Halkegenia Online- Chapter 4 Part 2
Louise Valliere, third daughter of the Valliere family, had been in a state of mental turmoil for the last three days. The same thoughts ran through her head endlessly, like rereading the same book with a particularly unhappy ending. She had squandered her last chance to prove herself as a Mage. She had failed, not only failed, but failed so catastrophically, so completely, that there could be no chance to redeem herself. Not only had she been unable to properly summon a familiar, she had nearly killed herself from willpower exhaustion. Her failure would be a disgrace to the house of Valliere. Now all that was left was for the school to alert her family and send her back home.
Blissfully, for those first few days, the symptoms of willpower exhaustion kept her asleep more often than awake, too tired to even dream. During that time she received few visitors save for the school physician who had thoroughly examined her upon waking and would come to check on her condition hourly. However, as the days passed she found that she was less and less able to sleep as her body recovered. The Doctor seemed pleased, saying that it looked like she would make a full recovery. But the prognosis had given Louise no joy.
Isolated in the infirmary and preoccupied with her own worries, Louise had barely noticed the happenings of the Academy. She had been too humiliated to leave her hospital room and too weak besides. The strange comments made by Doctor Vesalius and the maid who brought her meals went without investigation and the ongoing visits by the Germanian Harlott had been vigorously turned away. What did that Zerbst want from her?
The only other visitors had been Professor Colbert and the Headmaster, both of whom had questioned her extensively on the summoning. No doubt her exceptional failure had drawn special attention. They had wanted to know what preparations she had taken for the summoning and asked to examine the notes and references she had used. Louise had come out of her stupor just long enough to tell them that she had only reviewed the standard curriculum, including the first year primers, and her class notes which were no doubt still scattered across her desk in her room. The only other materials she had reviewed was a book from the library on the Elemental alignment and care of common familiars.
She had begun to feel a sense of worming dread churning about within her. Each passing day brought her final judgment closer. Would mother come to collect her personally? Or would she send Eleanor? Or perhaps Louise was no longer considered worthy of the attention of either and would simply be sent home on her own. That last one would probably be for the best, she could disappear into anonymity that way. The only thing worse than having to confront her mother or eldest sister would be to face Cattleya.
'Founder, please don't let news of this worsen her condition.' Louise thought.
Louise knew that her older sisters loved her, but while her eldest sister, Eleanor, had little faith in her, Cattleya had always been supportive. It was thanks in part to Cattleya's gentle insistence that their mother and father had allowed Louise to attend the Academy. The thought of letting Cattleya down took her to a new low in her cycle of self loathing. She would almost have welcomed her mother at that point. Why couldn't she have just died? There would have at least been some dignity in that!
It was on the third day of her mental self flagellation that the maid who brought her food said something that snapped Louise out of her near catatonic haze.
Louise, who had been busily fretting about what she was going to say to her mother and father slowly looked up. "Wait, say that again?" Louise said so suddenly that it startled the dark haired girl and almost caused her to knock over the water pitcher beside the bed.
"I said, the news amongst the school staff is that the Princess will be arriving tomorrow." The maid said.
"W-what? Here? She's coming here?" Louise asked in a brittle voice. Not that she expected Henrietta to remember her childhood playmate, but Founder forbid if she did, or if she asked how Louise was doing!
The dark haired girl looked surprised. "Of course, the Princess has come personally to speak with the Faeries."
Louise's internal panic came to a screeching halt. "Wait, what? Faeries?" Louise blinked and then shook her head, "Make sense you commoner!"
The girl raised her hands defensively. "I'm sorry, Miss, I thought you would already have known. It's been the talk of the school. Surely you remember the earthquake and light from three days ago, and what came after of course."
Louise shook her head again, the Zerbst had tried to tell her something on one of her visits before Louise had shouted her out of the room. "I had . . . I'd just fallen ill." Louise said, "I must have been unconscious."
The maid accepted the explanation with a concerned nod. "Well, I don't know if I'm the best one to explain. I'm merely a commoner, Miss, and not versed in affairs of magic. But before noon three days ago there was this terrible shaking and an unearthly noise accompanied by blinding light. When it cleared there was an immense Tree to the north of the Academy. I was told some of the staff went to investigate and met with a party of Faeries. The Headmaster says that something transported the Tree along with an entire Faerie city. Wh-what is it?"
Louise squinted hard at the maid, wondering if she was perhaps deranged. "Is this some sort of joke?"
"I don't understand, Miss." The maid said cautiously.
"Did that Von Zerbst put you up to this?" Louise asked coldly, was she to be mocked even in her humiliation? The anger was good, it gave her something to focus on, something other than her own inadequacies, though inevitably she would come full circle.
"I don't know what you're talking about. If you don't believe me, then you can look out a window for yourself." The maid said quickly. Louise sat up in bed. The window by her bedside looked out on Vestri courtyard and blue sky. She cast a suspicious glance to the maid.
"Ah, this room faces East, Miss, you would have to go out into the infirmary to see it." The maid explained. What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" Louise said. "I'm getting out of bed so I can go see for myself." The girl took a couple of tottering steps, dizzy from both the after effects of willpower exhaustion and three days spent bedridden. The maid rushed over to her side to steady her. Louise gave her a resentful glare but said nothing, silently thankful that the servant girl had come to her side rather than let her fall.
"Shouldn't you remain in bed?"
"I'm a noble woman, I can take responsibility for myself." Louise bit out, she wasn't going to be made a fool of by letting a farce like this go on.
"Very well, Miss." The maid adjusted her grip on Louise and helped her to walk to the door. The attending Physician, Doctor Vesalius, a small wide set noblewoman wearing a thick pair of glasses, stood from her desk when she saw the maid helping Louise from the room.
"Miss Valliere? Are you feeling alright? You shouldn't be walking about yet." Doctor Vesalius said, coming quickly to her patient's side.
Louise ignored the Doctor as she glanced out the window, again seeing nothing but empty fields of the academy courtyard and clear blue sky over the wall. "So it really was just a joke on the part of that Zerbst, I bet the Princess isn't really . . ." Louise Trailer off as the maid carefully turned her to face the other direction.
"That was South, Miss." The maid said politely.
There was indeed a tree, rising up above the academy wall to the north. At least, it was tree like, in that it had something that could be called a trunk, and branches, and green that might be leaves. But something was wrong, Louise squinted, and then realization began to dawn, her mouth went dry. Clouds, there were clouds in front of the tree. She swallowed. Thin clouds wrapped around its trunk and nestled its crest in fine trails of cotton white. "Wuh- b- buh - Big . . . Tree." Louise stuttered.
"That's what I said, Miss." The maid supplied.
The maid hadn't been lying, in which case, in which, case, she might not be lying about the Faeries, but more importantly, Henrietta! Louise's legs gave out beneath her.
"Miss Valliere!" Doctor Vesalius shouted. "You, Servant, help me get her back to bed, she shouldn't receive any shocks while she's in such a delicate state."
"I'm sorry." The maid said, clutching Louise, "But she seemed quite insistent."
"It's alright." The Doctor said, "I can't expect a Servant to stand up to bossy noble, but if she does this around you again you have my permission as her Doctor to refuse."
Louise was helped back to her feet and marched back to her cot. Doctor Vesalius took her vitals, checking her pulse and feeling her forehead before muttering under her breath about poor humors. "Now then, what caused her to get up?"
"The Princess." Louise said in a small voice. "She's coming here?"
Doctor Vesalius blinked, "Why yes. She's expected tomorrow. The Headmaster has offered her the use of the Academy so that she may meet with the representatives of the Faeries. It has been reported that Cardinal Mazarin is recovering from an incapacitating injury at the moment so the Princess seems to have taken charge of diplomatic affairs." The Doctor smiled, "I must say that if this is her style she will make a fine Queen in a few years."
"But - W-When did . . . I . . . this . . . What?!" Louise shouted the last word. "When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed of these developments?!"
"Miss Valliere, nobody hid any of this from you, if you remember I mentioned the World Tree several times during your examinations, but you did not seem to respond. You have been very out of sorts for the last few days, are you feeling well now?"
Louise shook her head slowly. "I'm fine, fine, I'm quite alright. Don't give me that look!" She said accusingly at the Doctor's unconvinced expression. Louise caught herself and took a breath. "I'll be fine." Louise said carefully. "I just need time to adjust. "You said the Princess will be staying at the Academy to speak with . . . Faeries?"
"That is what the staff has been told." Doctor Vesalius said. "A whole floor in the Tower of Water is being vacated for her private use. Though I imagine the Princess will be too busy to inspect the Academy. Certainly not until this is all sorted out. Are you sure you're well Miss Valliere."
"Quite well." Louise said in a small voice. Henrietta, here, Henrietta, here. Her eye twitched, no, there was no way that she'd ever think to ask about Louise not if, if, well if there were really a city of Faeries. Was she happy that there was a city of Faeries? Faeries?
There was a loud banging on the infirmary door. " I'll be back to check on you." Doctor Vesalius said and went hurrying off to answer the door.
Louise glanced to the maid who was busying herself with clearing Louise's lunch, a bowl of vegetable soup that had hardly been touched, a half eaten loaf of bread, and a small bowl of fruit. Louise could barely remember eating any of it. But she must have at some point. The maid looked familiar, she frowned.
"Are you always the one that delivers my meals?"
The girl looked to Louise. "Yes, Miss. I just happen to be free immediately after meals are served in the dining hall so I usually deliver food to the staff and infirmary."
Louise squirmed as she sifted through foggy memories from the last couple of days. "You talked whenever you came." Louise said.
"Yes, Miss." The maid said, looking nervous. "It's just, you seemed lonely just sitting in here. I thought I would try and cheer you up, and you didn't seem to mind, so . . ." The girl trailed off. "I meant no offense."
"It's alright." Louise said quietly. "I've kept you long enough, I'm sure you have other duties to attend to."
The maid gave Louise a worried look and then glanced to the nearly untouched meal. "Truthfully Miss, I usually return to the Kitchen to eat my own lunch after this. Is there anything else you need?"
Louise hesitated, as soon as the maid left she'd turn back to the gnawing anxiety within. Now with fears of Henrietta closely behind the feelings she had for her mother and sisters. No, that wasn't it, she wasn't so childish, she wanted to know more about what had happened when she was, indisposed, that was it, she wasn't so childish that she would want a Servant to pay attention to her!
"Excuse me? But I don't recall your name."
"Oh, its Siesta, Miss." The maid bowed her head.
"Well then, Siesta." Louise said carefully. "You spoke truthfully about that tree and the Princess, so the Faeries are real too?"
"Yes, Miss." The maid said. "At least, that's what they call themselves, though they don't much look like the Faeries from the stories. They claim to be from a place called Alfheim. The city at the base of the World Tree is their Capitol."
"And they just appeared with that . . . Tree?"
Siesta nodded again, "Yes. Or that's what they claim. There's been lots of talk amongst the staff about that. Some people seem to think they're Elves." The maid quickly waved her arms when she saw Louise's eyes widen. "But the Headmaster says they're not."
"What are they . . . No a servant wouldn't know anything like that." Louise mumbled to herself.
"What are they like?" The maid smiled. "Actually, I had the honor of helping to serve lunch when the Headmaster met with their leaders and I've seen several more since, at least one or two have been at the Academy since the Headmaster informed everyone."
Had she really been so closed off in her own World? Louise wondered. On recollection, she supposed she had. Louise Valliere had always been an obsessive person, the only relief from one focus was to find another and almost defensively she latched onto Siesta's stories to sate her curiosity and find some relief from her worries. She urged the maid to tell her everything she knew, recalling what Siesta had said about eating, Louise eyed her own lunch, it was healthful food, plane but filling, certainly if it was fit for an ill noble it would be suitable for a commoner. She said as much to Siesta and the girl had hesitantly accepted.
It turned out that the maid was very well informed about the events around the academy. Louise supposed she shouldn't have been surprised, the academies servants were innocuous by virtue of being everywhere. Nobody ever paid them any attention and so they were free to collect interesting tidbits of information and pass them on. As the nearest town was a solid half a day's ride distant the servants no doubt mostly entertained themselves with gossip picked up about the nobles. Louise was sorely tempted to ask about Von Zerbst, but she really couldn't imagine there was anything left for the Germanian Harlot to be ashamed of.
"The Headmaster sent messages out to the Palace and the surrounding noble estates almost as soon as he met with the Faeries. Only two answered back before the meeting, it was very short notice. I believe they were Count Woestte and Baron Le Murrow?" Siesta said.
"Le Marou." Louise corrected. "He's the local Garrison Commander and Count Woestte owns lands adjacent to the Academy, get back to the Faeries!"
"Oh, of course." Siesta took a small sip of the soup and continued. "The Headmaster met with one of the Faerie leaders named Lady Sakuya." Siesta frowned a little, "It's funny, that name should seem strange to me, but it's not, my grandfather used to tell us stories about a Princess named Sakuya." Siesta shook her head. "She was very beautiful, I almost mistook her for a noble woman when I saw her, and she brought her retainers with her."
"Retainers?" Louise asked, the thought of a Fairy noble woman was peculiar to her, Faeries were just creatures of myth and fable. They didn't really exist. But, here she was discussing them with a servant girl.
Siesta nodded. "I always though Faeries were supposed to be small and childish, but some of them were taller than the Headmaster and one was gigantic, they called him a Gnome and they called Lady Sakuya a Sylph. There were other funny names too, uhm, Cait Syth, and Spriggan, and one that they called a Salamander, but those are big lizards aren't they?"
"Amphibian." Louise corrected, she plucked a piece of fruit from the bowl and popped it in her mouth. She suddenly felt a bit hungry and was regretting how easily she had offered up her meal to Siesta.
The maid nodded at the correction. "I think it's like being Germanian or Tristanian, that's the way it sounded. I'm afraid I didn't hear much of the conversation between the Headmaster and Lady Sakuya, but it sounded like lots more of their people were transported and not just here. The Count got angry because it might affect his lands and the Baron seemed worried about something to do with animals in the forests. I'm sorry but it was a little beyond me." The maid apologized.
"No, you've been very helpful, this is all interesting." Louise said quickly, and the more she heard the more she felt certain that Henrietta would have no time to visit a long forgotten playmate. With a sense of relief she could go back to fretting about how her failure would affect her family without having to worry about seeing Henrietta.
Siesta brightened a little. "If you like, when I bring dinner, I can come back and help you to the window tonight."
"W-what, why?" Louise asked.
"The Faeries have been sending messengers back and forth between their City and the Headmaster's office. They usually arrive just before sunset and leave after the sun has fallen. They have these beautiful wings and when they fly at night they look like shooting stars." The maid explained.
"Really?" Louise asked. Something struck her as curious. "You don't seem very frightened of these Faeries. In the stories, aren't they supposed to play tricks on commoners until some Noble comes to banish them?"
"Is that so?" Siesta asked. "In the stories I was told, the Faeries would always play tricks on the Nobles until a commoner went and found out what they wanted. Usually, someone had stolen something from them."
Both girls looked levelly at each other and then began to giggle. It felt really good, Louise thought, really good, almost enough to banish the dull pain inside.
"To answer your question, no, I wasn't afraid. Well, I was a little scarred when I was told we would be going to meet Faeries. But after I saw them, and they didn't do anything mischievous, they just seemed like people that can fly. They don't even seem like nobles." Siesta said.
"Well of course they wouldn't, they're Faeries after all." Louise said, realizing that she had no idea how a Faerie would act only after having spoken.
"I suppose so." Siesta agreed thoughtfully, "But they definitely weren't like the Faeries from stories."
The conversation concluded not long after that and Louise excused Siesta to go and attend to her other duties. Doctor Vesalius returned and to check on Louise noting that she seemed to have be doing much better today that she had yesterday, her collapse aside. Louise asked the Doctor if should could sit in the infirmary room and look at the World Tree. Vesalius had been surprised but agreed so long as she remained seated, she was still not ready to leave the infirmary.
Louise had spent most of the rest of the afternoon lost in thought starring at the Immense Tree in the far distance. She was quiet, so nobody bothered her and even Doctor Vesalius. It was so big that even though it was far away it seemed to be just outside of that window. She remained there, lost in her thoughts as afternoon turned to evening. Siesta came back with her dinner, another bowl of a soup and a fresh roll of bread, still warm from the Academy ovens. As darkness settled Louise saw two brilliant green stars flickering in the distance, the streaked past the infirmary window silently. Those must have been the Faeries that Siesta had mentioned. The maid told her that they came in all different colors and that the Green light meant that they were Sylphs. She wondered idly what they were like. It didn't matter of course. Nothing much mattered for her any more, which was in a way liberating, wasn't it?
She must have dosed off at some point because the next thing she remembered was being lain back down in her cot and a blanket being pulled up to cover her. In the darkness her thoughts drifted aimlessly, too tired to worry. What was it that Siesta had said? The World Tree had appeared three days ago. 'Just after I failed my summons . . . Could it be?' Louise wondered drowsily, 'No, of course not, that isn't possible. But wouldn't that be wonderful, it would show that Zerbst.' And with that thought she drifted into a fitful sleep.
When morning came, Louise woke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. As with the previous three mornings her return to the waking world was met first with confusion and then with a sense of comprehension that turned to dread and the desire to remain under the blankets and just wish the world away. Even so, she felt better today than she had the night before, Doctor Vesalius had apparently been right about her recovery. She sat up slowly and rubbed at her eyes. She opened them slowly, and then wider, and wider. She was not alone in the room this morning. Blood drained from her face and she felt certain that her insides were about to knot themselves around her spinal column. As bad as she had thought it would be. It was tine times worse in real life.
"M-Mo-Mother?" She squeaked.
Seated in a chair beside her bed, the Duchess Karin De La Valliere regarded her daughter with cool eyes. "Good morning Daughter. It seems there are matters of your education to discuss."
From the doorway of the private infirmary room, Professor Jean Colbert watched and waited as the Duchess Valliere spoke with her daughter. Features pale and grave, the Duchess shared much with her youngest daughter, at least outwardly. Colbert had felt a sense of apprehension when he had first met the elder Valliere, garbed in durable travel clothes rather than the dress of a noble. The Duchess was middle aged but still in the trim of a much younger woman. Age and a comfortable living appeared to have done little to soften her as it did many noble women in their later years. Colbert felt an acute sense of discomfort in her presence, something about her resonated with him; the way she carried herself, the way she spoke and regarded others. It was all far too martial for a mere noble woman.
"Good Morning Daughter." The Duchess said in a tone that revealed nothing. "It seems there are matters of your education to discuss." The Duchess sat at her daughters bedside as she had through most of the night.
The Valliere estate had only received word from Old Osmond a little less than a day ago, the confusion of the past few days slowing the messages arrival. Colbert had helped to craft the letter requesting the personal attention of the Valliere family in a matter pertaining to their daughter's failure to summon a familiar. The Duchess had set out almost immediately upon receiving word from the Academy, arriving on nothing less than a Manticor, having traveled at a breakneck pace through the late evening to arrive at the Academy grounds. Any weariness from the past few days or the journey was hidden behind a face that remained as composed and emotionless as a mask.
Louise looked downcast, refusing to meet her mother's gaze at first. "Look at those that address you, Daughter." The Duchess said, the voice carried no hint of threat or of anger but was a command as surely as if the woman had shouted it to a troop of knights.
Louise complied, looking up meekly at her mother. "We received word from the academy, you failed your familiar summoning." The Duchess said.
Louise went as pale as her sheets, her hands balled up into bone white fists. "I - I apologize, Mother." Louise said quickly, "I would have sent word myself, but I was hospitalized for . . . for . . ." The girl was fighting not to glance away. "I have shamed our family, the responsibility is mine." Colbert watched as Louise spoke the words carefully, how bitter they must have tasted to someone so prideful. "I am ready to accept whatever punishment you deem fit, Mother."
The Duchess was still for a moment, studying her daughter, and then she nodded, satisfied. "That is a proper answer for a daughter of the Valliere line. I have already spoken with your teachers and the headmaster. They agree that your failure to successfully cast summon familiar is quite unusual." She looked gravely at her daughter, Louise cringed. "Normally, you would be expelled immediately", Louise shrank away as her mother continued, "But given your academic standing in non applied studies and the specific nature of circumstances surrounding your failure, the Headmaster has suggested that an exception be made."
"A-An . . . Exception?" Louise squeaked.
The noble woman nodded, "It seems that your unsuccessful casting has given the Headmaster and your professors some ideas of where your problems may lay. They have suggested the preparation of a special curriculum to correct for this. This would of course mean extensive study of your magic and special tutoring."
"But . . . I'm to be expelled, those are the rules!" Louise said, confused.
"That is the rule." Her mother agreed. "But it is also the rule that this school is under the authority of the Headmaster and he may make exceptions when it pleases him." She said. "Of course, ultimately the decision is yours, Louise. I trust you will not squander the good name and reputation of our family. Choose wisely."
"You mean, I can stay?" Louise whispered to herself, the girl's lips quivered and her hands loosened, she looked desperately into her mother's eyes, "Please, Mother, give me this chance to redeem myself. I'll do everything I can. I promise to succeed this time!"
The elder Valierre regarded her daughter with an appraising eye. "Is that your final answer? Your sister Eleanor is very insistent about having you back."
Louise nodded again eagerly, "Please, Mother, I know I can do this, and if, if there's anything that I can do to prove myself, I want to try!"
The Duchess nodded. "I am pleased, Louise, you haven't shied away, despite your setbacks. I will expect to see results in due time."
"Yes Mother." Louise said faintly she shook her head furiously. "I mean, thank you, thank you mother, I promise not to disappoint you. But . . . Just what does the Headmaster think is wrong with my magic?"
There was a pause, "Headmaster Osmond said that he has his suspicions but that he would prefer to study your magic without first telling you. The Headmaster and Professor Colbert believe that if you knew now, you might try to conform to their expectations. You will learn what they know once they are satisfied that you are ready. Do not trouble them about it before then."
"Y-yes, Mother." Louise repeated, sounding uncertain but relieved. The girl sagged back down weakly in bed.
"Are you feeling well, Louise?" The Duchess asked her daughter clinically. "Doctor Vesalius has informed me that you should make a full recovery. Endeavor to return to your studies as soon as possible."
"Yes Mother. Has the Doctor said when I will be released?"
"At the moment she seems to believe you will soon be well enough to walk and return to your own room. Though, you are advised against strenuous activity and may not attempt to cast magic until you have been fully discharged from her care. Classes are canceled at the moment, but I will expect you to return to your studies as soon as you are able. You will be required to return to the infirmary twice a day for further examinations. You may ask Doctor Vesalius about the rest."
"Of course Mother, thank you, thank you!" Louise started to tear up but squeezed her eyes shut.
The Duchess De La Valliere stood slowly, straightening her riding clothes, she looked to the doorway, and the waiting Professor Colbert. "There are matters I must attend to while I am here at the academy. I intend to offer my services to the Princess when she arrives. Opportunity permitting, we will dine together this evening."
"Understood, Mother." Louise said, swallowing, "Mother, you're going to offer the support of our house for Henrietta's dealing with the Faeries, right?" Louise asked in a small voice.
"Yes." She paused, eyes resting on her daughter. "I cannot fathom what has lead to the strange events that are sweeping our fair kingdom, but I am obliged to ask if the monarch has need of me, now more than ever. The Vallieres are always at the service of the Royal family." She said.
"But Henrietta hasn't been crowned yet." Louise said. "Forgive me, but is that acceptable?" The girl asked.
"Under other circumstances it would be quite forward of us to bypass the Princess' regent." Her mother agreed. "But Cardinal Mazarin is presently incapacitated and the Royal advisers are already engaged in managing this crisis. For the time being Henrietta is acting with the authority of the Crown, though tenuously. She is inexperienced, which means she will be in even greater need of her most loyal supporters." She said. "I will return later, Louise, rest until then." The elder Valliere turned on her heel and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Colbert noticed an almost imperceptible draining of tension from the Duchess Valliere's frame as she closed the door. He imagined it was the assertion of the weariness that the Noble woman had been carrying for more than a day, he did not believe she had slept the night before, instead choosing to stay at her daughter's bedside and bring herself up to speed on the situation, but it vanished as quickly as it had arrived, perhaps it was just his imagination. She turned and began to walk from the infirmary gesturing for Colbert to follow. They traveled in silence down the hallways of the Academy, passing students and staff.
Since the announcement had been made about the Faeries, the school had been alive with gossip and rumors. The most common stories were those that involved the fables about the Faerie races, that they were immortal, and beautiful, and natural tricksters. The more adventurous told more frightening tales from chldren's fables. A few had caught glimpses of the messengers that arrived frequently from Arrun and the different Faeries races seemed to be causing the students a great deal of confusion. Every book in the library on Albionese fables had been checked out and read hungrily by the young members of the nobility. Students were speculating wildly about the origin of the World Tree and wondering when they would be allowed to see the city at its base for themselves.
Thankfully the atmosphere was dominated more by a sense of curiosity than fear. Which had of course led to its own problems. Classes had been canceled since the world Tree's appearance so that there would be enough teachers on hand to keep watch over the entire school. More than a few adventurous second and third years had been caught trying to sneak off in the middle of the night to catch a glimpse of a Faerie or the city of Arrun.
This was especially perilous given reports of the strange and aggressive animals that had been seen in the surroundings forests. Colbert had seen some of the carcasses, Beetles the size of large dogs and huge white furred creatures wielding crude stone clubs, like hairy orcs that were, thankfully, even stupider than the real thing. Lady Sakuya had already offered the services of some of her own guards to help the local garrison with eliminating the beasts, an offer that Baron Le Marou, the garrison commander, had accepted diplomatically.
The silence between the two dragged on uncomfortably and Colbert was left to wonder if this was some sort of interrogation technique on the part of the Duchess. Finally, the woman spoke. "Professor Colbert, do you trust the Headmaster's opinion in this matter?"
"Pardon?" Colbert asked.
"Speaking to the mother of one of your students. Do you trust the Headmaster's opinion in the matter of Louise and her magic." The Duchess asked.
When the Duchess De La Valliere had arrived late in the evening, her Manticore setting down upon the grass of the Vestri courtyard, Louise had already been asleep in the infirmary and as commanding as the Duchess had been, she had stood down in the face of Doctor Vesalius who spoke with authority as Louise' physician. It was fortunate as it had given Colbert and Old Osmond time to take the elder Valliere aside and explain their suspicions. When the Headmaster's letter had arrived, Louise's mother had set out despite the crisis in the surrounding lands, entrusting her husband to see to the estates while she went to retrieve their daughter and show the Valliere's support to the Crown. Traveling the suddenly dangerous countryside, she had reported encountering and disposing of a double handful of strange flying creatures on her journey. She had arrived at the Academy ready to make arrangements for Louise's immediate return to the Valliere manor. It had taken a great deal of effort to convince her of the merits of not doing so.
The Duchess had expressed disbelief at the Headmasters Theories, her reaction bordering on anger until Colbert had stepped in to mediate. "His expertise cannot be understated." Colbert observed. "I know he may be an eccentric, but no one else alive knows more about magic then the Headmaster, no one human in any case."
"Then let me ask you this, what is your opinion on this matter."
Colbert chose his words carefully, he was acutely aware that anything he said would be examined with the utmost scrutiny. "I confess that I am skeptical," He admitted, "There simply isn't enough for me to say one way or another as things stand. That is why, while I do not agree with the Headmaster's conclusions, I do believe observation and study of your daughter's unique condition may prove enlightening. And if it does have to do with the Faeries as the Headmaster suspects, then it will be vitally important that we ascertain how they are connected as soon as possible."
The Duchess mulled over the words. "As you say, I will accept it for the time being. And have my wishes been honored these last two years?"
Colbert frowned, "Of course. Your daughter has received the same treatment from me as any other student."
Nodding to herself the Duchess replied. "Good. My daughters do not require coddling."
When Louise Valliere had first stepped into his classroom, Colbert had paid her no more mind than any other pupil, she was one of many students taking their first steps towards magehood, perhaps more straight laced then some, with a glint of real ambition lacking in so many young nobles, but nothing about her truly stood out as remarkable at first. The arrival of the youngest Valliere daughter had been followed a month later by a letter barring the seal of the Valliere family and addressed to him personally, though he learned later that the other teachers had received similar messages. The letter had been brief, a formal request from the Duchess Valliere asking him not provide any special treatment for a daughter of the Valliere family. Colbert had felt distinctly insulted that anyone would question his academic honesty, even someone so highly placed as a Duchess.
Colbert had watched the girl of course. Out of deference to her mother's wishes and school policy he had let Louise fight her own battles, and she had fought many of those from the gossip that made its way around the school, losing more often then she won. That was the natural way of things for the children of nobles and would toughen her skin to the petty insults and underhanded tricks of her peers as she grew into a young woman. Louise was an excellent student, studious and attentive in class, despite or perhaps because of her lack of talent. It had made her failing all the more painful to watch. Colbert was certain that if Louise had even an eighth as much innate talent as she had determination and self discipline in her studies, she would be at least a solid line mage by now. Alas, any attempt to successfully determine her element had turned up nothing conclusive and the other teachers who specialized in earth, water, and air, were reluctant to be anywhere close to Louise when she cast a spell. Colbert had eventually been left to hope for the best and let her stagger along as best she could.
"May I ask that you see to this personally?" The Duchess Valliere asked suddenly, they had reached the end of the hallways and stepped out onto the covered walkway that connected the Academy Tower to the Tower of Water. Servants were busily rearranging one floor of the tower to serve as a private suite for the Princess during her stay. "I will put my daughter's tutelage in your hands for now."
"I would be honored." Colbert said, surprised. "I didn't know you thought so highly of me, after the letters you sent to the staff."
"The letter was merely a precaution." She said. "Too many have tried to gain favor with my husband and I by bequeathing their own favor on our daughters. Most by now have learned that doing so is not a swift way into our good graces." There was a hint of something in the woman's voice, Colbert would have dared to call it amusement, but he wasn't brave enough to ask. "Truthfully there is no ill blood between us, when Louise was enrolled I took the liberty of learning what I could about the reputations of the staff, her instructors in particular."
"And what did you hear about me, if I may be so bold?" Colbert asked quietly. His history was not well known in most circles, but the Valliere's did not travel in most circles, and if the Duchess was as thorough as he was beginning to suspect . . .
"That you were an exemplary teacher who challenges his students, and that many of your pupils see great improvement after attending your classes. I have not seen anything to prove this false." The Duchess said, Colbert let out a small sigh of relief. "Although," She continued, "There appears to have been a period of time that no one I spoke to could account for, you were in the army yes?."
Colbert felt his stomach churn. "Yes, Madame." Colbert said. Did she suspect?
The Duchess was silent for a time. "Well, I suppose it is common enough that service histories are lost, I'm sure it is nothing. You retired honorably in any case and selected an honorable profession to pursue in your later years, so I see no reason not to entrust my daughter's tutelage and the observation of her condition to you for now."
"Of course. Thank you, Madame." Colbert said. "Be that the case, do your instructions still stand? By definition she will be receiving special treatment in her studies from now on."
"I am well aware." The Duchess said, "Which is why I would like you to be hard on her. Do not show her any softness, Louise does not need it."
Colbert paused in mid stride. "Some may think that could be part of the problem."
The Duchess glanced at him, "Explain."
"Emotional turmoil can cloud a mage's abilities." Colbert observed. "If the mage does not have faith that they can cast, then they often cannot do so properly."
"You don't need to remind me of that. That's what drills are for, to be sure that a mage can maintain focus." The Duchess said.
"And tell me, Madam, did you put all of your daughters through those drills?" Colbert asked.
"Of course." She said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "They needed to know how to handle themselves, magic that cannot be used under duress is useless when it is needed most."
"Has it occurred to you, that may be exactly why Louise struggles to cast even basic spells?"
The woman stopped in her tracks, the look on her face would have terrified anyone, it should have terrified Colbert, but unfortunately for her, he had grown used to seeing that look of simmering anger more on the face of the daughter then the mother. "What are you implying?"
"I am suggesting that her element aside, Louise fails to even cast simple spells such as a Levitate or Holy Light. These should be simple enough for a dot of any element. It's a certainty that she has the power given the potency of her failed spells, which leads me to consider that she may simply lack control."
"You speak to me about a lack of control?" The woman asked icily, "I placed Louise through the same exercises as her sisters. Both Eleanor and Cattleya took to them well, but with Louise the results were, substandard."
Colbert tried to think of a proper response, how to broach something so delicate in a diplomatic fashion. "I mean no disrespect. You're daughter seems very determined to succeed. I have rarely seen a student so driven. I believe if she could only find a way to channel her talents properly she would go far in a very short amount of time."
His answer seemed to placate the elder Valliere, her face smoothing and her composure became less forced. "That may be true, I do see something of myself in my youngest daughter, but it is . . . diminished, she must distill that, nurture it, if she is to be of use to the Kingdom."
"Then perhaps she doesn't see it in herself." Colbert suggested. "If we are to study her magic then I will need to be free to treat her as I would choose to treat any other pupil under the same circumstances. I will not give her special treatment one way or the other. Of that I promise."
The Dutchess looked at him for a long time and then nodded. "If that is your professional opinion as her teacher, I have no choice but to accept. Though know that I will be expecting to see results and will hold you accountable." There was a note of approval in the woman's voice.
"Of course." Colbert said with relief.
The Dutchess returned to walking and Colbert fell in at her side. "There will be more to arrange no doubt. This will have to be made believable to the other families so as not to appear that the Valliere's are simply using our influence."
"Ah, the Headmaster may have a solution to that." Colbert offered.
"Oh?" The Duchess asked, "And what might Old Osmond have devised this time? When I asked he played that game of having gone senile and tottered off. I imagine he planned to have you tell me."
Cursing Old Osmond, Colbert replied. "You may not like it." He said.
Colbert knew little of the Duchess' personal history but he was well versed on the history of house Valliere and the other noble families, as was expected of a teacher ay such an esteemed place of learning. As part of his job, he was expected to balance the tempers of the many factions represented within the Academy and keep rivalries from boiling over needlessly, and at the moment he felt that the headmaster was asking him to be the one who tossed the oil into the fire.
"Professor?" The Duchess asked calmly.
"The headmaster wanted your agreement before the Princess arrived." Colbert explained.
"I have no use for wasted words, Colbert. Tell me what Osmond has devised." She said.
"Three of my students seem to have suspicions along the same line as the headmaster." Colbert explained, "That Louise may be connected to the arrival of the World Tree, one of them is the youngest son of General Grammond, but the other two are foreigners, one from Germania, and the other from Gallia."
"The Germanian is of no concern with the Princess about to marry their King. And the Gallian can always be dealt with discretely."
"Duchess Valliere, these are my students you are speaking about!" Colbert said in outrage.
The woman blinked once, twice, "I merely meant that a reason could be found for expulsion."
"What?" Colbert said.
"Did you think I would suggest cold blooded murder?" The Duchess asked with a small tilt of the head. "Such a thing would ignite a diplomatic incident and be far too obvious besides."
Colbert let the tension drain from his body before he continued. "No, of course not, you didn't mean that at all. Forgive me. But no, that wouldn't work in either case. The girl is a skilled Gallian Mage with ties to their royal family, and she's far too smart to not see through an expulsion and draw more Gallian attention. The Headmaster has suggested that we use them to our advantage. By keeping them close to Louise we invoke less suspicion and the situation can be defused by leading them to believe that this was all just coincidence, as it may be."
"An elegant solution." She observed. "Can it be done?"
"I believe so." Colbert said, he wasn't much for conspiracy and surely he was a poor conspirator being as he lacked faith in the whole affair, but he explained. "If they are so interested in your daughter's condition then we can use that to our advantage. The Gallian Girl, Tabitha, is one of my star pupils, I'm sure her expertise will of use in tutoring Louise, and the Germanian is an excellent fire mage."
"I fail to see how this helps." The Duchess pressed.
"Yes, I was just getting to that. Louise has been at odds with these two girls before but I suppose you could say they are fond of one another. At least, there quarreling seems more amicable then that between anyone but friends. At least, they've never needed to be disciplined for it. Besides their obvious interest in Louise's possible connection to the World Tree, they have exhibited some concern for her and seem to be hatching a plot to keep her at the academy. They have been quite vocally noting her failure and sure expulsion unless the headmaster takes special measures."
"The headmaster is taking special measure." The Duchess said.
"I mean political special measures." Colbert explained.
"They're claiming that my daughter is a blunt?" She asked dangerously, "They have no business looking down on their betters."
"They're implying it." Colbert agreed, "It's actually quite clever, I think they're trying to force your hand to keep Louise enrolled."
The twitch on the Duchesse' lips may have been amusement. "Quite clever." The woman repeated. "I suppose so. Bold at least. We will of course be expected to go through the motions."
"I see no way to avoid it." Colbert agreed. "If Louise's magic can't be helped then your truly lose nothing in doing so."
"Then which family will the Valliere's be requesting a favor from to end these slanderous claims?"
"Ah, that's what you might not like." Colbert said. "You see the girl orchestrating all of this is Kirche Von Zerbst."
The Duchess stopped once more and turned her head slowly to face Colbert. "You want the Vallieres to ask a favor from the Von Zerbsts?" She asked, her voice carrying only the faintest hint of anger. That even that much had escaped was signs that a tempest was brewing beneath the Duchesses otherwise calm face. "Have you perhaps gone mad?"
"Madame, please, do this for your daughter and the crown." Colbert pleaded.
"For the crown and my daughter." The Duchess corrected. "If that is the price, then I pray for Old Osmond's sake that his suspicions are correct and for my daughter's that they are unfounded. Enough of this for now. The Princess will be arriving shortly, and if what Baron Le Marou has said is true she will be in the company of another of the Faerie Lords."
"Ah, yes." Colbert felt a surge of relief as they passed on to a safer subject. "Lord Mortimer I believe. Lady Sakuya says that he is the Lord of the Salamanders, they're a race of fire aligned Faeries."
"I've read the reports." The Duchess said. "The different Faerie races have different affinities. Not unlike a mage's element, correct?"
"That is what I've been led to understand as well." Colbert agreed. "The Sylphs are masters of air while the Undines are strong water mages and the Gnomes are natural earth users. Though", he added, "I would point out that this seems to be a coincidence rather than a parallel with our own magic system, there are other affinities and perhaps even distinct elements within the magic system that the Faeries use." Colbert bowed his head respectfully, only the fact the Faeries were not human prevented such words from being sacrilege.
The Duchess nodded, "If the reports are to be believed. You've spoken quite extensively with the Sylph and Cait Syth leaders, correct?"
"Yes, I've been serving as a sort of diplomat with classes canceled." Colbert said rather proudly. He had been pleasantly surprised to find that he had a knack for speaking with the Fae, to the point that they had asked for him to be present for the coming meeting with the Princess. Serving the crown for peaceful ends much better suited him then his previous occupation.
"I hope to be present for some of these negotiations personally. I would like to know what your impression is of this Lady Sakuya." The Duchess said.
Colbert thought carefully back to his meeting with the Faerie leader. "She is quite a lovely woman and very cordial. I've had the pleasure of her company while waiting for meetings to begin and she seems very much a noble woman. I should think you would find her quite refined . . ."
"Ah-choo!"
"You alright Sakuya-chan?" Alicia Rue asked as the Sylph leader regarded the fine spray of mucus and saliva that coated her hand with a degree of distaste before discretely wiping it off on a handkerchief she kept tucked into the sleeve of her robe.
"I believe someone was talking about me." Sakuya said, "Hopefully they weren't spreading rumors."
The two leaders were standing at the top of Arrun tower, awaiting the arrival of the Salamander Lord who was traveling in the company of Tristain's Princess. When word had arrived from the Academy that Princess Henrietta would be arriving along with Lord Mortimer, both Sakuya and Alicia Rue had read the report in mild disbelief. In less than twenty four hours of arriving in this strange world, the Salamanders had made a favorable impression with the local monarch and then gone to work contacting the Capitols and scattered settlements of the Imps and Undines. With such organizational skill on the part of their leader, and the discipline displayed by their faction members, it was not difficult to see why the Salamanders had been known as the strongest race in ALfheim. Sakuya had already spoken briefly with one of the Salamander Lord's subordinates by using moonlight mirror to contact Gaddan, the Salamander Capitol, however this would be the first time she had ever met Mortimer in person.
Over the past several nights contact had been established at least briefly with all of the Capitol cities of ALfheim, confirming that the transition had encompassed the entire game world. Kirito had suggested that, based on the reports from each of the Capitols, it was likely that the settlements were still located at the same points relative to one another, in which case Sylvain would be Near the Gallian border and Freelia would be only a short distance off the coast, while the World Tree and Arrun sat near the heart of Tristain. By now, most of the Faerie settlements had made contact with the natives to some degree or another. Fortunately, thanks to the general tendency for the native people to flee in terror at the first sight of "Elves", there had been little bloodshed save for a few isolated incidents between confused players and local army garrisons. For the time being the most pressing concerns were dealing with the rogue mobs that had begun to menace human and Faerie settlements and finding a way to supply the Faerie cities as quickly as possible.
"Maybe it was one of your fans." Alicia joked.
"I should hope not." Sakuya sighed.
"Relax, I was just kidding." The Cait Syth leader said and then pouted. "You're lucky though, at least your fans have good taste, mine are all Otaku or Lolicon perverts."
"I suppose that's what you get for choosing to become the queen of the catgirls." Sakuya observed chidingly.
"Well, it has its advantages." Alicia said, "For one thing, nobody can nap like a Cait Syth and absolutely everyone loves the cat ears."
Sakuya frowned, "If it isn't rude, I've been meaning to ask you, Alicia-chan. The ears don't bother you, do they?"
"Nyeh?" Alicia looked surprised. "No, not really." She said, tapping the tip of one ear and watching it twitch reflexively. "Most Cait Syth players get used to them really quick. They're just big ears after all, I guess it's a little weird how they move. The big one is the tail."
"The tail?" Sakuya asked.
"Nnn." Alicia nodded, "The tail's really weird to get used to since humans don't have one, and when somebody touches it, there's a super weird feeling that runs all the way up your back. It's partly why so many Caith Syth keep their tails wrapped around their waist. Though I've heard some people really like the sensation. What's that look about?"
"Hmm, I was just wondering, you haven't felt any different in the last few days, have you?" Sakuya asked.
"Different?" Alicia asked.
"Yes." Sakuya nodded, "An urge to eat something or a feeling to do something you don't normally do."
"You mean do I feel more like a cat?" Alicia asked, startled. "You're asking if I'm feeling like a cat!" Alicia pointed accusingly.
Sakuya nodded thoughtfully, "People have been reporting strange urges and preferences over the last few days. Several Sylph players have said that they feel uncomfortable indoors if there isn't an open window and some Undine players have been complaining excessively about the dry weather. I thought I'd ask you if you've noticed anything among the Cait Syth."
Alicia frowned, "Well, I can't think of anything, I've always liked fish and I've always been able to nap anyplace, so I guess I was already a Cait Syth even IRL." The girl laughed. "Maybe they're just projecting their characters." Alicia said sagely. "But it sounds like something we should have checked out. How is Novair's little side project going? Maybe he's found a psychologist or two."
"Well enough." Sakuya said. "Though it's surprising how stingy people are still being with their personal information, I suppose what we're asking is rather impolite. Though I think anyone with useful skills IRL has already stepped forward." Sakuya said. "All that's left is to compile a list for administrative purposes."
"Did we find anyone good?" Alicia asked.
"Some, there were bound to be a few out of four thousand people." Sakuya said. "A few doctors and nurses and a handful of other professionals. Fewer then we could have hoped, but more than I expected. I suppose we should be thankful that ALfheim has such broad appeal."
As the Leaders had completed their census and inventory of Arrun, Novair had come to them with an interesting proposition. Over the past few days, many players had experienced a strange sense of familiarity when using magic or other skills that had a component based on their in game stats. The phenomena had first been observed with cooking, players that could barely boil water IRL found that they could now expertly navigate a kitchen provided they had spent time cooking in ALfheim, a similar phenomena had been witnessed amongst blacksmiths and artisans attempting to practice their craft with the effect growing in strength with greater mastery. In other words, players who had focused on certain skills, had found that they had truly attained them now that they had been transported to Halkegenia. In the meantime it had been determined that the players had not lost any knowledge they had previously attained IRL. This raised many questions, not the least of which was what else the transition had done to their minds and bodies. Sakuya intended to find out and had instructed Novair to begin compiling a second listing of all of the players in Arrun, this time listing any skills that they possessed in game.
Novair had suggested that the listing be broadened to include useful skills that the players may have possessed in real life. The reasoning was fairly simple, ALfheim had blacksmiths, tailors, skilled artisans, farmers, hunters, and many other professions aside, but there were many fields in which there was no parallel between ALfheim and real life, an artifact of ALfheim being a game with player enjoyment being paramount. Healing magic had become less effective in the transition, though still miraculous. From reports sent by the Salamanders it was known that in a few hours a skilled healer could re-knit bone or in minutes diagnose a common ailment, but in matters of mental health they had only good bedside manner to offer. Likewise, a Leprechaun blacksmith could explain the intricate details of the quenching and annealing of steel or describe the proper design of a furnace, but that did not make them a sanitation engineer or city planner. Just a few of the things that Sakuya was certain they would need in the near future once food was dealt with and the players began to settle in.
Many of the players were hopeful that a way could be found to send them home, in a world where magic was real, anything could be possible after all. Even Lady Sakuya harbored that fervent hope, but at the same time she could not afford to think so optimistically. She had to consider the safety and well being of the players in the long term, and had to ask what would happen if they couldn't go home again. That meant considering the long term viability of Arrun and the other settlements and the creation of some sort of home for the thousands of displaced players, someplace where they could be safe and build a community. That could only happen if Arrun and the other settlements could be turned into living breathing cities, not just collections of houses and shops.
It would be one of the many topics she would have to discuss with Mortimer and the other Leaders when they arrived. As far as could be determined, five of the faction leaders had been logged in at the time of the transition, in addition to Lady Sakuya, Alicia Rue, and Lord Mortimer, Lady Morgiana of the Spriggans, and Lord Rute of Leprechauns had also been logged in. Both were currently busy trying to keep order in their own territories, the Spriggan leader was especially hard pressed given the personality of much of her faction, though neither the Leprechauns nor the Spriggans were as bad off as the factions that had been left leaderless. The Ghomes and Imps had fallen back on the leadership of designated lieutenants who were keeping order well enough for the time being, though they had been paralyzed at first while waiting for instructions from Leaders that would never arrive. More urgent was the situation in the territories of the Puca and Undine. In the absence of strong leadership, rioting had broken out in the streets of Cadenza, the Puca Capitol, and Orlein, the Capitol of the Undines. Lady Sakuya and Alicia Rue had taken great care to ensure that the deaths that had occurred were not reported to the populace of Arrun, not until the situation was stabilized. Lord Mortimer had already sent forces to stabilize Orlein which left Cadenza to the Sylphs and Cait Syth. Forces were being prepared in both Freelia and Sylvain and would hopefully be able to secure safe passage to Cadenza by the end of the day. Lady Sakuya grimaced, they could not allow the former players to tear themselves apart in fear, this could not become like SAO.
"I think that's him." Alicia squinted into the distance. A formation of red winged Faeries was approaching from the east. Sakuya watched as the figures resolved into the distinctive forms of heavily armored Salamander knights. Their sullen red armor marked them as members of the Salamander Lord's personal guard, said to be among the most powerful players in the game. The minimum qualification to join their ranks was to slay a flying dragon single handedly. They escorted a smaller figure garbed in dark robes and light body armor.
The Salamander Lord and his escort set down on the perimeter of the Arrun tower, the knights taking up a parade stance as their leader stepped forward, removing his helm as he approached. Sakuya blinked, this was supposed to be Lord Mortimer, the Elder brother of General Eugene? She had seen screen caps before but still she was surprised. He looked younger than the General, of course that may have been deliberate on his part, after all, charisma was not a vanity that a Leader could afford to ignore.
Sakuya smiled as the Salamander Lord Approached. "I'm glad you could join us Lord Mortimer, you cold blooded lizard."
The Salamander Lord barely seemed to acknowledge the remark. "And I should be so lucky to have the company of the Bottle Fairy of the Sylphs and the Lackadaisical Black Cat of the Cait Syth."
Sakuya tilted her head to the side, "I must confess, I thought you would be taller in person."
The Salamander Lord's eye twitched very slightly.
"Now that we're done with introductions." Alicia Rue purred, arms stretched behind her head. "Shall we get down to business?"
Lord Mortimer nodded. "Yes, I suppose we have more important things to discuss than old grievances. They are petty things given the present situation."
"A talent for understatement." Lady Sakuya said dryly. "I understand that you traveled here with the Tristanian Princess."
"Yes." Mortimer said, "She has gone on to the Academy. She must prepare for the meeting, as should we."
"We've already arranged a list of topics." Sakuya gestured towards the tower entrance. "I'm sure you would like to add your own. If it pleases you we may review until it is time to leave for the meeting, I am sure that you would agree that a united front will be necessary in the coming negotiations."
The Salamander Lord gave a small bow of acquiescence, "But of course. I am sure there are a number of matters we have not had the chance to discuss given our . . . limited means of communication."
Sakuya gave the Salamander Lord credit, his face revealed nothing of what he was really thinking. She had to ask if even in this situation, if such a person could be trusted. Ultimately that question was pointless, the Faeries needed a united front to negotiate with Tristain, Sakuya knew enough about history to know how divide and conquer worked and was savvy enough to know that she was a novice at negotiations, which meant she couldn't afford to make any mistakes in the coming days. Acting in good faith with Mortimer might just be one of those mistakes, nobody who treated a game the way he did could possibly change when the stakes became so much greater, when she looked at this man she saw Siggurd, and for the very same reasons she had chosen her former Lieutenant to lead the Sylph forces. This too was her responsibility as a leader, she had to invite the viper close to her own chest rather than risk allowing him to hunt hidden in the grass.
But she couldn't say any of these things aloud. Instead she smiled and beckoned for the Salamander Leader to follow her. She wondered in her heart how many mistakes she would be forced to make in the coming days.