Chapter 119
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Edward was practically skipping as he led us back into his office. He closed the door behind them, hurried over to the large window behind the desk, and put a curtain over it, darkening the room.
He then disappeared under his desk for a length of time; during which they heard many clicking sounds and a small mutter of curses.
The man reappeared once more with something held between his hands. It was a package wrapped in leather and bound by ropes, which glowed faintly in the dark.
“There we go,” the man placed the book on top of his desk with almost reverent gentleness.
“Master, Isn’t that…?”
“Yes,” the man answered his inquisitive student while he was untying the binding of the package. “We have finally found someone who could learn the Spells written within. Come closer, please.”
With a look of joy, he unveiled what was within.
It was a tome. But anyone could see that it was no ordinary one. Its cover was made from auburn-colored scales that shone faintly under their gaze. Illumca gulped her saliva when she laid her eyes upon it. She felt a strange power beckoning her from within. It called to her like a babe calling for his mother.
Gingerly Edward opened it. The smell of ash filled the office as yellowing thick paper speckled with gold showed pictures and ancient letters were revealed.
While the others were entranced, Connie’s was a face of revulsion.
She stepped back, trying to hide her expression. Her tongue lapped the air and instantly the edge of her lips curved downward. “A dragon…”
“Indeed,” the old Mage exclaimed. “This tome was made from the leather and scale of a dragon.”
“No kidding,” Connie growled slightly. She could feel her cheek cracking, her emotion rising.
“I retrieved this tome from a Dungeon I visited during my youth. Unfortunately, the Spell contained within can only be learned by someone with the level of Mana purity that can only belong to the Ancient Races. You, my dear, is an oddity rarer than rare. Someone whose Mana is as pure as that of a High Elf. It is your blessing – no – your right to earn these Spells.”
Dragon. Filthy, insufferable dragon. But dead now. Nothing more than remnants.
“So, this…is what you want to show me?” she asked, as her eyes poring over the letters. They were written in the Elven Language. Though some of the words were so old it the meaning was lost in history.
“Yes. You are a Dark Elf. Trying to teach you how humans do magic will not work well, as far as I can tell. But this tome will allow you to learn Spells beyond the limitation of natural gifts. And perhaps, we can delve deeper into improving your control over your magic.”
“…what is in it for you?” Illumca asked suspiciously. Her dealings with people were thus far disappointing and led her to question anyone who would help her unconditionally.
“Seeing forgotten, ancient Spells coming to life! What could be better than that?!”
Illumca watched his eyes aglow. They resembled Connie’s eyes when talking about poisons. That childish and passionate gaze led her to think well of the man.
When she thought about that, she was reminded of Connie who had not said a thing for a while now.
“Connie, what do you think?”
Connie, who was discreetly covering her mouth with her hand, gave her a quick agreement. She did not want to keep her disciple from growing. Even if she must touch a – bleagh – dragon’s scale.
“But we don’t have much time. We intend to leave after the Reward Ceremony.”
“That is fine!” the Archmage smiled. “Shall we start then?”
“Right now?”
“We have to use the time we have efficiently. Eleanora, bring me my quills.”
“But – “
“Go ahead, Illumca,” Connie gave her acknowledgment. “I’ll entrust her to you, Archmage Edward.”
“Upon my honor, Lady Steelheart. I will teach her all that I can.”
Illumca promised to return home as soon as she was finished there. With nothing else to do, Connie excused herself. Her steps quickening while she tried to cool herself down. The crack vanished as soon as she got her emotion in control.
“Tasted like shit,” she grumbled. “I’m gonna have to wash the aftertaste with something sweet.”
On the way back, Connie had as much fruit and sweets as she could and washed them down with some wine. Only then did the taste of the dragon gone from her mouth.
She was eating a Crepe when she noticed a carriage in front of the mansion, guarded by Knights wearing the increasingly familiar color of the Faith. They saluted her reverentially.
“Good Evening. Lady Steelheart.”
“Mmm…” she nodded with a sigh before turning to the Mansion Guard. “The Maiden?”
“Yes, Lady Steelheart. She is waiting inside.”
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Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Ah, The Maiden of Water. Well met,” Connie said as she entered the mansion. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
“Mistress. Welcome back!” Martell said. His ears twitched upon hearing Connie’s voice.
“Theeere…you go…again, teaaasing…me,” Allenca said, slightly offended.
“Hahah, I could not help myself. And…Henrietta?”
The moment Cornelia’s old friend laid eyes on Connie, tears fell from her eyes.
“Eh? Did I do something wrong?”
“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!!” Henrietta bawled. Her pretty face distorted from the tears and snot pouring out of her eyes and nose. Barnaby stood helpless to the side, not knowing what to do.
Seeing this, Connie stepped up and took her into her arms, and let her friend cry herself out.
“I – I don’t know what to do. I wanted to be there for you for the trial. But my father had me locked in my room. And – and - !”
The girl spoke in halted sentences and incoherent cries. It was so bad that Connie felt sorry for her. After she began to calm down, Connie sighed inwardly and gently put both hands on her shoulder. Softly, she pushed her away until she was half an arm’s length.
“It’s fine, Henrietta. It’s fine,” she said with a stoic smile. “I forgive you.”
“Then - !”
“However,” she touched Henrietta’s lips with a finger to stop her from speaking any further. “Your father was right.”
“Eh?”
“It is better for you to distance yourself from me for now on. It’s for your own good.”
“Connie!”
“Remember this, Henrietta. My current position earns me many enemies. If you stay acquainted with me, your father will have to bear ill gossips. Would you want that for your father?”
“…no…” she said. Deep down she knew that what she said was right. Her father was Neutral through and through. If she were to stay close to Connie, she would bring trouble to him and her both. Especially after she had killed a Hero. Despite the outward acceptance of Connie’s deed, there are people who think ill of her.
“Your feeling is enough, Henrietta,” Connie dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and turned her gaze towards her friend’s attendant. “Barnaby,” Connie called to him. “Your Lady is tired. Take her home.”
Barnaby reacted quickly and helped his Mistress up. “Come, milady. Lady Steelheart only wants what is best for you.”
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After she had stopped crying, Connie took her by the arms and led her to her carriage. Henrietta cast a hesitant glance towards her before leaving with a downcast look.
“Be well, Henrietta.” Connie stood in front of the gate, waving at her until her carriage was gone before returning inside. Allenca was waiting for her by the door, a faint sympathetic smile upon her lips.
“Yooou…are right…tooo do this. Your pooosition…now is different…tooo the one you haaad… before,” Allenca commented.
“She is a good person. Though, a bit too gullible for her age as her father sheltered her too much,” Connie waved a hand to dismiss the notion of regret. “Unlike you.”
“Unlike me,” the Maiden of Water agreed. Though she could not help but feel a little bit hurt from her remark. “My environment aaand…position…do not allow…meeee…to stay…unaware.”
“The troubles of Saints and Kings. How could a mundane person like me understand?”
“I wooould have liked…too…share it with you…if I can,” the Maiden of Water chuckled. “Buuut I come here…fooor another matter. It concerns…theee…information that you…requested.”
“…the Old Continent?”
Allenca answered with a brief nod.
“…Martell,” Connie said as she gestured to the buxom Maiden. “bring two pots of tea to my room. Make mine bitter.”
“Yes, Mistress. As bitter as life.”
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“Fiiirst, I need…to thank you,” Allenca said as she sat on Connie’s bed.
It had been ages since she could talk to someone without minding her status. Therefore, despite the reason of her coming there, she was actually quite looking forward to it.
“For what?”
“Eeeven while…you were faced…wiiith such danger, you…gaaave the Faith a chance to show…its power to…the Nobles. With theee…aftermath ooof the Hero of Vorzenny’s deeds, theeey…would not be aaaable…to dismiss us…easily anymore.”
“Especially not with the sanity of their wives or daughters at risk,” Martell said as she poured a cup of tea for both of them. The grace with which he did it would have shamed many a steward.
The Maiden of Water gave him a sharp look for the coarseness of his words. In response, he gave her an innocent smile as if he did nothing wrong. Connie shrugged at his words and gestured for him to leave them alone.
Allenca then continued without minding what had just been said. “Thooough now that theeey know my conneeection…to you….they aaare now…trying to find out…about you…from me…while I was helping…theeem. It is rather…annoooying.”
“Annoying, eh?” Connie glanced at her before sipping her tea. “Which faction?”
“All of them.”
“All? Do the Nobles not know how I feel about their leader?”
Allenca watched her reflection on the cup of tea gave a small grin. “In the eeeyes…of the people, yooou are now their…hero. Someone whooo…served justice regardless…ooof the view of others. Juuust…having you iiin their faction…would be enough…tooo tip the scales. The benefit….overweigh theee…negative it seems.”
“Hah!” Connie exclaimed, amused. She put down her tea and leaned forward until her face was only an inch from the Maiden of Water. “How about you, Allenca? Which way do you prefer me lean towards?”
With how free and unfettered she had seen firsthand of how the young girl acted, how could Allenca not understand her thoughts? Thus, she answered her question with honesty.
“The Faith…cannot and will not…taaake sides,” The young woman in blue answered.
“Mmm…” Connie nodded. “I guess that’s that then.”
“…and now…the other thing…I promised you.”
She handed him a thin bundle of items wrapped in oiled paper. Upon it was the Junnaveil Church’s seal.
“Hmm, this looks a bit thin.”
“Weee have veeery…little information about theee…Old Continent.”
Connie flicked open the seal with the tip of her finger. She took out the top document to browse it. She noticed just from touch alone that it was written on a high-quality paper.
“Is this all?”
“That is aaall…we have…here, at least. And I am…pretty sure thaaat…the Palace Library would not have…aaany more than weee have. After aaall,…the way too… the Old Continent has been lost even…beeefore the founding of the Kingdom,” the young woman stood up, her luscious hair shook as she did. “Legend…told thaaat…in the Old Continent, theee…ground is covered in gold. Theee water…sweet as honey. Aaand…the earth is abundant with fruit.”
“Sounds like a utopia.”
“Indeed…iiiit is. But ooour…place…is here…the Faith…exist…for the wooounded and the…maltreated…for thaaat is…Junnaveil’s…Grace…and ooour mission. We haaave no time…for empty promises.”
“Iiif yooou…wish for more information…you are welcome…to visit our…Headquarters,” Allenca placed a gentle hand on Connie’s shoulder.
“If I have a chance,” Connie replied, making a note not to accept the invitation properly.
After their business was concluded, the two conversed over tea and snacks until she had to do her Evening Prayer.
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After she was gone, Connie skimmed through the documents and found that in order to get to the Old Continent, she must travel far to the South. Through mountains and grasslands. A treacherous journey that would take her months. Years, perhaps. It was not a journey she could take lightly.
She flopped back on her bed. The womanly scent of the Maiden of Water was still on it. She rolled over and let out a tired sigh.
“My disciples are starting to see their own path. But what about me? I’ve found a new path, yet I have no way of ascertaining how to proceed.”
Diseases. She had tried to cultivate them, but the problem remains. She did not have a way to efficiently gather and store them. This was a path no one had ever embarked on before. There was no record but the most rudimentary ones on the Medical Books Kim gave her.
“Unlike poison and venoms, diseases are living things. They live and they die.”
She pointed at the ceiling and her finger glowed red. “Even what little I had was something I accidentally managed to create. Should I try infecting myself?” Connie perished the thought within seconds. “Too risky. I know almost nothing regarding their attributes. I need…a catalyst. A catalyst by which I can experiment with.”
“The Old Continent. The oncoming war…” Connie closed her eyes. “And now this…argh!”
She buried her head into her pillow.
And that was when she heard it.
A nostalgic twang coming from within the mansion. A sound that caused her to pause. In that instant, a pang of pain and pleasure suddenly filled her heart. And then gone as soon as they appeared.
“That sound…did he really manage to get one?”
She quickly jumped off her bed and ran towards Martell’s room.