The Chalice

I put away my tablet and breathed out in relief. The rays of light that danced around with the swaying of the window curtains indicated that the morning has come and gone. It has been a few weeks since I averted the first critical moments of Alagarassi's life.

I poured some wine into my glass and the aroma of a sweet-smelling fruit permeated the air. I traced the glass of wine with my finger and sighed.

Alagarassi was indeed a hedonistic woman but there was a reason I was drinking just barely after lunch.

In the age where humans gained the ability to touch the feet of God, information has become the most important commodity in the world.

Countless resources would be invested into the study of Prana as interested shifted from material goods to hiring and nurturing the most promising Prana capable people on Earth.

8 years from now, at a point in the time when Alagarassi would enter the final stages of her life, the famed researcher Dr. Sylvia Lee would announce the importance of fruits grown by Prana-capable farmers. It was said that these fruits if grown under the right conditions, would strengthen people's Prana abilities when consumed.

The shocking announcement turned the world upside down as the once useless trait of Prana Farming quickly became the most important career in the world.

Each bottle of this fruit's juice would cost even a member of the Twelve Master Sword Families a sizeable fortune and Prana Farmers would quickly be the most sought-after human resource in the world.

A soothing voice pulled me out of my stupor as a full head of blonde hair blocked my vision. A pair of warm hands hugged me from behind and whisper softly in my ears, "Mistress, is everything to your liking?"

She burrowed her face deeper into my hair and sighed, "You always smell so good, it's unfair."

I chuckled at her childishness and turned around to face her.

Blonde hair, blue eyes that shined like a sky made with jewels. It was a visage that exuded pure and untainted beauty as well as the nobility of the highest quality of nobles.

Princess Patricia Everett Windsor. She was the first person I had ever seen since waking up in the world and she was now my host.

After receiving my certification from the guild, I sought her help to purchase my independence from the Salvador Family with the Prana Farming Technique as the collateral.

She insisted that money was not an issue as her family loved and nurtured her but I stubbornly continued to shake my head.

In the end, she gave up while complaining to me. She then brought up the condition that she would essentially purchase my independence from the Salvador Family in exchange for me living with her for a year.

At the time, I laughed at her and asked, "Are you purchasing me? What about my human rights?"

She puffed up her cheeks and started play-hitting me with her small hands while crying, "What human rights? Mistress, you're the one who…"

I shook my head at the memory. It was just an innocent exchange between two consenting adults but it seems Alagarassi's luck with the women in the world was good.

In the original timeline, Alagarassi cared and loved Princess Patricia but her powerlessness made her unworthy to stand beside the princess and they had eventually drifted apart.

Patricia eventually married but it was an unhappy relationship and the media made her out to be a scandalous woman and the princess eventually died in childbirth.

Feeling her warmth this close to my body, I thought that she was a person too.

She deserved to live just as happily as anyone else. She deserved to freely love as anyone else but her status as royalty prevented her from doing that.

I have the power to change at the very least my future. I confidently even told that silhouette I met that I'd save the world but if I can't save even a single person then what would be the point of all this power at my disposal?

The sweet smell of the wine was intoxicating. I took a sip and smiled at Patricia.

I scrunched up my face in mock displeasure, "You keep me around for my body but now you come and hug me like a lover?"

I lifted up her chin with my fingers and stared at her eyes. "You really are beautiful, Patricia. I find myself lost in your eyes more and more each day."

She blushed profusely. To cover up her embarrassment, she grabbed the wine glass from my hands and drank it all down in one gulp.

I pat her head and my cold eyes met her beautiful, jeweled eyes. It felt like I was gazing upon the world.

She glared at me and said, "You sure do enjoy running your mouth, Mistress."

I laughed at her remark. "Of course, I do. Have you met me?"

She raised her hands in mock defeat, "Sure, sure. You are the villainess of the Salvador Family. A cruel murderer. A woman who lusted at the sight of blood." She shook her head, "I can't believe you came home covered in blood back then and you even smelled like another woman!"

I stared at her and sighed in exasperation. "Why are you acting like a jealous lover?"

She flicked me in the forehead and puffed up her cute face. "Are you really that dense?"

"Do you think I'm dense?"

She nodded. "I still don't understand your uselessly excessive charisma." She poured me another glass of wine, "It's like you were meant to be born a man."

I took the glass of wine from her and sipped. "Do you think I'm like a man?"

She reddened up at my remark but she coughed and replied, "You have the sexual appetite of a conqueror, and how many other lovers do you have?"

I counted in my head all of the women who have pestered Alagarassi in the time I spent researching Prana Farming after admission into The Establishment. There were too many to mention so I simply said, "A few."

"A few my ass"

"My, are you jealous?" I teased.

She considered for a while and eventually, "Mmm. Maybe a little. But you do give me enough of your love so that much is enough for me."

Patricia sat beside me and leaned her head on my shoulder. We spent a few moments of comfortable silence but I noticed her seemingly deep in thought.

I placed the glass of wine on the table and looked at her, "Patricia?"

"Mmm. Sorry mistress. I was just thinking."

I smiled at her, "Thinking of what?"

She looked into my eyes. As soon as she opened her mouth, she shook her head. "It's just your eyes." She gently caressed my cheeks as she stared into my eyes as if she was looking at my soul.

"They've changed colors."

I casually nodded at her. "You're right. I used to have sky blue eyes but now they seem to have turned crimson." I smiled and asked her, "I look disgusting right?"

She hurriedly shook her head, "If anything, you look even more beautiful now than before."

"That's good then."

We spent the next few hours chatting and drinking wine just like that.

The next day, Patricia accompanied me to the training center. Mary blushed bright red as I passed by her. I gave her a gentle wave and she and the rest of the receptionists blushed.

Patricia lightly poked my side and pouted. "You're way too popular, mistress."

I ignored her and walked towards the shooting range. I swiped my UID at the gate and the automated doors granted let us through.

I glanced at her and pointed at the suitcase she was carrying. "Is it heavy for you?"

She rolled her eyes at me. "You know that I'm a shieldmaiden right? I may look like a frail young woman but I'm probably stronger than you."

Fine. Whatever you say, your majesty. I shrugged my shoulders. A few moments later, we arrived at the shooting range. The smell of gunpowder filled the room with an oppressive aura but Patricia and I seemed right at home.

Though I say that, we were among the few women in the room so the men were openly staring at us in disbelief.

Though we were quite a distance from them, we could still hear them with our naturally enhanced hearing.

"You see that? That person?"

"You're right. That's the Alagarassi the 'Blood Maiden' right?"

"She killed Commander Miller and laughed while covered in his blood!"

"Not only that but she's with Princess Patricia Windsor as well!"

"Princess Patricia seems like a healing presence compared to the oppressive Blood Maiden."

A few of the men nodded at the last man's sentence. I even found myself nodding alongside them.

"Do you think the Blood Maiden kidnapped her or is forcing her?

What the fuck. I wouldn't do that.

"Look. She's even forcing her to carry her stuff around with her! She's surely being forced."

"Gentlemen, it would usually be our job to protect women but the opponent this time is a little scary."

They all nodded in agreement.

"So, let's all just pray for Princess Patricia's safety and for the villainess's mercy."

"You're right."

I nearly popped a vein and suffered an anger-induced stroke. Before I could say anything, Patricia gave me a reassuring smile. Ah, so she's going to defend me. As expected of my friend.

Patricia approached the men who were huddled together and waved at them. The men were surprised but they meekly waved back.

She smiled and said, "Mistress is scary but she's also merciful at times so please don't talk about her like that."

She gave them a slight bow and returned to my side. She looked up at me expectantly and I imagined a tail wagging right behind her.

I sighed in exasperation and ignored the men who started talking amongst themselves once more.

"She calls her mistress?"

"As expected, she made the princess into her servant."

I spent a not so peaceful day of practice at the target range.

The Chalice – End