Vecro, the First Whisperer.
A legend amongst his people. It is said that he mysteriously disappeared during the first wave of the Red Death.
Many do not know who he was before his christening into a Whisperer.
But it is believed he was part of the Everroote Family, one of the, if not the, oldest surviving families in Keceo's history.
Document with an unknown author - classified and hidden.
--------------
Gwyn was eating a loaf of bread that was suspiciously shaped like Anastasia's head.
"You alright there, Gwyn?"
Gwynevere tore off her ear, dipped it into her (also suspiciously) blood colored soup and appeared to be greatly delighted whenever she took a bite. It was nothing special, as far as meals go. Yet, felt oddly appropriate for the current situation.
Gwyn addressed Elise.
"I'm fine, why would you ask?"
"You just seem…"
"On edge," Artero finished.
Gwyn leaned against the booth she was resting in and sighed.
"I fucking hate people like her, entitled, thinks they are better than everyone."
"Well, Gwyn…" Artero said. "She kind of is. A Susurrus cut far above the rest. Which is why I dated her, my father was convinced if I..."
Gwyn ripped the loaf in half, and with it, Anastasia's face.
"Convinced of what?"
"Well…"
He looked off, not making eye contact with anyone, but now all three of them were staring at them with an accusatory glance.
"He was young and dumb," Rodrick said, defending his Young Master.
"Awful taste in women, honestly," Elise said, winking at Gwyn.
Gwyn rolled her eyes.
"What's the story, Artero?"
"It's long and boring, you wouldn't be interested." Artero looked at his wrist. "Oh! Look at the time, I think I should be—"
When he stood, Elise silently cast a spell and forced him back in his seat. A little blood trickled out of her nose, and she wiped it on a handkerchief.
"And where are you going?" Elise put her dagger away, which broke the spell. "I want to hear this. Even I don't know the full story."
Artero looked nervously between everyone, let out a long sigh and started.
"It was an arranged marriage."
Elise stood up, slapping her hands on the table.
"A what?!"
"My father… being the political leader that he is, wanted to set up our future generations if a Chosen One wasn't capable of saving our people."
Gwyn leaned back in her chair, eating Anastasia's loafy eye.
"So he wanted you to marry Anastasia? What would that accomplish?"
"As we already said, she is a Susurrus, not exactly common on Keceo," he said, looking at Elise. "But Anastasia was a prodigy from a young age. It's said she was able to silently cast spells at the age of one hundred. Most elves try their whole lives and never cast spells silently outside of lesser magic."
Elise was fuming in her seat.
"Your father wanted you to procreate with her? All so you could have powerful children?"
"Exactly that," he said softly. "We tried, but she couldn't get pregnant. You know me better than most, Elise. I have a weakness for blondes."
"You fucked that… thing?" Gwyn said disgustedly.
"Not for fun, mind you," Artero said. "Her frustration mounted by the day when conception hadn't arrived. Although she was kind to me. Her kindness, or should I say, lack thereof, didn't extend to others. But that was five years ago, or so."
"What? A psychotic, manipulative asshole doesn't interest you?" Elise asked sarcastically.
"Not exactly," Artero said. "Her father actually pressured us to break it off. But she wanted anything but that."
Archimedes wanted them to break up?
"So that's it?"
Artero looked ready to leave.
"Basically."
"She seemed particularly upset that Artero has taken a liking to you, Gwyn," Elise said, cleaning her spoon full of ice cream.
"That wasn't our first encounter. She actually punched me in the face during some field trip."
Artero looked pensive.
"I see."
"Wait..." Elise put down her spoon. "You said that was five years ago. Isn't that when we started dating?"
Elise was getting to something that was particularly close to the truth. Artero jumped up from his seat and sprinted away before Elise could react.
"Hey! Get back here!" Elise pointed her dagger, but missed her spells. "Dammit."
"Guess he is hiding some sensitive information," Gwyn said coolly.
Rodrick just sat, crossed arms next to them.
"I think he was dating you at the same time as he was with her," Rodrick said.
"What?!" Elise shouted, glaring in the direction he had run off. "When I see him..."
"One day, he came home from class, he said this girl in his magical manipulation study nearly blew herself up," Rodrick looked nostalgic. "He said it was someone who made him laugh and feel joy, unlike Anastasia."
Elise's ears turned crimson as annoyance painted her face.
"Stupid idiot," she muttered silently.
"What was that?" Gwyn said.
Elise let out a long sigh.
"Nothing," Elise said. She stood up and looked expectantly at Gwyn. "You coming?"
"Well, all those documents aren't going to read themselves."
"You're right," she said, scooting out of the bench next to her.
"I'm going to check on him. You think you'll be alright?" Rodrick asked the two women.
Elise looked at Gwyn, who was already staring at her, then nodded.
"I think we'll be okay. We'll be in the basement if you need us."
"Roger that," he said.
"Don't you mean Rodger-ick, that?" Gwyn said, lifting her eyebrows.
"No…" He said, then walked away shaking his head.
Elise found it quite amusing.
"Terrible pun, Gwynevere."
"You're welcome," Gwyn smiled, feeling more comfortable in this world.
As Elise and Gwyn traveled to the basement, Gwyn thought of Artero's situation, being forced into a relationship. He understood the burden of expectations, and the Prince was probably screaming to get out of that relationship with Anastasia.
But now Gwyn understood she had made a powerful enemy, a Susurrus? She didn't fully understand what they meant yet. But she figured everything would be fine. She had Rodrick to defend her at school, and she was usually with Elise or Artero, who seemed to be capable mages themselves.
~
"Ye see here, lad," Mr. Keeper continued. "Women are delicate, complex, things… ye see?"
Artero nodded furiously, writing in a diary to pen the information.
"What do they like? I feel like I've sort of fallen into some of my relationships with no improvements."
"Aye, that happens, sometimes. As a lady killer myself, back in the day, I know women are interested in talks about finance. The longer and more intricate, the better."
"I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to finance," Artero appeared crestfallen.
"Keep your chin up, lad. They also like magic tricks."
Mr. Keeper butterfly shuffled a deck of cards.
"Like casting spells? Well, I'm pretty good at that."
"No, no. Like card tricks."
"Card tricks?"
"Aye, where I'm from. People are always playing card games. I've never been too good at them, though." Mr. Keeper lied.
Artero nodded.
"Why did we have to come here anyway?"
"Privacy, lad."
They were both in a supply closet. Wooden mops and other obsolete cleaning materials hung from hooks on the wall, while a candle balanced precariously on a nearby shelf.
Artero adjusted the candle beside him.
"I guess."
"You ready for a quick round? Now watch closely, this is how you will impress those women out there."
~
Gwyn and Elise were in the basement again, reading some documentation.
Elise has been dying to ask Gwyn to the Ela Lunaris festival. The Sylvian knew that if she could get a date over Artero, that would give her a huge advantage in her relationship with the Chosen One.
"So… Gwyn… you've thought about who you want to take to the Ela Lunaris festival, right?"
Elise tried to sound casual, but her eagerness betrayed her.
"Huh?" She puts down the document she was reading —an old news article about— "Oh…" Gwyn lost her train of thought. "I may not even go to the Ela Lunaris festival."
"What?" Elise launched herself forward. "You have to go. It happens only once every one hundred years!"
Gwyn was taken aback by Elise's forwardness.
"I feel as though I am not welcome, I mean, you see how people treat me."
Elise frowned at this revelation.
"Gwynevere… you don't need to worry yourself with how others perceive you." She scooted closer, placing her hand on Gwyn's thigh, trying to comfort her. "I'll be there for you, always."
Gwyn tried to smile, but found it difficult in this moment.
"Thanks, Elise."
~
"How do you keep winning!?" Artero shouted. "You said you wouldn't use magic!"
He kicked the cards lying all over the ground. A mop was caught in the crossfire and tossed a bunch of storage supplies to the floor.
"I didn't… honest." He gave an evil smile. "That'll be three gold, my friend."
Mr. Keeper held out his hand expectantly.
"Not to a cheater, I won't."
"It's not cheating, it's strategy. In this game, the dealer always wins." Mr. Keeper gathered all the cards together. "I'll teach ye it later."
"How does that help me with the women?"
"Oh, that trick? It doesn't. Gives me a guaranteed bet. I've been eyeing this particular—"
Artero tried to put his hands around Mr. Keeper's throat.
"You little…!"
"Young… Master…"
Rodrick busted down the door, out of breath. Mr. Keeper scurried away and hid behind Rodrick.
"Rodrick! Slay that insolent goblin for stealing my money."
Mr. Keeper poked his head out from behind Rodrick's massive legs, glaring at Artero.
"Not a goblin!"
"Everyone, relax!" Rodrick shouted. "Young Master."
"Yes, Rodrick?" Artero said, eyeing Mr. Keeper the entire time.
"You are aware that Gwyn is with Elise right now."
"I am quite aware of that fact. What's the issue?"
"Alone…"
Rodrick didn't want to have to spell it out for Artero, but it seemed necessary.
A look of terror crossed the Prince's face.
"The Ela Lunaris Festival! What are we doing here then?!"
~
Artero finally reached the bottom of the steps to the basement.
"Gwynevere, don't make the worst mistake of your life!"
Gwyn slowly looked up from the paper she was reading.
"Huh? What mistake?"
"Mistake what you are reading for not being important!"
He laughed nervously.
Rodrick finally strolled in behind him.
"Can we stop… running… everywhere…" Rodrick said panting.
"Well. Gwyn, have you thought about who you've wanted to bring to the Ela Lunaris festival?"
~You can't ask her!~ Artero said through the link.
~I'm not asking her directly,~ Elise responded via link.
"I've got two people in mind, but we'll just have to wait till the day of." Gwyn lowered the paper. "Speaking of, what should I wear?"
The royals looked at each other with embarrassment. They forgot to tell her what attire is proper for the festival.
"Truth be told, I don't know how this festival will go," Artero said.
"What do you mean?" Gwyn asked.
"Well," Artero looked vaguely North. "We've never had a festival where our people actively hated the Chosen Ones."
"Oh..."
Obviously.
"But..." Elise said, trying to be optimistic. "Basically, people wear what the Chosen Ones were wearing when they were first summoned."
"But most people default to the kimono, which is what the first Chosen One arrived in," Artero said firmly.
"Oh... okay. I can do that," Gwyn said.
"Well, let's get you some clothes!" Elise said cheerfully. "Even if people don't show up, we'll celebrate all on our own if we have to."
Rodrick nearly exploded with excitement.
"I love a shopping trip!"