The meal was over. Despite the fine dining, Ravina sensed tension among her companions as they discussed the future of the initiate. Perhaps invoking her father’s name had been a mistake, as their responses remained simple and polite. Well, all but Carl. Yet it was his voice that carried more weight in the group as the others nether agreed or disagreed to any of her points. In the end, the young girl felt as if she would have had a better conversation with wall. Perhaps then she could understand the silent smiles. Soon enough, the meal ended, along with the discussions.
Carlton’s words had given her the greatest pause. It was an eye opening fact that the kids in the orphanage had received a better education than those who had parents to raise them. Free education, but only for the misfortunate. Such a thing would turn the idea of misfortune on its head, instead giving the title to those who were once considered fortunate.
Worse yet, children were abandoned because of this simple gesture of goodwill. Leaving one's child behind might be seen as difficult but this world had more than its fair share of problems. With all the struggles of living, it would be an easy thing to do. In fact, Ravina herself once thought of herself as fortunate. Despite the loss of her mother and the empty position of her father she still had a roof over her head and the warmth of her family…
Yet, if he had simply abandoned his children… a sickly smile rose on the young girl's face. No, unlike those in the city who would be able to live easily. The reach of the orphanages did not reach out to the villages. Those children would have to rely on the kindness of others but were more than likely to be sent out of the village as parasites, destined to…
The young girl bit her thumb. “She was fine.” the girl said, hissing the word ‘she’ out like a curse. Clicking her tongue she tried to focus her thoughts on what to do next but an idea sparked in her mind. The orphanages didn't take care of village children. This was less to do with classism or whatever it would be called but more to do with the children not being able to reach a city or their parents knowing about it and the city didn't send anyone to check these kinds of things…
“Perhaps she was lost in a village…” the words left her lips as her eyes turned to the city castle. It towered high, even if they were in the middle of the city. The place she now called home, a place where she was little more than an imposter…
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“My lady.” her knight asked cautiously when he noticed she stopped.
Her usual guard was absent, sent on a task. As such another Knight of the Vorgeset Guard standing beside her. He nodded at her as she left the establishment and nodded.
“Never mind, “ Ravina answered with a simple sigh. There was little more she could do. With Arelia gone she couldn't go outside and train. The daughter of a noble was a comfortable place but constricting in many ways. “Actually… Do you mind if I ask where you are from?”
“Herstellerin my lady.” The knight gave a prompt reply. “My family is a small knightage that has served under the Blake family for generations.”
“Impressive.” Ravina commented. She learned in her studies that the Blake family were the stewards of Herstellerin, the city of creation. It rested in the middle of the county, swallowing up almost 30% of all the counties metal and grain to produce alcohol and infrastructure. “Is the town alike to Ravenfort?”
“No my lady, Ravenfort is far more ground. Herstellerin was quite the place but its a third the size and filled with smoke. The forges refine metal both day and night. The city is dark but beautiful. You know they keep the streets lit by mage light. Do you know what a Magiermetal is?”
“No, I can't say I have heard of that before.” answered, comforted by this simple, distracting, small talk.
“It's a rare metal. Something that only accomplished blacksmith can make with a powerful mage. Three pairs exist in the kingdom, and two of them reside in Herstellerin. They can make a metal that is able to discharge a mana stone and cast simple spells. We have polls lined across the street with the spell cast a few steps above them. It's a scene only to be found in Herstellerin.”
“Sounds wonderful.” Ravina said her smile both from amusement at the way he spoke of his hometown and the idea that streetlights were still a thing. “What about the villages surrounding the city? How do they look?”
“The villages? The look… normal. Nothing really special about them.” The knight quickly dismissed the villages in a way only those born into power could.
“I see.” Ravina said, a note of sorrow as her mind flashed on an image of four children with bright red hair. She quickly shook away the thought.
“Is there something you wish to know?” he offered.
Ravina smiled back at his words. “There is a lot I wish to know.” she answered rather childishly. Her eyes caught the window to a pastry shop, the cakes in the window drew her eye. “For now though…” she stated briefly. “I could use some bad carbs.”
“Bad carbs?” the knight questioned, however Ravina was already moving inside and the knight was skilled enough not to repeat his unneeded question.