Urgh, getting used to sitting with a tail seems to be the hardest challenge of my life …
Once again riding House Helvas’s carriage, I experimented with ways to make sitting inside it more comfortable for myself as I fumbled with my long tail. No matter how fluffy the seats were, it just felt weird having my tail there. Not to mention, with my evolution, the scales and tail spikes on my tail were sharp enough to cut stone now, not to mention cushion.
“… We have been using this carriage for over a week now. You still have not gotten used to it?” Saori asked, perplexed at my continued troubles.
“Give me a break, Saori. Your tail isn’t longer than your torso and head combined. Mine alone is already longer than the whole seat,” I complained with a troubled face, before using my tail tip to pierce through my mana dress to demonstrate my issue. Once I pulled it out, the dress repaired itself with my mana, as if nothing ever happened. “Even without the dress, it’s such a bother.”
Today was the day after the God Thanking Festival. My party and I were being driven towards Ellaine’s home during our usual visiting time. The reason for our meeting today would involve what Lorena told me yesterday.
Lorena’s problem was the fact her parents were extremely worried about her. Seeing as she was their only daughter and how she had been tortured and almost assaulted by one of the slave traders. Due to what happened to her and how her parent’s worries were unnerving her, she wanted to have a new start.
Seeing as she was at the age where people expected her to be married, when she talked about it to Ruld, it looked like that casanova confessed to her. Oooh, you could hear the romantic heart thumping. Doki doki, bum bum! Childhood friends, love, feelings, marriage! Not gonna lie, that did cause my face to steam a bit.
So, Lorena the farmer’s daughter and Ruld the cobbler; since the two families already had a good relationship, the plans were quickly settled on. Both parent couples were pretty overjoyed at the suggestion according to Lorena. They dearly wanted their eldest children to marry already.
“It took a while for everybody to calm down and plan it out, but the idea is that I would marry Ruld and move to Firwood with him. We have to make it there before the 8th of WinterSun so we can participate in the Binding festival and make our marriage official under the eyes of the Goddess,” she told me with a small smile.
Weddings in Peolynca couldn’t be arbitrarily held on whatever day you wanted, unlike on Earth. Commoners weren’t financially able to plan one, and everybody wanted their marriage to be acknowledged under the God’s eyes according to religious tradition.
There were four chances in a year for couples to marry in Artorias, and this always happened in the first full week of the season on LightDay. According to Lorena, the 1st of WinterSun—so January by Earth’s calendar—was a LightDay, but, as it wasn’t a full week, it didn’t count. So, they planned to travel to Firwood on the 1st and marry on the subsequent week.
Curious, I also asked Tasianna how marriages happened for the elves and fairies. I was totally in the mood for some romantic stories.
According to Tasianna, while fairies didn’t marry, elves did, using the same concept of the Binding festival. All marriages would happen in the first week of summer, where the day the couple would marry would be determined by their choice of god and faith. I figured they probably did it this way so as to not exclude any of the Origin Gods.
Anyway, this led back to why I was going to Ellaine. Lorena asked me to escort her and Ruld to Firwood, as they couldn’t make the trip themselves. The roads were filled with monsters, and winter was almost here. It hadn’t snowed yet, but she assured me snow always appeared by the end of this month.
I planned to help them after I performed my concert, and, for that, I needed Ellaine. More specifically, I needed her authority as the daughter of the count. A serf was a belonging by law. They were owned by the lord of the fief and required their authority to become free as leaving the fief unannounced could be punished with death.
Ruld’s cobbler workshop bought his freedom for him, but in return, he had to stay contracted to the workshop until he worked off all his debts to them. He was happy working there, so it was fine. Lorena, on the other hand, would have it harder, so I had to do something about it.
From our discussions, I learned Ellaine wanted me to either stay at her mansion or go with her to Firwood, the opportunity to solve this problem was easily available right now. My party didn’t want to leave the village this early, since we’ve planned to stay here for the whole winter, but Saori and I both agreed to help a friend in need, whereas Tasianna stayed indifferent. Besides, we needed IDs, and Count Helvas did mention we had to go to Firwood to acquire them.
“Ah, it seems we’ve arrived. I can feel the warmth of the barrier,” I uttered as the carriage entered the demesne of the mansion.
The feeling I had from entering the area of the mansion during my first visit was due to a huge mana barrier covering the whole area. Ellaine had told me it was a manatech used to keep the cold and snow away from the mansion, keeping a perfect temperature for their garden to flourish even in the midst of a snowstorm.
Honestly, I was baffled she had the mana to keep the barrier and every single light active in the mansion, but she quickly explained to me that wasn’t the case. The house was currently being fueled with mana batteries her mother made in the case of her absence, as she was the most accomplished mage in House Helvas. Did the Count marry her just for that reason?! I thought when I heard that, worsening my already bad opinion on him.
I felt in awe, wondering if it could be used on the village to modernize it a bit, but that idea was quickly shot down by Ellaine when she explained how incredibly taxing and expensive acquiring mana batteries was. I could still remember how mortified and outraged she looked when she told me that.
‘Investing that much money into commoners, when they cannot maintain such exquisite technologies?! Unthinkable and foolish. Lady Hestia, who has planted that seed of thought into you?’ Sheesh … Welp.
Speaking of Ellaine, once we arrived before her mansion’s doors, Barathan greeted us and immediately showed us our way to his mistress. Saori and Tasianna were led to the kitchen so they could unpack today’s cake and get my tea, while I greeted Ellaine.
“I wish you a bountiful EarthDay, Lady Ellaine. May Goddess Crustacia bless your land,” I said, assuming my “noble” persona while inside her home.
“Your blessing is welcomed. My gratitude from the depths of my heart to you, Lady Hestia,” Ellaine replied before dropping a bit of her mannerisms for casualness now that we became a bit more acquainted.
Noticing her cheerful smile compared to the fake smiles she’s been giving me these past days, I asked her if something good had happened.
“Yes, my family sent me letters,” she answered, slightly embarrassed. “I may not have been there with them, but they reported everything they’ve done at the capital. It is … shameful to say this, but I wasn’t able to sleep until I finished those letters, hehe.”
Oooooh. That’s relieving to hear. You weren’t alone on Peolyncian Christmas it seems, Ellaine. Good for you!
They might not have been here with her, and it was clear to everybody that she was saddened by it, but at least in her heart, they were together. Maybe the Count wasn’t that bad? At least, not as a family man.
We had some small talk until Saori and Tasianna returned with the cake and tea. I then explained to Ellaine my problem. As expected, she was quite pleased with the proposal.
Aside from being my lady-in-waiting and keeping watch over me, the Count wanted Ellaine to keep watch over me. The closer, the better; so I had some leverage here to negotiate.
“Then, I shall send a message to my father to inform him. I do not know if he has made all the preparations for your reward yet, so I must give him the information about our departure. We will also need the permission from the lord of Firwood to enter town.” Ellaine looked over at Barathan, who had already retrieved a brown, clay-like bird and some parchment.
When I asked her about it, she told me it was a [Messenger Bird], a manatech similar to those gargoyles her mother and brother rode, before showing me her own gargoyle figurine. “They are creations alchemists produce using a piece of manatech as the base while adding monster parts to form its shape. They grow once mana is infused into them, and depending on the animal, they may also fly. Our house’s emblem would make an ill-fitting gargoyle, as they are crops, so instead we chose our kingdom’s beast, the griffon.”
I already knew this from spying on her family’s departure, but she didn’t know that, so I listened intently. The [Messenger Bird] was a manatech able to reproduce the voice of its owner to the recipient. They had an incredible flight speed, allowing them to travel long distances in no time, so they were used similarly to a phone call. The only problem was they were quite expensive even for a magnoble like her father, and weren’t usable at far distances. The profession of the normal messenger wasn’t endangered due to these reasons.
“… However, before I send it,” she muttered, stopping her hand from writing before looking deep in the eyes. “Lady Hestia, please be truthful with me. Are you possibly … a follower of God Danterno?”
“Huh?” I let out unwillingly, not expecting this question.
“Aside from your true identity—which we will learn with your ID creation—we still do not know much about you. You aren’t a clergywoman of the Goddess, and, presumably, you are affiliated with God Kargryxmor due to your race. However, are you possibly hiding your allegiance with God Danterno?,” Ellaine explained with caution. She proceeded to explain to me how shocked she was to see me create fire so easily with my claws and how unnatural my white flames and [Sanctified Blaze] were.
Well, you’re unnatural too! Ahem … shouldn’t take that too personally.
She understood, as a mage, about my power once she witnessed me spar with Saori and Tasianna but was always confused why I never used a single fire spell.
“You can produce fire from your body, which shouldn’t be unnatural since you are a dragonewt, but I never witnessed you cast a fire or inferno spell. Your [Sanctified Blaze] even has a white magic circle, making it a holy spell, no?” Ellaine face contorted slightly from confusion as she continued her interrogation. “I had to report this to my father once I saw you use your custom spell on the injured man. I watched your training to see your current level in [Inferno Spell] but was left more perplexed afterward. My father searched the libraries of the royal university and also asked houses specialized in magic, even Houses Myrrddin and Morgiana, but found nothing. I am aware our information on dragonewts is outdated, but a mention on flames as white as Goddess Aurena’s magic should be available.”
She tightened her hands, almost as if she was fearful of my answer to her questions. “There is a strong … stigma, against the more fanatical Church of Danterno followers. An accident had happened at the royal academy, recently, where a fire mage professor urged one of his students to, uhm, “express his emotions” on a noble’s son. It didn’t end well for the poor young nobleman.”
Sheesh! Problems, man! And here I thought Macklemor was a rare delusional fire mage. He was nice, until he ranted about Shiterno and so on. Goodness, Shiterno, what are you even promoting your followers to do? Fuck you, for trying to make me one of your blessed! I ain’t solving your problems!
“The Greenveil Duchy is primarily an agricultural and merchant pillar for Artorias, so we worship Goddesses Crustacia and Zephira almost equally. The Goddess of Light, of course, is still our primary divine. I want to believe we’ve gotten closer, and that I didn’t need to be cautious, but I do. I am a Count’s daughter, and I represent my family right now. If you cause any trouble while under our supervision …” Ellaine gulped, looking a bit pale. “We could get into serious problems.”
I could read the underlying meaning. “Punishment by association,” was a pretty popular law during medieval times. If one of your relatives performed something outrageous and was sentenced to death, anybody close—siblings, children, spouse—could receive the same sentence. Looking at Saori, she had a similar thought. Good thing she helped me review these facts.
I let out a deep sigh, scratching my head in irritation. I was already frowning throughout this interrogation, but now I just felt worse. “Don’t lump me in with that damn imbecile!”
“Lady Hestia?!” Ellaine cried out in surprise as I broke my façade.
“I’ll make it clear for you right now, Ellaine. I have nothing to do with him, and I want to continue not having anything to do with him or his church,” I elaborated, raising my voice as anger started to consume me, only calming down once I felt Saori’s and Tasianna’s hands on my shoulders. “… I apologize. It seems I am terrible at controlling my feelings once I’m angered. I lashed out at you once again.”
My [Draconic Aura] had leaked out, following my emotions. Controlling my temper was difficult.
She smiled wryly, nodding in understanding. “No, it is I who must apologize. I wouldn’t have mentioned this if I had known how much it would displease you.”
“Thank you … To elucidate further, [Sanctified Blaze] is a holy spell with fire properties, I can assure you that. It was made with one of my unique skill—an empty vessel skill,” I explained to her about the existence of [White Flames], using what Master Kush taught me to explain it better. She would learn how I received it soon enough, so I pushed that aside for now. “I am a … Let’s say dragonewt, for now.”
Barathan and Ellaine instantly widened their eyes. I didn’t want to lie here
“My body produces a special scale powder—scale-dust, I call it—which I use to create sparks and fire. With [Pyrokinesis] I can control them. I only possess one fire spell in my arsenal and it’s my own custom spell. I do not possess [Fire Magic] or [Inferno Magic].”
“What? But that cannot be. You must have one of them to even create a custom spell with fire as its element. That is how custom spells are created,” Ellaine stated an obvious fact. “I witnessed you cast both lightning and lava element spells during your spar. I am not a fire mage myself, but even I know the different composite elements and which elements are required as their prerequisites. Lady Hestia, it is hard to believe you with those facts.”
“I know, I understand it must sound far-fetched, but I am telling you the truth. I once had [Inferno Magic Lv. 5], I admit, which should clear up how I could create a custom fire spell and own lightning and lava magic. However, sometime during my travels, I lost both fire magic skills and I am currently in the process of reorganizing myself as a mage,” I informed her without being startled by her sudden distrust. “Yes, I have heard about Danterno’s religion, but I am not their associate. I was never and will never become a servant of that idiotic god.”
“… Well, insulting an Origin God isn’t what I would recommend myself, but it isn’t outlawed in our kingdom. I understand, Lady Hestia. I apologize for having my suspicions. I will trust your words considering the person I have come to know,” Ellaine expressed with an elegant nod. “I will inform my father about everything and our plan to travel to Firwood. The information on your status board will be sent to him and everybody who must know will too, when we issue your ID. It will reassure him once he learns what you said.”
“Please tell him not to be shocked when he sees it.”
“Haha … I think he already has a feeling.”
With that finally done, Ellaine agreed on releasing Lorena from her serfdom; in return, I would join her in moving to Firwood. After finishing the letter, she wrapped it around the manatech bird’s leg and activated it, speaking to it as it recorded her voice. She also urged me to repeat what I told her, so her father could hear my admittance, releasing it after everything was sorted out.
The moment it left Ellaine’s hand, the bird flapped its wings like a hummingbird and shot off into the sky. I had no idea when it would return, but seeing it fly away like that, I had no doubts it would reach her father.
“The two commoners will sit inside the servant’s carriage while you and I stay in my carriage. A gargoyle would be faster, but I wish to enjoy a calm trip with you, don’t you agree?” Ellaine regained her smile now that the official business was done. “Also, I wish to have your two retainers, Saori and Tasianna, in the same carriage.”
Seeing me raise a brow, she explained, “I was baffled when you said you considered your companions your equals. While I do adore Josine and do trust her with everything, I also know there is a social barrier between us,” she smiled at her personal maid.
“Your words honor me, Lady Ellaine,” Josine smiled back warmly.
“That is why I wish to know them better. A mage seeks knowledge, as Istari intends us to do. However, due to the social barrier and how it is considered rude to speak with a retainer without her mistress’s consent, I wish to do this under the pretense of this being similar to a request from a noble to an adventurer,” she suggested, finally taking a bite of the pound cake.
“You wish to hire us?” I asked.
“Yes, I will offer you an F rank quest to escort me to Firwood, turning our relationship, until it is fulfilled, to noble and mercenary. I will still treat you with the respect you are due as a princess and guest to House Helvas, but this is all a pretense so I may speak with your retainers.”
It was so round-about, so incredibly round-about, but I guess that was how nobles handled stuff like this? I didn’t know, but she was speaking so comfortably as if she knew exactly what she was doing. Urgh, was I glad I would never have to do this sorta stuff … hopefully.
“F rank is acceptable as the further we go from a settlement, the higher the mana concentration in the area, meaning the risk of monsters will be higher. I am confident in my ability to fend off G or even F rank monsters, but my level is quite low, despite my abundance of skills,” Ellaine told me, explaining she gained most of her levels from fulfilling academy requests but never from participating in a real fight like her father and mother. “I do not believe a D rank would appear, but considering your strength, you would be able to take one down, correct?”
“With the flick of my fingers … literally,” I boasted, before chuckling as I realized the possibility for that statement becoming true.
“Fantastic. You still have the fulfillment document for the bandit quest, correct, Lady Hestia?” Ellaine asked, to which I nodded. “Good. Please hand it over to me. I will gather all the necessary documents and will make sure you gain the appropriate recompense. The nobles of the Greenveil duchy know the importance of a proper transaction, and every deed demands a reward.”
Ahh, so her “merchant-spirit” was the reason why she was so adamant at giving me the money for the white grace. Well, I could say Saori was literally trembling at the idea of even more money. You knew she would fantasize about it later this evening.
With all our plans finished, I stayed a bit longer to ask her a few other questions before leaving the mansion. Most of the questions were directed at how the God Thanking Festival would be celebrated at the capital, and if there was anything exciting she could mention.
“Brother wrote that a few heroes, chosen by Goddess Aurena herself, have arrived at the capital for the ball. One of the two saint candidates was supposed to join also, but didn’t,” Ellaine reported. “Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to learn their names as he and my parents had to report your stay here to the royal family. Even after they returned to the ball, everybody was already crowding around the heroes, so neither my brother nor my parents had the chance to approach them.”
Heroes, huh? I guess that concept was a staple in fantasy novels. So, Aurena already has chosen her champions, so why did she need me? Hmm, Ihope she’ll be able to answer this question once I talk to her, although I have feeling I won’t like what she has to say.
Saying our goodbyes, we left after a lot of talking. Once we were outside, Saori suddenly noticed something in the sky, pointing it out for me.
“Snow?”
For the second time in this life of mine, I saw snow falling from the sky. However, instead of fading away like the first time, this one continued into the night, covering everything in a blanket of white snow. Like a curtain signaling the end of a theater show’s act, this pale veil was like a sign that my time in Carine village was soon to end.
Soon my first idol concert would begin. My debut as a proper idol in Peolynca, the start of my dream becoming true. And with it, the start of my new adventure at Firwood.
AbyssRaven Future plans settled on, new location identified. Two more chapters left till 100.
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Urgh, getting used to sitting with a tail seems to be the hardest challenge of my life …
Once again riding House Helvas’s carriage, I experimented with ways to make sitting inside it more comfortable for myself as I fumbled with my long tail. No matter how fluffy the seats were, it just felt weird having my tail there. Not to mention, with my evolution, the scales and tail spikes on my tail were sharp enough to cut stone now, not to mention cushion.
“… We have been using this carriage for over a week now. You still have not gotten used to it?” Saori asked, perplexed at my continued troubles.
“Give me a break, Saori. Your tail isn’t longer than your torso and head combined. Mine alone is already longer than the whole seat,” I complained with a troubled face, before using my tail tip to pierce through my mana dress to demonstrate my issue. Once I pulled it out, the dress repaired itself with my mana, as if nothing ever happened. “Even without the dress, it’s such a bother.”
Today was the day after the God Thanking Festival. My party and I were being driven towards Ellaine’s home during our usual visiting time. The reason for our meeting today would involve what Lorena told me yesterday.
Lorena’s problem was the fact her parents were extremely worried about her. Seeing as she was their only daughter and how she had been tortured and almost assaulted by one of the slave traders. Due to what happened to her and how her parent’s worries were unnerving her, she wanted to have a new start.
Seeing as she was at the age where people expected her to be married, when she talked about it to Ruld, it looked like that casanova confessed to her. Oooh, you could hear the romantic heart thumping. Doki doki, bum bum! Childhood friends, love, feelings, marriage! Not gonna lie, that did cause my face to steam a bit.
So, Lorena the farmer’s daughter and Ruld the cobbler; since the two families already had a good relationship, the plans were quickly settled on. Both parent couples were pretty overjoyed at the suggestion according to Lorena. They dearly wanted their eldest children to marry already.
“It took a while for everybody to calm down and plan it out, but the idea is that I would marry Ruld and move to Firwood with him. We have to make it there before the 8th of WinterSun so we can participate in the Binding festival and make our marriage official under the eyes of the Goddess,” she told me with a small smile.
Weddings in Peolynca couldn’t be arbitrarily held on whatever day you wanted, unlike on Earth. Commoners weren’t financially able to plan one, and everybody wanted their marriage to be acknowledged under the God’s eyes according to religious tradition.
There were four chances in a year for couples to marry in Artorias, and this always happened in the first full week of the season on LightDay. According to Lorena, the 1st of WinterSun—so January by Earth’s calendar—was a LightDay, but, as it wasn’t a full week, it didn’t count. So, they planned to travel to Firwood on the 1st and marry on the subsequent week.
Curious, I also asked Tasianna how marriages happened for the elves and fairies. I was totally in the mood for some romantic stories.
According to Tasianna, while fairies didn’t marry, elves did, using the same concept of the Binding festival. All marriages would happen in the first week of summer, where the day the couple would marry would be determined by their choice of god and faith. I figured they probably did it this way so as to not exclude any of the Origin Gods.
Anyway, this led back to why I was going to Ellaine. Lorena asked me to escort her and Ruld to Firwood, as they couldn’t make the trip themselves. The roads were filled with monsters, and winter was almost here. It hadn’t snowed yet, but she assured me snow always appeared by the end of this month.
I planned to help them after I performed my concert, and, for that, I needed Ellaine. More specifically, I needed her authority as the daughter of the count. A serf was a belonging by law. They were owned by the lord of the fief and required their authority to become free as leaving the fief unannounced could be punished with death.
Ruld’s cobbler workshop bought his freedom for him, but in return, he had to stay contracted to the workshop until he worked off all his debts to them. He was happy working there, so it was fine. Lorena, on the other hand, would have it harder, so I had to do something about it.
From our discussions, I learned Ellaine wanted me to either stay at her mansion or go with her to Firwood, the opportunity to solve this problem was easily available right now. My party didn’t want to leave the village this early, since we’ve planned to stay here for the whole winter, but Saori and I both agreed to help a friend in need, whereas Tasianna stayed indifferent. Besides, we needed IDs, and Count Helvas did mention we had to go to Firwood to acquire them.
“Ah, it seems we’ve arrived. I can feel the warmth of the barrier,” I uttered as the carriage entered the demesne of the mansion.
The feeling I had from entering the area of the mansion during my first visit was due to a huge mana barrier covering the whole area. Ellaine had told me it was a manatech used to keep the cold and snow away from the mansion, keeping a perfect temperature for their garden to flourish even in the midst of a snowstorm.
Honestly, I was baffled she had the mana to keep the barrier and every single light active in the mansion, but she quickly explained to me that wasn’t the case. The house was currently being fueled with mana batteries her mother made in the case of her absence, as she was the most accomplished mage in House Helvas. Did the Count marry her just for that reason?! I thought when I heard that, worsening my already bad opinion on him.
I felt in awe, wondering if it could be used on the village to modernize it a bit, but that idea was quickly shot down by Ellaine when she explained how incredibly taxing and expensive acquiring mana batteries was. I could still remember how mortified and outraged she looked when she told me that.
‘Investing that much money into commoners, when they cannot maintain such exquisite technologies?! Unthinkable and foolish. Lady Hestia, who has planted that seed of thought into you?’ Sheesh … Welp.
Speaking of Ellaine, once we arrived before her mansion’s doors, Barathan greeted us and immediately showed us our way to his mistress. Saori and Tasianna were led to the kitchen so they could unpack today’s cake and get my tea, while I greeted Ellaine.
“I wish you a bountiful EarthDay, Lady Ellaine. May Goddess Crustacia bless your land,” I said, assuming my “noble” persona while inside her home.
“Your blessing is welcomed. My gratitude from the depths of my heart to you, Lady Hestia,” Ellaine replied before dropping a bit of her mannerisms for casualness now that we became a bit more acquainted.
Noticing her cheerful smile compared to the fake smiles she’s been giving me these past days, I asked her if something good had happened.
“Yes, my family sent me letters,” she answered, slightly embarrassed. “I may not have been there with them, but they reported everything they’ve done at the capital. It is … shameful to say this, but I wasn’t able to sleep until I finished those letters, hehe.”
Oooooh. That’s relieving to hear. You weren’t alone on Peolyncian Christmas it seems, Ellaine. Good for you!
They might not have been here with her, and it was clear to everybody that she was saddened by it, but at least in her heart, they were together. Maybe the Count wasn’t that bad? At least, not as a family man.
We had some small talk until Saori and Tasianna returned with the cake and tea. I then explained to Ellaine my problem. As expected, she was quite pleased with the proposal.
Aside from being my lady-in-waiting and keeping watch over me, the Count wanted Ellaine to keep watch over me. The closer, the better; so I had some leverage here to negotiate.
“Then, I shall send a message to my father to inform him. I do not know if he has made all the preparations for your reward yet, so I must give him the information about our departure. We will also need the permission from the lord of Firwood to enter town.” Ellaine looked over at Barathan, who had already retrieved a brown, clay-like bird and some parchment.
When I asked her about it, she told me it was a [Messenger Bird], a manatech similar to those gargoyles her mother and brother rode, before showing me her own gargoyle figurine. “They are creations alchemists produce using a piece of manatech as the base while adding monster parts to form its shape. They grow once mana is infused into them, and depending on the animal, they may also fly. Our house’s emblem would make an ill-fitting gargoyle, as they are crops, so instead we chose our kingdom’s beast, the griffon.”
I already knew this from spying on her family’s departure, but she didn’t know that, so I listened intently. The [Messenger Bird] was a manatech able to reproduce the voice of its owner to the recipient. They had an incredible flight speed, allowing them to travel long distances in no time, so they were used similarly to a phone call. The only problem was they were quite expensive even for a magnoble like her father, and weren’t usable at far distances. The profession of the normal messenger wasn’t endangered due to these reasons.
“… However, before I send it,” she muttered, stopping her hand from writing before looking deep in the eyes. “Lady Hestia, please be truthful with me. Are you possibly … a follower of God Danterno?”
“Huh?” I let out unwillingly, not expecting this question.
“Aside from your true identity—which we will learn with your ID creation—we still do not know much about you. You aren’t a clergywoman of the Goddess, and, presumably, you are affiliated with God Kargryxmor due to your race. However, are you possibly hiding your allegiance with God Danterno?,” Ellaine explained with caution. She proceeded to explain to me how shocked she was to see me create fire so easily with my claws and how unnatural my white flames and [Sanctified Blaze] were.
Well, you’re unnatural too! Ahem … shouldn’t take that too personally.
She understood, as a mage, about my power once she witnessed me spar with Saori and Tasianna but was always confused why I never used a single fire spell.
“You can produce fire from your body, which shouldn’t be unnatural since you are a dragonewt, but I never witnessed you cast a fire or inferno spell. Your [Sanctified Blaze] even has a white magic circle, making it a holy spell, no?” Ellaine face contorted slightly from confusion as she continued her interrogation. “I had to report this to my father once I saw you use your custom spell on the injured man. I watched your training to see your current level in [Inferno Spell] but was left more perplexed afterward. My father searched the libraries of the royal university and also asked houses specialized in magic, even Houses Myrrddin and Morgiana, but found nothing. I am aware our information on dragonewts is outdated, but a mention on flames as white as Goddess Aurena’s magic should be available.”
She tightened her hands, almost as if she was fearful of my answer to her questions. “There is a strong … stigma, against the more fanatical Church of Danterno followers. An accident had happened at the royal academy, recently, where a fire mage professor urged one of his students to, uhm, “express his emotions” on a noble’s son. It didn’t end well for the poor young nobleman.”
Sheesh! Problems, man! And here I thought Macklemor was a rare delusional fire mage. He was nice, until he ranted about Shiterno and so on. Goodness, Shiterno, what are you even promoting your followers to do? Fuck you, for trying to make me one of your blessed! I ain’t solving your problems!
“The Greenveil Duchy is primarily an agricultural and merchant pillar for Artorias, so we worship Goddesses Crustacia and Zephira almost equally. The Goddess of Light, of course, is still our primary divine. I want to believe we’ve gotten closer, and that I didn’t need to be cautious, but I do. I am a Count’s daughter, and I represent my family right now. If you cause any trouble while under our supervision …” Ellaine gulped, looking a bit pale. “We could get into serious problems.”
I could read the underlying meaning. “Punishment by association,” was a pretty popular law during medieval times. If one of your relatives performed something outrageous and was sentenced to death, anybody close—siblings, children, spouse—could receive the same sentence. Looking at Saori, she had a similar thought. Good thing she helped me review these facts.
I let out a deep sigh, scratching my head in irritation. I was already frowning throughout this interrogation, but now I just felt worse. “Don’t lump me in with that damn imbecile!”
“Lady Hestia?!” Ellaine cried out in surprise as I broke my façade.
“I’ll make it clear for you right now, Ellaine. I have nothing to do with him, and I want to continue not having anything to do with him or his church,” I elaborated, raising my voice as anger started to consume me, only calming down once I felt Saori’s and Tasianna’s hands on my shoulders. “… I apologize. It seems I am terrible at controlling my feelings once I’m angered. I lashed out at you once again.”
My [Draconic Aura] had leaked out, following my emotions. Controlling my temper was difficult.
She smiled wryly, nodding in understanding. “No, it is I who must apologize. I wouldn’t have mentioned this if I had known how much it would displease you.”
“Thank you … To elucidate further, [Sanctified Blaze] is a holy spell with fire properties, I can assure you that. It was made with one of my unique skill—an empty vessel skill,” I explained to her about the existence of [White Flames], using what Master Kush taught me to explain it better. She would learn how I received it soon enough, so I pushed that aside for now. “I am a … Let’s say dragonewt, for now.”
Barathan and Ellaine instantly widened their eyes. I didn’t want to lie here
“My body produces a special scale powder—scale-dust, I call it—which I use to create sparks and fire. With [Pyrokinesis] I can control them. I only possess one fire spell in my arsenal and it’s my own custom spell. I do not possess [Fire Magic] or [Inferno Magic].”
“What? But that cannot be. You must have one of them to even create a custom spell with fire as its element. That is how custom spells are created,” Ellaine stated an obvious fact. “I witnessed you cast both lightning and lava element spells during your spar. I am not a fire mage myself, but even I know the different composite elements and which elements are required as their prerequisites. Lady Hestia, it is hard to believe you with those facts.”
“I know, I understand it must sound far-fetched, but I am telling you the truth. I once had [Inferno Magic Lv. 5], I admit, which should clear up how I could create a custom fire spell and own lightning and lava magic. However, sometime during my travels, I lost both fire magic skills and I am currently in the process of reorganizing myself as a mage,” I informed her without being startled by her sudden distrust. “Yes, I have heard about Danterno’s religion, but I am not their associate. I was never and will never become a servant of that idiotic god.”
“… Well, insulting an Origin God isn’t what I would recommend myself, but it isn’t outlawed in our kingdom. I understand, Lady Hestia. I apologize for having my suspicions. I will trust your words considering the person I have come to know,” Ellaine expressed with an elegant nod. “I will inform my father about everything and our plan to travel to Firwood. The information on your status board will be sent to him and everybody who must know will too, when we issue your ID. It will reassure him once he learns what you said.”
“Please tell him not to be shocked when he sees it.”
“Haha … I think he already has a feeling.”
With that finally done, Ellaine agreed on releasing Lorena from her serfdom; in return, I would join her in moving to Firwood. After finishing the letter, she wrapped it around the manatech bird’s leg and activated it, speaking to it as it recorded her voice. She also urged me to repeat what I told her, so her father could hear my admittance, releasing it after everything was sorted out.
The moment it left Ellaine’s hand, the bird flapped its wings like a hummingbird and shot off into the sky. I had no idea when it would return, but seeing it fly away like that, I had no doubts it would reach her father.
“The two commoners will sit inside the servant’s carriage while you and I stay in my carriage. A gargoyle would be faster, but I wish to enjoy a calm trip with you, don’t you agree?” Ellaine regained her smile now that the official business was done. “Also, I wish to have your two retainers, Saori and Tasianna, in the same carriage.”
Seeing me raise a brow, she explained, “I was baffled when you said you considered your companions your equals. While I do adore Josine and do trust her with everything, I also know there is a social barrier between us,” she smiled at her personal maid.
“Your words honor me, Lady Ellaine,” Josine smiled back warmly.
“That is why I wish to know them better. A mage seeks knowledge, as Istari intends us to do. However, due to the social barrier and how it is considered rude to speak with a retainer without her mistress’s consent, I wish to do this under the pretense of this being similar to a request from a noble to an adventurer,” she suggested, finally taking a bite of the pound cake.
“You wish to hire us?” I asked.
“Yes, I will offer you an F rank quest to escort me to Firwood, turning our relationship, until it is fulfilled, to noble and mercenary. I will still treat you with the respect you are due as a princess and guest to House Helvas, but this is all a pretense so I may speak with your retainers.”
It was so round-about, so incredibly round-about, but I guess that was how nobles handled stuff like this? I didn’t know, but she was speaking so comfortably as if she knew exactly what she was doing. Urgh, was I glad I would never have to do this sorta stuff … hopefully.
“F rank is acceptable as the further we go from a settlement, the higher the mana concentration in the area, meaning the risk of monsters will be higher. I am confident in my ability to fend off G or even F rank monsters, but my level is quite low, despite my abundance of skills,” Ellaine told me, explaining she gained most of her levels from fulfilling academy requests but never from participating in a real fight like her father and mother. “I do not believe a D rank would appear, but considering your strength, you would be able to take one down, correct?”
“With the flick of my fingers … literally,” I boasted, before chuckling as I realized the possibility for that statement becoming true.
“Fantastic. You still have the fulfillment document for the bandit quest, correct, Lady Hestia?” Ellaine asked, to which I nodded. “Good. Please hand it over to me. I will gather all the necessary documents and will make sure you gain the appropriate recompense. The nobles of the Greenveil duchy know the importance of a proper transaction, and every deed demands a reward.”
Ahh, so her “merchant-spirit” was the reason why she was so adamant at giving me the money for the white grace. Well, I could say Saori was literally trembling at the idea of even more money. You knew she would fantasize about it later this evening.
With all our plans finished, I stayed a bit longer to ask her a few other questions before leaving the mansion. Most of the questions were directed at how the God Thanking Festival would be celebrated at the capital, and if there was anything exciting she could mention.
“Brother wrote that a few heroes, chosen by Goddess Aurena herself, have arrived at the capital for the ball. One of the two saint candidates was supposed to join also, but didn’t,” Ellaine reported. “Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to learn their names as he and my parents had to report your stay here to the royal family. Even after they returned to the ball, everybody was already crowding around the heroes, so neither my brother nor my parents had the chance to approach them.”
Heroes, huh? I guess that concept was a staple in fantasy novels. So, Aurena already has chosen her champions, so why did she need me? Hmm, Ihope she’ll be able to answer this question once I talk to her, although I have feeling I won’t like what she has to say.
Saying our goodbyes, we left after a lot of talking. Once we were outside, Saori suddenly noticed something in the sky, pointing it out for me.
“Snow?”
For the second time in this life of mine, I saw snow falling from the sky. However, instead of fading away like the first time, this one continued into the night, covering everything in a blanket of white snow. Like a curtain signaling the end of a theater show’s act, this pale veil was like a sign that my time in Carine village was soon to end.
Soon my first idol concert would begin. My debut as a proper idol in Peolynca, the start of my dream becoming true. And with it, the start of my new adventure at Firwood.
AbyssRaven Future plans settled on, new location identified. Two more chapters left till 100.
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