Lesson 11
Laying roots may ground you, but they don't prevent you from branching out.
Before making our way into town we changed into the attire we arrived in, I still felt uncomfortable around crowds, but being able to relax and act normally was a welcome change of pace after our time in the company of nobles.
We found the guild with ease, and as we had been warned would be likely happen, we were eyed by everyone the moment we entered. It didn't faze us at all, no one there was even half as powerful as master, a fact I found almost disappointing.
We approached the desk as the guild master had told us to do at the meeting the night before, whilst I healed him up after he took on Lia and needed me to fix a rib, a wrist and stop the ringing in his ears.
He was determined to sign us up with the guild after that and got Almick on board quickly. "We'd like to register please." Lia beamed excitedly at the receptionist, who looked surprised but maintained a warm smile. In a tone balancing both politeness and authority she replied by telling us there may not be an age restriction, but the work is dangerous, and registration usually proved both too difficult and expensive for people our age.
The balance was lost in the face of Lia's unwavering response however before being totally destroyed as she added some comment about her husband working really hard to earn money before we left home, making money a nonissue.
The tone was now one of someone who had heard every excuse under the sun, from people trying to work around non-existent rules. She questioned Lia's use of the word husband and unintentionally told her she didn't need to make things up since adventurers were free to partner as they please, in a way that was entirely condescending if only because it was our ridiculous reality.
Not wishing to let the conversation continue, and robbing Lia of the opportunity to wring the inevitable guilt out of her unwitting victim, I passed the receptionist our newly acquired document of citizenship and marriage certificate. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite quick enough to save her completely and after exclaiming that we were the two she had heard about, she apologised repeatedly, feeling the need to excuse herself by saying the guild master had over sold us so much we seemed like fiction born from beverages.
Eager to deflate some of the fuss, regardless of its efficacy I assured her none was taken and that I didn't doubt his inebriation had exaggerated events to some degree, and though I laughed whilst leaning into the convenient chance to add a pinch of salt as to any potential stories he told of us, I found that I felt bad for the comment and any derision it implied.
I realised in that moment though, that under orders from Lia, I wasn't allowed to use magic, forcing me to ask if I could take the magic test at a later date. Though she misinterpreted that as me wishing to delay the entire exam and shocking her when I said it wouldn't be a problem, and I'd just do the practical with my hands. Though she did so hesitantly, she slid over the necessary forms and asked us to fill them out while she notified the exam proctors.
We filled out the forms with little issue but had to ask another receptionist about the "second name" section, who explains that in some places, it is common to have a second name, or family name, and if you don't have one, you would need permission of a lord to take one, not that it was required.
I look at Lia and she blushed a bit, for some reason that was beyond me. The reaction leading me to ask her if she likes the idea of a family name, to which she replied that it sounded romantic and exotic but had no idea what she would choose as one.
The receptionist giggled at the sentiment, before telling us that commoners raised to nobility would often take the lands name, adventures awarded one would take the name of their greatest foe, whilst others, that reached a level of repute in their field, were often named for their profession.
Whether random or providence, I thought back to the night Storyteller offered me the book on my life and how he was reading the text on the ancient kingdom of Kellis when I first entered, summarising the story for Lia and ultimately suggesting we take the name Kellisan.
Lia toyed with the idea before grinning ear to ear and telling me she loved it, but we weren't in a position to ask the lord's permission to take one. I pulled a symbol of station from my pocket, an item Almick insisted we brought with us to avert trouble as we wandered, and asked if we could use it to name ourselves. Her eyes bulged as she laid them on the small, yet decorative trinket, and she confirmed we could, though her referring to me as a young lord made my skin crawl as it dredged up memories of Lord's attempt to promote me at our meeting.
As I explained that we aren't nobles, just humble guests of a gracious lord, she apologised before gathering the documents and leaving to finalise them, telling us she would send an official name confirmation to Almick for us and just in time for the original receptionist to return. After talking to the other receptionist to confirm we had completed the paperwork, she lifted a countertop and gestured for us to follow her to the room where the written exam would be administered.
It covered a few topics ranging from hunting, camping, navigating, monsters, and plants it was a bit eye opening, whilst I was able to answer most of the questions easily, being quizzed on them for something like this made that knowledge seem even more important, and it was a fun brain teaser, though judging by the tester's reaction to our answers, most people struggled more.
Thanking the stars there was only a few fundamental navigation questions, we quietly decided to hold back in the practical more than we originally intended to, getting the impression we had significantly underestimated our abilities comparatively.
This proved to be a wise decision. The first proctor barely made it to the end of the match, with Lia barely warming up and when Lia told them I was even stronger and worse at holding back, they changed the roster, meaning my examiner was a higher rank.
At Platinum, my proctor was the highest rank available, and third highest rank active in the area, but I could have bested him with the opening fist bump if I wasn't limiting myself so heavily. I found the idea of fighting him tedious, and truth be told, the acting was more exhausting than the act. By the end, I was sweating only because I nearly killed him several times accidentally, a fact Lia was most concerned about, though the crowd believed my sweat to be exertion and her worry that of a wife for her husband's safety, which sold the act even further.
Upon completion, we were left to talk to the adventurers in the test arena whilst results were compiled. My proctor was keenly aware I was holding back and asked how much exactly. Honest to a fault I admitted that he was scarcely half as skilled as Lia, and whilst I may not be as skilled, she had only ever beaten me the once and that was only as a result of the first contact rule.
He was already humbled before I told him that on top of that my magic easily exceeded that of the lord's magic advisors I was acquainted with. I felt the isolation I experienced growing up, closing in once more, but to my surprise they were happy and told us how glad they were to have two skilled comrades.
I felt a stir of emotion for a moment in response to their acceptance, but it was squashed when the guild master called us to his office to appoint us himself. As he approved our admission, he asked us the same question about holding back. This time we answered the question with all honesty, dropping the mask of maturity we had got into the habit of adopting around adults.
As we slumped against one another, Lia simply replied that we didn't hold back enough, and I likened the strength I used as what I possessed before my elevation had even taken root. It was then that the guild master gave us some perspective by way of informing us, less than three percent of adventures ever reach the heights of those who tested us, less than two ever reached the rank above platinum, and we were toying with them despite not even being fully grown yet. He then assured us that he had already sworn all members of testing staff to silence about us, before moving onto the official business of teaching us about how rankings work.
He informed us we would begin at copper and could take any copper or silver job, ranking up required the completion of three jobs of a higher rank. He made a point of saying he would leave the rate at which we rank-up up to us, as opposed to the usual automatic advancement.
With the important stuff out of the way he sent us back to reception to collect our cards, but I was left slightly deflated when they said my card would be withheld until I was free to use magic, and pitiful I must have looked, because it remains one of the few times your mother put a pause on telling me to rest.
With that, the receptionist left to get a proctor ready, then when it had been arranged led me back to the exam hall where the adventurers who proctored us were present and shouting that they weren't missing this for anything. The proctor asked if I knew how to cast a fireball, I said I did, and he told me to destroy the targets, however I didn't see how the two were related and just asked magic to burn them to ashes without so much as turning to look at them.
The proctor was slack-jawed, our audience was in hysterics and Lia was shaking her head. After regaining his composure, the proctor insisted I used fireball, chant and all, to destroy them and told me he would retrieve some more targets whilst I study. He handed me a book and made to leave, but I blocked his movement and asked magic to create some more targets as I flicked through the book.
Coming to the page, I skim read the instructions and asked him to hold the book open for me, although confused he humoured me, and I started to speak the chant as I read it from the book. Unfortunately, as the fireball flickered into life, the proctor was forced to stop me, whilst my proficiency was low, my power was off the charts so utilising a form that acts as a crutch for humans who typically can't interact with magic, meant my beginner level fireball could have wiped the guild off the map.
The audience was howling now, wiping tears from their eyes, and complaining their sides hurt. Lia was standing between the proctor, who was yelling and asking me what the hell that was, and myself, who was casually explaining I figured that might happen which is why I just asked magic to immolate them in the first place.
Eventually the guild master came in shouting about the noise, realising the cause when he saw the sand on the floor had ben glassed, and the proctor and I bickering. He grabbed the proctor and asked if he hadn't told him to just let whatever I did slide and write a report, and the man asked him how he could write a report on something he didn't even understand, at which point I stated the proctor had a point, earning a slap from Lia, and making the two adults tell me to stay out of it at the same time.
Three sulking adults later, we returned to the counter with the platinum adventurer who tested me, who carried a note scribbled by the guild master which simply said, "just give it to him" and with that we collected our cards, which magically displayed rank, identities, and permissions.
Though I was told it would usually state what type of magic its owner used mine just said "yes" under magic. I didn't care about the oddity displayed, I didn't know why but I was grinning and staring at my card like Lia did at a tasty treat. I didn't even care when Lia resumed my break from casting, instead I suggested we take a job in town, since copper rank jobs were mostly just chores or labour it seemed an efficient way to earn a bit more money and explore the town at the same time.
Lia was delighted to see my spirits so high, and we decided on our first job, which ended up being, disposing of pests in the brewery's basement.
After making our way straight there, we killed all the rats, limiting ourselves to as close to normal children as we could, enjoying the challenge. When we were finished, the patron thanked us, jokingly saying he'd tip us with a small barrel if we were of age. I showed him our certificate of self-sufficiency, trying to call his bluff as my good mood made me feel more at ease in general, but he merely conceded to me on it, laughing as he gave us the bonus.
"I can tell you two aren't the type to grow up too fast, so save it for a time of celebration, your coming of age or the birth of your first child perhaps. This wine ages well and a couple of years will make it worth the wait."
I told him it would be more than a couple of years at those stakes, and before I knew it, Lia and I were in a strange bidding war as to how long I could make her wait for children. The Brewer reached his limit of the sickly display of young love in no time, and recommended we turn in the completion receipt and start thinking about how we spend the rest of our day.
We skipped through the streets, possessed of a careless spirit I had never experienced before, so decided to simply imitate Lia which made her even happier. Before we knew it though, the job had been completed and we were instantly bored, we grumbled as we lounged around the guild hall, trying to decide what to do with the rest of our day.
Our path became decided however when I pointed out Lia had some grime on her face, and she responded by throwing a drink at me out of embarrassment, causing the receptionist to scold us, nervous as she was doing so, and tell us to go clean up at the bath house and do some exploring, suggesting dinner when we started complaining we couldn't think of anywhere to go. We thanked the receptionist for giving us something to do and went on our way.
We headed straight to the bath house first, then thanks to our handy new magic bag and the changing rooms there, got cleaned up and changed into clean attire before trying to find a restaurant to eat at. We finally found a place which people seemed to be praising as they left, unaware we had inadvertently chosen one which children aren't usually allowed into.
The look on Lia's face when we were nearly refused made me grateful to have the documentation after all, Lia's keen senses had clearly picked up on something tasty and she wasn't beyond violence to sate her appetite. The ambience of the place was like being back at the manor, both the décor and atmosphere brimming with luxurious excess, finely crafted wooden furniture, chairs topped with soft and finely decorated cushioning, whilst the tables were topped with fine cloths emblazoned with lace embroidery and marble busts stood on intricate podiums either side of walls which supported fine paintings and woven tapestries.
As we were led to our table, I stopped to admire one and smiled. Curious Lia asked if I had seen something I like and I replied curtly that I found out namesake.
"This tapestry depicts the story of Kellis, I'm surprised to see Asliaire's work here, he isn't a very well-known artisan and not many works of his survived the fire at his studio, which burned when a scholar accidentally started a fire."
Lia loved me in this state, and when I lost myself in a subject she would simply melt into a comfortable position and listen to me ramble, her moment was once again ruined as the concierge stopped and approached us. Confirming all I had said, and commenting that I must be well educated to recognise such obscure work so casually.
He then dove into the pedigree of the piece and how it came to be in the proprietor's possession. I didn't dispute his comment on my education, whilst informal it was thorough and well received, and I explained that my familiarity with the piece came from the sketch that resided in the very book I had thought of that morning when I decided our family name.
He commented that the book was as rare as the piece I now admired, hinting that the proprietor would be most interested in it, to which I replied honestly that it wasn't mine, but I would ask storyteller if he would be willing to loan it at some point. An offer he graciously accepted on the proprietor's behalf before showing us to our table. It was all new and exciting, from placing our order to having to sit across the table, even I could see the romantic side to the experience.
Desperate for a meal we were more accustomed to, we ate stew and bread, which also proved to be a welcome taste of home, as the vegetables were most certainly Haslon grown. A farmer I knew from doing odd jobs had treated us to stew on one occasion and whilst the meat was much nicer here, the texture and richness of the veg was unmistakable. Complimented by a refreshing fruit juice, pleasantly sweet with a light flavour that was too mild to overpower the meal.
We had many glances cast our way, but we enjoyed our meal with civility and only had eyes for each other as we discussed the day. Desert was a combination of fruit and pastry with a thick cream, that Lia adored, I knew this must be what she sensed at the entrance, and your mother ended up begging the chef for the recipe.
She pleaded with the increasingly impatient man, finally whittling his resolve, with a promise to take it to the grave, I knew she would get her wish the moment she her eyes had that look about them, though another condition ended up on my shoulders, specifically a lengthy discussion with the owner of the venue about Kellis, as well as Asliaire who created the work I had admired earlier and a promise to come by again.
We strolled around town a while, Lia hummed a tune I found myself almost falling asleep to, before heading back in the direction of the manor, when several men surrounded us, slavers.
Displaying the seal once again promised to defuse the situation without bloodshed, however, a comment from one about Lia made my blood boil and mercy was no longer in me. I dashed forward and lifted the man by his throat, telling the others he would die if they moved, pulling a sword from its sheath and melting it away, I lowered him down to look him in the eye then used magic to seal his mouth and eyes, before warning him a word about her or a gaze upon her would see the sealed permanently.
I then instructed the others to leave their weapons, and to get out of town before my mercy completely failed me. The slavers were quick to follow my instructions, and I returned the molten slag at my feet to its original form and asked magic to gather all the weapons into our bag.
Lia was silent until I finished, then asked if I felt better when I returned to her, when I replied that I won't be satisfied until slavery is destroyed, she seemed tense for a moment before asking why.
It wasn't something I enjoyed recalling, my time in the slums, but slavers were a common sight, and I witnessed many children abused at their hands. My recounting of events upset Lia greatly, more so due to my vivid descriptions of violence, she could no longer feel my actions unjustified, nor could she truly accept my determination to see the practice stamped out, one way or another.
The rest of our walk was tense, I had soured the mood thoroughly, eager to correct the evening's course, I took a detour pulling Lia in the direction of the cottage Almick told me about.
When we arrived, I approached the door and sat on the front step. "One day, I want to sit on the doorstep of our home. Absolutely certain you're safe, our children are safe, our friends and family are safe. I want to live long enough, become compassionate enough, to feel bad about the bloodshed. I want to love all I see and cherish all I have. My problem is I'm greedy, I want everyone to experience that vision and anyone who refuses to allow it to disappear. I will only ever kill as a last resort, before that I would even resort to tyranny, truth be told I think a tyrant demanding his people be good, is far better than a king who tolerates depravity."
Lia sat next to me and asked how long I had been working on that speech, I told her ever since that night she dragged me to the hill, and she told me that after five years I should have polished it more, and I told her that someone talking about marriage every moment ate up my time.
We both chuckled, and she asked what I meant by becoming a tyrant, and I admitted it was simply a bad choice of words and that I had no intention to rule anyone or anything. I only meant if using my power brings evil acts to an end without bloodshed then my dream will be perfect, but even if it only minimises it, I'll achieve it all the same.
She mimicked my phrase about contradictions from the carriage the night we arrived, and I rested my head on her and told her that truth be told I simply can't plan ahead, that I only ever do what I think is right and when I don't know what is, I act and hope it becomes clear, then apologised for ruining the evening. Lia told me not to worry, she understood what I did and why I did it, she was just looking for clarity but reluctant to ask even though she knew I wouldn't mind it coming from her.
Having had enough of darkening a doorway not yet ours, we made our way back to the manor.
On the way we reported the altercation to the guards and submitted their weapons to remove suspicion or claim we robbed them, and I asked if slavers were a common sight around Burlot. They explained that they were, but the majority of them of the slightly more tolerable ilk, those who buy the willing to help them escape poverty or pay off debts and no children. I found that knowledge tolerable, if only barely, then asked what would have happened if I killed them.
The guards were nervous until Lia assured them it was a sincere question, not as they initially believed and me looking to know if I had to do away with them quietly. They explained that if it is in clear self-defence then nothing, but if it is in doubt, I would be arrested and tried by Almick personally since as his guest I was his responsibility.
As they finished speaking, Kipis rounded the corner and added that Elshia would scold me half to death first though, the guards were shocked when that had me more concerned than formal trial and Lia found it amusing before asking him what brought him there. She was less amused when he stated his mother wishes to scold us for worrying them by staying out so late, then asked if he had been sent to fetch us, but he corrected her by admitting that he was simply worried we had left without word, having noticed how out of place we felt.
After I told him, I wouldn't leave until keeping my promise to train him and his brother some more, we made our way to the manor.
As we continued, he asked us about married life which caught us both off guard and left Lia looking at me to answer his question, which became a look of disappointment when I answered that it was just a state of being. He called me brave for saying that in front of her, but I responded by saying it was true, that marriage can be good or bad, what matters is how you feel about each other and what you do to show it.
He then asked what I thought love was and I told him it was having a friend who could randomly assault you at any moment and Lia proved my point immediately when she punched me in the gut, with enough force I would have gone flying had she not grabbed my leather overshirt.
" If you ever learned your lesson, the beatings would have stopped years ago." She huffed as I kneeled nursing my stomach. I then wheezed as I continued to explain that despite all the beatings you find yourself as thankful that they still care enough to get angry at you, as you are when they comfort you through your tears. Lia turned on her heel and came to help me up, telling me to speak faster next time, then asked Kipis what piqued his interest. He told us he was due to be wed in a couple of months, to the daughter of another lord and the two spoke about it at length, right up until Elshia began our scolding.
When the lecture ended, we were completely deflated but the concern for us left us warm regardless. Almick referred to us as Mr and Mrs Kellisan and expressed his opinion that the name left big shoes that he had faith we could fill. Muchin and Aisha were eager to hear the tale, and I was happy to indulge them, recounting it with all the passion with which I used to study.
The children were overjoyed, I noted an expression on Lia's face I hadn't see before and asked if she enjoyed it as well but she just said she enjoyed me telling it, forgetting etiquette and resting her head on her arms, which were folded on the table, staring at me until the lord cleared his throat to bring us back into the room, before announcing it was time for the children to retire, Aisha dragged Lia off with her, which left me and lady Elshia alone for the first time.
"Be careful tonight." She warned. "A young lady talking of children begins to wish, and watching her love interacting well with children, makes her wish more. The darling's face said it all, and you to have been forced to mature beyond your years." In response I asked if she had used her elevation to arrange this private discussion, and she confirmed my theory, remarking at how impressed she was I knew the details of her elevation, as obscure a one as it was.
She then got to the point and gave me the woman's perspective on the lesson I received my wedding night, and I was again forced to divulge the fact I seemed to mature slower and had yet to enter puberty, which was far more embarrassing talking to a woman about for some reason.
Things remained the same for the next few days, we completed a quest every day at the guild, went for a walk to explore and I finally got around to training Kipis and Muchin again. The brothers possessed almost no ability to coordinate at first, but Muchin learned quickly and began keeping pace with his brother in no time at all, though he would still be completely outmatched in a straight fight. I accidentally cooked dinner that night, deep in thought on how to be an effective instructor my body clock guided my actions while my brain was otherwise occupied, and I had to apologise to the chefs in no small amount. I was surprised when the only penance they asked me to pay was to listen to their critiques and learn from them at some point, but they explained that all the staff held me in high regard for almost obsessively trying to help when I happened to pass.
Later that week however, as we ate breakfast, we were informed there would be a meeting and we were to be in attendance, no excuses would be accepted and Almick even seeded his pride and threatened to place us at Elshia's mercy, admitting that despite his position as lord, we found her more authoritative than he.
When time came for the meeting we dashed back to the manor from the guild, where we found the meeting was with the lord, as well as several guests, including lords from other towns as well as one we knew, the man who married us, a welcome reunion.
It soon became apparent through the tone of premeeting small talk that this wasn't a normal meeting; this was a war council, the need for which unknown to us.
We demanded an explanation the moment we realised, and Lord explained he had called them here to ask for a portion of their military might, the potential issue of monsters homing in on us had weighed on him and he felt as a matter of urgency we should establish how long we can stay in one place before monsters are drawn to us. Using his knowledge of us to formulate points we couldn't argue, chief of which being that such things were vital information.
Regardless of the value however, to put his and Almick's domains, not to mention that of the others at risk, was unthinkable to us and we firmly objected. Our refusal caused most of the lords to debate with us relentlessly as they tried to sway our thinking until finally the lord of Haslon spoke up.
"I ADAMANTLY OBJECT YOUR OBJECTION!" The childish tone and roaring volume stunning us silent. Our dumbfounded reactions caused him to laugh to the others, and as we stood wondering what happened, he explained to them that a few tricks like that are a matter of self-preservation in terms of prolonged interaction with us.
We remained distracted Long enough for them to formally agree to the base plan and move to a stage we could no longer prevent it playing out, but we slammed the pieces representing us onto the table in the area marked as point of contact, then swept the human pieces back to what represented the walls.
Lia took centre stage then, she had them awestruck as she planned for every potential outcome. She even broke down every monster she knew of into one of three categories based on risk and likelihood of showing up, factoring in rarity, geography, and rumours she heard in the guildhall, then formulating plans based around each one and listing countermeasures as she assigned simple designations.
I enjoyed seeing her like this as much as she enjoyed seeing me lose myself in thought, but I didn't like the situation at all, reckless didn't begin to describe it. Why choose to risk so much when forcing us to move on would be so much simpler. My true bewilderment though, lay with the matter of why I was even present, I was good yes, but Lia was more talented than I could ever hope to be, they needed only tell me my part to play. I sat in a corner most of the time trying to nod off for a while, when everyone started filing out.
Before I knew it, the only people present were Lia, who had moved over to where I was and Lord. "So, I hear you are Mr and Mrs. Kellisan now. A fine name indeed though I must admit my feelings were wounded that my cousin told me in lieu of any letter from the two of you. Your families were delighted to hear the news, Lia's parents have been overjoyed to hear of their daughters cultured change. Storyteller was thrilled as well, that you survived your second attempt at casting that original spell of yours, so he still has the chance to reprimand you in person." My heart was overjoyed to hear he was well, but as my mind realised I had yet to send the letters I wrote, it was pulled back to the part about my coming lecture.
As my gut was telling me to avoid Haslon for a good while to avoid the inevitable, Almick entered, expressing how joyous he found the news and explaining how it was perfect that if it kept up, we would be more inclined to leave any children in his family's care rather than a grandparent. Though Lia began to suggest she didn't understand since her parents were still an option, she scarcely made it five words in before Almick withdrew a letter from her parents.
The letter was essentially a thank you but with a post-script that amounted to a request for aid, since apparently master had sent them a letter of his own and seems to have exaggerated the quantity of public displays of affection. Whilst Lia was certainly overjoyed to have proof her parents were doing well, it was clear that her gut told her it would be wise to avoid Haslon for a good while.
After that display Lord moved in to hug us both, and although only Lia allowed it, he had all but foreseen that would be the case and didn't let it dampen his spirit, Lia enjoyed being doted on by people enough for the both of us, as they hugged she told him how easy the mischief was without his oversight, and he looked to me before saying it seemed she was correct and asked how many slavers it was again.
As much as I wasn't in the mood for a lecture, there was something else throwing me out of balance, and I told them I was going for a walk to clear my head adding that I wouldn't leave the manor before either lord felt the need to say it. I only made it down the hall before I realised that seeing Lord again was making me think of everyone else in Haslon, that what I was feeling was almost certainly home sickness, and I quickly returned.
When they asked if I was okay, I explained honestly, admitting that it was hard to believe we had only been gone a short time. There was no time for prolonged breaks however, and the meeting resumed so those assembled might hammer out details as quickly as possible.
It was eventually decided that we would settle here until we were attacked, but when that was repelled, we would leave to continue our journey. We also took the opportunity to declare we would vacate the manor the next day, not only because we wanted to do more adventuring work, but I felt Lia deserved to make the most of this time and experience real married life for a while.
Almick tried to insist that the cottage wasn't ready yet, and when I said we had enough to buy anything we might need he was on the verge of saying I was ignorant of how much furnishings and upkeep costs, when Lord put a hand on his shoulder.
As Almick looked back to him, Lord stated I was a talented young man who rarely sleeps, that I worked pretty much around the clock for the five years, and I withdrew my earnings from our bag.
Almick's humbling defeat aside we disbanded for the night after he handed the key over and told us to make sure we attend breakfast and say goodbye properly, which we agreed to before making our way to bed for the evening.
As we traversed the labyrinthine hallways, Lia asked why I wanted to move into the cottage so hastily, my answer was simple, I explained I had been failing as a husband in my rush to bring my vision to reality, I was ignoring the present and wanted to change that. She smiled, telling me not to worry as she always did and yet on that occasion it only made me feel worse about the whole thing, so I held her hand and led her in a different direction.
Stopping at the parlour where Elshia was entertaining the women, and privately telling her Almick had me prove my wealth before handing over the key, then openly said we had come to wish everyone good night before retiring. As we closed the door, Lia looked at me inquisitively, asking why I thought to make such effort to say good night, but I simply told her to wait until morning and we went to bed.