Hikari followed behind Polca. While Eren happily hummed beside her, tail wagging. She couldn’t help wondering if she’d made the right choice. Sure Eren was happy, but now there was a chance they had another pregnancy in the party. Would Eren hate her for this later? Polca didn’t seem to think so, something about beastkin loving children and what not.
Right now they were heading to Polca’s clan house in the capital. Hikari had finally decided that she’d join Polca’s clan, but it wasn’t official yet. The Frostlight Clan was a high ranking clan. She’d been told about the resources and protections they offered to their members. Not to mention she didn’t want to be forced into a clan through less-than-stellar means.
Polca spoke up as they turned a corner, passing several other groups on their way. Many of them nicely dressed, since they were in the wealthier part of the city. Hikari spotted more than a few houses with expansive gardens, and built from fancy-looking stones and expensive lumber.
“That’s our local residence in the capital. It might not be that much compared to those maintained by the nobles, but we are pretty well off.”
“Now that you mention it. You have not told me much about what your clan does.”
“We Frostlights are a clan of combat mages. Those of us who don’t join the Royal Guard or the army, become adventurers. That’s kinda why I’m an adventurer myself. I joined the guild as a means to gain experience.”
“I take it you don’t do a lot of research then?”
“Oh, we do plenty of that, and not all of us are combat mages. My favorite aunt and her daughter, for example, are expert enchanters working for the royal navy.”
“That sounds interesting. Any idea what kind of stuff they...”
“Mostly warding enchantments for ships. Basically they are the ones responsible for maintaining the defensive shields naval vessels rely on. If we ever head up north, I’ll introduce you.”
Hikari had to admit that enchanting sounded interesting. Some of the magic items she’d come across were quite interesting. Although there were a few things from Earth that she missed. The world she was in just didn’t have any replacements for things like computers, or television. Strangely they had magical lasers but had never even heard of a firearm. Arlie and Polca had both been confused when she’d brought it up on the ship. When she’d explained, they had one question: Why? They called the entire idea of igniting a small charge to accelerate a projectile within a small tube sealed one end... inefficient. Arlie had suggested several different alternate approaches to the concept instead. Once using wind enchantments, another using lightning runes and said both would be quite interesting to explore when it came time to look into enchantment. “That does sound interesting, but I think I’ll focus on basic magic first.”
“A good plan and what I would suggest. Enchanting isn’t for beginners, which you very much are. Personally I figured I’d sign you up for an accelerated course at the Royal Mage’s institute. Not really the right time for admissions, but my family is one of the founders. Not to mention we provide the second largest contribution to their annual budget. They’d accept the challenge.”
“Institute? You want to send me to school?”
“I know with everything going on, it might not seem like the best idea.” She let out a breath, “But if anyone can prepare you for the challenges ahead, it would be the institute. Arlie and I have been able to give you a solid foundation but that’s about it. I can only teach you so much.” she shifted.
Eren interjected, “Not going to tell her that you plan to do some research?”
“I was getting to that.”
Eren pressed against Hikari, a grin on her face, “And while she’s off in some stuffy library the two of us can have some fun.”
Hikari blushed, but before she could make a comment. They arrived at the Frostlight clan residence. Polca led them inside. There wasn’t even a chance to take in the well decorated interior before someone was greeting them. A dwarf girl wearing a headdress and a rather short skirt, and not an item more. “Mistress Polca, welcome back. Mistress Claudia is expecting you and her guests. If you would permit, I can take you to her.”
Polca sighed, “I know you don’t like tops, but would it kill you to stay in uniform when greeting guests?”
“Sure would! You wouldn’t want to murder me by making me wear a silly top, would you?”
Polca groaned, “You’re a pain, Myna, you know that?”
Myna the dwarf grinned, “Thank you Mistress. Now we can’t keep Mistress Claudia waiting. Shall I show the way?”
Polca seemed to shrink, then gestured down the hall leading out fo the foyer. Hikari took in the vibrant rugs, painted hardwood paneling, and high end furniture set up around the foyer. Clearly conversational pieces with a sitting area off to the left. A few potted plants brought the room together. In the hall she noted portraits evenly spaced on each wall. Every single one of them showed beautiful young ladies with a small plaque under each portrait.
Polca noted her looking at them as they passed, “Each of these a titled mage within the clan. Most of them have passed before the gods already, but a couple of them are still around.
“Titled?”
Eren was the one who gave an answer, “It means they accomplished something worthy of a title.”
The three chatted for a bit on the subject as they walked and the more she learned the more she felt it was something akin to being knighted had been in her old world. That meant these ladies were people the clan was obviously proud of. Which was why their likeness was displayed in the main hall. Along with a plaque to commemorate their names and accomplishments. Before long they reached some stairs and went up to the second floor.
Myna led them down a couple of doors and into an office where a young-looking woman stood up to greet them. Her face was gentle with bright green eyes, and framed by light purple hair that she secured with a ribbon. She wore a layered dress of black and white and some black shoes. Given the style of the dress Hikari half-expected to see the shoes had some kind of heel but alas they did not. Honestly she’d not seen any such shoes since arriving in this world. Not even in shoe shops. Did they not exist in this world? Well, she did not much care either way, and was afraid to ask.
Her thoughts were broken abruptly as the woman strode forward, “I’m Claudia Frostlight and you must be Hikari. Polca has told me much about you.”
Hikari blushed slightly, then blinked, “She has?”
“Quite a bit. She did tell me that she messed up and you’ve ended up pregnant with her child. I will do my best to help make up for my half-sister's incompetence. Now, she did tell me you were summoned as a hero and your first mission ended in failure?”
Hikari’s blush deepened. “Um, uh, well,” she hung her head, “Yes.”
“Oh don’t be so embarrassed. Failure isn’t anything to be ashamed of. Even the most talented fail sometimes. If we didn’t fail, how would we truly learn and grow? Our failures shape us as much, if not more so than our successes.”
Hikari blinked.
Polca interjected, “I was thinking of enrolling her in the institute for an accelerated education. She’s a holy storm mage with access to the full trinity of holy elements. I’ve done what I can to teach her, with some assistance from Princess Arlie Contrey. But I think she’d benefit from some institute instruction.”
“Oh? In that case let’s head out in the yard. I’d like to see what she can do for myself.” She focused on Hikari. “If you pass muster, I’ll take you on as a student in my class.”
“Your class?” she squeaked.
Claudia nodded, “I’m an instructor at the institute, among other things.”
Eren said, “Would you mind if took a chance to practice when we get to the yard?”
“Go ahead!”
_______________
Hikari settled heavily on the bench. Taking a moment to just relax. Claudia proved to be a harsh taskmaster, and had put her through her magical paces. She’d gone through her entire repertoire of spells. Her mana pool wasn’t any more than fumes at this point, and she felt mentally exhausted.
Polca and Claudia were speaking nearby. “I see what you mean. Impressive for one so new to their training to already be casting spells. But a combat mage she is not. Too many errors; her spells are good for a beginner, but that’s about it.”
“I know, and with the hellspawn breaching into the mortal plane? We need her combat capable, and fast.” She grimaced, “And thanks to my mistake. She no longer has her best weapon.”
“We can commission her a sword. A change in form won’t take away those skills. Hell, I think we should build upon them, any true battlemage learns to use both sword and spell anyway.”
“Does that mean???”
“Yes I will be taking her on as a student. I’ll recruit Elsie to polish her sword and physical skills. Give me two months, and we will make a high mage out of her. One with a solid background in combat magic and physical combat.”
Polca had a wry grin on her face, “Someone sounds confident. I’ll hold you to that.”
“Yes, well you will have to smooth her ruffled feathers once I’m done. I wish you luck with that.”
Polca gulped.
Hikari looked between them, and suddenly felt rather small. As an ominous wind blew through the yard and chilled her to the bone. A shudder went down her spine, and only one thought rang her head. She was in trouble wasn’t she?
There just wasn’t any other way she could take that. Maybe she should? Without fully realizing the thought, she pushed off the bench and edged toward the wall. Only to suddenly find herself floating in the air, not even halfway toward the wall. “And where do you think you are going, young lady? The lessons are just about to begin.”
Hikari gulped, she was in hell, wasn’t she? As it would turn out, hell would come later. This was but a taste of what was to come. Claudia was a demon wearing human skin. No other explanation would fit.