Hey Soph,


    I hope you’re doing well. The inquisition actually delivered your letter! You can’t imagine how happy I am to know you’re alive, the stupid smile on my face as I read it. Just make sure you get out of the Mistveil yeah? I mean I’m glad you made some new allies and comrades and I hope they fare well too, but the Mistveil is no joke. I’ve always had bad vibes about the place and you set off on an adventure inside it!


    As for me, I hope you got my last letter but I’m enrolled in quite a few classes: Mathematics, History, Martial Training, Tactics, and even a class on Magic! Though honestly it’s been pretty easy so far. Well, hopefully this part isn’t redacted as much but the church has got me teaching some outworlders as well. Can you imagine? Me?! Teaching! I’ve been pretty overwhelmed so I’m sorry if I’m late responding to anything but by the stars it''s so hard to figure out what they know and what they don’t or even what their skill sets are. But at least, in this crowd of twenty odd outlanders I’ve gotten a few good eggs who you’ll definitely get along with! Promise! I can’t wait to introduce them to you. I’ve also made some friends too! Two siblings from Carrador in fact, Aleta and Alvor! Anyways, training is happening in a few minutes so I’ll stop the letter here since the inquisitor is giving me some side eye. But I really miss you Sophie, don’t get hurt yeah?


    Stay safe and be a happy gremlin,


    Your overlord and provider of books, teas and partner in crime,


    Eva Rosengart


    - Letter on Desk of Evaline Rosengart, Academy of Arteria, (1 Week Before the Sacking of Eichafen is made public, 2 days before the official Meltonian Declaration of War)


    <hr><hr>


    The three sat in relative silence when Sophie finished her recounting of events, the girl still scowled fiercely while the man seemed more tired than before. She gently patted the cloth around her neck and winced at the slight spot of dampness she felt. The other two began pointing vigorously at a map on the opposite side of the room and Sophie merely watched as they whispered amongst themselves. Eventually after what looked to be a heated exchange they finally turned to face Sophie.


    “My name is Sergeant Archibald Wilde, Templar of the Argent Curia. This is Apprentice Inquisitor Mila currently serving under Inquisitor von Krantz. While I would extend my welcome I fear the situation has deteriorated far faster than expected.” He said.


    Sophie nodded and watched as the two looked at her expectantly, “Oh!” She squeaked, “Uhm…I’m…Personal Maid Sophie?” She finished with a nervous grin. They do not look at all impressed or happy.


    Mila looked positively furious, Sophie shrank back in fear as the girl seemed to boil over in anger, her veins popping in her forehead the longer she glared at Sophie. Archibald on the other had seemed even more defeated than before. His shoulders dropped slightly though his professional composure still maintained a semblance of order.


    Sophie, for her part, looked at the ground abashedly before she tried to meet their disappointed eyes, the anger and resignation too powerful for her to maintain eye contact.


    “Umm…I…we…I should get back to Anna.” She muttered softly and at once the apprentice was let loose.


    “A maid?! We’re here to protect a maid?! I-we…there are cultists trying to summon some undead and heretical shit, a war just got declared, the north is being overrun by de-” Mila yelled incredulously only for the templar to quickly interrupt.


    “Enough. We have our orders. I understand your frustration but there’s naught we can do but adapt and overcome. Our plans still remain unchanged and we can carry them out regardless of this current situational interruption.” The templar spoke in an ordered tone though Sophie could still hear his frustration occasionally poking through.


    “But she-”


    “Apprentice.”


    “I just think-”


    “Apprentice, breathe. I know it’s irritating, but we must endure.”


    “My apologies sergeant.”


    As the two reconciled their differences Sophie could feel almost every word stab into her heart like a series of knife wounds, no like being pierced by a spear. She felt her own mood plummet as memories of the ruins flooded back in, mixing with the sheer sense of worthlessness that covered her like a thick fog bank. Depressed, she ignored the two and stood up to leave, stopping them mid sentence.


    “And where are you going?” Mila quipped snarkily.


    “The inn.” She gloomily replied, turning away without seeing their reactions.


    “Hey don’t just walk away from me you…”


    “Apprentice, let her go. We have our work to take care of. I’m sure she can at least find her way to the inn. We’ll meet you in the evening…elf.” The sergeant added, another spike of pain piercing through her at how his words dripped with sarcasm and disapproval.


    “But she…”


    Sophie cut their voices out of her head and wandered out the door, pushing it open to the same effigy laden town with its sad looking populace.


    The roads were still in the same sorry state that she left them, half cobbled and mostly just dirt. Her surroundings were a bit different though and at the very least she knew she was nowhere near Godfrey’s Emporium or the inn. That meant she would have to find her way back and she gave a disgruntled stare at the shack she had just left, not even directions, how rude.


    That’s right, just a disappointment, a burden, she grumbled. Not ranger Sophie, not adventurer Sophie, not even useful Sophie. Just dumb useless maid Sophie and I’m not even that good of a maid. She choked back a sob and she walked forth. I just want to go home, I don’t even want to be in this stupid town, and its stupid fucking effigies! She roared in anger as she stomped on one of the wooden effigies nearby, thankfully without being noticed. Stupid zombies, stupid cults, stupid me most of all. Sorrow and fury pulled at her in equal measure until at last, the strings of sanity snapped.


    Tears that threatened to fall out halted their movements, her throat, heavy with emotion, wavered at the precipice of a scream. I couldn’t even protect my friends, I’m a burden to Anna and I’ll just end up a burden to Eva. Fuck, if I wasn’t here Riza would still be alive. Her body quivered from the overwhelming feelings and she ducked her head down, pulling the hood close around her as she pressed forward. The only reason I’m even mildly useful to someone is because she’s a damned cripple. She yelled at herself internally before immediately striking the horrid thought from her mind. Guilt began pushing through and she found herself calming slightly at the sobering sensation that pulled her back down.


    Forgive me for these thoughts Goddess Stellesia, Mighty Astralis or any of the court who can hear my pleas. She turned her head skyward and shot forth a desperate plea, her hands still trembling with rage as her eyes teetered on tearing up. Quietly, she stilled her strange thoughts and grit her teeth. Focus Sophie focus. With one last sigh she steeled her nerves and carried on, the cloud of unease still hanging heavy over her.


    <hr><hr>


    It took just under an hour for her to reach the tavern, the stupid town planners be damned. Twists and turns from whatever strange place the inquisitors abducted her to also sent her wandering in a loop around the streets until she followed a luckless merchant to the town square eventually. Though the sky grew to be dark like her mood, the appearance of the tavern brought about a relieved grin to Sophie’s face. Anna’s probably awake and hungry by now, I sure as hells am. Running her fingers over the three large copper coins she reckoned it could score a decent meal before she would have to apologize for taking two silvers worth of funds. Wincing at the thought she pushed the doors open to a tavern filled once more with song and chatter.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The shifty bard sang once more on stage as she tuned him out but the people sitting around seemed more animated than they were during the day. Many more rowdy guests smashed down drinks like there was no tomorrow. She walked up to the barkeep and pointed at another patron’s dish, holding two fingers up as she slid two coins across. The portly man picked them up greedily as he signaled for a tavern wench to tell the kitchen.


    Sitting down back at the counter top Sophie found herself casting a curious glance around the tavern hall. More villagers and staff were present but to her surprise the somewhat busty brown haired barmaid from earlier was nowhere in sight. Must be still watching over Anna huh, guess I should give her some extra. Happy at finding a reliable guardian but unhappy at deciding to spend the last of the money, Sophie rested her head in her arms as she waited for food, attracting the whispers of a few patrons as they watched the strange hooded figure. Ignoring the piercing glances, she tried to blot out the world by imagining scenes from Gunmar and Aurelia, how they stood proudly in the battle against the traitor king’s forces.


    A small smile crept onto her face at the scene in her head until a small tap from the barkeep signaled the arrival of her meal. One rabbit loin with greens on a plate and another packed tightly into a bowl. He remembered. Sophie managed to gingerly flash the man a smile and dug into the food, tearing away at the former rabbit as she contemplated what to do next. Dinner was fast approaching and surely that meant Taurox and the inquisitors would arrive soon, Anna’s gonna need help getting ready. Ugh, I hope she’s awake otherwise it’ll feel so weird trying to wake her up. Truthfully, she had a few dastardly plans on how to wake a sleeping mistress, but knowing that she was still trying to prove herself to the ranger, she decided on hope and gentleness until the older girl felt more at ease.


    Before long, her food had vanished into a satisfied belly and though she didn’t savour much of the flavour of the dish she made a mental note that she should learn how to prepare rabbit for the ranger. Don’t worry Anna, I’ll learn how to make good food for you! Nodding appreciatively at the barkeep, she picked up the bowl to some snide remarks from nearby patrons about a hooded fatass and headed up the stairs. First on the left, she sighed.


    Sophie knocked gently a few times and awkwardly waited for half a minute before she knocked again a bit more forcefully. Figuring that Anna was sleeping again, she mentally chastised the lazy ranger and pushed open the door to a darkened room. A candle sat on the desk near the window, unused and from the lights in the tavern and ones on the street she saw a curled mess of sheets on the bed. Sleepyhead, she chided the girl and moved to set down the bowl nearby only to notice something odd, there was already another bowl on the desk. From there her eyes were much quicker than her mind to notice the little details in the room, her thoughts unable to quite keep up with the image in front of her.


    Clothes lie strewn about across the floor and around the bed, her neatly folded pile from earlier now ajar but unused. In the mess of blankets she spotted not one but two figures. Blinking a few more times just to make sure she was not in an illusion, she almost let out a small gasp but quietly held it in whilst staring at the bed in shock. With her breasts hanging out just above the blanket and an arm wrapped around her chest, Annalise splayed herself out comfortably as the barmaid had her own naked form snuggled up against the ranger, the two sleeping soundly together.


    What? Umm, what happened here? No, what do I do? Err, do I wake them up? Why am I here? Did she wake up and then...Taken aback Sophie quickly set the bowl of food down on desk, shuffling stealthily over as her mind reeled in confusion at the unexpected scene before her. She tried to unravel the scenario in her head to no avail before panic forced her to leave the room, closing the door behind her. She leaned against the hallway wall. What was that? What did I see? Why were they naked? You know why dumbass but how? When? What should I do?


    “Eep!” Sophie squeaked when a patron walked by, the small creak of the stairs sending her jumping away from the wall, the man giving her a strange look before going deeper into the hallway.


    What should I do? What now? In her panicked musings she only finally realized she hadn’t breathed the whole time and stole a greedy breath as her mind continued to be a jumbled mess. Of course, I’m not the only one to take care of Anna. But to think this…? I mean was she angry because she was lonely? Should I have done more? I mean I am still her maid for now but am I going to be replaced?


    “Through the twinkling night in the stars up high,


    Do we hear the quiet Gods who sigh.


    Looking down at us with a silent eye,


    As we toil by day in the fields of rye ~”


    The bard’s voice echoed through the tavern mixed with a cacophony of patrons who hawed and hummed along. The sounds added another variable into her mind as her headache flared up once again. Confused, she ran down the stairs and out the door before the noise overwhelmed her. The late afternoon bled into the evening and the night air caressed her face in its embrace, her boots stomping a path away from the tavern.


    She was happy of course, that her friend had found some comfort and joy out of this terrible endeavour. Anna had lost far more than she had and only the Goddess knows how the ranger is able to cope without going insane. But another part of her felt a pang of loneliness, it wasn’t me, huh? She wasn’t attracted to the ranger, at least that''s what she thought, but a part of her felt offended, or perhaps left out that even in spite of that, she wasn’t the first one Anna turned to for comfort. She knew why, the answer wasn''t surprising to her because she suspected it all along. She just refused to consider it properly. Because if it wasn’t for me maybe her friends might still be here, maybe she wouldn’t be crippled and maybe she would be free to do her own thing instead.


    Whatever joy she felt first returning to the tavern slowly left her body. It’s cause I ‘m always the burden holding everyone down. Eva, Sir Baylein, Gil, Thulgrim, Sara, Taurox, Anna, everyone suffers because I’m around. They have to protect me because I’m useless. Eva fought against her family for me, the others because of orders from the Guildmaster, then the Inquisition too? I’m not even that special. And if everything I saw in my nightmare is true… she dug her nails into herself, hoping the pain would calm her down, then Mila too, was everything that happened to that town, was it because of me and the entity?


    She knew she was weak, she knew she needed help. Yet, in spite of it all Sophie just wanted to relax and read, to attend to Eva and now Anna and do the best she could. Most of all she needed to right the wrongs and find Riza once more, for in her heart she knew the cat wouldn’t die so easily, not after everything.


    Determination began coalescing into action within her before a worrying feeling of being watched descended once more and she quickly rushed away to the tavern’s stables. Uneasy, she climbed over the short gate and headed to where their horse was tethered, the toothy boy likely fetching his own dinner judging by the lack of his presence. I’ll prove to them I can hold my own, that I won’t just be a burden. I’ll be useful just you all wait. She growled with determination as she reached her mount.


    The horse eyed her warily, displeased that its always sick rider had returned. But meeting its gaze she rummaged through the saddlebags and pulled out a knife. It’s not the sabre but it’ll do. If the cult was planning to sacrifice her at the Hamil farmstead, then she’d show up. From there she reasoned that she could at least get a clue on what may have happened to Riza, or perhaps even find out why a random cult seemed to be tangling with the inquisition just for both of them to chase her.


    Frustration gripped her psyche and her rough acquisition of the knife spooked a few horses as they neighed at being so rudely disturbed. Avoiding their ire she quickly hopped back out and headed for the west gate, hoping that one of the farms she saw on the way in would be the right one. This is why you’re useless Sophie, no plans, no ideas, just pure dumb lunacy. The cult wants to sacrifice you and you’re just going to walk straight up to them huh?


    Stupid, stupid, stupid! She chastised herself but it was too late, with every step she took another wave of certainty swept over her, either she would return or she would not. I’m sorry Anna, I should probably have left a note or something, but this, I need this. I have to do this myself. I can’t burden you any longer and I don’t even know how to comfort you when you hurt the most. I''m not worthy of your attention or time. Her lips curled at the unpleasant thought, the emotions from before welling up once again as she forced herself forward. I’ll be back, I’ll be more certain and if I’m not…then I’m sorry for letting you down...again. And Eva…if you can somehow hear this, I’m sorry I’m so stupid and silly sometimes, I… her thoughts faltered as her mind drifted to the letter she sent through the adventurers guild, unsure if it even made it to her. I hope you’re having fun. With one last silly thought she grinned for a split second before her maid’s training kicked in.


    Her face slowly shifted to a more neutral and expressionless face, work mode, no smiles, frowns or even scowls as the emotions within hammered to be let free. No extraneous feelings to interfere while she saw to the task at hand, just quietness and what little poise she could muster as if the head maid was judging her once again. Where any misstep would bring about a rant or a beating. No thoughts besides an empty numbness at the thought of a job that needs to be done.