Zachary's Assessment (Patreon Exclusive)

Zachary’s Assessment

Heat poured onto the back of a summoner’s neck as he waded through the growing crowd of Talbour. Zachary had been away from Talbour for quite some time. He hadn’t attended the annual demonic culling of the dead lands in a few years, so he hadn’t had a chance to return home. A small smile passed his lips as he spotted his baby sister arriving at the square centre. His family carriage stood out to him, adorned with his family crest of an owl, its wings spread wide perched on a branch.

The carriage pulled to a halt as Zachary approached, its white doors flinging open to reveal its occupants.

“Brother!” a usually quiet voice rose as a young girl with frizzy auburn hair filled the entry. The girl wasted no time hoping down the carriage steps as she leapt toward Zachary, arms open wide. Zachary caught his baby sister in a strong embrace, twirling her around in laughter.

“Lacey, I have missed you!” he chuckled, placing her feet back onto the ground and gently cupping her cheek. “You have grown since I last saw you.”

“I have, haven’t I?” Lacey beamed with a flattering smile as she turned back to the carriage, “Mother, see, Zachary says I’ve grown.”

A figure stood from the carriage seats, her dress wide as she raised a pale yellow fan above her lips. Holding out her hand, Zachary took it and assisted his mother in descending the carriage steps. The woman studied Zachary, her eyes roaming over his figure as she inspected him for his health and well-being. Seeming satisfied, she removed the fan from her lips, her auburn hair braided into a ring around her head.

“I am glad to see you, Zachary. It has been some time.” Uma Weadall patted her son's hand affectionately. “I trust you have been growing in the Capital?”

“Yes, Mother,” Zachary smiled. “I have built on my foundation and strengthened my skin meridians recently.” his proud tone boasted his achievement. As a Summoner, Zachary had reached foundation stage a little over a year ago. He was now focusing on strengthening his body to withstand the ascension into solidification. Many Summoners failed to strengthen their bodies sufficiently in foundation. They either lacked a core large enough or had severed a meridian in the attempt, forever ending their chances of ascending into solidification. It was a precarious stage for a Summoner.

“That is excellent news,” Uma praised as she tucked her arm around her son's for him to escort her. “Your Father is busy assisting the commoners in the fields today; there was a beast breach into the north yields. He was very disappointed he could not be here to greet you.” Uma frowned with concern, worried her husband's absence may upset her son.

Zachary nodded in understanding. “I will see him this evening; it can not be helped. I will have the same responsibility someday.” Zachary was slightly disappointed to hear his father's absence. However, the commoners would not be able to withstand against a demonic beast. His family was responsible for protecting the northern fields as Viscounts of Talbour, just as the Heversham Viscounts protected the southern fields. Without them, commoners could not safely plant their crops beyond the walls. Some day, Zachary would take up his father’s mantle and command the barons into battle to protect Talbour.

“He is very excited to see you,” Uma giggled refined as she reached her daughter and gently tucked a strand of her frizzy hair behind her ear, making her blush. “Just as he is saddened to see our dear Lacey leave,” she sighed heavily with regret.

Zachary shared his mother’s grimace as he turned his attention back toward Lacey. It had always been intended for Lacey to enter the social season this year, to find her a potential husband and keep her safe from having to learn to fight. She was always a weak-natured child; her strengths were with her mind, not her bravery.

“Are you sure there is no way out of this? She has to join?” Zachary said as Lacey glumly looked down at her feet.

“There is no other way,” Lacey whispered, rubbing her arm in a mix of fear and nerves.

“Sadly, there is not. At least not without ruining our reputation.” Uma squeezed her daughter's shoulder in reassurance, seeing her familiar habit of withdrawing within herself. “The Empress has demanded a larger enlistment of suitable recruits. If we withheld Lacey, the Marquess will question us.”

“As you wrote in your letters,” Zachary scrunched his eyebrows. Normally, women were not expected to join the Army. It was only preference and their own will they often joined, not out of responsibility like the future heirs of houses. However, the Empress’ recent pressure on the Marquess of each providence had forced many houses to have their daughters enrol this year for mere lack of sons. It was now expected for each noble household to provide at least two children for enlistment. For houses like Zachary’s, that meant it had to be Lacey as they were the only two children of the Viscount. They could not argue against it either due to the considerable size of Lacey’s core.

Even for a Viscount lineage, Lacey’s core was exceptional. At grade six, she had the same as an Earl’s untrained core. Withholding her enlistment due to her timid nature would only have repercussions from the Marquess of Talbour.

“You must take care, Lacey.” Uma lowered her stance a little, her pale yellow dress spilling onto the ground. “You will always listen to Zachary, follow your orders, and take every precaution to be vigilant of your surroundings.”

“Y-yes, mother.” Lacey nodded, inching closer to Zachary as she gripped the hem of his green cloak. Her eyes watered as she took deep breaths, seeing that more nobles were now arriving and forming a queue for the recruitment test.

Zachary’s lips thinned in anger as he wiped away the tears that were forming on his baby sister's cheeks. He hated this, sincerely wishing that he had been graced with a brother.

***

Zachary stood in his assigned role at the tables of the recruitment test. He glanced at the queue of potential recruits as Lacey’s face paled at the final table. She had been accepted, and her fright at the prospect was obvious. He tightened his hand around the pen he held as he sent away a commoner he had just tested. He was frustrated at his inability to help his sister get out of this. He could do nothing to go against the Marquess or the Empress's demand. He could only help Lacey whenever he could.

A set of footsteps alerted him to his next visitor. Raising his eyes, Zachary immediately frowned as he recognised the long black hair and jade-green eyes of the woman standing before him.

“Crazy Cerue. Never thought I would see you here”, Zachary scoffed, scratching the light, dirty blond muzzle on his chin. Of all people, why was she here? There was no way she was being forced to join like Lacey was. Lynette had no core to be useful as a summoner.

“Zachary”, Lynette Heversham greeting him, making him purse his lips. He was not friendly enough with Lynette for her to use his name so casually. He may be her brother's friend, but he was not hers.

“What on earth made you attempt to sign up for the Army? Don’t you cause enough hassle at home? We don’t need you,” Zachary chided his own frustration for Lacey leaking through his tone a little bit. He had no ill will toward Lady Heversham but did not care for her. She caused nothing but headaches for Eduard. It was likely she would do the same for Lacey.

“I have my reasons. Do I need to explain them as part of the assessment?” Lynette asked with a tone of superiority. Zachary narrowed his pale blue eyes, his short, curly blonde hair bouncing. She was always hostile toward the people around her.

“No”, he said curtly. There was no point in arguing with her. “Let’s get on with it then. Show me your skills.” he held the board up with his pen.

As Zachary asked to see her skills, he was surprised to learn Lynette did not know what a blood sign was. Eduard often spoke about how dealing with his sister's actions pained him. She was brash, obnoxious and acted above the people around her. Zachary had witnessed her treatment of commoners on more than one occasion. He even saw her threatening to burn a commoner's stall last year because of some dispute. He did not know the details of what had upset her so much, but such a threat was below the nobility. The woman was supposed to uphold the dignity of a viscount lineage. Even if they weren’t related by blood, her actions not only affected the Heversham’s reputation but also his own family.

That was why, when Zachary placed the red Aether ink onto her hand and spoke the activation, “Blood of this one, gods, reveal their truth.” he didn’t at all feel guilty about the pain she was about to feel. She had dealt emotional pain much worse than this to people who did not deserve such treatment. Fortunately, the pain was brief as the blood sign imprinted smoothly onto Lady Heversham’s skin. Zachary remembered doing the same for Lacey when she turned eighteen and frowned as he glanced back to the tent she was waiting in.

“What?” Zachary asked as he heard Lady Heversham mumble something.

“Uh-Oh, nothing,” Lynette blushed, her cheeks growing pink as she rubbed the new mark on her hand thoughtfully.

“Whatever” Zachary rolled his eyes at her actions. Why was she suddenly embarrassed? The woman was an enigma. “So, say ‘show skills’ whilst holding up your palm. It will show me if you have achieved any skills that may be worthwhile to the Army. I doubt it, though, with your recklessness.” he shook his head.

As far as Zachary knew, Lynette had grown up pampered in her household. Eduard and Callan were always irritated by her pompous attitude, but they never trained her in weaponry as she had no core. Instead, they allowed her to do as she wished. She had even avoided having a governess to teach her after the Viscountess passed. It was common for children to dislike education, but to completely neglect it was shameful. Zachary shook his head. He had never understood why Eduard and the Viscount allowed such a thing. It was doubtful Lynette had any skills of worth to the Army. Not to mention, this girl had the luxury of avoiding the Army. She could live the life that Lacey should, safe and away from danger. In fact, he recalled she was already engaged.

“Show Skills!” Lynette shouted, making Zachary roll his eyes at her eagerness.

“Why do they always shout?” he mumbled at the box that appeared between them. Everyone always shouted when they said those words for the first time.

“Let’s see now… name yes… rank yes… magic core, null, as expected,” Zachary’s lip upturned. Of course, it was as Eduard had told him. Lynette’s core was non-existent, a mere pin prick. She couldn’t become a Summoner. She was lucky to avoid the Empress's demand.

“Now skills, what wonderful skills do you have?” Zachary exaggerated his expectations low. However, as he read the list of skills she possessed, he couldn’t help but pause his hand from writing.

“What…” he said absently, narrowing his eyes at Lynette’s blood sign, then returned his gaze to Lynette’s hesitant expression. “Just how…” he mumbled as he quickly jotted down what he saw.

How in the world does she have pain and poison resistance!?

It made absolutely no sense for her privileged upbringing.

He scrunched his fist around his pen as he continued to read and saw Lynette’s unusual Herbology skill. He looked at her briefly in surprise before returning to Lynette’s blood sign. Wasn’t she uneducated? When did she have the time to grow her level so high? Could that be connected to her poison resistance? Was Lynette secretly interested in poisons?

Yet, even Lacey didn’t have pain resistance; she had avoided learning combat as she hated any aspect of violence. Lynette Heversham was the same, wasn’t she? Eduard had said she had never been trained with weapons. She has no reason to have pain resistance if she hasn’t trained in anything. Of course, it can be gained as a skill if someone….

Zachary felt his heart tug as he furrowed his brows. No, there was no way. Lynette was a noble. There was no way she could have earned such a skill from….

Raising his hand, he pointed at the box and then flicked his finger upwards. The text of her skills quickly changed into a diagnostic of her health. A section of the blood sign often overlooked by many. It listed Lynette’s blood type, her cholesterol, blood glucose, weight and other aspects of her health. It was information only trained medical experts knew how to interpret.

Zachary widened his eyes as he inspected Lady Lynette’s health readings. He expected as such from many of the skinny commoners that had already come to his table. They were underfed, lived in poor conditions and did not have the varied, balanced diet required.

But a noble…

Zachary’s lips pulled down into a frown through his blonde stubble. He looked back at Lady Heversham with an expression of sympathy, guilt and puzzlement.

Before he made any conclusions, he had to check for himself. His Aether would be able to determine her true state.

“Give me your wrist”, Zachary asked, his voice quiet as he contemplated all the information he knew of Lady Heversham. She was defensive, brash and avoided people if possible. Often overreacted to silly comments and irked Eduard and Callan.

“A-alright”, Lynette was clearly perplexed by Zachary’s request as she held it out a hand. Zachary gripped her wrist, being careful to be gentle now he knew how fragile the Lady was. Lynette’s blood sign vanished as he dropped his board and enclosed her hand with his left. He frowned as he did so. Lynette’s hand felt very small in his.

“You will feel a tingling, but it’s normal and won’t hurt, so don’t worry,” Zachary said softly, seeing her apprehension as her hand stiffened within his. She had flinched when he touched her. Why hadn’t he noticed that before?

“What are you doing?” she asked tentatively, her eyes wavering upon his hands.

“Just checking for something, don’t worry.” Zachary scrunched his features as he calmed his mind to concentrate. He didn’t want to reveal his true intentions. Lynette may pull away before he could confirm his suspicions.

Focusing on the Aether running through his meridians, Zachary directed it to travel through to his fingertips. His Aether slithered through his skin, hesitant at first, but then flowed smoothly towards his palms, embracing Lynette’s hands. Zachary’s hands began to glow a pale green as his Aether congregated into his hands. It pushed against the barrier of Lynette’s skin, foreign and alien to the Aether within Zachary. With a mental forceful shove, the Aether broke through Lynette’s skin, powerless to defend against him. With a rush of power, Zachary’s Aether plummeted through Lynette’s body. It spread like tendrils throughout her body, poking at her organs, her heart, and her skin before pulling quickly back to the safety of its owner’s body.

As the Aether returned, it brought back all it found, its inspection of his patient complete. Information flooded Zachary’s mind as he interpreted the findings to match up with what he had suspected.

Zachary pulled his hands away from Lynette’s, gazing at her with a pained expression as his fears were confirmed. Lynette Heversham was suffering from a degree of malnutrition; her muscles were weakened, and she was not as fit as a girl her age should be. Pairing that with her pain resistance and a lack of weapons skills, it didn’t make sense. The only possible conclusion in Zachary’s mind was clear. Something had happened to Lynette Heversham, something no one should experience. It left a sour taste in his mouth. He had been so caught up in his feelings for Lacey he hadn’t even considered Lynette had her own issues. She was not living a life of luxury and safety if she was like this.

“You… I didn’t…” he began to speak but paused at the look of Lynette’s eyes as she blinked in confusion up at his face. She must know? Doesn’t she… Zachary frowned, shaking his head as he picked up his checkboard. This was a sensitive matter. He should speak with Lynette about this privately. There were too many eyes and ears here, out in public. She may not be comfortable speaking with him about such matters in such a place. Just what had happened to hear since Eduard and Callan had been away in the capital? He knew Roger Heversham was not the most pleasant of people, but he doted on his daughters, didn’t he?

“You pass this assessment”, Zachary said, scribbling,

“I did?” Lynette said, astonished, which only upset Zachary further.

“Yes. But...” He paused, looking at Lynette with a pained expression as he considered what she must have been living with to end up like this.

“Would you come to see me if you pass the next test?” He really needed to speak with her about this. Zachary didn’t want to let his mind run loose, but did Eduard know about it for Lynette Heversham to be in this shape? Perhaps not. They only ever returned for a few days at a time these past few years due to the increase in demonic beast attacks. He may not have seen the changes in Lynette as he wasn’t a medical officer. He should speak with Eduard as soon as possible.

“I-I guess?” she hesitated, but her acceptance was enough. Zachary nodded, knowing he would find her even if she did not come to him. It was his duty as a medical officer.

“Good. I suspect you will with those skills.” Zachary hadn’t seen anyone with a Herbology skill that high in years. She was no doubt going to be accepted. They desperately needed people who understood how to make medicines even commoners could produce.

“What skills?” Lynette asked, very confused.

Zachary paused before a smile broached at her confused face. She truly had no idea how high her skill was in herbology? Had she been holed up at home all this time researching? Is this why she only rarely appeared in public?

“You will find out soon enough. The next table is your final assessment. They will talk to you about it and ask you some questions.” he should let it be a surprise for her.

“Alright,” she sighed reluctantly. “Um, are you going to tell Eduard about... You know... me being here.” Her tone changed as she nervously shuffled her feet.

Zachary considered her words and everything he had just learned about Lynette. Had she decided to join the Army without the Viscount or Eduard’s knowledge? Why did she feel the need to keep this from them? No, of course, they wouldn’t want her to join. Zachary didn’t want Lacey here. Why would Eduard and Roger Heversham want Lynette here? It wasn’t safe for them.

“Does he not know?” Zachary asked, seeming curious, rubbing his chin. Eduard was going to be furious. He would be if Lacey did this without their parent's knowledge or consent.

“Not technically… No… no, he doesn’t,” she whispered, looking down at her feet. Zachary saw her reaction, her nerves, how she looked away from him, not wanting to make eye contact and the slight tinge in her expression. He frowned deeply, a wrinkle forming on his head.

Lynette was… afraid of Eduard?

“I won’t mention it unless he asks,” Zachary said, his mind spinning. Something was going on in the Heversham household. Something he himself feared. He tightened his grip into a fist, trying to hold back his feelings. Zachary wanted to immediately grab Lady Heversham and take her to one of the medical tents. He wanted to ask her about her treatment, why she was so unwell, why she was so afraid of Eduard.

But he could not do that. She was already afraid. He couldn’t stress her out any more than she clearly already was. She may have acted unreasonably at times, but what caused her to act in such a way? Her defensive attitude might have been out of desperation if this was her normal state. Anger began to creep into Zachary’s heart.

“Really!?” her surprise was upsetting.

“As I said, I won’t tell him unless he asks. I can’t lie to my friend”, Zachary answered, shaking his head. No, he would not say a thing. If Eduard truly knew something was wrong, he would ask Zachary himself for his medical opinion. Surely, if he didn’t, well… That only made him question Lynette’s fear even further. Just what was being hidden in the Heversham household? What has Eduard done to cause her to be so afraid?

“Thank you, I appreciate it; I will be sure to come to see you when I can,” Lynette bowed.

“Please do.” Zachary nodded as he watched the Lady leave for the final assessment.