A lance.

Bianka Ataegina, a lance-wielder?

The thoughts from yesterday had kept Rita awake at night. That morning Rita prepared Ragna's usual cup of tea. As she approached Ragna's office, she heard two familiar voices. The door was left slightly open so she could hear everything from outside.

"I understand, Overseer."

"Surely, as perfect as a rose is, the moment you cut its stem, the rose will start to wilt. Life blooms as long as you do not cut the root to your happiness. My proposal is simple, just and benevolent for the two of us. Happiness is your due pay and progress is what I envisage."

"Yes, thank you, Overseer. I will inform her about it." She mumbled a few more things that Rita could not hear at that distance.

"Very well then. Have a good day, miss Ragna Lodbrok."

Rita hid herself in a corner and saw the Overseer leaving. She waited for some time before going inside. Ragna sat on the edge of her office desk, chin resting on her open palm, a philosophical position that came out of habit from her various distressing encounters. Her eyes were fixated on the floor, and she was so pensive that she did not hear Rita knocking at the door nor coming inside.

"Miss Lodbrok? Is everything okay?" Ragna snapped out of her transfixation and looked at Rita with a saddened expression. "How was she to you?" she asked.

"You mean miss Ataegina? She is a good kid. A bit loud and slightly airheaded at times but she is friendly to everyone." Rita placed the cup of tea on Ragna's desk and took out a document that she was hiding under her apron. "Here are her test reports from yesterday."

"Friendly to everyone..." Ragna repeated at a lower voice. "That is dangerous." She took the test reports from Rita and placed it behind her without even opening it.

"Dangerous?"

"Yes. Two are better than one; for if either of them were to fall, the other would lift up his companion. Yet, it is dangerous to be friends with everyone for we meet more Judas Iscariots than true friends." Ragna paused and gazed into Rita's eyes. "Rita, are you my friend?"

If there was one thing that Rita had yet to master it would be her ability to lie without fidgeting or sweating. If she was discovered as a spy working for Otto Apocalypse, Ragna would find a solution to get rid of her in a way that the Overseer himself would be put in an embarrassing situation if he were to intervene. Ragna had done so with her previous assistants, but so far Rita showed no obvious sign of having two faces. Ragna was not easy-going and she would rarely show her smiles to people unless if it was for the sake of common courtesy.

"I know I am almost a decade older than you, Rita. Still, having someone I know I can trust even if she is much younger is reassuring. So... do you consider me as a friend?"

"Of course, miss Lodbrok. You saved my life once and brought me to Schicksal. This is why I serve you," Rita said with a sweet smile.

"This girl you are training..." Ragna glanced at the closed test reports behind her. "I want you to keep a close eye on her. Don't let her get corrupted by this place. Friendliness in Schicksal leads to deadly traps. Guard her. Protect her. Serve her. Become her wings until the day she can fly to her rightful place with her own wings."

"She wants to be a lance-wielder," Rita informed. "Not choosing the scythe means she will be the future leader of the Immortal Blades. Is she perhaps the successor you have chosen? Pardon me for my sudden inquiries, but how do you know she is competent enough?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, the Overseer has a good eye to spot anyone who is gifted. If he chooses her, then so be it." Ragna stood up and picked up her cup of tea. "My opinion on him is malleable but I know he is mostly a dangerous man. Even his good actions can be twisted into an egoistical and internal motive. You've served me for three years now and you must've noticed how I avoid him like the plague." She sniffed the hot drink in her hand and took a sip. "Rita, the tea tastes different today."

Rita smiled to herself. "My humble apologies if it is not to your liking then. Remember three days ago you told me to add new flavors to your tea? I substituted stevia powder for sugar. Would you like me to take it away?"

"No, different does not mean it is bad." Ragna drank all of it. "You will be Ataegina's maid from now on. If this kid is the next generation of the Immortal Blades, make sure she does not become a puppet of Otto Apocalypse. Ironically enough, he said a quote based on himself: 'Be not wary of the foolish but of his employer'." She paused and stared into her empty cup. "Perhaps, I am the one who is foolish," she admitted. "In that case, keep Ataegina away from the Overseer. The younger you are the easier it is for you to be influenced."

Rita promised Ragna what she wanted to hear, but her promises were like promises to the wind. Everything Otto Apocalypse did was for a brighter future and not everyone could understand his riddles. The daytime went by and soon nighttime crept in and the moon claimed its time to rule as per the celestial clock. The very man Rita had promised to betray with Ragna now sat before her. They rarely met. They rarely spoke in public. He was a man of many enemies and his friends were mostly his enemies' enemies. The two conversed behind thick closed doors. The feeble light from the fireplace dimly lit the room. The dead of the night welcomed the cacophony of cicadas, the distant hooting of an owl, the crackling fire and the voice of a man who was born to rule.

"The fire is beautiful tonight, Rita. Its honeyed light fills the room with warmth, yet I feel as if I were coldly wind-kissed."

Otto Apocalypse usually spoke in a soothing lyrical cadence. Rita saw the outline of a man with a long cloak draping over his shoulders. Behind him stood his faithful assistant, Amber, a mechanically-enhanced human by the hands of the Schicksal scientists. The mask that served as her eyes glowed a bright orange in the darkness.

"Fear not, Overseer," Rita said in a soft voice, "I still work faithfully by your side. Miss Lodbrok must have informed you that from now on I will be the maid of miss Ataegina."

"I find your loyalty heart-warming. The child you are to serve will save many lives. She will prove to be a great leader and defender of truth. She is the knight holding a lance who will preserve an oath she has never taken." He slid a sheet of paper towards Rita.

In the darkness, she could not tell what was written on it. An orange glow then appeared on the paper and Rita almost jumped when she saw Amber standing beside her. With the light Amber provided, Rita could see what was on it. She was left perplexed, however, as most of the paper was blank save for Bianka's picture.

"Your mission is to find out who she really is," he explained, "Finish this mission and you graduate as my student. Also, make sure she does not find out until the right time comes. You will grow up with her and she will know you as her closest person. You will become her right hand."

Rita was left with many questions. What about Ragna? Why replace her? Where would she find out the truth about Bianka? How could he predict Bianka's achievements? In the end, none of her questions mattered. She did not bother the Overseer with them and simply went along with it. As she left the premises, the orange glow slowly receded. Rita came in darkness and in darkness she left. She knew she was a pawn with a sickeningly sweet smile. She was squeezed between Ragna and the Overseer, but she knew whose path she would serve in the end.

Dawn and dusk hours were the scariest times to be alone in the garden. The grotesque winged creatures on top of the church's roof had shadows growing thrice their sizes at that time. Their long claws, horns and teeth gave them a menacing look that was supposed to ward off evil spirits from the holy place. Rita scoffed at the sight of the gargoyles that she only found useful as waterspouts. Her reasoning went as such: darkness does not dissipate with more darkness but with light, so the devil cannot push away its own kin. She arrived at the dormitory when the first streaks of light announced the coming of dawn. Her shoes clicked against the floor of the quiet hallway. Valkyries were early birds or, at least, most of them were.

"Wha– Who is it? It is five in the morning!" a female voice hissed. The door opened and a girl with disheveled hair all over her face yawned at Rita.

Rita momentarily retained her breath. "Your morning breath is truly terrifying, miss Ataegina."

Bianka removed all the stray hair blocking her sight and saw Rita fully dressed in a maid outfit slightly longer and less revealing than the first one she had worn when they had first met. Her black dress ended with a white frilly fabric that was complemented with roses ranging from a crimson red to a purplish-red color. To top off the Schicksal guise, she wore thin dark thigh highs and heels that appeared unstable to run in. Bianka quickly turned around, wiped her eyes and turned back to look at Rita.

"If you so want me to leave then so be it. I will not bother you in your morning sleep." Rita made a slight bow and turned to leave.

"No, no, wait!" She ran in front of Rita and extended her arms to stop her from leaving. "I'm sorry I didn't know it was you..." Her eyes lingered over the luggage Rita was carrying. Bianka wanted to question her about it but decided to keep her mouth shut since last time she nearly offended the nice maid. Given Rita's gentle expression, Bianka concluded that carrying a luggage around was surely another maid task. Rita stood there waiting for her new master's command. Bianka in turn did not understand why they were making an awkward staring contest in a dormitory hallway. She had to break the silence.

"Err... why don't you come in...?" she said with a hint of hesitation. Rita politely accepted and Bianka immediately regretted because her dorm room was an utter mess.

"You must be wondering why I have a luggage with me. I was sent here to serve you as your personal maid and mentor." Rita made a deep bow. "I will do the cooking. I will do the cleaning. Laundry and dishes. The ironing and folding. I can help with your homework. I can help with your training. I can wash your hair, comb and braid it as per your liking and sleep next to you when there's thunder and lightning," she recited as if she was singing.

With her mouth agape, Bianka struggled to make any sound. Rita did not look like the type to make pranks.

"But aren't you Ragna Lodbrok's maid?"

"Not anymore. From now on, miss Ataegina, I shall be yours."