True Love's Seventh kiss: Part 2 Dungeon Break

Ch.6 Skybound Squallors

Henry finished serving the tea and sat down at the end of the table next to Miles since Marion was sitting at the corner of the table next to Erabella and across from the lady saint.

"So what is the plan now, commander? Why are we in the library?" Henry leaned over and asked Miles.

"Judging by the Count's temporary relief due to the Duke's gift, and Marion's newfound interest in alchemy. I'd say that we have many excursions into the forest ahead of us." Miles said with a grin.

"Is that true? I hear the forest is quite dangerous. It's one of the few places in the empire so dangerous that you can even get mana-touched if you stay too long..." Siren asked and then looked around and noticed that both Marion and Henry were mana-touched. "Sorry." Siren went from being curious to embarrassed since mana-touched individuals were generally looked down on. For her understanding it was because the rich and righteous didn't need to delve into such areas but the poor and wicked resorted to escaping or exploring such places to survive.

Marion played with the bits of blue in his hair. "As the future Count I can't very easily avoid the forest that provides for my territory, can I? Also, I was able to save my mom because of the forest so now I will save my father. If alchemy can help, then I will learn it in my down time."

"And what then? When you cure your father, what do you plan to do next?" Siren asked.

Marion looked at Siren with suspicion but for now she had treated his wounds and treated him with proper respect. He had no reason to divulge everything, but he could talk about some of it. She was at least less aggressive and less threatening than the other girls trying to seduce him.

"I got these wounds fighting the witch queen and her forces." Marion held up his left arm. "Which means she escaped her dungeon. Long term goals are to pay her back. And since other dungeons will be opening up it seems we are on the edge of the empire's next war against the Dungeons. I don't think I'm going to be able to stay on the sidelines for such a conflict."

"I see. Well, I'm not fully trained yet, but I think you will be able to count on me." Siren said.

Marion smiled and accepted her offer. It now occurred to him that not every maiden after him was going to be as aggressive as Prudence, nor as violent as Whitney. The Gloria girl seemed to be completely uninterested in him so far and that one girl he kissed first was probably long gone by now.

Just outside the library Whitney bit her fingernail. After overhearing everything from Marion and her god, she knew she also couldn't remain stationary. Marion wasn't just waiting to see what became of the dungeons, he couldn't since he was a target, he was chasing bigger prey. He had enemies bigger and more important than her to the point that he didn't even mention her as a rival. No wonder he was improving so fast.

And yet Siren had shown her a new path, one where she could fight beside Marion. Even if he didn't see her as a rival yet she would make him see her, acknowledge her. Hers was the path of the sword, and it had grown more branches and broader than she had expected. If Marion were to be gathering a party to explore the forest and conquer dungeons, then she needed to be a part of it... but how?

*

The next day Marion decided that he could study outside with Erabella. He knew a bunch of events were happening in the world, but he couldn't resist his cute sister's puppy dog eyes. He also wanted to stay next to her to protect her. So he happily enjoyed the role of doting older brother as he walked hand in hand with her through the house to the yard they could play in.

His guard today was Henry and Kaliban so that Henry could hang out with Marion and be instructed on some of the nuances of being a knight on guard duty. Today one of Marion's goals was to learn from Henry how to draw plants. Since he was going to be studying alchemy, he figured he needed to be able to sketch and break down plants with pictures as well as with a mortar and pestle. For Erabella's sake she was ecstatic to get to draw flowers with the boys and was very engaged as they sketched the plants around the garden. So the event was a win-win-win.