The duke's entourage made the slow climb up the mountain path on horseback. Their small group rode in silence, preferring not to bring any unwanted attention to themselves. The tranquil mood is only disturbed by the sound of their cloaks being whipped around by the cool mountain wind, or the clinking noise from their metal armor. Ariellia is at the center of the formation, guarded on all sides while riding beside David. In such close proximity, holding a conversation with the duke is unavoidable. She feels nervous just thinking about it, a cold sweat slides down her brow.
"Do you remember the last time I brought you here. You were ten then and so excited to see the skybridges?"
'Nope, can't remember something I didn't do.' Ariellia can only respond with a sheepish smile, she desperately hopes he will stop mentioning the past, but the duke continues.
"Do you remember you were so scared the first night we camped out at the singing pine grove?" There's a fond look on his face as he gazes off towards the mountain peak, full of tall unusual white pine trees.
"Do you remember what you told me then about the singing trees?"
"I-" She doesn't even know what to say, David's eager encouraging eyes are only making her feel worse. She's extremely grateful to see the scouts rush back at full speed.
"My lord! Monsters spotted up ahead!"
The calm mood changes with their timely interruption, David's eyes harden in an instant because of the news. She can see it as his switch flips, he goes from a pampering father to strict Lord in seconds, rushing to the front of the group with his crystal spear by his side. "Stay in formation! Lancers with me, archers protect the rear! Pierre, what manner of beast are we dealing with?"
"Mountain trolls and Jackals, m' lord" the scout replies.
'Should have expected as much, it's the same in the game too. This mountain should be crawling with them. I'm actually surprised they left us alone for so long without ambushing us.' Ariellia isn't surprised by the sudden turn of events. It's her first time riding a horse so she's afraid to reach for her staff and grimoire. If her hands are full, who will hold the reins?
'Do not fret master, I am familiar with battle. I won't lose my way so you can just focus on fighting.' Mori-fae kindly reminds her, reducing her worries.
Argh!
The humongous stone trolls begin to sling huge slabs of rocks down at them, damaging the already thin patch of road. True to its word, Mori-fae dodges to the right without needing to be told. If it continues like this there might be no road left for them to make it to the top of the mountain. Thankfully, the duke's elite team begin to engage the troll, keeping it from tossing anymore boulders down. A tide of ferocious Jackals rush down the slope to meet them, slobbering through their sharp teeth.
Fortunately, they're all riding seasoned warhorses, not easily spooked by the snarling monsters encircling them. The knights promptly begin to fight back, launching a volley of arrows at the jackals snapping at their heels. With Mori-Fae running on autopilot, Ariellia takes out her grimoire and staff, ready to join the battle. What's to fear with a spear master like her father at the front and several elite knights guarding her rear.
'Jackals are fast but lacking in defense against magical attacks.'
"Keep them in place for me!" Well aware of the weakness for most of the monsters in the area, Ariellia takes charge, ordering the archers to limit the movement of the jackals as she gathers her mana.
[Dark Hands!]
With the increase in mana from leveling up, the number of dark hands that rose from the ground had multiplied, ruthlessly grabbing the necks of the beasts and strangling them.
[Dark Drain!]
She's not done yet, chaining her two skills together to completely drain all the Jackals of their strength. The duke's knights watch in awe as her combo slowly drains the life from the crazy Jackals. Their threatening snarls reduced to whimpers, as their struggling limbs slowly come to a halt all together. This is the first time they've seen their young lady fight in battle. While the knights cheer at her clean victory, Ariellia's more excited to see a familiar green glow appear. Puzzled, she knows the jackals shouldn't have been enough to get her to the next level.
Looking forward, she sees the mountain trolls pulverized down to little chunks of rock. That explains it, partying up with a spear master certainly has its perks. Even in the distance, she can already see doubt in her father's similar amethyst eyes.
'He definitely suspects me now.' To avoid the duke's suspicion the wiser thing to do would have been for her to do nothing, but if she did that, she'd miss out on all that exp. The month is almost up, if she doesn't choose strength now there may never be another chance. She'll just have to deal with David's reservations moving forward.
"You surprise me dear, I've never seen you fight like that before."
"I-I just wanted to surprise you" she stutters a bit, the battle aura rolling off the duke is truly something. It's making her breakout into a cold sweat just thinking what he would do to her if he knew she's not the real Ariellia. It would only take one strike of his mighty spear to seal her fate. Initially she wanted to drop this bomb after they'd settled in the city, but it seems now might be the best time to divert his attention.
"By the way father, I recently remembered something."
The dark look in his eyes immediately brightens. "Really, what was it?"
"I recalled the first night I saw Uncle Jasper…when I was a baby."
!
His expression quickly turns grim. "Everyone scout ahead, those with earth magic repair the road!"
The knights and maids didn't need to be told twice, heading up the slope to give the two some privacy.
"I don't blame you father, I just want to know what really happened back then. What did Mother do to come between you and Uncle Jasper?"
…
"Your mother, Folami, met an oracle before she came to these lands. He told her that she would need to steal the fate of another to achieve her goal. To do so, she secretly instigated a fight between Uncle Jasper and one of his tribesmen. Once the battle ended, she performed forbidden fate magic with the blood Jasper shed on the battlefield. When I met her, she was already bearing the fate of another. What should be his became hers instead."
'What's with these random oracles popping up everywhere! I thought fated encounters should be few and rare, why is everyone I know stumbling into them like clockwork?' Arie's brow can't help but twitch. She's stunned by the sinister plan of Arie's mother. Apparently, there's just some crazy oracle going door to door handing out forbidden spells and radicalizing people in his spare time.
"It's okay father, I understand now. You raised me well, I know you love me and that's all that matters."
It's very moving to see the plump duke's stoic face breakdown into tears. She's not prepared for the bearhug that follows, but she accepts it on Arie's behalf. Hopefully, this conversation healed the old wound in the duke's heart and would bring the two closer in the future. In fact, Eren can't help but feel a bit envious towards Arie. He only had a spiteful mother, never getting the chance to experience a father's doting love in his past life. Perhaps after this month, if she survives the monster march she will reveal everything to Duke Garrod. It would be great if he could accept Eren too.
"Father, what was mother's goal?"
"…that I cannot tell you. Please let me simply enjoy this moment for now my little moonshine."
"Okay." She doesn't push the matter further.