CHAPTER 40: ADVENTURE 1

Aegis sprawled across her bed in silk pajamas that probably cost more than most commoners saw in a year. Lady Roseheart had exquisite taste.

[Worth getting my dress torn off by Varyn just for this wardrobe upgrade.]

She pulled up her System interface with a thought. The translucent blue screen flickered to life, invisible to everyone but her.

SCANDAL POINT SHOPCurrent Points: 50

Available Intel:

Valdris’s Secret Project (50 Points)

Shadow Empress Identity (150 Points)

Major Timeline Deviation (300 Points)

Lune (500 Points)

[Not enough for the juicy stuff yet. Could buy that "Valdris’s Secret Project" one but, nah. Not until I know for sure what I want.]

Aegis glanced at Lune’s bed. Empty. The artist had slipped out before dawn again, probably to paint somewhere with better light.

A thought occurred to her.

[Hey System, can I request specific information? Like, I don’t know, where to find a legendary weapon?]

SCANDAL SHOP QUERY ACKNOWLEDGED

Custom intel requests available.

Price varies based on specificity and rarity.

Example: "Location of any legendary weapon" - 75 Points

Example: "Location of the Blade of Eternal Frost" - 200 Points

Example: "Complete guide to obtaining the Blade of Eternal Frost" - 500 Points

[Figures. The more useful the info, the more expensive.]

She dismissed the interface and stretched. Her muscles still ached from last night’s mana exhaustion, but the servant bath had worked wonders.

[Monthly Ranking Test in one week.]

The thought sobered her. She’d managed to bluff her way through classes with charisma and game knowledge, but the ranking test would include actual combat. Her Power stat of 10 wouldn’t cut it.

So...

[Time to grind.]

In Queen of Hearts, the tunnels beneath Rosevale Academy spawned low-level monsters. Perfect for farming Power experience. The game never explained why a prestigious academy sat atop monster-infested catacombs, but Aegis wasn’t complaining.

She swung her legs off the bed. The silk pajamas slid against her skin.

[Can’t go alone though. My Power’s still garbage.]

A grin spread across her face.

[But I know someone who’d love an adventure.]

---

Aegis found Scarlett in the dining hall, demolishing a plate of eggs and bacon. The redhead’s uniform jacket hung open, revealing the white shirt underneath stretched tight across her chest.

"Morning, Red." Aegis slid onto the bench beside her. Close enough that their thighs touched.

Scarlett glanced over, fork halfway to her mouth.

"Country Mouse! You’re up early. Had fun at that, uh, rich people convention?"

"Yeah, though I, couldn’t sleep." Aegis leaned closer. "Kept thinking about our last training session."

"Yeah?" Scarlett’s eyes sparkled. "Which part?"

"The part where you pinned me down." Aegis traced a finger along the table edge. "Your technique was very... thorough."

Scarlett choked on her bacon. Aegis patted her back, letting her hand linger.

"Where the hell did that come from!?" Scarlett cackled.

"You okay there?" Aegis chuckled as well.

"Fine!" Scarlett coughed. "Just went down wrong. You uh, in a mood or something?"

"I am. Hence, why today, I have a proposition for you."

"Oh?"

"Mm." She shifted closer. "How do you feel about going on an adventure?"

"An adventure?" Scarlett tilted her head.

"Mhm. The kind of adventure that involves exploring dark tunnels and possibly fighting things." Aegis lowered her voice.

"You want to go monster hunting?"

"Pretty much, yeah." Aegis corrected. "With my favorite training partner. Not a bad time for some practical combat experience, right?"

"The tunnels are off-limits to students."

"So is sneaking out to taverns, but that didn’t stop us last week."

"That’s different!"

"How?"

"We weren’t fighting things that could eat us!"

"Minor detail." Aegis waved dismissively. "Besides, I’ll have you there to protect me."

She pressed closer, chest against Scarlett’s arm.

"My big, strong knight."

Scarlett shook her head, smiling.

"That’s not fair."

"What isn’t?"

"Using your, uh..." Scarlett gestured vaguely. "Everything. To convince me."

"Is it working?"

"...Maybe."

"Come on." Aegis pulled back slightly. "When’s the next time we’ll get a chance like this? Everyone’s still recovering from the gala. No one will notice if we slip away for a few hours."

Scarlett chewed her lip. Aegis could see the internal debate playing out. Responsibility versus adventure. Rules versus the promise of a good fight.

"Just for a few hours?"

"Absolutely." Aegis stood, offering her hand. "So? Want to have some fun with me?"

Scarlett stared at the offered hand. Then at Aegis’s face. Then back at the hand.

"This is a terrible idea."

"The best ones usually are."

"We could get expelled."

"Only if we’re caught."

"Which we probably will be."

"Ye of little faith." Aegis wiggled her fingers. "Trust me. I know what I’m doing."

[Mostly.]

Scarlett sighed. But she took Aegis’s hand, letting herself be pulled to her feet.

"If we die down there, I’m fuckin’ haunting you."

"Deal." Aegis linked their arms. "Though between you and ghost royalty, my afterlife’s getting crowded."

"What?"

"Nothing!" Aegis steered them toward the door. "Let’s go before you change your mind."

---

The entrance to the tunnels sat behind the old astronomy tower. A rusted grate covered the opening, secured with a lock that had seen better days.

"This is it?" Scarlett examined the grate. "Doesn’t look very monster-infested."

"Appearances can be deceiving." Aegis knelt by the lock. "Like how you appear to be a responsible student, but you’re actually here about to break into forbidden tunnels."

"You corrupted me."

"Gladly take credit for that." Aegis pulled out Ruby and Sapphire. The daggers gleamed even in the dim light. "Now, let’s see..."

She slipped Ruby’s point into the lock. A twist, a click, and the mechanism gave way.

"Where did you learn to pick locks? Where did you get those daggers???"

"Let’s go with ’I have a very mysterious past’." Aegis pulled the grate open. "After you, my lady."

Scarlett peered into the darkness below. Stone steps descended into shadow.

"Having second thoughts?"

"Never." Scarlett conjured a small flame in her palm. A bit of casual magic that most warriors could produce. "Just wondering what kind of monsters we’re talking about."

"The kind that should go down easily... Hopefully."