Fall of Autumn, Week 4, Day 7

I stepped out of Twilight without further interruption. Raphael had long since left the entryway to the pillars, and Theo was nowhere to be found. Rather than risk running into the undesirable Eve, I chose to simply leave.

I was full of fresh mana that I'd cultivated myself, cold to my bones in a way that sent a spring into my step, and I had a smile on my face. It was a small thing, but it was there. The overall feeling was hard to place, but if I put a name to it I would say there was a lightness to my being that couldn't be ignored.

That was a remarkably normal interaction with Raphael, with only a mild sneer at my [Class] and a satisfying kick. Maybe… Yeah, maybe I can do it again. With Theo. Maybe my anger has dulled just enough to make it possible to have a conversation.

As soon as I was outside of the [Descent of Astrala], I pulled out Noir and Shade.

[Shadow Animation]

Darkness bubbled up from my palms and flitted in wisps into the constructs.

"Hello, Nora," said Noir in an upbeat chirp.

"Mistress," a steady voice came from Shade.

I recognized both voices immediately. Noir was Campaigner today, whereas Shade was Executive. Campaigner and Executive were like night and day —and they were also the most recently unlocked spirit personalities. Campaigner was as he sounded, invested in every outcome, infusing the world with his optimism and imagination. Campaigner often hated the bounds of the rules, and found imaginative ways to get around my direct orders without technically failing to uphold my word as law. Executive was harsher, with a keen eye for detail. She never faltered, never failed to analyze a situation, and react to her benefit. She did, however, refuse to call me Nora. It was only ever mistress with her. I loved Executive quite a bit—and it made me remember elsewhere fondly when so few things did.

When I thought of Executive, I thought of who I used to be.

Of who I could be again.

She was my past and potential both.

"Follow along, friends," I said lightly and turned away from Twilight.

Hours had passed, and though I would have expected my muscles to feel tight, instead, it was as if I was ready to bolt at any moment. The cold intensity of my mana was still settling in my veins, and an excited shiver ran up my spine.

"Catch me if you can." I laughed and waved at the two knit animals. Noir was toddling after me, and Shade was scurrying quickly in anticipation.

That was when I took off at a run. I didn't bother to check my surroundings. It was a short run to the main entryway, filled with a couple of gasps from maids who weren't expecting to see me dart past them. I paid it no mind, and pushed open the door to the outside. I held it open long enough for my two Animations to follow through, and then I was off again.

The outside air was frigid, much like the sensation in my veins. What would deter someone lesser reminded me of the life I could feel pumping in my veins. And so I ran through the dead brush and turned right, starting a lap around the manor.

It was such a foreign feeling—for everything to be so vivid. For my heart to beat so furiously.

I felt alive. There was no better way to put it.

Perhaps it was the fresh mana, still getting settled into my body. Perhaps it was the freedom of speaking to my brother. Perhaps it was a combination of growth and strength and healing.

Or, maybe, it was just a good day.

So, I ran. The first place I went was in a loop of the manor.

And I ran. The second place was in the dead garden.

And I ran. The third was an open field that lined the road's edge leading up to the manor.

Until my legs grew heavy and the liveliness in my veins settled.

Until my racing mind became the same dull calm.

But I wanted it back, so I kept running.

One more step, I thought, desperate for the feeling to return, and I'll feel alive again.

Then I stumbled and fell into a heap on the cold ground, the crunch of the dead grass giving way under me and resounding through the air.

Rolling onto my back, I looked at the early evening sky. Both suns were hanging low on the horizon, getting ready to disappear from sight. A distance away, I could see the skeletons of the trees that lined the roadway leading to the main entrance.

I could also see a head of brown hair leaning against one of those trees. I couldn't see from so far away, but I knew his crimson eyes were focused on me. I would recognize him anywhere.

Sir Limrick.

Or, should I call him Captain Limrick now?

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I gave a halfhearted wave.

Between one breath and the next, he was standing in front of me. Hardly looking as if he'd moved.

"Lady Nora, how was your Day of Sermon?" He said, a small smile quirking his lips.

I pulled up some dead grass and threw it at him.

"Terrible, I never want to go again."

Sir Limrick heaved a put-upon sigh, "My Lady, it'll get better with time. You'll start to recognize classmates, instructors, knights, the general populace. It won't be as it was today for long."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "You can only say that because you weren't there. Besides, I don't like the Church."

I finished sounding more distant than I had meant to, but the memories of a Goddess descending were hard not to dissociate from.

Sir Limrick was silent at that, and it was as I'd been leaning back down that he spoke.

"I don't blame you, Nora. You had a horrifying experience with a Goddess. But the Divine are not inherently evil. They live by different laws, but even they have bounds to their Dominions. And—" Sir Limrick took a deep, steadying breath, before he continued, "—it's not your fault. Captain Rellar knew the laws that Abelia enforced. He knew what he was saying, what she would say, how she would read between the lines. If you believe in nothing else, believe in that."

I felt the stinging of tears welling up in my eyes and I could no longer meet Sir Limrick's eyes. So, I covered my own.

"We arrived here, and it was a whirlwind of duty and obligation, of paperwork and reports, but I needed to tell you. You are so young, and you carry yourself with such weight. Whether it is today, or tomorrow, or a decade from now, that day will still not be your fault."

It was nice—what Sir Limrick was saying.

It was also a lie. I didn't even need [Eyes of Gospel] to tell me so. Because I was the one who put Sir Rellar in that situation. It was a sin I could never atone for. A wrong I could never right. And it had cost Oberon Rellar his life.

But Sir Limrick was also right.

Atop my shoulders, I carried a weight. He had lied to protect Eve from my rage, from my animosity. Whether that was out of a sense of duty or a sense of camaraderie, it didn't matter.

What mattered was the result.

If I were guilty of putting him in the situation to lie to a Goddess of Truth, Eve would be to blame for being the source of the lie.

And so, I would not allow her to rest.

A [Young Lady of Monsters].

A flood of Blights coming across the Duchy.

Deaths, famine, and war are on the horizon if she is not stopped.

Nothing to export from the forests would cause an economic collapse.

The Duchy would not be able to subsidize everyone. Would not be able to save the citizens who call it home. Not in enough numbers to make a difference if Eve's current power is as strong as I fear.

A [Young Lady of Monsters] pretending to be a [Young Lady of Magic].

It had to be a Rare Class.

Otherwise, why pretend to have an [Uncommon]?

I pulled my arm away from my face, peering at Sir Limrick.

"I'll work on myself, Sir Limrick. So long as you promise to keep your head securely on your shoulders while I do so." My voice wobbled as I talked, so it was no doubt he could hear the raw edge of it all.

"Very well, my Lady." Sir Limrick brought a fist to his chest. "Your will be done."

I hiccuped a laugh.

"Why'd they choose you as replacement Captain again?" I huffed.

"The world may never know. Right place, wrong time, I suppose," he laughed, but there was a darkness to it. A sense of loss.

That was my fault, too.

I spent the time after dinner skimming monster manuals, magical theory, and where I'm supposed to be on Arithmetic, Economics, History, and Etiquette.

I didn't pick up much, other than the fact that I was woefully behind, and the final week of Fall would find me forcing remedial lessons into my brain before my actual lessons began in Winter.

That was a harrowing thought.

I decided to do more than skim, starting with the monster manuals as they seemed at least the most interesting.

They even had pictures of the monsters featured.

I had five monster manuals, each featuring five monsters and at least five pages written about each one. So, I had roughly 125 pages of information to learn for the week.

I set aside all the other booklets and focused on what I presumed was the first one from this month.

Fellan Swordsmanship Academy

Monster Manual

Volume 71

[Blue Spire Singers]

[Coop Wrecker]

[Ginger Rabbits]

[Icemares]

[Kingkiller Rats]

[Blue Spire Singers]

Overview:

[Blue Spire Singers] are mutated from the mundane [Blue Jay]. Overwhelmed by natural mana, oftentimes, the [Blue Jay] gives up its natural path and chooses the path of the World. Thus, [Blue Spire Singers] are born.

I snapped my eyes to the picture of the [Blue Spire Singer] featured on the page, only to notice a small note below the illustration.

It was drawn to full scale. I placed my palm over the bird and was surprised to find the monster was just the same size.

Pulling my hand away, I examined the picture closely, to see if I could tell a difference between a mundane [Blue Jay] and a [Blue Spire Singer]. On first glance, the answer was a firm, resounding no.

I couldn't even tell which patterns were from the original form of the monster or were formed by the mutation.

Except for two details.

One, I was nearly certain that the twisted and kinked horn on the birds head was not from it's original form.

And, two, I was pretty sure that it's feet weren't supposed to be as big as they were depicted. Not as a [Blue Jay], anyway.

"Cool, so horns and feet. That'll surely save me."

As I mused aloud, there was a knock on my door. I stood and made my way over before pulling the heavy thing open.

I was already in my night clothes, so technically I should have spoken through the door. But I'd never cared before, and wouldn't be starting now.

In front of me stood Sylvie and Juniper.

"My Lady," Sylvie said, her voice droll as she nodded her head.

"Lady Nora," Juniper said, the bags under her eyes even more pronounced than before, "Is there anything you need before we call it a night?"

I blinked. This was new. Was it because Juniper was officially my Lady's Maid?

I took in the tired look on Juniper's face, and the oddly smug look on Sylvie's and sighed.

"Juniper, would you get me a plate of cookies and some tea?"

Juniper nodded forcefully. "Of course, my Lady!"

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