Eric tells her that Elise’s confirmation about Intuition being unique to Lexi had been part of the reason he’d rushed to the palace. The other reason being the fact that even the oldest sage in the world hadn’t been able to see what had caused Sage Icarian’s death.
As for Elise’s skills, the imperial family has known all about them for generations, as expected.
And not just the imperial family.
The Guild secretly tracks all such information, as do many noble houses - for their own protection, and/or for nefarious reasons. All members of the Tridentia direct family are briefed about players and their skills from childhood, though they’re sworn to secrecy to prevent other nobles from learning their own hard-earned information, and to keep them from being viewed suspiciously by players.
And it’s not just the Guild and nobles who do. Lexi isn’t surprised to hear that there’s an underground market devoted entirely to trading information about players, though her eyes widen when she hears that the cost of learning about a single passive skill of a normal rank player starts at 50 gold coins.
What a rip off!
What bothers her the most - exorbitant prices of low-level information aside - is the fact that Shade Raphael is said to have taken over the underground information trade quite violently more than a decade ago.
> ”He doesn’t just trade information.”
Eric’s meaningful look had told her enough.
While he can speak to her relatively freely in the duke’s manor thanks to copious amounts of expensive magical devices, he still needs sound barriers to be safe. And it seems anywhere not protected by such layers is fair game for players - especially shades who control shadows and possess the ability to move through them.
Isn’t their skill just way too OP?
If the man can do all that with shadows, there’s basically no beating him in a fight unless you have some crazy powerful magical device that counters or nullifies his skills.
While the most basic such suppressor costs one million gold coins, Lexi is aware that the figure grows exponentially with functions, given she knows the cost of the one in the Tridentia manor that can target each class.
How many people can afford it though?
Only the really wealthy can properly protect against players. Which is why it’s honestly a surprise the shades haven’t taken over the world yet.
Is it just because they’re keeping each other in check?
Eric and Ray don’t know for certain, but they do say that many people fear players because of such possibilities.
Still doesn’t make it okay to just kill players and steal their powers, especially when we remain conscious throughout everything.
They leave to search for the remaining people and items of importance after breakfast, and this time a lot of people are looking at her with expressions she’s not used to.
Are they...are they happy to see me?
“It’s her, the savior!”
WHAT?!
Oh no no no, don’t y’all start with this shit. ‘Savior’? I don’t need that bloody title, it comes with WAY too many ridiculous expectations. And worst of all, if I start being popular, I’ll have a lot more people wanting to kill me.
Glancing at Ray, who blinks at her deliberately - their code for “we’ll talk later”, since they’re out in public - Lexi grits her teeth and pulls her hood lower over her face. The Guide-lines continue to sparkle all around her, branching off here and there, so she decides to just go left first since she’s left handed.
She hasn’t actually seen any other left handed people around, despite the fact that they’re 10% of the population in her world.
Well, I’m used to living in a right handed world.
From infrastructure to user experience to customs, everything had evolved or been created for the majority.
Stop the ‘woe is me’. That’s most likely how I ended up here - some sort of punishment for not realizing how good I had it back home. Remember: I don’t have a right to complain, not when there are people who can’t see or hear or walk, who have different cognitive abilities or lethal allergies.
Though Lexi would never be called an idealist, her father had been a perceptive and compassionate man who always paid attention to and cared about others. As the one to raise her, he’d tried to drill such thinking into his only daughter, but her nature and the fact that she’d been spoiled all her life meant she’d only absorbed some of his teachings.
Stop it. No matter how far you turn back time with your powers here, you can’t go back to those days and say you’re sorry and that you love him most.
“It’s through here.”
Violet is a great horse, though Lexi’s never been fond of the color purple. She’s calm and responsive, well-trained and doesn’t throw tantrums. As soon as Lexi tugs the reins lightly, Violet comes to a gentle stop immediately and stands still as Ray helps her down.
I can feel your disapproval, Eric.
The redhead had been nagging her to learn to dismount on her own lately, saying she can’t always expect Ray to be available. But the running, weight-bearing exercises, and learning to fight and defend herself always turn Lexi’s legs to jelly by the end of class, which means each time she tries to practice getting off Violet she ends up having to be caught by Eric before she face plants or breaks something.
The vice-commander takes the lead in the alley, Lexi right behind him and peeking around his bulk until they turn a corner and reach an old wooden door.
Wonder what’s behind door number two.
Door number one had led to hell, but this one isn’t triggering Intuition.
Despite Ray no doubt knocking as gently as possible, the wood still creaks and trembles with each contact of gloved knuckles. Stomping and cursing accompany Guide’s glitters, and then...
“The hell you want?!”
When the door is swung open, moaning and squeaking all the way, a short and stocky lady glares up at them, her curly orange hair unruly and evidence they’d woken her up.
Huh?
Ray’s imposing height means the woman scowls as she bends almost completely backwards to look up at him. Then her dark, bloodshot eyes widen as they take in the insignia pinned to his lapel - a gold medal with a hawk wearing a crown, gripping a sword and shield, and the telltale star that indicates he’s a vice-commander.
“Si...sir! Brienne the dwarf apologizes for her rudeness!”
Dwarf? Don’t they stay in the southern continent and wait for human merchants to come see them? What’s she doing here?
“Her Excellency, Lady Alexandra Hargreaves, is here to see you.”
As unperturbed as ever, Ray.
Sir Aidan, looking from over Lexi’s head since he’s also ridiculously tall, is clearly in shock and whispering to the others behind him about seeing a dwarf in person for the first time, but the man taking up almost the entire width of the alley acts like he talks to different races on a regular basis.
“Exce...The Hargreaves is here?!”
Wow, they got even wider.
Lexi removes her hood, and instantly dark eyes zoom in on her crystal ones.
“My...my lady! Brienne the dwarf bids you welcome to her humble smithy!”
Oh God, this is too stereotypical. Right down to her high level.
“Thank you, Miss Brienne.” Again with the shock. I want to smack all those other players.
The shop is too small for Ray to follow, so he stands by the door and hunches to peer inside watchfully as Sir Felix - who’s considered the shortest Dawn Knights at five feet eleven - follows Lexi in.
“Forgive the mess, my lady! Brienne will clean up!”
It’s a little chaotic, but it reminds Lexi of her desk when she’s working too many projects at once, so she smiles and says it’s fine. The dwarf just gapes at her in response.
Let’s see...
Now that she’s inside, Guide is clustering around several items, so Lexi heads straight for the closest one.
’Boots of gliding’?
“M...my lady, you have a good eye.” The dwarf has tied her hair back and smoothed her apron down somewhat. “Brienne made this to help the wearer move faster.”
I need you to tell me the name.
“Does it have a name?”
Dark eyes blink owlishly at her, before the dwarf shakes her head.
I see. Maybe Elise can help tell me the level of this item.
“I’ll take this.”
Instantly Sir Felix sidles up to her casually, whispering out of the corner of his mouth to ask for the price and haggle.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Oh.
Lexi has never in her life tried to bargain for a lower price of goods or services, usually being the one having to justify costs of hundreds of thousands to clients representing multibillion dollar companies
How did those annoying paper pushers do it?
“Miss Brienne.” Instantly the dwarf stands at attention after almost leaping with joy. “If I were to purchase a few items today, would you be able to give me a good deal?”
“Of...of course, my lady!”
“And if I were to become a regular customer, maybe even placing custom orders, you’d take our relationship into account, I’m sure?”
Somehow that makes dark eyes gleam even more.
“Yes, my lady! Brienne will give you a great price for everything you buy!”
Sorry, Sir Felix, but that’s the best I can do.
He doesn’t look disappointed, though green eyes continue to watch the dwarf warily.
On to the next one, then.
’Gauntlets of stone’? Does that mean they boost defense?
“My lady, these gauntlets will protect you well, Brienne swears on her hammer!”
Maybe those other fiction writers visited Terra before.
“Alright, I’ll trust you Miss Brienne.” That makes the dwarf beam brightly, orange curls escaping the leather tie and framing her chubby face adorably.
Oh?
Guide-lines pass straight by a pair of gloves almost hidden by shields and spears placed haphazardly, but Sight gives her a name.
’Magic gloves of might’. Ray could probably use these.
“I’d like those as well.” Brienne happily adds them to the pile on a desk that appears when the dwarf sweeps a mountain of metal and papers to the side hastily.
In the end, Lexi ends up spending 300 gold coins on the boots, gauntlets, gloves for Ray, ‘Gloves of web’ for herself, a flame pin for Eric, and a ‘Mask of mist’.
I don’t know if this is a good deal or not...I need to ask Elise for help.
Sir Felix is glaring suspiciously at the dwarf, but he’s too polite to question Lexi’s decisions.
Brienne follows and bows all the way to the corner of the alley, eyes sparkling as the dwarf waves and asks Lexi to come back soon.
We’ll see about that. I’m not asking you to help craft anything, especially with Interspatia, until you’ve built up a track record with me.
“When is Elise coming over?” Eric just shrugs and tells her to invite the other sage for a meal whenever she likes.
“Can you send someone to invite her over tomorrow for lunch?”
A single glance from the messy haired commander is all it takes for Sir Taylor Windemeon to ride off.
On to the next spot then.
Lexi recalls seeing a Guide-line start a few blocks away, so she decides to head in that direction until she sees the start of telltale sparkles.
Wish these lights would extend a bit farther. Maybe I’ll unlock it eventually.
This time Guide leads her down narrow, sloping, winding paths - are we going to the slums? - that cause her to worry constantly about slipping, but Violet is careful and steady, picking her way slowly down to safety.
For once Eric doesn’t nag Lexi about sitting up straight in the saddle, since she’d been trying to balance on the steep declines.
It’s not the slums, but it’s clearly a poor commoner section of the city, judging by the state of the buildings and clothes.
“Is that her?”
“The Hargreaves?”
“I heard she’s an alchemist.”
“I heard she’s a sage.”
This is a bad idea.
Gritting her teeth, because she’s already made it this far, Lexi ignores the whispers until...
“She’s the one who saved Martha’s girl.”
’Martha’s girl’?
Oh. Was she another victim from the hellhole?
Based on what Eric had last told her, the survivors are still receiving treatment - some of them yet to regain consciousness despite healers’ best efforts - so she hopes Martha’s child is doing fine.
Vena is almost completely recovered thanks to her elven blood and the incredible care of the manor employees and healers, and Mia has mentioned several times that the child - Mia, she’s old enough to be your mother - has been asking to meet her savior, but Lexi doesn’t feel right when it’d been Eric who’d carried the mangled and broken body out, so she always tells Mia to ensure the half-elf gets plenty of rest and good food instead.
Why is the Guide-line...
It’s zigzagging, almost as though speeding towards her, and Lexi unconsciously tugs on Violet’s reins.
“My lady?”
Ray is looking at her carefully.
“It’s coming. I think it’s a person.”
She knows there isn’t much point speaking so softly, not when this part of the city doesn’t get much sunlight, making it a shade’s natural playground, but she doesn’t need the curious commoners finding out more than they should about her just yet.
The large knight instantly nudges Siege so he’s slightly in front of Lexi, as she watches the lights jerk here and there, until...
“...a kid?”
A young boy, probably no older than eight, with tousled light brown hair and wide brown eyes, stumbles to a stop panting. It’s evident from his face he’d rushed over upon hearing news that a player had come, and though Lexi can see his name she has to wonder if Guide has gone off the reservation.
“Thomas?”
The boy stiffens immediately, eyes impossibly large on a thin face, and then his skin pales noticeably as scrawny limbs tremble.
Why is...oh. I guess some players and nobles are really complete wastes of sperm.
“Kid.” She’s not good with children, never has been, so this is insanely awkward for Lexi. “Where are your parents or guardians?”
His mouth opens and closes several times, but it’s clear he’s too terrified to speak.
“It’s alright, Thomas. We won’t hurt you.” Surprisingly, that works to calm the boy instantly, and Lexi wonders why telling other children in her world to stop screaming and running around fine dining restaurants during twelve course dinners never had the intended effect.
Maybe I should have freaked them out first, then told them to be quiet.
“M...m...milady...” His voice is soft and shy, trembling ever so slightly, but his eyes aren’t afraid anymore. You’re way too trusting, kid. “My grandmother is at work, she’s a seamstress.”
A seamstress at her age? When sight correction procedures are crazy expensive and glasses are sold in fixed diopter increments for tens of silvers?
“I see.” What the hell do I do now? I can’t just kidnap him and say my skills tell me he’s someone important.
“My lady.” It’s Ray who steps in, as always. “The boy seems to have talent for swordsmanship.”
How the hell do you know that?!
On second thought, it’d be weirder for a vice-commander of the empire’s greatest legion not to be able to recognize talent when he sees it.
Thank you, Ray.
This kind, gentle knight had figured out how to help her without revealing her abilities.
“Young Thomas.” That reaction is something Lexi’s still getting used to - the trepidation at facing a walking, talking, scarred mountain, followed by the shock, awe, and fear upon seeing his rank and allegiance. “Tell your grandmother you have been summoned by the Imperial Knights, and report to the Badger Legion at the palace tomorrow.”
“Summoned? To the Badger Legion? Does that mean...?”
“Is Leanne’s grandson going to become an Imperial Knight?”
I guess it IS a pretty big deal, especially for a commoner.
But the kid’s only eight!
“Wh...you mean...I mean, ye...yes, sir!”
Attaboy.
“He’s a little small for a twelve year old, but he’ll be a fine knight when he grows up, my lady.”
He’s TWELVE?!
Lexi really should have factored poverty and malnourishment into her assessment.
Even back home, there were plenty without enough to eat all around the world and in my city. Not everyone’s fed as well as I am.
It’s as they’re riding away that Lexi hears it and wants to kick herself.
“How did the Hargreaves know Thomas’ name?”
Dammit. There goes more information about me.
----------------------------------------
Eric has been teasing her mercilessly about today: getting conned by a dwarf, looking for little boys, chasing down a feisty stray cat with heterochromia, buying a worn trinket from a dodgy looking peddler, then uprooting a large oak tree in a public park to recover a broken pen.
Shut up. I know it looks bad.
To his credit, the crown prince - whom they had to contact for permission to temporarily ruin a public space, though they were careful with the tree and replanted it afterwards - insists Lexi must have her reasons. Ray is as stoic as usual.
“Lady Lexi.” The duke rarely speaks to her, but whenever he does he’s polite and pleasant. If only your youngest had some of your manners... “Please do not concern yourself with rumors.”
Thanks, old man.
With their wealth, power, and social standing, the empire’s dukes stand above all nobles, second only to the imperial family in terms of influence.
If he’s saying that, it means the duchy’s people are already working to silence everyone.
When Eric’s father excuses himself to his study to work some more, Lexi follows the crown prince and her bodyguards to the library.
“My lady.” I’m glad you’re not accidentally letting your wife’s name slip anymore. “There has been movement by Saint Angelus and Summoner Selena.”
Oh.
“What kind of movement?”
It’s Eric, the way he usually is with her and not his childhood friend.
“They were seen meeting with Shade Raphael today.”
Is this because I met Elise yesterday? Or is it because I went around the city today like a madwoman?
“We don’t have anyone in that shade’s place.” Lexi can’t remember ever seeing the handsome commander so frustrated. “What about the other shades?”
Though most players hid their classes, the imperial family and duchies know the identities of every rare and legendary rank player.
“Shade Farah met with Sage Ha-jun, who also met Dhampir Sarah. Meanwhile, Shade Rosalyn met Summoner Mieke and Oracle Walter. Shade Yuki and Shade Liam have not made any moves.”
“What about Dhampir Lily?”
It’s the first time Lexi’s ever seen the crown prince side eye his childhood friend.
“Wouldn’t you know better?”
Hmmm? What’s this?
“The Commander and Dhampir Lily enjoy a rather unique relationship, my lady.” Ray’s got that mischievous look again. “Even though Dhampir Lily usually prefers Shade Raphael’s company, Commander Tridentia seems to have his own appeal.”
Oh my GOD Ray are you shading your commanding officer? ATTABOY!
“As Ray said.” Even his highness is up to no good. “Shouldn’t you be able to find out more from Dhampir Lily? Or have you lost your touch, Ric?”
At the look on Eric’s face, Lexi bursts into laughter once more.
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When Eric walks into the drawing room in the afternoon, disheveled but languid, the crown prince is playing with Hissy - the stray cat with heterochromia that Elise says is a natural deterrent against demons, and that they’d named ‘Hissy’ because it’d hissed at them nonstop the day before - while the senior sage chats with Lexi on the couch.
“What the hell?”
“Commander.” Ray’s calm tone is at odds with his dancing green eyes. “What news of Dhampir Lily?”
His highness laughs at that, distracting Lexi, while Elise giggles.
Throwing himself on another sofa, Eric sighs happily. “As amazing as ever, if you must know.”
He’s met with four snorts, and blinks brown eyes in surprise.
“That’s not what we meant, Commander Tridentia.” Elise sounds like she’s talking to her errant grandson, which is fair considering she’s 400 years old.
“Hold your horses, Sage Elise.” Eric steals Lexi’s cup of coffee, and she glares at him ineffectually. “She said that as far as she knows, Shade Raphael is just hearing out the other players, but hasn’t made a decision regarding Lexi for the time being.”
Thank God.
She’s no match for such a powerful, dangerous man, and everyone knows it.
“Lexi.” Elise’s purple eyes are worried. “Do you want me to talk to Rafa?”
’Rafa’?
It’s adorable how Elise treats everyone like her younger siblings.
“There’s no need to trouble yourself, Elise.” Lexi smiles to reassure the elder sage. “I’m sure that shade knows you’ve come to visit today, so he’ll realize you’re intervening on my behalf.”
Huffing, Elise tries to look stern but fails miserably. “Lexi! This isn’t a small matter. That man is dangerous. I don’t care if he knows we’re friends,” at that last word, Lexi’s heart leaps slightly, since she’s still getting used to having friends. “If it means keeping you safe I’ll go talk to him.”
“Lady Lexi is right, Sage Elise.” Apparently, even the emperor treats Elise respectfully, so the crown prince’s politeness is par for course. “If you speak to him now, it might pique his interest in Lady Lexi even more. We should avoid drawing his attention towards her for now.”
Eric snorts at that, and Lexi glares at him.
Shut up, I know I ran around causing a ruckus yesterday.
“Commander, Sage Elise has identified the levels and properties of the items Lady Lexi acquired yesterday.”
One of these days, Lexi really will kiss Ray for being such a sweetheart.
Boots of gliding Level 24, provides user with speed boost. Gauntlets of stone Level 20, protects user from physical strikes up to Level 20. Gloves of web Level 12, enhances the wearer’s grip. Mask of mist Level 15, allows wearer to breathe normally in toxic or adverse conditions. [https://i.imgur.com/Hq6e05m.png]
When Eric hears that the flame pin she’d purchased - with its ability to shoot streams of fire thrice to protect its wearer - is for him, his face contorts in a way Lexi’s never seen it do before but that she recognizes instantly.
You’re feeling awkward, and now you’re making everyone feel awkward. I’m never buying you anything again.
The ‘magic gloves of might’ for Ray turn out to be a steal since a level 60 magic item would usually cost in the hundreds of thousands of gold coins. Eric’s brown eyes widen comically at that information, and the redhead looks a little envious as his deputy casually flaunts new gloves by brushing imaginary lint off pristine epaulettes.
Go ahead and flex as much as you want, Ray.
As for the broken pen, it turns out to be part of an ancient key to Goddess Spesa’s hidden temple - at that, Eric almost leaps off the couch - while the worn trinket is “just a little item from the heavens”, according to Elise, who apologizes for not knowing more.
“You’ve already helped us tons, Elise!” Lexi smiles gratefully at the dark haired beauty. “Thank you so much.”
Purple eyes turn watery, and then Lexi’s being hugged again by this humble, affectionate sage.
Thank you, Elise.
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CHAPTER 14 END