Yuart Castle*

Emery was going about his daily business filling out paperwork for an upcoming festival. It was the festival to announce the next Lord of Yuart most people already knew it was Yuuta. It’s mostly a formality but it had to be done. While mindlessly signing his name authorizing random things for the festival his advisor knocked on the door and handed him a small letter with Yuuta’s name on it.

After quickly reading it his face contorted into anger as he started barking orders at his advisor. " I want extra guards in the castles at all times triple the guards on Milly and Ria we have reliable information something's coming. Send out letters to the Lords on this list tell them to prepare their armies And have them on stand by to march."

At the same time, a young maid walked into Milly's room where her and Ria where sitting at the desk. Ria was sounding out words while Milly helped.

"My lady you have a letter from Yuuta." Ria flashed a bright smile ripping the letter open and quietly reading the letter to herself. She mentally congratulated herself for being able to read it without help.

Her smile quickly faded and was replaced by a look of worry and sadness. Milly could read Ria like a book by this point they nearly spent every day together.

"What's wrong Ria what did my dumb brother do this time." Ria tried to hide her worry and gave her a warm smile. "It's nothing he is going to be gone longer than expected so I'm just a little worried. I wonder what's keeping him. Becoming a Lord was supposed to keep him at home more but it seems it was a false promise." She really didn't mean to be so bitchy but her worry was quickly mixing into anxiety and anger at what he was doing.

"It's ok Ria big brother is super strong he will be back before you know it. Let's just focus on your studies so you can show off when he gets back." Ria tried her best to push her emotions to the back of her head but of course, wasn't very successful.

Ria didn't really like to be in the castle without him everybody was nice an courteous but besides Milly and Emery, she could tell most of them didn't like her. Everything had a double meaning like she was a gold digger or how she was a half breed who didn't deserve to be the future Lady of Yuart. It didn't get to her most days she used to be a slave it took a lot to get under her skin but when Yuuta was gone it out her on edge.

A small smile formed on her lips thinking about how many people he's fired from the castle when he caught word of what they were doing to her. Emery almost had a meltdown when he woke up one morning and half his castle staff had been fired. Without Yuuta here she felt more vulnerable like she was alone Milly made it better but it wasn’t the same. The rest of the day went by slowly Milly decided to sleep with her since Yuuta wasn't around. Ria loves how attached Milly has become to her she never had a sister before so she spoiled Milly any chance she could including cuddling up to her.

In the late hours of the night, Emery was busy writing a letter to be sent to 12 out of 25 lords of Hartford. They were all on his side and ready to carry his flag into battle. For the past 10 years, he's been quietly planning the overthrow of the Hartford royal family. It seemed that time was coming sooner rather than later and without Yuuta here he was getting nervous. Yuuta was his ace in the hole his trump card without him his plan needed some significant tweaking. Emery hoped he could wait till he got back but when it came to Holger Emery’s temper was something that couldn't be tamed he was the person responsible for the death of his late father and wife. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of innocent people who were stepping stones for his empire. There was no line he wouldn't cross putting whole Races of people into slavery, Killing women and children, even blackmailing other nobles to line his pockets. He claimed it's donations to the church but we all know what that means.

Most lords have long been looking forward to his dethroning. Except for those lords who have had their lips surgically attached to his asshole. They will back him mostly because of the bribes and extra land for their territories but Holger covers it up by getting the corrupt church to say its Gods will. Just thinking about it made his anger flare up.

The king had offered the same kind of perks to him 10 years ago. But for all of Emery's faults, he would never become a corrupt noble who turned his back on his people. After declining the king he did something stupid he told the king he was going to expose him and the church for what they really were. As you can imagine the king took drastic measures that resulted in his father the old Lord of Yuart executed for treason and his wife well he never actually found out what happened to his beloved Milsondra.

After those events he kept quiet fearing what the king would do to his daughter. So he set a secret plan into motion one that if goes right will be successful with no war or casualties. If it goes bad it will be a civil war that might destroy the kingdom. He was hoping for the former but he would take either over letting things stay the way they were. By the time he finished his work, it was past midnight. He quietly prayed that Yuuta could make it in time having somebody so powerful on his side could make a world of difference.

*************************************************

Gildi met up with Yuuta outside the mages guild. She hadn’t realized it but it was late into the knight already.before she left Avenci handed her a book telling her to give it to Yuuta for her.

“Hey it’s late and I’m hungry let's go to a cafe before we leave.” Gildi made the suggestion timidly. Yuuta was going to decline before he felt his stomach rumble.

“Fine but let’s make it quick I want to fly through the night and all day tomorrow,” Yuuta grumbled And Gildi smiled softly grabbing his arm pulling him towards her favorite cafe in the whole city.

After a small walk, they made their way to a small hole in the wall shop. You would almost miss it if you didn’t know it was there. Gildi led him inside the shop was small only having 4 tables it was completely empty.

“I love this place it’s quiet and the regulars never give me a hard time. It’s hard to go anywhere when you’re an S class adventurer. Not to mention it’s open all night.” She took a seat in the only booth in the cafe.

“Tell me about it I just got promoted to A class and I’m already getting more attention then I want. Not to mention I can’t leave the castle in Yuart without guards now that I’m a Lord.” Gildi let out a giggle hearing about his predicament.

“Get used to it. It’s only going to get worse soon nobles from Hartford and other countries will want to hire you.” Yuuta just groaned at the thought.

“By the way Gildi we need to talk about keeping secrets. Mostly about how you don’t know how to keep them.” Gildi went red realizing what happened.

“You have to understand Yuuta she knew I was hiding something the minute I came back. She literally tortured it out of me. It’s not an excuse but Avenci is the last person to tell your secret she said she already knew you weren’t human. I betrayed your trust I’m weak I’m sorry......”

Yuuta didn’t say anything just giving her the disappointed parent look. Gildi was braking under the pressure. “ What can I get you two?” Gildi almost jumped out of her seat when the waiter came by to get their orders. She ordered a coffee and a donut. Yuuta got the same.

He kept quiet still staring her down making her sweat. “ I’m sorry....I’m sorry....I’m sorry.”

Yuuta busted out laughing he couldn’t help himself.

“It’s fine Gildi I’m already over it as long as you don’t tell anyone else.”

“Oh my god, Yuuta I was literally about to pee myself. I thought you were seriously pissed.” She punched him in the arm as they both started laughing.

“I almost forgot Avenci told me to give this to you it’s a book on space magic.” Yuuta’s eyes lit up the castle in Yuart didn’t have a single book on Space magic and the few people who could use it where to busy to teach him.

He grabbed the book and quickly started reading it. “Can you use space magic Gildi?”

She gave a small nod. “ I can but my affinity for it is not great the most I can do is make a small pocket dimension.” She demonstrated by reaching her hand into an invincible portal and pulling out her staff. It looked like a magic trick.

After reading over the book and eating his donut he decided to give it a try. Pulling a silver coin out of his pocket he focused his magic and just like using elemental magic he succeeded easily. The small portal slowly expanded until it was door sized.

Gildi looked in shock as he walked through the portal. Yuuta stepped through the portal on the other side was plain white room almost identical to the one he met god in. Gildi followed behind him and hopped through the portal.

“Damn Yuuta you created a room in its own dimension without even trying.” Yuuta just shrugged his shoulders he was used to being above average on most things. Stepping back into the cafe the waiter had a look of pure shock on his face. Yuuta threw him a gold coin as a tip and that kept him from bothering two.

Yuuta sat down in the booth and quickly opened his book and looked up the gate spell. It was a staple spell in any magic world the ability to teleport to anywhere you’ve been before. Gildi still a little disoriented looked over his shoulder and saw the spell he was looking at.

“The gate spell huh. There’s only a handful of magicians who can use that spell. The few that can use the spell can only open it enough to fit letters and small objects through it. But I’m not going to be surprised when you can do it though.”

Yuuta focused hard on his mana picturing his bedroom in Yuart. “GATE” and just like that a door sized portal opened on the other side his bedroom in Yuart.

“Well, that was easier than expected. Wait here for a while Gildi I’ll be back in an hour or so. Gildi quickly objected.

“I’ll go with you I don’t feel like sitting alone.” She grabbed his arm pushing her chest against him.