Steel and Mana
Chapter 440 – Settled In

A whole month had passed since the Khulmani princesses arrived in Avalon, and they were experiencing a summer that was different from all the others they had ever had.

On one of the hottest days, Meyli was walking beside Morgan in the palace gardens, both of them dressed in matching, white, simple dresses... they were now looking like siblings. It was not much of a wonder, as Meyli was wearing one of Morgan's clothes, borrowed with a childlike glee, enjoying that it smelled like... Well, like Morgan. Best of all, neither of them seems to mind. If anything, Meyli seemed more alive with each passing day, her steps becoming much lighter as she giggled, sometimes unprotected, just to herself.

"Now concentrate," Morgan warned her, holding a glowing orb of light in her palm. "I am going to change its color so you can see the formation clearly instead of just the blinding, white light. But you must understand that this move is nothing but changing the wavelength of the light. It is a fundamental principle, and if you understand it, you will be able to use your magic much better."

Turning serious, Meyli fixed her eyes on Morgan's spell, her fingers twitching as she was doing her best to sense and read it at the same time. Waves... When Morgan first told her, she didn't really get it, but as the days turned into weeks and they were together most of the time, she began slowly understanding it. She could feel it... as the magic coming from Morgan was subtly changing as those waves, whatever they were, started changing.

"When it is red, it feels slower... When it is blue, it is more like... badum, badum, badum!"

"Ahaha! Pretty much~!" Morgan clapped, laughing. "That is why I told you that the shorter the distance between the waves, the bluer they become."

"Um, um, and there is light that we can't see, yes?" Meyli beamed and, without hesitation, hugged her mentor. "Can you cast invisible light? Invisible spells?"

"I can't." Morgan shrugged, patting her head. She was curious enough, which was good, and she found herself enjoying the role of a teacher. It was... fun. "My Mom can, though. But it is dangerous, and so far, I am not good enough to try it."

"You are not... good enough?" Meyli asked, a bit shocked.

"Duh!" Morgan laughed again, and for Meyli, the real surprise was that she admitted it and that she wasn't at all embarrassed. How brave... how noble! "If Arthur and Leyla weren't so busy, you should see them... well, they are a bit special though, so it is kinda... cheating!"

"Why?"

"Well," Morgan whispered as if it was a big secret, "You see... they don't even need formations... They can manifest magic without ever summoning one and giving it away!"

"I bet you could do it too!" Was her instant answer, making Morgan blush a little.

"Well... Maybe... If I wanted..." she pouted, suddenly thinking if she would be able to. Maybe... if she put in a bit of effort...

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At the same time, away from Avalon, on the training grounds near the fortress walls in the Pass, the clang of metal on metal echoed on a constant basis.

"Again!" Kalash yelled, standing there, his arms crossed. But it wasn't he who fought with Lancelot this time.

In front of him stood Jila, wearing shorts and some wraparounds on her chest, heaving heavily. With a grin, she shook her head, flinging off the sweat from her brow, and immediately charged at Lancelot with a staff in hand, jumping up and bringing her full strength down at him. Lancelot, holding a dull sword, parried her effort, but only for her to land and try to sweep his leg with the same momentum, almost catching him off guard.

"Hah! She almost got you! You are getting sloppy; stop staring at her body; she is your enemy now, not your girlfriend!" Kalash roared with laughter, of course.

"I am not staring..." Lancelot groaned, squinting at his Grandfather.

"Please stare!" Jila huffed, patting her stomach. "Look at my developing abs, hubby, and salivate over me! You can eat me up!"

"..."

"Now, now," Kalash interjected, "Bedroom stuff is for the bedroom; we are training now!"

"Yes, Dad!" Jila saluted, her mouth still going from ear to ear. Mainly because she was the first of her sisters to be invited to... here. She heard that the Grandfather of her future husband had returned, and she insisted on coming and visiting... and what a visit it was. She has been here for a week now, and both Kalash and his wife, Louise, have been treating her like a proper daughter-in-law. It was perfect! She even got proper tips on how to handle pregnancy in the future.

"Did you think about what I told you, kid?"

"I did." Lancelot nodded, confusing Jila, who was looking back and forth between the two men. "She has it in her, yes."

"I am still a virgin; I have nothing in me yet!" Jila protested, slapping her stomach again, "But we can put in one if you want, hubby! I'm ready!"

"Soon, soon," Kalash walked in, rubbing her head. "After Lancy marries you officially, you can go at it. Until then, use the backdoor."

"Back-what?"

"Grandpa!" Lancelot grunted, seeing Jila's expression and the question marks in her eyes, missing the point.

"Anyway," Kalash waved a hand, "What I told him was that I would recommend you be trained as a knight. You have the aptitude."

"To pilot one of... those things?!" Jila squealed, knowing precisely what Kalash meant. She even sat in the cockpit once... and she loved it ever since.

"It's not an easy training," Lancelot warned him. "And even if you complete it, there are others before you who will get their machines first."

"But I would get mine eventually, no?" She grinned, her eyes burning with fire, "I may not look like it... But I am patient! I CAN wait to ride one... and I can ride you in the meantime!"

"Good girl." Kalash chortled, watching her with pride, "This is exactly the spirit we need in the family, ahahaha!"

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While Jila was doing her best to become an Avalonian in name, too, Tarsine was sitting in a private chamber surrounded by rolled-up silks, long, spinning threads, and a dozen or so mannequins. But she wasn't alone as Dorian Arbuckle stood there, his arms folded and a new set of magnifying spectacles perched on his nose, examining her latest creation, looking for damages or faulty seams.

"You corrected the hem... Mhm... Very good," he smiled and then pointed with his finger. "But the neckline still clashes with the overall silhouette. I would change it."

"I thought about it," Tarsine nodded, not offended but delighted, as it seemed she was making great leaps in developing her skills. "What if I layer it with a silver-colored mesh? That way, it retains form without losing movement..."

"Hm..." Dorian raised a brow, considering it. "Try it."

Hours later, the piece was done. It was a fusion of Khulmani form and a mix of some Avalonian flair inspired by Dorian's earlier designs. Tarsine looked at it with pride, as it was her very first completed product. Something she would never forget.

"You're nearly ready," Dorian chuckled. "You should wear it a little, try it, feel it, modify what needs to be, and then, this winter, we will showcase your line together with my upcoming selection."

"I will do my best," Tarsine exhaled slowly, holding back a smile, looking at him, and bowing. "Thank you, Master."

"Please, I am nobody's master!" Dorian blushed, scratching his face, but clearly, he really enjoyed it when she called him that.

And it was the truth, at least, Tarsine thought it that way. She was no longer a princess; she was Dorian's disciple, and one day, she would have her own shop... her own clothes. Her designs...

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Not far from Dorian's workshop, the smell of coffee and fresh bread filled the air as Seltana carefully balanced three plates on a large tray, weaving through the bustling café.

"Here you go," she said, placing a dish before a customer, who smiled at her, being one of the regulars.

"Thank you, Miss Seltana!" the young officer said, not realizing who she was. Or he just didn't care, not that it bothered her. It felt... normal by now.

So, to be polite, Seltana smiled back at him and returned to the counter, where her bag waited for her, beckoning her to do it. But she had to be patient. She was still working, even though the owner had already given her today's pay... The moment her shift was over, she would head out at once, heading directly to Krel's Emporium, buying her third set of soldiers, and finally completing her first army.

Of course, it was not for playing. At least, that was what she always told herself. It was for serious training. And... it kind of was. She did learn that a collective army was gathering, ready to march towards the east next spring and that it would be led by General Oleg, someone she was introduced to about two weeks ago. Ever since then, she has been with the General multiple evenings, going over Avalon's history and past battles.

Today wasn't any different, either. Later that evening, she sat with General Oleg in a small study in the attic of his home, reviewing a battle map.

"This maneuver here? It's reckless," she muttered, pointing at it.

"It is," Oleg nodded, watching her. "And what would you have done instead?" As he expected, she answered without hesitation, explaining her reasoning, which made Oleg lean back and nod. "You're learning fast," he said. "You are finally used to utilizing the artillery. Good... Good!"

"I have to." She smiled, looking at the giant of a man, blushing a little, turning her gaze back at the map, "I want to understand everything before it is too late. A commander can't play with the lives of her people..."

"No, they can't." Oleg agreed solemnly. "I can see why you were told to come to me and not to Lucca."

"Lucca?" Seltana hummed, recalling the name, "He has been sent to... Markoth, yes?"

"He is best at defending." The General chuckled. "He has been made into the 'Warden of Markoth' for now and will command the troops to defend the new fortress we built there. But most of your moves are offensive, not defensive."

"I..." Seltana mumbled, recalling the plans she always made, "You are right, General..."

"A true General knows their weaknesses and delegates the job accordingly!" Oleg chuckled, trying to cheer her up, "You are doing good already. I talked with the Sovereign, and he agreed to your request."

"Really?!" Seltana gasped as she was sure that Sovereign Leon would refuse it outright. But he didn't...

"On one condition!" Oleg warned her.

"Yes?"

"You will stay with me and obey orders like everyone else. Understood? The Eastern Campaign will not be a regular one. You can come and observe it... But my orders will be absolute. No talkbacks and no disrupting the chain of command, or you will be shipped home."

"Naturally." Seltana saluted, going into a military stance, "Thank you, General!"

"Don't thank me!" He chuckled again, returning her salute, "Thank our Sovereign."

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Next to Avalon's walls, Leyla and Rashira stood beside the waiting transport as the Stormbringer slowly shuddered above them, preparing for departure. One last time, Rashira adjusted the strap on her traveling coat and the satchel on her right, taking a deep breath before following Arthur to climb aboard. Flying was still... something frightening.

"You sure you want to come with me?" Leyla asked with a half-smile.

"I did request it, did I not?" Rashira nodded. "I want to see this fortress everyone is talking about. And your mother... Lady Sasha. I want to meet her."

"I wonder what your image of my Mom is!" She grinned as they entered the Stormbringer. "Anyway, she'll like you. She'll probably question you about a lot and what you want with me."

"Excuse me?" Rashira gasped, actually shocked.

"Mothers are mothers!" Leyla shrugged, "And she hasn't seen me for months now. I bet she will make the wrong connections, especially because I show up with you and not with Arthur!"

"..." thinking, Rashira couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh, "It is not like that… And we are both girls…"

"I know, I know!" Leyla continued to giggle. "She will understand it, too. Well, we can't help it; Arthur has gone with Mirian to Ishillia to finalize some deals. And… some other things. Anyway, after bringing Mom home, I will also have to go on a tour..."

"It is how leaders grow, huh?" She muttered, knowing that Leyla, as a representative, was about to visit most members of the Union, a kind of show that they would work collectively to defeat the monsters the following year.

"Something like that. What? Want to tag along?"

"I don't know," she muttered as they arrived at the observation deck, watching and feeling the ship rise to the skies. "It would be interesting to see the world."