V.

"Madokaaaa," Audrey's voice pierced Madoka's ears. She was stirred slowly, fettered by crumbs of sleep. Or so she thought. That annoying voice crossed through the veil of whatever dream she had. Her eyes were closed in blackness — a darkness she wished to be enveloped in for awhile. "Wake up!"

"N-No fireballs!" Madoka sat up. Her body collided with another and the sound of a light thud landed on the floorboards.

"Ow," came the annoying voice from beneath her bed. Then a short giggle sung to mostly itself but Madoka was awake now. Her hand missed her sword's grip and hit a blanket instead. The sword's jeweled sheath reflected small beams of moonlight off of them. It was still night but she was not surrounded by snow and trees for once. Madoka felt herself all over and was relieved that her clothes were clean and legs were dry. Audrey's eyes peered from between the maid's feet.

"Is it morning already?" Madoka asked. Audrey shook her head and raised her hand which glowed like the stars above. "N-No fireballs!"

"Relax, Madoka. Not all of my magic is used to blow stuff up," Audrey teased. Her hand let out a small wisp of green light within a water bubble. Madoka was mesmerized by the strange magic. The green mana sphere swayed like a pendulum until it stopped at a certain spot in the bubble. Audrey sighed, her eyes illuminated by the magic and stars of the night. "Mornin's in five hours."

"A... clock?" Madoka looked at the bubble.

"Eh, not really. Took me years to get it right, but if I let my mana loosen up like this within a system like a bubble, it moves in relation to the orbit of this... nevermind, nevermind! You okay, Madoka?"

"Me? I think so?" Madoka looked at her hands and skin. No wounds. Just the scars from her long journey here looked back up at her. A tear dropped on her palm.

"You were crying in your sleep," Audrey went on. "I woke you up in case you had a bad dream."

"I guess so," Madoka started to lay back down. She could not remember the dream anyways, but assumed the worst. She felt warmth crawling by her side. "A-Audrey?"

Audrey's frame was shorter than Madoka's. She was surprised to find that they were no longer around the same height. She has gotten tall but Madoka was taller. Audrey did not try to grab her but instead spoke into her shoulder.

"Winter's over, Madoka," Audrey's soft voice mumbled. Madoka missed this feeling a lot. More than the bed's comfort itself — she missed the nights they shared together in the Estate.

"Mm," the red haired maid stared upward at the twin moons. Their hellish winter was truly over.

The princess fit comfortably under Madoka's arm and her soft body was warmer than even the blankets. A snore escaped her mouth as the beautiful mana orb disappeared. The maid soon fell back to sleep with no more bad dreams to cry over.

Madoka woke up first, as she always had. The sky was turning to a grey hue with no sign of the sun. Her sleeping princess was curled up into a ball beside her so she simply stretched and yawned, not caring if her hands bumped into Audrey.

"Wha," Audrey squeaked as Madoka yawned an even bigger yawn.

"It's time to get up, princess," Madoka said although her own voice was groggy. She wanted to sink back into the blanket's rough textured waves into another dream world. One with her. She shook the idle thoughts quickly, slipping on the trousers and garb she's worn for awhile now. They had work to do.

"Naee," the princess sat up and squinted at Madoka. The maid gave her a stern look but then she collapsed back into a ball again.

"We have work to do," Madoka said, scooping the blankets off of her. "I think."

"S-Sick day," Audrey mumbled. "We can call it off."

"It's our first day," Madoka grabbed a copper tag and flung it at Audrey. Surprisingly, the girl caught it midair.

"Can't help but think we're being set up," Audrey unknotted herself and sat back up. "Like, you saw the GM, right?"

"G..." Madoka trailed off. "The guild master."

"He's a dragon man, right? Dragonfolk? Drag—" Audrey yawned. Madoka would have scolded her for speaking and yawning at the same time but she let the princess's behavior slide. The girl was being compliant and got herself dressed after all. Their clothes were tattered and falling apart. "None of the books told me of them... Perhaps he himself does not know what he is."

"That he can transform into a dragon," Madoka thought aloud. "He seemed to fear us."

"Unless, he's a lesser species. Perhaps he can't transform," Audrey shrugged but shook her head. "He fears us because we're not normal people. Wait, why do I think that's something you would say?"

"That's because I have said it, Audrey," Madoka sighed. "We must get going."

"Yeah, yeah," Audrey sighed. "I hope there's not any cops downstairs, we did kind of break somebody's arm and assaulted another. And by we, I mean you."

"Cops?"

"Guards, you know, whatever. I think we're quite rich to pay off jail time but yeah," Audrey slipped on her torn up robe. "Be prepared for a fight."

"Not helping," Madoka said, strapping the captain's claymore to her back and hooking her two swords to her belt. She departed the room, leading Audrey by the hand. The girl muttered something about open carry laws but as usual she paid her no mind. It was nonsense, she thought before covering the swords with her cloak. Stairs creaked beneath her boots as she beheld the destroyed table from last night.

Strangely, Georgia was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the old woman was sweeping around it. No signs of hostiles around. Everyone from the night before seemed to have gone home or wherever commoners went to. Madoka kept an eye on the inn's door and heard wagons roll on in the fine morning mist outside. The innkeeper straightened up at the sound of their presence.

"G-Good morning," the old woman blubbered in Reverent Noble. Madoka said nothing. "Forgive an old cowardly woman, but we've not much for breakfast."

"It's fine," Audrey shrugged. "We're skipping it."

"Where's the maid?" Madoka asked. She meant no harm in her inquiry but the innkeeper bowed in apologies to the red haired maid. She produced three copper coins and put them before Madoka's feet.

"Please, forgive old Ichna," she begged. The sight of the old woman bowing before Madoka horrified her. "I-I promise to sell rooms at regular price."

"Fine by me," Madoka replied as she scooped the useless copper coins up. "Is the maid unharmed?"

"T-That creature?" Ichna immediately buried her face into the wooden floor after seeing Madoka's annoyed look. "She is merely eating in the back or doing whatever the possessed do. She lives a good life here, I swear. Better than where I found her."

The answer satisfied the red haired girl, so she strode on by without another word. She noticed there was an damaged door cracked open in the back of the inn, but she decided not to pry any further. They were headed out to the Guild Hall.

Audrey was quiet as Madoka led her along to the Guild Hall. The girl was presumably taking in the sights of how different this town was. The streets were wide and yet bustled with people and carts driven wherever they were headed. There was an apparent system already established in with the traffic of wagons. The girls blended in with ease, the maid hoped. People got out of her way, however, possibly due to the towering greatsword on her back. The rain began to fall so she hurried along and decided to worry about the commoners later.

"T-They're looking at us," Audrey whispered. A family shyed away from the pair with a child pointing at them briefly before her mother swatted her hand down. "Wait, a sign?"

"Sign?"

"On the board here," Audrey stopped Madoka and the two stood before a shop. A small flier was tacked onto its walls.

"What's it say?" Madoka asked.

"It's a notice from the Guild," Audrey's voice nearly became lost in the flurry of wind and wagons. "It's informing the people that the two newest trainees' and therefore the Guild's business are not to be messed with. Heh, word gets around quick. What is that Luxgor guy thinking?"

"Whatever," Madoka shrugged. Audrey took the flier off the wall and stuffed it in her bag. "Let's hurry to the Guild."

Stolen novel; please report.

"Right," Audrey agreed. The two redoubled their speed. "If I see that Skulk fellow again I'm burning his shoes off."

Madoka stifled a snicker after they rounded the corner and she was right to do so.

"It seems like we won't have to worry about them," Madoka said with a low voice. In front of the Guild Hall, out in the snow, was the view of three familiar faces.

A broken Juujee, dejected Rin and the black haired Guild Lady sat tied to a magic stone pillar with golden chains. The chains looked similar to the ones Madoka has seen so far but she was not going to break them this time. Audrey gave them a sharp look and scoffed, making them instantly tense up. The black haired Lady was no longer clean and orderly. Her face wore the terror born through what must have been a sleepless night for her.

Juujee looked at Madoka's massive sword on her back while Rin looked back at the princess with an equally sharp look of defiance. The maid recognized that fire in her eyes instantly and did not blame her for feeling that way. Madoka also decided to not question them and followed Audrey into the Guild Hall. Worrying about their fate was useless, she figured. Whether they were good as dead or simply kicked out the Guild was not her problem.

The wooden doors swung aside and the atmosphere instantly changed to silence the moment Madoka's boots set foot upon wooden floorboard. Everyone this time seemed to know of the two terrors that had entered, so they shuffled out of the way so they could move through. Madoka felt uneasy with this attention on them but Audrey simply paid them no mind and took the warning decree out as they carried by adventurers more seasoned than them.

The commission counters were empty. Madoka was perplexed by the lack of workers. Did the Guild Ladies all get kicked out? Have they arrived too early? Suddenly she heard a bump underneath the table and the view of the familiar green Guild cap emerged from behind it. Madoka's eyes followed the cap expecting a young woman but a hearty laugh shook her out of her preconceived notion.

"Gwahaha!" The person under the cap laughed. His Commoner had an odd accent to it but at least he seemed friendlier than the Guild Lady. "Bet I scared you, miss."

A mountain of a elderly man stood above them with a beard and a grin written all over his face. He sported a Guild Official suit similar to Luxgor's that barely fit him. The maid could see the threads tearing at their seams around his massive biceps. He had an eyepatch over his left eye but his right made up for both of them filled with joy. Madoka shrugged.

It was a nice change of pace from the tension that increased slowly the moment they had entered the Hall. She preferred this laughing, one-eyed tower instead of the judgmental gaze of Ladies who do not work. Audrey remained quiet. It looked she had a speech ready but now it was like the rug was pulled out from under her.

"We were told to report here today by Guild Master Luxgor," Madoka said flatly. She noticed one of his legs was replaced by a long peg. The Guild Gentleman stroked his beard in thought and then his eye lit up.

"Oh, you two must be the new trainees!" He said excitedly. "Luxgor will be down here in a few moments. I've heard a lot about you two. Well, everyone has but you know!"

He laughed but examined the scroll in Audrey's hand.

"Something tells me you'll thrive here," He kept his voice low. Something about him reminded Madoka of Lord Zeron. "The others, they're too green to know. You both got the look of war imbued in your faces. In your walk. Like somebody who's lost a thing or two, eh?"

He looked down at his peg leg.

"You can say that, Mister, ah," Audrey fumbled with her words. To Madoka, she knew that the girl was looking for information. "That must be difficult for you, Mister.""

"Oh, don't mind me peg leg, I've gotten her fixed up by the Artisan Guild! It's Koj," the Guild Gentleman said with a broad smile on his face. "Ain't I a pretty face at this here Committee Register? I'm here tying some loose ends of last night's... Blunders. Don't miss me too much while I'm gone!"

"Artisan Guild?" Madoka asked.

"Blunders?" Audrey asked. "What's with this sign?"

"Ahh, those," Koj said, proud of his work. "Don't the drawings look good? I may got only one eye but I think they suit you perfectly!"

Audrey squinted at the scroll's "drawing" and back at the laughing mountain as if he had gone insane.

"I-It's rather embarrassing, sir," Madoka spoke before Audrey could shriek out anything.

"Well, between you and me?" Koj's eye looked at the maid's massive sword. "That Esmeralda blade is terrifying to the others. And you're a noble's warrior. That ain't common."

"Oh," Madoka realized that the captain's sword must symbolize something much more meaningful to commoners here. "It's not their business."

"Oh god," Audrey said, her eyes widening at the meaning behind the blade. "Feel like we've been walkin' around with our flies down."

"What?" Koj asked but then he mused. "You Esmerald nobles are funny."

"Eheh, we are not accustomed to things here," Audrey's improvisational skills impressed Madoka but also her ability to lie so easily terrified her. Madoka took the sword off her back and handed it to her. The onlookers and Guild Gentleman seemed shocked when Audrey held the blade up effortlessly. "We'll put this away later, Madoka."

Madoka nodded and took the sword back. That display of strength never ceased to amuse her. Koj was amazed at both of their power but held onto a jovial smile.

"Ah, you two have met Koj," a voice came from the staircase.

"Sir," Madoka blurted out a greeting. Luxgor chuckled at the maid's attention.

"I am glad to see you two," Luxgor returned a greeting to them. He seemed less nervous around them. Madoka hoped that was a good signal. "Now, follow me upstairs. We have business to discuss before you embark on your career."

"Déjà vu," Audrey muttered as they carried up the stairs. Koj was following them as well. "A follow up interview to a follow up interview? A follow-follow up interview? No, that can't—"

She stopped after Madoka slapped her butt. She finally got back at the girl for hitting hers the the day before. Take things seriously for once! Madoka mouthed to her. Audrey's face was red and quiet as they strode by a party of adventurers at a meeting table. They silently saluted the Guild Master, who nodded in approval. Madoka saw a hulking man in a full suit of armor sitting at the table's head. They would have locked eyes if she could see the man behind his large helmet.

"I apologize to you both for laying eyes on the sorry state of those cowards," Luxgor sighed, looking out the window. "It's not Guild protocol for a mock battle to take place."

"Really," Madoka mused.

"That ring of hacks have been stirring up trouble across the Hall," Koj said. "Fighting young people like yourselves and thinking they're better... But you crushed them! Ha!"

"The witnesses and some guards told me enough," Luxgor said. "They sent you to the Guild because they would handle your identification rights."

"Guard 1 and Guard 2," Madoka muttered. She recalled those men at the gates. Audrey looked amused at the maid's simple designation but remained quiet as she took the information in. Madoka could not do that so easily, her mind connecting new facets of details chipped easily. "Glad they were looking out for us but someone said the wrong thing!"

She glanced at Audrey after the mention of "someone." The girl shifted awkwardly. Luxgor and Koj held confused expressions at the. She flicked her blonde hair back and raised her hands defensively.

"Whoa, what are you all lookin' at me for?" Audrey whined. "I said I wanted to join because I want to. And YOU didn't stop me so I win! Hmph!"

"I am your servant, Audrey," Madoka shot back. "I can't tell you no."

"So? I win!" Audrey crossed her arms. The two glared at each other when Koj burst out in another round of hearty laughter while Luxgor stared in disbelief.

"I see it now! There's a lot of trust that has bonded you two together! For a Noble and her warrior, that is," Koj placed a boot on an empty chair and leaned on it. The chair's sturdiness surprised Madoka. "Don't you agree, Lux?"

Luxgor cleared his throat.

"Anyways, I've gathered those fools outside the Hall. They are the compensation for our Hall's staff daring to defy a Noble. They shall serve as a reminder to the rest of the members of our Guild's standards... should you take that route."

"What would we want those guys for...?" Audrey realized the implications of what a Noble could do with such a payment. Madoka was impressed that Luxgor worked so efficiently overnight. She remembered her night rotations as a servant were the most treacherous.

"I've investigated it all last night," Luxgor said, holding up documents in his red claws. "All the crimes they committed even from the foolish Skulk fellow last night recorded here. The reason you do not see him is well, healers are having a difficult time fixing his wounded arm."

A pang of guilt shot itself through Madoka for a brief moment. She would do it again in a heartbeat in defense of a helpless maid. Even if it could not make up for her fellow servants she lost in the Palace. Madoka had to look away for a moment. So that's what the dream was about, she held back her tears. A hand rested on her own. It was Audrey's. No. It was a much bigger hand.

"I'm fine," Madoka said, swallowing in the sadness that threaten to overflow her emotions.

"You can't go about worrying what you've lost, lass," Koj kneeled before Madoka. "I don't know what you've been through. Can't even begin to compare myself to ya nobles and warriors but I can assure you one thing: As an adventurer, one must carry their torch with them as far as they can into the darkness. It's what our comrades would want."

"Well, assuming you reach that point," Luxgor cleared his throat. "So what do you say, Milady? Their lives are in your hand. Consider it a, ah, temporary recompense for their misdeeds."

"I don't need their lives," Audrey said firmly. "Set them free."

Hope glimmered and relief flooded the dragon's eyes.

"Kind gods," Luxgor praised the gods. "I was willing to do anything to not lose them."

"I know, personnel is hard to come by, blah blah blah, yada yada," Audrey rambled. "I must ask of you one thing, Mister Luxgor."

"A-Anything, and please, just call me Luxgor," he pleaded. Madoka knew that feeling and the amusement from his confusion alleviated her sorrow.

"I must ask of you to keep this a secret," Audrey said. He swore his allegiance completely. "Madoka, your sword please. It's come to my attention that this is making the people afraid. I am not sure what to tell you but we are now nearing adulthood."

Madoka handed her the greatsword but kept her two other swords hidden. Audrey put the sword in the portal. The sword disappearing into nothingness made both men gawk.

"Bureau m-magic," Koj said in amazement. Bureau magic? Madoka wondered as she noticed a confused look flash upon Audrey's face for a split second. "A-And you're not even the eldest in your family?"

"No, I am not," Audrey went on. "I've been given free reign over what I want to do. That's my secret."

"Very well then, thank you, Milady," Luxgor bowed. Audrey dismissed him. Madoka guessed she was used to people groveling at her feet back in the palace. "For sparing my members."

"Come see me at the forge. You got Knotting in your veins, lass. I think you'll like the heat," Koj grinned. He stepped out of the office before stopping again. "That is, we'll work with you when you finally get some actual metal around your neck besides copper. Hah!"

Madoka grunted in response as the green uniformed mountain moved out of view. Those terms he used must referred to magic of some kind. Hers was apparently called Knotting magic. Her mind would pop if she dwelled on the matter any longer but luckily the Guild Master shuffled to his desk.

"The Guild will back you up," Luxgor's pointed ears stood out to the maid, but she did not say anything. His sleeves covered his scaly arms but his hands had webbed fingers and claws as he proceeded to sit down. "We won't interfere with your work. I promise."

"Thank you, sir," Madoka said. Audrey said nothing. He gave them a nod and a gesture before he returned to his paperwork.

"Now then, Madoka," Audrey grinned. They walked by the table where the adventurer party was but they were gone. Below from the balcony, Guild Ladies began their rotations. "Shall we get started."

"Right," Madoka grunted. Something told her that Audrey was looking forward to these menial tasks for awhile. "Let's get those commissions done."