Chapter 36: A nice morning chat with Mrs. Caroline, plus an age revelation! You're HOW old?

Chapter 1: She Fell to meet Me

Chapter 2: The Darkborn Fella

Chapter 3: QUEST! Open the Gate, Irene!

Chapter 4: Please.

Chapter 5: Oh, boy. She’s gonna throw me again. 

Chapter 6: Down the Lake to the Rat Den! Yay!

Chapter 7: Run, Irene, Run!

Chapter 8: Deep Dark Meeting! How spooky!

Chapter 9: Johnny Splinter! What a weirdo.

Chapter 10: So, uh, we made a new, weird friend?

Chapter 11: I feel stupid and dehumanized 

Chapter 12: Escaping that deep dark shit hole

Chapter 13: Back through these dirty tunnels, we roam.

Chapter 14: Hall of Rat. Or something.

Chapter 15: Battle over the Rat Treasury

Chapter 16: …Ratville? Are we actually in Ratville right now… God help me.

Chapter 17: Dungeon time! Too much time!

Chapter 18: I’ll save you even if I’m an immobile item! 

Chapter 19: That one time a single rat overthrew his ratty monarch. Johnny Rules!

Chapter 20: Conversation, conversation! Irene wakes up!

Chapter 21: Back to the treasury, with a new king under wing!

Chapter 22: I’m OUTRAGED!

Chapter 23: The most beautiful nightmare fuel lurks in the lake 

Chapter 24: Rise above thy wants! WOOHO! 

Chapter 25: Reuniting with Fabian, did the rascal really do it?

Chapter 26: Opening the gate to a parting… And a what now?

Chapter 27: Fabian’s search Quest

Chapter 28: A Beginning long overdue

Chapter 29: First day in the open

Chapter 30: Bath time!

Chapter 31: An odd dude appeared! Seriously, this guy is WHACK!

Chapter 32: Could’ve had a better start there, couldn’t we?

Chapter 33: Entrance to Ruge City + a tad of racism

Chapter 34: The Bridge City of Ruge!

Chapter 35: Slumber party~ Slumber party~ Yay, yay, yehey~!

Chapter 37: Cadmus’ pawn shop! Am I getting sold? Bet I’d fetch a pretty penny at least.

Chapter 38: Betrayal.

Chapter 39: Captured! Nice going there, Irene.

UPDATE FROM THE AUTHOR!

Chapter 40: A hectic yet necessary talk.

Chapter 41: We have ourselves a situation! And I hold the solution.

Chapter 42: Finally using our darned points!

Chapter 43: Oh my god, we’re back to this!

Chapter 44: Irene decimates the outlaws

Chapter 45: Captain Lenor the Torturer

Chapter 46: He knows my secret, and spoiled it! Bastard!

Message from the Author: Thank you for 10,000 Views and 1,000 Likes!

Chapter 47: Carnage brought to life

Chapter 48: Auramancy Versus Biomancy

Chapter 49: Oz has a plan! Uh-Oh…

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Goodbye, aurora. You shall be missed dearly, but thy cousin, better known as the Sun, shall be my sight of enjoyment for the foreseeable day. Yeesh. I&#x2019;m mega jealous of Irene&#x2019;s ability to just doze off over there in the softness of her sheets and basically&#x2026; Well&#x2026; Time travel. I miss time traveling via naps. Truly, what an underrated power these fleshy people have. You don&#x2019;t realize how nice it is to skip boring parts of the day/night cycle until you&#x2019;re incapable of it for twenty straight years!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Well, least I&#x2019;m used to it by now.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene rose out of bed soon after sunrise, she got ready in a flash and covered up about as much as before. Back to baggy, hunched-back looking Irene we go! This time though, so as to not have to hold me at all times, she strapped me on the side of her backpack. Neat. I get to be completely covered by her cloak. Well, almost, there was a tiny hole in it enough to let my vision peek through unhindered! My view of the world shall remain undisturbed! Ha!&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Well, anywho. I find it highly doubtful that any kids would be up at this hour, so Irene mainly snuck by and down the stairs where Mrs. Caroline just so happened to be waiting. Holding a weird, wooden Ferris-wheel looking item? What? Several gems endowed it, and the patterns cut into it were done exquisitely! Almost with machine-like precision.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Good morning, sleepyhead. How was your first night back home?&#x201D; Warmth exuded from her as the wheel spun over her palms by itself. Wasn&#x2019;t it heavy?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Should you really be up at this hour?&#x201D; Irene returned the smile.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She was met by a light chuckle, covered by a wrinkly hand. Seriously, isn&#x2019;t that heavy for her?! &#x201C;You&#x2019;re not one to talk, dearie Irenie, but I&#x2019;m fine. Thank you for always showing your concern.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene held Mrs. Caroline&#x2019;s shoulders gently to help her reach one side of the ground floor where there laid an old dining table with about a dozen chairs. It was one of those expensive long ones you&#x2019;d think you&#x2019;d see in a mansion, just, this one had seen better years. The chairs didn&#x2019;t look in good condition either, odd. The elderly woman seated herself just fine with the wheel in her lap, still spinning.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Really though, now that I give this place a proper look&#x2026; It&#x2019;s quite bare. Normally, there should be a sofa or some other furniture where the granny can rest, noh? What&#x2019;s with the cracked up wooden chairs? Why was the whole place just so empty? A lot of stuff looked to be missing from what was otherwise a nigh perfect mansion. It almost looked for sale.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Where do you plan on heading so early, dear?&#x201D; Mrs. Caroline looked up to Irene.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Just over to Cadmus&#x2019; shop. Maybe to the marketplace below, I&#x2019;ll have to move about and see. You never know where a day might take you.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh, you&#x2019;re most right about that.&#x201D; The old woman chuckled. &#x201C;Tell Good Cadmus I said hello.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Will do.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;And be careful, Irenie. You don&#x2019;t want to get in no trouble again. It always worries me to hear your name outside this house.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;I&#x2019;ll be fine, you know that better than most.&#x201D; Irene shrugged.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh, I know. I&#x2019;m more worried about the other guy.&#x201D; She chuckled and laughed until a jarring cough stopped her.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Be careful, Mrs. Caroline.&#x201D; Irene paced behind her to rub her back, she gave her a massage which calmed her fit. &#x201C;Now you&#x2019;re the one worrying me.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;At that moment, Edwardo came in decked out in cleaner supplies. He looked ready for war with the unclean. &#x201C;Oh. M&#x2019;lady, and Miss Vespera. You&#x2019;re up before me. I do feel a sense of failure, as a butler.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene chuckled at that. &#x201C;Don&#x2019;t worry, I&#x2019;m not taking over your job anytime soon.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;That is most pleasant to hear, miss V.&#x201D; He motioned on over and began his cleaning process, starting from one edge of the room to the other.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Well, I guess that explains the cleanliness; we have a straight-up warrior of the mop over here! At the very least, what this mansion does have was getting taken care of properly, but I&#x2019;m still rather curious about the possibly missing furniture&#x2026; I&#x2019;ll sort this out, eventually.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Well then, I&#x2019;ll be off.&#x201D; Irene gave the woman her best smile and wave before she turned to leave the building.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Irene.&#x201D; Mrs. Caroline&#x2019;s voice turned a tad deeper, more stern, serious.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene instantly returned. &#x201C;Yes?&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Your hand, please.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A bit surprised, she gave her hand and the old lady grasped it in both of hers. So weakly, wrinkly yet with a feel of unbound strength in them. Irene smiled as the woman brought her hand closer, letting it touch the spinning wheel&#x2019;s top. It stopped. Mrs. Caroline then spoke lines she&#x2019;d likely rehearsed time and time again.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh, Grace empyrean, keep thee child safe.&#x201D; Two soft tails of light left the center of the wheel, from some of its gems. They spiraled around it once, then circled each other as they flew up to wrap a bow around Irene&#x2019;s wrist. &#x201C;May she achieve all she dreams, may she soar higher than your peaks, brighter than the phoenix, wiser than her peers, with eyes set to gaze on sights grander than your seas.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Her Grace Valenara&#x2019;s prayer of fortune,&#x201D; Irene said softly as the lights faded, &#x201C;you shouldn&#x2019;t have. Thank you.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh, I most definitely should&#x2019;ve.&#x201D; Mrs. Caroline shook her head as she let Irene&#x2019;s hand go. She pulled away, and the wheel began to spin anew. &#x201C;You&#x2019;re prone to some reckless acts, Irenie, I know that much, and I know why you left Ruge last week.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene glanced to the floor. &#x201C;...You need treatment.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;I need You, to take better care of yourself.&#x201D; She placed the wheel on the dining table and stood in front of Irene. She looked so small beside her. &#x201C;I am alright. See?&#x201D; Mrs. Caroline paced about the dining area with a spring to her step. &#x201C;I&#x2019;m not so old to need to rely on the youngun to survive.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;You know you&#x2019;re not that much older than me.&#x201D; Irene followed her carefully so as to not let her fall.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Well, I look it, don&#x2019;t I?&#x201D; She turned with a grin, an almost characteristically youthful one at that! Granny&#x2019;s got energy to spare! Mrs. Caroline kept her smile as she slowly sat in another seat, her feet went wobbly the moment she did. &#x201C;But you&#x2019;re right. It may be wrong of me to consider you the same way I do for the children. You&#x2019;re a hard headed woman who understands life.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;It&#x2019;s because I understand, that I wish to repay my debts.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Mrs. Caroline shook her head. &#x201C;I can&#x2019;t stop you. All I ask is you promise me to steer clear of trouble.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;That, I can&#x2019;t do.&#x201D; Irene turned around. &#x201C;But I&#x2019;ll try.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Then that will do.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;And so, with a parting smile tender enough to reach my steel heart, we left the granny at home to be outdoors again. Well, that was a nice half day&#x2019;s worth of relaxation against a cupboard. Time to see what chores Irene wanted to do in the morning! But first&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;So&#x2026; Prayer light show?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene sighed as she spoke in our mindlink. &#x3C;em&#x3E;Of course. You don&#x2019;t know of deities either.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Well, I apologize for being uninformed!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She made her way on the street, going further into the bridge interior and past that tiny fishing district. There were noticeably more people already. Some hoist nets from the giant hole to bring up the fish caught overnight, others prep a more traditional approach with hook and rod.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Uhm, won&#x2019;t you tell me about it?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Way too much information to impart casually like this.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;At least tell me about this Valenara person!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Another time.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Pleaseeeee!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;I said another time.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;But I wanna know!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Sword!&#x201D; She spoke up, getting the attention of the fishers behind us. &#x201C;Shit.&#x201D; She hurried on ahead.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Damn it! You&#x2019;re going to get me in trouble!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Sorry&#x2026; Just curious.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Your curiosity is unnecessarily provocative. I told you we&#x2019;d discuss this later.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;But&#x2026; You&#x2019;re just walking along the path, you can tell me some stuff, can&#x2019;t you?&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene sighed as we started walking amongst more people. &#x3C;em&#x3E;One question.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Okay! Okay! I got this&#x2026; Deep breath! Mmmm&#x2013;Is this goddess the same &#x2018;Grace&#x2019; you mentioned before when we first saw the aurora borealis? Oh! Is she the progenitor of the pretty lights at night?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Yes, sword, yes to both. There. Good enough for you? I am not going into detail.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;What is she the goddess of, though? You can tell me that much!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;In short, her Grace is the Goddess of the Day &#x26;amp; Night cycle, the origin of Empyrean Aurora, chief and first deity of our world. Anything else you&#x2019;d like to know about deities will be discussed some other time. I&#x2019;ll be busy now.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Theeeenkchu~&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Unbelievable&#x2026; You act like a complete toddler sometimes. &#x3C;/em&#x3E;Irene dragged her hand across her face, then pulled her hood further over.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I don&#x2019;t get what irked her so much. All I want is basic information! What&#x2019;s the hold up? We&#x2019;re just walking, might as well chat and get me a bit more up to date. Sheesh, and she calls ME annoying! The conversation avoidance is killing me. I do have one more question for her though, should ruffle up her jimmies! Doubles as petty revenge via annoyance while satisfying my curiosity too! Provided she answers.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Irene, if you don&#x2019;t mind me asking, how old are you?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene&#x2019;s expression soured. &#x3C;em&#x3E;You shouldn&#x2019;t ask a woman her age, Sword.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Well, you said the old lady wasn&#x2019;t that much older than you earlier&#x2026; If she was a kid when this city was founded, she must be over eighty! How old are you to be close to her?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She sighed. &#x3C;em&#x3E;If you must know, I&#x2019;ll turn 61 during the next Light&#x2019;s Birth.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Wow&#x2026; So you&#x2019;re the actual vampire in this situation&#x2026;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene stopped in her tracks. She glanced at the few people moving along the street and moved closer to the ledge. Coast did seem clear. What was she trying to&#x3C;em&#x3E;&#x2013;Oh god damn it!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene dropped me over board while no one was looking! BITCH! Oh, hi Mr. Fish.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;The Sword System, a soul bound blade punished for the sins of his past, craves the most basic of human needs in this new life. If you can even call it one. Alone, forgotten, forsaken. He remained for decades in solitude beneath the earth, all until the day she fell to meet him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene Vespera, a Fallen Valkyrie filled with distrust. She now wields the Sword System begrudgingly, far more eager to throw him away than regain her divinity. With a dislike for each other and the dubious goal of rising to their prior glory, their journey across the Baratosh Flatlands begins.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;---------------------------------------------------------------&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Author Note: Hello everyone!&#x1F60A; If you&#x27;d like to chat with me and other readers of this series, please do head over to the official reader hub! I&#x27;ll be expecting you!&#x1F609;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Discord: https://discord.gg/5CVUhpKxbe &#x3C;/p&#x3E;

I am the Sword System