Nina Alberg ruffles through some storage boxes.
Her need of sleep is undeceivable, but it's futile. As her superior, Captain Vastgard, ordered her to do his fill of paperwork for the next two days.
At first she was very disinclined to that idea. I mean who wants to do someone others work... paperwork at that!
But when she heard that it was, so he could finally take some vacation and that he even intended to spend those days with his family, she was more than convinced.
This Captain of hers had done many glorious deeds. And would never even take one day off.
Only lately, has he destroyed a slave trading market on his own.
But not only the captains actions and behavior led Nina to help him out, the fact that she was a good friend of his, also helped.
So what a surprise, as right in this moment the door flings open and even said captain, heavily panting, rushes into the room.
Pov Nina
“Nina! I need your help!”
Simjon Vastgard yells at me, he looks as if something terrible has happened.
“Captai...”
I want to greet him, but he breaks me off
“No time for this formal scrab, Nina I need you to gather the other two. Immediately!”
He orders me filling his last voice with vigor
“But Captain, what on earth has happened?”
I am surprised by his sudden order and questioningly walk over to him.
He's really panting heavily. And I've never seen such a worried expression on his face.
“No time Nina. Just so much, someone kidnapped my daughter!”
He presses out of his mouth, nearly spitting at me. There's also a surge of rage within his words.
“What?! When? I... Ok.”
I am totally overwhelmed by surprise, the captains daughter, kidnapped?
I nearly fall over some boxes as I run through the door.
I need to hurry, if the captains daughter is involved... this is serious.
I rashly cover two stairs with one step. Hurling myself upwards and outside of the guards watch office.
A well cared stone build chapel, with a stable and solid tower. It's the current guards watch, located in the midst of the town, we do have a very good view from the tower.
Now I leave the door, stepping outside.
“Henry! Henry, wait!”
I yell with all my might, as I see that one of my targets, Henry Balfal, is about to depart on a wagon.
“Stop the wagon!”
Oh god thanks, he has noticed me and stops the wagon.
I spurt in his direction
“Henry, uhf, something terrible has happened. The captains huff, the captain.”
I exhausted my breath
“Slowly Nina, slowly. Now what has happened?”
Henry, the sturdy but short build man in front of me, jumps from the wagon and comforts me, trough patting my shoulder.
He resembles the dwarfen race a little and if someone might not know him, it would be rather hard to differ between him and a dwarf. But he is a very competent man and managed to be the right hand of Nina, who is the vice captain of the guards
“The captains daughter has been kidnapped! Where's Orben?”
I still nearly yell directly in his face.
“What?! When? Orben should be at the back yard, he's been told to do training with the youngsters.”
Henry starts frowning and answers me.
“Would you, would you please fetch Orben? I will await you in the main hall, together with the captain.”
I instruct my right hand and try to catch my breath, whilst I walk back to Simjon.
“Roger, Just a moment!”
He understands and takes off.
In the cellar of the chapel, which is currently the main assembly hall and headquarters of the guards.
“Henry and Orben will soon arrive here. But captain, just what has happened?”
I report to Simjon, whilst he's cowering over a map of the city.
“I was right off and enjoying this day, as I was off with my second daughter...Cleo! and then, a moment out of my attention... They snatched her right in front of my eyes! This is all my fault!”
Simjon slams the table with his fist, cracks occur and the table nearly breaks in two.
“What? Second daughter? You never told me you've got a second daughter. But never mind that, where has she been kidnapped and from whom?”
I never knew the captain had another daughter besides Hira. And Hira would've been a troublesome person to kidnap, I know how powerful her magic is...
“Yes, it's a complicated story. I'll spare the details, for when we have her back! It was a man, clad in black coat and the fucking snake mark on his back.”
Simjon explains me in a furious manner.
“Off all organizations the snake mark...”
This is serious, there are currently some dark guilds or more, organizations, in Sculd, which favor slave trading. Most of them are also broadly involved in the red light districts of Sculd.
And the snake mark guild, so it's called, identifies through a red snake on a tree, symbol.
We often already encountered, unfriendly meetings with them. But we were never able to figure who the leader is.
But the worry-some thing about them is, that they are known as the most brutal and loose within the dark guilds.
They commonly rape their victims or even sell them off as slaves or as whores.
“Yes! Very troublesome, if they dare to frame even one single hair on my daughter.... Ragh!”
The poor table split in half...
“Captain, reporting the arrival of Henry Balfal and Orben Nightsend! Awaiting orders.”
The brown haired short grown and long bearded man yells at his and the black haired and left eye-scarred mans entrance.
“Finally. We need to depart immediately!”
Simjon commands at us
“But captain, do we know where they've taken your daughter?”
I wonder where to go and frown
“Ho Ho Ho, you don't need to worry about that, Young lady Alberg.”
I drive around. Suddenly an overbearing grandfatherly voice sounds from behind me
As I turn around, I instantly bow and so do Henry and Orben
“Nina Alberg greets vice headmaster of the Scorpia magic academy!”
I respectfully greet the old Santa clause imitation in front of me.
“Orben Nightsend and Henry Balfal greet vice headmaster of Scorpia magic academy!”
The two of them respectfully yell in a chorus.
“Ho Ho, no need for this formality. More important we need to depart now, before we are too late.”
The old man friendly advises
The mysterious man, who looks a little like a thin Santa clause, with his overly long beard and whitened willow hair, waves his hand and a broad spectrum of blue light spots fills the room.
“A cartographic spell!?”
I exclaim in surprise.
Such a detailed version of our city and all of that just with one single movement of his hand...
Indeed, in mere seconds has this old geezer managed to bring out a complete and pinned detailed map of our city. This spell which takes a normal person normally hours, to only bring out a roughly overlay of a place... was just cast perfectly and hardly precise in a single hand wave...
“Ho, this is nothing. Just a mere cartographic spell of the lower tier. Oho, there she is!”
The vice headmaster pinpoints at a special point on the map, which suddenly shines up in a bright red light.
“That's the mining facility, but it's defunct recently!”
Henry exclaims knowingly.
“The perfect hiding spot. Let's go!”
Captain Simjon instantly orders
On our way there, I run besides Simjon, the mining facilities are not far from here.
“Captain, how comes the vice headmaster helps us?”
I whisper towards Simjon, I am very curious to why someone so highly thought of, would suddenly lend us a hand.
Normally those academy people were all to themselves, only interested in magic and wisdom.
“I am not too sure myself... But it must've something to do with my daughter. If it weren't for him I wouldn't even have a clue where to search. He came to me shortly after she was taken from me, comes he was also present when they took her. He offered me to help finding her, if I would introduce him afterwards to her. So I naturally agreed.”
We get nearer to the facility building, the old mage pointed out for us.
“trusting your perception, there are only two enemies present?”
Simjon turns over to the old wizard in confirmation.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Mn, indeed only two. With your people here, it will be easy to subdue them. Especially with you present. Sir Captain, Ho Ho. Well then, I will take my leave from here on. Don't forget our little agreement.”
The old wizard grandfatherly speaks
“Take care and thank you very much! If not for you... I will not forget our agreement.”
Simjon bows slightly and orders me and the other two with hand signs to take positions.
“Ho Ho.”
The wizard turns into white smoke and dissipates into nothingness.
Every time a mysterious way to leave...
I have no time to admire the departure of him any longer.
I swiftly move towards an adequate position and pull my sword at the go.
Henry and Orben stand right and left to my side and the Captain explosively opens the large iron gate, which seals off the warehouse.
The scene inside is gruesome...
I stand still, awaiting orders from Captain.
Henry and Orben have stormed in besides him.
“Ah!! No!...”
a scream sounds form within and I hear the sound of metal cutting through flesh. The warm sound of freshly splattered blood fills the vast room, I currently step into.
“Rash! Take her out of here! And don't even dare to let one part of this scenery slip into her vision!”
The Captain yells hysterically at me
“Yes Sir! As you command.”
I don't dare to be slow.
With hasty steps I pass the bloodied body of a man, who's currently wailing in pain and wiggling around on the floor.
Then, I see her.
A small and frightened girl. Her suffering must've been terrifying. I can't bear my own emotions, the cute girl is completely stripped bare naked and even blindfolded.
With a heavy swing I dislocate the handcuffs around her body and gently pick her up.
“It's alright now girl, no one will hurt you now.”
I try to comfort her, possibly not very successful.
After I brought her into a small house, of one of the captains friends, we suggested her to take a good rest.
I can't even imagine the mental shock she must've taken in... But her appearance brings up many questions.
This can't really be the captains daughter now, can it?
With her red eyes and fragile appearance, she just is the perfect resemblance of a noble.
Where in all means has the captain found her?
And her aura is surprisingly strong, just like that of a noble woman would be. She must have a huge mana pool...
“Nina! I know it's hard to ask you that now, but would you please stand watch tonight?”
I drive around at the sudden sounding of my name, the Captain stands behind me.
“Uh, captain. You gave me quite the shock there. No it's alright, I could've not sleeping anyways.”
I agree and respond towards Simjon, who now seemingly has recovered from his exhausted expression quite a lot.
“Thank you, I have to report this to the council. I am counting on you.”
He replies and takes his leave.
“Huhh”
I sigh in relief, before I did not watch my mouth and spilled some details to his daughter about the whereabouts of her tormentors. Simjon was not very happy about my flaw there, but it seems he's not too worked up with me.
I start strolling around the house, just in case I locked her room and the main entrance.
A few hours have passed, but it seems nothing will happen tonight. Well much expected, I would guess.
Not like someone has the guts to come here after knowing how angered the Captain was. Coming here to stir up things would resemble a true death wish.
I just barely pass the main entrance, only to encounter a frightening sight.
“The door is wide open?!”
I exclaim with a flabbergasted curl of my mouth
Hurriedly I ran upstairs, to check Cleo's room...
Also opened!
And No trace of Cleo herself...
“FUCK! The Captain will murder me... this time for sure!”
I am totally freaked out.
Running outside again, I don't even know what to do.
Searching the town? Now? Where should I even start!?
“Hyaa!?”
I feel a sudden hand on my shoulder and turn around shrieking out.
“Ho Ho, young lady Alberg. There is no need to worry, it's merely me who is standing here.”
The grandfatherly voice sounds bemused and the vice headmaster smiles friendly at me.
“Vi...vice Headmaster? Oh no, it's Cleo! She's gone, please we need to find her!”
For a split second I was dumbfounded by his sudden appearance, but then I came to my senses
Cleo is still missing and I need to find her.
“Ho Ho Ho, calm down. Everything is alright, I know where she is. But I need you to do something for me.”
His voice bears the calmness and friendliness of a loving grandfather, but something feels off.
Why does he know where Cleo is and why is he even here in the middle of the night?
Something doesn't make sense.
Curiously and suspicious I ask.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Ho, nothing really hard. Just you sleep for a while now, will you?”
A wave of his hand and I feel really dizzy
“Wha?huve you dun to mi?”
My vision blurs and my mind spins of into a world filled of easiness. I fell asleep.
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Back to Cleo
“Crap! I totally got overwhelmed by my rage. How do I explain what I have done right now?”
with a poof sound I cower on the ground, starting to panic slightly
In front of me the shattered pieces of the two bastards who've kidnapped me.
The point that I've leveled up a few times doesn't calm me now.
I can feel them, all over the market square, outside of my dark cloud wall. Hundreds of spectators have come to see what exactly has happened here.
What should I do, what should I do...
If I deactivate my skill now, the dark clouds will dissipate and leave me here in the midst of all their views.
All I wanted was some justice and a good portion of karma delivered by my own fists, why does it have to turn out so unfair for me?
I still cower.
No, no tears this time!
This damn body and its emotions...
“Ho, young lady it seems you have a little problem there? Mind if I lend you a hand? Ho Ho Ho”
A cold shiver runs down my spine at the appearance of a voice behind me
I turn around and instinctively concentrate my aura on the silhouette in front of me.
A rapid energy ripple surges forwards, an unstoppable force of my own raw and unrefined mana.
“Ho!?”
I must've surprised my target, the wave of my energy floods on him and engulfs him in a rapid swirl.
“Swoosh”
But to my surprise only shortly afterwards is my complete energy wave dissipated and went to nothingness.
“Huh, that's some nasty power you got there. It seems my eyes have not deceived me. But rest assured I am not your enemy.”
The person comes nearer and I get a clear image on him.
So this overly friendly grandfather voice belongs to Santa clause? No, more of a Gandalf it seems...
The thin and tall grown old man, wields a large wooden staff and his beard wiggles within the wind.
The abstract red and blue robe he's wearing adds in a fact I felt before. This man has to be a wizard, only a mages taste of fashion would be so ridiculous and lousy. And he seems to be a strong one at this, I can even feel the waves of mana his body emits.
Suddenly an idea popped into my mind.
Why haven't I thought of that earlier, I am so stupid!
~show status~
I barely use a thought and
Ping!
StatusName: Schild Wut Gender: MaleAge: 576 Level: 721Profession: Vice headmaster of
Scorpia magic academy
Rank: SSTitle: Bulwark of the westHealth: 15.000HP regeneration: 400/secMana: 500.000Mana regeneration:1400/secStamina: 400Stamina regeneration: 100/secStrength: 450Wisdom: 1400Agility: 700Intelligence: 330Class: Archmage Description: A person who has devoted his life to magic
and finally achieved grand wisdom, becoming an Archmage
is the goal of many young wizards, but only chosen ones were
to make it. Archmages are very strong foes, their proficiency
with magic and their skills in mana manipulation can alter whole worlds.
Race: Human
This guy's at a ridiculous high level!?
What's with him, what does the vice headmaster of scorpias magic academy want from me...
And... crap he must've seen everything.
“Sigh, young lady, it seems you're not yet convinced. But let me again assure you, I will only help you out of here.”
This voice of his sounds too fishy, Maybe he's more of a Dumbledore and wants to manipulate me in some way.
Either ways, if he has a method to help me here, I think I need to depend on his help then...
“O..Ok. Help me then.”
for the moment it doesn't matter what he wants to help me for. It would be better than being spotted in this situation right now.
“Very well young lady, a wise decision. Ho Ho”
The man smiles widely at me and indicates me to take one of his hands.
I am right about to take his hand as a sudden shout interrupts us.
“Hold it there! Cleo, come back. Nothing will happen to you, I swear by the gods.”
This voice!? Simjon, it's Simjon.
Right out of nowhere a very familiar figure appears. Simjon runs towards me.
And I gladly accept the newly given chance. With a relieved expression I walk to Simjon, only to get lifted in the air and hugged by him.
“Cleo, it's alright. I'll take you from here on.”
He presses me tighter in his embrace and smiles kindly at me, but very soon a very complicated feeling rushes down my spine.
If Simjon is here, that means... that just means he knows everything, right?
Ah damn... what should I tell him, how should I react?
Has my situation just turned from bad to worse??
“What is the meaning of this vice Headmaster? Why have you gone to all this means, just to meet Cleo?”
Simjon doesn't let go of me and suspiciously asks The Dumbledore imitation in front of me.
“Hm, how surprising. And there I thought no one had seen me or noticed my actions. I am surprised as always, Sir Vastgard. Your skills are without doubt, befitting the guards captain, if not even that of a royal guard.”
The thin man exclaims in a praising gesture.
“With all respect vice Headmaster, I have asked for your means, not for your praise.”
Simjon frowns at the vice Headmaster and I feel him getting ready for a fight.
“Ho ho, there is really no need to be so hostile. I really don't want any harm for you or your precious little daughter. All that I've wanted, was for young Cleo there, to show me her real power.
And she hasn't disappointed me. Her potential is astonishing.”
The old man steps a little towards us and Simjon gets tightened up even more.
“That still does not explain why you have laid a simple curse on my right hand Nina Alberg. Not even have you set her asleep, you even bewitched her, so she would without doubt, tell Cleo the whereabouts of those two! Hell, you even unlocked all the doors in the house!”
His voice now serious, Simjon states with vigor.
What, He was responsible for my easy get away?
“Mn, I understand your suspicion. Sigh~ Might as well tell you.
When I met you and your daughter in the Cafe, I immediately felt her supreme aura and the density of her mana, very astonishing. Adding her looks, I simply had to see her power for myself.
Who could've known that I would get my chance so easy. So after she was kidnapped, I offered my help, the rest you already know.”
The old man starts to strive through his beard.
“I understand, but I must advice you, with all respect, that if you want to talk or inspect my daughter, you have to follow the normal ways.”
I tock together as Simjon openly calls me his daughter.
“Yes, of course. I merely wanted to lend a friendly hand for your daughter here. But as it seems, I don't need to do anything anymore. So I will bid my farewell Ho Ho Ho. I am sure we will meet again young empress.”
The old man smiles at me widely and … a wink?! He actually winked at me??
Young empress? What has he meant by that? Why is everything so complicated around me.
Afterwards he dissipates into thin air.
And leaves me alone in this awkward situation with Simjon.
“Simjon, I... I.”
I try to start explaining, but Simjon calmly pats my head, whilst carrying me.
“It's alright Cleo. We knew that you had a ridiculous amount of power. After all it's only natural for you.”
A gentle stroke through my hair, mysteriously calms me down.
They knew? So Hira and Lira as well?? Only natural?....
“Why is it only natural?”
that's it, who cares if curiosity kills the cat. I just ask straight out.
“Hmm, well I guess no one has told you that in your life huh? But your appearance and your high amount of mana are both strong indicates, that either your mother or your father were part of the nobility. And you have inherited the noble bloodline. You must know, Cleo, nobles aren't very commonly or often seen. Especially not here on the countryside of our land. But when they come here, they often cause some disaster for us commoners. So not very much people are pleased to see a noble and might even act daring. That might be especially the case with you, since you have no real control of your power and no escort around you either.”
Simjon looks into the sky and starts explaining and I think I see some traces of sorrow glistening in his eyes.
“And, and you knew that I am so strong?”
Just keep asking, it seems as if now is the best time to get some answers.
“Hehe, well you know, you have a real dense aura of mana swirling non stop around you. If it weren't for us to be very powerful to begin with, your sole presence might be even suffocating.”
Relief, I feel relief. Simjon laughs at me warmhearted.
“If lil Hira hadn't slept with you all the time and suppressed your aura... who knows what would've happened. We already considered sending you to school already, so you could learn how to handle your power right. Would've been four years early with the school though. Normally only kids of the age of 10 years are allowed to attend.”
So I had no clue, huh? To what extend my mana was, no is leaking. And even though I am such a troublemaker... they still decided to take care of me. Either I had extreme luck in finding such caring people or this puny god gave me a rescue line.
“Simjon?”
I just barely raise my voice
“Mh? Yes?”
He replies with kindness
“th...thank you.”
I swallow heavily and press my face into his sturdy chest, embarrassingly pressing those words out.
“Foolish girl, you are family now. We will always be at your side, if you need us.”
All the stress within my mind is released and a heavy surge of tiredness overcomes my body.
I snuggle deeper into his hold and fall into deep sleep.
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AN:
I know, I know. It's not friday yet and he decided to release a chapter already??
Yes, I was in the mood for it. Maybe there'll be another chapter this week, but I don't promise it.
Also I might have said that the random amount of skill points will be explained in this chap....
Well no, I lied! Sorry. But in the next chapter for sure.
Also, this was my first real POV I am feasting on critic and if you spot mistakes don't fret to inform me.
I am not native english, but I dislike mistakes
Skill list from Cleo Scouting lvl 3 Language of Scorpia lvl 6Mana manipulation lvl 1Heat resistance lvl 1Eavesdrop lvl 3Enticing lvl 3Fortitude lvl 1Empathy lvl / enhanced by undeaddanger perception lvl 7Fury of the Lichqueen lvl / grows when you grow strongerSoulcounter lvl / Souls: 2