- Vivi -
Vivi strolled along the first floor of the castle, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone floors. Beside her floated an otter, an ethereal companion that observed the golden letters shimmering before them.
"You were really lucky, Vivi!" the otter exclaimed. "Our father adores Sorcerers. It's one of the most sought classes in the Central Imperium."
"That's great!" Vivi replied, a smile touching her lips as she glanced at the floating letters.
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| Vivi Hellreich (Soul: Vivian Brown)
| Experience: [0 / 100]
| Attributes
| Strength: 5
| Dexterity: 15
| Constitution: 12
| Intelligence: 17
| Wisdom: 15
| Charisma: 13
---
Everything still felt surreal to her—being transported to another world and thrust into a completely new body that was remarkably similar to her previous one.
'Though there are clear differences,' Vivi mused, her fingers lightly tracing the point of her ear.
"Right, you told me to deliver the letter ending the engagement and then undergo the Passage," Vivi said to the otter. "What else do I need to do before we can leave Frostwatch? I can't stand this cold any longer."
The otter floated at her side, casting a critical eye over the castle's towering spires as if judging its very essence. "We just need to prepare the carriage and depart. It's best we hurry before they change their minds or that brat comes begging at your feet," the otter advised.
"He wouldn't dare do that, would he?" Vivi murmured, a hint of apprehension creeping into her voice.
"You don't know him," the otter replied matter-of-factly.
"But do you know him, Li?" Vivi asked, using the nickname she'd given her journeying companion.
"Just enough, I've heard all the rumors from the nearby villages and even from his own city," Li explained.
"And are they reliable?" Vivi inquired as she stepped into her guest room.
"Even if they're not, it just shows he's incapable of improving his reputation," the otter commented, settling gracefully onto a chair.
"Right," Vivi agreed, nodding slowly.
She surveyed the room; though modest in size, it was well-arranged and comfortable. The neatly made bed and the warm glow from the hearth offered a brief respite from the icy winds outside. Yet, the sooner they left Frostwatch behind, the better.
Vivi wasted no time and continued placing her clothes into the suitcase, her hands moving with determined efficiency. In theory, she had spent the last few weeks at the castle observing the young lord and weighing her decision on whether to proceed with the marriage.
Though she was only fourth in line for succession in House Hellreich, she was still her father's first daughter. Because of this, she was doted upon by everyone in the family, even being granted permission to break the marriage contract between the two houses if she wished.
Of course, she wasn't irresponsible to that extent. However, given the boy's terrible reputation and his failure to select the Paladin class, he had created the perfect circumstance for Vivi to request the end of the engagement without tarnishing the Hellreich name.
As soon as Vivi finished packing her suitcase, she summoned the soldiers to prepare her carriage. In the meantime, she sat at the small table in her chamber to read over her journal. It was one of the simplest ways to learn about this world, its history, and where she was returning.
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From what she had gathered, Hellreich was not in the same empire where she currently resided. While Frostwatch lay within the Arkan Imperium, Hellreich belonged to the Central Imperium. Both realms had experienced numerous disputes in the past. However, they were now drawing closer, and to strengthen this budding alliance, several nobles were marrying their children into families from the other empire.
It was a genius move—for Frostwatch to gain additional support in their eternal war against the monsters descending from the north and for Hellreich to secure easier access to goods coming from Arkan.
'All right, I have three brothers, and my mother died five years after my birth,' Vivi recited inwardly, trying to memorize each passage of the book.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a firm knock on the door.
She approached, her heart quickening. 'Please don't let it be James. Please don't let it be James,' she silently pleaded.
"Who is it?" Vivi asked aloud.
"My lady, the carriage is ready. We are prepared to depart," a soldier's voice responded from the other side of the door.
"Very well, I'm coming," Vivi replied.
She took one last glance around the modest yet well-appointed room. The rich tapestries on the walls depicted scenes of great battles and legendary creatures, all illuminated by the soft glow of the fading afternoon sun. Despite this, the room felt cold—much like Frostwatch itself. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, eager to leave the icy city behind.
The otter spirit, her ever-present companion, floated beside her. "Ready to go?" asked, its eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"More than ever," Vivi sighed. She picked up her suitcase and headed toward the door.
Just as Vivi reached for the door, another knock echoed softly from the other side.
"I'm coming," she called out, assuming it was one of her soldiers.
But when she opened the door, she found herself face-to-face with a young man.
She had seen him wandering the castle corridors before, but they had never been formally introduced. Previously, she had only glimpsed him battered and bruised. This time, however, he was different. He still appeared somewhat wounded, but the dried blood on his face didn't seem to be his own.
Moreover, his tousled dark hair framed a face that bore a confident smirk. He had never displayed such self-assurance before—a smile that could disarm both foes and hearts. His sharp, blue eyes glinted like polished gems, alive with mischief and intelligence.
He wore a fitted leather doublet, weathered yet stylish, over a cream-colored tunic that hinted at a life lived on the edge—equal parts refined and dangerous.
‘Is this the young lord spoken of so poorly?’ Vivi wondered. ‘Truly, he looks the part of a womanizer—perhaps entangled with many lovers or addicted to gambling.’
At his side, the ornate hilt of a weapon caught her eye, particularly because there was no blade—no sword, rapier, or dagger resting.
The air around him was charged as if he were a storm waiting to break. His presence commanded attention—a mixture of charisma and menace that made it impossible to look away. This was no ordinary man; he didn't even seem like a noble, especially one from the North. At first glance, he appeared more like a mercenary—or perhaps a rogue with secrets as deep as the night.
"How may I help you?" Vivi asked, finding her voice at last.
"My lady, I am James Frostwatch," the young man introduced himself.
"I know who you are," she replied.
"I imagine so since you've observed me the last few weeks. Even so, I thought it worthwhile to introduce myself in person," James said with a calm confidence.
Vivi felt a slight flush of embarrassment at his directness.
"A pleasure to meet you, James. Unfortunately, you won't convince me to retract the cancellation of our engagement," she stated firmly, making her decision unmistakably clear.
"Do not worry, milady; I have no desire for you to do so—none whatsoever," James replied, almost as if making an oath. "On the contrary, I wish to reinforce that your decision is correct, but I hope it does not harm the relations between House Hellreich and House Frostwatch. As proof of our desire to strengthen our ties, I have come personally as a representative."
Vivi nodded, unsure of how to respond. She glanced at Li, the otter spirit floating beside her, but Li looked just as astonished as she felt. Seeking to ease the situation, Vivi decided to be conciliatory. "Certainly, I won't consider this a negative mark or a problem in the relationship between our noble houses."
"Excellent!" James responded, straightening up. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Vivi Hellreich." Swiftly, he took her hand and placed a light farewell kiss upon her palm.
Vivi was still stunned by the young man's sudden action and hadn't managed to stop him. Before she knew it, he had turned and left the doorway of her room. She stepped forward to the door, but when she looked, he had already descended the stairs and was gone.
"Indeed, he must be just as the rumors say. He can't be trusted—he looks like a womanizer," Vivi judged.
"No! He's completely different from the rumors," Li interjected.
"What do you mean? Wasn't he supposed to be a vagabond or addicted to gambling?" Vivi asked.
"Quite the opposite. He was said to be unreliable—a coward, a weakling. Not someone like him!" Li explained.
Vivi paused for a moment before asking, "Are you sure it was the best move to deliver that letter?"
The otter took a deep breath before replying, "We'll only know in the future. For now, let's get out of here."