“Sir Rellar?”

“Sir Ouros?”

As I stepped through the empty hall, I listened for a response. I passed by utilitarian rooms, the kitchen looked like bare necessities and there were no decorations aside from the occasional portrait. Even the lights were minimal, causing me to squint in the dim light. After calling out a few more times, I realized the annex was empty.

It’s still mid-morning. If I were a knight, where would I be? I quickly clapped my hands together in realization, accidentally releasing the shadows I’d been shaping.

[Congratulations! Shadow Manipulation is now level 2!]

I quickly dismissed the pink box from my mind and went to take another step before stopping.

Looking over my shoulder towards where I’d come in I mumbled, “Where is the training area?”

Decidedly, I continued a bit further down the hall hoping there would be a back door. Eventually, the hall veered to the right and brought me past a set of large double doors. As I pushed open one of the doors, I was blinded by vibrant morning light. Luckily, as my eyes adjusted the sound of metal clanging met my ears. Bingo. A half wall in front of me topped with a short metal railing kept me from seeing anything past it. To the left and right of me were open staircases leading down to a plot of hard-packed dirt.

As I stepped out, I could see where the sounds were coming from. There were over thirty knights training around the dirt field. Several of them were sparring or running training drills, others were running laps, and there were a few splayed out on the ground breathing heavily. On the far end of the training field, I could see the familiar armor of Sir Rellar. He was standing facing two other knights. Their swords met ferociously - if we weren't in the training grounds I would expect it to be a duel to the death.

Before I could even start walking over to him, a blonde man with a ponytail caught my shoulder with his hand and spun me to face him.

“No civs in the training area.” The man had deep-set lines on his face, and hard eyes, “Who are you?”

Attempting to shove his hand off my shoulder, I was forced to take a sharp intake of breath.

A searing pain flashed behind my eyes causing me to flinch.

Wha-

[System Notice: The skill Tight Lips has been forcefully activated.]

…

In over a year no one has asked my name?

I closed my eyes and ran through my time at the main estate and on my journey. No. No one has. Everyone at both estates knew me and the accommodations were arranged by others during the trip westward. Is this how the skill works? Whatever the Gods deem “forbidden” will sear pain into my mind until I submit to their will? Until I refuse my own past?

Is this going to happen every time? What if I actually say Maria?

“Hey. What’s your name, girl?” His voice was sharper this time, but I jerked my head up to look at him at the realization that the pain didn’t come back.

Running through what I remembered of the skill, I came to a realization. [Tight Lips] didn’t activate because I was asked my ‘name’ it was because I was asked ‘who are you’. A subtle, but distinct, difference. My ‘name’ is not unique in either world -but ‘who’ I am could be a thousand odds and ends. Though I suspect saying ‘otherworlder’ is the answer the skill is attempting to prevent. Or anything along similar lines.

Who am I in Maeve, then? Nothing on my own,

Frowning, I tried to push his hand off my shoulder again -this time he let go. As I looked up at him, I couldn’t help but notice how he towered over me. If I had to talk to him like this my neck might start to ache.

“Well,” I took a step back and lowered the angle of my head a little, “I am Eunora Dawn.”

The man blinked.

“Eunora?”

“Yes.”

“Dawn?”

I nodded and let my frown disappear into a neutral expression.

“Captain!” The man turned and cupped his hand around the side of his mouth, “Lady Dawn is here!”

Glancing back at me, he gave a half-smile. I couldn’t help but think the expression looked foreign on his severe-looking face.

“Sorry about that, but we do have rules. I’m Leander.”

Oh, he’s a commoner. He must be skilled.

“CAPTAIN RELLAR!” He shouted again and lowering his voice he spoke to me, “Crossing the field is an invite for a young lady such as yourself to get injured. We don’t want any stray swords to knick you.”

“It’s fine. I can wait.” As I saw the captain turn and wave, acknowledging the call, I scanned the rest of the field, “Is Sir Ouros here as well?”

“Klein’s probably with the other newer recruits.” Leander gestured vaguely with his arm, “They’re getting new weapons -thanks to you and your Pa.”

I bit the inside of my lip, “I didn’t do anything.”

Leander grunted, “Nah, you came to Fellan. That was enough.”

I let out a slow breath and mumbled something in response.

“Ah, Lady Dawn, welcome!” Sir Rellar’s deep yet cheerful voice caught me by surprise and I turned on my heel to face him.

“Hello, Sir Rellar,” I glanced behind him briefly to look at the faces of the knights who had followed him over, “How are you settling into Fellan?”

“As easily as ever,” Sir Rellar nodded to Leander, “Vice-Captain Leander has kept a tidy ship in the west.”

I felt my eyes widen as I looked back to Leander, but I quickly snapped my head back to meet Sir Rellar’s eyes and measured my expression. Briefly, I ran my tongue along the inside of my cheeks, thinking.

“Hmm,” I glanced around the training grounds thinking of how I should approach Sir Rellar. If only I had more time to think, to decide how to get the answers I want.

I just want… time. But I’m already here.

Without meaning to, I felt the pull of mana from my stomach and a word filled my mind. The world began to slow.

[Sophism]

Immediately, the world seemed to pause. The thrum in my throat became a low buzz, and the men around me seemed frozen. As I focused on Sir Rellar, I noticed the slightest shift in the light reflecting off his armor.

I need to know. I need to know it all. Why did this happen?

My mind buzzed as I ran through how to avoid getting stonewalled. Then, a minute later, I felt my grip on [Sophism] release and the world around me resume. Only a moment had passed, and I’d just stopped hmm-ing.

“Sir Rellar?” I looked up at him, “Do you mind if we chat for a bit?”

Gesturing for the men around him to disburse, he looked down at me with a neutral expression, “Of course, my lady. Let’s head to the office in the annex.”

Leander and another younger knight, late teens, followed us back up the stairs and into the building. After settling into a thick leather chair, I watched as Sir Rellar sat behind an oversized desk piled with several daggers, chunks of metal, and papers. Leander and the other knight stood flanking Sir Rellar.

Taking a light breath, I met Sir Rellar’s black eyes, “I’d like for you to explain what happened on the road to Fellan.”

“We encountered a wave of Blights approximately ten leagues outside Fellan. We suffered half a dozen injuries and a single fatality.” Sir Rellar spoke matter of factly as if presenting to the Count.

“But why did we encounter them? They didn’t seem like creatures that the adventurers would just leave if they’re capable of injuring so many members of the Dusk.”

“Most of those that were injured were simply members of the caravan, not members of the Dusk. Excluding the non-combat injuries, only two knights were wounded and they were both freshly recruited to the Dusk.” Sir Rellar paused, “Although, the attack was a tad unusual.”

I tapped the armrest lightly, “Unusual how?”

“Blights aren’t born, they’re fashioned of a sort. Typically they form in groups of three to four. The bunch we encountered had over twenty different Blights, of varying classes.”

“Fashioned?” I took a sharp breath, “Someone made them?”

Sir Rellar waved his hand placatingly, “Not necessarily, my lady. Do you know what Blights are?”

I tilted my head and shook it lightly.

“Blights are mana-rich plants that have become corrupted. Only plants of certain mana density can become Blights, and they have fairly low combat ability.” Sir Rellar picked up a pen that had been hidden between an inkwell and a stack of papers, he tapped his desk with the tip of the pen, “It’s rare for someone to intentionally raise Blights when it’s easier -and more practicable, to raise other monsters or summons.”

“Anyway, it’s likely there’s a source of corruption that is festering outside Fellan.”

“If there is such a persistent problem on the road to Fellan, why were we not better equipped to handle them?”

“I received a report from Vice-Captain Leander once we arrived in Fellan,” Sir Rellar nodded towards the man, “The Blights began appearing in larger than average groups around the time we left Juvel -but even then they were easily handled by the local adventurers. The group we encountered was twice as large as the previous reports and contained higher leveled Blights.”

“Have…” I took a deep breath, attempting to calm the ball of anxiety that was forming, “Have there been any more groups this large?”

“One.” Sir Rellar paused and looked at me seriously, “A small troupe of performers was leaving Fellan and encountered them. When one of the performers arrived back without the troupe, the adventurer’s guild sent out a few high ranking members to handle it.”

I nodded, and then I asked the question I really wanted, “What happened to Sir Arlen?”

Sir Rellar gave me an odd look and even Leander widened his eyes, “His body is being preserved while we await a response from his family in Adeline on their wishes for his remains.”

I bit my lip, “His family?”

“He is survived by his wife and three younger siblings.” Sir Rellar’s voice was cold.

It’s my fault, after all, I deserve at least a harsh tone.

Composing myself, I tapped my chin as if contemplating what to do, “What will they receive?”

“Receive, my lady?”

“Ah,” I paused, “As in his last wages.”

“Well, they’ll receive two months of his compensation and burial costs.” Sir Rellar had furrowed his brow, he looked confused.

“Hmm, that won’t do,” Feigning a revelation, I gave a gentle smile, “Send them a year’s worth of wages and offer to add him to the Dusk Memorial in Juvel.”

Sir Rellar dropped the pen he was holding and I heard Leander take a sharp breath.

“Excuse me?”

“Ah,” I covered my mouth, “Sorry, that must have been a shock. I know Juvel is a tad far from Adeline -but it’s the main memorial.”

Sir Rellar ran his hand through his beard and hmf’d, “My lady, not to cross you, but why send him to the Dusk Memorial?”

Now it was my turn to be surprised, “What are you talking about Sir Rellar? Sir Arlen died protecting a member of the Dawn family. As a Knight of the Dusk, he is owed a place in the memorial.”

As I spoke, I watched as Leander and Sir Rellar looked at each other with hard faces -their gazes unreadable.

Shortly Sir Rellar looked back towards me and seemed to steel himself, “Lady Dawn, Arlen was a commoner knight.”

My look of surprise turned into confusion, “So?”

This time Leander spoke, “My Lady, are you saying that you knew he was a commoner?”

I shook my head, “Well, I suppose I assumed. I never heard Arlen referred to with a surname.”

Something shifted in Sir Rellar and Leander’s demeanor at my words, the tension in their shoulders visibly relaxed and Sir Rellar spoke to me with a half-smile, “Vice-Captain, I believe Lady Dawn had already intended to bestow Arlen with these honors before she arrived.”

“Hmm, it would seem so.” Leander met Sir Rellar’s half-smile, “Far be it from me to contradict a noble Lady of house Dawn.”

Looking at the two of them I couldn’t help but smile, truly and genuinely without any other meaning, “That’s a wonder to hear. Make it so?”

Sir Rellar lifted a hand up in faux concession, “As our Lady says, it will be done.”

As I stood to leave, I looked back at Sir Rellar, Leander, and the unnamed silent knight.

“One more question before I take my leave… Have any of you attended the Fellan Swordsmanship Academy?”

Sir Rellar and Leander were both quietly looking toward the third man, who meekly raised his hand.

“Great, escort me to the main house. I have some questions.”

[Sophism: You have attracted the attention of the God of Order, Brel. To prevent you from spreading forbidden knowledge and sowing chaos, Brel has gifted you the ability to easily twist truths. Whenever you are providing information to a non-divine entity, your perception of time can be slowed down until you disengage the skill or you exhaust the time your skill can be active. This skill is directly affected by your Perception stat. One second can be slowed by a factor of 5 for every 1 Perception for a maximum of 5 standard seconds. Current maximum halted time is 00 hours 09 minutes 25 seconds. Halted time remaining is 00 hours 06 minutes 42 seconds. Time remaining before skill reset is 13 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds.]