***
Without wasting a minute, I went to my room, where a worried Catherine was already waiting for me. I had barely crossed the threshold when she immediately jumped out of bed. Her eyes were full of anxiety and curiosity.
"What happened?! Why were you summoned to Evelina Valtheim?! What did she want?" she bombarded me with questions in which her unconcealed concern was evident.
I walked calmly to the window, pretending to gather my thoughts. In reality, a completely different question was bothering me. In all previous cycles, Evelina had chosen Nova Cross, but for some reason, this time she had decided on me. Of course, this gave me certain advantages in my mission, but it also imposed obligations that I did not want to get involved in. Nevertheless, such radical changes in the timelines were necessary to balance reality, and I had to agree to this proposal.
"She offered me the position of mage-guardian," I finally said, without turning to Catherine. "And in the future, after graduating from the academy, a place in the royal guard."
Catherine froze. "And what did you say? Did you agree?"
"Nothing yet. I need time to think it over." I turned and looked at her. "But that's not the only thing I wanted to talk about…" I paused to seem more hesitant to her.
What I wanted to propose to her was not a simple suggestion, but a direct involvement in my mission, and I needed her to agree, so my task was to look as human and friendly as possible.
At my words, Catherine tensed, her expression one of deep panic, and she held her breath, waiting for me to finish my sentence.
"But bear in mind, Catherine, everything we talk about is strictly between us," I said for greater intimidation, as if the fate of Valtheim depended on it.
Catherine nodded, and then addressed me, "Alright, Arta. I won't tell anyone anything. You are my friend, and I don't want to betray or set you up…" Catherine paused, as if she wanted to add something else, but changed her mind at the last moment.
Her quick agreement was a good sign for me, and I turned to her to look her straight in the eye.
"Deal." I paused briefly before continuing. "First, Evelina made it clear to me that something very important, concerning all of us, depends on my decision. I assume it's about the academy."
Catherine looked at me in fear, as if she had imagined the worst possible thing, and then, quickly squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head sharply to cast those thoughts away.
"Maybe it's not about the academy, but about our kingdom?" she asked, no longer afraid, as if she had found an inner balance.
"Catherine, that would be too superficial of her," I smiled at the corners of my mouth. "Think about it, I'm a foreigner. What's the point of appealing to the well-being of another state in me?"
Catherine almost rolled her eyes when she heard this from me. "But Arta, Valtheim took you in. Are you really going to dismiss it like that?"
"Catherine, you talk as if I've already decided to move here forever. My fate is tied to my home in Tarvar, and it's not up for discussion," I replied a little sternly, alluding to the karmic obligations of my avatar.
"And what… You'll just leave, then?" she asked, and her voice held unconcealed disappointment.
"I'll leave someday. It's a matter of years, not Veytra's," I replied, trying to put on a friendly mask again.
Catherine smiled casually, still disappointed by my possible departure. "And what, there's no chance you'll stay here…" She swallowed. "…that we'll remain friends?"
"Catherine, I'm sorry, but you know that as a noblewoman, I have my obligations." I paused to let her realize the weight of my responsibility. "I'm not saying it will be soon, I'm saying it will be in any case."
Catherine closed her eyes, and her left hand trembled slightly. "I see… But promise me one thing," she said in a low voice.
I didn't want to make empty promises, and if she put me in a corner, I had to say anything but a specific promise.
"Promise me… that we'll see each other as often as possible," she said in a slightly trembling voice.
I closed my eyes and took a step towards her. I sighed intentionally and looked down at her before answering.
"Catherine, unfortunately, the adult life of a noblewoman requires certain obligations. I can't be absolutely sure what the future holds for me." I paused and added a simple, "I'm sorry."
Catherine clenched her fists but said nothing, and an awkward silence fell between us.
"In that case, I will try to do everything to make you want to see me," she replied after a few moments, her voice firm.
"Actions have more weight than words, Catherine," I replied, correcting her decision in the direction I needed.
Catherine nodded. "Alright, I understand you," she said, her voice still a little sad. "Tell me what you wanted to say second."
"I wanted to offer you to serve Evelina with me after we graduate from the academy," I replied, looking into her blue eyes, in which a new hope appeared at that moment.
"You want me to be your ally? Yes?" she asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes. I will set a condition for Evelina that I am not ready to participate in her games without you," I replied in a cold voice.
Catherine ran a hand over her prosthesis. "You know, Arta," she stood up from her bed, "I'm ready for this." Her voice was full of confidence.
"Alright, in that case, I will inform Evelina of my decision." I paused and added, "And thank you. This is very important to me."
Catherine's steadiness and trust were my most valuable assets at the moment, and I was not going to lose them, even if it sometimes meant I had to look a little more human than I actually am.
"You're welcome, Arta," she said, watching as I was about to leave. "But I wanted to say one more thing before you go to her." She paused and looked at me with a look full of hidden expectations. "I'm almost sure she won't like this idea. I'm not as outstanding as you, and if she's against it, tell her I'll just be your assistant. The mage-guardian's assistant." Catherine faltered slightly. "It sounds modest, and there's no such position in Valtheim, in principle."
Her sharpness of mind amazed me. That was exactly how I wanted to present Catherine to Evelina. Perhaps I was underestimating her too much and neglecting her, which on my part could lead to a strategic mistake that would be too inappropriate for my mission.
I smiled intentionally before answering. "Alright, Catherine, I'll do that." And, after a short pause, I added, "Thank you for the advice."
Catherine smiled and, with a slight squint, replied, "Alright, go to her already. Evelina is definitely not one of those people who likes to wait long."
"In that case, I'm off. See you later," I replied, trying to look friendly, and left our shared room.
***
Without wasting a minute, even before the first bell, I returned to Evelina's chambers, but I didn't expect to see Nova Cross coming out of them. Her stride was fast and jerky—a clear marker of a departure from her usual aristocratic style. As she passed by, I couldn't help but notice the bright micro-glitches in her condition: slightly reddened eyelids, tightly compressed lips, and a hand clenched into a fist so tight that the knuckles turned white. She was desperately trying to maintain a mask of indifference, but for a split second, her gaze darted towards me—it was not a look, but the prick of a red-hot needle, full of cold fury—before she forced herself to look straight ahead. She walked past as if I were just part of the wall, part of the scenery in her personal tragedy, but that fleeting glance was more eloquent than any cry.
The guardswoman, habitually standing at Evelina Valtheim's chambers, seemed not to have noticed Nova's reaction and just silently entered the chambers to announce that I had returned.
"You may enter," she said in an impassive voice, after which I entered the royal chambers.
Evelina Valtheim sat in her chair, her expression was agitated by a recent—and, by all appearances, unpleasant—conversation with Nova; she was carefully trying to suppress all the emotions raging inside her. Although her posture remained outwardly impeccable, her gaze still held an anxiety about the correctness of the decision she had made.
"Your Highness, am I interrupting?" I asked politely, making a slight bow to perfectly match the etiquette of the academy and Valtheim in particular.
Evelina's gaze switched to me, her honey-colored eyes tried to read the reason why I had returned so quickly, but for some reason her sharp mind had dimmed, as if the conversation with Nova had left a wound inside her that was painfully aching.
A few more moments passed before she could overcome this weakness and made a gesture with her hand, obliging me to stop any signs of respect towards her, and then, gathering her thoughts, she said in a cold tone, "You came earlier than I expected. Have you made a decision so quickly?" She tried to smile coldly to defuse the situation.
"Your offer is interesting to me, Your Highness," I said, maintaining a polite tone. My voice was intentionally made to sound slightly naive, as if I were discussing another lesson, not an important political issue. "But I have one condition."
Evelina frowned slightly, but a barely perceptible smile touched her lips. She clearly had not expected something like this from me.
"A condition?" she repeated, leaning forward. Her gaze became even more intense. "Speak, Artalis, I am listening."
I looked at her and sighed lightly, feigning excitement.
"Catherine Holu, my roommate, will be my assistant in the role of mage-guardian," I said calmly. "Without her, I will not agree to serve you."
Evelina froze for a moment, as if evaluating my words. I could see her thoughts working feverishly, trying to understand why I was setting such a condition. However, she quickly composed herself and leaned back in her chair.
"Catherine?" she repeated, as if to make sure she had heard the name correctly. "The same Catherine who…" she paused for a moment, "…suddenly acquired a high-class magical prosthesis...?"
"The very same," I confirmed, maintaining my composure. "She will be part of our deal. Otherwise, I will not play by your rules."
Evelina smirked, and her fingers began to tap on the armrest. A silence hung in the room, but it was not just an awkward silence, but a pause full of internal calculations and assessments.
"An interesting choice," she said at last. "But allow me to ask, where did Catherine get such a prosthesis? Even on a superficial assessment, its price would exceed the cost of several estates in Sumerenn—our capital."
The level of her analysis and intelligence regarding the data on the prosthesis I created slightly surprised me. However, evaluating a perfect artifact with some soulless estates in the capital of Valtheim was incorrect, but it still emphasized the primitiveness of mortals. In any case, I had to stick to my legend, which I had voiced to Catherine, and I had no reason to deviate from it yet.
"Your Highness, as you know, the Nox family is very wealthy, and I asked my parents to order a prosthesis for Catherine from the best artisans in the Tarvarian Empire," I replied calmly, sticking to my legend.
Evelina narrowed her eyes, as if evaluating my phrase, and then asked a simple but absolutely logical question, "So wealthy that they are willing to give a girl they barely know tens of thousands of gold pieces?" Her voice held a slight mockery mixed with irony.
"Allow me to explain," I began unhurriedly. "This prosthesis is not just a gift—it is the repayment of an old moral debt to the Holu family. The prosthesis is just a way to repay it without much fuss." I paused briefly before continuing. "Unfortunately, the details and specifics of the debt itself are confidential even to me." I lowered my eyes, trying to give my appearance a slightly guilty look.
"How interesting… A moral debt...?" She paused, as if savoring the question, and then narrowed her eyes even more, looking me straight in the eye.
"Exactly, Your Highness," I replied, meeting her gaze without a shadow of the embarrassment she expected. "It is a matter of honor that concerns events of more than a hundred years ago. My parents would prefer to keep all the details secret."
Evelina tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the armrest. "So, you're just an obedient daughter, carrying out the will of your family?"
"I am merely fulfilling my duty to the Nox family," I replied, tilting my head slightly, and, continuing to play my role, added, "Besides, Catherine turned out to be surprisingly talented. Her potential for Order magic, which I am teaching her, may prove to be very useful not only for the academy but also for the crown."
Evelina smiled slowly and then unhurriedly said, "How noble of you to combine family duties with the benefit of the educational institution and the crown of Valtheim…" She paused, as if reflecting on her own words, and then continued, "And yet," Evelina continued, and her eyes narrowed once more, "one thing bothers me. As far as I know, no official packages or deliveries have been received at the academy. How exactly did the prosthesis get here?"
"You are absolutely right, Your Highness," I replied, maintaining my composure. "The prosthesis was delivered right after the start of the academic year. by a specially trained courier of the Nox family and handed to me personally with the strictest instructions of confidentiality."
Evelina frowned slightly, as if something in my words didn't add up.
"The courier's name?" she asked, her tone becoming more direct. "It is impossible to enter the academy's territory unofficially. Everyone who enters undergoes a thorough check."
She was digging deeper and deeper, as if trying to find inconsistencies in my story, and I understood that any ambiguous phrase could lead me into big trouble.
"The courier handed me the package near the academy gates, and I cannot know his name, as he was under diplomatic cover," I said, slowing my speech slightly to emphasize the importance of the moment. "And as for the check, you, as the heir to the throne, know better than I about the inviolability of diplomatic correspondence. My family chose this particular delivery channel to avoid unnecessary questions. Even I do not have the right to know this courier's name, as it is a standard procedure for operations of this level of confidentiality."
Evelina shook her head in disappointment and thoughtfully adjusted the signet ring with the Valtheim coat of arms on her hand. "So, you claim that everything was done through diplomatic channels? That explains why I couldn't find any records of the delivery. But still…" she shook her head skeptically, "there are too many secrets here for a simple debt of honor."
Evelina tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the armrest. "You know, Artalis, there is a way to verify your words. I can write a letter to the head of the Holu family…"
Evelina's desire to dig into this matter was too intense; she could go too far, but for now, I continued to play along with her in this detective game.
"You can do that, Your Highness. However, I am sure that Catherine's family would prefer to keep this story secret. I can only assume that her father, Lord Edward Holu, will not be thrilled with questions about old debts, as you, like me, do not know all the circumstances."
Evelina leaned slightly towards me and raised an eyebrow. "So, you are well-informed about Catherine's family?"
"Exactly as much as was necessary to carry out my family's instructions," I replied, tilting my head slightly to the side to give an impression of nonchalance.
"I suppose if I ask my mother to write a letter, then Lord Edward Holu will not be able to avoid telling us the truth about this debt," Evelina said with a cunning smile, her gaze fixed on me.
From that moment on, with her interrogation, she began to cross a red line, which she should never have done. I was ready to erase her memory right now, but the risk of drawing the attention of CL with my true power still held me back, and I couldn't help but worry, because at stake was not just a mission, but the fate of an entire Al'aran petal.
"Your Highness, I suppose you can do that to check all the details…" I paused intentionally. "However, why are you creating such a high level of distrust between us? I am ready to help you, it's just… To be honest, Catherine is my best friend, and I wouldn't want to act without her." I intentionally made my eyes look full of sadness and looked at Evelina, hoping that at least such a speech would soften her position.
"You know, Artalis, your story is very similar to the truth, but I am not too naive. Perhaps if you hadn't offered to involve Catherine in this whole affair yourself, I wouldn't have asked so many questions." Evelina smiled slyly. "I willingly believe that you do not know all the details of the events that occurred between your families, but are you not interested in the truth yourself, why your parents chose Catherine?" Evelina fell silent, and her fingers began to drum on the armrest. "Sooner or later, I will get to the truth, Artalis, so don't think you can play with me!" Her gaze was full of unspoken anger, which for me served as the final point in this conversation.
Further conversation with her on this topic was completely unproductive. Thousands of variants of the required degree of memory correction flashed through my mind, and the most optimal method was chosen—to completely remove all her interest in Catherine's prosthesis.
The next moment, I made a light, barely perceptible wave of my hand. My invisible power pierced her mind, and in the next instant, all interest in Catherine's prosthesis completely disappeared from Evelina's consciousness.
She sat for a while and just looked at me uncomprehendingly, and then replied, "Alright, Artalis, so what were we talking about…?" Evelina hesitated for a moment, still gathering her thoughts. "I suppose I see no reason to refuse you your condition with Catherine, but please, clarify, how will she be useful to us?"
I smiled at her before continuing the conversation. The memory correction effect had worked perfectly, and now I just had to prove to her the necessity of using Catherine in her plans.
"She has already shown her usefulness," I replied. "Her abilities for Order magic are only beginning to manifest, but they are unique. And her determination…" I paused briefly to emphasize the significance of my words, "…she could become a valuable ally to the crown."
Evelina frowned, her eyes filled with deep thought. She was probably still not fully recovered from the direct impact on her mind.
"Well," she said after a long pause, "so be it. Catherine Holu will be part of our agreement. But bear in mind, Artalis," her voice became colder, "if she becomes a hindrance, I will not hesitate to remove her from the game."
"That will not happen," I assured her, and then, to completely disarm her, I added, "I am fully responsible for her and her actions. If anything happens, I am prepared to take all the risks upon myself."
Evelina smiled, but her smile held a hint of a warning. She stood up from her chair and came closer to me.
"Alright, Artalis, since you are so confident in Catherine, I will include clauses in the blood pact that will lead to your death in the event that she betrays me. If you agree, then I suppose we can part for a while. I need to prepare the pact."
Her mood was too serious; she was ready to use Blood magic, which was forbidden in her own kingdom, but I was above that and was fully prepared to play her game.
"Deal, Your Highness," I replied with an intentional smile, after which I bowed in respect and left her chambers.