“You need to decide soon. The situation here is...not ideal, in light of recent developments.”

Isabella sat still and bowed her head, not daring to look at the Protector in front of her. She sat alone in the classroom; Lily, and Tyler, were noticeably absent from this discussion between the two of them.

“I’ve already outlined the options for you. Go and seek counsel from your family, but do let them know they will be watched. I don’t quite know what your family was planning to do with all those supplies, but know that you will not be staying here for much longer, even if your family wishes it.”

She didn’t need to look to see that the old man was mad. Very mad. In fact, it’s the maddest she’d ever seen him since he had arrived.

The three of them still hadn’t found out his name, but he had to be important. Or not, judging by how much free time he had. Personally, Isabella thought that he’d been rather content at watching their Party go on adventures for the last year and a half. Sure, there were a few...minor setbacks and mistakes, but overall Isabella thought they were doing a fantastic job!

Isabella knew enough by now to know how special an Apprentice Cleric was, especially for a Party. And why there were so many Protectors around to guard each Cleric.

She could still see Lily’s scowl in her mind when they had first left to go on their class assignment. Every other Party had one or two teachers shadowing the class to make sure they stayed safe, yet had enough autonomy to learn the ropes by themselves.

No, they had a full squadron shadowing them, along with four Protectors within a few steps of Isabella at all times. It was not how Lily had expected the assignment to go. Even with Lily and Tyler’s superb skills at evading the squadron’s notice, they had failed to hide from the Protectors.

But that was all irrelevant now that the war had come back to the country.

War. Isabella shuddered when she thought about that. The stories of the blood sacrifices had already started spreading, and she had overheard her aunt talking about it actually happening around the country.

The Protector noticed her shudder and mistook the reason. “Now, you’ll be safe. The Imperial Healer Hall can guarantee that. Your family too. But the question is where do you want to go. Alduit Academy is a good choice, and I know the mage wanted to go there; but, the Imperial Healer Hall has everything and more for a Cleric to hone their trade.”

Isabella bit her lip. A Cleric. But not a Mage, and certainly not a Vanguard. Sure, Tyler was learning how to defend better, and they did give practical lessons to Lily. But there was a limit on what they could teach, and she was sure they were rapidly getting close to that point.

“I, I’ll think about it. But I want to be with Lily and Tyler. I want to follow them,” Isabella said. Her mother had told her it was important to lay down a line and stick to it. And that was her minimum requirement. She wanted to stay in the same party as them.

“If they want to go to Alduit Academy, they’ll need to find another member. Do they have one in mind? Someone that is just as monstrous as they are?”

That was the most praise Isabella had ever heard from the old man’s mouth. He really did have high expectations for their future.

“Mhmm. Their mentors had another person they were teaching, it’s just that he was younger than them. They went back home to see if they could get him in their Party since he should be getting ready to go to school as well.”

"A boy? And he’s your age?” The man frowned in thought.

“Mhmm. A childhood friend, apparently. Lily and Tyler don’t really talk much about him though.”

“And the boy is being taught by their mentors? For the past several years, no less?”

“...is that important?” Isabella frowned in thought. He was acting weird right now. Usually, he didn’t talk much if it had no relevance to Isabella herself. But it was clear that he was really interested in the boy now.

The old man looked out the window, some unknown emotion flickering from his eyes “...I’ll go ahead and contact the Healer Hall over at Alduit Academy. Looks like you’ll be headed that way.”

“Ah!” Isabella stood up. “You mean it!”

“Shoo, shoo. Go and tell your family the news.”

Isabella stood up and practically ran to the door, though she did stop and bowed heavily toward her stalwart protector.

“Thank you, for everything.”

Watching the young girl leave, Glenn looked toward the southwest, where he had felt that magic burst a few days prior. The mana wave had shocked him when he had felt it, but now that the war had started, he had very little time to investigate personally. Better to wait for the news from Queen Rebecca or the Scion, though he knew that the mysterious party there would soon have to act if they haven't started already.

They were training a child. That was enough verification by itself that they were aiming for Alduit Academy. Now he had a bigger question to answer.

Who was the boy, and why was he so important?

---

“Aunt! Aunt! I have something great to tell you!”

Isabella ran out the gates of the school to the Library, barely waiting for her Aunt Luna to deactivate the wards. The words could hardly stay in her mouth, she was so excited!

“The old man said that we were going to Alduit Academy! Isn’t that great news! I don’t have to split up my party anymore!”

Isabella joyfully laughed, her laughter echoing endlessly against the library’s wall. Staying with her Party was the only thing she wanted now. The last few years were happy because she was in a Party. She had friends, companions, adventures because of Lily’s relentless attitude toward the matter.

In short, it was her dream come true. A dream which almost shattered because of the war.

“That’s great news, Isabella. I’m sure your mom will be happy to hear that,” her aunt grumbled.

Isabella's laughter stopped short. “You still haven’t gotten a replacement?”

“No, not yet. The queen is still looking. I don’t think she’s keen on us leaving the country.”

“But Alduit Academy is barely a few miles outside of Alcudia! We wouldn’t be too far away at that point!”

“Yes, but it is also out of her sole control. Alduit Academy was created as a trial ground for all of the western border countries. So, even though she funded a quarter of it, Leit and Appealte contributions mean that her control over there is limited as well. Everything is based on a collective agreement.” Her aunt frowned and looked at Isabella. “It’ll be fine. Eventually. Even Trent’s armies can’t penetrate all the way here within a year. It just means that I’ll have to come at a later date instead.”

Isabella fidgeted. Her mother would not be happy to hear that. Still, there might be something that she could do instead.

“Aunt Luna, what if I go talk to the queen? She likes me, I think?”

“Out of the question. You know we don’t like you around the queen all by yourself.”

“She’s really nice though! Lily says she’s as nice as her mentor, and you know Lily is really...opinionated.”

“Tch, she’s probably still holding a grudge against us. Silly girl, she has to grow up eventually.” Luna grumbled.

“Aunt, you used a really bad Skill on her and Tyler! Of course she’s going to hold a grudge. I’m lucky that they don’t hold it against me!”

Isabella frowned as she remembered the description Lily had used. Happiness and contentment. Nothing was wrong at the moment, just happy to be around the other person and be noticed.

A good friend.

Luckily, Isabella never had to worry about her parents using it on her, nor did she have any desire to learn that particular Skill from her parents even if they were willing to teach it. It just seemed the wrong way to go about it, making friends for just a moment. And her family wasn’t very open about why they would even have a Skill like that.

“Umm, is my mother at home?” Isabella asked quickly before her aunt could say something mean about her friends.

“She’s at her shop. Get Stella to take you over there. Or Uncle Bishner. Though, no one should bother you on the way there.”

“Yes, Aunt Luna. I’ll head over to them. I’ll tell them you said hi!”

Waving happily goodbye, Isabella’s smile faded fast as soon as the doors closed. She kicked a pebble lying close by, watching as it bounced across the paved cobblestones. Her aunt was stuck in the town still. Until she could get a replacement from the Queen.

“...she wouldn’t say no. Right?”

---

“I’m sorry, but she isn’t quite free at the moment. She has some very important things to discuss right now.” The queen’s personal guard, a woman fitted entirely in dark clothing, stopped Isabella from entering the temporary courthouse.

“But, but she said that I could come at any time! And Lily said that I had to tell the Queen something important.” Isabella fidgeted nervously.

There was a fine line to dealing with the Queen’s guard and her family’s wariness to anyone in power, Isabella realized early on. Or rather, Lily noticed early on. Since Isabella’s family didn’t want her to meet the queen by herself, Lily would drag Isabella and Tyler, along instead. Isabella wasn’t keen on exploiting her relationship with the Queen, but Lily insisted that they meet up at least every month or so, if not for herself than for Lily’s family. Lily’s father pushed everything to Lily to deal with, in anticipation of her taking control of the family business after her adventuring days were over. And that meant updating the Royal Family on the state of the nation’s crops, any surpluses, news, - basically, anything that could jeopardize the crops had to be relayed.

The guard frowned as she watched Isabella fidget. “You usually don’t lie. What’s wrong, little girl?”

“Miss Haille, I really want to talk to the Queen. Will she have time soon?” Isabella asked quietly, trying hard to look pathetic. Lily said she had a good act if she tried really hard.

Unfortunately, the guard knew that too. “Stop giving me that face. Give me one good reason why.”

“My aunt will be here soon otherwise, and then it’ll be too late.”

“Which one?”

“Aunt Shavie.”

“Shi-, ugh, I hate dealing with her. Too slippery trying to follow her.” Guardswoman Haille coughed but smiled.

Isabella knew how she really felt about her Aunt Shavie. For all her quirks, Haille really liked having a good challenge, and Shavie was one of the few things she looked forward to whenever Isabella visited.

“Please, I should only have about thirty more seconds before she arrives!” Isabella said anxiously.

Somehow, Shavie had a knack at finding her wherever she was not supposed to be. And she was not supposed to be talking to the queen alone. Luckily, Isabella timed her so that she knew how much time she had before she got caught.

“You should time her again then. She’s already behind you.”

“Wher-” Isabella turned nervously and meekly faced her Aunt Shavie, who was watching her with a frown.

Haille chuckled under her breath. “Quite mean of you to intentionally slow down. What kind of lesson are you trying to teach her by doing that?”

“The lesson where she gets her butt handed to her.”

Isabella shuddered. As much as her aunt loved her, her idea of punishment was a lot more physical than her mother’s.

Luckily the guardswoman interceded for her. “The Queen would like to talk, actually. To both of you. She was waiting for you to come along as well.”

Shavie blinked, though her mouth turned into a small pout. “Hmm, pray tell, why would she want to meet me of all people?”

“You don’t have a weird Skill. And you’re more reasonable of the three.”

That got a chuckle out of Shavie. Isabella started to dawn her pitiful face but got nowhere as Shavie’s glare stopped her cold.

“...Please, Aunt? The Queen is really nice, and I won’t be alone if you’re there as well.” Isabella panicked. But knowing full well she was going to get punished anyway, she tried a different tact. “It has to do with Aunt Luna. Please~?”

Shavie sighed. “Fine. Let’s go and meet the queen.”

Isabella beamed happily, though less happily once Shavie put her arms around her. “You’ve gotten good at your pity face. I’ll have a word with Lily about that, you know.”

Eyeing the guard, Shavie and Isabella walked into the building, her aunt’s tight grip betraying how at ease she was feeling.

The keep turned dormitory turned courthouse was a very large building, in no part because the Queen had renovated it as her permanent residence for the time being.

“You okay, Aunt Shavie?” Isabella asked.

“Fine. I’m fine,” she said, though her aunt’s eyes darted to the windows and closed doors as they walked deeper into the building.

“She’s a nice person. The Queen, I mean. She just looks really strict. Sort of like you, Aunt Shavie.”

“Oh? And how am I like the Queen?”

“Well, okay, you’re really not anything alike, but you both care about me, so that makes her like you in some way,” Isabella nervously replied.

“To your left, girl.”

Hallie directed her from behind, her hand never quite leaving the butt of her staff. She pointed to the door and whispered quietly to both of them.

“She’s having a war conference right now. Apparently, the Healer Hall is sparing no expense in helping the Queen, even pulling out some of their own artifacts to help out.”

Holding her finger to her mouth, she knocked thrice and opened the door slowly, poking her staff partway through and easing the door open slowly. Frantic yelling could be heard inside the room, but Isabella focused on the calm, steady voice that was issuing orders.

“No, I want the Third battalion stationed at the secondary defensive castle. How is the first defensive castle holding up?... I hereby overrule Prince Daniel’s previous command. Send the second battalion to Andria Point. They can hold off a larger force from there.”

Isabella peered inside and marveled at the sight. The Queen stood there, peering above a table while talking calmly. But what was more surprising to Isabella was the orbs floating overhead. Voices could be heard from the orb, and as she looked about the room, Isabella saw the Protectors standing about the room, watching. Evaluating.

She wilted a little under their collective gaze. She hadn’t expected them to be here. It almost felt like she was betraying their trusts, though she knew better than to think that.

She looked over to Haille, confusion in her eyes.

“They’re letting the Queen borrow their communication tools. Ugh, what I would give to have something like that!”

Haille eyes were filled with greed, though even she wilted a bit when the Protectors stared at her. Even Shavie herself noted them for later. Those tools were far more advanced than what the Senate back in Trent had. Long-distance birds were the main means of communication for a reason.

“How come the Alcudian Royal Family doesn’t have anything like that? It seems weird that they wouldn’t have a long-distance communicator?”

“Apparently it’s rare. Even the Imperial Family has only a few in their possession. At least, that what the Queen was told. They have a few dozen protectors watching over each orb. They’re supposed to retreat if the enemies get within a days march of their location though, to prevent them from being stolen or destroyed.”

Isabella watched as the Queen issued, order after order. She had rarely seen adults so focused on their tasks. It was a far different queen that stood before her. She wasn’t just a centerpiece or a pretty doll on display. No, the Queen now commanded obedience, her sole focus on protecting her country.

Isabella knew that her first impression of the Queen was rather bad and under bad circumstances. But since they had been meeting regularly the last couple of years, Isabella’s impression of Queen Rebecca had changed for the better. The Queen looked happier these last few years, and more driven as well. Something had changed after the trial, and though no one mentioned anything, it was apparent that Lily’s mentor had helped the Queen somehow. Her reputation was on the rise, that much was obvious to Isabella.

The Queen took a glance and smiled wearily at Isabella. She beckoned her forward with a small wave. Isabella hesitated but moved forward to look at the map on the table. No, it wasn’t just a map. It had pieces on the board as well, with little flags dotting the landscape. Blue pendant flags were marked with numbers, while the red flags were marked with symbols instead.

It was confusing to look at, though she vaguely understood what she was looking at. It was the western border of the country. Long, jagged lines cut through the map. Those had to be the defensive lines if Isabella was remembering her lessons in geography correctly.

Her aunt moved beside her, her face passive as she stared down at the flags.

Isabella watched as the Queen moved pieces as she talked, her words following as she moved pieces one by one. “General Theodore, move the Fifth and Ninth Battalions over to Supply Depot Number Seven. Proceed to the fourth defensive castle, and move directly over to Coffer Bluff. Move the Seventh Battalion over to Firestone Mountain, and head toward the Lower Plains.”

Queen Rebecca moved the pieces as she talked, and Isabella watched in horror as Shavie picked up a red flag and moved it forward and around the first defensive line, completely bypassing the Queen’s own flag.

“Belay that last order. Move the Seventh Battalion toward the Lower Valley and block the entrance to the Lower Plains. Assist the first defensive line castle and await further instructions. Scion Maxwell; General Williams; Second Prince Daniel; you may have the floor.”

The Queen flicked a small golden orb and the other orbs pulsed in time and stopped glowing. She looked over at Shavie, who looked over the board lazily.

“Any reason for that?”

“It looked open. Of course their commander would move past a stationary target. Only a fool would sit back and waste lives to destroy castles.” Shavie shrugged.

“Hmm… Trent’s armies didn’t seem that opposed to doing that the first time around. Though, I guess you may have a point. Only time will tell how they will react this time.”

Isabella looked over in awe at her aunt.

“Wipe that look away, Isabella. I know I give good ideas.”

Rebecca sat down on the couch while the Protectors packed up the orb and left. Shavie watched them go with a curious frown, one that the Queen noticed.

“It has to be recharged every so often with Light Mana. I guess the artifact is attuned to it somehow, though the specifics elude me. So tell me, Isabella. What can I help you with today?”

“Umm, Lily says hi. And that the harvest has been exceptional this last year. So there will be plenty of rations.”

“I saw her weekly report. But that’s not why you came here,” Rebecca politely stated while she drank her tea with a content sigh.

Isabella faltered slightly. Did Lily send weekly reports, in addition, to verbally updating the queen? No, that wasn’t important to dwell on right now.

“I, uh, wanted to ask about my Aunt Luna’s replacement. Had another Librarian been found?”

“Oh? What brought that on?”

Queen Rebecca, Haille, and Shavie looked over at Isabella.

“I, uh, was talking with the Old Man Protector and he said that we were going to be going to Alduit Academy shortly. As soon as Lily and Tyler got back, that is.”

The queen’s hand stilled as she lifted it, her teacup still in the air. “Oh. Did something change?”

“Mhmm. They were going to talk to their families and their mentors about what they should do, but the old man says we will most likely be going there.”

“You have another party member? That was what was setting your Party back thus far. Lily and Tyler have more than enough clout to get in on talent alone. You too, of course. So, who did Miss Lily choose?”

“I don’t know. Their childhood friend, I think?”

The queen placed her teacup down, a slight frown on her face as she thought of something unknown.

“Miranda, come here for a second,” Rebecca called out to a side room that Isabella hadn’t seen in her brief look around the room. The room extended far more than she had previously thought as another girl walked from behind a far sidewall.

Isabella watched as the older girl walked up, her face set positively, though she walked with a slight gait, most likely from an unhealed injury. Her brown hair and blue eyes were alight with joy.

And she looked familiar. Really familiar, though Isabella failed to piece together where she had seen her before.

“Ma’am. Royal Scout Miranda, reporting for duty.”

Isabella was shocked. The young woman couldn’t have been much older than her mom, and she was already a Scout!

“Miranda, your report mentioned a young boy. How would he fare against young Tyler? Is he good enough to get into Alduit Academy?”

Isabella turned to Miranda, confusion on her face. Though she saw from the corner of her eyes that her aunt narrowed her eyes slightly.

“He would. He slew an enemy Scout and rescued the prisoners while the Party at large fought to protect us. Both the Warrior and the Ranger fought against the other Scouts to make sure the coast was clear, while the Mage fought the corrupted beast. Without him present, I am sure that Trent’s Scouts would have sacrificed more people to placate the monster’s thirst.”

Sacrificed? Isabella’s sharp gasp of horror was apparent in the quiet room.

Rebecca looked over at the girl with concern. “There have been reports of the blood sacrifices starting up again, though it seems to be pretty isolated, all things considering. A small blessing thus far, morale would be a bigger issue if that continues to gain traction again.”

Her aunt was dead set on a different piece of information though.

“...a boy killed a Scout?” Shavie asked.

Miranda looked over and nodded.

“Mhmm. Sneak attack, but it still killed him. The Scout was hiding in the branches and he got a lucky strike in.”

“Well, if that is true, Miranda, then I can tell you some good news, Isabella.

“I do indeed have someone in mind. Lily’s mother is quite capable of taking on that role, should she be willing to move here.”

Rebecca stood up and looked out the window to the plains below. “I am getting a banquet set up for when they arrive back. Everyone will be there so that we can discuss your party going to Alduit Academy. Their childhood friend will be there too, though I am not sure if his family will be coming as well.”

“What is the boy’s name?” Shavie asked suddenly. “So that Isabella won’t have to ask.”

“Markus. The boy’s name was Markus.”

“Hm, keep that in mind, Isabella. First impressions are important. Is there anything else you would like to add, Isabella? We’ve taken up a lot of the Queen’s time already.”

Shavie stood up, clearly intent on leaving soon. It was true that Isabella had nothing more to say, but she felt bad taking up the Queen’s time to ask a question and leave without doing anything in return. She pointed over to Miranda, who stared blankly back at her.

“Umm, that was all. Your majesty, can I heal Miranda? I’m pretty sure I can heal her wound.”

“Thank you for your offer. Your thoughts, Miranda? Are you okay with Apprentice Cleric Isabella healing your wounds.”

Miranda smiled gratefully back. “Thank you for the offer. If you don’t mind, we can go to the back and heal, so that the Queen can restart her war conference? They should be arriving back with the communication stones soon.”

Isabella turned to her aunt, who let out a breath exasperatedly. The Queen politely coughed and pointed to the table.

“Go on. Miss Shavie, if you wouldn’t mind. Could you give me some insights on what the opponent might do next? It’s hard to plan things out by oneself, after all.”

Shavie eyed the board and Isabella and rolled her eyes. Begrudgingly, she nodded her head.

“Isabella, hurry up. We need to go home soon. Your mother is probably freaking out by now.”

“Yes, Aunt,” Isabella replied.

Walking back toward the far room, Isabella couldn’t help herself as she got ready to heal the young woman.

“Miranda’s not your real name, is it?” Isabella asked suspiciously as the woman rolled up her pant leg. A nasty scar wound was around her ankles, as though they were tied tight and bit into her flesh.

“Of course it is. Why do you ask?” Miranda smiled mysteriously.

Isabella had the feeling that it wasn’t, but she couldn’t place why.

The girl laughed as she watched Isabella face change. “I have a few names. It’s practically required for a Scout to have a few identities. Care to guess my other spy name?”

“Maggie?”

Miranda blinked. “Good guess, but wrong. What made you choose that name?”

Isabella pointed to something behind the girl. “Your apron says ‘Maggie’ on it.”

Maggie smiled. “So it does. So it does...”