When Maria woke up the next morning, she was overjoyed at the fact that everything around her was just as it had been before. She was still in the same room, wearing the same clothes, there was no change of scenery, no horde of monsters to greet her. She took her time getting dressed, showering, brushing her teeth and hair, and first stepped outside their chambers after an hour had passed.

The servants of the manor bowed when passing her as she walked the halls aimlessly, until she passed the library. Maria could hear Tetra's voice coming from inside, so she opened the door and walked in. Tetra was standing in the middle of the room, multiple large stacks of books were levitating around her.

The beast had her eyes closed and back turned, while Elaine sat nearby, her gaze shifting towards her master. "Good morning!" Her master's voice caused Tetra to let out a shrill 'eep', she spun on the spot and curtsied to her. "A good morning, wise master!"

Despite the surprise, Tetra had managed to maintain the levitation, much to her own joy as was written all across her face. "Progress is being made! I still struggle with, reading but, what I do learn is falling into place quickly." Tetra rose her hands up to her chest, then slowly pushed downward and the books followed suit, landing around her without a single book falling off of a stack. "I will become useful, I swear it."

"I know you will, I have no doubt about it." Maria looked around the wide halls, with a frown forming. "I am sure you will become one of the greatest mages, yes. Have you two seen Sin around?" Both shook their head a no "We've been here since the last evening, my beloved master."

Elaine had grabbed another staple of books and was adding to the piles around Tetra. "She has not come around since then. But she should not be far."

The stacks of books began to resemble towers, almost as tall as Elaine. When she was done and back at her spot, Tetra closed her eyes as her Lore began to shine across her body. The books began to shake as they were pulled into the air, until they almost touched the ceiling.

With a wave of her hand they began to rotate and slowly descend, only to again be pulled upward. Maria watched, her frown growing more and more. "Well I'll, leave you to it, I need to find Sin."

Without another look she left the library, the slam of the door broke Tetras concentration, and only Elaine's quick reaction and web of threads stopped her from being buried in paper. Maria continued her walk down the halls, head hanging low. First the sound of a familiar voice roused her.

"Good morning, my master. I pray your rest has been to your satisfaction?" Sin had just walked out of a door to her left, and her appearance was enough to make her sorrow disappear, if only for the moment.

"Yes I, it was good, yes." Maria ran a hand through her hair, not quite able to meet her gaze. "So what do we, do then? Now I mean." Within two steps, Sin was at her side. "I have just made preparations for this, in fact. If you would please follow me." Sin guided her master out of the manor and through the garden.

The bright morning sun was showering them in warmth, with only a fair breeze making Maria's hair flutter. She could not help herself but look all around her, the sight of the massive flower fields, the busy servants tending to them. "I want a place just like this later, Sin."

"Once your inheritance is fulfilled, my master, this will be nothing compared to what will be yours." The two reached the back of the estate, where Lord Lavalier had built a small greenhouse.

A murder of crows was sitting atop it, with Menagerie already waiting for them. "Young master, how lovely it is to see you this elated! Please, let me introduce my new children to you." When the tall beast rose her hand, one of the crows flew down the greenhouse and landed on her hand. It's claws dug into her flesh, but Menagerie did not seem to mind the bleeding.

Maria took a step back, looking from her to Sin and back. "What do we, need those for?" The crows appeared normal at a glance, but only at the first. They were much larger than usual, their claws were much sharper, and instead of two they had four eyes. They all sat still, eyes pinned on Maria. "They are for reconnaissance, of course! These children are of my own flesh and blood, young master, so my link is much stronger to them. I can see what they see."

With a wave of her hand the birds took wing, flying northward. "I changed them little enough that they should not be detected by the enemy. When there is an opening in our enemies' defences, I will know." Maria began to pace once more. "So for now we just have to wait, yes? And what will we actually, do when there is an opening? Do we just drive through and hope nobody notices?"

Sin locked eyes with Menagerie for a moment, who left the scene, leaving the two alone. "Not quite. We only need to reach the city proper, my master. From there, we will use this."

She looked around for a moment, and when she saw nobody around, pulled out an old, silver key from her pocket. "I have held onto this for you until now, but it is time for you to have it." When Maria took the key into her hands she could almost not hold onto it, it was much heavier than it looked. "What is this for, Sin?"

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

A wide smile spread across her face. "It is the key to the ancient world, my master. That which we were forced to abandon long ago, when the age of magic drew to an end. It is the very foundation of the magic world, anchoring it to the world of man. It can only be accessed with one of these keys, given only to the heads of the old houses, and only from places deeply resonant with the olden days."

She laid both hands onto Maria's. "We spilled enough blood to fill an ocean for this treasure, my master. Guard it well. When the time comes and we can reach the old walls, everything will be clear."

"I will, put it in my bag then, next to sir Screech. It'll be safe there. But, for right now then, what do I do?" Sin let go of her master's hand and looked around them. "My master, you have earned yourself the rest. Menagerie will keep her eyes out, Tetra and Elaine will continue bringing your new servant into proficiency, and I will continue to be at your side if you wish. Please leave everything to us for now, and enjoy the calm reserved for royalty."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The closer Armoire got to Paris, the faster she walked to make up for time lost while fighting. At every major juncture, near every city she tried to avoid there was a contingent of Paladins ready to block her path, and the sheer number of them forced her to halt her pace. Though that was the extent of their capability. Still they fell in droves to the arrows of conquest, the sword of war and spear of famine, only once did she use the scythe of death.

As day turned to night, the roads grew a little clearer, and the stream of attacks ceased. This did not mean that she slowed her pace however, she was only more determined to reach her goal. While wandering through the hillside she did not look back when she heard the sound of running footsteps coming closer and closer. "Milady, please wait!"

She did not, though eventually the man chasing caught up to her. "I have no interest in fighting someone this weak. Go back home, I will still be alive when you are strong enough to be a challenge."

"I am not an enemy, milady, I am an ally!" At his words she gave him a single glance. He was in his late twenties, well dressed and groomed, though his stance and way of holding his blade was lousy. "I do not need allies, go back home." Her words did not deter him.

Though somewhat out of breath, he managed to keep Armoire's pace, walking at her side. "But the queen has returned, milady! And while we may all hold our festivities and praise her, I want to do more than that. Please let me accompany you to her so that I can offer my services!"

The road grew steeper for them, and the exertion showed clearly on the man's face as he tried to keep up. "The most you could do for my master is catch a bullet, and unlike my sisters you would not even get up after. Give it up, stay with your family and help there. If you cannot even keep pace with me then this is the wrong battlefield for you."

"I can keep pace, milady, I swear!" As the road began to slope he once more manage to march at her side, though his legs quickly began to burn under the exhaustion. They walked across the hillside in silence, with the man struggling further the longer they walked.

The moon marched across the skies alongside them, and after six hours of marching, he collapsed. Even when his legs refused to carry him, he kept crawling forward, pulling with his arms.

Armoire stopped, and looked around. They were far from any house and home, with only rolling fields to their right and left. With a sigh she hauled the much taller man over her shoulder and continued her march. "I will drop you at the first dumb comment, or until we reach civilization. Hopefully this will be a lesson to you."

"Yes, milady." The man could speak only quietly now, and quickly fell quiet. Carrying him did not slow Armoire down, though it most certainly dragged down her mood. "You should know your place. It is not the fate of ordinary commoners to walk alongside beasts."

"But my grandfather did, and his father before him, did too." His voice was less than a whisper. "My father always kept the old weapons polished, he trained day and night, waiting for the return of the queen. And when he grew too old he started to train me and my siblings so we could be ready when she would return. I cannot just sit around and do nothing. I saw her on the news, they showed her daily and in every picture they got their hands on, she always looked so lost and scared. I just want to help."

Eventually Armoire passed a small village with a bus station. She let him back on his feet, and under her firm gaze he sat down on the bench, his head lowered. "If you want to help, then stay with your family. This is not your battlefield, but that does not mean there is none for you."

Armoire was standing still, and the man looked back at her, eyes wide in surprise. "If you want to help instead of dying for nothing other than your pride, then stay ready. When war comes to this world, we will need every last hand that can hold a weapon, and then you may make a difference. You will bring your family and my master much more honour that way. "

"Thank you, milady! I, I will, I shall bring glory to the Len-Fey, and to you, I swear it!" After one last look Armoire continued her way out of the village, sighing as she saw the black vans already blocking the way just outside.

They opened and another mass of ten or twelve Paladins formed ranks. "Hold her off, children of justice!" Their captain shouted. "Your orders are clear, the beast must not reach Paris, under no circumstance must the fifth rider reach Paris. For eternal salvation, in the name of the Chapter Master, stand your ground."

Armoire pulled the burning sword of war out of her shoulder, letting it scrape on the ground, tearing the asphalt. The hours of the early morning would be long indeed.