[B2] Chapter 89 — A Saint’s Regalia

Meanwhile, in a secret staging room under the manor of a prosperous merchant of some renown…

A man dressed in a noble’s finery met the eyes of the men and women who had momentarily snuck away from the ongoing dancing, entertainment, and rumor sharing. Daytime merchant’s celebrations weren’t as popular or as common as the large Divinesday evening events that Crysellia’s Greater Houses liked to put on, but they were common enough to hide the current clandestine gathering from scrutiny.

“I thank you for all gathering on short notice—some of you at great risk to your positions and your families’ safety.” He gave appreciative nods acknowledging a few present who had more to risk than the other infiltrators and loyalists. “A recent receipt of time-sensitive news is requiring our immediate action. My fellow countrymen, we face a ‘code: orichalcum’ situation here in Vesali City. An elven spirit token accompanying the information does appear to validate the claims.”

Thin pressed lips, judging mutters, and stony-faced recognition of the coming necessity met the troublesome revelation.

“We don’t yet know the identity of the target, but have been provided a description: a young teen girl currently enrolled in Crysellia’s Grand Academy of Magical Studies, dark metallic hair, eyes with gold-ringed irises. The information indicates she will be attending City Administrator Asara’s Spring Moon Festival on the morrow.”

An older man with streaks of gray in his clean-cut beard spoke up from where he was nonchalantly leaning against a wall, “Seems awfully convenient the information only gives the one heavily protected event and doesn’t include the girl’s identity, forcing us to dance to someone else’s plans. Do we know the informant’s motives?”

Uncomfortable murmurs of agreement followed from several of the others.

The well-dressed man grimaced. “Unfortunately, the information and token come via the Cartographer’s Society.”

The revelation was met with groans and more stony faces—at least from those that weren’t cloaked and masked to protect the sensitive identities among them.

The Society didn’t deal in false information, but they were a shadowy organization of unfathomable resources that was notorious for manipulating the balance of power within individual countries and regions to further the organization’s hidden goals. There was no way to know whether the Society was aiding them to maintain local stability at a critical time of pending crisis or if the meddling powers behind that organization were beginning to move against them, having decided that Revant could no longer be trusted with defending the continent from the hordes of riftspawn that had spilled into the frozen north over the past centuries. Either motive could be plausible.

After letting his countrymen come to the realization of the stakes involved, the finely dressed man continued the briefing, “We do indeed suspect that the knowledge of the target attending the Novidus event is a trap to draw us out. Fortunately, even though the target is under the effect of divination blocking magic, our diviners have discovered a less protected minor event that the target will be at earlier in the day. Fate magic is being woven by our hidden specialists to further increase our chances for success.”

This announcement was met with murmurs of approval and a fair amount of relief that they wouldn’t be embarking on a possible suicide mission.

“Each of you will be given a quantity of Royalbane poison with which to incapacitate the target. As many of you are already aware, if the poison causes her to glow with black-tinged golden power and lose control of her magic, that is proof enough of the target’s lineage. In which case, she must be captured or killed at all costs.”

Martina sighed as she watched the meeting spawned by Hulle’s plotting from the shadows of the room’s back wall, her identity carefully concealed behind an enchanted cloth mask and cloak—a meeting of some dozens of Revant spies.

The Cartography Society wouldn’t normally facilitate plots at the behest of local players, particularly ones by followers of Xander intending to sow chaos. However, Hulle wasn’t just a local player. He was a potential recruit that she had been grooming to join The Society, and The Society was well-familiar with the idea that at times maintaining the greater order required localized chaos.

As it was, Hulle was already plenty talented enough and had repeatedly proven his worth as an informant. Unfortunately, he was still a bit too connected to the local politics to bring in as a new Society member.

She had been patiently waiting for one of his plots to go horribly wrong and further burn enough of his bridges that she could use that as the opportunity to welcome him into their ranks and have him relocated to a more consequential region elsewhere, one where he could plot to advance The Society’s goals to his heart’s content without the potential complications of his local loyalties.

Even so, she was having second thoughts about the current plot, and might have to put her fingers on the scale in this case. The Shadewood girl was simply too valuable to the region to recklessly risk. How to lessen the risk was the question, as informing Hulle would be an unnecessary freebie.

If her runners were right, there was another party she could tip off—a party that it would be useful to have owe The Cartography Society a favor.

Lingering worry about having shown her aptitude for crystal magic in front of Lady Janacythe caused Ria to grimace at her reflection in the tall mirror. She did want to show her worth and further entice the Vesali, but she might have made herself too valuable…

A dismayed groan slipped out at the thought.

When would she learn not to take such risks!

“Did something go wrong, Miss Ria?” Ana hesitantly asked while loosening the strings of Ria’s bodice.

Ria shook her head. “If I had to judge… it went better than expected. After the fitting, Young Lord Phaelys helped me with my studies and some errands and took me to a tea shop while we were waiting for Tyrilenil to do Ranger’s grooming.”

“Afternoon tea with the Vesali young master!” Ana breathed out with excitement and sparkling eyes. “Has he taken an interest? He’s so handsome and gallant! I couldn’t imagine what it’s like sitting across from him…”

A laugh leaked out from Ria. The noble boy certainly had ‘taken an interest’ but not in the way Ana was thinking.

More in line with Phaelys’ actual interest, Ria still wanted the boy’s help with exploring the secrets under Vesali Castle but couldn’t get him away from Lady Janacythe long enough to bring the topic up. She could only hope an opportunity would present itself during Lady Asara’s event. Otherwise, tracking him down between classes might be the only way.

Time might not be on her side, though. Would he even agree to meet with her after his apology commitment was completed? She didn’t know.

“And with Ranger looking so fancy, I can’t wait to see your new dress!” the younger girl enthused, glancing at a certain deepways hound still posing with pride on the balcony. “A real Atelier Vienne creation. It must be like a dream!”

Considering the theme, Ana wasn’t far off in her expectations. While the yellow and gold dress from Keira’s parents was pulled over her head, Ria smiled at the girl’s innocent joy, and a bit of the earlier excitement at seeing the regalia bubbled up again.

“It’s not fully done yet, but I did get to see it. Want me to describe what Lady Vienne’s design looked like?” Ria teased.

Ana bounced in place and begged, “Yes, please!”

How could she not reward such honest eyes? Ria chuckled and launched into a dramatic retelling of her soon-to-be debut outfit, unable to keep the smile from stretching her cheeks sore as she gushed and gestured to add emphasis where needed.

It really was exciting. If Ria had to pick words to describe her debut outfit, the regalia was: villainously beautiful.

A gold caped, black-mantled, sleek and sheer, open black robe over a pleated sapphire-blue knee-length dress was the simplest description, but it was so much more.

Gold-inlaid black metal formed shoulder and hip guards, and a band of the same metal given a curve-hugging feminine shape wrapped the blue dress’ bodice around her back and chest almost like a stylized metal chest wrap. There was no cut-out to show her chest, and while not the same as teasing a bit of skin, Ria couldn’t really complain with how the regalia modestly enhanced her feminine shapes and appeal, including her hips and waist.

The dress started at her collarbone, draping down in pleats of oddly light-refracting fabric more like a priestess’ robe than a ball dress, relying on the fluttery sleeves, the mantled robe, and the cape to create visual volume.

The flowing robe’s gold-trimmed mantle flared a high collar that was open in the front, held close by gold chains and a broach featuring Ria’s workshop trademark. From under the mantle, a spray of shadowy gossamer sprouted in loose pleats to drape in split sleeves with a gap bridged by delicate gold chains. Ria was thrilled that the robe’s hems had been weighted to flare when she danced.

Angular blue sapphire protrusions jutted from the metal guards and mantle collar to regally sinister effect—a sinister effect further enhanced by the large blue sapphire featured prominently on the dress’ bodice, framed in gold with lines of black metal cylinders spreading underneath like blackened skeletal ribs.

A wide golden belt secured the metal hip guards over the robe and dress and cinched the waist in a shape that was high on the small of the back and hips but dipped below the stomach. The belt had stole-like ends that draped down in the front past her knees, each end emblazoned with Ria’s workshop trademark in black. A geometric-patterned black embroidery followed the belt’s edges adding interest and elegance. The design was repeated to create a border on the matching golden cape that also prominently featured the ‘world tree’-stylized trademark in black on the gold.

The black metal used felt of shadowy divine energy different from her experience with orichalcum and turned out to be xernium—chosen at Lady Asara’s suggestion after the results of Ria’s aura training and when orichalcum proved too difficult to source in the needed quantities.

While shadow-blessed xernium was impressive on its own, the black and gold glass-like fabrics of the regalia were something beyond her comprehension. Lady Vienne called it ‘crystalweave’ and mentioned something about fibrous crystal woven into thread, but Ria couldn’t tell if it worked like tiny chainmail or if the individual crystal fibers were so thin that they had a flexibility akin to cotton cloth when thickly woven or even a billowy silk when thinly. And yet, the crystalweave was both exceptionally sturdy and luxuriously smooth to the touch. It truly was a marvel.

But the reveal didn’t stop there! The regalia included accessories!

A choker-style sapphire pendant and a pair of odd twisted black and gold pieces that wrapped around the back of each ear, supporting short saphire spires against the side of the head with a gold chain-suspending an additional sapphire pendant against her forehead. Thankfully, her new shadow pearl focus didn’t look out of place and would work fine tied to her left wrist.

The regalia even came with calf-high battle boots! The metal heeled boots made of Umbral Stalker leather showcased aggressive angular xernium plating and were designed for her to use in the combat arena!

In fact, her whole outfit had been made for use in the Grand Arena competitions with the protective and mobility enchantments designed to be powered off her energy so as to not excessively impact her enchanted gear allotment. Lady Vienne had explained that as another reason for the switch from orichalcum to xernium for the metal parts. Her regalia was really a full set of arena armor!

Ana let out an excited squeal as they grabbed each other’s arms and jumped up and down. Not just ceremonial battle armor, but real battle armor! And she was wearing it to a ball! They were soon sitting on the bed, giggling and guessing about how the nobles would react.

Though Phaelys had teased her about wearing another clothier’s dress to a dress fitting, her meeting with Lady Vienne had still gone well beyond her wildest expectations!

But, even so, there was one moment of temporary tension.

Ranger had briefly bristled when Lady Vienne commented that hounds (and dogs in general) weren’t really seen as prestigious familiars for ladies of high birth, but he posed with pride when the noble artisan continued by adding that powerful ‘war dogs’ were respected and valued familiars among the more military inclined families.

Adding a new shadow-attuned battle collar that matched her dress was recommended for Ranger, and Ria readily agreed. Not knowing the prices for anything Lady Vienne made, Ria could only hope that Lady Asara would cover the cost as part of the regalia. If not, it was something she would worry about after the debut.

Unfortunately, there was one source of disappointment amid the excitement. Lady Vienne’s apprentices and workshop workers had promptly ushered Ria and Phaelys off to separate rooms for their respective fittings when they arrived, and Ria didn’t get to see Phaelys’ outfit for her debut.

After seeing her own outfit, she was intensely curious. From what she understood of how the formal wear was designed, the two outfits were parts of a whole, and only seeing hers was like only seeing half of a famous painting! Or hearing only half of a song! Or rather, hearing the song played but missing half the performers!

Ana wanted to stay and talk more, but seeing Ria occasionally eyeing the weighty book that had appeared on her desk while she was out, the girl reluctantly excused herself to leave Ria to her remaining event preparations, reminding to call if anything was needed.

Approaching her desk with resignation, Ria ran a hand over the hefty book’s gold-embossed cover and sighed. A Brief History of Crysellian Houses. Keira’s copy, no doubt.

Opening the book of heraldry and lineages and thinking of Kiera, she couldn’t help but be reminded of the previous evening’s events. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around Keira and Aldri getting engaged.

No matter how she looked at it, Keira’s parents had timed the reveal of the engagement with the dinner’s main course—a fancy celebratory chilled cream and cake dessert had followed. Maybe that was why talk of troublesome matters had been stopped.

And regarding celebration… Ria was pretty sure that engagements were celebrated with congratulatory gifts. Which meant she would need to purchase or make an additional gift for Keira.

Unless… by announcing at Keira’s birthday party, was Keira going to miss out on extra gifts intended to celebrate her engagement? Would the birthday gifts count for both? Were additional gifts expected to be sent afterward?

Just to be safe it was probably best to prepare separate gifts.

Ria’s gaze lifted to the painting of a warm and happy family that hung above her desk. It was hard to imagine Keira and Aldri as a new family.

What would Keira’s engagement mean for their circle of friends? Would anything change? Would other friends have their engagements set as well? Would some of them actually have their marriages soon? Children?

Her mind ground to a halt at the thought before rebooting upon remembering what Wendra had said about most wedding ceremonies being held after academy graduation. Most of them were planning to become Master Mages and still had five years before that would happen.

As far as engagements among her friends went, probably, Iselyn and Faris were next. And if her suspicions about Arthur and Aeri were correct…

Wait. Did that mean she was the last one without an arrangement among her same-aged friends?

Ria’s thoughts froze in place again. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

No, Zena didn’t have a fiancé yet. Ellen, either. So, it wasn’t fully the case—she would just be the last one among her friends who came with her from Vorshan’s Hills.

Ah, Amilee probably didn’t have a marriage arrangement yet. As an Oathbound, would the girl or her parents even get any say?

Amilee might not be the only one to not get a say in the choice. With what Lady Janacythe had said and the way Houses Novidus and Vesali were already making plans, Ria suspected her own partner would be decided for her just as much as Amilee’s would. Hopefully, she would still be able to steer the choice in an acceptable direction when the time came.

The pool of acceptable potential partners near her age likely wasn’t large, and waiting too long might further limit her available choices. She firmed her resolve to make additional connections with other Greater Houses during her debut.

If she had her choice, she wanted to say that personality was her main worry in regard to a partner, but in truth, it was more important that her partner share and facilitate—or at least enable—her long-term goals. That was probably why she could think of Hulle as interesting in that way.

Other considerations weren’t likely to be a problem regardless. She was already almost certain to be paired with someone powerful at this point, and all of the men she had met from the Greater Houses so far had more than acceptable appearances.

Ria chuckled at the thought. Even Leriah’s dad had a kind of appeal Ria would happily swoon over, personality aside.

If an appearance like that was what she had to look forward to as her partner grew older, she didn’t have any complaints. Hmmm… did land-god descendants even grow old? Or were they ageless like the fae once they reached a certain age?

Ria summoned Phaelys’ training wand to her hand and again admired the feel of the wand. Maybe there was reason to believe Phaelys would meet with her after the debut, after all.

She sighed again for what was probably the hundredth time since getting back. Having fun chatting with Ana had been a nice and much needed break from the gathering stress of her current situation and the rapidly approaching debut. If only worrying about her future marriage partner and reviewing the names and details of Crysellia’s noble houses were the only concerns complicating her mood.

There was something else worrying her. A feeling of something invisible hanging over her head had been growing. At first, she thought it was imagined, but by the time Phaelys returned her to Vorshan Estate, the feeling had gained a tangible sense of strings gathering, weighing on her mind and choices.

Closing her eyes, she leaned into the feeling, letting her newfound sensitivity to fate magic guide her impressions. The feeling of being trapped was growing worse.

She had considered it before—if there were books on fate magic in the Grand Library, she surely wasn’t the only mage who could use fate magic. Could someone be using fate magic on her? Someone who didn’t want her debut to succeed?

Or, could the other churches have found out about her? Were more gods moving to direct her fate?

Either way, the solution to protecting her ability to choose her own path and protect her from the interference of others was the same: she would have to risk another dangerous Soulkeeper technique.

Getting out the technique manual and the recently-gifted communication stone, Ria called Lestina.