The problem with building a city along a cliff was navigating said city. The trio left their inn early, the morning breeze a pleasant yet fleeting break before summer began weighing on them. Despite the cool wind's help, the way to the conservatory was an exhausting journey. It stood below the cathedral. If you pictured layers separating the city, it sat on the third from the top.
The streets climbing to the upper parts were narrow and steep, so much so that Laura considered finishing the climb on all fours, for a wrong step could prove lethal.
“Will we have to climb that every morning?” Liliene asked, annoyed.
“No,” Laura panted, resting against the nearest wall. “The students… can sleep in the dormitory.”
“My Lady, one step at a time.”
Nex had somehow managed to find a full-on maid uniform and was now fully committed to her role.
“First, we need to pass the entrance exams.”
“Aha… One step at a time. It’s funny because we’re climbing stairs.” Laura made for an excellent audience once out of breath.
Liliene shot her a concerned look. “Honey, do you want me to carry you?”
“Honey?” Laura and Nex repeated in unison.
“What? If you can call me ‘My Lady,’ surely I can call her honey?” Liliene hummed, cycling through what she knew about pet names. “Kitty?”
Laura breathed hard, unable to take a single step further. “God. You’re terrible at this.”
While she didn’t explicitly accept Liliene’s help, Laura still welcomed her lover’s arm to finish their ascent. Laura wouldn’t voice it, but feeding Liliene had left her tired. Just a little bit.
Fortunately, the rest of the trip was easier. When they reached their destination, a tall, white building with gothic arches, they decided to take a breather before entering. They weren’t the only ones; around them, crowding the small plaza, people were alone or in groups, probably here for the same reason as they were.
Liliene scanned the crowd. It was easy to tell the commoners from the wealthy, if only by their clothes. Most people were in small groups like theirs; their ages, from what she could guess, ranged from young teenagers to middle-aged adults.
“They’re all going to study with us?” Liliene asked no one in particular.
“Doubtful,” Nex commented. She wasn’t one to judge a book by its cover, but a good part of the people here didn’t strike her as literate.
“I don’t think so,” Laura said, slowly shaking her head. “The kids… They’re probably looking for a source of income. If they even chose to come themselves. Same for the old ones, just more desperate.” Laura gave a weak smile and kept going. “I think most of the people truly here to study will be around our age.”
“Oh.”
They waited in silence; the sound of bells resonated through the whole city. They were much closer to the cathedral, Liliene realized, given how loud the bells were. They rang seven times, and on the last toll, the massive, wooden double door of the conservatory opened.
The crowd, which was maybe an overstatement for the thirty people present, was greeted by a nun, draped in black from head to toe. They followed her into the building in religious silence until they all gathered in the cold and empty hall. Nothing but stone all around, with a candelabrum hanging from the ceiling.
“My children.” A man stood behind a lectern, his arms open. “For all of you seeking knowledge, labor, or simply to give yourselves to the betterment of our society, you are welcome here. Here, the cry of ‘I’ must fade in favor of the chorus of 'we,' for you are all brothers and sisters under the grace of our Lord.”
Fortunately for Liliene, her brain had already disconnected. Both Laura and Nex still had to endure.
“While your presence and eagerness will undoubtedly be rewarded, know that you will still have to pass two trials under His watchful eyes. For you were called, but will now need to be chosen.”
The priest nodded to a woman by his side. She went through the crowd, giving everyone a piece of paper.
“You have until midday.”
The hall stayed silent, broken only by a few hushed whispers here and there. Liliene had expected a bit more. Maybe something loosely resembling instructions. With nothing else to do, she looked at the paper she was given.
On the paper was a very, very long list of questions. Some were about dates; some came with diagrams or sketches. A quick study of the list left her rather confident in her ability to answer none of the questions.
“What do you think, Lili? Do you need help?” Laura asked, her voice gentle.
“Hm.” Liliene nodded and put her index finger under one of the dates. “When are we?”
“Ah. So that’s where we’re starting...”
Laura exhaled and looked around. The other potential students were already discussing among themselves; others were roaming around, unhurried.
“We have a little less than five hours. There should be a library somewhere inside.”
It took Liliene a moment to bridge the gap between Laura’s sentences. They probably weren’t graded solely on their memories.
They explored, and as Laura had guessed, the whole thing was most likely planned, since most doors they came across were closed. All but one, really.
Inside a room with more books than the three of them had seen in their lives, they were greeted by a woman behind a desk. She looked at them and nodded wordlessly. Good to know they were welcome. They chose the most secluded table, sitting in a far corner of the wide room.
Liliene hummed. “Nex, maybe you shou—”
“I am yours to command, Miss Laura,” Nex said with a polite bow.
Such a fickle maid Liliene had. Well, she couldn’t blame Nex for jumping ship; she’d do the same in her place.
“Oh.” Laura reddened under the combined attention of the other two. “I guess… Lili, could you check for history books? Just look for similar numbers as those,” she said, pointing to the paper.
Laura said nothing for a while, reading intently. “Nex. Could you maybe… Look for engineering? Just look for diagram-heavy books. Please.”
A donkey. Liliene was a donkey. Supposedly useful, yet more often than not a net loss of time.
What followed were four grueling hours that somehow passed in a blink. Laura let out an exhale that seemed to last for a full minute. She slumped face first onto the table, arms extended.
“We made it…”
All around them, prospective students had congregated in study groups of various sizes.
“Let’s give the papers back. I’m famished.” As if to prove her point, Laura’s belly voiced its agreement.
“Thanks for your hard work, Miss Laura. We wouldn’t be here without you.”
“No, you helped more than you can imagine, Nex. I have no idea how you always manage to find the right book that quickly.”
Liliene pressed her lips together and followed them silently. She knew she had been near useless this morning.
The main hall was mostly empty now. Only a few loners, desperate or overconfident, were still working on their test. A nun stood straight next to the exit. With no better instructions, they walked toward her.
“We’re done,” Laura said. “We all worked together equally,” she lied.
“I…” Liliene also gave her paper. “Laura did most of the work,” she confessed. “I didn’t do much, really.”
“...” Nex said nothing.
The nun glanced at their papers.
“...” The nun looked at Nex silently.
“...” Nex said nothing again.
“Silence is a virtue,” the nun finally decided. “But why are you dressed like that?”
“A maid follows her lady wherever she goes. If her Lady wishes to delve, a maid will follow.”
Nex had that sort of composed voice that could pass anything off as wisdom.
“What a terrible day to have ears.” The nun then gave them a crude map of the city and its surroundings. On it was a red mark. “Be there by the third bell for your practical exam. God bless you.”
They left and stretched, breathing in the clean air.
“Does that mean we passed?” Liliene asked.
“I have no idea,” Laura answered with a weak shake of her head. “Somehow, I don’t think we were tested on our knowledge at all.” She turned to Nex and pointed to the map. “You went scouting a lot these past few days. Do you know where this is?”
“Obviously,” Nex answered confidently.
Assuming they passed the tests, accommodations would be free. Meaning money, overall, wouldn’t be an issue for quite some time. All they had to worry about was food and whatever equipment they’d need to help their future explorations.
Much to the dismay of Laura, who now dreaded the stairs, they went back to the inn to eat. While they devoured a simple, hearty meal, they studied the map they were given.
“The green’s the forest, right?” Liliene asked while munching. Very polite. “That’s the city… meaning we just need to take the same big door we came in and turn left.”
“That’s how I see it,” Laura confirmed. “Nex?”
Nex shot a glance toward the map. “I won’t interfere. It’s for your own growth,” she skillfully deflected.
They then followed the map, equipped for little more than a park stroll; only Laura had her bag. When they passed the gate, Laura timidly addressed the guards.
“We’re going out for a practical exam.” She showed them the map. “We’ll be back before sunset.”
The guard shrugged. “Sure thing. I’m not your mom.”
Why she thought they would care was anyone’s guess. All she could do was blush and walk faster.
They walked leisurely along a trail, the cliff on their left and a quiet river to their right. A fresh breeze caressed them, birds sang, and the light filtered through the canopy, creating a serene atmosphere. Liliene’s hand naturally found Laura’s.
“We should come back again someday,” Liliene said, her steps matching her lover’s.
“Yes. The scenery is so relaxing.” Laura let her head rest against Liliene’s shoulder.
Meanwhile, Nex debated adding a fourth party member. The loss of secrecy would be a small price to pay…
An opening came into sight. Nothing impressive, just the road widening by a few meters. At its center stood a knight in full plate armor. And beneath the cliff was a narrow gash in the stone, wide enough for one person to enter.
“Oh.” He perked up when he saw the group. “You’re early. Second group to arrive.” He then rolled his eyes and jerked his chin toward a lone boy. “Well, ‘group’.”
“Hello,” Liliene greeted him casually. “So… Do we pass?”
“Aha! You wish. The exams are easy, but not that easy.” He looked at the cave's menacing entrance to their left and rubbed his chin. “Eh, they’re probably ready inside. Feel free to enter alone or in a group. All you have to do is find the innermost room and perform well against my colleague guarding it.”
“By perform well, you mean… defeat him?” Laura asked.
“No, no. Nobody’s expecting you to defeat him. I’d even ask, please don’t. I’d have to take his place if you do, and standing in there all afternoon is just…” The man shivered. “Gives me the creeps.”
“Don’t stress over it,” the man added. “It’s nothing but a short orientation test, and us making sure you’re holding a sword by the proper end.”
They conferred for a moment. In the end, they decided that Liliene would lead the way and Nex would guard the rear, with Laura safely tucked between them.
“Nex,” Liliene spoke up before they moved in. “Do you think we could…” She turned and looked at the lone boy. “I feel bad for him.”
Nex followed her gaze. The boy couldn’t be older than thirteen, with messy chestnut hair, wearing equally messy rags. He was sitting on a rock by the river. On more than one occasion, he had stood up, taken a few steps toward the knight, and changed his mind.
“I’ll follow your lead.”
Liliene turned to Laura next.
“He probably won’t pass alone,” Laura mused. But if he did pass thanks to them, would he delve alone later? Would they be responsible if… “It’s your call, Lili.”
After a nod to herself, Liliene gracefully walked up to the boy, holding her parasol.
“Hi!” She curtsied, holding her dress with one hand. “Are you here for the test as well? If you’d like, you could come with us.”
The boy stood up and, in a hurry, tried to do his best approximation of a respectful bow. “G-Good day to you, Milady?”
The sight drew an airy giggle from Liliene, but the boy didn’t dare look up at her face.
“I can carry your luggage, and… I’m good at reaching high places!”
“Impressive. Consider yourself hired, hm… What’s your name?”
“Marc, Milady.”
“Alright, Marc. Follow me. I’m Liliene. The really cute girl with the braids is Laura. And the scary, silent one is Nex, my servant.”
“I-I won’t let you down,” Marc proclaimed with another bow.
They entered the cave one by one, Marc sliding in between Laura and Nex. The narrow opening meant that, barely a few meters in, the cave was already pitch-black.
“We brought torches, right?” Liliene asked.
“I did, yes.”
Laura took a few thin tubes out of her bag and bent them in the middle until she heard a crack. After a good shake, they shone a weak, yellow light.
“Wow. Are those fireless torches?” Marc asked, holding the stick as if it were a treasure.
“They are,” Laura answered, puffing her chest. “They have a few advantages over the normal ones.”
To illustrate her point, she threw her own stick ahead. The narrow corridor, widening ever so slightly as they progressed, was revealed to them by the stick’s journey in the air. It kept lighting up its surroundings as it hit the ground, serving as a distant guide.
“Aren’t they, like, really expensive?”
“Not really. As far as artifacts go, they’re among the cheapest ones.” Laura smiled at Marc. “If you’re going to delve, you should always carry a few of them.” She pointed at the torch on the ground. “Worst case, they can help you find your way back.”
“Don’t forget to mark the way you came from.” Laura took out a piece of chalk and drew a crude cross on the wall. “Always on the same side; that way you can find your way back.”
A very loud and heavy screech cut her short. Liliene had found a metal door, quite old by the noise.
“Oh!” Liliene exclaimed as she passed it without a care. “So deep.”
On the other side was a perfectly circular shaft, widening upward as well as downward. They stood at the narrowest point of an hourglass-shaped chasm. They had to walk on a metallic catwalk hanging above an abyss.
“That’s the same stuff as back home. What did Mama call it?”
“Geopolymer concrete,” Nex answered, running her fingers over the wall on their right side.
“How deep do you think it is?” Liliene asked, leaning against the railing and looking down.
Nex shrugged.
“Laura, can I?” Liliene hung a glow stick above the pit and gave Laura ‘the eyes.’
“Lili…” Laura sighed. “Sure.”
The light fell, and fell, and fell some more. It took a few seconds before the sound of a distant splash came back. The light from the stick dimmed as it slowly sank to whatever was at the bottom.
“Forty meters, give or take,” Nex wagered.
The path descended deeper, to another door. It led them to a new set of rooms and corridors, artificial this time.
“Lili,” Laura called and discreetly pointed around with a movement of her head.
They were back home. The dim lighting, the pale, smooth walls, and the same terminal Luna sometimes checked. Only it wasn’t working, or was shut down. Impossible to know without trying to boot it up. The rest of the rooms had been swiped clean. On the ground and against the wall were marks of where furniture used to be. Liliene recognized the spot that should have held a couch, now just a whiter square on the floor.
If Liliene had known, she’d have asked her mother more questions. As things stood, she barely knew how that stuff worked. Still, she looked at Laura and shook her head, a silent I don’t think there’s anything left here.
The rest of the exploration was smooth sailing. Sure, they ran into a few dead ends, but it wasn’t like the place was actually guarded. After a few minutes of wandering and trying doors haphazardly, they stumbled upon a man lying on his back, reading a book.
“Oh shit. Already?” he said when he saw the group. “Wait.” He held out his hand.
He put on his helmet, buckled his sheath around his waist, and stood proudly.
“Alright. It’s nothing scary; just show me you can pull your weight in a fight.”
“Milady, I don’t have a weapon…” Marc confessed.
“All of us together?” Liliene asked.
“That’s right. Monsters won’t politely throw a glove at you.”
“If we do well, do all of us pass? Even if they didn’t fight?”
“I’d prefer if everyone contributed, but yes.” He took out a small piece of paper. “Names?”
He had a list. They gave their names, and he muttered them until he found each. Liliene didn’t remember giving her name anywhere else other than on the paper this morning. They worked fast.
“Laura.” Liliene stood meekly in front of her lover. “I forgot to buy a sword…” It wasn’t her fault, exactly. She was so used to just crafting her own weapons whenever she needed one; who could blame her?
Now armed with her lover’s short sword, Liliene nodded to Nex. The two of them circled the man, one on each side.
“Oh. Just the two of you?” He chuckled. “What if I do this, then?”
At these words, he charged toward the two unarmed ones in the group. He didn’t get very far before Nex, her stance low, dashed in front of him. The glint of her sword mirrored the glint in her eyes as she chipped his helmet with no hesitation whatsoever.
“Wha—”
The man faltered, scrambling back.
Liliene came from behind and pressed him. She didn’t try to win, or even do anything fancy. Without her powers, she was an ordinary fencer. All she had to do was keep the man busy and give Nex opportunities. Nex was the real fencer extraordinaire.
Liliene couldn’t help but be slightly jealous. The way Nex moved, the quick slashes, the dashes left and right, the flexibility. Her big sister was breathtaking and scary in equal measure. And honestly, watching her perform such a feat in a maid uniform was sort of… Hot. Eh, better banish that thought.
“That doesn’t count as cheating,” Liliene said to Laura. However, she was probably going to buy Laura a maid uniform.
“What?” Laura asked, bewildered.
Seeing a lapse in the man’s defense, Liliene charged, announcing herself with a scream. It worked. He turned toward her, blocked Liliene’s sword, and took a wild kick from Nex.
“Alright, alright. Enough,” the man said as he rose to his feet, groaning. “What the fuck are you?”
“A maid,” Nex answered with a curtsy.
“You… You’ve killed before, haven’t you?” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “We'd better start hiring maids in the army…”
Nex didn’t answer.
“Ah. I don’t care. You pass.”
The girls hugged and gathered their belongings to the sweet melody of the man’s grumbles.
“First group and I’m already battered. These are no working conditions. I’ll tell the union; been a while since the last strike.”
When they exited the cave’s network, the opening was crowded with prospective students waiting for their turns.
“Thank you for your help, Marc,” Liliene said. “Nex, give him a silver for his trouble.”
“Thank you, Milady!”
He left happy and energetic, giving them a friendly wave, his boyish grin missing a tooth.
“You can’t help everyone, My Lady.”
Liliene nodded. “I know. But just because I can’t help everyone doesn’t mean I should help no one.”
Nex agreed, on principle. That was even a surprisingly decent thought process coming from her princess. Liliene truly was growing thanks to Laura’s proximity. But now that he had passed the exams, the boy would probably die sooner rather than later.
And truly, who cares? He’s only human.
Well, a silver spent to see her princess smile was a silver well spent.