It had never been this bad before.

Up until a week ago, the problems between Emilia and her father had only escalated to little things, like trashing her office and ostracising any and all potential friends and employees.

Enough to slow her momentum, but still allowed her some agency.

Every time she got presented with a list of marriage candidates, it was like she was being mocked. This didn’t even happen in most families, but her father was particularly power hungry.

Everything is an asset. And when you’re as high up the ladder as Marland Steel, anything you say goes.

Recent events had brought to Emilia’s side a unique kind of employee. One with extraordinary bookkeeping skills that wasn’t already saddled with requests for work. Below the surface, Emilia was extremely relieved he hadn’t been the top performer in his exam. He would have been difficult competition.

No matter his dubious origins, he was the administrative support that Emilia needed to reach the next milestone. Middle Official. Right around the corner at this point, and yet.

Oliver was being conscripted to fight against bandits. For the crime of hitting a man who had provoked him. Emilia understood, of course, that it was a significant crime.

She understood that it was, but she didn’t believe it should have been.

Whatever lingering respect she had for her father, and the things he had built…

Whatever dedication to furthering the goals of the family to be inherited by her brother, which was vanishingly little as evidenced by her efforts.

Whatever was left, was now gone. If her heart was a filing cabinet, you would not find a note on the prestige of the family. Emilia honestly believed from the bottom of her heart that, had she been born to a commoner family, she would have achieved more than in her current position.

Shouting matches against her father led to a stonefaced look of disappointment.

Arguments with her mother went nowhere.

They were both waiting for her to ‘give in’.

So after she had heard the news about Oliver being conscripted, and seeing Levi off to his second day at the scholarium–very impressive–she didn’t bother so much as exchanging dissatisfaction with her parents.

She just went to work.

—

Upon arrival, pushing past the latest and greatest sabotage, she found a notification from High Official Curtis on her desk.

‘Hello Emilia,

Someone seems to have gotten into the room and messed it up, quite troublesome I expect.

I would like it if you could come to my office to provide your perspective on this incident. Posthaste, if at all possible. I believe the Secretary of Finance would like a word.

Sincerely, Curtis’

Emilia looked down at the neat letter, around the room, and back at the neat letter.

She exhaled through her nose.

She scribbled something down of her own, letting Stephen know where she was in case she wasn’t back by the time he arrived.

She really did appreciate his assistance, but without Oliver’s physical help, they were still behind on their daily duties. At least enough such that she wouldn’t get promoted.

She left the note on Oliver’s desk, at which Stephen had been working. He might have been able to do a few things with her not there, but it would really be best to get this over with.

As she walked, she considered her current standing.

No recommendations, only slightly above average performance, and a small workforce.

Taking charge of two streets, rather than one, was my ticket to success – I thought.

The usual tasks of a lower official being well within her abilities, she had assumed this would put her ahead of all the other candidates for promotion, however new she was.

But alas, she did not have the connections to bring merit to any of her achievements. The only way was to have an exemplary record as far as the data went, which she wasn’t sure if she had. It was her only chance at getting considered despite a perceived ‘bad personality’.

Emilia swung open the door to Curtis’ office, entering the presence of him and the Secretary of Finance. Both seated.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The moustachioed man, who’d directed applicants on the day of the last induction examination, greeted her with something of a stern expression.

“Lower Official, we haven’t spoken since you were inducted not a year ago.”

Emilia nodded to him, expression even, “Secretary Jameson, indeed we have not.”

The Secretary sighed, and gestured for her to take a seat.

He inhaled, “Young Curtis, could you repeat what you just told me?”

Curtis Ledrein smiled, “Of course. Ahem, there have been a few incidents surrounding Official Emilia here which had escaped my notice until recently. But after the incident of violence involving her employee–”

Emilia began simmering beneath the surface. Both hot and extremely cold.

If she had to name a specialty when it came to her use of mana, it was emotional control. She was thankful for it.

But she saw where this was going.

“– I have picked up on some strange activity involving drama between Lower Officials. An unfriendly comment here and there, a stray remark, nothing too drastic – but cause for concern.”

Emilia was of course aware of the ‘drama’– most of it was directed at her.

Curtis continued, “That was, at least, until I noticed the state some of their offices were in. Documents littered all over the floors. And I had heard none of it.”

Emilia’s expression had not changed.

“Unreported. That’s what I would like to discuss, Secretary. I daresay–even beyond the inefficiency–that is just an unacceptable culture for the ministry.”

The secretary, having heard this already, didn’t look very pleased. Now Emilia knew why.

“Lower Official, anything to say for yourself?”

It was her word against Curtis’. She didn’t know the political affiliations of the Secretary, who was of the second highest station in the Ministry, but if the Minister himself was anything to go by… There was nothing else for it.

“I believe the sabotage all happens to my office, Secretary. And I certainly have reported it.”

Curtis, feigning offence, “Emilia, you would accuse me of ignoring those reports?! Secretary, isn’t this shameful?”

The Secretary rolled his eyes, clearly wanting to get this over with.

Before he could speak, Emilia continued.

“All the harassment is directed at me. All the sabotage is directed at me. All of the most inconvenient tasks are assigned to me. I can’t fathom any of the rest of the Low Officials having anything but a smooth ride. Secretary, I am being directly targeted as a matter of conspiracy.”

Curtis began to cut in, “Lower Official, this is shamefu-”

Secretary Jameson raised a hand to silence Curtis, who frowned uncertainly. “Whom would conspire against you, young woman?”

Emilia hesitated, but decided to show her metaphorical hand.

“My father, the Head Butler of the Lord’s family, is pressuring me indirectly.”

The Secretary quirked a smile, “Marland, suppressing his own daughter? What for? Why am I to take your word?”

Emilia was taking a big gamble here. It was likely already over. She would have to find another way. But she finished what she was saying. “Well, he taunted my assistant to the point of violence, and has now locked him away. Can’t say that shows his support of me.”

The Secretary was all of a sudden more interested in this discussion.

—

Levi and Mia sat next to each other in the shadow of Mia’s knight. They were in a different sort of classroom today, with big stone blocks for desks. The wizard lecturing was favouring Mia about as much as anybody else. Levi just gave him side-eye.

But at least they were learning something interesting. He hadn’t really learned anything yesterday, so it was a pleasant change.

The lecturer went on, “Such is why I believe it better you each do it yourselves, rather than just see it done. I expect most of you have used a magical tool before, yes? It is the same kind of action, but you must manually direct it into the pencil.”

In front of Levi, a simple piece of paper. In his hand, a strangely heavy purple pencil. Levi was surprised there were pencils, he had expected to be using a feather pen! He was slightly disappointed.

The lecturer had drawn a strange symbol on the board, like a fat stickman but with too many arms and no legs. Levi was good at drawing, so it was going to be easy to copy. Apparently this was what magic was, but he didn’t understand what made it magic really.

Mia finished before him, and her paper started curling up and turning brown. He didn’t want to be spoiled on what it did, so he turned back to his own.

But upon completion… It didn’t do anything.

Mia looked over, “Levi, put mana into it!”

“Uuum.”

“Ugh, fine, give me your hand.”

Mia grabbed Levi’s hand and Levi felt the strange feeling of his mana brushing against someone else’s.

He tried to feel that feeling again, and when he touched his drawing with it…

It did nothing.

“You have to draw the whole thing with mana! Were you listening?”

Mia’s Knight Luna, ever helpful, replaced Levi’s paper.

Upon his second attempt, the paper curled up like Mia’s had. Levi reached for it, it was supposed to make heat.

Luna grabbed his hand before it could be lit on fire.

Mia looked at him, smug, “Levi, obviously a heat rune on paper would make fire.”

The attendees that hadn’t yet managed to make the rune before the two small children lowered their heads.

—

They began disembarking the wagons, and Oliver’s heart was beating in his chest. His eyes were wide.

They were just outside the Lamenting Woods, from which Oliver had arrived. The carriages could go no further. They would be moving forward on foot.

The scouts began to head in, and Oliver and his fellow prisoners were next, performing the role of human shields – even though the bandits weren’t expected to be this close to the edge.

Oliver arranged everyone as best he could. To the extent that they cooperated, it was enough. Oliver would try to avoid bloodshed. He would lead the way, and in doing so, prevent anyone else from doing so.

“FORWARD, MARCH.”

The shout prompted Oliver and company to begin moving into the low trees.

Back again, into the shadows.