Maria eyed the obviously ajar wall panel behind the Prime Minister's desk that led into the next room, where she could just make out another desk and what appeared to be another office. Still, the Prime Minister seemed aware of it, and so she didn't hesitate in giving an unabridged and non-euphemistic summary of yesterday's events once she was told those in range knew of the existence of Dark Magic.

"You are certain that she was trying to enter the royal crypt?" the Prime Minister said.

Maria nodded. "The guards she had incapacitated were behind her, and she was examining the wall when I attacked. I have strong reason to believe she was a significant interest in whatever lies beyond that door. I myself possess some concerns, having become aware of its existence."

"I'm afraid that none may enter the royal crypt save his majesty or one accompanied by his majesty," the Prime Minister said.

"That only raises my concern," Maria said. "Are you aware that most of the hallway leading into the royal crypt is awash in the sensation of Dark Magic? Very powerful Dark Magic. More powerful than the intruder or myself. Given the nature of the power and its location, I find great cause for concern."

The Prime Minister didn't even blink, proving his connection to Nicol Ascart as not one line of his face changed, even though Maria could hear the discomfort of the secretaries behind her, and to a lesser extent see their discomfort from their reflection on a piece of brass on the Prime Minister's desk.

"That would not surprise me," a familiar, almost feminine voice said from beyond the open wall panel.

There was the sound of a chair moving, and the king stepped around one side of the open panel. Smoothly, the Prime Minister rose as Maria did as well and offered his liege his chair. The king sat and gestured for Maria to sit once more as the Prime Minister joined her in the other chair in front of the desk.

"As has been said, only I or my successor or, in the worst case, my usurper, may enter the crypt," King Artorias Stuart said. "However, let me put the most likely conclusion in your mind at ease. The crown does not use the crypt as a location for the experimentation of Dark Magic. I swear this on the forgotten names of the Chosen Lord, and the Bearer of Immortality. What you feel is a perfectly normal natural phenomenon."

"If I may, your majesty?" Maria said. The king waved his hand, bidding her continue. "Given the range of natural phenomenon in question, it does not comfort me to learn the existence of a manifestation of the Abyss mere floors under our feet, your majesty," Maria said with great understatement.

"Even in the commonly known myths, the Abyss came in many forms," the king said. "Humanity's first weapons were forged in the Abyss. It is as much a refuge as a doom for those with the Dark Soul. But no, we do not have an outbreak of the Abyss beneath the castle. Merely a facsimile. No light exists in the royal crypt, and light hasn't touched it in uncountable years. The darkness within has thickened, filled with the dregs of the Dark Souls of the dead of the castle that has built up over the uncountable centuries the crypt has existed and the lands on which Sorcier now stands was known as Fanelia and Argwyll and Fontraile and Rieubane and Zeptar and Verdite."

"So, it's not the Abyss beneath us, but rather the Deep," the Prime Minister said flatly. "Just as bad and more insane."

"There's evidence to suggest they are one and the same, but we are not here for a discussion on philosophy," the king said. "Suffice to say the darkness beneath the castle is known and is regularly disrupted to prevent it spawning abhorrent life and consuming all it comes in contact with."

"Your majesty, I've heard my daughter talk about her books enough, and read enough histories, to know those are usually the last words of any kingdom before they are consumed by some great disaster," the Prime Minister said. "Usually the undead curse."

"If you think it should be handled another way, strike me down, usurp my throne and descend into the crypt yourself," the king said coolly. "Go ahead. I'll give you a free shot."

For a moment, the two men stared at each other as Maria kept herself from fingering the sword at her side.

"Please tell me it's not a sleeping dragon or anything like that," the Prime Minister finally said.

"No dragons," the king assured him. "Of any sort." He paused. "Except possibly crystal lizards. Those things get in and out of everywhere."

"So she would have achieved nothing even if she had succeeded in passing through the door?" Maria said.

The King nodded. "Except possibly an existential crisis," he said in tones of half-dark amusement and half-remembrance of an existential crisis. "Of greater concern is how she managed to enter the castle in the first place."

"We believe she entered via the aqueduct," the Prime Minister said. "At least, that's how she got out, and according to the ministry, except for the guards she encountered and the Light Magic wielders she neutralized to steal Lifegems, no one else had been touched by Dark Magic."

"None in the party allowed her entry as a companion," Maria said. "She has no sense of self control and uses Dark Magic in excess when she utilizes it. Had she used it on anyone before Lady Claes, I would have noticed."

"Praise the sun for foolish enemies," the Prime Minister said. "Thank you for your report, Lady Campbell. I have no further questions."

The king nodded. "You are dismissed, Dame Knight," he said. "I bid you good fortune."

Maria rose and bowed, withdrawing from the Prime Minister's office with its curious wall panel. Upon inquiry, she found the other ladies had already departed for their homes and that the boys had been moved to where they could get much needed sleep. A carriage, courtesy of the Third Prince, was waiting to take her to her estate.

With a reminder to do something nice for him, Maria accepted the courtesy, and began the journey to what would now be her home.


A Katarina Interlude

The next day after the sleepover, Keith and Katarina returned to Claes Manor as planned. Katarina changed into her gardening overalls, and for the first time in a long time, headed into the gardens to tend her fields.

However, Mother intercepted her on the way. In the past, her Mother would always try to get her away from doing field work. Now, she simply looked Katarina up and down with a strange expression. "Katarina," she said. "Welcome home, daughter." Then, to Katarina's surprise, Mother gave her an awkward hug. "We've missed you."

"Eh? Ah, I've missed you too, mother," Katarina said, giving her Mother an equally awkward hug. Oh no, something was wrong! Was Mother dying? Was it some kind of strange new disease? Quick, they had to call Maria and have her use her magic, Mother was too young to die!

Thankfully, for Katarina, this was not one of the times she started muttering the things she was thinking about. Mostly. "Are you all right, Mother?" she said, making her concern known.

Mother made an awkward smile that didn't look the least bit comforting and made her seem like she was plotting Katarina's untimely death. "I'm fine, Katarina. I've just… come to a realization. I haven't been very kind to you since Keith arrived, have I? I'm so sorry, my daughter. I've been foolish, but I will try to change…"

"It's, uh, fine Mother, I know you like Keith more," Katarina said.

"No, it's not fine," Mother said, some or her usual sternness coming to the fore. Strangely, Katarina got the feeling that for once, it wasn't directed at her. "Katarina, how would you like to go on a trip to see your cousins?"

Katarina blinked. "I have cousins?" she said.

"Well, not on your father's side, since… well, not on your father's side," Mother said. "But you definitely have cousins on the Adeth side of the family. I'm going to visit them soon, and I'd like you to accompany me. That is… if you want to?"

Cousins. Cousins! She had cousins! She broke into a wide smile. "Of course! I'd love to meet them! When are we going?"

"In two days," Mother said. "It will be just you and me and the servants. We'll be gone for some time, so pack appropriately."

Katarina blinked. "How long Mother?"

"Two months at the least, possibly longer depending on the state of the roads and the spring rains," Mother said.

At the mention of servants, Katarina remembered something. "Oh, I promised Anne I'd give her a couple of days off then."

"Well, she's your maid, you can discuss it with her," Mother said. That was a shock. Mother usually depended on Anne to take care of Katarina and keep her proper. Maybe Mother really was sick with something. "I will see you later for dinner. Please remember not to track any dirt into the manor."

"Yes, mother," Katarina said by rote. Shockingly, her Mother gave her another hug only slightly less awkward than before, but this time Katarina was ready, giving her a full power hug with 1000% love!

Her Mother didn't seem to dislike it. Katarina skipped off to her fields with a light heart, feeling like this was the start of something wonderful.


Alice Campbell sat on her bed, rereading a letter from her daughter. She'd received more letters in the past year, from Maria, from Rafael, from Anne, than she had ever received in her life prior. Each had been long and obviously written with both care an enthusiasm, and she found herself being swept away by the words, letting them take her away from the house in which she was the only occupant. They didn't even have a dog or cat.

Maria sounded very busy, taking care of those people she'd saved, doing more than just studying in school, meeting powerful and important people and apparently setting up some sort of business so she could make souls. Rafael had seemed tired at the start of the year, and there'd been some tears on the pages, unless he was talking about Maria, where he sounded so lovestruck it made her sadly nostalgic. And Anne…

Anne's letter's made her feel young again, a blushing maiden meeting someone at the dance for the very first time. She hadn't realized she could still feel that way, after all these years, and the loss and the loneliness.

She finished Maria's letters, carefully setting it aside and picking up one of Anne's. For a moment, she closed her eyes, taking in the lingering scent of the perfume on the paper as one hand crept downward.

From downstairs came the sound of breaking glass.


A/N: Okay readers, I'll admit to some deception on my part. Anne and Mama Campbell's relationship might not be as innocent and platonic as I might have led you to believe. It must be a terrible shock to learn you've been deceived so blatantly. I hope you'll still be able to trust my writings in the future. I promise I haven't lied about anything else. Also, Sophia is most definitely not Seath the Scaleless. That would be wrong.