Chapter 2: Side Chronicles 1

Initially, Nicks Fou Bartfort had no special plans for his school break. As he wasn't the direct heir to his family, he wasn't privileged to be able to vacation anywhere he wanted. Like most students in the Regular Class of the academy, he had initially planned to go straight home, when a classmate of his had approached him with a job opportunity. The noble house his classmate was affiliated with were looking for hands to gather materials in a dungeon. It sounded suspicious, though that just might be because it was coming from his friend. Still, an opportunity to go on adventure wasn't something that came often.

While the reveal that the job would only entail carrying luggage and provisions dampened his spirit, the amount of money they were paying for that level of work caught his attention. Sure it was paltry by noble standards, but it was more than he could make delving into the Academy Dungeon everyday for a month. When he was still indecisive about it, he wrote to his father for advice. Apparently he was worrying too much and was simply told to go for it, even if it meant a shorter visit back home.

When the time of the expedition came, Nicks may have gotten an answer as to why academy students were recruited for this work. He was already aware that the Roseblade House was the one leading the expedition. However, he wasn't expecting Dorothea Fou Roseblade, the eldest daughter of House Roseblade herself, to be directing the expedition. Unusual, but not one Nicks was going to bother looking into any closer. He was just here to be able to enter a dungeon and get paid, plain and simple.

Unfortunately, 'plain and simple' wasn't on the cards.

Things were rather routine as they made it to the lower levels of the dungeon to gather a specific resource: an herb that only grew in dungeon environments. It was on the way back that they were suddenly ambushed by hooded figures. The chaos that followed made everything pass by in a blur, at least that's what it felt like for Nicks. He managed to escape by following other fleeing members of the expedition, until they eventually stopped to catch their breath.

"What was that?!" A short male with a shaved head screamed. "We were attacked! Why?!"

Apparently some still had more than enough energy. Nicks could barely calm his heart rate.

"They killed the guard! No surrender just eck-," another male, thin and lanky, made a cutting motion on his throat.

Nicks tried to take stock of his surroundings while they had the chance. Most of those around him were other support members, other baggage carriers and the like. To his surprise, Nicks spotted the bright blonde hair of one Dorothea Fou Roseblade among the group.

"This was supposed to be easy money!"

"Will you two shut-up!" Dorothea shouted over the two. "Your screeching will lead them here!"

"We have to get out of here!"

"I don't want to die!"

It seemed the orders of the noblewoman were ignored as their shouting continued. Worse, fear was making the two men hand their weapons in hand and were wildly waving them. . Unintended or not, their wild gesticulations were causing others to reach for their weapons, including Dorothea whose grip was already near the trigger of her rifle. Hers was still pointed safely down for now, but that might change for the worse if this continued.

Someone had to calm the two, and it was just Nicks' luck he knew the guys causing the ruckus. Nicks walked past the blond noblewoman and straight towards the two. Without any warning, he grabbed the shave-head's hand holding the weapon, and twisted his wrist to point the gun down. The pain caused him to loosen his grip and drop the weapon. Nicks used his leverage on the guy's arm to unbalance him and knock him on the ground.

Before the second one realized what happened, Nicks went for his weapon as well, and sent him tripping towards the first guy. Both of them were a pitiful heap on the floor, but had finally stopped shouting. Having picked up both of their weapons, Nicks loomed over the two.

"Skel, Po, stop pointing your weapons at others," Nicks scolded the two idiots much like he would his own younger siblings. "You're going to get yourselves shot."

The two looked from their positions on the floor to see everyone else around them with their hands ready to draw their own weapons. Realizing the position they were in, the two finally calmed down. Once they finally stood up, they raised their open hands in front of them and bowed their heads to show they weren't a threat anymore to the others.

"Finally, someone with some sense," complimented Dorothea. "Make sure they behave them-"

"We need to move," Nicks interrupted as he addressed the whole group. "As Lady Roseblade said, the loud noise might attract them here. We need to exit the dungeon and try to regroup with the camp outside."

Nicks expected someone to rebut him or voice their disagreements at least, but everyone looked at him like he had more to say. He didn't know what more they were expecting, honestly.

"Well? You heard him!" Dorothea spoke up while everyone was waiting. "Form your teams and get moving! Scouts, check the path. Those armed keep an eye out for ambushes now! I'll be damned if we get caught unawares again!"

The Roseblade noblewoman fell back into her role of bossing everyone around. In the meantime, Nicks helped the two males back to their feet.

"Sorry about that," Nicks apologized.

"Nah, you were in the right," the lanky Skel cringed at his past behaviour. "I'd be worse if I accidentally pointed a weapon at her."

"Yeah, I'd be in deep shit," the shave-headed Po crassly commented.

The two were probably the closest things to friends Nicks had in the Academy, being similar baron households in the fringes of the kingdom. While questionable in character at times, Nicks shared in the commiseration of their lot in life. Especially when dealing with the eccentricities of noblewomen in the academy.

He handed the two back their weapons and looked over the state of their own equipment as the noblewoman instructed.

"Crap, my bag's torn," Po showed the hole in his carrier bag. The dungeon plant they had gathered was spilling out of the hole. "Should we just leave this? Bringing it might leave a trail."

"No," the authoritative voice of Dorothea Roseblade cut into their discussion. "Pick-up everything. That's what we came for and we're not leaving without it."

"But-"

Skel seemed to want to argue but Dorothea shot him a look that demanded no arguments.

"Here, you can stuff the rest in my bag," offered Nicks. "Try to tie up yours to close the hole if you can."

Once that had been sorted out, it seemed the rest of the surviving group had completed their preparations. The Roseblade noblewoman gave the order to move out. Their pace was a little faster compared to their earlier expedition, as everyone was keen to escape from whatever attack they had just survived. Still, they were in a dungeon and they could only move so fast.

"What house are you from?"

Nicks was caught off guard by the sudden voice beside him. The Roseblade noblewoman was for some reason walking beside him, despite the fact Nicks was situated at the back with the rest of the carrier crew. A quick glance had him realize the crew hanging further behind him, most likely from the sudden presence of the expedition's leader.

"Bartfort, Lady Roseblade."

"It seems you do have manners."

The remark earned a wince from Nicks, aware of the faux-pas for interrupting a noble of higher status earlier, not to mention basically giving orders over the highest authority in the expedition.

"Nonetheless, you had the sense and wits to get everyone moving. I'll make sure to inform my father of your actions today. He is always on the look out for promising candidates from our faction."

Dorothea's words were probably some aristocratic way of thanks and praise. The protocol was to politely thank her and she would return to her position, and that would be the last of any direct interaction they would have. But there was something he needed to correct.

"I need to clarify something first, Lady Roseblade. My house isn't part of House Roseblade's faction."

A quick look of surprise passed over Dorothea's features before sharpening to a gaze that demanded him to elaborate.

"We're simply a countryside Barony… Lady Roseblade."

An uncomfortable silence passed as they continued their trek.

"I see."

Was all Dorothea Roseblade said before walking back to her position in the group.

"Dude! Getting the attention of the Ice Mistress," Skel slapped Nicks at the back a little too hard to be a congratulatory slap. "Guess you should thank us for letting you guys meet."

Of course that was ignoring the fact that their actions could have led to their execution for potentially threatening the leader of their expedition.

"Hey, you should introduce us to some girls if they invite you," Po drove his elbow a little too hard into his rubs for a nudge.

Maybe Nicks should have just left them to their fate earlier. He could only hope that the noblewoman's dismissal of him similarly meant forgetting any repercussions to be levied against him. A few male students had their reputations destroyed for less. This 'simple job' was a lot more trouble than it was worth now. If he survived this, he would swear off adventuring, no matter how enticing other people made it seem.

Blessedly, the group was able to reach the exit of the dungeon without any further hindrance. The night air greeted the group much to their relief. It wasn't the only thing to greet them at their exit.

"Lady Roseblade?"

Another noblewoman addressed the leader of their group. She was one of Dorothea's retinue, left in charge of the group guarding their surface camp.

"Katy, have everyone on high alert," Dorothea stepped forward from the group to address the camp guard. "Send word to the airship to prepare for an emergency departure."

Katy looked slow to react as if trying to parse what her mistress was saying. She eventually turned her head to a guard from her group.

"Make the preparations."

The guard nodded before signalling the rest of the camp group to move.

"Is this everyone from your group?" Katy asked.

"Unfortunately. We were attacked and my guard stayed behind to distract them as we made our escape."

While the conversation between noblewomen continued, Nicks and his peers took the opportunity to find a place to sit and rest. The escape was taxing both mentally and physically.

"We made it," Skel sighed in relief as he sat down. "Escaped whatever that was."

"We should be safe now, right?" Po looked worriedly at the dungeon entrance.

"Should be. Looks like they didn't get attacked here so maybe there aren't any attackers up here," Nicks theorized. "Plus there are more guards up here than who came with us in the dungeon."

"Well they can be the ones to keep a lookout. I'm so tired," whined Skel. "Shouldn't be too hard to guard the only entrance to the dungeon.

"Yeah!" Agreed Po. "Wish we would leave soon though. I don't want to deal with those guys if they do show up."

Normally, Nicks would just tune out the two once they got into their complaining spiral, but a detail caught his attention. There was indeed only one gateway towards the dungeon. This wasn't a newly discovered dungeon either, this was a frequently explored dungeon that had been mapped to death already. A second group would have had to pass through the camp to get to them. But the camp was untouched as he mentioned earlier.

Could their attackers have been in the dungeon beforehand? Possible, but the amount of monsters they had to clear on the way down meant no one had gone before them. Plus, their group had done their due diligence when exploring and scouting the tunnels. Other possibilities ran through Nick's head until it gave him a headache.

He thought the stress was just getting to him, making him more paranoid, but he noticed details around the camp. Dorothea and Katy continued to be in deep discussion, however the Roseblade heiress seemed to be getting annoyed with all the questions her follower was asking. The camp guards had moved to the perimeter of the camp, but they seemed to be concentrated on the side opposite the dungeon entrance.

The side leading to the airship.

The guards were all faced towards the dungeon group resting inside the camp, with some sneaking glances towards the dungeon entrance. They also looked agitated, but not worried. Like they were waiting for something to arrive.

Or someone.

Nicks stood up quickly, surprising the other two. He made a beeline towards the two noblewomen.

"Lady Dorothea, there's -"

"Who said you could interrupt us?!" Katy practically screeched at him.

The tone made Nicks instinctively flinch, similar as it was to the way the Mistress of their household behaved during her visit. One he oftenly received from the other female students of the academy.

"Katy," Dorothea spoke softly but with a harsh tone, admonishing her follower's behaviour before turning to him. "Bartfort, I allowed your initial impropriety earlier due to the circumstances. This one better be of similar nature."

"You need to order everyone to leave. Now. We're not safe here."

"And what makes you say that?"

Nicks looked nervously around the camp, and unfortunately saw the same behaviour from the guards. No one was guarding the dungeon entrance.

"I think the attackers had help… from inside the group."

"You dare accuse another household of traitors!" Katy berated him. "Who are you, a lowly barony, to judge a higher house?! What right do you think you have?"

"Katy!" Dorothea raised her voice louder this time, attracting everyone's attention. A tense silence permeated through the camp.

"What is your proof, Bartfort?"

"I-"

"Someone's coming out of the dungeon!"

A guard cried out before Nicks could make his case.

All heads turned to the entrance and, true enough, another group exited the dungeon. They were recognizable… in the fact they weren't part of the Roseblade expedition.

"Guards prepare to fight!"

Dorothea was about to draw her sword when a cold steel was pressed against her neck. A hand weighed on her shoulder, freezing her in place. Nicks followed the dagger to the arm of Katy, leaning close to Dorothea's ear.

"Tell everyone to surrender," Katy pressed the blade deeper. "Or else."

Nicks could only stand in shock as the group that ambushed them in the dungeon entered the camp unhindered. As he feared, the guards around the camp simply observed, with some smirking at the scene.

Needless to say, surrender was the only option.

Once captured, Nicks was quickly transferred to the prison hold inside an airship. However, Nicks did not expect to be sharing a cell with Dorothea Fou Roseblade herself. In fact, as far as he knew, they were the only ones transferred to this airship. The rest were placed in a different airship.

Exhausted once more, Nicks chose to hole himself in a corner, while leaving Dorothea raggin at their captors through the bars.

"How your circumstances have changed, Dorothea."

Katy strode into the detention area, holding a tray with food and set it down before their cell.

"Cagna," Dorothea addressed Katy by her house name. "How long has your house held treacherous thoughts?"

The betrayer barked out a laugh.

"Oh Dorothea, you're one to speak of betraying your oath. You and your traitorous house."

"How dare you! House Roseblade is a paragon of nobility. We contribute much to the Kingdom and its people."

Even Nicks would have to agree with what knowledge he has about the noble houses of the Holfort Kingdom. The Roseblade Household were known for their adventuring history as well as the wealth of their territories. Their reputation was one of the few reasons Nicks was willing to join the expedition in the first place.

"Then how about harboring Possessed?"

Dorothea seemed to falter for a bit. "An absurd accusation. Clearly a slander against our name."

"It's pointless to try and deny it, Dorothea. We already know about your sister."

The sudden silence spoke volumes.

"Such a shame, all your hard work in keeping her hidden. All for nothing. To be honest, I'm more surprised you even kept the thing alive at all."

"Don't you dare talk about my sister like that!"

Dorothea tried to grab Katy, but the bars kept her out of reach.

"Even now you try to defend it. Though you have it to thank for your continued survival."

"What do you mean?" Dorothea demanded.

"The only reason you're still alive is because they want to trade you for that thing," Katy spared a glance at Nicks. "And I suppose you as well. Saintess knows why they would want those things."

"I'd rather die before I let my sister anywhere near you."

"Oh, but the negotiations have already finished, dear Dorothea. Either your family gives it in exchange for you; or we just reveal its existence to the church and your family loses both daughters. You should be happy you get to return home."

The fury in Dorothea seemed to die down, aware of the reality of her situation. She didn't even try to fight when Katy approached their cell bars.

"Why?"

"Why would I willingly betray you?" Katy cupped Dorothea's chin. "Because for all your talk about contribution, you fail to provide for your own retinue. In exchange for our loyalty, you were supposed to provide us opportunities to better our standings in the academy. Instead, 'Ice Mistress', your scandalous demands from would-be suitors were affecting our own chances!"

Katy wrapped her hand around Dorothea's neck.

"They thought we were all as depraved as you were! Thanks to that, no one would invite us to their tea parties! No gifts, no courting, no adoration! All because we were associated with you. And then you decide to drag us all into this dungeon expedition! How does this help our chances?! We're supposed to be at parties and resorts for vacation, not in some dirty dangerous dungeon!"

Gasping sounds were coming from Dorothea as Katy started to squeeze her neck.

"When someone offered better rewards, I was all too happy to change allegiances. Once this is over, I'll be married to a rich noble in Rachelle; and you can wallow in the knowledge your sister's fate is all your fault. It'll suffer so much you'd wish you killed it yourself!"

Katy yelped in pain as a hand grasped her wrist and squeezed hard, causing her to release her grip on Dorothea's neck. As she pulled her arm back, Nicks let her wrist free from his grasp.

"Tsk, now you can charm a boy to do your bidding?!" Katy nursed her pained wrist as she stared daggers at Nicks. "Just for that, I hope the Forest of Ladies keeps you as a slave instead. Trading you in for a possessed will be a waste."

Nicks remained silent, leaving Katy frustrated as she exited the prison hold. An exhale of relief left Nicks as the woman disappeared, but a sudden weight on him caused him to tense up.

Dorothea clung to his clothing and buried her face in his side, but her sobbing could be clearly heard. Puzzled by the sudden contact, Nicks simply stood paralyzed as the Roseblade heiress cried her pain out.

A/N: This is the promised side story focusing on Mobuseka's beta couple Nicks and Dorothea. This time, they meet even earlier than canon, but not in better circumstances. How will this play out for them? Fun fact, original NPCs here follow EoS style of puny names.

Full disclosure, it took me so long to post because this arc got too ambitious. For some reason, there wasn't a clear stopping point as to when I could actually post a 'first part' as many of the earlier parts had to be edited as more of it got written. End up having to write the whole thing. This is only the first part because this was the closest I could get to a middle break of everything that had been written. Why didn't I just post the whole thing? Cause it ended up being way longer than the previous chapter, which was already the longest. Plus side, the next part may not take months to come out.

Thanks again to those leaving reviews.