Chương 4: IV. Dark Veil

The chicken stew was still good. Thankfully, it only took two pails full of riverwater to fill it right back up. I'd prefer well water, but a rolling boil keeps the stew sanguine and not chloric. Though, I didn't have more chicken to add to the stew. Or any meat at all, actually. The sink at least was still good, and the water there was soapy, if a bit stale. I'd have to replace it eventually, but a farmer always had dirt between her fingers. And blood. And guts. I splashed more water onto my hands.

It was getting warm, so it had to be changed sooner, rather than later. And although it was the third time washing them, I swear I could still see specks of red and viscous black. But no matter. I shook my hands out and wiped them on my frock. I scrambled up the ladder and clambered atop the stool. The worktable shook as I grabbed the Mortis Agrariae and flipped to the last pages. The yellowed parchment was blank, though it smelled musty but clean.

The texture was still the same, and there was no ink let alone words. You have to transcribe them, you dolt. Right. I dipped my quill in the inkwell and dotted it upon the page. Three drops splattered against the paper. It slowly faded into parchment, which remained steadfast yellow. My fingers shook rapidly, disturbing the quill as it bled blank ink into the page. There weren't any words in my head. Was that normal? I never owned a [Spellbook] before. I drew a straight line and lifted the pen.

The ink quickly dried up, and then faded away. I then wrote the word 'Peaches', but that too faded away. I thought it might have been alive and wrote 'Hello', but that also didn't work. I tapped the quills tip against the page, finger against the central shaft and my knuckles brushing against the plume. I was again lost in thought, trying to make the book do anything but eat my ink – it cost 2 copper to refill the pot! I didn't have that kind of money. … But I had my blood.

I looked at my finger, and the small hole I made earlier had already scabbed over.

"Your turn, other hand," I muttered, and nicked my opposite index on one of the quill's barbs. One benefit of making your own quills, I guess. The blood came down to the reservoir. I was going to move my arm in a line again to test it out, but my shoulder seized up. My hand froze in spot, holding the quill while my arm just moved on its own. I grabbed my wrist with my other hand, but I couldn't make myself stop. Not because I was writing, but because it kept nicking me.

I was woozy by the time I had finished writing my fourth entry. My hand was covered in thousands of cuts. It hurt all over – I couldn't do this for an entire field! But the words were circles. Literal spiralling circles with gaps in them at some point in their circumference. Straight lines of different sizes cut through the circle at seemingly random entrances, to seemingly random depths. In short, I had no idea what I just wrote. I spoke Empyrean, of course, but everyone in Oakheart did.

I could read Elvish, since all academic and magical books are written in that, but my speaking of it must have been atrocious. Adrian was probably fluent, and maybe he'd like to talk. Right, stay focused Ashley. This wasn't a language I understood. But, I wrote it. I had spells! Four of them! I didn't know what they did, but that was a problem for the future. If it didn't help me find out how to sell these [Blood Carrot] I was holding onto, it could wait. But that meant I had to go into town.

The window was mostly clean, and if I stood opposite the shadows on the wall, I could see my reflection in the glass. I wish I had a mirror, but that was also a future problem. My clothes were scraggy and worn. My frock and farmers boots were covered in mud and just streaks of red – either clay or blood. My brown handkerchief covered my neck – Adrian always wore a red one, saying we matched. Which was dumb, I don't own a red one. And brown matched his hair, not mine. But my hair did need to be combed.

It was getting sprayed again; looking like a grated carrot. I'd have preferred brown hair if I got the chance, since it hid the dirt better. I finished running my fingers through the strands to smooth them out somewhat. They still frazzled at the end, and it just meant I would have to purchase a comb sooner rather than later. I just tied my hair in a bun and placed most of it underneath the handkerchief. I could just say it was hot outside, since it was Spring. Who am I kidding?

I need to bathe, but I just don't have the time. And I certainly don't have the spare clothing to launder these, unless I do it at night and wear slightly damp dresses in the morning. I broke my gaze from the window pane and looked at the floor. My boots were dirty too. Ma said every proper girl owned a pair for work and a pair for town. Eventually, Ma. The ground floor was neatly placed, and I served myself more watery… soup at this point. It wasn't nearly thick enough to be considered a stew.

If I had the money, I'd get some more ingredients. But that was getting repetitive. If I had the money. If I had the money. I have money now. I just have to sell it. I collided with the floor, my feet catching against the loose floorboard. I rubbed my head, and scampered towards it.

"Why are you popping out?" I peeled it up. In the empty space was a brown backpack. The leather still shone, and the clasps had some golden polish. I reached down, and the bag was suspiciously light. Leather was heavy, but it felt like a linen sack. I hoisted it up into my lap, and opened the satchel. I peered into the mouth, and saw… nothing. I reached in, and something soft met my fingers. I pulled it out to reveal a package wrapped in brown canvas paper, tied with twine.

Atop of the package was a pair of shin-length black boots – with the tiniest heel – finished with an actual metal buckle. I put them to the side, and ripped apart the paper. A green dress rolled out with white trim. The material was a good mixture, being mostly linen but had cotton blended to make it comfier. The neckline had the same white trim too, but the cuffs made it look faux-regal; all the rage back at Flowers-In-The-City. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I squeezed it to my chest, and carefully put it beside the boots. I reached into the backpack again, and pulled out an oakwood comb. I flicked it between my fingers, and then put it into my hair. Both of these things are what I wanted. Why were they here? I reached in once more… and felt a parchment. I pulled a piece of paper, torn from a book. Hey Ashy, If you're reading this, that means we got into a fight and I couldn't give you this backpack myself. I don't know what I did this time, but I'm sorry.

I'd say that in person, but I have work to do, and I know how you are when you get into one of your moods. Take this as a peace offering? It's been three days, so your carrots are probably done growing. I'll ask Nathaniel to get you a new pair of tools, of bronze this time so it's just a return of what you already owned – not a handout. That way you can keep farming without that Broken Hoe you probably already forgot about. I asked Melissa to make you this dress as a gift. I wanted to give it to you in person, but…

I mean, if you're reading this letter… Anyways, there's one more thing inside this backpack, something I promised our Ma I'd give to you. And you should keep the backpack, it holds a lot more than you think. You also probably don't own a basket to hold your crops with either, so… Hope to see you in town! With all my love, Yours always, Adrian Kind Regards, Adrian. I stared at the last lines, and then flipped the bag upside down and shook it. A small bag of jingling coins landed on my lap. It was unopened.

There were going to be 12 gold coins inside. 1 gold Ma saved for my education fund. I opened the bag. Gold greeted me. Not 12, but 20 pieces. In my inventory, I had nine [Blood Carrot], each worth a gold piece. And then this pious fuck is giving me twice that because 'Ma told him too?' Hogwash.

"Great. Twenty more coins till we're even." The room didn't respond to my outrage, but I caught sight of the wooden bowl. The [Reinforced] one since he also knew I would break it. The steam rolled off the soup. I lifted it to my face. Ashley casts [Defile Magic]! Behold the Mandate of The Witch-Queen; Arbiter of what is fair and foul. The burning light coming from the wooden bowl hissed. Golden doves singing Symphonic Harmonies were devoured by worms of shifting shadow.

The steam barely had time to rise, and a sheet of mold and rot had already covered the runny broth and chunky ingredients. I raised it to my nose and inhaled. I gagged at the overripe, rotting stench that came out and stormed to the window. I tossed the liquid outside, and immediately scrubbed out the bowl with the warm, sudsy water.

"Disgusting." But by then, I had lost my appetite. I put the bowl back on my table, took the clothing, shoes and backpack, and walked to the river. It wasn't a long walk, but it wasn't practical for farming. I'd have spent more time going back and forth than watering the fields if I ever went to scale – but for the immediate future, it would do. The river water was cold. Flowers-By-The-River had a thermae, which was separated for boys and girls.

The Academy Students were allowed to go there for free, and I'd often soak in the heated pool after a long day of school. I missed that. They even sold soap and herbal blocks. Some of the other students said there were prostitutes, but I never saw them. My mind drifted back as the river washed off the dirt from my skin. Cold running water wasn't the best for my hair, but now it was slick and smooth. I combed the strands out and stared at the dress. I used [Inspect].

COMMON DRESS (COMMONERS) (FEMALE) (TALL) A dress made for commoners. Created in a style adored by Agrarian-Types. • Price: 2 Silver Pieces • Crafted by: Melissa Bellamine (Weaver 3) Even Melissa was doing better than me. Two Silver Pieces wasn't much though. But I wouldn't forget it. Maybe if I gave it to Melissa, she'd refund Adrian? My green eyes stared at me from the river water. Adrian had brown eyes like Ma's. I had my Pa's. They were much better than Melissa or Jasmine's blue.

The white bonnet covered most of my hair, but now that it was clean and combed, I elected to leave it as a ponytail. The green dress was very, very nice, and with my new boots, I couldn't help but twirl. No one was around, thankfully. I removed the boots and put on my workboots. I didn't want to dirty them until I was back on the main road. However, as soon as I reached the boundary of my farm towards the gate to Town, the world froze. WARNING! VEIL NOT SET! It blared in my vision, and wouldn't leave my sight.

"Okay, okay! I'll set my Veil. How do I do that?" Your Veil can be any [Class] or [Role] you have unlocked. It is your responsibility to keep this updated. WARNING: [Tier] mismatch will create overflow!

"I… what is a [Role]? What is a [Tier]?" FEATURE LOCKED UNTIL [ADVANCEMENT]"Okay, Future Problems." I pulled up the Veil, and set my class to what everyone had thought I was. VEIL SET: ASHLEY IS A [Level 1 [Farm Girl]].

"No change then," I said, and walked to Oakheart.