Chapter One

Everything burned like a thousand needles prickling my skin.

"Keep going, Lynette!" a cheery voice of encouragement bellowed from ahead of me.

How was Teresa this fast?

I sucked in a deep breath and clenched my fists as I tried to steady my breathing. We had been running laps for the past forty-five minutes, a quarter bell. Teresa was still full of energy as she paused to cast me a wave and dictation to hurry and catch up.

At least during the march to the capital from Talbour, we have been walking steadily. I had managed to keep up despite my initial breakdown.

Running though?

I was discovering it was worse than facing a demonic beast.

Every muscle in my body was protesting. It felt like I couldn't replenish oxygen fast enough. I stumbled behind Teresa as she gracefully ran ahead on the training field. We were the only two here today, this early in the morning. The air was crisp, and every passing breeze was relief against my heated terracotta skin.

Teresa Garpson knocked on my door before the first bell rang this water day. I was surprised to see her up so early, but she dragged me out to this practice field that she had booked yesterday during my tribunal.

My pace slowed to a disgruntled saunter as I followed Teresa's path. My legs began to burn at the change, and I could feel them twinge with every step. I stopped, taking deep gasps, as I leaned on my shaking knees, trying to recover my strength. A tingling sensation swept through me.

"Skill update," I wheezed, holding up my palm, which was decorated with a red tattoo of a blood sign on the back of my hand. The image of a circle surrounding a triangle with two lines crossed through it began to glow.

Blood Sign Updates:

Stamina: 15 - (Initiate) + 1

"Only one level!" I moaned at my progress. Lieutenant Cragborn had advised that I must grow my stamina to at least level thirty-five, the journeyman threshold, to battle comfortably. I had a long way to go before reaching that. An entire month's march had only gained me fourteen levels.

Teresa continued without me as she rounded the circular path laid down on the practice field. She took deep, slow breaths as she approached me from behind, returning to our starting point.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked, coming to a stop beside me. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead as she pulled back a loose strand of blond hair.

"Yeah, just sulking," I said with a half smile at my friend as she shook her head in mirth.

"You have got to push yourself for stamina to grow. If you always stay at a comfortable pace, the level will stagnate."

"You know a lot about this skill, don't you?"

"Of course", Teresa beamed happily. "Stamina is the most basic skill commoners acquire. We get it just by living our lives, you know? Without it, most jobs are difficult. You can't be a farmer or woodsman if you can't till a field or swing an axe without sweating. It's even useful for work inside town walls as you can be a labourer for hire, deliver goods for residents, work in construction, blacksmiths, and masons. I could go on, really; some people even use their stamina skills to compete in street racing. I can tell you that it was a fun sport. My favourite competitor was this guy Jenson-"

"So stamina is popular", I said, cutting Teresa off with a laugh as she began to speak faster. I honestly don't know where she found the time to breathe between words.

"Yes." Teresa grinned with a slight blush. "I was doing it again, wasn't I?"

"Yes, but it was very informative," I said, lifting my arms high to stretch them. Truthfully, I had never thought much about how commoners lived in my past three lives. Their daily struggles and nuances of living as mortals was not a subject that had graced my thoughts growing up in the Heversham household. I sometimes wondered what my life may have been like if I had never been adopted by Cassandra Heversham, but I had not considered how that would differ from being a noble.

I had only ever considered the freedom I could have had as a commoner and, perhaps, how I may have starved with no one else to rely on as a strange child with no memories. My brief memories of my short time in Wayward Town were not pleasant. Most citizens there were afraid of my black raven hair and jade-green eyes. Traits of the neighbouring Dramoria kingdom. I had begged for food from anyone who would listen.

If not for Cassandra Heversham's kindness in taking me with her to Talbour, I probably wouldn't have survived long. She gifted me my name and a home to call my own. From the moment we arrived at the Heversham mansion, Cassandra began to teach me what was expected of nobility. She showed me basic etiquette, how to dress, how to talk like a noble, and how to dance. She quickly became my world before passing away in a tragic accident.

Roger Heversham had not taken up his wife's mantle to continue my education. I learned what I could from the books in the manor, but my understanding of commoners was purely from the glimpses I would see when visiting Talbour's market. Despite being born a commoner, I had no connection to them that I could relate to. Except, perhaps, my lack of a core and label as a mortal.

Now though?

I had to learn fast what it truly means to be a commoner. After requesting the revocation of my legal adoption, I may not remain a noble after the social season in spring. I have autumn and winter to train and grow stronger before Roger Heversham travels to Zromore for the conclusion of my tribunal. That meant six months of training.

If I was going to survive, I had to learn how to become a decent foot-guard. I needed to prove my value to the army by any means necessary to prevent them from annulling the blood contract I had signed with them. That meant increasing my skills in any way possible and even growing my core to grade one.

Everyone thinks it's impossible for me to become a Summoner with such a small core, barely the size of a pin. They were probably right, if not for the fact that I was harbouring Vishka's guidance and the knowledge of Albus. I had to hope their guidance would somehow help.

"Just what level is your stamina anyway?" I asked as Teresa stretched out her arms and began to lean to the side.

"Oh, my stamina? It is level twenty-eight." She said casually.

"Level twenty-eight!?" I replied, a little stunned. No wonder Teresa was so much faster than me. Her stamina had reached apprentice status, whereas I was still an initiate. "You said you used to climb trees in Ingalham?"

"Exactly! All the kids there do, I don't know when I first got the skill as I only got my blood sign when we applied for the Army in Talbour, but it was level twenty-five before the march."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Wait, you only grew three levels during the march? That doesn't seem like a lot." I frowned. It was much lower than my fourteen. Just how long was it going to take me to reach level thirty-five?

"I think that's because it gets harder to gain once you pass level twenty." Teresa shrugged as she pulled herself upright and shook her arms. The sun grew brighter as the morning sounds of activity in Alinor keep began. The home of the army and its Summoners in Zromore, the capital of the Zopan Empire.

More Summoners were wandering the practice fields, placing their status badges against pedestals outside different practice fields. The pedestals glowed briefly, syncing with their badges as credits were exchanged. The metal gates blocking each field swung open at the transaction, allowing their occupants to enter.

"I think our time is nearly up. It looks like the next group who booked the field have arrived." I nodded to the gates of our practice field, where a group of scrawny-looking men stood patiently.

"Oops, we should have left five clicks ago," Teresa hesitantly reddened as she reached out to grab my hand.

I let her take it as she dragged me over to the fence where we had laid out our black-trimmed grey cloaks. Today, we both wore a set of grey cotton trousers and matching buttoned cotton tops. It was lightweight clothing, and plenty of them were provided in the wardrobes of our rooms in the trainee quarters. They had strands of fabric attached to the sides for us to tighten and adjust the clothing to our individual fit. But it was still baggy on me. We could have worn other options that were made from stiffer fabric, but as today was water day, it would be our first combat training session. Lighter clothing would be more accessible to move in and easier to clean than heavier garments.

Picking up our cloaks, we quickly donned them before rushing to the gates and bidding apologies to the footguards waiting for us to leave. They all wore bronze badges featuring an etching of a shield, their hands worn with aged blisters and faces drawn in impatience.

"Aint got time t- be waitin' for ya in future youngin's", one of the older men in the group tsked at us. "We r' only lettin' ya off this once." His accent was laced with the colloquialism Teresa had once used as a commoner.

"S-sorry, won't happen' again, I swear." Teresa's toothy grin was hard to stay mad at as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Our apologies," I bowed my head to the group and tugged on Teresa's cloak. She looked at my gesture as I nodded with my eyes at her. Luckily, she picked up and quickly followed my actions by bowing her head. It was simple etiquette to bow when apologising for a noble, but it was no different in the army. Commoners or Noble, all members were to be treated respectfully. Teresa was going to have to learn etiquette fast. Perhaps I should teach her when we have the time.

"A'lryt, a'lryt, get goin' with ya'", the man grumbled at us. We wasted no time in leaving as the group entered the practice field we had vacated.

Teresa let out a held breath as she looked back at them. "That wasn't so bad?"

"Not this time, but we should be careful not to overstay our time in the future. We may not be met with forgiving people again." We were lucky that they didn't kick up more of a fuss. Some of the nobles I knew would have made an entire scene out of their time being postponed because another overstayed.

"You're right." Teresa kicked a rock in our path as she drooped her shoulders. She hesitantly looked at me as we walked through the range of practice fields that were now growing more lively. "You want to talk about it?"

I could feel my face stiffen at her question. Teresa hadn't brought it up since she woke me this morning, but I knew she must be curious. Word must have spread by now after yesterday's tribunal.

Escorting me surrounded by guards had made it evident that something was going on. It was enough to ignite rumours even if the details weren't known.

"Maybe later." I forced my lips to tug into a smile. "We should probably get some breakfast whilst we can before our first training session with Lieutenant Sharpclaw."

"Gosh, you're right! I hope they have some sausages left. Come on, we should hurry!" Teresa grabbed my hand again and began dragging me faster through Alinor Keep towards the eatery.

I watched her back as she pulled me along, a genuine smile softening my tension. She hadn't pushed me and went along with my attempt to change the topic so easily. Teresa was kind, a rare person in my life.

No doubt, many people were probably eager to question my actions.

My brothers included.

As soon as the tribunal had come to a close, I rushed out of that hallway as fast as my feet would carry me. Eduard and Callan had both called after me, but I had shamelessly allowed Nate to lead me safely away before they could catch up.

I couldn't face them. Not yet.

***

The eatery was loud as Teresa and I sat down with our plates of food. There were many more people here than there had been yesterday. It was as though the keep had been merely sleeping, and today, it had fully awakened as Summoners, foot-guards, and servants alike flitted about the hall.

I could feel the stares on my back as I picked at my plate of poached eggs on toast. It wasn't hard to miss the hushed whispers as people glanced our way or the raised eyebrows of disbelief and puzzlement as the rumour of my tribunal began to spread.

I winced as I heard the murmur of 'crazy-cerue' come from the lips of a face I did not know as they passed our table. My fingers clenched tightly around my fork. I knew this would have been an inevitable outcome, but it was hard to sit through it. I had experienced rumour and malice behind my back many times in my second life as a socialite, but somehow, it felt different this time.

I had never been surrounded by it.

"Ready for our first training session?" a new plate joined us at the table. Rian Thornfax raised her arms to pull back her sleeves as she sat down. Her brown frizzy hair was neatly plaited in her usual style as she ignored the surrounding buzz. "Where were you both this morning?"

"I booked us a practice field to run a few laps." Teresa responded, "Mother always said the best way to start the day is with exercise!"

"A prudent mother you have." Rian raised an eyebrow in surprise. Honestly, I had been surprised at Teresa's fore thought as well. I hadn't seen any other of the trainees in our group in the practice fields this morning.

"Oh, she's the best. She sews the best garments in the whole of Ingalham. Even Marquess Landrick makes requests of her." Teresa proudly bragged as she plopped her fork into her mouth.

"Really?" Rian hesitantly smiled as she glanced at Teresa. "It sounds like she must be fortunate in life."

"Hmm, I guess you could say that we always had enough to eat and had the time to organise the logs for our fire, so I suppose we were more lucky than most." Teresa began to speak about her life in Ingalham animated. She described her daily routine with her mother and the occasions when things had not gone as planned, such as finding a stray fire beetle in their pantry.

As she talked, I leaned my head in my hand, silently listening as Rian gently nodded. I couldn't help but notice Rian's hesitance as Teresa spoke more about her mother's work as a seamstress. I pinched my lips and offered Rian a comforting glance. I wasn't sure if Rian had told many people, maybe not even her family, but I remembered our conversation trapped together in the cave on our journey here. Perhaps she could have become a seamstress if she wasn't born a noble.

Teresa continued with her avid pace. I was growing more used to it now. Somehow, I was able to keep up, but I could see Rian's brows furrow a little as she tried to keep track. Teresa had begun to divulge from her daily life with her mother and sidetracked to talk about other factors of commoner life. She rushed to explain how commoners were free to choose their professions. However, it wasn't easy to join a field without connections.

"So, basically, if I wanted to become, say, a blacksmith, I would have to know someone who may be willing to take me on as an apprentice. If I didn't have any familial connections, that would be extremely difficult. If I didn't have a core, I would have probably become my mother's apprentice or maybe my uncle's. He works with sub-servant beasts, you know? That means I could have become a beast wrangler-"

"It is much the same in the Army." Another plate joined us, halting Teresa's words. "If there is a profession we wish to specialise in after our training as trainees, we need to find someone to sponsor us as an apprentice." Harold Eastmond nodded to us in greeting. His dark skin contrasted against the grey of his uniform. He had shaved the little stubble that had grown during our march. "It is not an easy task. Though many of us will simply apprentice with our familial connections."

"Yes. I will likely apprentice under my sister as an enchanter." Rian said glumly.

"Oh, bummer!" Teresa slumped in her seat. "I don't know any Summoners! Or even what I want to do really…"

"I wouldn't worry too much about that just yet," I patted her shoulder. "We should focus on passing as trainees first."

"Yeah, you're right." Teresa sighed. "I need to earn credits more than anything right now. I want to be able to use the practice field without worry."

"Did you get a task this morning?" Rian asked as she dabbed her lips with a cloth napkin.

"Task? Oh, the task centre, no, not yet. Figured I would do that tomorrow as we have the day off." Teresa said.

Rian paused and looked at Harold, who shared her frown.

"Have neither of you visited the task centre yet?"

"No…" I said, feeling a slight panic rising in my gut from Rian's tone. It only worsened as Rian and Harold grimaced.

Teresa and I widened our eyes. "W-what?" Teresa's voice shook a little.

"Most of the tasks were already taken when I visited this morning," Harold spoke quietly with a look of pity.

"Same; I was lucky to get months post stacking the food supply shelves." Rian shook her head, sad.

"W-wait.. Does that mean... What I think it means!?" Teresa's voice hitched as she looked at me in shared panic.

"I think it does," I said, my gut tightening.

"Why did we go straight to the practice field?!!" Teresa dropped her head into her hands, audibly lamenting.

We were doomed.