I am falling.
Falling through branches formed from a black void. Battered and broken by each twisting, scratching limb that reaches a claw out at me.
I fall and fall and fall and fall and fallandfallandfallandfall...
Below me are the lights of a city. Obscene and drowning the senses of those within it.
I see tiny people walking between the lights, scrambling to and fro, no real clue where they are going or why, just trying to make their way.
It was the people who made the branches, who drained the void and shaped it into thorns and sticks and stones to hurl at me.
They pushed me. Sending me tumbling down and down and down.
Soon the people aren't so tiny. Soon the city street comes hurtling towards me.
I collide, I die, and then I wake up.
I snap upright in my bed.
What a miserable dream that was. A shame I must still contend with the realm of sleep, even in this place.
It has been about two months since we first came to this world... and oh what a world it has been.
In this place I am me. No longer that horrible puppet I was imprisoned within in the previous world, here I am free.
I look down at my body. My smooth, pale skin— my long, elegant limbs— the paint on my nails, the scent and feel of my hair...
It finally feels right.
I look into a mirror across from my bed.
I see myself.
I smile.
"Hello Vera." I say to the mirror. "It is lovely to see you."
Well, now that the sun has set, it is time to begin my night.
I dress myself. A luxurious but laborious process. There are many options, all of which I find appealing in their own ways.
A simple red and black gown would frame my complexion well, and while a bit on the nose I am partial to the color red.
I find the gown a bit stuffy though, and I still struggle to move about in it...
Laszlo did prepare a set of suits amongst my wardrobe, but that is utterly too masculine for me to wear anymore.
Well, I don't have anything that important today... so I suppose I'll wear something comfortable.
I pick out a loose white blouse, a black skirt which extends to below the knees, and a matching set of black leggings.
I finished the look off by placing a Spring Lily in my hair to add a splash of lavender.
knock knock
"Lady Vera?"
I hear Laszlo call from the other side of my door.
"Come in."
He obliges, lightly pushing open the door and gliding towards me.
"Did you sleep well, my lady?"
"Just a bit of troubled dreams, nothing major."
His face grew worried. "If you will forgive the insubordination, My Lady-"
"I will."
"These dreams may be an attack on you by enemies. If you would allow me I would like to search your room for any possible hexes or magical threats."
"Very well. Please do so."
Like a blood hound let off its leash Lazlo set out to work. Prowling through the room looking for the slightest hint of anything suspicious or out of place.
Honestly, he's such a worrywart. Always concerned about one thing or another, and not even for his own sake but mine!
He's loyal and diligent to a fault, to be sure. I have tried to tell him so many times now he does not need my permission simply to speak his mind, but it seems to put him more at ease if I go along with the script he wants to play by. So I play the role of the aloof royal (a role I am quite suited to play if I do say so myself), and Laszlo does as he pleases.
His search comes to a stop, and he returns to stand before me.
"It would seem there is nothing amiss, but I shall continue to be vigilant."
"Thank you, Laszlo."
"No need, My Lady. I should not have so brashly invaded your privacy in this way."
The vampire bows at an almost perfect ninety-degree angle.
"You are forgiven, worry not."
"Thank you, My Lady."
"Was there a particular reason you came to see me?"
"Ah- yes." Laszlo pulls a large wine bottle and a handful of papers from within his coat. "First, please take this—" He handed the bottle to me. "This is the first batch of blood gathered from the locals. The harvest has been good this year, so morale among the population is high. It should make for an exquisite taste."
The bottle was opaque and unlabeled, but I could feel the weight of the sweet ichor it held. I popped the cork off, and the bloody aroma filled my senses.
It was earthy and robust, with notes of nuttiness alongside a bitter tone of tannin. Atop that base was a tinge of citrus which Vera could not quite place.
"It smells lovely- I will certainly enjoy this later." I placed the bottle down on a nearby table. "Was that all?"
"No, I also wanted to give you a report of our conquest over Calemtry."
"I see, do go on then."
"Thanks to the efforts of our new friend Bishop Alexios, we have swiftly been able to secure the loyalty of some local institutions and power brokers. The Burgher Council has agreed to swear their secret fealty to you… so long as in return their businesses and wealth are protected."
"Secret fealty?"
"...yes."
"And why are they not publicly declaring their loyalty to me?"
"Forgive me My Lady, but they do not understand your power. They still believe the Conclave to be a foe too great for you to overcome. Alexios would not have been able to convince them of anything had he demanded a public confession of loyalty. The shroud of secrecy and backroom politics provides these parasites with the confidence they need to assume they are acting in their best interest. From their perspective you are a powerful foreign spell caster looking to stake a claim as a power player in local politics, and they believe so long as they play along they can make a profit off of you."
"Ah. They believe they are the ones taking advantage of me then?"
"They are fools, yes."
"How fun. In that case, please send Alexios my thanks, then ask him to continue meeting with these people and construct a list of those with potential and those who can be purged later on."
"Very good, My Lady, it will be done."
"You mentioned other institutions, could you elaborate?"
"Yes, despite Carmilla's reckless insubordination, the woman she turned, Irene, has proven to be at least somewhat useful." Laszlo spoke the words with clear venom. He had been enraged when Carmilla presented Irene to me, demanding I execute her on the spot.
I, for my part, saw no problem with it. I was going to do the same to Alexios the very same night to fulfill my own whims, I am not going to deny Carmilla the same right.
I had managed to talk Laszlo down in the moment, but its still left tension between the two of them.
It makes me very sad. I do not like seeing my children fight like this.
"I wish you would forgive her already, Laz."
Lazslo winced. "Apologies, My Lady. I will... try to, going forward."
"Thank you. Now— what has Irene managed to accomplish for us?"
"Right. It seems she had a connection with the local Adventurer's Guild."
"Oh? And that helps us how?"
"Based on what Irene and Alexios were able to explain to us- military matters in this world function in two separate spheres. The first is Geo-political, states must be able to project military force to ward off foreign intervention and to suppress internal opposition."
"'The state must maintain a monopoly over violence,' it seems that still holds true even here."
"Well— not quite."
"Oh?"
"Monsters present a major threat to a state. They kill, destroy, and displace thousands of people and livelihoods each year. This creates a downward pressure on internal stability, as those displaced turn to banditry, and destroys valuable assets which suppresses economic growth."
"I see. So containing Monsters is that second military sphere?"
"Correct, My Lady, and it is the mercenary class of adventurers who are left to deal with that sphere, at least most of the time. I'll skip over the reasons why that is the case, but the outcome is—"
"A class of heavily armed violent wanderers kept in check only by the promise of wealth?"
"Indeed. If we are to successfully break our territory away from the Conclave we must secure the loyalty of the adventuring class. While you on your own may be capable of defeating the Conclave's conventional military, the asymmetric nature of Monsters requires a dispersed and decentralized solution. We need the adventurers because the five of us cannot be everywhere at once."
Oh this is fun! A whole gaggle of adventurers serving as my lackeys? I'm like a quest giver in a video game!
I can see it now: You there! I have a quest! Climb to the peak of the world’s tallest mountain and bring me back the stone from its top! In reward I shall grant you one wish! Anything you can imagine!
"Yes yes! Oh I like this a lot!"
Laszlo bowed. "I am pleased to hear it My Lady. The Guild master did request you attend a meeting with her and the town's leading adventurers. I can always go in your stead of course."
"No, that will be unnecessary. I would very much like to meet these people myself."
"Very well, then I shall make the arrangements. I will ask the meeting to begin at dusk tomorrow."
"Thank you Laszlo. You may take your leave."
He bowed one final time, then strode out my door.
Oh how I love this place. Its my own little playground!
I cannot wait until I've removed these Conclave pests out of my way. My perfect little paradise will finally be mine, and I can enjoy the fruits of my labor in whatever way I please.
Mmmm, yes I think the first thing I will do is throw a festival, a week long celebration of dancing and drinking all through the night! Then I'll make it a yearly tradition!
Ooo ooo! Then we can build a Colosseum! Adventurers, giant monsters... I'm sure with magic we can put on even more spectacular games than the Romans did!
Then I'll have to start funding artists to make me music and novels. Video games are probably a long ways away but I'm sure we'll get there.
Ah... I look forward to when I reach that point.
For now though, I guess I have to put my nose to the grindstone for a bit.
Well, tomorrow I'll get to work. For now... I believe I have a drink to enjoy.
Rain had been an adventurer for over five years now. Trained in the art of magic by some of the best tutors in the Empire, she had become a gifted mage who quickly rose to the upper ranks of the Guild.
Unlike most adventurers she was not part of a larger party. Instead she would group up with lower ranked groups on a case by case basis.
For the last year or so she had been working within the Glimmering Desert, and the town of Calemtry provided the perfect home base from which to strike out into that great sea of sand.
She was not the only adventurer who chose to set themselves up in Calemtry for that exact reason- and it meant that the town had a very outsized population of adventurers compared to other towns of a similar size.
She and a few other major faces from the community had been invited to meet with a foreign noble who was hoping to sponsor the Guild's activities.
"So... know anything about this rich lady we're 'spossed to meet?" Another adventurer, a lithe wisp of a Rogue named Winter, asked.
"The only thing concrete I've heard is that she's a spell caster." Rain replied.
"Oh? Think she's stronger than you?"
Rain shrugged. "Could be, who knows. Either way I'd like to learn what I can from her... If the rumors are true and she's from the Phoenix Empire she may have access to Elder Magic."
"How fancy."
Just then the door to the Guild Hall swung open and the Guild Master, a retired Cleric named Ura, entered alongside the Steward to Bishop Alexios, Irene.
"Hello everyone, thank you for coming!" Ura said to the half dozen adventurers present. "As I'm sure you know, we have an important meeting today with a potential new supporter. Now, I know this was called somewhat ad hoc, and I thank you all for your patience and understanding, so I would like to offer you the opportunity to have your questions answered about the actual specifics of this meeting. Steward Irene is here to help answer questions about the guest we are meeting, as she has had direct dealings with them."
With that she gestured to the other adventurers sat around the table, indicating she had passed the initiative to them.
Winter was the first to raise a hand?
"So who is this lady we're meeting, exactly? Is its true she's some wizard from the Phoenix?"
Irene chuckled. "That is more or less true, though from what I understand the term 'Sorceress' is more accurate."
So she is an Elder Magic user then.
"She had to flee here after her home was destroyed by the Crownbreaker invasion," Irene continued, "and the Prince-Bishop, in his mercy and wisdom, has elected to grant the Lady Vera succor here. Such being the case, Lady Vera has expressed interest in building ties with the community, and so I pointed her in the direction of you all."
Rain raised a hand. "What kind of support does the Lady offer? Will it just be posting quests or is she attempting to invest?"
"That is what this meeting is about." Ura explained. "I requested this meeting with the Lady about what the various options are, and what would be best for both parties."
"So this is a negotiation?" Irene asked.
"Something like that. Though I believe the Lady does not have ill intentions or anything of that sort."
I suppose she wants to get the lay of the land before committing to anything. Irene thought.
"Are there any other questions?"
"What are we 'spossed to do?" Winter asked.
"Make a good impression, and try to make it clear what things the Guild can offer her." Ura replied. "Any others."
No one voiced any other questions, and Ura nodded to Irene. "Please let the Lady know she may enter at her leisure."
Irene nodded back and stepped back through the main door.
I wonder what kind of a person she will be... She seems to have been through some hardship, but is also surprisingly eager to make connections with local institutions. Then there's the fact she's an Elder Magic Sorceress on top of all that.
What could be motivating her in this moment? Could she want to send some of them to recover something from her lost home?
She wouldn't have to wonder long.
The door swung open again, and Irene walked back through the door.
Behind her was a stunning woman, beautiful and walking with regal grace.
She is definitely stronger than me.
The two walked to the empty spots around the conference table and took their seats.
"Hello everyone." The pale woman, who Rain now noticed had ruby red eyes, said. "I am Vera Drakos, but please just call me Vera. It is a pleasure to meet you all." She bowed lightly towards the assembled.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I am the Guild master, Ura."
They went around the table introducing themselves, then Ura took the lead once more.
"If we can get down to brass tacks, Lady Vera, we were wondering what kind of support you were thinking of offering us?"
Vera smiled. "A more than reasonable question. While I am sure I will post a few quests of my own before long, my main hope was to make a financial investment into your institution."
"Why is that?" Rain asked.
Vera turned to look at her— deep red eyes boring a hole into Rain's soul.
"Whatever do you mean?" She asked.
"Well, what do you expect to get in return?"
"Hm. I like you... what's your name?"
"...Rain."
Didn't we already introduce ourselves?
"Wonderful to meet you, Rain." Vera bowed her head towards the mage. "To answer your question, I hope to secure a level of political influence with this decision."
The other adventurers started glancing to one another. It was quite uncommon for a noble of her standing to be so forthright.
"You see," she continued, "whether I like it or not, my presence here in a town of the Conclave has made me a piece in a game of politics. And while the Bishop has been most generous to me, I must assume that there will be others with less altruistic intentions."
Irene jumped in. "The Conclave has been sending support to the Empire in its war against the Crownbreakers." She explained. "A noble like the Lady Vera here represents a lot of potential sway. Some in the Conclave could attempt to exploit her exiled status, using her desperate position to try and make her put pressure on the Empire to make more concessions to the Conclave in exchange for further military support."
"Indeed." Vera continued. "To be honest, I have little hope of ever seeing my home again. I want to make sure I have my own stable base of influence from which to defend myself here. If I am able to establish myself as a local power player here, then I will have more leverage to resist factions of the Conclave who may try to use me."
"Many of these same factions are also hostile to Bishop Alexios." Irene added.
"Since the Guild tends to be a-political, I felt it would be an uncontroversial first step to building my portfolio."
I see. That does make sense. It is quite common for nobles to invest in their local Adventurers Guild, if only to help keep the threat of monsters in check, and to potentially turn a profit on any major expeditions. No one could object to Vera doing the same in her new place of residence, but at the same time it makes her a notable local figure and allows her to use the Guild as a point of connection to other potential investments to continue to increase her power base.
"That makes sense, thank you." the Mage said.
"Of course, thank you for asking, Rain."
The meeting continued deep into the night- with discussion on what size of an investment Vera would make, what form it would come in, and what actual support the Guild could offer in return.
Rain did notice that Irene often took over the conversation whenever the topic dipped into the minutia of money and finance.
In those moments Vera would scan the rest of them, but would also pause and smile at Rain.
What a frightening woman.
She still very much wanted to speak to her about her magic... but felt less and less confident that she could follow through each time she felt the pressure that woman's magic exerted.
Many hours later they had come to a deal.
"Well, I believe that settles things." Ura said.
Vera would invest a small fortune into the Guild, enough to fund general operations for a little over a year. In exchange, she would be given a seat at the Round Table, the Guild-wide meetings in which high-ranked adventurers and major investors came together to discuss and vote on certain elements of Guild Policy. She would also be given the position of "Advisor to the Guild-Master," a mostly ceremonial title that did come with the right to speak with the Guild Master at any time. Finally, she would also be allowed to add members of the Guild approved by the Guild master and who personally agree to it as part-time members of her retinue.
Rain suspected Vera may end up being the one to come to her first.
The deal overall favored the Guild (it was an absurd amount of money), and was just non-committal enough to satisfy Ura's desire to maintain political neutrality.
"I do believe we can call things there. I will send the rest of the paperwork to the Castle as soon as I can."
"Thank you, Master Ura."
With a few final pleasantries, the group stood up and began to make their exit.
As she walked away, Rain felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Hello, you." The woman, Vera, said.
She had cornered Rain as they were walking out of the meeting hall.
"I was quite impressed by your contributions today."
"Thank you."
"You have the look of a magic caster about you... am I correct about that?"
"Ah, you noticed?"
Vera smirked. "Not to be sardonic, but you are wearing a robe and holding a crystal-topped staff."
"Fair enough I suppose."
Does she want what I think she does? Rain thought.
"I was hoping to make you an offer..."
Yep. She does.
"You want to recruit me?"
Vera's smile widened. "I do enjoy how quick on the uptake you are."
"...What would you want me to do, exactly?"
"Nothing uncouth, worry not. I am new to this land, and while Irene and Alexios are a great help, they have little to offer me in regards to matters of magic. I know very little of your practice of the art here, it pains me to say, and would like the advice of someone of your skill and worldliness."
She calls magic an art... how wonderful. To someone like her, magic must have been as natural as breathing.
"I would not be opposed to such an arrangement, though I must ask what I stand to gain in return."
"I would have hoped for nothing less. I am willing to give you anything I can, though to start is there anything in particular you desire?"
Rain definitely wanted to learn more about Vera's magic, but the opportunity to get favors from a noble is not one to pass up.
She had become an adventurer mainly to help fund her studies, which often involved expensive expeditions into ancient ruins. Hopefully finding some ancient magical knowledge in the process.
If Vera was willing to fund these expeditions, and maybe a few other things, joining her retinue more permanently could be worth it.
"Would you be willing to fund my research?" Rain asked.
"Ooo, magical research? That sounds exciting. I would be more than willing to fund that were you to join my Council."
Wow, no hesitation. She must be loaded.
"Well, in that case, I think we have a deal." Rain said, holding out a hand.
Vera took it, shaking her hand gently.
"I will speak to Irene and my own steward about this. Once I have permission from Ura, we will arrange for you to be given a space in the Castle to use as your own. Is that acceptable?"
Rain nodded. "So long as I am able to continue my research, then yes."
"Perfect, then I shall see you soon."
With that, Vera bowed to Rain one final time, turned around, and walked away.
Rain stood for a few more moments, the significance of what she had just agreed to dawning on her.
She would be moving into the Castle, out of her room in the Guild House into the height of political power in Calemtry.
Not to mention, she had just agreed to work for a woman with magical power so intense it nearly made her knees buckle and collapse.
She should be ecstatic, and a part of her was, but there was something nagging at the back of her mind. The uneasy sense that she was missing something, that what she had agreed to, or more accurately the person she had just met, was so, so much more than what she could possibly imagine.