-Ophilanna

Ahhh, fuck. My heart is beating the loudest it ever has.

I woke up in the dead of night, with nothing but a shimmering moon illuminating my shoddy room. Brightly shining into my face, it hangs in the sky so smug.

All I did was lay there, sweaty and slightly feverish, thirsty, feeling awful and glum.

Really... how do I get out of this shitty situation? My nightmares keep getting worse.

That one... with mother.. I shuddered just thinking about it. As if I am actually being haunted by own mind and flesh... yuck.

Am I just falling apart from the inside? Pff.. right. My body has been trembling ever since I opened my eyes, like I'm experiencing a tremor.

No way I'll get over this.. guilt. All the death. No chance.

At this rate, I fear not even killing.. him.. will do it. I'm scared. What if it's all for nothing?

All this, I muttered to myself, trying to stand up on shaky legs, uneasiness having lodged itself deep into my brain.

Sighing, I steady my breathing, trying to calm down from the panic I felt earlier.

The moon is eerily visible today. Full moon, huh? Is that why? They have a habit of believing in increased ghost appearances and spirituality during full moon here, similar to my tribe.

Oh... well..

Anyway.

I felt quite nostalgic, and maybe fresh air could help with my troubles. So, I opened my window, hopping outside into the courtyard, lodged inbetween buildings all around. Thin paths between the houses lead out onto the streets of the capital city of Silvale.

Honestly, the moon pisses me off. I'm feeling down in the dumps, I had an awful dream - my body feels horrible. But the nightsky opens up for the main star - the moon. Clouds are sparsely populating the above, stars pattern the night.

I couldn't help it, being envious of that position. With all my childish passion and jealousy and yearning, that's the least one could yield to me. After all, I've made it through really horrible.. stuff.

But here, the moon lies, feet kicking and hiding behind the sun at day, shining bright at night.

It's like me. Leeching off others it can hide behind, to bask in the night glow.

Truthfully, the moon can't do much except revel in the might of the sun, even relying on it. Me.

A long-winded sigh of exhaustion leaves my lips. I stretch, leaning against the well in the middle of court.

Yes.. wherever you'd look, endless swathes of cityscape strech out in front of your eyes. My gaze just wandered its streets, just like my mind.

Would I ever get to meet the Queen? Said to be a beauty equipped with magnanimity and wisdom beyond any ruler or scholar, accepting of any and everyone that respects her country's rules.

Bar crime, the capital city is full of adventure and devoid of human superiority complexes. There is little slavery of beastkin, elves, or other non-humans. It feels ideal, but only on the surface.

I'm sure even someone as perfect as her has flaws. She must have. But, I think, I'd still like to meet her.. talk.. maybe be useful to her? To give back and not be so useless as I am now.

Disregarding the Queen, who I admire, I should really be more thankful and appreciative to Madame Lysandra, the shopkeeper that took me in when I was at my worst. A child of dirt and dust, wandering the crime-ridden backstreets of Eluntia, Capital to Silvale, and also most alluring for criminals and syndicates. She questions little about my past, shelters me, and teaches me what I don't know. I couldn't be more grateful.

Essentially, Madame has become a mother to me.

Mmm. The chilling night's air feels so nice, when my body is so warm. My gaze shifts to the moon, glowing so brightly.

I have a chance, goals, and my efforts will bear fruit. The Madame will not always be there to take care of me, so I should cherish the opportunity... and try. To learn magic, to become useful, not to be discared or lose who I hold dear.

Come to think of it, I heard recently the Queen provides opportunities for non-humans to attend the Magic Academy, Asrius University, named after Her Majesty, Queen Asria. She is notorious for valuing knowledge and curiousity, rewarding it generously. So even commoners can learn.. study.. magic. That's something I wish I could, too.

I'm here now, though. Just here to dream my dreams, live my life. Hopefully, I can find a way to end my nightmares, too? Learn a bit of magic? Find a place to stay at permanently.

Are these goals so lofty as to not be achievable? I think not. What is my purpose, if not to fight my hardest to survive? Mmm..

Pondering this too hard will only make me feel worse, I guess. But not letting your mind wander from time to time would mean you're constantly depriving yourself of mental freedom.

I just mumbled out loud, massaging my temples: "What do I doo..."

Alright, back to my room. I should try to sleep.

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-Eric

Is that her.. the target? Guess I just shadow her, watch for her actions..? Hmmm. I hope she's the right person. Would be awkward otherwise... Aargh.

Calm down! You've got this. She's just an elf. Sure has a weird scar on her neck, though.

What's she.. doing? I hope she's not gonna fall into that well? Sure looks deep to me.

Mmm.. I could establish contact and ask her directly... about my orders. The Baroness hasn't forbidden me from doing so.. I have no cover to begin with, either. It's not a bad idea, is it..?

No. That's dumb. Let's just watch her from afar.

I hide on the rooftop of a house across the courtyard, opposite of her room. Supposedly, this is the abode of a rather (in)famous merchant, Madame Lysandra. During the day, she's a gentle old lady, but at night... they say she cooks children in her furnace.

Of course, that's just to scare the children. Madame Lysandra isn't the name she operates her store under. It's called Lisette's General Store, and she doesn't eat children, but can be pretty grumpy.

Something that recently changed is the new apprentice Madame Lysandra took in, an elven girl roughly my age.. 12? Well.. she seems inconspicuous, but looks can be deceiving, you know?

For all we know, that girl could be a trained assassin. Actually, from what we do know, she is just incredibly smart at gathering, selling and gatekeeping information. There's a reason such a famous broker is caring for a girl from the streets.

I mean, I'm no different. The Baroness took me in as well.. we're actually quite similar in that regard. Though, I've been tasked with monitoring the girl and keeping a close eye on her.

Looks like she's going back inside? A shame, the moonlight really highlights her cuteness.. I guess.

Should I just call it a day right now? I obviously can't follow her inside. Maybe I'll just wait here a little.

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-Ophilanna

My body was still sweating and the fever kicking. Yeah, getting back inside was a hassle in and of itself, without waking up Granny Lis. Ngh.

I tumbled while climbing through my window, nearly falling, but the desk caught me. Hanging over it, I noticed scribbles and failed studies at magic.

Depressing. Tsk. No matter how hard I try, I'm not getting a good grasp at magic. It's like a mental blockade.. or shitty sources? Either way.. I'm not getting anywhere. I'll just go to sleep.

It's surely upsetting that my hard effort isn't making me progress. All I can do right now is conjure a single element, fire, and not for long, I cannot control the size or temperature, nothing. It's a flame that flickers in and out of existence within seconds, almost like it represents my.. worth.

"I'm really not supposed to learn magic, huh?"

As I kept obsessing over my incompetence, I fell into my bed, which made a loud creaking noise. Eek... Hopefully that didn't wake the Madame. Granny gets all serious over her sleep, it'd suck to have her nag me again for disturbing her night. My gaze trails off to the window.

But what do I see..? Is it my lack of sleep or the fever?

Right outside my window, in eyeshot, isn't that.. a person? On a roof. Across from my room.

Looking directly into it. What the hell?

Naturally, I was shocked. Is someone after my life? Am I going to be kidnapped?

Just wait, you nasty fucker. I'll come meet you outside.

Getting worked up, I fell out of bed, causing a loud THUMP to echo throughout the house.

The surprise made me fall out of bed, causing a loud THUMP to be heard throughout.

This much pain is nothing. But.. oh. It's going to wake the Madame. Fuck it, I'll go out with a bang then. Granny will pull me by the ear anyway, so I might as well cause a scene.

Heading straight towards the window, I jumped over my desk, caring least about whatever I dragged with me into the courtyard. All I was fixated on, was the person spying on me.

I sprinted towards said house yelling "Who are you? Come down here!", being incredibly annoyed by the situation. Duh.

Guess I really caused a ruckus - not only did I wake Granma Lis, but made her come outside as well. The moment I looked away towards our house, where she was screeching for me to shut up and be quiet, said spy booked it. Can't fault them, I would, too. With that menace of a dragon lady.. Makes me shudder thinking about what she'll do to me. Unlike the suspicious guy, I can't really run from her, though. Or I wouldn't want to. Fuck. I'm getting chewed out by the Madame for my stupidity.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Amidst this surreal situation, I notice a page lying around in the garden. I probably took it with me as I jumped over my desk. After picking it up, I noticed that most of it was idiotic scribbling and notes I took during my studies. Just as I wanted to crumple the page, something occurred to me.

While it was mostly useless what I've written onto the page, I could see a possible reason for all the difficulty magic was giving me.

Have I approached it too intuitively? The books I have are rather... awkward to understand. They're the only ones I have, though. What if I think of magic as too intuitionistic? Maybe that's why-

I was cut off, my excitement was rather short-lived, by Granny. Her furious stomping, her face right in front of me, pulled me back to reality. As if I looked into the eyes of a madwoman.

Needless to say, I'd rather be somewhere else right now...

"What's got into yous little bugger?", I heard her growl at me, "Can't you be quiet for once, kid? I's sleeping.."

She yawned, then whacked me with her cane. Ouch. That hurt like hell. She frowned, though her face got deathly serious all of a sudden. Granma Lis turned her back to me and went inside, leaving me standing in the cold night with the words:

"Let's go inside, eh? Tell me what happened."

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It was awkward walking behind her - I made such a fuss and have nothing to show for it. She's not the youngest, but there's incredible might behind her hitting or whacking you. Uhh..

"So? Enlighten this ol' lady, Fi."

We sat across each other, sharing a table. I poured her some tea, then myself. It was scalding hot. That wouldn't fly, I couldn't just dawdle.

"Out with it, kid", she fixated her gaze on me, "I'm not going to eatcha alive now."

Guess I should just tell her? She's not that unreasonable..

Stammering, I explained to her how I saw someone watching me from a roof away, and fell out of the bed simply because I was shocked and wanted to pursue them.

Instead of berating me, she started laughing with her whole chest, then had a coughing fit.

"Ahahahaha! I haven't had a laugh that good in forever", she coughed and regained her voice, "but you don't gotta worry, sweets. Nobody's that dumb to do any funny on me watch."

I forced a smile, but had a weird feeling regardless. She picked it up though, and continued.

"See, might be one of the Queen's men", Granny Lis started, "but me? I think it's the Baroness."

Huh? Why her? Isn't she that controversial figure? I've heard very little about her.

"Why would it be her?", I calmly asked the Madame. The reason didn't really occur to me? It seems made up out of thin air.

"Gosh, I do forget you're a wee little lad, you don't know the way here as much."

I tilted my head, but was still listening attentively.

"Y'see..", she coughed, "the Baroness is pretty.. say involved.. in the underworld. Makes sense I know 'er now?"

Ah. That explains her being familiar with the Baroness. Though why would she send someone for me?

Oops. I voiced that directly. Granny interrupted me midway.

"Anyone I take in is bound to be interesting to 'em. The whole lot. Not just the Baroness."

Ain't that concerning now! Thank you for telling me just now.

As if she read my mind, the Madame threw in that I shouldn't worry, I was safe - for now.

"So.. they're just watching me? Why go to such lengths and not just ask you directly?", I prodded her for an answer. She shot me a sly smile, though that didn't tell me everything. Far from it.

"Maybe's just because you's got potential. Don't you go forgetting that the Baroness is an elf like you. Probably knows more than me does. Maybe you's related?", she shrugged it off. I hadn't any more energy to keep it going, so I nodded and thanked her. She laughed once more, bringing up the situation earlier.

"The lady might've lost all interest in you's now after all that", Granma Lis joked around, poking me with her cane, "Course I'm just messin' with ya. Thanks for the tea, kiddo. Reminds me of when I took you's in", she paused to take a sip and exhaled to continue, "where, one day, ya just started screaming bloody murder. Haha! Just cause ya got a period. Lil' blood never killed anyone lady, y'see? I've laughed so much that day. Haahh.. It's been a while since I took you's in, hasn't it?"

My mood mellowed out a little. I felt a bit sour. What have I been doing until now..? Nothing much, I feel like.

She shoved me out of the room with the words: "Anyway, go sleep up, bugger."

Which I did, wishing her a good night. The door of my room fell into lock, I threw myself onto the bed and closed my eyes in a desperate attempt to forget it all.

To no avail, I couldn't. But at least I fell asleep immediately and slept throughout the entire night.

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-Eric

Yawn... Oh no! I slept in... The Lady's going to be fed up with me and lecture me again..

I kind of failed my mission last night and had to run. Ngh. That was embarassing. Really, how did I miss it up so bad?

She seemed really aggravated. Perhaps I'd better go and apologise. I could try to.. talk to her normally, tell her I was just interested in who she is and what she does. Without the part of me being sent to figure out her plans, that is.

There I go. Hopping out of bed, I made my way to wash up and get ready for a morning jog; exercise is crucial, and slacking on training will only come back to bite me later. Of course, I mulled over what I'd tell the girl when I approach her. Speaking of which... my mind was pretty occupied during breakfast. I hardly noticed the additional person at the table next to the Baroness this morning, whose face I barely recognized.

Ah. I see. Madame Lysandra, also known as Madame Lisette. Why's she here..? Because I was caught? Sitting at the other end of the table, their conversation could hardly be heard - the dining room was large, a given for royalty, of course.

The bits and pieces I could gather, though, didn't really mention me much, despite the occasional glances the Madame shot at me. They were piercing through me, or that's how I felt.

The Baroness seemed to humour her, for one. On the other hand, Madame Lisette was just curious who was sent and why, to look into who she's sheltering.

I've known the Baroness to be fairly honest and straightforward, and in this case, she was.

".. I have reason to believe that the girl is a relative of mine."

Madame Lisette coyly replied: "I see, you's checking on your blood. Well.. Your little spy there", she smiled and shifted attention towards me, "looks like he's interested in what's mine. Or she? I can't quite tell these days..."

This lady is quite cunning, huh. She noticed - by hunch or not - I was dressing as a boy, when I'm not. Interesting. Let's hope she keeps it to herself.. and that the Baroness won't reprimand me for my mess-up.

I'd hate that.

Speaking up in a refined manner, the Baroness replied: "I care greatly about the last surviving ones of my kin, Lise. It goes without saying I expect you to keep quiet about Eric here. She - He - will do as he sees fit to finish his mission. If Eric deems it necessary to befriend Ophilanna, he shall do so - if she lets him get close."

The old Lady started laughing the Baroness out of the room.

"Hahahaha! That little bugger? Making friends? With who appears to be a boy no less?"

Only nodding, the Baroness' gaze darting throughout the hall, from me, to Madame Lis.

"She's got 'er walls up. I reckon that'd be hard", she scoffed, "but I'll have a talk with her. Who knows, 'ey might get along. Been enough time for her to meet and be with someone her age."

The Baroness nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. She then expressed her gratitude to the Madame for being willing to help. She was interrupted by Madame Lis, whose face became rather serious.

"Lem'me make it clear to ya, I won't force the kid. Leave her be if she really ain't up for it. We clear there?"

At this point, the mood of the room turned rather.. serious. I stopped eating, my eyes jumping from the Baroness to the Madame. Their exchange was pretty rough to follow.

"Alright. I want her to live her life herself, anyway. You do not need to make sure she does as I say, and I won't force her."

After all was said and done, Madame Lis' face became soft again. The mood lifted.

"Then I'll get goin' and give that lad an earful. That brat was really up in arms last night because of your boy there."

With that last remark, she stood up and left. Just like that. The Baroness didn't say much, only gesturing for me to meet her in her office once I was done.

Aria, have mercy on me. I'm just a child. Please.

Unexpectedly, she wasn't in a bad mood, and wasn't chewing me out. Once I'd finished eating and left the room, I made haste to the office, where I found the Baroness sitting in her chair, pondering the matter.

"Sit, Eric.", to which I did as instructed. Confused, I scratched my head.

"I take it you were taken by surprise that Ophilanna figured out you were watching her?"

Without so much as uttering a word on my end, she continued.

"Figures. The girl is extremely perceptive, a perk she inherited from her mother."

At this point, many questions as to her heritage raced through my head. I could verbalise one.

"E-Excuse me, Miss. If you permit me asking, what relation do you have with Ophilanna, exactly? You talk about her mother as if you know her."

A frown became visible on her face. She was unhappy with that question, to my surprise.

"See, Eric, Ophilanna is like me. An elven refugee from the Greater Forest", she paused and let her eyes wandered to the window, across the sky, "whose tribe was completely enslaved and her village burned to ashes. There's precedence to this madness... and her mother, well, let's say she was family of mine.. My niece."

I could only nod. All of this was new to me, to say the least. But now her interest in Ophilanna made much more sense. I'd previously questioned it, since she seemed rather.. ordinary? Beyond her intelligence and the scar she sports, there are many questions I keep to myself.

Who is she? What is the scar? What is her tribe exactly? Why is she special?

The last question just got answered by the Baroness. Ophilanna is her niece's daughter.

"Then, Miss, do I have your permission to befriend her? I'm.. interested in becoming her friend. Genuinely.", I stuttered, blushing.

On her face, I made out a smile that grew bigger and bigger. She opened her mouth, and all I heard was "yes, of course". I was about to ask if that was truly alright, but she already said:

"In fact, I would have asked you to do that anyway. I trust in you to be a good friend, when you break through her inner walls. Please take care of her for me. That shall be your new mission, Eric."

She wrote something down on a piece of paper, resting the pen, then picking it up and finishing her thought.

"I will also permit you to start a relationship with her, should you wish to do so."

Those words out of the Baroness' lips made me flush red. Why's she teasing me so much? I'm only.. interested in being her friend. Nothing more...

After exchanging some other words, I left the office with a new resolve:

Become friends with Ophilanna!

But first, I should approach her and apologise for my.. weird behaviour. Eehh... This will be rough. I don't know anything about her personally. I guess I could start by visiting the shop she's helping out in? Would she recognise me..?

In the end, I went back to do the rest of my training and spent the rest of the morning working out a plan, being sure I could do this. Reasonably sure.