"Modern Arteria is where most outland adventurers tend to find themselves at if not at Abenstadt. The robust suite of services, facilities, guilds, and other such groups seemed to bring much joy and familiarity to them as much as the cool sea breeze and open air did. Many more flock to the famed Arterian academies and as such over the years we''ve seen a boom of technological innovation emerge from the city state from the outlanders that do stay remain in Arteria. Thanks to this, alongside our alliances to Nautica, Abenstadt, and the Underholme Concord, we''ve beed handed an unparalleled golden age and I do not use those words lightly. So my friends, I suggest we should all enjoy our time together, a toast! To good fortune!"


    - Prince Mayor Felix Cydones, 75th Prince Mayor of Arteria at Annual Meeting of the Guilds


    <hr><hr>


    Eva grumbled as the carriage rocked her awake, groggy and tired from the long ride, she broke into an unladylike yawn and stretched her arms. A disappointed tut emerged from the other side of the carriage and she found a lump of long dark brown hair and blue eyes staring at her judgmentally. The brat had a sharp face but not quite as much as Sophie’s and somehow still looked more like a child or toddler with squishable cheeks and dimples. She wore a well woven gown decorated with little griffins and animals in a blue and red criss crossed colour scheme. Her hair was even tied up in two elegant pigtails that lowered down past her chests and for a moment Eva felt a tinge of envy.


    She had always tied and kept her own hair in a ponytail much like Sophie, down to the nape of the neck at most and this luscious looking hair made her contemplate growing it out. But before long, a small blush had crept onto her companion’s face and the noble wiggled uncomfortably in her seat.


    “What…what are you staring at?” The noble asked shyly.


    Only for Eva to stare at her blankly for a moment before realising that she was in fact the one being addressed.


    “Eh? Sorry, I was just zoning out.” She replied nonchalantly much to the shock of the carriage’s other passengers.


    Beside her sat a maid, one of the lady’s servants in her uniform and across the maid was a near identical version of the noble but a boy. He shared much the similar colour palette as what she presumed to be his sister with the noticeable exception in that he styled his hair with a comb over and side part. He had a well defined jawline and unlike his sister possessed a much more hawk like nose instead of her more delicate but cute one, or even Frederick’s straight edged one. His eyes were strikingly blue as well but paler than the sapphire Eva was used to seeing from Sophie. They were more slanted than round and even more so when he raised an eyebrow at her. Hmm, pass, Eva thought to herself, only bringing herself back to reality as she noticed the three passing each other a look, do I still have blood on my shirt?


    “Hey, you are Lady Evaline Rosengart correct? Not just some commoner in disguise?” The guy asked condescendingly.


    “Alvor! You’re so tactless sometimes, of course she is! The Kingsguard escorted her themselves!” The sister chirped, her blush now distinctly visible from the embarrassment.


    “More like shoved her in,” He grunted, “Did you see how they manhandled her? I know you were thinking the same thing.”


    “Eh?” Eva quipped and the two quickly quieted themselves.


    “Ahh! Ehum hello! My name is Lady Aleta Gossliger and this oaf is my brother Sir Alvor Gossliger. My umm apologies for our forwardness.” The girl scrambled to respond, earning herself Eva’s raised eyebrow. Cute, but Gossliger huh? Gossliger…that means…ah! Part of the warhawks and aristocrats faction, opposed to Grand Duke Platts and therefore Frederick, unfortunate.


    “Uhh, yeah. I’m Evaline Rosengart, but uhh you guys can just call me Eva.” She looked at their bewildered faces and quickly realised that these were, in fact, blue blooded nobles so used to formalness she was like a hammer smashing their faces in. “I’m not the biggest on formalness and to be fair I have a massive headache.” She gave them a sheepish grin.


    Internally a storm raged inside her as she recalled her dealings with the sleazy priest. Fucker ruined her new gown and then stunned her with a kick between the legs, if he hadn’t assured her of Sophie’s safety she would’ve torn him to shreds there and then. A low growl must have subtly escaped her lips as the other two backed away slightly and the maid clutched her master and mistresses suitcases tighter. Ugh, what am I now? A fucking teacher? For a bunch of outlanders?! I was an office worker for heaven''s sake.


    Can’t just tell them I dueled with a damned priest, “I had a little trouble with my wardrobe.” Not exactly a lie. Truth to be told, she was a little disappointed that she wasn’t able to wear the gown and dress provided by the royal family, even as hand me downs Not that her current setup was bad, her red green tunic, leggings and breeches were comfortable enough and what she preferred wearing. It would have been such a flex wearing royal clothes, and they were so pretty too, stupid oraetor.


    Though her compatriots didn’t seem to believe her, upon seeing her sigh and slink back into her seat they seemed to calm down slightly.


    “We’re sorry if we offended you in some way Lady Evaline, we meant no offence.” Aleta meekly added as Alvor snorted.


    “Alvor!”


    “What? You cannot expect me to take this frontier bumpkin seriously. I mean look at her! She’s dressed more like a father after a night out than a ducal daughter. By the saints she looked like a father after a night out in front of the king! Or have you forgotten her majestic entrance in front of his majesty? No offence meant of course.” He finished with a snigger and Eva rolled her eyes.


    Aleta looked poised to protest before Eva intervened.


    “It’s fine,” Eva grunted, “I’ve always preferred the outdoors than being stuck inside. Never liked the courtly life anyways.” She waved a dismissive hand and Alvor scoffed at how nonplussed she seemed.


    “She’s still a Duke’s daughter…” Aleta muttered quietly, embarrassed by her brother.


    A strange silence settled upon the group as the gently rumbling of the carriage eased her confusion. He was right to a certain extent, she was a little rougher around the edges on the best of days but nothing much could be done about that. Though she was certainly surprised to have woken up in the company of strangers.


    The last thing she remembered before leaving the royal palace was how the king had taken her aside and berated her for her foolish action and promptly shuffled her off to a random carriage in the convoy. After that, she presumed her fight against the priest and the street gangs had pretty much drained her of energy. So I’ve been out for a few hours by now? I see the sunlight at the very least. Can’t hurt to ask though, best put on my best formal face huh?


    “Lord and Lady Gossliger, if you’d excuse my interruption, how long have we been traveling for?” Eva asked as she dipped her head the way Sophie always did.


    The two turned to each other and seemed to ponder for a moment before they shared another glance and nodded.


    “Umm, I hope this doesn’t come as a surprise,” Aleta began nervously, “But you’ve been practically glued to that seat for two days and counting now.”


    Oh, that makes sens… “Two days!?” Eva practically jumped out of her seat at the answer, shaking the carriage and startling everyone else.


    “What…what do you mean two days?!” She shouted, sending the poor girl cowering as the brother looked on in disbelief.


    A small tap lowered her adrenaline and she turned to the maid. She was a slightly older woman, probably in her late twenties if not early thirties. Her expressionless and deadpan face served as a beacon of professionalism. Though she had also been surprised, Eva could tell she had hid it well.


    “If you’ll pardon me to speak on your behalf milord, milady.” The monotone voice asked the two and the siblings quickly nodded.


    Turning to Eva she revealed a surprisingly slender hand for what she assumed was a professional. So not kitchen duty evidently. Sitting tall and remaining composed, Eva couldn’t help but shudder at how much this maid reminded her of the disaster that was head maid Hilda.


    “When the kingsguard transported you to us, you appeared extremely drowsy. And seeing that it was by his majesty’s will we did not question it and let you slumber away.”


    Wait what?! But I can’t have just slept for two days straight! “But that doesn’t…” Eva started and immediately paused as the maid wagged a finger to silence her before she turned to her hand and back to Eva.


    “My apologies for the rudeness, I am too used to managing my charges.” The maid lowered her head apologetically and Alvor scoffed softly.


    “Never apologizes to us…” He grumbled under his breath and Aleta gave him a sharp jab.


    Man…how long has it been since I’ve ever done anything with Theo or Mortiz. Eva tensed at the sudden thought, they’re right bastards sometimes but they’re still family huh. Noticing that the others looked to her she quickly waved in reassurance.


    “Please, don’t worry about it. I was just curious what had happened, so continue er…”


    “My humble apologies once again, Lady Rosengart. In my excitement I had forgotten to introduce myself, I am Assistant Maid Ingridir, though most would just call me Ingrid.” She continued in a slightly higher monotone voice. That? That was her version of excitement?! Eva thought back to moments ago before something else caught her eye, And this is just an assistant maid? The Grand Dukes must run their family on a whole other level.


    “Please, don’t worry about that. Just uhh, does that mean we’re by the mountain passes to Arteria now? And…by the saints my stuff?!” Eva exclaimed.


    “Lady Rosengart please, there is no need to yell. Your stuff is with our carriage, the kingsguard helped load it and I personally oversaw the process. But anyways, Lady Aleta is correct, you have been in a state of unconsciousness or near consciousness for the better part of two day. They had assured me that you had made a dramatic enough entrance in front of the Carradorian entourage that it wasn’t out of the realms of possibility.”


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    But how could I even be that tired? I don’t even feel that sore aside from a little stiffness. Eva wondered as she checked her own limbs for current functionality.


    Perhaps seeing her confusion, the maid coughed a little and drew her attention back to herself. Wearing a serious look that seemed to just be her normal expression she gestured to Alvor. “Now I hope you’ll forgive us for this but curiosity did get the better of us and I allowed the young master to perform a scrying spell on you since he possessed a modicum of talent regarding the arcane.”


    Magic?! Eva cried out on the inside, I swear to the heavens I will smite them if they try anything funny! Her expression must’ve had quite the shift because now all three of her companions seemed to pale slightly, even the maid showed a bit more emotion than before.


    But seeing them just pause and say nothing, Eva quickly gestured for her to continue behind grit teeth. Trying to dispel the awkward atmosphere but also to confirm the suspicions that had arisen from this line of thinking.


    “Again our humble apologies for such a gross violation of your rights.”


    “Just continue.”


    “Very well. As I was saying, the young master performed a scrying spell and it would seem you showed traces of being under the lingering effects of another spell. But again I offer a humble apology as the young master is unskilled enough to identify what it was, hence the need for him to get an education.”


    “You didn’t need to tell her that part.” Alvor groaned.


    “I only relay the facts in a show of solidarity.”


    “Ugh, but the frontier bump…ahem lady Rosengart doesn’t need to know that part,” He threw an annoyed glance at Eva, “What you need to know is you were under some spell, in this case likely a sleep spell, know what that is?”


    “Surprisingly I do.”


    “Tch, you think you’re hot shit just because you know his majesty. Your family might be a ducal family but…”


    “Alvor that’s enough! Familial squabbles are to be left behind for the state! Academy rules.”


    “Stop being so sensitive, look at her, she probably doesn’t even know about what is happening on a bigger level. And besides, we’re not anywhere close to the academy yet.”


    “Young master, your sister stands corrected. Peasant, commoner or rabble, no matter how different Lady Rosengart might be or how our families do not share the same values. There is a level of decorum to follow and a level in which one must conduct themselves especially in front of other nobility, however strange they might seem.” Ingrid raised her voice just barely, and both Aleta and Alvor shrunk back as if it was something instinctual. Hah, just like our own Head Maid, fucking terrifying.


    “And you Lady Rosengart.” Oh? “While I understand the way our houses conduct themselves might be different I would ask kindly that you also show us more respect as well. Though I understand it might take a while given your situation.” Guh! Not me too!


    “Of course, I just need some more time to recover.” She gave a small reassuring smile that seemed to satisfy the maid.


    The maid turned back and lectured the two as Eva stared at the curtains to the carriage, her mind replaying the scenes in her mind to find the moment someone cast a spell on her. Yet all she could remember were the kingsguard and being put into the carriage, unless… She pulled her memory a few more minutes back, between when the king had wished the students well and before they got into their carriages, It was you! She exploded in anger at the sight. As they students were leaving the sleazy priest had gestured for her and pulled her aside, reminding her of the contact at the academy and a bunch of other drivel she soon forgot. But now that she thought about it, he did gesture a lot with his staff. Fucker hexed me! Probably to make sure I don’t just blabber but still! I already agreed to help him this little piece of…I’m killing that asshole the next time I see him!


    <hr><hr>


    Despite her reservations about traveling with other members of the nobility she wasn’t familiar with, Eva found herself having a tad bit of fun. The Gossliger siblings, it turned out, were remarkably easy to tease. Judging by his actions and glares that he threw her way, he hated her with a passion. He saw her not just as a lesser house, but as a troubled person ostracized by her own ducal household and therefore even of less worth than that. It didn’t help the fact that she didn’t travel with her own maid or supplies but was essentially foisted onto the Gossliger carriage as a last minute addition.


    Aleta on the other hand, seemed fascinated by Eva, though admittedly in a completely different way that she had expected her to be. Aleta saw Eva as ‘someone from the frontier’ , a wild child who lived on the edge and clearly cared little for noble protocol or behaviour despite learning their intricacies. Someone who was willing to appear so unkempt but somehow still be accepted by his majesty. Almost like a stray cat being taken in, she also viewed Eva’s alleged relationship with Frederick jealousy if also with a dash of curiosity. Her subtle questions certainly edged to pry out more information, though Eva caught a hint of what she actually wanted to ask between the lines.


    Every hour or so she would either violate something considered sacrosanct to nobility; such as unwomanly yawns, scratching herself in strange places, or even just spreading herself out on the seat, which admittedly inconvenienced no one, but she also just hated how cramped carriages felt. All this would then provoke Alvor into passive aggressively launching into a tirade about ‘the virtues of nobility’ and how ‘we must act as our rank prescribes us’ and how Eva was squandering all her opportunities. Then to whet Aleta’s appetite she had regaled them with tales of her experiences, how she would train with knights, fight all manner of foes from heretics and street gangs. She could see the other teen’s eyes almost sparkle with fascination, like she was in the presence of some strange mythical creature called ‘A noble who actually goes outside the comfy places’. Every once in a while she could catch the other trying to unsubtly listen in, such as when she described traveling with the Falcon Knight of Carrador, now that caught Alvor’s attention. Though she would never let them know what a softie Sir Baylein had become. Other times she would catch Aleta studying her actions, as if judging every muscle and limb that moved, like an anthropologist studying a foreign culture.


    The maid was infinitely harder to tease or rile up, she proved stoic to a fault and barely reacted to most going-ons. After a series of unsuccessfully trying to drag her into Eva’s hijinks, she settled for winding up the maid by winding up the other two, making her go into an almost robotic lecture on behaviours, actions and words.


    The journey between Neun Carad to the border checkpoint was exhausting nonetheless. Though she had willed away two days from the sleazy little shit’s magic, and found new compatriots to rile up, she was bored out of her wits. It had already been a week at a brisk pace for a carriage, and the few stops had been restocking of supplies at outlying towns. Unfortunately because it was in fact, a retinue of nobles being escorted, they weren’t exactly given much freedom to explore the countryside given the seriousness of their escorts. She had toured the country once with her family but its not like she remembered much, and given how quickly things change she doubts anything she saw before still remained as she remembered.


    To add insult to injury, because of her reputation, and quite possibly embarrassing entrance in the royal palace, most of the other teens shied away from associating with her. Even Alvor and Aleta seemed wary of her presence when talking to the others. Though Aleta was more out of a sense of reverence for this adventuring noble folk hero, realising that, Eva couldn’t help but puff out her chest slightly with pride. Still, from Carador alone it was quite a large crowd that now saw her as some fight crazed barbarian. Grand Houses Platts, Gossliger, Walden, and even the furtive House Salian; a larger handful of lower ducal children, and finally another handful of children from barons, counts, and marcher lords. Though they only numbered around seventy odd pupils, for this many nobles to have their children sent abroad seemed crazy, and clearly someone decided that over two platoons of knights should accompany them. If Arteria didn’t believe we were going to war with them before, they sure as hell will now, Eva scoffed.


    Yet, in spite of her reluctance to mingle with the others she eventually disembarked and joined them as they milled around the border post whilst their minders handled all the paperwork. She could see the struggle the poor levied guardsmen had trying to process all of the blabbering from noble minders and felt a pang of sympathy. I’ve been there before, I feel your pain comrades.


    But taking in the sight just past the lip of the hill where the outpost resided on, she held in a gasp and just stared ahead. No more mountains, just sky, fields and sea as far as the eye can see. Though she hid her amazement well, a few of her other more blue blooded compatriots leaked their excitement through with a series of oohs and ahhs much to the amusement of the levied guards stationed at the checkpoint.


    Looking to her side a sense of guilt washed over her, sorry I couldn’t find you in time Sophie, but I hope you’re doing fine. I…believe in Sir Baylein, he’ll find you and get you here, promise. She knew Sophie would love it here, even without stepping foot past the threshold she could feel the shift in temperance. Warm, friendly air that danced on one’s skin a merry jaunt as opposed to the cold mountainous air of Carrador. Greenery, bright greenery reminiscent of a more mediterranean climate certain brought one’s mood up far better than the duller colours of home. I love Carrador, and I love my family even with their flaws, but damn does it feel so refreshing to see something besides the dull gothic architecture.


    She looked around at her compatriots and found the tall boy who questioned her during her arrival at the royal palace. He seemed slightly less well put together and disheveled than before, his light brown hair now a tousled mess as a small freckled girl half his size fussed over him. Her curly dirty blonde twin tails bobbed up and down as she desperately tried to smoothen out her man’s attire only for a button to pop out much to their surprise and Eva couldn’t help but burst out with a chuckle.


    HIs immaculate jawline and regal but now messy shirt flopped to a rest as hostile eyes turned to face her. The angry little munchkin followed in tow as they stared Eva down.


    Eva waved nonchalantly and shrugged before doing the most ridiculous bow she could think of and mimicked Sophie’s servant bow. What was it? Arms forty five degrees to the ground? Or was it sixty? Left leg out and right leg crouched? Fuck it.


    “Are you mocking us?” The shrill gremlin spoke first, her twin tails bouncing angrily as she moved.


    “I believe Lady Rosengart should mind her own business.” One less button echoed his support.


    Eva paused and looked at them a moment before she burst out laughing. Oh no I cannot call them shrill gremlin and one less button to their faces, but by the gods do I want to. Calming down slightly at their offended faces she gave them a small shrug.


    “My apologies, I am indeed Eva Rosengart, I am besides myself at the moment,” She waved a hand over the horizon and out to Arteria, “It’s just I’m so overtaken by the view, it just feels so…”


    “Right.” Shrill goblin finished for her, and for the moment the three ignored their brief spat and stared out into the lush green hills and blue seas.


    Hearing a whistle from the border post, the three shared a small nod, this fight goes on later, it seemed to say, and they headed back to their carriages. And as Eva bid her greetings to the siblings and the maid, she couldn’t help but feel slightly giddy now. That’s right, going to Arteria…it just feels right. And just you wait Sophie, by the time you get here, I’ll make sure you get the warmest welcome.


    “Lady Rosengart?” Aleta quietly asked and she found the three trying unsubtly to examine her as she realised she had plastered a grin on her face, can’t tell them about Sophie, but.. With a huff she faced the others and coughed to get their attention.


    “My apologies Aleta, err Lady Gossliger,” she quickly corrected as the maid glared at her, “This scenery just reminded me of another adventure of mine.”


    Her words lit a spark as Aleta glued her eyes on her and though Alvor groaned and looked away, she could tell he inched his ear a little closer.


    “So this one happened when I decided to go on an…unsanctioned hunting trip and dragged my luckless maid along…”


    “The same one that always follows you?”


    “Alvor!” Aleta hissed, “quiet you!”


    “The very same,” Eva grinned, “So this time we ventured a little further into the forest in an area best known for its ferocious monstrous brown bears that roam around the western foothills of the Highwall…”