“Good day Princess Moriah,” Jason gave the princess a deep bow much deeper than needed to show subservience. He couldn’t believe his luck to be the first of many the princess chose to recruit. His family and their station could change even have their baron status promoted.

“Jason, Jason Diablo rank 3, 26 years old. Not bad yet not like the elite nobles. You’re behind.”

Jason looked down in shame. It was true most noble families could support their children to rank 4 by the time they’re 20 and Jason was pushing 30 and not yet there.

“My family… my family situation hasn’t been the best throughout these years.”

Jason's family resided within the eastern dukedom of the empire. Closer to the lands of the elves and dwarven tribes. Since his father passed early and his mother took over as Baroness Jason's family had been struggling economically. Rival households moved in and took what they could and with what they shouldn’t. They had no qualms with fighting a weakened household. This all stemmed from his father's untimely death Jasons family and branches had internal fighting. Jasons uncle wanted to take over as the next baron of the Diablo family and his mother, not wanting her son's succession to be ousted, fought tooth and nail to make sure of it. His uncle died but ultimately left the family weekend as over 40% of the barony forces were on his side. This blow crippled them and the surrounding territories didn’t hesitate to take advantage when they could. Jason was sure that Princess Moriah was aware of this, which, is why when his family got a summoning as the eldest child Jason stepped up to the challenge.

“There will only be one chance.”

Jason took a deep breath and nodded. They were within the palace of the princess who was enjoying tea outside on a patio facing a small tranquil lake. The sun was shining and Jason didn’t know if his sweat was from nervousness or the heat. Jason watched as Princess Moriah waved her hand dismissing him. He sighed in disappointment as the princess had not once turned around.

…

Moriah watched Jason leave using her aura as a rank 4 being anything within her sphere of influence was within her aura. Usually, she kept it concealed and well to her body however Jason a rank 3 being would have no idea he was being scanned. She watched him go with a disappointed expression upon his face. He was tall over 8ft as a magi human and was densely packed with muscles almost like a bull. He was tan and sunburnt in areas most likely from being outside daily and his hands were filled with callous. The Diablo family had gone from a barony with the territory the size of counts to just a few surrounding towns that kept them afloat.

Moriah sighed she would have to take what she could get. She was having promising commoners and scions meet her. She was hoping to find rough gems that with a little polishing that could become an elite force. Her elite force. Something Moriah could truly call hers and not something provided by her mother or the royal family. She laughed at her own contradictions the agents who were sent out to find promising candidates weren’t hers. She looked around even this palace had been built and furnished and none of it was truly hers. She threw the teacup towards the water and watched as it disappeared right before it hit the surface.

Like a ghost, Lala appeared next to her with the cup freshly filled with hot steaming tea.

“It's unbecoming of a lady to throw fits.”

“It's a good thing I’m still a child.”

Lala sighed she knew today would be a bit more hectic than usual if her young lady was in a mood.

“What troubles you, my princess. I will have it disappear at once.”

“Take me outside the Empire.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait to leave the Empire until you attend a college for higher learning.”

“Then you cannot solve my problems. I’m tired, Lala. I want to be free. No hidden guards just me and the world.”

Moriah gave her a tired smile. It was like something from beyond was calling to her and she was bound by chains called responsibility.

“Call in the next one.”

…

“Mariam Alvarez it seems you been playing around with dwarf and gnome tech. Tell me about yourself.”

Moriah watched the girl in front of her. She was nervous even more so than the first candidate Jason. The minute the girl entered the patio she hadn’t stopped fidgeting and her eyes were constantly shifting from one area to another.

“Pr-Princess,” Mariam said with a stutter.

Moriah sighed and turned around she gestured for the girl to sit at her table. The ruler persona only worked on so many people. This girl clearly wouldn’t do well with it. She gave a warm smile to the girl and a servant appeared with tea and cakes. After flustering for a moment the girl sat down staring at the ground.

“Tell me about yourself.”

“I don’t think I’m worthy enough to be here.”

The girl had calmed down still not touching her strawberry cake or tea.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me I don’t bite,” Moriah said.

The girl, Mariam finally looked up. She was a dark skin human with curly hair reaching to her shoulders and glasses a size too big for her face.

“Have some of your tea and cake.”

Almost robotically the girl picked up utensils and dug into her cake. A bright smile appeared on her face and from taking small bites she moved on to carving out larger chunks to devour with cream messily covering her mouth.

Moriah smiled a genuine smile, no act, no face, no schemes with that genuine smile. This was a carefree girl and one that she would take under her wing. Her name was Mariam Alvarez a young human girl of 15. She grew up in the slums of the royal city close enough to the dump yard of a magical tech research society. The society dumped all their failed copies of dwarf and gnome tech and the girl happens to build something that caught Moriah's eye. She built a bath specifically she took the parts of the failed inventions and built a working bathhouse for the slums. This wasn’t anything major or surprising until Moriah learned that the girl had no knowledge prior to getting her hands on the failed machines. No knowledge of magic tech at all. She never came across most of the common items used in the richer neighborhoods.

“My name is Mariam Alvarez I am 15 years old soon to be 16. I like to fiddle with things when no one is looking.” In a single rushed breath, Mariam explained a bit about herself still keeping her eyes away from Moriah's face.

Moriah laughed this one was genuine too. The laugh reached her eyes and when Mariam finally looked up she was stunned into silence. The princess was beautiful. She was losing signs of her baby fat and you could see the signs of how stunning she would be when becomes an adult.

“What do you think about magical technology?”

“It's fascinating. It has changed everything about our lives in less than 200 years. Even 20 years ago. Old lady Martha used to tell me tales of how even 20 years ago the Empire isn’t what it once was. She said it's growing into something she can’t imagine. She said she hadn’t taken a hot bath in 6 years. 6 years! Can you believe it? That's when I knew I had to do something and I spent the next few months tinkering with whatever I could get working. It's amazing how-”

Moriah held up a hand and Mariam came to a stop. Most of this she had already read and although she’d love to hear a first-hand experience of how the girl got to where she was at Moriah didn’t have the time for it. Each one of the applicants had 30 minutes and Mariam was quickly running out of her allocated time.

“Work for me.”

“When do I start!”

Moriah was surprised and she laughed again. Most nobles would spend the time to talk to their family and debate whether accepting the proposal was beneficial to the family or not. She had forgotten how simple it was for commoners.

“You will be moving into an unoccupied area of my palace along with the rest of your family. In 2 days' time after you’ve finished settling you will be taken under the apprenticeship of EMRI and placed into the weapon and life societies. Learn all you can.”

The girl's eyes had gone as wide as saucers and Moriah's true laugh rang out again.

“I..I..I…,” was all Mariam got out before she fainted.

Lala appeared again instantly catching the girl before her body could hit the ground.

“I’ll have one of the servants put her in the guest room,” she said before disappearing again.

Moriah waved a hand in acknowledgment. She turned back to the view of the tranquil lake and watched a dragonfly hover above the surface darting from position to position. She gave it a look of pity as a fish the size of her arm rose from the depths and swallowed the dragonfly whole. The pond ripples for a bit before returning to stillness.

“Call in the next one.”

…

“Again.”

Moriah controlled her breathing before piercing her sword towards James's left shoulder. He smacked the blow away and a foot in her chest sent her sprawling to the floor.

“Again.”

She got up this time rushing in feinting an attack towards his legs before sharply shooting up towards his chest right where his heart would be. James ducked backward under her blow and she wondered how such a tall man could move so easily only to have her legs knocked for beneath her. He hadn’t just dodged her blow but used her incoming momentum to tangle her legs together before knocking her down by supporting himself on his left arm.

“Again.”

Moriah drew back she was getting agitated and this was not her way but James had a way to get underneath people's skin. He calmly looked at her then his eyes squinted like a cheshire cat and a small smile broke out on his face.

“Again.”

…

“Oh, flames that light the darkness burn my enemies away.” [Fireball]

“Again.”

“Enough,” Moriah said before she stormed off. She had enough of James and his petty games. As she stormed off Lala appeared next to her walking in stride.

“Princess,” she said in a soothing tone.

“What ails you. Today you have been cranky more than usual.”

Moriah shot her a piercing glare.

“You know what ails me, Lala. This repetitive lifestyle. Wakeup, attend to petty matters train, and sleep only to do it all over again the next day. I bet Aegeus Kan is having the time of his life right now. Actually living up to the standards of our ancestors. While Moriah Angelo is here sheltered. I'm little more than a decoration for the crown. My mother's prized jewel. I want to fight Lala. I want to be like grandma Ismerelda, or Lady Viola the Conquerer.”

Lala's eyes twinkled and Moriah knew an even bigger headache was coming.

“So my mother inspires you that much? You know she wasn’t somebody big before she became known as the Conquerer. She was a girl not unlike you. Wild but ambitious and that got her only so far,” Lala said as her eyes harden.

“You know how that story goes.”

Moriah did know how that story went for Viola Emberforge went. All too well as her tales of heroics was one of her favorites. Viola Emberforge was the most decorated Conquerer belonging to the Empire. With more than 10 lesser worlds and 6 middle worlds under her belt. She got cocky in her expedition to her 17th world and no one had heard from her in over a century. She was presumed dead which left a lot of infighting among the daughters who claimed successorship. That left a lot of scars throughout the Emberforge family and the fighting grew so much that the royal family had to step in to mediate. The losers of the fight didn’t end in the best positions. That's how Lala ended here.

“My mother let her ambition control her, world after world never stopping to spend time at home before setting up her next expedition. You are young Princess and have centuries ahead of you. Do not rush into the flames of ambition. Let yourself grow up first.” Lala said her piece before disappearing again. They had ended up in front of Moriah's bedroom. She looked at the spot Lala had been standing in her expression unreadable then she turned to the doors and entered.

She had found several promising talents today. Jason Diablo, Mariam Alvarez, Tusk a northerner with only thoughts for fighting. Ian Shade a half-elf that was looking for a place to belong. Gwen Marr a 3rd daughter of a counts household, and a few others. She thought about the day's events as the servants washed her.

“Let myself grow huh.”

Moriah laid back and enjoyed the bath.