Chapter Two

I pulled Teresa's hand as we walked through Alinor Keep.

She dragged her feet intermittently, sighing as we traversed our way towards our first training session with Lieutenant Sharpclaw. Both of us had wanted to rush straight to the task centre after breakfast. But Rian and Harold had reminded us we wouldn't have enough time to make it to our session on time.

It was a heavy blow.

I meekly looked at my feet, trying to hold back my disappointment at my own foolishness. Teresa and I were going to end up having to do the least-wanted tasks this month. That could be anything from cleaning the latrines to possibly the most laborious. I really didn't know what to expect.

At least it couldn't be worse than dying.

Teresa couldn't possibly understand that outlook, though, not truly. I doubt anyone really could without having experienced it for themselves.

I glanced back at her as she brushed her blonde hair behind her ear. She kicked the ground, muttering to herself. Maybe I could buy something for her tomorrow. I need to go to the market anyway to buy some Jabascus root. I had searched for it before leaving Talbour, but none of the stalls had sold any. I had hoped to use it with Mistwood tea to create a tincture to increase my core.

It was something I had remembered from my third past life living with Garret Asher as my husband. It had been my second-longest life, so I had lived enough to see the explosion it had caused amongst the populace of the Zopan empire. Nobles and commoners alike had bought and stored as much Jabascus as they could, causing it to quickly increase in price. Once a common unpopular vegetable with a bitter taste, it quickly diminished, and its rarity grew. Many nobles attempted to make the tincture to the best of their knowledge; many failed, but some succeeded. The effects of using it were just that great. Even commoners had attempted to use it to increase their cores or give them the chance of having one.

Speaking of, I would need to get some money to actually buy the Jabascus root. My features pulled as I bit my lip. Just how should I go about that? I usually requested money from my adopted father, Roger Heversham. I had done so in all my lives. A privilege of being the daughter of a noble. He wasn't here to ask now, nor did I want to rely on my family. They may not be my family for much longer.

Just how do I go about earning money?

Maybe I could sell something. I did bring the chokers that I bought back in Talbour to hide the scar on my neck. I didn't necessarily need all of them.Maybe I could sell a couple at the market to earn some funds?Credits we earned from the task centre were not currency we could use outside of Alinor Keep.

I also had to repay the Army for borrowing the gear they provided for the march. The short cuirass made from a stone vole beast and matching gauntlets were in worse shape than when I had received them. The chest piece had been scratched and chunks dug into by the demonic rat beasts I had en-counted with Rian in the prairie expanse when we had been separated from the brigade. Luckily, the dagger with its hilt wrapped in marsh snakeskin was still in good condition. Though it had seen quite a bit of use.

"What you thinking about?" Rian walked beside me, gently pulling her cloak closer as a breeze whipped up my hair.

"Oh, I was just thinking about going to the market tomorrow."

"You're not going to visit your family's house?" Rian's question made me flinch. I had no intention of going to that place.

"I haven't been to the capital before, so I'm more curious about what it's like here compared to Talbour."

"That makes sense. I was eager to explore when I first came here a few years ago. Albertine was so overprotective, though. She wouldn't let me step foot outside our house alone." Rian sighed with a shake of her head.

"The townhouses are indeed far less exciting." Harold nodded in agreement. "I was intending to visit a tailor myself. The outfits in my home are no longer suitable for me since I last came to Zromore as a boy."

"Hmm, that's true. I will have to order some new dresses for the social season early so they are ready for spring." Rian pondered as she tapped her finger against her lip. "Maybe I should arrange a meeting tomorrow with my seamstress."

"Oh yeah," Teresa slumped, pulling herself forward to stand beside me. "Nobles always visit the capital for your social season thing. What do you do exactly? Talk and stuff?"

Rian tried to straighten her features as her lips fought back from tugging into a smile at Teresa's attempt to act disinterested. "Yes, the Marquess of Zromore usually hosts the opening ball. The social season is a means to allow Nobles from the entirety of Zopan to gather and greet one another. It is an opportunity for heirs to present themselves as potential marriage candidates, business partners, and mostly for Nobles to show off the supremacy of their house."

"It's an arduous affair", Harold said unkeen. "I would rather train than attend."

"It sounds fun", Teresa mumbled as she looked down at her cloak and frowned. "Commoners don't do anything as fancy as having balls or dressing up. The most we do is celebrate at home or have small gatherings at the tavern."

"That sounds more fun than a ball", I said, thinking about the many occasions I had attended balls in Talbour as a socialite in my second life. It was always mentally draining, having to act to the standards expected of nobility. Etiquette was of the utmost importance. It would be nice to be able to relax in a tavern. The one I went to in Talbour had been rowdy, but there hadn't been any expectations.

"Then we should go together!" Teresa brightened a little as she looked at each of us. "I bet I could drink more than you", she huffed rather proudly.

"Oh really now?" I grinned, seeing her coming out of her gloom about our fate at the task centre. "You will have to put your confidence to the test."

"Is that a challenge? You should know I can be competitive." Rian said, a little excited.

"It would be intriguing to go, certainly. Though would we be permitted?" Harold knitted his eyebrows.

"Do you need permission?" Teresa cocked her head confused. Rian, Harold and I glanced between one another. As nobles, it was unfit for us to visit a Tavern for commoners as entertainment and not lodging whilst travelling. We would certainly receive resistance from our families. Much like I had in Talbour when I visited to create my scandal with Nathaniel Hudson.

"Perhaps-"I paused with a small smile, "We find ourselves there by accident whilst exploring Zromore?"

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Oh, that would be unfortunate", Rian replied with a glint.

"Yes, it would be rude not to patronise the establishment." Harold's cheeks raised as he scratched his chin.

***

Standing before the weapons training centre, my throat felt dry.

This was no ordinary training ground. The entrance had not been what I had expected, though I wasn't sure what I had expected. Large metal girded gates had been pushed open against a tunnel carved into walls of curved grey stone. The structure was nearly four stories high, its walls cracked and discoloured. I couldn't see any windows; the building was enclosed from the outside.

We all hesitantly approached the domed tunnel, seeing other trainees enter the structure. The light from the sun dimmed as we walked, replaced by mage lights hanging against the jagged stone walls. We passed wooden doors built into the tunnel marked with numbers; my curiosity about where they led was answered as we arrived at the other side.

We gasped as we looked up at the wide-open dry field that spread inside the structure. Hundreds of stone seats were all around in a circle, closing in the field. Large plaques with numbers matching the wooden doors hung above sections as the seats varied in height. A section at the centre directly opposite our entrance was higher than the rest of the seating. A canopy of stone hung over to cover from the elements, and it was boxed off from the rest.

Lieutenant Sharpclaw stood at the centre of the grounds ahead, his back straight as he paced, waiting for the rest of the trainees to arrive. A group had begun to gather before him, so we rushed over and joined them.

Was this for spectating duels?

Lieutenant Cragborn had mentioned that trainees would be expected to participate in duels to increase their ranking. Were they publicly viewed?

"Lady Thornfax!" A small, panicked voice ran our way as Lacey Weadall approached with fear in her eyes. "I-I don't know if I can do this." She whispered as she clutched onto Rian's cloak, her auburn hair tied into a half-braid updo.

Rian hesitated at her friend before patting Lacey's hand. "Don't worry. Remember, a weapon will resonate with you. It will be something you are connected to. It won't be anything you can not handle."

"R-right, yes, yes, you're right" Lacey released Rian's cloak with a gulp as her eyes glanced at the growing group surrounding the Lieutenant. "The capital nobles are joining us, it seems."

"I noticed", Rian grimaced.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, seeing many new faces not on our journey from Talbour to Zromore with the rest of the trainees.

Rian paused as she lowered her voice. "You have not met many capital nobles, have you, Lynette?"

"No, I have not attended the social season before."

"Many of them look down on nobles from other cities", Rian scoffed.

"They think we are - are less than them. We lack the technology or resources to use Aether-fuelled luxuries." Lacey tucked her arms tight.

"Like the baths" Harold informed me.

It was true that the bath with flowing water had amazed me. In Talbour, the maids would have to bring buckets to fill a bathtub. Did that mean other things could only be found in Zromore?

As the capital, Zromore had many Summoners who resided here. Both capital nobles and the lay nobles from other cities. It was common for the children of nobility who did not inherit any titles to live here as lay nobles. It would be Callan's fate as the secondborn. Lay nobles served as a connection to the capital for their families, increasing the population of summoners compared to the outer cities. So, it would make sense that the capital had more resources for Aether's inventions.

"It can't be that much different than how most nobles treat commoners", Teresa said as her eyes glared towards a mop of red hair that was laughing with a group of boys.

I felt my gut clench as I saw Garret Asher huddled with some other nobles as he animatedly conversed with them. My so-called husband in my third life was a man who revolted me. Kit Balburn, a pudgy man, was with him, but he stood back from the conversation. Choosing instead to merely listen rather than get involved.

"Let's stay over here." Rian tilted her head to a sparse spot compared to the rest. We all nodded in agreement and made our way over just as Lieutenant Sharpclaw clapped.

"Alright, younglings, welcome to weapons. You are standing in the combat Colosseum. This will be your primary location for training until I say otherwise. I am sure you are all as excited as I am to learn what your resonate weapons are!" His brown pointed ears twitched in anticipation with a large toothy grin. He wore a tight, dark red tunic which clung to the bulging muscles on his arms as he cast his gaze around.

"Some of you have already had the pleasure of testing our supply and found your resonate weapons on previous sessions." The Lieutenant nodded to the group of capital nobles, who smirked at the rest of us as they drew various weapons from their belts or stood with polearms. I even saw a shield and an odd pair of flails. "I want you to continue practising with those today like our usual sessions. Find an area and continue your studies practising your forms. Go!" he commanded, and many of the capital nobles began to spread out into the open grounds. A few remained, however, as they pulled faces, looking irritated at not being able to join them.

"Those of you with cores who have already connected with your Aether will be able to feel a pulse when you use the weapon. To truly resonate with it, you will need to feed your Aether into the weapon through Aether transference, but that is something you will do later when you have learned the ability to do so." The Lieutenant waved his hand nonchalantly. "Today will be about testing out our supply of practice weapons to see if anything pulls you in particular. Truly resonating with your weapon cannot be achieved in a day, nor should it be. I expect many of you to attempt different weapons without success. Finding your weapon does not happen on the first try. At least not often." He mumbled the last part.

"Those of you who have not accessed your Aether, or those who have no cores, will have to trial and error. You will not feel the same pull or pulse when approaching a weapon. Instead, you will need to pick up each weapon individually and practice with it for a bit. If you sense it feels right in your hands, you can instinctively move with it, even if albeit un-smoothly, then it could potentially be your resonate weapon."

"Foot-guards will not be able to truly resonate with it like Summoners can with theirs, as you will be unable to complete an Aether transference. However, that by no means implies you can not master it in time." He hardened his look towards a few of the commoners. "I have known foot-guards to be far more proficient in a weapon than many Summoners. After all, Summoners will eventually focus on using Aether, splitting their dedication. Whereas you can focus your craft."

A few of the commoners brightened at his words, especially a young beast-kin with grey pointed ears and tail flicking back and forth as he rapturously listened.

"I expect more from our future footguards than our Summoners in my class. You are the future protectors of our fields, homes, and livelihoods. You are vital to the day-to-day of the Zopan empire. Eventually, depending on your post, you will be relied upon to assist Summoners during excursions, so I will not tolerate slacking." He stared down the commoners, making some gulp before bursting into a wide smile with another clap.

"Now that the explanation is over, let's get to the fun part! Weapons!" he joyfully exclaimed, turning around to face a row of tables and stands at the back of the grounds. Behind each set-up stood a foot guard, dressed in similar grey cloaks to ours except for the unique hemming of darker grey. The signifiers that they were foot guards. As trainees, our cloaks were hemmed with black. The future summoners would gain the colour of their affinity when they unlocked it after reaching foundation. The future foot guards would earn the dark grey hemmed cloaks if they pass their weapons trial.

I looked over to the hopeful foot-guards. Some of them may not pass the weapons trial and would be released from the Army before making a blood contract. They had been granted the delay as they were not considered a threat to the empire like potential Summoners were. All of the recruits with cores had signed a blood contract once they had reached the capital, they were tied to the Army with only a few clauses of release.

Much like I was.

I had signed the contract in Talbour at General Saika's request. Little did I know then that doing so inevitably allowed me to travel to the capital. If I had not, Roger Heversham would never have permitted it. I would have been forced to marry Garret Asher and relive the curse of my third life, to suffer a death at the hand of a false accusation of murder.

I will have to thank General Saika when I see him next.

Even if he had presumptively had me sign because of my skill in herbology, he had gone against the Army's policy as I do not have a core strong enough to be qualified as a potential Summoner. From my trial, it was obvious he had received some reprimand for his actions.

I could only hope to prove his actions as justified by becoming an outstanding footguard. Then maybe, if I could somehow grow my core with a Jabascus root, I could be allowed to train as a Summoner. I had to achieve a grade one core, after all, it was Vishka's guidance that I do so to survive this life.

I tightened my fist as my heart filled with determination.

First, I had to find my resonant weapon.