Interlude: The Monarch

Interlude: The Monarch 

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Commissioned by Arksoul

Wordcount: 2500

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To the common eye, Leona’s shop was simply one of the many stores that hid in the crevices and crannies of Orario. The immense, winding city had many shops who catered to Adventurers, as lives of violence required immense amounts of support. Many shops were staffed by former Adventurers, who either decided to no longer continue, or to could no longer continue despite their wishes.

Leona is one of the former, and Orario would tremble, if she chose to return to battle.

The shop was simple at first glance. Shelves and shelves of books lined the walls, while the center was filled with staffs, staves, and robes. To the casual onlooker, it would look like any shop designed to serve Mages and those who aspire for magic. To the expert eye, to the Mage looking for a new advantage, the shop would stop most in their tracks.

Because, unlike all other shops, the books on the shelves were not methods to use certain magics, written accounts of storied mages, or tomes meant to help calm the mind. No, in Leona’s shop, the walls were lined with grimoires. 

One quarter of the western wall alone was worth hundreds of millions of Valis, enough to beggar even a noble of my nation. Yet, the books nonetheless lined the walls, gathered dust, and were within reach of any who wandered into the shop. Leona offered the grimoires only two forms of protection a leather clasp to ensure they would not be opened in an instant and their content stolen… and her presence.

None dared steal from her in her place of power, where she crafts grimoires, new spells, and trinket after trinket to sell to those who she believes worthy. The realm of magic the world over resides in her hand, and all the expertise and magic she desires can be hers for the simplest of prices, while all others squabble, fight, and scrounge for any ounce of magic they can hold in their hand.

Such as myself, as after being Leona’s customer for a decade, I’ve found a spell I desired purchased from me.

“Kahaha, you look as though you’ve bitten a lemon, Princess.” Leona cackled as dipped her quill and tallied my purchases for the day. She kept track of all the magics and arcane equipment she sold, so that she could reprimand those who misused them. The incidences of those are very few. Over the centuries, only three have tried to use what they purchased from her for ill gain, and they all lost everything. “Take this as a lesson. You best claim all that you can the moment you’re able, or see it vanished from your grasp.”

“I see. I’ll take that into account, Lady Leona.” Leona eyed me for a moment, looking for any bitterness in my voice, but smiled as soon as she found none. With a flurry of penmanship, she finished recording my meagre purchases for the day, and gave me a warm smile. Many mages in Orario feared her, but if one approached her as the wise, experienced mentor that she posited herself to be, Leona became incredibly considerate. “This won’t happen again.”

Knowing such things, I was surprised as she chuckled lowly and fixed her wide-brimmed hat, instead of providing me with more sage advice. 

“Hmph, that attitude will take you far in life, but it won’t help you here anymore, Riveria. Because it looks like someone else is finally taking magic seriously for once.” Leona gestured once and the flames beneath her bubbling cauldron, which floated and stewed just behind her counter, lowered to a simmer. The stirring rod ensuring that all the contents mixed slowed as well, while the Witch left her stool to stride further into her atelier. “You’re going to have to start bidding like everyone else, instead of just buying your Grimoires outright.”

Now, I understood why Leona laughed.

It was because, due to the number of Steps I had, I’ve enjoyed a brief decade or so of uncontested magical ability in Orario. Thus, many of the grandest and greatest grimoires that entered Orario were for me to solely consider purchasing. 

However, now, another on the Fifth Step has come forth from the shadows and sought the same advantages.

“Ah, I understand. I have a rival now.” The thought was exciting. I still recalled the early days of my time with Loki, when I’d had many who wished to contend with me, and challenged me. Some did so only through achievements, while others sought to defeat me in combat. However, as the years passed, some passed on, while others could not find the next step, and a few became mad and force dm had to protect myself. One by one, my peers vanished, until I found myself alone. However, such is the case anymore, and I found myself eager to once again compete against another. “Do I know them, or are they a secret brought in beyond Orario? I know all the Mages of the Fifth Step and aspire for the Sixth across the world and in Orario, but none come to mind now…”

I mused and wracked my mind for possibilities, until Leona laughed as we reached the backdoor of her shop, which led to the only area in Orario where Mages can test their limits safely, and train with their spells, as long as they could spare the Valis. Few used it beyond myself, but as soon as Leona opened the door, I heard the call of thunder and the crackle of lightning from below. 

Ceaseless Thunderbolt Battery was being put into use, and I yearned to see it for myself, until Lenoa spoke again.

“Sixth Step? Fifth? Kahaha!” I turned to look at my Pseudo-Mentor, as she brushed aside a tear from her laugher. True joy radiated across her features, filling her energy and mirth. “Your rival, my dear Elven Princess… is a Level 1.”

At first, I thought Leona was jesting, but when I looked upon her, I saw no sign of any lie.

I was so shocked by the mere notion of her telling the truth that I did not notice that we reached the base of the stairs.

…

Many Mages have tried to push the limits of Leona’s room. Even in her retirement, Leona’s magic and senses have not dulled, and she has only grown powerful as she decided to longer rely upon the Blessings of the Gods. Thus, her skill and craftsmanship are something that all who aspire to be great wish to test. 

I have tried my hand at destroying the protections within the room time and time again. While she watched with a smile, I exhausted myself, and filled myself with potion after potion, as I desperately attempted to overcome the defenses, she prepared over decades for the sake of testing all those who wished to surpass her. 

Today, I walk into the room which defeated me many times over, and find a human sitting calmly upon the floor surrounded by broken staves, as a field of destruction lay before him.

“Oi, Leona, your room’s looking broken.” He deigned to stand in Leona’s presence, and once he did, I took note of his height. He did not match the height of those with giantsblood, but he clearly stood a head over the rest of his kin. Clad in a thick black coat, a mask which hid the lower half of his face, and a hat, his sharp eyes met my gaze… only for him to disregard me completely and utterly. “Should I stop or what?”

At his feet were staves of cheap quality, with their foci broken from overuse. I took note of their make and manner. They were primarily that of shaping, while a scattering of them were that of amplification. Thus, they did not explain how he was able to damage the room while I could not… and gave credence to my guess as to how he rivaled me in ability with a single Step.

It was not especially difficult, as lightning continued to surge out of his hand with speed and ferocity, while sweat did not stain his brow, let alone any signs of loss of Mind.

“You have a Skill which gives you endless Mind.” I found myself stepping forward, as an emotion I could not place at once filled my chest. However, soon enough, I compared the tightening, cloying, and desperate heat within my breast to what I felt before. It was anger acting in concert with both bitterness and envy. I spent mere decades walking my path. Not much time at all. However, it still irked me immensely to see my work ruined by a fortune alone. “My Familia would be interested in having you with us—

“Oh, don’t fucking bother. I can see you’re fucking pissed. Just say what you want, so I can talk to Leona. The old hag’s being a bitch.” Nothing short of effusive, coarse, and utterly banal words streamed out of his mouth to the point I did not understand how the mask he wore continued to exist. Not only that, but at his words, Leona simply shook her head and chuckled, despite her lack of tolerance for those who disrespected her. 

The words, Leona’s reaction, and my paltry understanding of humans came together in the response I chose to give the human before me.

His eyes widened in surprise, as I took a deep breath.

“Oh. You’re actually going to do it.”

“How dare you treat others with such flagrant disrespect, you might have power, but that does not give you carte blanche to say whatever you wish!” I allowed myself to let loose, to speak my mind, and cease to be the perfect Child of God. This man asked me to speak my mind himself. Leona all but wordlessly encouraged me to speak. So, I spoke and approached him whilst unbottling the terrible mix of emotions within me. “You might have more potential and strength than I, but you most certainly have less experience, ability, and raw strength! If you do not act properly, all your potential and strength will be meaningless, as others will seek to destroy you… and nothing will stop them!” 

I can accept that this human has more potential than me, and that I must work harder and put much efforts towards retaining my position. 

However, I most certainly cannot accept that he shall fall in Orario, because he lacks the mindfulness to be courteous—

“Pfft, what a joke. As if that’s a problem for me. You didn’t even know I exist, before I took the best spell I could possibly get. You and everyone else in Orario are just too stupid.” He spoke with a leer. Despite the fact that I couldn’t see his mouth, I knew that he was leering at me with a most disgusting expression, because that is what a horrible man would do. “Oh, wow. You’re actually not going to deny that you didn’t know I existed, huh? I have to admit that must hurt for you to say, since you’re swallowing so much pride. Do you want cough drop?”

“You cannot hide your existence forever. People will know of you. It is merely a matter of time, and once they do, you will regret being utterly disrespectful and selfish.” To his words, I responded in a manner utterly unbecoming of my reputation, and as one chosen by a God, let alone my station as a princess of a nation. I closed the distance between us, threatening him with my strength and stature as one on the Sixth Step. To my great pleasure, he stepped back, and in his eyes was the fear he should have in order to be properly cautious. “You might have power, but you are still weak, and many will want you to remain weak… so heed my words, you fool, and be cautious in all things until you know you can take on the entire world!”

I expected him to lash out, to resort to anger, especially as I used the threat of physical violence.

However, instead, I saw control and acceptance.

“Fine, I get it. You’re all crazy and willing to kill for stupid reasons.” He groaned, stepped away, and ceased his spells. I felt as though I were the victor for a second, as he slouched and ceased to stand tall, and stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. It was to be my victory, as I’d not only expressed my anguish, but also took the same standing that the gods would in my place. I chose to be the better person, as in the end I still conveyed valuable advice to my rival— “Thanks for the lesson, Gorilla. I hope I never see you again.”

…Gorilla.

He walked past me, and ascended the stairs.

…Gorilla…

His steps were slow at first, but then became rapid, as Leona could no longer stop herself from laughing. 

“GORILLA!?” I knew not what came over me, as I charged after the human trying to escape my wroth. He evoked memories within me, as well as feelings, that I long though gone with my childhood. It was foolish of me to think that a mere half-century would make me no longer a child, who loved to quarrel and fight with her cousins at the slightest insults, as I found myself falling back onto old habits the moment the opportunity approached. “I am Riveria Ljos Alf! Princess of the Royal Forest, and you will address me as such, as my junior in the realm of Mages!”

“Gorilla say, but look at what gorilla do!” I caught up with him with ease, and in my grasp with my divine blessings, his attempts to escape were futile! I caught him and held onto him, ensuring that he could not flee after slandering my name, until he apologized and addressed me correctly! “You’re not making a good case for yourself, you gorilla! I don’t see a princess anywhere here, just a freakishly strong woman holding me down, dammit!”

His words elicited righteous indignation within my breast, which only fanned the flame of fury further within my heart, so I did not let him go.

In fact….

“I will not let you go, until I hear you address me with respect in accordance with my station!” I will defeat this foolish human by simply holding him fast, and teaching him how to speak to others! “This will not end, until I know that you can offer respect to others, because I will not have you die for being an utter fool!”

“Let me go!”

“I refuse!” It felt utterly unseemly to do so, but to ensure that he did not harm himself in my superior grip, I dropped to my knees and held onto him by his waist with my arms and my cheek against the small of his back. It reminded me of my futile attempt to hold my father still, to prolong the time I spent with him, but this time I would succeed in my goal, unlike in the past. “Refer to my properly, or I shall hold you fast forever!’

“Goddammit, you green gorilla, take the hint that I don’t want your help!”

My answer to his claim was to ensure he could not move me, and therefore not be moved either.

I wanted to see him reach his full potential, in this tarnished, cruel city that the Gods love. 

I wanted a peer and a rival who would speak their mind, after all these years of standing alone.

I will not let my desires be dashed by the simple fact that my future rival is an utter fool incapable of basic courtesy!