“I swear to safeguard your life, secrets, and future. I swear to be a shield against those who would see you undone, and a sword to smite your enemies. Your goals are my dreams; your burdens are my privilege, from now until I turn to dust,” Anicia said, kneeling. I touched her shoulders with the sword and said, “I, Myr, accept your oaths. For now, until I turn to dust, you will be as precious to me as my blood and bone. Now rise and take your place at my side.”

  ‘Not bad since I came up with that oath on the spot.’

  It was rather amusing since we were out in a random field. Corina said the same oath, and though it was genuine, it lacked the zeal that Anicia’s had.

  “We’ll have something proper once I actually have a kingdom, but for now. This will have to do.”

  “O’ course…Muh… Queen,” Anicia said, sounding a bit awkward.

  I chuckled at her attempt at formality. “Just call me Myr for now. Or My lady, when around others.”

  Anicia breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Where do we go now?” Corina asked.

  I took a deep breath and looked south. “For now, we head south; perhaps I will pass through a few specific villages. I’ve been curious about what has become of them. We also need fresh news, such as what’s going on in the empire. While we won't head into Greystone, there are always travelers heading to or from the city.”

  “It’s best ya don’t show yer face at all. Let us do all the talkin’,” Anicia suggested.

  I nodded in agreement. “Before we leave, you two need to understand the limitations of my magic. Particularly, my need for energy.”

  Corina raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I figured there was something ‘bout that you weren’t tellin’ us. That’s a lot o’ trust.”

  “I said I would put my trust in you two, and that means you need to know my limitations. Magic is powerful, but without a source of energy, I am as defenseless as any normal woman.”

  It was a risk, but the better they understood my limitations, the better they could defend me. It also demonstrated the level of trust I had in them.

  We started packing the treasure away, but before we set off, I asked them one last question.

  “Do you know the one thing you should never ask of me?”

  Anicia sniffed in offense. “Come now, Myr, we ain't stupid. I know who you are.” Corina eyed me and, with the slightest nod, agreed with her daughter.

  ‘I don't believe in perfect trust; I will watch you two always.’

  With a smile and a nod, I dropped the subject.

  ~

  Anicia watched in fascination as lightning jumped between two rods placed in the ground. I was experimenting with lightning to use as a weapon. I added an arcane circle to the metal crossbow with an enlarged sphere of influence that gathered the lightning from the surrounding air onto the metal bolt.

  At 5%, the power produced a rather uncomfortable shock; at 100%, I wasn't willing to test what it would feel like. Coincidentally, concentrating so much lightning in a small amount of metal heated it rather quickly, so as the bolt flew through the ring, it glowed red-hot.

  Watching Anicia swagger about with such a deadly weapon was amusing. There was a confidence that comes from knowing you are dangerous that most people would never understand. It doesn't matter what scripture or moralizers like to say; only the powerful are deserving of dignity.

  However, I wanted to throw lightning like Elis. The problem was directing the lightning. It most often went to the ground or whatever the closest bit of metal was that connected to the ground. I couldn't direct the lightning at an enemy in front of me since I was also connected to said ground.

  It was a conundrum I was determined to solve. There were two solutions: use a crossbow to shoot a bolt that had a circuit to attract the lightning, or create a binding that could allow me to move the sphere of influence. It was an immutable fact that the sphere of influence was bound to the circle. But nothing was impossible with magic. Once I did that, I was reasonably certain I could create Heywood’s ball of fire or his telekinesis.

  ‘When we meet again, Heywood, there will be no running.’

  “You’re thinkin’ of killin’ someone, aren’t ye?” Anicia asked, smiling as she practiced with her crossbow not ten feet away. I wasn't trying to hide my expression.

  “Heywood, actually,” I said, standing and walking over to her.

  “Think you can take him now?”

  I shook my head. “Not yet, but I have the foundations. I just need to work at it. Once I'm done, Heywood will have no chance. Hell’s even you will be able to kill him.”

  She glanced at her crossbow with a smirk. “Thinking about making something more deadly than this?”

  I smirked. “What if I made you bolts that explode?”

  “Like with the dragon!” She said excitedly.

  “Indeed, I just need to work on it a bit.”

  She grinned, nodded, and redoubled her practice.

  ‘Good, she’s growing in the direction I want. You still need more molding, but when I am done, you will be beautiful.’

  I glanced to the right. Corina was off to the side, going through slightly clumsy sword forms, the blade glowing white-hot. It could melt through steel armor in seconds. They both used the final switch on their armor to activate the magical effects, though due to the enormous energy cost, they knew not to use it while I was traveling.

  ‘Once I leave the empire, I’ll ramp up recruitment. I need to learn how to lead and manage a large force. There are always wars going on, orphans, displaced villagers, and refugees…all potential recruits. I’ll do what I did to Corina and Anicia, on a larger scale, and give them purpose, pride, and dignity, all for the low cost of their eternal devotion.

  ~

  As we traveled, I explained that I needed energy to use magic and that the amulet around my neck was a reservoir that needed to be constantly replenished. I could stop my amulet from draining to empty by absorbing heat from the surrounding air, but it wasn't enough to fuel my most powerful magic. So I was at my most vulnerable while traveling. This, somehow, pleased them. It took long contemplation before I realized why.

  ‘Purpose! That’s why they’re so pleased. With a limitation in my abilities, it gives them purpose, shoes to fill, and a vital role to play. This is something I should remember. Safety and comfort are well and good, but without a purpose, people have no direction… I can use this.’

  ~

  ‘They built a wall around Lowtown?’

  I stared at the stone walls off in the distance, wondering why the count would waste so much coin protecting Lowtown. Guessing wasn't necessary, however. We stopped off to the side of the road, and I listened as Corina and Anicia talked to a merchant who was repairing a wheel on his wagon.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “The city was in uproar for weeks after Myr. Count had to call off his guards since people started to riot. A year later, the empress visited. I guess whatever friendship she had with Myr compelled ‘er to fund the construction of a second wall, and they even got them magical lights put up on the main road,” He explained.

  I sniffed and rolled my eyes, deducing her intention. Korin had no popularity of her own, so she was utilizing my fame. It was clever, and with the magisterium backing her and Myr dead, she didn't have to worry about offending anyone.

  “What do the people think of the empress?” Corina asked.

  “Oh, they love her. Ain't nothing like someone rising up and achieving success when everyone else doubts you.”

  ‘It’s a story as old as time; No wonder it worked.’

  “So everything is calm in the empire now?” Anicia asked.

  “Aye. Barons ain't had one of their yearly wars since she took the throne. Peace is sweet, and no one wants to rock the boat just yet. Once she catches a child, everything should settle even more, even if it's a girl.”

  ‘If my guess is right, if I go through every village and town I've supposedly selflessly helped, I will hear familiar stories.’

  Two Weeks Later

  We traveled south past Jorhas, the village where I killed the corrupt headman. It had a new wall and was twice the size it was before.

  Portsmouth was still the same, though from the line of carriages waiting to enter, there was a large amount of trade going in and out. Willam was leading them to prosperity.

  A road was built, carving through the forest, allowing merchants a faster route through the hills. Once again, paid for with imperial coin. Everywhere, they sang the praises of the empress and the maiden. Any trace of the lingering anger was wiped out, and now the commoners were viewing the imperial family in a positive light.

  I sighed and decided I had to see. “Head west; I want to see Grenwood,” I said to Corina.

  “You sure? They could have people watching.” Corina said.

  After a few moments of thinking, I said, “If they are checking carriages, then we don't enter.”

  Corina nodded, and the carriage rolled off towards Grenwood.

  “Gonna have one last toss with Jenna?” Anicia asked, smiling wryly. She was becoming comfortable with me, and I was fine with that, so long as she maintained proper decorum in public. The more she liked me, the less of a chance she would betray me.

  With humor, I said, “I wouldn't mind a bit of distraction, but no. I mostly want to see how far they went with the propaganda.”

  ~

  We passed the gate easily; a bit of coin and a few sweet words from Corina were all it took. Apparently, mentioning Guardsman Donnic was enough for the young man not to want to bother with inspecting the carriage.

  “What in all the hells,” I whispered as I stared at a city I hadn't seen in years. It was still run-down and a bit old, but the streets weren't as filthy. The miasma of despair, which was usually thick and suffocating, seemed lighter. And the most surprising thing was that people didn't have the unending aura of impending doom about them.

  Sure, everyone walked around with clubs, and women didn't walk unaccompanied, but the fear and shifty eyes were significantly lessened.

  “This ain't how it looked before?” Anicia asked.

  “No, not quite.”

  Suddenly, Anicia's mouth widened, and she couldn't hold back a laugh. She looked at me and the city and kept laughing.

  “What is it?” I asked, not understanding the humor.

  “Look around, don't ya see it?”

  Still confused, I simply raised an eyebrow in response.

  She finally calmed down and said, “Lily, you've done more good for the common people than evil.”

  Somehow, I found that insulting. Yet the changes to the city couldn't be ignored.

  “Keep heading north; I want to see only one last thing, and we can leave before sunset.”

  ~

  We rolled through my old territory, and to say I was surprised would be the understatement of the century. Every building looked newly built; guards walked about. I almost believed that it was in the upper quarter of the city. Denice’s brothel was twice as large. And Neil’s shop, which, while still the same size, had customers going in and out near constantly.

  “I can go check it out if you want, Lily.” Anicia said.

  I nodded. “Keep your eyes steady. And remain on guard.”

  She threw on a cloak and confidently tapped the crossbow hanging at her waist.

  Anicia

  I walked into Neil’s shop, feeling like I was inside a story. Myr’s tale was incredibly inspiring. A lone woman taking on the empire and winning, killing a dragon, and learning magic. While she didn't think so, Myr was every bit a hero from the stories.

  ‘No, she was even better; heroes don't exist; Myr did, and I was right by her side.’

  The walls were filled with fine weapons; I didn't know much about craftsmanship, but they looked damned nice.

  I had to wait in line. Glancing at a young man to my right, I sidled over and asked, “Weapons ‘ere any good?”

  He scoffed and looked at me like an idiot. “Any good? Neil’s the best in the city.”

  “Really,” I said, feigning surprise. “If he’s that good, why he still in the Lower Quarter?”

  The brown-haired youth shook his head. “This Myr’s territory; anyone who tries messing with it's gonna answer to Derek and the baroness. ”

  I didn't have to pretend to be confused. “I thought she had gone south, and I heard some magus blew it up.”

  His eyes darkened a bit, and then he nodded. “Aye, that bastard Heywood. Baroness kicked up a fuss, she did. No one knows why, but she spent her own coin and sent her own people, giving out food and shelter to anyone in Myr’s territory during the deep winter. ”

  “Why? I thought she was….” I trailed off, remembering Myr’s warning against openly criticizing nobility.

  He shrugged. “Don’t know; you have to ask ‘er.”

  “So she paid for all the new buildings?”

  He laughed, shook his head, and said. “No, the empress did. The baroness is…. the baroness. But not even she would squander away imperial coin that came with an edict.”

  ‘Myr’s going to love that one.’

  ~

  Since I had all the information Myr wanted, I turned to leave. Walking inside was a woman with brown hair in a fine green dress. On her hip was a boy, around two years old. She walked past me and headed to the back, where I could hear the hammering of iron. Customers greeted her with smiles. Some of them even called her lady.

  "Who's that?" I asked, already guessing who she was.

  "Lady Jenna was good friends with Myr." He stepped closer and, with a sly whisper, repeated, "Real good friends."

  I feigned surprise and asked, "She got a child?"

  "Aye, Husband owns the kingfisher. They're half the reason we don't starve in the winter."

  ‘Well, you got good taste at least, Myr.’

  After a few minutes of talking with the boy and purchasing a set of kitchen knives, I returned to the carriage.

  ~

  Myr listened silently as I relayed the story to her. She nodded along, not showing any significant emotion. The empress sent over five hundred royals for the construction and security of Myr's old territory. As far as the people were concerned, this windfall of good fortune was due to Myr herself and the infinite generosity of the empress. In every tavern and inn, they sang their praises, and each tale painted them as a virtuous and kind hero to the common people.

  Most important was that there was no more talk of rebellion or discontent with the imperial family or the magisterium. In an unprecedented move, the magical tools Myr had gifted to many of her people weren't forcefully confiscated.

  Many of them were simply bought for large sums of gold; others chose to keep whatever magical items they had, such as Unber the baker, who still used Myr's magical oven. And Neil continually worked his magical forge. Denice's whorehouse bought up all the magical baths and water generators, making her brothel one of the cleanest and most popular in the city. Using that coin, she hired dozens of guards, essentially taking Myr's place as lieutenant.

  She nodded along, not showing any significant emotion. Until I mentioned seeing Jenna, how pretty she looked, and the boy sitting on her hips. There was a faint smile on her lips. The fact that she openly showed such to me was more a sign of her trust than any magical tool. I knew from both experience and direct demonstration that she could put on a performance so perfect I could never see through it.

  “Did you love her?” I asked.

  Myr chuckled and shook her head. “No, though I did like her. She was pleasant company. An excellent lover. But nothing beyond that. It is nice that things turned out well for her, though.”

  “You could go speak to her,” I suggested.

  She looked at me, bemused. “Why would I do that? In the end, she was just pleasant company. Let us leave this place. We have two more stops to go.”

  For whatever reason, her callousness towards Jenna pleased me.

  “Where to?”

  “Lakeshore, though, I know we won't get past the gate. We should just investigate through travelers.”

  “And after that?"

  She took a deep breath, her face unreadable, and said, “Farway.”

  ~

  As we strolled out of the city, Myr suddenly perked up and looked north. “Corina, veer north until we reach a birch forest. There’s a cave I want to check.”

  I was confused before I remembered her story, “The Cat! Its bones should be there. Why ya want it?”

  Myr shrugged. “It’s the bones of a magical creature. Why would I not want it?”