Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 1

My eyes pop open, and I find myself staring at the ceiling for a long, sleepy moment. Once again, I'm up before the suns. In elsewhere, I never bemoaned waking up early. All the more time to fit into the day. Whether that was more hours to fill with work or time spent with… Emmett. I forced the thought out, and while a wave of grief passed over me, it did not consume me. I allowed it to wash away. Though the act of waking was a terror when I first awoke in this world, the trip to Fellan had seen me grow used to being up before the light crossed the horizon.

Should I be productive? I have hours before I leave for the Sword Academy. I could probably get through another Trial in Twilight. I sat up, stretching my hands above my head. A satisfying snap resounded from my back.

My eyes drifted to the window. The thick curtains were keeping the darkness of the world at bay. Climbing out of bed, I knocked into several of my knit animals. I flicked my eyes back, hesitating, before deciding that they would survive sleeping face down until I righted them. As I stood, I dug my toes into the plush rug. My thoughts were slow to come, and I decided not to wait for them. I headed to the floor-to-ceiling curtains and tugged them open. The pale green light of the moon crept in, causing the cream curtains to take on an eerie hue.

"There'll be plenty of time for Twilight later," I said softly, looking out over the dimly lit garden below.

There were no leaves left to fall. Winter was here in all but name.

>Sensible. Save your strength for the Academy.< Eunora chimed in, her voice bringing my thoughts back to myself.

Eunora's voice wasn't quite approving, but I was sure it wasn't far off.

I took a moment to open the rest of the curtains and flick on the magelights before migrating out of the bedroom and repeating the actions in the sitting room. I settled in the tufted couch that gave me the best view out the window with the most recent Monster Manual. Volume 75. It was the last Monster Manual of Autumn.

I had gone through it the day before, twice, actually. So, the act of reading through the booklet was rote at that point. Honestly, it was a bit unsettling to know that a [Blight] is far from the most dangerous monster to manifest in Winter. It was just the most numerous –[Blights], as Volume 75 explained, manifest in dormant trees of all kinds after absorbing any kind of corrupt mana. The ease of manifesting first-generation [Blight] monsters is what causes a headache across the western duchy of Dawn.

Ever since working through the Monster Manuals, I have felt a sense of dread hovering in the background of my mind. Even then, curled up in the corner of a couch softer than most beds, I felt it. It was as if I was being hunted.

Which wasn't as crazy as I had wished it was.

If there was any stock in the idea of Eve sending the [Blights], then it wasn't impossible.

But why would she go through all that trouble for me?

>The real question is why would she go all through all that trouble for me?<

I paused.

"She did it to you, too. I remember seeing it." I whispered into the pages of the Monster Manual, images flashing through my mind. "I watched it. Eve went out of her way more and more often to tear you down."

>...It wasn't so bad, not until I was nearing majority and still yet to Tier up.<

"But you did Tier up. I saw you reach Tier 2 —and 3. And I think 4."

>I did. But it was on a less impressive timeline than I should have. I was called the Slow Rise of Dawn at my academy.<

I swallowed thickly, my eye wandering to the window. To the moonbeams fighting the overpowering radiance of the magelights.

"I don't need to be afraid in Fellan." I decided. "I'm not camping in the wilderness, and my mana isn't a beacon for a monster to hunt me down. I've gone into Fellan proper, and I've crossed the length of the Duchy. I don't need to be afraid here."

>But you are.<

I ran my tongue across my teeth, buying myself time before answering the voice in my head.

"The walls of this manor are no more my prison than Fellan itself. I won't be afraid of a girl half a nation away. No matter how far her minions travel."

Eunora hummed noncommittally, and we settled into silence. I continued alternating between looking out into the distance and committing the Monster Manual to memory until I saw the first ray of sunlight peeking out over the horizon and chasing off the moonbeams.

That was enough of that, then.

I snapped the Monster Manual shut and rolled off the sofa, shifting just so to land in a crouch. Standing straight, I gently placed the Monster Manual atop the neat stack of the rest of the day's booklets.

A pit formed in my stomach as I got to the bathroom. The braids I'd put in my hair the night before were in disarray. Hair stuck out at every joint. I'd have to redo it. I grabbed a pale pink glass vial from a shelf to the side of the tub and dabbed some of the floral oil onto various points of my braids. Untying the ribbons, I began gently detangling my hair. The scent of jasmine reached my nose as I did so, but the tightness of my stomach did not abate.

I slowly massaged my curls before taking a wide-tooth comb and gently shaping them. As I had taken to doing every morning, I activated [Weaving]. My fingers grew more dextrous, and the act of braiding became a simple thing.

I hummed as I worked my hair into two separate and simple braids.

As I looked at my hair in the mirror, I turned to the left. Then, the right. A small frown made its way onto my face as the stone in my stomach grew. I quickly wiped it away before I let my face fall blank. Then I dug my nails between the strands of my braids and slipped the locks of hair apart, undoing my braids. As I went for a slightly more complicated weave, I kept my eyes focused solely on my hair. As my focus flitted to the second braid, I caught my own stare —and the weight in my stomach migrated up. It was as if there was a hummingbird attempting to wrench out of my chest. I swallowed thickly and finished the second pull-through braid, the shape of my curls giving the style more volume than normal.

[Shadow Conjuration+Shadow Manipulation]

Within moments, I had molded my shadows into bangles around my wrists and lined my nails with faux nail polish.

Refusing to make eye contact with myself, I headed to my closet. It's a lot of purple. So much purple. I skip over the dresses and shorts. It's both too cold outside, and the clothes themselves are too impractical for a Swordsmanship Academy. I settle on a pair of loosely tailored slacks, just a few shades off from being functionally black, and a loose shirt with plenty of room for movement that's just a shade off from white. I tucked the scrunched end of the blouse into my slacks and knotted the belt around my waist. After lacing up my boots and tucking the close-cut edges of my pants into them, I stretch my arms and legs out to test the fit. The slacks are loose around my hips and thighs, and the shirt stretches gently with my shoulder movements.

It'll do.

As I was twisting and turning, I caught sight of myself in yet another mirror hanging off a far wall. My heart started beating wildly, and I brought a hand up to my hair. Once again, I find myself almost possessed. My reflection feels too flat. Less real than I had expected. It's as if I'll disappear any second.

So, I dived for the bookshelf I use to hold my [Weave of Darkness] creations —from emerald green to royal blue, from pitch black to iridescent white. It's that final one I grab. Specifically, I pulled out a ball of yarn I had hand-woven to look like a chain. It consists of four thin pieces of yarn interwoven by twisting the yarn and pulling it in the opposite direction of the main weave. I had to braid it by hand rather than using [Shadow Manipulation]. The visualization had been too difficult at the time.

I looked back at the mirror again, searching my own expression, before untying the ribbons that were keeping my braids from unraveling.

Third time's the charm. I quirk a small smile as I, once again, restart my braids.

This time, I weave the iridescent chain into my braids. Unlike before, I opt for a simple three-strand braid with the shining yarn-chain combination mixed in. At some point, the loose gems from Twilight caught my attention, and I found myself wrapping them securely with the chain and embedding the smaller gems into my hair.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

When I finished, I found I'd accidentally given myself a shining tiara –I'd had to find a way to get the end of the chain across my head to the other braid. It had seemed like a good idea to weave and bob it across my roots. My shorter curls framed my face and there were a couple spots where the sparkling chain drooped down from my hairline and helped my curls to frame my face.

For a moment, the constriction in my chest relieved itself. There is something powerful in looking put together. I knew it in elsewhere, well and truly. Every day had seen my reflection looking like a work of art. Now, I wasn't so sure I should be the same.

>Stop overthinking everything.< Eunora sighed. >It isn't even new for the present you. It's as if you've spent the past weeks remaking yourself. You've gone out of your way to take care of yourself.<

I shifted in place. Eunora wasn't speaking with kindness, not by her tone and not by her meaning. She was telling me to stop wallowing.

I agreed.

"It has been nice to prove I can." I gave a small, not-quite-sad smile to my reflection. "Take care of myself, that is. I had thought that faking it was all I've got."

Eunora responded, but my focus drifted as I pulled away from the mirror and headed back to my bedroom. I stared at the menagerie of knit animals adorning my bed —some still face down. As I straightened them up, I marveled at the sheer volume of my collection. Had it really only been a season since I awoke? Five months? Twenty-five weeks? Just under two hundred days? Somehow, it felt like yesterday and a lifetime ago.

So much has changed, even from little Eunora's life.

I reached out for the knit animals, but I didn't lean forward. I didn't extend my arm. My hand dangled midair, stuck between my decisions. Should I leave them behind? Just for today? Could I? I pulled my hand back to my side and began turning away from the knit creatures.

…

Quickly, I swiped out and grabbed Noir.

Just one is fine.

Packing Noir into my bag with the Monster Manuals, I caught sight of the shaking trees in the distance and grabbed my sweater—the one I'd crocheted with a black base and sparkling stars.

I cast one last glance out the window, taking in the golden rays of morning light, before pulling open the door and setting out for breakfast. It was about that time.

I was proven right when I had to catch Juniper from falling into me as I left my room. The girl gave a startled yelp and took a sharp step backward, pulling her wrists from my palms. I caught sight of Sylvie's silver hair a few feet behind Juniper.

"We didn't expect you'd be up already, my Lady," Sylvie interrupted, cutting off Juniper's gasp. "Had we known, we would have helped you get ready."

I glanced up and shook my head, but before I could speak Juniper beat me to it.

"It wouldn't have mattered, anyway. Lady Nora dresses and bathes herself. I haven't even been able to catch her early enough to wake her up."

It was barely more than a grumble, but I felt my mouth quirk.

She's so sure. It's only been four days.

I led the way for the three of us, heading down the hallway.

"That's not fair—" I started but faltered as I saw Sylvie tapping the embroidered crest on her uniform.

Syvlie caught my stare and pulled her hand away from the golden emblem.

"I was letting the kitchen know you are on your way now, my Lady."

I nodded lightly and slowed my steps, "Let's give them a bit of extra time, then."

Both Sylvie and Juniper slowed to match me, and I sank into thought about what the Academy would be like. Gristle had, of course, given me the basics, but the overview of something was often very different from the minutia.

What would the practical classes look like? It was a swordsmanship academy. Did that mean I would only be learning the sword? The booklets made it sound like there would be loads of skills that I would learn at the Academy that would prepare me to face the monsters in the manuals. And maybe a few Skills as well.

It was a slow walk to the dining room, but it could only be stretched so far before I found myself sitting down in the overly plush chair at the head of the table. Despite only buying the kitchen staff a few minutes, there was more than enough food on the table.

There were half a dozen dishes, each diligently placed on small, porcelain platters. Luckily, I didn't recognize any of it from Twilight. Grag didn't sound any more appetizing now than it had then. I looked at the empty seats that surrounded me, and I could hear the phantom laughter of the knights. Sylvie and Juniper were standing by the entrance to the room, and there was another maid approaching with a pitcher of water.

As she filled my class, I leaned my chin into my palm.

It's so silent, I can practically hear her heart thrumming.

"Thanks," I said as the maid stepped back.

I lightly grabbed my fork and plunged it into a small square of bread. Before I could take a bite, though, the door to the dining room opened, revealing Gristle. His placid smile is a familiar sight at this point.

"Lady Nora," he greeted softly. "Are you ready for your first day at the Academy?"

I set my fork down, nodding, "As ready as I can be I think."

"That's all anyone could ask." Gristle readily agreed, "Once you finish breakfast, Dame Arella and one of the squires will meet you at the entrance hall. They'll be accompanying you to the Academy."

I felt my back straighten and my lips twitch.

"Dame Arella? And which squire?" I asked, forcing my tone to remain calm.

"I believe Captain Limrick has loaned her Klein Ouros." Gristle's smile widened as his eyes met mine.

I nodded, letting a smile flood my expression.

The trip to the Academy would be the perfect time to ask Dame Arella when she could help me with my combat Skills. If she's still willing to do that. My smile dimmed at the thought. Maybe it was just a kind lie. Like what Clara said.

Somehow, the thought made me feel worse, but it wasn't because I believed it. Rather, it felt like I was calling Dame Arella a liar. And what has Arella been if not genuine and thoughtful? Without Arella, I would have been left adrift, drowning in my isolation. Did she not offer her hand without hesitation? No, doubting Arella was an insult to the kindness she showed me.

I tuned back in as Gristle was mid-sentence, saying something about how Arella would be the one to drive the carriage.

"She'll monitor the outside of the Academy. Klein will accompany you inside as an observer. Unless you find yourself in a physically dangerous situation, he is not to interfere."

I glanced down at my food before meeting Gristle's soft green eyes, "Won't it make the other student uncomfortable to have a member of the Dusk around?"

Gristle, to his credit, simply gave me a half-smile and said, "It's unlikely."

I sighed and went back to my breakfast. Picking up my discarded fork, I took a bite. I frowned at the sweetness —I'd been half expecting the square to be some kind of potato when, in reality, it was closer to a waffle. I swallowed and took a bite of egg instead of rotting my teeth with any more sugar. There was nothing that looked bitter on the table, so savory would have to do.

"My Lady, did you review the names of your classmates?" Gristle said lightly.

I made a so-so motion with my free hand.

"More or less."

Gristle froze, "As in a 'more' more or less or a 'less' more or less?"

"That doesn't make any sense," I said after swallowing another bit of egg.

"Please, my Lady, you did look at the list of names?"

"I looked at the list of names," I replied, but by the look on Gristle's face, it came too slow out of my mouth and wasn't half as convincing as I'd hoped.

"Do you remember any of them?" His voice took on a pleading tone, and I felt myself growing sheepish.

"The important ones?" I half-replied, half-asked.

The sigh he released shook his whole chest, but I couldn't bring myself to find any amusement in it.

This is so not good.

Though I didn't lie to Gristle, it wasn't quite an accurate representation of the truth. I had looked at the list. In fact, I knew exactly where it was sitting —in the folder Gristle himself had used to store it, covered by all the other presumably more important items he had given me at the same time. I may have forgotten it even existed.

>Tsk, tsk, you're as bad as I was.< Eunroa said it softly, halfway to joking, and I quirked a smile and shot back easily.

Well, that's a pretty low bar.

I heard a scoff fill my head before Eunora spoke, her voice colder than before. >You hardly know enough about me to say that. Even a black sheep will remember the name of those who attempted to sheer it and steal its wool.<

I blinked, feeling chastised. You're right. I only know what Scylla showed me.

>Which was hardly anything at all. You never even saw [Fortress of Dawn].<

I paused, and Eunora continued, sensing my confusion.

>It's a unique Skill to the Dukedom's bloodline Classes. It's a remnant of our family's wartime accomplishments.<

Horrifying, I thought before zoning back in to whatever Gristle was saying next. He had continued talking about the Academy, and I'd picked up bits here and there –something about Arella having the tuition and 'Don't worry about the Attribute testing, it's anonymous.' Which was disconcerting and reminiscent of when I'd had to go through an [Inspect] to enter Adeline.

As I was finishing my food, I glanced at Gristle. He had come to a pause.

"Gristle?"

As the butler scanned my face, I watched as he straightened his shoulders and his mouth flattened to a mild frown. It was… mildly offensive.

"Yes, my Lady?"

Even his voice was serious. It was as if he was expecting nonsense to come out of my mouth.

"Can I pretend I'm not a noble?"

As soon as I asked, I watched Gristle's eyes flick from my hair to my wrists to the wall then back to my face. His expression had hardly shifted.

"No."

"Why not?" I asked, baffled by the certainty in his response.

"Many reasons." He gave a wry smile. "Not the least of which is that you are wearing Dawn colors, have an escort from the Dusk Knighthood, and you are quite literally sparkling in the light."

I paused, taking in his words. I gripped the end of one of my braids between my fingertips. Suddenly, the pit in my stomach was back.

"Is the hair too much?" I asked it, and it was a rushed question, filled with trepidation.

Gristle's smile sharpened, and it was as if he had physically hit me.

"Not for a Dawn."

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