Lily stretched out her arms, rolling her eyes as a maid slid a dress onto her. She stared at the mirror as the maid fussed with her blonde hair. She had to admit she was a rather cute kid, if Lily herself had met a child that looked like she would fawn over her as well. She looked like a noble young lady, which she surmised that was exactly what she was.

  "Oh Young Lady, aren't you excited for your debut? You can't keep scowling like that! A pretty thing like you needs to smile or none of the young lords will like you!"

  The maid spoke with a thick accent, Lily had no idea what kind of accent it was but none of the other maids had it. This particular maid was Lily's favorite, except when she talked about nobility and Lily's future. She supposed she didn't mind her cause she wasn't hard on the eyes, wavy brown hair that the woman always kept in a fluffed ponytail, that always showed perhaps the part Lily liked the most. The tipped elven ears.

  She did smirk a bit as she thought about it. Her personal maid was an elf, how novel! All the books she read always depicted them as regal and above the earthly needs of humans. But she had one serving as her maid, she wondered if they had long life spans in this world? Would this be her maid into old age? Perhaps she could sneak to the library again and find out. Regardless, she responded to her maid.

  "It is not me who needs to impress them Lia, they must impress me."

  Lily had feared that speaking in too complete sentences would be her downfall, but she quite simply couldn't force herself to dumb down her speech to that of a toddler. Luckily it had only noted her as a genius and ultimately shown to simply be expected of her as a noble. Albeit her household was not that high in power. Her father was merely a Count who owned a swash of farm land and a small town by the name of Fairhill.

  It afforded Lily a privileged life but it was far too little for what she desired. If she wanted to be able to woo and wow Alice once she found her she would need to climb the ranks of nobility. What if Alice was a princess after all! Her Alice being a higher station than her? She couldn't allow it! Although knowing her Alice if she was a princess she'd lose that title quickly. She giggled inward, ah she couldn't wait to see her once more.

  "Well are you not at least excited to go to Ravenshire? I hear they have the best bread you can find on this side of the Elsetean Kingdom!"

  Right, Elsetean that was the name of the country she had been born into, she knew frighteningly little about it. No one cared to explain the greater world to a three year old after all. She hated that. She hated being this young, she wanted to find a spell to turn her into an adult. Although it was doubtful that it existed.

  "I'm sure the bread will be the same as it is here Lia."

  Lily commented idly as she was dressed further, her dress was... too much. She was wearing at least three layers of different puffy skirts that were possibly the most offensively bright pink she had ever laid eyes on, not to mention the puffy shoulder sleeves that felt far too soft for her. She wondered how much money had been wasted on this get up alone. She looked like she was wearing a fairy princess costume for Halloween albeit with actually good materials.

  And the jewelry! Why did a child need to wear a necklace inlaid with sapphires! Honestly this was all too much, a wasteful expenditure to impress the other counts at this stupid party. She wasn't even the star, it was the debut of the child of the Clawwood family. She had been primed a bit on them, Marquess Clawwood oversaw the entire South West region of Elsetean, quite impressive, what was more impressive was that according to her "Father" he had good relationships with all the nearby Counts.

  Of course any child of the Clawwood family had to be equally as impressive. Talia Clawwood had been renowned as a genius, yet she was now Five and had yet to be properly seen as her "Mother" put it Proper Society, this party was ultimately a debut for the child but also a test to see if all the rumors were true. Lily couldn't be less interested, the politics of it all were tiresome and she truly wasn't built for a noble lifestyle after all. She was an army brat not a prim and proper lady but Lily would do her best all in her desire to amaze Alice once they met again.

  "And there we go, Young Lady! All dressed, now we must begin with your make up!"

  Lily groaned, turning her head to look to Lia.

  "I do not need such things Lia. This is for Lady Clawwood, would it not be insulting to steal her spotlight?"

  Lia chewed her lip and Lily knew she had her.

  "Once we have an event centered on me perhaps, perhaps we can consider make up."

  Lily droved in the second perhaps, she wanted it clear because the idea of Lia fussing over her make up sounded... torturous.

  "Fine..."

  Lia finally surrendered and Lily beamed with pride. She stepped off the upraised platform she had been standing on.

  "When do we leave?"

  She asked, the sooner they left and the sooner this party came the sooner she could get her freedom of movement back, something she very much so desired.

  "Now now, it's not proper for a Lady to be in a rush."

  Lia chided her, moving her along with a gentle press against her back. Lily rolled her eyes as she moved along letting Lia lead her through the Lightlash Manor.

  "OH MY ADORABLE FLOWER!! YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!!"

  The loud voice of Countess Heather Lightlash echoed as she swooped in to hug her child. She was without a doubt a beautiful woman, long curled blonde hair framed a face without a single blemish, smooth skin accompanied by jade eyes, ones that always hinted towards Lily a vast amount of intelligence despite the womans... demeanor and tendencies, with a gifted body that often was... overflowing from her blouses it was no wonder why Count Lightlash had married her.

  Currently she was adorned with an absolutely stunning dress, while Lily looked like a child wearing a costume in her own eyes, her "mother" was... the very vision of nobility. A deep blue dress adorned her body, it was made of a corset top that tightened down into a poofy bottom, white silk was consumed by blue silk as multiple layers of just slightly transparent silk laid upon each other to give her decency, adorning her neck, shoulders and upper chest was a beautiful skin tight transparent white silk shirt, that was sprinkled with small crystal gemstones. Blue layered upon white for at the top of the sleeves that hung off her arm, never covering her dainty shoulders creating poofy sleeves that were only just barely connected to her corset. A corset which she pointedly noted was ensuring there was no doubt that the System had gifted her with mountains that had very little equal.

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  "Thank you, Mother."

  Lily responded politely, which only made her "mother"... Lily sighed, it made her "mother" pout.

  "Oh come on Lilypad, you know all of my friends' children are still calling them mommy and mama! And they're older than you!"

  Heather often complained that Lily did not act more childish, Lily couldn't figure out why, being proper was the ideal she was supposed to strive for right? To bring honor and reputation to the Lightlash Family.

  "No thank you."

  Lily always responded in a flat and direct manner to these requests, which she had overheard was viewed as extremely cute for some reason. That she didn't understand at all. She had overheard the occasional rumor from the maids, commenting on different odd mannerisms she apparently had that they all found, sigh, adorable. Surely it had to exist, one spell to age her up... it would solve everything... and cause a billion more problems.

  "Oh you! I cannot wait for all the other ladies to meet you! My little flower!"

  Lily cringed inwardly, she did not want to go to this party. Being watched by so many people, judged... it all just sounded terrible! But she had to, this was her first step into high society. She just hoped she did not make a fool of herself or worse, vomit from the stress and anxiety.

  "And I have a treat for you! We're taking a Blackguard to Ravenshire!"

  Lily searched her limited memories of this world, Blackguard did not ring a bell.

  "Mother, what is a Blackguard?"

  Lily asked, her voice threatening on sickly sweet to her ears.

  "Oh my darling girl! A Blackguard is only the most prestigious method of travel! Enchanted carriages with no drivers and no horses! They just travel directly to their destination along the King's Roads without rest!"

  Lily frowned, that sounded expensive and what's worse, dangerous. No driver? What happened if there was an unknown complication? A fallen tree? Bandits?! The sheer absurdity of it was beyond Lily. They lived in a world of myth and monster, as far as she could tell there were active examples of higher powers other than just this System.

  "O-Oh, is that... really such a good idea? What if... we get attacked?"

  Lily asked, coming off more meek than she intended but she was seriously worried. She was just a little girl, she did not yet have the power to ensure her own safety, something that irked her incredibly. Ever since she was a teenager she had never been unable to protect herself, her dad had made sure of that.

  "Don't be silly! No one's going to attack a Blackguard on the King's Road."

  Lily did not know how much she trusted Heather's words. She did not seem like the most sane woman to her, after all she was certain it was her idea that she wear this getup including all of this jewelry, she cared more for status than she did sensibility. Not a negative trait all together, status meant safety and power. If she had enough power she could easily find Alice no matter where she was in this world.

  Lily after being smothered and coddled was led to the foyer of the Manor, there stood her "Father". Count Anthony Lightlash was... quite frankly not in Heather's league. While he had the noble traits of the Lightlash family, the blonde near platinum hair that was cleanly cut into a short crew cut and the golden eyes that held a sense of power to them. He was the product of a long line of coasting nobles. Not a bad man, but indulgence and privilege had racked his body. He sat on the heavy end of the spectrum, his Black suit that had golden inlays with a blue cape strained against his body, as if it was originally tailored when he was less... round.

  It occurred to her then that perhaps the reason they were using a Blackguard was due to her father and his need of comfort while traveling.

  "Ah there's my budding flower. Look at you all dressed up, isn't that much nicer than those plain dresses you usually wear?"

  Her "Father" had a voice that was calm and kind, it was a comforting change to the chaotic energy of her "Mother".

  "My plain dresses are comfortable, I feel as though I may trip at any moment in this Father."

  A smile formed on his face, as he shook his head.

  "Oh I cannot wait to see how you stir up the academy with those notions."

  Lily wanted to roll her eyes, but that would be rude. She had to keep up the traits of a proper lady. But the academy, she wished she could go there now. She thirsted for knowledge of this world yet her lessons had been stagnant at best, she was kept to picture books with very little words. She had snuck into the library once or twice but always quickly caught. Lia was too attentive in her care of Lily.

  Count Lightlash looked to Lia and nodded before he smiled.

  "I understand you don't want to go to this party Lily, but you wanna know a secret?"

  He asked as he knelt down to be at her level, Lily obliged, moving closer, she had long gotten used to this action of Anthony, he liked to be at the same level as others when he was talking to them in any manner beyond his praising of her. No matter who they were he would always kneel down or sit down or even get a stool to stand at their height! Lily supposed it was admirable of him, and perhaps what made the people of Fairhill so loyal to him.

  "I hear that the Clawwood Family has a library equal to that of a branch in the Capital."

  Count Lightlash had a big toothy grin as he explained it to her.

  "I'm sure at some point during the party their daughter would be willing to show you it."

  Lily considered that would be nice since the Lightlash Library wasn't small but it also was terribly unorganized and seemed to lack much of substance in her opinion. Also they wouldn't let her explore as she wanted. If she was being shown as a guest... she might be able to look at the books she was actually interested in.

  "Very well Father."

  Lily said and did a slight bow, she still felt uncomfortable with the Blackguard but she would live.

  The world rang, thunder pounded within Lily's head. She gazed upon the carriage, it had been nice once, velvet seats and beautiful wine bottles. Now the upper half of a wine bottle was in her side. Her blood ran mixing with the wine, she groaned in pain pushed against the ceiling of the carriage, not because she was being held up, no the carriage was upside down. What had happened? She thought back, she had been listening to her father explain the different nobles she should expect to meet... then the Blackguard had slowed... and something had slammed against it. Right. She... wait, something had slammed against it? Bandits?

  This was bad, really bad. Her parents weren't fighters nor was she, she couldn't...

  "Lily, are you alright?"

  Lily glanced to her "Mother", she was... fine and her voice was weird, it was calm.

  "I-I'm fine Mother I..."

  Lily winced, trying to move had pushed the wine bottle in deeper.

  "Don't move dear, let Mommy handle this."

  Heather climbed through the carriage, she pulled the wine bottle out of Lily in a quick motion which in turn made her cry out in pain.

  "Hush now, [Let flesh knit and mend, return blood to body and give upon this land your gift oh Dark One, Close Wounds]"

  Mana surged as Lily felt her flesh actively close itself, invisible mana knitting it into place and holding it together.

  "Now rest dear, mommy has to take care of some bugs."

  Heather smiled as she moved away, pushing the door open she stepped out. Lily gazed through the doorway, her eyes glazing over slightly as she did her best to stay awake. She couldn't see anything but she could hear it as her "Mother" chanted and men screamed in agony.

  "[Heed now my words, approach naught upon the glory of the skies, step into mine kingdom and pay, let your bones melt away, Dragon's Flame!]"

  Heat filled the entire carriage, Lily began to sweat as she listened to the terrible screams, not from panic but from the sheer heat that flames that were nowhere near her were giving off, Lily did her best to stay awake, struggling with everything she had, but she couldn’t. Slowly but surely her eyes closed as she fainted, slumped against the ceiling of the carriage.

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