Me, My Spirit, And I [Book 1 Complete]

It took the troops far less time to disembark and set up a forward operating base in the ruins of a nearby village than it had to get everyone loaded, but it took an hour before Lusha was recovered enough to continue.

From their chair on the bridge a tired, but alert Lusha looked around at the crew waiting for orders. "We have at least five more trips to make before we are done with this side excursion. I know no one planned to be in two battles in one day, nor were we prepared to act as troop carriers. However, I am pleased with everyone's performance so far. Barring an incident, expect a bonus as soon as I can secure the chips!" Lusha announced to the cheers of the bridge crew.

"Now Captain, takes us up and over. Let's see how quickly we can get all these troops where they need to go," Lusha commanded.

"Aye sir!" the Captain responded before giving out orders to get the Shadow Beast back into the sky.

The next few hours were a tedious slog of loading and unloading troops and supplies. By the end of the 7th and final trip, Lusha was bone tired and ready to call it a day, but was asked if they could do an aerial scouting of the region with a few military officers onboard to record the results. Lusha agreed reluctantly, but was able to map out the spread of the Dungeon break and pin point locations that needed the most assistance. The time and lives saved were worth it, but it was a tired Lusha and crew that landed in the courtyard of the Dark Crown with the silver blue moon rising over the horizon and casting the palace in an ethereal light.

Shinobin had chosen to remain behind and help organize the refugees for a few days. Mina and Westlin had been rather bored during all the excitement as they had stayed in their quarters on the Shadow Beast most of the day except for brief visits to the bridge for updates.

Some sort of functionary was waiting on Lusha when they, Westlin and Mina disembarked in the courtyard. "My young lord Aseralis, the Witch Queen was called away, but I am here to escort you to your quarters in the palace proper. A late meal has been prepared and the amenities of the palace are at your disposal. On a personal note, thank you for assisting the army today. I have family in the north." The gentleman gave a graceful bow of respect.

"I only did as anyone with my resources would do, but I appreciate the thanks, nonetheless. I don't suppose the palace has proper baths, does it?" Lusha asked this last in a hopeful tone. Cleaning magic of all sorts eliminated much of the need for showers and baths. This made them luxuries even among nobles, who saw them as somewhat wasteful when a quick spell or enchanted cloth could do just as well.

"Actually we do; the palace was built over hot springs, so there are fine mineral baths available."

"Excellent. After you show us our quarters, please direct me to these baths." Lusha had adopted more formal and polite speech, but the genuine gratitude was clear in their voice.

"As you will, milord," the functionary replied before leading them through a series of winding corridors and to one of the spires of the Dark Crown. "We have very few guests at the moment, so you essentially have this entire tower to yourselves," the functionary showed them their rooms and amenities before all three were led down to the hot springs.

Rather than the larger, more public pools, the trio were led to a set of smaller luxurious chambers. "These are the queen's personal bathes. I was told to afford you every luxury, so this seemed more fitting for the heroes of the hour."

Lusha looked around at the luxurious baths and let out a sigh of relief. "This will do nicely, thank you. I am afraid I didn't catch your name, good sir."

"I am Versan, milord. If you need anything, you need only ring the bell by the baths and an attendant will appear. I will escort you back to your rooms when you are finished. Have a nice soak, milord." As polite and helpful as Versan was, he all but ignored Mina and Westlin, which neither minded. Instead, they were amused watching Lusha playing at being a young noble when they normally saw themy were covered in sweat or with leaves in their hair from a forest run.

Despite the fact that there were no real nudity taboos on Sierrallas, Mina chose not to join Lusha and Westlin in the baths. Neither Lusha or Westlin were body shy so quickly stripped, used a cleaning charm, and got into the hot baths to soak. It was clear that they were the only ones around so Lusha decided to relax fully and let their true form become visible.

The soft glow of Lusha's bioluminescent skin added to the soothing ambience of the springs. For a time neither Lusha nor Westlin spoke, but eventually Westlin broke the silence. "I can't believe you were able to take out both Beasts and Monsters with light beams, of all things!"

Lusha opened only one of their three eyes to glance at Westlin before closing it again while enjoying the heat of the bath. "They were more effective than expected. Being able to conjure coherent light so precisely is amazing." They sighed and shook their head. "I, or rather Shada, will need to check all the enchantments. I felt a few crack from the strain of using them too quickly."

"Crack? Why would they crack?" Westlin asked curiously. Despite the amount of time the two spent together Westlin had little interest in the ins and outs of magic and enchanting. He could spend hours talking about the different shaped ice crystals he could make or his sword forms, but bring up more intricate magic and his eyes would quickly glaze over.

"Once Essence moves from the Etheric to the Material Plane it begins to interact with physical matter. Some enchantments depend on that, in fact, but the interactions can create strain on the crystalline structure of the enchanter's ink. Put too much Essence through an enchantment too fast and the strain will crack the crystallized ink," Lusha explained tiredly, but in a way they hoped Westlin could understand. "I actually have a few theories on ways to reduce that and I am already using modified inks to increase the life span of enchantments, but the chemistry and alchemy involved aren't really my strong points."

"That was more of an answer than I needed, but I got it." Despite the amount of room available Westling and Lusha were sitting nearly hip to hip while they chatted. "How were you able to pull that off with your Stats reset?"

Lusha laughed. "It wasn't really me doing the work. I was really just giving the enchantments commands. I made a mistake the second time and tried to twist the enchantments to provide better targeting." Lusha went to wipe their hand through their hair only to remember at the last moment that this form was hairless. "I strained myself doing it."

Westlin giggled. "Hey, at least you didn't crack!" he joked cheerfully.

"I don't know, I think I have at least one crack…" Lusha replied seriously, but couldn't keep a straight face so started laughing instead.

Lusha and Westlin spent the rest of their time in the baths joking and insulting each other playfully before retiring for the night.

—

The next day, Lusha was summoned for a meeting with their grandmother. It was an official meeting that was required due to Lusha's nobleborn status. All nobleborn had to undergo the Testing. It was in part tradition, and in part System driven necessity. [Titled Nobles] were required to interact with certain key pieces of System infrastructure, and the System was picky about who it allowed to bear the Title. Technically, anyone could become a [Titled Noble] by meeting some esoteric standard set by the System, but in practice most were chosen by other [Titled Nobles] and only after the Testing.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Lusha was dressed in unusually formal and somber attire without frills or embellishment. Neither they, nor Shinobin, wanted them to pass the Testing and become a [Titled Noble]. To do so meant taking on far more responsibility than either were comfortable with. [Titled Nobles] were warriors and leaders. They oversaw specific territories and had to be active in the defense of the people and nations where they gained their Titles. Failure to do so had grave consequences. No one respected [Fallen Nobles] and they would be barred from most of the civilized world if they failed in their duties.

They were escorted to a private office where Witch Queen Aseralis sat behind a desk doing paperwork like a common scribe. Not even Witch Queens could escape the burden of bureaucracy, it seemed. She pointed at a chair without taking her eyes off her papers.

A bemused Lusha took a seat and waited for their grandmother to speak.

With a flourish of her pen Kiera looked up from her work and smiled at Lusha. "It is good to see you, grandchild. Our time together yesterday was so brief!" Witch Queen Kiera Aseralis stood from her desk and approached Lusha with arms open wide.

Lusha was surprised at the warmth in her voice and the offered hug, but stood and hugged their maternal grandmother tightly. "It is good to see you as well, grandmother." It was strange to call someone else grandmother as that particular term had only ever really applied to Vanestra until now.

With a flick of her wrist another chair appeared and Kiera sat down next to Lusha. "My, don't you look severe today. Where is the dashing skyship captain from yesterday?" Kiera laughed. "Why, you look like you are attending a funeral rather than your Testing!" she exclaimed mirthfully.

"I can't say I am looking forward to this Testing. I'd rather not become a [Tilted Noble]. I have far too many responsibilities for my age as it is," Lusha said ruefully.

"Those that wish to become [Titled Nobles] rarely pass their Testing," Kiera said sagely much to Lusha's dismay.

"What is involved in this Testing?" Lusha asked curiously while wondering if there was a way to fail on purpose. "Mother either wouldn't or couldn't tell me."

"You will take my hand. I will activate a Skill that is exclusive to High Nobles like Kings, Queens, Emperors, and the like. Then the System will determine if you have the qualities required to become a [Titled Noble]," Kiera explained while reaching for and holding Lusha's hand.

"Wait! The System decides who leads and people just accept that?" Lusha asked in disbelief.

"Yes and no. The System is the ultimate unbiased party, and is backed by the Divines. Many believe it is the Divines that choose rather than the System, but we don't know for certain."

Lusha felt their heart begin to beat faster and sweat form on their brow. If the Divine, the Gods themselves, were involved did that mean that Sierra would choose them? Had this been part of Her plans all along? Were the results predetermined or did Lusha have a choice?

"Grandmother, please tell me I have a choice in this? I truly do not want the Title and all that comes with it."

Kiera gave Lusha a sympathetic look. "Neither did I when it was time for my Testing, nor did your mother. You can turn down the Title if it is offered, but there are consequences."

"What consequences?" Lusha asked in concern before frustration took over. "Why should I go through the Testing?"

"My dear child, you have no choice. Those of noble blood must be Tested by both local and System Law. Even had you not come here to be Tested the System would have forced it on you in a much more dangerous and difficult way."

"You are joking. So my choice is between your Skill and some nebulous forced Test by the System?"

"Yes, except the second option often leads to death or severe injury. As I said, this is the easier path." Kiera's voice was firm, but her sympathy was clear.

"Why wasn't I told sooner? This seems like something I should have been told," Lusha said with a huff of frustration.

Kiera sighed and looked away. "More than one young nobleborn has tried to avoid the Testing when forewarned, only to face the harsher Testing of the System itself and perish. Traditionally, young nobleborn are only told by their Testers."

"This was why mom was so unhappy about this, wasn't it? She knew there wasn't really a choice."

Kiera simply nodded.

"Fine, let's get this over with. Waiting will not change anything. Go ahead. Use your damn Skill!" Had Lusha been less upset they might have realized they just gave an order to a Queen in her own palace, but at the moment their thoughts were too scattered and their emotions too high.

"Very well. Lucanarious Intarius Aseralis, also known as Luca Aseralis, Shada Aseralis, and Lusha Aseralis, as one of noble birth I hereby [Test] you for the [Title of Nobility] in the name of the Queendom of Gloddus, under the eyes of the Divine, and the System. May your Path be made clear!"

With those words Lusha's mind blanked and the world faded away.

—

Lusha's consciousness floated in a sea of memories. Their sense of self lost in the turmoil. Like an island being uncovered by restless waves, scenes appeared before their mind's eye. In one scene, a young and childish John could be seen arguing with a bully on a playground. In another, John led a meeting about a new bit of software the company he had worked for was launching. One after another different memories came and went, and in some John was seen standing up for themselves or others. While in others John was shown in managerial and leadership roles.

There were scenes of John's strengths and of his weaknesses. Like the time when he exploded angrily at his college roommate when stressed over a backlog of reports he had due. There was a time he had gotten drunk and propositioned an older woman that was not interested in the least.

Then came the scenes of John with his wives, children, and grandchild. Each showed different facets of his personality. His kindness was clear in how gently he held his children or wiped their tears away when they got hurt. When his first wife died his resilience was tested. Each memory left Lusha reeling in emotional overload.

In the end, John's memories ended as his life had ended, with calm acceptance. It was only after the final memories of being sick and dying passed that the scenes shifted to memories from Shada.

Shada's memories lacked the emotional impact of John's. Part of being a spirit meant having muted emotions, largely due to the lack of physical responses to enhance them. Lusha got to see Shada negotiate with Asonia and Sierra. It was strange seeing their mother in a state of undress and cuddling up to their father during that first night when Shada's consciousness emerged on Sierrallas.

Things became fuzzier when Luca was born and the two sets of memories began alternating back and forth. There were scenes of the ever cheerful Luca playing with Westlin intermixed with Shada performing magic inside the Mound. The more recent memories seemed to fly by faster. Each one a mere flicker in the dark of the turbulent sea.

When Lusha's most recent memories arrived, those where they helped transport troops and fought off both Beast and Monsters from their airship, things seemed to slow. The sea began to calm and a golden light spread throughout the strange realm Lusha's mind was trapped in.

The Voice of the Goddess Sierra filled the sky and golden light parted the sea of memory. Her words were simple, but nonetheless damning. "I know this is not what you would choose and I would spare you this duty if I could, but the System has deemed you worthy of your noble blood and there are Laws even I must obey. Awake oh [Noble] Lusha and know that my Blessing is still upon you."

—

Lusha's eyes fluttered open to the gently smiling face of their grandmother and a System Message waiting for them. All they could do was begin cussing in multiple languages, which had the effect of causing chaotic phenomenon as objects flew, combusted, and broke throughout the Witch Queen's office. One did not curse in Infernal without consequences, after all. The foul language that came out of Lusha's innocent looking face was so harsh that the room would later have to be Cleansed by a Priest to get rid of the cursed Essence they unleashed in their anger.

The entire time Witch Queen Kiera just smiled sadly as memories of her own anger after her Testing went through her mind while she watched her grandchild sympathetically.