ASHA’S POV
With the forger tied up and turned into her footstool, Asha is now answering questions from increasingly curious mercenaries who only ever knew her as a spoiled, pampered, pretentious brat.
“Didn’t you say you’d never do this kind of work?” According to ‘original Asha’s’ memories, Nerei Tanner has always been the forthright sort once she’s had enough booze.
I could tell her that “guardians only consider individuals adults once they turn twenty”, but would that work here? Something tells me it did before, but only with...! OW!
Wincing and biting her lip to keep from crying out makes the skilled assassin blink.
“Oh, hey, didn’t mean anything by it.” Hazel eyes look a little hazy as the dark haired woman downs the fifth drink she’s had since Asha sat down. “You said that when you were thirteen, which in guardian years is like five.” Asha just smiles slightly as the assassin signals for another drink.
Letting people draw their own conclusions is a gamble, and I wasn’t planning on getting that mental stab. This will be dangerous moving forward, since I don’t know everything I can or can’t think before stepping on a ‘mind-mine’.
“Five’s a bit much, Nei.” Christian Wright casually pops another cheese covered fry into his mouth. “Seven or eight would be more accurate.”
Nerei just scowls at the Vice Captain of Smoking Rock before brightening once her latest tankard of ale is set before her. Ignoring the High Mage, the assassin gleefully starts gulping down the cheap alcohol.
“Whatever it is, seems Asha’s finally stepping into the family business.” Uncle Dwayne has relaxed a little more with her, but his green eyes are still sharp. “Didn’t think Callan would allow it though. Especially if he’s not around to watch his baby girl.”
“Ah...” Asha remembers acting sheepishly in her seventh life when she tried to keep a low profile. “I was in a hurry so...”
As soon as the bald man chokes, Asha hastily pulls out a frayed and soggy handkerchief. The Swordmaster doesn’t seem to mind the poor condition of the fabric, wiping thick lips as he coughs.
“Y...you don’t have Callan’s permission?” The entire tavern is silent as they listen in on the conversation, attitudes having changed as soon as they realized who her father is when she’d apprehended the forger. “Y...Asha, you’re sixteen.”
“Monique’s eighteen though.” This tactic has worked in every life with the right people, and Asha hastily pushes away the pain in her mind as she continues to widen brilliant blue eyes innocently. “Isn’t that alright since she’s my personal guard?”
Uncle Dwayne isn’t the only one who looks horrified, all the mercenaries knowing full well how much Callan Lamberg adores his only child. Monique is silent next to Asha, but the brunette Mage is probably glad others understand her pain now.
“I just...” She’d been a terrible actress in front of the Imperial family, Council, and nobles in her last life, but Asha’s currently dealing with a bunch of tipsy commoners so she isn’t too worried. “I just wanted to help...”
Instantly Uncle Dwayne’s expression softens, while the scarred blond who’d gotten Asha and Monique chairs earlier discreetly signals for more drinks. The speed at which it happens tells Asha this is their true selves, and she almost thanks them out loud.
I don’t have that Disability anymore, since so many unknown people helped cover the fee for this reset and I didn’t buy any boons.
“I see.” His green eyes are sad, pained, and proud. “It’s very sweet of you to try to help Callan, Asha, but you’re not an adult, not even in the eyes of the Empire. You should be more careful.”
She just smiles, accepting the tankard handed to her by the huge blond mercenary with scars all over his face.
This should do for now. Rushing things never worked out for me.
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It does work out for Asha, since Uncle Dwayne lets her and Monique stay in the room originally meant for two others in his Company. Not only that, but Smoking Rock has been on their way back to the capital so the demigod gets a large group of infamous mercenaries escorting her to the Guild.
I’m glad for this, but at the same time I don’t like it. It hurts like hell when I try to think about past life incidents like this, but I know that when things are going well that usually means the Demon Queen is up to something.
The Guild is large and imposing, towering six stories above ground level and built entirely of black stones and black wood. Asha’s never visited in any life, because in every round before now the Lambergs had been aristocrats for three generations prior to her birth. And since she’d had Monique come alone to get the contract for this job - because no one below the age of eighteen is allowed to sign official documents in the Empire - that means this is her very first time standing before dark double doors.
Did they make it all black to hide the bloodstains?
“So the Rock’s back.” As soon as they enter, a sour-faced male with spiteful eyes glares at Uncle Dwayne, who ignores him and guides Asha along.
“Who’s that?”
“No idea.”
“Looks shabby as hell.”
“A rescue?”
“Rock’s new bitch?”
Asha smirks a little under her hood as aura and mana flare before pained cries make it clear that the Smoking Rock Company hadn’t taken kindly to those words.
They’re not offended for me. They’re offended for dad and Uncle Dwayne. But it still works in my favor, which is both great and disturbing.
“Robertson.” The shriveled brunette behind the counter smiles thinly up at the bald male. “I take it you didn’t fail?”
Now it’s Asha’s turn to be offended on behalf of someone else. Smoking Rock is a famous mercenary company despite its relatively short existence, and is notorious for never failing a mission. More importantly, Uncle Dwayne is both Swordmaster and Captain of his Company.
You diarrhea soaked old mop.
At her tensing, muddy eyes turn to her. “And who might this be?” Stained teeth are clearly visible when he sneers.
Your worst nightmare, the nine-tailed fox.
“This is Lady Asha Lamberg.” At Nerei’s cold voice, so different from her friendly drunken tone, the Guild employee freezes.
“L...Lady...?” Asha takes that as her cue to push her worn hood back, eyes frigid as she stares contemptuously up at the gaping brunette. “I...I apologize, my lady! I meant no disrespect!” When the white-haired demigod refuses to answer, the employee hastily bows low, wrinkled forehead almost slamming into the counter. “Please pardon my insolence, my lady!”
Even if dad’s just a poor Baron here, nobles can still demand commoners be punished for the silliest things. No wonder Viscount Hawksworth worked so hard to reduce the disparity.
“L...Lady Asha!” Stop being so dramatic. I’ve had enough for nine lifetimes. The Guild Master has materialized suddenly, rushing down the stairs towards her. “Welcome to the Mercenary Guild of Loredan! I should have recognized the only child of the Winter Baron regardless, please forgive me for not greeting you earlier.”
Clever, this one.
If Asha takes issue with the lack of greeting, then she’s being a tyrannical noble because she’s wearing cheap, filthy clothes and had her hood pulled low over her face until now, while Monique had similarly hid her own identity as a Snowfall. If Asha takes issue with the subtle insult to her clothes, then she’s being a fool because she’s dressed more poorly than most of the mercenaries in the hall, so no one would have expected her to be an aristocrat.
But not clever enough.
“It is common to be distracted.” The entire hall is silent as people either try to process her words or gape in shock, but Asha has something else on her mind.
When did Duchess Marlowe say that? Was it in my previous life or an earlier one? No, don’t get led astray now. Can’t risk the mind-mine here.
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“Ah...yes it is, my lady.” The Guild Master blinks green eyes before quickly erasing the look of surprise on his round face, bushy brows furrowing slightly. “It is an honor to have you here, Lady Asha.”
Her quarry is suddenly flung at the Guild Master’s feet. As he stumbles back slightly in surprise while the forger screams through his gag, Uncle Dwayne speaks. “Asha was accompanying her personal guard on a contract to retrieve the client’s funds. This is what happened when he tried to pay her with more counterfeit currency. According to the contract, the alternative is for the client to put this fool to work for the rest of his life, Guild Master.”
“I see.” The portly blond glances waves for employees to drag the wriggling cripple away. “I’m surprised you assisted her ladyship on such a low-paying job, Captain.” Do they hate each other or not? I can’t quite tell, which is surprising since they’re just commoners. Unless the gods are involved?
Uncle Dwayne snorts from above and behind Asha’s head. “Asha and her Mage maid caught that conman themselves. We just happened to meet on our way back.”
I really like you, Uncle Dwayne.
For a sellsword from a poor rural farming community who’s fought and bled for everything he’s achieved, the Smoking Rock Company Captain is remarkably good with words.
Stop it Asha, you’re being arrogant and condescending. You have to be extremely careful this time and take everything into consideration if you don't want to fail again.
The realization is sobering.
Now that I think about it, in every life before this I only engaged with commoners from 'above' them as the daughter of at least a Count, Grandmaster, and Hero of the Empire. If I'm being honest with myself, I always saw commoners outside Lamberg as people to be pitied, helped, ignored, used, employed, or punished. I can't do that anymore. Plus Dad may hold a Baron's title here, but let's face it: we're poorer than many commoners thanks to having to pay aristocratic tax rates on vast and barren northern lands.
That's another thing she has to sort out quickly, and the reason why she's trying to earn money.
Now that I’m walking this path, I can't assume things and fall for anymore traps; I’ve made enough mistakes for nine lifetimes. I need to win this game and make the gods and demons wish they’d never been born.
“Is that so, Captain?” Now that I’m doing my best not to be prejudiced, it seems like they actually get along? “As expected of the Lune Clan, even the sixteen year old heir to the chieftain is a capable fighter.” Where is he going with this? “Forgive me, I’ve kept you waiting, Lady Asha. We will process your personal guard’s reward for a successful mission now. Yours as well, Captain.”
“Appreciate it, Guild Master.” Her words make the middle aged man blink again, before a rotund face beams.
“Anytime, Lady Asha. While you are underaged, the laws of Loredan and the rules of the Guild do not prohibit mercenaries from bringing others along if all parties are willing.”
Is he going to be an ally or foe? I can’t tell for certain yet.
...And here I thought commoners were easier to deal with than nobles. I know now that they only seemed that way because of the status, wealth, and boons I had in previous rounds.
As Monique signs some documents and collects a meager payment of twelve gold coins, Asha’s natural curiosity kicks in and she looks around. The Guild Master is chatting with Uncle Dwayne in that odd manner again - not friendly, but not at all hostile - as some members of Smoking Rock greet fellow mercenaries. Judging by the whispers and glances, everyone in the capital will soon find out that Asha left home to earn money as an unofficial sellsword, which means the nobles are going to have a field day.
This can go either way. I’ll have to play my cards right so they don’t ostracize me more than they already do, for doing something considered ‘dishonorable and vulgar’. But if I do well they’ll start to think of me as a filial daughter and responsible heir to the House - reducing one’s enemies’ ranks is always a good thing.
Uncle Dwayne and ‘TT’, as the hulking scar-faced mercenary is nicknamed, accompany Asha and Monique all the way back to the townhouse on the outskirts. It’s a long journey from the Guild, which is located on the other side of the capital in an area Asha has never once visited in any life, but it gives Asha the opportunity to further improve the bald man’s opinion of her.
He’s already proven he’s a good man at heart. The more he likes me the harder it’ll be for him to be swayed by the gamblers’ rolls. But it can also backfire, so I need to be careful.
“Do you have any tips for me, Uncle Dwayne?” A warning thrum starts in her head when she briefly thinks about the times her childlike appearance turned situations to her advantage. “Daddy’s taught me some of what he knows, but sometimes I think he doesn’t want to scare me so...”
“Ah...” The seasoned mercenary scratches the side of a strong jaw while his eyes flick quickly to the side as he tries to think of a response. “Well, it’s hard and dangerous work being a mercenary, Asha. I can understand why Callan prefers to keep you at home where it’s safer.” ’Safer’, not ‘safe’. I was right - Uncle Dwayne is remarkably sharp. “But if you’re determined to help your House like this...”
“Yes!” Keep acting like a child. ‘A sixteen year old guardian is the equivalent of nine year old non-guardian’, wasn’t that what Vice Captain Chris said? Everyone else seemed to agree with him as well. “I really want to help my dad and everyone who’s been taking such good care of me.”
“I see.” Uncle Dwayne’s expression is soft and fond as he looks down at her. “Callan’s very lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.”
Blushing slightly at the honest praise - a reaction she’s never been able to control - Asha doesn’t need to think about her response. “I’m the lucky one, since I have the best dad in the world.”
Chuckling, the Captain reaches over and ruffles her hair the way he used to do when she was little in this life. “You absolutely do, Asha. Your dad’s crazy about you, but I get it.” When he pulls back and green eyes take on a more pensive look, Asha wonders which way the dice rolled, if at all. “The most important thing for you to remember is this: never trust anyone outside your family.”
Shouldn’t it be ‘never trust anyone’? Commoners have family feuds too, from what I recall.
Blinking, she cocks her head and waits for her father’s old friend to continue.
“Well, your dad and everyone in your House are fiercely loyal to you, Asha, so you can trust them in my opinion.” He seems pleased with her unspoken question, judging by his tone. “‘Blood doesn’t make family, and family doesn’t make blood’ is what mercenaries like to say.”
“I understand, Uncle Dwayne.” Never heard that before. “Just like Snowfalls and Winterblades are my ‘family’ even if we’re not blood related, so do members of Companies become like families as everyone fights for and alongside each other for years.” Green eyes crinkle as a small smile plays on thick lips. “You also mean to say that not only should we not fight with such ‘family’, anyone outside of that circle is not to be trusted. And finally, if 'family' tries to mess with me that proves they’re just a wolf in sheep's clothing.”
I considered the wrong people 'family' before, didn't I?
When he grins like that, he looks much younger than his age. “Exactly.”
It’s called ‘common sense’ for a reason, since nobility and royalty usually prize bloodline above all else.
“Thank you for your advice, Uncle Dwayne.” Her head really hurts when she beams up at him, a distant memory of receiving a precious book slipping through the cracks. “I...”
“ASHA LAMBERG!”
The last time he said my name like that was...AGHH!!!
Wincing as the now-Swordmaster rides towards her, Asha forces away the memory. Another seems to stab at her mind when she sees Callan Lamberg in such dirty, shabby clothes - a whisper of shadows and pain that she pushes aside ruthlessly to prevent succumbing to the mind-mine. Her father’s worried and furious expression is ill-suited for such a handsome face, so Asha forces a smile and waves cheerfully.
Think about it later. Focus on now. Dad needs me - both as his daughter here and because of what will happen otherwise - so I need to love and protect him. He’s suffered enough for me already, when he deserves only peace and happiness.
“Hi daddy!”
It works like always, and Asha smiles for real as Uncle Dwayne chuckles next to her.
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SELENA’S POV: DEN OF DICE
“Honeymoon! Get over here!”
Selena smiles as she has for centuries and walks over, bowing politely and taking the orders of the same lecherous demigods as always. Everyone knows how they make their credits, but that’s not what’s important now that Rayleigh has beaten so many Higher Demons and the Goddess of Time on his first wager.
Hekaty and Apollonius have a plan. I must uphold my end of the bargain.
As she serves food and drink and endures the groping like always, Selena’s eyes can’t help but be drawn to her daughter’s soulmate, who’s now upping the ante since he’s gained a great deal of credits.
I hope you know what you’re doing. My Asha has given so much for you already. Why is a pathetic prat like you her soulmate?
Resentment like this is out of character for the patron goddess of newlyweds and those on their honeymoon, but Selena is starting to get antsy after so many failures. More importantly, her mother’s cold smile and the setting on the World Table are making her wish she could defeat every god, demon, demigod, and ‘hero’ gathering in the Den of Dice.
Still so much to tell you, my baby. If you only knew that Aunt Apatie wanted you to reset until this 9th life, just like she did every other player before...
The most important thing she’s learned after all this time is that knowledge is power. But there are rules that even gods and demons must observe, so Selena has to abide by them as a mere demigod.
I thought it’d be different the last time. I thought that with Callan paying to remember some hints, with Asha paying for clues and to become more than she’d ever been - Grand Duchess, Minister, inventor, alchemist, economist, diplomat, musician, singer, mathematician, politician, writer, philosopher, poet, investigator, Elementalist, entrepreneur, a wild genius adored by as many as possible - that she’d finally win. Because some of those skills were already improved in previous lives, so they should have helped her get closer to her 20th birthday. But mother and Aunt Apatie...
Chronelia and the Demon Queen look as bored as ever, but Selena knows them well enough by now. They’re losing to the determined descendant of Loredan, and despite her frustrations Selena has a grudging respect for the fool who’s willing to remove his existence for her daughter’s happiness.
Rayleigh gave up all the credits he had left before the 8th round to pay for whatever hints and changes he could get, all in the hopes of finally helping the light of our lives win. But despite the many sacrifices, mother and Aunt Apatie managed to kill them all anyway. And they did it out of the blue as usual, because they relish the despair of others.
The twin sisters’ eyes narrowing tells Selena all she needs to know. Asha has gotten the upper hand, and Rayleigh has won his bet. It hurts because she can’t intervene and protect her baby, while Hekaty and Apollonius have to be careful not to show their hands too early in this final round.
My brave, brilliant, and beautiful daughter’s burden of a soulmate has had to trade that which is most sacred to each of us in exchange for paying off Asha’s reset fee and buying her Independence.
She often feels like the worst mother in the world, but that situation is remedied as soon as she looks upon the goddess who birthed her. Even now Chronelia’s eyes glimmer as she leans forward and makes another wager - offering to return Elementalism to Asha if Rayleigh wins the next bet.
You don’t deserve to be a mother, grandmother or goddess. The generational trauma ends here - I will not let my child suffer for your entertainment and schemes. My daughter will be happy, loved, and free.
Unbidden, her eyes flicker to the World Table when Asha grins.
My baby, you will be the first victorious player in history. I swear it.
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MOONRISE BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 36 END