“The truth.” I said with barely any hesitation.

  Calmar barked out a laugh, “Not happening.”

  Porter looked at his charge with a side glance before nodding, “As much as I don’t like it, Lord Rosecrest will likely overreact if we give him the full account.”

  Grimoire nodded as well, “He is fiercely protective. I would not be able to prevent him from tearing the Hope district apart to find the culprit. Literally.”

  My brow furrowed, “He’s that strong?”

  “Yes.” Grimoire said without hesitation.

  Calmar cleared his throat, “Some context may be needed here.” He motioned for a chair, “It’ll take a bit, so might as well make yourself comfortable.”

  I took up the only drink I really liked, a mildly sweet citrus drink that wasn’t remotely sour, and settled into the chair he’d indicated. “He’s more than just a noble, I take it.”

  Porter shook his head, “He’s a Noble like I’m a Soldier. Accurate, but not correct.”

  I was curious about that, but put it in the ‘question for later’ corner of my mind. “Alright. Let’s hear it.”

  Calmar drained his glass and took a seat on a couch opposite of me. Before the glass even touched the table between us, Grimoire was ready and refilling the glass. I didn’t even notice him move. Weird…

  The other woman in the room spoke up, “I think, maybe I should tell this part.”

  My attention turned to her and examined her. She was an older woman, maybe mid fifties, but despite the greying hair, she barely had any wrinkles. Those she did were around her mouth and eyes, likely from smiling. Her outfit was rather plain, despite the friendly demeanor, only a long, red skirt and green blouse with some sensible shoes.

  “Typically, as the resident advisor on mental health and wellness, I would recommend telling the truth, despite whatever harm it might cause in the short term.” She shook her head from side to side, “But Lord Rosecrest is known to react only in extremes. I’d recommend we handle the situation delicately.”

  I looked at her and blinked. “Mental health and wellness?” Pausing for a moment, I waved my hand in front of my face to dismiss the question, “Never mind. What’s your recommendation?”

  The other people in the room looked between each other and then to the woman. She cleared her throat, “No later than two months. Give it some time for the investigation to turn something up, then send a message with the reports. With luck, there’ll be somebody for him to take his ire.”

  I looked at Calmar and Porter and shrugged, “Your opinion?”

  “I agree with her, and Calmar doesn’t get a vote on this.” Porter spoke hurriedly, beating Calmar who had just opened his mouth to talk. Porter turned to look at him, “You’d try to take blame.”

  For a moment, Calmar looked like he was going to argue, then slumped forward defeated, “You’re right, even if it kind of is my-”

  The woman cleared her throat and gave him a pointed look. Calmar flushed with embarrassment. “Lady Danielle is her own person, and her decisions are not your responsibility. Neither is her safety. That was Elayne’s responsibility while she was employed, and Porter’s in the interim.”

  Porter sighs, “And Danielle was difficult to keep safe even with Elyane and I working together.”

  I broke my self inflicted promise against sighing and let out a deep one. No one noticed as Calmar kept trying to argue, and the other two double teamed him. Grimoire noticed and was standing at the edge of the chair I'd taken. He offered a refill on the juice and I accepted.

  Looking up at him, I flicked my eyes towards them. “Are they always like this?”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Grimoire wore a complicated expression, somewhere between professional exasperation and personal sympathy. “No, but the past year has been difficult for Lord Calmar.” His voice was low, so as to not interrupt the others.

  I took a thoughtful sip, the juice refreshing but not comforting. “Mind if we excuse ourselves? I do not know your duties, but I am fumbling around blindly, and they keep going on tangents.”

  Grimoire considered the still conversing trio, the animated arguments having broken down into a dark cloud around them. “It may be for the best. I imagine this has broached some sensitive topics.”

  I stood and set my glass on the table where the other drinks had rested. Grimoire guided me out of the room, and through the rooms of the manor. There were a number of paintings and statuettes on pedestals that all looked more performative than sentimental.

  We stopped in a rather large room that was empty save a pair of chairs and a table. The rest was empty space, though there were racks along the walls. Only a few had anything, wooden swords and staves but nothing more.

  Grimoire did not take a seat, instead moving towards the center of the room. “It is quite refreshing that you have come to realize the importance of self defense. While the incident is tragic, it may be treated as a learning experience.”

  “Hopefully the only one of it's kind I need to.” I said as he stood there, eyes taking me in. Not in a sexual way, but as one measures a target or enemy.

  Assessment has ranked up

  Assessment: Tier 1, Rank 1

  “A skill upgrade?” Grimoire asked.

  I threw my hands up in exasperation, “How can everyone seem to tell?!”

  Grimoire smirked, and I very much wanted to punch him. “Your pupils dilate and you are startled, though the latter will only be noticed by perceptive individuals.”

  I blinked. “How… do I hide it?”

  “Get a priest to turn on the ‘Hide Notifications’ option. Most will know how.” His smirk turned to a kind smile. “So you truly have reset. Such a tragedy.”

  “Reset?” That was a new term.

  “An… elven way to describe it. Often a drastic remedy to poor decisions…” His gaze turned to the distance, as if viewing a distant memory. “Or severe soul damage.”

  “Can a priest do that as well?” I asked, observing his stance and posture to try and level assessment again.

  He nodded, with a somber gravitas, “They often won't. It's forbidden in most countries, and often lethal if done improperly.”

  The air grew heavy, and I looked around the room for a change in subject. With the subtlety of a mountain, I asked, “So why are we here?”

  Grimoire followed my gaze to the training weapons. “Training, of course. And teaching. If you're going to be my student, no matter how temporarily, then we’ll teach you how my teachers taught me.”

  His stance shifted, one foot back, one sliding forward. His hands came up, palms up, one close to his chest, the other out. “But first, show me what you know.”

  Calmar had retreated to his personal study, wanting to be alone. Porter had been dismissed, though the man likely wouldn’t go to far. Not after he and Geraldine had become so concerned from the conversation earlier. He hadn’t even noticed when Dani had left.

  “Gods above and below, I’m such an idiot.” He groaned, letting his head thunk onto the desk. As he sat there, head firmly attached to the desk his hand reached towards a drawer. He reached past the bottle that was hidden there and grabbed a well worn letter, addressed to him.

  Not able to help himself, he read it for what must have been the thousandth time.

  Calmar

  As per our usual correspondence, I am still forced to remain here while we monitor the increase in dungeon activity. There’s been a slight increase in the population, and the fatalities from unexpected encounters have risen. Revenue from the taxes at the entrance have also slowed down, due to the excess caution of those capable of entering.

  Your mother is progressing slowly. She’ll shows signs of recovery, but mentioning her son sends her into a feral rage and resets any progress we’ve made in her recovery. Unfortunately, I don’t believe there’s anything further that can be done, and I’m unwilling to sacrifice one of you for the other. You may not be my son by blood, but you will always remain my son.

  Take care of Danielle, and once things stabilize here, I want you and her to visit. While your mother will need to be kept separate from you, I believe the danger is acceptable to see the two of you again.

  Lord Herald Rosecrest

  Calmar reached down and grabbed the bottle, taking a large swig before getting the glass that had been next to it. He poured himself a healthy portion and then returned the bottle to it’s hiding space. Leaning back, he stared at the ceiling reminiscing about harsher times and things that had needed to be done.

  “I can’t seem to protect anyone I care about.” He spoke to the air. “No skills with a blade. No skills with magic”

  Calmar took a healthy draw from the glass and turned to the paperwork he had to do. Letters had to be sent, and accounts managed. “As much as I’d love to keep day drinking, I’ve got work to do.” He sighed and pulled up the first letter that needed his attention.