Valkyrie Black Age 13 The next years flew by as Val trained with a new master each day. Thanks to the funds her mother had left, as well as Desmond’s contribution, she was easily able to pay for and complete five levels of mastery in almost everything she trained in. Her spark become an intricate part of her being, and she relied on it as second nature. Some of her favorite skills were stealth, parkour, and rock climbing. As she scaled the cliffs around the fortress, she could lose herself in the challenge of finding the next hand hold and pushing her limits. Each morning, she would leave her room, and pass through the training hall. On her first day, Desmond had pointed the ceiling out, stating there were five levels to climb. What she had failed to realize was that the landings she could see were not the levels, but actually all part of the first ascension. Each mini-landing would have additional challenges to overcome, the first of which was a rope that would drop once you reached

Val saw a hulk of a man bound and gagged on the ground, Morgessa’s familiar features standing over him. The lady was a beast in her own right. She towered over the other women in the fortress. Her brown hair was hidden in the dark of this room, but Val imagined it was likely braided back in its customary tight weaves down her back. “Hurry up you two. The soon-to-be dead don’t have all day. Now, as we have been practicing, your goal is no blood. In some missions, blood is good, in others you need to get out unscathed and unseen. That is best if you are not covered in blood.” “Will he be bound?” Alexa asked hesitantly, eyeing the large man. Morgessa’s teeth shone as she smiled, “Now why would I give you such an easy mission? You have both passed basic competencies. I am sure if you found a bound and gagged man you would have no issue. No, this one is special.” Val frowned before asking the obvious question, “His crimes?” Morgessa’s face soured, “This trash is convicted by the 9 cour

Valkyrie, Age 17Val was feeling restless and needed to get away from the fortress. Cade had been sent on three missions in the last year, each time returning with tales of adventure. Fall was setting in, and the snows would start soon.Valkyrie’s own missions so far had been mostly simple find and recover. Word would arrive that a hunter was needed to find some piece of art for a nobleman. It seemed the Surian nobility had a fascination with anything from the outside world. They had no contact beyond the mountains to the point most of the 8 realms believed all of Suria to be a myth or just a blank spot on the map.While she could hunt for Scath shadow plasma, the quartermaster had been reducing her pay recently, citing an overstock since she had started. Even Morgessa seemed to have enough after their quarterly hunt.The most profitable venture was a dangerous one that Val was uniquely suited for. About one hundred miles north, along the barrier mountains there was a hot spring that

The four day trip passed without much incident. As they neared the city, Alexa leaned out the carriage window, watching the scenery change. “So, dockside first? What that like?” “It’s docks.” Cade said dryly. Val shrugged in her seat next to Alexa, “It’s salty compared to the mountains. Its been years since I’ve been back. But there is a library, and you have to try Maggie’s cinnamon rolls.” As their carriage crossed the river and homesteads began to appear long the road, Val began to smell the strong salt air she had nearly forgotten about. As the port came into sight, the small of rotting fish also became apparent. She had forgotten about that part. “AW, GAH! It stinks down here! How did you stand it?” Alexa said, her nose scrunching as she closed the window. It didn’t help the smell much, and Val joined her friend in covering her nose with a rag to try to quell the stench. “Please tell me we are not staying down here?” Alexa asked, a look of horror crossing her face at the noti

The next day, Cade and Alexa split off to find more information about the hosts of the auction and to see if they could find an inventory list. Val decided to take this time to acquire supplies and see if she could find where Emma was being held. Even if she didn’t have a full plan now, she would get the information she needed to form one later.The first Jewelry shop she found had silver, but gold was scarce. The proprietor was kind enough to point her in the direction of the largest dealer in the city. The sign out front read Winston Song Jewlery.Val made her way inside and a tall blonde introduced herself as Nanaka Song. ‘How can I help you today?”Val proceeded to hand over a list of metals and quantities she would need.“I see. Are you wanting investment grade bars or jewelry made from these?”“Bars or cubes would work best.”“I understand. We have several investors who come here for such products, though, its rare to have someone as young as you looking for…” Nanaka paused as s