Chapter 18: Stories

As promised, the next day Iris went to the mage's tower and was pleasantly surprised that Ray had indeed gathered some impressive books about both advanced and fundamentals in creating magic spells. There were some about the legends of the old gods, but it presented little interest to her right then.

Ray wanted to start with the teaching, but she just grabbed some books, one about chemistry and one about the basics of magic and left, promising she would return when she finished those. She felt a little ashamed about the events on the day before when she almost made a fool of herself when trying to walk outside with paint on her face. But mostly she felt dejected that she couldn't start using her power at once. And that feeling was amplified when the mage declared that he did not find any new element she can prove.

When she arrived in the main hall, the presence of Sir Marco there surprised her.

"I promised to serve you, my lady and to protect you. And I want to keep that promise."

"There is no need to protect me inside the castle, sir. But I appreciate your intention."

The knight didn't look offended by her words, but a little dispirited when he bowed deeply.

"If there is ever a need for my services, Your Grace just has to call for me."

"There might be a need, sir. I always wondered about my husband's deed in the Black Wood. I only heard rumours that did not satisfy my curiosity. If you'd like to take a walk with me, I'd be very grateful."

Sir Marco's face lit up in anticipation and walked gladly with her around the inside garden.

"Everything started with the death of old lord Walter. Not long after it, my lord assembled his forces and marched to the Black Wood. Only the best and most experienced fighters were chosen to go. I wasn't one of them. But my lord left me and others behind to guard his castle and so we did.

We waited for one long year for him to come back, never losing hope and praying to the Father to keep him strong and to the Mother to have mercy on him. We were scared they might never come back. Now it is known to everybody that Lord Walter can use spirit during fight. He is renowned as one of the most powerful knights. Then, however, his strength was less known even to us, his people.

I myself saw him only once or twice training as a child and he did not seem to possess the spirit ability then. It probably awakened after coming from the forest or when he was there. I witnessed it only once and it was incredible. He could extend his spirit into his blade, making it jet black and cut through everything."

"How can he use spirit, Sir Marco?"

"I beg your pardon, my lady, I do not know."

"How did you know he used it that time?"

"Well, the power he had in his sword was greater than everyone else's. And… it had an eerie glow."

"An eerie glow? Could it be some kind of magic?"

"There are those who believe spirit and magic to be similar."

If they were similar, it probably meant Benjamin also had the blood of magic. She had to ask Ray next time if those were similar in any way.

"Are there others who can use spirit, sir?"

" Only a few, my lady. But only two are known to be more powerful than our lord, the second prince and the beast lord."

It was common knowledge Alwyn could use spirit, but she never knew he was that powerful. He manifested it much earlier than the rest as well. That was the power many people supported him for. But she never knew Lord Rolfe was a spirit user as well.

"Lord Rolfe?"

"Yes, my lady. He is the most powerful knight in the land, maybe even the most powerful person. Not only does he have an impressive spirit, but his ancient sword helps him channel it much better than usual swords."

"Is it made of black steel?" Iris asked, remembering how he went north to ask Lady Rayla permission to mine the ore.

"Precisely. But it is pure black steel, made with the help of magic, centuries ago. Now all the black steel that is mined contains impurities. It's still effective, but not to the same degree."

Probably Benjamin did not know this about the black steel. If he had known, he wouldn't have mocked Lord Rolfe that day. Iris would have to inform him about it.

"But how do you know such a thing about Lord Rolfe, sir. I heard he rarely leaves his territory."

"A year ago there was a tournament in the capital to celebrate the 24th birthday of the first prince, my lady."

"Oh, yes. I remember it, but I don't think I was present during the competition."

"Maybe because my lord did not fight in it?"

The knight was right, Benjamin did not take part in it, but was also at the capital. That time she arrived late due to her carriage breaking down on the way there, so she missed almost the whole thing. She arrived in time for the final day of the tournament, but he invited her to a promenade through the royal gardens which she gladly accepted. Of course, all fights were gone from her mind then.

"Did he win then?"

"Not only did he win, he obliterated all his opponents. I had never seen something like that before. After the first few rounds, many just gave up."

"What about prince Alwyn? Was he not able to win?"

"Even the second prince was helpless in front of the beast lord's power."

"Then it was clearly unfair to not lend Benjamin a helping hand when he went into the Black Wood. Many more people might have returned."

"Your Grace is right. With his spirit and his sword, he might have been able to destroy the monsters there much faster. But his people claimed their lord was away far east to keep monsters at bay there."

"What lies east of his territory?"

"Beyond his border is the land of the monsters. The only part of the continent that was not yet cleaned."

"Was there some kind of invasion then? Was that the reason Lord Rolfe didn't help my husband?"

"I might have been, my lady. The beast lord is said to often warn people of the monsters there, that they are gathering or preparing something. But they are mindless creatures and nothing from what he spoke of happened."

If that was true, the monsters gathering there would become very dangerous for the closest villages. Once again there were events that Iris not only knew little of but could not impact at all. Not yet anyway. There was a change she might help. Her heart filled with a little joy at the thought that she might be able to show Benjamin what she could do, if she would ever be able to find her affinity.

Benjamin… She missed him dearly and hoped he missed her as well. The months prior to his departure were ones of the loneliest she ever had but were nothing compared to now. There was still hope that they would soon be together again, and he'll be free of his duties at least long enough to spend some time together.

"I wish my lord husband will return soon."

"Soon it will be spring, my lady, and my lord will come back. It won't take long."

"Of course, Sir Marco, thank you for your words."

She went back to her work and spent the following days in her study, reading the chemistry book Ray gave her and doing her duty as the lady of the castle. When the snow started to melt and the swallows started to sing their joyful melodies, news that Lord Walter was approaching was roaring through the castle.

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