TO&FQ: Book 1 - Chapter 48 (RAW)

Chapter 48 - Homecoming

“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.

- Judy Blume.

It was called the Beast Lore Amulet, a rare treasure crafted from the crystallized essence of a Wyvern’s heart—a product not formed by any mortal hands, human or otherwise. In essence, it was a piece of the raw magic of the world condensed into physical form.

In the game, wearing this amulet once, even briefly, would grant the wearer a permanent plus one to Monster Taming. More significantly, if the user continued to wear it in the necklace slot, they would gain a plus three bonus. The item’s value was such that it could have purchased a small county.

What the game failed to explain, however, was the voice Seraphina now heard.

“Hungry,” the voice insisted once again.

She paused, the voice resonating with an odd familiarity. A soft thump against her breastbone drew her gaze downward, revealing Cornelia butting against her chest.

Could it be…? the young noblewoman wondered.

“Cornelia,” Seraphina admonished sternly, a slight furrow forming on her brow, “I just fed you a little while ago.”

“Still hungry,” the voice replied, sounding quite put out.

Seraphina took a measured breath to center herself. She was in a realm saturated with magic, so it only made sense to keep an open mind. “Alright then, Cornelia. I’ll feed you again—but first, would you wrap yourself around this arm?” she asked, tapping her left forearm.

Dutifully, the white snake slithered across the bedspread and coiled around Seraphina’s arm. With that, Seraphina realized the truth: she could now speak to animals.

“Where’s food?” Cornelia demanded, an edge of impatience lacing her mental voice.

“In just a moment, you greedy thing,” Seraphina chastised lightly, though there was no real sting in her words. She recalled a tin of leftover biscuits—likely left by Miriam for her lady’s late-night snack.

She sat at the table and fed the biscuits to her snake, watching with curiosity. This development was certainly unusual. If Seraphina truly possessed the power to communicate with creatures, it might simplify many of her grand plans.

Experimenting a little, she closed her eyes and tried to sense other mental voices around her, but it felt like pushing through thick fog. The amulet seemed to have a limited range, dashing her brief fantasy of commanding an army of animal spies. Still, it would at least help her deal with Cornelia or any mounts she encountered. There had to be more applications for this new magic, and Seraphina intended to explore them.

“Milly!” she called out, raising her voice.

A faint knock came at the door before her maid, Miriam, entered, looking around nervously.

“Come closer, Milly,” Seraphina commanded.

Miriam glanced left and right, hesitant, then inched forward.

“Closer,” Seraphina repeated sharply, pointing to the floor near her.

Then, speaking silently through the bond of her amulet, Seraphina sent a command: “Sit on the floor!”

Like a puppet on a string, Miriam plopped down almost instantly. The sight made it clear that Seraphina had the maid under her thrall, with or without the necklace’s assistance. Still, it was good to know that Milly had been thoroughly tamed.

“Now, Milly,” Seraphina said, “try to say something to me with your mind.”

“But, milady—” the maid began, only to be cut off by a warning glance.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

A moment later, Seraphina heard Miriam’s uncertain, Why is she doing this? echo in her head. A cruel twist curved Seraphina’s lips.

“Why am I doing this?” she asked aloud, answering Miriam’s internal complaint. “Because I am testing my new necklace, of course.” She placed a hand over the polished jade amulet.

Miriam’s eyes grew comically wide.

“With this, we have a private means of communication,” Seraphina explained mentally.

“Eeep!” Miriam squeaked.

“What now?” Seraphina asked with a sigh. “It’s only a bit of magic.” Internally, though, she exulted. If she could control her “pets”—including Miriam—as though they were extensions of herself, her hold on power would be all the more secure. Certainly, her Palisa Slug of a maid would not be able to betray her now.

“Milady, look!” Miriam suddenly cried out, pointing at the table.

To Seraphina’s surprise, Cornelia had not only polished off the biscuits but was happily munching on the tin itself. The thin metal cracked under the snake’s jaws.

“Cornelia, you can’t eat that! Won’t it upset your stomach?” Seraphina asked, genuine concern in her tone as the snake continued gnawing on the tin with fervent gusto.

“It’s very yummy,” Cornelia replied, mental voice sounding amused, if a bit lazy. “Feel sleepy now.”

The snake abandoned the half-eaten tin and slithered back into Seraphina’s lap, seeking warmth. She had the distinct impression that Cornelia was heavier than before. The gluttonous creature could be so adorable, yet so odd.

“I don’t think snakes are supposed to do that, Lady Seraphina,” Miriam muttered, clutching at her apron.

“For once, I find myself in agreement with you,” Seraphina answered. She sat back down on the bed, absentmindedly stroking Cornelia’s smooth coils as they wrapped around her midsection.

It was all very strange indeed. Seraphina had always suspected Cornelia was no ordinary snake, but the creature’s ability to devour metal of all things left her mind spinning. She tried to recall any in-game references to peculiar pets or special tameable creatures, but nothing came immediately to mind.

Egg… Seraphina thought. It started with an egg from a strange trader. Greedy. Cornelia was greedy. Very greedy. The words tugged at her memory, summoning an image from years ago. Back then, the studio heads had debated how best to monetize the game. Seraphina, seeking a neat solution, had wanted a simple one-time fee of a million won—an “affordable” price, in her eyes. The executives balked, pointing out it was nearly six times the going rate for games in their market. Instead, they had suggested micro-transactions and a gacha system, assuring Seraphina it would reel in even more profit. Naturally, she had agreed. Who wouldn’t, when more money was on the line?

Now, watching Cornelia doze off, Seraphina could not help but marvel at how her own greedy creation had come to life in the strangest way. She was in essence a product of Seraphina’s greed and she knew now exactly what she was.

She covered her mouth with her hand as she let out an evil laugh. Her maid looked at her with ever-growing, suspicious horror.

*****

The return journey home was largely uneventful—if one counted the lack of bandit raids or midnight assassinations as “uneventful.” There were no earth-shattering incidents on the road, yet Seraphina still took the time to stop at every major town she passed. Smaller villages were simply not worthy of her attention, but in the larger towns, she would give impromptu performances, accompanied by the skilled bard Haze Finleigh on her Chordrelle. Together, the singer with the voice blessed by the Goddess and the female bard captured the hearts of the local populace.

Seeing an opportunity, Frest organized collections wherever Seraphina performed, and donations poured in from the scores of her new admirers. Her appeal was not limited to commoners, either—nobles of varying ranks and titles were eager to host the charismatic young lady and her entourage. So many were the invitations that she had to decline nearly all of them, save for those of higher quality, of course. They all understood she could very well be their queen one day, and “Queen Seraphina the First” had a rather pleasant ring to it in Seraphina’s mind.

To maintain good standing with the Church, Seraphina also performed at the grand cathedral in Rochelles for Bishop de Francey. This, of course, had nothing to do with the fine tea that the region was famed for and Seraphina’s desire to get more of it.

Seraphina’s song, woven into the hymns of the mass, brought widespread acclaim to the bishop, who responded by calling her “blessed of Avaria.” His hospitality was outstanding, the lavish meals among the finest Seraphina had tasted, and the wine from his famed vineyards only heightened her enjoyment. For the promise of a future performance, she gained the bishop’s loyalty and gratitude. This game is so easy, Seraphina thought to herself more than once.

Despite all this adulation, she privately dreaded one thing above all else: returning to face her mother. By now, word of her exploits in the capital must have reached the duchess. Seraphina couldn’t shake a flicker of apprehension at the thought. She feared little in this world, and she would certainly never admit to being afraid. Still, she felt something akin to fear where her mother was concerned. Also, the woman’s fiercely possessive love unsettled Seraphina, stirring emotions she preferred to avoid. Warm, fuzzy feelings had no place in Seraphina’s carefully controlled life.

It was the primary reason that she had decided to dally for as long as she could on the way back home.

Such thoughts and more circled through her mind as her carriage rattled over the bridge leading to the Sarien estate. They rolled through the manicured grounds and halted before the imposing entrance of the central keep.

Almost at once, her father, Duke Anatoli Sarien, nearly tore the carriage door off its hinges in his haste to greet her. He snatched Seraphina from her seat, spinning her around in a fierce hug. Public displays of affection like this always made her uncomfortable, and she inwardly vowed that once she held power, she might outlaw them altogether.

“Sera! Sera!” her father boomed happily, whirling her through the air as if she were still a small child. Though she was petite, it spoke to his tremendous strength that he tossed her about so easily.

To her credit, she did not squeal or scream as that would have been rather unbecoming.

“Oh, put me down, Anatoli—I mean, Father! You’re embarrassing me in front of everyone!” she protested, only for her bear-like father to laugh heartily and spin her around a few more times. Another moment of this and she would be positively dizzy.

“You took far too long, my girl,” he chided playfully, setting her on her feet at last. “I thought it was a simple trip to the capital to visit King Elidion. You’ve been gone ages!”

Brushing down her dress, Seraphina gave herself a moment to steady her spinning head. “I was delayed by a few… profitable distractions,” she replied sweetly. “You remember Rashana? I promised to bank with her family’s institution.”

Her father’s eyebrows rose. “The Lehmans? Dependable folks. We’ve known them for years,” he said, nodding with apparent satisfaction. Seraphina was relieved he had no probing questions. Thankfully, he was a strategic genius only in the art of war—not in finances or any of the other minutiae that were important to a ducal house.

“Anyway, Sera,” Duke Anatoli continued in a lower voice, “your mother wants to speak with you. She’s been in one of her moods lately.”

Seraphina resisted the urge to groan. “I’ll see her after I’ve tended to my men and washed the dust of the road from my skin,” she said primly, lifting her chin.

Her father’s gaze darted around, and he seemed… uneasy. She recognized the signs of a man firmly under his wife’s thumb. “Don’t keep your mother waiting too long,” he warned in an uncharacteristically meek tone.

“I’ll be as quick as I can,” Seraphina said, forcing a polite smile as she was forced to look up to meet his eyes. At times, she wished she were taller—but then she remembered those lanky, awkward Western ladies and quickly dismissed the notion. She was perfect as she was.

“It has been a rather trying journey, Lord Anatoli,” Eloise de Laney put in softly, trying to smooth things over.

Her father beamed at Eloise. “Then I’ll have a word with my lady love the duchess and tell her you’ll be a bit delayed. In the meantime, the servants can whip up something for all of you. We had no idea when you’d arrive.”

“But I did send letters,” Seraphina huffed, crossing her arms.

“Sera, you know how these matters can be,” her father said gently. “And you know your mother... You never know what she might do if she feels kept in the dark.” His eyes fell on the carriage behind her. “By the way—where did you get this carriage? It’s certainly not one of ours.”

Seraphina cleared her throat. “I purchased it with the allowance you gave me. I have been saving for quite some time.”

“That’s my girl,” Anatoli said, grinning broadly. “Takes after her mother when it comes to finances! I always knew your schooling would pay off one day.”

At that, Seraphina managed a small smile. Yes, she supposed she could appreciate that her father was simple in his own way. It made him all the more easy to handle.