CORPSE EATER

School was like a scaled-down version of society, with smaller chairs and smaller people who wanted to sit on those chairs. It didn't just teach you numbers, letters, and theories. No, the truth lessons lie upon other students. How to make friends with a smile, and enemies with the same smile. How to switch sides just before the ship started to sink and pretend like you were never there in the first place. These lessons were never written in any blackboard or textbook, but everyone was still forced to learn them, or else they risked being discarded.

But that wasn't the case at Moldrivore Academy. Everyone who attended was already aware of what they were getting into. At the most prestige institution throughout the continent, funded by both the church and the government, children of nobles and affluent families alike knew what they had to do: they needed to ensure that the challenger that they were associated with become king and even laying out the foundation to switch their support to another royal house in case their challenger failed.

"Meaning they're a bunch of opportunistic traitors." A young, beautiful teenager said after the door of the carriage closed behind her, snuffing out the sound of cheering and laughter instantly.

She was wearing a beautiful green gown, jewels glinting with her every movement as she sat down. Yet, they were all pale in comparison to the majesty of the wooden diadem adorned on her head. The contrast between her golden hair and the brown of the crown painted a beautiful picture; gold adding a touch of elegance and brilliance, while brown helped ground the brightness, adding depth and stability. Her beauty captured the gaze of others, but her power kept them from looking away.

A voice responded, coming from the diadem.

"Don't be so harsh on them, child. It'll only make you angry and do you no good. Your mortal's beauty is a fleeting touch. Don't waste it on being mad at others."

Alea slumped down in the seat, arching her back into the soft cushion. She let out a sigh of content as the pain from standing straight all night was relieved.

"As if that's a good thing. People keep assuming I'm in love with them whenever I show them a little bit of courtesy. I'm tired of rejecting boys and men thinking they've fancied me enough to ask for my hand in marriage."

The high-level spirit residing in the crowd licked its tongue.

"Tsk. Tsk. Everyone before you also said that. Until they became old and ugly and wouldn't stop bombarding me with questions on how to recover their youth. I just want to prolong my peaceful days as long as possible."

"Maybe I'll regret what I've just said when I'm older. But don't worry, I promise you I won't annoy you like my predecessors." Alea said, clasping her hands together over her belly. "If there is a way to prolong my youth, why should I throw away the fun of discovering it for an easy answer? I'll be the one to answer my queries."

"Alright, Dear." The spirit chuckled. "But just so you know. There isn't a way to prolong your youth."

"I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything." Alea yelled, plugging her fingers in her ear canals.

***

Despite the treacherous surroundings and being pulled by only one horse, the carriage was making its way through the roadless ground with ease.

Beneath the luxurious coating of gold and gems lay a hidden layer of steel reinforced by a level four spell. With four base runes each calling upon four different elemental spirits—fire and earth for defense, wind to reduce the weight of the carriage, as well as to carry her voice and send it across to others. And finally, tree rune to receive voice messages from the guards and messengers who had been traveling ahead to ensure the route was safe and free from dangers, as well as arranging for supplies.

The higher the level of the spell, the more complex it became; In return, the number of spirits being called reduced significantly, lessening the strain the spell would put on the material. It also allowed for smaller carvings, making it much easier to hide.

"Finally!" Alea yelled out, panting profusely as she put down the rune carver on the floor.

Her hands grabbed onto the edge of the metal plate she had been prying into using the rune carver. Gripping it tightly, she put her back into lifting it, grunting as she slowly raised it. But with her sheltered life and lack of interest in self-defense class and muscle training, she could only lift it just high enough to push it forward.

Her back and biceps screamed out in white hot pain, threatening to tear themselves apart. Seeing this, the spirit spoke up.

"Stubborn child, let me help you."

"No, your might may scare the spirits in the rune with your might. I need to do this myself." Alea struggled to answer back.

There was a thin line running across her palm in a perfect straight line, but she didn't care about the radiating pain and kept pushing forward. Eventually, the treasure she had been looking for revealed itself before her eyes.

"There you are!" Sweat ran down her flushed, reddened face, and some got into her panting mouth.

"Don't be shy. I won't hurt you. I just want to admire your beauty. Let's me look just an itsy-bitsy bit." Her pupils dilated, looking at the runes with a perverted gaze, and drool ran down the corner of her mouth like a rapid dog.

"Stop behaving so unsightly, Dear." The spirit said. "I know you're excited, but don't forget that you're still the challenger of House Gennan. What would happen if this were to get out into public?"

"What are you talking about?" Alea wipes her face using a handkerchief, then she wraps it in the middle before swiping her hands with each side.

This was the first time she'd gotten to see a level four spell. Even an amateur like her knew how easy it was to accidentally mess up the foundation of the rune.

"I'm not a challenger yet. I still need the church's mark to challenge the Great Dungeon of Samteal, remember?"

"Please, I know you're playing dumb. If it weren't for Moldodivore's restriction that only adults are allowed to challenge the dungeon, they would have given the mark to you already by now. You are the current de facto challenger of House Gennan."

"Yeah, yeah. But haven't I told you when we made our contact, oh great spirit of the Crown of the Rooted Sky. I'm first and foremost a rune master, a researcher, a truth seeker." Alea grabbed a small pocket notebook hidden in her stocking and started jotting down the carvings of the rune. "Politic be damned when I'm in my flow."

"What a troublesome child you are, Dear." The spirit said, the crown shifted left and right slightly as if shaking its head.

"You sound like my mother." Alea didn't care about the movement; her eyes remained fixated on the rune.

"Correction. Your mother sounds like m..." The spirit's voice spiraled away into silence.

"What was that? Why did you stop talking? What does my mother sound like?" Alea asked.

"Your mother sounds like someone I used to know." The spirit replied immediately. "Says, what've you figured out about the rune?"

"Ugh, nothing much. It's so complicated. Just looking at these intricate linings makes my head hurt." Alea got her face closer, trying to get a better look at the carvings.

Just then, a voice came out from the rune.

"This humble coachman greets Princess Alea and wishes you good health. We will arrive at Saurkeep Village in 15 minutes. The messengers, who arrived a day sooner, have made all the preparations at the village."

It caught her by surprise, making her jump backward. Just then, thousands of tree bushes sprout from the diadem, catching her fall.

"Hee Hee." Alea laughed awkwardly, running to the opposite seat to push the metal plate back into its place. "Guess I've got to put this on hold."

She stood up, pressing a button on the armrest. The rune shone brightly as she spoke in its direction.

"Very well, coachman. Tell the messengers it's time to begin to proceed with the plan."

"As you command." The coachman replied before ending the call.

"Saurkeep? This place isn't in the planned route."

"It's not. I decided to detour a bit from the course to reach here instead." Alea fixed her dress, hands moving across the soft fabric to smooth out any wrinkles.

"And why is that?"

"My friend told me that there is a rumor spreading through the Cardinal School right now."

"Oh, this can't be good."

"It's about the existence of a saint not controlled by the Church, hidden away somewhere in this village."

"A human, huh?"

"Yes. The rumor started because the Church had been sending a lot of their saints coming and leaving here. Isn't it strange for such a backwater village to get the special attention of the church?"

"So you want to check out if the rumor is true?"

"Yes. And if it happened to be true, I wish to capture the saint. I want to see how different humans' anatomy is compared to elves'."

"Well, it—"

"Stop answering questions I didn't ask," Alea yelled out, stopping the spirit from answering her question.

"Sorry." Alea said softly as if embarrassed at her sudden outburst. "I think all that work had made me very tired."

"It's alright, Dear. I'm also at fault."

Before her coming-of-age party, she had spent a month getting to know the spirit residing within the crown and had come to realize something. It had a strong tendency to give advice even when it was not requested. She guessed it must have become a habit since almost everyone who bore the crown sought out its wisdom.

I hope you can help me capture the saint, Corski."

"Corski."

"Yeah, I figure since you refused to tell me yours. I should give you a name. Is it okay for me to call you Corski?"

"You can call me whatever you want, Dear. But capturing a human, huh?"

"You can't do it?"

"No, no. I absolutely can do it."

The carriage came to a halt. Sounds of people murmuring could be heard as the door of the carriage opened.

"I'll leave it to you then." Alea said.

The coachman thought she was talking to him. So he offered her his hand. Alea accepted the coachman's gesture, putting one hand onto his palm, the other held onto her dress, lifting it slightly as she took slow and deliberate steps down the stairs.

A middle-aged man took a step forward, distancing himself from the crowd. He bowed his head, joining his hands together, putting his left palm over his right knuckles.

"It's an honor for a member of the royal house to visit our humble village. I hope your time with us will prove fruitful."

"Likewise, village chief. Likewise." Alea grabbed his hands, lifting them apart. Then she turned toward the crowd. "People of Saurkeep, let's us feast in the name of House Gennan's hospitality."

Upon hearing Alea's mention of a feast, the weary crowd became cheerful, gloomy expressions turned into giggles and chatters, lifting the atmosphere immediately.

"Finally, someone who brings good news to the village." Someone said quietly.

Then, old and young voices alike erupted in cheers, chanting.

"Praise House Gennan. Praise House Gennan. May the spirits see your House worthy of the throne."