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

After the testing and the mess they had made of Kiera's office, Lusha retreated to their quarters in the tower. They sat in the middle of a comfortable bed with their arms wrapped around their knees while they stared at the System Message in their mind's eye.

Lusha hesitated, but decided more information was worth dealing with their obnoxious Guide. "Guide, are the Local Laws referenced in this System Message available via my interface?"

"Yes, all [Nascent Nobles] have direct interface access to all Local Laws for the polities in which they have been Titled," the Guide responded cheerfully.

"How many laws directly impact me thanks to my [Nascent Noble] Title?"

"Please be more specific. Your enquiry is too vague to provide a proper answer," the Guide chirped unhelpfully.

A loud sigh escaped Lusha's mouth as they paused to consider how to rephrase their request. "As a [Nascent Noble] of the Queendom of Gloddus how many Laws specific to this Queendom affect me directly that do not also affect those without the Title. Is that specific enough?" Three questions and Lusha was already frustrated with their Guide.

"That is quite specific and will allow me to answer your question more succinctly. There are currently 253 laws that directly affect, or involve [Nascent Nobles], registered with the System for the Queendom of Gloddus."

Another sigh and Lusha buried their head in their knees. "Ok, let's review. Order by relevance, age, and immediate impact on my freedom."

"As a [Nascent Noble] you are obligated to obey any direct commands of the Witch Queen of Gloddus…"

Lusha let their mind go blank as they tried to parse all the information that the Guide was giving them. Getting a crash course in Queendom Law was necessary, but it was about as interesting as reading an end user agreement. Most of it seemed reasonable, but there were a few clauses that gave Lusha pause.

"Guide? Please explain what 'active defense of sovereign territory' means in this context."

"The System requires that nations that are registered with the System place specific requirements on those that are granted [Titles of Nobility]. In this instance 'active defense of sovereign territory' means exactly what it says. All those who bear a [Title of Nobility] must be an active and direct part of the defense of their territory and citizens."

"How does that even work? Don't most nobles send troops to fight for them? Does it just mean they have to direct troops personally, or does it mean they have to fight with their troops?" Lusha admitted that history, politics, and law were not areas they had studied extensively despite the best efforts of their tutors.

"There are benefits provided to both troops and nobles that are directly leading and actively fighting in defense of their territory. Examples include: increased stamina and endurance, improved Essence Regeneration rates, and even morale bonuses granted directly by the System."

"How does the System benefit from those requirements?" Lusha didn't really get why the System seemed to be forcing [Titled Nobles] into combat roles, but wondered if it was because noble classes had traditionally been warrior classes.

"The System does not directly benefit from these requirements. However, one goal of the System is to ensure that those given leadership positions in societies under its purview are accountable."

"Wait, I wanted only those Laws that applied directly to me as a [Nascent Noble]. How does this apply to me?"

"As a [Nascent Noble] of the Queendom of Gloddus you may be called on at any time to take part in the defense of the Queendom at the discretion of Witch Queen Kiera Aseralis and the Coven of Nobility."

Lusha started cursing again, but this time stuck to languages that wouldn't trigger random Essence effects. Destroying one room was more than enough.

—

Except for meals, Lusha stayed in their room discussing the intricacies of their new Title with their Guide and trying to figure out what, if anything, they could do. However, the next day Queen Kiera decided that Lusha had enough time to mope and called them in for another meeting.

Instead of an office, Lusha was led to a small dining room to have breakfast with their grandmother who, despite having watched Lusha throw a magical tantrum, smiled warmly when they entered the room.

"Welcome grandchild, newest [Nascent Noble] of Gloddus!" Kiera said cheerfully to Lusha whose response was a grimace before they quickly schooled their expression.

"Good morning grandmother," Lusha said while being directed to a seat close to Queen Kiera.

"Don't be so sad, my dear grandchild!" Kiera exclaimed with a wave of her hand. "While I understand gaining a Title was not what you wanted and the Testing can be trying, there is no reason to be so glum!" She motioned for them to sit before continuing her speech. "This is a great day for the Queendom!" Kiera gave Lusha a radiant smile. "Believe it or not, new [Titled Nobles] are quite rare and each one is celebrated by everyone in the nation." A frown appeared on her face. "Well, except for those that didn't pass. There are many bitter nobleborn out there that were deemed unworthy of their blood or whose Path was not compatible."

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"Was my mother considered 'unworthy of her blood'?" Lusha asked with a grimace of distaste.

"Of course not! Your mother is a healer by nature and trade. The System determined that her Path wasn't compatible. She never had the heart for combat," Kiera said seriously.

"And I do? I do not like fighting. Sure, combat training is fun and good exercise, and Shada did a brief stint as a Delver, but it wasn't something he enjoyed," Lusha said while stabbing a potato violently and taking a bite.

Kiera gave Lusha a look of pity and sympathy. "Enjoying combat is not a requirement. It is being willing to do what is necessary. You more than showed that when you agreed to ferry troops on your personal skyship without even asking for a reward! Then you used that same skyship to fight off an entire flock of monsters to allow the troops to disembark safely!"

Lusha looked up from their food. "Even if I can accept that, and part of me is old enough and mature enough to see your point, I do not want this. It shouldn't be something you or the System can force on me."

"My dear Lusha! You are Lusha right now, not Luca, right?" Kiera asked and Lusha nodded. "Life is not fair. It wasn't fair before the System and it is not fair under the System. [Titled Nobles] are a necessity. There have been nations that tried to bypass the System and [Titles], but they have all failed, often falling to in-fighting or to their inability to properly defend against Beast and Monsters." Kiera gestured around the room. "All of this is only possible thanks to the stability brought about by [Titled Nobles]."

"Intellectually I understand; trust me the world my past self came from was rather politically chaotic and wars between nations were common. If those rules help reduce either of those I can see the benefit. My problem is with becoming part of that process." Lusha tucked their hair behind their ears to help keep it out of their food as they glanced up at Kiera to see her response.

"It is not a burden that can be borne lightly, but it is our burden to bear for being who we are both by blood and by temperament. You can reject the Title, you know, if you truly do not want it; but the consequences are severe."

"I want to, but I have a feeling that the burden is better than the consequences." Lusha set down their silverware. "But I would like to know the consequences. That way I can at least feel like there was a choice of some sort."

Kiera nodded seriously. "If you reject the [Nascent Noble] title that the System grants you as part of your birthright and by passing your Testing, then you will be given a different title…" Kiera looked away briefly. "[Negligent Noble] is not a pretty or beneficial title. It was up there with titles like [Forsaken Noble] and [Fallen Noble], which are titles given to those who are rejected by their people or who do the opposite of what a [Titled Noble] should do."

"[Negligent Noble]? That sounds rude somehow. What does it mean in practice?" Lusha's curiosity about System mechanics was helping them avoid the emotional turmoil they were experiencing.

Kiera grimaced. "The System consequences are the opposite of the bonuses granted by more positive titles. Reduced regeneration and hence a harder time Cultivating is the simplest to explain, but there are Skills that allow people to see titles and traditionally [Negligent Nobles] are barred from entering most cities. For all practical purposes, it means banishment from civilization."

"That's horrible!" Lusha was actually shocked that the result could be so harsh.

"It can be yes, but if you consider it from a different perspective it is more horrible to abandon one's responsibilities than to accept them. Culturally speaking, it is no different than a parent denying support to a child or abandoning their family." Kiera said this calmly, but her feelings on those who abandoned responsibility were clear.

"I see," was all Lusha could think to say. "I do not plan to reject my title."

Kiera gave a clear sigh of relief. "I am glad to hear that. I didn't think you would, and most people that are given the title aren't the type to reject it, but the possibility is always there."

"I figured as much honestly, but I still wanted to know my options." Lusha pushed their plate away. "Now what happens? I went over the Laws with my Guide and I understand in theory what it means to be a [Nascent Noble], but could you tell me what is expected of me now?"

Kiera gave another kind smile and nodded. "All [Titled Nobles], including [Nascent Nobles] can vote as part of the Coven of Nobles." Kiera began ticking off things on her fingers. "I can at any time grant you a specific noble title, like [Baron of Gloddus], and a territory to oversee. Though, as of right now there are no free territories so there is no place to put you." She paused to think. "There are certain social obligations such as attending your Coming Out Ball, which will be at the end of the week, attending the Eastern Imperial Academy as part of a student exchange program, and finally there is your position in the line of succession. I will have a functionary provide a more detailed list, but those are the big ones."

Lusha was taking a drink when Kiera said line of succession and nearly choked before they were able to clear their throat. "Line of succession?" Lusha asked nervously.

"You are my grandchild, Lusha. As a [Nascent Noble] you are a recognized part of the Royal line of Gloddus."

"But…isn't the Queendom matriarchal and non-hereditary? I can't be in line for the Queendom, can I? I am also not a Witch. In fact, I am barred from the Class system entirely." Lusha said in a rush of words and confusion.

"By tradition the Queendom is matriarchal, but there have been intersex Queens in the past. You are capable of baring children are you not?"

Kiera's blunt question caught Lusha off guard. Sure, Lusha knew that physically they were neither truly male or female, but had functional organs belonging to both sexes. It had never been important, and was rarely even mentioned among Lusha's family members.

"Technically I can, yes. As far as I know I am fertile. I…" Lusha shrugged. "I honestly never thought about it."

"Well then, you qualify to continue the matriarchal line of the Queendom and the Aseraelis family." Kiera smiled and waved away the awkward discussion. "While the Queendom is not officially hereditary, traditionally it has been when there is a direct descendant with the necessary titles."

Lusha's face paled and instead of just stopping with blood rushing from their face it continued until their skin went white, then translucent, and then finally partially shifted outside of the Physical Plane into the Etheric.

See Lusha literally fading from existence startled Kiera so much that she flung her chair backward when standing and knocked things over in her rush to get to Lusha's side. "Lusha! Are you ok!?"

Kiera's shout of alarm was enough to bring Lusha back to their senses, which also brought them fully back into Physical reality. "I am sorry, I don't know what happened…" Lusha said in confusion before trailing off.

"You Phased! I didn't know you could do that! Is it a Skill?" Kiera asked while patting Lusha's head and limbs checking for damage. Phasing was not something common, nor safe.

Lusha looked at Kiera in confusion. "Phased? I don't have a Skill for that. In fact, my Skills are restricted for reasons I can't go into. What do you mean, Phased?"

"Phasing is a very rare ability to become intangible by phasing between planes. If my senses are right, you just partially Phased into the Etheric Plane of shock, of all things." Kiera said this with a touch of wonder and disbelief in her voice.

"Oh, uhhmm…Shada can do that. It is part of having a spirit form. They exist there unless purposely Manifesting." Lusha was confused. Could they do the same thing in their physical form, but instead of Manifesting they could Phase?

"Well, you somehow managed to do it by accident. I think we need to table our discussion and give you more time to process things. Do try not to Phase through anything and get stuck, alright?" Kiera said with a laugh to try and defuse the situation.

"Wait before I go does all this mean I am a [Princess]?" Lusha asked the one question that had been hovering in the back of their mind since hearing the words line of succession.

Kiera laughed fully and loudly. "Technically yes, but also no. As a [Nascent Noble] of the Queendom of Gloddus and member of the Royal line you are a Princess of Gloddus, a non-System title. My heir and the current [Crown Princess] is your aunt Beatras. She is currently off on a diplomatic mission. So she wasn't here to greet you."

They had an aunt? Why hadn't mom ever mentioned a sister? Were people going to start calling them Princess and my lady? Princess Luca? Princess Shada? Princess Lusha? Westlin was going to definitely get a good laugh when he found this bit of information out.