Princess – Part 02
The Independent Trade City of Housman was located on the far edge of the continent, next to an ash-covered forest that adjoined a coastal volcanic belt. Towering above the landscape was Blair Volcano, still belching ash from its active peak.
The ash never reached the city itself, thanks to the Ashen Woods, also known as Housman Forest. The forest had a unique property that kept the ash suspended in midair, creating a sky split into two colors. Above the forest, the sky was a dull gray; everywhere else, it remained clear.
Next to this forest lay the Independent Trade City’s Seventh District, an area that, despite its name, was mostly farmland. Atelier Liza was tucked away in a corner of this agricultural land.
As they stepped outside, a refreshing breeze greeted Cecily, cooling her skin after the stifling heat of the smithy. A deep white forest stretched out before them, and if she squinted, Cecily could just make out the outline of Blair Volcano in the distance. In the other direction lay sprawling farmland, cut through with dirt paths.
“Aria.”
A woman stood near the edge of the Ashen Woods, gazing toward the distant volcano. She was still, her eyes fixed on the ridgeline. When Cecily called her name, she turned slowly and smiled.
In simple terms, she was beautiful. Her long, brown hair flowed gently in the breeze, and her clear eyes met Cecily’s. Her attire, resembling a dancer’s, revealed and accentuated her curves without appearing indecent. There was something mysterious about her calm, quiet demeanor.
“Hello, Aria. Lunch will be ready soon,” Lisa said.
“I’ve been waiting!” Aria’s face brightened at the mention of food. She raised her hands in delight and followed Lisa, skipping happily toward the house. As always, she remained a bit of an enigma.
Watching them from behind, Cecily couldn’t help but reflect on the same thought that crossed her mind again and again.
What a strange relationship.
Lisa and Aria weren’t human. They were demons.
Recently, two incidents involving demons had shaken the Independent Trade City and its vicinity. Through these events, Cecily met Luke, Lisa, and Aria, uncovering their true identities.
Cecily’s first battle was an expedition to capture a gang of bandits. When cornered, the gang leader sacrificed himself to summon a demon. The demon’s power was unimaginable, but Luke and Lisa managed to defeat it by creating a strange sword. Lisa’s unique ability as a demon was to forge that blade. While it wasn’t explicitly stated, it seemed likely that she had been created using Luke’s left eye as a sacrifice. Cecily still didn’t know the full story.
Aria, on the other hand, was a rapier Infernal Blade—and also a demon—born during the Valbanill War. Together with Cecily, she had eliminated a possession-type demon named Jack Strader at a fair in the Third District. Following that, the city formally purchased her, and it was decided that Cecily would temporarily hold on to her while they lived together in the Campbell household.
“What are we having for lunch today?”
There was a reason why the demon Aria enjoyed food: she needed to consume the Aetheria contained in meals. For a demon to maintain its physical form over a long period of time, it must regularly take in this essence. That, or she just had an insatiable appetite.
Cecily, Luke, Lisa, and Aria. Two humans and two demons, all spending their time together. It was a truly strange—and curious—relationship. And she hoped it would last forever.
Cecily smiled at the thought, vowing to put in the effort to make it happen, no matter what.
Both demon incidents were believed to have been orchestrated by a shadowy figure known as the Merchant. He still sought the Infernal Blade and might be plotting something.
I’m going to protect this city, Aria, our peaceful lives.
“I’ll help with preparations,” Aria said.
“Thanks.”
“By the way, Lisa, Fio wants a new knife.”
Protecting was Cecily Campbell’s duty.
A great war once ravaged the continent. A horrible conflict that plunged the land into chaos—the Valbanill War.
Abusing the invisible particles in the air known as Aetheria and summoning demons by offering one’s flesh—known as a Demon Pact—led to widespread mayhem. Inhuman beasts, which typically avoided human settlements, emerged to attack people during the war, escalating the horror.
Eventually, the nations recognized their mistakes and banned Demon Pacts, bringing an end to the conflict.
The Empire, the Militant Nation, and the Crowd Powers united to form the Continental Law Commission, establishing the Continental Law. Prayer Pacts, a different kind of contractual faith, became the foundation for the continent’s revival. Inhumans returned to avoiding people, living in hiding, and stability was gradually restored.
Forty-four years had passed since the war’s end.
To escape the ravages of war, a man named Housman gathered refugees and established a city now known as the Independent Trade City of Housman. Free from the control of other nations, it was a melting pot of diverse people, and promoted free trade.
The key to the city’s development lay in its unique regional characteristics. The area around Housman—particularly near the volcanic zone—had a high concentration of Aetheria, benefiting its citizens through Prayer Pacts. These pacts kindled fires, purified water, shattered rocks, cut wood, and tilled the earth, allowing the city to flourish.
Prayer Pacts were currently deeply rooted in the lives of the citizens. Many regarded the miraculous phenomena as blessings from spirits and developed a custom of revering them as animism.
Faith sought idols. It desired objects of prayer.
That was Blair Volcano. Believed to be a source of immense energy, citizens offered their gratitude for the daily blessing they received, praying to the presence they believed resided there.
As she followed Lisa, Aria suddenly stopped and looked over her shoulder. In the distance, shrouded in volcanic ash, stood Blair Volcano.
Aria whispered softly, “Are you over there?”
She offered her prayers. To God.
They were an unusual group.
“Excuse me. I have a few questions.”
At the edge of the First District stood an eatery. The lunchtime rush had just passed, leaving the place moderately empty. Craftsmen whose morning work had run long, travelers from distant lands, and merchants filled the remaining seats. Their conversations drifted aimlessly, touching on work, recent trends, sightings of Inhumans in other places, and military uniforms seen in the city.
Behind the counter, the owner boiled water for drinks—not over a fire, but using a flattened piece of jewel steel beneath the pot, which gradually turned red as the owner murmured a few words. The Prayer Pact caused the jewel steel to react with Aetheria, heating it. The city’s residents relied on Prayer Pacts for heating in everything, from cooking to work.
A languid atmosphere enveloped the diner. Then, five women entered.
This city, known for its free trade, saw a constant influx of people. Although five women traveling together made for an unusual group, it was not enough to draw attention on its own.
“I heard rumors that an Infernal Blade walks the streets. Is it true?” the shortest among them asked a man sitting at the counter.
Despite the sunny weather, she wore a raincoat with the hood pulled low. She had a youthful face that suggested she was barely in her teens.
“Ah…”
The man, a city craftsman, had just finished his meal and was unwinding from the morning’s fatigue, so his response was slow. He glanced over the group of women, raising an eyebrow. His attention was drawn not to the girl who spoke but to the black-haired woman standing behind her.
While the others wore cloaks, this woman was dressed in a gown, a formal attire unsuitable for daily wear, let alone travel. Like her jet-black hair, the dress was entirely black, resembling mourning clothes. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with her outfit, and her slender, almost fragile limbs, narrow waist, expressionless face, and deep black eyes combined to give her an unsettling aura.
The other three women waited expectantly for the man’s response. Each of them carried different weapons—a variety of swords strapped to their backs or belts, creating an imposing sight.
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