ASHA’S POV
I don’t remember why I moved three years back, but perhaps it has something to do with not rushing things the way I did last round? It’s a double-edged sword, though. Less time to the finish line means the gods & demons will rush their antics, more time means they can cause more trouble for their entertainment. Or maybe whoever it is who helped pay for my reset and Independence chose to send me to this point in time?
She’s standing by herself on an elegant balcony, the sounds of music and chatter muffled by glass doors. It’s a cool night, and would be chilly for most but Asha isn’t affected as she gazes out over manicured gardens, the likes of which she usually sees from her own bedroom window in previous lives.
Moonlight is soft as it falls on her skin, and as Asha tilts her head up to stare at the heavens she wonders again why so many memories have been kept from her.
Was it part of the bargain, the pain included? Or is there something else at play? This is so frustrating. I wouldn’t intentionally handicap myself like this, not when it’s my last chance. Unless all this is part of my plan? Then...is the pain meant to serve as a clue? I know those clown farts would’ve been happy to have such a deadly distraction present in my head, and some of them love whenever I’m hurt so if I’d wanted to play them and get my way...
“...sha?” Tensing, she spins around and condenses mana, blinking and wanting to scream for joy when she realizes her Elementalism is back.
WHOEVER YOU ARE, I LOVE YOU. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
Viscount Hawksworth and Marcia step back immediately, eyes widening as they watch powerful streams of mana materialize around Asha and lower the temperature on the balcony drastically.
“L...Lady As...Asha.” Oh, oops.
“My apologies, Lady Marcia.” She dissipates the freezing cloud with an ease honed from two prior lives as an Elementalist. “I didn’t mean to trouble you.”
Marcia is still shivering slightly from the sudden cold spell, while Viscount Hawksworth is watching Asha carefully.
“Lady Asha, when did you become an Elementalist?” Huh? He didn’t know much about this in the last life, so how...? No, now’s not the time. Quick, think of a response.
“I’m the heir to the Lune Clan, Viscount.” How can I tell you I just got it? And why did it activate so stealthily? Usually it requires an unlocking mechanism, which means someone paid a small fortune to make it available to me immediately. Whoever you are and whatever your reasons, I’m grateful.
“Lady Asha...” Marcia’s eyes seem a little softer in the moonlight. “Were you hiding your abilities because of misconceptions around Elementalists, or to prevent becoming more of a target?”
I’m liking where this misunderstanding is going. Thanks Aethean.
“Well...in war it’s always best not to reveal too much too early.” Since Aethean is goddess of wisdom and warfare, that answer will please her.
“‘War’, you say.” Marcia looks thoughtful, before seeming to come to a conclusion. “Well, you are the daughter of a Swordmaster who only became a noble before your birth.” According to my earlier lives, your next words will be... “It’s unfortunate but not unexpected that other aristocrats will see you as a commoner forcing your way into their ranks.” Yes! You said this to Medea three times before. “And since Elementalism has long since faded from the Empire, it will be easier for them to spread false rumors of you being a Sorcerer in order to get rid of you.”
“What is this talk of getting rid of Lady Asha?” Daiki must have nudged the three of you. “Lady Marcia, please explain.”
“Lady Alissia, you’ve seen for yourself twice now how some nobles make up stories about Lady Asha.” It looks like Marcia is barely holding back from saying ‘as she herself used to’. “And due to Viscount Hawksworth and I surprising her, Lady Asha has accidentally revealed herself as an Elementalist.”
“‘Elementalist’...?” Norine cocks her head and looks up at her older siblings.
“I’ve read about them.” Daniel is looking at Asha thoughtfully, though his voice gives nothing away. “The last confirmed Elementalist in the Empire was approximately nine hundred years ago, and there have since been various unsubstantiated rumors that most of them hide their abilities because envious parties allegedly falsely accuse them of being Sorcerers.”
’Unsubstantiated rumors’, ‘allegedly’...you really are your father’s son. What if I told you I was actually accused of being a demon worshipping Sorcerer in my second life because I was also an Elementalist then? No...you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourself anyway. Which means in my first life...AGH!
“Why are they accused of being Sorcerers?” Like her siblings, Norine prefers to act on facts instead of jumping to conclusions, though her gray eyes widen slightly when Asha winces from the mind-mine.
You taught them well, Marquess Fenceton. And I suspect my reaction to the mental pain might be interpreted in a way that helps me, given your children’s lack of hostility and prejudice.
“Because Elementalists use mana differently from Mages, Lady Norine.” Come to think of it...Count Eszes thought Elementalists were a myth in my last life, didn’t he? Well, that’s just like him to still read up on them out of curiosity anyway, and pass that same love of learning down to his children. “They’re able to make their element do whatever they want, without the restrictions Mages face in terms of spells.”
“I see...that does sound similar to what Sorcerers can do.” Norine’s face is thoughtful, but her voice is kind even as her eyes take on a concerned look. “Isn’t it a simple matter of having an Elementalist’s mana verified, though? Especially when Sorcerers can’t use mana at all.”
“Not all Mages tell the truth, little sister. And mana meters were only recently invented.” Daniel seems a bit worried as well, after Asha’s reaction on the heels of his earlier words. I like these misunderstandings. Carry on. “Fortunately, there are a few in the Ministry of Justice, so we can bring Lady Asha there for verification.”
“I agree, Dan.” Alissia’s voice is kind even if her face is impassive. “Lady Asha, shall we? It would be best to have this sorted out as quickly as possible.”
Marquess Fenceton, I owe you. And you as well, Daiki.
“Thank you, Lady Alissia.” Would there have been wagers about this? If so, will I be getting anything else?
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RAYLEIGH’S POV: DEN OF DICE
I know you hate me, Chronelia. And based on what Light told me, Aphrodilia has always hated me as well. I look forward to taking the two of you down, alongside the Higher Demons.
The goddess of love, beauty, and desire is breathtaking in a way that is similar to Medea, which makes sense based on what Light said. Even now when she’s scowling and glaring daggers at him, Aphrodilia is still the most stunning being he’s ever laid eyes on.
No, she isn’t. Don’t be a fool, Rayleigh. She can’t compare to Asha, no one can, and the moment you start falling for Aphrodilia’s wiles you’ve lost again. Shall I taunt that vile goddess now or later? It’ll definitely make her react rashly, and if I time it right it’ll be of help to Asha. More than that however, I’d love to get back at her for everything she’s put Asha and I through.
“Keep your head in the game, Rayleigh Loredan.” Former Chieftains of the Lune and Sol Clans have started to gravitate to the Den to linger around him, and he’s grateful for the moral support even as guilt makes him want to beg for forgiveness.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
There is no forgiveness for me, not after everything I’ve done. Asha...I’d hoped you’d remain in the mortal world forever with your Clan and descendants, but since you gave up your agelessness to see me again we will reunite in the Great Hall when your time is up. I just hope that by then I’ve done enough to be worthy of speaking to you.
On the World Table, Asha is disembarking the Fenceton carriage. Rayleigh wants to scowl when he sees Viscount Hawksworth immediately offer Asha his arm as an escort, but knows he has to keep his face impassive during this high stakes game.
“Shall we make the meters malfunction?” Meidos, Demon General of Avarice, is looking to Oiseus, Demon General of Sorrow, who nods and pushes some credits forward. Instantly, Daiki scowls and raises the bet, clearly hating when her territory is invaded.
Should I participate? I have to repay Oiseus for making me succumb to despair several times, after all.
A subtle brush to his shoulder by teacher’s father tells him to hold on.
Thank you, sir. It wouldn’t do to rush things, like teacher always said.
Oiseus rolls two ten-sided dice, and Daiki grits her teeth before grabbing the pair off the table.
Please win, Goddess of Justice. Asha needs you to.
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ASHA’S POV
Looks like Daiki won in the end, but having two meters claim I have no mana…fortunately Marcia recalled seeing me cast low level spells before, and was willing to have herself tested on those same meters. I’m guessing Woe-Is-Me was responsible for the incredibly stressful half an hour I had to endure. Hope Daiki gets back at her for it until I return to the Great Hall and beat her up myself.
Thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Justice, the announcement that she’s the Empire’s first Elementalist in almost a thousand years cannot be disputed. Which is why she’s now attempting to embroider handkerchiefs to gift to the Fenceton siblings as well as Viscount Hawksworth and Marcia.
“Ow! Tsk.” While she’d attempted such ‘ladylike’ activities in the past, Asha’s never been good at sewing. Scowling at the latest prick to her already damaged fingers, she debates just giving up and asking Monique for help.
If I give them such a mess, they’ll just see it as an insult anyway.
Mind made up, she rises in search of her maid. In this life most of the Snowfalls and Winterblades are constantly out on missions to earn enough money for living expenses and taxes, so even though this townhouse is the tiniest home Asha’s ever lived in it still takes her awhile to locate Monique, who’s currently helping out in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry for bothering you, Monique.” Head Chef Ellis had immediately shooed the Mage out of the kitchen as soon as Asha made her request, but the white haired player still feels bad knowing there’s no one else available to assist with lunch preparations.
“It’s no bother at all, my lady.” Monique smirks. “Better me than that bloodthirsty brute.”
Thank you for never changing across all my lives.
Valora comes charging in soon enough, adamant about assisting with the embroidery, and when the chaos starts Asha just laughs.
“Sweetheart?” Even if his trousers end far above his ankles while tattered shirt cuffs are two inches above his wrist, Callan Lamberg is still an extraordinarily handsome single father and Asha beams with pride as she darts over to hug him. This round though, Asha’s conflicted about finding him another wife while he remains in the human realm, since if she wins the game they’ll live to quite an old age here due to guardian blood while her mother waits for the Lune Chieftain in the Great Hall. Unless I use a wish to bring mom back when I win? Would that be too selfish of me? Would it be considered a ‘waste’ of a winner’s wish? “My baby, why are you so perfect?” Giggling as he showers her with kisses, she loops her arms around his neck as he carries her back to a fraying sofa.
“What is it, daddy?” After everything she’s been through, she’s not a child in any sense of the word but Asha knows her father enjoys babying her no matter how old she gets.
“Darling...” Callan looks a little worried, and immediately Asha starts thinking up various ways of killing whoever it is who’s unsettled her father. “You have an invitation to the upcoming Imperial ball.”
I see. It makes sense for the Empire’s first Elementalist in nine hundred years to be called up to the palace. But…was there a wager or some bidding about it? It’s too soon - I haven’t sorted out all the memories, and I’m just the sixteen year old daughter of a poor baron. Going to an Imperial ball without enough wealth or political clout is foolish at best, suicidal at worst. I was hoping my words about our taxes would instead be carried to the Emperor by other nobles, but at this rate Uncle Aaron might ask me about it himself. I should have anticipated this when I received Elementalism, instead of focusing on practising. That was foolish - I need to remain ten steps ahead of the gamblers, great-aunt Apatie in particular.
On that note, was sending me Elementalism right after what I said about taxes an attempt by the gamblers to get me an audience with the Emperor? If so, was it to help me or get me in trouble? Elementalism is a powerful and expensive boon, so there must have been a significant wager and agenda. I’m sure some gamblers will be up to no good at the ball as well, might even make a chandelier come crashing down just to pin the blame on me. Or maybe they’ll whisper to an attendee to try to poison the Emperor and…
“My baby...” Startled, Asha looks up and wants to kick herself. No, I wasn’t...! “I’m sorry I’m such a useless father.” NO! You’re the best dad in the world! “An Imperial ball is no small matter, but I can’t even afford to buy my baby girl a proper dress, and...”
“DAD!” Asha squishes his cheeks while glaring furiously. “Don’t EVER say that! You’re the best dad in the WORLD, and I’ll KILL anyone who says otherwise!” You’ve always given me everything, even if it cost you everything. “I wouldn’t trade all the finery in the world for you, so stop this!”
When he sniffles, Asha smiles a watery smile and hugs him tight. I’m sorry, dad. I’m SO sorry. I promise I’ll win this time, and we can be happy together until you go to the Great Hall and reunite with mom before I join you both.
Monique and Valora discreetly wipe away tears as her father bawls, and Asha huffs while patting a strong but thin back. I’ll get us tax relief and start making plenty of money so you can have enough to eat, dad.
The fact that House Lamberg doesn’t even have nice enough stationery worthy of sending a response to the Emperor doesn’t bother her, since it works to Asha’s advantage right now.
Reduce our taxes, Uncle Aaron, or I’ll smack you silly. You’re the 96th direct descendant of Loredan but I’m the granddaughter of the Goddess of Time, which means I outrank you in every life.
Something about the Imperial Family doesn’t sit quite right though, whispers of the Imperials she knows tugging at the edges of her mind before vanishing into the cracks among her memories.
It’s only ever been Uncle Aaron and Crown Prince Griffin, right? And...OW!
Clenching her teeth, Asha barely stifles the cry before Monique enters with lunch.
I’ll think about it later.
When Viscount Hawksworth’s servant arrives with a letter asking to be her escort while gifting her a beautiful dress with matching shoes, Asha blinks.
Who would help me with this? Daiki, Hekaty, or Apollonius perhaps? Maybe Lune ancestors?
As puzzled as she is, there’s no denying the fact that she does need a new outfit if she doesn’t want to be accused of disrespecting the Imperial Family. And Asha’s determined to win the Viscount to her side by praising his generosity and thoughtfulness while highlighting her family’s financial situation at the ball, so it works in her favor.
Everything’s moving too quickly, and meters malfunctioning aside it’s going too well. Why did I choose to return three years before my last death, if this was part of the plan? Who’s acting on their own? Is this going to backfire on me again? Great-aunt Apatie must be up to something, unless she’s waiting to ruin things at the last moment once more.
It’s unnerving, almost as though the ground is morphing right beneath her feet. Especially when Asha recalls that in her last life she’d received plenty of presents when her Elementalism was revealed.
Someone gave me a precious book on Elementalists, which helped me improve significantly. In my second life I relied more on instinct, but last round I could control the ice better, thanks to…!
The pain means it’s probably the person she actually loves, the one who’s being hidden from her.
Why are my memories of you blocked? Is this also part of the plan? Then, if I assume I factored it in with full awareness of my personality, I knew that I’d keep pushing to find out despite the pain. Which means I went along with it because I knew I’d force my way through, so I didn’t see it as something to fight about in the Great Hall. But does it have something to do with me coming three years back? Did I trade those memories in exchange for this much time to the finish line?
No, there’s more to it than that. It’s not as simple as merely my memories being sealed. This world…it’s too different. Dad’s not a Grandmaster or war hero, and it was Duke Nathaira who won the War for Loredan as a Magic Grandmaster, which means…
Eyes widening, Asha recalls that part of the reason for the Emperor’s deep friendship with her father was the fact that the then Viscount Lamberg had saved the Imperial’s life in the War with his swordsmanship several times.
It’s still the same Emperor, which means Uncle Aaron survived somehow, or maybe Duke Loredan was the one to save him. But I know Uncle Aaron - he hates Duke Loredan, and would never accept a scenario where he owes that smarmy git his life. Which means something changed about Uncle Aaron’s time in the War…and if I know those gamblers - grandma in particular - if one thing changed then over time more things will have changed as a result.
Dad was a staunch supporter of Uncle Aaron, and a key member of the Imperial faction. In this life he’s just a powerless baron, so it doesn’t really matter which party he belongs to. But without dad being active in politics, and with Duke Nathaira being a war hero…I see. That explains what I overheard, and why Cassandra and Medea could behave that way. It’s not just because they’re daughters of a duke. The balance of power between the factions is different this time, the world is different this time. And if I assume I realized it would happen in the Great Hall, maybe that’s why I chose to reset three years back.
With so many lives lived, it takes Asha a while to systematically sort through her own memories and memories of the ‘originals’ she resets into. The gaping holes in her recollections don’t help, but she takes careful note of when and where they tend to appear, looking for patterns and clues even as brushes with the mind-mines give her a pounding headache by the time the sun peeks over tiled roofs.
This…is a mess.
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MOONRISE BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 38 END