›So what's on our to-do list? Get better equipment, gather intelligence … ah, training as well, but not today.‹

As he said so in his mind, Velvet jumped out of him and took his fox form. ›Ahh, so much new stuff. So exciting.‹ He jumped around Vern as they entered the streets.

›Yeah, you can look around and all, but you still have to help me out, okay?‹, Vern said.

But he didn't get any answer and instead, the fox vanished through the walls of the buildings around.

›Ahh, please don't do that to private homes, ok? Only shops and other public places are acceptable.‹

›Yes, calm down. I am just 'gathering some intelligence'.‹

›I'm serious. If you keep doing this, it'll have consequences.‹

Surprisingly, the fox listened for once and came back to his side. ›Fine, but you'll have to show me the whole city in exchange.‹

›Well, but not today. How far can you move away from my body, anyway?‹

›Wait here‹, Velvet ordered him and jumped ahead. Vern reluctantly stopped in the middle of the road, and a man almost walked into him.

›About 20 meters or so, I'd say‹, concluded Vern when he saw Velvet turn around. ›That's not bad, certainly great for scouting. Velvet returned and walked proudly beside him.

Now that they'd reached one of the main roads leading into the city center, Vern stopped and took out the map.

›So for today … I think we should visit the library and see if we can find something useful there.‹ He pointed at a spot on the map a few kilometers away. ›Shouldn't be a problem to get there.‹

Velvet didn't disagree, and they maneuvered through the bustling streets toward their destination.

Due to the time of the day, the activity on the streets steadily increased until Vern had to make sure not to get pushed the wrong way.

›Ahhh, they're all staring at me. I can't take it anymore‹, cried Velvet all of the sudden, and Vern saw a blue light fade back into his body.

›No, they don't … well, anyway …‹ Vern had just realized that this was something he could use as leverage against Velvet if the need ever arose. ›So what's the deal? Have you never been around others … like of your kind?‹

›Hmm, probably. I don't remember it, though. Actually, I don't remember anything else other than being like this … alone … in the forest … for so long …‹

Hearing these words, Vern had to dial back his empathy by reminding himself how much trouble Velvet frequently caused.

›Yes, sounds not too great … I guess. But you didn't happen to overhear any information that would help us deal with that thing in the mountains?‹

›No, I don't know anything about anything.‹

When they reached the library, much more time had passed than Vern had initially anticipated due to rush hour.

The building in front he walked the stairs up towards was magnificent, its intricate design showing the abilities of the countries engineers and masons.

Subsequently, the entrance was guarded by two knights in polished armor, who despite looking at him grimly, didn't stop him from entering.

As he walked through the hall, a woman waved him over to a counter.

»May I see your entry permit?«, she asked, and when Vern just stared back at her cluelessly.

She sighed. »The usage of the Royal Library is only allowed with an entry permit. You can apply for one at the office for education.«

»Well, I just want to look something up … I am not planning on visiting regularly.«

»I don't make the rules.«

»Do these rules also apply to a duke's son?«, Vern asked and ran his finger through his golden hair, like he had seen his brother do on many official occasions. As he did, the woman's face changed from stern to deeply troubled.

»Oh … err … I am very sorry, lord Alvyn von Feuerstein. I only just recognized you, as your clothing concealed your identity quite well.«

»Ahem, yes«, said Vern, just realizing that he still wore his expedition attire. »I've just returned from a journey and was hoping to broaden my horizon a little to better fulfill my duty. So do I still have to get a permit for a visit like this?«

»No, no, no. Just follow me, my lord.«

He did as told, and Velvet was next to him, strolling along. ›Wow, I can't look around having fun, but you can impersonate others like that, yeah, definitely not hypocritical.‹

Vern just ignored his complaints, and as he started to see the massive bookshelves coming into view, he asked: »Can you show me where I can find information on the hero Ignatius and the war?«

The woman nodded and led him to a secluded room.

»Here you won't be disturbed. I'll bring you any book regarding your request.«

After Vern had specified further what he was looking for, the woman vanished for several minutes before reappearing behind a card loaded with books.

»Oh, thanks … that will definitely do.«

He took the first book as the woman closed the door behind her and began skimming.

When he reached the interesting parts, he slowed down and mumbled.

»A 1000 years ago, Ignatius von Feuerstein, wielder of the Hellfire Sword, and his companions hunted down the Eldritch Creatures. They followed them into the mountains to the north to destroy them once and for all.

A brutal battle ensued, in which the wielders of Blizzard Spear and Hurricane Bow died, leaving only Ignatius as its sole survivor. He brought back their weapons, left his own behind, and vanished.

When the Hellfire Sword's ownership passed on to the next son of the von Feuerstein bloodline, Ignatius was officially declared dead.«

Vern looked further into the book, but the mountains to the north were never mentioned again. So he took the next book and the next, but their information was mostly redundant.

As he finished the last book, he looked at Velvet lying next to him and was very disappointed. He hadn't found anything useful in all those hours.

›You don't know anything about the mountains in the north, do you?‹

Velvet opened his eyes and looked at him. ›Of course not. I didn't even know there were mountains in the north. I told you before I only remember the forest and that way too well. Was it really necessary to wake me up like that?‹

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›Do you actually need to sleep?‹, asked Vern in return.

›Well, I like it. I don't know if I am really sleeping or not. I just stop thinking about stuff.‹

Vern stood up and moved his stiff body around.

›We should probably go back. I doubt we will find anything useful here.‹

For a moment, he wondered if he was supposed to bring the books back himself but decided to only put them on the card. Then he left the room and waved to the woman who had attended to him as he left the library.

›So what now?‹, asked Vern as he looked up into the sky. It was already late in the afternoon. ›How should I continue now?‹

›Why are you asking me? It's not like I know anything besides the memories you have yourself.‹

Vern sighed and started walking back to the mansion. ›Well, I just don't know anything, really. Is the box an Eldritch weapon? Something entirely unrelated? How dangerous is it? What can I do against it? None of my questions were answered …‹

›Well, I think it's safe to say that it is quite dangerous. Being able to possess someone and also make that person significantly stronger in the process.‹

›Hmm. It is weird. When Alvyn was possessed in my memories, he still seemed to recognize us to a certain degree … I sure hope that I didn't agree to be possessed like that by accident.‹

›Hmph. Of course, you would say something mean like that.‹ Velvet raised his head high and walked ahead.

›You can't even tolerate a little taste of your own medicine, can you?‹, asked Vern, not even expecting an answer.

Instead, he paid more attention to his surroundings and felt the vibrant city life. As he had spent much time in secluded locations, he enjoyed the busy streets, the shouts of the merchants promoting their goods, and the constantly changing smells in the air.

He stopped at a food stand and bought a meat skewer to tame his emerging hunger. There he realized something important.

As of now, he didn't have any money to speak of. So his plans of buying equipment himself weren't viably in reality.

While munching on the meat, he pondered this new problem, which at least was a solvable one. When they reached the mansion again, he had already come up with a solid strategy for obtaining a decent amount of money.

»You've been out long«, commented Alvyn when Vern entered from the mansion's hall into the living room.

»Yeah, I strolled around and ended up visiting the library.«

Alvyn stopped polishing his sword and looked up. »Oh, you're also now studying hard, I see. You really want to empress Ezra that much?«

»Well, technically, they mistook me for you, so … you were the one studying hard there.«

»Hmph, how do you always get away with these criminal things? Pretending to be me, really? I always get caught for the smallest of things while you roam around freely.«

»Well, I'm also not the people's focus – you are, after all. Shall we make ourselves some dinner?«

Hearing these words, Alvyn jumped up immediately and went to the kitchen. After they had eaten their fair share, they decided to go to sleep early for once, as tomorrow was an important day.

The next day, both of them were waiting in the living room. Unlike yesterday, they wore formal clothes and looked almost indistinguishable from one another – if one were to ignore the reddish sword hanging on Alvyn's side.

»It's already noon«, said Alvyn while walking around in circles. »Why are we always the ones that have to wait?«

»Well, it is how it is«, answered Vern, while he focussed his mind on channeling around mana, trying to familiarize it more with his body.

A few minutes later, they picked up the front door opening and steps coming down the hallway.

Alvyn stopped in the middle of the room, and Vern walked up next to him. A middle-aged man appeared in the doorway and scrutinized them intensely.

»I see you're both well. That's an upside. Alvyn, please come with me. I want to talk to you first.«

Vern heard a gulp next to him, and Alvyn stepped forward, following his father out of sight.

›Sheesh, I wonder what they're talking about? Might be something really important …‹, said Velvet and jumped out of Vern's body.

›Well, I think you just want to eavesdrop for the sake of doing it.‹

›What I want? Shouldn't matter.‹ Velvet looked at him with a serious expression. ›After all, you should know if something significant changes, right?‹

›You aren't wrong, I guess … ‹ He sighed and walked around the room, trying to remember the house's layout. ›I think my father's workroom is in this direction‹, concluded Vern and pointed up to a corner of the living room. ›You should be able to reach it from here.‹

›Yes, I will have a look. Just make sure to stand next to the wall. I can't hear sound that well, so I'll have to be very close.‹ Velvet jumped up through the wall, and Vern slouched himself on a sofa near where he left.

›Are you right at the wall? I can't move any further.‹

›What? It's that far away?‹, asked Vern, reluctant to actually stand up.

›Yes. If you want to know, you need to do as I say.‹

›Fine.‹ He walked over to the wall until his face was just several centimeters away.

›Ah, that's good, yes. So they started talking already. I can't quite make out the words. They're still a little bit too far away … it seems really important … the body language is intense and all …‹

Vern stared at the wall, wondering for a brief moment if he should readjust his position entirely, but he didn't want to risk missing something important. Therefore, he closed the last remaining distance between himself and the wall.

›Can you hear them now?‹

›Ah yes … now it's perfect. Don't move anymore‹, answered Velvet.

With his cheek pressed against the wall, Vern hoped it was worth it – and that non of the servants would see him hugging a wall.

›So what are they saying?‹, asked Vern as Velvet had been quiet for a minute. ›Can't you hear them?‹

›Oh … ahem … I can … just, just stay like this. I'll tell you everything later.‹

It began to dawn on Vern that something wasn't right, and he turned his head around.

As soon as he did so, Velvet burst into laughter and rolled on the floor behind him. Vern moved away from the wall, trying to calm his anger.

›Really? Why do you have to do that to me?‹, he asked, shaking his head.

›Hahaha. That's what you get for being mean to me all the time!‹ Velvet dropped his body to the ground and jumped up high in the air, opening his mouth. Vern didn't even bother reacting as Velvet's body plunged into his, trying to attack him.

›You are just a hypocrite … well I would prefer it, though, if we stopped doing that to each other‹, said Vern. ›I really don't want to have to deal with this in a life-or-death situation.‹

›Hmph, now you're pretending to be entirely innocent? Don't you remember who essentially gave you these memories? Who saved you in the forest? And still, you are treating me as if I am just a parasite.‹

The seriousness in his voice made Vern feel guilty. Was he the bad guy here?

›Well, I am sorry for that. I was just joking and all, but if it hurts you, I'll stop doing it.‹

›I didn't say it hurt me … it's just annoying …‹, insisted Velvet but seemed quite happy hearing his apology.

›But in exchange, you stop doing these things, please.‹

›Yeah, ok.‹

They looked at each other and the silence became awkward.

›So … can you … like actually listen in on their conversation … please?‹, asked Vern.

›I suppose I can try. Just sit over there on the couch, that should be sufficient‹, replied Velvet and vanished into the wall once again.

A few seconds passed by, but then Velvet started to report.

›So your father is saying: … as Ezra reported to me before I came here. I hope the excursion made you aware that fooling around as you do is quite dangerous. I hope you will concentrate more on your training in the future.

Alvyn responds now: I'm doing my best. I just want to do something else once in a while. How is that bad?

Father: You inherited the responsibility, so you have to deal with it. You can't just ignore that. From now on, you'll be training in the capital together with the other two heroes. I hope that's enough of a change for you.

Your brother: Well, I guess that's alright. But why do I constantly have to train? It's not like there is any threat out there – the bailiwicks sure, but as long as you stay away from them, they–

Father interrupts: No, but one could appear. No matter the case, it is tradition, and I hope you'll take it up at some point and present it to the outside world. No more. You'll be starting your training immediately. Get your stuff together. A carriage is already awaiting you outside.‹

That was pretty much in line with what happened the last time around. Alvyn went off training while he stayed back and focused on his duties representing their house. Eventually, he would start to train on his own and become a part of their excursions again.

He intended to roughly follow the same course and make progress on the additional objectives in his free time.

As Velvet came back through the wall, he heard a commotion from above as well.

›Thanks a lot, Velvet. You're a great asset.‹

›Hmph, don't say things you don't really mean‹, he responded and faded into Vern's body.

A few moments later, his father appeared again and led him to his workroom.

His father took a seat behind the desk while Vern stood in front of it.

»Ah, I was very pleased to hear what Ezra had to say about you.«, his father began. »Unfortunately, you won't be training with Alvyn any longer. Maybe he will be more serious when you aren't around him. I at least hope so.«

Vern couldn't disagree with his assessment.

»However, since you made quite a lot of progress yourself, you will be joining the royal knight guard instead. Your training will begin next week.«

Hah. That was something Vern just now remembered.

»You don't look very pleased«, his father said surprised. »Ezra told me you were very happy about this opportunity.«

»Yes, I was. But now … I would rather … you know … learn to administer things and stuff.«

»Hmm.« His father frowned and paused. »No. You will be joining the guard. It has already been decided, so you will accept it.«

Vern knew that any protest was in vain, so he just nodded.

»Very well. I see you take responsibility. You will be summoned tomorrow for a first examination, so prepare yourself properly. Don't any bring shame upon our house.«

»I would never.« Vern bowed slightly and his father dismissed him.

›Hmm, that didn't go as expected. I hope I won't be too busy with the guard stuff …‹, said Vern to Velvet as he walked down the stairs.

›Well, on the positive side, you will have plenty of good training, probably. And I won't have to slog through the same events, you already have as memories. That would be so boring.‹

›Well, I guess it might not be entirely bad.‹