eyes were searching for a certain coin ... Suddenly, her fingers touched the glass, pointing at a denarius that caught her attention. ¡°This one ... How much does it cost?¡±
Gregor leaned closer, examining the coin beneath the glass. ¡°This is a late denarius ... It was minted under the reign of King Theodoric VII towards the end of the Age of Strife and before the fall of the Kingdom of Valentia ... In fact, these coins are quite special as they possess a relatively high silver content and weight for their time period and distinguish themselves through their high quality of their minting. Strictly speaking, they were probably used as medallions for representative purposes rather than as coins ... As for the price, the coin costs about eight taler.¡±
¡°Eight taler?¡± The girl looked surprised.
Gregor nodded. ¡°Yes, eight taler.¡±
¡°For a single coin? Isn''t that a bit much?¡±
Gregor defended his pricing policy with a smile. ¡°Well, it is an ancient coin. It is a rare coin. And it is a Valentian coin. Eight taler seem like a fair price to me.¡±
The girl didn''t seem to agree. ¡°To you. Anyway, how much is the silver value?¡±
¡°Considering the weight and size of the coin, I would say around three taler. But to be honest, it would be truly a shame to melt down such a coin just for the silver. It would be something I would strongly advise against.¡± A grin of satisfaction crossed his lips. He was currently holding the upper hand in their negotiations.
¡°Three taler ...¡± The girl was thinking, calculating.
Gregor took the chance of the moment. ¡°Can I be of any further help? Do you have perhaps any further questions ...¡±
¡°Yes, as a matter of fact, I do¡±, the girl interrupted him, an ominous giggle filling the room. In an instant, the general mood shifted. Her hand was rummaging through her satchel before producing a shining piece of silver, a familiar piece of silver. ¡°If you would be so kind, how much do you think the coin is worth?¡±
It was the moment realisation struck Gregor. Suddenly, her questions made sense ... The coin in her hand was exactly the same coin he had shown her ... It was a Valentian denarius ... ¡°I see, so this is why you wanted to see the coin cabinet.¡±
The girl and her doll merely smiled, all innocent and innocuous. ¡°Correct. I think we have much to discuss.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 13
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Arc V Chapter 13
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25
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
They returned to the counter forthwith, the purpose of the girl''s visit and her curiosity now laid bare without a hint of doubt. Contrary to his expectations and contrary to what her behaviour might have suggested, the girl didn''t enter his shop to buy, but rather to sell, which in retrospect should have been obvious. He shouldn''t have expected otherwise. Judging by her attire and gear, the girl was an adventurer, or at least an aspiring adventurer, or at least someone active in or related to the adventuring business. So, of course, she was here to sell and fetch a good price for her lucky find. What a savvy girl ¡
The girl placed her coin on the wooden counter, a proud smile adorning her lips. He responded with a metal scale and a set of calibrated weights, a classical instrument of his trade. The horizontal axis ran left to right, with two dishes at each side.
Gregor took the coin, his right eye armed with a magnifying loupe and years of experience. His schooled look was examining every last detail to verify the authenticity of the coin. The obverse ¡ The reverse ¡ The edge ¡ The rim ¡ The relief ¡ The coin appeared to be genuine ... The coin looked genuine ¡ The coin felt genuine ...
His hand was weighing the coin in his palm, roughly estimating its weight. The weight corresponded to his expectations. The coin was probably the genuine article.
He placed the coin on the scale, counterbalancing it with a number of appropriate weights. The scale tilted and rose. It took some time before an equilibrium was achieved. The result satisfied Gregor, eliminating his last traces of doubt. The weight of the coin perfectly matched the required weight. ¡°One ounce in total ... Nearly a fine weight of thirty grams, which equals three taler ...¡±
Hugging her doll, the girl beamed, wearing a victorious, even triumphant smile. The sparkling silver pieces shining in her eyes were difficult to overlook. The girl had set her sights on profit. ¡°So how much is my coin worth then?¡±
Gregor started stroking his chin. The negotiations had commenced. ¡°The silver content alone is worth three taler ... The coin is in a good condition ... It has an excellent fineness and purity ... All things considered, I can give four taler for your coin.¡±
Her prior enthusiasm vanished in an instant. The girl''s face darkened and her mood visibly worsened. An icy look of displeasure met him. ¡°Four taler? Are you kidding me? What price is that?¡± The girl didn''t like his offer, as they both disagreed on the matter of price.
Gregor raised his voice, his arms leaning on the wooden counter. ¡°Listen, lass, it is a good price. It is a fair price.¡±
¡°What? A fair price? Ridiculous! In what kind of world is four taler a fair price? Four taler ... That is open daylight robbery of the worst, most fraudulent kind! You are trying to rip off a little girl! Do you have no shame?¡± The girl disagreed once more, wagged her hand in the air, her finger extended.
¡°...¡± Gregor fell silent. ¡°Look, four taler is the usual market price.¡±
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The girl pouted, hugging her doll. ¡°Market price, my arse! That is what all robbers would say.¡±
¡°...¡± Gregor was left speechless. The girl''s stubbornness took him by surprise, not to mention her adroit command of language. ¡°But it is. It is the market price, I assure you.¡±
¡°That is merely your opinion. My doll and I, however, think otherwise, right, Dolly?¡± Her hand moved her doll''s head from behind, making her nod. ¡°See, my doll agrees. She seconds my opinion.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Gregor merely sighed. This was why you didn''t argue with children. You could only lose. ¡°Tell me, lass, how much do you want for your coin?¡±
The girl tilted her head, thinking. ¡°Hmm ¡ Well, what about six taler?¡±
Gregor nearly choked. ¡°What!!? Six taler? Are you crazy? Are you trying to bankrupt me?¡±
¡°Not at all.¡± The girl smiled, all sweet and innocent. ¡°I think it is a good price, a fair price.¡± Her words carried an unmistakeable sense of vindictiveness.
¡°... ... ...¡± Gregor pinched the bridge of his nose. This girl ... She was slowly, but surely getting the better of him ... ¡°Listen, lass, six taler ... That price is absurd ... I can give four taler, maybe five on a good day, but certainly not six! Six taler is far too much even for a single coin!¡±
The girl giggled. ¡°Who says that we are talking here about just a single coin?¡±
¡°...¡± Gregor furrowed an eyebrow. Did she really mean what he thought she did? ¡°Do you mean that you have more of them?¡±
The girl nodded. ¡°Yes, where there is one coin, there are usually more of them.¡±
Gregor narrowed his eyes, his interest rekindled. ¡°How many?¡±
The girl beamed. ¡°Enough.¡±
¡°That is not an answer ...¡±
¡°I know~.¡± The girl mustered a mischievous grin, visibly enjoying their little verbal skirmish. Her hands started rummaging through her satchel, searching for the rest of her trove.
It was probably just one, or two, or three more coins at best. Nothing unusual. Like so many adventurers before her and after, the girl somehow stumbled across a number of precious coins and was now trying to sell them. How utterly wrong he was ...
His delusions were shattered in the matter of a moment, not even lasting a blink of an eye.
The girl placed a large stack of silver coins on the counter, counting twenty coins at least, if not more.
Gregor blinked in surprise, unable to believe his eyesight. The girl must have stumbled across a larger find than he had given her credit for ... But it didn''t end there.
Her satchel produced another stack of coins. Another twenty coins. And another stack of coins. And another stack of coins. And another stack of coins, all placed in an orderly fashion before him on the counter. Yet it didn''t show any sign of stopping ... Another stack joined the ranks. And another stack. A mountain of coins was rising heavenwards before his eyes. How did she manage to squirrel away so many coins in her satchel? More and more coins continued to materialise on his counter. There were now even gold coins among all the fine silver, likewise of Valentian origin. Her supply was as endless as her pockets deep, but even her satchel eventually depleted.
Gregor took a moment to regain his composure and recuperate from his stupor. ¡°Where ... Where did you get all these coins from?¡± It was a genuine question. How on earth did a little girl like her get her hands on such a sizeable collection of coins? This was a veritable hoard, a treasure. Where did she get them all from? The girl was far too young to brave the dangerous ruins of Valentia, nor could she have stumbled across such a hoard by chance. So where did she get all these coins from?
The girl raised an index finger, sealing her lips in secrecy. ¡°That is a secret, but let''s put it this way, the gods of fate smile on me and have bestowed their favour upon me. Fortunate circumstances have led me to acquire them.¡±
Gods of fate ¡ Favour ¡ Gregor didn''t believe a single word. This was a significant amount of gold and silver that could be impossibly acquired through luck alone. The girl was too young for Valentia, nor did he believe that she had acquired them through more illicit means. Which only left one last possibility, the coins were probably part of the family silver.
It was the moment all pieces fell into place. The girl''s posture ... The girl''s mannerism ... Even the girl''s exquisite doll, which hadn''t escaped his notice. Quite the contrary. The craftsmanship was superb. The doll was a true work of art, no doubt worth a small fortune. The girl must stem from a wealthy family, possibly even from a family of noble birth. Her family must have fallen on hard times and were now trying discreetly to sell their family silver without losing face. It was why they were sending their daughter, to not arouse suspicion. After all, your honour and reputation were everything among the higher circles. Losing your honour was as good as forfeiting your life ...
The girl crossed her arms defensively, protecting her doll with a hug. ¡°Hmpf, don''t even think about it.¡±
Her reaction surprised Gregor. ¡°What?¡±
The girl pouted, a blank stare meeting him. Her hug tightened. ¡°Dolly is not for sale. Dolly is mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡±
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Arc V Chapter 14
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Arc V Chapter 14
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25
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Gregor finished taking notes, scribbling down the number of coins on his wax tablet after counting. His metal stylus incised letters and digits into the soft beeswax, noting quantity and weight. ¡°All in all, that makes a total of 213 denarii with a fine weight of 6 390 grams silver, and 45 aureii with a fine weight of 900 grams gold. That''s easily 7 kilos of pure gold and silver.¡±
The girl and her doll titled their heads, a question mark hanging over them. ¡°Is that a lot?¡±
Gregor nodded. ¡°Yes, ... it is. That''s a small fortune that you have. The gold and silver alone ...¡± His eyes stole a brief glance at his wax tablet. ¡°... are worth around 639 taler and 45 gulden, or 1 539 taler in total. That is a ... proud sum.¡± This was a lot of money even for his trade ...
¡°Oh ...¡± The girl clapped her hands, visibly pleased. ¡°Excellent~, that will buy me many, many hot chocolates to come.¡±
Hot chocolates? Gregor raised a confused eyebrow. What did hot chocolates have to do with this? He had no idea. Not that it mattered. He took matters into his own hands, slamming his arms onto the counter. ¡°Anyway, enough chatting, let''s get down to business. Tell me, lass, how much do you want?¡± Their negotiations resumed. The next round had officially begun. This time, however, he wouldn''t lose.
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The girl tilted her cute head, calculating her next move. ¡°Well, 6 taler apiece sounds like a good price. As for the gold coins, I would be satisfied with 2 gulden per piece.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Gregor merely offered a blank stare. Her proposal met with little enthusiasm on his side.
¡°...¡± The girl, meanwhile, continued smiling, beaming happily, unperturbed by the lack of positive reception.
¡°...¡± Gregor sighed. ¡°Listen, lass, I already told you, 6 taler is not feasible. It''s far too much. In fact, 4 taler apiece is already an extremely generous offer, already more than I am usually willing to pay. I can''t go any higher. Especially, if you consider that I will need to buy in bulk here. Trust me, 4 taler is a good price. I recommend you take the offer. And about the gold coins. 2 gulden is definitely too much. I can give you 1 gulden and 5 taler maximum.¡±
¡°Fair enough, your point is well taken.¡± The girl crossed herarms, hugging her doll. ¡°Nevertheless, I cannot accept your offer in all conscience. For certain reasons, I can''t go lower than 5 taler and 1 gulden and 15 taler respectively.¡±
¡°...¡± Gregor studied the girl intently. ¡°Listen, lass, I cannot and won''t go higher, lass. After all, it is me who needs to market, store, and sell them. I am not a charity. I need to keep the shop going. I need to generate revenues. I need to make profit. Your selling prices are cutting into my profit margin.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± The girl narrowed her eyes, staring at him, her cheeks pouting.
¡°...¡± Gregor stared back, standing his ground.
¡°...¡±
¡°...¡±
The girl crossed her arms. ¡°It seems that we have reached an impasse.¡±
Gregor nodded in agreement, ¡°Seems so.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°...¡± Their staring match continued without result, their stalemate unresolved.
The girl was the first to claim the word, ¡°Hmm ... 4 taler and 8 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 16 taler.¡±
¡°4 taler and 1 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 6 taler¡±, Gregor countered.
¡°4 taler and 6 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 12 taler¡±, the girl responded.
¡°4 taler and 2 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 7 taler¡±, Gregor rephrased his offer.
¡°4 taler and 4 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 10 taler¡±, the girl followed suit.
¡°4 taler and 3 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 8 taler¡±, Gregor increased.
¡°4 taler and 4 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 10 taler¡±, the girl meanwhile didn''t budge.
¡°4 taler and 3 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 8 taler¡±, Gregor reiterated his offer.
¡°4 taler and 4 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 10 taler.¡± So did the girl. The battle raged on.
¡°...¡± Their stares interlocked. The green of his eyes clashed with her dark shaded violet. They were both calculating their next move.
His fingers were drumming onto the wooden counter. It was time. ¡°My last offer, 4 taler and 3 kreuzer. 1 gulden and 10 taler. Take it or leave ...¡±
¡°...¡± Yet the girl hesitated.
Gregor took the initiative, offering his hand. ¡°Deal?¡±
¡°Deal.¡± The girl accepted his hand, sealing their transaction. It didn''t even bother him that he was asked to shake her doll''s hand as well. The rich were always a peculiar and eccentric bunch.
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Arc V Chapter 15
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Arc V Chapter 15
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25
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°4 taler and 3 kreuzer ... 1 gulden and 10 taler apiece ... 213 denarii ... 45 aurei ... 213 times 4 ... 45 times one ... That is ...¡± Gregor finished his task, performing the necessary his calculations on his wax tablet. His gaze turned to his mysterious girl and customer. ¡°That makes 45 gulden, 1 302 taler, and 639 kreuzer. 2 266 taler in total. This is quite ... a large sum ... So it might take a few days to raise it ...¡±
¡°That is not an issue ...¡± The girl, however, remained unbothered. ¡°I am flexible when it comes to payment. In fact, I don''t need the money immediately, but I would rather prefer to receive it at a later point if possible ...¡±
¡°Of course ... Of course ... That can be arranged.¡± Her words surprised Gregor, making him raise an eyebrow. Apparently the need for money wasn''t as pressing as he had thought initially. Nevertheless, he was glad to oblige. 2 000 taler ... That was a quantity of silver that he couldn''t just conjure out of thin air ... ¡°I will prepare the money in the coming days, and you can claim it on demand, if you wish.¡±
The girl merely smiled. ¡°That sounds perfect~.¡±
Gregor pulled out a piece of paper from below his counter before preparing a pen, an inkwell, and his seal. The girl met his actions with a mixture of curiosity and interest. ¡°Do you know what a promisory note is?¡±
The girl raised her index finger in a sage manner. ¡°Of course, I do.¡±
He doubted so. ¡°Do you?¡±
The girl nodded. ¡°Oh, yes. Dolly, explain what a promisory note is!¡±
The girl shoved her doll right into his face, all while imitating the cute voice of a doll. ¡°Gladly. A promisory note is a legal instrument and written document concluded between two parties, denominanted either debtor or creditor. The promisory note proves the existence of a credit and obligates the debtor to pay a certain sum to the creditor, usually within a certain specified time frame. It is the responsibility of the creditor to enforce the debt.¡±
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¡°That is ... correct.¡± More than just correct ... Ignoring the fact that he got lectured by her doll, the girl was truly full of surprises. From whatever family she was, the money spent on her education was apparently well invested.
Gregor guided his pen to complete the note. The debtor was specified. The sum was specified. All that as missing now was her name ...
Gregor looked up, his eyes drawn to the girl. ¡°Your name ... I need your name for the note ...¡±
¡°Sure.¡± The girl beamed. ¡°My name is Edelgart~.¡±
¡°Edelgart ... Just Edelgart?¡±
The girl nodded. ¡°Just Edelgart~.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± A first name, and yet no surname ... Curious indeed ... The name was probably a false name to protect her identity and that of her family ... Gregor finished the note before handing it to Edelgart. Their transaction was now official and sealed. ¡°Do you need anything else?¡±
The girl pondered a moment. ¡°As a matter of fact, yes, I do.¡± Her hands were once again rummaging through her satchel. ¡°If you would be so kind, I have a small favour to ask. I need you to safekeep a certain item for the time being, until I return to retrieve it.¡± Her hand produced an ornate dagger of ancient design. Most likely of Valentian origin and made of pure mythril. A single glance was enough to tell him that the weapon was worth a fortune. ¡°Would that be an issue~?¡±
¡°Not all.¡± Gregor shook his head before taking the dagger into his custody, making it disappear into one of his many drawers. The girl was happy, and he was now not only her private banker, but also safekeeper ... How quick things change these days ...
And thus, his mysterious visitor left. Or, at least, he thought so. Her steps ceased, and the girl halted, her eyes drawn to the wall near the entrance. A variety of eastern memorabilia attracted her attention, the sight of a certain sword in particular. The blade enthralled her beyond mere curiosity. ¡°...¡±
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Aurora was gazing at the sword with a certain sense of fascination, her mind absorbing every detail. It was a blade that she would not have expected to stumble across in this time and age. Much less in this corner of the world. ¡°...¡±
Gregor smirked. ¡°Do you like what you see?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora ignored his question, her mind completely immersed in contemplation. The edge facing skywards ... The elegant scabbard ... The timeless black lacquer ... The thin and light gold leaf ... The braided hilt wrapping ... The ornate hand guard embellished with delicate cherry blossoms ... the curvature of the blade ... There was no doubt as to its provenance ... And yet the blade had founds its way west from distant shores, so far from home. ¡°... ... ... This sword ... It is beautiful ... How did you get your hands on this blade?¡±
Gregor grinned with a distinct sense of pride. It was the pride of a full fledged antique trader.¡°It is an import. I acquired the sword through an old Vittorian contact of mine. He got it from somewhere further east. Can''t remember whether it was in Tyros or Sidon. Or maybe it was Theodosia ... Anyway, he told me that the sword comes from the far east, from an island country named Zipangu.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora returned her attention to the sword, to the hilt in particular. The sword ... It was calling for her ...
Gregor crossed his arms, his index finger tipping against his chin, thinking. ¡°I think he called it a ka ..., kat ..., kata ... Hey ... Hey! HEY, WAIT!!! What are you doing? Careful! Don''t touch it! This isn''t a toy! The blade is ... sharp ...¡± All to no avail. His warnings fell on deaf ears.
Aurora seized the hilt of the blade without even the slightest hint of moral qualms or hesitation. Her hand claimed the sword, her heart desired to unsheathe it from its protective scabbard in a swift draw. Her eyes inspected the blade, now held in hands at arm''s length. A mere glance already satisfied her. ¡°It is a good blade ... Truly a shame ...¡±
Her interest didn''t escape Gregor. ¡°Well, if you are interested, then you can buy it. It''s cheap. 500 taler only. Quite a bargain.¡±
500 taler only ... Quite a bargain ... Sure ... ¡°Not today, but perhaps another day ...¡± Aurora retracted the blade, sheathing it in a single fluid motion.
Katana
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Arc V Chapter 16
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Arc V Chapter 16
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25
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora yawned, her arms stretching and tiredness overcoming her. Her tender voice filled the emptiness of her nightly bedroom. It was an eventful day. It was an exhausting day. And it was, first and foremost, a profitable day. Yet now it was time to slumber and enjoy the sleep of the just. After all, it was already late, and little girls and their dolls absolutely needed their beauty sleep. The moon graced the dark sky, and the power of umbra gained in strength under the auspices of the glistering full moon. Just as the moon waxed under the cover of the night, so did her mana oscillate in the darkness.
¡°...¡± Aurora moved, crawling under the cosy safety of her warm, comfortable blanket to protect herself against the cold of the night. ¡°Good night, Sister Iris~.¡±
¡°Zzz ... good ... night, ... Edelgart ...¡± Iris mumbled back, half asleep, half awake, half conscious, half unconscious. Her body turned from one side to the other, claiming more of their shared blanket. Aurora, however, stood her ground and was quick to strike back to regain her lost territory. Her hands pulled the blanket back to her side to restore the status quo ante bellum. The war for the blanket was brutal and merciless, a war that never ended, unseen to the eyes of the world. Every evening was a new struggle. Every night was a new battle.
Aurora turned to her sleeping doll. Obviously, her doll also needed a good nigh. Her hands moved her blanket to tuck her in as well. ¡°Good night, Dolly.¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Silence. Her doll must be still be too shy. Not that it mattered.
Aurora gazed at her doll, a smile adorning her lips. A tender kiss on her forehead was her last parting gift for tonight. ¡°Good night, Dolly. Sleep well and sweet dreams~.¡±
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¡°Aahhhh ...¡±Aurora mustered a cute, tender yawn, finally awakening from her terrible, terrible dream. Rubbing her tired eyes, her tiny hands dispelled the agonising memories of her nightmare. In the end, it was fortunately just a dream, a mere product of her mind, a figment of her playful imagination.
Could you believe it? Her dream turned her into a doll. A mere doll? What a silly dream. Unbelievable, right? It was true that she was a known connoisseur of dolls, but her imagination definitely went too far when it chose to transform her into a doll. Being turned into a doll ... Such an idea was a cruel joke of fate, right? The mere thought of losing her body, of her soul being forever trapped in a lifeless porcelain vessel scared her.
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¡°...¡± Aurora sighed in relief. Fortunately, it was over. The terrible nightmare had ended ...
Why, though, were her eyes, so tired ...
Why were her hands so heavy ...
Why was her neck still so stiff ...
Her body was feeling awful ... ... ...
A grim feeling, a very grim feeling, befell little Aurora, a premonition she feared. It couldn''t be ... Her hands ceased rubbing her eyes and her gaze slowly and painfully wandered downwards ...
Her hands ... Her arms ... The dreadful sight of porcelain and joints greeted her ...
No ...
No ...
No! No! No, no, no! No, no, no, no, no, no! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
¡°Nooooooooo!!!¡± Aurora screamed at top of her lungs, her voice stricken with terror, her breathing accelerating, her poor little heart beating ever faster. This was impossible ... It wasn''t merely a dream ... It wasn''t just a nightmare ... It wasn''t the product of her imagination ... It all was reality, she had been turned into a doll, into her doll!
¡°Aargh! Aargh!!!¡± Aurora panicked, her tiny doll arms wildly flailing around in desperation. ¡°Aargh!!!¡± What should she do? She was a doll now ... ... ...
Aurora took a deep breath to soothe her mind. ¡°Breathe in ... Breathe out ... Breathe in ... Breathe out ... Relax, Aurora, relax. Stay calm, stay calm!¡± What she needed now was to gather her thoughts. Just like before.
¡°...¡± Aurora closed her eyes, slowing her breathing, sharpening her mind. The time had come to calmly analyse her situation. This crisis of unprecedented proportions demanded all her intellect, all her attention.
Based on her cursory observations, she had been indeed transformed into a doll. It was unknown as to why, or how, but what was certain was that she now was a doll. Her stiff joints and limbs didn''t lie. In a cruel twist of fate, her soul had been transplanted into the body of none other than her very own favourite doll, Aurora!
Furthermore, a girl was slumbering right beside her, soundly asleep. Judging by her appearance, her features, her petite physique, there was no doubt that it was herself. Her fluffy cheeks and cute nose were unmistakable. It was her own body, which led her directly to the next crucial question, how was this possible?
The last thing that she remembered was that she had died. There was little doubt that she had met her end that fateful night. Every fibre of her being remembered the cold steel of the blade, the cold grip of death, and yet her body appeared totally unharmed. There was only one logical conclusion, somehow and against all imaginable odds, she must have survived ... Somehow, the impossible had turned reality ...
But if she survived, why was she a doll? Why was she trapped inside her doll? Why didn''t she wake up? Why didn''t her body react despite her apparent healthy state? Nothing made sense. There existed no logical reason for her to reside in the body of her doll! None at all. Moreover, the unsolved question remained, how did she survive? Who saved her from the clutches of her assassins? Questions over question, and no answers.
Yet little Aurora knew that there was only one answer to her current predicament, only one way to receive the answers she needed. Her gaze glanced sidewards, her eyes set on her body. Her objective was clear, she needed to wake up.
Aurora gathered her courage and rose to her tiny legs, her fists burning with determination. Last time, her efforts yielded no results, nor was her expedition graced with much success. This time, however, was different. This time, she would succeed, even if more violent measures proved necessary. ¡°Doll punch!¡±
Her fist struck, clashing against her left cheek. Her punch connected with full force, yet her fluffy cheeks repelled her attack with astonishing ease, much to her surprise and contrary to her expectations. Their extraordinary softness made her punch bounce off, causing her to stumble backwards in the process.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora was dismayed. ¡°...¡± How unfair! Even her cute cheeks betrayed her, conspiring against her! But she wouldn''t give up! After all, she was Aurora von Schwarz!
Another punch followed. ¡°Doll punch!¡± No effect.
And another punch. ¡°Doll punch!!¡± No effect.
And another punch. ¡°Doll punch!!!¡± ... still no effect.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora despaired, sinking to her knees, weeping. Why? Why did nothing work? Why ...
Two giant purple orbs were staring right at her, their luminescent glow piercing the veil of darkness. It was the moment little Aurora knew that her efforts had finally borne fruit.
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Arc V Chapter 17
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Arc V Chapter 17
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°... ... ...¡± Her body blinked, her eyes wide open in profound bewilderment. Unsurprisingly and understandably, the girl was confused, her mind startled, taken by surprise. After all, it wasn''t exactly a common occurrence to be awoken by your favourite doll in the middle of the night after she had suddenly turned alive. It was a rather inconceivable scenario, to say the least. No sane person could reasonably expect to encounter a living doll during sleep, and yet such was the case. Thus, her body''s confusion was perfectly understandable. Her body didn''t understand, unable to comprehend, but nor did little Aurora. Nobody did. The reasons for her sudden dollification remained an unsolvable riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. ¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora met her stare, clenching her fists. This was the moment she had waited for. This was her opportunity.
Her body started rubbing her eyes, her heavy eyelids still half asleep. ¡°... ... ... Am ... I ... dreaming?¡±
Little Aurora cleared her throat and her non existent vocal cords, shaking her little doll head. ¡°Ahem, you are not ... I must inform you that this is not a dream ... Unfortunately ...¡±
...
... ...
... ... ...
¡°... ... ...¡± Her mind froze, her eyes merely blinking at her. ¡°... Dolly, ... are ... you ... really ... talking?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora merely nodded, even though it felt strange to be on the receiving end and to be called ¡®dolly¡¯. But such was life ...
¡°... ... ...¡± Her body fell silent, still gathering her thoughts. ¡°You ... are ... really ... talking?¡±
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¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded, her neck moving.
¡°... to me ... directly?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded.
¡°And this is not a dream, right?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded, more vigorously than before.
...
... ...
... ... ...
¡°... ... ...¡± Her body pinched her cheeks, quite forcefully so. Her nails were digging deep into her skin. It must have been a painful experience. ¡°Ouchie ... Ouch ... Ouch ... I guess, ... you are right, dolly ... Apparently, this is not a dream ... ... ...¡±
Little Aurora agreed, ¡°Indeed, it is not.¡± Not that she didn''t tell her so, but her doubts were understandable ...
¡°...¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°...¡± Her body and she were exchanging confused looks. They both were at a loss, unsure what to say and do.
¡°...¡± Her body started pondering, her hand stroking her chin. ¡°So to reiterate, you are dolly, aren''t you?¡±
Little Aurora nodded. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Currently, at least.
¡°And you are talking to me?¡±
¡°Indeed¡±, little Aurora concurred.
¡°And I am not dreaming?¡± Her body still eyed her with suspicion and ample amounts of disbelief.
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°... ... ... And I haven''t gone insane? At least, not yet, right?¡±
¡°Well, ...¡± Little Aurora tilted her head, reflecting. ¡°Not that I can say for sure, but I don''t think so ...¡±
Her body rolled her eyes, a heavy sigh escaping her. ¡°How encouraging ...¡± Her reaction and her words startled little Aurora. The strong sarcastic undertone caught her by surprise. It was not something she would have expected ... It was ... unusual for her ...
Her body pinched the bridge of her nose in an exasperated manner. ¡°Anyway, now that we have verified your claim and established that you are indeed a talking, living doll, and not a figment of my imagination and the product of my slipping grip on reality ... Now, my last question ...¡±
¡°Eh?¡± Little Aurora raised her gaze.
¡°Who ... are you?¡± Her eyes narrowed and little Aurora stiffened. There was a frigid iciness in her eyes that she had never seen or felt before in her life. Even the harsh, judging stare of her father paled in comparison. Her glowing purple irises harboured an ominous, sinister sense of danger, suffocating her. Her eyes ... were scary.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora averted her eyes, her tongue stuck in her throat. She could never have imagined that her eyes capable of such. These cold, oppressive eyes ... They weren''t like hers, at all. Wasn''t she all fluffy and cuddly? Didn''t her father always say that she was too soft and squeamish for her own good?
Her body, however, didn''t relent, pursuing the matter further. ¡°I asked you a question, doll. Answer me, who are you, or rather what are you?¡± A pair of narrowed eyes lent further weight to her words.
Little Aurora gulped, her hands fidgeting nervously. ¡°Well, ... you see, that is a rather complicated matter.¡±
Her body raised a questioning eyebrow, decidedly unconvinced. ¡°Is it? More complicated than a living doll talking to me after midnight? I sincerely doubt so. Listen, doll, I have time and patience. So, please, proceed. I will listen.¡± Her voice exuded an unfamiliar firmness and eloquence.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora fell silent. It turned out that she had apparently a way with words, quite unexpectedly so. So many hidden talents that she possessed and never knew about. Hidden talents aside, however, there were more important matters to address.
Little Aurora mustered her courage, clenching her tiny fists. ¡°Well, you see, the thing is, I am you.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Her body blinked. ¡°You are ... me?¡±
Her tiny head nodded. ¡°Yes, I am you.¡±
Her body didn''t look convinced. ¡°And that is supposed to mean?¡±
This was her sign. An introduction was in order. Little Aurora gathered her resolve and rose to perform an improvised curtsy, the way she was taught. ¡°My name is Lady Aurora von Schwarz. I am the heiress of the proud House von Schwarz, and I am you.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 18
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Arc V Chapter 18
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th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora¡¯s body was lost for words following her revelation. Understandably so, if she might add. There was genuine surprise written across all her face, genuine incredulity. ¡°Are you seriously telling me that you are Aurora von Schwarz? You? A doll?¡±
Little Aurora nodded vigorously, her voice filled with absolute confidence, ¡°I am, believe me. I am telling you the truth.¡±
Her body crossed her arms. ¡°So you claim. Please, elucidate me, tell me, what reasons do I have to believe you? What reasons do I have to believe the word of a talking doll in the middle of the night?¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora fell silent, musing. ¡°I guess, ... you might have a point there.¡± Her point was valid. She was now indeed a doll, which was problematic for a variety of reasons.
Her body continued, ¡°Furthermore, should you tell the truth, and you are me, then, who am I?¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Little Aurora was confused.
¡°You tell me you are Aurora von Schwarz, but there might be a small, little, tiny problem. I am also Aurora von Schwarz.¡± Tall Aurora touched her chest, pointing at herself. ¡°You say you are Aurora. And I say I am Aurora. Do you see the problem? Who is the real one? Or are you trying to tell me there are suddenly two of us?¡±
¡°That ... is ... an excellent ... question, ... actually.¡± Little Aurora tilted her head, pondering their new conundrum. This was a genuine problem. Somehow, there were now not one, but two Auroras! Inconceivable! How was this possible? Who was the real one? Or was there even a real one? Or were they both equally real? Or was there one less real and one more real? ¡°...¡±
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Tall Aurora crossed her arms impatiently. ¡°I am still waiting for your answer.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora lowered her gaze, her dolly fingers fidgeting. ¡°Well, ... I don''t ... I don''t have an answer, but ... but ... but you must believe me, I am really you! I am not lying! I would never lie! I am a good girl.¡± Her arms were gesticulating wildly, adding much childish credibility to her words.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Tall Aurora fell silent, her gaze probing her faithful doll.
¡°Pleashe, believe me~.¡± Little Aurora begged, a hint of desperation entering her voice.
¡°Hmm ...¡± tall Aurora continued pondering her case. Eventually, though, a heavy sigh escaped her lips. ¡°Aurora, tell me, what is our mother''s name? Should you be truly me, then you surely know the answer.¡±
¡°Oh ...¡± Little Aurora clenched her tiny fists, her spirit returning. She was testing herself. What a supremely smart move of herself. Of course, she would know the answer. ¡°This is easy. Mama''s name is Felicia!¡±
Tall Aurora nodded, satisfied with her answer. ¡°Correct. Next question, what is our brother''s name?¡±
Another easy question. There was a certain pattern recognisable here. Little Aurora raised her tiny hand to respond. ¡°His name is Tiberius.¡±
¡°Correct. Now my last question, who is our best friend¡± Tall Aurora narrowed her eyes.
¡°Our ... best friend?¡± Little Aurora raised an eyebrow.
¡°Yes, who is our best friend?¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora tilted her head. The question sounded very much like a trick question. How disingenuous! Her little head had an idea, however. ¡°What about Friedrich? He always tries to comfort us when sad! He even played dolls with us when younger! Less so, these days, but he used to.¡±
¡°Yes, but no. He is father''s retainer. So, of course, Friedrich would be nice to us, the future heiress of the House von Schwarz. He merely does what is expected of him as a loyal retainer and considering his high sense of duty.¡±
¡°Oh, do you think so?¡± Doubt befell little Aurora. Perhaps tall Aurora was right. Once again, her taller self proved surprisingly persuasive. ¡°I never thought about it this way, but I guess you are probably right. Friedrich is indeed father''s retainer. And he has indeed always been an honourable man.¡±
Little Aurora returned to her prior ruminations. Who else then could be their best friend? Mother? Sadly, Mama died. The same was the case for her brother. Father? He probably didn''t count ... After all, he was her father ... He had changed after mama''s death. Geralt? No, he was more of a tutor and teacher. Not a friend in the strictest sense. Stahl and Clarissa? Ditto. They were rather teacher figures than friends. ¡°Hmm ... What about Maria? She has always treated us well. Not to mention, she often tucked us in before sleeping!¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Tall Aurora merely blinked, wholly unimpressed. ¡°Listen, you realise that Maria is our personal maid, don''t you? It falls well within her duties to treat us well and tuck us in, considering her eminent position. I wouldn''t expect anything less from her. Her actions are merely par for the course.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora''s hopes deflated, her shoulders hanging low. The situation was slowly growing critical. She was running out of friends. In fact, she already did. She had always been a lonely girl. She didn''t have many friends beside her ... doll ... ... ...
¡°...¡± Her eyes widened as realisation struck. How could she have been so blind? It was so obvious. Little Aurora raised her timid hand, pointing at herself. ¡°It is of course me! It is our doll!¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± At last, tall Aurora nodded, her eyes closed. ¡°I guess this settles this matter beyond any reasonable doubt, you are really me, or at least, a part of me. Now the only question that remains is, how is it possible that there are two of us? And why are you inside our doll?¡±
That was another excellent question ...
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Arc V Chapter 19
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Arc V Chapter 19
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th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Her inquisitive gaze scrutinised her, looking for answers. ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora shook her head. ¡°Not that I know of. Our situation is truly a mystery!¡±
Tall Aurora crossed her arms, the gears in her head turning relentlessly. ¡°Well, considering your advanced state of consciousness and your apparent degree of autonomy, it is, I think, undeniable that you are in fact a separate entity rather than an extension of myself.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora blinked. Consciousness? Autonomy? Entity? Since when did she start using so many fancy words? They confused her.
¡°...¡± Fortunately, tall Aurora noticed her distress. ¡°What I am trying to say is that that you are a full, independent being.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°It means that you are more than a mere automaton, merely animated by the breath of magic. You are more than a simple construct filled with life.¡±
¡°Right ...¡± little Aurora agreed. She was more than a construct, that was certainly true.
¡°In fact, I would say that you resemble, to a certain degree, a familiar.¡±
Her eyes widened. ¡°You are calling me a familiar?¡±
¡°Sort of ...¡± tall Aurora clarified. ¡°You don''t appear to be a mere extension of my will, nor have I ever called you forth. You are something more. You are more akin to a mischievous spirit, a little mischievous spirit, a familiar.¡±
Little Aurora pouted in protest. ¡°I am not a familiar!¡± She might be little, and a tiny bit mischievous, but she was most certainly not a spirit, nor a familiar! She was a little girl!
Tall Aurora stroked her chin. ¡°Now that I think about it, you are right, you aren''t a familiar.¡±
¡°Thank you!¡± she exclaimed.
¡°Which leaves then only one last explanation, you must be a fragment of our soul ... A portion of our soul must have separated, and attached itself to our doll ... That would be you.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora rubbed her chin. ¡°That sounds like a plausible explanation.¡±
Tall Aurora continued, ¡°But how? As you know, the soul is unitary, indivisible. It just doesn''t simply split for no reason. At least, under normal circumstances ...¡±
Little Aurora tilted her head. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°... There are certain ways and means to fracture a soul ... Your emotions, your experiences in life affect your soul. The stronger, the more profound, the stronger their impact. All that is needed is a powerful enough stimulus ... A stimulus such as ...¡± Her eyes wandered towards her.
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¡°Such as?¡± little Aurora tilted her head.
Her stare intensified, boring into her. ¡°Such as death.¡±
Death. Though it was a simple word, it sent a cold shiver down her dolly spine in dreadful premonition. Her limbs shuddered as everything returned with force. The memories of that fateful night flooded her mind. The pain, the desperation, the sadness, the grief, the terror, the panic, it was all there again. Visions of the falling rain ... The forest ... The carriage ... The escort ... Geralt ... The ambush ... The assassins ... The fighting ... The chaos ... The blood ... The screams ... The carnage ... The corpses ... The running ... The wide open field ... The cold steel piercing her chest ...
Little Aurora controlled her erratic breathing to maintain a semblance of composure. And yet all led her only to a single conclusion. ¡°We ... We ¡ died ...¡±
¡°...¡± Tall Aurora merely nodded, her head confirming her worst fears.
Little Aurora lowered her gaze, a wave of melancholy overcoming her. ¡°So, it wasn''t just a bad dream ... We really died in the forest that day?¡±
Her taller self shook her head. ¡°It most definitely wasn''t some dream you had. I would be lying if I said it was.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora fell silent. ¡°And what became of Geralt? Did he ... Did he also ...¡±
Once again, the answer was negative. A heavy sigh escaped tall Aurora. ¡°As much as it pains me to say, the gods didn''t smile upon him. Geralt met his fate, ... protecting us to his very last breath.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Heavy silence followed. Aurora lowered her laden gaze. Though she was young in years, even she understood. Her words left little doubt. ¡°... I see.¡± Grief and sadness filled her heavy heart. Geralt died ... He had sacrificed his life to protect her ... And it was her fault that he was gone, wasn''t it?
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Time passed. Seconds turned to minutes. Her other self took pity on her, reluctant to disturb her in her moment of weakness. Yet no pity was meant to last forever. ¡°Tell me, what do you remember? What do you remember about that night?¡± There was sympathy in her voice, a certain unmistakeable warmth.
Little Aurora averted her eyes, her tiny hands fidgeting with each other. ¡°To be honest, ... there is much I don''t remember ... My memories of that night are all hazy ... Everything is so murky and fuzzy ... My head hurts every time I try to remember ...¡±
Tall Aurora beamed, calming her. ¡°Don''t worry, it is fine. You don''t need to force yourself. Just tell me all that you remember.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora gathered her thoughts, recalling once more the events of that fateful night. ¡°It was already dark ... The sun had set ... It was raining ... We were on our way home. The carriage was heading through the forest. That is where we were ambushed. The assassins attacked. We escaped. We ran until we reached an opening. There ¡ we died ...¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Her other self listened, weighing each of her words carefully. ¡°Do you perchance remember anything else? Anything peculiar? Anything special? Anything extraordinary? Anything else that merits our attention?¡±
Little Aurora briefly deliberated, before shaking her head. ¡°Not that I know of ... No, wait a moment ... Now that you mention it, you are right, there was something ... There was something shortly before we died ...¡±
Her other self smiled, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Oh, there was?¡±
¡°Yes, there was ... ...¡± Little Aurora nodded. ¡°I remember now, there was a voice, ... I think. The voice was talking to me.¡±
¡°How curious ...¡± tall Aurora merely mumbled, a healthy dose of scepticism filling her voice. ¡°You say the voice talked to you.What did it say?¡±
¡°I ... I ... I don''t remember ...¡± Little Aurora hesitated before clenching her tiny doll fists. ¡°But you must believe me, there was a voice. I swear. In fact, I am absolutely sure that it was the voice of a woman. It was soft and tender.¡± More and more returned. Memories once forgotten resurfaced from oblivion.
She remembered. For the blink of a moment, Aurora remembered once more, the memory of her death vivid like never before. Amidst the voice, carefully hidden to the unknowing, there was something else ... Something deeper ... Something more profound ... Something darker ... Something sinister ... A powerful presence saturated her voice, her words enshrouded in an ominous aura ... The voice carried power.
¡°...¡± Aurora stiffened, her limbs growing cold. It all returned. The presence ... The aura ... It entered her body, invading every fibre of her being, even her very soul. An unknown strength beyond her comprehension coursed through her veins, reinvigorating her senses, slowly taking control of her. Never before, she had felt such unimaginable power, such vigorous strength. It was the last thing she remembered ... The last thing she experienced before she died ...
Little Aurora closed her eyes instead, her attention turning to herself. Her senses opened, searching for her soul, her mana, both of which accompanied her since the day she was born. The connection between her and her body, her and her soul was torn asunder, and yet it survived, and yet there it was, even when separated, even when split apart.
A soft smile graced her lips. In the darkness of the void, it was her soul that burned brightly like a lighthouse amidst the waves of the sea. The gentle touch of her soul caressed her heart, soothing her. And yet, there was a feeling of profound discomfort, of anxiety, of uneasiness, haunting her mind. Her soul ... Something about it was wrong ... Her soul was different from what she remembered, different from what she knew. Her soul had changed, as had her mana. They were not the same any more. There was a certain unmistakeable taint, a taint that reminded her of a certain familiar presence that now resided inside her soul, inside her body.
Her body noticed her distress, a smile accompanying her. ¡°Is something the matter? Something seems to be troubling you.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora gulped, her voice stuck in her throat, her hands shaking, trembling in fear. ¡°Who ... Who are you?¡±
The girl furrowed an eyebrow, her question visibly entertaining her. ¡°What a curious question ... Haven''t we already clarified this matter abundantly? I believe so. You are me, and I am you.¡±
¡°No, you aren''t. You have deceived me. You are not me.¡± Little Aurora gathered her courage. ¡°So who are you? And what did you do to me? Answer me!¡±
¡°Hehehe ...¡± An amused giggle filled the emptiness of the room. The girl smirked, unable to hide her amusement. Her eyes harboured a dangerous purple glimmer glowing in the darkness. ¡°It seems that I have been finally found out. How intriguing ... As it turns out, you are smarter than I gave you credit for. I must congratulate you, you are correct.¡± The sound of clapping resonated through the room. Her hands applauded her. ¡°Anyway, I guess we need to talk. I think we still have much to discuss, Lady Aurora von Schwarz.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 20
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Arc V Chapter 20
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
The night progressed, and the pale moon continued its journey across the firmament. The hour was late, beyond her usual bedtime. Aurora and her doll abandoned their bed, shifting to a more suitable arrangement. Discussing important matters while lying in bed wasn¡¯t exactly ideal. Thus, they were now sitting around a wooden table near the window, bathed in the pale, ethereal glow of the moonlight. Her doll and she, they were facing each other in silence, both of them immersed in thoughts, both of their stares wandering around aimlessly.
...
...
...
Time crept by at a glacial pace and moments passed with each of them waiting for the other to speak, to make the first step. In vain. There was a lingering sense of tension in the air that proved hard to dispel. Understandably so. Being transformed into a doll must have been a ... challenging experience for everyone. It was a fate that should not befall anyone, so it was natural for the girl to take some time to gather her thoughts. It was a lot to process and accept. It would be uncouth of her to press the poor girl more than necessary at such a delicate moment.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Time flew by, undisturbed, yet it was now Aurora who took the initiative. It was her who took the first important step. ¡°Lady Aurora ...¡±
¡°...¡± The girl didn''t react.
¡°Lady Aurora ...¡±
¡°...¡± Still no reaction.
¡°Ahem, Lady Aurora ...¡± Aurora cleared her throat, her voice filled with vigour. ¡°If I might have some of your attention. This is important ...¡± Her words finally caught the girl¡¯s attention.
Little Aurora raised her head, her purple doll eyes meeting hers with a blend of reluctance and fear. There was doubt and uneasiness in her. Her soul noticeably wavered, her mana oscillating ever so slightly. The poor girl mustered a timid response, ¡°Yes ...?¡±
Aurora folded her hands together, her gaze focusing on her doll. ¡°Lady Aurora, I must confess that have my genuine sympathy. It must be difficult for you. I cannot fathom what courage it must take to brave this unpleasant reality, and yet I believe that it is necessary for us to talk. I believe that some introductions are in order. It would be beneficial for both of us to come to know each other at this point rather than remaining complete strangers, would you not agree, Lady Aurora?¡±
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Little Aurora lowered her gaze. The girl hesitated for a moment, but eventually relented with a tentative nod. ¡°Well, I guess that you have a point there ...¡±
Aurora beamed reassuringly to lessen her worries. ¡°I am glad you understand. Now, if you would be so kind, please, introduce yourself.¡±
Little Aurora nodded. ¡°My name is Aurora von Schwarz. I am the daughter of and the heiress to the House von Schwarz. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± The girl even offered a slight bow. How cute.
¡°The pleasure is all mine.¡± Aurora giggled before resorting to a small applause. The sound of her clapping hands echoed through the night.¡°A fabulous introduction, if I might add. Short and concise.¡±
¡°Do you really think so?¡± The little girl was fidgeting with her hands, her eyes averted.
Aurora smiled. ¡°Most certainly. An admirable performance without doubt.¡±
¡°Thank you¡±, the little girl murmured, her cheeks blushing cherry red.
¡°No need to thank me, after all, you are a such a sweet, cute little doll. I could eat you.¡± Aurora laughed before pinching her doll''s cheeks.
¡°Stop it!¡± Little Aurora pouted in protest, her arms waving angrily.
A mischievous Aurora retracted her hand. ¡°My apologies, you tempted me. But I concede, my behaviour was probably ill befitting. ¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora crossed her tiny arms, adopting a defensive posture, all pouty and grumpy, with a hint of suspicion. ¡°Apology ... accepted.¡± There was a hint of distrust in her voice.
¡°...¡± Aurora returned a smile. What a silly girl. The girl was just like in her memories, a little dreamy airhead. She couldn¡¯t be mad at her even for a moment.
Little Aurora regained her composure. ¡°Anyway, now that I have introduced myself, it is your turn. What about you? Who are you? And what are you doing in my body? You are not a demon, are you? Or an evil spirit?¡± Her doll clenched her fists, her eyes filled with resolution. The girl was serious. She wanted to know. She wanted an answer. Understandably so.
Aurora was, of course, eager to oblige. It was the least she could do in exchange for inhabiting her body on a less than voluntary basis. A soft giggle accompanied her. ¡°You entertain me, Lady Aurora, these are excellent questions. So, first things first, contrary to repeated unfounded allegations, I am not a demon, nor an evil spirit, neither in this life, nor in my former. I assure that I am fully ... human.¡±
¡°I see ...¡± Her answer satisfied little Aurora, restoring a semblance of faith.
¡°As for what I am doing in your body ¡ How shall I put it, it is a slightly complicated matter ...¡±
¡°Complicated ...¡± Little Aurora blinked. ¡°How so?¡±
Aurora folded her hands, armed with a polite smile. ¡°You see, Lady Aurora, I come from a different time and age. I was not graced with the luck of long life, or in other words, ¡ I died.¡±
¡°Oh ... You died?¡± The girl''s eyes widened.
Aurora nodded. ¡°Yes, I died. That is the last thing I remember. As a consequence, I have no recollection of how or why I ended up inside your body.¡±
¡°I understand ...¡± Little Aurora listened. ¡°Then, what about your name? You surely must have a name! Everyone has a name!¡±
Aurora laughed. ¡°I do. I do. My name is ... Aurora.¡±
¡°¡¡± Her doll¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Her answer startled her. Her reaction was cute. ¡°So your name is¡ Aurora? Is that your true name? Aren¡¯t you deceiving me?¡±
Aurora shook her head, deflecting her feeble accusation. ¡°Not at all, I would never deceive you, Lady Aurora. Why would I?¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡± Her doll didn¡¯t look entirely convinced. Unfortunately, trust was not given but had to be earned.
Aurora offered an inviting smile of benevolence, her hand placed on her heart. ¡°No need to doubt my word. I swear on my honour, it is true, my true name is indeed Aurora. We both share the same name. Quite the coincidence, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°I suppose so.¡± Her doll tentatively agreed, sunken in pensive thoughts. ¡°And what about your surname? You surely must have a surname as well?¡±
¡°Oh, how so?¡± Aurora teased her doll.
Little Aurora tilted her head, ¡°Well, ...you don¡¯t strike me as a commoner. The way you speak ... The way you act ... You have an air of nobility around you. So you surely must have also a surname.¡± Her doll clenched her tiny fists.
Aurora giggled, amused. ¡°You are a sharp little one, Lady Aurora. You presume ... correctly, on both counts, if I might add. I bear a surname, but for the sake of my credibility, I would loathe to divulge it.¡±
¡°...¡± Her doll blinked, her confusion apparent. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡±
Aurora leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath. ¡°You see, it appears that it is not just our first names that we share to the letter, Lady Aurora.¡±
Realisation dawned on Little Aurora. The girl was quick to understand. ¡°So you are telling me that ...¡±
Aurora nodded in confirmation. ¡°... It is as you think. Improbable as it might sound. Another coincidence ... Another unlikely coincidence ... In fact, our similarities do not end there. Our appearance ... Our eyes ... Our elemental affinity ... They all align perfectly.¡±
Her hand summoned a purple flame, a light burning in the night. ¡°Darkness and fire ... Umbra and ignis ... This is not a matter of mere chance. This is not a matter of mere coincidence, Lady Aurora. It is as there was a reason that I have reincarnated as you. As if there was a reason that we are now both one, inseparable and indivisible. Time and space divided us, but it is as if our souls were always meant to join together as one. Curious, isn¡¯t it?¡±
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Arc V Chapter 21
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Arc V Chapter 21
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°I must admit that such is curious indeed ...¡± Her doll fell silent. Reluctant she might be, and yet she came to accept her words. Not that she had much of a choice considering her situation. ¡°Still, I do not understand ... So, we are now one ... What does that mean? How ... How is this even possible?¡±
Aurora leaned back, her eyes scrutinising her loyal companion. ¡°It is far from impossible. Quite the contrary. Otherwise, I would not stand here now before you. You must have already realised it, Lady Aurora, but you died that fateful night. Your life ceased that night.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora looked at her with a feeling of uneasiness.
Aurora elaborated, ¡°I think you understand the implications, Lady Aurora. The moment you died ... The moment the light of life in you began to fade, but was not yet extinguished ... That was the moment when your soul was the weakest. It was the moment when the boundaries between reality and the metaphysical blurred. Your dying soul crumbled, already decaying and disintegrating. Your fleeting consciousness dwindled. That was the perfect opportunity. You were the suitable vessel I needed. That was the moment when my soul entered your body. That was the moment when our souls fused, when mine and the surviving fragments of yours joined. What was once separated, was now one.¡±
¡°So ... So ... So, you took my body, after all! You stole my body! You are a thief!¡± Little Aurora clenched her tiny fists. There was a trace of indignation in her voice.
Aurora, however, took her accusations with a sense of humour and a good laugh. Especially, since they were not completely baseless. There was a grain of truth to them. ¡°Lady Aurora, I will not deny the veracity of your words ... You are correct, in a certain sense, yes, I took your body. You might even say that I stole it from you. And yet, I must insist that yours is a rather ... narrow point of view. ¡®Thief¡¯ is such a harsh word.¡±
¡°Elaborate.¡± Little Aurora narrowed her eyes, her voice laced with anger and what could be regarded as open hostility.
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
A polite smile was her answer. ¡°As much as it might be to ask, Lady Aurora, I must urge you to rein in your emotions and consider. The fact is that you were dead, deader than dead. The wound you have suffered was lethal ... You were stabbed through the chest. The inescapable truth is that your body was beyond salvation. Your death was merely a matter of time, of minutes, of seconds. You were a corpse living on borrowed time. And yet, ... you survived. And yet, we survived. Now consider, whom do you owe your miraculous salvation, Lady Aurora?
The answer is obvious. It was I, Lady Aurora. It was I who saved your crumbling soul. It was I who sustained your dying body, albeit through the brute force of my mana rather than finesse. The fact that you are even here, the fact that you still exist, the fact that you still live, you owe it all to me. Without me, your body would be nothing but a rotting corpse. And yet you possess the impertinence to call me a ¡®thief¡¯? A thief of what? A thief of a dead corpse? A thief of a life lost? Because it was I, through my efforts alone, who gifted your dying body with new strength. It was I who reignited the light of life. So, tell me, Lady Aurora, what did I take from you? What did I steal from you what you had not already relinquished? Answer me.¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Her doll fell silent in the face of her poignant question. Not that it surprised her. Not every question was meant to be answered.
¡°...¡± Aurora folded her hands, a sense of satisfaction crossing her lips. ¡°Your silence speaks for you more than any words, Lady Aurora. I think, you know the answer. And so do I.¡±
Little Aurora lowered her gaze. ¡°...¡±
¡°Though, I must admit that I cannot hide my surprise, Lady Aurora ... The mere fact that even a fragment of your consciousness survived is nothing short of a miracle, a miracle against all odds, a miracle unlikely to a degree that is hardly fathomable. You are a very lucky doll, Lady Aurora. A very lucky doll indeed. A part of your soul must have separated during the consolidation phase when our souls merged and attached itself to the nearest suitable object, your doll. As it turns out, your doll proved to be exceedingly receptive to your soul. You share a strong emotional bond with your doll, which probably facilitated the process. It would make sense. Nurtured and stimulated by my latent mana, your spirit then reawakened and regained consciousness. This is how you came to be.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Her doll''s shoulders deflated, and yet there was a glimmer of misplaced hope left in her eyes. ¡°Do ... Do you think that I will be ever able to return to my body?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora hesitated for a moment, but her doll deserved the truth. ¡°I will be honest with you, I strongly doubt so. Such is unlikely, to say the least, if not outright impossible. Our souls have fused on such a fundamental level that the process might be very well already irreversible at this point. In fact, And even if ... In order for you to live, it would always mean that I would need to disappear. I am sure you understand that I might be reluctant to do so.¡±
¡°I understand ...¡± A heavy sigh escaped little Aurora, a sigh of realisation. Her doll despaired, a cloud of depression hanging over her cute head. The girl resembled a heartbroken kitten. It was a painful sight to behold that moved even the most unyielding heart, hers included.
Whether it was her motherly instincts or her remaining sense of humanity, she couldn''t tell. Her arms acted on her own, propelled by her inner desire to hug her doll, to cuddle her. Her arms enclosed her doll in a tight embrace to shield her from all the evils of this world. Her tender hands caressed her doll, patting her in a soothing manner. Little Aurora needed her. The girl needed a hug and love. ¡°Shhh ... Shhh ... Shhh, don''t cry, Aurora~. All will be fine~. All will be fine~. I promise~.¡±
¡°Do ... Do ... Do ... you think so?¡± Little Aurora stopped sobbing, her tiny doll fists rubbing her tearful eyes.
Aurora nodded, her smile radiating an aura of unshakeable optimism, albeit born from necessity rather than from genuine belief. ¡°I do. All will be fine, Aurora~. No matter what, I will always be there for you. We will always be together. You will never be alone again. What you see, I see. What I feel, you feel. What you think, I think. What I say, you say. We are now both one, in body, in soul, in spirit, and in mind, our destinies intertwined, Lady Aurora. Not just for today, not just for tomorrow, but to the end of days.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 22
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Arc V Chapter 22
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
The night proceeded, and so did their talks. Their talks turned out to be quite productive, far more productive than she had expected. Mainly due to the fact that her interlocutor, a certain doll and noble girl in question, proved to be cooperative and a reasonable human being, much to her delight and relief. Despite her complicated and unusual circumstances, and minor misgivings and grievances on her part, Lady Aurora eventually came to ... accept reality. At least, to some degree. It only took some minor persuasion and a few honeyed words. But such was already considerable progress, more than she could have hoped for, considering the challenging nature of their relationship. All in all, the girl took her current situation well, which was laudable. They were not at each other''s throats any more. They were not busy any more with hurling insults and accusations at each other. That was tangible progress. Slowly, but surely, the atmosphere improved. Aurora was even gradually warming up to her. There were hints of understanding, hints of sympathy in her tender voice. It was just as she had thought, Lady Aurora ... was a gentle soul through and through. And now they were paired together ... She, and the innocent, little girl with her soul trapped inside her beloved doll ... What a cruel twist of fate. Not that they could do anything about it.
¡°...¡± Aurora took a deep breath, her back straightened, and her chin held high, facing little Aurora in front of her. Now that she had calmed down, the girl was sitting on her chair again, her tiny hands folded neatly in her lap. ¡°I hope that answers your question.¡±
Little Aurora nodded. ¡°More or less ...¡±
Aurora grinned. ¡°Fabulous~. Any further questions? No reason to hesitate. Always feel free to ask.¡±
Little Aurora tilted her tiny head, pondering. ¡°Well, as a matter of fact, there ... is ... something that keeps bothering me. There is something that I wanted to ask you already for quite some time.¡±
¡°Such as~?¡± Aurora beamed.
Little Aurora started fidgeting with her hands. ¡°Ehm, how shall I put it ... But where are we?¡±
Her eyes wandered around, studying her surroundings. ¡°It seems like we are some kind of room ... And there is even another person here ...¡± Her stare fell on Iris, soundly asleep under her blanket inside her bed, or rather their bed now that they were sharing it. The day had been a long day and Iris was tired.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Aurora raised her index finger. ¡°Well, these are ... excellent observations. But to answer your questions, we are in Freyburg, and this is a room at the adventurer''s guild. It is our current lodging for the time being. Mostly due to a lack of available alternatives. Certainly better than sleeping on the streets. They are no suitable place for a little noble girl and her cute doll. Imagine us on the cold, harsh, unforgiving streets, surrounded by plebeian rabble. That is not an option.¡± Aurora shook her head.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora blinked in mild surprise, her confusion apparent. Her thoughts were hardly difficult to guess. Freyburg? Adventurer''s guild? ¡°Well, I neither contest that the streets are cold and harsh, nor that they are no option. But I was wondering rather, what are you doing here? Why are you at the adventurer''s guild? Why ...¡±
Aurora interrupted her, ¡°Correction, what are WE doing here? Why are WE at the adventurer''s guild?¡±
¡°Eh?¡± Little Aurora raised an eyebrow.
Aurora elaborated, ¡°You asked, what are YOU doing here? But you see, we are now both one. So it is rather, what are WE doing here? Why are WE at the adventurer''s guild?¡±
¡°... ... ... I suppose, ... you have a point there¡±, Little Aurora conceded. ¡°I guess, ... what are ... we doing here, then?¡± Her eyes wandered towards her, gauging her reaction.
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded approvingly.
¡°And why are ... we here at the adventurer''s guild?¡±
¡°Good girl~. You learn fast~.¡± Aurora rewarded her doll with a proper head pat, caressing, ruffling her soft hair. The girl deserved a small reward for her efforts. ¡°As for your question, as for why we are here, it is a long story ... If you allow me to explain.
It all started the night you died. That was the moment I took over then. I restored our body to the best of my abilities and took thereafter all measures that were necessary to survive, which were rather necessary. Because I must confess that I certainly did not expect to be thrown straight into the mist of battle just after reincarnating. I had the honour to be greeted a bunch of bloodthirsty and cold blooded assassins welcomed me. That was a rather nasty surprise of the more unwelcome kind. Not a pleasant experience, if I might say so. Our soul was ... severely damaged, and our mana reserves ... depleted. Yet, I was forced to fight immediately. But we made it through. Somehow. We survived.¡± There was a hint of pride and a sense of accomplishment in her voice.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora listened attentively, following her every word. ¡°What ... What happened to them?¡±
¡°To whom?¡± Aurora grinned, folding her hands.
¡°To the assassins ... What ... What happened to them?¡± Little Aurora stared at her.
Her words amused Aurora. Her question elicited a giggle. ¡°What a curious question ... I think that it should be obvious. They were the enemy. They represented a threat. I dealt with them accordingly.¡±
¡°Does that ... Does that mean you killed them?¡± Little Aurora hesitated, her voice wavering. Her reaction was so cute and heart warming. Such childish innocence was a rare sight indeed. Especially, in a harsh world like this one.
Aurora nodded in response. ¡°Obviously. Not that I had much of choice in this matter.¡±
¡°...¡± Her words unsettled little Aurora, her throat gulping. ¡°All ... of them?¡±
Aurora giggled. ¡°All of them. Down to the last man. After all, survivors would have been rather inconvenient, wouldn''t they?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora fell silent, reluctant to speak. ¡°...¡± Her words must have scared her.
¡°Is something the matter, Lady Aurora?¡±
¡°No, ... it is nothing ...¡± Little Aurora shook her head, and yet her hand was shaking, trembling ever so slightly. ¡°It is just ... For you being able to kill all of them ... It means that you must be strong. Stronger than anyone I know.¡±
Aurora furrowed an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, how so?¡±
Her doll looked at her. ¡°You killed them. You killed them all. Whoever they were, they killed Geralt. They killed the knights. They outnumbered us. And yet you slaughtered them. All on your own. All alone.¡±
Aurora beamed. ¡°You are correct.¡±
¡°That is only possible if you are strong. In fact, this is a feat far beyond mere strength.¡±
Aurora smiled secretively, a giggle accompanying her. ¡°You are a sharp girl, Lady Aurora. I give you that. To be found out so easily.¡±
Little Aurora clenched her tiny fists, mustering her courage. ¡°So you are telling the truth? So you are strong?¡±
Aurora flashed a satisfied grin. ¡°It is a possibility that I will neither deny, no confirm. But I will admit that I am a practitioner of the magic arts, and that my strength should not be underestimated. My name was feared by friend and foe alike. The rest ... I will leave it up to your imagination.¡±
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Arc V Chapter 23
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Arc V Chapter 23
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora continued her tale, ¡°Anyway~, night followed next. I was tired, and I took refuge under a nearby tree. Sleep came easily to me. I woke up in the morning. I then explored the area in search for food and supplies. Survival was my priority. It didn''t take long until I stumbled across an abandoned carriage. Corpses and death littered the ground. It was the place where the ambush had taken place the night before. Judging by the sight, I doubt that anyone survived the carnage. The assassins certainly knew their craft.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora looked unsure.
¡°I was able to secure the necessary supplies. I acquired some food, some money, a useful pouch, a pair of fresh clothes, a dagger, and not to mention you.¡± Her stare fell on her doll.
Little Aurora blinked, pointing at herself. ¡°Me?¡±
¡°Amidst all the chaos, I discovered a wooden box, and not just some wooden box. Its mere sight attracted my attention to a degree I could not understand back then. It was as if something was triggered within me. As if my subconsciousness was inevitably drawn to it. I only realised later as to why when I gained access to more of your memories. Inside the box, there was you, or rather our doll. No wonder that the box provoked such a strong emotional stimulus. Your attachment to your doll, the bond you formed between each other, was strong enough to survive even your death. Your body yearned for your doll.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora fell silent, processing the new information. ¡°The more I gained access ... What is that supposed to mean?¡±
¡°Oh, that~.¡± Aurora giggled in response. ¡°Surprised, aren''t we, Lady Aurora? Though, I would hardly call it a surprise. As I told you, we joined in more than just one way. The more our soul consolidated. The more I gained access to your former memories. And not just them. Your memories, your emotions, your feelings, your thoughts, your fears, they all gradually resurfaced as time went on. They returned the longer I inhabited your body. And I must confess, I was truly grateful for them. I must thank you, Lady Aurora. Your memories proved to be a priceless trove of knowledge. They helped me a lot to adapt to this world. Without them, I would have been probably lost. Much we have in common. Much is similar. Much is familiar. As people say, nihil novi sub sole. There is nothing new under the sun. And yet, there is also much new, much alien, much unfamiliar in this world.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora pondered her words. ¡°So I gather that you knew about me. You knew about my identity. You knew who I was when reawakened.¡±
Aurora nodded. ¡°I did indeed.¡±
Her doll clenched her tiny fists. Her glare hardened. ¡°If you knew, then why did you deceive me? Why? Why did you hide your identity? Why did you pretend to be me?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora folded her hands. ¡°That is all true. I did deceive you, but in my defence, it was the right decision. It was a necessary decision. I had my suspicions, but I had to ascertain your identity beyond any reasonable doubt first. Furthermore, it was wise to not tell you immediately. I was not sure how you would react. Imagine being told not only that you have turned into a doll, but also that your former body has been occupied by another person. That would have been a bit much. So, I did my best to soften the blow and give you some time, instead of throwing you directly into the cold water.¡±
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¡°I see ...¡± Little Aurora lowered her gaze. ¡°What happened next then?¡±
¡°I followed the road. The reasoning was simple, roads lead somewhere. They would lead me sooner or later to civilisation. I was not disappointed. My assumption was correct. It didn''t take long before I stumbled across a group of ignorant adventurers. They would prove suitable for my purposes. I infiltrated the group successfully. I pretended to suffer from amnesia. A useful pretence, in retrospect. It was only appropriate to prevent undue questions. The less they knew, the better. That we are the heiress of the House von Schwarz, the daughter of Duke Aurelius, who has just barely escaped a nefarious assassination attempt the previous night ... That was something that they didn''t really need to know.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora neither agreed, nor disagreed.
¡°Anyway, in the end, the adventurers took me in despite some minor reservations on their part. Understandable. After all, I was just some unknown girl they found lying on the road in the middle of the forest. A girl without memory, without name, without history. They didn''t know who I was. Ultimately, though, their sense of humanity and duty prevailed. They took pity on me, a small, weak, little girl, suffering from amnesia, lost in the middle of a dark forest. They are good people. They could impossibly leave me behind. Thus, I joined them, accompanying them for the coming weeks. It was a decision that I did not come to regret. Especially, as they adventurers and their friends provided me with a steady supply of biscuits. Superb biscuits, if I might add. They were truly delicious. Their sacrifice was certainly not in vain.¡± Aurora raised her index finger to emphasise the superbness of Arwing''s biscuits.
¡°Hmm ... I guess so ...¡± little Aurora mused, tilting her head pensively. ¡°Though I must say that you have a point, biscuits are indeed delicious. I always liked them as well.¡±
Aurora returned a joyous smile. ¡°See~, something else that we have in common, isn''t that wonderful? You like biscuits. I like biscuits. We all like biscuits, don''t we?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded hesitantly, her little head moving up and down. There was the trace of a content smile on her lips. It was a weak smile, and yet it was unmistakeably there. Its sight filled Aurora with a sense of relief.
Aurora continued, ¡°Anyway, as said, I joined the group of adventurers. They were led by a man named Lambert. He was a swordsman and their leader. He seemed like a nice guy, together with the rest of his party. Time proved me correct. They are all nice people. Not to mention, helpful people, very helpful people. They have been providing for us all this time without much complaint. Lambert is footing most of the bills. He is paying for our food, our clothes, our breakfast. He is even shouldering our tuition fees.¡±
¡°Tuition fees?¡± Little Aurora raised a questioning eyebrow.
¡°Yes, ... tuition fees. It is a long story. But don''t worry, we will return to it. Later. Where was I again? Ah, yes, Lambert ... Truly a kind hearted man. Now that I think about it, I should certainly thank him and the rest of his party properly for their continuous support and benevolence. One day. Not today. Not tomorrow. But one day, for sure. When it is appropriate. As a matter of fact, the woman there ... The one sleeping in the bed ...¡± Aurora''s hand motioned at the bed, pointing at Iris'' sleeping figure. ¡°That is Iris. She is the party''s domestic magic practitioner, or mage.¡±
¡°Oh ...¡± Little Aurora glanced past her, studying Iris intently.
¡°We are currently sharing a room to limit lodging expenses. You know, Freyburg ... It is an expensive place to be these days ...¡± Aurora explained.
¡°Hmm, I understand¡±, little Aurora commented.
¡°Long story short, they were on a mission. Lambert and his party were heading for Valentia. They escorted two elves, a man and a woman. They were some kind of scholars, some kind of archaeologists, ... No idea what they were exactly. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things.¡±
¡°Elves ...¡± Little Aurora narrowed her eyes, her fists clenched. Her voice was laced with rightful indignation and anger. Her mood deteriorated drastically the moment they were mentioned. A reaction hardly surprising, considering past events.
Aurora maintained a polite smile. ¡°Judging by your reaction, you don''t seem to particularly like them and their kin, do you?¡±
¡°I don''t.¡± Little Aurora crossed her tiny arms and puffed up her cheeks. ¡°As a matter of fact, I hate them. I hate them all, every last of them, and why shouldn''t I? These wretched elves are the ones who murdered my brother in cold blood. They took him from me.¡± Anger and resentment spoke from her tongue with such vehemence, and yet ... Her crossed arms ... Her puffed up cheeks ... Despite the hatred in her voice, despite the harshness of her words, there was still a certain adorable cuteness, a certain childish innocence, a certain naive kindness that resided deep within her. Aurora possessed a gentle soul. No wonder that she got bullied at the academy. She was the perfect prey.
Aurora merely nodded, folding her hands. ¡°Understandable. They took from you the brother you loved. It is only natural to hate them. Not that I would judge you. Quite the contrary, I approve. Hatred is a very human response. It is an exceedingly potent emotion, not to mention, an exceedingly potent weapon. One that is quite useful to have, at times, if I might add.¡±
Little Aurora met her with a blank stare, a stare of patent confusion. ¡°I don''t ... understand ...¡±
¡°Trust me, you will. Eventually. When you are older and wiser.¡± Aurora returned an enigmatic smile.
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Arc V Chapter 24
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Arc V Chapter 24
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
Aurora pinched the bridge of her nose, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. ¡°Where did I leave off again? Ehm, yes, Valentia ... Right, Valentia ... I remember now. As said, Lambert and his party were on a mission. They were commissioned by the elves. Together, they were heading for Valentia. I accompanied them. We eventually reached the city, or at least whatever remained of it after all these centuries.
We were greeted by the sight of endless ruins, the ruins of a once proud city. Nothing but rubble and stone as far as they eyes reached. It was where we made our camp for the following weeks. The elven scholars tended to their duties, investigating, exploring, mapping the ruins. Lambert and his party guarded them, protecting them from any potentially unpleasant surprises. Lambert admonished me to stay cautious and not wander around on my own. As it turns out, the ancient ruins of Valentia are apparently dangerous. ¡±
Little Aurora tilted her cute little head. ¡°Are they?¡±
A guarded smile was her answer. ¡°Somewhat ...¡±
¡°Somewhat ...?¡± Little Aurora reacted visibly confused.
Aurora giggled in response. ¡°Yes, somewhat. Especially for incautious, little girls wandering around alone on their own with their dolls without protection. Not necessarily something that I would recommend for your personal health.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora met her with a blank, aghast stare, her eyes barely blinking.
¡°Come on, no need to give me this accusing look, Lady Aurora. Everything went well. It was but a minor, negligible inconvenience. I, or rather we, got attacked by a ... by a ... by a dread wolf! It was a dread wolf!¡±
Her words did little to soothe little Aurora. ¡°A ... dread wolf?¡±
Aurora nodded, raising her index finger. ¡°Yes, a dread wolf.¡±
Her doll gulped. ¡°One of those big, evil, scary elemental beast dread wolves?¡±
Aurora smiled. ¡°Yes, one of those. A fully grown dread wolf, if I might add. Quite the predicament that we found ourselves in.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora fell silent, a sense of fear in her eyes. ¡°Weren''t ... Weren''t ... Weren''t you scared when facing it?¡±
¡°Scared?¡± Aurora furrowed an amused eyebrow. The question confused her. ¡°How so? Why should I have been scared?¡±
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¡°Because ... Because I surely would have been ...¡± Little Aurora started fidgeting with her hands, her head lowered. ¡°Dread wolves are terrifying beasts. We were taught about them at the academy ... They are ... They are a dangerous enemy even for trained warriors.¡±
¡°How admirable of them ... It seems like the Royal Academy is a useful institution, after all.¡± Aurora mustered a polite smile. ¡°As for your question, fear is relative, Lady Aurora. No reason to fear those beneath you. Trust me, I have seen worse. I have faced worse. I have fought worse. I have survived worse.¡±
Little Aurora gulped once again. ¡°I see ...¡±
¡°Now, the expedition continued, and we eventually set foot in Valentia''s citadel. The citadel was enormous, reaching deep down into the hill. The days passed, although not without another major incident. While the dread wolf incident was more due to unfortunate circumstances, the latter was primarily my fault.¡±
Her doll stared at her. ¡°What ... happened?¡±
Aurora folded her hands defensively. Her guilt still stung sharp. ¡°You see, I was in a bit of a difficult situation. My coffers were rather empty, and it was clear that I would require, sooner or later, some funds for personal use. I needed money, and the ruins provided the perfect opportunity to fill my war chest. So I set out on my own to explore the ruins in the hope to find something valuable. I was not disappointed. I managed to penetrate deep into the citadel, even to access some unexplored areas. The areas proved profitable, rich in gold and silver, rich in coin and jewellery. I took what I needed and filled my pockets to the brim. Unfortunately, I committed a major blunder. While plundering and scavenging the battlefield, I accidentally, unintentionally, involuntarily might have awakened an arch demon. I honestly didn¡¯t expect an arch demon to slumber within the ruins. I broke the seal containing him and thus freed him after all these centuries. Not necessarily the brightest idea of mine, but there is little reason to cry over spilt milk. What happened, happened, right?¡± Aurora hoped for some external support. Instead, however, she was met with a wall of silence.
...
...
...
Little Aurora merely stared at her, stupefied shocked, mortified. ¡°You ... did ... WHAT!? You accidentally awakened a DEMON!?¡±
¡°Not a demon. An arch demon. Big difference.¡± Aurora raised her index finger, quick to correct her doll. ¡°They are way tougher and meaner than normal demons.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora fell quiet, her pure horror palpable. Her words might have scared the poor girl a little bit too much. The girl was a shy, timid kitten and had to be treated accordingly.
¡°In my defence, though, it was not as bad as it sounds. Look, we all made it out alive. That¡¯s a good thing, isn¡¯t it? Nobody ... got severely injured. Nobody died. Everyone survived. Everyone is happy. Although the walls took some considerable structural damage, and we were lucky to get out before the ceiling would have crushed us beneath its weight. And although my personal intervention was ultimately needed to dispatch the arch demon, not without some effort. He was quite the tough fellow. The battle required more of my strength than I had expected, more than our body was frankly able to handle. In my eagerness, I slightly overburdened our body, as neither our body, nor our soul are yet ready to channel the necessary amounts of mana to a satisfactory degree. Our magic abilities are ... underdeveloped, nevertheless, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Because it was too early for Lambert and his companions to die. Especially because of a mistake of mine, a careless mistake.¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora was still left speechless, unable to utter a single sound. ¡°You are either the bravest, or the most insane girl I have ever met.¡±
¡°You know, I heard that before.¡± Aurora returned a smile, poking her doll''s cheeks. ¡°So, I will take that as a compliment.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Her doll went quiet.
¡°Anyway, that is how the expedition ended. We left Valentia, returning to Freyburg. We and the elves parted ways on the way. It was a long journey, but we eventually reached Freyburg. I successfully entered the city despite a lack of documents. We then made our way to the adventurer''s guild. That is how we landed here.
The only question that now remained was, what were Lambert and his party supposed to do with me? It was clear that they couldn¡¯t take care of me forever, a little girl without name, without identity, without history. They were tempted to get rid of me, possibly by putting me into an orphanage. Fortunately for us, I was able to convince them otherwise through cuteness and persuasion. Their hearts weren''t made of stones. They weren''t terrible people. They never stood a chance. I was able to convince them to take further care of me, even to champion my guild application. I decided to join the adventurer''s guild and become an adventurer. They funded and supported my efforts. Lambert paid for my gear. Thanks to their help, I made it into the adventurer junior programme for starting adventurers. Now I am one among the many, one among the many aspiring adventurers, among the many hopeful souls who dream to achieve more than their humble birth ever destined them to. Now I am just a simple student, and not the heiress of the noble and proud House von Schwarz. I am even frequenting some reading and writing classes recently. They are quite ... entertaining.¡±
Little Aurora raised a confused eyebrow. ¡°You are doing what? Why are you in a reading and writing class?¡±
Aurora elaborated, a smile on her lips, ¡°Well, you see, they are mandatory. But that aside, it was necessary in order to hide our identity. Circumstances forced us to pretend that we couldn¡¯t read. After all, it would be more than a little bit suspicious for a little girl they found in the middle of the forest being able to read. That would be rather uncommon for a child, a girl no less. It would immediately betray our higher education and our higher birth. That was not something I could allow to happen. Especially since they are probably already suspecting me.¡±
¡°I guess ... that makes sense¡±, her doll tentatively agreed.
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Arc V Chapter 25
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Arc V Chapter 25
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora steeled her gaze, her eyes focused on her. ¡°So ... So you are planning to become an adventurer?¡±
Aurora nodded. ¡°More or less, I am indeed planning on becoming an adventurer. That is the current goal, at least for the time being. We are currently training and studying to get our full adventurer licence. When we finish our classes, the guild will promote us to copper rank.¡±
¡°I see ...¡± A heavy sigh escaped her favourite doll. Her sigh carried a sense of melancholy that was difficult to ignore.
¡°I have no intention to intrude, but is something the matter, Lady Aurora? Something seems to bother you.¡± Aurora deployed her best smile.
¡°... ... ...¡± The girl averted her eyes, her reluctance apparent. ¡°...¡±
Her reaction elicited a grin. A shy one was she, wasn''t she? ¡°Lady Aurora, do not presume that you can deceive me. It is obvious that something weighs upon your heart. As I told you before, we both are now one. You don''t need to hide. Feel free to tell me. Tell me what is bothering you, Lady Aurora.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora turned her attention once again to her, staring at her intently. ¡°You said ... You said you want to become an adventurer. Why? Why an adventurer?¡±
Aurora returned a smile. ¡°Why? Why not. The life of an adventurer is a free one, so why shouldn''t I pursue such a calling?¡± This wasn''t really about becoming an adventurer, or not, was it?
¡°... ... ...¡± A hint of sadness invaded her voice. Her wavering eyes met her gaze. ¡°So ... So you will abandon me. So you will abandon my name.¡± So this it was. She now understood.
¡°...¡± Aurora folded her hands in indifference. ¡°Elaborate.¡±
Little Aurora clenched her fists, determination invigorating her words. ¡°Why? Why do you want to choose the life of an adventurer? Does that mean that I will never see them again? Will I never see father again? Will I never see Friedrich again? Will I never see Maria again?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora narrowed her eyes, yet the girl didn''t yield.
Her opponent pressed her assault without flinching. ¡°Will you abandon my name? Will abandon everything I ever was, everything I ever had, everything I ever wanted? Will I never be Aurora von Schwarz again?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora remained unmoved.
¡° Anwser me. Anwser me, Aurora.¡±
Her words elicited a giggle from her lips. Aurora was unable to hide her amusement. ¡°So you finally used my name, Lady Aurora. How wonderful.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora didn''t budge. Not that she expected otherwise.
¡°I think, ... I see now what moves your heart, Lady Aurora. You do not want to lead the life of an adventurer. You wish to return to your old life, do you not? You wish to return to what you hold dear, to what is precious to you. You wish for me to reclaim your name, your heritage, your legacy? You wish to be once again Lady Aurora von Schwarz, heiress to the noble House von Schwarz. Is that what you will, what your heart desires?¡±
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¡°... ... ...¡± Hesitation gripped her, yet her hesitation was short lived. Little Aurora nodded. Her nod proved the depth of her resolve. ¡°It is.¡±
Aurora scrutinised the girl, probing her, testing her. ¡°Are you sure about it, Lady Aurora. Do you truly comprehend what you demand from me? Do you truly comprehend what your wishes encompass, Lady Aurora?¡±
¡°I do¡±, little Aurora spoke, her voice firm.
Yet Aurora disagreed, ¡°With all due respect, Lady Aurora, but I have my sincere doubts. You say you wish to return. You say you wish to reclaim your old life, and yet you seem oblivious to the implications of your words. Or have you already forgotten, Lady Aurora? Your world is one that has treated you far from kindly. It is a world that has rejected you. A world has shunned you. A world that has scorned you all these years. A world that has treated you with contempt and derision, with ridicule and disdain. A world that has judged you unworthy, inadequate in the eyes of so many. A world that has inflicted so much pain and misery on you, a little, helpless girl. It is even the world that has murdered you in cold blood only because of your name. We both know the truth, Lady Aurora. These were not just some forlorn bandits. These were assassins. They wanted you, you alone. This is your world, and yet you seek to return to it. But not only that, you even ask me to honour your memory. You ask me to be you. You ask me to lead your life. You ask me to play a role I was not meant for.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora fell silent, her lips sealed.
¡°Tell me, Lady Aurora, on what basis, do you make such demands? What right do you have to ask so much of me? What do I owe you? I have nothing to do, neither with you, nor with your family, neither with your past, nor with your future. And yet you ask me to be you. You ask me to lead a life that I have never chosen, a life that was never my own, to brave a world I thought behind me, only because I inhabit your body due to some unforeseeable vagrancy of fate ...¡± Aurora shook her head, a heavy sigh escaping her. ¡°You ask much, Lady Aurora. The moment I claim your name, you will not only bind yourself, but also me. You will bind my fate to yours. You will bind me to a life of duty once again. It is the life of a noble. It is a life I know well. It is a world I know only too well. It is a world I was reared for before. It Is that truly what you wish, Lady Aurora? ¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora averted her eyes, avoiding her gaze. ¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Her doll went quiet.
¡°...¡± Aurora folded her hands. ¡°Lady Aurora, I await your response. Ultimately, it all depends on you, is this truly what you wish? If you truly should will so, I will see to it within my capacities.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora hesitated, yet the girl gathered her courage at last. Her tiny head nodded. Her throat gulped. Her nervousness was written all across her face. ¡°I know ... that what I ask of you is much, Aurora ... I know ... that I don''t have the right to ask of this much ... I know that we share little beyond our name ... I know ... that you are not me ...¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora listened, weighing her every word with care.
Little Aurora raised her head, her chin held high. ¡°I know ... that my life has not treated me kindly. I know ... that they look down upon me because I failed to live up to my name and blood. I know that they despise me. I know that they judge me inadequate. I know that it was them who murdered. I know all that. I understand all that ... But!¡±
Aurora furrowed an eyebrow with a healthy amount of scepticism. ¡°But what?¡±
Little Aurora clenched her tiny, doll sized fists. ¡°But I will not abandon my life like this. I cannot abandon my life like this!¡±
A faint smile crept up Aurora''s lips. What an auspicious development. This was what she wanted to hear, a cause worthy to fight for. ¡°Why not? Nobody would hinder you, Your Ladyship.¡±
Her doll shook her head, disagreeing in the strongest terms. ¡°I neither can, nor I will. I am who I am, and no matter what, no matter what people say, no matter what people think, I was born a noble. There are duties and obligations resting on me since the day I was born. I might not be the strongest. I might not be most talented. I might be timid. I might be meek, but I will not run! Even I have my pride. I am Aurora von Schwarz, heiress to the noble House von Schwarz. I will not disappoint all those who believed in me all these years. That is why we must return. That is why ask you, Aurora, please, please be our strength.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora scrutinised her doll one last time. The girl had mustered all her courage, all her resolve ... There was no doubt about the strength of her conviction. No hint of incertitude.
¡°Please.¡± Little Aurora reinforced her plea.
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Aurora rose from her chair, strolling through the moonlit room, towards the window, towards the endless night sky. Her eyes observed the brilliant stars. ¡°You know, Lady Aurora, I always suspected that this day would come eventually. I always knew that I was never meant to forgo my destiny, not in my previous life, nor in this life. Sooner or later, the truth would find its way to reveal itself. Not today, not tomorrow, but the day would come my act was meant to end. Even as an adventurer, our eyes, our blood, our abilities, our element, the colour of our fire, they are unshakeable proof of our heritage. A young girl, black hair, purple eyes. A master of the arcane arts of magic and of the purple flames. We would inevitably attract attention, and what was hidden from plain sight would be ultimately uncovered. I didn''t expect it, though, to happen this soon ... because of a living doll, no less. Life truly never fails to surprise.¡±
Aurora turned around, away from the window, her eyes aimed again at the girl. ¡°You realise that you are forcing my hand, Lady Aurora? Your cause is a worthy one, yet you ask much of me. Perhaps too much. You ask me to take a difficult decision ... One that I must not necessarily take, but your heart has spoken, and I will heed your wish. I will not deny you what you seek, Lady Aurora. I only hope that we won''t regret our decision.¡±
¡°...¡± Her eyes brightened with a glimmer of new found hope. ¡°So ... So you will return?¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora nodded after a moment of silence. ¡°We will. We will reclaim what was yours, what is ours, albeit not now. It is still too early to act. The moment ... isn''t the right one, yet, but knowing my luck, it will be upon us soon enough. Now, however, it is time to sleep. The coming week will be a long one, Lady Aurora.¡±
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Arc V Codex V
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Arc V Codex V
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Arcadia Political Map
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Events
I - Discussion between Friedrich and Viktor - hereditary questions - County of M?hren -
- School lessons - reading and writing classes with Erika -
- Magic lessons with Iris - rudimentary lessons - magic system and elements explained -
- Acquiring additional funds - visiting antique and antiquity shop - antique trader - negotiations with Gregor - coins of Valentia successfully exchanged -
- Doll fully awakening - talks between the two - decision to return taken -
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Characters
Lord Viktor von Ehrbach - Noble - House von Ehrbach - Lord - son of a count - County of Stiglitz - heir -
Lady Angelika von Lilienthal - Noble - House von Lilienthal - Lady - daughter of a count - County of M?hren - heiress - deceased - died in a fire one year ago -
Lord Felix - Noble - Lord - Galizyean - son of a Boyar - in service to the House von Ehrbach - loyal - swordsman -
Duke Lucius von Edelsheim - Noble - House von Edelsheim - Duke - Duchy of Berlitz - Archchancellor - Royal Chancellor - confidant of the king -
Maria - Aurora''s personal maid -
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Arc VI Chapter 1
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 1
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Anno Imperii 18.04.1932
The first rays of dawn pierced her windows, announcing the coming day. Their gentle light roused the whole room from its deep slumber under the auspice of chirping birds. It was nature, rearing her head once more.
...
...
...
¡°Lady Aurora.¡±
...
...
...
¡°Lady Aurora.¡±
...
...
...
¡°Lady Aurora, it is time to rise¡±, an unfamiliar voice filled the room. It was a female voice without a doubt, but its allegiance escaped her knowledge, eluding her. It was a voice she neither knew, nor ever had heard before. It was a voice unknown to her. Who was she? Who was this woman? Who was this voice that even called with a subtle sense of intimacy? Did they know each other? If so, then why didn''t she remember her?
¡°Lady Aurora, I repeat, it is time to rise. Breakfast has been prepared. Furthermore, your father awaits you, Lady Aurora. It would be unwise to make His Grace wait.¡±
Breakfast? Father? His Grace? Questions filled Aurora''s mind. How ... How was this possible? How was father here? How had he found her? Was her soul not locked inside her doll? Had all of it been only an unsettling dream?
¡°...¡± Her body turned, rolling around in her soft bed, giving in to the luring temptations of slumber and fluffy pillows instead of rousing. In the end, the voice''s words went unheard and were ignored. Her actions did little to please the unknown voice. Quite the contrary.
¡°Lady Aurora, with all due respect, but I must unfortunately insist. It is time for you to rise. The day before you is long, and your schedule busy. Your father awaits you. Not to mention, your lessons are due to begin, Lady Aurora.¡±
¡°...¡± There was no reaction from her body. Her arms were still wrapped around her fluffy pillow, unwilling to change the status quo. Her body refused to listen, embracing the joys of blissful slumber.
The voice sighed with a mild sense of consternation, as if the current predicament was a situation that she was quite familiar with, far more than she would like. As if this impasse was hardly a rare occurrence, but rather one that befell her, much to the woman''s displeasure, with a certain degree of regularity. ¡°Lady Aurora, there is no need for Your Ladyship to pretend to be still asleep. I know Your Ladyship well. I am keenly aware that Your Ladyship is awake and listening. It is time.¡±
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
¡°... ... ... How unfortunate ...¡±, her body answered, her lips moving. A stern voice resounded. It was a youthful voice, melodious and tender. The voice of a child. The voice of a little girl. A girl of her age, or younger. It was her voice, yet not. The voice was strange ... different. Cold. Resolute. Firm. Hardened. This voice ... The ductus ... The tone ... The similarities were uncanny. They all very much reminded her of a certain someone ... Of a certain girl whom she had come to know in recent times.
Aurora stretched her arms and yawned. Her eyes opened, her eyelids adapting to the golden glow of the dawning sun. Her drowsy body rose from beneath layers upon layers of silk sheets and pillows on her canopy bed, her tousled hair surrounding her. The sight of an opulent bedroom greeted her, a room adorned with ornate furniture, tapestries, and the air of noble extravagance. The style was alien, yet the sense of opulence wasn''t. This was undoubtedly the room of a noble scion. This was her room. Her little kingdom. It always had been, even when she had never been here before.
Her eyes fell on the mysterious woman attending her, the source of the unknown voice. Dark hazelnut hair, green eyes, a decade her senior, the woman appeared to be a servant, a trusted maid, her trusted maid. Even though she had never seen this woman before, her black and white garbs, her apron, her neatly pinned hair betrayed her station. Her name was Anna, and it was her duty to accompany her mistress since childhood.
How did she know her name?
¡°Guten Morgen, Lady Aurora. I hope that Your Ladyship enjoyed a pleasant night¡¯s sleep.¡± Anna bowed, lowering her head to offer her respect to those of higher birth, a notion rightfully appropriate, only too natural within the borders of the Reich.
The Reich?
¡°... ... ...¡± Her body merely acknowledged Anna before moving on its own. Her petite toes touched the soft carpet, approaching her maid. Her arms rose and her neglig¨¦e waited. ¡°Anna.¡± A single world sufficed to convey her intentions. Her wish was her command.
Her maid nodded and commenced her work. Anna hurried. ¡°Of course, My Lady.¡±
Her silken neglig¨¦e dropped to the ground, her naked body now laid bare to the eyes of the world, revealing her slender figure beneath strands of her black hair, her fair complexion, her immaculate skin. A mild blush overcame Aurora at the sight. This body ... This body was one of absolute perfection. One almost artificial. One that of a doll.
...
...
...
This was not her. This was not her room. This was not her maid. This was not her world ...
Who was this girl? Where was she?
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora''s eyes shot wide open, her entire body shaking, trembling, her breathing erratic, her thoughts in disarray. Her dream had come to an end, but countless questions unanswered remained. What ... was this? What was this dream?
Nothing had changed. Reality had clawed her back and returned her to the room of the previous night. It was the same room she had come to know, the rustic room and furniture located in the adventurer''s guild. Reality returned her to her body. She was a girl not any more, but once again a doll carved from porcelain.
In the distance, there she was, standing motionless in front of the window, her back facing her. There she was, the other Aurora. They were all alone in the room. It was only the two of them.
¡°...¡± Aurora turned her head and their eyes interlocked. Her purple eyes met hers. Her lips formed a saccharine, a suave smile, a knowing smile, an understanding smile, a smile of recognition. ¡°...¡±
There was no doubt, the girl knew. It had not escaped her notice, nor her watchful eyes.
Aurora beamed, her smile unfaltering. ¡°Guten Morgen, Lady Aurora.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora stiffened in an instant. There it was again ... This subtle indifference in her voice. It was her. The dream ... They were her memories. ¡°...¡±
Aurora giggled in response, not bothering to hide her intrigue. ¡°It seems, much as I have suspected, that we do not share just a soul. I presume that you have seen a fragment of my past, Lady Aurora, did you not? I only hope that my memories have not unsettled you.¡±
Bedroom
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Check out my other novel and give it a try! =^.^=
Si Vis Pacem -¡¬- Para Bellum [Naruto FanFic]
Arc I Prologue
Death claims all of us in a timely fashion, but some are granted a second chance.
Armed with ambition, megalomania, and pride alone, an innocent girl reincarnates into the vast world of Naruto with the sole intention of writing history, her history. [Female OC] [AU elements]
Arc VI Chapter 2
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 2
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora stroked her chin, all of her attention focused on the guild board with little Aurora doll safely nestled in her arms.
They had enjoyed a solid breakfast in the company of Sister Iris, a few slices of nutritious bread and a cup of hot milk to support her growth. Little Aurora, meanwhile, had performed admirably, able to maintain her cover flawlessly, without any major incidents. Her angelic smile sufficed to convince Sister Iris that her doll was certainly not moving at times, and that she was just imagining things. Her doll was completely normal. After all, dolls don''t move on their own. Everyone knows such. Anything else would be quite strange, after all, wouldn''t it?
With their breakfast now over, Aurora and her doll had now some time at their disposal before her guild lessons were about to begin. Hartman the Drillmaster would pay them a visit, which meant running more laps and more weapon training. Hartman, though, was still a few hours away.
Thus, they both were currently dedicating all of their attention to the guild board. A flood of leaflets and notices covered the wooden board, providing them with an abundance of equally useful and sometimes frankly useless information. Every day, every morning, she had been visiting the guild board. So far, it had proven to be a worthwhile visit. It was a useful institution, providing publicly accessible information.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora narrowed her eyes, scrutinising the guild boards with great care. ¡°Ah ... Hmm ... I see ... Makes sense ...¡±
A section of the board was, obviously and naturally, dedicated to guild related matters. Things useful to know. Apparently, the membership fee was going to be raised for steel rank adventurers and upwards. Again. Something they probably wouldn''t like. There were also advertisements for advanced sword and combat courses organised by the guild, even for some basic magic classes in cooperation with the venerable church for adventurers with a certain magic aptitude. Elemental magic and basic spells were being discussed. All in exchange for a few pieces of silver. It sounded like a good price.
¡°Hmm, what do you think?¡± Aurora looked at her doll, her freshly promoted most trusted confidant.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora remained silent, however, not moving at all with a cute, little frown plastered on her pretty face. Apparently, she was still angry at her because of what had happened prior. Oh, well ... There was nothing that could be done.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora returned her attention to the guild board. There were various parties recruiting, in search of additional pairs of hands.
The Alehounds, steel rank, searching for a true warrior. Bulky and sturdy. Axe, hammer, or a club. Combat experience desired.
Not appropriate for a petite girl like her. These brutish ways wouldn''t appeal to her, anyway.
The Swords of Unity, silver rank, searching for masters of the blade of great skill and renown. Probation period required.
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That sounded more like a party for her. Not that she was interested.
The Shadow Cabal, gold rank, looking for talented practitioners of the arcane arts, preferentially adepts of the umbral elements! Dark mages assemble! Muahahaha! Muahahahaha! Muahaha!!!
... ... ... Did they really put ¡®muahahaha¡¯ at the end? They were a curious bunch for sure.
The Motley Few, iron rank, freshly founded and promoted, searching for a healer. Female. Pretty and young girls preferred ...
Their thinly veiled tastes ... spoke for them.
¡°What do you say?¡± Aurora eyed her doll.
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora kept silent, still pretending to be nothing but an ordinary doll with much frownsies. Her reaction amused her. It was quite cute.
Aurora suppressed her urge to giggle and returned to the guild board, there were still the news to read. What was happening in Schwarzwalt and the world today? It was time to find out!
¡°Hmm, stone bridge over the Frey near the town of Guben severely damaged by strong flooding caused by rainfalls. Road towards the city of Steyer blocked for the foreseeable future until repairs are completed. Alternative routes are available. Consult your local Merchants'' Guild and Adventurer''s Guild for further information.
- Freyburg Merchants'' Guild and Adventurer''s Guild¡±
Helpful information for traders and adventurers alike.
¡°Freyburg. Countryside. Deluded commoner and companion on horseback attacking windmills, mistaking them for dragons terrorising a nearby village. Local peasants and village folk alike were confused. A case of simple insanity, a silent protest against the introduction of modern production methods in the field of agriculture, or a conspiracy of hostile watermill proprietors against new competition? The mystery remains unresolved!
- Freyburg Courier¡±
Curious.
¡°Beware, brave and loyal burghers of Freyburg, wells and fountains in the leather worker quarter have been possibly poisoned by unknown perpetrators! Multiple cases of inexplicable sickness have lately befallen residents of the district. Investigations are still proceeding!
The City Guard suspects enemy agents are behind these nefarious crimes! Brave citizens, keep your eyes open! The perpetrators could be lurking anywhere!
- Freyburg City Guard. Always watchful!¡±
Yes, leather worker quarter ... Poisoned wells and fountains ... Enemy agents ... Rather fanciful tales ... Sounded more as if the toxic waste had been improperly handled by some of the workshops ...
¡°More silver discovered in the County of Schneeberg! Miners have stumbled across another rich silver vein near Schneeberg, extending deep into the mountains! It appears that the Schneeberg deposits are not meant to deplete soon! They promise work and pay for another century to come.
- Schneeberg Miners'' Guild and Merchants'' Guild¡±
Silver ... Happy news for the Count of Schneeberg, it would seem.
¡°Draconic horde returning! Draconic activity in the Black Alps is increasing! Strong presence in the County of Wolkenstein! Mountain ranges are currently insecure and under threat. Amphipteres, wyverns, even a dragon rumoured to be sighted according to the knights of Wolkenstein. Caution advised! Forces are being marshalled near Drachenburg by the Count of Wolkenstein to meet this threat! Capable adventurers are invited to aid His Lordship in his cause. They will be rewarded for their services!
- Drachenburg Adventurer''s Guild and Merchants'' Guild¡±
Amphipteres ... Wyverns ... A dragon ... Sounded dangerous. Good luck with that.
¡°Pirate menace plaguing the White Sea! Emboldened by recent successes, pirate activity in the White Sea is growing, increasingly threatening vital trade routes and disrupting maritime commerce. As usual, the treacherous and perfidious Elves of Alfreik and their honourless allies are suspected to be behind the pirate attacks. They are rumoured to operate from the island of Eisen and strike with impunity.
The Hanse as well as the Republic of Livonia have both decided to take matters into their own hands! A punitive campaign will be organised to retaliate! The scum of the earth and the fiends of all of humanity will be finally put to justice!
- Freyburg Merchants'' Guild¡±
It sounded as if the pirates had overstayed their welcome and angered some pretty powerful people in the process. Less good for them, but good for commerce!
¡°The holy scriptures may preach peace, but sometimes it is necessary for all those who are faithful to marshal their courage and raise the sword of steel! His Holiness, Ecclesiarche Theodosius XII, has called for another crusade against the savage heathens of the North! The pagan tribes have far too long disturbed the peace of the land! Far too long, we have suffered their ceaseless aggression and provocations! Far too long, we have suffered their misguided beliefs and wicked gods! The time has come for the noble knights and righteous warriors of Norgard to put aside their differences and unite once again under one banner, under one cause! The time has come to answer with fire and fury! We shall show these brutes no quarter, no mercy! We shall purge these faithless heathens from the face of the earth and take what is rightfully ours!
Troops gather near the capital of Eisengard. Preparations under way. Start of the campaign, late spring next year. Adventurers and mercenaries are always welcome, no matter the background! Loot, gold, alcohol, and beautiful women in plentiful supply! Excellent pay! Sins and crimes shall be forgiven! Titles and land will be distributed to major contributors!
- Ecclesiarchy of Norgard¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora had her doubts. That was quite a ... martial language, even for her standards. She had seen much, but never in her life had she advocated such ... draconian measures ... At least, not this openly. And at least, not written. This so called crusade ¡ whatever ... sounded more like a fancy excuse for some good old pillaging, plundering, looting, and raping. Much fun and entertainment for everyone involved at the cost of some poor, unlucky bastards ... But such was life.
¡°Right?¡± Aurora smiled at her doll.
¡°...¡± No reaction. No comment from little Aurora, except for her crossing her tiny arms, pouting.
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Arc VI Chapter 3
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 3
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26
th Ignis Solar IX AAC 753
¡°...¡± Little Aurora crossed her tiny armsies, pouting in patent and open protest.
Aurora merely smiled, her fingers tickling her cute doll, poking her cheeks in the hope she might elicit a reaction. ¡°Come on~. Tickle~. Tickle~. Tickle~. No need to be so shy, Dolly. I know that you are there~. I know that you are listening.¡±
Little Aurora remained stubborn, though, obstinate, and uncooperative, rejecting her advances with resolute determination. ¡°Hmpf ...¡± A sole ¡®hmpf¡¯ was her answer.
Aurora sighed in exasperation. It was of no use, but her arsenal was not yet exhausted. It was time to deploy her ultimate weapon, her puppy eyes. ¡°Dolly, what''s the mwatter? Why are you ignoring mwe~? That''s not fwair~. Aren''t we best fwiends?¡± Her large, amethyst eyes sparkled with the docility of a sad kitten. Little Aurora never stood a chance. Her resistance was melting. She knew her. She knew her soft heart.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora averted her eyes.
¡°...¡± Her kitten eyes intensified.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora tried her best, but it was all in vain. A sigh escaped her lips. ¡°You know why. Hmpf.¡± The girl crossed her armsies. It was apparent that she was still somewhat upset.
Aurora smiled innocently. ¡°Why? Elaborate.¡±
Little Aurora turned her head. ¡°Why do you ask? I am merely doing what you told me to do!¡± The girl stamped her footsie, huffing ¡°There you have it! Stop moving, you said! Behave like a doll, you said! That''s what I am doing! I don''t move. I don''t speak. I behave as a true doll would. That''s what you wanted from me! Hmpf!¡±
¡°Ah, I see.¡± Aurora chuckled, a smile on her lips and her voice lowered. Her anger ... was understandable. At least, partially. ¡°Well, my apologies, Your Ladyship, I understand your discontent. I understand that it is hardly pleasant having to remain stationary. I understand that it is hardly a pleasant task to pretend to be a doll. Nevertheless, it was necessary to remind you of your duties, considering that we were nearly found out. You almost got us caught through negligence on your part, and it took some effort to dispel Iris'' suspicions. After all, I would have quite a lot to explain if it turned out that I have a living, talking, magic doll with the soul of a noble girl right in my arms. You see, I would strongly prefer that not to be the case.¡±
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¡°... ... ... Well, ... I guess, you have a point ...¡± Little Aurora conceded with a mighty frownsie on her face. ¡°Still, not moving at all ... Staying quiet all the time ... It''s straining! It''s terrible! I feel as if I am going insane!¡±
Aurora nodded, signalling her understanding. ¡°I know, I know, I know. You don''t need to tell me. I am keenly aware of your situation, but we have no other choice. We need to maintain our fa?ade, at least for the time being.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora grumbled, but she yielded in front of her rationale with a heavy sigh. ¡°I understand ...¡±
Aurora smiled, greatly satisfied with the outcome of their negotiations. ¡°I am glad to hear that. Just promise to give me your best, and everything will be fine. You can always move a little bit here, a little there when nobody is watching. Trust me, we will get through it. Somehow.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora stared at her with a certain degree of doubt, but her decision stood. ¡°I will try to.¡±
¡°Good girl~.¡± Aurora petted her doll, gently caressing her hair. ¡°That''s all I wanted to hear, and more.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora seemed less than happy, returning to her previous doll like state, which should hardly surprise her, considering that her loyal companion was indeed a doll.
¡°Ah, yes!¡± Aurora raised her index finger. ¡°Now, before I forget to mention it ... There is something important! Something immensely important! You know, we can talk freely. ¡±
Little Aurora furrowed an eyebrow, her confusion tangible. ¡°What?¡±
Aurora folded her hands. ¡°You see, as a matter of fact, nobody can hear you. Except for me. I can hear you, and you can hear me. Anyone else, however, can only hear me, but not you. ¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora blinked.
¡°So considering that nobody can hear you, that means we don''t need to worry about eavesdropping, which means that we don''t need to worry about being found out, which means that you don''t need to play the silent doll, which ergo means that you can talk to me as much as you would like~.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora was still blinking, still confused. ¡°I do not wish to disagree, but are you really sure?¡±
Aurora nodded. ¡°Quite so. In fact, if you wish, we can easily put my theory to test. I will hold you up, and then you will shout at the top of your lungs. If nobody reacts, we know that I am right. Sounds like a good plan, doesn''t it?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora was less than impressed by her proposal. ¡°I would rather not ...¡±
¡°Oh, come on~.¡± Aurora tickled her doll. ¡°There is no need to be shy. You can trust me about this. I assure you, nobody will hear you. To the world, we will just be a normal doll and a little girl of questionable sanity with the uncanny habit of talking way too often to her cute doll. Not that they think otherwise already. Anyway, how does that sound to you?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora chose to ignore the latter half of her comment. ¡°Still, how are you so certain?¡±
¡°How not? Considering that you have no vocal cords, you cannot produce audible sounds. You are merely a doll. So, it is obvious that your voice can''t travel by physical means, which means that your voice must be incorporeal. As it happens, our souls are closely connected, and it is far from uncommon for familiars to communicate through telepathy. This would explain a lot.¡±
Little Aurora pondered, tapped her lips with her tiny porcelain fingers.¡°Well, that is certainly a possibility. But can familiars not typically speak with other people as well?¡±
¡°Yes. But these familiars are usually far older, far wiser, far stronger, and not a freshly awakened doll with a fragile consciousness, a faint presence, and an unstable mana core that I had to feed just this morning with some of my mana to keep you from falling back into a state of dormancy¡±, Aurora pointed out.
¡°I guess, ... you might have a point there ...¡± little Aurora grudgingly conceded.
Aurora scoffed. ¡°Yes, quite possibly.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 4
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 4
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24
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°Ahhh ...¡± Hartman leaned back in his chair, granting his poor, old back a brief respite from the arduous realities of administrative work and the horrors of bureaucracy. Serving as a guild instructor was an honour, an onerous honour times, but an honour nevertheless, one that he gladly accepted in his late days. It was the duty of the elder to guide, to instruct, to educate, to nurture the younger generations. The young deserved their wisdom. Such was the duty and responsibility of the old ...
Nevertheless, he was an adventurer ... A fighter ... A swordsman by heart and mind ... And not a glorified clerk ... Spears, pole arms, swords, bows, armours, shields. Training, practice, exercises, drills, sweat. Such washis world. And not this world of paper and office work, but not that he had much of a choice. In the end, someone had to write the reports and file the paperwork. At least, it was all for a good cause.
Hartman opened his fatigued eyes, returning to reality, only to be confronted with a sea of names and files, each of them an aspiring adventurer on their own. ¡°Ebner ...¡±
More than a month had passed since the latest batch of students had been inducted. The youngsters were now under his guidance, with already some visible progress to show for it. They had noticeably improved from completely useless and green behind the ears to less useless and somewhat less green behind the ears. Some more. Some less. Some of them proved to be promising. Some of them, less so. And others were lost cases altogether, although it was probably still too early to judge them when most of the brats had been wielding a sword for scarcely a month, without prior training whatsoever. It showed. The majority had to be taught from the ground up, which was only to be expected. It was the reason why their courses existed, to begin with.
Glancing up from his work, Hartman eyed Erika from across his desk, his colleague and teacher in academic matters. ¡°How is the boy doing in class? He is quite the rash and energetic lad. I hope that he hasn¡¯t been giving you any trouble, Erika?¡±
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Erika giggled, waving her arms. ¡°Oh, no, no ... Not at all. Ebner is an eager and diligent student. He has been paying attention and following my teachings, not that he needs them. He already knows how to read. He knows how to write. His writing could admittedly need some polishing here and there, but by and large, his reading and writing skills are more than adequate for an adventurer. Judging by his level, he must have enjoyed some sort of prior education.¡±
¡°I see. Hardly surprising, I guess.¡± Hartman viewed his file. ¡°The boy is the youngest son of a carpenter. His family owns a workshop. They probably had some silver to spare for a modest education. Either through the church, or a school.¡±
¡°Probably¡±, Erika nodded in agreement. ¡°... And how is he faring in training?¡±
¡°Well, ...¡± Hartman''s face hardened. ¡°Let''s say, his fighting skills are ... improveable, to put things mildly. The boy is a fine lad. He is stubborn. He is tenacious. The only problem is his footwork. It''s atrocious, and his weapon skills, barely existent. He comes from a family of artisans, and it shows.¡± Not everyone was fortunate enough to be born into a family of the sword, into a family of adventurers.
¡°What are we going to do?¡± Erika asked.
Hartman stared at his name on the sheet of paper before him, deliberating. ¡°Nothing. He lags behind when it comes to fighting skills, but he has been steadily improving. And that is what counts. It will take a few months, most likely until next year, but we should get him where we need him before spring. In any case, it''s too early for him to graduate.¡±
Erika nodded, concurring, ¡°Sounds reasonable.¡±
¡°Excellent, Ebner done. Time for the next. Whom do we have now?¡± Hartman grabbed another file. Who was the lucky child this time?
A mere glance sufficed to elicit a grin from Hartman''s motionless lips. It was her, their little domestic doll lover. ¡°Edelgart ... Lambert''s little girl ... I guess, she must be special.¡±
The girl was fortunate, indeed. Fourteen years old. Born in Freyburg. An orphan. No parents. Background unknown. No prior connection. Not only did Lambert and his party take her in, but he also threw his full weight behind her without a second thought. He even talked Wolfgang into accepting her, which was hardly surprising. Of course, the guild master would never refuse his former disciple and student.
Hartman glanced sidewards. ¡°How are the girl and her doll doing, Erika? Have they been studying diligently?¡±
Edelgart. Her mere name sufficed to summon a warm smile. Erika clapped her hands together, nodding vigorously. ¡°Oh, yes. Very much so. Edelgart is a good girl. Always diligent and studious. Always so attentive. Her sparkling eyes. Her fluffy cheeks. Isn''t she a cute one?¡±
¡°...¡± Hartman furrowed an eyebrow, unable to escape the impression that some favouritism might be at work here. ¡°I take that to mean that she can read and write?¡±
¡°Well, not initially. She clearly struggled, but her progress ever since has been nothing short of astonishing.¡± Erika beamed. ¡°Her learning speed is simply extraordinary. Her reading and writing skills have been improving astronomically with each passing week, quickly overtaking most in the class. In short, Edelgart has been the perfect student so far. I am very proud of her.¡± The pride in her voice was tangible.
¡°I see¡±, Hartman concluded. Lambert and his party must have helped her in some way or form.
¡°Anyway, how has she been doing in training? I hope you don''t treat her too roughly, Hartman. Edelgart is a good girl¡±, Erika gave him a challenging stare, as if she was suspecting him of committing heinous crimes.
Hartman merely chuckled in response to her sudden protectiveness. As it turned out, the girl had taken Erika''s heart by storm. ¡°Oh, don''t worry. Erika, I treat her well. Trust me, I am not hazing her or anything like that, if you think so. Not that she would need it. The girl might be fooling around most of the day, but we both know that she is a feisty one. We both saw her fight, Erika. That fight against Ludolf ... The way she moved. They way she baited him. They way she wielded her sword. The girl definitely knows how to fight. Not to mention, I am quite sure that she was using aura during the fight.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 5
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 5
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24
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°What? Aura?¡± Erika''s eyes widened. ¡°Are you certain, Hartman?¡±
Hartman nodded. ¡°Yes, I am. I know what I saw, Erika. I have seen aura in action countless times before. Her movements ... Her speed ... Her acceleration ... Her strength ... Her blows were far too fast and far too heavy for a puny girl of her size and age. I tell you, Erika, the girl is an aura user. I can''t say if she was using aura consciously or unconsciously, but what''s sure is that she has a talent for it. No wonder that Lambert took an interest in her. He has a discerning eye.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Erika fell silent. ¡°So she is going to graduate?¡±
Hartman nodded. ¡°Yes. No need to keep her here any longer than necessary. Edelgart has all of what it takes to become an adventurer. She is devious, through and through. She knows how to read and write. She knows how to fight. She is capable of using aura. Seriously, what do you want more? The only problem, she spends way too much time with her doll, for my liking. The girl takes her silly doll everywhere and speaks to her all the time. The entire class already thinks she is crazy.¡±
Erika mustered a wry smile. ¡°Well, they are not exactly wrong ... Her habits are indeed a bit concerning ... But you know, Hartman, adventurers have always been an eccentric bunch. Edelgart is still a little girl. It''s probably just a phase of her.¡±
¡°... Fair point¡±, Hartman conceded. ¡°I guess, we are going to arrange the necessary paperwork then and prepare a mentor.¡±
Erika agreed, ¡°Aye, so it''s decided. Any idea of who we are going to pair her with?¡±
Hartman grinned mischievously. Shuffling through his papers, he shoved two names across the desk. ¡°I have already two candidates. They are perfect.¡±
Erika looked less than convinced, her doubts written all over her face. ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea; Hartman? The two are not exactly on the best terms with her ... I have some serious doubts that they will get along well ...¡±
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Hartman laughed. ¡°They will, Erika, they will. Or rather, they will need to if they want to get anywhere. Erich''s father asked me personally to rush their graduation, so who am I to rebuff him? There he has his graduation.¡±
¡°How encouraging ...¡± Erika merely sighed in response. ¡°So it will be Erich, Ludolf, and Edelgart. Who will be their mentor then? Who are we going to assign?¡±
Hartman grinned, a smile on his lips. ¡°Don''t worry, Erika, have already thought about that. I already have someone in mind. A capable young woman. Capable adventurer. From Lilienthal. From a fallen family of knights. An old friend from the adventurer''s guild there gave her a letter of recommendation. Also, she still owes me a favour for her silver rank promotion.
She is a gentle soul. Excellent swordplay. Proficient not only at using aura, but also proficient at the use of magic. Luminal fire. Her noble blood shines through. In short, the woman is perfect. Erich inherited the prowess of his late grandfather. The boy wields both aura and magic, but he needs guidance. His abilities are still developing. His elements are also light and fire. She can teach and guide Erich. He can learn and improve. The same is true for Edelgart. The girl might pick up one or two things about the use of aura from her.¡±
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28
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°Hatchoo! Hatchoo!!! HATCHOO!!!¡± Aurora sneezed, rubbing her irritated nose on her way to the guild board, just like every morning. The recent days hadn¡¯t treated her kindly. As a result, she caught a mild cold, which was hardly surprising. The month approached its end. The nights were growing ever longer. The days ever shorter. Temperatures were falling day by day. Bitter winds banished the last gentle rays of summer. Autumn had finally arrived, and with it the last chapter of the closing year.
The practical consequences, however, were less pleasant. The weather was ghastly. Rain. Fog. Dew. The morning chill was slowly freezing her solid, to the bone. It was simply terrible. She was in serious need of additional fluffy blankets, not to mention warmer clothes. A thick fur coat would be wonderful.
¡°Brrr. Brrr. Brrrrr.¡± Shivering, Aurora was rubbing her hands together to generate a modicum of warmth to fend off the hostile cold.
Little Aurora glanced upwards from the safety of her arms, her large eyes filled with a sense of sympathy and pity. How sweet of her. ¡°Are you all right?¡±
¡°I am fine ...¡± Aurora merely nodded after regaining a semblance of composure. ¡°More or less, at least. The cold is increasingly getting to me, but thank you for caring.¡±
Her doll beamed, waving her armsies as innocently as ever. ¡°You are welcome~.¡±
Aurora mustered a benevolent giggle, her gentle hand patting her cherished doll. She was such a sweet girl. ¡°What about you? Doesn''t the cold bother you?¡±
Little Aurora tilted her headsie, ¡°Hmm, now that you say it. Yes, my joints and limbs feel a bit stiff, at times. Especially, my neck.¡±
Aurora began to understand, her hand stroking her chin. ¡°I see. Then, it is decided. This situation cannot be allowed to continue! We will coerce Lambert into buying us more clothes! And blankets!¡±
Little Aurora agreed wholeheartedly, signalling her support. ¡°That sounds like a good plan ...¡±
¡°Ah, Edelgart, there you are~.¡± A gentle voice intercepted her after spotting her.
¡°...¡± Aurora halted, her eyes falling on Erika behind the guild counter. ¡°Oh, Sister Erika~.¡±
Erika wore a polite smile. ¡°I see that you are talking to your doll. You do that a lot, don¡¯t you?¡±
Aurora nodded vigorously, hugging her doll tightly. ¡°Yes, of course~. After all, we are bestest fwiends, right, Dolly?¡±
¡°...¡± Her doll remained silent, her eyes empty, her arms lifeless. Her doll was just a normal doll. Nothing more.
¡°What did you say, Dolly?¡± Aurora leaned closer to listen. ¡°Oh, I see. Dolly also thinks that we are bestest fwiends.¡±
Erika chuckled in response. ¡°Hehehe, that''s wonderful. Anyway, do you have a moment, Edelgart? There is something important to discuss.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 6
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 6
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28
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
Day turned night, and the time had arrived for her to sleep. No matter how counterintuitive it might have sounded and much to their both surprise, even an animated doll like her needed her daily healthy dose of sleep. Her body, less so, but her spirit certainly did.
Though her body was that of a doll, her spirit remained that of a girl, much to her joy. Her mind, her consciousness, her spirit tired the longer she remained awake. A fact that comforted her heart. Even though she might have lost her body, she had at least retained her spirit. She still felt. She still sensed. It was as if she was still alive. As if she still possessed a body made of flesh and blood, only replaced by mechanical joints and porcelain limbs.
Little Aurora gripped her portion of their shared blanket to tuck herself in. Aurora and Iris had already fallen sound asleep. So, it was safe for her to move now. Nobody would notice her. And even so, Aurora assured her that she would be able to convince Iris without much trouble that it was just a strange dream of hers, possibly a recurring one. Which sounded like a fairly credible and solid excuse to her.
Little Aurora unwinded, relaxing. Her drowsy eyelids closed, and the night quickly claimed her.
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Anno Imperii 23.06.1932
Light bathed the chambers in all their grandeur, resplendent with intricate wood panelling adorned with decorative carvings, exuding an air of extravagant elegance. Venerable portraits of times long since passed lined the walls. Her ancestors were watching her, their ancient eyes judging her from within their ornate frames.
A tiled porcelain stove in the corner provided the chambers with warmth and a touch of comfort. A sofa draped in plush, velvet, and silk fabric decorated the room, its deep burgundy hue in perfect harmony with its dark wooden frame and gold leaf. The room breathed an air of luxury, of extravagance, and here little Aurora was once again.
Once again, in a world, in a time, in a reality, in a life that was not hers, with memories, thoughts, feelings, knowledge of a past that weren''t her own, and a body that didn''t belong to her. And yet she was here, once again, inhabiting her body like many nights before. Her soul experienced fragments of her past, remnants of her life. Past, present, future, all combined into one. At times, it was only a fraction of a moment. At times, a few minutes. At times, an hour, or more. Most of the time, nothing, at all.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Yet each time, she came to know more about her past. Each time, she came to understand more. Who she had been and was now. Where she came from. Why she was who she was. Now, such a night had come again. Her memories visited her, once more.
This world was a dream, a mere illusion, a figment of her imagination, shared by their soul, and yet all was so uncannily real. The light that stimulated her eyes. The air that filled her lungs. The warmth of the sun that tickled her skin. The scents that invaded her nostrils. The sounds that caressed her ears. These were all too real. This was not a mere dream. This was more.
Little Aurora opened her eyes. Before her stood a man, his boots planted on the soft carpet with the unwavering, iron discipline of a noble, of a soldier, of an officer. His figure was tall, domineering, uncompromising. His hair pitch black. Clad in dark grey, the man wore his uniform with ostentatious pride of unyielding loyalty, duty, and honour in the relentless pursuit of excellence. A pair of braided epaulettes covered his shoulders, golden arabesques on scarlet red flanked his collar, golden cords lined his chest. Two orders adorned his neck, two crosses of unfamiliar shape and meaning. One vibrant blue, the other iron black with a silver frame.
¡°...¡± The man folded his hands, his eyes falling on her. His cold, calculating gaze bothered her. His deep purple eyes scrutinised her with the intensity of a storied past, and yet they brightened at her mere sight with a sense of pure happiness. Contrary to her expectations, the man smiled, at her no less, with a sense of profound gentleness that completely belied his stern appearance.
It was a man who she had never seen before in her life, never known before, and yet she recognised him in an instant with the weight and experience of a lifetime. It was none other than her ..., than her father. Duke August von Schwarz, patriarch of the noble House von Schwarz, Imperial Archmage, Imperial Field Marshall, Hero of the Reich, Victor of Gorliz Tarnau, and last, but not least, father of two sons, and a cute daughter.
¡°? ??? ? ? ??~. ? ??? ? ? ??~. ? ??? ? ? ??~.¡± Aurora''s tender voice hummed, and her feet dangled in the air with her open books in her hands.
The chambers were her father''s office, and she was currently sitting right in the middle, on the sofa. It was a joyous moment. Her father was teaching her personally from time to time despite the limited time at his disposal. He monitored her progress and her studies ever since she had been assigned her tutors recently. Today was such a day.
It was a rare privilege, a rare honour, even for a scion of the House von Schwarz, an honour her older brothers envied her for. He never did such for them. Her brothers envied her for the attention, for the care, for the time she enjoyed with her father. As did her mother. Her mother seemed to despise her for some unknown reasons. The look, the utter contempt in her eyes and in her every word. Her mother hated her, and she never understood as to why.
Her father didn''t. Her father loved her. He doted upon her. He spoiled her. He cherished her. He protected her. She was Aurora von Schwarz, his daughter, and his pride, the pride of the House von Schwarz.
According to him, she had always been a special girl, far more special than others since the very day she was born. Her gifts ... Her talents ... Her abilities ... They were all special. Far above and beyond the plebeian rabble and the common nobles with delusions of grandeur. She was better than them, she was superior to them in all aspects. That was, at least, what Father said. Aurora believed him.
Duke August beamed at her. ¡°Have you read what I asked you to, Aurora?¡±
Aurora nodded, a spark of joy and happiness filling her heart. ¡°Yes, Father~, I have, although it was not much.¡±
Her father chuckled, amused. ¡°That is fine, Aurora. It is not about how much you read, but rather about how much you comprehend. Better more of less, than nothing of more. Anyway, I hope that the chapter didn''t bore you too much. It can prove to be rather ... old fashioned these days, rather ... dry, rather ... academic, in my experience. For understandable reasons.¡±
Aurora shook her head, denying any such possibility with her brightest smile. The contents were rather dry, but her father didn''t need to know. ¡°Not at all, Father.¡±
The Duke smiled. ¡°I am most glad to hear so. Please, Aurora, commence.¡±
Office
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Arc VI Chapter 7
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 7
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Anno Imperii 23.06.1932
Her body opened the book, her eyes scanning the contents of the pages, littered with indecypherable letters and glyphs whose meaning eluded little Aurora. Entire pages filled with incomprehensible walls of text. It was a language completely alien to her. It was not Arcadian, nor another one that she was versed in. And yet the letters were somehow familiar. And yet words and sentences somehow made sense. For inexplicable reasons, she found herself able to discern their true meaning. It must have been Aurora''s memories resonating with her once more. It wouldn''t be the first time.
Aurora''s lips started reading, her untrained voice, her tongue unskilled in the way of human speech betraying betraying the paucity of her years. She was young. The words came difficult to her, yet she persisted, undeterred.
¡°What Is War?
Definition
I shall not begin by expounding pedantic, literary definitions, but go straight to the heart of the matter, to the duel. War is nothing but a duel on a larger scale. Countless duels go to make up war. Each side tries through physical force to compel the other to do its will by rendering their opponent incapable of further resistance.
War is therefore an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to conform to our will.
This violence arms itself with the inventions of art and science in order to contend against other violence. Certain self imposed restrictions, almost imperceptible and hardly worth mentioning, commonly termed usages of international law and customs of war, might try to limit this violence without, however, impairing its power.
Violence, that is to say, physical force, is therefore the means, whereas the compulsory submission of the enemy to our will is the ultimate purpose. In order to attain this purpose, the enemy must be disarmed, and disarming the enemy must be therefore the immediate aim once hostilities commence.¡±
Her father approved. ¡°Good, what did you learn, Aurora? What is the nature of war?¡±
Aurora recited, to the best of her abilities. After all, copying a master was the sincerest form of flattery. ¡°War is act of violence to submit our enemy to our will. Violence is not its essence, but a mere means to an end. The ultimate purpose is the submission of the enemy.¡±
¡°Well summarised. Maybe a bit too literally, for my taste, but who cares. The foundations are there.¡± Her father waved his hand, signalling her to continue.
Aurora did so.
¡°Utmost Use of Force
Now, philanthropists might imagine there is an ingenuous method of disarming and overcoming an enemy without great bloodshed, and one might imagine such is the true aim of the art of war. However plausible such may appear, this thought is an error which must be extirpated. For in the matter of war, the errors which derive from a spirit of benevolence are the worst.
As the use of force to the utmost by no means excludes the use of intellect, it follows that he who uses his force without restraints and with the necessary brutality will prove superior to the adversary who does not.
This is how war must be seen. It would be futile, even harmful, to shut one''s eyes to the true nature of war and its inherent brutality.¡±
¡°...¡± Her father smiled, yet his eyes spoke different story. They were observing her carefully. This was obviously a test, and she would not disappoint him. Even when left unspoken, it was clear what was expected of her.
Aurora mustered her voice, her lips moving. ¡°Unconditioned benevolence is a grave error in the field of war. War is an act of violence, and by extension necessarily an act of brutality. War is not benevolent. War is not kind hearted. War begets bloodshed. It would be foolish to assume otherwise. You must therefore steel your heart.¡±
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Her father nodded, approving of her choice of words. ¡°Easier said than done ... Easier said than done ... And I speak from experience. War is a cruel teacher, Aurora, but you might already know so.¡± A certain sadness, a certain monotony, a certain sense of resignation clouded his voice. ¡°Anyway, enough of old times ... Continue, Aurora.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded, her fingers flipping to the next page.
¡°Passion and Interests
If the wars of civilised people are less cruel and destructive than those fought by savages, such difference arises from the organisation of our society and the institutions of the state. Because war is the product of both society and the state, and is thus subjected to them.
Two reasons lead men to war, passion and interests, yet it is the latter to dominate the sphere of war. It is impossible to conceive even the wildest feelings of hatred or hostility without interests. On the other hand, interests may often exist without being accompanied by any, or at least any extreme degree of hostility. Nevertheless, even the most civilised nations may at times burn with the passion of hatred. It would be thus a fallacy to assume that the wars of civilised nations are solely acts of intellect directed by interests, free from all feelings of passion.
War is an act of passion. It always reacts to passion of the people, and the extent of this reaction depends upon the importance of the interests involved.¡±
Aurora glanced at her father. ¡°War is an act of passion. Although primarily guided by reason, war will never be able to forsake its irrational character. As much as war is the ambiance of rationality, it is also the ambiance of irrationality, the ambiance of passion, the ambiance of emotions. To underestimate the power of passion would be unwise.¡±
¡°Very true¡±, her father agreed wholeheartedly, satisfied with her conclusions. ¡°One should never underestimate the power passion holds. Certainly not when the hearts of entire people, of entire nations are set ablaze, engulfed. The passion of the human heart is a force beyond the constraints of mortal logic, Aurora.¡±
¡°I understand.¡± Aurora returned to her book.
¡°Interaction
War, however, is not the action of a living force upon a lifeless mass, but always the interaction of two living forces. As long as I have not defeated my enemy, I am also exposed to the possibility of being defeated.
In War the Result is Never Final
Even the ultimate outcome of a war should not be regarded as final. The defeated should consider the outcome merely as a transitory evil, for which a remedy exists in the future.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora pondered her words. ¡°War is inherently reciprocal. Every action causes a reaction. It is the contest of two living, two thinking forces in opposition. War is never final. Even the worst defeat is merely transitory in nature, because what cannot be today, can be tomorrow.¡±
Her father nodded, listening. ¡°War is not final. The last outcome is always open to ... alteration, to ... renegotiation should the conditions be sufficiently favourable. ¡±
¡°Attack and Defence are Unequal in Strength
War consists of two distinct forms of action, attack and defence.The differences between attack and defence lay in the fact that attack has a positive aim whereas defence has a negative. The attack aims to gain, where as the defence aims to preserve the present conditions. The defence can never gain, only maintain. They are thus fundamentally opposed in character. The one acting under favourable conditions must thus strive to attack, whereas the one acting under unfavourable conditions must strive to defend.
As we shall see, however, the defence is the stronger form of combat and the superiority of the defence, if rightly understood, is very great, far greater than apparent at first sight.The attack and defence are thus different and unequal in strength, but regard.¡±
¡°The attack is positive. The defence is negative. The attack is active. The defence is passive. The attack seeks the decision. The defence avoids the decision. The initiative belongs to the attacker and only the attack can gain, whereas the defence, albeit stronger, merely maintains the status quo.¡±
Her father chuckled. ¡°Well, personally, I would argue that the attack is the stronger form of combat, but such is arguably mostly a matter of personal preference rather than orthodoxy.¡±
¡°War is Always a Serious Means with a Serious Purpose
War is no pastime, no mere exercise of a passion for venturing and winning. War is a serious means with a serious purpose. The wars of societies, of whole nations in particular, always stem from political motives. War is, therefore, inevitably a political act.
War is Merely the Continuation of Policy by Other Means
We see, therefore, that war is not merely an act of policy; but a true political instrument, a continuation of the political intercourse, carried on with other means. What remains peculiar to war is solely the peculiar nature of its means.¡±
And the last lesson for today. Aurora raised her voice, ¡°War is a serious affair. It is the domain of states, societies, and nations. War is thus an intrinsically political act, an act of policy. It is the continuation of policy by others means.¡±
Her father applauded her, overjoyed. ¡°Spoken like a true Clausewitzian. I am proud of you, Aurora. You studied hard. You know your foundations. I only hope that you will keep most of them. These are lessons ... usually easily forgotten. Ven by the most fervent students. Anyway, as for the rest of the day, enjoy your free time. You have earned it. Have some fun. Play a bit with your magic, although you should be perhaps a tiny bit more careful with your fire spells. They are quite ... potent, it seems. The gardeners weren''t exactly happy with all the ¡®wanton destruction¡¯ inflicted on their poor garden. They complained bitterly about your ¡®barbarous and vandal ways, unbecoming of a noble lady¡¯, about ¡®apocalyptic scenes not seen since the last war¡¯. They honestly thought a super heavy mortar had struck.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora lowered her gaze in guilt, fidgeting wit her fingers. That might have been indeed her. ¡°...¡±
¡°Not that it matters ... We can spare a few crisped hedges here and there.¡± Her father, however, dismissed their concerns. As usual, he was on her side. ¡°You are still young, Aurora. So, of course, your magic is still raw and unrestrained, but promise me please to be more careful in the future, Aurora. We don''t want anyone to get hurt, right?¡±
Aurora beamed, her lips forming a smile. ¡°Yes, Father~. I will.¡± And off she went, her tiny feet carrying her with her books in her arms.
Lady Aurora von Schwarz
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Arc VI Chapter 8
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 8
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Anno Imperii 23.06.1932
Aurora rushed off, storming down the corridors, but in her rush and excitement, negligence took hold of her. She had forgotten one of her books in her father¡¯s office, namely Economy and Society: The Foundations of Interpretive Sociology. How utterly careless of her ... She must retrieve it forthwith!
Her feet halted and changed course to retrieve her forgotten book, but her momentum crumbled in an instant, the moment she turned around the corner. Her father''s office was close, yet so was someone else, someone else whose presence she usually avoided, her mother. The daughter of a noble house, her dark chestnut hair caressed her finely embroidered gown.
Aurora quickly retreated, disappearing, scurrying behind the corner. Her fluffy head surfaced to take a peek. Her mother was furious, quite furious, extremely furious, judging by her twisted face and her fierce glare, her furious steps guiding her right into her father''s office. Her hands thrust the door wide open, the hinges flinching under her force. Her father was in for a serious discussion, it would seem. Fortunately, she hadn''t noticed her.
¡°...¡± Aurora despaired, her hopes crumbling. Her poor book ... Her retrieval mission had officially failed ..., at least, for now. It was better not to disturb her mother. Especially, when she was in such a terrible mood. She would return later when her mother was gone ...
¡°TELL ME, AUGUST! Why are you so intent on keeping this little wretch here?¡± her mother exploded, her voice echoing far and wide.
Her father ignored her aggressive tone, ever the gentleman. ¡°My dearest Eleonore, it is a pleasure to see you. What honour do I owe your visit ...¡±
Her mother cut him short, her blood seething. ¡°Stop playing dumb, August. You know why I am here. You are perfectly aware of the purpose of my visit, August. Four years have passed since her arrival. For four years, I have watched. For four years, I have endured. For four years, I have suffered. But enough is enough, August. The girl must go. The little wretch has overstayed her welcome. I cannot stand the little mongrel any longer. Her very presence, her very existence affronts us all, August.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora tilted her head, her curiosity consuming her. Could it be ... Were ... Were¡ Were they ... talking about her? How? Why?
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Her father merely smiled in response. ¡°Eleonore, my dear, I ... I understand your pain well ...¡±
¡°Understand? Understand? YOU THINK THAT YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND?¡± her mother hissed, her voice laced with venom. ¡°You understand nothing, August! Not only have you brought us this illegitimate bastard girl, you even have the gall to demand from me that I should play the role of her ¡®mother¡¯ for the sake of appearances. Our little act deceives nobody, August! Do you realise what they are saying about us in society? Do you realise what they are saying about us behind our backs? Do you realise what they are saying about our little bastard child? You don''t, do you? Or you don''t care. But, I do. One of us still cares about our reputation.
So, tell me, August, who was it? Who was the dirty street whore whom you knocked up? Who was the slut? Was it your pretty maid? Or was it some stray peasant girl you picked up during the war? Was it enjoyable? Did you enjoy sullying my reputation with your infidelity? Answer me, August!¡±
¡°...¡± Her father ignored her taunts. Silence was his answer. ¡°Eleonore, I love you my dear, but sadly, it is not your place to know, nor am I willing to disclose such details.¡± Her father¡¯s tone was firm and like steel, his customary veneer of velvet missing. It was the voice of a noble, of a duke commanding.
Her ... mother clicked her tongue. ¡°I thought so. At least, other noblemen have the decency to adequately dispose of their ¡®accidents¡¯, instead of bringing their failures home to dote upon. August, wasn''t it you in your younger days who was always rambling about the ¡®purity of the noble blood¡¯ and the ¡®unbroken honour of a noble house¡¯? And yet it was you in the end who has stained the honour of the House with some filthy mongrel of dubious provenance. It is because of her magic, isn''t it? It is because of her potential that you took such an interest in her, investing so much time and effort in this peasant girl.¡±
¡°...¡± Her father countered her accusations with unshakeable stoicism, his eyes staring her down. ¡°Eleonore, ... I will tell you once more, ... once and for all, Aurora is my daughter, whether you will have her or not. Forget not that the girl is my own flesh and blood. The blood of the House von Schwarz courses through her veins, stronger than you ever could fathom, and that is all that truly matters. I will protect her, no matter the cost. And I will not be swayed by mere words alone, Eleonore. Let the people gossip as much as they wish. As if I had ever cared about the opinion of the many.¡±
Her ... mother fumed, her annoyance audible. She seethed, clenching her fists, sneering. ¡°I see ... So, ... this is ... how you truly think. Keep your stray girl if you wish so, August, but don''t expect me to play your little game. I will not. Not ever.¡± She left, slamming the door behind her. Their discussion was over.
...
...
...
The door slowly opened and Aurora entered, her books tightly clutched to her chest. ¡°Father ...¡±
¡°...¡± Her father merely stared at her. ¡°You heard it all, didn''t you?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora merely nodded numbly.
¡°I see ... How regretful ...¡± Her father sighed before approaching her. His gentle hand caressed her hair, patting her head. ¡°Don''t fret about it, Aurora. All will be fine. I am here for you.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora glanced up, taking a breath. ¡°Father, ... may I ask ... If mother is not my true mother ... Who is it?¡±
¡°...¡± Her father scrutinised her, a smile on his lips. ¡°What a curious question ... It is a secret, you know, one that should not be carelessly divulged. And yet you yearn to know, Aurora? If you wish so, I will tell you.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded again.
Her father leaned closer, whispering in her ears. His voice was gentle and soft, his words carefully chosen. ¡°Your mother ... You ... don''t ... have ... one.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora froze, unable to understand. How ... How ... could she have no mother?
Her father receded, smiling, his index finger sealing his lips. ¡°It is a secret. One just between you and me. So don''t tell anyone, Aurora.¡±
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29
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
The first rays of sunlight greeted her, and little Aurora awoke from her deep slumber. It felt as if an eternity had passed. It was a long night. It was a long dream with many, many questions.
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Arc VI Chapter 9
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 9
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29
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°You
called for me, My Lord.¡± Felix entered the room of his chosen lord and master, clicking his heels together. Elegant furniture lined the walls and a masoned wood stove afforded much needed warmth for the colder months of the year. The manor was in the possession of the House von Ehrbach and provided them with lodging during their stay in Freyburg. It was from here that the family managed their affairs and defended their interests against the Duke.
Aware of his presence, Viktor glanced up, his crimson eyes falling on him. His restless pen ceased dancing across the piece of paper before him. It was a letter. The addressee was unknown. Not that it was his place to know of such things as a mere retainer. ¡°Ah, yes, Felix, good to see you, I was calling for you.¡± His Lord folded his hands over his desk, a smile on his lips.
Felix nodded, his hand reaching for the grip of his sword. ¡°Here I am, My Lord. Then do you perchance require my services?¡±
Viktor raised his hands, deflecting. ¡°Oh, no, nothing of the sort. In fact, quite the contrary. I merely called you to inform you that our time here in Freyburg is ending. Father has ordered me to return. He demands my presence. We will thus depart the day after tomorrow in the morning.¡±
Felix straightened his back. ¡°I understand, so I gather that our mission was a failure.¡±
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Viktor scowled, grumbling. His mood visibly deteriorated. ¡°As much as I loathe to admit it, but yes, we failed. Our progress so far has been underwhelming. I have already informed Father, but Duke Aurelius proved far more obstinate than expected. As did the rest of the Council. Nor Count Friedrich, nor Margrave Wilhelm, nor Count Emeric, nor Marchioness Clementia were particularly cooperative. Neither the Duke, nor the Council appear to be willing to budge on this matter. The Duke will keep the County of M?hren under ducal administration for the time being, which is hardly surprising, though. They know that there is more behind the tragic end of the House von Lilienthal than a mere fire. All the discrepancies are impossible to overlook ...¡±
...
...
...
A long pause followed before Viktor continued, ¡°The Duke and the Council clearly suspect us, but they lack solid proof ... Which is fortunate considering how we were forced to act prematurely in this matter. The fire that night... was certainly not the most elegant solution on our part. Not that we had much of a choice. Angelika and her family were on our tracks. They were close to finding out. We could not allow them to uncover the truth behind her brother''s death. They had to disappear immediately. If they had ever discovered that he was in truth poisoned, ... The repercussions would have been far worse than just some malicious rumours. But, oh, well, their deaths might have cost us M?hren, but it was a small price in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes you win in life. Sometimes you lose. As father says, that''s how this game works.¡±
¡°Undoubtedly¡±, Felix concurred, his gaze lowered.
¡°But at least, our journey was not entirely in vain.¡± A predatory grin flashed across Viktor''s lips, his teeth sharpened. ¡°Because, as it happens, we have been able to acquire an interesting piece of information.¡±
Felix furrowed an eyebrow. His Lord knew something he didn''t. ¡°Have we?¡±
Viktor grinned, celebrating his triumph, no matter how short lived or insignificant it might be. A victory was still a victory. ¡°A reliable source from within the castle walls has shared some interesting facts. It appears that the rumours are not entirely unfounded. It was not only Count Geralt who fell victim to assassins, but also Lady Aurora herself ... Contrary to public information and what the Duke claims, Lady Aurora was not heavily ¡®wounded¡¯ during an attack of ¡®bandits¡¯ and is now ¡®on the way of recuperating¡¯, but was in fact killed. The girl disappeared on the night of the ambush two months ago and has been since presumed dead.
No wonder that the Duke is doing his utmost to suppress Aurora''s death. Her untimely demise would considerably weaken his position in front of the Crown and the Archchancellor. Both the King and the Archchancellor are only waiting for an opportunity to strike. Not only has the Duke lost his wife, his son and heir apparently, but now also his sole daughter and last legitimate heir of the House von Schwarz. They are currently facing nothing short of their potential extinction.¡±
Felix merely listened, his stoic expression unmoved. ¡°I see.¡±
¡°But enough about politics for today. They are always such a dreary affair, aren''t they?¡± Viktor grinned, his question a rhetorical one. ¡°Anyway, as for tomorrow, prepare your luggage and enjoy your free day. You have earned it. Go and see Freyburg, Felix. You aren''t from here, and this might be the last time for us to visit this place for quite some time.¡±
Felix bowed, offering his gratitude. ¡°You are too gracious, My Lord.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 10
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 10
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°Ding. Dong. Dang. Ding. Dong. Dang. Ding. Dong. Dang. Ding.¡± The familiar metallic sound of bells resounded in the distance with clockwork precision. The church¡¯s clock tower awoke from its restless slumber to announce the time. Each strike reverberated across the whole city, across corners, across every alley, reaching far and wide. Morning had passed. It was now ten o''clock, and, much to her displeasure, they were still waiting for their mentor to arrive. Said woman had not graced them yet with her presence, which already left quite a poor first impression. Being late on her first day ... How disappointing ... How shameful ... How unbecoming of their so called ¡®mentor ¡¯... Aurora would remember, her apparent lack of punctuality included. But for now, for the time being, they were simply waiting.
In their boredom, Aurora and her doll studied the guild board. Now that they had been promoted to proper and official adventurers in the eyes of the guild, it might be a good idea to consult the board for more than just local news. Its primary purpose was after all not to inform, but rather to report available missions, advertising them to the common adventurer in search of work.
The board featured three sections. Quests. Bounties. Hunts. And their respective rewards. Each was subdivided further according to guild ranks. It was a practical system, a solid system. It worked. Supposedly.
¡°...¡± Aurora scanned the board.
Quests were self explanatory. Minor jobs for minor adventurers. The daily bread and butter of the honest adventurer.
Bounties were less self explanatory. Criminals. Murderers. Thieves. Fugitives. Outlaws. Troublemakers. Traitors. Rebels. Brigands. Bandits. Heretics. Apostates. They were everywhere. They were the enemy, the bane and scourge of society since the dawn of time, firmly dealt with in the name of justice, law, and order.
But as reality taught, dealing with them was easier said than done, even for the authorities with their considerable resources at their disposal. Unsurprisingly, the average bandit wasn''t exactly keen on being hanged on the gallows. Nor was the branded heretic on being burned alive at the stake by the church. They were on the run, fleeing, hiding. Thus, even the noble lords and masters required some help when it came to administering justice and making certain undesirable individuals disappear. How it reminded her of the good old times ...
¡°Wrrrrrr. Wrrrrr.¡± Little Aurora trembled, a sudden shiver overcoming her, her armsies hugging herself.
Aurora noticed her discomfort, her hand quickly intervening with a gentle head pat. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±
Little Aurora shook her head, dispelling her stupor. ¡°I am fine ... There was just ... this ominous feeling ... Cold and dark thoughts ... They made me shiver.¡±
¡°Ah, I see, poor you.¡± Aurora beamed, armed with a soothing smile. ¡°It was probably nothing. Probably only your imagination.¡±
Little Aurora seemed unsure, but she believed her. Good girl. ¡°Hmm, if you say so ...¡±
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Aurora smiled. ¡°Let''s talk about something more cheerful, what do you think about the quests? Would you like to do any of them?¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± Little Aurora stroked her chin. ¡°Well, I am not sure, but this one looks interesting.¡± The girl raised her arm, pointing at one quest specifically.
Aurora followed her suggestion, her finger tapping the quest in question. ¡°This one?¡±
Little Aurora nodded vigorously, her fisties clenched. ¡°...¡±
¡°Mischievous Cats
Rank: Copper
Difficulty: Low
Client: Freyburg City Guard
Location: Freyburg
Reports about a pack of mischievous cats have surfaced. The felines vandalise stands and shops around the corn market. Investigate the incidents and apprehend the culprits forthwith! Hand them over to the authorities! Bring an end to this feline reign of terror!
Reward: 25 kreuzer¡±
Aurora was unsure. ¡°Hmm, mischievous cats ... Are you certain? Aren''t we kind of ... overqualified?¡±
Her words gave little Aurora pause, but she was quick to recuperate. ¡°Well, possibly ... But mischievous cats are a serious matter! Law and order must be maintained! That is what my father has always taught me. Thus, we must stop these deviant felines! We must protect the poor merchants!¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora offered a blank stare. Her doll was dramatising. The merchants were neither poor, nor were cats a credible threat to domestic law and order. They should survive a few thieving cats. ¡°What about this quest?¡±
¡°Rabbit Menace
Rank: Copper
Difficulty: Low
Client: Weitfeld Village Council
Location: Weitfeld
A horde of exceedingly numerous and voracious rabbits has been terrorising the local farmsteads, bringing about unspeakable mayhem and destruction. They devour cabbages, parsnips, and beets. Patrol the fields and fend off the marauding rabbits. Protect the crops!
Reward: 6 coppers for every dead rabbit¡±
¡°I don''t know ...¡± Her doll averted her eyes, fidgeting with her fingers. ¡°Bub buns are cute~. They are fluffy and cuddly~. I don''t want to kill them.¡±
Aurora was inclined to disagree, but also not. ¡°Fair enough, then no dead bun buns. What about this one?¡±
¡°Rat Infestation
Rank: Copper
Difficulty: Low
Client: Freyburg City Guard
Location: Freyburg
We are always in search of some motivated adventurers. The sewers are overrun by swarms of rats. Their population is increasing, and they are growing bolder with each day. Deal with them. Explore the sewers and kill the annoying pests. Because only a dead rat is a good rat.
Reward: 1 copper per every dead rat, bonus included¡±
Little Aurora shuddered at the mere mention of ¡®sewers¡¯. ¡°Sewers ... The filth. The dirt. The grime. The stench. The foul air. The rot. No, I would rather not. The sewers are not a place for two noble ladies ...¡±
Aurora seconded her opinion, ¡°Hmm, I have seen worse, but I must concur. Pest control is arguably an activity hardly befitting our status. Not to mention, sewers are indeed far from a pleasant place to be.¡± No sewers then, which was probably for the better. ¡°And what about these two? They seem promising. Also no sewers involved. No ugly critters.¡±
¡°Gathering Herbs
Rank: Copper
Difficulty: Basic botanical knowledge required
Client: Apothecary''s and Alchemist''s Guild
Location: Freyburg
The Apothecary''s as well as Alchemist''s Guild are in constant need of rare herbs and ingredients. Procure the necessary herbs and deliver them to the respective guilds.
Reward: Depending on the quality, quantity, and rarity of the herbs.¡±
¡°Adventurer''s Guild Postal Service
Rank: Copper
Difficulty: Low
Client: Adventurer''s Guild
Location: Freyburg
Deliver post and packages all across Freyburg in the name of the Adventurer''s Guild¡¯s Postal Service. No prior qualifications required. Honesty and integrity are mandatory.
Any infractions of the guild''s code of conduct will be severely punished.
Reward: Depending on the commission, tips included¡±
¡°Well, ... I guess, gathering herbs is out of the question, unless you happen to be versed in the field of botany ...¡± Aurora shared her doubts.
Little Aurora shook her head. ¡°Little more than you.¡±
¡°I see, how unfortunate ... And postal girl Aurora? Doesn''t that sound like something for us? We will make for the cutest postal girls in all of Schwarzwalt! ¡± Aurora beamed.
Little Aurora tilted her head, hardly convinced. ¡°Postal girl Aurora ...¡±
Aurora poked her doll, attacking her cheeks. ¡°Come on, it will be fun~. We will be a splendid pair! Trust me! We will see the city! We will see the world! Tell me, did you ever have the chance to wander around Freyburg on your own?¡±
Little Aurora fell into deep thoughts. ¡°Not that I remember. Father always told me to not leave the castle, because the world outside is dangerous.¡±
Aurora grinned in victory. ¡°There you have it. As I told you, this is an excellent opportunity to see a bit of the world ...¡±
¡°Hey, Edelgart, what on earth are you doing here ? Tsk, are you talking with your strange doll again?¡± A male voice cut her short, a voice and tone she knew only too well. It belonged to a certain precocious brat who had attracted her ire several times already.
Her eyes narrowed, and her head turned, welcoming her guests. ¡°It''s you, Erich ... And your friend, Ludolf. What a pleasant surprise. What do I owe the honour?¡± A schooled glare was her response.
Erich grinned, a confident smirk on his lips, his best friend and loyal henchman behind him. ¡°I could ask you the same question, Edelgart.¡±
Erich and Ludolf, the two boys were standing before, their arms crossed and their hostility patent. The animosity was, however, mutual. They didn''t like her, and she didn''t like them. Their continuous presence aggravated her.
The only remaining question was, what were they doing here?
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Arc VI Chapter 11
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 11
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
Crossing his arms firmly across his chest, Erich offered a smirk of smug superiority. Ludolf, his aide and constant companion, flanked him, glaring at her with an equal intensity. It was apparent that her presence was far from appreciated.
The juvenile hubris was strong in them. Unfortunately, it was a vice only far too common among the younger generations. It was the sweet, sweet inexperience of youth.
Erich spoke, ¡°Pleasantries and jokes aside, seriously, what is our little doll princess doing here? Are you still trying to play adventurer, Edelgart?¡±
Aurora narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at their visitors. ¡°...¡± And so did her doll. Her doll shared her dislike, for appreciable reasons. This wasn''t the first time that their path had crossed.
Little Aurora grumbled from between her arms, ¡°I don''t like them ... They are mean, as usual.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded in full agreement. Little Aurora was right. ¡°...¡±
Erich grinned, brimming with confidence. ¡°Lost for words? Afraid to speak, or what? Aren''t you a shy one today, Edelgart. Usually, you are such a lively girl, right, Ludolf? This is unlike her.¡±
¡°Yes, quite¡±, his henchman agreed.
Aurora merely chuckled in response, armed with an equally saccharine and contemptuous smile. It was warm, yet cold. Humble, yet derisive. The precocious boy overestimated his station. It was time to kindly remind him of his position. ¡°Erich, ... listen, ... let me give a piece of advice ...¡±
Erich dismissed her remark. ¡°Such as?¡±
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Ludolf agreed, ¡°Yes, such as?¡±
¡°Erich, you ... You talk too much. The garrulity of a fool does not become you, but neither does the reticence of a sage, I suppose.¡±
¡°You ...¡± Erich gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. Her words struck a nerve.
Aurora continued, ¡°Anyway, as to answering your question ... My doll and I are here to study the guild board~. We are looking for suitable work~.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Erich clicked his tongue, still fuming beneath. ¡°I see. So, I gather that you still haven''t given up your silly dream, then. Listen, Edelgart, listen, sweetheart, adventuring is a serious matter. Adventuring isn''t a tea party. Adventuring isn''t something for little girls with dolls.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora disregarded his lukewarm taunts. She had heard worse. His efforts were commendable, but ultimately in vain. ¡°If you truly think so, Erich ... As a matter of fact, what makes you, Erich, an adventurer of such superior judgement?¡±
¡°Good that you ask.¡± A grin brightened the boy¡¯s face, his victory seemingly assured. His hand produced a single letter. The letter bore the solemn seal of the Freyburg Adventurer''s Guild, proudly stamped on a layer of red wax. Little did he know, but ignorance was always talkative. ¡°Do you recognise this seal, Edelgart? This is the seal of the Freyburg Adventurer''s Guild. The guild officially promoted both of us to copper rank. So, yes, that makes Ludolf and me indeed adventurers of superior judgement. Certainly compared with you and your doll.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora stroked her chin, studying the letter. ¡°I see ... So, you two made it through the classes. Somehow. Despite your limited capabilities. How admirable ...¡±
¡°...¡± Erich chose to ignore her stinging remarks, yet they didn''t miss their mark completely. Indignation seeped from his voice. ¡°Of course, we have made it. After all, we are both from families with a long standing tradition of producing adventurers.¡±
¡°Erich is right.¡± Ludolg crossed his arms. ¡°Our fathers, our father''s fathers, our father''s father''s fathers, our father''s father''s father''s fathers ... Well, his not directly, but mine, for sure. They were all adventurers by birth, so are we. So what would a street urchin like you understand about the noble profession of adventuring?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora merely raised an amused eyebrow. Street urchin ... What a plebeian insult. If they only knew that she was the noble daughter of the House von Schwarz, yet it was only natural for people to judge based on what they knew.
Erich''s chest swelled with obvious pride, oblivious to her unimpressed reaction. ¡°Indeed! In fact, not only were we promoted, we were also assigned a mentor! We were told to meet her and another party member here today. That''s why we are here.¡±
Aurora smirked in secrecy. She had a feeling about where this was going. Her instincts had rarely failed her. ¡°A mentor? What is a ¡®mentor¡¯?¡± Her tone was sweet and warm, like hot chocolate.
Erich grinned, his ego stroked. ¡°Aha! I figured that you wouldn''t know! A mentor is a teacher, a master, a companion. They are experienced veterans chosen by the guild to mentor fledgling adventurers. After all, it would reflect poorly on the reputation of the guild, if their valuable prot¨¦g¨¦s died in droves ... Hey, are you even listening ...?¡±
Aurora tilted her head. ¡°Hmm, that makes a surprising amount of sense. A mentor ... That sounds actually like a good idea. Quite smart of them, right?¡±
¡°...¡± Erich grumbled, annoyed by being so blatantly ignored. ¡°If you say so ... Not that it matters. This will be the last time that we meet eye to eye. I hope so, at least.¡±
Aurora feigned surprise. ¡°Oh, really? Are you sure, Erich? Don¡¯t you always meet twice, or even thrice in life?¡±
¡°Yes, I am sure.¡± Erich narrowed his eyes.
¡°Really?¡± Aurora beamed.
¡°Yes, very much¡±, he insisted.
¡°How disappointing ...¡± Aurora grinned diabolically. ¡°Oh, well~. Nothing that can be done. Unless~. Unless~.¡± Her hand started rummaging through her pouch.
Erich viewed her with a certain sense of scepticism. ¡°Unless what? What are you trying to tell ... me now ...¡±
Her hand produced a rather important letter with a familiar seal to prove her point. Aurora proudly presented her letter with a broad smile. ¡°TA DA!!!¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 12
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 12
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°... ... ...¡± Erich paled in an instant, all blood, all life draining from his face. His eyes were staring at the seal, his mouth gaping.
Rudolf joined him. He gulped. ¡°Erich, is this ... Is this what I think it is?¡±
Erich resorted immediately to panicked denial. ¡°No ... No ... No, this can''t be!¡±
Aurora beamed, teasing. All went according to plan. ¡°How so? You don''t think it is real?¡±
With a growl, Eric grabbed at her promotion letter, snatching it directly from her hands. ¡°Give it to me, dammit!¡±
¡°This ... This ...¡± Erich trembled, unable to believe his eyes, his anger surging with every line. ¡°This ... This is impossible! This can''t be! This must be an error! You can''t be part of our party! The guild must be joking!¡±
Aurora tilted her head, gently patting her doll in a soothing manner. ¡°How so? It is written there in black and white, is it not?¡±
¡°No, this must be an error. I am sure.¡± Erich marched off, heading straight for the nearby guild counter where he engaged poor, poor Erika in a rather vivid discussion, judging by the overall volume, his colourful choice of words, and his frantic gestures.
...
...
...
The discussion ended, and he eventually returned, his shoulders deflated, his spirit dejected. ¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°And?¡± Aurora beamed innocently.
A heavy sigh escaped Erich, a sigh of defeat. ¡°It is true ... We are in the same party ... The guild ... has indeed paired us together.¡±
Aurora giggled, her hand concealing her lips in a ladylike manner. ¡°I told you so. ¡±
¡°...¡± Erich pinched the bridge of his nose, his frustration and disgust apparent. ¡°Just why? Why, of all people, must it be you?¡± He didn¡¯t look happy. He didn''t sound happy. He clearly was unhappy.
¡°An excellent question indeed.¡± Aurora raised her index finger, smiling. ¡°Look, Erich, I know that we have had our differences and issues in the past, but it is time to put them aside and reach a more suitable arrangement, don''t you agree? We can''t remain enemies forever. At least, not as long as we are stuck in the same party. That wouldn''t do, right? You detest me, Erich, but you strike me as an intelligent boy. Let''s call a truce.¡±
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Aurora extended her hand, offering him a handshake to seal their pact. It was time for a truce for the sake of both of them.
¡°...¡± Erich grumbled, staring at her hand, his displeasure apparent. ¡°You know, Edelgart, I hate it when you are right.¡±
¡°So, you will accept my offer?¡±
¡°Tsk, as if we had much of a choice ...¡± Erich rolled his eyes, his hand grabbing hers. His handshake was firm. The pact was sealed. The truce signed between them and her and her doll. They were now all friends now for the foreseeable future.
¡°And now shake my Dolly''s hand too~.¡± Aurora moved her doll''s arm.
¡°What?¡± Erich tensed up. ¡°No. I don''t shake hands with a doll ...¡±
Aurora glared at him, pouting, insisting, ¡°Shake ... Dolly''s ... hand.¡±
¡°...¡± Erich bit his lip. ¡°Do ... Do I really need to?¡±
Aurora nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes. Dolly important. Dolly best fwiend. So, you must shake Dolly''s hand too.¡± She continued poking him with her doll.
¡°I ... understand.¡± Erich took her doll''s hand and shook it, much to her satisfaction.
¡°And you too, Ludolf. Shake her handsie~.¡± Aurora grinned, offering him her doll''s hand as well.
¡°...¡± Ludolf hesitated, yet he took it without major complaints.
Erich commented, ¡°Are you satisfied now, Edelgart?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Aurora beamed. The negotiations had been successful. ¡°I guess now that we aren''t at each other''s throats any more, it is time for another introduction. This time under more auspicious conditions.¡±
Her hand reached for her chest, a polite curtsy accompanying her. ¡°I am Edelgart, and this is my doll, Dolly. It is a pleasure to meet you both.¡±
Erich and his friend Ludolf hesitated initially, but they accepted her proposal. ¡°The pleasure is all ours. I am Erich von Schwert. You know me. And this is my best friend, Ludolf. You should already be well acquainted with him.¡±
Aurora smiled. ¡°Yes, we remember him, right, Dolly?¡±
¡°Yes, and I remember you.¡± Ludolf glared at her, yet he refrained from commenting further, unwilling to compromise their recent truce.
Erich sighed. ¡°Anyway, now we just need to wait for our mentor. Seriously, where is she? What is that woman doing?¡±
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¡°Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Sorry! Sorry! Out of my way!¡± Angelika barged through the crowded streets of Freyburg, through the masses of meandering townsfolk, her blonde hair dishevelled, her breathing heavy, her arms pushing, shoving, her lips profusely apologising in every single direction for her behaviour. Her frenzied footsteps echoed across the cobblestones.
Her skirt billowed in the air, and her armour jangled along, her greaves, her cuisses, her vambraces, her cuirass, her mail underneath clattering in a metallic cacophony. Her holstered sword wasn''t of much help either, trying to trip her every second step. Yet she had no time to rest. Yet she had no time to pause. Her destination was the adventurer''s guild. And she was late, horribly late.
Her entire morning had been nothing but an unmitigated, utter disaster! Of all days possible, it had to be precisely today that she overslept. Not yesterday! Not tomorrow! No, today! The only day that had mattered.
However, to make matters even worse, not only did she oversleep, she also stumbled across a litter of kittens and their mother when taking a shortcut. Amidst a mountain of unused straw baskets, her watchful eyes spotted lone tufts of bright golden fur. Their faint meows caught her immediate attention. They were the cutest litter of golden tabbies that she had ever seen in her entire life!
Her heart crumbled in an instant. Naturally, the kittens required her immediate care and undivided attention. Of course, the kittens had to be properly fed and cuddled adequately by rubbing her soft cheeks against their fluffy fur. The urge was irresistible. Time flew by, and before she realised another hour had passed, another hour had been lost. But what else was she supposed to do?
They were so cute, so fluffy, so fuzzy, so adorable. They meowed and purred at her. They stared with their big, round eyes full of hope, begging for treats with their little paws. Resistance was futile. She couldn''t leave them alone like that. One treat led to another. One treat became two. Two treats became four. Four treats became eight.
¡°Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!¡± Angelika mumbled under her breath, further increasing her pace. Could this day get any worse? It could.
Fate heard her prayers. A stranger emerged before her, standing right in her path. The man failed to notice her approaching. It was impossible to decelerate. It was impossible to change direction. They were on a direct collision course. The collision was inevitable.
¡°Watch out!¡± Angelika raised her arms to brace herself. The impact followed. They collided head on, crashing into each other in the middle of the street.
¡°Aargh.¡± A startled cry escaped Angelika as they both stumbled backwards. They both fell, landing on the ground.
¡°Ouch.¡± Angelika started rubbing her poor butt. It hurt.
¡°Aargh.¡± The man recuperated from his shock, turning his attention to her. ¡°My apologies for my oversight, are ... you ... all right ...¡± Unfortunately, though, she was in a hurry. There was no time to spare for pleasantries.
¡°Sorry! Sorry! I am so sorry, but I really need to go!¡± Angelika quickly apologised before leaping up and hurrying off. Time was not on her side.
Litter of Kittens
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Arc VI Chapter 13
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 13
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°Hmm¡±, Felix mused, adorned in his resplendent dolman. His boots against the aged wooden floor resonated through the quiet space, drawing the attention of the shopkeeper.
Gregor''s antiques and antiquities. Occidentalia, Orientalia, and Exotica. The name had piqued his curiosity. He entered. As expected, the shop was filled with relics and artefacts from eras long past. What caught his immediate attention, however, was a certain blade. A shashka. A sabre. The blade reflected the soft glow of the sun. His hand reached for the sword with a sense of longing nostalgia, almost instinctively. The blade spoke to him.
The shopkeeper was quick to notice his apparent interest. The man approached him with the polite smile of a vendor being able to sell sand to the Assyrians. ¡°Ah, a discerning eye you have, Lord ...¡±
¡°...¡± Felix furrowed an eyebrow. How perceptive of him. Not that it was much of an accomplishment for a man of his profession. ¡°Felix. Lord Felix.¡±
¡°Lord Felix, you seem to have taken a liking to the sabre. It is an old Kosak shashka ...¡±
¡°I know.¡± Felix cut him short, his fingers tracing the contours of the blade. The gold and silver. The metal engravings. The ornate hilt. The elegant curvature of the blade. The sword reminded him of the weapons of myth and legend, of the weapons wielded by heroes and champions. It was a beautiful blade, albeit primarily meant for ceremonial purposes and less for actual combat.
¡°Ah, I see.¡± The shopkeeper understood. ¡°I must apologise. Judging by your attire and foreign accent, you must be Galizyean yourself, a noble experienced in the ways of war, no less.¡±
¡°Correct.¡± Felix swung the sword. The balance was excellent. The metal was even mana conductive. It was truly a beautiful blade. Such a shame for it to be trapped here, forever hidden in an antique shop from the eyes of the world. It was a situation that was meant to be corrected. ¡°How much?¡±
The shopkeeper''s face lit up, his business instincts sparked. ¡°Ah, quite the direct customer, aren''t we, Lord Felix?¡±
¡°Possibly¡±, Felix conceded. ¡°Anyway, how much, ...¡±
¡°Gregor. My name is Gregor, Lord Felix¡±, the man introduced himself with a bow. ¡°As for the price, 350 taler seem equitable.¡±
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Felix raised an amused eyebrow. ¡°Equitable? You appear to jest, Gregor. I might be a noble, but I am not a bloody fool. 200 taler. That''s my offer.¡±
Gregor smiled. ¡°200? I hope you are joking, Lord Felix. Some might consider my prices unreasonable, but quality has its price. 325.¡±
¡°True ...¡± Felix was forced to concede, much to his annoyance. ¡°What about 225?¡±
¡°With all due respect, Lord Felix, but we are not a charity. I can''t charge less than 300 taler for such a valuable piece.¡±
¡°...¡± Felix deliberated. His price sounded ... acceptable. ¡°You know, Gregor, I feel generous today. We have a deal.¡±
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A successful negotiation and an excellent purchase later, Felix now strolled through the charming streets with a second sabre holstered around his hips. He relished the considerate pace, the tranquillity of the moment, the freedom of leisure. The day offered him a measure of respite from his duties in service of the House von Ehrbach with plenty of time at his disposal. He welcomed the change. It was a pleasant respite from his usual more pedestrian errands as a mere henchman and other significantly less savoury affairs in the name of his liege, Lord Viktor. Today, however, was a peaceful day. Today, he was on his own. Today, he was his own master.
His senses savoured the scenery, every image, every smallest detail, every single impression. Freyburg was a bustling, a prospering city, deeply immersed in centuries of history. The city veritably breathed the ages gone by, and the times had treated it well. It showed.
Solid stone and heavy masonry dominated the architecture, in stark contrast to his homeland, Galizya. It was a noticeable difference even after all these years. Robust stone and masonry prevailed over expendable wood and timber. Possibly for reasons of availability. Stone was a material more difficult to come by in the vast plains of Eastern Eudia. Not as ubiquitous and readily available as timber and red brick.
Or probably for economic reasons. The countless wars against Novrhelia had emptied the coffers of the kingdom, impoverishing burghers and nobles alike. The price of freedom was heavy, one paid in blood and steel. The centuries of war had ravaged, devastated, desolated the land. Yet Galizya stood and fought, even when alone, in her struggle against the Empire and her forces. Such was not the case for Arcadia, and certainly not for the Duchy of Schwarzwalt. The long years, the decades of peace and stability, graced the lands of Arcadia with affluence and prosperity beyond their wildest imaginations, a gift rarely bestowed upon his war torn homeland. But such was the course of history. Such was the fate of small nations, the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must ...
Unknown to him, his wandering thoughts were about to cost the young noble dearly. Absent minded and sunk in thoughts, Felix failed to notice the approaching woman in time. The woman was approaching fast, veritably running, clad in full armour and in a hurry. It was too late to dodge. They collided. The unknown woman struck him directly, like lightning. The impact made him reel, sending him tumbling backwards despite her petite stature. The full force of her momentum brought him down.
Felix, however, was quick to regain a modicum of composure. His gaze fell on the unknown assailant. The woman certainly left a ¡®striking¡¯ first impression. Blonde hair and azure blue eyes. Armoured. A sword holstered around her hips. An adventurer maybe, a knight perhaps, possibly a soldier or mercenary judging by her appearance. And yet her face ... felt vaguely familiar, like the fleeting memory of a distant past. Had he seen her somewhere before? Not that it mattered. Faces were like the sand of the sea. Familiar, and yet so different.
Felix cleared his throat. ¡°My apologies for my oversight, woman, are ... you ... all right ...¡± His eyes widened in disbelief, his limbs stiffened. Her hair. Her eyes. Her face. They weren''t mere figments of his imagination. One year had passed, yet he remembered. He recognised the woman.
The woman interrupted his thoughts, offering him a sincere apology. ¡°Sorry! Sorry! I am so sorry, but I really need to go!¡± Thus, she vanished amidst the crowd. The woman disappeared like she appeared.
¡°...¡± Felix was unable to comprehend. How ... How could this be? This was impossible. The woman was dead ... She died at Lord Viktor''s hands. Her corpse perished in the fire ...
No, focus! Concentrate, Felix! Pursue. Identify. Verify. Validate. Report.
His reflexes, honed over years, kicked in, and his body snapped to attention, immediately seizing the opportunity, immediately commencing the pursuit. The woman was on the run again, gaining distance. He couldn''t afford to lose her. He had to maintain contact. If she was truly who he thought she was, it was imperative to ascertain her identity. The priority was to collect information and report to Lord Viktor.
Lord Felix
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Arc VI Chapter 14
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 14
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°...¡± Erich crossed his arms, standing in one place, scowling, frowning, his general dissatisfaction written across his face. The current situation displeased him. Ludolf was not much different. They both growled, mumbled, grumbled under their breaths.
The cause of their irritation was evident. They waited. And waited. And waited. Hours had passed, yet their mentor remained nowhere to be seen. Their mentor''s truancy had considerably soured their mood and expectations.
Aurora, meanwhile, was occupied with her doll, patting, caressing her soft hair as though it was a little kitten. For little Aurora was a reliable source of constant calm and happiness. Today, her doll helped her to graciously overlook a certain someone''s ill timed tardiness.
Little Aurora pouted, venting her anger with her tiny angry voice. Even a gentle soul like hers had its limits. ¡°Do you think that she might have forgotten about us?¡±
Aurora shrugged her shoulders, equally at a loss. ¡°Who knows. Perhaps. Perhaps not. To be honest, I stopped caring an hour ago. If she comes, she comes. If she doesn''t come, she doesn''t come. Fine by me. I will get us some hot chocolate if she doesn¡¯t show up soon.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora declined to comment, but there was nothing that could be done about an absent mentor.
...
...
...
Another minute passed, but this time the camel''s back was broken. Discontent turned to frustration. Frustration to rage.
¡°Enough!¡± Erich vented his anger, clenching his fists. His temper got the better of him, albeit for understandable reasons. ¡°This is ridiculous! This situation is unacceptable! Seriously, who does she think she is? Does the woman know no shame?¡±
He was not alone. Ludolf agreed, ¡°Spot on! We are adventurers. Not her lackeys. She has no right to treat us like this.¡±
Erich clicked his tongue, already resolved to take his leave. ¡°Yes, exactly, we deserve some punctuality! Imagine! Three hours! We have already been waiting for three flipping hours ...¡±
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
The guild¡¯s door burst wide open all at once, the hinges shrieking under the force. A woman barged in head over heels, her blonde hair dishevelled, the sweat dripping from her forehead, all in a state of utter exhaustion. They all stared at her in astonishment. Poor creature.
The woman came to a halt right in front of them, her lungs panting, gasping for air. ¡°... ... ...¡±
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Erich, Rudolf, Aurora, even her doll, they all exchanged confused looks, blinking.
¡°Listen, ...¡± The woman raised her index finger, still panting. ¡°Please, ... give me ... just ... a moment.¡± Her words took all of her remaining strength.
They did. All she needed was a moment of rest to catch her breath. The brief respite worked wonders. Her exhaustion receded, gradually vanishing. Her breathing slowed and the colour in her face returned ...
¡°...¡± Aurora furrowed an eyebrow. Her face ... Her face seemed familiar. She was sure she had seen the woman somewhere before, but where?
The woman beamed, back on her feet and fully operational again after quickly adjusting her clothes, her armour, and her hair. ¡°Thank you, ... I needed this.¡±
¡°...¡± Erich scrutinised the woman, studying her. ¡°Are ... Are you our mentor?¡±
The woman smiled, confident as ever. ¡°Yes, I am. I am your assigned mentor.¡±
Realisation dawned on Aurora, finally remembering her. This smile ... This cheerful spirit ... This overwhelming positivity ... ¡°Ah, yes, it is her.¡±
¡°Her?¡± her doll wondered from the safety of her arms. ¡°You know her?¡±
¡°Yes, we do.¡± Aurora whispered. ¡°We have met her before. It was before your time, so you wouldn''t remember.¡±
Little Aurora nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±
¡°I think her name was ... ... ... was ... ... ... was ... ... ...¡± Aurora tilted her head. ¡°Never mind.¡±
Erich, meanwhile, was less well disposed, his arms crossed. He wanted answers. ¡°I see, so you are indeed our mentor. Tell us, what is your reason for being late. You surely have an explanation.¡±
¡°...¡± The known unnamed woman struggled, visibly uncomfortable with the entire situation. The truth was rather embarrassing. ¡°Well, ... you see ¡, I encountered some complications on my way here ... Namely, a litter of newborn kittens.¡±
...
...
...
¡°A litter? A litter of kittens? Are you serious?¡± Erich didn''t believe his ears.
The woman merely nodded. ¡°...¡±
Erich blinked. ¡°So you are telling us that we have been waiting here all this time because of a litter of kittens?¡±
The woman confirmed, ¡°Yes, but in my defence, they were the cutest, fluffiest, cuddliest, most adorable kittens on the entire planet. I couldn''t leave them alone like this. They required my aid!¡± Their mentor clenched her righteous fist. ¡°It was imperative to feed and snuggle them!¡±
...
...
...
Aurora whispered to her doll. ¡°Our mentor ... She is strange, isn''t she?¡±
Little Aurora merely nodded in response, ¡°Yes, quite. But I think that she must be a good person.¡±
¡°How so?¡± Aurora wondered.
¡°Kittens are cute and fluffy. That means that all people who like kittens must be cute and fluffy too. Such is well known.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora was too polite to disagree. ¡°What impeccable logic ...¡±
¡°That means that she needs our support! We must help her!¡± Little Aurora clenched her fisties.
¡°Really?¡± Aurora didn''t share her enthusiasm. ¡°Do we? ¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded. Her round purple eyes were begging her.
¡°Are you sure? That sounds like work ...¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded once more, leaving no room for debate.
¡°...¡± A heavy sigh escaped Aurora. So this was how it felt to be ordered around by a doll ...
¡°...¡± Erich grumbled, still engaged in a staring match with their mentor. The latter took the entire matter less serious. Now it fell to her to mediate.
¡°Listen, Erich ...¡± Aurora took the word, claiming everyone''s attention. ¡°Though, it is not my place to speak, I think you are being highly unreasonable here.¡±
¡°What?¡± Erich retorted. He and Ludolf turned to her. Their mentor. Recognition flashed across her eyes after taking notice of her presence.
The woman smiled, waving at her. ¡°Ah, a familiar face. It''s you, Edelgart~. You still remember me, don''t you?¡±
¡°Yes ...¡± Aurora beamed, lying through her teeth. ¡°Of course, I do.¡±
Her old friend, whose name she had certainly not forgotten, reacted, overjoyed. ¡°I am glad you do! I knew, you would never forget Sister Angelika.¡± Yes ... Absolutely, most certainly not ...
Angelika
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Arc VI Chapter 15
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 15
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
Ludolf raised an eyebrow, his question directed at both of them. ¡°You know each other?¡±
Aurora nodded. ¡°Yes, we did.¡±
¡°Angelika and I happened to meet before. Anyway, more importantly. Erich, no need to dramatise so much. Angelika was late. She apologised. No need to cry over spilled milk. What happened ... happened, Erich.¡±
Angelika agreed. ¡°Right. I am truly sorry. If you want, I am even willing to buy you something small in apology.¡±
Aurora raised her arm, her spirit high. ¡°Sister Angelika ... Sister Angelika, can I get two hot chocolates?¡±
¡°Certainly.¡± Angelika smiled. ¡°But why two?¡±
¡°One for me. One for my doll, obviously¡±, Aurora elaborated, her voice serious.
¡°...¡± Angelika briefly considered before accepting. ¡°Oh, I see ... That makes sense, I guess ...¡±
¡°...¡± Erich sighed, yet he relented. ¡°I guess you have a point there, Edelgart ... My apologies, Angelika, for my behaviour was rather ... unsightly, not to say unwarranted. My words might have been a bit harsh.¡±
Angelika smiled, ever the cheerful and forgiving spirit. Her kind hearted nature showed once again. ¡°Apology accepted, Erich~. I know you didn''t mean all what you said. At least, I hope so.¡±
¡°...¡± Erich averted his eyes, his guilt painted all across his face. ¡°Yes ... Anyway, just promise us to be more careful in the future. That''s all we wish.¡±
¡°I will.¡± Angelika clasped her hands together, her radiant smile blinding them. ¡°Anyway, I think that some official introductions are in order. I will tell you about myself. You tell me about yourselves. Sounds like a fair deal, right?¡±
¡°...¡± Erich, Ludolf, and Aurora exchanged a series of questioning looks. None of them seemed particularly convinced.
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Angelika, however, didn''t care, not in the slightest, undeterred by their lack of cooperativeness. Her chest swelled with pride. She was a stubborn woman, difficult to dislodge once set in her ways. Such was readily apparent. ¡°I am Angelika, and I am pleased to meet you all! From today onwards, I am your mentor! Though young in years, you may rely on me. I am versed in the art of swordsmanship as well as in the arcane arts of magic. I will teach and guide the three of you to the best of my abilities. I promise! Now you.¡± Her eyes fell on Erich. He was next, and there was no escape.
Erich cleared his throat, ¡°I am Erich von Schwert and my goal is to become an adventurer in order to restore the honour of my family.¡±
¡°An ambitious goal.¡± Angelika commented.
Erich nodded. ¡°Yes, I know. That is why I wish to be the best. That is why I expect much from you as my mentor, Angelika. I did hear that you are both a skilled adventurer and mage. I hope you will help me to improve my swordplay and magic.¡±
¡°I will, Erich.¡± Angelika nodded. ¡°Sir Hartmann told me about your and Ludolf''s ... circumstances. You are a capable young boy. You are even able to use magic, which is impressive in its own right. Now on to, Ludolf.¡± Her gaze wandered towards the other boy.
Ludolf followed. ¡°I am Ludolf. I am his best friend and loyal retainer. My family has served the Schwert for a long time. I continue my family¡¯s tradition. I will follow him wherever he goes.¡±
Angelika beamed. ¡°To think that you would still find such loyalty in this time and age, a family who still remembers their oath. I am impressed. I am proud to find someone such as you amongst my students.¡± Her eyes turned to Aurora. ¡°Now you, Edelgart. We have already met, but another introduction doesn''t hurt, does it?¡± Her smile bored into her, deeper and deeper.
Aurora hugged her doll. ¡°My name is Edelgart. And the little one in my arms is Dolly! Dolly is my bestest fwiend. Dolly is a bit shy and timid around people, so she doesn''t talk much. But otherwise, she is a very sweet and gentle girl!¡±
¡°...¡± Angelika smiled, yet for the fraction of a moment her lips faltered, tainted by a lingering sense of ... pity. The sadness in her eyes spoke more than a thousand words. Angelika pitied her. It was obvious.
Aurora tightened her hug. ¡°I am here because I have always dreamed of becoming an adventurer!¡±
This time, her words showed the opposite effect. Much to her surprise, Angelika veritably lit up, her face sparkling with unseen boundless enthusiasm. She knew this was just a turn of phrase, right?
Angelika could hardly contain her joy. ¡°Oh, what a wonderful dream. I can relate, for sure. To become an adventurer. To see the world. To meet new people. To prove your mettle. Yes, that is the true adventurer''s spirit.¡±
It was only now that Aurora began to realise what she had got herself into.
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His instincts hadn''t failed him, after all. As it turned out, his suspicions ... were correct.
Felix leaned against the nearby wall, his eyes closed, his head lowered, his boots firmly placed on the wooden floor, still ever so slightly winded from his wild chase across the city. To her credit, Angelika was fast, certainly far faster for a noble lady of her birth than he recalled. Her Ladyship gave him quite a hard time. He nearly lost her several times, but he didn''t. He maintained contact, and Angelika led him to the adventurer''s guild.
Now, he was trying to blend in, at least, as inconspicuously as his attire allowed him to. His attire ... attracted the gazes of curious onlookers. The adventurers took notice of his presence. He was a noble. He didn''t belong here. Thankfully, their curiosity was fleeting and their attention short lived. His onlookers quickly returned to minding their own business. He was nobody. He was no one. He wasn''t here.
Felix had strained his ears, eavesdropping from afar, from outside their view. His ears caught some snippets, a few single words, a few sentences here and there. Their words confirmed his hypothesis. Erich. Ludolf. Edelgart. Angelika. Adventurers. Students. Mentor. Apparently, Her Ladyship had embarked on the path of the sword and taken on the mantle of an adventurer. What a curious choice of metier.
Angelika. Her name matched. Her Ladyship didn''t even bother to change it.
Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Physique and height. Her appearance matched.
Cheerful. Positive. Naive. Her personality matched.
Felix grinned, a smirk crossing his lips, his feet on the move again. There was no doubt, the woman was Angelika. How unfortunate for her to stumble across him. Luck was truly not on her side.
Now, only a single question remained, what were they supposed to do about her? Angelika could not be suffered to live. Her mere existence represented a threat. A threat that could be impossibly ignored, but such was not his to decide. It was time to report his findings. Lord Viktor had to be informed.
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Arc VI Chapter 16
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 16
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°Mmmmm~¡± Atop her chair, Aurora hummed happily, her feet dangling in the air, a large cup of steaming hot chocolate throning in her hands, her cherished doll nestled safely in her arms. Angelika ... Her tardiness was all but forgotten and forgiven. At least, as far as she was concerned. All just with the help of a little bribery, corruption and a cheerful spirit. But primarily bribery and corruption. And a cheerful spirit.
Aurora would lie, but she was at the moment supremely satisfied with her life. As a wise man once said, it was important to enjoy the little things in life, to appreciate the little joys, to savour the moment. His words rang true. It was the little things that gave you strength. It was the little things that granted you resilience. It was the little joys that tempered, that hardened your spirit against the coming storm of the unknown. Because a spirit content was a spirit unshakeable, one founded on strong foundations, on a will unbending and unyielding as steel.
Thus, Aurora was currently sipping on her cup of hot chocolate, her eyes and cheeks sparkling with delight. Her lips tasted the rich flavour of cacao and heated milk fused in harmony. Hot chocolate was delicious. It was heavenly. It was a wonderful treat. Warmth filled her with sweet induced happiness. Even better, she was in possession of not one cup of hot chocolate, not two cups of hot chocolate, but in fact three whole cups of hot chocolate.
Her incessant begging and irresistible kitten eyes had proved to be rather persuasive. They paid off. The results spoke for themselves. Three cups of supreme hot chocolate were her hard fought reward. She had earned them fairly and squarely. One for her. One for Dolly. And one more. Because what was better than two? Three, of course! Four certainly! Five for sure! More was always better! But she shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. Not when it wasn''t her own purse that she was systematically lightening. Contrary to common perception, she had a heart too. At times.
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¡°Mmmmm~.¡± Aurora sipped on her cup, the foam of whisked milk spreading across her entire mouth. So this was how this fabled childhood she had heard so much about must have been like. At least, she assumed so. One filled with lots of delicious hot chocolate. Not to mention biscuits. Lots and lots of them.
Angelika watched Aurora with a fond smile, her head resting on her folded hands. ¡°How does it taste? Do you like your hot chocolate, Edelgart?¡±
Aurora nodded vigorously, her giant cup clutched in her hands. ¡°Yes, bery, bery much~.¡±
¡°I am glad to hear so~.¡± Angelika veritably sparkled from tip to toe, seemingly radiating the aura of a saintess, a halo of unrelenting, blinding light surrounding her. Her insufferable positivity and optimism aside, it was rather difficult to dislike Angelika. Her kindness, her cheerfulness, her exuberance, they were frankly disarming. ¡°Seeing you smile means you are happy. You being happy makes me happy. Me being happy means that it was worth every single coin spent, even when fairly expensive.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Aurora sipped on her current large cup of hot chocolate, eyeing her benevolent benefactor, nevertheless, with a certain dose of suspicion. Was it wrong to take advantage of Angelika¡¯s boundless kindness and her stupendous naivety? Certainly. Did she care? A tiny bit perhaps, but it was a crime that she could live with. After all, she had done worse.
Angelika¡¯s sentiment, however, was not shared by everyone. Neither by Erich, nor by Ludolf. They both glared at her as though she was the most despicable criminal imaginable, Erich in particular. He continued to prove her most outspoken and stubborn critic. As if he had a bone to pick with her, which he clearly did.
¡°...¡± Erich crossed his arms, offended by what he perceived as childish behaviour on her part.
Aurora looked at her doll, her partner in crime, whispering. Obviously, she was inclined to disagree. ¡°I suspect that he still doesn''t like us ...¡±
¡°You think so?¡± Dollrora raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with an almost sarcastic undertone.
Aurora nodded. ¡°Yes, trust me. I told you before that I am a good judge of character. I have been backstabbed only twice, or thrice.¡±
Erich overheard their little discussion, his eyes narrowed. ¡°Hey, Edelgart, what are you whispering there? What are you and your doll plotting now?¡±
Aurora rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, nothing~. Nothing, at all~. We were just discussing your untimely demise. Seriously, Erich, what is the matter, my friend? Why all the bad temper? What have I ever done to offend you? Haven''t we settled for a truce?¡±
The boy hardly relented, his gaze never leaving. ¡°We have. We won''t fight you, but that doesn''t mean that I need to like you, nor that I need to approve of your frivolous antics. Quite the contrary. Your very presence, your very existence affronts me, Edelgart.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora furrowed an eyebrow. ¡°How so? What have I ever done to offend you, Erich?¡±
Erich glared, equally annoyed and irritated. ¡°Of course, a numpty like you wouldn¡¯t understand. Carefree. Careless. Capricious. Whimsical. This is who you are. No sense of responsibility. No sense of accountability whatsoever. Spoiled and unprofessional. You do whatever you want whenever you want, Edelgart. And you think you can get away with it. I can¡¯t stand any of it. I have no idea what the guild sees in you. Because I don¡¯t. You put nothing but shame and dishonour on us adventurers and our hallowed profession. If I didn''t know any better, I would say you are one of these pampered noble brats playing adventurer in her free time. For you, all of this is just another silly game of yours, Edelgart. This is why I will never accept the likes of you amidst our ranks, let alone in our party.¡±
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Arc VI Art Gallery
VI
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Arc VI Art Gallery
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Aurora
Rift
Arc I Prologue
Forest of Schwarzwalt
Arc I Chapter 1
Count Geralt von Styria
Arc I Chapter 3
Lord Guenther von Ratis
Arc I Chapter 4
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Aurora Doll
Arc II Chapter 1
Castle of Schwarzburg
Lady Aurora von Schwarz
Arc II Chapter 2
Lord Friedrich von Styria
Arc II Chapter 3
Lambert and Iris
Arc II Chapter 4
Lady Arwing Thassaig and Lord Nelaeryn Liath¨¢in
Arc II Chapter 6
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Princess Felicia von Hohenstaufen
Family Crypt
Arc II Chapter 9
Lord Kasimirvon Levinski and Lady Vera von Arnfels
Arc II Chapter 12
Ruins of Valentia
Arc II Chapter 13
Dread Wolf
Arc II Chapter 14
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Duke Aurelius von Schwarz
Arc III Chapter 1
Exploration
Arc III Chapter 7
Archdemon Kakos
Arc III Chapter 11
Magic Circle
Arc III Chapter 15
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Village of Waldheim
Arc IV Chapter 3
White Alps
City of Freyburg
Arc IV Chapter 5
Adventurers¡¯ Guild
Arc IV Chapter 6
Erika
Arc IV Chapter 9
Armour
Arc IV Chapter 14
Ludolf and Erich von Schwert
Arc IV Chapter 20
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Lord Viktor von Ehrbach
Arc V Chapter2
Library
Arc V Chapter 5
Elemental Chart
Arc V Chapter 8
Katana
Arc V Chapter15
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Bedroom
Arc VI Chapter 1
Office
Arc VI Chapter 6
Lady Aurora von Schwarz
Arc VI Chapter 7
Litter of Kittens
Arc VI Chapter 12
Lord Felix
Arc VI Chapter 13
Angelika
Arc VI Chapter 14
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Arc VI Chapter 17
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 17
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora smirked ever so slightly, ever so unnoticeably to the careless onlooker, her lips savouring her hot chocolate. It was still warm and cosy.
Touch¨¦. His point ... was taken. It was difficult to refute the truth now that he had glimpsed at what lay beyond her mask. It appeared that she had underestimated the boy. How negligent of her. ¡°...¡±
Erich felt vindicated, a smug grin crossing his lips. He had scored a hit. ¡°Suddenly silent, aren''t you?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora merely sipped on her cup of hot chocolate, her eyes closed in contemplation. Her first cup neared its inevitable end. What a shame. ¡°...¡±
Ever the cheerful and forgiving spirit, Angelika tried her best to pacify, visibly uncomfortable with the entire situation. ¡°Now, now, Erich, don¡¯t you think that you went a bit too far here? After all, aren''t we all friends here?¡±
Erich crossed his arms, his stubbornness getting the better of him. Once set, an unfavourable first impression was difficult to dislodge, but such was true for most of us. ¡°No, I meant what I said, and I will stand by my words. No matter what she might think, she doesn¡¯t belong here. And I am hardly the only one to think so.¡± His gaze shifted, focusing on her with renewed attention. ¡°Edelgart, do you know what the people say about you and your doll behind your back?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora raised an eyebrow, her second cup of delicious hot chocolate approaching her lips. So they were talking about her ... Behind her back, no less. Not that she ever had cared about the opinion of the many. ¡°No, I do not.¡±
¡°...¡± Erich narrowed his eyes. His stare spoke for itself. ¡°They call you insane, Edelgart. They call you the crazy girl with the creepy doll!¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Little Aurora protested vehemently, fuming inside her arms. ¡°Take that back! I am not creepy! I am cute and fluffy!¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Aurora protested vehemently, hugging her doll protectively. ¡°Take that back! Dolly is not creepy! A bit maybe, but not much! She is cute and fluffy! And I am not insane! Certainly not.¡±
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Erich dismissed her, scarcely convinced. ¡°I have my serious doubts. After all, it was you who ordered a cup of hot chocolate ... For your doll!¡±
¡°Yes, of course!¡± Aurora nodded sagely, oblivious to the apparent contradiction. ¡°Two cups for me. One cup for Dolly. All as it should be!¡±
¡°...¡± Erich blinked in return, his stare completely aghast, devoid of life. ¡°Don¡¯t you ... Don¡¯t you see the problem, Edelgart?¡±
¡°Hmm ¡ Hmm ¡ Hmmm ...¡± Aurora tilted her head before shaking her head, her doll safely in her arms, ¡°No, not really.¡±
¡°...¡± Erich sighed, at this point at the end of his ropes. ¡°You see, Edelgart, your doll is ... a doll. A cup of hot chocolate is a cup of hot chocolate. Dolls don¡¯t drink hot chocolate. In fact, dolls don¡¯t drink at all.¡±
Aurora tilted her head, surprised by this most recent and most surprising revelation. Apparently, dolls were not able to drink. ¡°Hmm, now that you say it ... Are you sure, though?¡±
¡°Yes, quite.¡± Erich clicked his tongue, the derision apparent.
¡°...¡± Aurora pondered her options. ¡°Well, what if, what if we ask Dolly herself? What do you think, Dolly? Is it true what the mean boy says? He says that you don''t like hot chocolate ... Oh, ... what do you say?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora played her part flawlessly. Motionless and silent, she was resting among her arms like the good doll she was. Her fa?ade was impeccable.
Aurora leaned closer, lending her doll an ear. ¡°I see ... I understand ... Good news, Erich, Dolly says that she would appreciate a cup of hot chocolate. Clearly, your concerns are misplaced.¡±
¡°Are they?¡± Erich clicked his tongue, not bothering to hide his disdain. ¡°See, Edelgart, this is exactly why everyone thinks you are insane. You and your doll are living in your own little fantasy world. This, however, is reality. This is the real world. Life isn¡¯t just one of your silly games, Edelgart. Seriously, stop acting like a child, and start growing up!¡±
¡°...¡± Start growing up ... If the boy only knew. Aurora shook her head, sighing. ¡°Erich, my friend, listen ...¡±
¡°Erich! This is enough! ¡± Angelika slammed her fists onto the table, interrupting their little spat and claiming their attention. ¡°Your concerns are noted, but this is no reason to attack her like this. Edelgart is one of us, and I will not tolerate any further transgressions, do you understand?¡±
¡°But ...¡± Erich protested.
¡°No buts, Erich¡±, Angelika countered. ¡°This is my final word. Have I made myself clear?¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Have I made myself clear, Erich?¡±
¡°Yes, Ma''am¡±, Erich conceded grudgingly. This was how their confrontation ended, for now. Anticlimactically.
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His coat thrown over his shoulder, his swords holstered around his hip, Felix set once again foot in an opulent mansion of stone and wood. Aged oak and serene granite. Faded tapestries and soft velvet. It was a place that had grown familiar in recent weeks, home to him and his liege.
Barons, counts, margraves, dukes, princes, kings, emperors. Since ancient times, since times immemorial, the wealth, the power, the privileges of nobility exceeded those of the common masses. Founded on the strength of their magic, the strength of their indomitable bloodline, it was them to rule this world and her riches. All across the realm, far and close, they called lands and vast possessions, estates and mansions their own. So did the House von Ehrbach.
They were the most noble and most ancient House von Ehrbach, the venerable Counts of Stiglitz. Of course, they would call a mansion within the walls of Freyburg their own. Of course, they would not allow themselves to fall behind their lesser peers. Of course, they would not be outdone by their rivals and competitors.
Because it was imperative for any noble house of proper standing to maintain presence, to maintain face in the eyes of their liege. To see and to be seen. To demonstrate their wealth, power, influence in the face of the world. Such was the ancient game of the nobles. Such was the way the game was played. Whether it was yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Whether it was abroad or back home. It was a game that never changed.
His footsteps swift and firm, Felix passed the guards and the sea of servants. Maids and butler dedicated to their work. He had returned, earlier than presumed, but such was the life of a loyal retainer. Always on duty. Always on guard.
Felix arrived at the chambers and the heavy wooden door opened. A familiar sight of Lord Viktor greeted him, his lord and master ensconced in his armchair a book in his hands, his intellectual pursuits interrupted.
¡°...¡± His liege noticed his presence, a flicker of surprise crossing his stoic fa?ade of a face.
Felix spoke, his voice firm. He was serious. ¡°My Lord, we have a problem.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 18
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 18
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
¡°Felix ...¡± Lord Viktor turned his attention to him with a raised eyebrow. His usual polite smile adorned his lips. It was a smile that he had come to know well. Perhaps too well. A smile, polite, yet utterly cold and calculating. A smile forever scheming and plotting. A smile hiding the shadows, the darkness beneath, a fa?ade to deceive others. A smile befitting Lord Viktor and his house. ¡°How time flies ... Already back, Felix? Didn¡¯t I instruct you to take a day off? How is it that you have returned?¡±
¡°...¡± Felix straightened his back, his heels clicking together. As usual, his posture was the epitome of impeccable. After all, what was a noble without proper etiquette? The answer was nothing. Certainly not when far from home in exile without land, without money, without connections. ¡°You certainly did, My Lord, but ... my duty has recalled me.¡±
¡°...¡± Amused, Viktor grinned before closing his book. His words amused the young Lord. His amusement might have even been genuine.¡°You and your sense of duty, Felix. Always so serious and formal. A knight through and through. A true paragon of a dying breed. At times, I wonder how you came to serve our house?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Felix remained silent. So did he. Not that he had much of a choice. He was in need of coin. They were in need of a sword. This was the nature of their relationship. So far it proved more than adequate.
¡°Judging by your face, it must be serious.¡± Lord Viktor listened, his concern showing on his face.
Felix nodded. ¡°It is, My Lord ... I must inform you ... Lady Angelika, ... she is alive, My Lord.¡±
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Lord Viktor blinked with incredulity, his disbelief apparent. He understood the potential implications of his words. He understood them only too well. ¡°Felix, did you ... Did you just say that Angelika is alive?¡±
¡°...¡± Felix nodded gravely. ¡°Yes, she is.¡±
Lord Viktor didn¡¯t believe him, tempted to dismiss his warnings. ¡°No, this ... This is impossible ... This can¡¯t be ... Angelika can¡¯t be alive ... She and the rest of her family died that night ... I killed her with my own hands, Felix.¡±
Unmoved by his liege¡¯s doubt, Felix trusted in his memory. ¡°My Lord, with all due respect, I doubt that my memory has deceived me. There is no mistake, her face, her hair, her voice ... It was most certainly her. It was Lady Angelika. Which leaves only one question, ...¡±
Felix redirected his gaze, his scrutiny falling onto his liege. ¡°My Lord, excuse my audacity, but ... did you really kill her that night?¡± A mere glance sufficed to tell him that his question had touched a sore point.
...
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...
¡°... ... ...¡± Lord Viktor bit his lips, the consternation in his face visible. He didn¡¯t want to talk about it. It appeared that there was more to that night one year ago than everyone presumed, but no truth could be hidden forever. ¡°I did kill her, Felix ... Or so I thought ...¡±
His liege leaned back in his armchair, sighing now that old certainties had been shattered. ¡°The fire ... The darkness ... The fumes ... The smoke ... The burning mansion ... Contrary to my expectations, killing her turned out to be quite the troublesome affair ... The wretch might not be the brightest candle in the chandelier, but she surely knows how to fight, at least, for a lady. Unfortunately, her preposterous ideas served her well ...
I fought her. She resisted. She refused to die, but it was only a matter of time. She was outfought and outclassed ... It was when a falling beam cut our fight short. The fire was devouring the mansion, the flames claiming more and more.¡± Lord Viktor turned his gaze at him. ¡°I saw when it happened. The wooden beam ... The beam crushed her, burying her body beneath its weight. I thought my work done. So, I left her to die in the flames ... ... ... It appears, though, that I have erred ...¡±
¡°I see ...¡± Felix commented.
His liege sighed heavily, making his annoyance known. But it was of no use. What happened had happened. ¡°Felix, tell me, how did you happen to make acquaintance with my beloved wife?¡±
¡°Well, we happened to meet in the streets ... On an involuntary basis ...¡± Felix admitted. ¡°Angelika crashed directly into me while running ... She didn¡¯t appear to have recognised me ...¡±
Lord Viktor, his master, clicked his tongue in derision, his voice laced with past disdain. ¡°Tsk, this woman ... Still as clumsy as ever. Sounds like the Angelika I know. And what happened then?¡±
¡°I followed her, of course.¡± Felix elaborated, his hands folded behind his back. ¡°The moment I saw her face, I had my suspicions about her identity ... Nevertheless, I wasn¡¯t sure. But my doubts were unfounded. Her appearance. Her voice. Her aura. Her behaviour. They all matched. In fact, she didn¡¯t even bother to change her name all this time ... From what I gathered, Angelika has become an adventurer. She has reached the silver rank and works now for the adventurers¡¯ guild as a mentor. Just today, she was assigned her first party to tutor ..., My Lord?¡±
¡°Hahahahaha. Hahahaha. Hahahahaha.¡± Lord Viktor exploded, unable to contain his laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Then it really must be her ... To think that ... The girl always had these silly ideas about knights, about justice, about adventurers, about seeing the world, about taking up the sword ... She always thought she could escape the destiny of her sex and her duties as woman ... To think now that she would truly become an adventurer ... Such a stupid woman. The girl hasn¡¯t changed at all.
Not that I will complain, considering the circumstances. Quite the contrary. I tell you, fortune smiles upon us, Felix. As long as Angelika is content with playing her little adventurer games, she doesn¡¯t pose much of a threat, even when alive, which means that we are not in any hurry to rectify our error.¡±
¡°...¡± Felix understood what his liege intended to say. ¡°So, we allow her to live, I gather?¡±
Lord Viktor nodded. ¡°Yes, ... at least, for the time being. Because we have time and patience. As long as Angelika doesn¡¯t cause us trouble, it would be unwise to act rashly. Especially, when we are placed under such heavy scrutiny. The Duke ... distrusts us. Not to mention Friedrich, Wilhelm, and Clementia. The latter in particular. They all have their eyes and ears everywhere. From the moment we set foot into this city, we have been tailed. So, better to err on the side of caution, which means that right now we cannot act ... all too openly. Killing her, a silver rank adventurer, no less, would elicit much unwanted ... attention ... The guild would ask questions. As would the Duke.¡±
¡°...¡± Felix agreed. Considering the circumstances, it was indeed prudent to exercise caution. The illusive silhouettes in the streets ... The shades lurking in the shadows ... The silent whispers ... The peering gazes behind his back ... It was not just his imagination. They were being shadowed at every step.
¡°... ... ...¡± His liege folded his hands, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. His head was thinking. ¡°Lord Viktor continued, ¡°It must happen ¡®inconspicuously¡¯. With the necessary ¡®discretion¡¯. And without incriminating us. That much is obvious. Angelika cannot be allowed to live under any circumstances, as we cannot rely on her naivety forever. Anything else would be foolish. Her mere existence is an incalculable threat. But eliminating her is easier said than done.¡±
¡°An assassin, perhaps?¡± Felix suggested.
¡°...¡± Sunk in thought, Lord Viktor mused, ¡°Perhaps. But where to find one, Felix? On short notice and without connections, no less. We need a professional one. A reliable one, to boot. One who doesn¡¯t ask too many questions. And one who can keep their mouth shut. Not to mention, one who can fight if necessary. As loathe I am to admit, the girl is made from sterner stuff. It takes more than just some armed thug to kill her. Ignoring the fact that we cannot afford to fail, otherwise, we will tip her off. Think about it, a failed assassination attempt ... Angelika is naive, but not stupid ... Well, no, she is stupid, but not that stupid. Even she should be able to realise that it must be us and that we are out to get her. And spirits know what she is going to do then. If she seeks out the Duke or whomever else for protection, which I consider far from impossible, then we are not just screwed, but royally screwed. So maybe poison? Or maybe arrange an unfortunate ¡®accident¡¯? Who knows.¡± His liege didn¡¯t sound particularly convinced and it showed.
¡°So, what are we going to do?¡± Felix inquired.
¡°For now, nothing.¡± Lord Viktor looked at him, thinking. ¡°Monitor the situation until further notice and report your findings. I ... We need to know everything about her. Her schedule. Her habits. Her contacts. In the meantime, I will inform Father about these unforeseen ... developments. We will come up with an adequate solution to her in time.¡±
Felix nodded, his back straightened. ¡°Understood.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 19
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 19
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30
th Ignis Lunar X AAC 753
The moon stood tall, and the stars stood proud. Once again, night had arrived, and yet slumber continued to elude a certain cute, lively doll who failed to fall asleep despite the lateness of the hour. A long day had passed, yet the land of dreams denied her entry in the most unreasonable of manners, leaving her stranded in the world of the wake.
Restless, little Aurora turned and shifted on her pillow. Left. Right. Left. Left. Right. Left. Right. Right. Right. Unfortunately, to no avail. No matter what, her mind stubbornly refused to succumb to the temptations of slumber. In the end, sleep was not meant to be.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora groaned, a heavy sigh escaping her. This was going to be a long night, wasn¡¯t it?
Time moved slowly, at a glacial pace. The hours, the minutes, the seconds passed, yet each felt like a small eternity. The world had come to a grinding halt, as if it was conspiring against her.
Thus, little Aurora was left placed in her bed, her body situated beside her impromptu mistress, safely nestled beneath layers upon layers of cosy blankets. The latter were a more recent, yet most welcome addition and acquisition as the days grew colder.
Her mistress¡¯ devious plan had succeeded. Through means of cuteness, persuasion, and bad conscience, other Aurora was able to procure an additional set of blankets for the coming winter, lightening Lambert¡¯s coin purse in the process. Judging by his exasperated expression and the annoyance on his face, it was a rather common occurrence. Yet he yielded, much to his disgruntled displeasure. ¡®Edelgart¡¯ was his precious, little princess. And a little princess could not be allowed to freeze, but such considerations were secondary at the moment ...
¡°...¡± Little Aurora rested on her pillow, her glassy eyes staring at the uneventful ceiling above. Sturdy lumbers supported the wooden ceiling.
All this day, there was an unanswered question that bothered her ... And there was only one person able to answer her ... Said person was slumbering right next to her, enjoying the sleep of the just.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora moved her head, her gaze falling onto her mistress, her companion, the other Aurora, in the hope of breaking the silence that enveloped the room. Her delicate porcelain fingers touched her mistress¡¯ cheeks. It was a silent plea for attention, for conversation. If only her pleas were heard in the darkness of the night, ...
¡°Oh my~, whom do we have there~?¡± A tender, gentle giggle interrupted her. A pair of shimmering, purple orbs watched her, observed her with a hint of concern. Her mistress had awoken from her slumber. ¡°Is something bothering you perchance~?¡±
Kindness filled her voice and her heart now that their fates were intertwined. A kindness genuine, different from her usual fa?ade of saccharine smiles and faked politeness. Yet even her most genuine smile belied an indiscernible coldness, a suffocating darkness lurking deep within her. Kindness and darkness. This was her true self, the true Aurora that she had come to know, the one hiding behind her smiles and masks.
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¡°...¡± Little Aurora merely nodded., her little head moving vigorously. ¡°Yes, there is ...¡±
¡°He~he~he~he~ ...¡± Aurora chuckled, amused by her confirmation, but not in her usual derisive, sardonic way. Her mistress¡¯ hand reached out for her, gently patting, ruffling her hair. Aurora treated her with kindness and affection, both of which her heart longed for. Her warmth ... Her tender touch ... They made her feel ... better ... They made her feel ... appreciated ... They warmed her heart in these trying times.
The girl named Aurora beamed, her tender lips brighter than the stars themselves. ¡°Then tell me~, what is bothering my cute, little, sweet, Aurora~?¡± Her finger poked her tiny porcelain nose, tickling her skin ever so slightly. Her mischief achieved the desired result and caused her quite some predicament.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora blushed ever so lightly, her cheeks turning cherry red. Her resolve floundered and her hands were fidgeting as usual. Even the words on her tongue crumbled like freshly baked biscuits. How evil of her! This wasn¡¯t fair!
Fortunately, though, she was able to repel Aurora¡¯s advances and regain a semblance of countenance. ¡°Well, ... Well, there is something I was wondering for quite some time, ... Why ..., why ... are you acting like this?¡±
¡°...¡± Her question amused her. Aurora tilted her head with a smile on her lips and a question mark hanging over her head, one of her favourite gestures from her repertoire. ¡°Acting like what?¡±
Nervous, shy, reluctant, little Aurora averted her eyes, avoiding her mistress¡¯ probing gaze. ¡°Well, ... you see, ... There was this boy today. His name was Erich, I think.¡±
Aurora raised an eyebrow, looking half confused, half mildly annoyed at his mention. ¡°Yes, ... Erich ... Troublesome fellow, to be honest. We already ... had some history together. So what about him?¡±
¡°Well, ...¡± Little Aurora pondered her choice of words. ¡°Remember how he talked about you living in your own little fantasy world. He said that life isn¡¯t just a silly game. He said that you need to grow up.¡±
¡°Oh, did he?¡± Aurora furrowed her eyebrow, her voice bored and the sarcasm strong. Despite her nonchalant attitude, her slight irritation was more than apparent. So she did care, after all.
Little Aurora nodded. ¡°Yes, the thing is ... I think ... that Erich has a point.¡±
¡°... ... ... Does he?¡± Aurora frowned, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, yet her reaction proved less hostile than initially anticipated. Quite the contrary. She listened, even when annoyed. ¡°How so?¡±
¡°Well, ...¡± Little Aurora hesitated, her hands unsure. ¡°The more I think about it, the more I start to think that Erich is right ... You are childish. Or rather, we are childish.¡± Her head sunk, and her gaze lowered under the weight of expectations. ¡°You seem to like dolls ... I like dolls ... You like cute and fluffy things ... I like cute and fluffy things ... You like hot chocolate ... I like hot chocolate too ... You like mischief ... Well, I don¡¯t like mischief, but that is beside the point, I guess. What matters is that he ...¡± The sadness in her voice was palpable, the feeling of insufficiency. He sounds just like Brother. Or Father. Or Friedrich ... Or Maria ... Or Geralt ... Clarissa ... Or Stahl ... Or the professors at the academy ... Or everyone else for that matter ... They all said that I need to learn to act my age. That I must take responsibility. That I need to fulfil the expectations placed upon me. That much is expected of me. That I must make my ancestors proud. That I must be strong. That I must carry myself with honour, dignity and decorum. That I must honour my duties as a noble lady. That I must not dishonour my name ... That I must not bring shame to the House von Schwarz ...¡±
...
...
...
Aurora¡¯s gentle hand interrupted her, once again ruffling her silken hair. It was a calming, touch, tender and reassuring, one that radiated strength, fortitude, confidence. All things she lacked. Yet Aurora was here, caring for her.
¡°...¡± A smile graced Aurora¡¯s lips and her words were spoken softly. ¡°Aurora ... You are such a good girl. Though, you still have much to learn. Know that life is short ... It is thus unwise to live one¡¯s life bereft of joy, forever bending to the expectations of others, when it is yourself that matters ... So tell me this, why should I care? Why should I care what others think about me? I shouldn¡¯t. And nor should you. It is something that I have come to realise far too late.
We are fourteen, Aurora, ... fourteen tender years, our petite appearance aside. In the eyes of the world, we are nothing but a child, a cute little girl with her doll, suffering from delusional fantasies, and an unhealthy passion for hot chocolates and sugary sweet confectioneries in general. Yet the years will pass and the flower of youth will eventually wither.
There will be time aplenty for us to ¡®grow up¡¯, to act ¡®mature¡¯, to ¡®take responsibility¡¯. So, let¡¯s savour our time as long as it lasts. Because we will never regain it again.¡±
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...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora had fallen silent, her eyes wide, her gaze fixed on the girl, a girl standing so much grander than life. An indiscernible feeling, potent and irresistible, gripped her heart, banishing any semblance of doubt like the rays of the dawning sun the darkness of the night.
Aurora responded with a benign smile after tucking her in beneath their blanket. ¡°Anyway, I think that it is time for both of us to get some sleep. The night is already fat spent and tomorrow will be a long day, or rather today, to be precise.¡±
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Arc VI Chapter 20
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 20
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1
st Aqua Solar XI AAC 753
Light and distant, the memories of a different time and age visited little Aurora once again, like so many nights before. The moment slumber claimed her, the memories returned, making her relive a past not her own. Memories of a past she had come to share with every fibre of her being.
Was it a privilege or a curse? She couldn¡¯t tell. Yet such was her fate these days, Now that their souls had joined. Now that their souls were all but one.
The stream of fleeting memories invaded her mind. The memories of a world not hers. The memories of a different time, place, and age. Ever distant, and yet so intimately close to her at the same time. It was a world that felt ... so eerily real.
The light. The air. The places. The aether. The mana.
The people. The names. The voices. The familiar faces.
Her sensations. Her feelings. Her emotions. Her soul.
Her hopes. Her dreams. Her worries. Her fears. Her goals. Her ambitions.
Her past. Her present. Her future.
Little Aurora had come to know them all. Sometimes more than she would have liked.
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Anno Imperii 05.08.1936
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...
...
Darkness.
...
Silence.
...
Darkness surrounded Aurora, her eyelids firmly closing against the tender light of the sun. A gentle breeze caressed the whistling grass. Birds chirped among the verdant trees without the slightest care in the world, entirely ignorant of mundane human affairs. The world was seemingly at peace.
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All was quiet, but as so often, such peace was deceiving, fleeting. There was tension ... There was conflict ... in the air ... A sense of smouldering hostility, antipathy, annoyance, and last but not least, wounded pride. This time, they were more than serious. This time, they came to fight. The tension was palpable.
All alone, Aurora stood there on her own, on the open field, the training ground around her. It was a training ground she had come to know well owing to her father¡¯s best efforts. Mostly by the force of necessity. She knew every rock. Every stone. Every tree. Every bush. Every hill. Every height. Every ditch. Every trench. Every crater. Although it was difficult at times to keep track of the latter ... The topography of the place ... was quite variable. Especially, after some target practice. She was speaking from experience.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Her chest rose and fell under her pitch black uniform. Aurora inhaled and exhaled, sharpening her mind, whetting her senses. Her magic responded. Her mana heeded her call. Her sensory field expanded, her magic monitoring, scanning her surroundings, her mana probing even the most minute detail.
Father had taught her to look beyond the mundane, to look beyond the mere material world. To look what lay beyond. To trust in her magic, and not in her eyes. So she did. Aurora remembered her calling. Aurora remembered her lessons. She remembered her training. The years, the months, the weeks, the hours. She remembered them all. All of them with only a single purpose in mind since the day she was born, to rear her for what was about to come, to prepare her for her destiny. It was her duty to live by the sword ... A duty she would not forsake.
Aurora tightened her grip, her knuckles clenching around the hilt of her sword grip, tighter ever tighter. Her blade vibrated, oscillating under the force of her purple mana coursing through the steel. Her mana saw what could not be seen. Her mana heard what could not be heard. Her mana felt what could not be felt. The aether reacted ... Their signatures betrayed them. No matter how much they were trying to hide from her, their souls were burning brightly against the aether in the background, like brilliant stars amidst the empty void of space.
They ... They were watching her ... They were waiting for her ... Every single one of them ... And so was Father and his guests ...
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora focused. Her hands ... They were tingling. They were prickling. They were fidgeting. Her breath intensified. Her heartbeat rose accelerated. Her heart pounded faster and faster, but her resolve remained firm. Her resolve hardened. There was no time for fear. There was no time for doubt. There was no time for failure.
Father expected nothing short of perfection. He expected nothing less of her. He demanded a demonstration of might, a demonstration of strength. One befitting a scion of the house. And she would deliver. Father called her the sword and shield of the Reich. She was here to prove his words, no matter the price, no matter the sweat, no matter the blood.
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Aurora gripped her sword, mobilising her mana. Her eyes opened, welcoming the gentle morning sun. Directly in front of her, the opposition.
Her adversaries were her friends from the 1st Guard Regiment, 1st Battalion, 1st Company. Household regiment. Father¡¯s regiment. Prestigious. Guard status. Every single one of them, hand picked, of course. They were itching for a fight. They were itching for revanche. They had a point to prove. Especially, after last time. Their exercises had become a personal affair. Their pride, their honour, the reputation of the entire regiment was on the line. They could not lose face. Not as long as their eternal spat with the imperial guard was still ongoing. Not with the upcoming summer exercises. If it came out that they had lost against a little girl ... Again. They would become the laughingstock of the capital, of the entire army ... Again. At least, that is what Father said.
This time, though, they were serious. This time, they brought a whole company sitting in their trenches. 186 men in total. Not to mention, a full mage platoon. The chants. The formulas. The sweet taste of mana was in the air. The jingling noise of brass and steel, of belts and magazines. Her friends even brought plenty of support. They seemingly brought the entire FlaK regiment ... Four battalions ... Twelve batteries ... 48 guns. Heavy and super heavy FlaK. 8.8 cm. 10.5 cm. 12.8 cm. Not to mention, heavy artillery. A full battery. Four mortars. 21 cm. Direct fire. The shells passed from hand to hand, their golden brass casings glimmering under the sun. They were heavy. They were large. Breaches opened and closed. The range was known. The sights adjusted. The guns zeroed. Pairs of stern eyes observing her through their binoculars.
It appeared that they had learned from their past mistakes. They had learned from their defeat. They had underestimated her before. Not any more. This time, they brought all the firepower to bear they could spare. Not that it would stop her. The clearing separated them. A few hundred metres. Not enough.
¡°...¡± Aurora clenched her fists, brandishing her sword. They were waiting for her to make the first step. Father had given her half an hour. Her objectives, clean their positions, claim the flag. Conditions, use of lethal force prohibited. Her mission was clear, capture the flag, claim her victory. And so she would.
...
...
...
¡°Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.¡± A siren erupted, blaring. It was her sign to move. The battle had started.
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Arc VI Chapter 21
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 21
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Anno Imperii 05.08.1936
Eager to fight, her adversaries lost no time. Nobody told them to, but they did not need an invitation. As expected from the guard, they were quick to act.
The FlaK opened fire with all calibres, accompanied by a wide arrange of spells. The bombardment commenced to pin her down. Concentrated. Focused on a single target. Taking her under intense crossfire, not that she expected otherwise. It was standard procedure according to imperial doctrine. A classical handbook against hardened targets. Orthodox, yet undeniably effective, at least normally.
¡°FIRE!!!¡±
Her senses served her well. Time slowed at her command. The world decelerated. The flash of igniting powder lit up the horizon in a blaze of glory. The deep roar of artillery, a synchronised orchestra of expanding propellant echoed across the plains.
¡°BBBBRRWWWwweeeehhHHHHHH!!!¡±
The ground trembled. The air oscillated. The rounds approached. And they approached fast. The shells spun along their perpendicular axis, forcing their way through the air. Armour piercing intermixed with a substantial amount of standard high explosive rounds. Latter served to annoy her, to distract her. The former to finish her.
The rounds converged from all directions, heading straight for her. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55. Armour piercing shot. Ballistic cap. Armour piercing cap. Hardened tungsten core. Diameter 8.8 cm. 10.5 cm. 12.8 cm. Weight 10.2 kg. 15.1 kg. 26 kg. Muzzle velocity 820 m/s. 880 m/s. 880 m/s. Strike velocity variable. The FlaK hit hard, in her experience, not to mention hurt quite a bit, Not much of a surprise when such calibres and velocities were involved. The laws of physics were not your friend.
Aurora braced for impact. Her mana answered her call, with speed beyond comprehension. Materialising, hardening in an instant amidst a purple glimmer, her mana protected her, forming layer upon layer of shielding. Multiple layers in depth. Spaced apart. Varying thickness. Increasing hardness. Sloped. Angled. Just as Father had taught her. Her defence stood in time.
¡°ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
The rounds connected. The rounds impacted. The rounds truck. Violently. Smashing against her shielding with the supersonic speed of accelerated tungsten and steel. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13. More followed. 21, 34, 55. An incessant rain. Round after round struck. Round after round glanced off.
The ground trembled. The air oscillated upon impact. The sheer kinetic gave her pause. Yet her defence stood. Enduring. Ever enduring. She had endured worse. She would do so again.
¡°TttttTzzZZwwWWWrrrRrEEeerRRR!!!¡±
¡°TTtttZZwWrrRrEEeerR!!!¡±
¡°TTtttzzZZwWWwrrrrrRrEERRR!!!¡±
Impact. Head on. The rounds splintered, spalled. Their caps shattered upon impact, like brittle glass in a shower of steel and shrapnel. The shells jerked, wrenched, twisted, deformed. Hardened steel turned softer than rubber, more liquid than water. The rounds penetrated. The first layer. The second layer. The third layer. Voracious, the mass of twisted steel pushed forwards, biting its way through layers upon layers of mana. Until stopped. And so they were.
Each layer absorbed. Each layer resisted. Each layer took its toll. The rounds began to tumble, to plunge, to drop. Harmless and innocuous, they had expended all their energy, turning into a mere lump of twisted metal ...
...
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... ...
... ... ...
The bombardment had fallen silent, but only for a fraction of a moment. Unsurprisingly, the next salvo already greeted her. The good sportsmen they were, her adversaries offered her not the slightest respite. Not that she would have expected otherwise. Her friends from the guard spared no effort. The gun crews overclocked, their pace frantic, their sweat running down their foreheads. Their guns devoured round after round, craving more and more.
¡°FIRE!!!¡±
¡°BBBBRRWWWwweeeehhHHHHHH!!!¡±
¡°ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
¡°TTtttTzzZZwwWWWrrrRrEEeerRRR!!!¡±
The horizon erupted, set ablaze in a torrent of steel and tungsten. The rounds impacted, deflected, bounced off, ricocheted. Yet the gunner never tired, nor did their ammunition supplies. They had brought plenty this time.
¡°FIRE!!!¡±
¡°BBBBRRWWWwweeeehhHHHHHH!!!¡± The guns roared. Chung. The guns recoiled. Ching. Expelled casings, sent flying. Ga chuk. Breach open. Reload. Ga chuk. Pneuamtic pressure. Breach closed. Fire. The cycle repeated, their rate of fire never tiring.
¡°ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
¡°TTtttTzzZZwwWWWrrrRrEEeerRRR!!!¡±
The barrage intensified. As it turned out, her friends were quite unwilling to give her even a single foot of ground. At least, not without a fight. So be it.
¡°BBBBRRWWWwweeeehhHHHHHH!!!¡±
¡°ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
¡°TTtttTzzZZwwWWWrrrRrEEeerRRR!!!¡±
¡°BBBBRRWWWwweeeehhHHHHHH!!!¡±
¡°ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
¡°TttttTzzZZwwWWWrrrRrEEeerRRR!!!¡±
¡°BBBBRRWWWwweeeehhHHHHHH!!!¡±
¡°ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
¡°TttttTzzZZwwWWWrrrRrEEeerRRR!!!¡±
1 000 m. 1 000 m was not much. Only a number, a distance to cover. Her resolve steeled, Aurora moved. Her mana rushed through her veins, accelerating her metabolism, reinforcing her legs, pushing her body to the limit. Her sprint commenced. Her sole goal, closing the distance. The adversary took notice. They were quick to redirect their fire. Not that it mattered.
¡°ZzzzttTTeeeeEEEWWW!!! ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!
ZZtttTTeeeeEEww!!! ZzttTTeeeeEWWW!!! ZZzztttTTeeEEEWW!!!
ZZzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWW!!! ZzzzztttTTTTTTEeeeeEEEWW!!!¡±
750 m. The rounds kept flying. Kept impacting. Kept glancing off her shielding. Kept missing, sailing past her, biting themselves into the surrounding ground. Unperturbed, Aurora increased her pace, approaching their positions. Left. Right. Jump. Dodge. Zig zag. Evade. Sprint. Faster. Faster.
¡°ZZtttTTeeeeEEww!!! ZzttTTeeeeEWWW!!! ZZzztttTTeeEEEWW!!!
ZZzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWW!!! ZzzzztttTTTTTTEeeeeeEEEWW!!!
ZzzzttTTeeeeEEEWWW!!! ZzzzzttttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
500 m. The rounds whistled in the air, their number saturating the entire field with craters and explosions. The closer, the lower the reaction time. The harder to dodge. Not to mention, they had changed ammunition type. Less and less standard armour piercing, more and more dedicated anti magic ammunition. Steel and tungsten ... Mythril silver alloys ... Substantial aether component ... Aetherochemically strengthened ... Heavily enchanted ... The percentage of hybrid kinetic penetrators had risen sharply. Hardly a coincidence on their part. Their choice was ... quite deliberate.
¡°ZZzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWW!!! ZzzzztttTTTTTTEeeeeEEEWW!!!
ZZtttTTeeeeEEww!!! ZztttTTeeeeEWWW!!! ZZzztttTTeeEEEWW!!!
ZzzztttTTeeeeEEEWWW!!! ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!!¡±
425 m. Unfaltering, unwavering, Aurora gripped her sword. She was getting closer ...
¡°BBBBBRRRRRRRRRREEEEEWWWWHHHHHHH!!!¡±
400 m. Aurora braced herself. They had a nasty surprise in their repertoire, one she should have seen coming.
¡°BBBOOOOOHHHHHWWWWW!!!¡±
¡°BBBBOOOOOHHHWWWW!!!¡±
¡°BBBBBBBOOOOOHHHWWWWWWW!!!¡±
This time, she took 21 cm, 115 kg of aether enriched high explosives directly to the face. Not once. Not twice. But thrice. In quick succession. They had only waited for her to close the distance. She could veritably sense the grin on the lips of the battery officer. He had quite his fun. His amusement would be short lived.
The shell rattled her shield and her entire body, smiting her like the sledgehammer of the gods. 21 cm hit hard, kicking her back a fair distance. Her legs slid across the ground, across the grass, before she came to a halt and regained her stance. 450 m, more or less.
The mages joined the fray. Their chants and formulas fired up, their spells springing to live in a blazing inferno. They rained fire and fury on her, with enough firepower to annihilate whole battalions. Fire. Lightning. Ice. The entire elemental chart. Sometimes she had the impression that they were really out there to kill her ... But only sometimes. They probably had the best of intentions ... Presumably.
¡°Bbbbbbzzzzzz!!! TTttZZZZ! Tsseeewww!! TTttZZZZ! BbbBBBZZzzzzz!!!¡±
BbbBbzzzzz!! TTSssSSsSWWww!! TTttzzzZZ!!! BbbBbzZZZz!! TTttZZZZ!
TTttZZZZ! BBBzz! TTttssSSSww!! TTttzzzZ!!! BbbBbzZZZz!!! BBBbzzz!!!¡±
She could not, and she would not stop, Aurora accelerated, notwithstanding the incoming fire. Reach the trenches. Take the initiative. Bring the fight to them. 350 m
The infantry joined the fight, welcoming her with a hail of bullets. Their machine guns had sprung into action, making things lively once more.
¡°Zzzzeewwww! ZZZeeWWWW!!! ZzzeeeeWWW!! ZZzzeeEWW! ZZzeeeWW!!!
ZzzeeeeWWW!! ZZzzeeEWW! Zzzzeewwww! ZZzeeeWW!!! ZZZeeeeeEWWW!
ZZzeeeWW!!! Zzzzeewwww! ZZZeeWWWW!!! ZzzeeeeWWW!! ZZzzeeeWW!!¡±
Short burst. Long burst. Bullets, tracers everywhere. The brilliant yellow of burning sodium illuminated the field, turning the entire clearing into a shooting gallery. Their guns devoured their belts, their barrels already glowing red. Nevertheless, their effect was ... minimal, their effect more psychological and intimidatory in nature than real. It was your usual test of nerves, nothing more. 250 m.
¡°Zzzzeewwww! ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!! Tsseeewww!! Bbbbbbzzzzzz!!! ZZZeeWWWW!!! ZzzeeeeWWW!! TTttZZZZ! ZZzzeeEWW! TTttZZZZ! ZzeeWW!!! TtTTttzzzZZ!!! ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!! ZzzeeeeWWW!! BbbBbzzzzz!! ZZzzeeEWW! Zzzeewww! TTttZZZZ! ZZzeeeWW!!! BBBbzzz!! ZZZeeeeeEWWW!¡±
Aurora moved, her shield increasingly taking a lot of punishment, even budging under the sheer volume of fire. They were hammering with everything at their disposal and the results showed. Her shielding was depleting, Her allowance was being drained faster than expected. Problematic. Remedies necessary. 150 m.
¡°ZZZeeWWWW!!! ZzzeeeeWWW!! TTttZZZZ! ZZzzeeEWW! TTttZZZZ! ZzeeeW!!! TtTTttzzzZZ!!! ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!! ZzzeeeeWWW!!¡±
100 m.
BbbBbzzzzz!! ZZzzeeEWW! Zzzeewww! TTttTZZZZ! ZZzeeeWW!!! BBBbzzz!! ZZZeeeeeEWWW! Zzzzeewwww!
50 m.
ZzzzztttTTTTEEeeeeEEEWWWWW!!! Tsseeewww!! Bbbbbbzzzzzz!!!¡±
0 m. Distance closed.
Aurora jumped, diving headlong into the trench, into the unknown. She had made it, although she harboured little doubt the local welcoming committee was already awaiting her. As usual, it was a healthy dose of lead and explosives, blank steel, and polished bayonets to greet her. This was going to be rough. Not that she was not used to it.
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Arc VI Chapter 22
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 22
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Anno Imperii 05.08.1936
Aurora jumped. A leap into the unknown. Such was her path. Propelled by the strength of her mana, Aurora hurled herself forwards, defying the forces of gravity. Time slowed. Airborne, midair, her body floated for a fraction of a second before plummeting like a stone. Her back straightened, Aurora plunged, diving headlong into the safety of the enemy trench.
Maintaining her balance, Aurora landed with all the grace befitting her. Her boots touched the ground first, her leather soles tasting the rich soil below. The soft earth beneath cushioned her impact, her boots compressing the loose soil. Her magic accompanied her, her shield and sword.
Glimmers of purple mana enshrouded her figure. Her magic field extended, summoning the forces from within her. Particles of mana shimmered, sparkling in the sun. A fine purple mist, an aerosol, permeated the air, spreading in every direction. Her mana saturated her surroundings, manifesting, its strength rising explosively, exponentially. Higher and higher before reaching critical levels. Her mana was armed and ready.
Her adversaries had been awaiting her, their bayonets far too eager. A hostile trench was never your friend. A temporary home perhaps, but never your friend. Her adversaries lay hidden. They lurked, protected by layers of sand and earth, dug in behind barbed wire and reinforced concrete. They erred. None of it would protect them. The trench would be cleared, and if by force.
A hexagonal magic circle lit up under her feet, glyphs, inscriptions, signs, lines glowing purple, their brilliance illuminating the day. Her formula guided her mana, channelling her magic in a fraction of a moment, in an instant. Chantless, of course. A mere thought, a mere command sufficed. Spell speed was essential, but so was control. As Father had taught her, not a shred of mana should go wasted. It was a lesson that he had drilled into her.
Strength. Precision. Perfection. Not even the smallest margin of error was permitted. Her magic was supposed to be the work of perfection, flawless, immaculate. Her magic would deliver.
The moment her boots touched the ground, the mana surrounding her coalesced, solidified. Charged to the brim, a single spark proved sufficient. The effect was immediate and the result devastating. Her aerosol ignited. Oxygen and mana intermixed. The cataclysmic explosion set the air ablaze with fury and fire. The detonation shook the very foundations of the earth, the blast pulverising the entire trench line. Her flare illuminated the sky. The shockwave reverberated through the entire training ground. The heat scorched everything in her surroundings. A plume of smoke rose, covering her further advance.
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As expected, her spell produced the desired results. By her standards, it was one of minor potency, mostly intended for tactical use designed to suppress rather than destroy. It was an approach that Father had recommended based on his experience during the war. A spell blunt like a sledgehammer, yet carefully calibrated and controlled. Disproportionate use of force on her part had been strongly discouraged. Father would scold her if anyone got seriously hurt just because of a training exercise. Losses in terms of mat¨¦riel were, although regrettable, acceptable. Losses in terms of personnel, significantly less so.
Aurora gripped her sword, continuing to advance. The explosion might have rattled the defenders, disrupting them, but not for long. Her friends were shaken, yet they were quick to regain their wits. Trained and drilled as they were, it took more than a little bit of ordnance to make them keep their heads down.
The angry shouts of officers and sergeants erupted from everywhere. They cursed, swore, cussed, as they whipped their men into shape. Her adversaries reorganised and reformed. Time was of the essence.
Aurora moved swiftly, racing through the trenches. Her objective was her primary target, the flag. Her senses monitored her surroundings, scanning for the enemy. For very good reasons. They had located her.
Her shielding flared up, sparkles of purple blocking the incoming rounds. The bullets flew, cutting through the air. The machine guns opened fire, taking her once again under crossfire from every direction. Left. Half left. Ahead. Half right. Right. Hardened steel core. Furthermore, structurally enhanced and reinforced to increase force, speed and penetration. It was the work of magic. Lingering traces of mana left little doubt.
Undeterred, Aurora pressed onwards, around the corner, the trench providing a certain degree of cover. It did not take long for the first group of soldiers to greet her, their bayonets sharpened and their rifles, submachine guns, grenades and spells readied. More or less, 50 men in total.
The mages among them were already busy casting an entire array of spells, trying to fillet her. How nice of them.
Their formulas and glyphs were glowing. A dozen magic circles were aimed at her. Lightning. Fire. Darkness. The usual assortment of offensive elements. Their spells unleashed their power. Their barrage commenced. Bolts of lightning, bolts of heated plasma condensed into an infinite number of projectiles. Streams of devouring darkness. The beams converged on her, perfectly synchronised, the barrage saturating the entire area around her. They had chosen saturation over accuracy, leaving her no possible escape. Or so they hoped.
Aurora had anticipated their intentions. The projectiles had been identified, and so had been their respective vectors. Compared to when being hammered by heavy FlaK with velocities of 800m/s and above, calculating the trajectory of a handful of spells hardly proved a challenge. They were far too easy to predict, even on point blank. There were gaps in their firing pattern.
¡°...¡± Aurora moved, dodged, evaded. Her body slipped through the volley of spells, the bolts of plasma cutting past her, missing her precious little head, nearly grazing her cherished silken hair in the process. At times, being a girl of petite stature had its advantages. Each spell missed, which allowed her to close the distance. Her adversaries trained their guns on her, their index fingers on their triggers. Unfortunately for them, it was already too late. Their line of fire was blocked. She was already in melee range.
The first grenadiers and sergeants charged at her, full of vigour, their bayonets, daggers and spades drawn. They opted for a frontal assault. Too predictable, too formulaic, but their options were admittedly limited. Her adversaries were not blessed with the gifts of magic her bloodline provided her with. Their movements were sluggish. Their speed slow. Yet both were only far too human. Father was right. It was just as he had always said, they were not like her. Few were.
Aurora sidestepped, making her first victim hit nothing but through empty air. Her counterattack followed swiftly. Gripping the unsharpened ricasso of her blade, Aurora drove the metal hilt straight into his guts with the full potency of her mana enhanced strength. Though hardly lethal, it was most certainly a painful lesson. The poor sod gasped, a grunt of numb pain escaping his lips. The man staggered, before going down for good. Her first adversary was dispatched. More were about to follow.
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Arc VI Chapter 23
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 23
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Anno Imperii 05.08.1936
Her friends had the courtesy to not make her wait. A dozen of them accepted her invitation, piling on her from all directions.
¡°Stand fast!!! Defensive posture!¡± An officer barked, organising the defence. ¡°Don¡¯t let her through! We must contain her!¡±
¡°Show her what the Guard is made of!!!¡±
Orders were issued, but the momentum did not favour her friends. Aurora darted faster than they were able to process, circling around them, parrying, countering, attacking, her blade firm in her hands. It happened quickly, in a fraction of a moment. In the blink of an eye, their fate was decided.
For a change, the flat side of her blade was put to good use. The voices inside her whispered in the heat of battle, tempting her to resort to more lethal means and methods, but she dismissed such notions. The mission parameters left no doubt. This was an exercise, not mortal combat. Lethal use of force was not desired.
¡°Dammit!!! Concentrate fire! Fire at will!!!¡± the officer shouted. ¡°Take her down!¡±
Everything exploded. A blur of motion. Flashes of steel. Stray bullets missing their mark. The might of spells and magic. Glimmers of brilliant purple mana. Everywhere at once, yet nowhere. Fluid and swift. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. Her heartbeat escalated. Her breathing accelerated. The world around her faded. It was pertinent to maintain speed and tempo. It was pertinent to retain momentum and initiative. It was pertinent to press her advantage.
Her blade caught her next adversary by surprise. He never knew what hit him. Literally. Her adversary was swiftly dispatched.
Aurora shifted her body, her weight to and fro. Parry, deflect, counter, attack. She was relentless. She was merciless. A purple symphony of mana and steel. Three down. Four down. Five down. Six down. Seven down. Eight down.
Her adversaries fought. They resisted. In vain. They were uncoordinated. They were unprepared. Their fire was imprecise. They hesitated at the crucial moment. They had barely any time to register what was happening, which was intentional on her part. Tempo favoured her superior senses. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. A few remained.
It was cute how they hoped to overwhelm her, capitalising on their numbers, yet her person eluded them, always a step ahead, always beyond their grasp. Aurora increased her tempo. 13. 15. 18. 22. 27. 33. Her attacks were relentless. Her strikes calculated. Her steps precise. Her breath calm. It was a dance, beautiful yet deadly. A sweep of her leg. A swift strike. A sharp blade. A deft twist. Rifles, blades, pistols, bayonets sent skittering. Broken arms. Broken ribs. Broken spirits. A sea of beaten up soldiers. A row of roughed up sergeants. A few noble sons licking their wounds. A groaning officer. And a lot of wounded pride and egos left and right. It was a slightly painful experience, but such was ... inevitable considering the circumstances.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Silence settled over the trench and Aurora proceeded, further advancing on her objective. The mission must be accomplished. The flag must be captured. And so it would.
A glimmer of purple surrounded her, coating her in a brilliant aura. Aurora increased her pace, her abundant mana reserves fuelling her speed, fuelling her legs. Mana and adrenaline rushed through her veins, coursed through her body. Their effect was immediate. Their taste exhilarating, elating, intoxicating. They revitalised, energised, invigorated her senses. They urged her to continue, to carry on, to fight on.
Aurora gripped her sword. The enemy was near, but so was she. Following the trench line, Aurora crossed the corner, before being forced to an abrupt halt. It was an ambush. Obviously. One of the nastier kind. The Guard took her under heavy fire. A battery of anti tank guns greeted her, zeroed in on her. Point blank. What a pleasant surprise. 12 guns in total. Positioned circularly. Entrenched. The most recent models. Factory new without a single speck of rust on their gun shields and with a fresh coat of paint, no less. Calibre, 5 cm L/60. Ammunition, presumably APCBC. Possibly APAECBC. Supported by a healthy dose of lead. 8x57. Her friends never disappointed her. Not that she had expected anything less.
They opened fire the moment she stuck her head out, unleashing hell on her. The rounds and bullets flew, painting the entire horizon pure white. The flashes blinded her. The sheer volume of fire barred her way. Round after round, bullet after bullet clashing against her shielding, against layers of hardened mana, only to deform upon impact. This was her moment.
Aurora steeled her resolve, opting for a frontal assault, head on, right into the fray like the armoured knights of old. It was time to throw the dice. Admittedly, a rather unsophisticated approach on her part, heavy handed even by her standards, and certainly suicidal for the common rank and file, but restraints in terms of time and space necessitated more drastic measures. Not that resistance was expected to be lighter elsewhere.
Her shielding took the brunt of the incoming fire, so far, without major complaints and only some minor persuasion required. Her mana was her shield and armour. Her shield was riddled with cracks and perforations. Yet her shielding would stand strong. Not that she had much of a choice without her predictably dying in the process. The position must be taken. The position would be taken.
Fortunately, the distance she was required to cover was short. Hardly a few dozen meters left. Her mere presence sufficed to make her adversaries nervous. The soldiers kept their nerves, defiant, but their unease was palpable. She could see it in their eyes. They knew that she could not be stopped, only postponed.
Her shielding weathered the storm of steel, allowing her to navigate through the wall of fire. Rounds and bullets passed by the second, grazing her shielding. Aurora rushed the nearest gun, her momentum and speed carrying her. It was impossible to change course at this point. A handful of metres separated them. A mere second. She was close, so close.
The crew had one last round to put her out of commission. It was their last shot. It was impossible to miss from this range. She would not be able to dodge. And they knew so.
The barrel lit up. The propellant ignited. The expanding gases accelerated the slug of metal to supersonic speeds. The round span, the nose rotated, putting their ballistic properties to good use. Her mana hardened in an instant, her magic protecting its mistress.
The round and her shield collided. Unstoppable force met an immovable object. The projectile struck, the steel grinding against her shielding, shrieking, screeching, abrasive, sparks sent flying everywhere. The round faltered. The tungsten core yielded. Her shield prevailed. The projectile shattered, disintegrated. The projectile failed to penetrate. It was over.
Aurora darted, her petite feet racing down the gun barrel past the gun shield, the barrel serving as an improvised stepping stone. The gun crew offered no resistance, unable to react, the soldiers manning the gun left petrified, stunned, shocked, their jaws dropping in utter disbelief. Just a moment ago, they had seen her with their own eyes take a shot from point blank. And survive it, no less. Their surprise ... was understandable and well received.
Her boot crashed into the loader, her heel sending the poor guy flying with sufficient force to knock him out. Painful, but necessary, all things considered. The path was cleared. The impromptu gun line was overcome.
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Arc VI Chapter 24
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 24
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Anno Imperii 05.08.1936
Ignoring the rest of the small detachment, Aurora continued her course, Instead, she pushed forwards, ever forwards, her eyes only fixed on her mission. The attack must continue. The initiative and momentum must be maintained. Secondary objectives were not specified. The destruction of the enemy forces was not her priority. It was thus judged tactically unsound to be bogged down longer than strictly necessary. Not to mention, she was close. The flag was almost within reach.
Aurora glanced up, her purple eyes identifying her target. For many, it was just a piece of cloth, for others it was much more than a simple flag. A black eagle. A black cross on white ground, with a massive silver eagle throning on top. It was the regimental flag, the standard of the 1st Guard Regiment.
A content smirk crossed Aurora¡¯s ruby lips. Victory was within her grasp. It was easy. Just another mere 100 metres. And a few pesky mages to take care of. They were already readying their spells, their arrays constructed, the chants reverberating. They were prepared to strike her with the hammer of the Gods. As Father would say, they were welcome to try.
Their arrays activated. Dozens and hundreds of magic circles ignited in unison. They were certainly not beggars. The spells unleashed their might, the barrage turning the entire plain into a shooting range. The spells fell like rain, born from the ancient arts of magic. Projectiles whizzed past her, impacting around her in a blaze of glory and mana.
The ground erupted in a cascade of explosions, as if the ancient spirits of old had risen from their deep slumber to punish the children of men for their hubris. The air thick and heavy, laden with residual mana and aether. Craters left and right, everywhere, soil, earth, dust, dirt sent flying, not a single stone left unturned. Spells. Projectiles. Beams. Lances. Detonations. Explosions. Every inch was plastered with enough firepower to pulverise her and her descendants with her. Fire. Ice. Lightning. Wind. Earth. Water. Darkness. Light. All elements. It was the entire repertoire. The bombardment was relentless, ferocious. It was one of the few times that her small stature proved advantageous. It made her a difficult target.
Fire. Blistering flames. Searing heat. The ground was scorched, blackened beyond recognition. The world had turned into a burning inferno of embers and ash. Ice. Frigid. Cold. Frozen. Glacial. Solid. The cold gnawed on the land. Spikes, shards of ice sliced through the air, conjured out of nowhere and their numbers seemingly infinite.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Lightning. Electricity. Currents. Electrons. Aether. Arcs of electricity discharged, the ionised air charged to the brim with mana. Spears, bolts of lightning, struck the smouldered ground. Wind. Ferocious. Violent. The winds howled. Vortexes of compressed air shot across the battlefield, their gales deadly, vicious, sharper than steel.
Earth. Unyielding. Crushing. Blunt. Compact. Rock and stone sharpened, polished to perfection. Splinters, fragments. Shards, chips, pieces, bits cut through the air like shrapnel. Water. Smooth. Shifting. Adaptive. Treacherous. A deluge followed. Masses of water came crashing down on her in a futile attempt to delay her.
Light. Brilliant. Blinding. Gleaming. Piercing. Merciless. Arrogant and proud. Just and pretentious. Rays, beams, and bursts of light shot forth, consuming everything in their way. The searing light burned away all earthly illusions, exterminating those who stood against it.
Darkness. Oppressive. Silent. Tenebrous. Suffocating. Cold. Voracious. Eroding. Corroding. Destructive. Spears and lances of darkness saturated the air, devouring all life. Yet its presence did not unsettle her. She did not fear the darkness. She did not feat what lurked beneath, veiled in shadows. Quite the contrary. It was her element. As if it would ever betray its true mistress.
Uncaring of the incoming fire, Aurora accelerated, continuing her advance. Their bombardment intensified the more she closed the distance. Her adversaries would not budge. At least, not voluntarily. Their fire grew in strength and potency, which was to be expected. Volley after volley of spells rained down on her, hoping to block her way. With little success. Their barrage proved ineffectual.
She was a nimble target. Quick and light on her feet. Not to mention heavily armoured. Her shielding deflected the incoming spells, their projectiles glancing off her shields. They covered her advance. Even on the last meters.
Aurora reached her objective, the flag right before her, planted atop a platform, waving in the wind. Only a few grumpy mages separated her from victory. The nobles readied their weapons, prepared to fight to the utmost, down to the last spell. They were determined to stand their ground. As long as necessary.
Because reinforcements were about to arrive. It was only a matter of time. The Guard had well understood the gravity of the situation. They had scrambled together all available forces. Their men were rushing in on her position, not even bothering to mask their signatures. Time was thus a limited commodity in short supply. It was time to get creative.
Aurora gripped her sword in response, her purple mana coursing through her steel. Her adversaries took her bait only too willingly. They thought she was about to engage. They miscalculated. It was a feint.
Her adversary shifted his stance. The mage brandished his blade, his feet planted firmly on the ground, prepared to counter her strike. It was the correct response. Usually. It was what she had hoped for. His stance left the man exposed.
...
...
...
Aurora braked before contact, allowing her body to fall, her legs stretched out, her shoulders shifted sidewards. Her feint paid off. Her action took her adversary by surprise. His sword parried a strike that never was. Her whole body slid across the ground, right through the man¡¯s legs, before resuming her sprint. Their last line of defence was broken.
Her hand reached for the grand prize, and Aurora claimed what was rightfully hers. Her hand gripped the cold metal of the pole, making her forget all the fatigue, all the stress, all the nervousness, all the adrenaline. It was over. Victory was hers.
Aurora von Schwarz
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Arc VI Chapter 25
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 25
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Anno Imperii 05.08.1936
Waltzing across the mansion, Aurora strolled down lonely corridors, the air laden with the pages of history. The soft rays of the afternoon shone through the coloured crystal glass, falling onto the black and white of the polished terrazzo floors to enlighten her path. As usual, the mansion had fallen silent, bereft of life and the presence of people. It was the way she had come to know and appreciate the place she called her home. The calm silence. The quiet peace. The serene grace. The comforting solitude. The air of history. They soothed her mind and calmed her heart, normally. Not today, though.
Aurora adjusted her frilly skirt, her favourite bow and inspected her cute boots before proceeding, her steps certain. She would lie if she said that she was not disappointed and a little bit annoyed. But she was. Somewhat. Or rather, more than she was supposed to be. She knew that it was rather ... childish of her to behave this way. Father had taught her to retain her countenance and composure under any circumstances. Do not let her judgement be clouded by the volatile nature of emotions and mere sentimentality. Her actions must be dictated by purpose and reason alone. His words certainly held merit and Father¡¯s wisdom was not questioned, nevertheless ...
Aurora puffed out her cheeks. The fact of the matter remained that she was disappointed and a little bit annoyed. She had given everything. She had put every single ounce of skill, focus, and determination that she could spare to use, and yet ... Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No hug for her. No head pet. Not a single word of praise. All she had got from Father was a mere smile and silence. It might be true that not being scolded was supposed to be praise enough, but still ... Did she not deserve more? Did she not deserve some appreciation and recognition for her marvellous performance? Yes, she did.
Aurora deserved her hug, and she would get her hug! In time. And thus her way led her feetsies to her Father¡¯s office, whose entrance was left curiously deserted. Usually, the heavy wooden door was guarded by a pair of watchful eyes. Especially, when Father was entertaining guests. Important guests, no less. They had arrived from the capital. Yet the wooden door was left conspicuously unguarded with nobody to be seen far and wide. It was ... unusual, to say the least, not to say suspicious. Was it intentional? As if the door was meant to invite her. Was this one of Father¡¯s infamous tests? Or was this a trap?
Aurora glanced around, her eyes flicking left and right, hesitation mingling with curiosity. As suspected, nobody was to be seen in the vicinity, nothing detected, nor heard. Her mana gently probed her surroundings as inconspicuously as possible.
Her search turned out negative. No living signatures were detected. No guards. No servants. No maids. No footsteps echoing down the floors. She was truly ... alone. Surely nobody would suspect her if she eavesdropped a little, right? So maybe ...
Her lips curved upwards, forming a mischievous grin as Aurora slowly tiptoed forwards. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. Inconspicuous and silent, like a kitten stalking her prey.
The girl approached the massive wooden door. Not even the thickest of doors kept all secrets. Aurora pressed her right ear against the polished surface, her senses sharpened, enhanced by virtue of her mana. The muffled hum of voices could be heard from inside. The tone was subdued, restrained, and serious, yet also slightly heated with traces of tension. They were discussing a matter of grave importance it would seem.
¡°Nnffgh ... ... ... ... ... ... grmmph ... ... ... ... mmff ... ... ... nnnh ... ... ... ... blfmm ... ... ... ... ... ... ... grnnhhk ... ... ... ... ... ... ... shrrggnnf ... ... ... ... mmmhh ... ... ... ghnn ... ... ... ... ... ... ... brrlblghh ... ... ... ... ... shht¡¯s ... ... ... ... ... ... grmmffk ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... whrfff ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... blrrhff ... ... ... ... ... ... nrrmm ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... hrrgmmf.¡±
¡°Wffht ... ... ... Nnffgh ... ... ... ... grmmph ... ... mmff ... ... ... nnnh ... blfmm ... ... ... ... ... ... grnnhhk ... ... shrrggnnf ... ... ... mmmhh ... ghnn ... ... ... brrlblghh ... ... shht¡¯s ... grmmffk ... ... shldn ... hv ... dn ... tht ... ... ... ... blrrhff ... nrrmm ... ... hrrgmmf?¡±
¡°Mmff ... ... brrff ... mrrf ... ... mrrff ... ... sennnffh ... brrghh ... ... drrnnnghhht ... wht¡¯re y¡¯evn shhht ... nnffghhk ... ... wrrrghhhk ... ... ... hrrgmmf ... brrlblghh.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Her heartbeat slowed. Letter by letter, syllable by syllable, word by word, the once muffled voices grew clearer, more intelligible.
A man spoke, his voice firm but weathered by age, carrying the unmistakable lilt of an Eastern accent. ¡°... I think that ... ... I speak for all of us here ..., August, when I say that ... the girl ... ... is nothing short ... of a monster. ¡±
Monster ... Monster ... Her heart tightened. There was it. This word. Again. It was what others said. Ever since her first display of magic. Her mother. Her brothers. The servants in hushed voices. It was what people said and thought. They all thought she would not notice.
¡°Are you ... not being a bit harsh here, Walter?¡± It was Father who came to her defence, his tone jovial yet resolute. ¡°My beloved daughter ... ... certainly has her ... problematic aspects, but a monster? No need ... to exaggerate, old friend.¡±
Beloved ... Daughter ... Her heart rejoiced.
The other man retorted. Walther was his name. A name known to her. Judging by his accent, it must have been him. Man of noble lineage. Military. High ranking officer. General. ¡°I am hardly exaggerating ..., August. I know ... what I saw. Just today, I saw your ... ¡®beloved daughter¡¯ demolishing an entire company on her own ... without lifting so much as a pinky finger. Despite the fact ... that we brought enough firepower to bear on her ... to level entire regiments. I saw your little girl cleaving through heavy steel plate like butter.¡±
¡°I must concur¡±, another officer commented. His manner of speech betrayed his academic background. ¡°Heavy steel plate. 500mm thickness. Rolled homogeneous steel. High Brinell hardness. High carbon content. Adequate chrome, nickel, and molybdenum content. No fabrication errors. Magically strengthened and alchemically reinforced. Her magic cut straight through the plate, burning straight through the steel ... Perforation occurred by ductile hole growth. Her spells achieved full penetration in 100% of cases. 50 out of 50 times ... In all my life, I have never seen anything like this. Not during the war, nor during my time at the academy. Her speed, her precision, her potency, the sheer lethality of her magic. This degree of perfection. The girl¡¯s capabilities are impressive, to say the least. The use of magic comes exceedingly naturally to her. It is truly as if the girl was born for this.¡±
Speed. Precision. Potency. Lethality. Perfection. Born for this ... It was what Father said too, not to mention her instructors.
The other man took the word again, ¡°And yet you are trying to tell us that the girl is supposed to be normal, August?¡±
¡°...¡± Father retained his calm. ¡°As you might know, Walther, normality is very much ... a matter of perspective.¡±
¡°A matter of perspective?¡± The man clicked his tongue, scarcely convinced. ¡°You do not even believe that yourself, do you?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Father answered. ¡°I would say what I believe or not is inconsequential. The fact stands that both you and I have sworn an oath. We have both sworn to defend the Reich to the last breath. I intend to keep my word, Walther, even to the bitter end. We all know that the war will come. And we all know that it will be the last one. Because we will either emerge victorious or perish. Such is the course of history. In the trying times to come, Aurora will be our sword and shield. A shield to protect the Reich. A tempered sword to strike our foes.¡±
A shield to protect. A sword to strike. That was what Father always said. It was her destiny. It was her calling. Was it not?
¡°... ... ...¡± The man fell silent, almost pensive. ¡°Invictis victi victuri. To the undefeated,the defeated who shall be victorious. It would be remiss of you to believe that I have forgotten the humiliation, the shame, the infamy, the dishonour that we have suffered 15 years ago. I have not, August. Nor has anyone else.¡±
Humiliation. Shame. Infamy. Dishonour. The thirst for vengeance, for revenge, for retribution, for justice. It was what she had been taught all her life. Was it wrong?
¡°...¡± The man resumed his discourse, ¡°Nevertheless, for you to put so much faith in a single girl. It is unlike you, August.¡±
¡°...¡± Father did not respond. ¡°What should I say, Walther? Times are changing. Whether we like it or not.¡±
¡°They are. They are¡±, the man admitted. ¡°How old is she? How old is your daughter?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Father paused for a moment, almost as if he hesitated. ¡°Eight. She has recently turned eight.¡±
¡°Eight ... Eight ...¡± the man considered his choice of words, carefully. ¡°She is young ... Hardly old enough to qualify as a girl ..., much less a soldier. And yet ...¡±
Young. Hardly old enough. Much less a soldier.
¡°...¡± Father maintained his stoic facade. ¡°It is how it is. Not that we have much of a choice, Walther.¡±
It was how it was. Not much of a choice.
¡°Probably ...¡± the man conceded, sunk in thoughts. ¡°To think, though, that Projekt Gestalt would ever bear fruit, August. Hardly anyone would have expected so. Though I must say that the girl resembles her, does she not? Your daughter even shares her name and probably her blood. Hardly a coincidence, I would say.¡±
Projekt Gestalt? Resembles her? Shares her name? What were they talking about?
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Father fell silent. Time passed and seconds turned into minutes. ¡°So you know about it, after all ...¡±
¡°Less than I should, more than I would like to, August¡±, he responded. ¡°I have no idea which price your late brother and sister were forced to pay in order to create something like her, but maybe that is for the best. The Army Ordnance Office remains quite tight lipped about the entire project, for their part. Schuhmann and Diebner refuse to speak to this day. All I know is that it was a ... rather unsavoury affair. Even by their standards. Projekt Geist in particular. Lots of ¡®figures¡¯, lots of ¡®units¡¯, lots of ¡®subjects¡¯ involved in exchange only for meagre gains. Fortunately, the war provided plenty of ¡®suitable material¡¯. Especially in the East. That is what they said.¡±
Army Ordnance Office. Tight lipped. Project. Geist. Figures. Units. Meagre gains. Material. What was this supposed to mean? It was an answer she feared.
¡°In the end, however, the results speak undoubtedly for themselves. I have to give them that ... Gestalt was a success¡±, the man continued. ¡°A little girl. An artificial soul encased in an artificial vessel. Absolute perfection given human form. A weapon forged for a single purpose.¡±
...
... ...
... ... ...
A little girl ... Artificial soul ... Artificial vessel ... Absolute perfection ... given human form ... A weapon forged ...
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Btw, image from the last chapter I forgot to post back then. ^^ Will post it here for the moment. WIll be later deleted.
Arc VI Chapter 26
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 26
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Anno Imperii 08.08.1936
¡°As Karfreit has amply shown, the advantages the offensive bestows upon the attacker should never be underestimated. It is because history has taught us that both initiative and surprise reign supreme on the battlefield. As counterintuitive as it might seem, the strengths of the defensive can be at times deceiving, misleading. No matter how skilled the defender, no matter how, no matter how well prepared his dispositions, no matter how hostile the terrain might be, a skilful attacker will always find a way. Because it will always be the attacker to choose the time and place, never the defender. It will be the attacker to dictate the pace ...¡± Father spoke, but Aurora did not ... listen. Sitting in Father¡¯s office on his divan, her head remained lowered, her gaze downcast, her mood depressed.
¡°Aurora ...¡±
She did not care. She could not care.
¡°Aurora ...¡±
Her usual enthusiasm had been lost. Her usual interest had waned. The usefulness of Father¡¯s lessons was not put into question, but they had lost their lustre in sight of recent revelations. Instead, there were other questions that required her attention.
¡°Aurora!¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora raised her head, gazing right into Father¡¯s eyes. He seemed somewhat displeased. ¡°Are you even listening, Aurora?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Aurora shook her little fluffy head. She was not. And they both knew so.
¡°... ... ...¡± Father did not respond, his face stern and his stoic indifference absolute. It was hard to tell whether he was irritated or merely disappointed in her. Or perhaps both. Or was he choosing to ignore her? ¡°Your recent changes in behaviour ... They did not escape me, Aurora. It is quite unlike you ... ... ... Something is bothering you, is it not?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora nodded affirmatively.
¡°...¡± Father scrutinised her intently, his arms folded behind his back. Nevertheless, his expression had softened considerably. His eyes betrayed glimmers of sympathy and concern. Father cared. Or, at least, she hoped so. ¡°Tell me, child, what is it?¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
¡°...¡± Aurora, however, averted her eyes, avoiding his inquisitive gaze. Her hands fidgeted nervously. ¡°There is ... There is ... There is something I wish to ask, Father.¡±
Father simply nodded. ¡°I am listening.¡±
Her fidgeting intensified. Aurora was rubbing her tiny hands. ¡°Do you think ... Do you think I am a monster?¡±
For a moment, Father¡¯s ever confident smile faltered. ¡°Of course not. You are my cute, precious little daughter. The cutest and most precious of them all. But why would you even entertain such frivolous thoughts?¡±
Although his response pleased Aurora, his words did little to dispel her doubts. ¡°It is what people say behind my back, behind closed doors. I know what they say about me, Father. I can see it in their eyes. They think I am a monster, do they not?¡±
¡°...¡± Father merely smiled in response. ¡°You should not concern yourself with the opinions of lesser minds, Aurora. In their ignorance, they speak what they think they know. The fact is that they fear what they do not understand. They fear your magic. They fear your aura. They fear your true strength.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora fell silent. Strength. Magic. Fear. Was this all she was? ¡°But what if it is true? What if what they are saying is true?¡±
¡°...¡± Father furrowed an eyebrow, his doubt patent. ¡°According to whom?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora paused for a moment, her next words carefully chosen. ¡°A little girl. An artificial soul encased in an artificial vessel. Absolute perfection given human form. A weapon forged for a single purpose. That was what he said. Was it not, Father?¡±
...
...
...
Absolute silence reigned. Not a single word was spoken. Not a single sound uttered. There was just silence.
¡°... ... ...¡± Father retained his usual calm composure, but the subtle hints of unease did not escape her. ¡°I suppose that you have been eavesdropping, have you not?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora merely nodded, moving her little head. ¡°So it is true?¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Father did not respond, which was confirmation enough. What went unsaid did not need to be said.
At last, a heavy, drawn out sigh escaped him. ¡°I guess, that after all these years, the time has come. I think ... that you deserve a few answers.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora tilted her head. What was that supposed to mean?
Father returned behind his desk. His deft hand opened a drawer to procure a stack of documents, a set of files. He approached her again, standing before her. Father deposited the files on the table in front of her, right within reach. It was an old folder. A thick folder. A heavy folder, easily more than a few thousand pages.
Aurora looked up. ¡°What is this?¡±
¡°Your answers¡±, Father replied. ¡°The ones that you need. As well as the ones that you deserve. Even so ...¡±
Father stepped closer, one more step. He stopped, kneeling down before her until he reached her height. He was close. His face right in front of her. His purple eyes greeted her. A faint smile flashed across his face, his lips curling up ever so slightly with joy. He was content. He was happy.
¡°Father ...¡± Aurora hesitated. Father did not.
He pulled her closer, ever closer, his arms shielding her small figure from the cold, hostile world. His embrace was warm, so very warm. It was a hug. A tight hug. A hug from the heart. It was the hug that she had longed for so long.
Father whispered. His voice was soft and gentle, filled with a warmth. ¡°Know that I will always love you.¡± His hug tightened. ¡°You are so much more than just a mere weapon. You are my most precious.¡±
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1
st Aqua Solar XI AAC 753
Little Aurora jolted up, her breath ragged and shallow. Her hands were shaking. Her fingers trembled. Her heart thundering in her chest. Her throat tight. Her tongue strangled. Her eyes wide and the sweat of anxiety slowly trickling down her forehead. The adrenaline of battle still surging through her veins.
¡°It ... It ... It was just a dream.¡± Little Aurora pressed her hands against her chest, trying to calm herself. Her gaze fell on the one beside her, her kindred soul. Curled up in her nest of blankets, the other Aurora was slumbering innocently, relishing the sleep of the just. Her chest rose and fell under her soft, rhythmic breath. Her lips remained sealed, adorned by a faint smile. Her fluffy hair overflew in abundance, single loose strands caressing her round cheeks. Yet her appearance belied what lay hidden to the naked eye.
The moon stood high and the darkness of the night had not yet faded, but the memories of the past did not leave little Aurora, burned forever into her mind. Unable to forget what she had seen. What she heard. What she had felt tonight. Now little Aurora finally understood.
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Arc VI Chapter 27
VI
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Arc VI Chapter 27
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High Command of the Army
Army Ordnance Office
19.05.1929
HWA - Wa X - VII B13 - U09D-X07-B13 - Nr. 247/29 - Geh.RchS.
[Top Secret]
Project B13 Gestalt
Summary Report and Evaluation
HWA Wa X Abt. VII
Department for Applied Aetherophysical and Aetherochemical Research
Prof. Dr. Erich Schumann and Dr. Kurt Diebner
1. Foreword
2. History
3. Project B7 Seele
4. Project B14 Geist
5. Project B21 Gestalt
1. Foreword
1914 was the year when the world was engulfed by fire. Born from pride and restless ambition of nations and states, the old continent descended once more into war. It was a war like never seen before. A war to determine the fate of untold millions. Not just a test of men, will, steel and magic like in the days of old, but also a test of economics, industry, production, machinery, resources, logistics, and mobilisation. Millions met their demise, dying on the fields and in the trenches of the last war.
Unbeknownst to most, the rhythm of machines and the power they brought had changed the face of war forever. Gone were the old days of kingdoms and the Ancien R¨¦gime. This was now a war waged by empires, modern states, their peoples and their industries. Warriors were replaced by soldiers. Nobles by officers. Honour by the cold steel of machine guns. Valour by the indomitable fire of artillery. Bravery by trenches, barbed wire, reinforced concrete and bunkers. Loyalty by obedience and the death of hundreds of thousands. Even the most noble arts of magic have been turned into mere applications of firepower. The end justified the means. Or so we thought.
In the end, though, all proved to be in vain. Despite tremendous feats of arms, the Reich succumbed against superior odds in men and mat¨¦riel. Starved, surrounded, exhausted, besieged by our enemies, our armies and soldiers lay broken, defeated by disunity within and the industrial might and human resources aligned against us.
After six years of war, the armistice was signed and the dictate of ignominy began to rear its ugly head. We should have known better. Arrogant and confident in their moment of triumph, the victors reneged on their promises formerly given. A fair peace was promised. A just peace. A peace with honour. In our naivety, we were left sorely disappointed, but it was our fault to allow ourselves to be deceived. Once more, the truth was laid bare for everyone to see, a sober experience. After all, right, as the world goes, is only a question between equals in strength. While the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must. Neither pardon nor mercy would be given. It was a lesson we would be keen to remember.
It was these days that it became clear that our only salvation lay in the strength of our arms. In this world, we stand alone, our only choice being to rely on ourselves. The Reich must rise again from the ashes and regain her former strength. This was the reason behind the creation of Project Gestalt. The purpose was to create a weapon to avenge the injustice we suffered, to reclaim the honour we lost, to revindicate the lands we called ours, to restore the hope we once had.
Gen.Feldm. Duke August von Schwarz
2. History
The whole world will be possessed by one
who from the Rhinegold forges the Ring,
which would bestow power immeasurable.
Das Rheingold. Scene I. Wellgunde.
Ever since the dawn of the last century, the phenomenon we call magic has turned from a once mysterious art to a true science under the proper application and rational rigour of the scientific method. Observation, deduction, hypothesis, and experimentation are the cornerstones of our time and age. As a consequence, our understanding of magic has steadily evolved. Progress in the fields of spell crafting and spell casting was achieved. The universal and relative magic resistance constants were discovered, and last but not least, the magic field theory was introduced. The past century set the theoretical foundations for the world of modern magic.
In the wake of the scientific revolution, we came to know with certainty that soul and spirit are all but one, with each of them representing a different aspect of one¡¯s magic potential. Soul and spirit are intrinsically linked, complementing each other. Together they form the so called concept of ¡®spiritsoul¡¯ (for further information, consult Introduction to the Modern Theory of Magic: The Phenomenology of the Spiritsoul, Vol I).
Whereas the soul (animus, ¡®ani¡¯) represents the passive element of magic, constituting the aether capacity of the magic user for performing magic in the form of mana (mana, ¡®m¡¯), the spirit (spiritus, ¡®spi¡¯) represents the active element of magic, denoting the inherent spirit potential of the magic user that produces in combination with the applicable invocation coefficient (invocatio, ¡®inv¡¯) and multiplied by the relative magic resistance constant (resistentia magiae, ¡®R¡¯) the phenomenon of magic (magia, ¡®M¡¯):
for theoretical maximum magic output: M = ani ¡¤ spi ¡¤ inv ¡¤ r
for practical partial magic output: M = (ani/x) ¡¤ spi ¡¤ inv ¡¤ r
or M = m ¡¤ spi ¡¤ inv ¡¤ R
Aside from technical improvements in terms of spell crafting and spell casting and lowering magic resistance, two primary options exist to increase an individual¡¯s magic output (M):
-
either increase the quantity of mana (m) utilised, which in turn requires an increase in soul capacity (ani),
-
or increase one¡¯s spirit potential (spi),
Both options are however problematic. Since the old days of Paracelsus and his peers, mages and alchemists have attempted in vain to strengthen the spiritsoul. The majority of our predecessors relied on potions, elixirs, etc., but the effects of such concoctions on the soul have proven ephemeral and temporary at best. The various concoctions succeeded in restoring depleted mana reserves by administering refined concentrated aether, thus allowing magic users to perform magic beyond the limits of their ordinary capacity, but they did not succeed in permanently increasing the capacity of the soul itself, which remained the same. While it is true that prolonged exposure to external aether has the potential to amplify the soul capacity to a certain extent, even this effect is limited by the inherent capacity of the soul of the magic user and the observable effect of diminishing returns. Not to mention the fact that the quality and quantity of the crystals required to produce the necessary aether rendered any such approach both impractical and economically unviable.
The same was true for any attempt to strengthen the spirit. Various methods such as ¡®meditation¡¯ and more exotic means like ¡®cultivation¡¯ were deployed, but their effect proved unsatisfactory, or rather their effect was practically indistinguishable from the normal beneficial effects associated with what is known as training. It is known that both soul capacity and spiritual potential are not static but dynamic. One¡¯s soul and spirit develop with age, experience, and through continuous training, which causes them to increase, but only within defined limits. So far, it has not been possible to push soul and spirit beyond their natural limitations, which remain essentially determined by one¡¯s bloodline. Despite centuries of scientific progress, one¡¯s bloodline remains in the end the decisive factor determining one¡¯s magic potential (for further information, consult History of Magic from Antiquity to the Modern Era: Practical Applications of the Concepts of Soul Capacity and Spiritual Potential, Vol VI).
3. Project B7 Seele
Advances in the fields of technology and aetherochemistry led at the beginning of the century to the initiation of Project Seele. The project was headed by the Army Ordnance Office in collaboration with exponents of the corporate sector, in particular with exponents of the chemical and metallurgical industry. The project serves as an example of the benefits of combining the resources and expertise of both state and private actors. A relationship that would prove fruitful in the years to come.
The aim of the project was to explore and develop new production methods to provide a steady supply of highly concentrated aether for both magic and industrial purposes. Research into the matter mirrored competing efforts from abroad.
Concentrated aether is defined as high density aether contained in a stable and accessible form for further use. Traditionally, concentrated aether was produced from crystallised aether through a process termed raffination. The crystalline material was broken up to extract the bound aether stored inside, but suitable crystals of adequate quality had become a limited commodity. The demand by industry and magic for more and more aether of higher and higher density continued to rise. It had become apparent that natural deposits alone would not suffice to meet growing demand. It was therefore necessary to artificially produce concentrated aether.
Among available methods, centrifuges came to be considered the most efficient and economical approach, superior to either gaseous diffusion or aethroelectrical breeding (for further information, consult annex 6, Production Methods for Concentrated Aether under the Aspect of Efficiency and Future Industrial Scaleability). Despite the technical challenges involved, initial results were promising. The success of the project together with the introduction of improved aether solutions based on aetheroreactive colloidal silver mythril alloys (for further information, consult annex 10, Colloidal Alloys: Applications and Benefits) led to a new generation of aether elixirs unmatched in terms of quantity and quality. The elixirs and other stimulants saw widespread and systematic usage during the war. The additional aether allowed our combat mages to increase spell use and potency, continue operations, and shorten regeneration time considerably (for further information, consult annex 15, Battlefield Use of Magic Related Stimulants during the War).
The adverse effects, however, could not be ignored. Aside from typical addiction symptoms and the known effects of aether poisoning resulting from an overdose, it was quickly noted that the continuous and excessive ingestion of highly concentrated aether strained the structure of the soul, even going as far as leading to permanent soul degradation. It was possible to enhance performance with the help of elixirs, but in the end, the soul could only be pushed so far beyond its natural mana capacity (for further information, consult annex 16, Aether Based Stimulants. Practical Dangers and Risks of Excessive Use).
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
4. Project B14 Geist
The longer the war dragged on, the more High Command realised that time was playing against us. The war had turned into one of attrition. The battles of 1916 and 1917 were a testament to it. The enemy aimed to destroy our forces through the weight of sheer attrition. Confronted with this unfavourable strategic situation, a solution was required (for further information, consult History of the World War 1914-1921).
The army sought salvation in technology and innovation. New weapons of greater potency and new tactics should turn the tide of war, which included Project Geist. The Army Ordnance Office set out to create the ultimate weapon to achieve final victory.
Building on the foundation of Seele and the lessons learned during the war, it was recognised that all attempts to strengthen an existing spiritsoul were doomed to fail. A more holistic approach was thus required. The solution was to create an artificial soul, which required in addition the creation of an artificial spirit. A functioning weapon would require both, a functioning soul able to contain the immense quantities of mana and a functioning spirit able to wield such power (for further information, consult annex 21, The Union of Soul and Spirit. Potential Weaponisation of the Spiritsoul). Little did we know what lay ahead of us.
Fortunately for us, we were hardly the first attempting to create an artificial soul and spirit. The dream of creating the ultimate magic weapon was a dream that has existed for centuries if not millennia among mages and alchemists alike, but so far none of them has succeeded, although they provided useful information (for further information, consult annex 25, Possible Applications of Daemonlogy and Spiritology).
Two distinct phenomena served as the foundation of the project, spirits (spiritus) and daemons (daemon).
From a purely historical and etymological perspective, originally no distinction between the concepts of spirit and ¡®daimon¡¯ existed, which were essentially interchangeable. Just like spirit, the term ¡®daimon¡¯ denoted an aetherial entity and was still devoid of any negative connotation. In that sense, a daimon was neither inherently malevolent or benevolent, nor was a daimon inherently artificial.
Only during later stages of antiquity when the first attempts at spirit creation bore fruit, the term ¡®daimon¡¯ or later ¡®daemon¡¯ began to acquire its prevalently negative connotation to distinguish between spirits and daemons. It was at that age that the modern notion of demons was born. Whereas the term ¡®spirit¡¯ came to denote natural aetherial entities, the term ¡®daemon¡¯ came to be used solely for artificial aetherial entities (for further information, consult Introduction to the Art of Daemonology, Vol I).
Nevertheless, the difference is fundamental. Though practically extinct in this day and age, spirits form without external invention from natural concentrations of condensed aether. The aether enables lesser spirits to form a rudimentary spiritsoul, and higher spirits even to develop sentience or intelligence. Under certain aspects, the formation of spirits shares similarities with the formation of the human spiritsoul (for further information consult, annex 37, Differences and Similarities between Humans and Spirits in the Formation of Spiritsoul).
Meanwhile, daemons are created artificially through the use of magic. They consist of harvested human souls anchored around a suitable catalyst to bind them together by force. It goes without saying that the process is undertaken on an involuntary basis. Unlike spirits, the soul and spirit thus do not form on their own, but are rather created from existing material. Albeit a viable and known method, such an approach was found to be highly problematic. Aside from the significant number of necessary sacrifices that would have been required, the nature of their creation renders their souls and spirits exceedingly unstable and prone to degradation, an effect which only worsens the more souls are used and more control is required. Daemons are by nature rampant and violent, and usually, only a moment away from turning against their creators, which renders them impractical for actual battlefield use (for further information, consult annex 45, Inherent Instability of the Daemonic Spiritsoul, and annex 51, Battlefield Use of Daemons in the Modern Age).
Two lessons could be drawn, that utilising existing spiritsouls was highly problematic and that it was necessary to opt for a more ¡®natural¡¯ creation process. It has become evident that soul and spirit can be manipulated to a certain degree, but they cannot be forced beyond their intended limits. To achieve a stable product, it was judged indispensable to pursue a predominately organic approach (for further information, consult annex 57, The Artificial Creation of Soul and Spirit. Problems and Potential Solutions). Unlike our predecessors, we thus decided to abandon the daemon option entirely. Even though, souls continued to represent a tempting and easily accessible quality aether source. The war would have provided propitious circumstances and plenty of human material (for further information, consult annex 64, Industrial Methods of Soul Accumulation and Aether Conversion).
Our first experiments produced the desired results. We succeeded in creating entities qualifiable as spirits, although the experiments only confirmed admittedly existing knowledge. It is common knowledge that a higher concentration of unbound aether naturally favoured the formation of spirits. By artificially providing favourable circumstances, we thus merely accelerated said process (for further information, consult annex 72, Introduction to Artificial Spirit Creation. Formation and Incubation).
The resulting products proved of limited use. The experiments produced almost exclusively lesser spirits of negligible spiritual and soul strength more or less proportional to the level of concentrated aether employed. To produce a spirit of sufficient strength, enormous quantities of highly concentrated and unbound aether would be required. The problem, however, was how to achieve the required concentration level while maintaining the aether in an unbound and, even more importantly, stable state. Aether is by nature volatile, not to mention highly pyrophoric once exceeding a certain concentration threshold, with obvious potential catastrophic consequences (for further information, consult annex 81, Pyrophoric Properties and Reactive Nature of Highly Concentrated Aether).
Theoretically, the required aether concentration can be achieved by relying on an adequately powerful relic or by employing mythril orichalcum based storage devices, which would provide a suitable anchor to tether the volatile aether and even provide a sufficiently strong moderator to prevent a disastrous chain reaction, but at the same time, they would irreversibly bind the employed aether, thus preventing any possible spirit formation (for further information, consult annex 89, Forms and Methods of Aether Storage, annex 92, The Advantages of the Usage of Relics, and annex 97, Stability and Instability of Aether: Theoretical Foundations of the Bound and Unbound State of Aether).
It was a matter of squaring the circle. The project required a sufficient aether concentration yet at the same time in an unbound and stable state. The road from hereon was marked with failure, but ultimately, partial success was achieved. Either by luck or fate, it was discovered that the blood of a suitable donor could serve as an effective catalyst for the formation process by leveraging on the strength of the donor¡¯s bloodline as a foundation, even when the aether was confined in a relatively highly bound state (for further information, consult annex 117, Practical Applications of Bloodlines as a Catalyst for the Process of Artificial Soulspirit Creation). A few bloodlines turned out to be promising. Unsurprisingly, the majority of them belonged to the major ancient noble houses, including the imperial line. These bloodlines proved the most stable and powerful, yet one bloodline stood out in particular, proving time and time again exceedingly versatile and adaptive.
As a result, we managed to produce the first samples of an essence that contained a functioning spiritsoul of modest but acceptable quality. These samples would serve as prototypes for later iterations. The first step was made. The Geist was created, but now a suitable host would be required. To achieve its intended purpose, the spiritsoul had to be given a corporeal shape and form (for further information, consult annex 134, The Importance of Physical Manifestation of the Soulspirit: Corporeal Form and Gestalt).
Initial attempts failed miserably. Even the smallest dose of spiritsoul essence proved to be exceedingly lethal. Injected subjects died within hours or days from the effects of complete soul disintegration. The most resilient specimen survived less than a week. Death was observed to be slow and excruciating. (for further information, consult annex 147, Essence Injection and Observed Mortality Rate).
The injected essence provoked a violent reaction from the observed subjects. Their spiritsouls either disintegrated after merging or rejected the essence. Both outcomes proved equally fatal. In the former case, their spiritsouls broke down completely under the strain. In the latter case, their spiritsouls rejected the essence, which provoked an adverse response on the part of the essence.
The intensity of the reaction depended on the quantity and potency of the essence that was administered as well as on the age and disposition of the tested subjects. The latter factors were found to have a significant influence.
It was observed that the spiritsouls of minor subjects in the age groups ranging from 6 to 14 proved significantly more malleable. They were far more likely to merge with the injected essence and complications were rarely observed. The reason is most likely the fact that their spiritsouls have not yet fully matured, which renders them more compatible. But on the other hand, they rarely possessed the necessary resilience to withstand the strength of the essence. They disintegrate far too easily.
The contrary was the case for older subjects. Their souls and spirits proved far more resilient, but they lacked the necessary degree of compatibility, which caused the injected essence to be easily recognised as a foreign entity and thus rejected.
Furthermore, it was noted that the sex of the subjects appears to be relevant. Regardless of age cohort, female specimens consistently displayed a higher survival duration, although it was difficult to say whether the difference exceeded the standard deviation or not considering the limited sample size and a deviation in the percentile range.
In general, though, it was observed that subjects with magic aptitude proved by far the most resilient. The best results were achieved if the elemental affinity and aspect of the subjects aligned with the affinity and aspect of the essence, which was found to be the most essential factor. Any other approach must be considered a waste of time, resources, and human material.
The experiments confirmed our suspicions that a vassal with satisfactory characteristics could not be procured by conventional means. The existing human material of civilian origin proved entirely unsatisfactory for the intended purpose. Meanwhile, more suitable candidates of noble blood were unlikely to volunteer in the face of a calculated mortality rate of 99.99% upwards.
It was thus recognised that a suitable vassal had to be constructed (for further information, consult annex 163, The Quest for Perfection. The Necessity of Artificial Gestalt Creation). Further research into the matter, however, was cut short by the defeat of the Reich and the end of the war.
5. Project B21 Gestalt
The first years after the war were difficult for the military research sector. The peace treaty prohibited any military research, at least officially. The clause was of course ignored the moment the ink had dried. In secret, research continued in preparation for the next war, but even then, the Army Ordnance Office lacked the enormous financial and industrial resources necessary to resume Geist. In times of peace and tight budgets, the resources required to pursue the project would have far exceeded the limited resources at the Ordnance Office¡¯s disposal. Based on preliminary findings and the results of the prototypes, it was obvious that for the creation of the essence exorbitant quantities of aether would be required together with the infrastructure to produce and refine aether and essence. The project was thus suspended, or so it seemed.
It was then that an old ally lent its support, the House von Schwarz. The companies and subsidiaries under their control had already previously participated in Project Seele. The armament producers and mining corporations had shown particular interest. The Schwarz were later also heavily involved and invested in Project Geist, even on a personal level.
The Schwarz put their wealth, influence and connection to use. With their help, the support of the industry provided by IG Farben, and the assistance of the Ordnance Office, the project was resumed under the designation of Gestalt.
The objective of Gestalt was to complete what Geist had begun, which meant to create the essence and the corresponding vessel to harbour it. The challenges involved were mostly technical in nature. The theoretical foundation was already established, and the underlying concepts were understood. The completion of the project was now primarily a matter of execution.
The essence was created by relying on the extensive use of enrichment facilities to produce the required quantities of aether. The backing of the chemical and metallurgical industry proved vital in that regard. Nevertheless, the effort required to fulfil the quotas was immense, as were the costs with an estimated [redacted] (for further information, consult annex 161 Economics of Industrial Scale Aether Enrichment).
Furthermore, the moment had come to select the catalyst bloodline for the final essence. In consideration of the resources required for the creation of even a single essence, it was judged unfeasible to create multiple essences based on multiple bloodlines. Instead, it was decided to focus all available resources on a single bloodline. Based on previous results and performances, the [redacted] bloodline was chosen for the role of catalyst for both the essence and later the vessel (for further information, consult annex 167 Quantitative Analysis of Comparative Bloodline Compatibility and Performance).
As far as the creation of the vessel was concerned, we resorted to the arcane arts of alchemy and the creation of a so called ¡®homunculus¡¯, a term that is often improperly used and poorly understood even though the creation of homunculi has at this point a long and proud history (for further information, consult The Science behind the Creation of Homunculi: Between Myths and Reality)
Popular perception and superstitious beliefs aside, a homunculus is defined as a functioning biological human organism created with the assistance of magic. The original purpose of their creation was to provide an alternative method of reproduction to maintain the bloodline when biological procreation was not possible or had become impossible. As such, homunculi had always enjoyed ample popularity among the higher circles of society, despite their social stigma. Only later on was it explored whether it was also possible to produce a magically enhanced specimen through this method. The results were mixed.
Traditionally, a homunculus is created by utilising female and male gametes of suitable candidates and inducing artificial fertilisation. The resulting embryo is then incubated and sustained in vitro with the assistance of magic and aether. In that sense, homunculi are not, unlike what many believe, soulless automatons created out of thin air from lifeless, but rather inherently biological products.
For Gestalt, however, more than just a simple homunculus was required. The homunculus would serve as a vessel for the spiritsoul essence, which meant the homunculus had to be able to physically contain the essence, and, much more importantly, had to be to the highest degree compatible with the bloodline of the essence to facilitate a seamless integration from the earliest stage on without complications. Spiritsoul and vessel had to form a union of mind and body. To achieve the optimal result, it was considered indispensable that both the maternal line and paternal line of the homunculus possessed equal compatibility to favour integration, with all the implications such a step brought (for further information, consult annex 182 The Maternal and Paternal Factor of Bloodline Compatibility in Homunculus Creation).
In the end, it was a long and arduous journey marked by failure and defeats, yet we succeeded. Seven years after the end of the war and five years after Project Gestalt had commenced, a child was produced.
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Arc VI Codex VI
VI
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Arc VI Codex VI
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Schwarzwalt Political Map
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Events
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I -First flashback to Aurora¡¯s imperial past -
II - Aurora being promoted from the adventurer program -
III - Second flashback to Aurora¡¯s imperial past -
IV - Aurora meeting her fellow team mates of her adventurer party - tutor Angelika -
V - Lord Viktor beginning to conspire -
VI - Third flashback to Aurora¡¯s imperial past -
VII ¨C Summary Report -
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Characters
Duke August von Schwarz, - Noble - House von Schwarz - Duke - Aurora¡¯s father from the other world - Imperial Archmage - Imperial Field Marshal -
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Arc VII Chapter 1
VII
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Arc VII Chapter 1
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1st Aqua Solar XI AAC 753
The light of dawn unfurled, bathing Freyburg in her golden hue, but, as so often, impressions tended to deceive. The sun had lost her strength. Her warmth had waned in the wake of the encroaching winter. A pale morning greeted the city of Freyburg, the air crisp and winds gelid, bringing the cold of the North to banish the warmth of autumn. Even then, the city stirred beneath the soft caress of the morning light, slowly awakening from its slumber. The rhythmic clatter of hooves, the muffled hum of the city¡¯s bustling streets, the heartfelt laughter of children, and the distant toll of bells announced the coming day. Yet not everyone had aroused from their slumber, which included a certain little doll.
Morning light entered their chambers, creeping across the wooden floorboards. The light kissed her porcelain cheeks, her frame safely nestled beneath layers upon layers of woollen quilts. The warmth clung to her limbs, refusing to relinquish her from its grip. Nevertheless, it was time to rise. It was already late.
¡°Muah~! Muahhh~! Muah~!¡± A cute yawn escaped little Aurora¡¯s tender lips, her small frame stirring beneath the safety of her blankets. Her joints stretched and moved. Her eyelids fluttered open, reluctant, sluggish, at first. ¡°... ... ...¡±
For better or for worse, it had been a long and eventful night. These memories ... These were Aurora¡¯s memories, memories from her distant past. Like the nights before, they had visited her once again, allowing or rather forcing her to relive a past not hers. What she had seen ... What she had felt ... What had been revealed ... It would be a lie to say that what she had seen had not shaken if not unsettled her. She neither claimed to be able to understand nor to comprehend what she had witnessed, but she grasped the significance, the implications of what had been revealed to her. Her life ... Her past ... Her purpose ... Her duty ... Her rearing ... Her training ... Her origins ... Her nature ...
It was difficult at times to bear so much. Not that she had much of a choice, though. Her heart must remain strong.
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora sighed heavily, her tiny hands rubbing at her hazy eyes to banish the last vestiges of her drowsiness. It was only now that she had become aware that she was being watched, quite intently so, by a certain girl residing beside her in their shared bed.
Two giant orbs of purple gazed at her with a semblance of amusement, the faint glimmer of her sinister mana hiding beneath their surface. Cold and calculating. Her mere gaze sufficed to send a shiver down little Aurora¡¯s spine, to make her throat tighten. Her eyes observed her, scrutinising and evaluating her, despite the benevolent smile on her lips. Tall Aurora¡¯s gaze was directed at her.
¡°... ... ...¡± Oh, no. Little Aurora froze, the joints in her frame stiffening. She knew this expression. She knew it all too well. It was the harbinger of grave misfortune, or rather the harbinger of her being about to be scolded. Yet again.
¡°...¡± Aurora beamed, her head tilting ever so slightly. Her gaze lightened considerably. ¡°Guten Morgen, my precious little one, you know that I do like doing this, but did I not tell you a few times already that it is imperative for you to act with caution~?¡± Her hand drew closer, and her index finger gently tapped her nose.
¡°...¡± Little Aurora, meanwhile, was less than amused.
Tall Aurora mustered an amused giggle, her scrutiny entirely gone. ¡°We are fortunate that Iris is an early riser, are we not? Because otherwise, we would have our hands full of explaining why my cute little doll is not only yawning but also stretching her cute, little armsies in the morning. I have my ways and methods to be quite persuasive, but we should better avoid such a scenario if possible. Do you understand?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora lowered her gaze, her fingers clutching the fabric of her blankets. Scary Aurora had a point. ¡°I do ...¡±
¡°I am pleased to hear so. You are a good girl~.¡± Tall Aurora smiled in response before resuming her tickling operations, her index finger once again occupied with repeatedly tapping her stubby nose, much to tall Aurora¡¯s apparent enjoyment. ¡°Anyway, no need to cry over spilt milk, would you not agree? Just promise me to be more careful in the future, understood~?¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora merely nodded.
Tall Aurora ceased her tickling, retreating her nimble fingers. ¡°That being said, I hope that you had a splendid night~. I certainly did myself~.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora fell silent, her tiny fists clenched. She could not remain silent. Not when her dreams weighed so heavily upon her.
¡°Aurora ...¡± Little Aurora whispered, her hands fidgeting. Her voice hesitated, wavered, yet she insisted. ¡°Tonight, ... I had ... yet another dream.¡±
¡°Another dream ...?¡± Older Aurora tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her eyes. ¡°I hope that my memories have not troubled you overly. So, tell me, what did you see, Aurora~?¡± Her voice was smooth, softer than gossamer, more delicate than silk, yet the implications of her words did not escape little Aurora. There was more, and there was more to come.
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¡°...¡± Their eyes met, Aurora¡¯s and hers interlocking. Purple met violet. In the end, little Aurora gathered her courage to raise her voice. ¡°I saw ... a wide, open field. It was a training ground of some sort. There was tension in the air. And then, ... I saw you. It was definitely you. The former you. You were standing there, all alone, all on your own. You had closed your eyes, and you were slowing your breathing to focus. You were dressed in a black uniform. You gripped your sword. You were preparing yourself to fight against someone, ... someone you knew ... They called themselves ¡®Guards¡¯, I think.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Tall Aurora listened attentively, carefully, waiting for her to speak without interrupting her. Every single word she spoke was judged and gauged in silence, although she had reasons to suspect that Aurora had already recognised the episode that she was describing. ¡°And then, ... What happened, Aurora?¡± Her tender voice urged her to continue.
¡°Well, ...¡± Little Aurora lowered her gaze, deeply pensive. ¡°The truth is that I do not understand any of it myself ... It all happened so fast ... The world suddenly exploded. There were bright flashes ... There was the sound of explosions ... There were smoke and dust pluming everywhere ... There were these things ... They were fast ... They were strong ... They were not magic in nature, I think. They were made out of hardened steel. You called them ¡®projectiles¡¯.¡±
¡°...¡± Tall Aurora merely listened, her voice silent.
Little Aurora continued, her voice strained. ¡°And yet you faced these things, without the slightest hint of doubt. I saw them striking against your shield, but your shield refused to break no matter what. Your magic prevailed ... Not only that, I saw you fight them. You engaged them. You stood your ground. And you won. You defeated them. I saw it with my very eyes. It was ... It was as if you were invincible. The way you moved ... Your speed ... Your strength ... It was ... It was incredible. Never in my entire life have I seen anything like this ... Never before have I seen such a display of power ... You are powerful. Far more powerful than Brother ever was. Far more powerful than even Father.¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora raised her chin, her gaze directed at her larger self. Her heart filled with a mixture of fear and fright, but also admiration, amazement, awe. ¡°Is this who you truly are?¡±
...
...
...
¡°... ... ...¡± Tall Aurora savoured the silence, enjoying every single moment of it. A faint smile spread across her lips. It was a smile brimming with pride and confidence. ¡°I see that you have gained some insight into my capabilities, though, admittedly, not the way I had necessarily expected. Not that it matters. You would have sooner or later, considering our relationship, I suppose.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora closed her eyes, reminiscing about the distant past. ¡°I remember that day. That day I fought the 1st Guard Regiment. It was a sweet victory. It was a joyous day. Fond memories, all things considered. These were happy times~. Did you see anything else? Or did your dream stop there?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora pondered her choice, slightly uncertain whether she should tell her, or not. ¡°It did not ... I saw more ...¡±
¡°Oh~.¡± Tall Aurora beamed, her smile benign. ¡°Tell me more~. What else did you experience~?¡±
Little Aurora considered her words, carefully. ¡°You were ... You were talking to your father. It was in his study. He told you the truth. He also gave you a hug, and something to read.¡±
¡°...¡± Taller Aurora remained calm, yet the mere mention of the word ¡®hug¡¯ sufficed to elicit the faint semblance of a smile, perhaps something even akin to happiness. ¡°Oh, yes, a hug ... I remember it well. That being said, I gather that you have read the report then. Was it just the summary report, or the various annexes as well?¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora raised her tiny chin. ¡°I think it was only the summary ... It was quite the difficult read ... I barely understood half of it.¡± Which was the truth. It was a difficult read, with far too many strange and unknown words and terms being thrown around left and right for her little headsie.
¡°I see ...¡± Tall Aurora leaned back, hardly surprised. In fact, she probably had expected so. ¡°Well, to be honest, I doubt that you have missed out on much. While certainly informative and useful from an academic point of view, the annexes make for quite the heavy read, even by my own standards.¡±
...
...
...
¡°Hmm ...¡± Little Aurora had fallen silent, her eyes avoiding her stare. The air was heavy, laden with tension. A question unspoken was left hanging in the air. They both knew that it was only a matter of time before it would surface. The time was now.
Thus, Little Aurora gathered her courage, clenching her tiny fisties. They needed to talk. ¡°Aurora, ...¡± Having uttered her name garnered her immediate attention. Aurora directed her gaze and undivided attention at her.
Little Aurora gulped in response, but her heart remained strong. She must not fail. ¡°You know, I have read the report ...¡±
¡°...¡± Taller Aurora listened.
¡°I might not have all of it, but I have understood enough¡±, little Aurora confessed, a heavy sigh escaping her. ¡°Is it true? Are you ... Are you ... really a hom ... a homun ...?¡±
Tall Aurora came to her aid. ¡°A homunculus, you mean?¡±
¡°...¡± Little Aurora nodded. Words and concepts might differ, but even she knew what a homunculus was. Her tutors had taught her about the history and secrets of alchemy. An artificial human being created through magic. They were said to be a legend, a myth, an old wives¡¯ tale, nothing more. And yet ...
¡°Hehehe ...¡± Tall Aurora giggled, an amused smirk spreading along her lustrous lips. ¡°Truth ... Truth is always such an exceedingly delicate affair. You are correct, though, Aurora, I am a homunculus, which makes you coincidentally one of the few privileged to know more about me than nearly the entirety of people that I have ever met or ever will meet. In fact, I think that some congratulations are in order~.¡± Her hands clapped gently, offering her some modest applause.
¡°... ... ...¡± There was a long pause: It took little Aurora some time to process her words, some time before full realisation hit her. ¡°So it is true ...¡±
¡°...¡± Tall Aurora merely smiled in response. It was a knowing smile. ¡°It would be remiss of me at this point to deny the obvious. I was indeed created artificially. My soul and body were constructed with a sole purpose in mind, to serve as the Reich¡¯s sword and shield. In their question for perfection, I was thus born, from the blood of my father and his si ... Well, you know whom. That being said, you must admit that the circumstances of my birth do afford some undeniable ... advantages. Being more spirit than human has its benefits, at times~.¡±
Little Aurora furrowed an eyebrow, cutely. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°...¡± Tall Aurora smirked, secretive and conspiratory as usual. ¡°Aurora, think about it, ... How did you ... How did we die? You were stabbed straight through your lungs ... His sword sundered your flesh and bones ... You were lying there under the rain, dead ... How do you suppose that we miraculously survived? How do you suppose that we resurrected from the dead, Aurora? It was hardly a coincidence. In the end, the will of the soul always prevails over mere matter, although it took some considerable persuasion on my part.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Little Aurora fell silent. The girl left the rest to her imagination, but the correct answer was strongly implied. More spirit than human ... Her words reverberated in her mind. ¡°I see ... So it was like that ...¡±
¡°...¡± Tall Aurora merely nodded in confirmation. ¡°As said, at times, being more spirit than human has its tangible benefits. Some of them intended. Some of them less intended, although they came to be greatly appreciated. Perhaps also by you now that we are one.¡±
Little Aurora tilted her little doll head, slightly dubious. Less intended benefits? What was that supposed to mean? ¡°Such as?¡±
¡°...¡± Tall Aurora grinned mischievously, her words laced with honey. ¡°As you might be aware, Aurora, those around me always used to remark on my doll like appearance ... My immaculate complexion ... My frail and petite physique ... The same as for you ... They were not entirely mistaken ...¡±
The other Aurora leaned closer, her saccharine voice whispering in her ear. ¡°After all, dolls do not age either.¡±
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Arc VII Chapter 2
VII
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Arc VII Chapter 2
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1st Aqua Solar XI AAC 753
The air was crisp. The rhythmic sound of wood and steel clashing reverberated throughout the yard, accompanied by the usual tirade of barks, shouts, curses, grunts, and the otherwise colourful vocabulary typical for sparring adventurers. It was times like these that the humble origins of their birth showed.
Novices and veterans. Amateurs and professionals. It was late morning, and yet the guild¡¯s training ground was brimming with people, with adventurers, with entire parties. They were training. They were practising. They were honing their skills. They were here to prove their mettle.
Much to her expectations, the size of the ground was substantial despite being located in the middle of the city. The yard was large, large enough to accommodate a multitude of parties at once. It was a simple field, enclosed by surrounding buildings. Trampled sand and compacted earth covered the ground. Wooden dummies lined the perimeter, alongside an assembly of archery targets and what might be considered magic training targets. All in all, the ground served its intended purpose, to allow people to train and practise, which included a certain little girl and her lovely doll.
¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ? ? ??? ~. ? ? ? ? ?? ? ??? ~.¡± Aurora trod along, Dollrora safely cradled in her protective arms after they enjoyed a hearty breakfast together consisting of two hot chocolates, a few slices of bread with butter, and some lingonberry marmalade. So far, it had been thus an excellent day for Aurora and her dolly companion. ¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ? ? ??? ~.¡±
¡°? ??? ? ? ?? ~. ? ? ? ??? ~.¡± Aurora adjusted her hold slightly to ensure that her companion enjoyed the perfect vantage point. ¡°Better?¡±
Little Aurora nodded affirmatively. ¡°Somewhat.¡±
¡°? ? ? ??? ~. I am glad to hear so~.¡± Aurora beamed while following Angelika and the rest of her party. Their mentor had summoned, or rather was currently leading them today, directly to the training ground, for unknown reasons. The purpose of the entire undertaking eluded them so far, but not any longer.
Angelika suddenly halted her step, her merry blue eyes greeting them with a smile. Gone was her heavy armour of the previous day, replaced by a light gambeson shirt and a reinforced leather cuirass. A belt cinched her waist, securing her skirt. A series of scabbards strapped over her shoulder. The knightess to be was significantly dressed lighter than yesterday.
¡°...¡± Angelika clapped her hands together, veritably beaming. Her smile was bright, almost too bright. ¡°Edelgart, Erich, Ludolf, do you know why we¡¯re here today?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Erich, Ludolf, Aurora, her doll, every one of them exchanged a series of questioning glances. The truth was, nobody knew, which was hardly surprising considering they had not been told.
¡°...¡± Erich crossed his arms, an eyebrow furrowed. He spoke for all of them. ¡°To be honest, no, not really. Are we here to train?¡±
¡°...¡± Angelika chose to ignore his less than enthusiastic response, her cheerful nature entirely unperturbed. The knightess merely nodded, her index finger raised. ¡°You¡¯re correct, Erich, in a certain way. Yes, we¡¯re here to train. As you might know, the purpose of all training is to acquire strength. Whether it¡¯s in the form of skill, physical strength, endurance, stamina, or experience.
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But there is something else that matters too. And that is knowing your comrades. You must know their weaknesses. You must know their strengths. As long as you stand together, you will succeed where a lone warrior fails. You will be far stronger than on your own.¡±
Her gaze settled first on Erich, on Ludolf, then finally on her and her doll in particular as if she were singled out. ¡°That¡¯s why you must stand together. That¡¯s why you must put your past grievances and differences aside and work together. Do you understand?¡±
¡°...¡± They all tentatively agreed following her sermon on the supposed benefits of teamwork and cooperation.
Angelika¡¯s words lingered in the air until she decided to produce four wooden practice swords. Their meaning was clear. ¡°That being said, let¡¯s see just how well you understand each other today, shall we?¡± A mischievous grin flashed across her lips before she threw the sword at them. ¡°You know the drill. One at a time. You first, Erich.¡±
Quick witted as he was, Erich caught the practice blade easily, although his confusion was apparent. ¡°One at a time? Weren¡¯t you talking about working and fighting together and whatnot?¡±
Angelika raised her index finger. The knightess approached the nearest free ring. A wide circle was drawn into the sand, marking the stage¡¯s boundaries. ¡°Admittedly, yes, but to know others, you must first know yourself. And more importantly, I must know you. I¡¯ve read your files, and I¡¯ve spoken with Sir Hartmann, but I¡¯ve never seen you fight in person. In the end, there¡¯s only one way to know where you stand.¡± Her unconventional antics and sermon aside, her words made sense. Somewhat. Somehow.
In fact, so much that even Erich was forced to concede her point. ¡°I think I understand.¡±
Angelika grinned, her gentle smile seldom leaving her face. ¡°I¡¯m glad that you do. To start with, I would like you to come at me, Erich. Show me what you have got.¡± Her hand beckoned.
Erich flexed his fingers and tensed his muscles. He obeyed. He entered the circle, his stance measured and controlled. The fight ensued, with the both of them circling each other, gauging each other. Seconds passed. Minutes passed. Nothing happened. And at this rate, it seemed that nothing would happen.
Angelika beamed, her smile unfaltering. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you attacked me yet, Erich? Didn¡¯t I tell you to come at me? Didn¡¯t I tell you to show me all you have got? You must go all out. No need to hold back.¡±
¡°...¡± Erich merely scoffed at her suggestion, almost dismissively. ¡°Sure, you want me to go all out ... You want me to attack you head on, someone who is years my senior in terms of skill and experience ... Listen, Angelika, I might be young, but that sounds like a recipe for disaster. I¡¯m not stupid.¡±
¡°...¡± Angelika flashed a smirk, an approving smirk. ¡°Smart boy. I hope that you¡¯re as skilled as sharp.¡± The knightess struck first, her steps fast, clean, precise. Angelika closed the distance in an instant. Her blade struck with force, hard. She was not resorting to the use of her mana. Not yet.
¡°...¡± Erich parried, forced to defend. He was put on the back foot, and it showed. Erich was practised, his footwork disciplined, but he was also predictable. Angelika quickly grasped his rhythm. The outcome was never a matter of contention, but such was obvious to begin with. This was not a fight. This was supposed to be training. This was supposed to be a spar.
Angelika pressed her advantage, stepping up the pace. Her strikes came faster and faster, and harder and harder. From all sides. Continuously increasing in terms of strength and speed. Eventually, Erich¡¯s defence collapsed, his stance broken.
A blur. A strike. Angelika¡¯s wooden sword halted, her blade close to his throat.
¡°... ... ...¡± Erich stiffened like he was petrified. He had come to realise that he had lost.
A warm smile accompanied Angelika. ¡°You¡¯re good, Erich. Way better than I expected, although a tad formulaic in your approach. Your style is far too orthodox, which makes you predictable for any experienced fighter.¡±
The knightess retracted her sword, releasing Erich from her grip. ¡°No need to worry. We can work on that. I see much potential in you. In fact, I was told you are also capable of using magic. Apparently, you¡¯re versed in pyromancy. Fire and light. Is that true, Erich?¡± Angelika studied the boy with a burning curiosity.
¡°...¡± Erich glanced up after regaining some semblance of composure. He merely nodded in confirmation. ¡°Yes, I can use magic. Some. Father taught me.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Angelika beamed, her hand playing with her practice sword. ¡°No need to be so modest, Erich! Magic is a rare ability. Not everyone has that spark. You should be proud! Now show me your magic. I want to see it with my own eyes. It would be a waste to squander your talents, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Her voice brimmed with confidence.
¡°Are you sure?¡± Erich hesitated.
¡°Quite.¡± Angelika nodded in response, her chest swelling with evident pride. ¡°You might not know, but I¡¯ve some talent when it comes to magic. Ignis. Lumen. Fire. Light. These are also my elements. The same as yours. I can show you a thing or two.¡±
¡°...¡± Aurora sharpened her ears, her attention focused on their knightess. So it was like this ... She was a mage herself ... The same elements as Erich¡¯s even... It appeared that having been chosen as their mentor was hardly a coincidence on the part of the guild. Angelika had been assigned to help them develop, both physically and in terms of magic.
Angelika was not only a swordswoman of considerable skill, but also a practitioner of magic, which made sense, considering her noticeable magic signature and the strong presence of her mana. And yet, her profile felt ... unusual ... To be blessed with martial prowess and gifts of magic alike, it was the profile of a true knight rather than a mere adventurer.
Angelika raised her wooden blade, the tip pointed directly at Erich. ¡°That being said, show me. Come on, I am waiting, Erich!¡±
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