"All naval assets of the Sixth Patrol Squadron are currently engaged across the entire theater. Frigates Dida and Ursine Fury are protecting the northern isles from amphibious assaults. Carracks St.Thomas and Nautilus are aiding an element of the Fifth in repelling a ghost-tide leviathan. My own warship, the waterstrider Ocean's Star and sea piercers Water's Wrath and the Tommasel are assisting the port city of Stokesport in breaking a siege by hostile elements of both fire and shadow. If this is my last report to reach you, assume that the city has fallen."

- Captain Lance Cres, Nautican Union Fifth Fleet - Sixth Patrol Squadron, "Report To Admiral Marne #2"

"My retainer and now erstwhile ally, Sophie." Eva bowed dramatically as her arms directed everyone's gaze towards the half elf.

Sophie reluctantly dipped her head to acknowledge the row of lords and ladies and their dismissive gazes.

"While I confess, we have marched forwards on our own paths. We both find ourselves serving the greater good in our own way. As I… uhh, might have made abundantly clear the… last official interaction I had with the kingdom, I am an instructor and liaison for the saints and the church." Eva paused, her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room, almost daring anyone to challenge her assertion.

The nobility seemed content to let this matter rest. Though doubtless the presence of the saint squadron and inquisitors certainly helped sell her point even more. Satisfied by the muted response, Eva stood a little taller and continued.

"Sophie on the other hand, fights for the commonfolk. To protect those who cannot hold their own against the encroaching storm. As a sign of both their trust in her and myself…" Eva glanced towards Janos and Mila. The two inquisitors gave her curt nods. "Even the church has acknowledged that they find her ability to combat the monsters and possibly demonic creatures that plague the realms a boon to their cause. As evidenced by, I've no doubt you've heard, incidents such as the 'demon of Arteria' and perhaps more… diversely received by this council, the event known to the commonfolk as 'the Darkening of Melton'."

Hearing that, the nobles grumbled amongst themselves. The idea of having saved their foes a clearly sore subject even now. Though Sophie was glad to see a few who were more annoyed than anything. It meant they could care less about that aspect of her deeds. Not that it helps our cause much. They undoubtedly have a plethora of other issues against us.

"Whatever the case, and whatever your opinions are on those events. It is indisputable that her actions led to the saving of hundreds if not thousands of lives." Eva paused, the girl seemed content with her declaration before craning her neck just a little towards Mila and Janos.

The two blackhats traded the briefest of glances before nodding, though remaining conspicuously silent in the proceedings so far.

"I offer my gratitude to this council for hearing my testimony." After a few more moments, Eva finished with a bow.

The nobles erupted into a little grumbling hubbub of their own. Though Sophie couldn't make out much of what they were saying given the dozens of voices. She could tell when sentiments were soured against her when they hissed the words 'elf' or 'traitor' under their breath to each other. And when they were a bit more forgiving of Eva with 'girl' or 'child' being spoken with far less venom, almost like pity or when a parent was disappointed but let their child do their own thing regardless.

"And the opinion of the church on such matters? Agreement is assumed given your… alliance. But the degree of that cooperation is just as important to know." A disgruntled noble tapped the table in annoyance.

A duke, I think. Sophie tried to analyze her potential opponent, don't recognize him though, hells.

Mila looked up towards Janos, deferring to the more senior inquisitor. A flicker of annoyance seemed to cross his visage though he suppressed it well.

"The church's current opinion of… Lady Sophie currently aligns with Lady Rosengart's positive sentiments. She has proven an apt associate in our duty to hold vigil against the darkness that encroaches upon this world. We hold no quarrel with her despite her current… independence." Janos stated plainly before almost imperceptibly lowering his head towards her.

Gee, sound even more reluctant, why don't you? Sophie grumbled to herself. She cast her gaze towards Eva to try and judge the girl's reaction. But her mistress didn't seem fazed by his comment, so Sophie tried to ponder what exactly the plan was. Eva had told her to act the combat weary heart of gold veteran when it was her turn to speak. Then she added that the church and her would support her. It wasn't much to go on but Sophie didn't blame her, None of them could be certain about how the council would react. Although when she considered how Eva hadn't yet appeared enraged or upset, then she could rest with the knowledge that things were going alright so far.

"If you don't mind me asking, astral speaker, don't most people also work to stand against the dark? What makes her different?" The same duke asked.

"Loathe as I am to so readily agree with him, Lord Adallholm makes a good point." A wisened older lady spoke up. Grand Duchess Falkenwrath, I'm guessing. "I don't mean to demean any of your accomplishments, far from it." She offered some platitudes towards Sophie, "But surely there are hundreds if not thousands of adventurers who are equally skilled if not more so. Why her in particular?"

With the grand duchess also voicing the question, a low murmur of assent passed through the noble ranks. Clearly, it was a question they would all like to see answered. Even King Edelin leaned a little closer to listen, the man evidently quite amused by everything at the proceedings.

The inquisitors traded a look before shaking their heads. Whatever understanding they came to made Sophie nervous.

"Unfortunately, we are not at liberty to reveal such matters." Janos began, the man's outright refusal eliciting another wave of commotion, "If it is any reassurance, to aid the saints and to an extent, Lady Kastiane here, is an order given to us by the Orator of the Stellar Observatory himself." He continued.

"Of course it's the orator and his grubby little fingers." Someone hissed.

"Bah, preposterous, they don't even know themselves." Another murmured.

"Honored members of the nobility and Carradorian court, please. While it is true that the methods of the Observatory are inscrutable to those outside its walls, even ourselves. We must have faith in their divinations and astrological methods. For it is in them in which we are granted a glimpse of the Goddess's plans."

Another ground of grumbling, though Sophie suspected none of the nobles would outright voice their dissent. Not against Janos's claims of the Goddess anyways. The senior inquisitor then shot Mila a look, the younger one's face almost immediately twisting into a scowl of sorts. She then took up her mantle and cleared her throat, garnering the room's attention.

"My name is Lyudmila. I presume that most of you are well informed enough to know that I stand here today as one of the Astralian faith's youngest officers who has taken up their posts in an official manner." Mila announced herself.

Based on the scoffs that escaped from a few of the nobles, they were more than aware of her as well.

"A rocky career, to be certain." A younger noble scoffed.

"Quite." Mila's scowl deepened but took the jab in stride, "I was the youngest to take up my duties, the youngest to be suspended, and reinstated. All within one year. Rocky indeed. But also that my faith has carried me through and that the Goddess guides me even now to carry on with my duties."

The noble leaned back into his seat and tutted, having found no immediate rebuttal to the inquisitor.

"Whatever the case, it is by the Orator's orders and the Goddess's will that I will serve as monitor to Lady Kastiane and as her ally against the dark." Mila declared.

"Bah, a child watching over a child. Anointed or appointed, it matters little. How can we truly hold our faiths and beliefs onto a child like you? No offense, Lady Lyudmila. But surely if she was that important, then it would make more sense to have more senior officers in charge of this matter, no?" A noblewoman interjected.

Janos bit his lip and simply bade for Mila to continue.

"Perhaps, my lady. But the faith has chosen me for this task, and I will see it done." She declared with a bit more conviction in her voice, "And I would not presume to understand the intricacies of the world at my age, my lady. But I will vouch for her, for what it's worth."

Mila's scowl softened for a moment and she turned to glance at Sophie. Sophie gently smiled back in thanks. Below her, Ary stealthily squeezed her hand, an additional note of comfort.

"Ridiculous."

"How pointless."

Two of the nobles grumbled under their breaths.

"Might I add a point of inquiry, fellow members of the council and guests?" A middle aged lord spoke up. His slick back hair and bear-like crest on his shoulders, Sophie sucked in a small breath, Grand Duke Allrick, doesn't look as old as I thought he would be.

King Edelin did not speak but merely waved his hand, the Grand Duke bowing respectfully in turn.

"Honored members of the council, I believe some of us already privy to such knowledge, but I wish to emphasize a point which the astral speaker raised. That in which the astral speaker mentioned a name in reference to the person in question, Lady Kastiane." Allrick gestured towards Sophie, "It is my assumption that none of us here are aware of issuing any allowances for the formation of a new noble house by that namesake."

A round of nods and a few murmurs of agreement passed among the nobles. Amongst them all, only the king and two of his council remained silent. One she recognized with a small level of relief at his silence. Grand Duke Walden, I guess he still respects the Rosengarts. The other being the Lord Allrick himself, the man looking almost annoyed at the interruption to his speech.

"If you don't mind me addressing this directly then." Lord Allrick raised his voice to seize back the momentum, "Lady Sophie. Is that true? That you have given yourself a noble house?" The man stared directly at her.

Alright, fuck. She let out a breath and nervously licked her lip, guess I'm up.

With measured reluctance, she broke away from Ary's side and shuffled closer towards where Eva and Mila had spoken when pontificating. Here goes nothing. Goddess guide us forward.

"Good morning, members of the council…" Sophie found herself almost surprised by the sound of her own voice, "To uhh, answer your question. No, I did not give myself a noble title. Only I stumbled across it while lost in prayer. It is but my family name." She answered.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Can't tell them about… much of anything else. Damn, makes me sound a little-

"Pardon my interruption, but did you say, while lost in prayer? As in something akin to vision?" Lord Allrick queried incredulously.

"Yes, sir." I knew it. I do sound insane.

"A vision? So not only are we considering the case of a servant who has blatantly aggrieved the state, but a loon to boot? Stars help us." A younger noble guffawed.

"Madness." Lord Adallholm shook his head.

Even the king appeared a touch concerned by her statement. Though in stark contrast to the nobles, Ary and the others were stifling a few giggles. Eva just nodded, urging her to continue. Stars above, I'm going to make a fool out of myself. 'Just be direct', pah, easier said than done.

"If I might add something?" Sophie asked a question.

"By all means." Allrick rolled his eyes, almost like someone whose expectations had been completely thrown into the trash.

Sophie sighed in relief. A chance. Now it's time to mix some things together.

"Thank you, Milord. I know it sounds less than… normal. But it came to me during a delve into a cursed ruin Myndiri ruin." She shot Sophia a glance, her counterpart just shrugging.

Do you care at all? She asked.

It's your story. Sophia dismissed her. I'll play along with whatever bullshit you come up with.

Rude. She shot back.

"I had to cut through a cult performing some sort of ritual there. When trying to disrupt it, I accidentally attuned to the magical formations there. It was in those strange moments that I… had a vision. Saw a strange… version of myself. And of the truth."

Someone else scoffed.

"It was after I made myself known that I then ventured into an old dwarven ruin, deep below the earth. There, in a city overrun by the Echoes, I found a relic called the forge of creation. In a desperate attempt to escape the creatures of the shadows, I found a kindred soul and someone who, as you might have noticed, looks remarkably like me." Sophie pointed towards Sophia, "My twin, Sophia Kastiane."

A murmur rose up in the noble ranks.

"You there, is what she says true? And Lady Falkenwrath, is there no glamour or magic at work here?" The younger noble raised his voice.

"She is correct." Sophia answered curtly.

Grand Duchess Falkenwrath knitted her brows together before scowling, "It appears not. Though I would recommend another mage attempt the investigation as well."

"Then we should halt these proceedings until such is available to us. This farce of an examination is a stain on the honor of this kingdom and-"

"Noted. Tender a complaint if you must. Lady Kastiane, continue." King Edelin broke his silence and interrupted the man before gesturing for her to go on.

With dissent abruptly silenced, Sophie stammered for a little before she found her footing. She had been caught off guard by how forceful the grand duke was. Expecting that perhaps he would've let the others cut into her points before carrying on.

"Erm… thanks. Right. After I found her and concluded my expeditions into the Deep, I participated in the siege of a dwarven city. For which the people of Kar Druzara awarded me the title of stonefriend."

"I can confirm, I was there." Ary quietly interjected before wilting under the nobility's glare at the interruption, "Sorry."

"Stonefriend?" Lord Allrick pushed past the comment.

"Friends of the stone, a title to honor those who stood alongside them against the darkness."

A few murmurs.

"And then?"

"Then I returned to Arteria to recuperate. During break, I chanced upon an opportunity to visit Ostia. There, I found the second proof of my existence. My sister Elaria Kastiane."

The bard did not miss her cue and dramatically bowed with a small flourish.

"Elaria Kastiane. Performer, singer, and entertainer of princes and commonfolk alike. At your service." The girl cheerily introduced herself.

"Oh my, and the family expands with a charlatan to boot." An older noble mused out loud.

"Please, nothing so grand, my lord." Elaria immediately countered, her smile as wide as ever like a musician fielding a compliment, "I merely perform for a living, that is all. And don't think I haven't noticed your looks of curiosity, the lovely lady here is Raylani Nelass, my assistant." Elaria bowed dramatically, "As one might be able to ah… discern from a glance, she is indeed quite peculiar."

The nobles kept their comments mostly to themselves this time, and Sophie felt almost a flicker of frustration bubble up within her. By pure appearance alone, Raylani's cool demeanor and alien looking form seemed to have automatically helped her garner a modicum of respect or at least silent judgement from the gathered lords. None of the barbed insults and outright ridicule despite also being an elf. But then again, Sophie reasoned that it was because Raylani was only tagging along and not after anything. Thus the council saw no harm or problem with her presence, save perhaps for whatever idle curiosity they might have.

"Enough of this." A voice boomed from one side of the table.

An older looking man glared at not just Sophie and Elaria, but at the councilors too.

"We have been dancing around the main issue for long enough, after all, that is why we are gathered here, is it not?" He growled.

With his commanding tone and the others identified, Sophie could now properly gauge Grand Duke Platts and his reaction. To no surprise, it appeared to be veering decidedly in the negative. Even more so when he glared at her without a hint of emotion in his eyes.

"Let us address the main matter then. Do we see Lady Kastiane and her companions as threats?" He demanded.

"We haven't been formally acquainted with the other three yet to pass our judgement." Lord Allrick rebuffed him.

"One, I believe we all should know." He glowered, before extending a surprisingly gentle if still taciturn nod of politeness towards Lucinia, the girl replying in kind.

"The disgraced princess of Traxia. At the heart of Carrador. How our ancestors would weep." Lord Adallholm rolled his eyes.

Lucinia winced but remained silent.

"And you?" He rounded towards Hanabi.

Without fail, the girl just half bowed before sighing out loud, much to the council's consternation.

"Hanabi Kimura. Former saintess. The church was too restrictive so I left. Joined up with Sophie. Figured I might as well do some good. Guess that must've made the church happy anyways, me being so close and within monitoring distance."

"And do you plan to cause trouble in Carrador?"

"No. At least not unless Sophie or the others get caught up in something." She answered honestly.

The two glared at each other for a moment until Lord Platts grunted and jotted something down.

"Good enough. And-"

"Hold on, honorable duke. Is this not insufficient? You've barely asked her anything beyond the utterly obvious." Allrick interrupted with a protest, "It is not proper procedure and definitely not a proper examination."

"I have a point to this, Lord Allrick." Platts grumbled before turning to glance at the king.

King Edelin gestured for him to go ahead.

"Thank you, my lord." Platts lowered his head in reverence before facing Sigrid, "As I was going to ask before the interruption. You have been especially silent. Why? And who are you?"

Sigrid let out a soft trill, the sudden melodic noise giving even the weary lord some pause as he tried to comprehend it. But it bought enough time for Sophie to quickly jump in without being too awkward or confrontational.

"That's Sigrid, honored lord." Sophie hurriedly before the man could push past her, "She's a mute. She's a part of my party too."

The man glared at her for a moment before another grunt escaped from him.Then, to Sophie's shock, his frown and grizzled expression softened.

"And who might you be?" His voice lost its edge as he addressed the final member of her team.

"Aryana, sir. Also with Sophie's team." The redhead quietly replied.

He nodded sagely, not even bothering to ask any follow up question

In the silence that followed, the awkward pause led to a bout of antsy murmuring break out amongst the other councilors.

"I assume there was a point to that, Duke Platts?" Lord Adallholm finally threw the question that plagued the council's mind to the floor.

The Grand Duke hummed and nodded, "Yes, of course. Tell me, what do we see here? A cripple? A mute? And an outlander? Add a bard, and exile, another warrior and an assistant?"

"That is who is presented to us, yes."

"The linking thread that brought them together was Lady Kastiane. Loyalty to her. And so now I ask you, girl, three things." He stood up and leaned towards her.

"O-oh, of course, sir." She mumbled, caught off guard by the abrupt shift.

"Do you trust your comrades?" Huh?

"I… yes? Without a doubt." She clarified after a moment.

"And would they act against your interest? Or you theirs?"

Sophie frowned, "No?"

"Hmpf. Finally, what is it that you actually seek from this council, Lady Kastiane? I do not see how someone so disconnected from Carradorian society and now had taken up how own upstart noble house would have anything to offer us that would get you what you want. So what do you want?"

"What do I want?"

"Yes. Are you deaf?"

Sophie winced at the harshness in his voice, "No sir."

He looked at her expectantly, "Because if you're looking to return to Lady Rosengart's side as a member of Carradorian society. My verdict would be no. In fact, by your deeds, heroic or otherwise, you have helped everyone but the people of this land. As such, by actions alone, I have to conclude that it would serve little purpose in bringing you into the Carradorian fold. Would you disagree?"

Sophie swallowed and snuck a glance at Eva. The girl bobbed her head, Sophie just needed to be smart about this. The offer was made and rejected, and they now expected a debate. But she had none to give, nor did she need to.

"I would not disagree. But instead, I simply seek to be allowed access and the right of movement across Carradorian territory as other adventuring parties would also have been granted. Furthermore, to still be able to serve by Lady Rosengart's side even without being a citizen, sir."

His hostility was dialed back a little, a more pensive expression overtaking him, "Is that it then? No requests or desire to address slights?"

"No sir."

"Very good." He drummed his fingers on the table, "But I would be remiss to remind you that you are still viewed as a traitor and must answer to the king and court properly before such a blotch on your record can be expunged."

"I understand."

"Fine." He bellowed, "Then House Platts sees no issue with removing any restriction to travel in regards to Miss Kastiane. Provided that she addresses any lingering concerns within the court of nobles tomorrow."

Sophie's eyes widened. Huh? Is he fine with me? I swear the others made it sound like he'd be the one with the most issue with me.

"Lord Platts?" Allrick exclaimed with an equal amount of shock, "Weren't you against her reinstatement before?"

"I was."

"Then…"

"She does not want to be reinstated. Therefore that is a non-issue. And she won't cause trouble. Consider it an old soldier's intuition."

The minister of law and justice just gawked at his colleague. His surprise was echoed by most other members of the council as they seemed to be dumbfounded by the minister of war.

"In that case, House Walden seconds the opinion of House Platts." Lord Walden declared.

With his vote, two of the more minor lords declared for her as well. At a loss for words, Duchess Falkenwrath and Duke Allrick engaged in a silent debate between themselves. Only when the duke let out a sigh did the two return their attention to the council.

"House Falkenwrath concurs." The duchess answered first.

"House Allrick… as well." Lord Allrick followed, "If House Platts believes in his judgement. And that she does not desire legal status as a Carradorian, then I suppose there is no issue."

Only two held out, Lord Adallholm and the other younger noble, both of them simply refused to comment when the attention landed on them.

With a hearty clap, the most commanding sound of all called for the room's attention.

"I, King Edelin of Carrador. Steward of Neun Carad and its people, hereby declare, with the majority approval of the inner council. The matter of Sophie Kastiane is hereby to be moved to the court of nobles. And for our verdict to be announced there as well." The king declared.

He gazed over the lords and the guests one last time. With a swift motion, he waved his hand and the guards by the door pushed them open.

"Let this meeting be adjourned. And the matter be considered resolved. Welcome back, Lady Rosengart. And welcome to Carrador for the rest of you."

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