We got back to the manor and I found Geraldine waiting in the foyer with Grimoire. He motioned for Deacon and said they’d be in the flower room, the one I liked, and left us alone. I immediately felt awkward and tried to follow, but got a firm look from the butler that told me to stay.
So, I stayed to talk with Geraldine. The foyer was quiet and Geraldine tried to start talking a few times before stopping, trying to get her composure together. I didn’t feel comfortable starting either, so I just waited for whatever she was going to say. I did not expect, “I’m sorry.”
I thought about it, and sighed. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I overreacted. Deacon explained it a bit.”
Geraldine blinked, “Deacon knows about Aura of Trust?”
“Is that what the skill is called?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, and then relaxing because she didn’t need me being an ass. “The first person I felt an aura from was Chamberdeem. It wasn’t pleasant.”
She winced, “The man you’d sent through a table. With certain… appetites…” I could see the connections forming, and her eyes went wide. “Oh… that… That makes a lot of sense why you’d react like that.”
“Yea.” I said, scratching the back of my head.
“My… trait, not skill, is supposed to make people feel comfortable around me and trust me enough to tell me their troubles. I hadn’t considered it was coercing people…” Geraldine looked crestfallen, and despite her being older than me, I felt the urge to comfort her. I got the impression of a woman with auburn hair in a messy bun with a similar look, and it made me reach out to put a hand on her shoulder.
Geraldine looked to me in surprise, and I didn’t really know what I was doing. I said the first thing that came to mind, “Maybe… just try asking to use it first? I do…” I cleared my throat that had tried to betray me. “It doesn’t sound immediately bad, if you know it’s coming.”
“Lady Danielle…” Her hand reached up to hold mine, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, why?” I asked, not understanding.
“Because you’re crying.” She said, wiping a tear from my cheek.
“Oh.” I reached up with my own hand to wipe the tears away. Then I cleared my throat to try and regain some of my composure. “Sorry. Just, been a rough day.”
The older woman arched an eyebrow before nodding, “Well… if you need to talk I will be around more often. Since Lord Calmar isn’t around, I will otherwise be being paid for no reason. While I was hired for Calmar’s benefit, mostly, there’s no reason I can’t help you as well.”
I thought about dismissing her, but she just looked so earnest. I looked towards where Deacon and Grimoire were probably waiting, “Well, I don’t see a reason not to. So long as you keep the aura off.”
She nodded, “I will talk with Grimoire about when best to arrange a meeting, or if an occasion occurs when we are both free perhaps an tea at the park would be more suitable.”
“Sounds good. I need to discuss some things with Grimoire, though.” I started for the stairs and stopped, turning to look at Geraldine. “You aren’t a bad person for using what’s given to you.”
I didn’t see how my words hit as I continued up the stairs, trying hard not to think about the woman who had flashed through my mind. It hurt too much.
“She’s reckless and unstable!” Deacon shouted. I could hear him outside the door. “She killed two people and severely injured a third without any remorse.”
I didn’t hear Grimoire’s response, but I took it as a cue to open the door and step in. I turned and stared at Deacon, before shaking my head. He looked, a little embarrassed. “I didn’t think you were the type to forget the sound barrier, Deacon.”
His face flushed, but Grimoire spoke before he could. “Lady Danielle, I’m glad you’re safe. Did you and Geraldine make up?”
I nodded, “Thanks to what Deacon said.” I walked over and took my usual seat on the couch in the room. “So, why am I reckless? Unstable is pretty obvious.”
The bodyguard winced, but he held his ground. “You put yourself in needless risk multiple times for no benefit. First in the alley, and then in the barracks.”
“With Captain Severn? I wasn’t in any danger. Well, beyond maybe being arrested.” I said, tapping my index finger against my chin. “Though it wasn’t for the alley.”
“What?” They both said in unison.
“They wanted to know where Cal was and question him about the Chatterdouche situation.” I shrugged, “I didn’t have a reason to hide anything, so I let him know. Cal should be back soon, and I have nothing to hide about the issue.”
Grimoire narrowed his eyes, “What happened. Spare no details.”
I told them about my encounter with Severn and going to the crystal. There wasn’t anything particularly exciting, and the butler even nodded in approval. “Nothing of immediate concern. The Captain likely has one of the more advanced skill abilities for Assessment or Observation. I’d recommend avoiding him in the future, however.”
“Except, she can’t.” Deacon said after thinking it through. “Avoiding him will make him suspicious, especially if he’s going to be at social events she attends. Is… what was his name? Germaine?” At Grimoire’s nod he continued, “Is Lord Germaine hosting another event soon?”
Grimoire considered the question, “Last reports had him traveling to the capital, which are about a week old. If he goes there and then comes right back, it’ll take another two or three weeks with good travel times.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Anyone else holding events?” Deacon prompted.
“Hm…” Grimoire thought about it, “I see where you’re going with this, and I agree. I’ll look into it and inform you both when I have an answer.”
I nodded, “Good enough for me. I feel comfortable enough with myself at the moment that it might be time to focus on some more… class related skills.”
The butler nodded, “Dancing will suffice. Some etiquette lessons as well, but those won’t be an issue for you with your capabilities as they are. I’d feel more comfortable if you’d practice your newly acquired skills to at least Tier 2.”
Deacon looked at Grimoire, “Tier 2? I can help with Wind Manipulation, but she’s on her own with Fire Manipulation. I don’t have the skill and only know enough about it to not mix the two.”
I clapped my hands together, drawing their attention, “Sounds like we have a plan. Grimoire, do you want to check on potential parties? I need to have a word with Deacon before dinner.”
The butler nodded, “As you wish.” He bowed and then left the room. The door closing sounded particularly loud in the quiet that followed.
I looked at Deacon and motioned with my eyes to the door. He looked confused, “What?”
I groaned audibly, “Cut the sound so we can talk in private.”
His mouth formed an ‘O’ and he let out the soft whistle, and the room seemed to snap as it was closed off from the sounds of the outside world. You never realize how loud the world is until you can’t hear it… My thought was interrupted by Deacon, “I can’t keep this up forever. Let’s make this quick.”
“If you’re going to keep working with me, we need to be honest with each other.” I said directly, “And you may have had a point.”
“About what?” He said suspiciously.
“I am reckless. And… less than stable.” I admitted, “I’m not blind to my issues, and I do need someone to call me out on them. So…” I took a deep breath and sighed, “Thank you for bringing it up to Grimoire.”
He was speechless, and I certainly didn’t blame him. I wasn’t blind to the fact that I’d been distracting myself with training and reading. Avoiding the party was part of that. Even more, I wasn’t blind that I wasn’t in a good headspace. The nightmares that still hadn’t stopped and occasional flashes from another life were a good reminder of that if nothing else.
“But, I would like you to come to me first, if you can, next time.” I added. “I need to know I can trust you with more than just my life. You understand?”
Deacon took a deep breath and took his hat off as he rand his hand through his hair. He set it down beside him and grumbled as he looked at the remains of his useless arm he kept in the sling. “That’s… fair. I guess, Lady Danielle.”
I leaned forward and put an elbow on my knee as I looked at his arm. “Dani.” I reminded him. “In private, please call me Dani.”
“Right… Dani.” He looked like he was trying to fit the words to the person like a puzzle piece that wasn’t quite right. “And if you’re being unreasonable?”
I hummed as I thought about it. Was he asking if he should still try if I wasn’t being reasonable? Or was he trying to see if I wanted him to follow the rule regardless. “Then keep me alive and tell Grimoire. Though if you’re trying to bring me to my senses… you could try another name.”
He furrowed his eyebrows, “What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath. Zeratus, you better be right. “If I’m being unreasonable, try a different name to snap me out of it.”
“Call me Alexei.”
Captain Severn stared at the sheet that had recorded Lady Danielle’s character sheet.
Name: Danielle Rosecrest
Age: 17
Race: Human
Class: Noble 7
Class EXP: 2191/6400
Experience Bank: 421/2000
Statistics Summary
Physical: 101
Mental: 70
Mana: 24
Skills
Assessment: Tier 1, Rank 8
Unarmed Combat Tier 2, Rank 1
Cheap Shot Tier 1, Rank 2
Mana Sense: Tier 3, Rank 14
Speed Reading: Tier 1, Rank 0
Deception: Tier 0, Rank 2
Staff Combat: Tier 1, Rank 1
Mathematics: Tier 2, Rank 13
Throwing: Tier 1, Rank 3
Tonfas: Tier 2, Rank 3
Two-Weapon Fighting: Tier 1, Rank 7
Swords: Tier 0, Rank 1
Dancing: Tier 0, Rank 0
Sprinting: Tier 0, Rank 3
Small Blades: Tier 0, Rank 1
Freerunning: Tier 0, Rank 3
Traits
Noble Birth
Second Chance
Spatial Closet (Tier 1)
Intrinsic Mana Manipulation
Extrinsic Mana Manipulation
Spells
Healing: Tier 0 Rank 4
Scan: Tier 0 Rank 2
There were… inconsistencies. Nothing a casual glance would catch. But he wasn’t looking casually. He was looking for oddities.
Spaces were oddities.
Additional words were oddities.
Her reactions were oddities.
It hadn’t been much, but he had caught the reluctance to be seen by the Gilded. Maybe she had thought she’d have to handle the cost, but it would have been negligible looking at her internal currency.
Another oddity.
Even a lot of nobility didn’t understand how the internal currency systems worked. Merchants had made sure the knowledge was, if not secret then exceedingly difficult to find out about. The common knowledge was to visit a priest often so you didn’t start raining crystals out of your body. Some even called it a sickness, and ostracized people over it. Even thieves who could steal directly from it didn’t realize what they were taking from.
Severn knew because of an ex while he’d still been a normal Guard. She’d been training under a merchant and had let it spill after some drinks and fun in bed. Sometimes he thought about her, wondering what life would be like if she hadn’t gone missing after a trip not even a month later.
It likely wasn’t related, but days like today made him wonder. Oddities upon oddities, never quite lining up like they’re supposed to.
Like missing spots on a sheet.
Like missing traits.
He drummed his fingers on the wood of his home desk, considering what to do. By law, it wasn’t enough to pin any crime on her. But anything that could hide from his authority while connected to a crystal…
And that interference at the start, before her sheet came up…
Too many things didn’t add up.
It had been too long since he’d had a good puzzle to work on.
THINK it should come up too soon for it to be set. Like with clay, there's room for fixes before the work solidifies. I also think anyone on the fence about Deacon will eventually come around after this chapter, though.
