EPISODE 132: FIELD TRIP
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
Journal Entry: 101
There is nothing to hold me back anymore, I know I possess the strength to do what needs to be done. The Crown is heavy, but its weight can’t be much worse than that of the [Chosen of Madris]. Minerva is missing, and the plan I’ve spent countless hours pouring my hopes, dreams—aspirations into… can begin. I know she would not enjoy what I plan, for it is deception. These people do not understand political matters in the same way I do. It is not that they are dumb or behind, simply, they lack the same advantage as me. I’ve emerged from a society that has a long history, with a different mindset that they do not see. Their history is long, seven thousand years long, but much of it is… estranged, especially during the parts where the previous [Chosen of Madris] began their conquest. The current society lacks the context needed for that history to remain relevant.
To Edryan, politics is important, but the strength of an individual house is far more important. Since my rebirth, I recognized an inherent problem in the Edryan Queendom. Houses have stifled its growth. Nobles, here in Edryan, look out for their benefits first. It is not wrong to do so, but it is an obstacle I cannot allow to exist in my Edryan.
Upon my return from the Hall of Attributes, things I wondered and suspected are falling into place. Nearly seventeen years of planning and work are falling into place. The change in government is a poisoned chalice to the nobles. Arguably, on paper, it seems much better than what they have currently. Of course, there are detractors, but they pale in comparison—and, the Forever Bound Clause ensures that no matter what, should they agree, they will never fade in the annuals of Edryan history. It is the replacement of the hereditary system and secures their descendants for as long as the Goddess lives—to the Edryans that means forever.
Now, I must confirm something about my best friend. Perhaps… I wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
— Excerpt from the journal of Lawruthian Edryani, Chosen of Madris.
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Simra shivered, the cool morning draft brought a cool autumn air and the official start of Color Fading. Orange and brown leaves blew by as the trees began to lose color, while a light blue, cloudy sky hid the early morning sun. Even at this early time, the streets of Edrya were busy—the city was packed with visitors and more for the Imperius Grand Summit. Simra waited outside of her family’s small compound, a small pack of essential items packed away in her spatial ring. She was anxious but anticipated the arrival of the quickly approaching carriage.
Behind her, two sleepy young boys, Luka and Jari, held a blanket around themselves, struggling to stay awake as they leaned back on the smiling figure of their father. Around their necks were two identical talons, a gift from their elder sister.
“Let me fix you up one final time,” her mother said. The shorter woman approached and shifted some items on Simra’s dress. “There, now my beautiful daughter is dressed well enough to meet the prince. Let me see a spin!”
Simra complied, laughing as she turned and spun. A long burgundy, flowy dress, with golden highlights, fell just past her knees. The dress held long sleeves that followed the same flowy pattern and ended just past her fingertips. It was a gift from her father and the most expensive thing Simra had ever worn, outside of her armor, of course. Two small, thin gold bracelets were on both wrist. She’d have worn more jewelry, but her father was only a small time noble that remained in the capital. They weren’t poor by any means, but they didn’t possess the means to follow the traditional Edryan culture with ease.
“Good! Now put on your cape before you catch a cold, my dear. Remember the manners we taught you and make sure you don’t associate with anyone outside His Highness. Also don’t forget-,” her mother began nagging.
“Don’t nag my daughter to death,” her father quickly interjected. “Quick, the carriage is here, get on while I fend off your mother!”
The heavyset man interposed himself between his daughter and wife and let a laughing Simra quickly scoop up her brothers to hug them. Two fat, wet kisses were planted on the sleepy boys’ cheeks before they were deposited into the arms of her parents and Simra made her escape into the carriage doors held open by the driver. Two large white steeds, with singular horns on their heads—unicorns, neighed and stomped. The magical beasts were ready to take off toward their next destination.
“Glad of you to join me,” an amused voice said.
“It’s great to see you again Karla,” Simra exclaimed, removing her cloak as the interior of the carriage was heated.
The two girls quickly hugged as the carriage began its movement. It was the first time they’d seen each other since Imperius Academy finished the first rail system. Once they pulled away, Karla surveyed Simra up and down as the young woman settled down on the expensive cushion seat—the private carriage was directly from the palace, their destination.
“Burgundy…? It’s striking against your blue eyes. I like it!”
“Thank you! The black you’re wearing suits you very much. Will you be writing a news report on the summit?”
“Oh yes! Law has invited me to write an article concerning the events that are happening each day! He’s even giving me the opportunity to interview some ministers and heads of the noble families. Oh, Goddess, I’m sooo excited Simra! I’d always thought I’d be taking over my family’s business in inscriptions, but now with my [Journalist] class and the new road it’s paving for me…,” she paused to take a breath. “I think I can create another class line for my family! Not just that, but a [Legendary] one at that! Who knew talking to people and gathering stories would bring me this far?”
Simra smiled happily for her friend. During their time away, Karla seemed to have grown into her entirely unheard-of class. She held a large notebook with several ink-filled containers the prince called pens. They were a gift to her in hopes of getting her class started and allowing her to write detailed notes whenever, wherever.
“Enough about me! Tell me everything! How was the final stretch of the rail system… I know you and Lorde were together,” Karla finished slyly, poking at her friend.
Simra giggled, a bit of the pressure on her shoulders relieved by Karla and her antics. There was a lot on her mind and her Titled and quest, [Light of the End], was at the forefront. The Sage tasked her with revealing her Titled, and not only that, but to revive the name of the Enlar House. Simra felt it would be easier to make pigs fly. Her eyes flicked to the open quest, something that she’d constantly viewed since morning, before she began to tell Karla her woes.
Quest: [Light of the End] — Divine
Quest Details:
The Enlars are brothers and sisters to the Edryanis. Blood intermingled through generations of marriage alliances. Goddess Madris has tasked you to reestablish the Enlar Clan to their rightful place as protectors of the Edryan State and more. To reestablish yourself as the [Light of the End].
Make a name for yourself amongst the populace of Edryan. Reveal your title.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Rewards:
Second Function of Titled: Light of the End.
Failure:
Goddess Madris — The Sage lost favor.
“We… have a good understanding of one another, but… I’d like to see him outside a noble aspect, as I get to see with Law.”
“You grew up playing with Lawruthian, of course, you didn’t know it at the time, but still! Lorde is just as handsome as the prince—his icy green eyes…,” Karla squealed at the end. “…and he is related to a [Hero]!”
“Yes, but… I know what Law is like outside his position, and even if Imperius Academy throws away titles of nobility and attempts to put us all on the same level—it is nearly impossible to bridge the gap between classes and the demeanor nobles hold. With Lawruthian, when it’s more private, I get to see him as himself—not the [Chosen of Madris] or Holy Prince. It’s… nice.”
“Do you like Lorde? Or… do you like the prince,” Karla mused.
“I,” Simra began blushing before whispering. “I like them both, but Lawruthian is too far for me.”
“Then,” Karla began, a finger on her chin. “It sounds to me like you need to drag Lorde into the city for some fun, and as for Law… well… he is our prince and the [Chosen]…,” she trailed off. “It’ll be nice to see him today… it’s been far too long.”
“Enough about me! How about you and that boy who’s been following you around like a lost puppy,” Simra questioned. A massive grin was on Simra’s face as Karla pulled her notebook over her face.
The conversation continued like this for several minutes until the carriage halted once again. This time, a young, short magi with unremarkable blue eyes and short dark hair entered the carriage.
The two girls moved to sit next to one another a give him space on the opposite end.
“Good morning Luke,” Karla greeted warmly, while Simra gave him a nod.
The young man returned their greetings but didn’t do more than that as he turned to gaze outside. He seemed distracted, and the girls looked at one another and shrugged.
“There is only one more person to pick up before we head to the castle. It looks like Lawruthian is having all the commoner members of Class One arrive in the castle. I wonder why us specifically.”
“Well, I was informed that I should bring my gear and to be prepared to stay for the rest of the event,” Simra responded to her best friend. “You probably have more information than me.”
“As I said earlier, I’m here to record the events for the newspaper. I think His Highness will develop the first Edrya Weekly. If I had to take a guess… then you should be here for the Challenger’s Ring.”
“That’s right, we’re both here for the Challenger’s Ring. Zie will be joining us for that event as well,” Luke said, his attention leaving the window for a moment. He still seemed distracted as he shook his head and turned back.
The girls looked at one another and shrugged, paying it no heed. Luke Walker had always been weird, even when it came to them being in Class One together. He hadn’t interacted with them much, preferring to stay to himself. In fact, both of the final two commoners in Class One were like that.
“So all four commoners from Class One will be in attendance,” Simra mused. “What is the summit for exactly? I understand there will be a sacrifice to Goddess Madris, but… why?”
Karla shrugged. She wasn’t a noble and didn’t have the same insight they held to events like these. Most of the girls’ knowledge came from the public schools in the capital which generally taught the history of Edryan but not what things meant in the noble circle.
“The sacrifice to our Goddess Madris is for Her acknowledgment and approval for the events to come. What we should be worried about is the Challenger’s Ring,” Luke spoke up again.
“Oh, why is that,” Karla asked curiously.
“Because, it is very possible one of us may die. You may not understand it yet, but as the final four commoners of Class One, we are going against the grain, the system of nobility. All of us…” Luke’s eyes flickered to Simra before they returned to the outside, however, the young man continued to speak. “…are of commoner origins, but we have striven hard and lasted where we should not have. What image do you think that leaves?”
Neither girl responded for a moment, Luke’s words still echoing in their minds.
“That… shouldn’t matter, it’s only four of us.”
“Anything over zero is too many. That is four spots other nobles could have received. His Highness wants to show that his method worked, that, commoners with available opportunities, can pick themselves up and rise to new statuses. It’s similar to Princess Carina’s Commoner Empowerment Act, but His Highness wants it on a broader scale.”
Before the two young ladies could respond, the carriage halted once again. The final and fourth commoner still in Class One entered.
Zie looked around, nodded to Luke, before taking his seat across from Karla—not bothering to acknowledge the women.
Karla frowned and began to speak, but a hand on her leg by Simra stopped her. Zie had never attempted to make friends with them, and neither girl was certain as to why.
Simra decided to let it go. From Luke’s words earlier, this event held far bigger implications than she understood. To her family, and much of her community, the Imperius Grand Rising was a celebration of the Holy Son’s victory in Starglow Valley, and a sacrificial ceremony offering worship to the Goddess. They didn’t know much of anything, but the merry, jubilant atmosphere that was cultivated in the city quickly spread from corner to corner.
Karla turned to her notebook and began to write. Occasionally, she would sneak a peek between Luke and Zie, a small smirk on her face. Both young men were silent, and Luke continued to stare outside the window, a troubled expression on his face. Zie held a spell book in hand and calmly flipped from page to page. The young mage muttered under his lips, but even the inhabitants of the carriage could not hear him with their attribute enhanced bodies. Simra, on the other hand, fell into a state of worry. Her eyes continued to glance at her quest, then back at the blurry outside as the unicorns sped along.
A sudden but smooth jolt of the carriage brought the attention of all parties. Luke sighed and sat up, his appearance and demeanor seemed to shift all of a sudden. Before, the worry he felt was radiating around him, not affecting his classmates but easily viewable. Now, that worried expression was gone, replaced by a confident, bright-eyed young man. He wore a form-fitting, black suit with golden highlights, and his hair was slicked back with a part by his left temple.
Luke flicked open a pocket watch, one that had seen better days, before rubbing at the carved interior. Nodding to himself, he turned to the others and spoke.
“We’re here. Please keep in mind we represent Imperius Academy, yet we also represent the commoners of Edryan. They will be watching us. There will be looks of disdain, perhaps comments made about our birth. Ignore them, for we are under the protection of the crown, but more importantly, we are under the protection of the [Chosen of Madris].”
The group acknowledged his words, even Zie.
Karla quickly turned to Simra. “Let’s look over each other one last time.”
Simra glanced up and down at Karla. Her best friend was almost unrecognizable until she talked. She wore a bright silver dress with golden highlights. The dress revealed a small but modest portion of her upper back and collar bone. In Karla’s words, it was ‘just before scandalous,’ and would attract the attention of the young noble boy who took a fancy to her. Like Simra, she didn’t possess much jewelry but two large, hoop earrings drew attention to her glittering neck.
Zie closed his book, straightened his collar, then returned his body to a neutral state. His dark eyes held hints of wind green and flame orange within them. He was dressed in a black dashiki and held no other color of any kind on for his clothing. His short curly hair was faded to his temples while his sharp monolid eyes remained unimpressed. Floating before his right eye was a golden chain monocle whose chain hanged broken after a few links. It was clearly a magical item, and a powerful one at that. He sat like the world owed him something.
There were two small knocks from the carriage driver, and the girls readied themselves. Seconds later, the doors opened, and the four stepped out onto the perfectly cobbled stones of the War Throne Palace.