Steel and Mana

I was at the construction site, overseeing the finishing touches on the base of my wall before winter. Right now, the parcels were marked and completed, with tall, wooden posts buried into the ground. My plan was simple. We will build the inner and outer parts from heavy stone and fill up the middle with rocks, pouring cement into it.

When I say cement, I mean the same thing that Hadrian used and, later on, withstood 2,000 years and could be visited still. When the small rocks, the byproduct of mining, are thrown into the middle, we will pour mortar made out of lime, sand, and water into it, smooth out the top, and lay down another layer so that later on, soldiers can patrol atop it.

While watching them work, I was pleased with how the people operated together and began using the tools I had been slowly introducing to them, primarily for measuring. By now, those who completed 'Merlin's Trials,' as they started calling the graduation test and ceremony, have become project leaders coordinating the other workers. I thought this would take much longer to achieve, but surprisingly, they adapted quickly and flawlessly.

"My luck is-" I opened my mouth but already regretted it as I saw a horseman riding towards us with breakneck speed. It wasn't hard to tell; it was Oleg, who almost fell off the horse when he stopped next to me.

"This is bad, My Lord!"

"Yelling won't help." I replied, staying calm, as many of my subjects were here, watching and hearing everything. If their ruler begins fidgeting, they would quickly lose hope and devolve into panicking. No, I won't let that happen, but I will also need to instruct Oleg never to do something like this ever again. If trouble comes, let's talk about it privately. "Be quick and be precise! I will deal with it, even if the sky begins falling down!"

"The scouts reported from the borders! A delegation is heading this way from the capital, bearing the emblem of the Six-Pointed Star! The symbol of the Gods! It is the Church!"

"I see."

"My Lord?" He asked, looking troubled, mainly because I showed no genuine interest in the news.

"The church is coming to replace those who have fallen. I expected something like this, but because the Empress never stated it and showed no interest in it, I also forgot about it. When will they arrive?"

"By night, My Lord!"

"Make sure to set up a perimeter that leads towards the city! Anybody approaching, detain them for further questioning, got it?"

"Yes, My Lord!"

"Good. Carry on; I will deal with it!" I added with a smile, walking away leisurely to instill into my people that nothing terrible had happened. Still, inside my head, my mind was racing alongside my heart.

The delayed arrival of a replacement could mean multiple things. Either it took time to select the candidates, or it was deliberate. I expected an official letter to arrive first, informing me of the decision, but no. Nothing like that... probably because we are barbarians. I wouldn't be surprised if the arriving church people will be devastated that they have been sent to the butthole of the world.

"At least, I hope so! I can play off of that."

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I spent the rest of my day in the old town, which was now barely occupied as most people moved to my city. In their stead, because of the closeness of our fortress, the soldiers were allowed to move in and live here. It was still a better choice than living in the barracks, as now they could have their own homes. They only had to walk to 'work' every day when they were not on active duty.

"Captain Kumov." I greeted the 'town's head' who was one of my Father's direct subordinates and also the man who taught Oleg when he joined the army. He was already around 50, with greying, short hair, yet his eyes were still vividly blue, and he was just as muscular as the rest.

"Lord!" He saluted with pride, looking at me with resounding loyalty burning in his gaze, "I instructed all the rascals to behave. With their families relocated here, the town will be just as lively as before!"

"Thank you! You were quick in arrangements!"

"Most were already here! I have ensured all is well, and we will keep an eye on the church as ordered. I already had the audacity to send out a squad to greet them and escort them over! We don't want them to wander around now, do we?"

"Perfect! I didn't expect less from the right hand of my Father!"

"Your words honor me beyond reason, My Lord!" He bowed, visibly happy, and it also reinforced my feeling that everything would be okay.

I didn't have to wait for too long for the delegation to arrive, surrounded by lanterns, showering the land with golden light. I mean, literally, as it was as if a yellow mist was drawing along their carriages.

"Magic." I whispered, recognizing the phenomena. Did they have a magic device, or... did a mage come along? It was a good choice not to bring Sasha and Merlin with me then.

"Lord?" Kumov whispered, but I just shook my head.

"No matter. Act as planned; if there is a mage, I will deal with it!"

When the convoy stopped, I approached the first, most decorated carriage. It was made out of white wood with orange-painted suns on its doors and a stylized 6 in the middle, representing the holy number of the Gods. Looking at the fighters escorting them, they were not wearing any official markings or armor; if anything, they looked like mercenaries and not professional soldiers.

"Lady Mikan has arrived!" Shouted the driver, getting off his seat, fixing his tuxedo-looking traveling garb, and opening the door to the carriage. I tried my best not to laugh, seeing his theatrical, over-the-top acting and the tired smirks on some of the accompanying warriors.

When the door finally opened, it was like someone was getting out of a car used for hotboxing as a cloud of thick, golden mist rolled out first. I was so surprised that I inhaled a good amount of it, unable to react in time. It tasted like vanilla... and it made me refreshed and energetic. What the hell?

"Kyauh?!"

With a sharp moan, followed by a 'thump,' I watched as a short woman tumbled out of the carriage, landing straight before my feet. The whole thing transpired because, in the mist, she stepped on her overly long, white robes, sending her down to the earth straight from the heavens. Luckily, she had to be uninjured as she was adorned with two types of extreme fall-dampeners on the front, so big that she finally dethroned my Mother's chest regarding sizes. As she tried getting up, wiggling her bottom now facing the stars, I could see it outlined in her robe, making me gulp, hurriedly helping her stand back up before my intrusive thoughts won me over.

"Are you okay, Lady Mikan?"

"Yes, yes! I'm fine!" She said bashfully, going pink in the face, grasping my fingers with her gloved hands.

I know I easily throw out the word 'beautiful,' but she most deserved it. She had wavy, golden locks reaching her wide waist, and her silver-colored eyes glittered as the moon itself. She wasn't tall, barely reaching my chest, which became more evident the moment she fixed her clothing and stepped back to give me a bow.

"My name is Mikan Morningstar! I was just recently promoted to be a priestess of the Pantheon of Gods, and I am here to take care of you, poor, lost, and forgotten people!"

"Huh?" I couldn't help but let it slip, as I didn't expect something like this.

"I know that place is desolate, so I just can't bear the thought of having our faithful and loyal subjects live in suffering! Not when you brave soldiers defend our peace in the core regions! I specially requested to be sent here, and let me care for you all!"

While she was speaking, I noticed that flares of golden light flew off from her exposed skin, lingering in the air before turning into mist and disappearing a few seconds later. I didn't need more proof... she was a witch. More than that, she was clearly unable to control her powers. What was happening...? Someone?

"I see... well, I appreciate the sentiment, Lady Mikan!"

"No, no, no! You don't need to, young Viscount Leon!" She clapped with a happy smile, surprising me again because I didn't expect her to know my name. "I was destined to come here! The Gods gifted me with this body for a reason! So I can embrace the Frontiers in its entirety!"

"Huh?"

This time, it wasn't just me but also the veteran Kumov who repeated my short but precise question.

"I-" Mikan began to explain, but I cleared my throat, bowing.

"Let me escort you to the church first! We can't have a pleasant talk outside in the middle of the night now, can we? It's chilly, and I would be devasted if our kind and beautiful priestess catches a cold!"

"How kind...! Yes, please! And thank you!" She answered, wearing a motherly smile, looking at me in a way my impure thoughts resurfaced at once.

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"Haaaah!"

"Was it that bad?" Sasha asked, climbing behind me and beginning to massage my shoulders while Luna hurried over, serving us tea. Both of them wore their pajamas, meaning they were only dressed in a simple gown.

"Are we in trouble, Master?" I could detect the fear in Luna's voice, which was only alleviated when I shook my head.

"No, we are certainly not!"

"Certainly? What do you mean?"

"It's easy, my dear Sasha!" I grinned, opening my left eye, urging her to continue her massage, "The priestess who came, Mikan, is a complete idiot."

"I don't get it." Said both of them at the same time.

"Let me say it this way! I am 90% sure that she is an airhead. The remaining 10% is still divided into two possibilities. I give 9% to the chance that she is an actor, and what she showed me is nothing but a ruse. If that is true, I applaud her. The remaining 1% is that she is a genius, one that I can't read nor understand."

"I am still not getting it!" Sasha shrugged, making Luna nod her head vigorously, wanting to hear more. None of them were sleepy, yet I returned close to daybreak, and I knew they wouldn't let me go to bed if I didn't explain it now.

"While I escorted her from the carriage to the temple, she tripped over herself four times. She loves to blabber, going on and on and on about anything that catches her interest. I learned about her past without asking any questions!"

"Those could be lies!" Sasha countered, her hatred towards the church flaring up without warning.

"Well, they could be, but as I said, I just can't see it that way. She is slightly older than you two, as she is already 24, and I also learned that she is still a virgin, so her mana remains pure. She has been in the care of the church since being a baby, and she was being taught magic after her powers manifested themselves."

"Tsk... That is not good... And I see she likes to really blabber, huh?"

"It isn't that bad, my dear." I countered, pecking my wife's lips, "She is a healer."

"Ah! I got it!" Luna yelled, surprising me and explaining at once, "Morningstar! I knew the name was ringing some bells! It was the name of an Imperial Mage from 300 years ago! She was also a healer and became famous when she summoned a golden cloud in a battle, raining down on the battlefield, healing all the soldiers of the Empire, turning the tide of the battle!"

"I didn't ask her about her pedigree," I chuckled, continuing what I learned about her, "but she told me that she would work hard not to cause trouble and asked for forgiveness that she could barely control her mana. Which I believe, because she leaves a trail behind her wherever she goes!"

"Isn't that dangerous?" Sasha asked, anxious about the fact.

"No. It is a rejuvenating feeling, so it isn't harmful. I asked her, and she told me she always had problems with it since her magic personified itself as a golden mist. I asked her to show me some spells, and I watched her magic circles; they were a mess. She is the worst mage I have ever seen, yet I only saw two!"

"HEY!"

"No biting!" I laughed, feeling her teeth sink into my neck.

"You deserve it! Hmph!"

"Anyway, she is either the best acting spy ever or a poor girl voluntarily exiled to the Frontier. You see, I was right. Nobody wanted to come here, not until she learned about it! Going by her words, she immediately knew her mission. Her destiny! Or she says. As a healer, she worries about the people here and their well-being, so she came to heal the injured and tend to the sick."

"Isn't that... bad for us?" The duo asked the same thing at the same time once again, making me raise an eyebrow.

"You two are really in sync now, aren't you? Ahaha, good to see! Well, she is bad. Really bad." Raising my thumb, I showed them a small cut on it. "I intentionally dropped a cup and cut my finger, asking her to heal it. She couldn't do it. The first time she tried, she repaired the cup. The second time, the cut began bleeding profusely, while the third time, she managed to clot it. The fourth time, she replicated the same cut on her finger, and the fifth knocked her out with a heavy nosebleed."

"..."

"Yeah. She is not good... I would say it is best if none of the injured soldiers ask her for help."