Copyright J.B. Norman
Lucia doesn’t feel qualified to be escorting the Duke and Duchess of Middlesbrooke across the Natalian countryside.
Sure, she’s glad to be home. But she’s less glad to be the only thing standing between
At least if something happens to Roland, it wouldn’t be that hard to convince everyone else involved that it was his own fault…
Although Lucia, Apolline, and Petra are technically the escorts of Duke Charles and Duchess Sofia, Lucia’s aunt Fabia is doing most of the actual work as the Duke and Duchess’ tour guide.
Aunt Fabia studied at the University of Imperialis and, like Lucia, has travelled all across Realmgard, She’s made a bit of a name for herself writing books about the history of Natalis and guides for visitors from outside Natalis.
The group is currently standing in front of a ruined ancient temple. The walls are long-gone, but some of the columns are at least still mostly standing, along with the arch at the temple’s main entrance, and the general outline of the temple is still visible. Most of the floor titles have been torn up, or else overgrown with weeds or buried under centuries of dirt, but there are still glimpses of the ornate mosaic patterns.
“Here, Your Serenities,” Aunt Fabia is telling Duke Charles and Duchess Sofia, “we have the ruins of the temple of Aeto Avunculus Maximus.”
“Oh!” Alda says eagerly. “I know about this! That means Best Uncle and the temple honours the special bonds between Aeto and his nieces Pherais and Anassa!”
“Very good,” Aunt Fabia says. “Have a candy.”
She hands Alda a traditional Natalian sweet.
“The temple was ruined in an earthquake in the late Imperial period,” Fabia continues. “Although it could have been rebuilt, the local magistrate decided to leave it in ruins as a memorial to the lives lost in the earthquake, though a second temple to Aeto was soon built nearby that has been in use ever since.”
She looks at the group.
“Any questions?”
Roland tentatively steps forward.
“Can I have some candy?” he asks.
“Impress me,” Fabia offers.
“Well,” Roland answers. “Um…”
He thoughtfully furrows his brow and touches his chin.
“I can do a hundred and fifty bicep curls with Lucia as a weight,” he declares.
Lucia narrows her eyes at the musclebound alchemist.
“Oh,” Aunt Fabia says as a smirk grows on her face. “I need to see this.”
“Don’t you dare,” Lucia warns as Roland steps forward. “I will scratch your face —”
She yowls as Roland lifts her up and holds her horizontally.
“One,” Roland begins.
Lucia heaves a exasperated sigh and folds her arms over her chest as she prepares herself to be bicep-curled 149 more times.
“Just keep your hands where I can see them, Roland,” she tells him.
She looks to her aunt, getting a little dizzy.
“It’s nice to see you again, Aunt Fabia,” she mutters.
“Anyway,” Aunt Fabia continues. “Is there anything else you’d like to know about the temple or its surroundings, Your Serenities?”
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