Valicar made her way down the long hallway, Easton walking beside her as they spoke.

"You really shouldn't spy on people, it's considered rude in most social circles," Easton chastised.

"It's rude to pawn other people's belongings as well," Sophia retorted.

"That blade has a long history and has been wielded by many hands. I would dare say it was never yours, to begin with," Easton challenged.

"Then whose right is it to claim?! Valicar is dead, and this is the inheritance he left behind," Mike said, a determined look on his face.

"That's where you're mistaken, child. His true inheritance was his quest to open the vault. As for that sword... Blue Dawn only has one true master, one with wings so large he turns day into night," Easton explained, his voice carrying the weight of centuries-old tales. "It was won from a demi-god in a battle that shook the heavens, and now, it bows to the will of a massive red dragon. Even among the greats, he stands as its master above all others." With that sobering message, they arrived at the entrance to the dining hall.

"A demi god?" Sophia questioned, intrigued, but their conversation was cut short as they arrived at the dining hall.

The doors stood as massive works of art, adorned with intricate wood carvings depicting an epic battle from ages past. As they pushed through, the grandeur of the hall unfolded before them, far larger than any other room they had encountered thus far. Its opulence matched the rest of the house, with wealth showcased in every detail.

Above, paintings and drawings adorned the walls, capturing scenes of valor and mystique. Among them, a prominent figure wielding a purple flaming sword clashed with a ferocious red and a majestic blue dragon. Easton pointed to it, answering Sophia's question even before she had fully asked it.

In the heart of the room, a long wooden table commanded attention, its capacity for over a hundred guests dwarfed only by its elegance. At the far end, Elinor presided at the head of the table, surrounded by the Norail family, each bedecked in even more lavish attire than they had been just hours ago.

"Ahh, you have finally made it, my dear!" Elinor's voice rang out across the hall, warm and welcoming. "I do hope you found your rooms to be sufficient," he added, a hint of concern in his tone.

"The room will do just fine," Sophia replied, her tone curt. "But there are some things I would like to talk to you about."

"Yes, we have quite a lot to discuss, Valicar, but that can wait until we eat." With a snap of his fingers, the servants sprang into action, bringing out an array of dishes on silver plates. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, enticing Valicar's senses. From succulent roasted pig to exotic vegetables she had never seen before, the spread was nothing short of magnificent. It was easily the best meal the twins had enjoyed since arriving in this world.

The meal stretched on for well over an hour, filled with lively conversation and polite small talk with Valicar's cousins, Jon-Luc and Annie. Despite their similar ages, the gap in maturity was evident, leaving Valicar feeling somewhat out of place amidst the refined atmosphere of the dining hall.

Elinor was well aware of how tragic events could force children to mature beyond their years, and he recognized that his young relative had endured a rough life. The girl seemed peculiar, but such eccentricities were not unexpected based on the reports he had received. The Norail family had kept a watchful eye on Valicar's father, Theodore, and his family even after his death. Elinor knew that Theodore had been killed in the raid led by the templars five years ago, and their mother, Alexandra, had been taken south. However, Valicar's whereabouts remained unknown until reports from Drisco hinted at a young girl with a red eye accomplishing remarkable feats while under the employ of a petty crime lord. When news of a templar raid heading north reached them, Elinor dispatched men, albeit too late. The templars had set a trap for the young Valicar, but she managed to escape, along with what could only be the legendary sword, Blue Dawn. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she was found by one of House Norail's staunchest allies—the last remaining mage of their family, bearing the most potent weapon a Norail had ever wielded. It all seemed too convenient, suggesting that there were divine forces at work, whether dark or not remained to be seen. Despite the uncertainties, Elinor was resolute in one thing: the vault must remain out of his enemies' hands at all costs, and his kingdom must be restored to him.

As dinner wound down, the children were excused from the table, and the duchess swiftly made her exit. With the formalities set aside, the discussion took a more serious tone. Easton helped himself to some whisky from a nearby decanter before settling into a seat at the table.

"Since you overheard, you already know the deal, kid," Easton began, abandoning formalities once again. "Your sword for your safety. It's a temporary measure, but it's our only play right now. And we have something that might help."

"Nothing you can say will make me give up Blue Dawn! If you want it, you'll have to take it, and trust me, it won't be as easy as you think!" Mike retorted with a veiled threat.

"Calm down, child," Elinor interjected, his tone calm but firm. "As Von White said, we need to ensure your safety. But in exchange, I need your help to keep my family safe..."

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

"We just met, sir. I can't truly envision you as family to the extent I would surrender my inheritance to protect people I don't know," Mike said coldly, his tone firm and resolute. Yet beneath the surface, a storm of frustration and defiance brewed, his clenched fists betraying the intensity of his emotions.

"If it's like that... What if I said I could help your mother, Alexandra..." Elinor countered, his gaze unwavering. His voice carried a hint of determination, tempered with a calm resolve.

"You would use her as a hostage for my sword!" Mike shouted, rising from his chair in agitation. His voice cracked with a mixture of anger and fear, his eyes blazing with defiance.

"Nothing so crude," Elinor responded calmly, his tone measured. Despite the intensity of the conversation, his demeanor remained composed, his words delivered with a calculated precision. "She will be a guest, just as you are now. But as I said, Valicar, I need your help to protect House Norail, of which you are now a member in the eyes of the empire and church, like it or not," he concluded firmly.

"Where is she?" Sophia interjected, her voice surprisingly calm compared to Valicar's earlier demeanor when Mike was just screaming. The sudden shift in her personality left the men bewildered, sharing a glance at the unpredictable girl. Elinor's eyes flickered with understanding as he exchanged a knowing glance with Easton. They silently acknowledged the peculiarity of Valicar's behavior, a grim reminder of the girl's fragile mental state hanging in the air like a dark shadow. Neither man could really blame her, for her short life had been full of struggle, yet they needed this.

"She is safe in the capital. When we learned you were still alive we began to search for you and found her on the way. We bought her from those Landon cunts, so she is safe and with our people but... that can change," Elinor said with a menacing glare.

"Fuck, they have us, Mike. We can't let her die, not like this," Sophia pleaded internally. Her fingers fidgeted nervously with the hem of her dress, her eyes avoiding direct contact with Elinor and Easton.

"I can always recall the sword once Alex is safe," she continued, her voice strained with anxiety.

"Shit, I'm getting it back though, no matter what," Mike said defeated, his hand instinctively hovering near his hip, as if reaching for a weapon that wasn't there.

"Fuck you," Mike exclaimed with fury before Sophia took over, her gaze locking onto Elinor's with a determined intensity. "I concede for now," she added, her voice steady as she spoke as Valicar. Their red and blue eyes seemed to glow in the dim light of the dining hall as they took turns speaking, each twin's actions betraying their inner turmoil.

Valicar agreed to hand over Blue Dawn, but the conversation was far from over. They delved into the events that had led them to this moment. Elinor, a man well aware of GG and having met the bird years ago, engaged in the discussion. Once they were all caught up, a debate erupted over the fate of the vault. Easton advocated for opening it, while Elinor staunchly opposed the idea.

"We can all agree the keys must be gathered before the church finds them, but it is foolish to unleash such terror when we can defeat the Empire and Church through conventional means," Elinor argued, his voice resonating with conviction.

"Valicar believed it was the only way. Even with all of his strength, he couldn't defeat them without the vault. Plus, we have a compass now!" Easton interjected, his tone firm and resolute.

"He was a fool who couldn't convince an elf to hug a tree; we need allies to restore our kingdom," Elinor declared with a hint of disdain in his voice.

"And yet you seem to think it's fitting to give one of the keys to the empire," Valicar added, a note of skepticism evident in her tone.

"There is more than one purpose to sending the sword away, child," Elinor explained, his voice carrying a weight of hidden intentions.

"Oh, yah, your crazy dragon genocide plan," Valicar scoffed, her disbelief palpable.

"Drop it, kid. While I agree with you, this isn't the time to argue among ourselves," Easton interjected, his tone authoritative.

"Then how about a compromise? We collect the keys and take a vote on it later," Elinor relented, his voice holding a trace of concession.

"Fair enough," Valicar conceded, her irritation subsiding. "I wanted to ask about that mage school y'all were speaking about."

"Ah, so you heard that part too, I suppose. Well, for now, forget about it," Easton said indifferently.

"What? Why?" Valicar questioned, her annoyance resurfacing.

"It's best that we take some time to get you used to noble society for now until things cool off with the church. Once a year or two goes by, it should be safe to travel again. At that point, we can collect a few keys on the way to the school, considering it's on the other side of the world," Easton continued, his voice steady and assured.

"How am I supposed to train if we are in the middle of the empire surrounded by the church?" Valicar questioned, her frustration evident.

"Privacy is no longer an issue with the deal we made. You will be able to train in peace as long as you are within our walls, and don't worry—the property is quite large," Elinor finished, his tone reassuring.

While most of the plans were discussed in finer detail, at the end of it, they decided that Valicar would stay and train for the next few years until it was time to depart for the southern continent to continue her education. Time seemed to fly as she delved into her books, absorbing knowledge of powerful spells with a wide range of versatility. Some spells could level a building, others could summon golems, while some granted her the ability to become invisible. The possibilities seemed endless, but as the spells grew in power, so did the toll they took on her.

Valicar found herself unable to cast more than a few spells a day before feeling drained. It was a realization that her body couldn't keep up with her ever-growing power. While her mana pool would naturally expand with age, it simply couldn't match the demands of her increasing abilities.

Two years passed with Valicar engrossed in lessons on the world and noble society, guided by the family's tutor. While learning to ride a horse proved useful, mastering the art of dancing like a noble seemed like a frivolous pursuit to one of the twins. On the other hand, Mike relished in Easton's personal instruction on swordsmanship. With each lesson, his skill grew by leaps and bounds until, even without relying on magic, his speed could rival that of any knight.

However, their peaceful routine was shattered one fateful day when several intruders breached Valicar's room while they slept. Awakening abruptly, one of Sophia's many traps was triggered, allowing the twins to spring into action. Surrounded by seven menacing figures brandishing black daggers, their intentions were all too clear.

"We have guests," Mike remarked coolly, extending a hand.

"Silvoria," Sophia uttered, conjuring a sword made of ice in Valicar's waiting hand. "Just finish them off already. I wanna catch a few more hours of sleep."

"Sure thing," Mike responded with a grin, ready to face the threat head-on.