UFF: Interlude V Recommence (Patreon)

Interlude V

Recommence

Princess Claudia Von’Roseblade

Princess Claudia Von’Roseblade sat in her room, overlooking the stacks of parchment before her. In her mind she could not recall ever being treated so humiliated in both of her lifetimes. Here she was well into her late twenties and still being treated like a child.

“Princess, are you done pouting,” Lady Alexanderite began, speaking to Claudia as if she was a petulant child, which in this case she was.

“I’m not pouting,” Claudia declared, while blowing her lips in an exasperated raspberry fashion.

“Look, it is good thing that your father got to you when he did, otherwise both your reputation and that of Prince Priam’s would have been ruined due to the perception alone of defloration,” Lady Alexandrite stated, trying to be consoling, while outlining why she needed to be more professional.

“He still didn’t need to barge into the Priam estate like that, guards out drawing swords, it was all so frightening,” Claudia exclaimed, finally getting to the root of the problem and why she was suddenly so afraid of her father. A character that she only remembered seeing in one cut scene, before he was just mentioned in passing before dying after the first full year at the Love Academy that served as the reason why the game turned from just a dating romance to a much tougher to understand empire building meets Risk gameplay. One that required funding, supply lines, troops, and above all allegiances that could be called upon in times of need.  

“I am sure your father was just worried about your virtue, you are only now turning 15, that is still young. The age of betrothal is not until 18, and no self-respecting prince will settled for a deflowered princess,” Lady Alexanderite stated, making sure to note the game rules and guidelines. While cuddling and kissing could be allowed before each capture target turned 18, the real action only could take place once Claudia was legally an adult. A stupid rule that Claudia thought she could bypass now that she was no longer in the real world and no longer subject to censorship laws. Which again, only served to cause more frustration to fill her thoughts as Lady Alexanderite continued to speak.

There was a moment of silence as the two seemed to stand at an impasse, before a reluctant Lady Alexanderite broke first, and began to speak.

“Perhaps, I shouldn’t tell you this, but your father’s health has been deteriorating for a while now,” Lady Alexanderite said in a somewhat condoling voice as she tried to ease Claudia into what she was about to tell her next, only for her to be floored by what Claudia replied casually next.

“I know,” Claudia replied, then casually threw out in game knowledge. “He is going to die in the next summer, between my first and second years at the Academy.”

Then realizing how callous it all sounded, Claudia first covered her mouth in shock that she would give out a key story point that willingly. Worse, she almost wondered if Lady Alexanderite would even believe her. Yet, the opposite happened, for rather than being afraid of the finding about her father, Lady Alexanderite instead seemed to be happy with the response.

“I knew it, your gift of prophecy was just taking a moment to develop. I knew you would soon be able to see the future and avoid all of the stupid mistakes you have been making thus far!” Lady Alexanderite said. Hearing her, Claudia first felt glad that she wasn’t being judged for her harsh words, but then soon realized that her words were not quite so flattering. But before Claudia could even think to reply indignantly, Lady Alexanderite was already holding up the Status Crystal that Claudia remembered all too well from her days of playing the game. Exhaling excitedly, Claudia was ready to see what advancements were made. Every break was a guaranteed advancement of at least half a letter grade, on top of everything else she got from her own studies, meaning that if she was following the pace of herself in the game, then she would expect to see all of her previous ‘F’ ranked magical abilities already advance to D+, or possibly even ‘C’s if she was lucky.

This is what she was hoping for as she excitedly reached out with two fingers and then touched the crystal like she had three months ago. Then to her excitement numbers began to appear noting that she had changed.

Name: Claudia Von’Roseblade

Age: 15

Gender: Female

Magical affinities:                   Current Rating  /  Maximum Rating

Primary: Wind Combat                         D                                          SS

Secondary: Psychometry                     F                                           A

Tertiary: Prophecy                                    D                                          SSS

Seeing the changes, Claudia felt ashamed, “what the? I should be far higher than that!”

Looking at the letter grades, Claudia couldn’t help but be frustrated, as there was nothing, no growth. Not even the typical bump that would come from being here at her estate was now missing.

“Oh well, you did improve some,” Lady Alexanderite began, but then pursed her lips together before coming to one conclusion. “It’s probably a sign that you spent too much time thinking about boys, and not on improving yourself magically.”

“What?” Claudia cried out angrily, she never had to practice magic in the game, it was just something that was supposed to go up on its own, wasn’t it?

“Don’t worry, the fact that you had your first vision will make your father proud. While you are still grounded, I am sure he will be just as pleased as I am that you had your first prophetic vision,” Lady Alexanderite  said, before continuing. “In fact, I am going to get him to allow you to spend some of the 5,000 gold coins gained from selling off your retainer Marie De’Claire to the Academy.”

That was another thing too, as Claudia couldn’t understand why she wasn’t allowed to spend all of it, like she would in the game.

“And why can’t I spend all 5,000 gold coins?” Claudia found herself asking, a bit of entitlement spilling out in her voice, but she couldn’t help it.

“That’s because you haven’t been making the best choices up until now, Princess,” Lady Alexanderite hissed. Then seeing that a tray of food was hidden behind the tower of ledgers and paperwork that were needed to be filled out, Lady Alexanderite went over and angrily removed the bag, “also you should watch what you eat, as you are going to get fat at this rate.”

Hearing the complaint, Claudia had flashbacks to her past life, where everyone called her fat, and remembering how she died after a procedure to help her went terribly wrong, Claudia could only cry out, as she felt a vision coming on, one where she, now as Claudia was strapped to the same table, trying to get the same procedure to happen.

“AHHH!” Claudia screamed, but no one would set her free. Then as if by magic, she could feel her power increasing as her proficiency rose again. Her change being made evident in the crystal she was still touching.

Tertiary: Prophecy                                    D -> D+                                            SSS

“Oh, splendid, I will tell your father of the good news immediately,” Lady Alexanderite’s voice rang out, cutting through the fog of Claudia’s nightmare to let her know she was still alive, and worse, that she was in fact seeing a possible future.

***(Magister Carthwright)

“Are you sure, Tatiana? It’s not like you haven’t been wrong in the past about these types of things?” Magister Carthwright asked, his tone oddly indulgent, and seeming to coddle the distracted instructor.

“I’m serious, I know what I found,” Lady Tatiana Von’Graysing replied a note of annoyance in her tone as she even held up the scrap of cloth that clearly did not come from anyone on this continent.

“Couldn’t it have come from one of the foreign delegates, or their entourage who have been arriving here all break?” Magister Carthwright continued, reaching out to grab the odd cloth, only to realize that there was something to Lady Von’Graysing’s comments in that it was far softer and of a more durable material than any of the kingdoms, or visiting kingdoms could create on their own.

“I’m sure, and the last time I saw this type of fabric came from none other than Lady Palmyra’s room,” Tatiana replied, speaking of course of the now deceased former operative of the Dark Messiah who had faithfully fulfilled the role of the Academy’s High Priestess, at least until she was slain by none other than Lady Laurain, the vaunted protégé of both Lady Von’Graysing and Magister Carthwright together, who also now happened to be under the direct tutelage of the Grand Guru himself, GSM Rikt.

“Very well, continue your investigations and let me know what you find,” Magister Carthwright reluctantly replied. At that, Tatiana just nodded before disappearing before the Magister’s very eyes. Seeing her disappear in such a way, Magister Carthwright could only mutter to himself, “I do hate it when she puts on a show like that.”

As he spoke he turned away, but did not fail to hear the faint chuckle that let him know that Tatiana had stayed behind long enough to hear his complaint.

***

(Alisan De'Contra)

Alisan stood staring into her scrying crystal. A crystal so focused and powerful that it helped her focus her senses into and more easily focus on identifying a location that she could cast her Far Viewing enhanced senses towards as she watched the spy master leave the Magister’s office. All while the Magister still fiddled with a cloth from one of Alisan’s garments that had been torn away recently, while she explored the Academy grounds.

While there was nothing linking her to the cloth, Alisan could only berate herself for getting careless. Still she had time, and already had her alias chosen. Picking up her scrying crystal, she opened her closet to reveal a bound and disheveled teacher that only looked on in fear as Alisan opened the large wardrobe that served as the temporary prison for the bound prisoner.

“NMOO, Nmmoooo,” the teacher began sobbing and tearing up almost immediately upon seeing Alisan. The magical wounds created on the teacher’s body looked like they were freshly cut and still needing to be treated, such was Alisan’s method of information extraction.

“Shh, don’t worry dear, you still have some use to me yet,” Alisan detailed, holding up her finger over the gagged mouth, before renewing the silencing charm that was etched into the gag that bound the foreign exchange teacher.

Then with the enchantment renewed, the screaming that had been audible a moment ago, faded out, allowing Alisan to relax. “Ah, there we go. Now it is time to begin a new semester. I can only hope that it will be memorable.”

At that Alisan closed the wardrobe, sealing it shut, and then producing a magical lock that sealed the wardrobe shut. “There, we wouldn’t want anything to get out before due time.”

With everything in place, Alisan gave the room one last look around, making sure all of her magical recording devices and alerts were in place, before she nodded to herself and proceeded to leave, so she could prepare her lesson plans and finally meet the students who left during the break.