Soldat Elf

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

The ran over to her horse, climbed up to the saddle, and took up the reins. She then urged the horse to ride close to where Linceleste was.

"Follow me, there is something I need you to confirm!"

Hoping that the girl heeded her, Carnatia then rode to catch up to Carmen and the peasant. Addressing the peasant, she asked, "You there, you say you know where the group we are looking for went? From what you said, it seemed that you saw them yourself. What about the paladin leading them? What can you tell us of him?"

She then glanced back, hoping to see Linceleste there. If the peasant was simply making things up, hopefully, Paladin Thomas' niece would notice.

Carnatia, a red-haired baroness, approached her quickly as she rode her horse into Linceleste's place. The red-haired baroness then instructed Lincelese to follow her lead. Linceleste nodded and turned her horse to face the red-haired baroness. As they fled. Lincelete's spider drone began to self-destruct as the energy burst; its structure broke apart and melted away. Her hair and eyes reverted to normal, and they no longer glowed.

***

The peasant guided them toward the crossroad they passed earlier and they would take the one leading southward.

"You there, you say you know where the group we are looking for went? From what you said, it seemed that you saw them yourself. What about the paladin leading them? What can you tell us of him?"

The peasant managed. "I only saw the Paladin once, milady. In Katwiz. But twas months ago, I lived in Olbey and had things to tend to. Looked like honorable man, strong but he ain't flaunting it, he helped the sick in fact. He had a lady following him, similarly decorated, looks only slightly younger than him. She heals peasantries too if me mind serves me right. Never saw both again since."

They reassembled and heard from Carmen, who was riding her horse with the peasant. She learned about the identifying information stated by the peasant.

"There is no doubt that's my uncle. He had been like that since I was a younger age. As for the female healer you had mentioned, that must be my auntie. They have been together even treating me as their daughter when I was in the whole week with them at their home." Linceleste stepped forward to address the party members and the peasant.

He shook his head gloomily. "Sad to hear what happened to them. Folks said a lot of things, none of em pretty. But sorry, sire, milady, but what I will show you ain't gonna be something cheery."

A shock caused her heart to race. It seems that the ice princess had become gloomy...

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

Linceleste went slowly with her horse to the sergeant's location. It seemed that the enemy sergeant finally gave up from the struggle, which made her relieved. She let the spider pin the sergeant down, waiting for the Skipper’s approach. Instead, Amanita went closer and innocently asked,

"The Spider is cute. What's it's name?"

That made her attention to the shroom maiden along with her noticeable glowing hair and eyes. She remembered that has no permanent name since it meant to be replaced once it got destroyed by summoning the same ice contraption again. Back then, the first concept was a mechanical duck but it was quite unsuccessful despite being able to fire a fireball, self tasering for its surroundings and having a siren to silence the magical practitioner just like a duel during her academic life. She made a different drone again basing the spider. Mk I was for walking test only, Mk II was for attacking function, Mk III was for the pouncing function and Mk IV was the finalized variant, it can move fast, it can pounce into the enemy and can shoot an ice bolt.

Salticidae Mk IV was its finalized model name. But for the sake of a shroom maiden’s slowness. She thought of a universal name for her spider drone.

“Hopper.” Linceleste answered followed by a gentle smile to the shroom maiden.

(This is only a filler post.)

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

Linceleste was still on her horseback as the situation escalated fast as her fellow teammates acted fast. She kept her distance behind the skipper. She closed her eyes and took deep breath. The hair started to glow, and as she opened her eyes, it began to glow too. A cubic shape was created in her palm, and she threw it to the ground. It burst out and shaped into a spider-like. It was a crystallized spider stand nearby.

"Pin down the sergeant. We will make him as a bargain," the ice princess commanded her drone. 

The drone rushes to the sergeant. Passing at the side of the red-haired baroness. The drone pounces on the sergeant to pin him down to the ground. Once the pinning is successful, the drone will aim it's ice bolt to the sergeant face. Telling him not to move a muscle.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

As the bartender placed her order on the table in front of her. Linceleste began to eat while still listening to her surroundings. Her fellow traveler, the rogue knight, and the barkeeper discussed what happened to the folks that walked on to their next destination, as well as what happened to her uncle. Linceleste requires more data from the two to prepare, and the data she collects will be utilized to prepare later on. As of now, thinking too much while eating is considered bad etiquette. She continued to eat slowly and enjoy her dinner.

"I will leave it to you then," Carnatia remarked.

No sense in arguing. Decorum dictate it would be rude to reject such an offer, in any case. Perhaps if she were another noble, Carnatia might have insisted. After all, among nobles such gesture was part of a 'game' of the sort that they play in high society, as a 'battle of status', and so, if one were to maintain respect in high society, easily relenting would be seen as a sign of weakness, perhaps even inviting gossip and rumours regarding one's financial status—or lack thereof.

It was not a game Carnatia enjoyed playing, but nevertheless a necessary one to play. Linceleste, while coming from an affluent family, was not a noble nor was this a high-society soiree. Therefore, at this moment playing such a game was—fortunately—unnecessary.

As the red-haired baroness Carnatia gestured her generousity, the two had been settled. Lincelested nodded as a reply.

"Thank you again for your generosity, Linceleste." Amaris said, with a smile as she thanked Linceleste for the meal as they entered the tavern.

She also nodded to the Amaris for welcoming her thanks.

Meanwhile. Her Skipper entered the facility where the team was staying to enjoy a meal.

Sitting down, Carmen took a minute to get rid of the frowns on his face.

"I've spoken with city Castellan and he agreed to trade his horse with ours. There will be no delay with our departure."

Linceleste paused and elegantly wiped her lips with her handkerchief. Turning her attention to Carmen and said, "I see. I will see it myself after the meal and recheck the health of those horses and will do resupply the needs after it.

Also, I'll take your order on my tab. Skipper." She said to Carmen and continued her eating and still kept her ears from the surroundings.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

As they have arrived on the tavern. It was Carnatia who led the way on the entrance to the facility. As she heard out from what the barkeeper said. She made an order that seemed alien to them. She also noticed Ludvig, who already had orders for himself. She let man have some space and looked back to the Carnatia, and the baroness also turned her head to Linceleste too.

"Lady York, I realize that a full-course meal might not what you have in mind when you offered, but I am willing to pay for myself if it's too much trouble, no offence intended, of course. I did not wish to slight your gracious offer, merely making a clarification on my own end.

As from what she heard from Carnatia. Linceleste shook her head gently and slowly and said, "Don't worry about it. I can cover it." and gave the baroness a smile.

"You know what, Guv? I say you went to the wrong establishment. There is a fancy restaurant five towns ago run by Varenheim Knive ears, they definitely got all you want. The best we make here's sausage roll! Da best in da east I say!"

For her turn. She heard that the sausage roll is the best dish they have. It seemed that was their signature dish. As she settled for her order, she took her turn. 

"Mine is a sausage roll, please. And give me your recommendation for a drink that suits with it," Linceleste said to the barkeeper in a polite manner.

When the mood quieted down, Osric also sat himself down at the bar. “I think I’ll pass on the pig scraps and pickled cabbage. I’ll have some of that coffee, if there’s any left. And a sausage roll sounds like a hearty enough breakfast, so I’ll have that. Here’s hoping Carnatia’s meal doesn’t take up the too much of the Ktichen’s time to whip up.”

As she heard Osric and Carnatia's order. She is still waiting for others who have not yet ordered.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

Linceleste continued to listen in on the group discussion. The traveler knight and the two women appeared to be discussing some delicacies from a fine dining establishment on Dragon's Mauw. Since her family spent time at several different restaurants, she doesn't mind the fine dining. She smiled as the captain recommended his known tavern. She remembered the cherished memories back then as she was still a younger self in Hdur. Those were the times she spent with her older brother in Baker's tavern, where they frequented like regulars. She can still clearly remember their nicknames as the York Guppies by the owner's daughter, Nina.

"Lead the way, then, Lady Mirielle. I will be paying for our group," Linceleste said with a polite tone to the ex-inquisitor woman.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

As the party departed and began their journey. The first thing Lincesleste does is handle the logistics, which means the supplies. A daughter of a merchant made the sorting well done. Meats and vegetables supplied kept in fresh, and she made a portable cooler. For the water supplies, her convenient elemental magic created drinkable water, whether it was warm or cold, keeping the party members hydrated. For the cooking, she was always the first one who volunteered, as she started a fire with her magic when they were on camp outside. She kept the cooking par average thanks to her brother's teaching and her survival experience while camping alone. Fellow party members will also seen her building a primitive shelter made by the surrounding materials. For the whole twenty-five days, she made this her routine for the outside camp without complaining. As for the resting on town, she stuck to the party and followed what the captain said. 

Once they arrived, the Dragon Maw's. She enjoyed looking at the eye-catching landmark as resemblance of a Wyverm figure. As they stopped, she approached Captain Friston for the briefing. 

"Amigos, we will replace our horses here and resupply. Accommodations for you have been booked in the inn we passed earlier. Feel free to check it out, or stroll around the city if you please. But don't forget to get enough rest. We will leave tomorrow morning by horse. The carriage will have to stay here for security reasons. Any questions?"

Linceleste remained silence and kept a polite smile to those speakers. She kept her energy until she joined others to roam around. 

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

After the circus man left the room. Linceleste is still there, finishing her cup of milk. Thinking about how that man knew her mother. Yet he doesn't know that it is quite the opposite from what he said about her and her mother's relationship. Their relationship made her treated as special among the rest of the siblings with her mother. Was it about the inheritance? She kept thinking about it until she noticed that she emptied her cup as she attempted to take a sip. She sighed and did Clean As You Go before she left the kitchen.

Linceleste changed her attire into a white sleeping dress that seemed to be distributed by female caretakers in the shared quarter. She did also have time to comb her hair and make a Boho braid for her protective sleep hairstyle. She seemed to notice Lady Mirielle already in the room before her; she respectfully left that maiden alone for her peaceful sleep. I did a prayer after the preparation and laid down on the bed. She skipped remembering any thoughts because of what Carmen said to them, as they wanted to depart early in the morning. Linceleste calmed her muscles to relax and began the breathing method. After a few minutes, she will be seen sleeping and will be the earliest to awaken from the group. 

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

The back of his right hand should already be facing Linceleste the moment he was in her sights. Evidently the spikes aren't skewering it anymore, neither present were any wounds they would have left. In their place were indented scars, spots of thin skin slightly paler than himself.

『 Ludvig 』 "I'm fine. See?"

"I assumed you use healing magic to recover it fast. That will do." Linceleste seemed to be convinced by Ludvig's treatment of his wound. Magic or treating it physically still leaves a mark because a new tissue has grown back differently from the original one. It was a stab wound rather than a first layer of skin had been damaged; marks are expected.

Linceleste accepted the offer of Ludvig. Having the boiled milk in her hands. She stared at the hot milk and ignored the phrase about him having to accompany her for the further time alone in the current room. After that, she took a sip, savoring the taste of the milk. It seemed fine.

"Leans back onto the cupboard. Takes a final, huge sip from his cup of coffee.

『 Ludvig 』 "You definitely have your mother's hair. Not her eyes though, hers were a lot more... striking."

At that, Linceleste stared at the man as he mentioned her appearances and her mother.

"Most of my siblings have my mother's hair color and our eyes from my father," she replied. "You know my mother?" She continued by asking.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Linceleste York

---

For Linceleste perspective. It was Ludvig’s fault for diving into his curiosity that led him to get harm despite the warning given by Lady Marielle. She was interested too in that artifact but couldn’t help it just to stare due to how hazardous it was when getting close to it. Despite those chaotic scenes that messed up everyone's meal. Linceleste was just chilling in her seat, done with her meal, and just fully watching the incident.

She decided to pay a visit to that circus man in the kitchen to check his wound as Carmen pointed the way in. 

Upon entering the kitchen. She saw him sipping some coffee instead of going to the infirmary and treating his wounds.

“If I were you, I would go to the infirmary instead of here sipping coffee alone.” Linceste talked to Ludwig. "Sir Friston said. We will depart early morning." She continued.