Chapter 16 - Act X

An Adventurous Year, Act 10

Spring of Eyes and Elation, part 2

VI.

The skeleton stood triumphantly before the girls. Madoka did not sense any killing intent from Ceghinort but this was not what she expected. Well, Madoka paused her thoughts. She did not know what to expect. Audrey was about to say something but the maid moved in front of her.

"So," Madoka drew her sword and kept her voice calm. She did not think a plain sword would do much to a supposed God but she spoke again. "Are you a friend or a foe?"

She pointed the sword at the creaking skeleton. It nervously snapped back to a salutation. Its movements were stiff as if something or someone was controlling it. Madoka kept her intent up but it did not seem to affect the God.

"Why would a lovable skeleton such as I be an enemy?" Ceghinort complained. "I'll have you know I am your superior."

It brought out a large crimson gemstone shaped like a droplet and something twinkled upon it. Madoka looked closer and saw a gleaming, jade tag. It was beautiful despite the bloody stone it was fused to. She sighed and sheathed her sword. The skeleton held the necklace high as if it was some kind of accomplishment but the two girls simply stared blankly at it. Or so she thought the both of them were unimpressed but Madoka looked back at Audrey. The girl's eyes were gleaming with wonder!

"Star Jade. Acquired from Star Fallen Chelise," Ceghinort clicked his fingers together. The skeleton's skull kept its gaze intently on Audrey's gleaming eyes before cackling. He dangled the tag before them. "I joke! You Narms are so funny! Your eyes shine with greed for the hunt, that's what I like! One day, this tag will be yours."

He cracked his neck while the two just eyed him suspiciously.

"Now. You two look like you have a lot of questions for me. Especially you, princess."

At the mention of her identity, Madoka lunged at the skeleton but Audrey stopped her with a surprising amount of strength. Madoka exchanged a look with her princess but tried to lunge again. This fiend was the reason they almost died in this cave to begin with!

"I'm sorry, uh, Mister Ceghinort," Audrey pulled Madoka back. She growled at Ceghinort. "I'm just having difficulty thinking of what to say to a living Halloween decoration. Down, Madoka, down! Bad kitty!"

"What? I am a God. And you are lively as ever, Madoka," Ceghinort clapped his bony hands together. Madoka calmed herself down. "Ask away. My time is limited in this thing, however. Despite my healthy appearance, I am not able to hold this spell for too long."

The skeleton emitted a chuckle but its jaw fell off. He awkwardly bent over and picked it up as the two watched him in silence. Audrey paused in thought so Madoka asked first.

"That door, was that a trial of yours?" Madoka demanded. "That was uncharitable of you to lead us to our near deaths, you know."

The maid was not sure what uncharitable meant but she was sure it made an impact on the skeleton.

"Yeah!" Audrey chirped behind her. Madoka glared at her and caused her to gulp back into silence. Madoka realized it was also her fault they ended up in this ridiculous ordeal to begin with! Between these two fools the maid did not know who to scold first.

"Easy, easy! I'll start from the beginning!" Ceghinort's bones cracked as he waved his hands defensively but then he placed a hand to his forehead. "I am the Almoghty God of Adventure! The Creator of the Guild itself. You copper sprouts would do well to listen to your elders. Hah! As for the door, I don't know what those are!"

Madoka groaned and she was sure Audrey's core flared up from behind her.

"Those doors are a fallen god's blight from centuries ago," Ceghinort continued. He seemed unafraid of Audrey's magic core. Perhaps it was because this skeleton was not his true form.

"I have adventured on this world until my wings felt like they have snapped off. Traveled the deepest I could go into the Labyrinth, climbed the tallest Pnaumen Mountaintops... And you two, in all my days, are the most exciting adventurers I've ever watched in centuries. A pair of refugees from a burning country, crossing mountains, fighting monsters, ah! I simply had to come back to this world and call upon you myself!"

The implication that this being was from another world settled on Madoka like a cold and soaked blanket. Was he like Audrey? Or was Audrey like him? Ceghinort howled with spooky laughter. His bones clinked together as he seemed to enjoy Madoka's confusion.

"I cannot see through those doors, however. Adventurers, the ones who survived anyways, who go beyond them have reported that they leave feeling hollow or bittersweet. The fallen god has its influence upon them. Yet, the mystery is what the Spirit of Adventuring truly is. Wouldn't you agree, Your Highness?"

"Uh," Audrey's eyes looked like they were also going to pop. "So you sent for us here?"

"Precisely," Ceghinort's tone was too smug for Madoka's comfort. Dealing with gods frustrated her! Its hand broke off of his wrist but the God did not pick up the pieces. Madoka was tempted to smash the rest of its skeleton into dust as well. "Don't be angry at me! You got some good loot out of it, didn't you?"

"W-What do you want from us?" Madoka pressed. The skeleton paused, apparently in thought. Do Gods need to think? Madoka wondered.

"What do I want?" The skeleton clicked his other unbroken hand's fragile fingers together. Ceghinort's body heaved a noiseless sigh but it carried on with the motion all the same.

"I want you to be happy with what you have done, Child of the Stars. I've seen the trials you've triumphed over, the very monsters you've faced, the darkest thoughts and the mysteries you've uncovered. Each victory, each defeat, the quiet moments on the trail of glory and the exciting heat of battle — yes, your body and minds have been broken but you still get up. Lying down with no purpose, Madoka, that's easy. An immortal being such as I can blink and miss a century! I want... I want to see more. I will see more. Your adventures give me strength. I want you to become a part of my hoard! Yes, that is what I desire most!"

Madoka did not know whether to cry from the memories or stay quiet.

"It's why we go after these prestigious tags," the skeleton took the Star Jade tag out again. "I gain strength from your worship, you gain strength from picking each other up. I protect my hoard like you protect Her Highness. We build each other up and achieve even greater heights. It's the Adventurer's way."

"So I take it you don't know what we went through in there," Audrey finally spoke up.

"My apologies, Your Highness, but I regretfully do not have that reach," Ceghinort flinched when Madoka glared at him. The God switched to Reverent Noble instead. "Your past is sealed behind those doors. Your sins, however, are within the ruins. I won't judge you for slaying your own kin. I just want entertainment before I gain enough power to go further beyond."

"Oi," Audrey protested. "It was self defense! And what do you mean, kin? I am a Narm, last time I checked!"

She guessed the word "Narm" referred to people like her. Ones without pointed ears. The brilliant princess must have figured that out the moment the word was mentioned. The skeleton leaned back and started to laugh but his skull fell off and clattered on the ground. The body picked the skull up and bowed. It pointed a finger at Madoka's chest. Audrey was pouting but the skeletal hand disintegrated into ash.

"Take care of that divine treasure in your heart, eh? Oh, would you look at the time!" The skeleton's torso dissolved to ashen dust but the skull still rested in its arms as it crumbled to powder. "Rank up quickly. You two have quite the future here in this Guild, considering you defeated a slime and survived the Secret Garden. The sooner you get Silver the sooner you can meet me at my full glory at the Capital!"

"Wait!" Audrey tried to catch the skeleton's skull before it shattered on the ground. "We lost signal. Tch!"

Madoka pushed the ashes of the bones around absentmindedly with her boots into small piles and found that the ruby droplet and Star Jade pendant were gone. Their clothes were surprisingly clean after the battle with that machine golem. Repent. That word echoed in her mind.

"Audrey."

The princess gulped and slowly turned to face her maid.

"That thing, Hesonoo," Madoka spoke slowly. "It told you to repent of the sins you committed."

Audrey froze in thought. Her face wore confusion like mist. Even though she managed to survive its superior attacks, she knew she could not have gotten to its Eye without Audrey's help. Despite the girl's lack of planning for trouble, she was surprisingly adept at creating openings and advantages in adverse combat conditions.

"I wonder if it knows I let an entire country down," she sat at the edge of the lake and kicked her boots off. "Of all the things I did to you... How could I possibly atone for all of the lives I said I didn't care about?"

Madoka's heart sank like the ashes of Ceghinort's skeleton in the lake. She forgot that the princess has probably kept the burden of her fallen country at bay for so long. She cursed that place for reopening the wound that has scarred a long time ago.

"Forgive me, Audrey," Madoka started. "I should not have mentioned what the golem said to you."

"Well, now I know what he meant when he said the doors evoke hollowness and bitterness," Audrey dipped her warm toes in the waters. "I do miss my world. I wanted so long to go back to it. But if I am to be honest with myself, I was running from my guilt. I let them all die. How could I? My magic was useless back then."

"You did all you could," Madoka sat beside her. "They just did not listen."

"I just did not trust any of the gods," Audrey sat down and stared at the ripples in the lake water. "And now, I swear I'll get stronger and return to Fiara."

"Do you trust the gods now?" Madoka stretched.

"Not really," Audrey stated. "Especially if they're capable of leading us into dangerous traps. You saw how the world beyond that doorway seemed normal until all hell got set loose."

"Like an interference pattern or a collapse in quantum superpositions or something. Just being inside of it and observing it caused it to glitch and become dangerous. Or the Admins and Devs are just screwing with me... Sorry... I'm going off on a nerd rant again. But I do have a secret to share with you."

"A secret?" Madoka asked. The princess stood up and knelt before her. The girl blushed but leaned close to her maid's face. This time, Madoka froze up from the sight of her friend's soft lips closing in towards her own. Audrey instead moved and whispered in her ears something she would never forget.

"If we somehow make it back to Fiara and it turns out I am evil all along," the princess's whisper darkened Madoka's thoughts. "You're the only one who can kill me."

Madoka gasped at the suggestion. She could never do that! Her feelings for the princess were too strong! Another intrusive thought pushed her doubts further. She was unsure if she could even take on a single one of Audrey's powerful magic spells. So she remained still, paralyzed from the lusty tension from the princess's hot breath gently brushing on her earlobe and the harrowing declaration she delivered. Audrey drew away from her with a teary smile on her face.

"Well, besides that I don't think I'm evil," Audrey sighed. "I just wanna be with you, Madoka. I want to grow with you and take my time in this life."

"Mm," Madoka grunted but her legs were weak. Throughout the conversation something nagged at her and rumbled within her. Her stomach growled.

"O-Oh," Audrey sighed. "We should probably get out of here."

Later, Madoka followed Audrey as they walked out of that confounding grotto. She never thought she would be thankful to see the massive destruction the princess caused during their battle with the slime monster but she had a new gratitude for the outdoors now.

"Not a minute went by after we went in there," Audrey stared down at the crater they climbed out of. "Hard to believe a simple slime was blocking..."

She turned around and saw the destruction she caused. Was that remorse in her eyes? Audrey caught the maid staring with doubts.

"Look, okay. I might be a tiny bit evil. Yeah, I can destroy stuff but I got a sick character build going on, okay? Don't be jealous of my Support Mage abilities," Audrey smirked and winked. Her sudden cheery demeanor took Madoka out of her fantasies and made her groan. The princess stared at the grotto. "I don't think we should leave this be. Your thoughts?"

"I—" Madoka refrained from saying that she was her princess's slave and shook out of it. "Do you have a way to hide the grotto?"

"Oh boy, do I!" Audrey's core flashed blue. Madoka shrieked before the girl could cause trouble. "Back then before I was even Level 1, I could barely cast a small bubble in the Estate. And now..."

"A less suspicious and noisy way!" Madoka protested before she could do anything. Audrey looked at her and smiled.

"Yeah, I call it my new and improved Bubble 2.0!" Audrey broke free of Madoka's grip and channeled her core magic. A translucent azure shadow formed above Madoka's head. She froze at the sight of the troublesome spell's effect. The sphere of water blotted out the sun and easily dwarfed the slime in size.

"T-That's not a bubble," Madoka complained. "That's a..."

"That's no moon!" Audrey chirped but the way she narrowed her glowing eyes and stuck out her tongue to the corner of her lips meant the girl was concentrating. Madoka just had to stand back and watch the horror unfold before her. "Now if I just..."

One of the princess's hands glowed green while her other glowed blue. The swirling colors were easy enough for Madoka to figure out. Audrey was using the Wind element and her own water magic to guide the massive bubble into the lake to refill it.

"We might get a little wet," Audrey warned. The bubble steadily traveled slowly into the crater while Madoka had to suppress the pit forming inside of her stomach as she watched.

Madoka wondered how she was capable of such divine miracles and yet call herself a Level 2 mage. Madoka was not familiar with the arcane magic but the number seemed much less impressive than her actual power. The maid guessed that the Level term was meant to be a joke but was terrified at the possibility that Audrey was serious. The difference between having one band around her heart and two astonished the maid.

She did not have enough time to imagine what catastrophes Level 3 could inflict upon the world before Audrey yelled out something weird as usual.

"There she goes! Yeehar har har!"

"Who?" Madoka watched in horror as the huge sphere of water lost its form and popped. She scooped her princess and leapt back towards the broken ridge they hid on when they fought the slime. The princess was laughing the whole time but the maid did not have the time to slap her mouth shut while she retreated from the crashing waves.

"Job done!" Audrey clapped her hands together.

"I take it all back," Madoka breathed. "You're evil. Pure evil."

Audrey's soft features draped in her arms like they were meant to be there. Her sweet laughter melted into silence as the mist from the receding waves sprayed their skin. Peace settled as the waters pushed aside dirt and filled the lake. Madoka felt Audrey's hand push a wet strand of her red hair from her violet eyes.

"You wanna take me home and do something about my evilness?" Audrey whispered mischievously at Madoka. Madoka dropped her to the floor when she heard the princess's advances and marched away. "Wha! Where's your romantic side, Madoka! Nae waah! Where are you even going?"

Madoka stopped along the ridge. She could see the town ahead of them just past the forest line and fields of flowers.

"We're going back to town, Audrey," Madoka trotted off after her declaration. Footsteps crunched the gravel behind her as the princess chased after her.

"What for?" She used magic to launch herself above the forest trees before Madoka could answer why. She watched her beautiful princess soar and was prepared to catch her. Surprisingly, Audrey was more prepared than she was during winter and landed gracefully back to the ground. "Town's that way!"

"Don't you remember what we were out here for in the first place?" Madoka scoffed. It was a forced one simply because Madoka made the mistake of looking at the woman behind her. She could not remain angry with Audrey for too long.

"Well, we were doing a side quest and suddenly some things, as you know, came along. Then another side quest happened and—"

"Herbs," Madoka plucked one off the ground. A Rustazian Carnial matched her haircolor. "Sixteen of these. We're turning them and going back to the grind."

"Ohhhh!" Audrey slapped her forehead. "I totally forgot about that. Hey, do you see those people?"

Madoka squinted at the town's gate and saw a large crowd of people. This was not looking good, she gripped her swords beneath her cloak. Audrey nodded to her. She noticed they did not appear to be on the offense but were on guard. Why were they going to attack her and the princess?

"You ready for a fight?" Madoka asked her friend. Her voice was steady and she could use the golden strands of magic if she was desperate enough.

"I don't think they're ready to fight us, Madoka," Audrey tugged Madoka's sleeve and gestured at the crowd. Two men were waving at them. "I think they're preparing against a monster attack or something."

VII.

The morning winds were beginning to pick up and Madoka's nose could still smell the rough salt and foamy mist from Audrey's water magic. They left quite the mess behind and trouble awaited them if they were caught going into the forest. Still, the maid thanked the kind gods that they were alive despite the trouble waiting for them ahead. An acrid and unsettling smell crept up on Madoka as she led Audrey towards Livertorjan.

She realized that the town was much larger than she thought when the girls first entered days ago. A rise in the terrain granted the town a natural advantage over those below its view. The Guild Hall was settled above several other buildings but the sight that caught the maid's attention was a curtain of smoke rising from a curious workshop.

She pondered if that was the Artisan Guild's own particular Hall. Madoka scanned the paltry defense in front of the town. Several stone formations were erected in order to ward off whatever attacked them. They looked similar to the ones Lord Leopride conjured up. Behind the defenses were a group of soldiers and what she presumed were bands of adventurers. They stood in front of a wall much older than the maid.

It was then when she noticed that some of the stone formations were not actually stone at all. They were piles of dead monsters! Green bloody creatures were dragged along the once beautiful flower fields. Their corpses left a trail of congealed guts from where they were slain to the piles. The soldiers must have had little time to prepare, Madoka thought. The sight of the dead did not move her as much as she thought.

Was it because she has seen so much death already?

The green corpses looked like rotted shrubbery with broken limbs reaching skyward so she turned her nose away. Could such a battle take place while they were trapped inside that strange realm? Madoka worried that perhaps time did not freeze like Audrey proposed. A shadow loomed over her, taking her away from her thoughts. Madoka was prepared to draw her swords the moment she sensed danger but as they drew closer she felt a tug on her sleeve.

"Incoming," she pointed. She looked shaken up by the sight of the dead creatures but her eyes were focused on something in the sky. "Above us."

Madoka growled and prepared for an aerial attack. She squinted at the peculiar shadow above them. A man? She readied her sword but Audrey tugged her sleeve once again. Madoka relaxed and stayed her blade. The princess must know something she does not.

"You two," called the flying shadow. "Get back to town at once! It's not safe... Oh it's you two."

Madoka recognized that voice as its owner drew closer. The flowers were crushed and a wake of dust pushed around the shadow's feet as Luxgor landed. The maid caught a glimpse of golden chains embedded in each of his limbs and wings. He had a stern look on his face as he scrutinized the two girls.

"Sir," Madoka greeted him and bowed. Audrey still remained behind her. Only the kind gods knew what trouble she was possibly up to. Luxgor was a powerful spellcaster, Madoka determined. His ability to walk and use golden chains must take considerable effort. After all, she found it difficult to move when she pulled on the strands. She refrained from touching the crystal in her heart.

"So," He slowly eased at the sight of Madoka. "I presume that you two were not involved with the monster battle in the forest, right?"

Madoka glanced to Audrey. She expected the woman to spin up a lie on the spot but only heard a nervous gulp.

"When you say battle," Audrey began but Madoka cut her off.

"No," Madoka declared. A small pang of guilt ricocheted in her throat but if she was afraid to admit they were responsible for the damage in the woods. She did not recognize the slain creatures or see any in the forest after all. "We were getting back from the copper commission we had completed. Right, Audrey?"

"Hai!" Audrey pulled out one of the flowers from her bag. She knew it was the clever portal trick.

"We will speak of this incident later," Luxgor sighed and straightened his coat. His wings twitched nervously at the sight of Madoka although the maid did not know why. She wondered if this was another of what the princess called a follow-up interview. She shifted uncomfortably as Luxgor seemed like he was troubled over something. "The scouts did give a report on peculiar activities in the forest. When you come by the Guild we shall speak of the incident further."

Was he protecting them by not revealing their involvement? Luxgor clearly suspected them to have a role in the fighting but instead of announcing anything he simply let them go. With a circular motion with his arms and tails, Knotting magic twirled and traced his same movements. A shining gold light revealed his red wings before the girls and took off.

"He's flexing on us!" Audrey muttered irritably from behind the maid. "Quick, you can cast that same type of magic. Grow some wings or whatever!"

"I don't think I can," Madoka sighed. "I don't have a tail nor wings to speak of."

Still, it must be nice to fly places, the maid thought. She could reach high places to clean much easier if she had wings. He signaled to the soldiers and the two hurried over past the stone barricades.

"A race trait?" Audrey mused. "Hmm. So these creatures... They seem capable of using tools. Those crude weapons they carried. They are definitely a social species and even have sentience. If we were to slay one of them... Would we be the bad guys? Ew, Madoka, they smell gross!"

"Oi!" A guard yelled for them. As they got closer, Madoka noticed the two guards waving over at them were actually George and Boris. "You two got some Abyssal luck, bloody 'ell! Ain't that right, Boris?"

He ushered them quickly behind the stone walls. Madoka prepared herself for anything by grabbing her sword's hilt beneath her cloak. She felt Audrey's hand once again brush against her back. Did they know they were the ones who battled the slime? Madoka paused. They seemed to be concerned for them. The maid decided that her paranoia was unwarranted but she still could not shake the habit. It was not like she would want to be relaxed anyways.

"I'd say, I'd say," He repeated. "I can't believe you two nearly got swept up in that monster battle! You both alright?"

"Y-Yeah," Audrey stammered. Madoka nodded even though that was a lie. The two guards seemed satisfied with their reaction. She shuddered. Was Audrey's ability to lie somehow infecting her? She was certainly not alright after the battle with the slime and that strange golem.

"'Ey, Boris, you bumbling fool!" George barked at Boris. Guard 2 shot back a confused look. "Use Reverent Noble, you idiot!"

"M-My apologies!" Boris groveled in his thick accent along with George but Audrey waved him off.

"No need," Audrey sighed. The two looked surprised at Audrey's reaction. The maid would be surprised but she went through the heresy of speaking in Noble with Audrey at the Estate. She ignored the bickering and wanted to get some information.

"Do you two know what went on in the battle?"

"You don't know?" Boris eyed the maid. The two reached the gates past the large rock barricades. Madoka could easily destroy them with a weapon or fist since she could sense Knotting magic embedded within the conjurations. "We couldn't see the big monsters through their massive attacks, but they caused these little guys to start attacking our walls. Those creatures usually stay in the forest but something in there got them to flee."

"Ain't nothing we can't handle, yeah," George grunted triumphantly.

"Yeah, nothing we can't defend against in 'ere ol' Livertorjan!" Boris agreed and thumped his free hand to his chest. "We're too strong."

Madoka turned to Audrey, who stood there awkwardly. The guards paid them no mind and kept rambling.

"Armor's stanky, though," George checked himself. "Going to cost a bunch to get this stench off."

"Nah, mate, you're the stanky one," Boris howled with laughter. "No need to get your rank ass cleaned, it'd be impossible!"

Madoka felt bored from the bickering guards so she strode on by into town. She was thankful that they were not in trouble. For now, she thought. They had a duty already to finish and she heard those light footsteps barely scratch the snow beneath their boots. Their walks together were kind of content, a silent comfort that guided the two of them along even through busy streets. They found themselves entering the Guild Hall.

"Greetings," Brown Hair bowed and stifled a gasp when she noticed Madoka. "Oh, it's you two!"

Madoka looked at Audrey. The princess had nothing to offer but a confused look. Brown Hair looked amazed at the maid but shook her head and waved them off.

"Lady Saze provided you with those clothes," the Guild Lady hastily straightened up. "You two look great! Now, I take it you are here for a commission but I recall you have already gotten—"

"Completed," Madoka interrupted. "How do we deliver the herbs?"

Brown Hair still looked flustered at the sight of Madoka though the maid chose to ignore it.

"T-To think you've only been out there for two hours," the Guild Lady's expression filled with awe. A silver scaled tail swished behind her, Madoka never noticed it first but realized that Brown Hair was also related to dragons somehow. The girl shyed down when she noticed the maid glancing at her tail.

Madoka did not know why that seemed to impress the lady but she was done trying to piece it all together. She had enough of this day even if time did not seem to flow the same as she remembered it. Those guards seemed to recall the battle with goblins as if it were an hour ago. However, the two girls had been lost in a different realm entirely from theirs for what seemed like a whole day.

"You can deliver the herbs to us or to the Apothecary directly," Brown Hair smiled. There was something in the girl's freckles and carefree face that made Madoka want to dote on her but she shook her head out of it. "After the fees and items are processed, the commission's notch will be given to you."

"I see," Audrey mused. "Well, we'll going to the apothecary guy then."

"Physician Faragor's store is down the street, you can't miss his potion sign!" Brown Hair cheered. "Good luck."

"See you," Madoka almost bowed but stopped herself.

Brown Hair bowed and resumed her duties. Madoka strode by her princess's side but a glimpse of orange hair flashed in the corner of her view. Several adventurers noticed the maid and cleared out the way.

"Isn't that the new Copper party who took out Juujee's party?" One murmured to another. "Amazing!"

"I want to spar with her! The noble is powerful as well!"

"No the hell you don't! I saw her defeat Skulk the other night!"

"You did?"

"Aye."

Shut it, fools! Madoka wanted to scream over her embarrassment but secretly she did not dislike the whispers. The dangerous reputation alone would make people not approach her. From the corner of the Hall's entrance the mage known as Rin silently sat on a bench glaring at her. Madoka glanced at her and noticed her party was missing. Still angry over her insults towards her princess, Madoka simply gave a menacing smile and let her killing intent flash towards the mage. Rin flinched and looked away.

"So," Audrey scanned the building's signs for the apothecary building. The streets were clear, possibly due to the attack. "What the hell are goblins doing in this world? Are they annoying like the novels I read? Why are they green? What the—"

"Hush, Audrey," Madoka quieted the princess. Of all the things to make the girl question goblins seemed like the least of their problems. "Need I remind you what we've gone through today?"

"Well," Audrey stopped. "You're right, but we're probably going to have to kill those things if they are a thing in this world."

"My heart," Madoka placed a hand on her cloak above it. "I was not moved when I saw those dead things out by the wall. Not quite the same when I hunted..."

"Same for me," Audrey confided. "Although, I don't think you and I are referring to the same emotion. Maybe monsters dying is programmed in our brains... I mean, in our nature to not see monsters as living beings we should care about as one would a child or a loved one."

"Is that so," Madoka left it at that. The two decided to get a move on before the streets became crowded again.

Audrey stopped again as she looked up at the signs hung high from posts of the buildings. Snowflakes pattered her head so she pulled her hood up. Brown Hair was right, Madoka mused at the beautiful clothes adorned around the Royal's slim body like Spring leaves and flowers hung from the Palace's verandas. She was truly an angel — or could be one had she not had such a propensity for dangerous situations. Audrey looked embarrassed and turned to her maid. Her radiance made Madoka nearly flinch.

"This seems to be the place," Audrey seemed like she refrained from a different subject. Madoka knew she was thinking about love. She could tell by her rosy cheeks that it must have been an annoying comment.

Love is always uncomfortable, Madoka sighed. It must have been forcing its way beneath the girl's skin. For how long? Would it fade away before Madoka realized she, too, had love? To be a burden to one's heart by merely existing filled her with guilt. This was Her Highness, after all, even if the "former" Royal did not admit it.

"Madoka?" Audrey's voice pushed through her thoughts. The feeling of a cold handle slipped its way in her grip. She realized she fell into deep thought while in the middle of opening the door. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Madoka scoffed and pushed the door open. The scent of herbs assaulted her nose when she entered the office. This building was connected to the rows of shops on either side of the main road. Beyond the road the guild and the Artisan Forge that Guild Master Koj mentioned rested on the northernmost part of town. Madoka scanned the room when Audrey timidly shut the door behind her.

Various beaker and glass jars full of unknown fluids rested on dusty shelves lining the walls. More vases made of translucent glass stared at back at her as if they each contained lost souls. The jars contained more fleshy objects that wriggled on their own within their confines. Madoka simply dismissed all of that for far beyond those things something else disturbed her more: This place was a horrible mess!

"Coming, coming!" Someone's coarse voice called out from behind a doorway seemingly crammed between two of the shelves. The door itself had a small opening with a shelf on it as well. A reptilian eye glanced at the girls from the spyhole. "My apologies, Narms, but I cannot go beyond this door. My patients need not be further harmed by outside elements."

"Smart," Audrey muttered then she squeaked as Madoka elbowed her.

"We're here to deliver the Carnials," Madoka kept her voice even. The eye in the spyhole pointed at her and then she heard rummaging from behind the shabby door. A hatch opened and then a bowl was pushed out by an old, scaly hand.

"Many thanks, please put them here, put them here," the voice urged. Audrey complied.

"Patients need flowers, huh?" She mused.

"Important, yes, yes," the voice she presumed was Faragor's rumbled. The man's shaky hands scooped the bowl of flowers up. "Treatment for the Possessed. I shall bring you young ones the Writ of Completion."

The mention of the Possessed perked Madoka's ears up.

"Possessed?" Madoka thought of that twitching maid from the inn they stayed in.

"Yes, yes," the hatch opened and Faragor slipped a piece of parchment through it. "I am the only one who cares for them here. It is important."

"Thanks," Audrey simply took the page. A grunt of gratitude was heard as the hatch closed.

"Come back later, young ones," Faragor closed the spyhole.

Audrey held up the Writ of Completion. Madoka could see the golden strands swirl into a complex seal on its paper but it was evident the princess could not see the magic.

"A magic seal is on it," Madoka attempted to explain but she did not know anything else about the Writ of Completion. "Where to next?"

"Food, maybe?" Audrey suggested. Madoka's stomach lept at the word. "We'll take the Writ thingy to the Guild and ask where to get food."

Madoka did not need another word after that but before she opened the door something sharp hit her ears.

Eyes.

Help me.

Give me.

Eyes.

Make me happy.

A flash of gold pulled itself through the corner of her vision so she pulled at the golden chains instead of the door handle. The tingling sensation of the shocking strands and shattering their chains felt satisfying as they guided her fingers behind her ears and the voices stopped. Madoka was not in the mood for invading thoughts.

"Madoka?" Audrey bumped into her maid.

"It's nothing," Madoka lied.

"Your ears are glowing, though," Audrey poked her earlobe. Madoka swatted her fingers away and caused the girl to click her tongue. "Aw."

"It's just a loud animal outside passing overhead so I shielded my ears," Madoka guessed. The cold wind brushed her face and hair as the door cracked in. Truth to be told, she was not sure what kind of animal that was but after her spell lifted she did not hear the voices again. "This magic... It's hard to explain it."

"Ain't that the truth," Audrey sighed. "My magic has hit a wall. Although I'm sure it's more than enough power to stop most things here. I know, I know, no fireballs."

She interrupted Madoka's worries although her face reassured the maid. The sun barely poked through the grey clouds above. The weather here was a lot more cold than Fiara, she mused.

"It's not that," Madoka was not worried about her fire magic. "It's just that in battle—"

"Maybe you and I could do another training sesh?" Audrey stretched. Madoka eyed her and she got defensive. "What, I feel like we got rusty after fighting that robot... Plus you know, you like throwing me around."

"I do like that," Madoka mused in agreement. The princess's incredulous look made her smirk but before Audrey could whine they found themselves in the Guild Hall already. The adventurers inside murmered about them as usual but Madoka ignored their useless chatter.

"Here," Madoka placed the Writ of Completion on the desk before Brown Hair, ignoring the stares of the other Guild Ladies. She seemed to not mind Madoka's attention. "Now what?"

"We'll need your tags to add a notch to them!" Brown Hair explained as she took the scroll and tags. She made a series of simple movements and guided her Golden strands to the two tags. They gleamed and Madoka could see notches forming on her own. "Although Guild Master Luxgor wishes to speak with you two."

Both of them gulped as Luxgor stepped down the stairs with sharp eyes on the two of them. They definitely were in trouble and it was all the magic and Audreys' fault. Can she not do anything normal? Madoka nearly groaned as Luxgor approached them. Brown Hair squeaked as she noticed him and bowed.

"Glad you two made it back," he calmly nodded to Brown Hair but kept his eyes on Madoka. "Now let us speak upstairs again."

Madoka could only imagine what they were going to speak about. How much did the Guild Master know? If Ceghinort controlled the Guilds across the world could Luxgor be in contact with him?

Luxgor sat at his desk and rubbed his temples. He looked quite disturbed over the recent battle between the soldiers and the goblins outside. The girls stood silently as he rummaged through paperwork before stopping at one that seemed hastily drawn up. After a sigh he finally spoke.

"Scouts are reporting some type of Domination magical attack that cleared out a massive chunk of the forest," he raised an eyebrow at Madoka. The maid was confused. She could not cast magic. A snicker was heard but Luxgor could not hear the devil behind her. "They also observed a massive water explosion near the King Slime's habitat before needing to flee."

"Domination...?" Madoka asked. That must have been the name of red strands. Substance, Knotting and now Domination. Her head swam and Luxgor noticed before finally addressing Audrey.

"You do realize that Rustazian Carnials grow in those areas, right?"

Audrey gulped.

"Well," she finally cracked under the pressure. "I didn't know that little Guild Wand could create a giant laser—"

"That's because the Wand doesn't! It's connected to your own power! How do you two not know that? And what was that spell?!" Luxgor looked like he was going to pop but calmed down. Madoka realized they were definitely in trouble now. "The Truth Guild is going to be all over the site soon. How shall I explain it to them?"

"Exactly how you have been explaining it, I guess," Audrey mused. "A monster broke everything around."

"And you," Luxgor stared at the maid in disbelief. What did he see in her? Madoka gulped. "Scouts found shards of several broken swords around the torn up remains of the King Slime."

He withdrew a shard of a certain sword's hilt bearing a familiar crest. Madoka was tempted to lie and say she had never seen such an emblem but instead said nothing.

"This belongs to a certain slave warrior from Esmeralda, does it not?" He finally sighed. The sword matched the other swords Madoka used to swing at it. They were skilled at uncovering clues, Madoka credited the Truth Guild in her mind. She did not care at this point and instead revealed her swords. "How did you manage to destroy the slime's core? Even tier 3 weapons cannot pierce its defenses or get through the shell..."

"So it was a boss," Madoka sighed and ignored his ramblings as she lined her sword's hilt parallel to the broken one on the desk.

"An elite mob," Audrey corrected her. "A boss would probably be bigger."

"Bigger?" Madoka asked. She could not imagine a bigger slime monster. "That seems a little..."

"Iron rank!" Luxgor interrupted their arguing.

"What?" Both of the girls asked at the same time.

"You two are to shadow Iron Ranks tomorrow morning," Luxgor cleared his throat. "Because of your power... or spell... you've uncovered a Goblin Settlement. It was formerly a Sovos settlement known as Tritorjan and now it has fallen to the blight of monsters."

"What is a Sovos?" Madoka asked but then she added apologetically. "We have not been out in the world for too long, sir."

"We who are under Ceghinort's Divinity," Luxgor pointed at himself and did not seem to mind her question. "We are born with an adherence to his Sovereignty. Our scales, our wings, our tails and our lives all belong to worship him."

Madoka was confused since they spoke to his skeleton in the grotto but she turned to her princess. Audrey chose not to speak about how the two of them had talked to him. Before they could continue the Guild Master made a series of movements and activated his Knotting magic. Madoka felt a tug on her neck as the Copper tag floated before her vision. Luxgor concentrated before opening his eyes. The tags began to recieve 5 notches before floating down again around their necks.

"Tomorrow you shall meet with the adventurer parties that are headed," Luxgor ordered. "You are to support them and not cause trouble."

"Yes sir," Madoka saluted but glared at Audrey.

"I never cause trouble!" Audrey protested but shrunk beneath both Madoka and Luxgor's scrutiny. "Nae waah!"

Before they could bicker, Madoka's stomach growled.

VIII.

"Okay," Audrey sighed. "Who knew those guys were, like, insane detectives? Not me, that's for sure. They caught on pretty quickly and even collected evidence at an astonishing speed. Who does that?"

Madoka shrugged and dug into a second Cel Row meat bone that they bought. Her copper bag was lighter now but they had a fortune worth of coins within the princess's portal. She had other foods like "greens" and "balanced dietary" food options but the maid only preferred to devour meat.

The copper commission paid them enough coins to stay for several nights but Madoka knew it was not enough to sustain living. They would have to go and do another commission soon in order to buy more of this delicious food. She was too hungry to process the information Luxgor gave them anyways. Audrey continued her rambling while the maid tore into her meals.

"Now that the ramifications are done," Audrey went on. Madoka offered her one of the few Cel Row chunks to her and was glad the girl took one. Thinking must take a lot of energy so the maid supposed the princess must be hungry all the time since she thinks a lot. Madoka did not even scold her while she talked between bites. "We'll have to resupply at the weapon shop since our low rank sucks then regroup at the inn. What do you say, Madoka? Madoka?"

"Sure," Madoka tore more of the tender meat with her teeth. Three bones rested at her feet already. The princess sighed at the sight of her maid's ravenous behavior.

"That merchant must be hella rich now," Audrey muttered. She tossed the bones into the portal and Madoka put away the leftovers as well. "Anyways, we can't check our weapon inventory right now but I'm sure we're down to our last scraps again. So weapon shop it is!"

Madoka tried to remember what magic the portal was called. Those beautiful and pure white beams of light always arranged in a hexagon. They mesmerized the maid but she dismissed the thought since they were on the march again to what she presumed was the weapon shop. The two poked their heads in through the shop's door and entered timidly.

The shop contained what Madoka expected: Crude weaponry. The shopkeeper eyed them with condescension but did not greet the hooded women. The maid was getting used to people's rude behaviors towards them but still felt the sting of irritation. The shop was quite spacious to her surprise. The wood beneath her boots barely creaked as she walked.

"Pick anything," Audrey examined the weaponry. "I doubt any of this garbage is even Uncommon rarity..."

"They kind of remind me of the shoddy weapons in the dragon's realm," Madoka decided it would best to speak in English to keep their secret. She let the golden strands guide her towards a row of axes. Could any match the quality of Lord Leopride's axe?

"Yeah," Audrey mused. "These weapons were scavenged off battlefields for sure. Efficient, I guess. Though they're probably the reason why their original owners died in the first place."

"What about this one?" Madoka grabbed one of them. The weapon was as large as her own chest but felt quite light. A gasp was heard from the decrepit shopkeeper but looked away when Madoka glared at him.

"Hmm, it should hold up against several of the goblins," Audrey inspected the axe. Madoka handed it to her. They have played this trick on many onlookers and the shopkeeper's reaction amused the maid. Audrey was a lot more stronger than she looked. "The handle is quite weak. The eye is quite worn and not fitting the axe properly so the head will probably fling off in battle."

"That does not sound good," Madoka mused. Audrey placed the axe back and something jingled off of its handle. A copper tag glinted candle light off of it. "Each of these weapons have tags on them."

"I guess we can't buy ones with iron tags," Audrey did not bother asking the rude shopkeeper.

She let the golden strands wrap around certain weapons. Their presence seemed to make the weapons glow yellow just like those ancient weapons she used to kill the dragon. Madoka realized that her magic was picking the most effective weapons from the weakest ones that did not glow at all. Perhaps this was because of the crystal inside her heart, she thought as she took up a glowing axe. Small bursts of electricity crackled from her fist as she held the weapon an admired it.

A copper tag jolted from the energy but Madoka did not mind. The axe was like what the maid percieved herself: Quiet and simple. Audrey looked as if she wanted to say something about Madoka's glowing hand but she did not and allowed the strands to zigzag across her wrist to the axe's handle.

"I'll be taking this one," Madoka declared. It fit her hands quite nicely. Her magic faded as soon as she decided. Audrey grunted in agreement and took a copper wand without much thought. Madoka was about to suggest she should take more than one but remembered the princess's dangerous magic and stopped. "How much?"

Madoka rose to her full height and the shopkeeper nearly tipped over when she placed the axe on his desk. The wooden plate groaned under the weight of both her fist's pressure and the axe itself. Audrey carefully placed her wand next to it.

"T-Tags?" The shopkeeper blubbered in Reverent Noble. Madoka revealed her tag. "Tier 1 weapons are free! F-Free! Take it, take it!"

"The tag says three for each weapon," Audrey whispered. The maid grunted and slammed six pieces of copper on the desk and the girls took their leave. "Perhaps we can craft you a good axe."

Madoka did not consider that idea. Given the girl's extensive and intimidating amount of knowledge in weapons perhaps she could easily learn how to make an axe. It seemed simple enough, she thought. Just put a heavy blade on the end of a stick for swinging. That concept alone did not stir the maid's thoughts too hard.

"Mm," Madoka felt better with an axe at her side. "Where to next?"

"Well," Audrey glanced down the streets. They were filling with people as night began to settle. "We'll sleep and prepare ourselves for tomorrow."

"Hai," Madoka did not try to hide her lack of enthusiasm.

"It's not going to be that bad," Audrey led her maid by the hand. "We're the back up this time, so no crazy stuff. Hopefully. Maybe. What's shakin', bacon? You got a confused look on your face."

"It's these strands of mana," Madoka sighed. She used to not see the golden strands at all. Now they played at the corner of her vision like mirages or phantasms. "I used to not see them at all."

"Now you know how I feel," Audrey chirped. Madoka scoffed. It was one of the quirks of her princess that she did not want to feel. "Now, you probably won't like me saying anything like 'you'll get used to it,' like I'm some kind of unsympathetic loser but I think quite highly of your magic. I'm here to help you practice getting used to it if you want. I got the experience, trust me!"

"Hai," Madoka repeated blankly. At least Audrey was more considerate of her. Was it because of what she said in the grotto? "Thanks, Audrey."

At the sound of her name, Audrey turned and looked at Madoka for a moment. Her majestic eyes held the sky in them like clear sapphires on silky white cloth. She said nothing, however, and approached the Inn's door. Madoka was left with a feeling of sudden loneliness like the sun hiding behind dark grey clouds and turning in for the night.

As the door opened, warm lamp light greeted the two and that feeling vanished as Madoka stepped inside. She scanned the room quickly for a certain rogue and was satisfied when she did not see him. The innkeeper, Ichna, nearly shrunk in fear at the sight of them. Georgia was nowhere to be seen. Could she be at Faragor's shop? Instead, another younger woman was attending to several guests.

"W-Welcome back," Ichna greeted the two in Reverent Noble. "I have dinner for you two soon, sit, sit!"

The old woman gestured to a lone table. Madoka looked to Audrey but the girl just shrugged. Dinner sounded like a good thing to Madoka so the maid sat. Audrey scooted a chair closer and the two awkwardly sat.

"Didn't you already eat?" Audrey muttered but acquiesced at the sight of Madoka's pouting face. "Now you're making me feel like some kind of cruel employer..."

"I'm still hungry," Madoka felt her tummy. Before they could speak she sensed movement from the table behind her. She turned on her seat with a hand on her new axe.

"I know you two!" the stranger behind him pointed. A fellow adventurer? She sensed no killing intent from them so she relaxed. A dragon man, or a Sovos as they called themselves, looked excited as he grabbed another's shoulder with a scaly hand. "See? I told you! It's them!"

"But I don't know y-" Madoka felt Audrey's foot press on her boot. A stern look warning her to behave caused her to calm her hostile tone. The adventurer party before them seemed weak enough, so she spoke to their expectant faces. "So?"

"O-Oh, where are my manners?" The male Sovos waved a hand on his forehead. He had a mostly plain face — free of scales and curly brown hair that twisted behind his pointed ears. His shoddy armor looked like it was a single strike away from caving in. It seemed like it was tinted with some kind of blue coating. The other Sovos, a female with green scales and hair, jabbed his shoulder plate. A crude bow sat upon her lap. "Ach! Name's Eraziror, Pallas Eraziror. We saw you two speaking with the Guild Master!"

Madoka did not respond but eyed the woman and noticed a silent third figure with them. She sprang into an enthusiastic nod.

"I-I'm Kanys, from the Mountain Ustelan. Ustelan Kanys, Iron Rank," she uttered earnestly and pulled out her tag. The ugly bow that rested on her chair clattered to the floor. The girl blushed and awkwardly picked it up. Embarrassing, Madoka judged her silently. Kanys elbowed a snickering Eraziror, who took out his own iron tag. The quiet third member lowered his hood and nodded. The glint of a rough iron tag dangled under the man's silver hair but he seemed like a Narm. Madoka wondered if she was a Narm, but decided she must be one since everyone called her one.

"Shadow," the old man's voice was rough like the scraping of wheel over gravel. "Night Operator."

Night Operator? Madoka guessed Shadow was not his real name but she did not care. He had on what appeared to be a priest's robe that was adorned by many various talismans. They clinked unevenly and seemed like they have been used quite a lot over their long journeys.

"We apologize for the intrusion," Eraziror looked down apologetically. Why was a higher ranked adventurer apologizing to them? "We have a fourth member, but he's uh... not a social one. We were up top discussing our commission when Guild Master Luxgor and Artisan Master Koj walked by with you."

Madoka suddenly remembered the adventurer party that they walked by during their follow up interview. She relaxed while Audrey still remained quiet. Did that girl really expect Madoka to do the talking? She gave her a quick exasperated grimace and recieved another kick to her boot in response. The maid rolled her eyes and turned back to the party.

"So, what brings you to us?" Madoka tried to curb her hostility towards the strange party. She did not know if they had knowledge of the battle in the forest but imagined it would be quite detrimental if they did possess any clue of their involvement. Kanys spoke up next.

"Forgive this idiot!" She punched Eraziror. Her green hair was exotic to Madoka along with the scales that complimented her slender cheeks and lips. "You two are just an inspiration to us low rankers! Ever since you showed those silver ranked bastards a mean lesson!"

Shadow grunted in what Madoka presumed was an agreement. Eraziror recovered from Kanys's punch.

"Well, at least you've inspired us to take part in that monster subjugation commission with other adventurer parties," he continued. Madoka found a plate slide in front of her. A quiet bar maid brought in dinner for the girls as Ichna said and quickly vanished back into the crowded hall.

"Monster subjugation commission?" Audrey finally asked. The trio nodded enthusiastically while Madoka observed her princess's eating habits. She sat up straight while Madoka slouched. She ate carefully, licking her fingers and did not spill. Madoka tried to copied her but eventually devoured everything since the Inn's meals were too delicious to resist. It was odd to her now to remember she was the one who taught the former princess her manners.

"Goblins," Kanys spoke with a hint of nervousness. Madoka placed her food down and listened intently as Audrey inquired for more details. "They're nasty creatures. Quite adept at ambushes and stinking up settlements that aren't lucky."

"Aye," Eraziror looked saddened for a moment. "Those pale green, cut-up eared bastards swallowed up our hometown."

"Are their population centers that problematic?" Audrey mused. "Guerilla tactics means they have to fight and scavenge from nearby civilization..."

She stopped when the adventurers gawked at her rambling. Madoka chuckled at their confusion for that was how she felt most of the time when Audrey mused.

"His Majesty can't spare the troops to stop the spread of goblins," Eraziror continued. He leaned in on the back of his chair and spoke quietly. Madoka took noticed the adventurer party's shabby armor and was worried for a moment but he spoke up again. "Kind Gods silence me, but this problem makes me angry! The army's quite weak and has a lot of their hands tied to Esmeralda's bidding."

He sighed heavily as the quiet bar maid brought his party drinks. She even brought the girls drinks but Madoka had no intentions on sipping such a vile substance. She has seen the horrible things the nobles committed at the Palace when they drank so she refused. Audrey took a sip but had a disgusted look flash upon her face when she swallowed the bile. The party did not seem to notice their little moment and continued.

"So they send us low lifes to clean up their messes," Eraziror placed a hand on his sword's hilt. The weapon has been through a lot, Madoka noticed each dent on the blade through the holes in its scabbard. No strands of her Knotting magic drew even close to it. "Of course, of course."

The two finished their meal and parted ways with the party but they were too drunk. They did not notice the girls slipped away swiftly. Madoka decided against informing them that they were going to shadow an adventurer party into that same commission while Audrey muttered about how bad it was to go to work with a hangover. The two trudged up to the room they stayed in and the view of a warm bed awaited them.

"Ah, my beloved," Audrey called to it like a long lost lover. Was this an inside joke of hers? Audrey tore her clothes off and dove onto the bed. The sight of her beauty startled Madoka and she had to avert her gaze.

"Audrey," she chastised her naked princess.

"Huh?" Audrey mumbled into her pillow. Madoka sighed. To her, being naked in front of the maid was a normal occurrence. She had stuffed her princess into countless dresses after all. So why now did her curves and pristine skin cause the maid to blush?

"Clothes," Madoka scoffed and kept her eyes off of Audrey.

"O-Oh, right, sorry."

Madoka heard her princess scurrying around and the portal opening. She wondered why Audrey was considerate of her and yet forward. Did her love matter that much when she was a servant to her? She would be no different than that fat noble if she simply ordered Madoka to do her bidding, the maid remembered those words while they talked inside the grotto.

"Madoka?" Audrey's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Need a, uh, hand."

Madoka turned to see the princess tangled up in her own nightwear. How did she manage to do such a thing? She groaned while Audrey chuckled sheepishly.

"H-Help me, step-sis," she pleaded. The joke went over Madoka's head but she decided to attend to her.

"You're hopeless," she sat Audrey up. Her hair was growing but at the length it was just enough to be disheveled. She pulled a brush out of the portal and got to work. "This portal of yours is quite impressive."

"I know right?" Audrey squirmed as the brush untangled her hair. "It's —ack— so broken and imbalanced... It's a shame other Devs don't include a bottomless storage systems in their... nevermind."

"It's a shame that your magic is so dangerous," Madoka retorted and pat Audrey's sleeves down. That was a signal that she was satisfied with her work and Audrey wriggled herself out of her grasp. The girl retreated back to her precious bed and rolled over to face the maid.

"Not all my magic is dangerous," she sighed. The twin moons harmonized their shining light in the princess's eyes. "You gotta start small since your magic muscle is puny but that doesn't mean you can't go back to the basics. A simple sword strike can be the most easiest route to end a fight. Though in magic, sometimes some unexpected things can happen."

"They happen all the time, Audrey!" Madoka snapped but felt soft nightwear hit her face. Audrey conjured up a bubble from her hands.

"Remember these?" Audrey popped the bubble with her finger. She jumped at the sight of Madoka stripping her clothes but snapped out of it and produced more tiny bubbles. "I started my support mage job with these little guys. They were worthless against that bear. Perhaps there's something you can start with, too. Though you don't strike me as one who prefers a 'spellsword' job. You're more like a tank, maybe."

Madoka ignored the strange words and stood before Audrey.

"Fine," she nodded and closed her eyes. The crystal inside of her nagged at her to do something.

"Ooo!" The princess got excited and pulled her notebook out. "That's the cool as hell thing you do!"

Her chest felt a jolt of energy from within. It seemed to yearn for an exit so Madoka reached for it and allowed it to escape. The princess's eyes widened but she had to avert her view because of the divine light cascading forth.

"D-Don't explode the inn," Audrey begged. "My beloved bed won't survive that!"

If it was not for the energy in Madoka's chest she would have lost concentration from hearing Audrey's dismissive comment. Instead, her pulsating heart finally steadied and she breached the shining crystal within. Her eyes were closed yet in her mind she could see everything within her soul despite her best wishes. Her hand grasped the rock and her mind envisioned the solution.

"Of course," Audrey muttered and the maid heard scribbling. "You would make that into... that."

Madoka opened her eyes and beheld the crystal's new form in her hand: A shining and perfect broom. The golden strands wrapped around her legs would not stop her from using it. She retrieved a dust pan from Audrey's portal and proceeded to begin her night's duties while her Highness studied her.

"Still, that crystal thingy is quite an upgrade," She peered from her notebook. "What other abilities do you have?"

Madoka shrugged and swept until her energy wore out but she was able to sweep the room to an acceptable measure. The broom shattered into light particles before reforming into a crystal. This was the part she disliked the most, she flinched as it launched back into her heart.

"Does that... hurt?" Audrey wondered aloud but Madoka felt faint. Dammit, she was careless. The golden strands shortened themselves and the predetermined paths they glided along faded abruptly as if they were snipped like a cut ribbon. Her vision blurred. This must be how it feels when one uses too much of their magic. She adamantly shook her head but the tiredness soon took over her body. Her night ended with words of comfort as she felt sheets fold over her:

"Goodnight, woman of my dreams."

IX.

The sound of a sharp breath brought Madoka back from her unconscious state. Her head pounded but the last thing she remembered was messing with that damn crystal inside her heart. There were no strands swirling at the edges of her vision so she closed her eyes again. If she could groan she would but she realized she was not the one who was breathing hard.

The slivers of moonlight slipped their way through the curtains with the breeze gently like soft fingers through smooth feathers. Her bed swayed and the breathing grew quicker. Her eye cracked opened and through her sleep-clogged vision she saw Audrey curled next to her. The curve of her body glistened under the twin moons and the girl suddenly trembled.

Was she having a bad dream? Madoka wanted to wake her up but she stayed quiet for a moment then Audrey whimpered. No, she realized it was out of a different emotion. Pleasure?

Audrey let out another quick gasp and Madoka watched her slip her hand down underneath the sheets. The princess's neck craned upward as she did and Madoka sensed lust and relief overtake Her Highness. The girl rocked back and forth in a dance of hot desire and icy yearning to be held by another. Madoka knew this and yet she did not dare move.

"Want you, Ma..." Audrey whispered softly. "Doka..."

There was something odd in the girl's sleeptalk but Madoka did not answer her. A quivering knee bumped against the maid's thighs but she managed to remain calm. The girl was sorting herself out but that was as far as the red haired girl wanted to know. So she pretended she was asleep and merely rolled to the other side of the bed. The breathing suspended itself as she did but after awhile the bed continued to rock. It must have been only a few minutes but to the maid it felt like an eternity of awkwardness.

"Madoka?" Audrey's voice was deeper and alert but the maid did not wish to interrupt her antics so she did not respond. She felt herself getting tense but managed to contain herself. The princess felt Madoka's shoulder and relaxed. "Heh, mana burn is no joke."

The warm hand removed itself and soon Audrey fell back asleep.

Good night, Your Highness, Madoka prayed for her before she succumbed to her sleepiness. May the kind gods protect you.

The first thing Madoka awoke to were those damn strings again. Golden light traced themselves along the bed, across the floorboards and even in the darkness of the air. The twin moons still hung in the sky but by sheer instinct alone she knew it was morning. She was on her back and did not feel like Audrey did anything to her. If she was honest with herself she did not know if she truly wanted anything like that with the princess yet.

She raised a hand above her head and watched the mana strands slip in between each one of her fingers. There were more important things to worry about and much more work to do! She crushed the strands in her fist and wondered if the chimes of shattering magic could be heard by the sleeping ball next to her. As expected, Audrey did not stir. Her clothes were still folded but they were placed on the bed that was supposed to be her friend's. When she opened her hand again the strands swirled in their own patterns once more.

Madoka rolled out of bed and stood above the sleeping princess. There was not a single worry on the girl's cheeks. With a face like that how could she force her to sleep in her own bed? The maid sighed and stripped off her nightwear. The axe and swords were also placed neatly by the stand within reach. Audrey had some semblance of an idea on how to tidy up the place. The maid noticed her hand glowed faintly but the strands disappeared from her vision.

She would definitely have to practice her magic more as much as she did not want to.

"Ma," Audrey murmured. "Don't you..."

"Audrey?" Madoka asked quietly. The girl was asleep so she held back for the inevitable odd conversation they might have. She was humming a bitter song.

"Don't you go falling in love~

Trust me she's not the one

She won't love you like I do..."

The song touched Madoka's heart and she listened in silence for a moment. She did not realize Audrey was gifted in the art of singing. The girl suddenly sputtered and sprang awake out of breath. Madoka rushed to her side. Cold sweat smeared across her palms as the maid felt her face and wiped tears from her eyes.

"Your High— Audrey?" Madoka held her up.

"Gah! What was that song again?" Audrey breathed. She felt herself all over. "Aaaand I forgot the melody already."

She opened her eyes and peered at Madoka. The beautiful blue eyes traced down her body and stopped on her traveler's cloak. Strands of Knotting magic strayed away from the girl. Audrey groaned and collapsed back into bed.

"I don't wanna go," Audrey flipped the covers over her head.

Eh?

"We have work to do in a few hours, Audrey," Madoka was shocked at the girl's change of mood.

"Bah!" Came the muffled voice from her friend. Madoka sighed but she did not mention she saw what the princess did last night. When she remembered a sense of longing and curiosity welled up within her but she stuffed it down and gave Audrey a stern look. "I don't wanna!"

"I have your clothes here—"

"Leave them," Audrey scoffed. "Don't need clothes to sleep."

"Fine," Madoka sighed. The Guild Master would definitely yell if they both did not show up but perhaps he would half-yell if she arrived. She pushed a hand into her chest and tore out the crystal. Her chest glowed as bright as the sun as she did but the maid did not want to know how it worked. What she did want, however, was a mirror. The crystal obeyed her desire and burst into specks of light before forming into a hand mirror.

She did not see anything worthy in the mirror so she assumed the princess was just sorting herself out last night. Madoka decided to just forget about it and released the crystal when she was finished inspecting herself. As expected, it did not clatter on the ground but instead silently burst into specks of golden light. The particles rushed back into her heart. She did not flinch and felt nothing unlike the night before.

"Go," Audrey murmured. Her voice was muffled from the pillow. "I'll c-catch up."

Madoka gave another sigh as she heard the princess roll over but left her room. Normally, she would fuss over her lazy friend but she had more on her mind. Her steps made the stairs creak beneath them. No one was down in the main lobby of the inn. Nothing but the cold wind and light of the twin moons.

The maid inspected the handiwork and cleanliness of the inn maid from last night and found it to be adequate enough. Madoka felt odd that she only heard her own footsteps as she stepped to the front door. She was tempted to wait until Her Laziness came down but shook her head. Audrey would bother her if she did that. With anxiety building within her, she opened the door. To her, it felt as if she was about to open the Secret Garden's gate from the grotto again.

She steeled herself. The wooden door felt as if it was going to break between her nervous grip. She reminded herself that she has done it before and that she can do it again. Madoka nearly barged herself through the door and prayed to the kind gods that no one heard her commotion.

Her eyes were greeted by a wide expanse of snow between tall buildings. Icicles hung from the ancient stone and wooden roofs like white skewered meat. Madoka felt her tummy and regretted not eating more food last night. To distract herself from the hunger she focused on the crystal in her heart. It was beautiful and alien. Perhaps it was like a parasite Audrey spoke about. Another something in her heart, speaking for her. What was this feeling she felt?

She focused and reached for it. Audrey described the motion as plunging a fist through her chest so Madoka focused on that motion. She hoped to force herself to be quicker on drawing upon its power. Her weapons clinked together as she strode to the Guild Hall but she ignored them and repeated drawing the crystal multiple times. The street glowed as the light from her chest bobbed but Madoka was focused on that odd feeling. The cold rain did not bother her and she was able to move despite the golden Knotting magic wrapped around her legs.

She did not even feel tired so she inspected it. The crystal was still in its original form and fit her grasp as if it belonged there all along. It was comforting to hold and warm to the touch. Audrey's smile shined within her mind. Ah, Madoka realized that was the feeling it gave her. She was reminded of her friend holding her tightly and reminding her that despite everything they were still alive. She clutched it to her chest and smiled for a quiet moment before releasing it back into her heart.

She had the Golem named Hesonoo to thank for this odd and silent friend.

Madoka felt a surge of confidence blooming within her despite walking alone and the Guild Hall was suddenly closer than she thought. Walking with a glowing crystal in her hand would definitely cause suspicion, she thought as she prepared herself to enter the building. Perhaps she should practice earlier or with Audrey in secret.

Warmth filled Madoka's face as she entered. To her surprise, there were few adventurers around. Were they not supposed to be headed out on a monster subjugation commission soon? Madoka wanted to slap her forehead. It must have been in the details Luxgor went over but the maid was too hungry and did not pay attention. Surely, people will come and assembly will happen. A scoff of disapproval came from above her. She caught a glimpse of orange hair from one of the booths on the second floor. The orange haired mage glared down upon her but Madoka was unafraid.

She would have a conversation for now, Madoka thought as she decided to go upstairs and approach the haughty Rin. She supposed she had enough time since she was never the planning type. Perhaps Luxgor or Audrey knew.

"What, here to laugh at me?" Rin said without looking up. The flames inside her voice seemed to have died down ever since her demotion. Her rain dampened clothes spoke to Madoka of harder times. "You stupid slave..."

"No, I'm not here to mock you," Madoka simply sat down on the bench next to her. There were plenty of adventurers headed out now below them and Madoka was sure they were going to be the last ones in the Guild Hall. She simply was killing time before Audrey showed up. She glanced up through the window and uttered a passing statement. "Stars are still up. Morning will be here soon."

"Are you telling me to leave?" Rin suddenly yelled at Madoka. "I don't get you, slave. This is our home. MY home. It was perfect before you shitty people came along."

"Ho, is that so?" Madoka asked with a sigh. She could not prove to this woman that Audrey was not like the other nobles without blowing her cover. She also did not feel like defending her lazy princess this morning either. "How truly perfect was it?"

"You probably don't understand this, slave, but here is freedom," Rin's former flames plaited over her saddened voice. They reminded her of herself and the passion for what was lost. She knew that Rin felt a passion to protect what she felt she was about to lose again because of Madoka. The maid knew exactly how that felt. "I freed myself from the clutches of nobles. I forged these perfect days with the flames of my staff. The staff that YOU cut. I had you down for an incompetent mage!"

The maid shrugged. Rin was not wrong about her assessment of her magical capabilities. She did not care about the staff. She would cut that useless thing again if she was told to.

"And?"

Rain threatened to cave in the window above them.

"I may have lost my ranks because of you, slave," Rin said. "But I am free, unlike you. You could never understand that. You want to hear my advice, as a former slave to a slave like you?"

Yellow streaks began to peak through the dark clouds. Droplets crashed down upon glass but Madoka could tell morning was etched within the sky already. Each time a splash of rain occured, little strands would flitter from their pattering.

"Well I'll tell you anyways," the mage continued. "You should earn enough money to get free yourself. I don't know how much of a hold that woman has over you, but I know a guy at the Municipal Office who can—"

"That's not necessary," Madoka cut her off. "I am fine where I stand."

"So stiff!" Rin said. "Freedom will loosen you up a little, slave girl! Can't even talk right to me. You'll find perfect days around the corner if you come to me."

"Well, I'll tell you what," Madoka relaxed her accent. She sensed Audrey's familiar presence clomping within the hall. Rin's face changed as she recognized a certain tone within the maid's voice. "It's Madoka. Remember the name. Your days from now on might not be those perfect days anymore but that journey has made memories that will remain in you forever. Let today be a new journey. Who you lost, everything you lost, let it burn within you. Don't ever let it go."

"You..." Rin started to sound angry. Or sad. Or perhaps a combination of the two. The voice was strong but the quivering emanated from the mage's soul. "I'll— I'll see you around, Madoka."

"Be seeing you, Rin," Madoka stood up and stretched without turning, purposely revealing her axe and swords underneath her top. She knew her weapons would silence the conversation in a clean cut. Rin stared at them in awe but Madoka had work to do.

The flash of those ugly goblins' dead faces swiped at her mind but she ignored it. Speaking of those creatures, one was slowly approaching the maid. What was that word she used to describe a dead man walking? Madoka wondered. Shambling. That was the word.

"Mornin', partner," Audrey already crawled up the stairs. The nickname broke through Madoka's intrusive thoughts and made her scoff. Her Highness had hazy eyes, dowsed by messy hair and grogginess. Her gaze narrowed on the sulking mage behind her. "What's this? You ain't plannin' a secret alliance against me, huh?"

"Good morning, princess," Madoka greeted her tired highness. "You're late."

"Wha, nae waah!" Audrey pouted. "It's not like there's damn alarm clocks in this world. You were supposed to be the alarm clock."

"I spoke to you multiple times and you rolled over, Audrey," the maid sighed. Another familiar Sovos strode through the entrance. It was Luxgor and the two locked eyes. He looked at her and gestured for her to meet with him. She pushed her princess towards the downstairs where the board awaited them. "Come along now. Trouble awaits down below."

"Nae waaah!" The princess whined but let her maid lead her down the stairs.

From the corner of her eyes, Madoka sensed the mage watching them as they went down the stairs. Did she sense envy or jealousy from that woman? She would not convince her that Audrey is not a regular Noble through mere words anyways so she ignored the mage's stare. The two slowly approached Luxgor. Madoka did not know why she felt nervous but the feeling lept inside her throat. He disregarded her nervousness and eyed her with his own apprehension.

"Good, you two are here," he broke the silence. "I have a party for you to join before we discuss our operations going forward."

He gestured towards the door. It was the same door that led to the arena outside. Madoka hoped she did not have to do another mock battle.

"Don't tell me we have to fight people again," Audrey groaned. Her voice was still groggy but it was evident she worried over the same thing.

"No," Luxgor replied. "The party is outside."

The answer did not satisfy the princess but he opened the door. There were much more adventurers gathered out there. Madoka's anxiety flared but she focused. Knotting magic pulsed along the dirt path to everywhere in the arena but strayed away from the large crowd. They were a lot more organized at a second glance. Madoka could tell they were separated into various smaller groups. They must be individual parties, Madoka observed. She wondered which one they were supposed to shadow.

She also realized the strands did not highlight anyone of worth nor their weapons. This Hall truly was a hopeless place. Luxgor grunted as a signal for them to continue. The crowd ceased their chatter as they noticed the Guild Master. He truly was a powerful man, Madoka wondered why he was afraid of her.

He nodded to several parties but did not stop to introduce them to the girls as he searched for the group like a raptor swooping for prey. He paused and immediately started to stride towards his mark. People dispersed to let him through and Madoka followed. The arcane strands of magic started tracing along the wind and grounds towards the adventurer's party. When the maid saw who they were supposed to shadow she groaned.

"This is the group I am assigning you two with," Luxgor commanded. "You're covering the rear with them and are to learn how they execute teamwork. Understood?"

"Yessir," Audrey grunted enthusiastically. Madoka nearly groaned at her sudden change of behavior but was happy to see her princess was fully awake for now.

A familiar green haired Sovos female and a Sovos male clad in blue tinted armor turned around to face them. They seemed to be standing in front of a silvery rock. No, Madoka realized that the rock was a pile of armor covering a massive tower of a man. The Sovos male looked at them with excitement as he poked the green haird girl's padded shoulder.

"No way!" Eraziror shouted. "You two are with us?"

"Thank our lucky stars," Kanys praised the kind gods. "Hey you two, these are the super strong copper trainees!"

The priest, Shadow, seemed to appear out of thin air. He gave a respectful nod to the girls before retreating back from wherever he was hiding. A loud and deep snort emitted from the mountain of armor's helmet as the whole pile rose. As it did, the glint of a golden tag reflected the grey morning light off its shine.

What Madoka presumed was a man beneath the armor began to slowly walk towards the girls. Luxgor rolled his eyes and proceeded to move along without them. With each step the heavily armored giant took both earth and Knotting magic strands trembled beneath his boots. Madoka could sense true strength emanating from this man but she knew that she could take him if he made a move against Audrey.

Audrey gulped and Madoka stepped in front of her with a hand on her axe's grip as if to challenge his advance. To his credit, he stopped before her. Steam puffed out through the holes of his visor as he leaned down to observe the defiant maid. The two Sovos and the Night Operator simply stared in apprehension. It was evident that this huge walking pile of armor did not do whatever he was doing often. Madoka matched the visor's gaze but did not flash her killing intent. She shall not be scared of something less than a dragon!

"Ah," a deep voice rumbled beneath the helmet like thunder. Madoka sensed a certain satisfaction only people like her could understand. A measurement of strength beneath the eyes that transcends words. Could he sense what she had gone through to stand before him today? "You'll do, you'll do."

The other party members' jaws dropped as they gawked at his roiling declaration.

"He spoke!?"