"Mono/Dialogue"

  'Inner thoughts'

  Narration

  [Message/communication apparatus]

  Date: June 1079

  Location: County of Toron, Victoria.

  POV: Narrator

  Summer, a lovely summer. People argue that June is the zenith of hot temperatures. This hot temperature had been a blessing and a curse but no one can deny that summer is truly a wonderful time on the surface.

  For most of Victoria, this is truly a warm summer, especially the closer you’re to the equator. This lovely summer month is truly a blessing for the people. The family gathered, schools suspended for holiday, and much more.

  For Nyx, personally, summer is a wonderful occasion to keep satiating her bloodlust. Especially when her new physiology made her extremely lethargic in a very cold environment, which only reduced her effectiveness by 30% at the coldest temperature. Summer’s monsoon is always a possibility, but such is life.

  Ranging from a drizzle into, hopefully, and thankfully not, a deluge of flooding water that might carry originium minerals, thus turning it into catastrophe. That is to say, there are always pros and cons, but we are not here to talk about the weather.

  Now she is on the job to meet a particur count from the border. A little informational digging proves wonder to understand the, rumored to be, jolly and affable count. She had also been mindful of how her watchers seemed to be softly guiding her towards her destination, something that made Nyx curious as to whom their allegiance was pledged.

  ‘They’re very confident, not to mention having a sufficient amount of personnel to keep up without overextending themselves. Granted I’m alone, but it does show how excellent they’re at organizing effective units.’ She inwardly noted, that her current watchers are different than the prying gaze of Armorless Union, always looking for a weakness.

  ‘Or they’re just that good at befuddling me with their intention.’ She is greatly amused by that notion. Nyx has something like an in-built emotional detector, which can be used to gauge other intentions to a degree.

  Unless they’re perfectly calm like her blunder with Spokesman Seweryn, Nyx can always pry a substantial amount of intent and information. Something that gave her a deadly edge when facing thugs, bandits, outws, mercenaries, bounty hunters, and even soldiers.

  “Well, focus on the destination.” Reminding herself to stop thinking about separate matters while riding her bike, unless, of course, she wanted to arrange a sudden, and rude, appointment with the local pavement. She had already experienced it, suffice to say neither party was pleased with it.

  Keeping mum of her mouth and mind then to focus on the road, she can see that Count’s territory may not be an affluent one yet pleasant and serene to live in. Greeneries made up of trees and bushes that had been tastefully arranged to appear natural only enhanced her silent ride experience.

  People moving about and, to her joyous surprise, several infected can be seen mingling with locals. Of course, some gave them the stink eyes, but at least they could walk without suddenly getting lynched.

  This had raised her personal respect and positive rapport with Toron County’s ruler and magistrate if nothing else. She is also surprised that this is a bona fide city, like an actual one with a much more sedentary feel, unlike Kazimierz.

  When digging for more information about Victoria, Nyx found out that Victorian territory had a much lower chance of catastrophe, so much so to the point it is called Terra’ agricultural breadbasket due to how rich it is.

  Either Gaia with her fellow Dei are pying favorites or that’s just how much of a blessing given by epochs of evolutionary conduct. The point is this nation had a surplus, abundance in all honesty, of resources.

  Yet that didn’t stop them from wanting more… anyway, that’s enough for the impromptu lecture.

  Arriving at a wide gate with tasteful but not extravagant ornamentation, she had already made eye contact with whom she presumed to be the count. It is a fair assessment when maids, butlers, and guards also stand behind the count in an orderly manner.

  The count looks very young but her information had pointed out that he is in his te 30’s. Quite young to inherit a fiefdom? She doesn’t know.

  Stepping off her ride, she made her way towards the count who did the same with a man who looked like a catastrophe messenger, the man looked old but his bearing suggested something deeper. If it pertained to the contract offered, then the count seems to have already done his homework on her modus operandi and preference. Another positive point and outlook added to the count…

  “Welcome to my dear Territory, Lady Nyx.” he offered Nyx a handshake which she reciprocated in kind. Seeing that he is courteous, the Pythian dy decides to flex her noble conduct as a form of respect.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Count Toron.”

  “Please, do call me Vincent. That should be a lot more pleasant for you, is it not?”

  “I’m, but I do use the formality as a sign of respect, not mere courtesy.”

  “Verily, you’re a tad different than what the rumors espouse.”

  “Rumors are a good topic for gossip and afternoon tea parties after all.”

  “Indeed, now this one here is Arkell Thomson, my dear friend.”

  “Pleased to meet you, my dy.”

  “Likewise.”

  “Let us talk inside about your contract.”

  “Lead the way.”

  With that, the butler handled my baggage along with the maid. She will most likely be staying here for a while, Count Vincent seems to be a generous person. The ulterior motives were sensed by her, yet Nyx had a feeling it was more akin to building retions than the usual contract of being used as a weapon.

  Yes, it is an open secret that most of her clients regarded her as a weapon first and foremost. Nyx honestly doesn’t mind, because that is a fair assessment based on her close to a decade tenure of being a hired grunt. It is easier to internalize when you’re just following orders, something that will most likely be rectified when she enters the Royal Guards Academy in Londiniun somewhere in the future… or in some manner or form anyway.

  Unlike in Kazimierz where Nyx can bance things easily plus the post-war situation which still supports unity, she would need to truly stake her worth first. This is meant to be a form of warning and offer about potentially profitable retionships.

  What Victorian nobilities know, the higher middle-ranks and down for the most part, since it would be doubtful for the Grand Dukes of Victoria to be ignorant, are pretty much hearsays. Won’t it make her a bigger target for potential harassment? Yes, but it will also give them the message of how costly it is to be an enemy of this Pythian dy.

  Nyx is now walking the pristinely and exquisitely arranged hallway. It doesn’t feel opulent but the sheer grandiosity and grace can be felt all the same. Several frames of tasteful artwork lined the walls. Suits of armor holding a sword by the hilt added a chivalrous atmosphere.

  She can feel prying eyes from hidden pces but Nyx couldn’t care less. She is here for work and work is what she will get, else the Pythian Lady can just dip out and search for local contracts, doesn’t have to be anything major mind you…

  Finishing her idle musing, Nyx had arrived in the guest room. The pce is neat and tidy with a healthy amount of ornamentation and decoration but doesn’t feel overwhelming. Quite odd for Victorian nobles which were often rumored to be the incarnation of vanity.

  Mentioning her to sit, which she obliged, Count Vincent and Arkell sat opposite of her.

  “Now, let us talk business. Arkell, if you may my old chap.”

  “Thank you.” He spread a map of nearby nd and then pointed at a floodpin.

  “As you can see here Lady Nyx, we had unconfirmed but repeatedly reported sightings from the locals. It pertains to the sightings of Akulia finbeasts.”

  “Akulia… I had a faint understanding of what it is, but please eborate.”

  “Very well, Akulia finbeasts are carnivorous aquatic beasts with very sharp jagged teeth. They usually kept to themselves at Cluster Sea, but locals had reported that they had seen several marauding the river.”

  “Judging by your expression… this Akulia is quite a peculiar specimen no?”

  “Indeed, not only was an Akulian swim with very high speed in the river, if left to its own device too long, they would start acclimating and there were cases of mutation where their scales hardened and fins morphing into crude limbs...”

  “… I understand now. What would you need of me? Just to be sure.” Nyx redirected her gaze towards the count.

  “It might come as a surprise but you need not eliminate them, only in an emergency.”

  “Eborate please.”

  “Akulia can’t stand anything else than salt water for a prolonged period, this is tied to what my friend said about them morphing fins into limbs all for the sake of reaching salt water. Researchers are quite fascinated because they can pinpoint the direction of salt water every single time.”

  “… Do continue.”

  “Which is why I would only request of you to accompany and guard my friend while he conducts research on it in the field. I will also offer a secondary objective of capturing one alive. Akulian worth a lot for aesthetics or consumptions if I might add.”

  “A rather… interesting contract, but not the most bizarre ever requested of me. How much do you offer?”

  “10,000 pounds for guarding my dear friend there and 25,000 pounds for a living specimen.”

  “Hmm… so just those two objectives?”

  “That you bring my friend back in one piece and catch an oversized aquarium collection, yes.”

  Nyx narrowed her eyes, she couldn’t sense any falsehood in there. On one hand, it is a pretty benign job, on the other it is too good to be true. 10,000 is still a lot, even for someone like her who had saved several folds that amount.

  The capture mission, on the other hand, is a good chance to train her control. Not to mention that she might need to fight underwater this time around, it is dangerous but nothing beats pain in terms of teaching a much more effective learning curriculum…

  Just for the record, Nyx is not alluding to potential masochism in a rather roundabout manner.

  Also deliberating that it might work in her favor for acclimating in Victoria, it might not be a bad idea to accept this contract. Just a small job that doesn’t involve anything about actively parting someone or something head off their body has been a healthy change of pace.

  “Very well, I accept the contract. When shall we depart?”

  “The day after tomorrow, it won’t do to send you away immediately. You shall lodge at the guest house, an annex of this mansion. Just exit from the main entrance then head left towards the garden in the back.”

  “Understood.”

  With that Nyx left the room and headed towards her temporary accommodation. She still has some misgivings about it, but decided to at least comply with the current contract’s reasoning. The eyes were still on her yet it felt like their gazes had become less vigint… weird.

  “Whatever…”

  2 days ter

  POV: Nyx

  The st 2 days had been a rather pleasant experience. Accommodation given by the count seems to be trying to reflect my honorary title, which in all honesty I never cared about. He is an affable man like what the rumors said while also, my apology to the count, being rather meek and not wilful enough like most nobles from Victoria… on the surface that is.

  ‘Vincent looks harmless, but I can finally get a hold of his psyche to an extent. He genuinely cherished his family, friends, and people. His endgame appears to be getting a good standing with me.’ Honestly, I don’t mind. Having retions with peripheral nobles can work nicely both ways.

  Not only that Vincent manage to keep an impeccable bance between resourcefulness and harmlessness, but he also knows what to do, when, and why. It might sound rude and disrespectful but I can cut off ties very easily too, but there is no valid reason I should cut off ties.

  The eyes might not belong to him either… interesting… Well, I’ll put it off for ter. Right now I must focus on guarding Mr. Thomson. He asked me the same with the count to just call him by his name, but I like it this way and he doesn’t push it.

  We’re now walking towards the reported location, accompanied by his colleagues and guards the count had dispatched. I wonder why I’m even here but I got paid for it, so just do your job and we can go about our own business.

  “Lady Nyx…”

  “Yes?”

  “It might be a bit boring to walk in silence, do you perchance have anything to ask about Victoria?”

  “Hmm… perhaps…”

  “Mayhap you would deign to tell me?”

  “Very well… how is infected being treated in Victoria?”

  “Oh that, well… it is complicated.”

  “Can you expin?”

  “It depends on each territory really, especially when the throne is absent.”

  Arkell exhaled wearily, a touch of sadness flickered briefly on his face. He then continued his expnation.

  “Infected had been on the rise recently. Duke of Windermere was rumored to be quite lenient but nonetheless adhered to a strict monitoring procedure. Duke Stafford, on the other hand, had been quite vocal about implementing the same system of Ursus to send infected to the mine. The absence of a monarch only made the situation worse.”

  “Hmm… you’re quite blunt. Do you not fear the nobles?”

  “No one paid attention to the frontier, I had uttered a much more daring word. Got sent to jail immediately but released soon after since I’m quite a capable messenger… and some more.” Some more? Hmm… is that his tacit invitation for me to start a personal investigation into his background?

  “Mm… then… what can you tell me about Victoria's founding?”

  “Oh? Never thought a mercenary would pay any sort of interest for history css.”

  “… I see nothing wrong with being eager to learn…”

  “Indeed, well let’s see… Victoria was originally ruled by Draco, Victoria then was called Tara.”

  “Tara?”

  “Yes, the Victoria we know today was brought by the inva- pardon me, struggle for the crown by Padishah Asn.”

  “Wait… Victoria's family was from Sargon?”

  “Indeed, historical texts had pointed out that the war had caused catastrophic damage for both Taran and Victorian. The growing instability within Sargon and the potential invasion by Gaul had made both families, Artorius and Victoria, set aside their differences and co-ruled. Long story short, the war was costly, so many people died, and this is where Victoria stands now.”

  “I see…”

  “Well… the co-rule might be a relic from the past now… hah… what had Victoria become.”

  “Um…”

  “What is it?”

  “… Never mind.”

  I recalled one specific question from Ionta, but I am afraid it would only become a weakness on a bargaining table. Thus I decided to just suppress this curiosity of mine on the matter to find a much better alternative.

  Several minutes ter, they arrived at the location. Arkell’s colleagues set up an observation post while she and the guards formed a perimeter… more like the guards making an impromptu palisade in case something happened.

  My help had sped up what would normally take hours into several tens of minutes. The guards were impressed at my finesse, they had been briefed about my capability but seeing is believing they say… and it worked wonderfully.

  Finishing the makeshift observation camp, I start making my round of patrol. This is a rexing job, just getting the feel and not wasting my training in temperance from living for years in a mobile city. I still found it difficult to let hostiles run away unchallenged, however…

  This musing of mine was broken when Arkell waved at me while motioning to come to his side.

  “What do you need?”

  “No, I think we are good here. You can start doing your secondary objective.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Well… alright. Just notify with a red fre or smoke for an emergency.”

  “Yep, happy haunting.”

  “Heh…”

  I sprinted away with a blitzing speed, shocking everyone in the camp. Oh come on, this speed is nothing more than a light walk for me. Then again, my body is quite unusual so my point is kinda moot… eh, whatever.

  ‘Here I come fish!’ With that I just dived into the water, alerting at least a dozen of them. They start circling me, most likely trying to cut me off from retreating, clever move for a fish brain… ok that was terrible…

  ‘Not that I give a single damn about it.’ Alright fish… let’s tango…

  POV: Arkell Jon Thomson.

  “Just what the hell is that woman thinking!?” I can barely believe what I’m seeing. She just jumps straight into the water, not caring that is an insane decision. I don’t doubt her ability after my own cross-examination, a discreet but justified conduct, on her reputation.

  My temporary first impression of her is that of an emotionless but reasonable young woman who maintains her curiosity. It is quite fascinating how she can be both cold and caring, her words are blunt from time to time if not outright crass for something she doesn’t like.

  That same woman is now readily jumping into the river. A lot of people are worried but also intrigued by her simplistic approach, one of my findings had conjectured that she is capable of intricacies. It is just, maybe, that when it is enough, she would tackle her problem head-on.

  My musing was broken when I saw her dragging a badly bruised, but still alive, Akulian… that woman just dragged it on the soil, without caring about her quarry one bit.

  I also noticed that the other Akulias didn’t dare to pursue, they would usually be hell-bent on retrieving their kind from capture… another interesting finding on this research I suppose… it still doesn’t answer why Akulia can morph their fins however… this is the most pressing matter.

  It will not be a funny thing to observe sea creatures capable of explosive evolution, but such a thing is impossible… Hopefully, that’s true, or else Terra would be drowned by nigh-invincible horrors…

  Well… I’m also talking about it to distract my vision from her… tempting figure. The water clearly caused her garments to cling tightly to her… my fellows are having mixed reactions, to my regret. Some pretend to write whatever gibberish came into their mind. Another tried to take a small peek… and then some practically ogled this Pythian maiden.

  Thankfully I have my dear wife and daughter to keep my mind off from sacious thoughts. It is the truest form of blessing in this life of mine…

  Not long after we left with a lot of new findings about this creature, hopefully, my horrific conjecture about its rumored root proved to be unfounded…

  A rumor that had been dismissed by pretty much all the schors as utterly ludicrous, but there is no such thing as being too paranoid in my book…

  Date: July 1079

  Location: Victoria.

  POV: Narrator

  Her life as a mercenary in Victoria is a lot more complicated compared to Kazimierz. The tension here is truly high, yet everyone can still ugh with a knife pointed at each other’s throat. Naturally, plenty of jobs required mercenaries to fill in the political ndscape.

  Summarizing her life so far can be as follows…

  It had been a month or so since Nyx had arrived in Toron County, Victoria. Her first impression of this country is very positive despite the national unrest of the higher-ups. The level of efficiency was also something else, to the point that the whole nation felt like a unified and well-oiled machine despite having no one on the throne.

  The impression remains but that only applies to the County of Toron only…

  She tried looking for a contract in the neighboring territory and the results were… mixed peering into negative. Some are hirious, some are mortifying, and some are just more than stelr in terms of making her blood boil…

  The types of contract she had been offered ranged from reasonably generous to outright degrading and insulting. She was really tempted to just tear her admission certificate apart and leave this country.

  Let us start with reasonable contracts…

  It ranged from extermination of local syndicates and even outws from all around Victoria to simple patrol and training local home guards or territories. The pay was also right, she could make 60,000 Pounds a week, triple her usual earnings in Kazimierz.

  Mind you that 1 pound = 5.25 Heller or 1 Pound = 1.25 LMD.

  The reasonable clients also made a pretty effective connection line. She had managed to actually get in touch with the Duke of Windermere for one and the Duke of Caster for another. They had offered her an actual employment offer as a regimental commander for the former and an army instructor for the tter.

  She had a truly hard time declining right away if she wanted to avoid conflict with a major faction. Thankfully her admission certificate can be a pretty effective shield to use. Both Duchy are understandably disappointed but they punctuated that the offer still persists for somewhere in the future.

  Then let us review the unreasonable one…

  Just who the hell deemed that being turned into a concubine is actually a reward? Or that one contract where it clearly being punctuated and underlined, she was asked to be a bodyguard and also comply with everything that was asked of her.

  The number of nobles who tried to coerce and bckmail her had reached dozens. Some tried to defame her, which she couldn’t care less. While others had threatened her physically, mentally, and even spiritually… for some reason…

  There were several incidents where they clearly tried to get her killed by accident, and she could do nothing about it. One because she has no one backing her, two because she is mercenary first and foremost even with the honorary title, and three her title is a low-ranking one.

  Attempted murder on her starts with something simple like a misfire and faulty intel unto deliberate artillery bombardment while she is still in the area. They still paid her handsomely but she can’t help her growing grudges and misgivings to work with certain factions, especially Duke of Cavendish’s goons…

  Well, that’s enough about contracts.

  This country's underworld is massive, she had another bounty for her head due to how much she screwed them over due to contracts from clients. The st time she checked from an information broker, her bounty ballooned up to 8 million Pounds… needless to say some more passionate individuals would pay more for her being captured alive.

  She had been terrorized and a target of hitmen or good ‘ol disposable bounty hunters for the st few days, but they seemed to have started backing off.

  Interestingly enough, not every underworld gang, mafia, and syndicate is immediately hostile to her. Several syndicates also have ties with governments, information that she can’t share with anyone or else the number of people who wanted her dead will increase 10-fold, and contacted her to a non-aggression offer or something.

  The mafias are also divided into the usual criminal-based ones as far as something that resembles a private military company, thus preventing her from shooting everyone just because. It is truly a well-oiled and efficient, but kinda fucked up all the same, country to be in.

  Regarding the Victorian Academy admission, she decided to decline the schorship. She had notified the academy and it does cause some problems, which caused her reputation to take a hit but ultimately she is retively unscathed.

  Nyx had made some mental deliberations and decided that going to the academy without proper backing would be way too dangerous and more importantly troublesome. Thus she will try to strengthen her footing again like what she had done in Kazimierz before.

  It will undoubtedly cause her to be viewed as being aligned with a faction, but there are some neutral factions that she can try to negotiate some terms with and even exchange favors. This is not post-war Kazimierz, this is an externally stable but filled with internal division nation, that’s Victoria.

  She really wanted to attend the academy, not only because she could search for information with a better veil and a legal umbrel to boot, but also because she is interested in how warfare would work with cannons, rifles, crossbows, swords, and allegedly nd battleship is going to mesh. As; she has no intention of being tied down like that, especially with her allegiance that is still up in the air.

  “Well, guess it is goodbye to your schorship offer Nyx, this paper had been a really good excuse to get me out of Kazimierz…” Nyx said while burning the paper, it is an offense to do such a thing… but no one is around and because she works the way she is, not to mention that she had declined, no one would really care what she had done without their knowledge.

  [END OF CHAPTER]

  Author’s Note:

  Ok, that’s the small alteration done.

  I’m still going to make her come there one way or another, but I need a better justification and means to protect her without pulling too much deus ex machina bullshit.

  Once again sorry for the inconvenience.

  Update as usual… I’ll certainly, try that’s for sure.

  Ciao…