Mark awoke to heavy banging on his room door; He jerked up into a sitting position momentarily confused at his location. He looked around the unfamiliar room in a daze as the events of the past day slowly made their way from the depths of his memory. That’s right, they had spent the night at the Trader’s Guild Headquarters as guests of Matthew. The loud banging sounded again, as a feminine voice called out;

“Sir Mark, are you awake?”

Mark quickly rose from the bed and approached the door, opening it wide as the person on the other side raised their hand to knock for the third time. The door swung open and Mark looked at the young lady on the other side. He didn’t remember her name, but he recognized the office worker looking lady as one of the secretaries working in the guild. His eyes were still half closed as he asked in a tired voice,

“Yes? What is it?”

The Office Lady seemed to have frozen in place, her hand raised and her mouth agape. She stood there for a moment wide eyed as her face and ears quickly turned a deep shade of red. Mark looked down at her quizzically, before following her eyes. It was then he realized he’d yet to get dressed; he was now standing in the doorway wearing nothing but an old pair of boxers. He gave a light chuckle before grabbing the door handle and pulling it shut, speaking out as he did,

“Sorry, one moment.”

“Y-yes….”

Mark opened the door once more after getting dressed; he now wore a pair of dark brown trousers, similar to khakis, and a light gray button up shirt. Matthew had provided them the night before; Mark couldn't identify the fabric used, but it was light and airy with a cottony feel, though softer. The young Office Lady, seeing that Mark was decent, stood straight and tried to present herself in a professional manner, though her face was still red,

“Ahem, well, yes. I am here to inform you that you have been summoned to the Whitewood Fortress, by order of the Duchess. Mr. Matthew has already gone on ahead and has ordered us to prepare a carriage. Breakfast will be served in the Staff mess hall in ten minutes, after which you will head directly to the Fortress.”

The young Office Lady delivered her message in a monotone voice before quickly retreating away from the door and walking stiff legged down the hall. Mark watched the lady leave with a smirk before closing his door. Five minutes later, Mark opened the door, this time wearing his jacket and a thin cloak. Alex was just exiting his own room across the hallway, and the two met up with Merry and a still half asleep Tsutsuji at the stairwell.

The group then proceeded down to the mess hall and ate a light breakfast. While Mark found the meal of small amount of bread, cheese, and ham to be a little light, Alex had a look of ecstasy as he ate, like a man who’d just finished a long fast. Tsutsuji gently moved Merry down the bench as they watched, giving the ravenous man a complex look.

After everyone had finished their meal, they were quickly ushered into a waiting passenger carriage and made their way to the large central island. Mark looked out of the carriage window as they drove through the streets, taking in the sights of the early morning bustle. He’d never really liked crowded cities like this, but he had to admit, Whitewood had its charm in its own way. After roughly 30 minutes, the carriage crossed over a large ornate bridge, stopping at both ends as their paper work was verified.

The atmosphere on the central island was completely different than on the other side of the bridge. Instead of tall, tightly packed buildings, the large estates were spaced reasonably far from each other, and while the Trade district was a noisy urban center, the lush greenery and quiet murmur of the well-dressed people as they walked the streets made it feel more like a city park rather than a residential area. The vast number of people walking the streets seemed to be servants, dressing in a similar manner to each other, though a young lady in a light dress escorted by well-groomed young man could be seen every now and again.

The traffic on the road was far lighter as well, with the majority being elegant passenger carriages like their own; though every now and again, a supply or merchant wagon would stop at one of the large estates. Ten minutes later they approached the massive stone Fortress sitting in the middle of the Island. Made of the same near black concrete material as the walls, its rough lines, and functionalist design stood in stark contrast to the ornate elegance of the estates they had passed. It was obvious from a glance that this building was created with the mindset of functionality first; though some lighter stone and stone trimming here and there spoke of someone’s attempts as easing the Fort’s rough appearance.

After going through another round of checks at the Fort entrance, the group was ushered into the open courtyard. They left the Carriage to find Matthew waiting close by. He approached them with a large grin, the extra fat on his body slightly wobbling as he picked Merry up in a tight embrace,

“Welcome! Welcome! I trust that the ride was not too rough? Thank you for taking the time to come here. Let us hurry, the Duchess will be with us shortly.”

Matthew’s grin widened as he motioned for the group to follow him, taking the small girl’s hand as he did so and led her along. Passing through a set of large double doors that seemed to be a smaller version of the city’s gates, the group entered into the Dark Fortress.

Contrary to its outward appearance, the Grand Entryway of the Fortress was elegantly decorated in green and white marble; a few small round gardens in the corners and live plants as well as a few small Whitewood trees, combined with the tastefully designed benches and tables around the area, gave the entryway a surreal feel.

“Ah! Mr. Lūceō, Mr. Floyd. Thank you for paying a visit to me today. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Duchess Grace Whitewood.”

From the back of the room came a sweet chiming voice. Mark look to see a young woman gracefully descending a gold inlay-ed marble staircase at the back. He couldn't help but stare as he watched the woman approach; she was shockingly beautiful, standing roughly 5ft tall, her skin was white as snow without the slightest blemish, her face vibrant enough to make even a model back on Earth jealous. Her eyes were a deep azure, and her long blond hair shined with a golden light as the sunlight from the entryway skylights hit it. The simple white dress she wore proved to be both elegant and professional while still highlighting the woman’s charms. But what surprised Mark the most, was that this woman introducing herself as the Duchess appeared to be no more than 20 years old.

Mark realized he’d forgotten to breathe when he felt a small pitch on the side of his leg. He gave a small jump, then looked over to see Merry standing next to him, looking away as if uninterested. Alex seemed to be entranced as well, but shaking his head as if to clear it, he gave a practiced bow and spoke with a slight stutter,

“T-Thank you. It is an honor to finally meet you. I have heard much about your work. For you to even come greet us in person…”

“No, no, it is fine. It is always a pleasure to meet Father’s guests.”

“F-Father?”

Alex spoke in a confused tone, question marks floating about his head, when Matthew gave out a deep bellied laugh, a wide mischievous grin splitting his face as if he’d played a great joke,

“Hahaha, Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Matthew Whitewood. Merchant, Trade’s Guild Head, and former Duke of Whitewood. Grace is my Daughter and the acting Duchess.”

Alex stared at the huge man, mouth agape before his face went pale and he bowed deeply.

“I’m Sorry for n-not recognizing your grace! I have heard all about your stories Grand War-priest Sir!”

“Hahaha, calm down boy, calm down. I’ve been retired from the Adventuring game for close to 60 years now, and I’ve not been a Duke in over 20. Besides, I was pretty rude myself during our first meeting, if I recall, Hahahaha.”

Matthew’s grin turned into an open mouth laugh as he held his sides at the young man’s reaction. Grace Whitewood, however, took on a cold look as she eyed her Father, anger visible on her face,

“Yes. I heard all about the ‘Incident’ yesterday. What were you thinking Father? Attacking random travelers and in broad daylight no less. Do you understand how much damage control I’ve had to do since then?”

Matthew gave his Daughter an apologetic look, laughing nervously as cold sweat wet his neck,

“Yes, sweetie, have I not already apologized? It’s all water under the bridge now. That look of yours is getting more and more like your Mother’s every day…”

The Duchess narrowed her eyes at her Father before giving a humph and turning her head away. Her eyes fell on a certain young girl as she did so. The Duchess seemed to glide across the floor as she approached, kneeling down and wrapping the young girl in a warm embrace, her eyes almost tearing up. After a moment she separated, holding the young girl by the shoulders as she scanned her up and down. Her voice sounded raw and weary as she spoke in a soft voice,

“Oh Merry, look at you.”

The Duchess pulled the young girl in again into a long embrace, before finally standing as she tried to compose herself. Seeming to remember Alex and Mark’s presence, the Duchess blushed a little and coughed into her hand,

“Well, now if you would follow me. We have a lot to discuss.”

Alex who had been pretending to be admiring plants gave a small bow and followed after. Mark, for his part, had remained standing at attention through the whole scene, being unfamiliar with this world’s etiquette and customs for such situations. Mark followed in Alex’s footsteps shortly after; Matthew, Merry, and Tsutsuji bringing up the rear.

_________________

They followed behind the Duchess for a short while, before arriving in front of a set of double doors. The nearby guards open the doors to reveal a spacious and tastefully decorated personal office space. A large desk similar to the one Jonathan had in his tent made up the center piece of the room. In front of it were a small table and several large soft looking leather couches. A large bronze statue of a dragon stood on one side of the room, a two massive white Axe grasped in its claws. The Axes were easily the size of Merry, and their clean white blades were carved with an elegant pattern of climbing vines and blooming Roses and Whitewood flowers.

Mark found himself drawn to the weapon’s beautiful design and a small window popped up in his vision,

--------------------------------------------------
Judge and Jury

Quality: Engraved
Origin: Mythforge Workshop, Whitewood
Status: Sealed
Quarks: ???
Index Entry: Personal weapons of Grace Whitewood. These oversized War-Axes accompanied Grace during her travels as an Adventure in her younger days. The blades are carved from solid Whitewood, and the handle is Black Iron. The blood that splattered the floral design of these blades as she danced on the battlefield, earned Grace the handle of “Blood Rose”.
--------------------------------------------------

Mark felt a cold shiver go down his spine as he looked at the window. What could he say? Like Father Like Daughter. Mark made a note in his heart never to cross this seemingly fragile young woman.

The Duchess walked forward and motioned for the group to sit on the couches surrounding the center table. Matthew and the Duchess sat on one side, Mark and Alex on the other. Merry stood for a moment, looking back and forth, before finally walking over to Mark and crawling into his lap. Mark simply frowned down at the little girl, before lifting her up and placing her on the couch beside him, as the young girl puffed her cheeks. Matthew and the Duchess raised an eye but otherwise said nothing. Tsutsuji simply flew over and gently landed on Mark's shoulder.

A nearby maid began to lay out a few cups and snacks and the group exchanged pleasantries for a moment, before getting down to business. The Duchess looked at Alex and Mark with serious eyes, before asking,

“I have heard the reports from both Father and Jonathan, but if you do not mind, I would like to hear it one more time, in your own words. Do not leave anything out, no matter how insignificant it may seem.”

Mark and Alex exchanged a glance before launching into their story once more, careful to not leave anything out. When it came time for Mark to share his own story, he saw no reason to hide his situation, though on Tsutsuji’s advice he had left out his connection and meeting to Elaos; instead, he had simply awoken in the cave, unsure where he was. Matthew and the Duchess gave Mark an analyzing look as if reevaluating him when the Duchess spoke in a low voice,

“So, you are claiming to be a ‘Wanderer’?”

“Wanderer?”

“That is the term used for people like you, those few who ‘wander’ or slip through the cracks between worlds. They are not unheard of, but they are not as common as being able to randomly meet one on the streets. I’ll be honest, if it wasn’t for the Magi Spirit, I would not even consider you were telling the truth. Though I have never heard of a Guide taking a Wanderer as a Partner.”

“See Mark! You should start taking better care of me!”

Mark, in response to Tsutsuji’s nose in the air boasting, simply lifted his hand and flicked the small guide on the forehead, sending her tumbling off his shoulder and onto Merry’s lap, the spirit giving a small shriek as she fell.

At the show, the people around them had varying responses. Alex placed his head in his palm and gave an embarrassed sigh, while Matthew when pale as a ghost, and Merry gave a startled jump, before hiding her face in the cover of her book. The Duchess stared in shock for a moment before bringing her hand to her mouth and giving a light chuckle. Tsutsuji stared reproachfully up at Mark before turning her head away with a humph, settling instead for Merry’s lap.

Alex gave a cough, and spoke, turning their attention to him,

“That about sums up the whole story. So the question is. What now?”

The Duchess folded her arms and leaned back into the couch, deep in thought, as Matthew spoke in a low voice,

“The problem is, we still do not have enough information at the moment. Our agents have been gathering what they can, but whoever was behind this incident knows how to cover their tracks well.”

The Duchess spoke, furrowing her brow in frustration,

“I feel like we are still missing some part of the puzzle…”

She gave a sigh before sitting back up and spoke in a resigned voice,

“But truthfully, this is our problem. I thank you for your cooperation and information, but these matters are for Whitewood to handle now. For now, there is one more matter that needs resolving…”

As she spoke, five pairs of eyes landed on the young girl sitting next to Mark, as she hid behind her book. Matthew was the first to speak after a moment of silence,

“Honestly, I am very grateful for what you two did. Thomas and Martha were dear friends, and Whitewood as a whole owes them a lot. You did more than most people would now these days, if there is anything I can do for you, please say so.”

“Yes, I agree. I watched her grow up, Merry is like a sister to me. Please if you have any requests, I will do all that is in my power to fulfill it.”

The Duchess crossed her arms and nodded in agreement with her Father. Alex went beat red as he quickly dismissed their claims,

“No, No. I simply did my duty given the situation. I don’t need anything as compensation. If anything, Mark played a bigger role than me; if he’d not shown up when he did, I don’t know if I’d even made it out myself.”

Mark for his part, remained silent as if in thought, neither dismissing nor accepting the offer.

Matthew and the Duchess grinned at each other before Matthew gave a slight chuckle and spoke,

“You underrate yourself, young Hero. They were strangers to you, you could have run at any time and abandoned them to their fate. But you chose to stick around. That kind of action is not something to simply dismiss. As for Mark….”

The group's attention was suddenly drawn to a loud commotion from the office door, as several arguing voices could be heard. Mark suddenly had a bad feeling, when there was a large impact on the doors and they were forcefully thrown open with a loud bang. In the doorway, now stood a thin Woman, her face filled with rage as her hands gripped a huge hammer. Behind her, several guards struggled to restrain her, though their efforts seem to have little effect.

Her face was a deep red, almost as red as the short blood red hair on her head, and her eyes were filled with a deep anger as they scanned the room. Then her eyes landed on Mark as he sat on the couch. The woman gave a loud bellow as she locked her eyes on him, raising her large hammer high above her head.

As the hammer descended, Mark couldn't help but think that this felt oddly familiar…

______________

Mark looked down at the kneeling woman in front of him; her face was still red, though out of embracement rather than rage, as she refused to meet his eyes, opting instead to pet the little girl that sat in her lap. He glanced around the room at the group as they took in the scene. The Guards in the background were cleaning up the mess, struggling to lift the large hammer than had been blasted away, even with 2 people. Alex seemed almost numb at this point, simply letting out a tired sigh, while Matthew shook as he held his sides, barely able to contain his laughter. The Duchess who seemed overly calm, sipped her tea, though her red ears betrayed her embarrassment. Tsutsuji rambled on in a rage, venting herself in a nonsensical manner as she scolded the kneeling woman, and Merry simply sat on the Woman’s lap as she petted her, looking slightly confused.

Matthew took a moment to gather himself, before standing and coughing into his hand, calling the groups attention to himself,

“Well now, I presume introductions are in order. Mark, Alex, Tsutsuji, let me introduce my youngest Daughter, Selah Whitewood.”

Another Daughter? Mark reaffirmed his earlier conjecture; Like Father like Daughter. If you could say one thing about the Whitewoods, they were…Interesting. None the less, Selah seemed to be a bit more prideful than her Father, as she simply humphed and turned her head away at her Father’s introduction.

“Selah, this is Guide Tsutsuji, Alexander Lūceō, and Mark Floyd. They are my guests as well as Merry’s benefactors.”

Matthew continued, introducing the three of them. Mark looked at the cold woman, slightly shocked at how different she was from her sister. The clothes Selah wore were thick and rough, comprising of a simple trouser and shirt combo, still slightly dirty as she had rushed over from whatever she was doing without bothering to change. She wore a thick leather apron over her clothes, several tools visible in the many pockets lining the outside. She was quite a bit taller than her older sister, standing a little shorter than Mark who was 5’11.

Her face was exceptionally beautiful, just like her sister’s, though in a different way; If Grace was a still, moonlit pond, then Selah was a wild crackling fire. On her arms and hands were several tiny scars and burn marks. Compared to her sister’s snow white complexion, Selah’s was several magnitudes darker; not quite a full tan, but showing that she spent a good bit of time in the sun. Her blood red hair was cut slightly shorter than Merry’s and in a similar style, though he was not sure who was imitating who. What drew Mark’s attention the most, however, was what peaked out from the short red hair. A pair of slightly pointing ears that would seem to fit in any Tolkien story. Mark was somewhat amazed as he thought to himself,

[An Elf, really?]

Mark couldn't help but feel the strangeness in the thought, and be reminded once more, he was not in the world he once knew.

After a moment of silence, the Duchess gave a sigh and set her tea down, before addressing her younger sister,

“Selah, what are you doing here?”

“I-I had heard the Trader’s talking. They said that Uncle Thomas’s carriage had been attacked.”

“So you thought you would barge in on an official meeting and attack my guests?”

“No, But…

“But nothing. I’ve already had to deal with Father’s mess. Is Mother the only one in this family who does not enjoy giving me more work?!”

As she spoke, the Duchess’ grip on the table steadily increased. Mark could hear Alex swallow nervously as he watched the hard Whitewood table slightly bent inward under the force.

“Now Grace, it was an honest mistake. Let your sister off for now. What matters now is that Merry is safe.”

The Duchess gave a resigned sigh and released her grip on the table, gently massaging her temples as she spoke,

“Yes, I know. Fine, we’ll drop this matter. For now, I feel tired so I am going to take a rest. We will finish up this matter at another time. Mr. Floyd, Mr. Lūceō, your Holiness, I invite you to stay here at the Fortress for the time being. Take some time to relax, or take a look around the city; Whitewood has a lot to offer.”

Matthew rubbed his chin as he thought about his Daughter’s words, before giving a smile and speaking,

“Selah, how about you show them around town? Think of it as a way to make up for your actions. You can even visit the Workshop; I am sure Caroline would love to see Merry.”

“Wha-? No! That’s…“

“… A great idea. Selah, as the Duchess of Whitewood, I am assigning you to act as a guide for our Guests. Show them what the Whitewood life is all about.”

At her Sister’s words, Selah could only grumble silently and look down at the ground, before reluctantly agreeing.

Mark and Alex simply exchanged a look, Mark raising a questioning eye and Alex shrugging his shoulders in resignation.