Hope

The next thing Irwyn knew, the three of them were enjoying tea by the ground floor’s large table – prepared by Elizabeth personally, he had noticed. Irwyn had summoned them chairs of solid Light as the noble girl ‘caught him up’ on the deal she had sworn. All inside Elizabeth’s ebony black bubble of privacy, of course – it would not do to be overheard. The retelling was exact and Irwyn played along – pretending he was hearing it all for the first time. He would have thought it would be fine to tell Alice he had listened in… but wasn’t going to contradict Elizabeth on it.

Alice’s ring when it came up, which he was almost sure hadn’t been there before, he had made sure to stare at it. A strange piece of jewelry: Seemingly merely silver without any gem nor other adorning, yet the carving of it was incredibly intricate. Like it was woven from thousands of metal latices rather than carved out of an ingot – not to mention the seemingly haphazard patterns Irwyn was sure had to have some kind of deeper meaning he could not grasp. The enchantment too was beyond Irwyn's ability to perceive, though it had to be there.

“An intelligent ring, though?” Irwyn shook his head, voicing his thoughts as soon as the opportunity presented itself. “That is possible?”

“Rarely, objects might come to possess souls,” Alice explained. “Mostly by coincidence… but at times artifacts may obtain them long after their creation.”

“Is there a method to achieve that?” Irwyn questioned. It was his first time hearing it was a possibility at all.

“Not one anyone knows,” Elizabeth shook her head. “Perhaps if one were the Artificer but that Name, or similar, had never been claimed in our Realm. It is, at the very least, excruciatingly difficult - countless craftsmen of all fields have attempted to create a method and failed utterly. All cases I know of have been one off lucky breaks.”

“Steelmire’s founder believed that praying to the ring and for the birth of a spirit within it would cause such a change,” Alice said. “Be it luck or clairvoyance, he was proven right long after his own demise.”

“And it just lets you lock away negative emotions?” Irwyn asked, incredulously.

“It is not that uncommon of a magic,” Alice raised an eyebrow. “The biggest advantage in this area is that the ring does so with next to no risk and without the need to involve a Soul mage.”

“Irwyn can be ignorant of matters of mages that we might consider common knowledge,” Elizabeth defended his ignorance. “Though incredibly talented, he had spent most of his life so far... quite away from high society.”

“I will keep it in mind,” Alice nodded. “Yes, such methods are expensive but not beyond reach for established powers… thought when the process is performed by a mage it is intrusive and therefore avoided whenever possible."

“Well, I am usually not shy about asking,” Irwyn smiled at that. “Why is involving a Soul mage so bad?”

“Because it gives them direct access to your Soul, obviously,” Elizabeth said. “They could implant new memories, create habits, conceal commands, and anything else you can imagine. It is difficult to give anyone that much trust. And all but the best specialists tend to pose a risk of… side effects.”

“It is said a qualified Soul healer swims neck deep in corpses of those who allowed him to be now called ‘qualified’,” Alice nodded grimly. “The brain is fragile and the soul is inconceivably complex. The larger the part the mage has to cut or replace, the harder it is to not break either in the process.”

“Well, that applies to most Soul mages - they require Souls to practice. But it is not nearly as macabre as Alice implies,” Elizabeth nodded. “The main reason the Duchy of White can support so many of them is their Alabaster Bastion.”

“I think I might have heard that name before,” Irwyn thought, then decided to take a big sip of the tea. It was scalding hot, though Irwyn did not burn and therefore did not mid. The taste was herbal, almost minty with an undertone of sweetness. Irwyn had to admit it was excellent.

“It’s the White Duchy’s equivalent of the ancestral palace of House Blackburg,” Elizabeth explained. “Like we have the Voidways, they have halls where Blank souls perpetually manifest from some kind of great artifact or mayhaps even ancient Edict. Those can be bottled and distributed at a fraction of the price, skill, effort, and moral hindrances selling souls otherwise requires. It’s a strategic resource at a scale no one can hope to compete with for nurturing their Soul mages.”

“I hear it’s a gargantuan castle of white stone, overlooking City White from atop its perch on a cliff,” Alice smiled. “I always wanted to see it.”

“It’s not actually as high as people say,” Elizabeth shrugged. “Maybe half of what I would call 'gargantuan'. And the cliff’s sheer rock is reinforced and enchanted to the point it might as well be considered part of the structure.”

“You have been??” Alice looked over with some excitement.

“The Duke of White has invited my family to his centennial celebration. I had gone along the delegation back then. Some 3 years ago.”

“What else did you see?” Alice’s eyes were almost sparkling.

“I was not much for sightseeing,” Elizabeth said slowly, squirming a bit. “Most of the day I had spent in the dinner hall which was not too extraordinary.”

“Not ‘too extraordinary’ by mortal standards or by your standards?” Irwyn jumped in.

“Alright, probably extraordinary for most people,” Elizabeth surrendered. “It has not left that deep of an impression but I think the Duke built a Soul mirror on the ceiling, creating mists that left colored trails reflecting anyone walking on the ground level - the trail's length and thickness depending on the person’s Soul. The Duke of White basically took up a tenth of the whole ceiling when he was socializing. Actually, I think the Duke of Purple might still be holding a grudge over it.”

“Why?” Irwyn couldn’t help but ask.

“Because the Duke of Purple is a petty small man with no real accomplishments to their person,” Elizabeth grinned slightly. “I think that being so small on the ceiling compared to the other Duke embarrassed him greatly. Though, in all fairness, even my Father could not compete with the Duke of White in raw power of the Soul. Perhaps only the Archduke of Red himself could.”

“It sounds fascinating to behold,” Irwyn admitted. And for a moment wondered what he might or might not see if he looked above in such a room.

“For about a few minutes,” Elizabeth shrugged. “The wonder of it hemorrhages when you realize that you are too small to see yourself.”

“I would still want to see it,” Alice said. “I barely ever got to travel.”

“Well, I had not left this City once until a few months ago,” Irwyn shrugged. “You are most likely still the more traveled of us two.”

The conversation after that turned to less interesting horizons. Mostly travel experiences which followed the pattern of Irwyn or Alice mentioning something they thought mesmerizing, only for Elizabeth to recall seeing something similar on ten times the scale while falling asleep from boredom of its ‘meagerness’. Well, she was probably making fun of them… Probably. Either way, the conversation slowed down. Alice quickly finished her tea - clearly not indulging in it as much as Irwyn with his slow sips - and was going to depart.

“One last thing, before you go,” Elizabeth said as Alice was standing up. “It’s in our mutual best interest that you pretend your recovery is more… gradual. You should certainly act a lot better but not completely fine as you are. Maybe for a week.”

“Good idea,” Alice nodded as she left. “Best people don’t figure the ring out.”

“Exactly,” Elizabeth nodded as she bid Alice farewell.

“Enjoy your newfound self, Alice,” Irwyn also sent her best wishes. The girl waved back at them with a slight smile, then was outside the veil. And therefore both outside earshot and sight.

“How… unexpected,” Elizabeth gathered her thoughts once Alice was gone from her privacy spell.

“You are telling me,” Irwyn inclined his head. “I did not know magically removing depression was possible until less than an hour ago.”

“Anything is possible if you stretch reality far enough – or convince someone more able to do it for you,” Elizabeth shook her head. “I am both intrigued and afraid she might be more trouble than she is worth. But no matter, I have sworn.”

“Oaths can be bypassed, I have seen that,” Irwyn noted. "And hers did not seem without... holes."

“You have also beheld how that had worked out for poor Alira,” Elizabeth smiled at that. “It’s all about weight Irwyn, like most of magic tends to be – Alira underestimated yours by orders of magnitude and paid for it. I have the Fate of House Blackburg clinging to me. Even if I am not the true inheritor, blood right of Names courses through me - more of it than most of the line, even. And that is a double-edged sword when it comes to Oaths, Irwyn, because I am heavier to hold afloat should I break my boat.”

“That is not a profession of impossibility,” Irwyn pointed out.

“Two prodigious heiresses of great legacies, two Aspect’s invoked over the Oath,” Elizabeth elaborated. “It’s not impossible. It’s just ill-advised with even the most expensive measures. Perhaps if a sufficiently powerful and specialized mage personally shielded me I would dare, but none such live in the Duchy of Black. Yes, loopholes make that easier but they would still not let me just ignore the spirit.”

“Two ‘great’ legacies?” Irwyn raised an eyebrow. “For all Steelmire had significance it cannot be compared to the Duchy of Black.”

“But she holds all of that legacy while I am entrusted with just a fraction of a fraction,” Elizabeth smiled. “And that ring… If I didn’t know it cannot be stolen, I might have been tempted.”

“ ‘Cannot be stolen’ is usually followed by a robbery,” Irwyn smiled.

“I don’t mean that it cannot be physically taken, but rather than no one but her can use it,” Elizabeth shook her head. “It has been tried before. Two times someone had stolen that exact ring, only to find it was completely inert unless resting on the finger of the one Chosen for it. And that’s the only reason anyone would be willing to ransom it back at all. Its power is enticing.”

“Even for House Blackburg?”

“Especially for House Blackburg,” Elizabeth said. “Because we would have the strength to actually hold on to it. Intelligent artifacts are staggeringly rare, Irwyn, twice so if they are genuinely powerful. Quadruply so if they are so innocuous.”

“You are talking it up a lot,” Irwyn observed. “Is what it did so impressive?”

“It’s the versatility of it. As if three dozen artifacts in one.”

“Like your dress?” Irwyn gestured.

“My dress is an ancestral treasure made by a Named artificer-adjacent of ages past, borrowed to me from the House’s vaults – and is not technically an artifact,” she shook her head. “You will notice the vast majority of magical items serve one explicit purpose. Those few who can do more than that also rarely ever meld the functions into each other so seamlessly. Her ring seems comparable in complexity.”

“I have no frame of reference for how much that is.”

“She can regulate her own emotions with it, which is already an exceptionally complex effect. Then it definitely improves her magecraft by a massive margin.”

“She had gone from perhaps barely four into incantation-less five-intention spells in a short time frame,” Irwyn nodded.

“I would bet it also reinforces her affinity with Time while at the same time having a similar amplifying effect as your new pendant - except much more convenient and presumably potent. Then there is the hiding feature. The precognition - since how else could it have so confidently warned her of a plan barely even formed behind closed doors? Obviously mental alacrity is expected in that package, plus the lock that lets only their Chosen heir wear it. And that is not mentioning that it is loaded with some kind of devastating attack magic.”

“How would you know that?” Irwyn paused.

“The dress’s precognitive ward considered the ring a potential danger.”

“Your dress sees the future?”

“More like recognizes immediate threats to my person that happen to also be in close Fatal proximity,” she said. “For anything more than that I have to supply mana. And I don’t have a fraction of a fraction of what it would need to do more.”

“That seems to be a common issue for it, I have noticed.”

“Yes, the dress is meant to be worn by someone significantly more powerful than me. I can barely activate half its functions and for some of those I still have to cheat. One day I hope to grow into it properly,” she nodded. "Then again, most of its effects are for convenience or defense."

“But her ring does everything on its own, easily.”

“As I said, an artifact that inspires Greed even in me,” Elizabeth nodded. “That it requires no major fueling from the user means it will become comparatively less effective past forming a domain… but that’s more than fine for an Heir’s companion.”

“But it lets her approach us magically,” Irwyn observed with wary awe. “That in itself is incredible.”

“There are magical items that can kill domain mages easily,” Elizabeth just shrugged though. “Scrolls, or crystals, or weapons that need to just be pointed at something. A child could do it. Those are not impressive, Irwyn. Powerful, yes, but not inspiring. They are crutches. Rope to cling onto for those who cannot climb the wall the right way. And then, when one day, they drag themselves to that summit, see that edge - they will realize the simplest of facts: No artifact in this reality makes it easier to claim a Name.”

“I would still think they are useful in battle,” Irwyn pointed out. "Being faster or more powerful is clearly an incredible advantage, even if artificially."

“In battle, yes,” Elizabeth nodded. “But only in battle - only when the alternative is likely death. There is a reason why I use no enchantments to improve my spellcraft when training. Don’t perpetually wear a ring that would make my mind twice as fast. Why I refuse to use these advantages in our duels. Because every bit of the magical power I make part of myself I intend to be truly mine, not borrowed.”

“Well, I never used any agressive magical items because I had none,” Irwyn chuckled slightly. “But your philosophy does sound enticing. I like that, I think. The magical purity of it. Just me, in all the weakness and glory.”

“One of the few things my father personally taught me,” she smiled.

“Although it does remind me of another issue I need to bring up.”

“Yes?” she asked

“During my reunion last evening, an unexpected issue became apparent. I thought you of all people might know of…” Irwyn recounted Kalista’s condition. Or rather, her issue of seeing so well her mortal mind could not keep up. At least that appeared to be the crux of the issue.

“Hmm, the army stockpiles some glasses with properties of muting magic,” Elizabeth thought for a few moments. “Bring one pair with you next time. I don’t know if it will even work in this case, but if it does I could also order a custom-made pair made.”

“Won’t that raise eyebrows?” Irwyn questioned. They had basically agreed after Waylan to not bring up Irwyn’s Honing-involved acquaintances, or get anyone back in City Black interested in them. Elizabeth admitted to be rather ignorant on the topic so decided that secrecy was preferred.

“I will say the binoculars are for Alice,” Elizabeth shrugged. “Mages in emotional distress can develop nocturnal hypersensitivity to magic. If the symptoms are optical they can wear such spectacles to better sleep – hence why we have a stockpile. More sensitive mages require stronger glasses, nothing strange about that.”

“You have her involvement figured out already, huh?” Iwryn asked.

“I have the paperwork half ready to submit for preliminary entourage membership,” she smiled. “Basically, my intention to recruit her. It will stop someone from attempting the same and guarantee additional oversight to any problems she might get into with authorities. Most importantly, it is anonymous who has made such a petition, only known to the Duke.”

“Isn’t it obvious, with you two being in the same town?”

“The list is composed of every noble with half a House to cling to the title in the whole Duchy. Hundreds, even thousands of declarations like this are ongoing. No one is keeping track of the exact location of every single noble of the whole Duchy, then comparing it to the location of every new declared candidate - not to mention they would also have to figure out who and where exactly the prospective entouragee is. The only person who might think that’s worth the effort is my Mother - and she has access to that information no matter what I do. Which is why I have no intention of even hiding it. Well, not for long, at least.”

“Elaborate?”

“I will report that we found the lost heiress of Steelmire and that I intent to recruit her,” Elizabeth nodded. “Right after already submitting the documents, of course. Those are lines of tradition my Mother is careful about crossing. Except instead of sharing what she had learned about the fall Steelmire I will claim poor Alice is currently too mentally unwell to undergo questioning. Even request a mind mage be reserved if she doesn’t get significantly better in a fortnight. From my mother’s response, I intend to glean what she might know and intend.”

“Will the Duchess not see through it?” Irwyn was doubtful.

“My mother has only so much attention she can spare me,” Elizabeth shrugged. “She will have whoever her spies in camp are snoop around, report on how Alice is doing, and then that’s that.”

“Which is why you asked her to feign a gradual recovery,” Irwyn smiled and sipped his tea again, just finishing the cup.

“Well, hiding her ring’s power is also a genuine concern,” Elizabeth added. “How is it?”

“You know, I never had any idea you brewed tea,” he nodded. “To my ignorant tongue, it is quite delicious.”

“It’s not that difficult,” she shrugged, though there was a bit of tension in her shoulders. “I started doing it when I used to be sick. Nowadays it is trivially easy with a bit of Flames."

“You never brought it up before.”

“Mundane hobbies are… frowned upon among nobility,” she hesitated. “Distractions, they are called. Not that most don’t have far worse and more time-consuming vices than this, but there is an expectation to keep such behind closed doors. And… I was not willing to make an attempt until I had some confidence in the choice.”

“Is the point of any hobby not to enjoy it?” Irwyn raised an eyebrow. “I certainly do enjoy the brew.”

“I thought you would,” she nodded. “I am happy I was right.”

“So am I,” Irwyn smiled, then finished his tea. “I could get used to it.”

“Maybe we shall, not like we can pass the time dueling here,” Elizabeth sighed. “Or have the time to spare in the first place. I have to sort through the rest of the paperwork today while keeping with my exercise.”

“I would help if I could, but, you know…” Irwyn said. “In case you need me I will be in my room. There are some spells I wanted to figure out. Now is a good Time.”