azazele

ARC 6-Winter War-57

“Saints.” It’s hard not to feel bad for the man. Goes a long way to explaining his attitude. I haven’t forgiven him but my anger toward him has subsided. A little.

The next portrait is a big change from the rest as it shows a handsom...

ARC 6-Winter War-56

“Lourianne Tome, your grace,” I declare, hoping my tone communicates how terrible of a first impression he’s made.

“Tome. What is a summoner from the capital doing in the north?”

I had all manner of subtle insults prepared bu...

ARC 6-Winter War-55

Belatedly, Alana directs me into taking off my shoes. We store them in a tall cabinet against one of the walls, exchanging them for slimmer shoes with no heels that are plush, lined with fur, and sinfully comfortable. They are also snug and warm. ...

ARC 6-Winter War-54

Unsurprisingly, I am glued to the window as we enter the fort. And saints, is it a sight to see.

A light snow falls from the gloomy gray sky. Not enough to be a problem but more than enough to justify thicker clothing and cloaks. Packed away...

ARC 6-Winter War-53

Shortly after we leave behind the aggressive knights, in the loosest sense of the word, we are brought to a stop. This one is expected and the ones doing the stopping are no thieves. They are true knights, the stern frowns they’re undoubtedly we...

ARC 6-Winter War-52

We come to a stop well before I expect. Given I intended to ride straight into the fort, and hopefully secure a room there, coming to a stop before entering the village brings a small frown to my face. I gently shift Alana off my shoulder but my e...

ARC 6-Winter War-51

Harvest wasn’t always the safe and relatively peaceful kingdom it is today. When humanity arrived on the continent we call home, it was a wild place. Vicious manabeasts who had called the land home for years did not take kindly to the sudden int...

ARC 6-Winter War-50

As expected, the caravan is safe and sound, every brick and beam of wood accounted for. The Squiddies’ goodwill did not extend to delaying their schedule for an indefinite amount of time, they couldn’t have known we’d only be gone for one ni...

ARC 6-Winter War-49

On one side, there stands the men of the mining village, no name. They are a new village, having only been in the area for three years. They have fewer numbers, with more strong young men than women and children. They have no armor to speak of but...

ARC 6-Winter War-48

I continue watching the villagers as morning dawns. My little talk with the men was enough to dissuade them from the very bad idea of disobeying Alana. They reluctantly brought all the food to the guardhouse. Bags of grain, crates of pickled veget...

ARC 6-Winter War-47

After watching Alana eat her meal, shiny eyes looking away from me as if she might cry from embarrassment while raising the next bite to her lips, I had to get out of the room before I forgot why I’m holding back with her. Don’t even pause lon...

ARC 6-Winter War-46

“Don’t pout.”

“This is not a pout. This is an expression of disgust.” I push aside the expensive-looking bottle of wine, apparently made from grapes grown outside Rosentheim, wow. “Am I the only one who’s embarrassed that a hal...

ARC 6-Winter War-45

Wenry tells us that the villages are a day’s ride from one another. Walking, the men won’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon, giving them plenty of time to prepare for their nightly assault. We, however, moving at a much quicker pace, manage to ...

ARC 6-Winter War-44

Wenry isn’t happy being carried by me, much preferring Alana’s effortless care to my awkward empathy, but she doesn’t have much of a choice. For us to move at our quickest pace, I have to carry the small child with her small legs that have n...

ARC 6-Winter War-43

The child is given the enviable position of Alana’s lap as she coaxes them into spilling their story. The telling is a disjointed barrage of detail but I manage to piece together the plot.

Two neighboring villages get along extremely well....

ARC 6-Winter War-42

AN: Small side side quest, haha. Only lasts a few chapters and gives us a chance to witness Alana's justice in action.

On the tenth day, we run into our first spot of trouble. Or, it runs into us.

What alerts me to the...

ARC 6-Winter War-41

“Lady Tome…give me a break.”

It’s the fifth night after setting off from Quest. Once again, we’ve made camp. Cloud is still settling the beasts but Alana is beside me as Geneva prepares dinner. Rolly is off by the wagons, amusing h...

ARC 6-Winter War-40

Normally, reaching Fort Victory from Quest would take about two weeks with simple horses. With the amount of “luggage” we’re taking with us, that would have been extended to three but, thanks to Cloud sourcing horse-like manabeasts that are ...

ARC 6-Winter War-39

“Gather up!” the instructor wearing light armor shouts unnecessarily, as the acolytes had already crowded in front of the three men, eagerly awaiting their words. He looks them over with a deep frown that suggests disapproval, which sparks som...

ARC 6-Winter War-38

The noisy area quiets down as the acolytes stop their conversations, all their gazes drawn to the three older men who come to a stop before them. Two of them are dressed in light armor, the uniform leather interrupted by metal chest pieces and gau...

ARC 6-Winter War-37

“Mm. A good day to travel.”

Contrary to my peaceful contemplation of the gloomy sky, the house is a scene of controlled chaos. The bulk of the supplies have been loaded. Everything being added now are last minute requests.

There’...

ARC 6-Winter War-36

“We have a problem, Lady Tome.”

I have several problems. Not least of which is the presence of Aurelius in my house once again. However, it’d make things more complicated if I kicked him out. I’m not afraid of a confrontation. On the...

ARC 6-Winter War-35

Mr. Talented turns to Arthur but the pirate-son doesn’t bother to acknowledge the glance, maintaining his slight frown and furrowed brows. The future hero clears his throat self-consciously before turning back to me. “The Squires asked me to c...

ARC 6-Winter War-34

Three days until we leave for the north.

Things are a bit hectic around the estate as we finish the last of our preparations. A lot has to be considered. Clothes, foodstuffs, weapons, and transportation all have to be seen to. If we were a p...

ARC 6-Winter War-33

“One thing first. Alana.” I turn and gesture for her to approach. She does so nervously, but I only can tell because I can read her stern expressions. There’s no hesitance in her steps as she comes to my side.

“Rolly, this is Alana J...

ARC 6-Winter War-32

I wince, the strange voice both beautiful and incredibly unpleasant. It feels like my brain is being tickled while my ears are being stabbed. “I’d very much like to be your friend but we can’t talk like this. Can you speak with less…” I ...

ARC 6-Winter War-31

Half an hour later, we’ve returned to the spare room containing my circle, dressed as if we’re about to step before the king.

As if. Geneva was in charge of our choices. Despite the many options, not a single one of them were “decent�...

ARC 6-Winter War-30

The four of us follow Geneva to my bedroom. Laid out on the bed in four distinct piles are clothes of all styles. Dresses dominate but there are also shirts, jackets, trousers, and anything in-between. Quite a selection and they all appear to be o...

ARC 6-Winter War-29

Sometime after noon, once Miss Talia has had a tour of the house and my wife has finished a long training session with my future saint, I take them to see the circle.

Alana gasps as I lead them into the spare bedroom where my circle is. I un...

ARC 6-Winter War-28

The morning a week before we leave for the north, I open the door to Miss Talia. She looks the same as usual, her dark hair left to fall straight down her back like a waterfall of darkness, her eyes closed, and wearing her usual dull, gray robe th...