“That’s why I told you—don’t act unless it’s the very last resort!”

  Luo Wei added, “Tell Earl Wesley the same. Just deciding to send you is already a big pressure point for me. We cannot afford the consequences of violating the Magic Accord.”

  A mage who broke the Accord by striking ordinary people would have mages across the continent turn on them. Troy’s worry wasn’t wrong—she simply wasn’t willing to give up those mountains of Magic Stones.

  Troy looked more confused. “Then… should I still act?”

  “Of course. Learn to adapt. Just fight without using mana.”

  “With your swordsmanship you can crush most soldiers even unenhanced. And why do you think I told you to bring the griffin?”

  “Use your head. No one knows the griffin is yours. Let it strike the enemy; you stay right beside Earl Wesley. And about it being your mount—besides Earl Wesley, tell no one. Understood?”

  “Oh. Okay.” His eyes showed only half comprehension.

  “Just follow my instructions. Go—sooner out, sooner back. I’m waiting for good news.”

  If he was late and the Borren Duchy’s reinforcements reached Gore City first, there’d be nothing left for her to leverage.

  Troy blew the bone whistle, mounted the griffin, and departed.

  Luo Wei watched the black silhouette shrink across the sky. Only when it vanished did she lower her gaze.

  The raven was still squatting obediently on her forearm. After a stretch of rich meat and fish it was dead weight, making her arm ache.

  She walked into the courtyard and set it on the stone table in the garden.

  Chris quickly produced a handkerchief, brushing leaves and dust from the stone bench. “Master, please sit.”

  Luo Wei sat, propped her chin, and studied the raven.

  A moment ago it was the picture of a freeloading layabout; how had the sun risen in the west today—suddenly taking initiative to help her?

  She thought, then understood. “Alright, out with it. What have you set your eyes on this time?”

  The raven shyly lifted one wing, pointing toward the second floor.

  Luo Wei glanced up. “Meaning… you want your bed hung from the roof?”

  “Caw-caw-caw—caw—” The raven lifted a talon anxiously.

  “Master, I think I know,” Chris said, bending. “It rained for days. I felt the room was damp, so I took your pearls out to air. This bird saw from outside the window and kept squawking at me.”

  “It seems to really like your pink pearls. Every day it loops upstairs and even tries to squeeze in through your bedroom window.”

  Chris tactfully lodged her complaint—only a hair short of saying “the raven wants to steal the pearls.”

  Afraid the jewelry would vanish, she’d been playing mental chess with the bird daily, not daring to leave the main building.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Sometimes she turned her back and the raven shot upstairs, forcing her to search every room.

  She counted the jewels in the box again and again, terrified the raven had pilfered a few. If she miscounted by even one, cold sweat broke out.

  One gem could probably buy more than a stack of lowly lives like hers. Even with a kind, gentle master, she couldn’t risk that mistake.

  Or rather—precisely because her master was kind—she was extra careful. Leave here, and she would never find another like Luo Wei.

  Luo Wei didn’t know the burden Chris had carried, but she heard the accusation.

  Still trying to steal pearls—getting lawless when she wasn’t watching!

  “Little rascal, is what Chris said true?” Luo Wei stroked the feathers at the back of the raven’s neck in a faintly threatening way.

  The raven shrank its neck, eyes darting. “Caw… caw-caw…”

  Guilt all but dripped from the sound.

  “Heh.” Luo Wei let out a cold chuckle. “Looks like you need a playmate. Maybe I should have Nico keep you company.”

  Pampered with good food and drink—and it dared covet her property!

  “Caw! Caw-caw-caw!”

  At the mention of Nico, terror flashed in its eyes; its wings trembled.

  “Do you know you were wrong?” Luo Wei asked.

  “Caw-caw!” It bobbed its head frantically, shuffled two steps to the table’s edge, and tried to rub her wrist for pity.

  “Serious.” Luo Wei pulled her hand back and scolded. “If you want something, earn it. Don’t steal.”

  “If it were someone else, catching you pilfering—they’d break your wings at best. A harsher one would kill you outright.”

  “Caw… caw…”

  The raven lowered its head, wings hunching. Moisture pooled in its bead-black eyes—then, plop, two tears hit the stone tabletop.

  Luo Wei stared at the little wet spots. …

  A bird… crying?

  The longer she stayed in this world, the more her worldview shattered.

  No—already long since shattered.

  “Alright. I was just talking. I’m not actually going to kill you,” Luo Wei softened, rubbing its head. “As long as you behave, why would I hurt you?”

  “Caw… caw?” It tilted its small head, eyes still brimming.

  Great—she could actually see vulnerability in a raven.

  For a fleeting second she inexplicably understood it. She nodded. “Of course I mean it.”

  “Caw-caw~” It scooted closer, laying its head on the back of her hand in a show of devotion.

  Too smart—its intellect rivaled even the griffin’s, Luo Wei thought.

  “Do you have a name?” she asked.

  “Caw-caw.” It shook its head.

  “Then you’ll be Luke. Luke—meaning bright light. How’s that?”

  “Caw!”

  “Alright, from now on you’re Luke.” Luo Wei set it solemnly. “Here, having a name means responsibility. Luke, you want pearls—fine—but you must fulfill your duty.”

  The raven’s dark eyes seemed to ask what that duty was.

  “Nico’s post is household guard. Her responsibility is to keep pests from the property—and sometimes watch doors and windows.”

  “You—what can you do?”

  “Caw-caw-caw!” Luke stretched its neck, pecked a red strand of hair from her sleeve, flapped its wings, then tilted its head expectantly.

  “You want to carry messages for me?”

  “Caw!”

  “That can work. I do happen to need a messenger,” Luo Wei tapped the tabletop. “But first I need to give you an entry test—to see if you can handle a post this important.”

  “Caw-caw…” Luke nudged the crimson hair on the stone with a claw.

  “That doesn’t count. Too short a distance—and you nearly caused me big trouble.”

  Plucking a few hairs was one thing; if it had yanked off the mask practically welded to Troy’s face… she didn’t know if he’d lose his mind.

  “Here’s the plan,” Luo Wei said. “Troy’s gone to Gore City; I don’t know how many days he’ll be delayed. I’ll write him a letter. Tonight you’ll deliver it—and bring back the battle situation.”

  “Caw!” Luke puffed its chest, letting out a resonant call.

  “Chris,” Luo Wei ordered, “fetch paper and pen from the study.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Chris hurried upstairs, returned with writing materials, and presented them.

  A minute later Luo Wei finished, rolled the parchment into a tube, tied it with cord, and set it by Luke’s claws.

  “Set out after dark. Be careful on the road. Don’t let anyone spot you—there are plenty of bad people outside.”

  “Caw-caw-caw!” Luke gripped the parchment.

  “And watch for archers entering the city—they might loose arrows at you.”

  “Caw!”

  Luo Wei smiled, satisfied. “If you complete the task, I’ll reward you with one pearl.”

  If Luke truly had long-distance, high-speed flight, she wouldn’t need to keep teleporting between Siria and the northern lands—she could still stay updated on the lumber mill and Demon Island.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  patreon.com/BZDXG - Unlock a HUGE stash of advance chapters now!

  Dive deeper into the story ahead of everyone else!