Chapter 4: Ch.4 Hard work pays off
Lukas is 180 cm tall and weighs 75 kilos. He's also a Demon. He has regular black hair along with purple eyes.
Lukas doesn't stand out thanks to his father, who looked just like him. Lukas has fair skin and usually wears a black robe that covers most of his body, with a hood, that he likes to put on in public.
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The door creaked as I walked into the Duke's office, It seems he's doing some paperwork.
He ignored my entrance as he was simply too busy. He's still working diligently at the age of 74, what a respectable man, This is just a reminder of why I swore loyalty to him.
Duke Gyffard is a 72-year-old Duke, who had contracted a deadly disease which eats away at one's life force. It's a miracle he's still so healthy, most people would've died a long time ago. He contracted this disease in his late 30s, which was his prime. He was hailed as the battlefields' morale, He was an expert knight who used martial arts and swordsmanship to slay his enemies. Duke Gyffard was a strong deviation from the family he was born in, as it was a long lineage of mages.
Gyffard had the Null magecraft, meaning that in the eyes of humans, he was worthless. Humans who have this magecraft are deemed as failures, because it goes against mana itself, therefore it is also impossible to use for humans who have a short lifespan and don't have a lot of mana. Gyffard was different, because of his lineage, he had a lot of mana that he couldn't use. So he trained himself in martial arts, where he could use mana to empower himself and his swordsmanship. He was glorious on the battlefield, and still kept fighting, even though he had this disease. He kept fighting for 15 years until he retired.
When I reached just in-front of his table, I had started kneeling.
''M'lord, I have a request for you."
The 192 cm man looked away from his paperwork after hearing a familiar voice. His face turned into a smile, slowly yet surely.
"Ah, Lukas! For you to have a request of me, should I prepare a feast?"
The old Duke laughed, as his noble roar echoed throughout this room.
"I request for two acquaintances of mine to be your maids for a year."
There, I said it. I know he dislikes maids, this stubborn old man still does everything in this mansion on his own. I should be praising the existence of magic here, but he should rest.
"Maids? Who are these acquaintances of yours? What color did you see in them?"
"A white light that could pierce the heavens, m'lord."
Let me explain something. My father taught me a certain magical spell that took me 3 years to learn. This spell performs a check on someone's soul, when active, to my eye only people radiate a certain color of light. Pure evil makes the person vanish from my sight, and someone the opposite of evil, a white light. But Veesha and Spher are the whitest I've ever seen, so I will do my best to assist them, because that was my parent's last wish.
"How interesting! I approve it! They will receive 1 gold every day they work. Do they have a place to stay yet?"
"They currently do not own anything, Duke Gyffard."
"Then they can stay in my mansion, the guest room is theirs now! It has a single king-sized bed, If they don't like it, you may order separate beds."
"I'll be looking forward to meeting the two of them! Hahaha!"
Duke Gyffard told me, as I left the room and headed back to the adventurer's guild.
Back at the adventurer guild in the room that Veesha and Spher were left in.
"S-Spher… you can go… harder than this!" I struggled to say, as Spher and I were arm-wrestling on a table, ignoring the particles of mana that were heavily floating around our arms at the time. I can… I can do this! So I can beat Spher and prove that I am superior and that I should get the last slice of pie!
More struggling ensued as Lukas walked in, carrying the good news and a whole apple pie.
You fool! You let your guard down! Haaaaa!
The particles in my arm would emit a bright light as a small explosion occurred, destroying the table they were arm-wrestling on and blowing the new pie out of Lukas' hands.
With Lukas left baffled at what he opened the door to, we were now both on the ground and were surprised at what just happened, So we looked each other in the eyes. We both started laughing. Meanwhile, Lukas, who was still at the door, left baffled about what he just witnessed, shouted.
"OI!"
He walked into the room and sat down on the bed, but we couldn't help but keep chuckling.
"SHUT UP!"
Lukas shouted. So we listened and stopped laughing, both looking at him with curiosity about what we will do from now on.
"Listen up! The Duke of this territory has accepted you both as his only maids! You will clean his mansion, make him food, prepare his bed, wash his and your clothes, prepare his bath. Daily household chores. You will also live there for a year starting today!"
"But that is your work, not why you're here."
"At the moment, you are currently F-Rank adventurers, your work isn't the only place where you two will do chores."
"F ranks have a separate quest board, I will take you there in a minute. But F-Rank quests are gathering herbs, helping the locals, cleaning the streets and are used for dungeon exploration, but you two won't be doing any of that!"
"I've already gathered F-rank quests for you, which I will list."
[Oxon's Farm]
Work: Assist the farmer with collecting their crops
Reward: 4 Copper
[The Astray Duckling]
Work: Help the owner of Astray Duckling clean his inn and do the dishes.
Reward: 7 Copper
[White grass]
Work: Find 20 white grass to treat someone's illness.
Reward: /Gratitude/
"That is all. If you two would follow me, I will be introducing you to the Duke and your new stay for a year."
Spher and I got up and followed Lukas as we headed for the Duke's mansion, leaving behind a destroyed room. How did I do that? Isn't this the same thing that happened when I was getting chased by Orcs?
They arrived at Duke Gyffard's mansion, it was out in the grass fields, about ten kilometers away from Suzuna-City, which is the city they were just in. It's not that big of a mansion, It's just one floor, but it's a very wide mansion, with a 3 horse stable, a training area for both martial arts and magic, and a huge bath house.
''Woahh! What a beautiful house!" I exclaimed. I'm excited to meet this guy! Not only that, but I bet he's very kind too.
"Isn't this house a bit shabby for a Duke of Denora?" Spher asked Lukas, confused as to how a duke of the prideful and greedy human race, only has this small of a mansion? Not to mention, he also only has 1 floor!
"Lord Gyffard is a stubborn man, he was proposed many times by other nobles to make his house more grand, but he refused. In fact, he built this place himself. And that is why this is the only noble that I respect."
Lukas opened the door as he pointed to a dressing room.
"I put maid uniforms in there, they should be exactly your size."
"Exactly our size, huh? So how did you get, exactly OUR SIZE?!" Spher and I spoke in unison, as we beat up Lukas, leaving him a bit bruised as he waited for us outside the room, to change. He later explained that he has magic for that and swore on his life that he wouldn't do anything out of their comfort zone.
Spher and I walked out the room, now in maid uniform, ready to start.
"Alright!~ Where do we begin?" I asked Lukas, excitingly already in a position to run off to do my new job.
Lukas walked towards me and bonked me on my head. "Stupid, you two need to meet with Duke Gyffard first."
"Yeah, stupid Veesha, the incompetent maid. Ohohoho~" Spher said as she walked past, following Lukas, who was walking towards the Duke's office.
''Wh- WA. I'll get you back for that one Spher, I will!" I ran a bit, so I could catch up with Spher, and we both laughed a bit before being in front of his office door.
Lukas knocked on the door 3 times, as a powerful voice told us to come in. Lukas opened the door, so we walked slowly inside, but as I stepped in to the room, the air slowly got heavier and heavier. I could begin seeing particles emanating from where the Duke sat. It feels like time started going by slower as the particles got pushed away by some fast traveling object.
The duke threw a sword towards my face. I was frozen, like the previous time with the orcs, I couldn't do anything but watch as it looks like my demise was about to be realized. I looked around, but couldn't see anything, as if there was a shadow overlooking me. Someone spoke as the mana particles around were disturbed. A man with a sword in his hands, ready to strike me down at any moment, was standing in front of me.
''Lukas… WHY DID YOU BRING A DEMON HERE?!"
Lukas was completely frozen, before he recovered, so he could respond to his lord.
"She's emanating the brightest light I've ever seen before, m'lord. She may be a demon, but as you know, so am I. Being a demon doesn't mean someone's a bad person. To add up to that, these two have never harmed a fly."
The duke pulled away as the atmosphere recovered to what it was before we entered the room. I didn't know what to say, so their hatred is that bad. Just for being a part of something, you are hated. It's terrible.
''My lord!" Lukas sounded surprised. I'm confused? What? I looked down to see that the Duke is kneeling in front of me. He's apologizing for what just happened.
''Forgive me, It was an old habit of mine. You two are people that I can trust, and I've broken yours."
"Well, I know it must've been hard on you, that war must've been terrible for everyone, even the people in Azrath. Pull up your head, Boss. Put us to work."
I told Duke Gyffard with a serious face, although I was still quaking from what just happened, I held my hand out to him so he could grab on. I shant falter, not here, not to anyone. What happened just now, I promise to myself to never let that happen again.
He grabbed onto my hand, as he stood up again, but that wasn't enough I suppose.
Slap. I heard and saw Spher, a face that had tears in her eyes. She slapped the Lord, causing him to bow down to Spher as well.
"I'm sorry for almost hurting your friend, could you please forgive this incompetent old fool?" Gyffard said, he was clearly hurt and disappointed in himself for not thinking straight.
Spher looked at him with regret, as her anger quickly faded away.
"Raise your head.
I'll forgive you, but when our job is over you'll have to grant us a wish."
"So be it then."
Gyffard said, as he stood up.
And so, a year slowly started to pass. Veesha and Spher were guided by Lukas to do quests and help around Gyffard's mansion.
They successfully helped the farmers, they were asked to come again next time for double the pay. Even though they knew that Veesha was of demon kind, they were just commoners so they saw through the scars of war.
The owner of the Astray Duckling appreciated their help and even offered the both of them jobs, but they refused of course. Veesha and Spher would continue to come after that, to help clean the bar after busy nights.
Veesha and Spher successfully gathered the white grass, curing a young girl's mother of her illness. The reward gratitude was given as the mother gave Spher their family special cooking recipe, and gave Veesha a compass which reacts to the mana surround the person holding it, it's said to guide the person to one's current destination in fate.
At their job, Veesha and Spher worked hard and diligently. They had cleaned the entire mansion so many times they knew it like the back of their hand. They took care of the horses, did the lawn, and cleaned the bath-house. They were also taught common knowledge by Lukas, such as magic and martial arts, the world map, and Denora's several maps that were important.
They were taught about how money works, and that there's a single main religion in Denora that strongly believes in human supremacy. They learned a bit of martial arts from Gyffard, but nothing much because it taxes him heavily, so it was mostly rejected by Veesha and Spher for consideration of Gyffards health.
And so a year had passed, it was 1 day before Spher and I would leave. Lately we've been busy taking care of Lord Gyffard because his health has only gotten worse. Spher's especially gotten the worse of it, she can't take that the man she respects the most is bed-ridden, as if he could pass away any second.
At the moment, we're both sitting in the bath house, just chilling as we sit next to each other. I already bathed a bit earlier, but Spher asked me to bathe with her, so I did.
"Veesha." Spher said as a small breeze could be felt, there they are again, the particles. "What will you do when Lord Gyffard dies?"
"I..." I don't know, I'll be sad. I'd definetly be sad. But, I'm pretty sure his time is already over. I whispered quietely, the particles around Spher were frozen in one place, but mine were active, albeit slow and quietly.. "Don't know..."
Spher got up. She looked at me as her eyes were empty, nearly as empty as they were when we first looked at each other. It's as if... Spher just told me a thousand words with one glare, then heading towards her room. I'm lost, if someone is sad, you cheer them up right? But if someone is sad, trying to cheer them up would feel even worse.
I'll think about it tomorrow.
Tomorrow has arrived!
The door was battered open as I heard shouting, it was Lukas. "OI! WHAT DO YOU WA-" I wanted to shout at him for waking me up so suddenly but that desire was erased as I looked at him. He was panting, the particles around him were on the ground, his eyes were nearly empty. I looked to my left and Spher was still sleeping. Fuck, shit fuck, I get what's going on. I fucking get it alright!
"Lukas, go with me, whatever you do..."
"DON'T"
"WAKE."
"UP."
"SPHER."
I rushed to Lord Gyffard's bedroom. I ran as fast as I could, as tears flowed from my eyes. So his time has finally come, huh? That's fine. That's alright. This was within my expectations. No... This is wrong, I don't approve of this! I...
I ran faster as I finally arrived at the front door of his bedroom. I smashed open the door as I looked at Gyffard, I probably look like Lukas right now, my eyes empty and with dried up tears.
Gyffard noticed my presence and tried to get up, but couldn't as he coughed up blood.
"NO!" I rushed to his side, tears weren't running down my eyes anymore, my eyes were all dried up. I couldn't bring myself to say anything, I'm not strong enough. I..!
Gyffard put a hand on my chin, It seems staring at him with my empty eyes wasn't to his liking, now he has to force himself to-
"It's alright... Call Spher and Lukas, I have something important to say."
I returned to our bedroom, Lukas did woke up Spher but it looks to me like she knows, she had prepared herself more than I had. I'm not like her, Spher's strong, yet here I am just..
Spher walked towards me and I suddenly felt an intense pain, this pain traveled through my entire body, it felt as if it was meant to breakthrough something.
Spher had slapped me. "Idiot."
They walked past me, towards Gyffards room.
I'm here, Gyffard's room. But unlike before, I feel refreshed.
Gyffard was now in a sitting position in his bed, I could feel him using all of his remaining strength just to sit upright.
"Now that you're all here, I can begin. Today, I'll probably die. Coincidentally It's also the last day of your planned job."
Spher isn't crying, she's not even shocked. Lukas isn't crying, he's not fazed. While I, I wasn't crying. That one slap was all it took to make me understand, how truly unforgiving the world is.
Gyffard smiled at me. "Your eyes are sparkling again, Veesha. You should keep them that way."
"I shall do my best." I responded. When there are times that you understand, you shouldn't push away things with the excuse of it being sad, you should look forward and let out a good cry when it's all over.
"I assume you remember that I would grant you a wish. I know just the thing, but I don't have enough time left to carry it out. So from today onwards, Lukas will succeed me. I had already finished the documents. So from today onwards. Lukas is Duke Lukas Gyffard."
"I won't disappoint you, Gyffard." Lukas let out a few tears while keeping his cool. I noticed Gyffard's breathing began to waver.
"So, Lukas. Carry out their wish. Let them be taught at Denora's royal academy. If it's them I know they'd get through it."
Lukas only nodded. We could slowly see Gyffard's muscles which were usually quite impressive, fade. Not only his muscles faded, it's as if the body he trained was undone. But I need to stand here and watch, as he passes on.
And so, Duke Gyffard vanishes into thin air, as he probably now resides in what you would call, heaven.
He went on to have a grand funeral at the Capital of Denora, although he had no body, his sword was put inside the coffin. They made a statue for him and put it at a big field with more statues of notable people who had passed.
A day later.
Spher and I were standing outside as we were both in our regular clothes. Our work as maids is over after all. We were currently waiting for Lukas, because he's a newly appointed Duke he had a lot of work to do. Ah, there he is. In his fancy new suit.
"So, It's time for you two to seperate."
Huh? What do you me-
"Huh? What are you talking about??" Spher said, it seems she was more confused about that than I was.
"I'll explain. Veesha can't go to Denora's royal academy, She can't go anywhere because of what she is. She's part of Demonia, She'll get killed on sight in there."
We were both silent, we now understood what he meant, but then what do I do? If Spher can go there, do I just sit here?
"So, Spher will be the only one to go there. But I've already hired a teacher for Veesha that is very capable, It is an elf so you won't have to worry about discrimination."
So we'll be apart for a while huh?
"When do I leave?"
"Right now."
A carriage arrived, it was really fancy and it looked like it would be comfy. Lukas opened the door for Spher to get in, and she started walking towards it, but before opening the door she ran towards me and gave me a hug, then putting both of her arms on my shoulders as she looked like she had assigned herself a mission.
"I promise you, Veesha, I'll grow stronger, so strong that I'll end this unnecessary rayecism."
"I won't let you get out of my reach Spher, we'll do this together!"
I said as I smiled, Spher let go of my shoulders as she got into the carriage and poked her head out to ask Lukas something.
"So how long will I be there?"
"2 years."
"Alright, that's not that long."
The carriage started to move and Spher waved her final goodbyes.
And so Spher headed off to the capital of Denora.
"So we'll see each other again in two years..." I said to myself, sighing. I will work hard to reach our goal. The goal of ending rayecism.
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It's so... BORING! Without Veesha here, what can I do to entertain myself! I am all alone, and I'll probably be picked on for having the Null magecraft. I bet they'll think I'm easy prey for me to pick on, I heard from Lord Gyffard that all nobles are assholes, especially their children. It's going to be... an interesting experience to say the least.
Wh- WHAT THE. THAT'S A SCHOOL??? I sat there as I poked my head through the carriages window as I could now see the school. This wasn't a school. This is an entire castle! Ugh, why did I have to be human?
I looked at the glorious building, that was refined with state of the arts magic arrays to protect it from pretty much anything. It was mostly white with golden accents, boasting about the pride of the human race as they had statues of the heroes who defeated the king of Demonia.
I arrived at the entrance, there were multiple gates that were made out of mythril, based off of what I read, they automatically open to anyone worthy of entering the school, but Gyffard told me that's false info and it simply opens to your entrance ticket.
It's such a busy place. There's so many people around, and so many carriages that are all blinged up to look pretty, a bunch of show offs, I suppose?
My carriage stood still as I was now told to get out. I looked around and saw many people around the same age as me, but there were some who were much older than me. I recall that we should be heading to the main hall, for there the speech will be given to announce the new year.
I walked into the building as there was the main hall, which was massive and had to support many students to there were multiple seating floors, like a theater. The director walked on stage, and started their speech.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Pelperson
Pelperson particle is basically the mana of the soul and the surrounding area.
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