Ugh! Another failure for her story. She glowered at one of her scrying orbs as the man named Boris started tying up the gang members. Sure he probably could have worked at the whole hero gig it's just…

He was too tall. She wanted her heroes to look a certain way and that guy was just too tall. He was still young too so he probably had more to grow which would make him too taller.

Yet another failure.

She began to put away all her scrying orbs. She would like to keep looking for more potential candidates. Largely because it had already been a year which was way too long but alas, she had something very important to do today.

Probably even more important than finding the hero candidate actually.

Her gaze turned as she glowered at the book that sat on her desk. The Maid had suggested she perhaps buy a book that talked about the Forsaken. Saying they had already been extensively studied and should look at what the experts were saying.

Personally she thinks that was just an excuse by The Maid to try and get her to stop asking for her to strip. She kept saying no frustratingly. It’s not like she was doing anything that might actually warrant uncomfort like an autopsy or something.

She got up and picked up the book that the hack fraud had written. It was titled. “All you might need to know about the forsaken and how to deal with them”

She had gotten it from the bookstore when she asked the shopkeeper (A very pleasant old man) about the latest book of study on them and was given this utter piece of trash.

Now she wasn’t going to blame the book store owner. Good heavens no, all book store owners were innocent in her eyes.

But she absolutely was going to blame this writer hack who wrote this utter piece of drivel that should not ever see the light of day again!

Seriously! She called the children of her creation horrifying beasts, not worth the air they breathe! The whole book could basically be boiled down to “The forsaken are dumb violent brutes that need the more civilized to offer a guiding hand and that is why it’s okay to have slaves if one has even a drop of forsaken blood in them.”

Personally she was 99% sure the author was just projecting his own insecurities on them as basically everything he used to describe the forsaken could very easily be applied to humans as well. She had half a mind to smack the hack writer with a mirror so that he may take some time to self-reflect.

They weren’t even called “The Forsaken” cause it is a cool name. No! They called them “The Forsaken” cause they believed the gods had forsaken their people and thus were cursed to bear the deformities!

They weren’t curses! They were improvements!!! IMPROVEMENTS!!!!!!

And shame on the gods for actually allowing such a terrible misunderstanding to go around for so long!

She was already getting herself worked again. She glared at the book which had the author's name at the bottom. Some no name looser called “Pirran Hillside”.

Right, first she had to find out where this loser lived, then find a good enough mirror (She obviously wasn’t going to use her own mirrors) And then she would make just a quick visit to say hello to the bastard.

She heard a knock on her door which The Maid went over to open before she had time to stop her. She didn’t really want to deal with anyone today.

Upon opening the door she saw the Annoying Court Mage standing at the doorway with his Grandson, “Annoying Brat”, behind him.

Before she could even get a word in edgewise Annoying Brat ran past The Maid and into her room “So Teacher! What are we going to be learning now?? Are you finally going to teach me how to fly today?? I want to show off to Yin that I learned how to fly before her hawk does!”

She was pretty sure if she actually had flesh and blood, a vein would be bulging in her forehead. Thankfully she had her illusion to do that for her. She needed to keep up the appearance of her character.

“Marrow” She said through gritted teeth “Didn’t I mention I was going to be unavailable today?”

“Yes, that does remind me. Where did you say you were going again?” Annoying Court Mage asked and she turned her attention to him

“I didn’t say where I was going. Very important things that are also personal. Nothing to do with the prophesied hero or demon though… Actually, completely and totally unrelated to where I am going or what I plan to do but do you happen to know where a man named Pirran Hillside lives?”

Annoying Court Mage slowly blinked at her before shaking his head “I am afraid I do not know of his location. I have a quick request of my own to make though. Would you please watch Marrow before you head out. I have to go run a very quick errand”

“Huh? Absolutely not. I am not playing baby si-”

But Annoying Court Mage was already walking off “Thank you so much, will be back in a moment!”

“I! You!” The urge to kill that man only grew as she slowly turned around and glowered at Annoying Brat who was currently opening one of her non magical books looking at its content and then shutting it before opening another.

She really had half a mind to leave him right there, or perhaps punt him out of the open view balcony. Hmmm. Actually.

“Say Marrow, want to try to learn how to fly?

Marrow's head snapped up in excitement “Really??”

“Sure. But I have a condition. You can’t tell your grandpa how to. It will be his own fault cause he had to leave and didn’t want me to pass down my infinite knowledge. Think you can do that”

Marrow grinned eagerly “Yeah! Then I show up grandpa by knowing something he doesn’t! He’s always going on and on about how much better he is because he knows more. Well now I am going to know something he won’t!”

“All the better. We are in agreement then. Now your first order of business. Jump off the balcony!” She pointed to her balcony.

Annoying Brat turned his head and looked outside before turning back to her “You mean the hole in the wall?”

“We’ve been over this! It’s a fancy balcony for fancy people. Now jump”

Annoying Brat shifted uncomfortably. “Um.. Shouldn’t you teach me how to actually fly first? Or maybe start with something smaller?”

“Well sure we could. But that would hardly get you to learn the proper way. Now jump.”

“M’lady, i-if I may interject. P-perhaps young Marrow is right? Maybe start with j-jumping off a box or something that might be more appropriate?” The Maid spoke with slight tension as she cast a worried glance out the balcony and back to her.

The Annoying Brat looked at her like she was almost his savior. It was actually nice that he had stopped looking at her with disgust for a few months now. He seemed to slowly be warming up to The Maid.

But that was beside the point as she looked at The Maid. “As I said. This is the proper way to do it. It’s how I learned, only instead of a tower I jumped off a high mountain cliff.”

She then looked at the Annoying Brat “now jump.”

Annoying Brat stood at the edge of her balcony and looked down with clear hesitation. “Um, Teacher I don’t mean to question your teaching methods but-”

“Then don’t” and promptly shoved Annoying Brat off the balcony.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!” She watched as he began to plummet down the tower towards the embrace of the earth below.

As tempted as she was to just let him hit the earth she knew that wouldn’t look good on her and would probably lead to some hostility with the nobility of the kingdom unless she did a mass memory wipe so she quickly teleported down to the ground with a small pop and watched as he got closer and closer till finally she reached her hand out and forced gravity to stop around the Annoying Brat as his face was mere inches from the ground.

Aaaand now he was sobbing. Great. This is why she didn’t like kids. Their emotions were all over the place. She twirled her finger as she righted him up in the air and released her magic prompting him to land on his butt.

Unfortunately the Annoying Brat was still sobbing and seemed to be hyperventilating now. The noise was kind of grating on her ears (Metaphorically speaking of course) as she glared at him

You know, it probably wouldn’t take that much effort to just kill the kid and easily cover it up. Some memory alterations, a few well placed lies, and she’d actually have some more peace and quiet to read her books more often.

She raised her finger and began to summon up some lighting. She’d make it quick and he wouldn’t feel a thing. No one would have to know….

She let out a sigh and lowered her hand. It was certainly tempting but the effort to cover it all up wouldn’t really be worth it.

So instead she grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and teleported back up to the top of her tower with another small pop.

She thought about using a spell to forcibly calm his emotions but people tended to get real touchy about that kind of thing if her memory served correctly. Thankfully she had an idea to get him to calm so instead she went over to her bag and pulled out one of her time prisons and carefully took out a few things.

She then turned to The Maid “Hey Vera, could you make some hot coco, I have the ingredients here and you should know the recipe if I recall.”

The Maid nodded and grabbed the material and began to expertly make the mug of Hot Coco as she had learned from one of her cookbooks.

The books of how to cook were mostly stuff from her favorite meals, she only ever really needed to eat every few thousand years give or take but she had found grazing greatly helped stave off the hunger for longer and if you are going to eat. Might as well eat something tasty.

When The Maid finished making up the mug of hot coco she took it from her and handed it over to the Annoying Brat “Here, drink this.”

The Annoying Brat took the mug and slowly began sipping at it while she sat down and opened up her book to read until he was ready to listen to her.

Finally after several minutes she looked back up and saw the Annoying Brat had finally calmed down. When he noticed she was looking at him, he quickly backed up, eyeing her wearily.

“Do you know why I threw you out of the balcony?”

The Annoying Brat shook his head in response so she continued.

“Because you are green. You see magic as this wonderful thing with no consequences. You are only half right. Magic is a wonderful thing but it is also extremely dangerous. And in the hands of someone who doesn’t understand that danger it becomes even more so.

“You don’t teach a kid dangerous magic for the same reason you don’t give a kid a sword and tell them to practice swinging it around in a busy market.

“What you just experienced is what would have happened to you if you were flying with a spell and your concentration slipped, or you got distracted, or perhaps you just ran out of mana. It is easy to ignore the consequences of messing up when you haven’t actually experienced what they will be.”

She used her best mature mentor voice and was actually pretty giddy she got to play the role even if it was just for Annoying Brat. This would be good practice for when she needed to play the role for real.

She made sure to let her words sit with him for a good long moment and then continued “You are a prodigy by yours and everyone else's admission and that is all the more reason for you to take care. No matter how smart, talented or powerful you may think you are, at the end of the day. You are mortal and will die all the same. Death is the great equalizer and you will do well to remember that”

“Even you?” his voice came out as soft and vulnerable.

“Oh good heavens no. I am going to live forever and nothing will ever stop me.”

The Annoying brat let out a small snort before starting to laugh. She found herself drawn into the laughter herself before composing herself after a short bit.

“Okay look. I will not apologize for what I did cause it was something you needed to know but I will admit I probably could have taught that lesson a bit better. Will you forgive me?”

“You want me to forgive you without you apologizing?”

“Obviously”

“You are clearly crazy”

“You are not the first person to call me that”

“Thank you.”

She tilted her head in confusion at him as he continued “I think I needed to know that. Even if you could have gone about it a bit differently. I still want to learn how to fly though. If I am ever in a situation where I am falling from a tall height like that, I’d rather have a way to not die in the fall.”

Nice!! Mature wise mentor role is coming along perfectly! “Alright, But I will teach you how to fly later. I am still running my errand first.”

Annoying Brat simply nodded and she decided to go over some basic rune crafting with him. Well basic by her standards. Apparently this stuff was more complex for them. No wonder this kingdom was so far behind in their magic.

Finally Annoying Court Mage came back though he seemed a tad out of breath when he arrived

“Hey Grandpa! Guess what, Teacher threw me out of the hole in the wall” Annoying Brat said with way too much enthusiasm while also giving her a smug grin.

That stinking snitch! Annoying Court Mage turned his attention on her with narrowed eyes “She did what now?”

“Whelp! Time to go! People to go, places to see! Should be back soon, don’t wait up alright, byeeee” She grabbed her bag and bolted out the door before there could be any follow up conversations giving a quick wave to The Maid as she left.

When she got back she was definitely going to throw the Annoying Brat out of her balcony again.

But right now she had more important things to think about. Like trying to find this Pirran Hillside place. She supposed she could just keep asking around and see if anybody knew. He was an author of a book (Even if it was a terrible crime against all decency) and authors were like the most important people in all of creation.

She continued to make her way through the castle, thinking that perhaps she’d stop by the library and asking the librarians if they knew where he might reside when a voice interrupted her.

“Ah! Ms. Captain Gates! It is quite wonderful to see you out and about from your tower today. How are you doing?”

She inwardly groaned as she didn’t want to be talked to again by some random person as she turned to face the man walking towards her with a cheesy smile.

Noble #13 looked like every other typical noble that hangs around the castle which is to say gaudy. Lots of colors and jewels with no real cohesion. It was clear they were only worn as a symbol of wealth. It is just a shame that they assaulted her eyes every time she looked at one of them…. Or it would if she actually had eyes, haHA!

“I am doing fine, but I am in kind of a rush so if you’ll please excuse me” She couldn’t even remember the guys name and it would become especially awkward if she started calling him Noble #13”

“Ah! Perhaps I can help! I am very good at helping out anyone who might need it. For a small price of course” He rubbed his hands eagerly as he smiled all the wider at her.

She highly doubted someone like him would be of any use to her in this situation but you miss all the shots you don’t take. “You wouldn’t happen to know someone named Pirran Hillside would you?”

Noble #13 blinked in surprise “You mean Duke Pirran Hillside. Of course I know him. I doubt there is anybody in this kingdom who doesn’t.”

Huh. Well Annoying Court Mage certainly didn’t. Guess he just isn’t as smart as she thought.

“Well great. Could you tell me where he is or where he lives then?”

“Of course! I could set up a meeting for you if you are so inclined. For a small fee of course”

“Nah, that is not necessary. I just need to know where he is” She pulled out a map of the kingdom from her bag and opened it in front of him.

Noble #13 seemed to start getting a little flustered. “Uh… I am having a bit of trouble remembering where his place of residence is. Perhaps something can help jog my memory.”

Yeesh. Humans and their love of money and gold. She still didn’t get it. She had been throwing around so much gold that she actually ran out of the amount she initially brought and had to make more. But at least it was easy to do and it made it easier for her to get what she wanted.

She reached into her bag and pulled out several chunks of gold and some jewels. “Here, does this help?”

“Ah! Yes!” Noble #13 quickly snatched the gold she offered and then pointed to some town on the map that was by the coast “He lives in the city of Nirra. His place of residence is almost as impressive as this very castle if I were to say so.”

Finally, she had a destination. “Oh, one final request. Do you happen to have a mirror I can have.”

“Of course I do. But I am afraid I can’t simply part with my beloved mirrors without proper compensation I am sure you understand.”

.She stared at him for one long moment. “You know what, I am already in a bad mood and could use someone to vent a bit of my frustration”

“What do you mean?” Noble #13 managed to ask before she gripped his head and forcefully shoved mind magic into him, bringing him completely under her control but still totally conscious of everything.

“There, now about that mirror?”

“It’s in my bed chamber at my place of residence” His voice came out as monotone which didn’t match the horrified look in his eyes.

Figures. She would just head to a store and buy one then. Ugh, this thing is going to be her whole day isn't it?

She looked at Noble #13 who let out a soft whimper and beckoned him to follow her to a window that overlooked a courtyard in the castle and promptly shoved it open.

“Well come here. I want you to stand here.” She pointed to the very edge of the window and he dutifully stepped where she pointed.

“Now then, this hall is currently empty. But the moment someone steps into it and spots you. Jump the window and kill yourself.”

Noble #13 started to cry and let out more whimpers, unable to speak or protest as she turned around to leave. Busy busy busy busy. There was just no time to rest for her.

pop

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Cathryn's headache was starting to worsen as she paced her office trying hard to figure out what the hell ‘Captain Gates’ was planning to do with Pirran Hillside. If she got into contact with him and they began to work together it would cause a lot more work for them.

When Riez came rushing in and informed her that she had asked him who Pirran Hillside was and where she could meet him she felt her blood turn cold and quickly started to mobilize her available shadows. She genuinely hated that Ignes was still away at this point and time but also knew he would likely be gone for a few more years.

She had already sent out a message to the shadows she had stationed at Nirra and she was hoping that the message would get there before Captain Gates and they could run interference.

It was bad enough that Pirran was expanding his underworld empire to the kingdom across the ocean and running dealings with them and the nobles here. But if he got the power and backing of someone like Captain Gates it might spell the end of the kingdom from within.

She spat out a curse at the damned woman who decided to show up in her kingdom. At this point while they haven’t been able to prove it yet, she was certain that Altior was backing her.

Captain Gates already had multiple nobles in her pockets through her bribes and giving away money and precious jewels. The people in the capital have even started calling her a saint due to her just giving away money whenever she goes out by paying ridiculous sums to get what she wants.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The economy was starting to get unstable due to the mass influx of gold and it was clear that was her intention all along but no matter what she tried to do to fix the issue people just thought she was being overly cruel!

If Captain Gates got into contact with Pirran then he might actually have enough backing and power to initiate the coup he always wanted and take control of the kingdom for himself. And since he was in contact with the empire of Altior and expanding his operations there, it would make sense that he would also receive their backing so long as he became their little puppet ruler.

Then their kingdom would just go right back to being under Altiors thumb all over again. The very thing they had fought so hard against 200 years ago.

Now all she could do was wait and hope that the messenger was faster than Captain Gates' carriage. She had told one of her shadows to monitor the carriage and inform her the moment she left and to track her movements without being seen.

Her door suddenly burst open as one of her guards rushed in “Your majesty! Count Mesha has just committed suicide!”

“What?? Take me there now!”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Gotta move your feet more” Erin spoke to Jacob as he rubbed his arm from the wooden sword blow that was just delivered.

“Standing like a statue is only good if you are trying to purposefully get hit. If that is not your goal perhaps you should move your feet like I told you.”

Erin offered him a grin that looked deformed on his mostly human-like face. The lizard eyes with brown like scales around said eyes offer an ugly contrast to his face. The sharp teeth certainly didn't help.

The only other feature of his forsaken heritage was that of claws on his left hand with the same brown scales going up to his forearm. Jacob couldn’t for the life of him understand how his Aunt was so madly in love with this man. At least Erin had the good sense to break it off with her.

“Right, Thanks” Jacob muttered. Not making his actual thoughts known “Can we go again. I need as much practice as possible.”

Erin gave a small chuckle and readied his wooden sword “You know, I still think you would be better off trying for the Rangers. The Shadows are probably more difficult to get into and they aren’t really well liked among the general populace. Or the nobles either”

“Good, being liked is overrated. I’d rather have my enemies fear me.”

Erin looked around the courtyard and gave Jacob a look that he hated. “What enemies Jacob? You don’t have enemies?”

Instead of responding like some weak willed loser he decided to start the bout again and charged with the wooden sword raised high and swung down which was easily blocked and countered. Hitting Jacob in the shoulder again

“You over committed in a really telegraphed move. Try to be more patient and don’t go for a finishing blow like that unless you are absolutely certain it will hit.”

Jacob snarled at that and started trying to hit Erin with various jabs of the sword to which Erin easily parried all of them before stepping close and body checking him to the ground and paced the tip of his sword to Jacobs throat.

“I think that is enough for now. You should take a break. You getting angry like that means you make more mistakes.”

Jacob smacked the sword away and stood up “Me being angry doesn’t mean I am making mistakes! You’re just better than me cause you have had more time to practice. If I had the same amount of training I bet I could easily beat you”

Erin shrugged “Perhaps. But you will never get better if you can’t even admit to your faults. You asked me to train you, there isn’t much purpose in me doing so if you can’t even take my advice without making excuses.”

Jacob wanted to argue if for no other reason then the fact that he was right. When he found out Erin had actually made it to the rangers he decided to swallow his pride and ask him to train him.

He hated being weak and Erin was probably the strongest and most capable fighter he actually knew. Even the guards and soldiers hadn’t been able to beat him in one-on-one combat.

If he could get as strong or even stronger then Erin, he’d never have to worry about people trying to push him around.

He took a deep breath and faced Erin again “Alright, I am ready. I’ve calmed. Let’s continue.”

Erin looked at him with skepticism before lifting his wooden sword. “Alright. But if you can’t stand against me for more than 5 seconds then that will be it for the day”

A grin spread across his face “Think you can last that long?”

“Ha! You’ll be lucky to land a blow on me after a minute!”

“That’s the spirit. Get ready”

Jacob took a guarded stance. Despite his bluster he wasn’t actually sure if he could get past the five seconds. So instead of taking on a more aggressive and leaving himself open he decided to opt for a more defensive tactic.

Erin, realizing Jacob wasn’t going to make a first move and shot forward. Aiming directly for his sword which Jacob blocked making him feel a shudder run up arm as he quickly realized Erin was putting more strength into the swing then he had before.

But at the same time he left no openings like Jacob had as the sword was soon coming directly towards his head without a chance to block or counter attack.

It surprised Jacob that he was able to back step away from the blow but he hardly was given a chance to breath as attack after attack came for him. Jacob was just barely able to move backwards from each blow as every time he blocked he felt his arm grow slightly numb from the sheer strength of the blow.

Eventually his luck ran out and Erin threw a faint that Jacob fell for and soon the wooden sword stopped just at the edge of his neck. Jacob was almost certain that if Erin used the same strength he was using towards his sword and chose to strike him. He’d be dead.

Swallowing he stepped backwards as Erin pulled the sword away. “Good job. You lasted for six seconds. I guess we can keep going if you want too”

“You went easy on me didn’t you…” Jacob tightened his grip in frustration and Erin just laughed.

“Jacob, I’ve been going easy on you since we first started sparring. If I actually went all out you wouldn’t learn anything at all. Though that is not to say I let you go past the five seconds. If you couldn’t keep up with me then we would have ended the day here. You are still progressing faster than most”

Faster than most doesn’t mean faster then all. He was still too weak and he needed to become ever stronger. He looked at Erin with determination “Another round.”

Erin grinned and raised his sword but both were interrupted by a booming voice that Jacob knew all too well. “What on EARTH do you think you are doing!?”

Jacob swallowed and turned towards his dad marching towards them angrily. “Do you not care about my position! If people saw you associating with someone like him it would hurt me!”

Before Jacob could respond, his dad slammed his fist into his face knocking him down into the ground. It was only thanks to Erins training that he actually managed to turn with the punch to take less damage because of it.

“Hang on Mr.” Erin started but was quickly cut off by his dad.

“Don’t you dare start on me forsaken. Just because my sister in law has a soft spot for you doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t make your life a living hell if need be. Don’t test me!”

Erin clamped his mouth shut and bowed, making sure to keep his eyes turned to the floor as he did so which made his dad turn his attention back to Jacob who gulped.

“As for you!” He reached and grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him up onto his feet.

“You are to report home and stay in your room until I come back and then I, and your mother will discuss what the appropriate punishment will be! I have to put a stop to whatever horrible rumors are already floating around before they reach the ears of someone important!”

“Yes Father.” Jacob responded following Erins example and keeping his eyes lowered.

“Then go!” His dads voice boomed and he quickly turned and scurried away as fast as he could. He hated how he had to run away like this but what else could he do.

He began to make his way back through the city towards his home and again, just seeing everyone that passed him made him grow angrier. He hated every single one of them.

As he finally made his way home he opened the door and stormed inside where his mom saw him and started shrieking at him with her usual tirade of bullcrap.

He just drowned it out. He didn’t need to hear it as it was probably just the usual stuff. He just agreed, did his apologies till she was placated and then went upstairs. She would probably yell at him some more whenever his dad came back and told her he was hanging out with Erin again.

As he made it to their room he found the door locked and not even bothering with knocking he slammed his shoulder hard into the door busting it open.

“Shit!” Clair jumped up from her work bench and glared at Jacob. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Shut up Clair. I am not in the mood and dad told me I needed to wait in the room anyways. So unless you want to explain to him why I wasn’t where he said I should be you can just shut the hell up.”

Clair glowered at him and sat back down at the pile of clothes. “Whatever. Just don’t make noise while I am working”

“I can make as much noise as I damn well please! What the hell are you going to do about it huh? You aren’t strong enough to throw me out of the room anymore!”

Clair growled “Fine, I am sorry. I am sorry. Now let me fucking work.”

Jacob huffed and stormed to his bed and laid down. It wasn’t worth the time or energy to deal with his sister. His fist tightened as he thought long and hard about everything.

One of these days he’d get strong enough that no one would ever look down on him or bully him. Then every single one of them will rue the day they ever met him.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sharrel made her way through the streets towards the master's mansion. She tries to change the route every day so as not to rouse too much suspicion towards her. Even trying to change her hairstyle when possible.

She had become a fairly decent pick pocket over the course of the year. Stealing from pockets on her way towards the castle and on her way back. When she had finally made sure Aion was okay and was resting well she would then head out at night to see what she could sneak in and steal.

It had basically been this way every day for a year. The rings under her eyes had gotten considerably worse and her skin had started to look somewhat sickly but she couldn’t just stop. The constant debt and the threat of Whines and his goons were ever present and this was all she could do to keep themselves afloat.

She had been even stealing from the doctors and apothecaries when she could just to try and get some of the medicine Aion needs to keep himself alive.

She hated it, she hated all of it. And worse of all. She hated how utterly useless she was. She was certain if she did not change something soon her body might give out on her and then what would Aion do? He couldn’t even leave his bed without coming down with a fever.

She slid past a well dressed man who was too distracted by the giggling of prostitutes to notice her hand slip into his purse and quickly pull out a few coins.

Good, she just needed a few more to make next month's payment which was unfortunately due in two days. With a bit of luck she should make the last bits tonight.

Probably the only reason she had lasted this long was because she doesn’t go for large valuable things that would undoubtedly get the guards after her. But small stuff.

The only downfall of course was that she had to work extra hard. But it was starting to look increasingly likely that she would have to take that risk. A potential life saving money or an inevitable slow death. It almost didn’t feel like a choice.

She finally made her way to the lord's mansion and with a deep breath entered the low servants door, nodding as she passed the couple of guards sitting at the table playing poker and into the area where she could change into her maid uniform.

“Ah! There you are!” Sharrel almost groaned as the head maid marched right towards her. The only reason she ever talked to her was when she was about to be assigned to do something nobody wanted to do.

“You need to go to the kitchen and pick up a tray of cookies and tea for the master. He is currently waiting on them and therefore waiting on you. Now move it!”

Sharrel almost cursed out loud but that definitely would have earned her a whack. Ever since the day when she managed to avoid flinching, the master had taken an interest in putting her in increasingly no win situations, no doubt he was using the head maid to help him.

She hadn’t slipped up yet and earned whatever cruel punishment he had planned but it was starting to feel like it was only a matter of time. She was honestly thankful the master seemed to have made a game out of trying to make her mess up when he could have just punished her whenever he wanted.

As quickly as she could, she changed her clothes and rushed to the kitchen through the servant hallways. For once she had some luck on her side as she saw the current cook Daur in the kitchen whisking something in a bowl.

He looked up when she entered and slightly winced “Better get going Sharrel, I’ll call up and mention that there was an issue with the oven and the cookies took longer than expected. But that excuse will only go so far”

He gestured towards the silver tray with the cookies and tea sitting at the ready and a bit of relief crossed her shoulders as she went and picked up the tray. “Thank you Daur.”

“Don’t mention it, seriously. Don’t. But when you are coming back, stop by before you get to your normal duties. I’ll probably be busy getting dinner prepared and might not notice if an extra piece of bread or fruit that I put out goes missing. You know how food can sometimes disappear.”

She hid her slight smile with a quick head nod and began to move. Heading back into the servant quarters and began to make her way up to the 5th floor.

Before she exited though she took a deep breath. She knew she needed to move but she was starting to breath heavily from the trek up and didn’t need that as the excuse for her being punished just because she moved too quickly.

She also just needed her hands to stop shaking. Even if she didn’t want to admit it. She was scared of the Master. He could kill her with a simple order if he wanted. Hell he could probably order the extermination of her family and no one would even question it. Though if that were to include her parents. It might actually be worth it.

She held onto that amusing thought as her hands finally stopped shaking and made her way out of the servants hallway and into the main hall, beginning her walk as dignified as she could towards the Masters study.

As she rounded the corner her firm steps slowly began to stall as she realized something was wrong. The two guards that were stationed at the end of the hall by the doors to his office seemed to have a dazed look on their expression.

Neither of them seemed to be overly conscious or unconscious. Plus they weren’t making some kind of lecherous comment or offering her on a date as was the usual routine she had come to expect.

If this was a normal situation she might have gone and gotten someone to take a look at this but on the off chance everything was actually fine and the guards were merely drugged out of their minds. She could not take the chance of delaying the delivery of the lord's tea and cookies.

Thus she knocked on the door as usual before entering, announcing that she had brought the tea and sweets as she opened the door and

DEATH

She dropped the tray to the ground, horror filling every fiber of her body as a skeleton stood before her wreathed in devouring black flame that seemed to consume the very reality around it.

This was death, death stood before her, above the master's body and it slowly turned towards her, a mocking smile in its skull seemingly finding her terror amusing before its feet began to move and it approached her.

Each step it made towards her brought her closer to her own demise. Perhaps calling this thing before her as simple death was a disservice. This was a being that ruled over death. A god of death. The god of death was before her and she was the next one to be claimed!

She didn’t want to go!

Five more steps

Her body refused to move as her mind seemed to stagnate yet race at the same time. She didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to go….

Four more steps

She couldn't’.. She couldn't die here... Please… she couldn’t….

Three more steps

A brief flash of Aions face crossed her mind and she bit down on her lip hard. She needed to think. What would a god of death even want so that it might spare her.

Two more steps

This was a god of death yet it hadn’t taken the souls before her. The guards and the master were still alive as far as she knew. So what if?!

One more step

She snapped out of her shock and quickly bolted up from where she lay., yanking out the dagger she kept strapped to her leg out and quickly slashed the throats of the two guards that were standing there in a daze seemingly oblivious of what was happening.

The moment their throats were slit they seemed to regain their sense before collapsing dead to the floor, their eyes filled with terror and confusion.

Sharrel quickly looked at the god of death that stood before her, it was studying her but not moving. Yes, that's right. It was waiting to see if she would kill the lord of manor as well. Prove her loyalty to the god by offering the life of her previous lord. For what was the loyalty towards a mere lord when faced with a god!!

She then rushed past the god and towards the lord of the manor and began to frantically stab his chest over and over again till she was certain that the man would breathe no more.

She turned to face the god again who continued to watch her. Right! How could she be stupid! This was a god!

She quickly bowed before the god and pleaded “I Offer these deaths to you oh god of death! Please accept my tribute and offer me your mercy!”

She was trembling hard, unsure of what was to happen next. The god stood there for a long moment before walking up to her and then passed her towards a bag she didn’t take notice of until now.

Reaching in and uttering some words she could not quite make out before seven soldiers dressed in full armor and gear popped into the room out of nowhere.

The god then uttered a couple more words before taking out several books from her bag that looked old and seemed to emit a sinister aura.

The god then looked back to her and gave her a small pair of glasses and the books before speaking to her.

“I expect you to use these gifts well.” It, no her voice sent shivers through her. This was the voice of a divine who held sway over death. It was terrifyingly beautiful, a voice fit for a divine being that stood above all others.

And then with a pop she disappeared, leaving her alone with the three dead bodies, several large sinister looking books, a pair of glasses and the seven terrifying looking soldiers.

The moment the goddess disappeared the soldiers took off their masks and knelt before her. Their skin was different shades of gray and dry with their eyes bloodshot red. The one in the center spoke “We will follow you, our new master and do the best we can to protect and serve however you see it.”

The man's voice was gravelly from rare use but possessed a gentleness to it she had not expected and she looked at the man before her. “What are you?”

“I, as well as my compatriots, are soldiers for the one that created us, and have been gifted to you by the mistress. Though I am afraid I do not know much more than that.”

Sharrels mind started to turn. The god of death had given her gifts. Had tested her, spared her and gifted her with these soldiers and these books? Had she been chosen. Chosen by such a powerful being and if so for what purpose?

She swallowed and slowly grabbed the books. All her life she had lived feeling powerless against the whims of what life threw at her. Many times she cursed it. Cursed her situation, cursed her life. Everything.

Now a god of death. Her god…. Her beautiful wonderful god. Had given her the tools and the means to fight back. Had given her a gift of power to spit in the face of life itself.

She felt a slight giggle begin to escape her lips at the sheer absurdity of it all which made the soldier in the center speak. “Are you okay?”

She quickly had to shake her head and push all the emotions and thoughts that were threatening to spill over back down and reflexively went through her breathing technique to calm down. She needed to get back home to her little brother first. She could process what had happened after.

“Follow me. We need to get out of here as quickly and as quietly as possible.” She spoke to the soldiers. The guardians that would protect her from now on.

“As you command mistress. Shall we take the bodies with us?”

“No, leave them to rot.” She stated and the guardians bowed and quickly began to move, surrounding her in a guard like position as they began to move down the main hallway and into the servants halls.

She was more than a little surprised at how effortlessly they mimicked her movement. Not even the guards that had followed her now ex master were that capable.

No… That wasn’t it. She practically cursed herself in her heresy for thinking such a thing. She should not be referring to that man as her master whether ex or not. That was tantamount to blasphemy. For there was no one who would stand above the goddess that she had just witnessed.

She made her way through the halls and towards the lower servants exit. She knew the guard change would not happen for a few more hours and no one ever really dared to venture up to the 5th floor without purpose.

Granted some might wonder where Pirran was but no one would ever dare venture up to see what was going on. Perhaps a detriment to making everyone scared of you.

She had passed a few servants on her way to the door but the moment they saw her with her guard of 7 heavily armed men surrounding her with red eyes, they quickly and perhaps wisely turned and went the other way and avoided eye contact.

It was a miracle, likely one given to her goddess that she had even gotten this far uninterrupted. Until she heard the familiar shrill voice “Where do you think you are going???”

Sharrel turned and saw the head maid marching towards her. Seemingly blind or perhaps ignorant to the guards that surrounded her. But then why shouldn’t she be. She basically had the protection of Pirran and believed no one would touch her. She probably just assumed the guards surrounding her worked for Pirran.

“You had better not be shirking your duties! If you are I will be sure to tell the master that you are and I believe we all know what would happen then! Shall I report this!”

Sharrel looked at the woman with a noticeable lot less fear. Not because of the guards she now had but she just seemed so little and so pitiful compared to her goddess. Even her supposed beauty seemed so miniscule in comparison.

“How many of us street urchins have you taken in with the promise of help only to then keep us trapped here to be used and abused by the one you call master?” Sharrels voice came out calmer than she expected it too.

The head maid blinked as if caught off guard by the question before her face twisted in anger “How dare you insult me like that! I will make sure you regret this and beg for mercy by the end! Guards! Detain her!”

The seven guardians did not move at her demand and instead looked at Sharrel.

“Bring her to her knees” two of the guardians moved with speed she hadn’t thought possible and gripped her arms and forced her down to the knees as she pulled out the knife she had used to kill her master with and placed it to her neck.

“How many?”

The woman seemed utterly baffled before screaming “Guards! Come quick! Guards!”

Four guards came rushing in from different directions and like clock work her own guardians moved with far more agility and grace dispatching each man who came to help the Head maid in a smooth brutal fashion.

Sharrel marveled at the gift she had been given by her goddess before turning her eyes towards the head maid who now was paler than the men who held her. “I suppose it doesn’t really matter in the end. You die no matter the answer”

And slashed the knife across her throat. The guardians holding her tossed her body to the ground with a satisfying crack.

She then looked up at the servants who had come in to see what the noise was about. They all were frozen in place at the scene before them.

While the guards under Pirrans command were not innocent in his dealings, the servants, as far as she knew, were. And they had enough trauma in their lives already.

“Come on, we need to leave quickly”

She issued her order and her guardians and began moving. The one who spoke to her before spoke again. “Forgive me mistress, but you are too slow. If permitted I will happily carry you to the next destination.”

“Yes, that is fine. I will direct you where we need to go” With permission granted she was easily scooped up and they were off with far greater speed then she likely could ever do.

Sharrel directed them through the back alleys and the winding maze that was their city. Keeping to the shadier areas or the least populated ones. Most people in this area wouldn’t talk to any form of the law, and if they did it was usually to give bad information or unreliable ones.

Eventually they made their way to the little shack that she had been living in for little over a year. While no one in the manor knew where she lived. Whines did and she wouldn’t put it past him to sell out her location for some coin.

Hell he would probably just try to kidnap her and sell her to whomever was in charge of her capture. Of course now she actually had the power to fight back. But now was not the time nor was this shack the place. They needed to move and find a place to lay low but where.

“Are any of you good or capable of finding a place where we can lay low and stay hidden from any scrutiny?” asked the guardians and gave a prayer to her new goddess.

Two of her guardians stepped forward “We both can. We shall return here within a couple of hours with what locations we deem suitable. Will that suffice”

Sharrel nodded “It is more than I would have hoped for. Thank you”

Both the men nodded and sprinted off in either direction she then looked at the other guardians “Listen. My little brother is here and he is not very strong and has a sickly nature. Please try not to startle him or risk scaring him.”

The guardians exchanged glances before one spoke “Perhaps it might deem prudent then mam if you were to change out of the blood soaked dress?”

Sharrel looked down and almost face palmed. Yeah, that would probably upset Aion greatly. As she looked back up another of the guardians was gone. She hadn’t even heard anything.

Before she could even ask, the guardians quickly ushered her into a small corner and turned their backs to her forming a wall “Please change out of the clothes, we shall ensure no one will see and the one that left will be back momentarily with some adequate clothes”

Once again her goddess had given her such capable people. She offered up a second prayer as thanks for these blessings she had been given.

Sure enough the guardian that had left her soon returned with some fresh clothes. Well fresh was probably not the word she would use. But they were wearable and no worse then the clothes she had that were sitting in the small storage locker at the manor.

After quickly changing she went back to her little shack. Right, time to try and explain to Aion about everything that had happened. With a deep breath she stepped in with her guardians following behind.

“Aion, I am back and I have some people with me. Please don’t freak out, they are good people and friends.”

Aion was sitting up on his bed looking out from his window when he turned to face them and his eyes snapped to the guardians before looking back towards Sharrel.

“Your friends have red eyes.” he said with a flat expression on his face and a tone that seemed to say. ‘You do see that right?’

Sharrel almost sighed in relief that he didn’t actually freak out and began to explain everything that happened. They would need to move soon and it was best if he was caught up to speed.