7-24: Treasury Rewards
"Careful, watch your step. The stairs were recently waxed." Priscilla warned, leading the girls down to the treasury.
The stairs were certainly slippery, but they did make it safely down the spiraling staircase—which lead to a long hallway, a light with torches lining the walls.
Though, a loud bang echoed through the hall coming from the treasury. The girls weren't armed, except for Aviris—who had a pair of hidden weapons on her—but they ran down the hall, protecting the Queen and trying to figure out what that bang was.
They swung the door open, and quickly discovered a dead body and a woman with a blindfold.
"Ah, I didn't think you'd be here with guests, Prisi." She spoke plainly to the Queen. Too plainly.
"Ugh, Ren? Really? You better have a good reason for killing this man."
"He was being a sneaky rat. Tried to steal some of the shiny stuff here."
"That's a better reason than usual. Fine, I'll let you off the hook for now, but next time, just bring then to the guards. It's a lot cleaner that way."
"Will do."
"Rena? What are you doing here?" Veronica asked, wondering why she was not only in the treasury but also in the castle. And also wondering why she spoke that casually to Priscilla.
"Ah, Veronica! It has been quite a while. How are ye lass?"
"I'm fine, but you haven't answered my question."
"Right, right. I'm 'ere to collect me reward. I was told to destroy a few rogue pirates off the coast, and my reward would be choosing something 'ere. Prisi likes giving away 'spensive things."
Priscilla seemed to blush in embarrassment before clearing her throat.
"Ahem—Anyways, you girls go ahead and pick your rewards as well. In the meantime..." She said, glancing at the body on the ground. "Guards, take the body our of here, and get a few Maids to come down here and clean up the mess."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard bowed, grabbed the body, and left.
The girls had all wandered off, further into the treasury, looking at all the shiny, expensive items that the royal family has been holding for years upon years.
"You know that blind woman?" Cassidy asked.
"Yeah. Old friend of Liafi's. Also Nia's godmother, I suppose." Veronica thought about.
"Veronica, this way!" Lilith exclaimed, leading Veronica over to the amulet she looked at earlier.
It was a deep, dark purple color, almost black. And it certainly radiated a warm glow. It felt familiar somehow. The string was thin and more like a metal wire, yet is wasn't sharp or uncomfortable to the touch. The amulet itself was relatively simple. A diamond shaped pendant with familiar iconography on it. A thorned rose, wrapped around a sword.
"It's enchanted with some kind of Hakano magic. I can't tell what, but I can tell that it's not a negative affect."
"And you know that how? Earlier, you told me we wouldn't be able to figure it out until it's used." Veronica answered, whispering to the floating, invisible sex demon.
"Good, or neutral effecting enchantments tend to have this familiar feel. While negative ones make you sick to your stomach. Of course, only Hakano can feel it."
"Then, in that case..." Veronica muttered, carefully picking up the amulet. "It almost looks like the one you gave me back then."
"I suppose it does. Strange. Only a few Hakano use that symbol."
"Excuse me, Priscilla, how long ago did the royal family receive this amulet?"
"Long before I was born. I don't even know the story. It just sat here for many, many years. When I first saw it, it was covered in dust and spiderwebs. Had the maids start taking better care of the treasury then and there."
"Can I take this as my reward?"
"Certainly!"
After a short while, the girls had all picked their rewards. Cassidy chose an elegant set of robes, which might be a bit too tight for her in the chest section. And Aviris chose a small tiara, as she wasn't really interested in anything else. Though, she would look absolutely adorable if she wore it. Shaerrill had no idea what to pick. Though, she settled on a very beautiful bow.
And Rena, she chose whatever was the most expensive looking. Then, they had all started to leave.
"Hey, Rena?"
"Mm?"
"How long uave you known the Queen?"
"I knew her when she was still in her mother's belly. Granted, I also knew her great-great-great grandparents."
"That's... over 200 years."
"Yup! I was cursed sometime around there."
Veronica started to wonder what it was like back then. Sure, there are history books and what not, but those were all mostly written recently by people in their early fifties. Though, that would have to come later, as Rena was already gone, and the girls would stay for just one more day before going back to the academy.
And the Queen wanted to give Veronica an extra, little present before Veronica left.