-Callia-

  The moment the king's verdict was passed, his attention shifted back to me.

  “Ser Callia, while I do not hold you liable for any wrongdoing. However, the fact that you remain in the capital despite not having mastery over your allure is something that can no longer be tolerated. I hereby command you to seek guidance at the citadel. As for the last matter regarding mayoral leadership. Since the intended recipient is not available, I will grant Mayor Hew permission to pass his authority on to his chosen heir. A normal letter to update the change will suffice once the northern region is stabilized.”

  With his statement finished, everyone took a knee as he stepped down from the throne. He walked around me on his way out, and I noticed something familiar on his hand. It was a ring made of golden-colored wood. Identical to the ring I had seen countless times on Freema’s hand. I thought about asking, but remembering the pressure he gave, I immediately reconsidered. Perhaps it would be better to ask Freema after I saved her.

  The king disappeared, and everyone finally rose from their knees. Karia came over to my side, but Vienne wasn’t far.

  “You may have gotten away this time, but someday I’ll be rid of you. For now I’ll enjoy having the capital all to myself.” Karia said nothing but smirked smugly as she grabbed my arm. I let her lead me away as the various nobles mingled in the garden discussing the trial. We reached the shifting plates, and a moment later the rooftop garden disappeared, and we returned to Karia’s floor.

  “I would’ve liked to have brought you along with me in the subjugation, but it seems you will be occupied in the near future. I’ll have my son organize an escort team to bring you to the citadel, but I hope it doesn’t take you too long to earn your freedom. Actually, give me a moment and I’ll draft a letter that you may find useful while you’re there. I recommend staying far from the high bishop. I can't interfere in the citadel, but I have plenty of informants telling me about the kinds of trouble he might cause someone like you.” I waited quietly, trying to sort out my thoughts on the matter. Karia handed me the finished letter, and I stored it. I hadn’t expected the last letter a noble gave me to help so much, so I could only imagine what kind of authority this letter had.

  “Thank you, my queen. You’ve been a wonderful host, and though I know you're not pleased being stuck in the capital, having someone like you at the head or near it fills me with more confidence than words can express. If either my brother or I can do anything to repay you, just ask, and I won’t hesitate.” I gave her a smile as I conveyed my feelings. It's sad to part with Karia for now, but we both had royal orders, and I’m sure it wouldn’t be forever.

  After parting ways I contacted Callen to send home Hew, the escorts, and the various slaves who had stuck with us intending to follow. The main reason we needed the guards to escort us in the first place was because Hew was accompanying us despite not being a fighter. Since I was getting a new escort, it didn’t make sense to drag around the old mayor. I’m sure he’s just as eager to return to Port Town as I am, but home visits will have to wait until Callen has time to wait on my side so I can come back. That, or he could invent a new tool to remotely open a gate. That would be a very convenient next step.

  Before the day even ended, I was being loaded onto a cart by Eland. I tried to convey my gratitude for his heroic rescue of my brother, but he seemed far more eager to send me off. My current understanding is that he must be both a workaholic and shy when thanked. Actually, despite running away at every opportunity, I think he might actually like me—at least that's what I told myself because I wasn’t quite ready to give up. Still, I would have to set aside figuring out romance until after graduating from the Citadel, or maybe I’ll find someone I like there?

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I slowed my mind and bopped my forehead with my hand. Since when did I start becoming a love-brained idiot? Shooting monsters was more fun than awkward social interactions. If I find a guy, it’ll be someone who thinks the same! I decisively cut Eland off my list. Sorry, boy, but I’m going to find myself a man, not some capital schmuck. Someone like his mom would be great! I stopped and bopped myself again, earning concerned looks from the knight escorting me.

  “Ser, are you ok in there?” I could feel the halfhearted, obligated tone in his voice, as he didn’t think it was anything serious. “Did you perhaps forget something in the palace? It’s not too late to send someone to retrieve it.”

  “No, I was just trying to realign my mind away from the influence of my chaotic heart.” I gave a dramatic backward tilt, clutching my chest. Seeing the man slightly increase distance made me break into giggles. The cart gradually rolled out the gate, and the pullers immediately got to work. When I was little I was amazed at the speed that had felt blinding, but now I couldn’t help but be a bit underwhelmed. Their skill was only somewhere in the fifties, and their stats were comparatively trash. It could only be considered faster than the leisurely walking we did at Hew’s pace on our way to the capital.

  However, riding in the cart did have one big advantage. I could pretend to be in some kind of mobile tower defense game. Anything that approached the cart wasn’t just shot; it was a trick shot from a variety of fun angles. When I got bored of easy target practice, I could also get to work whittling Dad’s branch back into a spear. I stored all the extra branches in the void for Callen to play with later. Maybe I might have Wither Tree arrowheads in the future? It certainly sounded effective. For now, though, I let the request wait. Callen had finally finished making all the new prosthetics and had set the town on course for recovery, but the long hours had left him severely burnt out. I’m sure he won’t be so enthusiastic when I dump all the high-quality gear that the queen had given me on him for him to enchant.

  Clearing the Road

  Lilia jumped in front of one of the spearmen who missed his thrust, cutting down the monster with ease before repositioning herself to try to watch as the line of children marched down the road. Somehow the disaster that she had anticipated never seemed to come. The only monsters attacked were low enough level that the children had a fair chance in battle. By every measure it was an astounding success that defied Lilia’s understanding.

  When she was abandoned, she remembered monsters of all kinds attacked her every hour, but for some reason this mainly unpatrolled strip of land was the epitome of safety. Even children could clear it with ease. As she grappled with the issue, the soft voice of Shadow whispered to her.

  “I think you should thank me. If I hadn’t carefully controlled our aura, even these low-level beasts would’ve long since fled in panic.” Lilia was immediately on guard. Whatever the shadow wanted, it couldn’t be trusted. The memory of it drowning her in darkness trying to consume her vividly lingered.

  “What do you want?” She restrained her hostility but didn’t hide her strong mistrust.

  “You’ve taken up a habit I dislike; you know which one. Stop, and I’ll cooperate. We could change this disaster into a rousing success. The children will grow, your father will be proud, and we can begin mending the rift separating us. You’re stuck with me forever, so why fight it?”

  Lilia went quiet if Shadow stopped cooperating and the real monsters guarding the road attacked; she wasn’t ready to bear the damage even if none blamed her.

  “Fine, I’ll stop praying.” As she accepted the deal, a cold shudder ran through her body. She hadn’t realized it, but just like when her name was stolen, the bargain was binding. Instinctively she tried to pray for help, but the words were sealed and her mind went blank.

  “So easy. Thank you, my dear Lilia; I’m sure we will continue to get closer.” The smug satisfaction pouring from the shadow into Lilia even made her body smile smugly. She wanted to scream out in anger at being tricked, but she needed to stay composed and focused on helping the others. Even against weak monsters, a lapse in attention meant injuries.