Condemnation Event Part 1

Early in the morning of the next day...

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To the esteemed youngest daughter of Marina Dukedom, Lady Malaya Venizever Marina

Greetings!

On the 30th of the Seventh Month at exact noonday,

You are invited to the Grand Ball for the foundation of Moren Academy.

Sincerely,

Morena Academy of Magic and Arts

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Malaya held the invitation letter in her hands and stared at it. 'So it's almost really that time now,' she said with a faint smile.

In her hands was an invitation letter for the Academy's founding ball, which would be held two days from now.

'After four years of waiting, my fate has finally been set.'

She glanced at her calloused hands. Hands that were unfit for a lady of noble birth. 'All my hard work...' she closed both her palms.

"Are you certain, Milady, that you will now return to the academy?" Malaya turned towards Dorris who expressed concern. After all, there was no confirmation that the witch had died entirely in the blast.

In comparison to the other sorts of magicians, the witch was a full dark mage. Dark mages' corpses do not transform into light particles when they die, but rather into complete greyed ashes, from which a single black Lobelia flower blooms. A symbol in which people believe that since dark mages couldn't go back to the origin of life, Yvtor, the god of darkness and death was the one who gave these flowers to compensate for these lost souls.

"She would not harm me anymore, she's no longer in this continent." That one response caused Dorris's expression to contort into confusion.

"What do you think, Lady Iris? Would you like to listen to what I have to say? I can assure you that there is nothing for you to lose with my offer."

"Don't make me laugh," Iris sneered. "...but since you save me, I'll give you a word of compensation, that witch is no longer in this continent." With that said, Iris disappeared with only some white flying moths left behind her place. Even the spear that Malaya was holding vanished from her hands.

Malaya just laughed when the memory from yesterday flashed to her mind. 'I guess not all people love playing games. Well, it's a shame to not have her cooperation since there are a lot of things I wanted to ask her too.'

"Do you honestly believe a word of a fugitive and someone as crazy as her?" Dorris asked.

"I wonder," Malaya just glanced high above the skies outside her window. "But, let's just leave the past behind for now and move on to the future," to the ball that would become my end, Malaya said but just keep the last phrase in her thoughts. 

As Malaya started to walk, Dorris stood there, not moving with a troubled expression.

"Hmm," Malaya glanced at Dorris, "Is there something that is bothering you, Dorris?" 

"Umm..." Dorris gripped her skirt's cloth, her face more troubled than before. Malaya noticed huge eyebags formed beneath Dorris' eyes now that she was paying close attention to her.

"Are you alri..."

"I deeply apologize, Lady Malaya! Despite all you've done to me, I've still failed to protect you!" She slumped on the ground and began kowtowing her head repeatedly. "A thousand more deaths for this servant!"

Shocked and surprised by the sudden outburst of Dorris, Malaya stiffened for a minute. "Hey!" But when she saw that Dorris was going to hit her head hard on the floor, Malaya managed to move and hold both shoulders of Dorris firmly. "Stop it, Dorris! It's alright! I'm alright now!"

"It's still my fault that you suffered like that! Since the time you chose me as your maid, all I do was to be a liability to you!" Dorris kept sobbing as glanced on the ground.

"That's..." Malaya locked Dorris in a tight embrace which caught Dorris off guard. "That's not true Dorris. I never treat my friends as a liability to me. They are my most important treasure that no money or jewels could buy. If you die, a part of me will die too."

"Lady Malaya," Dorris sniffed and finally glanced at Malaya's worried eyes.

"Hush..." As Malaya drew away from the hug, a gentle grin appeared on her lips. With her thumb, she tenderly wiped Dorris' tears. Dorris was more than a maid to Malaya; she was also a friend and her younger sister, despite the fact that Malaya was just two months older than Dorris.

The wind was deafeningly quiet. But that was just what Malaya needed until Dorris finally calm down. 'I should have talked to her a lot sooner.'

"How can you," sniffed, "...say such words?" Dorris' voice was much steady now.

"What words?" Malaya's glanced at Dorris. Confusion was written all over her face. As far as she remembered, she haven't said anything wrong.

"Words that could make anyone feel much better easily," Dorris replied then stood up wiping her own tears.

But before Malaya could respond, "You should have to learn more to reprimand your servants if they have done something wrong, Milady, or they will just abuse your goodwill,"

"But will you do that, Dorris? Abusing my goodwill?" 

"Of course not!"

"Then there is really no reason for me to reprimand you," Malaya said as she patted Dorris' head.

"Milady?"

"Yes?" 

"I swear on the goddess of light that I will be much stronger and no longer become a hindrance to you anymore," Dorris said firmly.

Hearing her words, Malaya just gave a helpless smile. 'If she could, she wanted Dorris to do what she wants other than serving her. But she just kept this thought in mind. She didn't want to crush the will of Dorris by saying anything unnecessary. "Then let's work hard together Dorris in reaching our dreams."

"Yes!" Dorris nodded her head with enthusiasm.

"Let's go, now," Malaya started to head out to her room, "But remember this Dorris..." 

The next words that came from Malaya made Dorris pause in her footsteps.

"I never consider a friend or family of mine a hindrance, always keep that in mind."

Malaya's expression became determined as well as Dorris who trailed behind her. 'I'll never stop working hard too for the sake of everyone and my dreams.'

---⚓⚓⚓---

In the late afternoon...

"The Commander of the Navy wanted to request an audience with you as soon as possible."

"Is it regards to those poachers they caught the other day?" Darren asked while his gaze was fixed on the documents he was still reviewing and signing.

"Yes, Milord." His Uncle Ruiz politely said.

"Then please set a schedule for me tomorrow, Uncle,"

"Yes, Milord,"

Both of them glanced at the door of the office when they heard three consecutive knocks.

"Who is it?" Darren asked, his gaze was still on the papers.

"It is me, Malaya," Hearing that voice, Darren finally looked up, his gaze landed on his uncle. A brief silence enveloped the whole room.

"I'll go open the door, Milord."

Uncle Ruiz took the silence of his nephew as a silent yes to his remarks. He went and open the door, revealing Malaya that was now wearing a light blue dress.