Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 53

“Yah!” I yelled, slamming my training sword into the dummy. It wasn’t really fancy, apparently Zo’Talana had some old dummies laying around in storage from when he was a kid training.

The Dummy rocked back, as the strike caused a burst of Light. Rocking the dummy even more.

Seal of Righteousness was potent. Although I knew it could grow to do more. 

I stepped back, wiping my forehead. I was outside now in the alley. The Stable was currently my training area for swinging blades, as El’Tela had not even considered letting me do it inside. 

But that was fine. 

I sheathed the training sword, and knelt down, one hand up to my forehead. 

I’d found that coming up with a mnemonic while practicing had helped, and this was quick, and I could do it and get back up quickly.

The current training cycle was quite simple. 

Use up most of my mana converting it into the sparks inside me. Empower either my Strength or my Seal, and then activate the Seal.

Seal of Righteousness wasn’t like an Arcane spell. I didn’t need to spend Mana every time I struck something to get it to work.

Instead I activated the Seal, and until the energy within faded I could strike many times. 

It wasn’t quite as hard limited, like in the game where it lasted a set time. It didn’t really burn energy over time unless I was striking, and it was more the amount of hits before the energy I activated the seal with ran out.

But that meant it was really nice for training. 

Activate Seal, wack training dummy, rinse and repeat. 

The activation of the Seal made me look once more at the spells level. 

[Seal of Righteousness Lv 4 14/40]

It wasn’t the fastest leveling spell despite the fact it was fairly cheap to activate. But I had to burn that energy to be able to cast it again, and the only real way to do that was to just smash something until the seal was once more dormant.

I got up drawing my blade, trying to keep my muscles firm but loose. The practice today would be the saving grace on the battlefield tomorrow.

Then I swung, keeping my blows strong, my Divine Strength meant every blow rocked the training dummy. 

I was getting stronger, I was getting more powerful, and all the synergies of my abilities were starting to finally merge together into something more. 

Of course I still had weaknesses.

I burned through another full Seal and then had to stop. Sweating like crazy I took a moment to make some water and drink it down then empty the rest over my head. 

Tiredness was the enemy. Getting tired, slowing down, that was how I would be defeated by normal enemies. 

Not good. 

Training helped, but there was a point where no matter how much training I did wouldn’t stop me from growing tired eventually. I needed a magical solution, but nothing had quite worked. 

Walking over to the crate that was in the stable I flopped onto it and just breathed for a bit. I hadn’t done much practical experimentation with the new discoveries. I’d decided to train both applications a bit more, get a better understanding of what it could do before adding even more Light spells or Seals into my repertoire. 

Seal of Righteousness was perfect for my needs, so better to focus on training it up than trying to add a dozen more Seals into my body.

And finally getting a Strength Enhancement meant I wanted to max that out as quickly as I could. Considering all I needed to do was focus for a little bit to gather a spark and blow it up with Mana to enhance my strength meant it was better to just focus on these two, but tiredness…

How could I heal tiredness?

I shook it off and stood up, I’d something to eat, and then maybe do more training. El’Tela had already had me training Arcane Mind whenever she could try and force me.

As I entered I noticed Tira’nore was beside Papa and even bowing to him apologetically. 

“Everything okay?” I asked as I walked over, cause that was weird and Papa just shrugged. 

“Tira’nore forgot to order something for a project, it’s not a-”

“I am very Sorry Master Arkhana’Shola. I’ll fix this, I swear it.” She replied, sounding quite concerned, and I could tell it was making Papa just as uncomfortable as it did me.

“It’s okay.” Papa replied awkwardly, he definitely wasn’t ready to deal with the freaking out shop Manager.

“Umm, Maybe we can just get it, what is it that we need?”

“Some Alchemy concoction, It’s the base for the enchantment, I need to do.” Papa explained and I nodded. Made sense. 

“So where can we get it?”

“Well… We’d have to reach out to Nata’liore, she’s the one that makes it for the shop.”

“I thought she was an enchanter?”

“She has some skill as an alchemist, mostly in the few alchemical recipes enchanters use.” Tira’nore explained and I just shrugged.

“Does it take long to make? Why not just go get it?”

“I can send Sha’Narin, but he is already on a task for the day, and I can’t leave the shop.” She replied awkwardly. I nodded, I couldn’t sit in the shop either. I didn’t know the prices of things, and Papa…

Well best to just leave it to Tira’nore.

“I can go? Probably? I don’t know where Nata’liore’s shop is, but-”

“I can’t ask you to do that.” She replied instantly, shaking her head, and I instantly realized what was happening!

“Wait! Hold on! I’ll be right back!” I called out rushing up the stairs, plan to get a snack and a break forgotten!

Heeheehehehehe!

I raced into my room, and collected my things, putting on a few things and grabbing a very important item.

Then I raced back down, cleaned up and ready. I took the Quest Log and quickly wrote out the requirements under both adults' watchful eye. Papa starting to smile as he realized what was going on, while Nata’liore, just looked confused.

“Please sign here for the Quest.” I explained holding out the Quest Log, and she just looked confused.

“Just sign the quest and she’ll pick up the potions.” Papa said simply smiling as he turned back to the workbench. 

Tira’nore looked hesitant, but reading the little quest blurb and seemingly not getting it she signed the book, and I nodded. 

“Do you have a map, or just directions to Nata’liore’s shop? I’ll put that in. And a list of what I need to get?”

“Oh sure, it’s in the Bazaar.” She explained and started walking me through the directions. I had them, and then awkwardly she looked at Papa before noticing he wasn’t paying attention and then deciding to just go with it. She led me out to the front, and handed me some coins along with a quick note. 

“These are for the potion. Nata’liore can be difficult, but that should cover the cost. If there is any trouble don’t hesitate to return Mistress Dorah.”

“It’s still just Dorah. I’ll take care of it!” I chirped and saluted, despite how silly it probably looked. I was happy! A quest!

I hadn’t had a quest since we arrived in Silvermoon. I just… I’d been hyperfocusing on growing stronger, and when I took days off it was to see Kimi, or check on Chocobo, or…

Well none of it was questing. 

Maybe I should go see about setting up the Adventurers Guild again? Well I’d think about that after. I took off jogging down the road, definitely an odd sight to all the richly dressed nobles and merchants walking along the Court of the Sun. 

But I ignored all of that, I was on a quest, and adventurers had no shame! Killing Giant Rats, or finding someone trapped in a toilet, some Silk Cloth. 

An Adventurer cared not where the Quests flowed, only that they did!

“Quests for the Quest God.” I whispered, half giggling as I jogged along, and I could practically feel my ears wiggling. 

Reaching the Bazaar wasn’t hard, it was fairly close, a few blocks south of the Court, and I slipped into a massive open air market. 

The real rich had the shops along the outer edge, but lots of little stalls were set up, all of them colorful and bright. People wandered all over, and goods of all types were being hawked.

Quite a bit of food as well I noticed. Actual real food, not just conjured. 

I even walked past a stall selling some sort of cream that the seller was yelling would make even the worst conjured muffins palatable.

I kinda doubted it, but that was enough to tell me just how many people were starting to eat conjured food.

Were there normal food shortages? I hadn't really noticed, but it was definitely possible. I know a lot of the refugees coming in didn’t have jobs, or were having to restart, so the conjured food was common.

I shook it off. The Bazaar was absolutely packed, but I wasn’t here for that. North side, North side…

A magic shop, not quite something like our Atelier, but more a magical resources shop. Enchanting, Alchemy, and all sorts of things other shops might need.

Nata’liore’s shop. It was fairly busy as I walked over, three other elves were waiting ahead of me, I slipped in behind them, earning a bit of a look from the… Servant? Merchant ahead of me? He stood straight, but his clothes were nice, but not that nice. 

Slowly they were called in, and an attendant at the front desk spoke to them, sending them to the back room one after another. 

A privacy reason? 

Finally I was up, and the shop keeper looked me up and down.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes! I’m from the Arkhana’Shola Atelier, we have a purchase we’d like to make.” I explained and that caused the woman to look me over again, probably wondering whether this scruffy little elf in front of her was lying or not. 

“Go on back.” She decided and I nodded heading back to find a sort of drawing room, made to look as magical as possible. 

The Silvermoon style was very middle eastern at the best of times, but this was obscene. Colored see through silks hung in streams creating a path through the room, to an open area cushions laid out, and magical things hung everywhere. A glowing orb on the table in the center, spinning doohickeys, some enchanting equipment, that was purposefully made to look mystical on a table over there. 

The room was mostly dark, lit by magical lights that flickered, and flowed in different colors, floating cushions slowly drifted around the room, caught by the hanging silk and redirected back.

“And who is this little child wandering into my shop? Certainly not a joke, Tilly wouldn’t dare.”

“I’m Alah’Dorah, with the Arkhana’Shola Atelier. I have an order from Tira’nore.” I said as I walked closer, seeing Nata’liore for the first time. 

She was not dressed in robes like most wannabe magisters did. She was in barely anything, silk, and tight wrappings, even a silk veil hung over her hair, her eyes were glowing with a mascara that glowing, as she blinked, highlighting her eyes. 

“Is there a problem?” She asked, noticing me looking her over and I shook my head. 

Which earned me a slight smirk. She knew her outfit was weird and enjoyed making me uncomfortable, I noticed. 

“Hmm. Well if it’s the Arkhana’Shola, I suppose I must. You work there?” She asked, sounding suspicious, which I guess was fair. 

“Not usually, but Sha’Narin was out running other errands, and so Tira’nore relied on me!” I said, sounding like a child proud to be relied on, and the woman's suspicion disappeared. Instead she scoffed. 

“Well you tell that woman Tira’nore when you see her, that I’ve noticed her phasing me out! I don’t care what Enchanter they hired to replace me, they won’t be able to handle all the work I did! Sending for a potion from me, yet refusing to have me work! Tsk, the audacity of that woman.”

“Uh… Sorry?”

“Don’t apologize, just relax the message little thing. Now sit while I work, no wandering around or touching my expensive equipment. What is this potion the Arkhana’Shola needs?”

“The list.” I said pulling out my quest log and pulling out the piece of paper and handing it over. 

She looked it over, and rolled her eyes. 

“Rushed order as well? So they do have enchanting work, but they want me to make potions for their enchanter to do the work? Tsk.” She made a fist crumpling up the note for a few moments before hesitating and instead getting up. “Stay here while I get the potions.” She demanded and I nodded, she left the room, through a silk sheet that revealed a doorway on the other side, and I could hear her getting to work as I settled in to look around the shop.

Yep. This was definitely the woman that had done enchanting work for the shop before. I recognized her work. While the enchantments were functional they were a bit… Blobby, too much dust used to make the enchanting lines, and so the mana flowed, and it did so fine, but it was wasteful. 

Yet… Just looking around the room, the floating pillow, the orb in the center, everything enchanted in this room was her own work, and it was a wide variety of enchantments. For all of her foibles, she was no master, but her knowledge was definitely there. I wonder why her enchantments were so badly done if she was this competent?

An acrid small reached me, and I felt myself jolt and my nose scrunch up at the smell.

It was not pleasant, that’s for sure, but then not long after she walked out. With a small handful of vials, and she placed them down on the table. 

“There. Four potions as requested. You have the Gold?”

“I do.” I reached in and pulled out the gold that Tira’nore had given me and Nata’liore, perked up at the sight. 

Reaching for it quickly I passed it over, and she counted it despite it only being a gold for each potion before slipping the gold in between her rather tight cleavage. 

“Alright take them and go, and don’t try them! You’ll die, or at least get sick. They aren’t that kind of potion.”

“I know.” I said suddenly confused, looking at her, cause what?

“Oh you think no delivery child has done that? Seriously foolish little brats, why I don’t hire children.”

“Oh… Thank you. I won’t open them or drink them, They are going straight back to the Atelier.”

“Good. Now go on.” She waved me off as she slipped back into her cushions and I grabbed the potions slipping them into my pockets carefully and headed out. 

Another client headed in just after me as I walked through and out.

What a weird woman.

—---

It had been a few weeks since my first quest, and while I considered opening up an Adventures Guild Stand, I’d just gotten distracted. Training, spending time with Kimi making sure she wasn’t joining a Thieves Gang, and of course work at the Foundry kept me fairly busy. 

Heading home from another day bashing armor plates into position, I was a bit tired. 

Divine Strength had started becoming very noticeable after all the time training it. Effectively adding a third again Strength to my stats was a lot, but it was still hard constant work.

I felt tired as I crossed through the city, the setting sun highlighting all the blues and golds of the city. 

It was pretty in its own way, but I still didn’t like the whole floating buildings hanging over my head. 

When I made it back to the shop I stopped because I heard voices, and they sounded quite upset.

Uh-oh. I slipped my head in, and was surprised at what I was seeing. 

Nata’liore, the Enchanter and alchemist too? Was in the shop, both hands slammed onto the front desk where Tira’nore sat and glaring at the woman from across the desk.

Tira’nore looked put out but was keeping her professional face on, and I noticed the shop was empty, not unusual, but possibly caused by an angry Nata’liore.

“I know you are doing it! You are phasing me out! How long did I work for this shop!? And you don’t even have the respect to tell me!?”

“We are not phasing you out Nata’liore. The Arkhana’Shola appreciate the work you do for us, but circumstances are currently a bit different. You should know that with everyone coming to Silvermoon, that things have changed.”

“Oh so you picked up some Enchanter from the edge of civilization and expect them to be better than me!? I know more recipes than half the enchanters in the city, and the rest are Masters!”

“Nata’liore, please watch your volume in the Atelier.”

“Don’t give me that! I heard about the contract! The Royal Family themselves hired the Atelier for enchanting work, and yet I haven’t been called! My chanse to get my name out, to earn some respect, and you don’t even reach out!?”

“That’s not the case Nata’liore. We simply haven’t had enough Enchanting work to need any additional Enchanters.”

“Bullshit. If Master Enchanter was around, capable of doing what I do, they would have their own shop!”

“I’m afraid that while Master Arkhana’Shola is in residence in the city, he is in fact the owner of the shop and handling the Enchanting work himself.”

“What? The Arkhana’Shola don’t have an Enchanter, not since-”

“Since Master Aran’Alah left the capital.” Tira’nore replied firmly, and Nata’liore flinched back.

“Wait… He’s back?”

“He is, and no longer removed from the family.”

“Seriously? But what about? And… Is that even possible? They really banished him!”

“I am not here to share gossip Nata’liore.”

“Ugh. You’re as much a stick in the mud as always. Come on, this is juicy! I hadn’t even heard!”

“There is nothing I care to share. The official response is that the Exile and banishment of Aran’Alah is over, and he once more bears the Arkhana’Shola name proudly, and openly.” Tira’nore spoke with a sort of pacing that sounded like she recited it many times.

Was… Papa’s return like important gossip that people wanted to know about? No one had even brought it up around me before.

It was then that Tira’nore noticed me and blinked.

“Mistress Dorah.”

“It’s still just Dorah, Tira’nore.” I replied as I finished stepping in from the doorway. Nata’liore looked over and blinked.

“Mistess Dorah?”

“Alah’Dorah Arkhana’Shola.” Tira’nore mentioned simply, and Nata’liore looked me over.

“A pleasure to see you again, Mistress Arkhana’Shola.”

“Weird. Just call me Dorah.” I said and then because that had definitely made me feel awkward I decided to just walk through whatever this is.

“So that’s why you are cutting me out?”

“I told you Nata’liore, we aren’t cutting you out. Circumstances are different currently. With Master Arkhana’Shola in residence, he and Dorah are handling the Enchanting work.”

“Wait. The girl? She’s a child!” Nata’liore snapped looking at me as I tried to walk past and then looking from me to Tira’nore. “You jest.”

“Dorah’s work is excellent, not quite as refined as her fathers, but more than enough. She does much of the work that comes through that her father can’t handle.” Tira’nore replied and there was definitely a tone of pleasure as she spoke, she was enjoying messing with Nata’liore.

Which considering how brash the woman seemed to be, and the stories I heard from Sha’Narin was probably fairly justified. 

“You haven’t given me work in a year, and you expect me to just-”

“It has not been a year you know that.”

“Almost!”

“Yes, almost, but not quite, and there should be large orders coming in soon. The contract you yourself just pointed out, that hasn’t been shared publicly yet.”

“Forget that. You’ll have work for me?”

“Yes, even with two enchanters in residence, the contract should be quite large. If you hadn’t barged in and made a scene, you would have heard from me in the coming month.”

Nata’liore seemed to ignore the scolding and instead looked pleased. 

“Good. I’ll work here when it happens.”

“You haven’t taken us up on our workshop since you told me your own was greater.”

“That has nothing to do with it.” She waved off Tira’nore and looked at me, nodded, then back to Tira’nore. “I expect the message shortly, and I expect to be informed beforehand. If there is such a rush I will need to know in advance, and we will discuss payment then.”

“As you say.” Tira’nore sounded tired as the other woman strutted out, and I just sort of stood there for a moment.

“Wasn’t she just complaining about not having work from us, and is now making demands?”

“Yes.” Tira’nore said flatly. “Her abrasive attitude is one of the reasons she has never achieved any real respect for her talents. She tries.”

“I see.” I muttered looking out the door before shrugging. Whatever. I wanted to clean up eat, and maybe hang out with Papa for a bit before dinner.