IV.

"You are, without a doubt, absolutely mad!" Eraziror shrieked in mock horror at Madoka as they walked out the Guild Hall. His face was not joking, but she still did not know if he was serious this time or not. He grinned, despite the paleness setting on his skin. "Not bad! Just how many tricks do you have up your sleeve? Fate is the Goddess Gechick's chosen one, a Godtouched by Ceghinort's blood!"

Madoka's head swam by all the new names floating around in it, but she sighed as Eraziror continued rambling.

"It's quite clear how you don't understand what you've done, so I will just level with you."

Oh. Upon studying the dragon man further as they stopped, she realized Eraziror was dead serious.

"A Goddess's power blasting through a person can level mountains with their magic, and even created the Petals that scar this land today," he sighed. "That was a tiny fraction of it and it tore up the room! The Ways of the Old Nobles can only get so far. I've sang songs on the history of Noble wars, but still! How did you see through her test?"

"That was easy," Madoka muttered. "Of course I survived whatever the kind goddess Gechick had. I was in another dimension today."

"What?" Eraziror asked her, luckily he did not hear her first explanation.

"She knows of me and my Master," Madoka guessed. "Harming me would be the least of her problems."

"Harming?" Eraziror laughed, but evidently gave up trying to understand her. "She's destroyed many adventurers during this place's time of lawlessness. Weren't you paying attention to that bit?"

The thought of that furball, the Orange Demon who spoke in Royal, was the only thing that she remembered about the whole meeting. His purring and meowing caused her to want to mimic him, along with just sitting next to him and stroking his fur.

"Meow," she murmured, before realizing it escaped out her mouth.

"I'll take that as a no. Lady Dalion..." Eraziror murmured. "I don't doubt you crazy people at all, fact is, I'm sure you're all in a league on your own. L-Let's just get this work done and meet up tomorrow, eh?"

"Let's get to it," Madoka said. Eraziror glanced at her for a moment, and something compelled her to interrupt him before they did. "My apologies."

The armor clinked as the dragon man stopped and turned his head towards her.

"For?"

"Subjecting you to... my antics, I guess," Madoka tucked her head down and shuffled her feet. "I get like that when Au- Milady is concerned. Should never have pushed my luck against someone who has been touched by a kind god."

"Heh, it's alright," Eraziror laughed it off, but Madoka could tell he was not hiding his disappointment in himself. She did not know what this man has gone through either and just like her, he was not ready to share any of it anyways. "No, seriously, that apology does make it better. I think it ended up in our favor. I wish I was as strong as you, still. I was sat there terrified. Ceghinort's blood knows how many times I've run when I should have remained stalwart like you."

"Comparison is a thief of joy," Madoka mused. The saying was one from Audrey's many thought needles, but she said it anyways. Her head and heart were mixed with hers, somehow, although she felt like there could be a little too much of Her Highness inside of her now. "You got your life and head still on, I know you can do it!"

"Right," Eraziror seemed comforted by her Princess's stolen words. "Onwards, my temporary party member! Did you catch anything Lady Fate said or was that... beast distracting you too much?"

"Meow," Madoka responded instinctively. Eraziror groaned.

"That's not going to be your thing you do, right?" He sounded like he was asking her to stop, but something about it compelled her to meow again. "Let's get to it. This day's almost over and done with. First stop: Truth Guild. We're supposed to head to the Gladeban Mines and investigate goblin activity."

Madoka followed along silently as she tried to avoid thinking about leaving Audrey alone. The beast, that Orange Demon, was merely her trying to distract herself from neglecting her duties towards Her Highness. As they stepped towards that strange Guild's oddly shaped building, she admitted secretly to herself that she was actually worried more about what the Princess would do in her absence. Beyond that narrow scope, like the gigantic one fixed atop of the Truth Guild, she magnified on the possibility that she was wrong. How would Audrey react if Fate unleashed that dangerous Aura and threatened her. Would she truly destroy this city if something happened to her?

There was too many thoughts, and those were enemies to Madoka's frazzled yet simple mind. How did that saying go? Too many enemies, not enough—

"We're here, Madoka," Eraziror cheered. "Now I'll just be, uh, over here when you're finished with these guys."

"Eh?" Madoka protested, but Eraziror rang the bell and started hurrying away.

"Don't come back until she's done with you," he told her. "Remember to say you're reporting in for the Guild's Investigation, okay? Bye!"

"You—"

"Well, if it isn't my Hero!" A overly jovial voice froze Madoka from chasing after the dragon man, who was now standing around some barrels on the corner of the opposite side of the street. Partially hidden or not, get back here! She threw a fit.

"L-Lady Arudite," Madoka stammered, suppressing a sigh. The sun was getting low as well as her expectations of how well this situation suddenly was going to go. Another Noble...

"Don't look so pouty!" Arudite whined. Who's pouting? "You can trust in me. Lady Fate has informed me of your arrival, but I'm happy to help you since Audrey asked me to yesterday."

Madoka wanted to sigh, but she's already nearly caused trouble for Audrey with one Noble today. Was being an Adventurer always this exhausting? She felt the dragon man's eyes on her and remembered what he told her to do.

"I'm reporting in for the Guild's investigation," Madoka recited dryly. "On the situation in ahhh... ummm, the mines..."

"Oh, don't be that way!" Arudite waved at her. "Come in, come in!"

Madoka entered and was instantly distracted by how dusty the entrance was. This was blasphemy! Arudite's purple hair swished back and forth, just like her small frame casting a shadow bobbing up and down under a lit lamp. There was no flame burning inside it, unlike the other lights outside. Instead, small red strands of Domineering magic occasionally burst inside of it against its glass frame, illuminating their wards against the darkness.

She stopped in front of a large stage, where the bone reconstruction of an even larger beast stood proud, dwarfing everything inside here so far. Madoka cocked her head at the beast's skull. Its odd features and many holes inside its casing made it difficult for her to tell how many eyes it had, but its maw was impressive enough. The beast was long dead — too quiet and had no thoughts besides rest since the time it died. Its size was an anomaly, however, Madoka realized there were other podiums with smaller skeletons on display as well. This room was definitely under some kind of spell, since the gargantuan beast itself was larger than the building's perimeters physically could be.

"Glad you came around this time, heh," Arudite spun around. "Most everyone is out there, so we have this area for ourselves. This is the Acquisitions Chamber. The bones of these monsters have served your Guild and ours well, aiding in research of destroying threats and conserving our way of life under Ceghinort's reign. Or so they say."

She scoffed, while Madoka stood silently. Something about the Researcher's disappointment in that kind God reminded her of Audrey. The purple haired woman was exotic enough to the maid as most Nobles seemed to her, rivaling the strange and towering monster specimens tacked to the walls as they marched through. The warm light bobbed as the creaking wood softened under her boots. A rug, she mused. Madoka realized that she barely detected Arudite's footsteps, even though she was walking right in front of her.

Another scoff interrupted her inner thoughts and the sight of a furry tail flicking back and forth took her eyes from the ground. Cherish woman? Ilalune stood at the entrance door waiting silently as a perfectly patient servant should, but she still looked at Madoka with disdain. The maid resisted the urge to chase her out, though the Noble did not seem to notice their growing hostility towards each other. Or rivalry? She did not know why she felt this way around Ilalune, but she knew that the Cat woman felt the same.

"Come in, come in," Arudite reached for the door handle, but Ilalune intercepted her hand and pulled it open for her. She glared at Madoka as she did. The room opened up into a row of desks and chairs. Knotting strands danced around them, making her realize how convenient those strands can be. She would not have to cut a tree down for Her Highness to sit on. There were maps and signs on a board, which the researcher stopped at. Arudite looked at her, then to a chair expectedly. She had no choice but to sit down.

"The situation is getting worse, I'm afraid," Arudite twirled a few strands of her hair as she pointed at a map. Madoka followed her finger as she traced a path to a red circle on it. "We're here, is all you need to know. Have you heard of a place called the 'Shadow Forest?' Its name appeared to one of our researchers in a dream, causing a phenomenon called the Walk."

She dragged her finger to another place marked with a skull, blotted by black ink.

"I've heard of the Shadow Forest, yes. But I don't know where it is," Madoka confirmed, but felt strangely uneasy when she admitted it. They must have already tracked the King Wolf there. "What's the Walk?"

"It's a Cuckoo spell that draws people into the forest, but no one has returned and the monsters there are Castle ranked at the minimum. The Forest is south of here, closer to the Center of the Circle. They make it quite impossible to explore," Arudite said bitterly. "The Night Agents and us have been working on how to counter it, but I'm afraid that only way of stopping it is going directly to the source. That legendary beast has its tendrils closing in on us, since reports of people under the Walk are happening even here."

"The Uracksheegal," Madoka mused. She decided she should not mention the Shadow Forest to Audrey, for obvious reasons. She also felt hungry at the mention of the monster's name, for less apparent reasons.

"And now the Leyline's out of control," Arudite sighed. "Field scouts have said that the magic leftover have also been tainted, somehow. The Strands are Domineering magic, yet intertwined with Cuckoo magic as well. Are you familiar with the schools of Domineering Magic? When one has an attunement to that magic's strands, the God of Language speaks through them. Chanting, singing, and bringing chaos into reality's order. Depending on their aptitude and bloodline, one can learn each school. Ah, maybe your Master would be more interested."

"Tell me about it," Madoka agreed about Audrey being more keen in learning about magic, but the Researcher instantly perked up. Kind gods, she misinterpreted her intentions on learning as well. It was too late to stop her.

"Each elemental school is capable of equal devastation, as Domineering nature magic goes. The strongest School of Domineering, however, is the Lightning Element. Devastating bolts, like the Damned Ocean's Storms, capable of clearing Castle threat leveled Monsters and hurting Country threat levels with ease," Arudite pointed to a portrait on the wall depicting a seemingly powerful mage. The face was obscured by a hood, making her realize that the person was possibly an adventurer of high prestige. There was nothing special about getting hit by lightning, she sighed. "Those who have powerful bloodlines can use it, but even then it requires masterful control over their Red Strands or else the magic will backfire. All one hundred or so of the Diamond Ranked Adventurers in the world are capable of using Lightning Magic."

She spoke of them as if they were deities, but that meant little to Madoka.

"I take it you've never seen the Damned Ocean's storms?"

Madoka shook her head.

"How are the Diamond Ranks so few in numbers?"

"Diamond Ranks stand above even nobles in terms of power. Star Jade adventurers stand above all, free to do whatever their hearts desire without any consequences," Arudite explained. That did not seem to make sense to her, but she did not know enough about power to challenge the researcher. Star Jade, she mused. Ceghinort showed them such a pretty thing, but she originally dismissed it as a mere trinket. It still must have held significance if even a Truth Guild member spoke like this about it. "They are still possessed by Ceghinort's blood, called to the depths of the Labyrinth and across the sea. One day, I believe my two favorite Heroes can make it and not be with that Adventurer God's clutches. Just remember little me when you get there, yeah? The world could use two more mythical Star Jade adventurers - There's only eight of them."

"Eight?" Madoka wondered. Why did that god think the two of them had a chance at that, then? Audrey seemed to have that right, not her!

"Anyways, we have reports of other Lightning mages in other countries, but that's neither here nor there," Arudite moved onto another portrait of a blue robed mage. "Next up is Ice Magic. Legends say, those towering mountains east of here are a dead Dragon's bones, frozen over by an incredible Ice Domineering magic ritual. Could you believe that? Not that you've seen the Frost Queen's Hall anyways..."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Nope," Madoka lied. "Say, what school does the Wind element belong to?"

"Wind is the weakest element of Domineering Magic, why do you ask?"

"No reason," Madoka stammered, realizing the implication that Audrey is using the two weakest elements of Domineering magic. Was that because she was holding back? Where did Water magic exist in Domineering? Ice? "I-It's just that my Master uses Wind magic..."

"Ah, Lady Audrey is something extraordinary," Arudite perked up. There was something that this Noble looked that made a dark feeling of jealousy stir beneath Madoka's skin. "Your Master is... special. We've spoken on the mysterious properties of her magic. Water Magic and other strange notions she has on the world and nature around us... It's nothing like I've ever seen before. And I'm a lot older than you think! Before you get angry, she's sworn me to secrecy with said magic. I wouldn't ever want to test your Lady's spells face first."

She shuddered. Madoka agreed. Facing Audrey's magic hurt beyond anything she had felt before. A large shadow crossed between the Researcher and Madoka. She forgot Ilalune was in the room with her; she was quiet like a true servant. She gave the Cherish woman a glare, inspecting her eyes for any foul intentions their Masters had for each other. Only a defiant stare returned, but she detected the servant held a duty worth more than merely protecting her. Therefore, she assumed whatever Audrey showed her made her terrified. Madoka relaxed, then chuckled.

"I would never take her away from you. I have her, you know?" the Researcher pointed at Ilalune. A warmth grew inside Madoka's chest. She heard the Princess speak those same words about herself. Arudite giggled, which her ears slowly welcomed instead of thinking the laughter was a threat. "Honestly, you know better than I that no one could get her to move if she wanted. Our Houses are similar. Fallen. Hiding away for better times. Yet her magic is reminiscent of times long lost. I'm sure the Crostella Mage's libraries would have ancient information on what exactly a 'Core' is, but such text and access to that college would be unattainable for the both of us now. I can only speculate about my Hero party."

She sighed and pointed at Madoka.

"That includes you," her purple eyes narrowed on her.

"I'm plain," Madoka remarked blankly. "Nothing you could find about me that is interesting."

"That, my friend, is where you're wrong," Arudite scoffed, but her mood shifted back to her cheerful self as she pointed at another portrait. A mountain of a man with an impressive beard stood proudly facing the two, bearing a sword-like staff with the Warring emblem inscribed upon it. His red eyes, or at least whoever painted them, seemed like they hid a vicious scheme behind their gaze.

Madoka nearly flinched from the intensity. A purple spark scattered out from the painting, catching her eye. Thought shards? Another shard fell on the rug and as it shattered she saw a great lightning bolt pierce a wall of Ice and Fire effortlessly. A massive explosion illuminated the night sky, followed by a shrieking and crackling noise. Arudite's drowned out voice returned to her ears a moment later, with Madoka feeling the tingling sensation of a warm drop of sweat trickling down her neck.

"— Fire is the most common Domineering element. It's easy to call upon it in anger, but also difficult to control if one is not careful. This man is the Fire Archmage of Warring, who can do both. The Crown Prince of Warring himself appointed him. Coincidentally, he's also a skilled Lightning wielder. He lit the bordering countryside of Tabruula ablaze and all that's left of it is red sands. Each of those Elements have their strengths against each other besides Lightning. It has no weakness. Keep that in mind, okay?"

She guessed that was how the world worked and that vision of war reinforced that notion. Magic above all and the ones who are the strongest of them rule heights never seen by Commoners like her. A hole filled her chest, deeper now that even she herself had magic inside of her that she did not ask for. She could be bitter about it, but she would be lying or pretending if she could think of herself without it now.

"The Domineering Strands we found are... unique as I've said before," Arudite said. "It's tainted by the Cuckoo God. I have my theories, since that god has been said to exist within the labyrinths below ground, but the gold adventurers ran off to the Leyline anyways. Ugh."

He was definitely not underground today, Madoka thought to herself.

"I just wish some of you people of the Adventurer Guild would use your thoughts instead of rushing headlong into danger, you know?" Arudite sighed. "You bring the Artisan Guild samples of any goblin touched by that magic and the Truth Guild will buy it. It was, ah, behind that market that we went by when we first arrived here from Livertorjan."

"Eraziror will show me later," Madoka assumed.

"Eraziror?" She immediately perked up at the sound of his name. "I got to get that man to play that song again for me. If you see him around after the Guild Commission, tell him I sent for him. Speaking of which... What Commission were you on again?"

"G-Goblins," Madoka realized she also lost track and forgot. The way the researcher looked from hearing Eraziror's name seemed obsessive, like an animal on the hunt for prey. She decided to ignore that off putting feeling figuring that was the reason why he wanted to avoid her in the first place. Her head was still swirling with Ice and Fire magic clashing against Lightning sparks. The Researcher's face reverted back to normal, so Madoka continued to prod her memory. "In the Gladeban Mines."

"I'm sure the silly bard will share with you how to kill those things... Honestly what is Fate thinking?" She held her chin in thought. "If there's Darkness or... those Shadows... stirring within the depths of the Mines then that damnable woman would have sensed it."

A sharp purple eye's glint squinted at her, causing her to cock her head.

"Your eyes are unamused at the prospect of killing such menial creatures," Arudite lowered her voice. "It's lucky that you're here in this guild's Silent Aura. Fate has her eyes on you. Sovos are odd creatures, aren't they? Their Duty is to Ceghinort's adventure call, but their Honor is to their family and little Mountains. I doubt she'll let you move freely for what you've done to her brother and his gang of thugs. Keep your eyes ready for anything in those Mines. That Lady knows there's more than just goblins in there. I know you'll be fine, but your other half is depending on you too. Like I depend on her."

Madoka glanced at Ilalune. The servant looked like she was embarrassed and about to scold Arudite, but it was a feeling she knew all to well. She noted the sincerity in the Noble's tone. Eyes on her, huh?

"I'll destroy her Eyes should they get in between me and my Lady," Madoka growled with a dark voice. She stood up and bowed. "Thank you for the information, Lady Arudite."

"Watch for the Shadows," Arudite warned her. "If you see more of those Cuckoo needles, the Uracksheegul lurks nearby."

Madoka nodded and exited, skipping past Ilalune's reluctance to open the door for her. There was more to this Guild than she thought initially, but the cool wind slapped her hair in her face as she walked out onto the streets. Her simpleton ways were her true weakness. She knew the Guild Master was smarter than her. Audrey was at her weakest and being split apart from Her Highness made Madoka angry at herself.

"Madokaaaa? Hello?"

A green scaled hand waved in front of her, shaking her from her thoughts. Eraziror was standing before her, evidently nerved from whatever hostile aura was emanating from her. He looked shocked once she glanced at him, but relaxed.

"Whoa," Eraziror surrendered his hands away. "Gotta dark look on you. I think I get that way when I'm around that Researcher too."

"Hai," Madoka muted herself. "I was thinking. Hard."

"Does thinking hard cause that... murderous sensation to spill out of you?" Eraziror pondered. She shrugged. "Well, we should probably avoid making you do that, then."

"Hai," she repeated herself. "The Guild Master, Lady Fate, might be sending us to a dangerous situation on purpose."

"Oh?" Eraziror started heading off to a certain direction. The inn's. Relief flooded her, since the sun was setting. She had no more room left for learning anything new today. "I hate to break it to you, but Lady Fate's coin has deemed you — and by extension, unfortunately, me — worthy enough for this. As for people spying on us, well, that's normal when you make her angry."

Madoka gulped.

"I did cause that," she mused. "Without Audrey, I cause trouble."

"Peas in a Cel'Pod," Eraziror twirled a hand into two pointed fingers. "You're more alike than you'd care to admit. Ceghinort's blood, I understand being around such an influential person would change anybody."

He laughed bitterly.

"I thought myself more mature," Madoka admitted. She did not know why, but she felt like she could express her grievances with herself and her master with Eraziror. "I worked hard to even take care of her. Of our Pa- House, and that training has failed me. I'm not worried for Audrey being alone. She's strong enough to live without me. Stronger than—"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Eraziror cut her off. "What did you say again to me? Comparison is a thief of joy."

Madoka swallowed her guilt and almost instantly felt annoyance at herself for telling him that. It panged guiltily within her throat, but she admitted he was right.

"You can be at ease with me," Eraziror's hand folded back to his side. The Inn was up ahead, with warm candlelights glowing softly through the windows. "Push yourself, for her, but maybe you could consider freeing yourself? Be a Knight for her instead of a slave."

A knight...? The images of the many Palace Knights patrolling the halls and courtyards disturbed her. A boy's face appeared in her mind as she pondered the possibility, though she could not remember who it was. Ultimately, she shook her head.

"I don't deserve freedom," she muttered. "But any case, I'll need to strengthen myself."

"E-Even further? Mad," Eraziror mocked, but she intercepted his way when he went to hold the door for her. She ripped it open, letting warm air brush across their hair. "Kidding. Heh. Tomorrow we shall depart, then visit the Artisan Guild after the Goblins are assessed. Or, uh, murdered. And we'll visit the—"

He was cut off by Madoka's stomach growling. The room was full of heartiness, yet an odd vulnerability that carried itself in the air. Everyone was somber, but she was not sure why. Could it be that the Leyline has caused tragedy? Or was it seen as an omen. The thought of evil signs made her think of her princess. She had to assess whether Audrey was safe and then feed her. Eraziror looked at her and at a seat, but she ignored him and headed straight to the room. Before she reached the steps, two large trays of food were given to her. The scared Innkeeper's maid handed those to her, not daring eye contact with the red haired girl. Madoka said nothing, but hurried up while perfectly balancing the trays. A small part of her feared that the room would be empty or worse, destroyed.

To her relief, the door to the room with a symbol matching her key still remained intact. The key jingled lightly in her trembling hand, with the tray slightly becoming tilted as she caught herself. She noted that she was nervous, but not nervous enough to shiver like this. The metal was cold to the touch?

"L-Lady— Audrey?" Madoka called out to her. When she swung the door open, she noticed a lump under the blankets where she placed the girl in before. The room was frigid, but she set the trays down on the nightstand and rushed to the lump. The blankets were folded in a perfect Fiara styled tuck, untouched by any other hands and tight enough to bundle Her Highness in.

A small whimper came from underneath the blanket. Madoka hesitated for a moment. She has heard that sound before: The girl was sleeping and simply rolled her body underneath the blankets at some point. Her hair was still in pristine condition and her sleeping voice was still adorable. Audrey suddenly stuck her head out from beneath the blanket, still asleep.

Madoka hesitated on what she wanted to do. Before her, lay the beautiful Audrey bare and defenseless. Not a single Strand of magic's luminosity got in the way of her peaceful aura. It was just the moonlight, her and Madoka. Such opportunities to admire her Princess were plentiful, but none were as sensitive as this. Should she touch her?

Right as Madoka reached for a loose bang on the girl's forehead, Audrey woke up. Her blue eyes glinted moonlight as she looked at the fingertips before her, but instead of saying anything she yawned.

"I had a dream," Audrey whispered quietly, gently wriggling her arm out and clutching Madoka's hand. Her heart was pounding, but she noticed that the girl's strength was slightly improved. "I was falling, for what seemed like an eternity. I was waiting. For what seemed like so long..."

The girl's arm slumped and her fingers slipped off of her wrists. Madoka nearly gasped, feeling as if she dropped a flower vase. The face beyond her fingers, frozen in midair, looked at her. She knew the girl was beckoning her to come closer. The maid closed her eyes, using a Knotting Strand with a quick flick of her other hand to close the door from afar. Quietly, she placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. Audrey jumped, but said nothing as the maid lifted her and crawled in the bed with her. Her skin tingled as the Princess's own came into soft contact with hers; It was a sensation more electrifying than the Knotting Strands or thought needles that pierced her before.

"Then you came," Audrey continued. She did not resist Madoka resting her body upright against her chest and adjusting the blankets to cover their legs and stomachs. "Saved me. I..."

"I am going to feed you now, Audrey," Madoka scooped food from one of the tray. The girl was shivering, but slowly became warmer as she attended to Her Highness. Such an intimate moment surged rapidly through Madoka's heart as she held her tightly across her bare stomach, hearing only soft chewing and feeling the Princess's mouth suck the juices off her fingertips. It made her feel tingly, for some reason. Madoka remembered she did this when she was ill and their sizes were much more different than each other, so long ago. It was natural for her, but this time, it was somehow different. A popping noise sang in her ears, as it was accompanied by wetness caused by the princess's plump lips when she withdrew her mouth from her hand.

"Ah," Audrey gave out a contented breath. "I was also very hungry!"

"M-My apologies, Audrey," Madoka stammered. The girl's mood increased dramatically and some of the warmth the girl had before her supposed level up returned. Perhaps, that was Madoka's own body heat sharing with her. "I was busy in the Truth Guild."

Her own stomach growled. Audrey sighed.

"As much as I want to lay against your sweet, sweet chest forever," Audrey weakly flopped a hand over to the other tray. "You should eat that."

Madoka immediately remembered she had the small girl tucked between her legs, leaning against her supposedly "sweet" chest.

"E-Excuse me, then," she quickly situated Audrey back in the bed, but she insisted on leaning against the wall for conversation. Madoka devoured the food while sitting on the side of her own bed.

"What were you up to?" Audrey asked. "I was here, of course."

She laughed sheepishly.

"I learned about Goblins in a Mine somewhere south from here," Madoka recalled. "The Guild Master, some Lady Fate, warned us that the Leyline affected the monsters somehow."

"Whoa," Audrey simply said. "The GM?"

"Y-Yes, the gee... men," Madoka stammered. "Then I went to Arudite and she told me about magic."

The tray was empty, but Madoka looked around nervously as she set it down. The girl obviously caught this and raised an eyebrow.

"I take it she said something important?"

Madoka froze at the sound of her Princess speaking in the kind God's language, English. She was correct. Her face must have said it all, though she was afraid of what Audrey would do to her if she admitted the Noble lady threatened her with that coin.

"She said she was Godtouched, by a kind goddess Gechick," Madoka sighed. She began to recount what Fate and Arudite explained, from the schools of magic to the disturbances in the Gladeban Mines and the influence of the Uracksheegal. All in English. Audrey listened intently, but excitement and longing filled her eyes. Of course, such troubled times seemed to attract the little girl. She was growing tired, but there was another thing to bring up to Her Highness. "That Guild Master, Lady Fate, is spying on us because of what we did to Otanor awhile ago."

"What YOU did," Audrey corrected her. Madoka grumbled, but took her cloak off. Something fluttered out from beneath it. Kanys's letter. "What's that?"

"It's a... letter," Madoka paused and handed it to her. It took a moment for Audrey to take the letter and she realized why. The girl's eyes were focused on her body instead! Instinctively, she covered herself with a scoff and shoved the note into Her Highness's hands. "R-Read it!"

"Are you sure?" Audrey sputtered. "The dragon archer lady won't get mad at me, right?"

Before Madoka could respond, she had already tore it open and began reading its contents. Her eyes squinted, but began to widen with an expression that she knew all too well. Mischief!

"Well, well, well," she tried to sound mysterious, but ended up coughing. Madoka leaned in to help her recover from her sputtering. "Why can't I ever get to be evil? Being sick is inconvenient!"

"You wanted this," Madoka sighed. "What does it say?"

"It's a... warning," Audrey spoke as she folded the letter. "The Night Agents are watching me. Oo, how the plot chickens! Bawk! A spooky Moon worshipping cult is watching me, an Adventurer Guild leader is mad at you, and we got a big monster to kill! Well, that's dependant on my legs to heal."

"I told you we should have gotten a healer," Madoka grumbled.

"Nope, medical bills are too expensive!" Audrey remarked. It was just a gold coin, though. Madoka did not know how expensive one of those things were, since they had a lot of them. "Go tomorrow with that dragon guy, find what you can about the... and we'll..."

Audrey started to snore again. Madoka stood above her and shivered from the cold aura emanating from the girl. She would get used to this frigid air, but it would take awhile. She sighed and tucked the girl in.

"Good night, Audrey," she whispered. No matter how powerful she was, Madoka wanted to be there for her. No matter how powerless she felt before Her Highness, Madoka felt truly happy being around her.