《Arcane Engineer》 Chapter 1: The experiment Alina stood in the reactor chamber, her heart pounding. The machinery around her buzzed with arcane energy, a testament to her centuries of research and innovation. Her eyes, though weary, sparkled with determination as she gazed upon her life¡¯s work. This was it¡ªthe moment she¡¯d sacrificed so much for: etching a complex runic matrix into the very fabric of her soul, theoretically allowing her consciousness to leave behind her mortal body and bind itself to another vessel. Traditional magic had failed her. In a world where a mage¡¯s power determined their lifespan, Alina¡¯s weak mana channels had branded her a cripple. Yet, with her undeniable prowess in magical engineering and runic designs - and more than a few unsavory political tricks - she had fought for her place, rising to her current position despite the whispers that followed her throughout her career. Now, with her physical form rapidly deteriorating, this was her last chance. Jaren, her assistant, hovered near the control panel, his expression a mix of awe and worry. ¡°Headmistress, are you certain?¡± ¡°Yes, Jaren, we¡¯ve triple-checked everything,¡± Alina said, her eyes fixed on the reactor¡¯s glowing runes. ¡°It has to work.¡± He gave a firm nod. ¡°All systems are go. Initiating mana infusion in three¡­ two¡­ one.¡± The reactor roared to life, a brilliant blue light enveloping Alina. Mana conduits linked her to the machine, energy crackling through her body. Her hands danced over the controls, guiding the flow of magic through the runic circuits. ¡°Mana levels stable,¡± Jaren called out. ¡°All within parameters.¡± ¡°Good. On to the next phase,¡± Alina instructed, her voice steady but edged with tension. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. They ramped up the power, and the reactor¡¯s hum turned into a deep, resonant thrum. The air around them crackled with arcane energy. Reality itself seemed to shudder. Alina winced as the intense strain began to tear at her soul. Pain flared through her, each pulse of energy threatening to unravel her very being. ¡°Push it harder!¡± Alina shouted, gritting her teeth against the agony. ¡°We need more power!¡± Jaren hesitated but complied, cranking up the output. The reactor¡¯s glow intensified, a searing white light blazing from the core. ¡°Energy levels critical!¡± Jaren¡¯s voice was nearly drowned out by the rising alarm. ¡°We¡¯re beyond safe thresholds!¡± ¡°Increase the flow! More power, now!¡± Alina commanded, her voice fierce despite the pain. The reactor¡¯s light blazed brighter, threatening to blind them, until she finally felt her soul expanding, being reforged and accomodating the AI¡¯s circuits within itself. She felt something fundamental shift within herself, a severance and a joining all at once. The runic formations she had painstakingly designed began to embed themselves into the very core of her being. The sensation was indescribable¡ªa burning, twisting feeling as if her soul was being rewritten from the inside out. Each rune that settled into place sent shockwaves through her essence. ¡°Headmistress, it¡¯s out of control!¡± Jaren yelled over the blaring alarms. ¡°We¡¯re hitting catastrophic levels! We have to shut it down now!¡± ¡°Redirect excess to the auxiliary arrays!¡± Alina ordered, but it was too late. The core¡¯s light blazed blindingly, the mana fields unraveling into chaotic surges. ¡°Headmistress, we need to¡ª¡± Jaren¡¯s words were cut off by a blinding flash. In an instant, he disintegrated into nothingness, his scream swallowed by the roar of the collapsing reactor. ¡°No!¡± Alina¡¯s scream was swallowed by the roar of the collapsing reactor. The chamber twisted into a maelstrom of energy. As the core erupted, she felt herself being pulled into the heart of the anomaly, an irresistible force drawing her in. Reality fragmented around her. In her final moments, a crushing regret overwhelmed her¡ªher life¡¯s work, her desperate gamble, seemed futile. The fusion she had longed for was slipping away, and with a final, blinding surge of light, Alina was consumed by the anomaly. She was left with the bitter realization that she would die, her dreams of immortality dashed once and forever. 2: Devina The carriage lurched over another bump in the road, eliciting a frustrated sigh from its sole passenger. Devina Vaelor, junior heiress to the Vaelor estate, adjusted her silk traveling cloak and glared out the window at the passing countryside. The once-lush fields seemed duller this year, with patches of withered crops dotting the landscape. ¡°Driver!¡± she called out, her voice sharp. ¡°I thought I made it clear I wanted a smooth journey. Is it truly beyond your capabilities to avoid every rut in this godforsaken road?¡± The driver¡¯s response was muffled, but apologetic. Devina rolled her eyes, settling back into her plush seat. She hadn¡¯t wanted to make this trip in the first place, but her father had insisted she personally oversee the negotiations with a renowned alchemist in the southern provinces. ¡°A future leader must take an active role in securing the family¡¯s future,¡± he had said. As if she needed the reminder. Her thoughts drifted to the tense conversations she¡¯d overheard at the estate. Whispers of failing crops and mounting debts. But surely it was just a temporary setback. The Vaelor name had always commanded respect and would continue to do so. Devina pushed the unsettling thoughts aside, focusing instead on the satisfaction she felt when servants scurried to fulfill her every whim, their eyes downcast, voices meek. It was the natural order of things, after all. The carriage slowed as they approached a small village. Devina wrinkled her nose at the sight of the shabby buildings and dusty streets. Commoners went about their daily routines, some stopping to stare at the ornate carriage as it passed. She couldn¡¯t help but notice how gaunt some of them looked, their clothes more ragged than she remembered from previous journeys. ¡°Don¡¯t slow down,¡± Devina instructed the driver. ¡°I have no desire to linger in this¡­ quaint little hamlet.¡± As they continued through the village, a young boy darted into the road, chasing after a wayward ball. The carriage jerked to a sudden stop, nearly throwing Devina from her seat. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± she demanded, leaning out the window. Her eyes fell on the wide-eyed child standing frozen before the carriage. His thin frame and patched clothes spoke of hard times, but Devina barely registered these details. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, miss,¡± the boy stammered, clutching his ball. ¡°I didn¡¯t see¡ª¡± ¡°Clearly,¡± Devina cut him off, her voice ice-cold. ¡°Do you have any idea of the importance of my journey? Of course you don¡¯t.¡± She turned her attention to the driver. ¡°Why are we still here? Continue on, immediately.¡± The driver hesitated. ¡°But, my lady, the boy¡ª¡± ¡°The boy will move, or he will learn a valuable lesson about paying attention to his surroundings,¡± Devina said dismissively. ¡°Now, drive on. I won¡¯t ask again.¡± With clear reluctance, the driver urged the horses forward. The boy scrambled out of the way, dropping his ball in his haste. Devina watched with detached interest as the wheel crushed the toy, leaving it flattened in the dust. As they left the village behind, Devina allowed herself a small smile. It was a trivial incident, but it reinforced what she had always known: the world bent to the will of those born to rule it. And she, Devina Vaelor, was destined for greatness. The smile faded as she noticed dark clouds gathering on the horizon. A storm was brewing, both literally and figuratively. She absently fingered the thin chain of her necklace, the last of her mother¡¯s fine jewelry. The rest had mysteriously disappeared over the past year, but Devina refused to dwell on such trivial matters. Her mission was clear, if somewhat distasteful: find the alchemist and request his assistance with their failing crops. The blight had severely impacted their lands, which, though she recognized their importance, she preferred to overlook. After all, the land was merely one of many assets that underpinned her family¡¯s position. Nevertheless, she understood that the situation was becoming increasingly urgent. As the carriage rounded a bend in the road, Devina¡¯s thoughts were violently interrupted by a sudden jolt and the sound of splintering wood. Shouts erupted from outside, followed by the clash of steel. ¡°Bandits!¡± the driver yelled, his voice sharp with panic. Devina¡¯s heart raced as she looked out the window, seeing her guards locked in a desperate fight with a group of vicious-looking men. Her mind screamed for her to move, but she was frozen in place, paralyzed by fear. One of her guards staggered back against the carriage, blood pouring from a deep wound. ¡°Run, my lady! Now!¡± The command jolted her into action. She flung open the door, her mind barely processing the chaos around her. She leapt from the carriage and began to run, her fine clothes tearing as she crashed through the underbrush. A sharp pain tore through her side as a bandit¡¯s sword sliced across her, and she gasped in agony. Blood flowed freely, but she didn¡¯t stop. She ran, driven by pure, primal survival instinct, her vision narrowing as the forest blurred around her. 3: Awakening Darkness enveloped Alina as consciousness slowly returned. The cool, damp air clung to her skin, carrying the earthy scent of stone and moss. Her mind struggled to piece together the fragments of her last memories¡ªthe reactor chamber, the blinding light, the sensation of being torn apart and reassembled. A faint, emotionless voice pierced the silence. ¡°Calibration complete. All systems functional.¡± Alina¡¯s eyes snapped open, though it made little difference in the pitch-black surroundings. ¡°Soul Bridge?¡± she whispered, using the term she had coined for the runic construct. ¡°Affirmative. The fusion was successful, Headmistress Alina.¡± For a moment, she hesitated, disoriented. Hadn''t she failed? But then, triumph surged through her like a tidal wave. Centuries of work, countless failures, and now, finally¡ªsuccess. She had merged with the soul bridge, enabling it to anchor her consciousness to any vessel in the material plane. A wry smile crossed her wrinkled face. Death, that patient shadow that had haunted her for decades, now seemed a toothless specter. Let her body fail¡ªit was nothing more than the first of countless vessels awaiting her essence. ¡°Status report,¡± Alina commanded, her voice echoing in what she now realized must be a cave. ¡°Fusion is at 100% completion. All ties between body and soul completely severed. I am now serving as the bridge between your essence and physical body.¡± The AI¡¯s voice was crisp and clear, its responses quick and precise. Alina had known from the outset that the Soul Bridge would need to be more than a simple construct. The sheer complexity of managing a soul¡¯s transition between bodies demanded an unprecedented level of sophistication. ¡°Excellent,¡± Alina murmured. ¡°And your higher functions? Are they operating as designed?¡± ¡°All cognitive and analytical systems are online and fully operational,¡± the AI responded. ¡°I am prepared to manage all aspects of your physical transition, including neural mapping and sensory calibration.¡± Alina nodded, satisfied. The Soul Bridge¡¯s ability to handle these intricate processes autonomously was crucial. It was, in essence, a highly advanced magical computer with the ability to facilitate her transitions¡ªa true marvel of arcane engineering. Alina sat up, feeling a strange mix of weakness and newfound strength. Her body felt foreign, as if it were merely borrowed. The familiar pangs of age and a failing body were still ever-present, yet also strangely distant. She stood, her movements awkward at first as she adjusted to this new form of existence. About fifty meters away, she could make out what appeared to be the cave¡¯s entrance. Determination set in as she made her way towards it, driven by the need to understand where she had ended up. As she emerged from the cave, the night sky sprawled above her in all its stellar glory. The constellations were familiar, yet subtly wrong, as if viewed from a slightly different angle than she remembered. ¡°Bridge, analyze our current location,¡± Alina commanded. ¡°There seems to have been a spatial displacement.¡± ¡°Analyzing,¡± the Soul Bridge responded. ¡°Preliminary data suggests a space-time anomaly occurred during the fusion process. Stellar positions indicate a significant temporal shift, but exact duration requires further calculation.¡± Alina frowned. A temporal shift wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected given the energies involved in the experiment, but it could complicate her plans. Still, as a mage who had lived for hundreds of years, she was accustomed to the long game. A few decades or even another century wouldn¡¯t drastically alter her plans. ¡°Calculate our exact temporal position and prepare a route back to the capital,¡± she instructed the Bridge. ¡°We need to transition my consciousness into the cloned body as soon as possible. Who knows how long I¡¯ve got left in this form.¡± As the AI began its calculations, Alina surveyed her immediate surroundings. The vegetation was lush and vibrant, but many of the species were unfamiliar to her. Where exactly had she ended up? Before the Bridge could complete its analysis, a commotion at the cave entrance caught Alina¡¯s attention. A young woman stumbled in, clutching her side. Blood seeped between her fingers, staining her once-fine clothes. ¡°Help¡­ please,¡± the woman gasped before collapsing to the ground. Alina approached cautiously- this could be her chance to figure out where she had ended up. ¡°Who are you?¡± Alina asked, kneeling beside the injured woman. ¡°Devina¡­ Devina Vaelor,¡± she managed between pained breaths. ¡°I¡¯m from the Vaelor family. There were bandits¡­ they attacked my carriage.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Alina¡¯s eyes narrowed. A noble¡¯s daughter, by the sound of it. ¡°I can help you,¡± she said, her voice taking on a soothing tone. ¡°But first, I need information. Tell me, where are we? What year is it?¡± Devina looked at her, pain and confusion flickering across her face. ¡°Year? It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s 1047. Why would you¡­?¡± Alina hesitated, the number feeling strangely out of place. ¡°1047¡­ from what?¡±. The last year she remembered was 9072. Devina stared at her, as if the question itself was strange. ¡°Since The Fall, obviously. What else?¡± ¡°The Fall?¡± Alina pressed, a sense of unease growing within her. ¡°What Fall?¡± ¡°The¡­ the collapse of the Old Empire,¡± Devina said, her voice growing weaker. ¡°Everyone knows that. The time when magic and technology failed, when the world broke. Please¡­ I need help.¡± Alina felt as if the ground had dropped out from beneath her. The Empire, fallen? Over a thousand years passed? It was impossible, unthinkable¡ªand yet, it explained some of what she had observed. ¡°Bridge,¡± she subvocalized, ¡°confirm this information against your stellar analysis.¡± ¡°Confirmed,¡± came the immediate reply. ¡°Stellar positions indicate approximately 10,000 years have elapsed since our last recorded date. This is compatible with the information provided by the human designated as Devina Vaelor.¡± The weight of this revelation threatened to overwhelm Alina, but centuries of discipline allowed her to maintain her composure. This was not good. Her body¡¯s failure was still imminent. Without the clone she¡¯d prepared in her lab, she faced a significant problem. She turned her attention back to the injured young woman before her, seeing now not just a source of information, but an opportunity. ¡°Bridge, would this girl be a compatible vessel?¡± she thought, getting more comfortable with the mental communication. ¡°Affirmative.¡± Alina approached the girl, her tone softening, ¡°Of course I¡¯ll help you. But I need to know more. Tell me about your family, your home. Will you be safe there?¡± Devina nodded weakly. ¡°Yes, I think so. But¡­ my uncle. I think he might be behind the bandits. He¡¯s always wanted our family¡¯s title.¡± She thought for a moment, then sighed. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have access to cloning technology by chance?¡± The girl just stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°I see,¡± Alina murmured. ¡°And what defenses does your home have? Any mages?¡± ¡°Mages?¡± Devina almost laughed, but it turned into a pained cough. ¡°No, what do you take us for, the royal family?. We have guards, and a captain who served in the army. But no mages.¡± Alina¡¯s mind raced. No mages meant no one who could detect what she was about to do. Without hesitation, she placed her hand over Devina¡¯s mouth and nose, pressing down firmly. The act was unpleasant, but necessary. Alina briefly considered the alternative¡ªhelping the girl and seeking assistance from her family. But she would still need them to provide a vessel if she wanted to survive, which they might very well not agree to because of the moral implications of body snatching. Additionally, the risk of exposure was too great. With her own life hanging in the balance and time running short, this was likely the best opportunity she would get. She certainly wasn¡¯t going to gamble her survival just to show kindness to the girl. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Alina whispered, her voice cold and determined. ¡°But I need your life more than you do.¡± Devina¡¯s eyes widened in shock and terror. She thrashed weakly, her injuries preventing any effective resistance. Alina held firm, watching dispassionately as the life slowly faded from the young woman¡¯s eyes. When Devina finally went still, Alina released her grip. ¡®Bridge,¡¯ she communicated mentally, ¡®initiate transfer protocol.¡¯ ¡®Understood, Headmistress,¡¯ the AI responded in her mind. ¡®Preparing for soul transfer and bodily function takeover. This process will take approximately 47 seconds. Please remain still.¡¯ Her consciousness stretched thin, expanding beyond her failing body. The boundaries between her and Devina¡¯s body blurred, a flicker of disorienting in-between. Suddenly, a powerful force yanked at her consciousness, a fierce pull from outside trying to tear her away as soon as she exited her body. It was as if something from the void itself had reached out, grasping her, attempting to drag her into a darkness that she was certain would swallow her whole. The pull only relented when a tendril of her essence made contact with the young woman¡¯s body lying on the cave floor. She knew, with a cold clarity, that if she hadn¡¯t immediately anchored herself in a new body, she would have been whisked away, lost forever in that abyss. ¡®Transfer at 25%,¡¯ the Bridge updated. ¡®Initiating basic bodily functions.¡¯ Alina felt a jolt as Devina¡¯s heart, which had begun to slow, suddenly kicked back into rhythm. The pain from the wound in this new body¡¯s side flared to life, a sharp reminder of the precarious situation she now found herself in. ¡®Transfer at 50%. Integrating nervous system.¡¯ Sensation flooded back into her new form. She could feel the cool cave floor beneath her, the dampness of blood-soaked cloth against her skin. ¡®Transfer at 75%. Synchronizing brain patterns.¡¯ Memories that were not her own flashed through her mind¡ªa childhood in a grand estate, lessons in etiquette and history, the fear and excitement of sneaking out for a clandestine trip. Alina grasped at these memories desperately, knowing they were her lifeline in the charade she was about to perform. ¡®Transfer complete. Bodily functions stable. Recommend rest for optimal integration.¡¯ Alina opened her eyes¡ªDevina¡¯s eyes now¡ªand took a shuddering breath. She pushed herself up, wincing at the pain in her side. Her old withered body lay nearby, a stark reminder of how close she had come to true death. Fear, an emotion she hadn¡¯t felt in centuries, began to creep in. She was weak now, this new body still unable to cast magic, and vulnerable in a way she hadn¡¯t been since before she could remember. ¡®Bridge,¡¯ she thought, ¡®what¡¯s the status of the wound?¡¯ ¡®The wound is significant but not immediately life-threatening,¡¯ came the reply. ¡®However, medical attention is advised within the next few hours to prevent infection.¡¯ She nodded, then paused at the unfamiliar sensation of long hair brushing against her shoulders. Everything felt different, alien. In the distance, she could hear voices calling out. Someone was coming. Since they were calling the girl''s name, it was probably Devina''s people. Could be a rescue party, but she wouldn¡¯t assume that just to get herself killed. As she staggered towards the cave entrance, Alina¡¯s mind raced with immediate concerns. How could she pull off this deception? What if the girl had been wrong and there were mages in the family? All that mattered was getting through the next few hours, the next few days, without being discovered. Then she could make a new plan. She emerged from the cave, squinting against the harsh sunlight. Figures on horseback appeared on the horizon, and she retreated into the shadows, studying them intently. If these were Devina¡¯s attackers, she wouldn¡¯t be so stupid as to reveal herself. 4: Castle Vaelor She could make out a fully armored knight among the nearing group, with wounded soldiers limping along. They didn¡¯t carry the rough air of bandits, so she had probably been right in guessing that they were on her side. She pressed herself against the damp cave wall, smearing more mud across her face and clutching her side. The wound wasn¡¯t deep, but it had bled enough to serve her purpose. As the rescue party neared, she slumped down, eyes closed, listening intently. ¡°I found her! She¡¯s injured¡±, a woman¡¯s voice said. ¡°You lot, stand guard. Anthony, you¡¯re with me. Go take a look at that cut¡±. Heavy footsteps approached. Rough hands lifted her arm, tearing fabric. A thick finger pried open her eyelid, momentarily blinding her. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she was greeted by the sight of a bald giant towering over her, his expression showing a mix of concern and alleviation. ¡°The kid¡¯ll live,¡± a man¡¯s gruff voice rumbled. ¡°Lost blood, but she¡¯ll pull through. Be gentle, Mira. She¡¯s in shock.¡± Strong arms lifted Devina. She allowed her eyes to flutter open. ¡°M-Mira?¡± she whispered, her voice deliberately hoarse. The fully armored knight carrying her snorted. ¡°Oh yes, Mira. Don¡¯t act innocent, young lady.¡± Despite the harsh words, concern laced her tone. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I followed you. Leaving our territory without your guard? Of all the reckless¡ª¡± Mira deposited Devina onto a carriage seat, climbing in after her. ¡°Wait till your father hears about this one.¡± With no better options, Devina feigned unconsciousness. She didn¡¯t yet understand her relationship with this knight. Best to play it safe until she had more information. The carriage creaked as someone else¡ªlikely the man called Anthony¡ªclimbed aboard. They set off, the rhythmic clop of hooves filling the air. Devina kept her eyes closed, body relaxed against the carriage wall. Nearly an hour passed before she felt Mira¡¯s posture soften. The knight¡¯s voice, when it came, was heavy with worry. ¡°I¡¯m concerned, Anthony. This can¡¯t continue. Last week she struck one of the maids. I barely recognize the girl anymore.¡± A deep, affirming grunt sounded from across the carriage. ¡°She¡¯s just bein¡¯ young,¡± Anthony¡¯s gruff voice replied. ¡°Give the kid time, it¡¯ll pass. I believe in her. Her father was the same way, and he turned out just fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Mira sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ frustrating sometimes.¡± Silence fell once more. Devina¡¯s mind whirled, grappling with the implications of their words. The fragmented memories of her body¡¯s previous owner seemed to war with this new information. In her inherited recollections, Devina was practically a saint¡ªkind, obedient, and beloved by all. Yet Mira¡¯s words painted a starkly different picture: a girl who struck servants and frustrated her caretakers. As the questions multiplied in her mind, Devina found herself lulled by the carriage¡¯s motion and her own exhaustion. Despite her best efforts to stay alert, she drifted into a fitful sleep. A sudden jolt snapped Devina back to consciousness. The sound of rushing water reached her ears as the carriage rumbled over what must have been a bridge. She risked cracking her eyes open, wincing at the pain in her side. As she turned her head, the stone walls of a huge castle towered over her, imposing yet somehow less majestic than one would expect. Patches of moss clung to the weathered stones, hinting at years of neglect. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. A commotion erupted as they neared the gates. A young man with auburn hair, dressed in fine but rumpled clothing, burst out to meet them. Even from a distance, Devina recognized her brother George. His presence in her memories was clearer than most. ¡°Gods, Devina!¡± George panted as the carriage door opened. ¡°Are you alright? Mira, get her to the doctor, now!¡± She maintained her pretense of weakness as Mira lifted her and followed George. The next few moments passed in a blur, and at some point, she lost consciousness again from the pain as a doctor stitched her wound. Devina awoke in a dimly lit room, stars twinkling beyond a nearby window. Her side ached, but the pain was duller now. She took stock: chamber pot by the bed, food tray on the nightstand. Finally, a moment alone to think. Her deception had worked so far, and she hadn¡¯t seen any mages or even anything resembling novices. Still, that didn¡¯t mean she could let her guard down. There were still ways to get caught if she wasn¡¯t careful. It would just be more likely to happen due to slip-ups in her behavior rather than someone detecting changes in Devina¡¯s soul aura. As she considered this, she noticed a worrying development. The original memories seemed to be fading, becoming less tangible. She had trouble remembering details that had been clear just yesterday. This demanded immediate action. ¡°Bridge, start recording those memories immediately! We can¡¯t let them fade¡± ¡°Task not feasible. Memories in question are stored in host¡¯s brain, access is limited to host¡¯s soul and consciousness.¡± Devina frowned. ¡°Is this thing broken? But it worked just now, during the transfer. What the hell?¡± The AI was supposed to have control over biological processes, which was a requirement for many of her plans prior to the soul modification. Without it the artificial rift that she had created between her body and soul had a greatly increased risk of causing her all sorts of unpredictable troubles down the line. She would have to investigate it, but right now she had another urgent issue to deal with. At this pace, the memories would lose detail and fade completely within a day or two. ¡°Fine, can you read them from my consciousness if I recall each of them myself?¡± ¡°Affirmative. Starting to record superficial state of consciousness.¡± Suppressing a groan, Devina dove into the work, sifting through every scrap of memory she could grasp. Family members, castle layout, favorite foods¡ªanything that might prove useful. She was so engrossed that she didn¡¯t notice the door opening. ¡°Woah, you must really be out of it.¡± Devina startled as Mira¡¯s hand landed on her shoulder. The knight¡¯s face was etched with concern. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the shock was so bad,¡± Mira continued, settling at the foot of the bed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here for you.¡± Devina fought to control her rising frustration. The memory she¡¯d been chasing¡ªsomething about a grandparent?¡ªslipped away. ¡°Good morning, Mira,¡± she managed. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. You don¡¯t have to trouble yourself.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Mira¡¯s voice was forcefully cheery. ¡°I¡¯ve nothing else to do. We¡¯ll spend the day together, just in case you want to talk.¡± What followed were hours of maddening interruption. Every time Devina tried to retreat into her mind, Mira would drag her back to the present with well-meaning chatter or insistence on walks around the castle. It wasn¡¯t until nightfall that Mira finally excused herself. Devina threw herself into the work, knowing time was running short. Dawn found her bleary-eyed but satisfied. She¡¯d lost some memories, true, but she¡¯d saved enough to work with. As sunlight crept across her bed, the door creaked open once more. ¡°Hey, sis.¡± It was George this time, balancing a breakfast tray. ¡°Thought you might be hungry.¡± Devina blinked, caught off-guard. She hadn¡¯t prepared for this encounter, but she was certain their relationship was a warm one. ¡°Hey, George,¡± she replied, mustering a smile. ¡°Yeah, feels like I haven¡¯t eaten in days.¡± George set the tray down, studying her face. ¡°You look better. Those days of rest must have helped.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°You know, you¡¯re always welcome to keep me company while I work. Might give you a break from Mira¡¯s¡­ attentiveness.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Devina said, seeing an opportunity. ¡°I¡¯d like that. It¡¯s been too long since we spent time together.¡± After dressing, Devina followed George through the castle corridors. With each step, her unease grew. Empty, dusty rooms, cobwebs draped corners where tapestries should have hung. This was not the grand seat of power she remembered. In fact, the castle seemed eerily deserted. Devina squared her shoulders as George ushered her inside. She had to learn more about where she¡¯d ended up. 5: George George held the door open for his younger sister as she entered his office. It wasn¡¯t officially his office¡ªhe knew that¡ªbut as the heir and the one who had been managing the estate for months now, the distinction felt trivial. Smiling warmly, he gestured for her to come in. It was a relief that she¡¯d recovered so quickly, yet he couldn¡¯t help but feel something was off. The way she walked, or maybe her gestures. Maybe she was still dealing with the trauma from the attack. ¡°Come in, sit next to me while I work. You might even learn some things. I have reports to go over and some issues to deal with, but interrupt me at any time.¡± Devina just nodded and sat next to him, looking over the documents laid out on his table. His little sister had never cared much for governing, so it warmed him that she¡¯d come just to spend time together. He wondered how long it would take her to stop pretending to read the reports though. After ten more minutes of her flipping through documents, he finally spoke up. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend to understand all this,¡± he said, forcing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s complicated, even for me sometimes. Why don¡¯t we talk about something you¡¯re interested in instead? Any new dresses you¡¯ve got your eye on?¡± His sister glanced up at him, and if he didn¡¯t know better, he would have sworn he saw a hint of amusement in her eyes. For some reason, this annoyed him. He understood she was just playing around, but grasping the significance of those documents had taken him years of hard work. It was a serious matter, not something to be trifled with. She wasn¡¯t even reading the papers¡ªjust skimming them briefly before tossing them aside. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. He reminded himself that his sister was just playing around and tried to steady his frustration. He could use this moment as a teaching opportunity, perhaps helping her understand and appreciate the complexity of his work. ¡°Listen, D,¡± he said, his tone softening, ¡°if you¡¯re interested, I can teach you a thing or two. We could pull out the old map and name all the cities together.¡± Devina didn¡¯t immediately respond, instead finishing up with another report. Finally, she looked up and asked, ¡°So, this report¡ªum, it says something about a rebellion? Is that a big deal? I¡¯m kind of scared, big brother.¡± Somehow she did not look particularly scared, but he pushed that unconscious thought to the back of his mind. His little sister needed his protection. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about a thing, D. I will handle everything. Your big brother will deal with those arrogant commoners.¡± But she didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°What¡¯s this about a food shortage?¡± she asked, picking up another report. ¡°And the coming winter¡ªwill it be really bad?¡± Her face remained innocently curious, but there was something in her eyes that gave him an uneasy feeling. He quickly brushed it aside. ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to worry about,¡± he replied, trying to sound reassuring. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go play with Mira or do something else? I have a lot to take care of.¡± Devina nodded and stood up, but not before giving him a lingering, thoughtful look. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see you later.¡± With one last, probing glance at the papers, she turned and left the room. George sighed deeply once she was gone and turned back to his desk. The province wasn¡¯t doing too badly, he reassured himself. Sure, there were challenges, but he was hopeful that the rebels would soon be forced to confront the harsh realities of winter. Once the cold made survival their only priority, he was confident they¡¯d forget their petty grievances and fall in line. For now, he needed to address the pressing matters at hand and keep things running smoothly. Chapter 6: Elena Mid-way back to her rooms, Devina had difficulties keeping her emotions from showing on her face. It wasn¡¯t about her brother being condescending, that by itself would actually have been beneficial. But he was obviously incompetent, and the state of their territories was dire. The crops were withering, heralding a large-scale food shortage. A dwindling treasury, and an alarmingly small number of guards. Rebellions were on the rise, and their political enemies, particularly Devina¡¯s uncle, - who was presumably behind the bandit attack - would not rest after the failed assassination. When she''d taken a noble''s identity, one of her initial plans was to siphon resources and buy the materials she''d need to awaken this body''s mana core and become a mage again. But what use was the Vaelor family to her now, teetering on the brink of collapse? As she reached her rooms, she fell onto her bed. She needed to think. At this rate, most of their subjects would starve during the winter. Her family wouldn¡¯t fare much better, most likely they would be too weak to defend themselves. Since she herself preceded her uncle in the succession, her life would be in acute danger as well. She weighed her options: stay and try to turn things around or escape. Her skills as an administrator might help, but with so little authority and a brother who clearly underestimated her, convincing him to act was unlikely. Alternatively, she could assume a servant¡¯s identity and disappear, hoping to find somewhere safe or someone else to impersonate. She could seek out mages and gather the resources she needed, either in this body or another. But the thought of traveling alone in her weakened state was daunting, and she was unsure of where to go or which direction to take. She needed more information, she decided, rising from her bed. There was a library in this castle, that much she knew from old Devina¡¯s memories. Perhaps it held clues about finding mages or the resources she needed to survive in this era. At the very least, she might find a map of the surrounding areas. She jumped out of bed and sped down the hall. When turning a corner though, she nearly collided with a young maid carrying a stack of cloths. The girl reflexively jumped back, her blue eyes flashing. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re¡ª¡± Her features changed in recognition, but instead of cowering like any other servant would have, she merely quirked an eyebrow. Composing herself, she offered a quick curtsy. ¡°My apologies, my lady. I should have been more attentive. Davina frowned, noticing the girl¡¯s composure. ¡°No harm done. I¡¯m looking for the library. What¡¯s your name?¡± The maid¡¯s lips quirked into a small smile. ¡°Elena, my lady. The library? I was just there. Do you need me to fetch something for you?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Devina said, bending to pick up the cloth Elena had dropped. As she stood, she studied the girl more closely. Elena¡¯s pale skin, light blue eyes, and golden hair marked her as a likely descendant of the northern regions of the Empire. ¡°Do you work in the library? I could use a guide.¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Well, not exactly, my lady,¡± Elena replied, her words coming a bit too quickly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t working right now. I was just¡­ taking care of some books in my free time.¡± Devina raised an eyebrow but said nothing, instead starting towards the library and gesturing for Elena to follow. Upon entering, Devina was greeted by long rows of dusty shelves, books stacked haphazardly without apparent order. The room was deserted, clearly unused for some time. Near the entrance, however, stood a few benches and tables, noticeably cleaner and illuminated by overhead lanterns. One table bore a stack of books, some left open mid-read. Devina turned to Elena, who had followed her inside. ¡°This place is a mess. How is anyone supposed to find anything?¡± Elena¡¯s earlier caution melted away, replaced by unbridled enthusiasm. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s easy! The shelves have labels, you know. How about you read those?¡± she said, then caught herself. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her chin remained high. ¡°Or¡­ perhaps I could assist you? I¡¯ve spent quite a bit of time here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that,¡± Devina said, amused by the girl¡¯s quick wit. ¡°I¡¯m looking for old history books, and anything about mages¡ªtheir whereabouts, their powers, that sort of thing.¡± Elena nodded, barely containing her excitement. ¡°Of course! Half this library is history. The back shelves house the older tomes.¡± She gestured to the tables. ¡°I can bring them to you if you¡¯d like to sit. As for mages, well, our collection is rather limited.¡± She lowered her voice conspiratorially. ¡°Rumor has it they prefer the north, near Frostgate City. I might find something, but it¡¯s likely to be mostly speculation.¡± As Elena disappeared among the shelves, Devina sat down beside the stack of books on the table. She absentmindedly glanced at an open book¡¯s contents, noting a heading that read ¡°Solomon¡¯s Second Peace Treaty.¡± Soon Elena returned, carefully placing another pile of books on the table. ¡°Here you go,¡± she announced proudly. ¡°Got your history and even found you one about mages.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Devina said, diving into the texts. Hours passed, and her initial excitement gave way to frustration. None of the books reached back more than 500 years, and they mainly covered local history¡ªa trade deal here, a border squabble there. The information on mages was little more than legends of old men throwing fireballs and summoning demons. Hardly accurate. She glanced at Elena, who had remained nearby, engrossed in her own book. The girl¡¯s dedication to the library was evident in the way she handled the tomes, her fingers tracing the spines with reverence. ¡°You mentioned something earlier about the mages up north? I can¡¯t find anything in these books about that.¡± Elena looked up, her gaze distant for a moment as she recalled. ¡°My mother used to live there before I was born. She would tell me stories about them. I was just a little girl, but those tales stuck with me.¡± Devina leaned forward, sensing the potential value in these stories. ¡°Tell me everything.¡± They talked well into the night, Elena sharing what little she knew. The mages were a closed-off group, rarely leaving their strongholds unless there was something of value to them. The closest mage community was in Frostgate City, within the inner district. Only mages, their servants, and apprentices ever crossed its walls. Devina returned to her room exhausted, collapsing onto her bed and instantly succumbing to sleep. As she drifted off, her mind lingered on the curious maid with the quick tongue and vast knowledge. The girl hadn¡¯t even been slightly afraid of her, and dropped her servile attitude entirely once she picked up on Devina not caring about it. There was more to Elena than met the eye, and Devina couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the girl might prove useful in the challenges to come. Chapter 7: Teach a man to fish The next morning, she had a decision to make. The more she learned about the mages, the less attractive that option became. She had assumed that if she just got to them she would be fine, but it turned out to be much more convoluted. Not only was Frostgate City many weeks away even on the fastest horse, but getting to the city was only the smallest requirement. To get into the city¡¯s inner ring, she would have to either be an official mage or get accepted into one of the magic schools. The latter was her best option, and the most likely to net her a reasonable amount of resources. It might also be interesting to find out what new spells had been invented in the last few thousand years. There was a problem though: those schools had an entrance fee and a tuition, and just the entrance fee already was rumored to be a whopping 30000 gold coins. According to her estimations, all of her family¡¯s possessions amounted to less than half that amount. Because of all this, staying put looked like her best option for now. If everything went wrong, she could always take another body and infiltrate a different noble family, but any family with the means to send her to such a school was also much more likely to detect a family member being taken over. She had to focus on her advantages for now, and turn this thing around. As far as she could tell, she had at least one thing going for her: this family lacked leadership. Her parents were away on business for an undetermined amount of time, and if she could prove herself to her people somehow, she could discretely take the reins and keep this family above water. As soon as she had a little bit of influence, coming up with the gold for the magic school and the resources would only be a matter of time. Her being young again, she had no shortage of that. As she washed and dressed herself, plans started taking form in her head. The first thing she did was summon Mira and two of her guard core. She would need credibility and an air of authority if she wanted to give orders. Plus, there might still be assassins out there, and she had no desire to confront them alone in her current state. While waiting for them, she had her soul bridge overlay the map from her brother¡¯s office over her vision. The castle was in the center, and right next to it passed the river that she had seen from the carriage. It originated from a mountain range to their east, and disappeared into the forest to the south. That river was precisely one of the problems she intended to investigate, since according to her brother¡¯s reports, the yields from their fishing operations were inexplicably low for a river that size. That was a problem, since they would need all the food they could get to survive the coming winter. Another issue was that forest. The Mutated Forest, the map called it. It scared people, and was said to be full of monsters, or even cursed, and it cost them lives every day. Right now she couldn¡¯t address that though, but she could certainly go check out what was going wrong with the fishing. Soon Mira arrived, two guards in tow. ¡°Here we are, my lady. What did you need us for?¡± ¡°Thanks Mira. After that last attack, I feel like I need some more protection than usual. Especially if there are still similar threats out there. You understand?¡± ¡°Of course, D.¡± the knight said, resolution showing on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re safe with us. Nobody is getting in here.¡± ¡°No, you misunderstand.¡± Devina said. ¡°We¡¯re going out. I want to inspect the fishing operations.¡± Mira¡¯s eyebrows creased at hearing that. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be more your brother¡¯s job? Or your father? Anyway, you know as well as I that there could be assassins out there! I know you haven¡¯t forgotten about what happened last time. Your uncle-¡± Devina just walked out the door, smiling back at her protector. ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m bringing you along. I fully trust you to keep me safe.¡± A while later they arrived at the riverbank. Mira grumbled had all the way, though she stayed alert and did not try to argue again. Devina approached and knelt right next to the streaming current, her eyes scanning the water. Large fish swam by, their scales glinting in the sunlight. She frowned, puzzled by the sight of fishermen in small boats, using only fishing poles to catch their prey. ¡°Excuse me, my lady,¡± a gruff voice called out. ¡°Are you lost? Should you be out here with those bandages?¡± Devina turned to see a middle-aged man approaching her, worry etched on his weathered face. His clothes were simple but sturdy, suited for a life on water. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you,¡± Devina replied, her voice carrying a hint of authority. ¡°Are you the head fisherman?¡± The man¡¯s expression shifted, a mix of surprise and wariness crossing his features. ¡°No, my lady. I¡¯m just an assistant, Gregor is the head fisherman.¡± Devina nodded, her gaze returning to the river. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you catching those large fish? They seem plentiful.¡± The assistant fisherman chuckled, though there was little humor in it. ¡°Begging your pardon, my lady, but those big ones are too smart for us. They just take the bait off the hooks and swim away.¡± ¡°And nets?¡± Devina prompted. ¡°They¡¯d bite right through ¡®em,¡± the man replied, shaking his head. Devina¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°I see. Please fetch Gregor for me. I¡¯ll need to speak with him.¡± As the assistant hurried off, Devina could feel the eyes of the other fishermen on her. Their expressions ranged from curiousity to skepticism, and she noted how some of them whispered among themselves. A few minutes later, a tall, broad-shouldered man approached. His beard was streaked with gray, and his eyes held a hardness that spoke of years battling both the river and the hardships of life. ¡°You asked for me, my lady?¡± Gregor¡¯s tone was polite, but Devina could detect an obvious current of condescension. ¡°Yes,¡± Devina replied, her voice firm. ¡°I want you to gather all the nets you have. Meet me back here in two hours. We¡¯re going to try something new.¡± Gregor¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°With all due respect, my lady, we know these waters. We¡¯ve been fishing here for generations. If there was a better way-¡± ¡°Two hours, Gregor,¡± Devina interrupted, her tone brooking no argument. ¡°Gather your men and your nets. You¡¯ll see what I have in mind then.¡± As she turned to leave, Devina could hear the muttered conversations behind her. She caught snippets of ¡°brat¡± and ¡°doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing¡±, but she paid them no mind. She had work to do. Two hours later, Devina returned to the riverbank. A small crowd had gathered - fishermen, curious villagers, and even a few of the castle staff. In her hands, she carried a basket filled with fist-sized stones, each carved with intricate symbols. Gregor stepped forward, his expression a mixture of resignation and irritation. ¡°We¡¯re here as you asked, my lady. Though I still don¡¯t see what good it¡¯ll do.¡± Devina nodded, reaching into her basket. ¡°These stones have special properties,¡± she explained, holding one up for all to see. ¡°They calm fish and attract them. We¡¯ll use them with your nets.¡± A ripple of disbelief ran through the crowd. George scoffed openly. ¡°Begging your pardon, my lady, but that¡¯s nonsense. Stones don¡¯t catch fish.¡± ¡°Perhaps not usually,¡± Devina conceded. ¡°But these aren¡¯t usual rocks. Let¡¯s try it, shall we? Unless you¡¯re afraid of being proven wrong?¡± The challenge in her voice was clear, and Gregor¡¯s face reddened slightly. He gestured to one of his men. ¡°Alright then. Thomas, bring the net.¡± Thomas, a young fisherman with a skeptical expression, broght forward a large net. Under Devina¡¯s instruction, he placed one of the carved stones in the center of the net. ¡°Now,¡± Devina said, ¡°cast it into the deepest part of the river.¡± With a shrug, Thomas did as he was told. The net sank into the water, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, the water¡¯s surface began to ripple subtly. ¡°Pull it in,¡± Devina commanded after a few minutes. Thomas and another fisherman began to haul on the net. As it emerged from the water, gasps of surprise erupted from the crowd. The net was full of large fish, more than any of them had ever seen caught at once. Gregor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°How¡­ how is this possible?¡± Devina allowed herself a small smile. ¡°As I said, these stones have magical properties. They create vibrations that attract the fish and calm them, making them easier to catch.¡± She turned to address the crowd of fishermen. ¡°Use these stones with your nets from now on. You¡¯ll be able to catch far more fish, enough to feed the whole village and maybe even have some left over to trade.¡± As the fishermen excitedly began to examine the catch and discuss this new method, Devina pulled Gregor aside. ¡°I¡¯ll need you to organize shifts.¡± She told him. ¡°We don¡¯t want to overfish the river. And we¡¯ll need to set up a proper system to preserve and distribute the extra fish.¡± Gregor nodded, his earlier skepticism replaced by a grudging respect. ¡°Yes, my lady. I¡­ I apologize for doubting you earlier.¡± Devina waved his apology away. ¡°No need for that. Just make sure this new method is put to good use. Our people need food, especially with winter coming.¡± As she turned to leave, Devina could hear the excited chatter of the villagers and the fishermen. She allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. She had taken a significant step towards solving their food problem, and she would soon work on some other ideas she had to solve it completely. There were many ways to get food, so this was going to be the easy part. Her solution came with a sizable drawback, of course. From what she had seen so far, magical items were not a common occurrence. It would certainly draw attention, and once her brother heard of it he might have questions for her. She planned to avoid them or claim that a traveling merchant had left the stones, or perhaps she acquired them on her trip before the bandit attack. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but under the circumstances, she couldn¡¯t afford to be too discreet. Given how George¡¯s style of government consisted of sitting in his office and reading reports, it was possible he wouldn¡¯t even hear of her involvement until much later. The stones she had handed out bore basic tranquilization runes, similar to those used to calm insects in the academy gardens so they wouldn¡¯t bite anyone. With minor adjustments, she had repurposed them for this situation. Working with runes again was deeply satisfying, even if these were rudimentary¡ªjust a mana collection rune and a small circuit to generate vibrations. She¡¯d even had to send someone to fetch a hammer and chisel to carve the necessary lines in the rocks. Anticipation surged within her at the prospect of creating more intricate tools and artifacts in this new age, but she still had other pressing matters to attend to. She had sent someone ahead to summon Elena to her rooms, and as expected, the woman was already waiting at the door upon her return. Chapter 8: An offer ¡°Come inside,¡± Devina said. ¡°I have an offer that might interest you.¡± Elena hesitated briefly, but followed behind. Devina sat on a chair in front of her desk, gesturing for Elena to sit on the other. ¡°Elena, what is it that you do in this castle? What is your job?¡± ¡°Why, I¡¯m a maid, my lady. I work under the head housekeeper, Mrs. Wren. I do some cleaning, laundry, and I help keeping inventory for the kitchens.¡± Elena gave Devina a curious glance, probably wondering where this line of questioning was leading. ¡°But you can read and write¡±, Devina said. ¡°And from what I gathered from our talk yesterday, you have read half the library. I¡¯ve never met a maid quite like you before. You also seem to be the only servant here who¡¯s not afraid of me. Careful, maybe, but not afraid.¡± ¡°Well, they have good reason to be afraid of you,¡± Elena said, meeting her lady¡¯s eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to mention it yesterday because you seemed nice, but we can¡¯t simply ignore your past actions.¡± She paused, then asked, ¡°You mentioned an offer?¡± Devina chuckled, a mix of amusement and appreciation in her voice. ¡°This is precisely what I mean. Very well, let¡¯s discuss the offer.¡± She leaned back in her chair. ¡°I¡¯ve recently taken an interest in our territory¡¯s governance. And it has come to my attention that there¡¯s a lot of paperwork involved, and many things to keep on top of. So I¡¯d like to hire you to help me with that.¡± ¡°With all due respect, I¡¯d rather not,¡± Elena replied firmly, almost immediately. ¡°Governing a province isn¡¯t a trivial thing. You should really try your hand at it yourself. It¡¯s not something you can just offload onto someone else.¡± She said, planting her hands on her hips, elbows flaring out in a defiant stance. ¡°And I from what I¡¯ve heard, you don¡¯t treat those beneath you too well.¡± She continued, her tone serious, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t expect to get anywhere with that either. There isn¡¯t even much governing that you can do in the first place, to be frank. As far as I can tell, your brother and father have been doing most of that. And you¡¯re the junior heir, so you technically don¡¯t govern anything to begin with.¡± Devina smiled. ¡°You have a better grasp of the situation than I would have expected. Look, I¡¯m not trying to do this because I¡¯m bored or anything. We actually have big troubles that my brother isn¡¯t addressing. Our food is rotting away in the fields, so if we don¡¯t do anything, our citizens are going to starve in the winter. I¡¯m trying to prevent that.¡± She took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°About the servants. I do regret that, and I¡¯m willing to offer reparations for their inconveniences. But right now, you and I need to start doing something because our people are going to starve otherwise.¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Elena¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Inconveniences? I¡¯ve heard you struck someone in the face! And you fired an elderly woman for not bringing your food quickly enough. Making amends is the bare minimum you should do. You need to apologize to them personally.¡± Her voice rose with each word. ¡°In fact, if you don¡¯t, you can forget about me working for you. How does that sound?¡± Devina sighed internally. Her predecessor had been a moron, complicating things for her. She didn¡¯t like the thought of apologizing for the wrongs of another, in fact she just wanted to be done with this charade and get to growing stronger. But she needed Elena, and if this was what it took to get her on board, then so be it. ¡°Those terms are acceptable,¡± Devina said. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with each of them personally. I can¡¯t force you to become my secretary, but should you change your mind I can promise we could do a lot of good together. Making sure less people starve or freeze in winter, for starters.¡± Elena considered for a moment, her expression softening slightly. ¡°A worthy cause. But you won¡¯t just dump everything on me, right? And what about compensation? I¡¯d expect more than the few coppers I earn as a maid.¡± ¡°For now, I can offer you ten silver a month,¡± Devina replied. ¡°If you accept, you¡¯ll be relieved of your maid duties. We¡¯ll convert one of the empty rooms in this wing into an office. Your first task would be to obtain copies of the reports my brother receives. After that, we¡¯ll strategize on how to aid our province.¡± Elena nodded thoughtfully. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad. We could use one of the rooms near the library, so I can still look after it. It would be a shame to let it fall into disrepair.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Devina agreed. ¡°You can even assign a couple of people to maintain it. Being my assistant does come with certain perks, as you¡¯ll discover.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯ll need you to do once we¡¯re set up.¡± Elena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I need you to summon the most experienced ranger from the mutated forest,¡± Devina said. ¡°That place is a mystery to me, and I intend to uncover why our citizens keep perishing there. We need to understand what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± Elena¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°The mutated forest? That¡¯s¡­ quite an ambitious undertaking, my lady. But I¡¯ll see to it once we¡¯re settled.¡± Devina nodded, satisfied. ¡°Excellent. Why don¡¯t you get started on those tasks? I have some personal matters to attend to.¡± Chapter 9: Conditioning Devina stood before the full-length mirror in her chambers, examining her reflection critically. She wore a plain linen shirt and pants, garments she favored for their simplicity and ease of movement. As she looked herself up and down, frustration stirred within her at the overall weakness of her form. In her previous life, while never a fighter, she had maintained a regimen of basic physical routines. These weren¡¯t meant for combat, but rather to keep her body functioning optimally and her mind sharp. It was clear that the previous Devina hadn¡¯t shared this philosophy. The body she now inhabited was soft, untrained, and utterly unprepared for the challenges that lay ahead. Her side still bore the mark of her recent injury, the wound closing up nicely. Under normal circumstances, she would have waited at least another week before engaging in any strenuous activity. But these were far from normal circumstances, and she needed to grow stronger¡ªfast. In an ideal world this would have meant awakening her core and forging herself some mana channels, but from what Elena had been able to tell her, the mage organizations of this kingdom kept a close eye on who had access to the resources she needed. That didn''t mean she couldn''t improvise and at least get her core working anyway, but for what she had in mind she''d need to gather a considerable amount of mana, and without a storage medium at hand, that wasn''t happening soon either. She would have to keep an eye out for huge gemstones though. If she got her hands on one of those, she could slowly fill it with ambient mana using the same collector runes she''d already employed on the stones she''d given to the fishermen. She sighed internally. Until she got her hands on a gemstone, those were just daydreams. If magic was out of reach for now, then physical strength would have to suffice. Devina took a deep breath and began to mentally catalogue exercises that wouldn¡¯t aggravate her injury but would start the process of strengthening her body. She settled on an exhaustive routine that would take just over an hour, planning to repeat it daily from this moment forward. An hour later, she lay on the floor, limbs heavy and breath coming in ragged gasps. The training session had been effective, perhaps too much so. She knew she¡¯d be in a world of pain for the next few weeks if she maintained this pace, but the alternative¡ªremaining weak and vulnerable¡ªwas unacceptable. As she slowly pulled herself to her feet, wincing at the protest of her muscles, a knock sounded at her door. ¡°Enter,¡± she called, trying to keep the strain out of her voice. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The door opened, and Elena stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of her mistress¡¯s disheveled state. ¡°My lady,¡± Elena began, ¡°I have a report for you. I can come back at another time if you¡¯d prefer¡­¡± Devina waved off the concern. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s all right.¡± She gestured to one of the nearby chairs. ¡°Sit down and tell me what¡¯s on your mind.¡± Elena hesitated for a moment before taking the offered seat. ¡°Very well, then. Two things. First, I¡¯ve found a suitable room for the offices and we¡¯re well on our way to having it prepared. Second, I¡¯ve been trying to gather that information you requested, but¡­¡± She trailed off, looking uncomfortable. Devina raised an eyebrow. ¡°But?¡± ¡°Your brother is interfering,¡± Elena admitted. ¡°He said to tell you, and I quote, ¡®Those reports aren¡¯t toys. That¡¯s valuable information, and we can¡¯t just give it out to anyone.¡¯¡± Devina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Of course her brother would make things difficult. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate about the reports, but I think I¡¯ve got a pretty good idea about the state of affairs for now anyway. We¡¯ll be fine until we find a different way to get that information.¡± She paused, considering her next move. ¡°In the meantime, what about the ranger I asked you to summon?¡± Elena straightened. ¡°Ah, yes. The ranger isn¡¯t currently available¡ªhe¡¯s in the forest. But he usually returns around the same time each day. He¡¯s expected back within an hour or two, and I¡¯ve left instructions for him to report to you immediately upon his return.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Devina nodded. ¡°Thank you, Elena. That will be all for now.¡± As her secretary left, Devina made her way to the bath that had been prepared earlier. She eased herself into the warm water, hissing slightly as it enveloped her aching muscles. She had about an hour before the ranger was likely to arrive, and she intended to use that time to relax and gather her thoughts. As she soaked, Devina¡¯s mind raced with plans and possibilities. The physical training was just the beginning. She needed to awaken this body''s mana core as soon as possible, find more ways to fix the current state of affairs in her domain, and start implementing changes without arousing too much suspicion. The ranger¡¯s report would be crucial. If her hunch about the forest was correct, it could provide a solution to multiple problems at once. Devina closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability in the privacy of her bath. She was weaker than she had been in centuries, her fate now hanging on the politics of a few insignificant provinces in the middle of nowhere. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of excitement¡ªshe had succeeded. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt hope. The constant threat of dying from old age no longer loomed over her. Her experiment had worked, and if she could just pull this off, her dream of immortality would finally be within reach. With a deep breath, she submerged herself fully in the water, letting it wash away the sweat and strain of her earlier exertions. When she resurfaced, her resolve was strengthened. One step at a time, she would reclaim her power and reshape this world she¡¯d been thrust into. As the heat of the bath soothed her aching body, Devina began to plot her next moves. The game was just beginning, and she intended to play it to win. Chapter 10: Sergei The forest loomed before Ranger Sergei, a vast expanse of twisted shadows and muted light. He took a deep breath, inhaling the damp, earthy scent mingled with something acrid and alien. Twenty years as a ranger, and still, each venture into these woods sent a shiver down his spine. As he pushed through the dense underbrush, his boots crushing vegetation underfoot, Sergei reflected on the changes he¡¯d witnessed. The forest wasn¡¯t just a collection of trees and animals - it had become a living, breathing entity with a will of its own. The canopy above barely allowed the early morning sunlight to filter through, casting everything in an eerie, green-tinged twilight. Unsettling sounds echoed around him - the rustling of unseen creatures, the distant howl of something that might have once been a wolf but was now¡­ something else entirely. Sergei¡¯s well-worn path took him over thick, gnarled roots that seemed to writhe beneath his feet. He knew this forest intimately - its dangers, its treasures, its secrets. But with each passing year, it grew more unpredictable, more aggressive. ¡°Cursed forest,¡± he muttered, recalling the villagers¡¯ superstitions. Sergei didn¡¯t believe in curses, but he couldn¡¯t deny the forest¡¯s unnatural nature. Everything here mutated and grew at an alarming rate. Trees felled one day would sprout anew within weeks. And the weeds¡­ those were the worst of all. As if summoned by his thoughts, a tendril of some poisonous vine snagged his sleeve, tearing the fabric. Sergei cursed, carefully extricating himself. These vines were the bane of his existence - no matter how thoroughly they were cut back, they always returned by the next morning, more numerous than before. He paused to catch his breath, feeling the familiar ache in his knees. Getting older, he thought grimly. Fewer rangers were willing to brave this forest now. Each trip took a greater toll. A low, distant growl froze him in his tracks. Sergei¡¯s hand instinctively went to the knife at his belt as he scanned the surrounding foliage. After a tense moment, the forest fell silent once more. He relaxed slightly but remained on high alert. As he approached a small glade, the trees parted just enough to let in a shaft of sunlight. This was his usual spot, where he gathered the mushrooms and herbs that thrived only in this bizarre ecosystem. Kneeling down, he carefully harvested what he needed, placing the items into a leather pouch at his side. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. His mind wandered as he worked. The village depended on these resources, especially with winter approaching and food supplies running low. But why had no one ventured deeper, tapped into the forest¡¯s true bounty? The answer was simple - fear. Stories abounded of those who entered and never returned, or worse, came back¡­ changed. Sergei understood their hesitation. While there were treasures to be found here - succulent fruits, rare mushrooms, potent herbs - they came at a steep price. It wasn¡¯t just the wildlife or the plants that were dangerous. It was the forest itself, seeming to resent any intrusion. As he stood to leave, pouch full, the underbrush behind him rustled ominously. Sergei spun, knife drawn, but saw nothing. Just another of the forest¡¯s tricks. It was time to go. The trek back was quicker, driven by a growing sense of unease. When he finally broke through the treeline, Sergei breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the warm sunlight on his face. The village lay just ahead, smoke curling from chimneys into the clear sky. At his cottage, a young boy was waiting. ¡°The Vaelor family has summoned you, Sergei,¡± he said, eyes wide at the ranger¡¯s disheveled appearance. ¡°Right away, they said.¡± Sergei felt a surge of surprise, followed quickly by suspicion. The ruling family rarely took notice of the forest or those who ventured into it. For years, they had acted as if ignoring the encroaching wilderness would somehow make it disappear. Their sudden interest could only mean trouble. ¡°Did they now?¡± Sergei muttered, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that interesting.¡± For a moment, he considered ignoring the summons. But he knew better. With a weary sigh, he shouldered his pouch and set off towards the family¡¯s estate. The contrast between the grand castle and the modest village homes always struck Sergei. A servant led him to a room where Devina, one of the Vaelors, waited. She looked strange - bandaged and bruised, yet with a sharpness in her eyes that made him uneasy. As Devina questioned him about the forest, Sergei answered patiently, though he couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes when she wasn¡¯t looking. What did she know of the forest¡¯s true nature? She hadn¡¯t faced its dangers, hadn¡¯t seen the horrors lurking in its depths. Yet, as he spoke, he noticed her keen interest in certain details - particularly the regrowing poisonous weeds and the forest¡¯s accelerated mutations. She seemed fixated on plants that grew quickly and might survive outside the forest¡¯s boundaries. Finally, Devina leaned back with a satisfied nod. ¡°I need samples of these plants,¡± she said, her tone brooking no argument. ¡°As many as you can carry.¡± Sergei bit back a retort, offering only a curt nod. As he left the estate, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Devina was up to something. Whatever it was, he had a sinking feeling it would drag him into deeper trouble than he¡¯d bargained for. The forest¡¯s secrets were not meant to be tamed, Sergei thought grimly. And those who tried often paid a terrible price. Chapter 11: Gardeners The next morning, Devina found herself leaning against the wooden fence bordering the castle gardens. The crisp air carried the earthy scent of damp soil and the sweet aroma of blooming flowers. She had just finished her daily exercise routine and was now observing the bustling activity before her. In the center of it all stood the head gardener, an elderly woman with large, round glasses and snow-white hair neatly pinned into a bun. She moved with quiet authority among her workers, her presence commanding respect. Devina couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of herself in her previous life as a headmistress. The gardeners moved swiftly under the head gardener¡¯s direction, their hands deftly pruning, planting, and weeding. After some time, the head gardener paused in her work, looking over at Devina with a piercing gaze. ¡°Child, you¡¯ve been standing there for a while now,¡± she said, her voice warm but tinged with the firmness of someone who had lived a long life and learned not to mince words. Devina straightened, meeting the woman¡¯s gaze with a small smile. ¡°Just observing. You run a tight ship here.¡± The head gardener chuckled softly, wiping her hands on her apron. ¡°I¡¯ve had many years to perfect it. Now, what brings you out here so early? Do you want flowers for your room again? Are you looking to throw a ball?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Devina said, matching the old woman¡¯s smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about our little food problem.¡± The head gardener snorted. ¡°¡®Little food problem,¡¯ you say?¡± She muttered something under her breath that Devina could barely make out as ¡°sheltered brat.¡± Louder, she continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing little about it. As it stands, most of the crops are dying. At this rate, we¡¯ll all starve next winter. I¡¯ve petitioned your father multiple times to go speak to the alchemists¡¯ guild, but did he listen? No. Instead, he runs away to hide like a coward.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have a very favorable opinion of our family,¡± Devina observed. The old woman sighed. ¡°Forget what I said, child. I¡¯m just¡ª¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Devina cut her off. ¡°And for what it¡¯s worth, I agree with you. I¡¯m actually here to get your help on something that might end this problem and help us get everyone through winter. If you can do the task that I ask of you.¡± The head gardener seemed taken aback but waved her hand. ¡°Do go on, child. This one I want to hear.¡± Devina took out a few vines from the satchel at her side and handed them over. ¡°Are you familiar with these?¡± The old woman¡¯s eyes widened in recognition. ¡°Of course, but I don¡¯t see how that would help us. They¡¯re from the mutated forest. The Poison¡¯s Embrace, we call them. They¡¯re toxic¡ªyou won¡¯t die from eating a few, but we definitely can¡¯t feed those to anyone. You¡¯d just throw up.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, that¡¯s true right now,¡± Devina said with a grin. ¡°But there¡¯s something special about these plants. You see, if you cut them down, they will regrow in a single day. Their entire life cycle, from being a seed to growing up to reproduction, all happens in less than a day. Do you know what that means?¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The head gardener sank against the fence, deep in thought for a moment. Then her eyes flickered with understanding. ¡°You mean¡­ you want to breed these vines to be edible?¡± ¡°You catch on quickly,¡± Devina said, nodding. ¡°Yes, if you can breed the poison out, we could eat them. I was thinking since they regrow every day, we wouldn¡¯t even need to plant that many. We could literally have a new harvest every single day.¡± The head gardener chuckled in disbelief, just now realizing the extent of what this could mean. But then doubt flickered across her features. ¡°That is, supposing we can actually breed them. Do you know how they reproduce? We can breed animals because mostly there are two parents that combine their traits together to make offspring, so we can pick and choose those that have the traits we¡¯re looking for. But we don¡¯t know for sure yet how Poison¡¯s Embrace reproduces. They might just be an identical copy of the parent.¡± She paused for a moment, considering. ¡°But then, they¡¯re still originating from the mutated forests, so their mutation rate is probably hugely accelerated. Even if that¡¯s the case, we could just plant a whole bunch of them, then pick the ones that randomly have become less poisonous until we get one that¡¯s mutated all the way down to not being poisonous at all.¡± She paused again. ¡°It would take a lot longer, but it¡¯s still possible.¡± Devina held up her hand. ¡°I leave the specifics and the ¡®how¡¯ to you. As long as you can get it done. What do you think?¡± The head gardener looked up at Devina. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know, but I think it has a good chance. And it¡¯s the best chance we¡¯ve got. If you let me run some experiments, I can tell you for sure.¡± She paused, a considering look on her face. ¡°Say, are you doing this on your own, or is your brother involved in this?¡± ¡°My brother has got his plate full at the moment,¡± Devina said. ¡°This is just me trying to help out where I can.¡± ¡°Interesting. But you must have gotten your hands on those vines somehow, so you must be working with the Rangers,¡± the old woman mused. ¡°There¡¯s some delicious fruit farther into that forest, but those plants always die when you bring them out of their ecosystem. I¡¯ve been putting in requests for years to get some samples, but they always end up getting ignored. I¡¯m sure there must be a way to graft them onto other plants that grow out here.¡± Devina nodded in understanding. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. I¡¯ll tell you what¡ªI can put you in contact with Ranger Sergei if you manage to make progress on the Poison¡¯s Embrace.¡± The head gardener¡¯s eyes lit up at the prospect. Then she gave Devina a long, searching look. ¡°Say, child, there¡¯s something different about you. You act so much more mature now than the last time I saw you.¡± Devina sighed internally. This had to be expected. If she acted differently than the original Devina, it was bound to be noticed. Yet it was a risk that she had decided to take since if she just continued acting out the role, she would soon be in huge trouble anyway with people trying to kill her. She had to find a justifiable balance of still pretending to be her old self while taking the necessary action. Now was the time to see if her prepared excuses would work. ¡°Oh yes, I¡¯m glad you noticed,¡± Devina said, her voice taking on a more somber tone. ¡°You see, a while ago, I had an eye-opening experience. I was attacked by bandits and almost died. In the process, I gained a new perspective on things.¡± The old woman sent one last calculating look her way but did not argue. Soon, they said their goodbyes, and the head gardener sped off with the satchel and her assistants in tow, barking orders to start preparing experiments. Satisfied, Devina headed back to the library. She had put enough pieces in motion and was getting used to her new role. Now she intended to spend the next few days focusing on training and learning more things from the library, as well as helping Elena acclimate to her new position. Chapter 12: Green porridge As days turned into weeks, Devina made steady progress on all fronts. Her daily training felt a little less daunting every morning, and she could feel herself improving. She spent many hours reading in the library, getting to know the intricacies of her territory, today being no exception. What she learned surprised her. Despite its size, the entire territory consisted of only five isolated villages that, aside from tax purposes, were left to their own devices. The more she learned, the more apparent it was that her family might hold a title and land, but they were rich in name only. The library was barely recognizable ever since Elena had enlisted a few of her old friends among the maids to clean it up. Everything was organized and pristine, with not a speck of dust remaining. ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± Elena asked, pulling Devina out of her reverie. ¡°I¡¯ve been talking to you for the better part of a minute.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Devina said sheepishly. ¡°I was just thinking about today¡¯s plans.¡± Elena sighed. ¡°No problem. As I was saying, I¡¯ve been coordinating with Gregor, the head fisherman. You must¡¯ve really left an impression on him¡ªhe didn¡¯t even mind taking direction from the junior heiress or ask about your brother. The thing is, we¡¯ve been catching about a hundred fish a day more than we can sell or preserve, so they¡¯ve had to slow down the operation.¡± She paused and smiled. ¡°You know, there¡¯s a rumor going around that you¡¯re the reason there¡¯s been so much cheap fish lately. It¡¯s really doing wonders for your reputation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Devina replied. ¡°Try to find some use for them until we figure out a way to trade with other villages or a nearby city. For now, maybe we could give them away an incentive for those who work for us. No point in letting them rot.¡± Elena turned serious, giving her an expectant look. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. You still haven¡¯t made amends with those people you promised to. I won¡¯t hold it against you, and I¡¯m not expecting you to do it right now- especially with how much we¡¯ve got going on, but just know I¡¯m still expecting it to happen eventually.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Devina shrugged. ¡°I was planning on it. Just haven¡¯t gotten around to it.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve still got time,¡± Elena said. ¡°Now that that¡¯s done, I found this book while we were cleaning out one of the chests in the back. I think it might be really old. Do you want to take a look?¡± Devina¡¯s eyes lit up with interest, but she shook her head reluctantly. ¡°Not today. I¡¯ve got plans, but please leave it on my desk once you¡¯re done with it.¡± With nothing more to be said, Devina got up and left, on her way to do her routine checkup with the gardeners. They had been making progress in reducing the potency of the poison, but usually it was measured in small decrements, so she wasn¡¯t expecting much. However, today was different. Around halfway to the gardens, on the garden path, stood the head gardener, her discarded cane leaning against a tree. She was almost jumping up and down at the sight of Devina, brimming with excitement. ¡°You¡¯ve got to come see this!¡± she beamed, grabbing Devina¡¯s hand and pulling her toward the greenhouse where they had set up their experiments. Usually, there were always one or two assistants working in shifts when she came to check up, but this time, all of them had gathered. As she came in, they stood around a single desk with a chair, which the old woman pushed her into. Not long after, one of them came over with a wooden bowl filled with something that looked like green porridge with clumps in it and a wooden spoon. He placed it in front of a stunned Devina. The smell almost made her gag, but none of the others seemed perturbed. ¡°Well, try it,¡± the head gardener said, placing the spoon in Devina¡¯s hand. Devina hesitated, dipping the spoon into the bowl and inching it toward her face. She licked the green paste, shuddering at its bitterness. But, because of the expectant stares, she shoved the spoon into her mouth and managed to swallow. When she couldn¡¯t keep a grimace from showing on her face, the old woman laughed heartily. ¡°I know it¡¯s no delicacy, but everyone here had to try it. It¡¯s sort of a rite of passage. I promise we¡¯re working on fixing the taste as well.¡± Recovering, Devina asked the important question, ¡°So you managed to remove the poison?¡± ¡°That we did, child. That we did.¡± That morning, Devina left the gardens with a spring in her step. She could feel her body growing stronger with each passing week, her muscles taut and brimming with newfound energy. Her wound had finally healed completely, leaving only a faint scar. She was giddy with excitement; at last, she was ready to start the real training - combat training. Chapter 13: Bear Guard Captain Bear stood at attention, his eyes scanning the training ground for flaws to correct. The massive man¡¯s muscles bulked beneath his armor as he leaned on a colossal two-handed sword, his long white hair hanging over his shoulders. Five pairs of fighters sparred on the sandy arena, their blades flashing as they attacked and parried. Every ten minutes, they switched partners and continued fighting until exhaustion set in. Bear¡¯s jaw clenched as he watched. The training was harsh¡ªhe knew that¡ªbut it was necessary. Lord Vaelor would soon call upon him and the guards to assist in quelling the rebellion. Damned upstarts. Too many people had forgotten their place. One pair of fighters caught his attention¡ªrising emotions had escalated their bout into something more serious. On one side was Anthony, calmly parrying blows, a slightly regretful look on his face. His opponent, one of the newer recruits, furiously stabbed at Anthony again and again. His wild eyes betrayed no hint of recognition of his senior officer, rank and decorum forgotten in a tempest of emotion. Bear sighed, disappointed. Anthony was in no real danger, casually deflecting attacks with a flick of his wrist. Still, Bear had a responsibility, and this pup needed to be taught a lesson in restraint. He leapt between the combatants, drawing his massive blade mid-air. ¡°Enough!¡± His roar thundered across the arena. A single blow sent the new recruit flying. The arena fell silent as all eyes turned to watch. ¡°You should learn to control yourself, boy,¡± Bear growled, his sword still pointed at the fallen recruit. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Gritting his teeth, the recruit got back to his feet. ¡°Ruben, sir. It won¡¯t happen again, sir.¡± His voice was tight with barely contained anger, fists clenched at his sides. Despite the reprimand, a defiant spark still burned in his eyes. At least the little shit wasn¡¯t pissing himself. He had guts, Bear thought with a grudging smile. He could work with that. Just as Bear opened his mouth to speak, another figure stepped onto the training grounds. Surprise flickered across his features before he quickly recomposed himself. ¡°Lady Devina, what brings you here? If you¡¯re looking for Mira, she should be back in a couple of hours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it, Captain,¡± Devina replied. ¡°I¡¯m here for myself¡ªI want to train with the guards.¡± An audible snort came from behind, and Bear shot Ruben a withering glare, though its recipient seemed painfully oblivious- instead staring at the newcomer. Bear sighed, sheathing his massive sword. ¡°My lady, if you want private lessons, I¡¯m sure we can arrange something. But you can¡¯t just join in here; this is where the castle guards train. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong,¡± Devina insisted. ¡°But I know you¡¯d go easy on me in private lessons. I want to get stronger so I can protect our people, and I need real training to do that.¡± Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but one voice cut through the noise. ¡°The nerve of this kid! I¡¯d love to knock some sense into her.¡± Bear¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°Ruben, another word out of you, and I¡¯ll tear out your spine and use it as a belt.¡± Tension hung in the air until Devina broke it with a surprising comment. ¡°Actually, I wouldn¡¯t mind taking him up on that offer.¡± Bear wanted to yell at her for being this stupid but restrained himself, opting for a more prudent approach. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t do that. This arena is only for the guards. You want to train here? Be a guard. Those are the rules. And only one of my guards can duel another, so you won¡¯t be fighting young Ruben here anytime soon. Those are your father¡¯s rules.¡± ¡°So how do I sign up to be a guard?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t.¡± Bear said. This wasn¡¯t how he¡¯d wanted this to go. ¡°Anyway, you can¡¯t just sign up. We have an entry test, and it¡¯s not easy. Plus you''re a noble...¡± ¡°What¡¯s this test? So if I pass it, I¡¯ll be allowed to spar with that guard?¡± the girl asked, inclining her head towards Ruben. He sighed and pointed to the far side of the training area. ¡°Very well, if you pass the exam, you can spar with Ruben. But you really won¡¯t. See that climbing wall? It leads up to that roof over there. You¡¯d have to carry 50 buckets of sand to the top of that building.¡± He leaned back, shaking his head. This was starting to get ridiculous. Surely the girl also knew she would never even make it to ten. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. To his utter surprise, the girl said nothing. She simply went to pick up a bucket and started filling it with sand. Over the next hour, Bear¡¯s incredulity had gradually turned to shock as Devina slowly but surely carried first 10, then 20 buckets of sand up the wall¡ªnot rushing, but pacing herself to avoid exhaustion. She managed a few more but was obviously running out of strength. While carrying her 24th bucket, she almost slipped and fell. ¡°Alright, enough is enough,¡± Bear said. ¡°You slipped, so you¡¯re disqualified. That wasn¡¯t bad, kid. We¡¯re all very impressed. I¡¯ll talk to your father about training you when he comes back, and then we can revisit, alright?¡± As he turned away, Anthony approached him, his voice lowered. ¡°She did the standard 20. 50 is to become an official guard, 20 for recruits. Ruben only had to do 20. You know as well as I do that she passed. What¡¯s fair is fair. You¡¯ve got to let her train now. Can¡¯t go back on your word.¡± ¡°Dammit Tony, you¡¯ve always had a weak spot for that kid,¡± Bear hissed. ¡°But she just accepted that idiot¡¯s challenge. You realize that if we admit her, it becomes subject to the guard¡¯s code of honor. At that point it¡¯ll be a damn duel, and I can¡¯t interfere. What if he goes crazy again? You want to be the one to explain to Jonathan Vaelor why his daughter got beaten to a pulp by her own guards?¡± ¡°Boss, how about we let the kid decide?¡± Anthony suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve got a feeling she knows what she¡¯s doing.¡± Grudgingly, and after some more convincing and appeals to honor on Anthony¡¯s part, they ended up doing just that. The stubborn girl, of course, did not change her mind. Some time later, Bear stood in a circle with the other guards, observing the scene at its center. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d expected after her performance at the climbing wall, but this certainly wasn¡¯t it. The girl had started on the offensive, displaying surprising confidence. But after taking the first few hits, she¡¯d started flinching away at every blow, almost exclusively focused on trying to defend herself. Like a panicked chicken. A tiny part of Bear tingled with gratification watching her get put in her place. After all, she¡¯d just walked into his arena as if she owned the place and made demands, putting him in a difficult situation. Now at least he¡¯d get to see her get humbled, and he could tell Anthony he¡¯d told him so. There was something beautiful about a good punch to the face, he mused. It showed so much about a person¡¯s character in an instant. Some could take the hit, absorbing the shock and pain, only to retaliate with twice as much force and determination. They were the warriors, the survivors. This girl, however, was definitely not one of those. She had chosen to fight with a sword, though from the way she held it, one would think she¡¯d never used one before. At this point, Ruben was obviously toying with her. An obvious feint caused her to overextend her defense in a desperate attempt to protect herself, losing her balance. A quick strike with the pommel of his blade later, and the girl was on the floor, spitting out blood, fear evident in her eyes. Devina got back up, but it seemed more out of reflex than a conscious decision. The captain considered intervening and stopping the fight, but honor dictated he could do no such thing. The conditions hadn¡¯t been met. An honorable duel was supposed to last until someone didn¡¯t stand up again or resigned, and neither of those had happened. Instead, he yelled into the arena, getting closer to Devina. ¡°Stay down! What the hell are you doing? Have you still not learned your lesson?¡± Ruben stopped circling around her. ¡°You hear that? You surrendering yet, you entitled piece of shit?¡± She just looked back, a stunned expression on her face. A storm of emotions crossed his face¡ªanger, pain, and a flicker of something deeper. His knuckles whitened as he gripped his sword tighter, the blade trembling slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± he spat, voice raw with emotion. ¡°My mother¡ªshe cries every night because of you. Jobless, hopeless, all because you couldn¡¯t handle a little criticism. And now you come here acting all noble about protecting people.¡± A grim expression manifested on his face. ¡°It¡¯s been driving me mad coming home to that every day. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here, because I can finally make you pay.¡± He gripped his sword harder with both hands, running towards her. Devina tried to evade clumsily, not getting into a proper position to defend herself. She put her sword up in an attempt to block, but she was doing it improperly, leaving herself wide open. Ruben, instead of stopping, angled his sword to hit past the defense and kept running at her, with no intention of holding back his strike. Bear cursed and lunged towards them, although he knew that he¡¯d be too late to prevent her from getting seriously hurt. But someone else was in time. A crack resounded through the arena -not Devina¡¯s bones breaking, but the sound of wood. Anthony, who had thrown one of the weapon racks at Ruben, now stood protectively before Devina. The arena erupted into murmurs, the tension dissolving into confusion. No one had been supposed to interfere¡ªbut hadn¡¯t Anthony made the right call? Ruben lay on the ground, dazed and disoriented, while Anthony turned to Devina, extending a hand to help her up. Her face was pale, streaked with blood. Without a word, Anthony led her toward the doors, gently guiding her out of the training grounds. Bear stormed toward Ruben, who was slowly pulling himself to his feet. The captain grabbed him by the back of his shirt and yanked him upright. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into you,¡± Bear growled, his voice low and dangerous, ¡°You¡¯re lucky if her father doesn¡¯t have you executed, you understand me?¡± Ruben just nodded mutely, his earlier bravado replaced by a hollow look of resignation. Bear let him go with a shove and turned away, his mind already turning to the inevitable consequences of the day. Chapter 14: Anthony Devina sat on her bed, her body still trembling from the aftermath of the fight. Flashes of the encounter replayed in her mind: the initial confidence, the exchange of blows, and then the devastating strike that shattered her resolve. The taste of blood lingered in her mouth, a stark reminder of her miscalculation. Her physical reactions betrayed her, but her mind was already at work, analyzing the situation. She had underestimated the primal nature of physical combat. She considered herself hardened, not easily rattled, yet the sheer violence of Ruben¡¯s unrelenting attacks had caught her off guard. Looking into his eyes, she had seen a genuine intent to harm. It was a valuable lesson, one she wouldn¡¯t soon forget. She barely registered Anthony¡¯s hand on her shoulder. He didn¡¯t do anything, content to just sit there as she processed. He didn¡¯t speak, giving her space. When handed her a water skin, Devina accepted it gratefully, using each sip to regain her composure. ¡°Deep breaths,¡± Anthony advised softly. ¡°In and out.¡± He reached behind himself to give her a ball of something sticky to the touch that smelled like honey. A small smile tugged at Devina¡¯s lips. This old man probably thought she was having a panic attack or something. He was treating her like his grandchild, but oddly enough, she didn¡¯t mind. She ate the honey ball, then another, warmth spreading from her stomach. Was there alcohol in these sweets? When she refused the next one, Anthony chuckled, popping it into his own mouth. ¡°Mmm, these are good,¡± he muttered through a mouthful of honey. ¡°Nobody makes them quite like Jenna. That¡¯s why I married her,¡± he said, winking conspiratorially. A chuckle escaped Davina¡¯s lips unbidden. After he was done eating, Anthony leaned forward to look at Davina more seriously. ¡°Look kid, we¡¯ll have to talk about this sooner or later. What were you trying to do challenging the guards like that? If you wanted training, why didn¡¯t you come to me?¡± ¡°I thought a group setting would push me harder,¡± Devina replied, her voice steadying. ¡°After the bandit incident, I realized I need to be able to protect myself effectively.¡± Anthony nodded in understanding. ¡°I get it, kid. But you can¡¯t just go from zero to a full-blown fight with a trained guard. You need to take it easy at first, maybe learn the basics. It¡¯s better in the long run, trust me.¡± ¡°I see that now,¡± Devina admitted. ¡°But I need to improve quickly. My reaction in there¡­ it wasn¡¯t acceptable.¡± ¡°Hey, wait a second, kid. You don¡¯t expect to just become a fighter overnight, do you? Bear always talks about born fighters, but don¡¯t listen to that crap. You need the right mindset, and that comes from experience. And you get experience by training. There¡¯s no shortcuts.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°Being a soldier isn¡¯t just about training your muscles. It¡¯s about training your mind. Have you ever been in a fight before? Have you ever even been hit before?¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Davina took a moment to ponder that. She¡¯d lived in a civilized society in her past life, and there had been no point in fighting. Even if there had been, her strength as a mage had always been pathetic. So she¡¯d always kept to the political battlegrounds. Battles of wits, that was what she was good at. But now, she couldn¡¯t afford to think like that anymore. ¡°Maybe I was a bit of a wimp,¡± she thought. Maybe Anthony was right. Maybe physical fights were an entirely different thing. Determination rose in her. She pushed her chin up at Anthony. ¡°Perhaps I underestimated the mental aspect. How do I bridge that gap?¡± Anthony smiled wide. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, kid. We¡¯ll make a fighter of you yet. But not with the guards. You¡¯ll have to work up to that. If you¡¯re serious about this, meet me tomorrow morning in the gardens at sunrise.¡± He stood up, still looking at her. ¡°I¡¯ll go check in with the captain now. Get some rest. I¡¯ll need you in top form tomorrow.¡± As the door closed, Devina leaned back, exhausted, with many things to think about. She didn¡¯t get to do much thinking before she drifted off. But one question flashed through her mind before sleep claimed her: What was that guy Ruben going on about with his mother? Was she another of Devina¡¯s victims? She¡¯d have to figure that out before she showed her face in the arena again. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª When Devina awoke, sunlight was streaming harshly through the window. She hissed and turned away, muttering, ¡°This room needs curtains.¡± Something reeked, and with a grimace, she realized it was her. After yesterday¡¯s ordeal, a bath was long overdue. She dragged herself to the adjoining room where the tub still stood, filling a bucket with cold water and pouring it over herself, the chill biting at her skin. ¡°Someone really needs to introduce these people to showers,¡± she thought half-jokingly, ¡°especially those with magic runes to keep the water at just the right temperature.¡± She briefly considered the logistics of building such a shower, but soon abandoned the idea. Not only did she not have the time, but heating water via runes also took a surprising amount of mana. If she wanted to heat water on the fly, she¡¯d need a gemstone battery that could accumulate the mana over time so that it would be ready when she wanted to take her shower. Or, she supposed, she could just use a few runes running on ambient mana to channel a trickle of warmth into the tub, slowly warming it up and keeping the water hot at all times. A hot bath wasn¡¯t a shower, but it was better than nothing. Temptation once again gnawed at her, but she firmly pushed it down. Drawing more attention than strictly necessary was a bad idea. If she already has access to her mana core; a simple spell would be enough to heat the water. One more reason to get back to being a mage. She had a rough idea of how to awaken her core now, but it wasn¡¯t a sure thing. She¡¯d still need a storage gemstone full of mana to pull it off. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Come in,¡± she called. Anthony entered, his massive frame forcing him to duck through the doorway. He leaned against the wall as Devina finished dressing. ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to barge in. You weren¡¯t at training.¡± ¡°Oh no, I totally forgot about that,¡± Devina groaned. ¡°I overslept.¡± He chuckled, unfazed. ¡°Figured as much. I brought breakfast.¡± He gestured to the tray on her nightstand, piled with bread, jerky, and two more of those honey balls. Devina gratefully devoured all of it. She hadn¡¯t even noticed how hungry she was until now. When she finished, Anthony led her to the gardens.