“I play to win and if it looks like I've lost, it's only because it's not over yet.”

- Kiera Dellacroix, Engravings of Wraith

As they had sat together and waited for Lieseleta- Mireille had opened the note.

“Did we not agree to do that after we got to the townhouse?” Alea asked exasperatedly.

“But it was so mysterious and interesting. I couldn’t well wait on that could I?” Mireille protested.

“How do they know about Vanessa?” asked Alyssa concernedly.

“They write that they used a diviner.” Mireille read a passage again.

“Give that to me please.” Alyssa stretched out her hand.

‘To the household of the von Graufurts residing in Kronenburg.

We know this might be presumptuous and we apologize if anything this letter contains gives offense but it came to our attention that there is possible common ground with an acquaintance of yours. Our diviners found her name to be Vanessa as you know her. She is in conflict with certain elements of crime in this fair city and we would be able and willing to assist. Our wish is for a fruitful partnership. The person leading said elements in question, a Vadislav Orpen has been a thorn in our side and hindered our peaceful expansion into the market of Kronenburg. So if you consider this to be of relevance for your future plans we would be happy to arrange a meeting. Simply contact Iseret Sekesh and she will do the rest.

In the hopes of a beneficial association, we remain,

Kadira of Sur-Kesh’

After Alea had finished reading the letter aloud she looked at her friends. “We have to talk to Vanessa before everything else.”

“Good thing we are set to meet her this evening.” Alyssa nodded.

“They have a lot of information. Is Vanessa that big a deal for a city of that size?” Mireille asked.

“Don't underestimate her. I have had dealings with some sorcerers and she is knowledgeable and powerful.” Alea cautioned. “Her undead nature makes her resilient far beyond a mere human. You might believe her to be weaker than she is.”

“And you are an expert on vampires, why?” Mireille looked at Alea questioningly.

“I looked it up of course. Have you not been to the library already?”

“What library?”

“I will show you when we are back at the academy.” Alea sighed. “Vampires are classified as a threat needing military intervention and at least warmage support.”

“There is a classification like that?” Alyssa asked interested.

“Yes, we are an organized country.” Alea nodded.

They ate from the food that had been brought up to their room and talked. After nearly an hour Lieseleta entered. She looked out of breath.

“I hope you already ate and did not wait for me?”

“Thank you for warning us, and no we did not wait!” Mireille exclaimed cheerfully.

The princess grinned at that.

“Did you get to eat? Otherwise, they could make some more or heat the soup. Wait.” Alea looked at her friend and brought her hands together before gesturing and incanting a short spell. A red glow shone inside the liquid and then the soup began to emit fresh steam and some bubbles rose to the surface. “Try it now. It should not be too hot!” A tiny smile spread on her lips.

Lieseleta laughed. “I can trust you to cheer me up when I get too depressed!” Then she reached for the soup.

“Your Highness, please let me.” Jera intervened and looked faintly exasperated. She spoke a short spell and a wave of sigils and greenish light radiated from her open palm. “No poison that I can detect. It should be safe to eat.” She stood back after that.

The princess’ mood dampened at that but then she shook herself and regained a bit of her cheer as she began to eat. “Mh. That is the reason I come here as often as I can. The chef was originally employed in the palace but this and that lead to him no longer being welcome there. But his ability was certainly not the cause.”

“What was the reason if I may ask?” Alyssa looked curious.

“He did not serve lemon custard for the birthday celebration of the first prince. And yes that was the primary reason, that and he had made an enemy of the head steward. Palace politics.” She pursed her mouth in distaste.

Jera looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

Lieseleta pretended not to see anything which caused her bodyguard to sigh.

“And? Did everything go okay?” Alea asked.

“Mostly. I think. I will have to investigate some things.” Lieseleta looked pensive.

“I…” she looked around, “...we would help when there is need.”

Mireille and Alyssa nodded encouragingly.

“I will ask when necessary. Thank you.”

Asandria tilted her head from side to side. “On the one hand it is good to make friends in high places, on the other, the princess is the least powerful royal and has her brother as an enemy. We don’t know enough about the king and the first prince. Be careful.’

After eating dessert the group split up, with the princess and her guards going back to the academy and the trio of Alea, Alyssa, and Mireille driving back to the townhouse with Adam.

As they entered the inner courtyard and exited the carriage Adam spoke up. “Someone tried to bribe me. I tried to play along but I fear my days of acting on the big stage are over. He saw through my attempt to seem interested and left.”

“He?” Alea questioned.

“It was a young man in his early twenties with brown hair tied in a ponytail. Tanned. Looked like a worker. Wore reasonable clothes for visiting an expensive inn but I don’t think they were his.”

“Thank you for telling us.”

“Naturally. The madam saved my hide and I am quite attached to it.” He laughed coarsely then he flicked the reins and the horses pulled the carriage towards the stable.

“Mh. The plot thickens.” Mireille stretched. “This whole thing comes across like a play enacted on market day.”

“Those actors have to have got their inspiration from somewhere.” Alyssa shrugged. “Thankfully Adam is not easily moved to betray your grandmother.”

“I never knew she had such interesting acquaintances.” Alea looked a bit troubled.

“I could do with a nap.” Mireille looked cheerful.

“We've still got homework,” Alyssa countered and Mireille's face fell. Seeing that, the white-haired girl hugged her spontaneously and continued. “Don't be sad, I will help you and we will probably get some cookies and tea from the kitchen if we ask nicely.”

Alea nodded and adjusted her blindfold.

A few hours later.

“I never would have thought that I would welcome Vanessa’s training! I will never learn that thing with the numbers and the bar!”

“You mean fractional calculation.” Alea corrected her.

“Aaaah.”

“Did I come at an inconvenient time?” Vanessa stood behind them and looked at the formula. “Mathematics is something where you probably have equal or even more advanced knowledge compared to the old empire.”

“You will give me a heart attack one of these days. Did you wait for a good cue for your entrance or was that a coincidence. Be honest!” Mireille held her chest.

Vanessa smiled and exposed elongated canines. Her triangular face was otherwise impassive. “What do you think?”

“Good to see you are well.” Alyssa smiled at the vampire.

Asandria gave an elegant bow and smiled. Cyrus clicked his teeth and gave a low screech.

“Good evening. I would offer food or drink but...you know. Please pretend I did that.” Alea put the spider on the table next to her calculations.

“You have always been more than hospitable. If all humans I have known had your manners my evaluation of humanity would be quite positive indeed.”

“We got some strange letter in the market.” Mireille searched her pockets and then put a slightly crumpled note on the table.

“The sigil seems Keshian.” Vanessa inspected the letter and cast a spell then nodded. “There was a simple spell anchored in the seal that would have destroyed the letter had not you, Alea or Alyssa opened it. It is interesting how they could attune it so well, but that is something for later. Let's have a look.” She read the letter.

“Mh. The folk of Sur-Kesh are known to me since my years as a princess in the orchid palace. They are cold-blooded not only in a physiological sense and their practice of slavery...I always found it a bit repulsive even as I was not engaged enough to do something about it or even protest their conduct. But...I think that is a highly interesting offer.”

“Do you think they mean it? And how did they even find out that we are in contact with you? That could lead to problems down the line.” Alyssa worriedly questioned.

“You are not wrong. I think that is one part of their plan. They offer cooperation and in the same breath subtly threaten with their knowledge of our affairs. That fits with what I know, or knew of them.” The small girl with blue-white hair paced along the table. “I am inclined to accept their invitation. Knowing more is always better than knowing less.”

She straightened and regarded Alyssa and Mireille. “Would you please relay my wish to have that meeting? You two can decide if you want to be present- I think I should go alone, but as it concerns us all I leave the final decision up to you. Alea should not attend, that makes our connection a bit more ambiguous.”

“I would like to see them.” Mireille spread her arms. “A clandestine meeting with snake-people. Wouldnt want to miss that! Nirileth would forsake me if I did not at least attempt to be there.”

Vanessa looked at Alyssa who said. “Do you think I am ready for something like that? I don’t want to let Mireille go alone. I don’t worry quite as much about you, sorry.” She blushed.

Vanessa chuckled. “I would be offended if you did.”

“That does not mean I don’t worry at all!”

“I know. So you two will come with me. Then let me teach you and hopefully, some of my words will stick.” She looked at Mireille as she said that.

“I am all ears” Mireille had an earnest expression.

"First I would like Alyssa to train with the orb she has bought. You did buy it, didn't you?"

"Yes, I have it right here." Alyssa opened the chest and retrieved the cloudy crystal orb.

"It will work like a reservoir that takes the void energies you produce and then lets you manipulate that energy outside your body which will protect you from its negative effects. But it will take some getting used to and you would need to fill this orb with power before it can be used. That power dissipates relatively quickly, so no storing it beforehand. Thankfully it seems to be a decent piece of craftsmanship and should enhance your control."

Vanessa showed her the essentials of Shadestep - a spell that shifted the user's location to a nearby shadow, with practice even a shadow that was selected and not a random one. It should enable the caster to dodge with much greater facility.

Mireille was drilled in the use of her haste spell and the beginnings of Lightning Arsenal a variation of the Lightning Bolt that would enable her to use weapons made of elemental energy, at the moment all she could do was charge a weapon she already possessed.

Sometime after the middle of the night, they finally fell into the large bed, completely exhausted.

Vanessa looked at them, pale face shining in the light of the lost eye. Then there was a slowly expanding cloud of mist, then nothing.