“In dark corners and recesses of the wilderness, many strange creatures yet inhabit the tranquil lands, preying on unsuspecting wanderers, travelers, and adventurers. Based on evidence I’ve unearthed alongside fellow researchers at the Academy of Sciences, we conclude that most of the creatures we fear did not in fact stem from “The First Dark Tide” (And are NOT Demonic in origin) but rather are a result of the interregnum period between the first, second and third. “The War of Echoes” as translated Dwarven texts tell us, suggests that a breach near Shatterstone Fortress is responsible.” - Antoine Fostaire, Treatise on the Origin of Wayward Entities, University of Arteria (Denied Faculty Approval, Awaiting Revision)

Eva was split between joy and absolute fury. Mother had agreed! That was something she couldn’t even imagine happening, though certainly she had Frederick to thank for that and needed to prepare a gift. On the other hand after Frederick had left she found Sophie limping her way back to her room and raised hell with her mother despite Sophie’s insistence that it was fine.

Either way Eva found herself somewhere she never expected to be, vindictive and angry. Whilst she did remember getting angry at managers before she never really raised many objections, nor did she have divine powers to carry out her retribution without getting fired. Though she remained restrained for fear of the church catching wind of her existence, she could tell the rest of the estate walked on eggshells around her.

Sophie on the other hand seemed increasingly ashamed as Eva had practically forced her to bed rest in her room as the maid became the one being taken care of. Even though she knew that mother and the others disapproved of what she was doing none of them would speak up, except for brother Mortiz.

“...do you know how degrading it is for our family for the daughter of a duke to spend her time caring for a staff? I mean I respect the household staff too but I wouldn’t…” Her brother droned on.

“Look Mortiz, why do you care? Do you like Sophie? No? Then stop bothering me.” Eva interrupted.

“I..Eva, what’s wrong with you? You know that when mother or I have visitors over they can tell something’s off when you personally go into the kitchen to get food for some secret purpose. Did you know that Lady Carla told others that you are meeting with some peasant lover? Do you understand how embarrassing it is to try and…”

“So what if I did? You’re doing fine right? What does it matter if I have a boyfriend or some secret lover? Did it not matter when the court gossip was how scandalous it was for me to be friends with Prince Frederick? How ‘oh my I bet you the prince is bedding the duke’s daughter’ everyone acted at the ball?”

“For saints sake that was different!”

“Different how? Because it made you look special because of a connection to royalty?”

“No! Just think! The Prince visited no one else besides you two weeks ago when he left for the academies, of course people would think you were together.”

“No? No?! Enough Mortiz, just leave me alone.”

“Eva! You can’t keep this up, you need to learn about your noble responsibilities soon enough. You can’t keep dragging our family name down on your own, father won’t let you get away with this.”

“Father won’t? What about you brother? What are you going to do? Mope at Theo until he comes back to yell at me as well? Hmm?”

"You watch yourself Eva, I don't know how you convinced mother but father won't approve of this."

Eva rolled her eyes and turned away, letting loose an annoyed sigh as Mortiz stomped away. It has been almost two weeks since Frederick left and only a month left before I leave for the academy as well, if her leg doesn’t heal by then…

Eva shook off her doubts and headed down to the kitchen, a tad more exhausted than a moment ago. Nervous eyes were cast her way when she pushed open the heavy wooden doors usually only meant for household staff. It had become almost routine for the staff to give her concerned stares, like they were unsure if they should poke or prod a rabid dog.

Without a word Eva collected a pre-prepared meal and left the kitchen, the stares of the staff boring into the back of her head as she shut the door behind her. Head maid Hilda was perhaps the most troublesome of the lot as she had ordered the other staff members to basically ostracize the poor girl.

Still, Sophie was her responsibility and she was determined to ensure that her friend was properly cared for even if no one else wanted to do so.

It took a moment for Eva to arrive in front of her room with the lukewarm food, some cut of pork, tomatoes, and vegetables slathered in what she could only hope is gravy. As she shoved the door open she was greeted by a comforting sight.

The half elf sheepishly wrapped the sheets around herself as her nose was buried inside the new Gunmar and Aurelia novel. Upon realizing Eva had returned she lowered the book and flashed Eva a brilliant smile, her sapphire eyes radiating a sense of joy and comfort that melted Eva’s heart.

“Here you go.” She declared, setting down the small tray on her table. Making her way to Sophie’s side she helped the girl off the bed and to the tableside, “It’s a little cold but should still be good.”

“Thanks but you really don’t have I can manage myself you know.”

“Nonsense you can barely walk!”

“It’s only a slight injury, I can do it!” Sophie replied as she stood up, wincing from the sudden movement.

“Pfft, sure you can. Look, just focus on getting better and let me take care of you okay? You’ve served me for this long. It's my turn to cosplay the maid.”

“Cosplay?”

Eva put on an embarrassed grin and brushed off Sophie’s confused look. “It’s an earth thing.”

“Ah,” The younger girl nodded, “but what does it mean?”

“So you know how roleplaying is acting like something you’re not?”

“Yeah so like you right now?”

“Close, but cosplay is essentially that but based on a character.”

“Based…on a character?” Sophie asked.

“Yup so imagine…” Eva trailed off wondering how best to describe it when her eyes landed on Sophie’s book, bingo. “Imagine if I was dressed as Gunmar, and pretended to be Gunmar. That is cosplaying. Uhm another example is If I just dressed and acted like a maid, I would be roleplaying. But if I dressed and acted like you,” Eva pushed her chest up and bounced it around causing the other girl to blush, “I would be cosplaying as you.”

“I don’t do that.”

“But you could.”

“But I don’t.”

“But you did.”

“But I didn’t?!”

“But you did.”

“What?! When?!”

“Yesterday, when I came back from dinner. I had to pee but didn’t know you were already in the bathroom…”

“Argh!” Sophie wailed as she buried her head in the meal causing Eva to let out a small snort. It was good to be the one teasing every once in a while, she could definitely start to understand why Sophie always took jabs at her. Truthfully Sophie was too busy measuring herself to notice the door open, but what Eva saw definitely made her a little jealous. A justified attack.

Eva smiled at her small victory, reveling in Sophie's embarrassment until the younger girl finally recovered, grumpily munching her lukewarm food. She gave Sophie a few light head pats and could tell that as much as Sophie tried to hide it, she was bothered by the fact that her leg had brought her out of commission.

So it was that for the rest of the late afternoon Eva tried her best to lighten Sophie’s mood, regaling her with tales of Japanese office culture and the rigidity of office hierarchy. Though Eva found Sophie even more captivated by her description of Kaori’s high school antics of how a loner blossomed into a social butterfly only to end up a stale office hardass who had no time for people. She could see the twinkle in Sophie’s eye as the elf tried to visualize life on Earth. I wonder what it'll be like if I take her there one day.

Ding-Ding

Ding-Ding

Their chat momentarily disturbed by the sudden chimes echoing through the halls and Eva sighed despondently.

“Time to listen to mama and Moritz rant again…” She grumbled to herself, they hadn’t been too intrusive so far, but she was sure Mortiz would raise a stinker at the table since he knew mama wouldn't argue with him.

“You’ll be fine.” Sophie reassured her and Eva knew that was true, but sometimes, you just didn’t want to spend time with family members who do nothing but nag.

“I know, I’ll be back soon. Tell me how you find the story yeah?”

It sounded more magical than well, magic to Sophie. Buildings, average buildings the size of castles, and more people stuffed inside a tower than entire townships. It was a baffling series of pictures that popped inside her head, how was it all possible?! She knew that outsiders came from fantastical places but most of that knowledge was restricted to royalty or clergy, what Eva shared sounded so bizarre. A world of science and technology, similar to the Dwarves or ancient Myndiri elves.

Metallurgy wasn’t a foreign concept of course, but to think that skyships and metal steeds would become common seemed such an alien idea. Still, it was her time at school that interested Sophie the most, to be in a classroom and be allowed to mingle with friends or even freely join clubs and associations willy nilly just sounded fun. They even practiced archery and fencing as sports. Food too fascinated Sophie, though it was a noodle based dish the idea of an intricately prepared 'ramen' or 'udon' admittedly made her previous meal feel a little bland.

She brushed her feet against the soft carpet and giggled at the sensation of the bristles tickling her. She felt guilty of course at having her master take care of her, but part of her also wondered what it would be like if she was born a noble.

An ominous quiet descended upon Sophie after Eva left the room and she had to admit that perhaps this dependency wasn’t good. For the first time in a long time, she felt lonely. It wasn’t an unfamiliar sensation, but it felt more profound than before, as if like Kaori, work had masked the feelings with tiredness. Not that she had many supporters here besides Eva, perhaps only the steward, but he was rarely around these days too busy administrating the demesne on the best of days.

Shaking her uninjured leg she frowned at the thought of what Hilda had done. The head maid hadn’t explicitly said it but she was pretty certain it was because Sophie had taken a spot normally reserved for senior maids. Nobles tended to value seniority and in this household Maid Inga, Hilda’s favorite and a sycophant would be the one granted prestigious postings such as escorting a child to the academies. Not that it mattered to Sophie, as long as Eva was by her side it was fine by her.

Sophie picked up her book from the table as she neatly rearranged the now empty plates and cutlery. She hobbled over to the edge of the bed and sat down with a satisfying pomf giving the carpet another rub with her foot. It was comforting being in this room, it was familiar.

…

She didn’t know how long had passed, but as she closed the volume, Gunmar had successfully rallied two warring tribes together to face the greater threat, a demonic invasion from beneath the mountains. Aurelia meanwhile had traveled with Barodin and Myron to the ancient dwarfhold of Kar’Sa Tor, home of the crimson eyed warsmiths. The inquisitor in the meanwhile had begun rallying church troops to counter a growing group of heretical cultists aiding the demons. They were on the precipice of war, between Horsun Ingmar, traitor king and leader of the dark horde, against the forces of good.

Tap tap

A soft rapt at the door sent Sophie bolting upright. Eva!

But before she could reach the doorway, a soft click resonated through the door as the handle turned on its own.

She could tell something was wrong the moment she heard the click of steel boots behind the door, and the moment the door flew open she knew nothing good would come of this. Two household guards emerged from the opening, their cold calculating gazes the only thing peeking out of their great helms. Clad in full plate armor, their armors donned the traditional red green of House Rosengart with different colored pauldrons being the only distinguishing feature on their bodies. Choking back a scream she watched as one gestured at the wardrobe. Get dressed right, I guess they're kicking me out huh? Eva will stop them right? A harsh smack against the side of door frame sent Sophie into a frightened frenzy.

She scrambled over to the wardrobe almost tripping in the process before rushing to put on her maid uniform, plopping it messily over her nightgown. But without even a chance to button up, she could only whimper as a gauntleted hand smashed into the back of her head, the wooden wardrobe becoming the last thing she saw.