Chapter 249

Astrid grunted in acknowledgment.

“Yes,” she said. “That is me.”

She spoke with an accent that, despite its heaviness, was surprisingly pleasant to the ear—even pretty. Matching her expression, she sounded interested but reserved. Confident as a matter of personality yet uncertain how this encounter might go.

Zoey tried to place the name Rosalie had used, the ‘Harkvalen’, but came up with nothing. That wasn’t surprising, since her knowledge of geography and sociology when it came to this new world was fairly weak. She hadn’t been here long, all things considered, and the limited time she had for training and learning went mostly to aspects directly related to her class. Many mundane subjects like the nations and peoples composing this world had been, while not outright ignored, certainly set as a far priority.

“Well,” Rosalie said, her surprise still visible in her posture, and the way she took a few seconds to gather her words. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I must admit, I hadn’t expected one of the Harkvalen to be interested in teaming. Much less the Chieftain’s daughter.”

“Unexpected opportunity,” Astrid grunted. “You four are rising stars of a generation, allegedly. Worth considering breaking tradition.” The accent was even thicker in the longer sentence, and Zoey briefly wondered how accents even worked with the translation magic given to her. There had been others with regional dialects and such, but with Astrid, it almost seemed as if she wasn’t speaking her first language.

Her green eyes swept across the four of them. There was some dubiousness in the look as she took them in, undoubtedly focused less on Rosalie and more on the less ... well, world-famous wayfarers. Rosalie had not just her father’s reputation and that of her family name, but her own as well. Maddy less so, Delta even more, and Zoey not at all.

“It is worth a trial, I think,” Astrid finished. “Even if I have my doubts.”

Rosalie pursed her lips at that, and Enzo smiled.

“That’s my heir you’re speaking so doubtfully of,” he told her.

Astrid glanced at him. “Daughter of Guildmaster. Yes.” Her eyes flicked to Zoey, Delta, and Maddy. “Means expectations are high. So, I am doubtful.”

Enzo laughed. “I do love the bluntness,” he said. “You take after Valgard.”

“I hope not,” Astrid said. “Too much air between the old man’s ears.” The words had no bite, despite the insult. Was Valgard her father? Enzo and he knew each other in somewhat of a personal manner, Zoey assumed, by the fondness in his words.

Enzo simply laughed again, finding the statement amusing. He didn’t comment, though, and so Astrid’s attention fell back on Rosalie.

“You need a shield-bearer, specifically,” she said plainly. “I am one. Of similar advancement, and in circumstance where I can accept. Perhaps it is fated we are to team.”

“Perhaps,” Rosalie said. “Did my father make an offer to the Harkvalen’s Chieftain?” she asked curiously, and a bit cautiously. “I’ve never heard of one of you teaming outside of your clan.”

Astrid shrugged. “I’m certain there were discussions, yes,” she said. “Maybe bargains made. But is irrelevant to me. I care only if you are suitable warrior.”

“In that, at least, I believe I can meet your expectations,” Rosalie said after a moment. “You know the rest of us?”

“The Guildmaster spoke of them briefly.” Astrid’s eyes lingered on Zoey. Maybe for obvious reasons, if she’d been given an overview of each of their classes. She was a heavens-blessed priestess, a disciple-of-sorts to a literal goddess. “Unusual circumstances, some of you.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Rosalie said.

“Madeline, Zoey, Delta.” Astrid pointed them out in turn. “Yes?”

Maddy waved, Zoey nodded, and Delta gave a “Yep,” telling Astrid she’d gotten them right.

“The Guildmaster told me some,” Astrid said, “but I wish to hear fighting styles and classes from your own mouths.” She nodded to herself. “I will go first.”

She grabbed her shield, stood, and hefted it up.

“This is dragon’s scale,” Astrid said. “Very strong, unbreakable. And sharp. It is both weapon and shield. Heirloom of my father’s, of entire Harkvalen clan, given to me because of my class, because I am strong warrior.” She spoke the words with pride. As Zoey thought she should be. She might not know who Astrid was, but she had drawn Enzo’s attention, which was enormous praise in its own right.

“I am not typical guardian,” Astrid continued. “But still capable protector. Also healer.”

“Healer?” Rosalie asked, eyebrows going up.

“Works through link. Can change easily. When I hurt opponent, ally is healed.” Astrid hummed. “Not very strong effect,” she admitted. “But no healers among you, I have been told?”

“There isn’t,” Rosalie agreed. “So even a weak healer would be nice.”

Especially packaged into a guardian, which their team also needed—even more so than a healer. Unsurprisingly, Enzo’s choice was well suited to their party, even without hearing the rest of her class.