Chapter 48: Renovations and other demonic things

Early the next morning, men came to renovate my mansion.

It was pretty incredible what they were able to do in the space of a few hours. My mansion had literally transformed from a slightly crumbly but still decent looking castle to a Disney poster cover for what a palace should look like.

They primarily used wind and water magic to grind down the old stones so that they were smooth and bright again. They took away all the ruble and really made the whole mansion look a lot better. It was pretty incredible actually, they even painted some kind of cover on the roof that brightened up the red tiling.

When I was offered this mansion at the Royal ball last season, I chose this house because of its location, not its aesthetics, but right now the house was looking just as pretty as the other mansions I had seen.

After the renovations:

Agnes and Bard were really on top of things because soon after the renovators left, the gardeners came. Without me saying a word they began to mow the surrounding hill with their wind magic until the grass was perfectly even. They also began to dig out quite a wide hole in the ground, Agnes told me they were creating some kind of water feature, I just left it up to them and went inside to supervise the new furniture being brought in. Since I was now a second rank Lady, I apparently couldn't afford to have 'empty rooms' in my house anymore, so Agnes arranged for a furnishing guild to come and furnish all the rooms of my house. It was 'a matter of dignity', she said. 

They too did their job expertly. They actually didn't even ask for my opinion, they just added what they felt was necessary. I thought it was strange that I didn't get a say but I just kept quiet since everything looked so beautiful.

They did an excellent job of furnishing all the barren hallways between they rooms, by adding dainty chairs and soft sofas and long carpets as well as some ornaments to finish it off, they even re-did some of the painting on the walls and ceilings.

They then went on to furnish all the empty guests rooms, each with their own style.

Then some reading and drawing rooms, even a study I didn't know I had.

It was all just so grande and beautiful. All together the new furnishings cost 10 gold coins, yes it was pretty expensive but it was worth it.

When they had left I took a moment to walk through all the rooms they had furnished and just admired how beautiful my home was.

Soon after, some art sellers came to buy to sell me some paintings (also arranged by Agnes) since it was only proper for Second Rank ladies to keep beautiful art hung in their homes.

They showed me stunning artwork after stunning artwork and I found it quite difficult to choose. In the end I settled on a few beautiful water scenes that depicted isolated lakes with pretty flowers blowing in the breeze and cute birds sitting in the trees.

I also chose a painting of the harbour side. The seller was telling me that the artist bought a house on the harbor side just so that he could paint this painting. A perfect view of the harbor side: the colorful houses, the glistening ocean, the birds flying, the gentle breeze, the warm atmosphere. The artist had managed to capture it all.

By the time I had seen everything they had brought, I had only bought four, not nearly enough to decorate my house with. I just decided that I would visit some galleries or commission Dimitri to paint me some paintings, since the day of renovating was starting to way me down.

Auberon and Rudyard went to hang up the paintings in the library while I went outside to check on the gardens.

I was so shocked by how gorgeous it all looked. In the space of a few hours they had managed to create a large pond filled with brightly colored fish (don't know where they got them from) and delicate water flowers. It looked just like one of the paintings I had just bought. I dashed over to the pond and dipped my hand in to watched as the shining fish darted away. I let out a loud laugh and smiled at my reflection in the water. I think coming to Gismead had made me prettier somehow...

My complexion was better, my eyes seemed brighter, I just looked prettier somehow.

"Milady you mustn't run like that!" Agnes called out one from the windows of the library.

"I was skipping!" I called back to tease her. I heard her grunt at me from the window "Agnes?"

"Yes Milady."

"It's such a beautiful day, do you think we could have lunch out here instead?" The sun was shining so warmly even though the season was getting much colder, today was the exception and I felt like taking advantage of it.

And just like that, we all ended up having lunch outside on the lawn next to the pond.

Today Augustus and Ilsa had prepared a scrumptious meal of salmon and asparagus in lemon butter sauce.

It was all so perfect.

Ilsa was running around the lawn playing chase with Sedgwick, my crystalline snake, and Sophie, my cat. She giggled and laughed as she ran in circles while Sedgwick slithered after her, his crystal scales glittering in the sunlight. Sophie on the other hand was pouncing and and pawing at Ilsa energetically, even though she was a cat, she looked very absorbed in the game.

I was glad to see that Ilsa was having fun since I often felt guilty about having her work for me, but I knew I couldn't make her stop working because she was helping support her family, and the salary I gave her was a big part in keeping her family afloat. Besides, I had asked Augustus to not work her too hard, and I had also scheduled in a rest or siesta period in her schedule so she had some free time to either nap or play outside. Over the past weeks, Ilsa had become very close with Sedgwick and Sophie. She loved to go and pet them, and had made herself in charge of feeding them.

My heart hummed contently as I saw her running about in one of the dresses I had given her.

"Impossible!" An indignant Auberon interrupted me from my thoughts.

"Just accept it Auberon..." came Rudyard's aloof tone. "I am stronger than you."

"You must be dreaming. Come! I challenge you to an arm wrestle." I was the one who taught them how to arm wrestle.

"As you wish." Rudyard obliged Auberon and held out his arm over the garden table.

The two men gripped each other tightly, they glared deep into each other's eyes. Auberon was burning with determination while Rudyard looked more cocky and confident in himself.

"Go!"

Auberon's face went bright red and he put all his might into pushing back on Rudyard'S fist, but to no avail, Rudyard was steadily overpowering Auberon, until he finally pushed the back of Auberon's hand onto the table. Auberon let out a devastated howl and half collapsed over the table in anguish while Rudyard sported an impressive grin, and let out a joyous laugh, only further tormenting the poor sulking Auberon.

It was nice to see the two of them having fun, especially Rudyard, since he had seemed a bit distant and cold in the beginning, but he was definitely improving on aquaintance.

Third person

Mellie and Ilsa were sitting on the lawn stroking down Sophie's back so that she strechted out and purred happily, Illsa was feeding Sedgewick a piece of silver a which he was swallowing down hungrily.

"Mellie..." Ilsa's tone suddenly shifted, her eyes were downcast and her shoulders slumped.

"What's wrong Ilsa?" Mellie could see that she suddenly looked so depressed.

"Do you think our Lady will get married soon?" Ilsa looked up at Mellie with a concerned frown on her face.

"Married...?" Mellie pondered. "Well, she doesn't seem to fancy anyone... besides the prince I mean but that's a very unlikely match... since the prince is said to be betrothed to..."

"But is it possible for our lady to marry the prince?" Ilsa asked urgently her lip quivering.

"What is the matter with you Ilsa?" Asked Edna, who had walked over to join them. "Do you not want our lady to get married?"

Ilsa looked away guiltily.

Mellie was a bit shocked by Ilsa's reaction. "Why in Goodness's name wouldn't you want our Lady to get married?! Dont you want her to be happy, dont you want to see her start a family?" Mellie questioned in the most severe tone she had ever spoken in her life.

"It's not that I don't want our Lady to be happy, it's just that if she were to marry the Prince, she would have to go live in the castle and leave this house..." Ilsa was almost in tears. "And we would probably never see her again..."

They were silent for a moment as they thoguht about Ilsa's words. Even Edna, who was always composed and indifferent let her face drop to sadness for a while. All of them had never had the opportunity to serve such a kind and compassionate mistress. So the thought of her leaving to go and get married was painful... especially for Mellie who had been badly treated at the other houses she worked at.

"If our Lady wishes to go and get married, there is nothing we can say or do to prevent it." Edna's tone was sombre and sadness, but she felt it her duty to say this.

"Milady has treated me with as much kindness as to last me a lifetime. The food, the clothes, the stabilty is all thanks to her generosity. So it is my duty to spend my life repaying that huge debt, by making sure her ladyship is happy and comfortable at all times. If her happiness requires that she leave us one day, then I will support her decision with the compliance and humilty I do everything in life... even if it means my heart is breaking..." Her quiet voice broke off for a second and she was unable to speak. She breathed in the fresh morning air to compose herself, and before leaving to pack up the lunch table she looked down to Ilsa and said, "As is your duty to her too."

Ilsa lowered her head in shame becasue she knew Edna was right. She couldn't be selfish with Lady Riley, even though the thought of Lady Riley leaving to get married was so terrible for her. Lady Riley was her best friend in all the world, a role model, a surrogate mother even, and the thought of parting with her was so hard. But if that was what Lady Riley wanted, she wouldn't say anything to stop her.

"Mellie! Ilsa!" Called out Lady Riley from the steps of mansion. "The salesman is here! don't you want to help me choose a holiday house?!" As Ilsa looked at Lady Riley waving and smiling from the steps, she understood why many poeple would want to marry her. Lady Riley was definitely the most beautiful Lady in the Kingdom. Ever! And Although Ilsa promised to not stop her from getting married, she definitely would't give her up to anyone that wasn't worthy of her.

Ilsa picked up Sophie and held onto Sedgewick's tail and ran for the mansion, exited to help choose a holiday house.

Riley

The seller/real estate agent propped a book as big as his upper body and on a large wooden stand. He took his time in making sure the book was centered on the stand. Then he began to turn the pages and narrated each house while showing its the detailed water color paintings of each property, stopping every few moment to reposition his glasses on his pointy nose.

"First, we have a famous manor. A stunning pale stone cliff manor that is situated far north of Gismead in a town called Lafavias. This manor is located right on the cliff of the coastline and the views are spectacular, you can even see into the Royal palace of Astonia from this mansion." He spoke in a really nasally voice and I wondered if it had anything to do with his really arched nose.

The property looked spectacular in the paintings, especially since the white of the snow was complementing the white of the castle stone. Plus I was really tempted to have a view of Astonia's castle from my home. I could only imagine what it looked like.

"I've always wanted to go to Lafavias!" Mellie blurted out excitedly. "My mother told me that they make the sweetest syrups from the trees there!"

I smiled thinking about all the deserts I could make with syrup.

"This next house is located in the South West of Gismead on a small island in the Great Lagoon, the island is part of Girannon's second largest city, Kreamore, the birthplace of Queen Mirabelle."

"Well now, that's a spectacular Lagoon castle Milady." Agnes chimes in from behind me, I can hear the wonderment in her voice. I agree that it was a really beautiful castle, and it was the perfect place to practice water magic... but on the other hand, I already lived in a big city, so my holiday house doesn't need to be in another big city.

"This next one is of a cosy town house located on the West planes of Bromfaliath, which is walking distance from our neighboring Kingdom Pathagonia. Bromfaliath is renowned for its beautiful flowers, so Milady can expect to tour many gardens if Milady decides to purchase this house."

"Well, lovely flowers are definitely something worth considering." Blushed Bard as he tried to be subtle about suggesting this house to me.

"Would you like to see another house My Lady?" Asked the seller, peeing down at me kindly.

"Yes, please." I nodded. "Do you have any houses in small towns, possibly in a forest area?" Because I was just a sucker for forests.

"Certainly!" He enthusiastically began to flip through the pages for the right one. "Here!" He exclaimed.

"This Mansion was built next to a small lake in the forest-town called 'Hadrian' that was established in the same year that first Prince Geoffrey Leofrick Hadrian Ambrose was born, and thus the town was named after him."

"I believe that you would be the only noble to own property in that town though." The seller added cautiously, as if afraid I would back away from it. Little did he know that 'no nobles' was an incentive.

It's not that I didn't like nobles or anything, I mean there were many good ones like Alice, Cornelius and all my friends its just that the constantly having to put up this facade of nobility was getting really tiring... I hated having to sit up straight and adhere to all the social norms when walking about in town, always attracting attention because of my fancy clothes, it was all so blaaah at times.

"Has Milady come to a decision?" Prompted the seller, looking down at me hopefully.

I have.

"I have. I would like to purchase, the first manor you showed me, the one in Lafavias that overlooks the Astonian Royal palace."

"An excellent choice my Lady." He smiled a wide smile, probably excited to make a sale. "The manor is worth 150 gold coins." I nodded my head. I knew it sounded crazy expensive but it actually wasn't for such an amazing house.

"And I would like to purchase the last house you showed me, the one in Hadrian."

"Most excellent!" The seller did a little happy wobbled. "That house will cost 47 gold coins."

Agnes and Bard went upstairs to the safe room to load the coins into a small trunk for the seller, while the seller handed me the deeds to the properties and I sealed them with my magic. Before long Agnes and Bard came back with the coins and helped load them into the seller's carriage.

I really felt so grown up. Me with my three castles!

"Would Milady like to schedule a holiday to go and visit your new homes?" Agnes Suggested.

"Mhmm, that's a great idea!" It would be really nice to get away from Gismead for a while. I could invite Alice to come with me for a few weeks as well, maybe Arcadia and Rosalie too...

I don't know why but Prince Geoffrey suddenly popped into my head and I remembered that I had wanted to go to the store he had bought me, and check it out a bit. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the golden key he had given me, thinking about the kiss he had placed on my forehead. I smiled, and swooned over him just a little bit.

It was early afternoon and there was still plenty of time to get to the noble sect and come back again. So I decided to go with Auberon to a quick trip to the sect to go and check my store out.

The ride there was strangely unnerving. I don't know why but every moment that we got closer to the sect, the pit in my stomach would grow deeper and darker. I was getting some serious anxiety for some reason, so much so that I couldn't concentrate on the lush hills and calms sea. I fidgeted around, adjusting my seat and fiddled with my fingers until I couldn't take it anymore and I reached into my dress pocket and pulled out my phone.

When I pressed the home button, I was stunned by the number of notifications from God's Office.

I quickly unlocked it and went straight to my text messages an read down the long list.

Wind magic: flight spell achieved

Wind magic: Level 92

New skill acquired: Sword maker

Dark magic: purification spell acquired

New skill acquired: chef

New skill bestowed: Teacher

Warning! : Fire magic depleting - must use fire magic to keep this magic

Warning! : Earth magic depleting - must use Earth magic to keep this magic

New skill acquired: Entrepreneurship

While I was reading all the skills, the two 'warning' messages were a bit worrying. It was actually a good thing that I had read messages because if I hadn't read them and hadn't known that my fire and earth magic was depleting because I hadn't used them, I could have been in big trouble. I would have to remember to take a walk in the forest so I could use my powers where nobody could see me.

"We've arrived Milady." Came Auberon's cheerful tone, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"Thank you Auberon." He helped me out of the carriage and pointed towards the store. It was a beautiful stone store, that had large glass windows where I could display all the artifacts. It was also located a few streets away from the Main Street, so that the area wasn't too busy, but busy enough so that quite a few people would walk by and see what was on display.

I took the golden key out of my pocket and gingerly twisted it in the lock until I heard a satisfactory click!

The inside was empty but neatly put together with a rich dark polished wood that somehow made the place look more sophisticated. I breathed in the smell of fresh wood and rich earth. I found the smell pleasing, addictive almost. I loved it. It was perfect.

I was excited to open up the shop, after I made more artifacts.

Auberon and I locked up the store and were headed back into the carriage when something caught my eye.

From the street I was on, I could see straight into the noble sect center, where a golden monument of a great dragon was mounted. Just behind the monument I could see a familiar face half-straggling half-hobbling along the stone center. I had only met him once last season, when Alice and I had gone to see Lucian at the training barracks. Lucian had been with two friends: Lord Fitz and Lord Antony.

And a few days ago when the prince and I went to go and rescue Lucian, Fits and Antony from the pack of demonized wolves, we had searched everywhere for his body but couldn't find it. But now he was standing there, clear as day, in the middle of the sect. The poor guy must have somehow managed to survive and crawl out of the forest. He looked really bedraggled like he had been stuck in the forest for days. And I could see people staring at him in disgust, they probably thought he was a peasant. He didn't seem to notice though. He actually didn't seem to notice anything. He looked like a zombie limping through the streets. His face was blank.

He just kept on walking, until he bumped right into soldier stationed next to the golden dragon.

The soldier seemed irritated and shoved him off violently, making Fitz stumble a few feet back. That soldier would be really regretful once he found out that Fitz was part of the Knights Order and a noble.

The people who were nearby and saw the commotion started to point and laugh at poor disoriented Fitz.

I couldn't watch that anymore, so I hastily began to approach the scene to go and help Fitz.

"Mommy what's wrong with that man?" A plump little kid pulled on his mother's skirt and asked her.

"Nothing little one, that just how peasants behave..." she said giving Fitz the noble a sour look. These people were terrible, so flipping righteous it was actually a joke how ignorant they were.

"Fitz!" I called out, he didn't see me, but his focus did seems to affix to the soldier who had pushed him. Fits began toward him with a cold inhuman like demeanor.

The knight saw it coming and readied himself. "You dirty peasant! Get out of the noble sect!" He roared, about to pull his sword out of his sheath, but before he could, in the blink of an eye, without any emotion, Fitz raised his palm and ejected a shockingly powerful beam of lightning into the soldier.

There was a still silent moment, before a fountain of blood gushed out of the soldier's middle. The soldier shrieked like a mad thing, clutching his belly, only to realize that he had been sliced in half and his organs were starting to spill out of him.

The soldier fell back on the street lying in a pool of his own blood, wriggling and twitched like a helpless grounded fish. My gut turned at the gruesome sight.

"Milady..." I heard Auberon's whisper of shock from beside me.

The people in the sect immediately started screaming their heads off, and thus chaos quickly ensued. Some maidens in their fancy dresses lifted their skirts and started running, some men did the same. Some were too shocked to moved and stayed in their positions completely stunned. A few even ran forward to help.

"Get the soldiers!" Someone cried out.

"Call the Knights!" somebody commanded. I saw a few people scramble off to do as they said.

A few other soldiers stationed in this center ran forward wielding their swords shouting their battle cries. However, Fitz cut them down in an instant. In one second his lighting bolts bludgeoned through all of them reducing them to piles of blood and flesh.

Terror broke out in the center. Some people jerked over at the horrific sight. The screams became louder.

My eyes turned back to Fitz who was now turning his attention to the mother and child who had insulted him. Oh no!

I ran forward trying to make it in time.

I could see that this person standing in front of me, may look like Fitz but definitely wasn't. The Fitz I remembered wasn't cruel or cold like the person who had practically just cut a soldier in half for pushing him. Like the person standing in front of me who was a about to hurt a mother and child.

I looked into Fitz's eyes to see what was going on in them, maybe rage and indignation had taken over him, even then, what he had just done was unforgivable.

My blood went cold at what I saw. The whites of his eyes had gone pitch black and his irises had gone red, Just like those terrifying demonized wolves. What had happened to him? As I looked hard at him I could see these dark purple and black swirls of magic radiating off of him. From my study of the tenebris intellexerent, I knew immediately that this type of dark magic was called Zeref.

It was a kind of forbidden magic that demonized animals and made them go wild and increased their bloodlust while making them very powerful.

However I had never read that Zeref could demonize humans. However, what I was seeing right in front of me said otherwise.

Fitz gaze was now fixed on the mother and child, again he lifted up his hand and projected an unprecedented amount of light magic at them in a frightening beam. The mother saw it coming and jumped in front of her son, hoping that her body would protect him.

I immediately used my dark magic and threw up a dark barrier between Fitz and the pair that successfully repelled his lightning magic, but just barely as the barrier shattered moments afterwards. The mother and son, immediately ran for the hills screaming in terror and relief.

Fitz made a guttural inhuman sound, somewhere between and grunt of frustration and a howl of rage.

The Zeref around him was multiplying. The black and purple swirls were so thick they were actually making a current that was able to whip my hair against my face. The dust on the cobble street moved with the Zeref creating a kind of dark magic tornado around him, or a cocoon.

The people around me started to scream again. The frantic desperation was attracting a crowd as people were curious to see what the screaming was about.

The Zeref was so potent that I could even hear slight whispers from within it, as if this evil magic had its own voice. And as the cocoon of Zeref around Fitz expanded and got more potent, the whispers got louder.

Kill

Infect

Kill

Destroy

Kill

Explode

The Zeref was whispering pure evil, putting Fitz under its command, making him do its bidding. This was sick, poor Fitz was just being used, he probably didn't even know what was going on.

Just as I was taking a step back to move out of the Zeref's way, the entire cloud of Zeref was suddenly sucked inside of Fitz.

His body was barely able to contain. His skin was scorching hot from trying to contain all the magical  energy. The purple darkness was spilling out of his mouth, eyes and ears. Fitz was screaming in pain. His skin was starting to crack and the purple Zeref was bursting out.

Explode

"Everybody get back!" I screamed out. Fitz was going to Explode and the Zeref would be sprayed all over the surrounding people and would probably infect them. How many more people would be demonized from this explosion...

My mind went blank, what could I do to protect people from an explosion?!? What the hell could I do without killing Fitz?!?

Naruto Shippuden suddenly appeared in my mind. That scene from the anime where the four hokage of the leaf village put up that amazing red barrier to stop the ten tails beast bomb from killing every one. That amazing barrier that keep such a powerful  explosion in tact. However, that spell required four people and there was only one me.

Oh god! Think Riley! Think!

I can't believe that I had been transported to another world and was about to use, not one, but two Naruto spells.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I cried out(another Naruto reference), even doing the hand techniques. Wow... I'm such a geek.

Three exact clones of me appeared by my side. I didn't have anytime to admire my handy work because Fitz was seconds away from exploding.

My clones rushed to encircle fits, and we all began to recite the jutsu I had learned from watching Naruto on repeat.

"Four Red Yang Formation!" Me and my four red clones called out. Immediately a brilliant red barrier shot up from the ground where we were standing and rose so high into the air that I couldn't see where the barrier stopped.

I had managed to create a large red square barrier around Fitz. In that exact moment the Zeref inside Fitz exploded. Powerful Magic exploded out of Fitz's body but did not break through the barrier. The barrier strained to keep in the colossal amount of Zeref exploding out of him but it held fast. After a moment you could no longer see inside the barrier because the Zeref acted as a thick opaque mist that you could not see through. I would have to wait a while for the Zeref to dissipate before undoing the jutsu.

I looked around to see the relief on everyones faces. Thankfully everyone was safe. I sighed with relief but felt the dizziness come over me again.

"Are you Alright Milady?" Auberon rushed to my side and steadied me in his arms.

"Yeah I'm good. Thanks Auberon." I touched my palm to my forehead and felt how clammy it was. I wanted to go and lie down. But I couldn't, there was still work to do.

I rushed over to the first soldier who Fitz had sliced through the middle. The poor man was still alive still gasping for air. Thankfully his armor was enchanted to be durable so the bolt didn't strike as deep as the other. I could see his desperate eyes looking up at me in his helpless states. Blood spilled out the corner of his mouth as he tried to speak to me.

"Shhhhhh..." I tried to calm him by stroking his hair. "It's gonna be alright." I smiled down at him and cast me healing spell over him, taking very special care to place his organs back where they were supposed to be. Halfway through the spell he passed out, but by the end I had fully healed him.

"Lady Delton." Came a familiar voice. "What happened here?" His tone was stricter than what I was used to, but then again he was on duty now.

"Lord Gawain." I greeted him. I looked over his shoulder to see a whole troop of knights from the Order.