Knights and Ladies

Quest For Query IV

How about we build a world where everyone just prospers?

And No, don't get me started on that crap that if everyone is rich, who does the menial jobs?

Like who does the vulcanizing, the laundry, the janitors… no, don't get me started on that.

Where I come from, that's the belief so people just satiate themselves being the poor because if they don't do their jobs, the society will collapse.

Heck, damn it!.

I can be a janitor and be earning hundreds of thousands, right? Maybe not that much but at least enough to earn money to live above the poverty level.

But why the heck am I even bothered? It's just some game I find myself in.

Maybe it's because I've had enough of this toxic mentality that I play games to even escape reality…

Yes, that's got to be it!

But, in the meantime, I do not feel so well. I sigh, holding my temples as my shoulders sag against the castle walls.

"You need to rest, my Lady. Your body is not strong enough." Claire says tentatively as she eyeballs George. "You should never have brought the discussion up until she did feel well enough."

George sighs, shrugging. "What, it needed immediate attendance because you and I know our Lady is always sick."

"George!" David and Claire erupt in unison as they stare at the empty skull who shrugs again.

Gosh… how I hate him!

I narrow my eyes and force myself to stand even though it hurts badly. I'm the Lady here, never would you see me down.

Look, I mean, I came from a place where I have to zip up my emotions and sadness because, who cares?

Everyone's too busy trying to get better living.

I'm not saying we're poor where I'm from. No, I'm saying the average living conditions is really poor. If I have to be realistic enough, it takes 7000-8000 naira to have a balanced meal for three times a day.

And guess what, that's about 20 dollars in USD, so you see…

Now, do the calculation and see. 7000 multiplied by 7 days a week, then convert to dollars.

So, now, regardless of this being a game, I have the chance to make the change i always wanted to.

And by all of me, I swear Titledom will see a change for good.

And one of such is not to allow myself look weak. Weak leaders never lasted long enough in all of history, remember?

"Aaarhh… My head!" I yelp, black spots dancing about my vision as two sharp jolts of ache explode in the temples of my head.

In the pain, I sag back again but this time, into the hands of Claire.

"Quick, find Chaplain Musgan." Claire orders, her fingers snapping at the two men.

In response, they turn heel and race, George into the castle while David hurries to the watchtower where he yells orders that I cannot hear.

In short time, the guards there, in their leather black armor are rushing all about, some mounting horses while others racing on feet, about and into the castle, throwing a brief salute to me.

David is in the earlier group, zooming like the wind on his hor…Ah.. The sounds of boots marching in quick motion is unsettling me, shooting sharp jolts of pain into my head with each pound.

Nnnnrrrrgghh..! Hurts… badly

My head feels like exploding. Like there's this pressure mounting up inside it that wants to separate my brain from within.

And the heat burning me up is unbearable. My eyes seem to be bulging as feverish sensations hits me, making me shiver in Claire's hands.

"My Lady, let us return to your chamber." She says, rubbing my forehead with the back of her palm as she rests against the wall to support our weight.

"N-no…" I can't, just yet. 

As I am not sure whether this is a result of my health or the mission the system gave me, I cannot take any risks.

I must continue to know just about everything about Titledom.

And since David and George are gone, Claire, welcome to the information seeker club.

Heh!

And even though, I have heard a little from David, it won't hurt to have another opinion, right?

"C-claire" I stammer. "How does our society work?" I ask, hearing a soft gasp from her.

"My Lady, I understand you were indoors for most of your life. But how is it you don't know that when you had a tutor who came to instill the basic ideologies of our society, daily, before the battle? It seems you have become yet another person since the battle?"

I sigh, noting how intelligent this Claire is. But I don't think she will take it softly if I do tell her the whole matter?

I mean, even though it's a game, but all of this feels so real. And being that people who played this game before either ran mad or vanished, i'm guessing their revealing their gamer identity must have caused that… I don't know!

"Claire, please answer me." I sigh, feeling my head beginning to decompress.

"Yes, My Lady. Sir David might have told you the basics but the truth is, our society does not just function on the hierarchy structure of nobility. We have other classes, saints, sorcerers, hunters and all and each of them are as important to the structure of Titledom. 

Not all Peasants are poor. Even though you may classify the not so poor peasants as commoners but, peasants are also free people as well.

In some villages, there is a voting system of the people on who was to be the next Lord. Lordship universally, does not pass down by bloodline."

I see… 

Now, this is getting interesting.

"Also, Marshal David failed to point the Church Saints as a class because he was dependent on the nobility hierarchy. "

"So what hierarchy is the church on?" I ask, frowning as the headache starts again.

"The church is… can be considered of economic impact. Because the Holy Mages and Holy Knights, Saints they are called collectively, are crucial in mining and closing the devil's gate that spawn monsters of pure evil periodically.

And their efficiency can not be underestimated, especially when compared to the sorcerers because they often do not ask for pay, like the sorcerers and their magic is efficient enough.

Without the Church, alot of Xerxes would have been lost to Monster Waves.

Without the Church, lots of towns would be eroded from reality and your father recognized this, which is why he sent your sister to the convent to gain the favor of the Pope."

"Wait, I have a sister? Aarg!"

Ah… my head! My head just throbbed viciously now, like as if several hammers rammed into my head now.

The pain… ack… no… my head… 

"My Lady… hold on, or let me take to your chamber. The chaplain will be here soon."

"Urmg…" I struggle and right myself up but fall back, weak, into Claire's hands again. "I'm fine!" Claire does not seem to believe me but what can I tell her?

Tell her I'll feel fine when I get to know everything about Titledom because it's a mission and failure means death? 

Ah… no!

Ignoring her vibes, I ask. " What exactly can the chaplain do that you sent after?"

"Chaplain Musgan was assigned here by His Grace, the Pope to honour your father's send off of his daughter, Dominican.

Sir Musgan is a Saint, a Holy Mage to be precise, capable of casting defensive, healing and support magic, a direct opposite to the Holy Knights who deal with offensive magic. 

If he gets here on time, one spell and you will feel fine, for the meantime."

I groan in response.

"And, my Lady, don't think of the Church as something really good. Even though, they might seem better than the Sorcerers but their obsessed witch hunting of sorceress is nothing but a blood hungering delusion. 

Not all Sorceress use human blood, after all. But the Church does not believe them, even the littlest child who is a sorcerer, the church will kill, bashing their heads on a rock. I was there, a week back,  t-they ba-bashed the child's head with a halberd." Claire's voice breaks.

Aissh… that's cold.

Even a child?

No, it's not right. People should have a right to believe in what they want so far they don't go about killing others to do so.

Even though I don't fully understand the concept of how a sorcerer needs blood to do his thing, but, still, that child deserved to live.

She seems to sense my thoughts and throats a grunt.

"The Church set up their headquarters in the North City of Pagnos where they sacked the Lord and installed a Holy Prince, Holy Prince Bidemi to run the economic administration.

They claim to be of general service to everyone and needed to take the City of Pagnos because of the frequent appearance of Devil's Gates.

But, My Lady, if you remain in power for long enough, I don't want you to trust the Church.

They are bloodthirsty and seek after power.

But, you don't have to listen to me. I am but your chamberlain after all." Claire says, her voice dropping considerably at the last words.

But, wait… 

Like George hinted, everyone seems to feel like I am not supposed to be in power. Even David was reluctant about talking to me about the answers to my questions.

Is there a hidden plot I am unaware of?

Also, now that I think it, why did my father need to send my sister away?

Who is my sister by the way?

Gosh, there's so much to know!

"Why? You don't believe I should be the Lady of Titledom, Claire? Why, tell me, is there something I don't know?"

"Ah… no. Nothing at all!" Claire says but her voice is unsteady.

You won't talk right?

Let's see how you will handle it if I go bonkers here?

What? Don't give me that look!

Of all the people I know now, in the game, Claire is the most friendly, plus she worries so much about me coming out here because of my health.

So let's see if she won't talk, if I threaten to move away, out of the castle?

What? It sounds stupid?

Give me a break! This woman is so obsessed over my well-being that she'll talk. 

"If you don't reply…" I pull off forcefully away from Claire suddenly, shocking her. 

"My Lady, you are unwell! You shouldn't move like that." 

Told ya…

"Aaayghh…" I scream, falling down as black spots widen in my vision, inviting me to a void beyond.

However I am pulled away, out of the near death experience when two hands latch to me, one from the back and from the front, at opposites sides.

And just then, I hear a distant chant and then, calming energy seeps into me, energizing all of me, like I never felt sick.

Wow!

What is this energy? I ask myself, my pupils beginning to focus in front of me as a figure stands before me.

A strange unknown person.