Lord Amete nervously paced in his study, hands clasped behind his back, only briefly pausing to look at his desk before he continued pacing. After a few minutes of repeating the actions he sighed heavily, approaching the desk and grabbing a scroll marked with the royal seal, carefully breaking the seal and slowly unfurling it.
“To the Lord Amete Volbaine of Blackspire
As dictated via Steward Mercurio per the High Queen Vitala’s request,
Lord Amete Volbaine of Blackspire is hereby requested to deliver, in person or in writing, all information regarding Addelaide and Matteo Noirus, pertaining to familial charters and economic ledgers during their tenure as stewards of Blackspire. In addition, Lord Amete Volbaine of Blackspire is hereby sanctioned for all taxation and economic ledgers during his stewardship of Blackspire under Imperial inquisitorial law-
Amete dropped the scroll, leaning with his hands on his desk for a long moment before he quickly moved to his spirits box and pulled his wine free. He briefly debated just swigging straight from the bottle but figured he should keep some decorum, even if he was alone, and pulled a glass out of the box as well. He sat at his desk, filling the cup and taking a sip. “Okay, Amete, just breathe. Breathe, and think. Why is the Crown asking about this now?”
He wracked his brain, trying to think of anything he might’ve done to get in trouble. He all but doubled how much Blackspire produced, the economy was booming... were the Noirus’ connected more than he thought? No, Blackspire was barely on the map when they were in control and it’s been years since they were gone, surely if they had any allies, they would’ve raised a fuss when they first left? He took a deeper, longer sip this time. “It’s fine, everything is fine. I’ve done nothing wrong; I am totally good and safe.”
He kept repeating positive affirmations as he set about penning a response letter, hoping he would eventually believe them...
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Vitala sighed through her nose as she pored over several books and scrolls, occasionally flicking over to her abacque to do a calculation before returning to the papers. She’d only gotten the financial information she’d requested from Lord Volbaine, and what she saw was, frankly, completely average. Blackspire’s colonization was relatively recent, at some point during the previous rulers’ reign, so she saw the typical rises and dips in taxes and income that came with it. There was one sharp drop, right before Volbaine took over, but overall, nothing particularly egregious stood out to her.
This led to the important question: how did the Noirus family end up debtors?
No matter what she did she couldn’t find any financial reason for the debt to have occurred. Even that drop she saw wouldn’t have driven the Noirus into debt, so she had a distinct feeling there was typical political intrigue going on. Vitala’s first instinct was to wash her hands of the whole situation and send the children away, but she eventually convinced herself not to act until she received the lineage papers. Maybe she could find a way to make it worthwhile to remove Lord Volbaine and place the kids under ward as heads of Blackspire, even if that did leave some potential political issues.
“...Ox before cart.” Vitala sighed after a moment of consideration. “All information, then a decision.”
She organized the papers and set them aside, standing and stretching from her desk before letting her senses expand. The world turned into a dark space populated by lights, but a familiar light was already approaching her study, and she groaned as she looked towards the door. A Steward entered, holding a scroll tightly in one hand while breathing heavily, “Urgent message from- phew, from the Jeveraux Academy, Your Highness.”
She raised a brow. It had only been about two weeks since she had begun sending out various inquiries and the Academy was rather famous for being sluggish: she had expected a response after a month, not so soon. The message was passed over and she unfurled it to see a wall of text, mostly padding of her titles followed by use of overly long words she eventually parsed to say “we will tell you later.”
“...Is this all they sent?” Vitala looked at the Steward.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Now normally, this would be the point she rolled her eyes and messaged them “politely” to hurry up, however she also had the alleged headmaster of the school in her employ, and she was more than petty enough to see the slight in being sent an urgent message to wait. She said nothing as she returned to her desk, finding a blank piece of paper and finding a quill to send her response.
“I believe a trip is in order.”
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Hazard smoothed out his clothes as best he could while the group waited in the stone courtyard, marveling at how soft the clothes were compared to his old rags. His, Jeddard, and Ro’s outfits were an incredibly plain grey material, sure, but it was miles above the sometimes-literal potato-sack clothes they had to wear in the mines. Dallia was dressed in black finery, of course, practically bouncing on her heels. Despite the lack of information, he could tell this was important due to the fact she left behind her usual plush toy companions. “I take it we’re going somewhere good?”
“Did Grandmother not tell you? We’re going to the Jevereaux Academy! I’ve wanted to visit since forever and we’re finally going.”
“Ah, the Academy, my old stomping grounds.” Jeddard smiled into the distance, stroking his beard. “I wonder if Miss Benedotte is still making sour tarts during lunch?”
“Can’t believe we’re going out already.” Ro grumbled under her breath. She had been less enthusiastic about being shepherded around by maids and servants to get ready to leave, practically glued to his side out of a near-constant worry over Hazard ever since his fall. Still, he reached out and squeezed her arm.
“Relax, this is a good thing. It’s not quite Aoti’i, but we’re travelling! We can actually meet people our age.”
“I don’t wanna meet people.” She wasn’t quite whining, but she was grumpy in tone and pout.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t comfort her as the Queen made her appearance, standing in front of the group, “Dallia, are you ready?”
With Dallia’s nod the Queen turned to the empty courtyard, and Hazard jolted as he felt a weight settle over the air. The Queen’s hands rose and a large portal swirled into existence, like a vortex of purple fog the Queen casually stepped through. Dallia quickly followed suit, as did Jeddard, and Hazard stepped forward before he was stopped by Ro grabbing his hand. He fought against rolling his eyes as the two finally joined in entering the portal, stepping out to a stone pathway, surrounded on either side by bright green grass. Seeing real, live grass that wasn’t well trodden was still new to him, as was the sudden trilling noise he heard that caused him to look about frantically, spotting a small bird pecking through the blades of grass. He stared at it for a long moment before Vitala cleared her throat, and he realized the Queen, Dallia, and Jeddard were all waiting on a stone staircase.
He and Ro quickly caught up to the group, following the staircase upwards to a tall wrought-iron fence stretching out in a wide circle around a series of tall brick buildings. He saw a few people peering from quartz windows, but they were quick to disappear when he caught their eyes. He didn’t get to observe more as Vitala led the group straight to a stout, domed tower that had several older men and women nervously standing outside it and lining either side of the path, some of whom bowed deeply. Others had their eyes practically bugged out of their heads as they saw Jeddard coming, waving to them.
Stolen story; please report.
“Ms. Lucinde, so good to see you again! Gilberte, you as well! Lady Moirra, how are the kids?” None responded, and Hazard swore he saw some start to nervously sweat. The Queen cleared her throat and a man with long grey hair to his shoulders stepped forward, bowing again.
“Y-Your Highness, it is truly an honored day you visit these halls of learning!”
“I’m sure.” She said flatly, lightly nudging Dallia forward. “My daughter and the... others, will require a chaperone while I discuss things with the Headmaster.”
“Of course, Your Highness, I would be honored to help them explore the Academy grounds! After all, I am sure your daughter will be an excellent student once she’s older.”
The Queen only hummed and looked at Jeddard, “You: follow me.
“Okie-dokie! Can’t wait to see my old office!”
The Queen walked through the open doors while Jeddard followed close behind, and the teachers scattered once the two were gone minus the children’s chaperone. The man nervously cleared his throat, looking straight at Dallia, “Welcome, Princess Dallia, to the Jeveraux Academy! Here, we are the forefront of not only teaching aspiring young minds all there is to know about the crystals, the hearts of our world, but inspiring new research into all the gifts and powers crystals grant!”
The speech was practiced and Dallia was completely enthralled as the man began leading them through the schoolgrounds, showing off buildings and the history behind them... which was the point Hazard started to check out mentally. He tried to keep notes on the conversation and questions between Dallia and the chaperone but it brought to mind all the long, long years he spent in school and the droning of his own teachers in his old life, and he found his mind wandering as he and Ro followed the two. His thoughts drifted to the bird he saw earlier and how little he actually got to see of this world so far. Between his surprise illness and the Queen all but confining them to their quarters for some reason, the most he could do was ask Dallia when she visited or watch the city from a window. The servants that tended to them came in to do their jobs in a blur of motion then left before he could ask anything. He wanted to know the history of the Stormlands, what happened exactly to Dallia’s parents, why there was a giant gold Jeddard-
Hazard paused in his walk, Ro looking at him curiously as he took a few steps back to peer around a doorway. “No way...”
There was indeed a statue on a pedestal at the far end of a long hall, white marble with gold striations running through it, an image of a smiling Jeddard with a foot up on a rock while holding a massive white crystal aloft. Minus a shorter beard, it was a one-to-one depiction of the old man they knew and loved. Ro joined him, Dallia next, the princess looking to their chaperone. “So Sir Jeddard really is Lord Jeveraux?”
“I, y-, n-, uh, it-” The man couldn’t form a coherent sentence, but he didn’t need to as there was a loud grinding of stone as a whole opened on the pedestal, Jeddard himself slowly rising out of the whole in the exact same pose as the statue, rock included, empty hand aloft.
“Students, I have returned!”
What few people had been in the hall gazed up at the statue in shock and confusion, silence thick for a moment until Hazard began clapping, “Well, if nothing else, he knows how to make an entrance.”
“Oh, hi guys!” Jeddard carefully scrabbled off the statue, quickly moving towards them, “How did you all get here?”
“How did we-” Ro cut herself off as she gestured to Jeddard, “How did you get here!?”
“Well...”
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“...and there’s the portrait of Lady Arbane, the Iron Spear, and on her pedestal are the remnants of the famous regimental blade she made when she retired from active service. Oh! There’s Lord Panderbelka, the Wayfinder! I remember him, he was one of my worst students! Always trying to find new ways around the Academy, always getting stuck! On his pedestal is the Wayfinder’s Eye, the origin and inspiration of today’s modern compasses and crystal based directional tools! And there’s-”
Jeddard had rarely been so happy as to have been explaining the tall portraits of famous past students and the pedestals that held the major inventions and artifacts of those students as he and the High Queen made their way through the Hall of History towards his old office. The High Queen had insisted he go through each portrait’s origin, and he especially beamed when he saw High Queen Vitala’s portrait, “Ah, there you are! Lady Vitala the Black, the Storm Born, the Storm Raven, the Storm Witch, the-”
Jeddard’s lips were suddenly pinched shut by magical force, and the Queen spoke up, “We’re here.”
Jeddard’s practically bounced in place as he saw the office doors that were all too familiar for him, and he was so excited he started to speak before forgetting he was muted. The High Queen released his mouth before grabbing the rings of the doors, pulling... and then pushing, and then frowning deeply when the doors did not move. Jeddard raised his hands, “Allow me! I used this trick whenever I forgot my keys.”
She stepped aside as he stepped forward, rubbing his hands together before raising them up towards the top of the door, reaching out with his power. His energy seeped into the stonework, tapping into the crystals there and then with a light push the door unlocked before swinging open. On the other side of the door at Jeddard’s former desk was the stunned face of Jeddard’s former colleague, Lord Gulvére. The High Queen stepped forward, “Your door was locked despite expecting us, Lord Gulvére.”
“I-I... my apologies, Your Highness, I had sent my assistant off to handle some paperwork but told them to guide you to my office. I suppose they got preoccupied. Please, come in, would you like some tea, perhaps-”
“Enough, Gulvére.” Vitala stepped forward, taking a seat in front of the desk. “You know why-”
“Where’s the Golden Beast of Lemat?” The two looked to Jeddard as he scoped out the room, “In fact, several of my favorite toy- er, gifts, are gone! Where’s the stuffed Volian bear, my portrait of the Vrakti emperor Eesharr, my miniature dragon skeleton!?”
“...I came here to question you Lord Gulvére on whether this fool was truly Lord Jeveraux, but it appears he knows this place better than you do.”
Jeddard harrumphed at the High Queen, hands on his hips, “Of course I do! It’s my Academy, after all!”
“Preposterous!” Lord Gulvére shouted, looking to the High Queen, “Your Highness, please, I do not know what game this fool is playing at but there is no way he’s truly Jeveraux! This charlatan must’ve just recited some common knowledge of Jeveraux’s past!”
“Oh, I’ll show you “common!” Fine, then I’ll show you the secret you all hounded me for: my hole!”
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Jeddard blinked as Hazard started to wheeze, Ro smacking her palm to her face, “What? What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Hazard breathed out, “Go on.”
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“Your... hole.” The High Queen was obviously skeptical.
“Of course! It’s the one I used to get around the school for my dramatic entrances!” Jeddard waved for them to follow him as he quickly made his way out of the office. He returned to the portrait of Lord Panderbelka, gesturing to it, “Behold!”
The two stared at him before he smugly raised a finger, pressing on three indents on the side of the portrait’s frame, then swinging the portrait up to reveal a darkened tunnel of stone and dirt. Lord Gulvére stared in shock as Jeddard disappeared down the tunnel, tiny light crystals starting to flicker to life as he moved for the platform that he used to rise out of his statue-
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“Wait, so you just left the two of them there in the hall or did they follow you?”
Jeddard chuckled at Hazard’s question, “What? No, they followed me in of course!”
“...So you left them trapped in the tunnel?”
Jeddard raised a finger, opening his mouth... and a massive crack sounded out before the side of the statue’s pedestal exploded outward. The Queen stepped out, looking much more sour than usual as wind flowed from her hand to blow dust away. Jeddard’s finger went limp and he quickly shut his mouth as the Queen stepped up to him. She said nothing and he nervously giggled, “Well, I proved I’m the real deal, did I not?”
Her eye twitched and she shut her eyes, taking a deep breath... and warping them all away.
The four were back in the courtyard, stumbling slightly at the sudden change. They all looked to one another before Jeddard clapped his hands, “So, what did you all get up to?”
Dallia was quick to regale Jeddard with the tale of the tour and all she learned, and Hazard looked to Ro, “Not quite a proper field trip, but at least we got to go outside for a bit.”
“Even if we didn’t get to really meet anyone?”
“I’m sure one day we’ll be back, either as students or... servants.” Hazard made a face, “I hope as servants.”
“Aren’t you the brainy one? I thought you’d love to get your hands on some books and learn properly.”
“You clearly don’t remember me complaining about school. Would be about as fun as chewing glass for me.” Hazard shuddered at old memories of eight hour school days and teachers who took their jobs way too seriously nor not seriously enough. Jeddard however wrapped an arm around his shoulder comfortingly.
“Don’t worry Hazard! Jeveraux Academy lets you pick your own classes, why some even only take one class!”
“...Oh. Oh that actually doesn’t sound so bad-”
“Unless you are required to follow Dallia’s courses, which you might as her best friend! Dallia, which classes were you looking to take?”
Whatever mental pleas for mercy Hazard could make went unheard as Dallia’s eyes sparkled. “All of them.”
“Starting to wonder if I shouldn’t have taken my chances with the queen...”