Xenia sat cross-legged on the floor of the storeroom behind the kitchen, surrounded by shelves of pots, pans, and stacked crates of supplies. The faint golden light of the morning sun streamed in through a small, high window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. The room smelled of aged wood, dried herbs, and a faint hint of flour mixed with the earthy tang of root vegetables stored nearby.
"Come on… three and six! Ha!" Xenia exclaimed, her voice triumphant.
"Tsk," the kitchen boy muttered as Xenia grinned and scooped up the prize pool sitting on the makeshift table – an upturned pot. The spoils of her victory included a modest piece of cheese, which she promptly tossed into the air and caught in her mouth.
The boy, slightly younger than Xenia, crossed his arms in frustration. His freckled face twisted into the expression of a sore loser, though his hurt pride as a player seemed to outweigh any real anger. To Xenia, his name was a fleeting detail she couldn't quite recall. Had he even told her? Had she asked? It didn't matter. The dice had been cast, and the cheese was hers.
"You know, I don't even like cheese," Xenia said with a smirk, savoring her victory more than the taste.
The boy grimaced.
"You look like you're enjoying it, Lady Xenia."
Leaning back on her hands, Xenia grinned mischievously.
"Of course. Winning it from you makes it taste better."
Her wager had been a small gemstone, nothing remarkable but still far more valuable than the boy's modest offering of cheese. She couldn't even remember where the stone had come from – likely an ornament for some dress she would never wear. To others, the stakes might have seemed wildly uneven, but to Xenia, they were fair. The kitchen boy's gamble carried weight – that piece of cheese had been precious to him, something he'd saved for himself. To Xenia, the gemstone was little more than a pebble.
Unable to bear her smug expression any longer, the boy snatched up the wooden dice and set them on the pot again.
"Let's go again."
Xenia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Do you even have anything left to offer?"
The boy hesitated, glancing away as he wracked his brain for something suitable.
"Nothing appropriate…" he muttered.
Xenia chuckled, about to suggest they play for a future favor instead, when a distant commotion interrupted her thoughts. Voices called out from beyond the window, accompanied by the rumble of wagon wheels over cobblestones.
She froze, her sharp ears catching the distinct rhythm of activity outside. Her eyes widened, and she jumped to her feet in one fluid motion.
"We'll play again soon!" she called as she made for the storeroom door, her steps quick and purposeful.
"Xen- My Lady! Wait! Your gemstone!" the boy called after her.
"Keep it!" she shouted over her shoulder before disappearing.
She sprinted through the hallways, her steps echoing off the stone walls. She practically flew down the great spiral staircase, causing two chambermaids to leap aside with startled cries as she barreled past. They clutched their aprons, faces pale as if they had just witnessed the passage of a storm.
But the closer Xenia came to the entrance, the more she slowed her pace. She noticed, almost with embarrassment, that she was smiling and quickly wiped the expression from her face.
I look like a child, she thought bitterly, ruining the fleeting moment of joy. Of course, she wouldn't rush down for just any visitor. No, this particular visitor wasn't even the reason for her excitement – it was who would be there to greet them.
When she stepped into the courtyard, the grand fortress gates already in view, her eyes fell upon the three figures waiting for the arrival. Velora stood in a simple gown on the right, Lady Hilla occupying the left. And at the center stood the Lord of the House himself.
Xenia's father was a tall, lean man whose aura of elegance seemed only to grow with age. His golden-blonde hair, streaked with a faint orange hue in the morning light, was slicked back as always, framing a face of stern nobility. He wore the red-and-white robes of the house, the emblem of the fox emblazoned proudly on his back.
Xenia forced herself to walk at an unhurried, casual pace, though her heart beat a bit faster beneath her composed exterior. Only, she stumbled on her own feet and nearly fell, catching herself just in time to straighten up beside Velora. Her sister gave her a brief glance but quickly turned away.
Was she still angry? Or sad? Maybe even hurt? Xenia wondered.
Velora's expression betrayed nothing, the practiced neutrality she always wore around others firmly in place.
And Xenia had to admit, she felt terrible now that she saw her. Usually, she knew that her sister would soften up if they were alone, but now she had the feeling that Velora's coldness was specifically directed at her.
Either way, now wasn't the time for reconciliation.
Lord Askar glanced at Xenia and gave a curt nod. Xenia felt her lip twitch. Three days without so much as seeing him, despite living in the same fortress, and all she received was a nod? It irritated her almost as much as it irritated her that she returned the gesture without hesitation. Then her father's gaze returned to the gate.
Thankfully, Lady Hilla's unpleasant face was hidden behind her father's shoulders. Xenia turned her attention forward as well. A wagon rumbled into view, drawn by two heavy oxen whose slow, deliberate steps clattered on the cobblestones. Every time Xenia saw one of these cumbersome beasts, she wondered why the professor hadn't yet invented something to replace them. After all, locomotives already existed.
Beside the oxen walked the tender, while two men sat on the wagon's flatbed. One of them was the professor himself, and the other was his assistant, that alchemist… what was his name again? Something like Ju… Junky? No, surely not.
The wagon stopped a few meters before the gate. The alchemist jumped down first, then helped the elderly professor descend. Lord Askar stood with his hands clasped behind his back, making no move to approach. The Jarakan way was to let their subjects come to them.
The professor, his crooked back barely able to hold him upright, shuffled forward with painstaking slowness. He and the alchemist both bowed deeply, though the professor's age made the gesture more of a trembling nod. His voice was hoarse as he addressed the group.
"My Lord. My Lady..."
Blah blah blah.
"… an honor to be received by you."
Xenia waited, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Her father had yet to speak, and she knew better than to interrupt. At last, Lord Askar's rigid posture eased, and he offered a slight smile.
"Professor Hornback. I trust your journey was pleasant?"
He extended a hand, which the professor took with shaky fingers.
"Of course, my Lord. It is always wonderful to ascend to this high place. The sun shines so much longer here than down below."
Lord Askar gave a faint chuckle.
"So does the rain fall just as long. I see you've brought your assistant again. Julius."
Julius! That was his name, Xenia realized. The alchemist bowed slightly, his unkempt dark hair nearly falling into his uneven face.
"Soon enough, I'll be handling these deliveries myself, my Lord," Julius said.
The professor laughed.
"Soon, perhaps. But not today. For now, I still serve Lord Askar directly."
Lord Askar paid no attention to their banter, his tone sharpening as he asked, "Then I trust you've brought the Soulfuel as promised?"
The professor's head dipped lower.
"Not entirely, my Lord. Julius, fetch the crate."
Julius struggled to lift a heavy wooden crate from the wagon.
"Should I take it?" Xenia offered, watching him wobble under the weight. Julius hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Don't be rude!" Lady Hilla hissed from the side, but she fell silent when Lord Askar cast her a single glance.
With great effort, Julius carried the crate forward and placed it at Lord Askar's feet.
"Careful," the professor cautioned as Julius pried it open.
Inside the crate was a compartment designed to hold thirty vials, each carefully padded for transport. But one slot was conspicuously empty.
"The order was for thirty vials, Professor Hornback," Lord Askar said, his tone cool and precise.
The old man bowed his head deeply, his voice steeped in apology.
"I know, my Lord. But unfortunately, an unexpected incident disrupted production."
Xenia bit her tongue to keep from speaking. 'Unexpected incidents' were a convenient excuse for incompetence. Yet before she could dwell on it further, Julius's frustrated voice broke through.
"I was attacked!"
Lady Hilla's eyes widened in exaggerated alarm.
"Attacked? By whom?"
Julius's face contorted into a grimace, starkly contrasting the professor's composed regret.
"A gang of Oilrats ambushed me! They stole four of my vials!"
Lord Askar raised an eyebrow but remained silent, his piercing gaze settling on the professor. It was clear he expected a more measured account.
The professor, understanding the unspoken demand, nodded solemnly.
"It is true, my Lord. A most unfortunate event. Losing the vials was a significant setback, and despite working tirelessly with many additional hours, we were only able to produce what you see before you. My sincerest apologies."
Lord Askar's eyes moved to the crate, his expression unreadable as he studied the remaining vials. Xenia tried to decipher his thoughts but could glean nothing beyond a faint glimmer of regret – or perhaps resignation. Whatever he felt, he would not show it openly.
Finally, he exhaled, almost wearied.
"I see. How did this happen, Julius?"
Julius hesitated, his unease growing under the weight of Lord Askar's stern inquiry.
"I had an appointment at a tavern, but the Oilrats were waiting for me there. The innkeeper… Ben, I believe his name was… he must have been involved!"
"You brought liquid Soulfuel to a tavern? Alone?"
Lord Askar's voice cut through like a blade.
Julius's face turned ashen. He shrank under Lord Askar's towering presence, stammering, "I… I was ambushed, my Lord. Please, understand…"
With a raised hand, Lord Askar silenced the alchemist's stammering. His tone remained firm but measured.
"Do not let this happen again. For today, I will let it pass."
The professor bowed deeply, his aged frame trembling slightly.
"You are most gracious, my Lord."
Lord Askar nodded curtly.
"I thank you for the delivery, Professor Hornback. Your payment will be delivered tomorrow." Then, to Xenia's hope, his gaze turned toward her. "Xenia, take this to my workshop."
Xenia silently celebrated the victory and refrained from questioning the order. Lady Hilla, on the other hand, could not hold back her disapproval.
"You entrust her with the Soulfuel again?" she scoffed. "One day, she'll drop it in her laziness!"
Lord Askar's tone was clipped as he replied, "Yes, and no, she won't. And Velora will accompany her."
Velora nodded obediently. Xenia stepped forward, closing the crate before hefting it into her arms. It was heavier than she had anticipated, but she would sooner bite her tongue than show any sign of effort. Unlike Julius, she had no intention of looking foolish.
"I would like a private word with you, Professor," Lord Askar said, his voice softer now. The old man inclined his head in agreement, and Xenia took this as her cue to leave. Velora fell into step beside her.
Lady Hilla moved to follow them, her face set in a determined scowl, but Lord Askar's voice halted her mid-step.
"Not you."
She turned, her features contorted with fury, but when her gaze met Lord Askar's, she faltered. For a brief moment, Xenia thought her stepmother might explode, but instead, Lady Hilla spun on her heel and stormed off, her frustration palpable.
Xenia resisted the urge to smirk. She said nothing, instead turning toward the corridor that led to the workshop.