When Adrian and I were six, Pa took us out to his fields and gave both of us a wooden spade. “It’s about time you two learned somethin’ an’ ain’ jus’ muckin’ about in the woodlot, ya hear?”
It was 5:30 in the morning, and Amaril’s Gaze wasn’t even over the horizon. I remembered just feeling tired, barely able to keep my eyes open. Addy was much the same, drooping over and closing his eyes as Pa talked.
“All ya two gotta do before breakfast is till a tile. Won’ take ya more than 30 minutes if you do it right quick, y’know?” Pa said, putting his hand on both of our backs and pushing us to the fields.
It was spring. This was before the Floran’s and their request for corn. The fields were far more varied and full of life, and not the unending haze of miasmic-tinted corn. I yawned and felt dirt under my fingers. It wasn’t the first time, but it might as well should have been! Millipedes and pillbugs and other cute crawly things skittered around, and I lifted an earthworm from the soil.
I tried showing it to Addy, but he squirmed and moved away, getting back to the task at hand. He was always like that; I think that was a lesson his father had instilled in him, being a [Hero] in his own right. Addy’s Ma was a [Knight] too, but with how often they were out, he had spent most of his days at our house.
30 minutes later, Pa had returned with juice for both of us. He inspected Addy’s tile first, rubbed his head, and patted his back. Addy, of course, made his spots clean and smooth, the topsoil shifted about properly, and the tile just looked like one dark-brown field.
Pa came over to inspect mine, and his expression froze on his face. I could still remember the confusion, and disappointment in his face. He looked at Addy, patted his back and told him to go run inside.
I stared down at the dirt, wiggling my toes. I knew I did something wrong. Pa took a step beside me, and then knelt into the dirt. His calloused, old hands patted my shoulder, and gave me a warm squeeze. “Princess, did ya get distracted while you was workin’?”
I nodded slowly, and held up my collection of worms. Pa’s eyes went wide and he just snickered. “Just like yer ma. But… if you’se goin’ to be takin’ over the farm someday, you can’ be tillin’ like this.”
His finger came down to a line of dirt between the rows in each tile. It was a small mound, but it created a clear separation.
“This, princess, is called a Balk. It happens when ya rush the work, an’ don’ consider what you’re shiftin’ about. Instead of having one, large usable land, you’re making a boundary you can’ cross.” Pa leaned down to take the spade I was working with, and guided my hand to touch his.
“Instead of workin’ with what’s in front of ya, consider doing a bit more, and you won’ be makin’ a tract like that.” Pa’s method was… different from mine. Instead of finishing one line completely and moving directly to the rest, the spade went halfway into the dirt, and halfway into the freshly dug topsoil.
It removed the tract, but it was so slow. Pa must have saw the expression on my face, since he just smiled, and leaned in to kiss my forehead. I wrapped my arms around him.
“I know, princess. It’s slower… but an honest job done right is better than a bad job done quick. Look at the Neighbor Boy’s. His Pa ain’ around much an’ he’s rightly thorough.”
“Addy’s dumb, dad!” I whined. “He’s always hangin’ out here and not with his family!”
Pa looked into my eyes for a moment, and his sparkling green shimmered like the forest. “You’ll understand someday, princess. But come inside and have breakfast. I’ll teach you how to plant some carrots today too.”
I didn’t do that right either.
Of course, when we entered the house, Adrian had to put his hand on my shoulder.
“Lady Hart, are you alright?” He asked, giving my shoulder a shake.
My eyes fluttered, the young, thin, boyish face being replaced with the… well, young, thin, boyish face. I pushed myself back from the grip, and Adrian’s hands hung in the air for a moment longer. His lips went flat, and his eyes shot downward.
“I’m fine. Was just thinking about something. But you. ‘Lady Hart?’ Not seeing each other? Did something happen?” I said.
Adrian closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose. His jaw was clenched, and he slowly exhaled. Only then, did he open his eyes and straighten up. He moved back behind his desk.
“Lady Hart, do you remember what I am?”
“A [Paladin],” I scoffed. “Though, might be an [Archon]. Maddy said that was what you were likely to become when she tutored me in magic.” I… lied? It wasn’t the full truth, of course, but she did help, and mentioned that Adrian was likely becoming one way back when we met.
Adrian’s eyes again went downwards, and I could see a frown crack into his forced-neutral face. “Maddy? So you are friends with that [Witch]?”
“Yeah?” I replied.
His head nodded out the window, where I could see Tarskel talking to that crazy looking woman, Ser Bert, and a blonde woman. She had long, blonde hair with brown roots, and her blue eyes sparkled. She looked wispy and thin, and the black mascara she wore did make her eyes pop.
I turned back around to look at Addy. “Who is she?”
“...Benzine Marigold? Not related to the Queen’s Arm. That’d be Maddy’s sister. Coven Sister. Don’t think they’re actual sisters.”
I tensed in my chair, and I could see that Adrian caught my reaction. He just slowly exhaled through his nose. “Why is she here?” I asked.
“I’m not keeping her, if that’s what you’re wondering. She’s staying on her own wants. Told her she could leave, but she said she finds me ‘interesting, for a goody two-shoes’.”
“That sounds like Maddy,” I laughed, but Adrian didn’t join.
In fact, he said nothing. I couldn’t think of what I wanted to say either.
We always had something we wanted to say.
We sat in silence for a few moments, eyes watching each other. I know in my novels it’d be something trite like predator and prey, but this felt more…
…I dunno. I felt like I said somethin’ wrong? It was an odd feeling, and that ‘rising’ ball in my chest wouldn’t go away. Was I not supposed to laugh? Was Benzine being here a bad thing? Was he not a goody two-shoes?
“Look, I didn’t mean anything by callin’ you a goody two-shoes, Addy,” I pleaded.
Adrian’s face contorted in confusion. “I am a goody two-shoes, Lady Hart. But… no, Maddy ain’t right, nor is anyone else calling me an [Archon]. I mean, an impressive guess from the [Witch] to know church history, but that's a…”
He paused, and put his hands on his desk. I leaned in.
“Remember when we were talking about using a [Veil], Lady Hart,” Adrian asked.
I slowly nodded, and my heartbeat picked up. My fingers pushed into my palm. Figures that’s why he let me in, wanted to know everything, and is being so distant. I could feel my nail pushing into my skin, but I had to stop myself before I made myself bleed.
“I have a [Divine Veil],” he bluntly stated, his eyes watching mine.
I pushed back, mouth agape and eyebrow raised in utter confusion. “A what now?”
“[Inspect] Me… Ashley,” he ordered.
I swallowed, the lump in my throat not disappearing. I used [Inspect]. His tooltip - his self made biography popped up.
“EXCUSE ME, WHAT ON AMARIL’S NAME?” I immediately shouted.
“I kno–” he began.
“She ain’t your childhood swee-” I began, and we both looked at each other.
I was expecting us to laugh. We didn’t.
“...Lady Hart, she is. And we’re to be wed. You are the Chief Brideswoman as my sister and nothing more. I expect you to take care of my wife, your sister-in-law, with the respect she deserves.” Adrian’s voice was… stoic and forced. I felt like I could hear it crack. I wanted it too.
I said nothing, and Adrian finally broke the silted air. “...You saw nothing else strange with that?”
“Uh…” I slowly began. Adrian let it linger, but I couldn’t find what he wanted me to see.
“...Ashley, I’m now aligned with a Deity itself, and I have a [Mythic] role. It isn’t [Archon],” Adrian dryly explained. “Needless to say, don’t tell anyone. [Inspect] me again.”
I did so.
I nodded slowly, and Adrian sat down. I didn’t dismiss EITHER of the tooltips. Every time I saw those words, it filled me with… both anger, and a gnawing pit in my stomach.
“Can I see yours?” Adrian broke the silence.
“Yeah, sure?” I responded. He waited for a moment, then finally shook his head.
“Take it off private?”
“How do I do that?” I immediately asked.
“...Have you never set your biography?” He quizzed.
“No…?”
“Just… pull up your sheet, and look under the hero tab.” He sat back down on his chair and poured himself another ounce or two of whiskey.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Careful with that bo–”
“I can’t get drunk, Lady Hart. I’m immune. Now, stop stalling,” he responded, and I huffed.
I opened up my status screen… and there were just a lot of new options. I still had my limited inventory due to my low strength, but my eyes were drawn to the new tab beside my classes and skills. It technically was always there, but I just never really pulled this up. I had easier ways of checking my inventory, and as a [Student] and [Farm Girl], this was just a lot of information that I didn’t rightly care about.
[Hero].
I opened it.
[ADVENTURE CLASSES]
NONE
[COMMONER CLASSES]
ENTOMOLOGISTLVL 4
COOKLVL 2
MINERLVL 1
FORESTERLVL 1
FISHERWOMANLVL 1
[MYTHIC POSSIBILITIES]
LOCKED TILL LEVEL 6
BIOGRAPHY NOT SET.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SET YOUR BIOGRAPHY?
I pressed yes.
Well, a few of those were straight out.
[ADVENTURE CLASSES]
NONE
[COMMONER CLASSES]
ENTOMOLOGISTLVL 4
COOKLVL 2
MINERLVL 1
FORESTERLVL 1
FISHERWOMANLVL 1
[MYTHIC POSSIBILITIES]
LOCKED TILL LEVEL 6
I set everything, and looked at Addy. “Okay, done.”
Adrian peered at me, and looked at the air beside my head. He took another sip of whiskey, and put it down. He sat in place for a moment, before immediately standing up and offering me his hand.
“Well then, Lady Hart,” his voice became fast and happy. “It was a pleasure seeing you. Let me know if you find anything about Bazerie, and if you find yourself free, the Phoenix’s Envoy moored at the beach a bit farther away from here near the bay. They could use some medical help.”
I looked at his face, then his hands. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
His face went back to neutral. “Ashley. You're lying to me.”
I said nothing but couldn’t meet his gaze.
“I don’t know what you’re lying to me about, and I suspect it’s something illegal. But there’s a difference between the Queen’s Law, which I hope you’re breaking, and Amaril’s Law. However, I… gave you plenty of chances to be honest with me.”
“It doesn’t concern ya, Addy!”
“Is it just about the money?” He shot back.
“Yes! But, no, it’s something bigger than that!”
He kept his mouth shut. The ticking of the clock continued to march on, while his hand remained in the air.
Harsh dismissal.
Adrian sighed, and finally broke the silence, gliding his hanging hand over his brown hair. “My Mentor had a saying: What has happened, will happen. What can happen, already has happened.”
My eyes narrowed and I froze in place. “Your mentor? Why would he be saying a thing like that?”
“Yeah, it's a weird statement. All he meant by it is that when you try to force an event, you make it never come true. You kind of just…” his hand raised in the air before letting his fingers wag and fall like rain on the soil. “...have to let other people do what they want and help them, even if it's to an end you don’t like. Which is why I can’t support you anymore. I have to let you go.”
“That’s not what that means, is it? It just means…” I tried again.
He raised his hand to stop me. “It doesn’t matter what it means, it matters what I took out of it. I kept trying to see you as the [Farm Girl] I fell in love with. But at some point, I have to figure if she just keeps saying ‘I hate you’, ‘I don’t trust you’, ‘I can’t share this with you’, she ain’t lying. It’s funny, Ashley, if you only asked, I’d have pic–” but he stopped himself from finishing.
We said nothing again, not able to meet each other's eyes.
“So… this is it, then?” I slowly asked.
Adrian nodded. “After we deal with Bazerie, I’m going to take Melissa and move to the Capital. While I won’t aid whatever you’re doing, I’m not going to standby and let it happen. But I also don’t want to hurt you. So… I have other things I need to deal with.”
I looked down at the floor. “Do you even know what I’m doing?”
“I don’t want to, Ashley. I imagine it would annoy the Queen’s Arm more than me, but I’d still be obligated to make you stop. I have a suspicion, but I know I’m compromised when it comes to you. For now, let’s just make this our last adventure together.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled too then. “You said a boat crashed?”
“Yes, by the bay. It was carrying injured soldiers from the Great War, and they needed a good doctor. Divine healing doesn’t heal those who have been struck with a [Gravesworn] weapon.”
I didn’t know what that was, but… I also just didn’t want to be in this room any longer.
I couldn’t raise my head, so I quickly turned around.
Adrian didn’t stop me as I left through the door. Tarskel stopped talking to the others, and hurriedly tried to follow me. As soon as I got out of the door, I looked left and right.
I could go to Maddy’s, but… that felt wrong after that conversation. I was too far away from the farm.
I really liked work, and it was the only thing that would clear my head. I told Tarskel that I wanted to be alone, and went back to Levan’s apartment.
I already took the key to Building 18 - Levan’s old laboratory. I could probably move some pots in there and begin planting and get my mind off the real world.
That’d be nice.
