conversations
listlengths 2
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|
|---|
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar opened the door to the hallway, eyes narrowed suspiciously, he found a lady-in-waiting about to knock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lady-in-waiting:",
"value": " She apologized for her rudeness and informed Oscar that Lazar was waiting for him in the king’s private chambers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"In my chambers? That doesn’t make sense.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Puzzling over that incomprehensible message, Oscar hastened to his chambers and flung the door open once he had arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " Standing by the window, the waxing moon at her back, she looked to him slowly. With a graceful smile on her lips, she dipped into a curtsy. \"I apologize for the long silence.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Why are you here? Where is Lazar?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " \"Lazar? I don’t know. Perhaps the lady-in-waiting got her message mixed up?\" She replied with faux innocence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"What are you doing here? Are you in trouble?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " She walked over to the table and picked up a small bottle resting on it. \"My mother’s winery has produced a fruit wine this year that is the best vintage yet. I’ve come to invite you to taste it.\" She explained, pouring the red liquid into a glass and stepping over to Oscar to hand it to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He received it and stared at the liquid. \"Is that really why you’re here? Don’t hold back.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " \"Just come out and say it.” “That’s really all it is. Please, enjoy the wine,\" Zefiria said with a beautiful, clear voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar lifted the glass up to the moonlight and put his lips to its rim. Ultimately, he set it back down on the table without taking a sip. “Sorry. I’ll have some later.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “Oh? What’s wrong?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “It isn’t that I don’t trust you, but I can’t be too careful lately. Forgive me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “I don’t mind,\" Zefiria assured him, smiling and taking a step closer and reaching out for Oscar. “Very soon, you’ll be married. Congratulations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Mm-hmm.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “Farsas will flourish with this tie to Tuldarr. You are the very image of a king, Your Majesty.” Invisible thorns barbed Zefiria’s words, and Oscar scowled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He caught hold of her wrist as she extended her arm toward him. “Like I told you before, I didn’t choose her for her status. I like her for who she is. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but keep the gossip to yourself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " The woman only laughed in response. She gazed up at Oscar, eyes filled with chaotic, whirling emotions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar’s voice grew more chilling. “Zefiria, what have you done with Lazar?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “I told you, I don’t know.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Then why hasn’t he returned, and why did you use his name to bring me here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “I merely borrowed his name. I don’t know where he is,” she asserted. Her face claimed ignorance, yet her voice felt barbed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar made a face at how vague she was being."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " Zefiria laughed, her eyes inscrutable. “I actually have one request.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “I want you, Your Majesty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You can’t have me. Give up,” Oscar replied immediately, rejecting that request that reeked like a poison flower."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " She wriggled her hand out of his grasp. “I’ll abandon hope, then. But in exchange…”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Sharp pain lanced through Oscar’s right hand, the one that had been gripping Zefiria’s wrist, and he yanked it back. Glancing down, he saw that it was oozing blood, as if pierced by a thin blade. Reflexively, the king wrenched Zefiria’s hand up. Pain twisted her expression, yet her smile remained gleeful."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “In exchange, I shall betray you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Upon those words, Oscar’s vision went dark."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha arrived in Farsas about twenty minutes sooner than scheduled, carrying a spell book that her friend Sylvia had asked for. Tinasha asked a mage she passed in the hallway where Sylvia was and was told she waited in the outer gardens. Dusk was falling, and once Tinasha located Sylvia, she discovered that fellow court mages Doan and Kav were also there, drawing a magic circle by the light of magical lamps. \"What are you doing?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sylvia:",
"value": " “Oh, Queen Tinasha! We’re trying to create a transportation array with a variable destination that can be changed each time you want to use it. I thought it might be useful in times when there isn’t a lot of space to set up multiple arrays.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha stood next to the three and examined their work. “Hmm, sounds interesting.\" The configuration was fairly well crafted, owing to the efforts of the trio. “Excellent job. But the destination can only be changed by those who can work magic. You’d need to output it to a magic implement or something.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sylvia:",
"value": " “I know… I’d like to make it simpler, though.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You could create a crystal for every destination, give each a unique name, and define them in the spell configuration. That would allow the destination to shift, depending on the crystal fitted into the array. It would require some adjusting of the spell, however.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sylvia:",
"value": " “Ooh, I see!” Sylvia said, accepting the book Tinasha brought her with gratitude."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " As the three mages fell into serious thought, Tinasha giggled and waved her hand at them. “Oh, but then you’d have to put chains or something on the crystal to prevent removal. And you’d be in trouble if you ever lost one.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sylvia:",
"value": " “Ooh, that could definitely happen… I can see people walking away with them by mistake.” Sylvia Agreed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha stared at the magic circle. “This really is well crafted. You’ve designed it to utilize minimal magic for maintenance, and when it’s activated, it will absorb magic in the area and amplify it. While that means it wouldn’t work without enough latent energy nearby, you’d just need to place it carefully, and it would work as a hidden array.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sylvia:",
"value": " Sylvia nodded."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"We arranged it so that it could be used even in places without any mages.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Now that you’ve pointed that out, this really is an extraordinary idea.\" Tinasha remarked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " For Tinasha and Tuldarr, the concept of “not enough magic or mages” was somewhat foreign. No Tuldarr mage would have considered a way to keep a magic circle going on minimal magic. However, a concept like this would be useful in places where mages were scarce. Likewise, there was the fact that when mages battled one another, hidden magic and spells were often used, meaning that it was worth researching to see whether this could be adapted into a magic circle for long-term use. Tinasha crossed her arms, falling deep into thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Aware that if he let her go on, she would ponder it all night, Doan said, “Queen Tinasha, aren’t you here for the meeting about your wedding ceremony?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Oh, yes, I’d completely forgotten. I suppose Oscar’s in his study?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " “If you’re looking for the king, I know where he is.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " purred an unfamiliar voice from behind her, and Tinasha whirled around. So did the other three mages. It was not a lady-in-waiting who spoke but an upper-class woman in an elegant dress. \"Oh, I don’t know. It wouldn’t be any fun if I revealed it right away, would it?” drawled the woman, making no secret of how much she was enjoying this."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha bobbed her head to her and asked, “Could you tell me?” Tinasha frowned. When she glanced at Doan, she found him pale."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " He hissed. “That’s Zefiria, daughter of Duke Jost.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I see… It’s nice to meet you. My name is Tinasha of Tuldarr.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “I am Zefiria. It is an honor to make your acquaintance. This is my first time seeing you from up close. You really are lovely. I can certainly see why the king is so captivated.” said Zefiria, her tone dripping with derisive scorn rather than prickly barbs."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Unsure of how to respond, Tinasha scratched her temple. From the corner of her eye, she saw that Doan’s expression looked just as grim as it had once in the past. She racked her memory and soon recalled when that last time was. He’d made this same face the last time Tinasha faced off against an unknown woman in Farsas Castle. It had been the king’s mistress on the previous occasion. Tinasha clapped her hands together in recognition. \"Are you Oscar’s lover?” Her question was so indifferent that it made the three mages tense. Kav’s and Sylvia’s jaws dropped in shock, while Doan went truly white. Their reactions confirmed Tinasha’s hunch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " Zefiria narrowed her eyes and smiled patronizingly. As if Tinasha were some underperforming student, she replied, “My… I had heard you were quite an aloof young lady, but you are surprisingly astute.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes, although I won’t deny that I can be dense at times.” Tinasha answered, giving Zefiria a sardonic grin. Tinasha lacked Oscar’s keen intuition."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha was carefully ascertaining whether this sudden visitor expected to interact with her on a private or a public level."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan whispered softly to Tinasha, “It’s ancient history now. The king hasn’t seen her since proposing to you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I surmised that much. I can’t go getting upset over every past dalliance. There would be no end of it.” She muttered back with a bitter smile on her lips, which visibly reassured the mage trio."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " After composing herself, Tinasha projected an air of calm on the surface as she faced Zefiria head-on and met her gaze."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " With four pairs of eyes upon her, Zefiria tapped a finger to her chin. “Unfortunately, I know the king much better than you do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Is that so? I don’t know a thing about that man.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “I’m surprised that you’re marrying him, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I love him.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " Zefiria sneered. “Really? What makes you believe you haven’t just imprinted on him?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her face darkened, but ultimately, her lips curled in a faint smile. “I suppose when we first met, I only adored him the way a child might. But the man I longed for when I was younger was not the one for me. The love of my life is the Oscar with me now, the one who’s vexing and mean to me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha’s eyes drifted shut in her reverie; then, with a sudden inhale, she opened them. All of the daunting power of the abyss filled her dark gaze. A cruel smile played about her lips. “So tell me, who has bribed you to come? I would so love to know.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Eyes flashing, Tinasha fixed a stare as cold as ice on the other woman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " However, Zefiria only looked a little astonished by the sudden change that had come over the queen, before her facade returned."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " She clasped her hands before her heart, smiling. “I do so apologize if I’ve offended you. I heard about it all directly from His Majesty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"From Oscar?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “Yes. If you like, you can ask him yourself? His Majesty is in his bedroom. Oh, but he just fell asleep,” Zefiria said with elegance and scorn."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " That managed to needle at Tinasha’s emotions. Logically, she knew that Oscar wouldn’t allow any woman besides his fiancée into his bedchamber. He wouldn’t. Still, her eyes flashed dangerously, and she couldn’t stop the low growl in her voice as she spat out, “What do you mean?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “Precisely what I said, Your Majesty. You claimed you wouldn’t get upset about past affairs, but…what about current ones?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha heard someone gulp, yet she couldn’t be sure who it was. Her thoughts overheated, and her vision warped as her face screwed up into a grimace, as if that would hold the pain at bay."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " Zefiria broke into a delighted grin as she observed each and every little fluctuation in Tinasha’s composure. Her laughter rang out across the twilight, echoing unpleasantly. It was the laugh of someone who stirred up other people’s emotions for her own amusement."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Clutching her forehead, Tinasha took a step forward. “Enough. I’m going to go and ask Oscar myself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " “Ask him? You’re not going to kill him?” the woman mocked with glee, causing the queen’s face to darken further."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha trusted him. That hadn’t changed. But…she was still unnerved. Her heart was no longer her own. It was all so uncomfortable and frustrating that she wanted to burn everything to the ground, an impulse unbecoming of a mage. She had never felt anything when others betrayed her in the past, but when it came to him, she was reduced to an ignorant little girl. It made her feel truly foolish—but that was all it was. Tinasha suppressed the warm sludge threatening to swallow her mind. A smile like a flower under the moonlight bloomed across her face. “I…don’t know him as well as you do, it’s true. But I love him much, much more than you think,” she said. Tinasha intended to keep moving forward despite the doubts in her heart."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " Zefiria did not look furious or unhappy to hear this; she only grinned with eyes narrowed. Tinasha sidestepped the irksome woman and walked past her, not looking back once as she left."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"If he isn’t, come and tell me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " Oscar’s private rooms should have had a window left open during the day so that Nark could come and go as he liked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Chirp of acknowledgment. Action: The dragon let out a chirp of acknowledgment and flew out a nearby window."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " Tinasha waited for a bit before she heard the click of the lock turning as the door opened from the inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Nark glided over to her, and she patted the creature’s head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Thank you. Stand guard here. Tell me if someone comes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " As ordered, Nark remained by the door while Tinasha ventured deeper into the room. Oscar wasn’t there. Only when she entered his bedchamber did she find him, asleep on the mattress."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Action: She gasped and ran to check his pulse and breathing. \"He’s alive… Good.” Action: Tinasha let out a held breath."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " He was fast asleep. Even Tinasha, who occasionally slept in his bed, rarely caught a glimpse of Oscar resting, as he lay down later and rose earlier than she did. She patted his cheek lightly as she gazed down at his gorgeous face, no emotion in her eyes. Oscar showed no signs of waking."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Ugh… I really might kill you for this.” Action: Tinasha muttered, getting onto the bed and mounting him. Reaching out, she wiped away the smudge of red lipstick on his lips."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " He was shirtless, revealing numerous red marks and scratches littering his skin. Tinasha eyed them expressionlessly. It was a very transparent attempt to provoke her. She would be a fool if she let it anger her. The emotions she couldn’t rein in turned to roiling magic. She wanted to gouge out each and every one of those marks, to tear him apart and put him back together. Considering that Oscar was unconscious, Tinasha could do with him as she desired. She could kill him lovingly. The little girl inside her screamed out that she wanted to. Tinasha stroked a finger along his neck. Magic seeped out and shattered a glass on the table. Broken shards and wine spilled to the ground, but she paid them no mind at all. She traced a nail along his carotid artery and scratched the mark already on it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “To let someone do this to you… If you’re going to hand yourself over to someone, I will take control.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " The cold flame in Tinasha’s eyes died as she lowered her gaze and drew near his face. Opening his lips, she kissed him deeply and slipped some of her magic into his body. Instantly, Tinasha understood that Oscar had fallen into a trap. He was a light sleeper, so he would have woken up at a knock on his door. In any case, she had come here for an appointment; Oscar wasn’t so careless as to forget he had plans and dabble in an affair. Using her magic to probe throughout his body, Tinasha soon found a spell, just as she’d expected to."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " With her mouth still pressed to his, Tinasha scowled as she sensed the hex entwined with a complicated spell, likely caused by a potion. Then she recalled that she had seen a very similar hex before, although its caster had been executed. Why, then, did an almost identical configuration still exist? Tinasha’s mind raced to form conclusions. Then she felt a flicker of magic in the distance. It was a tiny wave rippling out to notify her that something had made contact with one of her barriers, and, of course, it wasn’t coming from the protective barrier cast on Oscar. Tinasha scanned the room. The royal sword, which Oscar always kept with him, was nowhere to be seen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Was I deceived? Itz!\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Itz:",
"value": " \"I am here.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Keep watch over this man!\" Tinasha ordered, and the white-haired old man swept into a bow. \"I’ll be right back!\" As her fury colored her fine features, Tinasha teleported away."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt attempted to cajole her into letting herself be manipulated, but when she saw through his lies, he decided it best to tell her the truth. He hadn’t told her everything, but none of it was false."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " She set two conditions: one, that he would not take Akashia away, and two, that Oscar would not be put into any mortal danger."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt agreed readily. As a mage, he had no need for Akashia, and he certainly didn’t want Tinasha holding a grudge against him for killing Oscar. After Zefiria handed Akashia to Valt, he asked her, partly as a joke,"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"What would you change if you could go back in time?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Zefiria:",
"value": " \"Hmm… I would find my mother when she was young and tell her to have better taste in men.\" She replied facetiously, but the remark possibly contained a grain of truth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt chuckled at the complexity of emotions and watched the woman as she left, knowing he would likely never see this person again."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt had been led inside the castle and needed to leave. He needed to cast a complicated spell to prevent anyone from tracking him, when he suddenly detected someone with a very murderous intent behind him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " In a voice like the clearest flute, she called, “It’s been a while. Where do you think you’re going?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Well, well… I never thought you’d notice.” Valt said, tensing up and turning around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Standing before him, she found the very embodiment of an abyss of darkness in the form of a beautiful woman, vivid and real. Blue lightning crackled around her right hand, its light flickering against her exquisite features. Thunder rent the air, though Tinasha didn’t appear to be bothered by it at all. She pointed to the box in Valt’s hands. “I shall have to ask you to leave that here. Along with yourself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Mmm. While that is an enticing proposition, I’m afraid I already have a girl waiting for me.” Valt said with a smile, drawing back his left leg as a small crystal tumbled from the hem of his pants."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her gaze fixed squarely on him, Tinasha narrowed her eyes, so black that no emotion could be discerned. “Then die.” Lightning erupted, but as it did, Valt kicked the crystal up before him. The bolt intertwined with it, snared before it could reach him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " As Tinasha drew up a new spell, Valt smiled. “We’ll meet again soon, Witch of the Azure Moon.” He activated his teleportation spell and disappeared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha was left to stare around in a trance. “Witch…of the Azure Moon?” Then she shook her head violently to snap herself out of it."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Striding down the hallway, she arrived at the treasure vault. The lock was broken and by searching the messily arranged space, she found that there was no white box on the pedestal. It was empty, and below the stand on the floor lay Akashia. “You’re lucky it was a hex I remembered dealing with. You almost landed yourself in a coma like Legis.” Tinasha remarked, colder than Oscar had ever heard her, her tone was so chilly he could practically hear the ice floes cracking in it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " clutched at his head, sitting up in bed. Glancing down at the marks littering his body, he knew he needed to think about what to say first, knowing that the wrong thing might mean losing his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Did that woman bring you this wine? It’s dosed with a potion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “No, I didn’t drink it. She cut me with a razor of some kind.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You really will let a woman be the death of you one of these days.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “……” Oscar wanted to defend himself, but he knew that this wasn’t the time. He obediently bit his tongue and kept quiet. Tinasha was sitting on the edge of the bed with Akashia across her lap."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gave him a bright smile, though only for show. \"Lazar was found asleep in an empty chamber. He was only knocked out with magic, and Doan is examining him. There is a team in pursuit of Lady Zefiria, but she hasn’t returned to her home. Since the hex used on you resembles the one that was placed on Legis, we can assume Valt is responsible on both counts. He’s managed to steal Eleterria right out from under us. Sorry.\" Despite the apology, it was clear Tinasha felt only rage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar cut in with one of the eleven ways of appeasing her he had thought of. \"Hey, Tinasha.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"What?\" She responded, her ear-to-ear smile frightening."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"First of all, thank you for saving me. And I’m sorry. I let my guard down.\" Those few words were all he had to say."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha narrowed her eyes at him. While her lips were curved into an approximation of a smile, she looked more like a statue than a person. Tinasha set Akashia aside and got onto the bed, crawling slowly over to Oscar on hands and knees, resembling nothing so much as a lithe jungle cat. She assessed him with the eyes of a predator. Then she leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his neck. In a titillating voice, she whispered, \"Is there anything else you want to say?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I’m sorry.\" He grumbled reluctantly, sulking."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha burst out laughing. A childlike gleam came into her dark eyes. \"It’s a bit fun having our positions reversed for once.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Oh yeah? Well, it makes it a little better to know you’re enjoying yourself.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I may be feeling pleased, but I am fifty times more absolutely livid with you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Don’t call off our engagement.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I wouldn’t!\" Tinasha shouted crossly. When she touched Oscar’s shoulder, the marks on his body that were placed there to infuriate her all disappeared at once. Looking deeply unamused, Tinasha sat back onto Oscar’s lap. \"I’m glad nothing worse happened to you. I didn’t want to have to kill someone for personal reasons.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"So you were thinking of killing me?\" Oscar muttered, something cold running through him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha threw him an appalled look. \"Of course I wasn’t. I was talking about her. I placed a tracker on her, which I undid once I learned you had simply been careless. If I’d known she was working with Valt, I would have kept it on her. That’s my mistake. I should have knocked her out when I met her in the gardens.\" Tinasha said lightly, as if she wasn’t discussing life and death. Her confidence in her magic remained apparent, however. This was her true self, the Tinasha who wasn’t a child or a queen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar couldn’t help but grin at her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The sight prompted Tinasha to frown. \"Do you understand what you did?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I do."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I understand.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Did it sink in?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Absolutely.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"You are prone to making women obsessed with you, so you need to be careful.\" She chided seriously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar gave a wan tired smile. \"What about you?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Unfortunately, the only men who are interested in me are after what’s inside my body.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"What the…?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " A grin flashed across Tinasha’s face before she turned serious again. \"Valt wants both orbs of Eleterria, so he shouldn’t be able to use just the one right away. I need to fortify the security around the remaining orb…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Why don’t you just destroy it? That seems like the path of least harm.\" Oscar suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"We don’t know what might happen if I try.\" Tinasha said, nose scrunching up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Just to be certain, Oscar asked, \"Is the Tuldarr treasure vault secure?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’d like to say it is, but the recent irregularities have me worried.\" Tinasha admitted. After a beat, she looked at him. \"Valt is extremely good at reading people. He seems to know a lot about you and me, and not just general facts.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Owing to when he infiltrated Farsas Castle as Nephelli’s mage, I’m sure. You talked to him then, too, didn’t you?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Yes, but his understanding runs deeper than the superficial. I mean in a more familiar sense.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Familiar?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"He probably knows my current self. I can’t let this continue…\" Tinasha cuts herself off, her gaze turning distant as her thoughts sank to a deep, dark place. All the emotion faded from her eyes, leaving behind only a cold and calculating mind. Her train of thought took her deeper and further away. She grew so distant that it was like she was rewinding time. She was becoming someone Oscar didn’t recognize."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Tinasha?\" Her name fell from his lips involuntarily, surprising even Oscar himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Immediately, the emotion came back into her gaze, and she smiled. \"What is it? Are you going to beg to keep your life?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"So you really do plan to kill me…?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Of course not. We’re not even married yet.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I know… If you’re gonna kill me, at least wait until our kids are grown.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’ll consider it.\" Tinasha joked, giggling. She turned to burrow into Oscar’s chest. Yet as her long eyelashes fluttered closed, her thoughts sank once more to the coldest depths."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha was not a child for very long. Her position and the tumultuousness of the era did not permit it. She couldn’t rely on anyone or trust them. All around the young queen enthroned under extraordinary circumstances were people who either feared her or wanted her removed. Her only supporters were the twelve mystical spirits she had inherited. They were the only ones she could trust, and they became like friends and family to her. \"I’m exhausted.\" The girl sighed, lying facedown on her huge bed. Only a few months had passed since her coronation, and fourteen-year-old Tinasha buried her face in her pillow and sucked in a deep breath."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"You should sleep. You can’t keep going like this.\" The spirit Senn, there as her bodyguard, said to her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’m fine. I won’t stay up much longer. Kill any assassins that come while I’m sleeping, okay?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"No matter who it is?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"No matter who,\" she replied flatly. When Senn didn’t answer, tears welled in her dark eyes. She mumbled into her pillow, \"I mean…if I’m ever indulgent with anyone… Well, that’s exactly the type of person that they’ll try to use to kill me. I have to treat them all the same. That way, only those willing to fight me will come.\" She was undoubtedly thinking of how, just the other day, a lady-in-waiting around the queen’s age had attempted regicide. If she showed any weakness, her political opponents would take advantage of it. Blood did not determine who inherited the throne of Tuldarr. Eliminating Tinasha meant someone else could take her place."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " Senn opened his mouth, but mostly repeated what he’d said earlier. \"You should sleep. You’ll sit on the throne until you’re an old woman. That’s probably going to feel like a long time to you.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Not that long, I bet,\" she muttered. She would probably die before that. No matter how idealistic or powerful anyone was, they would not last long in times like these. People were always tricking and stabbing one another in the back. All wished for it to end, but none could find a way out. That was true for the entire mainland. Thus, even if Tinasha triumphed and survived, she wanted to relinquish her status before turning gray. Decades of using her extraordinary power to intimidate everyone into submission might very well drive her insane. Even if she retained her wits, her subjects would suffer if her ways of thinking grew old-fashioned and she began to pursue peace and quiet for herself. So, at most, she had another twenty years of this left. Ruminating on how that was a very long time indeed, Tinasha glanced up. \"If you want me to fall asleep, talk to me.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"Talk to you? Shall I report on something?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"No, just talk. Tell me about you. What was it like when you manifested before?"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"When you made the contract with the first king?\" Her request came out of nowhere."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " Senn looked bewildered. However, when he saw the hopeful curiosity in Tinasha’s eyes, he gave a rueful smile. The spirit leaned against the wall to indulge his master’s very age-appropriate curiosity. \"When I manifested back then, I had quite a bit of freedom.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"You have freedom now, too, Senn.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"Maybe.\" The man with bluish-white hair said with a dry laugh. His voice was tinged with the slightest hint of yearning. \"Just as you can never forget the man who saved you…I met a very strange woman once, too, a long time ago.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The girl rested her elbows on the bed, staring at Senn. It was rare for him to talk about himself. Out of all the twelve spirits, he was the most unemotional. \"Was she…a demon?\" It would be impossible for someone with the life span of an ordinary human to come and see him each time he, a royal spirit, manifested upon the coronation of a new ruler."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " Senn only smiled and did not answer. Pushing himself off the wall, he came over to the bed and placed a blanket over his master’s lithe frame. Tinasha noticed for the first time that he wore a ring. Senn’s ruby eyes went half-lidded in a very human gesture of sympathy. \"If you ever grow tired of it all, you should visit her. She’s a troublemaker, but…I know she’d make a good friend for you.\" He stroked Tinasha’s hair and, for the third time, said, \"Sleep.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The girl nodded and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, her heart feeling somewhat lighter. They were the only family she would trust. But they also belonged to…the ruler. A ruler was a symbol of strength and the greatest cog in the machine that kept the citizens alive and the country running. Regents did not need emotions or individuality. Relying on another was a weakness. Trust meant a gap in her defenses. That was why she didn’t mind being alone, as long as she had enough strength to do so. For the next five years of Tinasha’s rule she maintained that ideology—treading on thin ice all the while. She never wavered, and displayed no weakness. As ruler, she would use her devastating power to secure victory with all the pride of a queen. That was, after all, the last promise she made to him."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " A flicker of emotion showed in Tinasha’s dark eyes as she gazed down at the miniature garden."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Next to her, Legis noticed it and glanced at her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Without making the slightest movement, Tinasha said to the two spirits on her other side, \"I’ve gotten sloppy lately.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Yes, especially since your engagement, but you’ve been like this ever since you arrived in this time period, you know."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " “I thought you were just exhausted.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Thank you for that tart answer. It’s quite refreshing.” Though a smile didn’t bloom on her face like it normally did."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Feeling as though something were slightly off, Legis stared at her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Karr:",
"value": " “But you never used to be super vigilant when you were younger anyway, little girl. You were so obedient and sweet that I was actually a little worried.” Karr, the other spirit, piped up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What? You were? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.” The queen replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Karr:",
"value": " “Well, it’s the first time I’m telling you. And I don’t think it’s a bad thing, either. You’re only human. After becoming queen, you did everything so perfectly and carefully that it had me a bit concerned.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “A queen can’t very well act like she’s still a child.” Tinasha remarked, nodding as if the conversation wasn’t about her. \"In any case, dealing with this person I’m up against feels like he’s able to read my thoughts. As if that isn’t impolite enough, he even seems to know my private personal details. I don’t want him poking his nose in there.”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " There came a change like drawing the curtains on a window. Something had altered, something small yet fundamentally different. The air in the room shifted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Spirits:",
"value": " With heads lowered, the two spirits flanking Tinasha spoke together. “We are yours to command, my queen.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gave a haughty nod. Threatening waves emanated from her, making all in the room frightened to so much as breathe."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis had gone rigid all over."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha pointed to a series of settlements in Tuldarr."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"These three villages first, and these two places. Make arrangements.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " \"Yes…Your Majesty.\" he replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Also, bring me all the materials you have pertaining to Magdalsia. I’ll read them by tonight.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " “I shall,” Legis said with a bow, paying careful attention to her many orders, never lifting his head. The intimidating air Tinasha emanated made him hesitant to do so as he merely listened as she gave instructions in a dispassionate tone of voice."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Lying on her bed, she closed her eyes and began to sort through all the knowledge she had accumulated, also considered the wards and surveillance spells she had set up all over, drawing new information from them. She expanded her consciousness, and her mind emptied as she tidied up and categorized all the disparate fragments."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " I still don’t know where Senn is. Her heart ached to acknowledge it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " No one needed a rusted, inoperative cog."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Ah!\" All of a sudden, Tinasha sensed someone nearby and instinctively cast a spell, leaping to her feet on the bed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Before she could launch the magic from her right hand, she caught a glimpse of a very surprised-looking man just ahead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Hey, you scared me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Oscar! I was lost in thought and didn’t realize it was you. Sorry.\" Tinasha replied, dismissing her spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Oscar was mid-lunge to evade the attack; it would have been a good fight."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He sat on the edge of the bed and threw Tinasha a baffled glance once he got a closer look at her. \"Your forehead’s all scrunched up. What were you thinking so hard about?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"All sorts of things.\" She answered with a tight smile. Standing, she went to grab a bottle of liqueur, and a book on the table caught her eye. \"Oscar, do you know the story of the Mirror of Oblivion?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"The Mirror of Oblivion? Sure. The fairy tale, right? The one in the book I got for the castle library.\" Once upon a time, there lived a princess in a small country. She grew up happy and beloved by all, but one day the king and queen were attacked by bandits while outside the castle and perished. The princess fell into despair and refused to leave her room for a year, no matter how her royal attendants cajoled her. But then a traveling mage heard of her plight and sent her an old looking glass, a mirror said to absorb all sadness. When she peered into it, she stopped crying and left her room to be among her people again. Such was the ancient fable recounted since the dawn of the Dark Age."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"The story of the Mirror of Oblivion is told all over our land, but it changes a little in each region. In some versions, it isn’t sadness the mirror takes, but memories. Others have it that the mirror steals the minds of those who refuse to believe in its power, and sends them into comas.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Huh. That’s interesting.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"About a hundred years ago, a researcher in Tuldarr looked into it and published a paper. According to the report, every nation has the odd account of someone who encountered the mirror. Following that trail leads us to the last place it was sighted…Magdalsia.\" Tinasha handed Oscar a glass."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He looked faintly shocked. \"Do you think the fairy tale has some connection to the witch in Magdalsia?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"It’s one possibility of many. However, if the Witch of the Forbidden Forest wanted to steal a country, why would she appear after the king fell into a coma? It would be easier for someone with her power to use psychological manipulation, rather than incapacitate a ruler. The incapacitated king is why Tuldarr learned of the situation, after all.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"So you believe the witch appeared because the king fell unconscious?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"That’s what I suspect. I’m going through any fishy-sounding stories with a fine-tooth comb to try and discover what brought on the king’s mystery coma and why it summoned a witch. The Mirror of Oblivion is one compelling candidate.\" Tinasha explained, climbing onto the bed, sprawling out on her back, and throwing an arm over her eyes. It looked like she wanted the conversation to end there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Sensing something different about her in that moment, Oscar set down his glass. \"Tinasha?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Ever since, Oscar had noticed a slight change in Tinasha’s behavior. It was as though her mind were constantly working while her emotions had been set aside. There was a noticeable sharpness to her as well, like all her edges were honed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Called back to herself, Tinasha asked, “Hmm? What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Nothing. Are you upset?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m not upset.” She chirped, smiling at Oscar. But her arm remained thrown across her eyes. She wouldn’t look at him—as if she had no need to. It was certainly different from anger."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar could sense how terribly far away her heart was, and he found himself at a loss for words. This was the woman he was supposed to marry in three weeks, yet it was the first time he’d seen this side of her. They still met every day as usual, but recently, Oscar had noticed that something felt slightly off, accompanied by a mysterious sense of déjà vu. Thus, he made sure to ask Tinasha about it to check on her, and sure enough, something really had changed. What was to blame for this shift? Oscar reached out and touched Tinasha’s face. “What’s going on?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What do you mean? Nothing’s going on.” She replied, dropping her arm and revealing her dark, cold eyes. Tinasha sat up and looped her arms around her knees. “I think I’m going to visit Magdalsia to investigate after all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You’re what?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’ll go undercover, gather what info I can, and then take out the witch, if necessary.” She stated. Her matter-of-fact demeanor stunned Oscar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He recovered swiftly, however. “Absolutely not. Do you realize that your abdication and our wedding are just around the corner? Why go stirring up trouble?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I am the only person who can battle the Witch of the Forbidden Forest.” She answered. To Oscar, that felt more scathing than the words alone should have been. He remembered Lavinia’s letter, which rendered him incapable of replying, before Tinasha could continue. “If I let her do as she pleases, things might grow out of control. I will take her down now, before that can happen.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But…she still has royal authority in Magdalsia. Considering your position, one wrong move could start a war.” He pointed out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “So I should just wait for her to attack? If we delay, we’ll only end up suffering greater damage, and there’s no telling how she’ll outsmart us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But that’s—” In a sense, Tinasha was correct. Responding now was the right move to secure peace in Tuldarr. However, it was also a clear act of war. Such a preemptive strike from a powerful mage had not been seen in hundreds of years. Should the truth of it come to light, the ramifications would shake the mainland to its core. It was akin to… “You’re going against the times.” He observed. A while back, Druza had attacked Farsas with a forbidden curse, and Tinasha had aided in repelling it."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That will get sorted out one way or another.” Tinasha gave a beautiful smile and a confident answer. Implicit in what she said was enough power to make anyone who heard her tremble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar grabbed her arm. “Don’t go.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You don’t have the authority to stop me.” She replied, echoing something Oscar had said to her once. But it felt different coming from her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I am going to be your husband.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You are. And I will become Farsas’s queen consort. I have that position to keep in mind.” Tinasha said, giving the answer of a sovereign queen. Her black eyes glanced down at Oscar’s grip on her arm. “But we aren’t married yet, and you are a member of a foreign nation.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Tinasha…” Having her point it out made all the blood rush to his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Do you not want to live in this era?” He muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “This time period is the reason we’re not enemies.” Her black eyes widened a fraction. There was a tranquil glow to them."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar fell silent, still clinging to her arm."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What’s wrong? If you’re thinking of reducing my magic, go ahead. I’ll win, even if I lose some of my ability to use spiritual magic. Or are you thinking of restraining me in a more direct manner?” Action/Narration Beneath that grin lay a hostility that made it plain she wouldn’t balk at making an enemy of him. She was so far away, distant enough to be unreachable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " How could she have changed this much? Oscar was stunned, and he released Tinasha’s arm without realizing it. “I don’t…know what you’re thinking.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “The same as ever. This is who I’ve always been.” Action/Narration She stated as she reached up and looped her arms around Oscar’s neck, snuggling in and holding him tight. Her warmth was no different, but her mind couldn’t have been further away. Closing his eyes against a significant rush of sentimentality, Oscar realized where that odd sense of familiarity had come from. This was the same person he caught a glimpse of in Tinasha’s diaries from four hundred years ago."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " Piled haphazardly on the floor of the study were stacks of papers penned by the past sixty-seven generations of so-called heirs to the family. All of them had written so much—no, some refused and fled. One such example was his own father, who hanged himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Valt, did you scribe any of these?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Plenty. Whenever I had something I wanted recorded for the next time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " Miralys frowned, holding a broom in her hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Action/Narration As her eyes turned anxious, Valt immediately gave her a reassuring smile. “There’s no need for you to make that face. The people who wrote these did so because they wanted to. What they recorded would disappear with a rewinding of time. But while all of them could remember every life they experienced, they didn’t know anything beyond that. If they wanted to inform future heirs about what had happened up until that point and what changed when time restarted, writing it down was the only way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " Some of the past successors had memories from multiple lifetimes, while others didn’t. There had been many types of heirs before Valt. Only a small portion of their number were recorded here."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Of course, not everyone documented things each time. Some were too worn down by multiple rewritings of history to leave records. To fill in those blanks, others penned what they recalled of records they had read in earlier lives. It really varied.” Action/Narration The sizable archives seemed a representation of a great many people and all the lifetimes they’d experienced. However, the only thing that mattered was what each one had inside. Valt glanced at the girl next to him. The first time he met her was at the end of a distant memory, one so remote it was aggravating. In a part of some forest only a few steps from a main road, he saved an injured girl."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys walked over to the stack of papers. \"There’s some material on the Witch of the Azure Moon in here, isn’t there?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Yes, although she rarely came down from her tower. I know more of her than the records do. Because I knew her when she was his queen—\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys screamed as the ceiling of the study shook violently. \"What’s going on? !\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Oh no, did she abandon Magdalsia to come here?\" Valt moaned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Miralys, over here!\" Valt shouted, dashing to a corner of the study and lifting the trapdoor concealed on the floor there. It led to a passage underground, and he stuffed Miralys into it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt had one foot down in the passage when he wove a fire spell and launched it at the archives. \"Valt? !\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"It’s fine. We can’t leave them there.\" Tearing his gaze away from the burning sheaves, Valt hurried down the stairs. As he dashed along the underground passageway that led off the property, he muttered, \"Why is she doing this when she should be incredibly busy? In a sense, she’s more trouble than when she was his queen.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"This was in the records from four hundred years ago, but I certainly never expected the change to be this drastic,\" Valt said quietly."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"If they thought I’d focus all my attention on Magdalsia and take no action, they’re sorely mistaken,\" the queen stated coldly, her face an emotionless mask."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"Are you sure about this, Lady Tinasha?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Sure about what?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"You’re fighting with the Akashia swordsman,\" the spirit remarked while floating next to Tinasha in the sky. For a moment, Tinasha gaped at Mila."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"We’re not fighting. We just had a disagreement.\" She burst out laughing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"But you’re about to get married. What if he’s tired of you now?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Hmm. Well, I can’t do anything about that if it happens.\" She replied indifferently."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila’s eyes grew wide. \"You’re really okay with it?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I can’t change how he feels, and I have something I need to do. Even if I don’t become his queen, I can still be by his side in other ways. Farsas would approve of something like that more readily anyhow.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"Something like what?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha only grimaced. Then an intricate spell configuration formed between her hands. From the air, the queen peered down at the mansion below. Located on the outskirts of a rural town in Tayiri, the holiday villa had belonged to some noble or other for five years. That was the cover story, anyway. However, several days of monitoring a magical surveillance network that spanned the mainland had revealed the truth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I finally got a bite on one of my lines, but it took up a good chunk of time. Still, now I have some hope of winning.\" She snapped her fingers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Let’s go. After this, I have to appear at the Gandona ball.\" She signaled Mila with a look, and the spirit nodded. The queen snapped again. With that cue, her spell became a gigantic cage and sank onto the mansion below. It would prevent teleportation and crush anything within. Unfortunately, it was repelled, if only just, by defensive wards laid upon the estate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"Wow! That’s a pretty ironclad barrier.\" Mila whistled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Looks like we’ll have to force our way in.\" She said dismissively, lifting her right hand. Then she swung it straight down. A huge hammer made of magic smashed a hole in the villa’s roof with a loud bang. With the core of the wards destroyed, the barrier dispersed. Tinasha and Mila descended into the hole."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila frowned immediately. \"It’s all smoky. Did something catch on fire?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Or someone set one, perhaps as a smoke screen.\" Tinasha replied, erecting a defensive barrier around herself and the spirit as she landed inside the mansion. They appeared to be in the living room, although it was difficult to be certain, given all the floating white ash. As she redirected the airflow in the room, Tinasha glanced around. Smoke was pouring from a spot just beyond a toppled wooden chair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila went in first, followed by Tinasha. \"Documents?\" There she found the source of the blaze. Stacks of papers were alight. There were enough sheets for close to one hundred bound volumes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"What in the—?\" Tinasha picked up a sheaf that was farthest from the conflagration, which had so far been spared the flames. She strained to make out what it said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"I’m sorry, Lady Tinasha. They got away.\" Mila reported, popping her head out from a hole in one corner of the room. The underground passage must have taken them outside the ban on teleportation."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He suppressed a sigh as he donned formal attire in his guest room. He never liked going to state functions, but that was the least of his worries. His first concern was that Aurelia’s guardian, a revolting demon man, would also be there. The other was that he would see his fiancée."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Why is she so impossible to get a read on?” He muttered, staring at himself in the mirror as he fastened his jacket cuffs. His foul mood was written all over his face, but aside from that, he looked fine."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Upon leaving his guest chamber and joining Als, who had been waiting outside, they entered the hall. First, Oscar greeted the king of Gandona, the man of the hour. After that, he looked around but did not see Tinasha. However, he caught sight of Aurelia and her chaperone on the other side of the hall. The man noticed Oscar’s gaze and gave him a nasty smirk, one entirely unlike the pleasant smiles he’d shown all the young ladies in attendance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I hate that guy.” Under his breath."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " Als evidently caught the remark, for he winced."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " “It does not appear that Queen Tinasha has arrived.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yeah, she’s been running around like crazy lately.” Oscar replied curtly."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " After marking out where Oscar and Travis were, she wove her way through the crowd and approached the former."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He glanced down, partially dismayed. “You’re dressed so plainly. And you’re late, too.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I made it just on time. I haven’t eaten anything yet… It hasn’t been my lucky day,” she replied, sighing dispiritedly. Now she looked like the Tinasha he knew."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar laughed and grabbed a plate from a nearby table. “Here, get some sugar.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You want me to start with sweets? !” she cried, but she received the tray obediently enough and partook of the cream-covered pastries. As she devoured them with impeccable manners, she took a step closer to Oscar and whispered, “I found out something kind of dicey. I want to ask Travis about it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After a sullen pause, Oscar bit out, “Fine.” While he certainly wanted to object, he knew that would do no good. It risked worsening his relationship with Tinasha, throwing the situation into chaos. Of course, that might happen after she spoke with Travis anyway, but they could worry about that when it happened."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Once Oscar nodded, Mila brought Travis and Aurelia over."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Travis bowed and gave a courteous greeting, which morphed into his usual rough manner of speaking immediately after Tinasha put up a barrier to prevent anyone from hearing their conversation. “What did you call us over for? What do you need?” he questioned brusquely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha finished her second pastry and set her plate down. “I’ll get right to it. Do you have any memories of time repeating?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He frowned. He knew what she was trying to ask. Tinasha wanted to know if this demon king recalled the world before Eleterria rewrote it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Aurelia:",
"value": " Aurelia looked confused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Patting her head, Travis scoffed. “Oh, so that’s what this is about. I don’t have any memories, because those orbs are outsiders’ artifacts.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha cocked an eyebrow. “Outsiders’ artifacts? What does that mean?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “What? You mean you don’t know?” He glanced at Oscar, who shook his head. Reluctantly, Travis went on. “To put it simply, it’s a general term for items with powers that shouldn’t be possible under the laws of magic. That means they affect me as much as anyone else. There are no exceptions.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Really? Sometimes you truly make me wonder. Occasionally, you act like you know the future or you’re aware of what it was before things changed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “I don’t know anything. Get off my back,” Travis huffed, waving Tinasha off crossly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " That made Oscar recall something. “Wait. The first time we met, you called me her husband.” At the time, Oscar and Tinasha hadn’t been engaged—they hadn’t even been romantically involved. Surely that meant Travis knew their prior history, the one where they were married."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " The demon king could not mask his annoyance at Oscar’s comment. “You didn’t need to remember that…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “It was kind of hard to forget.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Shall I erase that memory for you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Before the two men could engage in pointless bickering, Tinasha intervened."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Travis, answer me honestly. I saw records of a history that doesn’t exist.\" Tinasha’s face had gone pale."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " \"You saw that? Which part?\" Travis replied irritably."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"The part about Cezar. Before history changed, there was no Simila in Cezar. It was a prosperous Great Nation that never attacked Farsas.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " After thinking it over for a few seconds, Travis patted Aurelia on the shoulder. \"You go over there for a while.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Aurelia:",
"value": " \"Oh, but—\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " \"Go on. And don’t follow any strangers,\" he insisted in a tone brooking no refusal. The girl nodded and left the hall, looking over her shoulder repeatedly as she walked away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Once Aurelia was gone, Travis turned back to Oscar and Tinasha. \"First off, I really don’t recall anything. High-ranking demons are not exactly compatible with outsiders’ artifacts, because they operate on all planes of existence. That said, I’ve seen the same records you did—many times. There’s this family of Time-Readers, and they do retain their memories. They have mass archives of various repeated histories that they pass down through generations. The current heir is… You know him, don’t you? A guy named Valt.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar and Tinasha both inhaled sharply, left stunned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Tinasha:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " \"Did you only see the records about Cezar?\" Travis drawled, sounding bored."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Yes. All the others were destroyed in a fire.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " \"Well, I’d call that lucky. It’s best for humans not to see too much of that stuff.\" the demon king said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar glanced at Tinasha."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Were the papers that escaped the fire Valt’s?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Yes. I’ve been tracking his magic for a while and traced him to a mansion in a corner of Tayiri. I attacked it just before coming here. The coward got away by escaping through an underground passage.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Bet that shaved a dozen years off his life span.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Tell me more about these outsiders’ artifacts. What does ‘powers that shouldn’t be possible under the laws of magic’ mean?\" Tinasha pressed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " \"Why do I have to tell you? Figure it out on your own,\" Travis grumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Valt wants Eleterria!\" She cried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Travis scowled for the first time during their conversation. He stared searchingly at Oscar, then at Tinasha."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " With an annoyed click of his tongue, he responded, “Outsiders’ artifacts enable what is impossible according to the laws of magic. That doesn’t mean they operate using undiscovered principles—they defy them. And there’s a few of them around. Most of them are objects with legendary characteristics, like Eleterria.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “They defy the laws of magic, huh?” Oscar repeated quietly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Tinasha had told him multiple times that it was beyond magic to rewind time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He also knew of something else she had spoken of in the same way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Does that mean those old ruins full of cocoons were an outsiders’ artifact, too?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Huh? Oh, that place that abducts humans and makes copies of them. That’s an interesting one. A long time ago, I saw it swallow up entire villages all at once,” Travis commented."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “If you saw it happen, you should have done something about it!” Tinasha exclaimed, naturally."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “As if I’d care,” Travis sniffed, naturally."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She let out a long, resigned sigh."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Why are they called outsiders’ artifacts, anyway? This is the first time I’ve heard that name.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Well, because the existence of such things is a problem in and of itself. Any humans who know about them would have a hard time going public with that knowledge. They were all brought in from beyond our world,” Travis said blandly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " His explanation didn’t surprise Oscar, because he’d suspected the same thing himself and had asked Tinasha about it once."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Undoubtedly, she remembered that conversation, too, because she only seemed a little rattled as she asked, “So there really is something outside of our world?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Why did you think there wouldn’t be? You mortals can barely even recognize that there are different planes of existence, but you acknowledge that they’re real because we demons and other negative manifestations exist. So why didn’t an outsiders’ artifact lead you to consider the existence of something foreign to this world?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “It seemed like a leap too far. We have far more evidence of the different realms and planes of existence,” Tinasha pointed out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “So rigid in your thinking. Well, you’re free to believe what you like. Go ahead and think that what you know is all that exists, without even considering that there may be those who enjoy watching you from the outside.” Travis smirked, looking as if none of this had anything to do with him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Perhaps he truly believed himself uninvolved. After all, he had also spent centuries delighted with spectating humans."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha huffed out a laugh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “So it’s like how characters in a book remain unaware that a person is observing from outside the story? But if all they want to do is watch us, then isn’t rewriting the past overly intrusive?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “It’s you mortals who make the choice to alter history. Regardless, it’s futile to understand what the outsiders are thinking. I met one of them a long time ago—a completely incomprehensible woman.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha hopped forward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You’ve met one?! That’s not fair!"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " \"It’s like you know the correct answer already!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Oh, hush. It’s you mortals’ own fault for being so out of the loop. Besides, while she was an outsider, she also wasn’t. She chose to be an ally to humans and lived and died among them. This happened long before you were born. That was just one person, and she has nothing to do with the artifacts.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar frowned. Over the course of simply listening to Travis and Tinasha talk, something had gotten stuck in his mind. Earlier, when Travis had said, “You mean you don’t know?” he’d looked at Oscar, not at Tinasha. “Wait, was she—?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "A man:",
"value": " A man approached, having slipped briskly through the crowd. He bowed silently before Tinasha, though anxiety was clear on his face. Oscar recognized him as a magistrate of Tuldarr. \"Your Majesty, I have an urgent message.\" He said, then glanced at the other two men, unsure if he should go on with them present."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “They are of no concern. Speak.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "A man:",
"value": " “Yes, Your Majesty. A short while ago, Magdalsia breached the national border and began an invasion. They have about thirty thousand troops and will reach southern Tuldarr in a half hour.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What?” Oscar blurted out in his surprise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " But Tinasha only let out a small sigh. Her dark eyes shone with a cold gleam. Rapidly, her entire aura sharpened to a point. “They’ve come a bit earlier than I anticipated. Understood. Give the order to mobilize our troops. I will be there immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "A man:",
"value": " “Yes, Your Majesty,” answered the magistrate, who hurried off into the throng the way he’d come."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha watched him depart and then turned to Oscar. For a second, he saw loneliness in her eyes. Yet all too soon, it was painted over by the falling of a cold night. The corners of her lips turned up as she smiled. “I will take my leave now. Thank you, Travis.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Sure. See you,” he replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The black-clad queen made to leave, and, before Oscar could stop her, she disappeared."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar brought a hand to his mouth. Tuldarr was under attack by another country. While Magdalsia was no Great Nation, it had a witch at its helm who was very likely to utilize a forbidden curse in the war or introduce some manner of weapon that was even worse. Given Tinasha’s reaction, she had been aware that Magdalsia was readying itself for battle. Tuldarr’s own army was prepared to march as well. Tinasha hadn’t gone to Magdalsia personally, because she had chosen war with them over conquering the witch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Finally, she’s back to her old self. I didn’t know how long she was going to keep acting like some spineless wimp.” Travis sounded deeply amused."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar eyed this inhuman creature."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Noticing the gaze, the demon king stared back at Oscar. “What’s with that face? She’s always been like that. She just got soft after coming to this time period. Oh, here’s a fun story."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “I’ll tell you about the war with Tayiri.” Travis grinned mockingly. “At the time, the Tayiri army had about…fifty thousand troops, I think. And Tuldarr had less than seven hundred.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Unknown:",
"value": " “What? They couldn’t have possibly stood a chance, then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “That’s what you’d think, right? But it’s true. Tuldarr was an isolated country, ignorant of the ways of the world. They didn’t have a proper military back then, although once she became queen, things changed. She started training up soldiers little by little and organized the mages for combat, too. Still, she had no end of enemies within the castle. So when Tayiri attacked, she was stuck inside.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Unknown:",
"value": " “She couldn’t act?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " “Yep. The Traditionalists opposed war with Tayiri and wanted her to surrender without a fight. They believed Tuldarr couldn’t win.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Unknown:",
"value": " “So she couldn’t get to the battlefield…”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narration:",
"value": " In the Dark Age, having many enemies in the castle was a given. Tinasha had also been an extremely young queen. If she left to battle Tayiri, the Traditionalists might have seized their chance to take over the country and declare a surrender. Thus, she stayed put to prevent that, choosing not to yield for the future of mages and Tuldarr. She was fierce by nature, but that did not mean she preferred eccentric strategies. If at all possible, she would have surely raised an army the size of Tayiri’s and engaged the enemy. Instead, she cooked up an outlandish plan. Of the two thousand troops in Tuldarr, one thousand were sent to the border to warn Druza and Farsas, while three hundred remained in the castle. She took the remaining seven hundred to confront Tayiri."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Narration:",
"value": " It was on a stormy day that Tayiri discovered Tuldarr’s army numbered only a few hundred and set out to slaughter them. However, Tuldarr’s military fled without a fight once they spotted the Tayiri soldiers. Following in pursuit, the Tayiri army’s formation got disrupted, and they landed smack in the middle of a fog that had crept up around them while they were unaware. Such a thick mist was highly unusual for a grassland. Heedless, they wandered into the dense fog like children lost in a nightmare, unable to see the people and horses ahead of them. Amid the vapor, they began killing one another by mistake with unprecedented ferocity. It all went as the Tuldarr army had cleverly orchestrated. As the Tayiri soldiers realized they were fighting one another, they found themselves blocked by a huge wall of flames. From the other side of the burning walls, relentless volleys of magic buffeted them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narration:",
"value": " The surviving Tayiri soldiers later said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tayiri Soldiers:",
"value": " “That was a sight no one should ever have to see.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narration:",
"value": " Unable to fight back, the army was routed by fire and spells. After a narrow escape, the Tayiri army discovered it had suffered thirty thousand casualties on the first day. Most horrifying of all was that the one who had instructed Tuldarr’s forces was the queen in the castle."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar held back a sigh of grief for young Tinasha. He trusted that she was an excellent ruler. From what little he’d seen of her diary, he knew she’d stood firm in a maelstrom of war both within the country and without. However, he’d never imagined her orchestrating such a cutthroat strategy. The way she smiled at him so innocently made it difficult to believe. This meant that Tinasha was now back to her true self, the queen who fought to the bitter end despite her own loneliness. So that’s her other side… It’s truly a world apart. All royals had two faces—a public one and a private one. While Oscar largely operated with his public demeanor while keeping his private feelings in check, Tinasha’s two sides formed a clear duality. Both portions were opposed. That was only becoming evident now that Tuldarr was at war, despite remaining hidden during her coronation and her fight with the demoness. The appearance of a witch meant that Tinasha was about to become the Witch Killer Queen once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I told you it was a fun story, didn’t I? Anyway, she was fighting a battle while working on eliminating her enemies in Tuldarr at the same time. She didn’t have any spirits to spare—they were all filling in as castle guards for the soldiers who’d gone off to fight. The Traditionalists who meant to capitalize on a chance to assassinate her wound up arrested instead. She left herself open on purpose, and they fell for it. One after another, they were all executed or banished.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “All of them? But wasn’t it the Traditionalists who pressured her to step down after the war?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So the records claim, but it’s not actually true. There wasn’t a single Traditionalist left by then. She made the decision herself to appear like she’d been forced to abdicate to satisfy Tayiri.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But…” If Tinasha had stepped down from the throne by choice, then that changed the story drastically. It made clear that she believed her extraordinary might put her at the same level as a witch. She’d expelled herself for having too much strength. “There is no need for a ruler to possess mighty power.” She’d said that many times since coming to this time period. From the beginning, she’d seen herself as an anachronism. Yet she had chosen the path of abomination once again. And once the dust settled, what would she relinquish this time? Wait a minute… Is she not planning to become my queen? If a person dangerous enough to kill witches single-handedly became the queen consort of the Great Nation of Farsas, other countries would undoubtedly grow exceedingly worried."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"She’s crazy.\" Oscar muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar turned to Als, who stood behind him. \"Change of plans. I’m going back to Farsas.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Travis suddenly went from smirking to grave. \"About what we discussed tonight… Do not hand over Eleterria. I don’t want any do-overs of history, even if I remain unaware of them. I don’t want to forget Aurelia, and there’s no guarantee that things will happen the same way. Don’t use it, and don’t allow it to get stolen. I refuse to let this timeline go.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Travis:",
"value": " Without waiting for a reply, the demon king walked away, melting into the crowd."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar left the ornate, gorgeously decorated hall behind, his heart heavy."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar had to make a detour to his guest room first. And it was there that he detected something was off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Drawing Akashia, he demanded, \"Who is it?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I have a few things to discuss with you, so I let myself in.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Valt? Show yourself.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"You can’t be serious. I’m quite afraid of you, you know. Anyway, would you like to hear something nice?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " It’s about the Witch of the Forbidden Forest.” Oscar’s intuition told him that what he could sense of Valt was too faint for the man to be hidden in the room. While Oscar had deliberated over how to respond to the mysterious voice at first, that made him fire back,"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Tell me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Always so quick to decide. The woman who controls Magdalsia now…is not the Witch of the Forbidden Forest,” Valt revealed, and Oscar had to bite his tongue to stop from making a noise of surprise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “However, physically, she is the same as the Witch of the Forbidden Forest. It is only the soul inside that differs. The soul inside her now is that of King Hubert of Magdalsia.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar frowned. Things were escalating beyond expectation to a scale that felt absurd."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Is that even possible?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Not with magic. But unfortunately, there is an artifact that enables it. I believe you call it the Mirror of Oblivion?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Is that an outsiders’ artifact?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Oh, did you hear that from that demon king? That does save me the trouble of explaining. Yes, it is an outsiders’ artifact. The witch’s soul is sealed within the looking glass, along with your queen’s missing spirit.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Within the mirror? According to the fairy tale, it’s only supposed to absorb sadness.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Yes, in the most widely circulated version. But absorbing sadness is merely one side effect. What the Mirror of Oblivion actually does is capture human souls and memories, recording them. It’s triggered when you lock eyes with your reflection.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “The Mirror of Oblivion has been sealed away along with the Witch of the Forbidden Forest in a cave deep in Magdalsia for a very long time. But it would appear the seal has been broken, and the mirror was taken and sold to the king as an antique. King Hubert gazed into his new looking glass, but the seal within the artifact must still be intact. His extracted soul couldn’t enter it. From there, I imagine it wandered around until it found the body of the witch and possessed it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar picked up on a vague sense of bitterness from Valt, though it vanished in an instant, so perhaps it was only his imagination."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “If the mirror is broken, the witch’s true spirit will return, and the king’s will be driven from her body. But outsiders’ artifacts are sturdily crafted, so your queen is the only one who can manage it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What a ridiculous story,” Oscar scoffed. He was having a hard time believing all of this coming from out of nowhere. According to mages, separating a person’s soul from their body was impossible."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " In a voice kept even so as not to give away his doubt over which was the truth, “If that’s true, why are you telling me this? It sounds like a trap.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “It is true. I’ve offended Tinasha quite terribly in the past, so I wanted to do something to try and mend her impression of me a little.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “That’s not going to happen. Aren’t you the one who gave the Mirror of Oblivion to the king of Magdalsia in the first place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Why…would you think that?” Valt questioned stiffly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar retorted matter-of-factly, “You’re much too knowledgeable about all of this to be merely a messenger. What’s your angle? If you’re trying to lure her out, you’re on a suicide mission.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I’m not that reckless. She is quite formidable at present.”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Belatedly, Valt responded to Oscar’s question. His voice sounded strained. “It’s simple. It was a mistake to use the witch’s body to declare war on Tuldarr. In truth, I only intended for the Mirror of Oblivion to put King Hubert into a coma for a diversion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yeah, you’ve really botched this one. And now you want her to clean up your mess?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I don’t care if Tuldarr and the witch end up clashing. But…I don’t wish for her to remain in that state. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “………”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Left to her own devices, she’ll take unpredictable actions like destroying my mansion. I’d like to ask you to take the reins, so to speak. And, admittedly, I don’t wish for her to die. You can tell that I bear her no ill will, can’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You would have killed us long ago if you wanted to.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I’m glad you understand. So consider this a mere confluence of mutual interest. All you have to do is tell her that she needs to break the mirror. No one has to fight a witch. I would hate for Tuldarr Castle and its half of Eleterria to be destroyed in a battle.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “By witch, you mean Hubert, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Yes, but magic is in the soul, while half of knowledge resides within the body, and the two are linked. A different soul can still use quite a bit of the body’s magical power. At most, the spells will be clumsy and crude."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Now that he has the strength of a witch, he will not hesitate to wield it even more brazenly than she would have. That’s obvious from how Magdalsia mobilized for battle.” Under normal circumstances, a country as small as Magdalsia would never have attacked Tuldarr. It wouldn’t stand a chance at winning. However, King Hubert must have decided that victory was assured with the witch’s power. Too much strength could easily lead a person astray, a fact that history had borne out. Generals had brandished devastating military might to carry out massacres, while kings had ordered execution after execution for no reason at all. Forbidden curses were proof enough that a not insignificant number of mages had also fallen prey to such temptations. And then there were the witches. Far too mighty, their deeds—feats that should not be humanly possible—became the stuff of legends. With the capabilities of a witch, the king of Magdalsia wished to trample over the Magic Empire that had been his neighbor for so many years."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “He’s got ambition; I’ll give him that. He’s certainly creating trouble for us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Having power makes you want to use it. However, we know its limit. The Mirror of Oblivion is in the castle of Magdalsia. Destroy it, and this will be over.\" Valt said, repeating his instructions as if to indicate that the conversation was over."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I heard you have memories of before the timeline changed.” Oscar still had questions, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “That demon king told you that, too? He’s really ruining things for me with how much he meddles.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Why do you want Eleterria?” Oscar pressed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “To change the past, of course.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Then wouldn’t just one orb be enough?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “It will be meaningless without both. Shouldn’t you be hastening to your lady’s side?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “She…doesn’t want my help.” Oscar admitted, unable to hide his bitterness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Isn’t it a little late for this?"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Don’t slack off just because you earned her heart so easily this time. In every other instance, you only managed to win her over after considerable effort. That she loved you from the start is unique. You need to act prudently.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What the hell are you talking about…?” Oscar pursed his lips."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “This is who she really is. But she’s also her true self when she’s with you. She is not your one and only partner, but you are hers. You will always be the one who saves her. And you’re going to let her go?” Valt says, his voice brimming with conviction."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You…certainly sound confident. It’s like you’ve witnessed it all personally.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Because I have. Why do you think I can predict both of your actions? I worked for you both once, in the past.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What?” Oscar blurted out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Think that if you like, but it isn’t as if I manipulate time at will. Back then, a farmer who lived far away from Farsas had Eleterria. The orbs changed hands many times, and I wasn’t able to follow their trail.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But you still remember all the previous timelines?” Oscar demanded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt fell silent as that aura of bitterness seeped out again. \"For me, the events happened a very long time ago. To you two, they never existed. However, I am well aware of how often you rescued her in many of those erased histories, and of how deeply she loves you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar lets out a heavy sigh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt continued placidly. “If you understand, then you need to get going. Now Tuldarr is… She is fulfilling the role, but ordinarily, you would be the one facing a witch, yes?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Because…of Akashia.” Oscar muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Go carry out your mission. Save her,” Valt instructed candidly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar clenched one hand into a fist, then released it."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Tinasha’s sad smile when they had bid good-bye to each other surfaced in his memory. Oscar made up his mind, selecting the path that had always been right there for him—the road to a life with her. That decision had long since been made. He had to be brutally honest with her to bridge the distance between them. It was no longer the Dark Age when she was a lonely queen. She had crossed four hundred years to find him. \"How dare you say she isn’t my one and only. You’ve got some nerve.\" Oscar spat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"It’s true.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I don’t care about something I don’t recall existing. She’s the only one for me, and I’ll prove it.\" Oscar proclaimed, sheathing Akashia and heading for the door. Before exiting, he turned back to the empty room. \"And someday, I’m going to pay you back in full for what you did.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt offered no reply. He only chuckled, sounding both amused and perturbed. Then his faint aura faded from the room entirely. After watching Oscar leave the room from a distant vantage point, Valt let out a long sigh. Undoing his spell, he sank into a chair. The fifth witch was not the king of Farsas’s only partner. In many timelines, he never met her and married other women instead. Still, Valt knew better than anyone that Oscar was the most attached to Tinasha out of all of them. Because of that, he had been given the opportunity to go after her once more."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "General:",
"value": " The army marched on through the night as if possessed, and when the lights of a village came into view, the procession halted. The settlement sat in southwestern Tuldarr, close to the Magdalsian border. The general in command of the vanguard battalion hissed to his troops. \"Kill the villagers. Watch out for any mages mixed in. Don’t let a single person escape. Stack up the food in the center of town.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Soldiers:",
"value": " The soldiers nodded. Despite the vast power difference, none showed any fear over challenging a Great Nation. They were like expressionless dolls."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "General:",
"value": " \"Let’s go.\" The general ordered, and the soldiers kicked their horses into a gallop."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucia:",
"value": " A woman floating in the sky observed all this with delight. She had curly light-brown hair and amber eyes. Her brilliant beauty contrasted with the cruel smile on her lips. While she called herself Lucia, the soul controlling her body was not hers. Unable to suppress his glee, the king whispered in her voice, \"So this is how Tuldarr falls…\" Magdalsia’s glorious and prosperous neighbor had flourished for many years with its power and expertise, inciting jealousy all the while. The king envied how Tuldarr could thrive so much compared to his own land, where nothing ever changed. So when power fell in his lap, his first desire was to stomp out that irksome thorn to the north. He had whipped all of this together in a short time, because Tuldarr would notice if he delayed."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "King:",
"value": " As the king surveyed the terrain below through Lucia’s eyes, he realized that he hadn’t heard any screams or weapons clashing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mage:",
"value": " “The village is empty! No one is here!” The mage in the ground battalion contacted him telepathically."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucia:",
"value": " “What…?” Lucia’s beautiful face twisted into a scowl. Then a white light flooded the entire village; the king lifted his arms to cover his face. The light persisted for half a minute, turning the landscape as bright as day. But when it vanished, the king found that his connection to the mage on the ground had been cut and that the troops there had vanished as well."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"How many did we catch?\" The queen was in her command center."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " “A little over a thousand with all three villages combined.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha nodded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " “What should we do with the soldiers we teleported? At the moment, they are being held within a barrier.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Their mind control should wear off by the time they wake up. If they fight back, kill them. I’m hoping to defeat the witch before that happens, though.” Tinasha leaned back in her chair as she observed the map hung in her war tent."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Even a witch would come to learn what it was like to square off against a country focused on magic. This was what Tinasha had been preparing for this whole time. Initially, she had intended to go alone and wipe out the witch. But when she thought about the future of her country, she decided to take a different approach. Oscar’s objections hadn’t swayed Tinasha’s decision. This was her best chance while she was still queen to let the world know what it meant to war with Tuldarr. She would etch Tuldarr’s singular power onto the pages of history so that none would think of challenging it for at least another few hundred years. She also wanted the soldiers and mages of Tuldarr that she would be leaving behind to gain combat experience. Tinasha chose to sacrifice a minor nation manipulated by a witch for the benefit of her homeland."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Now that they’ll think twice before setting foot in another village, I suppose it’s time for the next stage of the plan. Please make ready.\" Tinasha ordered, getting to her feet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her advisers stared at her with fear and awe as she strode out of the tent with a sheathed sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Once she was outside, she drew the thin rapier. The enchanted blade glimmered a faint purple. It had originally belonged to the Farsas treasure vault, but Oscar told her no one was using it and gave it to her. She would wield it as a weapon that could function both as a blade and as a spell catalyst. With her naked blade in one hand, Tinasha surveyed her troops. They had made camp on a grassy plain sloping gently south at the exact halfway point between Tuldarr’s capital and the southwestern border. As commanded by Tinasha, the Tuldarr army in its arc formation numbered close to forty thousand in order to match Magdalsia’s thirty thousand. It would’ve been dangerous to have fewer troops than the enemy, while too many would lead to others writing the victory off as one achieved by numbers alone. Therefore, this was the safest course. This force was still sizable enough to engage without needing to resort to deceptive tactics anyhow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"All that’s left is to see how she teleports in.\" There were three main types of magical teleportation: individual teleportation, teleportation portals, and transportation arrays. When a mage wished to warp away, they would use individual teleportation magic to disappear and then reappear at a destination. Teleporting other people required opening a portal. The spell to create a portal was a grade of difficulty higher than that for individual teleportation, but it could be used in many ways. However, the farther the distance to the destination, the more magic and spell configuration power it took, and multiple coordinates for the target location were required to make a larger portal. The final type was a transportation array, a spell seared into the ground as a permanent installation."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " After considering all this, Tinasha decided that a witch would probably deploy her army using teleportation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha had set her trap assuming the witch would think the same way. Tinasha expanded the defensive wards of cities that were both close to the capital and near locations that could accommodate an army of thirty thousand. She did this with every settlement except for two. Then she laid out a network of lightly cloaked patrol spells and sprinkled tiny pebbles all around that would deter any mage from wanting to teleport into the terrain. This ensured that there were only two places an army could appear—the plains to the east or the ruins of the old castle city to the south."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"If they march in normally, we can use that time to change our formation. But if they teleport—\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " Before Tinasha could finish her sentence, the air in the middle of the grassy plains warped. The source of the disturbance was just beyond where her army was stationed. A buzz and a frisson of tension ran through the troops. Sweeping her sword to one side, Tinasha teleported to the center of the vanguard. Cast in the moonlight, the queen floated up into the air and drew all eyes to her. Before the distorting space, Tinasha turned back to face her forces."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Soldiers of Tuldarr, do not be afraid. I promise you victory. No matter who our enemy is, we will not allow them to invade our lands. Now show me your strength!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " An exuberant roar erupted from the Tuldarr army. Here and there, soldiers offered morale-boosting cheers and praise for the queen. Tinasha gave a little smile and turned to face the warping in the air."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"So they really are just puppets under her control. I had heard she specialized in psychological magic, but controlling an entire army is certainly no easy feat.\" Tinasha frowned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": ":",
"value": " \"What do we do, Your Majesty?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"We follow the plan.\" Tinasha replied coolly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Eyeing them placidly, the queen lifted her sword."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The queen beheld the display with a blank expression."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": ":",
"value": " \"Wha—? !\" Mages who had been concentrating on the large-scale spell yelped and stood aghast, doubting their eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": ":",
"value": " \"What in the world is that? !\" someone exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"It’s an illusion. Do not falter.\" Tinasha strode forward and called out in a ringing, far-reaching voice. To verify her claim, Tinasha swung her sword, and the red hand vanished without a trace."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha turned her head to look behind her. “All right, it looks like the star of our show has finally arrived. Renart, please handle the rest.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " “I wish you the utmost luck in battle, Your Majesty.” Renart replied, bowing deeply."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " Scornful laughter rained down from the sky. “Will you ever tire of these petty tricks? Do you really think a so-called Queen of Tuldarr can win against a witch?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Of course I do. I’ll make sure history remembers this.” Tinasha replied, launching up into the inky sky."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " Moonlight glinted off the woman’s light-brown hair, turning it silver as she wore a belligerent smile. “If you’d only sit there and look pretty, you’d make a lovely doll. I’ll train that insolence out of you, make you my slave, and keep you as a beloved pet.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Which of us needs training, I wonder? If you want me, pay with your life.” Tinasha shot back, casting a spell with her left hand."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " A fierce wave of power shook the atmosphere, so strong that Tris ducked. Wind whipped past, howling in her ears, and she peered into the sky. “What is that…?” Hastily, Tris began drawing a spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Spirit:",
"value": " “Wait. That’s Nark.” The spirit next to Tris stopped her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “What? Do you know that thing?” Tris asked, frowning at the unfamiliar name, dismissing her magic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " Pamyra came running from her position in the army, drawn by this latest arrival."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " When the man caught sight of Pamyra, he asked “Is Tinasha here?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " “Yes, but she’s battling the witch…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Battling already, huh? Where?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " “In the sky above the front line.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Why do they always love to go flying? I guess I can’t talk to her, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " “You can.” Eir corrected, nearby."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar threw Eir a look of surprise. “I see. Using a spirit…? I’d appreciate that, but it might distract her from the fight.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " “It’s probably fine."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " \"She issued orders to the army while fighting a witch four hundred years ago.\" Eir informed him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After a sigh, \"She really doesn’t know how to be ordinary, does she? All right then, let me talk to her.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " Eir nodded and opened up a spell around Oscar. The girl next to him was so nervous that her knees were knocking together. Overhead, a ray of red light shot through the heavens."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " What made witches so terrifying wasn’t their great power—it was the spells and experience they had honed over their long lives. At least that was how Tinasha saw it. The most frightening thing of all was the unknown. However, the woman before her was different. She poured tremendous magic into the simplest constructs. Of course, the illusions and psychological contamination magic she employed between regular attack spells were very high level, but they were nothing that Tinasha couldn’t fend off, prepared as she was to take on a witch. If this is all she’s got, I can kill her. This one was nowhere near the caliber of either the Witch Who Cannot Be Summoned, Leonora, or the Witch of Silence, Lavinia. Dodging a torrent of light that came racing her way,"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Is that all you’ve got? Once you’re out of steam, I’ll kill you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " “Damn you.” The witch snarled, an ugly look twisting her fine features."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha was very well acquainted with that look—the hatred and loathing in a would-be assassin’s eyes upon realizing they couldn’t defeat the queen. She had walked a long road paved with the blood of such people. She felt no anguish about it, then or now. The weak perished on the battlefield. That was how it was. However, Tinasha did have something she wanted to know. Fixing her dark eyes right on the other woman,"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Do you know where Senn went?” She recalled what he’d said to her when she was a young girl. “If you ever get tired of it all, you should go visit her. She’s a troublemaker, but…I know she’d make a good friend for you.” Senn’s lover, the one he said was free-spirited, capricious, and affectionate. It was hard to link that description with the person Tinasha was battling. However, this woman had come to see Senn every time he manifested, which meant she had to be a long-lived witch. And that suggested she could be responsible for Senn’s disappearance. Tinasha kept herself alert as she awaited a reply, on guard all the while. Yet the woman only gave her a suspicious frown."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Senn? What’s that?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “My spirit. You are the Witch of the Forbidden Forest, aren’t you?” That question prompted an unnatural pause. Before Tinasha could repeat her inquiry, Lucia’s red lips curled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucia:",
"value": " “Yes. I’m a witch.” She didn’t offer her true name or her witch title. Lavinia had been that way as well. Tinasha pressed on."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Senn knew you, so you captured him to prevent him from telling me who you really are, didn’t you? What have you done with Senn?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucia:",
"value": " The woman gave an overly affected shrug. \"Who knows?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her disdainful response caused Tinasha to pause."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Then I need nothing more from you. You will die here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha sucked in a sharp breath. Her vision grew crisp and clear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucia:",
"value": " The other woman attempted to cast a spell in the dark sky, but it was only a simple attack spell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Wane, o ring. Let your circulation break off, and your fingertips corrode away. Your remaining thoughts shall be eternal and bring you awareness from beyond.” Suppressing her emotions, the queen cast a spell with her right hand, intoning the words with a dispassionate tone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Tinasha.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Eek!\" she yelped, her half-formed magic dispersing. \"Wh-what do you want, Oscar? !\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Infusing her voice with magic, Tinasha went on, “Why are you…? Why are you using Eir to speak to me? Why are you here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Just listen to me. That witch isn’t who you think. It’s the king of Magdalsia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"What?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “The real witch’s soul is locked inside the Mirror of Oblivion, and so is that mystical spirit of yours. You need to go to Magdalsia, find the mirror, and destroy it. That will return the witch to normal.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"What…? Where is all this coming from?” Tinasha responded."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Why was her note written in the king’s handwriting? Why was she so desperate to seize authority over the country? It all made sense if the king of Magdalsia was in control of the witch’s body. Instead of the spell she’d been preparing when Oscar contacted her, Tinasha cast a simple one with no incantation. As she released it as a feint, she asked coldly, “Who told you all of this?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir/Oscar:",
"value": " \"Valt.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Whaaaaaaat? !”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir/Oscar:",
"value": " “I know what you’re thinking. Just go to Magdalsia and find that mirror. If the spirit really is inside it, you can hear everything from him and decide whether or not to break the mirror then. If it doesn’t look like you can find it, just teleport out of there immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “.........” Find Senn and learn the truth—she did want to do that if possible. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t allow for it. “I’m in the middle of a battle… I can’t just leave,” Tinasha pointed out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir/Oscar:",
"value": " “I’ll take over.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Excuse me? This is Tuldarr’s war. You can’t just join in; this has nothing to do with you! It’s out of the question. I appreciate the information, but you need to return to Farsas.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir/Oscar:",
"value": " “No.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m going to get very mad, you know,” Tinasha warned. If Oscar was speaking through Eir, that meant he was here on the battlefield. Had he even considered his position before rushing in? Oscar could be as stubborn as he liked in their private lives as Tinasha’s husband, but being a king meant drawing some firm lines. Quelling her desire to yell at him, Tinasha snapped, “I am not your wife. I am the Queen of Tuldarr, and I won’t permit you to interfere.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir/Oscar:",
"value": " “The battle is mostly won already, isn’t it? All that’s left is fighting the witch and cleaning everything up. I’m only proposing that I help bring things to an end in a way you’ll agree with.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I can’t twist the situation and prioritize what I ‘agree with.’” That would be tantamount to letting her personal desire to find Senn and learn the truth take over. Tinasha would only indulge in that after settling things here. As the ruler of Tuldarr, she controlled this conflict and refused to relinquish that. No one could replace Tinasha. Four centuries ago, she had operated alone. While her spirits were like family, they did not offer opinions to their queen and master. They were demons in human territory, after all. Likewise, Tinasha’s mortal supporters obeyed their queen’s orders to the letter. Tuldarr leaned on its ruler as a pillar, and Tinasha had lived nineteen years in that system, never straying from it. “A ruler is the cog in the machine that keeps the country running smoothly. That machine must not be weakened by any personal feelings.” Oscar had once called Tinasha spoiled for not understanding how to rely on other people, and that may have been true. Yes, she trusted him."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She knew that he would always be there to help if he was able. However, Tinasha rejected that assistance. This was her duty, and she couldn’t share it with anyone else. She was the only one left who knew just how stifling the Dark Age had been. While shooting down the witch’s attacks, Tinasha closed her eyes. The young queen in her memory was telling her to refuse. Doubt led to weakness. There could be no faltering here. Tinasha had to harden herself and be ruthless. “Even what’s most important—can be forgotten.” Tinasha crossed her arms, and red blades shot out from them, arcing through the air toward the witch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucia:",
"value": " Lucia released luminous bolts to intercept them, but the red blades wove around the counterattack deftly and closed in. “You little brat!” the witch spat, and she teleported away. She wasn’t swift enough to escape completely, though. One of Tinasha’s blades cut deep into her arm, reaching down to the bone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The sight of the deep gash caused Tinasha’s face to scrunch up. If the soul inside her isn’t really the witch… Who was trying to kill her now? Who was the enemy and who wasn’t? Doubts snuck in, but Tinasha exhaled them, turning her mind away from those ideas. “I understand what you’re saying. But we’re in a different time period now. You don’t have to bear every burden all alone. Better to lean on me than regret it later.” She had to shut down her mind. “And I’ll share those burdens with you for the rest of our lives.” Tinasha bit her lip. She had never spurned solitude. It was her cradle, there with her from her earliest memories—a membrane that covered her always. It was natural to her, and she felt nothing about it. But the only time she had cried from loneliness and let out all the feelings she couldn’t hold in any longer, there had been a man who promised her it would all get better. And so, she had traveled four centuries to reach him. So why did she want to cry again now? “The mirror is an outsiders’ artifact. You are the only one who can break it. You have to go.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha didn’t answer, instead casting spell after spell dispiritedly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": ":",
"value": " “Trust me. I’ll figure this out for you.” Four hundred years ago wasn’t such a long time for Tinasha. She had been asleep for it all, so it felt no longer than a year. Every day since waking had been fun. She wasn’t alone, and she got to be happy. He really had kept his promise. “But I…” Tinasha’s eyes grew hot, and she closed them. No matter how happy her days were, she was the one outlier from another era who didn’t belong. She couldn’t forget that, nor could she change it. When called, she had to rise from her warm place and do what was necessary. She had to choose a lifestyle befitting her position. It should have been simple."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tears spilled from between Tinasha’s long black eyelashes. She didn’t know why she was crying, but it seemed to her that everything she’d carried with her this whole time was melting away bit by bit and turning into sobs. Tinasha sucked in a hot breath. \"No matter how crude her spells are, normal people have no way of resisting psychological magic.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m only going to be buying time, so I’ll manage somehow. I just need you to agree to it.” With a leap, Tinasha soared through the air. Razors came speeding for her, and she deployed an array of glowing spheres to block each one. What is the real witch like? She knew that these objects of the world’s fear and abhorrence were, in fact, just human beings. Yet could Tinasha allow herself to waver and to rely on him? Would it not be equivalent to weighing her country and a single man against everything else? The gamble was far too unbalanced. It was much safer to kill the witch here and search for the mirror afterward. Tinasha used her sword to hurl a spell and watched the woman offset it with one of her own, a look of loathing on her face. Pale moonlight flooded the grassy plains. With one eye on the beautiful vista, Tinasha thought about her missing spirit. Why was he sealed in the mirror with the witch? What did the witch mean to him? Tinasha had no answer at present. Still, anyone could be someone else’s salvation, just as one man had saved her. As long as they honored that relationship."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Lean on me. I want to repay you for what you did during the Druza situation.” His voice sank deep into her. She looked out over the rolling landscape that stretched far into the distance. Out here, there was no division between one time period and the next."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What if…you hold out until I break the mirror and the real witch returns to her body and tries to kill you? What would you do then?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I would kill her with Akashia. That’s its purpose.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “……” Just as Tuldarr was strong enough to handle forbidden curses, the Akashia swordsman was a match for mages. And witches were no exception to that. They were Oscar’s natural enemies. Similarly, Tinasha believed him the only one capable of defeating her. There could be no finer substitute for her. Tinasha wiped her tears. He had given her an option she would not have normally had, and with it, she would make a new decision. Words infused with power held the night spellbound."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I command all spirits who hear my voice. I give you two orders. One is to avoid death. The other is to treat the Akashia swordsman as your temporary master and aid him. Reply to me that you understand.” After a beat, eleven spirits voiced their acceptance of her orders. Nodding, Tinasha sheathed her sword and eyed the ground below."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The Tuldarr army had withdrawn, leaving only the spirits and a man gazing up at her. He had eyes bluer than the evening sky. Her one and only. Oscar’s hand was outstretched to Tinasha with that same warmth that always gave her strength. The witch hurled a magic attack aimed for Tinasha, who negated it with a simple wave of her hand. Then she took a breath and teleported away. When she reappeared, she was standing next to another ruler."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar glanced down at Tinasha and smiled. With his off hand, he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. \"Crybaby.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Shut up.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " \"Are you running from me, little girl?\" The witch called from above."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Both Tinasha and Oscar looked up at her. \"No, but you’re close.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " Evidently recognizing the man next to Tinasha, the witch blanched. \"The king of Farsas… The bearer of Akashia! Did you call him here because you knew you couldn’t defeat me?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " The witch snorted and descended toward the ground. She eyed Oscar judgmentally as she reached a level no higher than his head. \"Stripling, are you so besotted with this woman that you’re willing to interfere in others’ business? She’s too scrawny to whet my appetite, but I’ll train her until that body’s got more worth showing.\" The lascivious leer on the witch’s beautiful features made Oscar and Tinasha exchange a glance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Whispered. \"How crass…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That’s how men’s minds work. And he’s a pervert.\" Replied the former."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " \"What are you mumbling about? Would you like to learn just how powerful a witch is?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " Hubert, king of Magdalsia, lifted the witch’s arms high. Acquiring this body had also given him access to all the ways it could use its power. He could make whatever he wanted into reality. And once he realized the extent of his new strength…humans seemed so very weak and insignificant. Nothing was beyond him. He could mold the world to be as he wished. People often dubbed the current era the Age of Witches. Were that true, then why didn’t the witches take center stage if they possessed this much power? They should’ve done whatever they pleased. If they had the capability, why not dominate? \"Watch, because I’m going to gobble you up.\" Hubert declared with a laugh."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Then the earsplitting din of thousands of wings flapping descended over the plain. A swarm of insects whirled into a vortex with Oscar and Tinasha at the eye. While Oscar boggled at the sight, Tinasha took hold of his left hand. \"Listen to me. Psychological magic takes root by manipulating the senses. It uses sight, sound, smell, and touch to hijack your sense of reality and burrow into your psyche.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Oscar:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her hand was small and warm. Despite the buzzing cacophony, her voice was clear. “Don’t let your senses drift too far away. They will be your lifeline and your weapon. Trust your intuition so you can identify the truth."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Got it,\" Oscar said, and as he did, the raging horde of insects vanished soundlessly. It had all been a hallucination."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " While Oscar blinked in mild surprise, Tinasha gave him a fond smile. \"I won’t be liable if you get yourself killed.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"We’re not even married yet. I can’t die now. I’d have too many regrets.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Well, it sounds like you’re feeling ready. I’m glad. In that case, get going. Please help me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Of course. Your wish is my command.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gave his hand one last squeeze. Then she released him and leaped into the sky. Swift as a teleport, she shot up to Hubert and passed right by him. \"He’ll be your opponent now. I’ll see you again later.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " \"You little…\" Hubert whirled to fling a spell at her, but the queen was already gone. Hubert faced Oscar, grinding his teeth in frustration over his lovely prey having escaped. \"It’s no fun playing with a man. Well, no matter. I’ll make sure to leave your head intact so I can show that woman how insolent you are.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Big talk from someone on borrowed power. Your facade has already cracked wide open.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " \".........\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Good thing you invaded her country. If it were mine, I would have slaughtered all your toy soldiers without any mercy at all.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " Hubert’s face twisted; his false witch persona had crumbled. The witch’s creamy pale skin turned an ugly dark red. Her lips, which should’ve been curved in an alluring smile, spasmed. \"Insolent little wretch… Let’s see if you can still say that when you’re ripped into a thousand pieces.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " As Tinasha surveyed Magdalsia Castle from high in the air, she began a slow descent. The magical probes she had sent out didn’t detect anything. The mirror was probably cloaked. If it were in the castle, it would be in the treasure vault or the king’s personal chambers. Catching someone and making them show her the way was likely better than searching blindly. Tinasha selected a window in the farthest back room she could find and opened it with magic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She exited into a hallway lit by a flickering candelabra and broke into a run."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Naturally, the watchman was stunned to see Tinasha, but she teleported to him before he could cry out. His body went rigid as the flat of her sword pressed against his throat. \"Show me to the king’s rooms.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’ve muted your voice, so you won’t be able to call for help. You know what will happen if you resist, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Man:",
"value": " The man could only gasp for air like a fish as this unbelievably beautiful woman threatened him with truly unsettling words. He was powerless to reply, only panting and exhaling."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gave him a beatific smile. “Now that you understand, run. I’m in a hurry.” She waved a hand, and a life-size statue in the hallway broke into pieces."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The soldier rushed to nod and repeatedly bow before setting off at a trot for the king’s rooms. Tinasha effortlessly knocked out any guards and ladies-in-waiting they passed along the way. When they finally reached the king’s chambers, she knocked out that guard as well. Drawing her sword, she entered the chamber. At first glance, it was utterly ordinary. The space was more furnished than Oscar’s chambers, but that was due to the difference in personalities, not wealth. Tinasha swept her gaze around the area before venturing in deeper. In the center of the bedroom sat a bed with a silk canopy. She walked right up to it and tore through the curtains with her sword. On the bed lay King Hubert’s soulless body, sustained by magic. Close inspection revealed that his chest was rising and falling."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Ugh. What a conceited old fool,” Tinasha muttered. While she felt like lashing out, she didn’t have time for that. She began the search for the mirror; the only sound in the chamber the incapacitated man’s breathing."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The door opened, and Tinasha quickly looked over her shoulder to find Queen Gemma. Gasping, Tinasha began a spell instinctively but soon stopped herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Gemma:",
"value": " Gemma was rooted to the floor, staring at the intruder with astonishment, and the light of reason in her eyes indicated that she was herself and not a controlled puppet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " As Gemma stood frozen, Tinasha faced her properly. “Do you know why I’m here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Gemma:",
"value": " “I-I’m so sorry… The king…won’t listen to me…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I understand. I’m going to bring him back, but I need you to tell me where the mirror is. Do you know?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Gemma:",
"value": " Gemma hesitated to answer, but she could likely sense Tinasha’s cutthroat determination. As her eyes quivered with fear, she pointed to the back of the chamber."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I-in that room…\" There was indeed a small door there, which Tinasha had dismissed as an entrance to a closet or the like."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Nodding to the queen, Tinasha headed for it and broke the lock with magic. Sending some magic lights into the dark room, Tinasha stepped in and immediately discovered a stone pedestal draped with scarlet cashmere. Atop the stand rested an ancient oval mirror that showed a dull reflection of the magic lights in the air. Tinasha gazed at it with trepidation. An outsiders’ artifact, a thing that runs counter to all laws. Knowing what she did now about these items, this looking glass seemed dreadfully unfathomable and terrifying. Still, she couldn’t falter now. She drew a deep breath."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Gemma:",
"value": " \"Ah…\" Gemma breathed from behind Tinasha, voice trembling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha was about to warn the other queen to stand back for fear of danger when a burning heat seared her left flank. Tinasha was confused for a second before a sharp pain kicked in. \"Aaaahh!\" Reflexively, she doubled over. Pressing a hand to her side, she discovered a slender dagger, the sort concealed for self-defense, embedded deep in her torso. Gemma had stabbed Tinasha from behind, and she stared at the Queen of Tuldarr with eyes full of terror. Trembling, she managed to say, \"If you release the witch…the king will…\" But that was all she got out before fleeing. Tinasha couldn’t do a thing to stop Gemma. Her body was swiftly growing cold, and she collapsed to her knees in a puddle of blood."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " The Tuldarr mages, stationed some distance away, stared in horror at the tornado that had abruptly formed on the grassy plain. Only a few knew that the king of Farsas stood before it. The wielder of the royal sword, who was battling the witch in place of his fiancée, didn’t seem fazed at all as he watched the oncoming tornado."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That one's not a hallucination.\" Oscar remarked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " \"Doesn't look like it.\" Eir agreed, who was next to him. The spirit sounded just as emotionless and nonchalant as Oscar. Their conversation made it hard to believe they were up against a witch. Giving Akashia a light swing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Can you get rid of it?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Hmm. Three or four of us should be able to. Give the order.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I don't know everyone's names, though. All right then, Mila, how about you pick the team for me?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila wasn’t physically present, but her voice sounded in the air as she gave compliance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " A few seconds later, the tornado dispersed. Nark flew back over. The dragon had been keeping a safe distance from the tornado."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " Across the field, now utterly still without so much as a breeze, Hubert's eyes glinted with rage. \"Queen's spirits! How dare you insolent little monsters intervene! Show yourselves!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"He seems pretty mad. You guys should retreat for now.\" Oscar said in a blasé tone, and the spirits obeyed. Only Eir remained."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “The hardest part is staying alive without killing him.” Oscar muttered as he held Akashia at the ready. When he glanced down at his beloved sword, he frowned to find that its hilt had become a white snake. The serpent raised its head to strike, but Oscar just gave it a careless shake."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " When he looked back at Hubert, he found three burning spheres heading for him. Oscar leaped forward to evade the flames that singed the air as they sped past and blocked his escape. He thrust out with the sword, its hilt still a snake. “Don’t you realize how many years I’ve had this?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The sword destroyed the first fire sphere. Oscar took a step back and broke the other coming from the left as well. For the third, Oscar stabbed the length of Akashia into the flames to pierce and shatter the spell’s core. Even if the entire sword looked like a snake, Oscar still knew the length, width, and weight of it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After dispatching the attacks with almost disappointing swiftness, Oscar felt his vision go dark, and he stopped where he was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The moonlight and the distant lights all died, leaving the plain in total darkness. Oscar cursed himself for having fallen into his enemy’s trap. Then he reasoned, “Well, it’s kind of a fun challenge now that it’s dark.” Closing his eyes for a moment, he recalled what Tinasha had told him—to not let his senses get too distant. They were his lifeline and his weapon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " Mocking laughter filled the darkness. “Do you enjoy the little world I’ve created?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Heaving a disgusted sigh, Oscar readied Akashia—now back to normal—and took a step forward. “It’s pitch-black. But maybe it actually isn’t? Eir, are you there?” Although the spirit had been beside Oscar moments earlier, there was no reply. Oscar gave a light tap to the ground in front of him. It seemed solid. Then he sensed something and dodged a step to the left. Something sharp whizzed by. He scratched his head with his off hand. “I just need to focus on not dying. That’ll be easy enough.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " “Easy? Have you lost your mind and deluded yourself into believing you can win?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I haven’t, so don’t worry about it.” Oscar retorted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " Taking it to be a bluff, Hubert let out a delighted laugh. “Allow me to show you the most traumatic memory of your youth.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " At the edge of the darkness, a light flared to life as though someone had lit a lantern. Oscar frowned, squinting at the sight. Then he slowly moved toward it. In the light, a woman lay facedown in a pool of blood that oozed out from her onto the floor."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar approached his mother’s corpse and stared down at it. He didn’t know what expression his mother had worn when she’d died; he hadn’t seen it. If he turned her over, he would learn. Oscar snorted at the deluded notion. This hallucination came from his own memories. It couldn’t include something he didn’t remember. There was nothing to think about. Oscar sharpened his vision to a fine point, then honed it even further. Amid the darkness, the faintest outlines of interlocking spells revealed themselves. He took another step in, past his mother’s body, and swept Akashia through an empty spot in the air."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " \"Preposterous!\" came an astonished shout. With a tinkling of shattering glass, the darkness ruptured. The plains returned. Oscar found that Hubert was right in front of him, but high enough above to be out of Akashia’s reach. \"You may have called up a traumatic memory, but it’s part of the past now. Showing it to me means nothing, although I guess I do feel a bit disgusted. Once you’re back in your original body, I’m going to kill you.\" Hubert glanced down at the witch’s belly, where the tip of Akashia had grazed the skin. The moment Oscar had readied his blade, Hubert had fled instinctively, yet the cut had been too quick to evade completely. Hubert’s arms were trembling."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " \"Why, you little…horrid brat…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Go on, go on.\" Oscar teased as he checked his off hand to ensure the ring Tinasha had given him was there. Killing the witch wouldn’t be too difficult. However, that wasn’t Oscar’s intention, so he mulled over other possible actions as he looked to the sky."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The smell of her own blood filled her nostrils. \"Ugh…\" Tinasha held her breath and yanked the dagger from her side. Suppressing a groan, she cast anesthetic and healing spells on herself. While Gemma had probably done it without realizing, she’d twisted the dagger as she thrust, causing an unexpected amount of hemorrhaging. Tinasha’s magic couldn’t do anything about the blood loss, but she had to carry on regardless. Keeping a hand pressed to the freshly closed wound, Tinasha stood and approached the Mirror of Oblivion. She picked it up, careful not to peer into the artifact. \"Judging by how that queen reacted, this must be the real thing…\" All that remained was to take it or destroy it right here. Tinasha hoped to verify something first, though. While channeling some of her magic through the looking glass, she asked, \"Senn, can you hear me?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The inside of the mirror felt like a bottomless pit. Tinasha’s magic kept sinking deeper and deeper with no end. That highly unusual sensation proved that the mirror was certainly no ordinary tool. Valt had said to destroy it, but was that the right thing to do? Even if he wasn’t lying to Oscar, Valt could be wrong. It wouldn’t do for Tinasha to delay; she had left the witch to Oscar and had to decide quickly."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Senn!” she cried, joy coloring her voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The mirror was a cage holding her spirit captive. Tinasha tried to apply pressure to the mirror’s exterior to see if it could be destroyed. But it didn’t yield, even when she increased the force. The artifact was abnormally sturdy. She had no choice but to withdraw her magic. “This is going to be tough…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha cast a barrier around the vicinity before pouring her power and consciousness into the mirror."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " After closing her eyes, Tinasha expanded her magic to connect her own darkness to the looking glass’s depths. Careful not to detach her mind from her body, she spread her consciousness out further as she lowered a thread into the bottomless gloom—a thread that was her very soul."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " No sooner did she make the attempt than her magic bumped up against a ward inside the mirror. The spell configuration, different from the one placed on the looking glass itself, forbade outside entry. The spell was so exquisitely crafted that Tinasha almost began to admire it. “Can I break it? I suppose I have to.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha explored the configuration, which resembled a fine mesh net. There were twelve of them arranged in a circle. After identifying the cores, she focused her energy on them and exhaled all the breath in her body. Then she took a deep breath and held it. “Disperse.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha's consciousness descended into the darkness alone, a darkness that was very long and seemingly unending. But it was only a few moments before she reached the bottom, landing in a place that was utter darkness."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " “My queen!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Senn! Oh, I’m so glad.” Tinasha let out a sigh of sheer relief, but she couldn’t lose focus here. “Tell me what’s going on. Outside, Magdalsia is attacking Tuldarr, and the Witch of the Forbidden Forest seems to be behind it. She’s battling Oscar now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " “The Witch of the Forbidden Forest? But she’s right here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Ah, so the real one really is in the mirror. King Hubert of Magdalsia is in control of her body at the moment,” Tinasha informed him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Although Senn was only a presence she could sense, she could feel him scowling. “He’s the one who used the mirror.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " “It must have separated his soul from his body, but then his soul bounced off the barrier and went into Lucrezia’s instead.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Lucrezia?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " “The Witch of the Forbidden Forest.” That must have been her real name."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha peered into the darkness. “Is she here now? How did she end up here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " “She’s asleep. Judging from the barrier’s spell configuration, she likely put it up herself. She locked the mirror away with herself inside it. I sensed her when the seal came undone and went to check on her. When I did, I slipped through the barrier and got myself trapped inside the looking glass. Sorry for disappearing.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Travis did say that these artifacts don’t get along too well with high-ranking demons.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " Senn fell silent at his lady’s mention of the demon king. Undoubtedly, he wore a look of disgust. “She’s right over there. If you can’t see her, I’ll let you look through my eyes.” At that statement, the darkness lifted. While Tinasha’s surroundings didn’t grow brighter, she could see around her. Senn was standing nearby, and the many other entities she detected had to be souls absorbed by the mirror, already partially destroyed. Farther beyond was a gigantic pillar that caught Tinasha’s attention. It was about as thick around as a dozen adults holding hands in a ring. It stretched so high that the top of it wasn’t visible, while its base plunged through a hole in the darkness down into the depths. The pillar itself emitted a faint white glow. Inside it floated a girl hugging her knees to her chest with her eyes closed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Is that…the witch?” Her light-brown curly hair and beautiful face were reminiscent of Lucia’s, but their ages were disparate. The sleeping girl in a pale-green dress couldn’t have been older than fifteen or sixteen. As she was locked inside a translucent pillar, she clearly wasn’t an ordinary human. Tinasha felt a twinge of uneasiness to behold her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " Senn nodded. “When her soul separated from her body, it returned to the shape closest to her true essence. That pillar isn’t native to the artifact. It’s here to protect her.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “To protect her?” Tinasha repeated quietly, approaching the column cautiously. She craned her head up and tilted it down to observe how it stretched endlessly in both directions. A hole surrounded the edges of the pillar. She couldn’t tell how far she would drop if she fell into it."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Okay, I understand. I'm ready to convert book chapters into Roleplay conversations according to your specifications. I will pay close attention to the original text, maintain its style and details, use the correct format, and adhere to all the rules you've provided."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Let's begin when you provide a chapter wrapped in `<book></book>` XML tags."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha peered into the abyss and was assailed by an abrupt sense of familiarity. \"Is that…? Does that lead to the root of all negativity?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha craned her neck upward, staring at where the end of the pillar faded out of sight. \"Is the top on a different plane of existence? Does the pillar go through multiple realms?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"It’s like she drove a wedge into the world and fastened herself to it. I’ve never seen anything like it.\" Tinasha marveled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha stepped to the very edge of the abyss and gazed up at Lucrezia. \"But since this pillar is here…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’ll go back outside and try to break the mirror. She should be fine because of this pillar, but can you protect yourself, Senn?\" Tinasha asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"I’ll be fine. I’ll also protect the remnants of the other human souls as best I can.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Thank you.\" Tinasha smiled faintly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"She’s the one you said would understand me, right?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"Yes…although she really is a troublemaker.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Once we’ve all made it out of here, introduce her to me.\" Tinasha replied. She turned to set about her task but caught sight of something. Above, the girl within the pillar had opened her eyes."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " Her face bore no expression, yet she stared at Tinasha with eyes of glittering gold."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Ah…” Instinctively, Tinasha took a step back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " The girl reached out both arms to her. Her face emerged from the pillar as if she were rising from water. Red lips parted as a voice made all of the darkness tremble. “I wish for the rejection of any outsiders watching. I wish for the refutation of any interference. I shall bestow a fitting transformation upon the one who can accomplish that.” The pressure was crushing. Tinasha’s very soul shook, like she was rupturing into pieces. The voice seemed to come from the holes above and below the column. It could not have been a human sound. If this girl was a witch, she was far too different from anyone else. This went beyond strength—she was simply unfathomable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " While Tinasha was still too stunned to speak, the girl lowered her eyelids. When she opened her eyes again, they were still locked on Tinasha. There was emotion in that gaze now, where there hadn’t been before. It seemed closest to curiosity. The girl tilted her head inquisitively. “Why are you here? Did you break the barrier to come?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes…I did. I wanted Senn to tell me what was going on.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " At that, the girl looked to the spirit. Her amber eyes narrowed skeptically before she returned her gaze to Tinasha without saying anything to him. “Which means you’re the Queen of Tuldarr. You have so much magic that it really surprised me. I thought you were a new witch.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m just as surprised. What is that pillar that’s passing through planes of existence?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " “This? It’s connected to the world itself, making it ironclad as far as conceptual things go. All it can do is protect me, and I can’t use my own will to activate it. It’s strong, but not that easy to use.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “How is such a thing even possible? I can’t figure it out at all. And what did you mean by what you said before? About wishing to reject outsiders watching.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " “Huh? What are you talking about?” The girl blinked, her tone so unconcerned that it was hard to believe she was lying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Thinking back on it, Tinasha did sense that the booming call sounded more like something rising from the holes than like any sound this girl could have produced. If anything, she was probably just a mouthpiece. Tinasha muttered, “So that means it came from another realm, and if I mess up, then the fabric of the world itself…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " “So? What do you think you’re doing breaking that barrier I worked so hard to put up?” demanded Lucrezia, bringing Tinasha back to herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her train of thought had derailed, and she got herself back on track. “I want to destroy this mirror. You’re the Witch of the Forbidden Forest, aren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " “I am.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"My name’s Lucrezia, but I suppose you wouldn’t call me that anyway.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I will.\" replies, and the girl in the pillar widened her eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " A strained smile quickly spread across her face. \"Well, if you think you can break the mirror, then be my guest. I’ve tried myself, and it was just too sturdy. I couldn’t do it, so I thought maybe it would be possible if I did it from the inside. And here we are.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"So that’s how you got yourself sealed in here?\" Senn pipes up sourly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"Hey, you’re trapped, too, so you have no room to talk.\" she shot back coldly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She pointed at the pillar that could break through realms. \"Because this pillar is running through it, that means there are already cracks in the mirror, conceptually speaking. That means if we can make another hole from the outside, we may be able to break it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"Hmm. Normally, I’d say that’s not possible, but you might just pull it off.\" mused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " \"If the queen doesn’t break the mirror, the guy using your body is going to invade Tuldarr.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"The what? What in the world is going on?! How did this happen?\" cried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"A lot is happening… My fiancé is holding him at bay for now. When the mirror’s destroyed, can you regain control of your body?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"Of course I can. It’s mine.\" she replied without any hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha nodded to Senn. \"All right, I’m heading outside, then. Take care of things in here.\" Leaving things to these two would be fine, she thought."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gritted her teeth against the sensation of her power being drained. Her fingers touching the mirror turned discolored. Blood vessels burst, unable to endure the struggle between the looking glass and the magical power Tinasha was forcing into it. Still, Tinasha did not retreat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She had entrusted the battlefield to Oscar. He had believed she could do this, and she wouldn’t fail to live up to that confidence. His life and many others all rode on her actions at this moment. Tinasha absolutely would not lose. More power flowed from her, and she planted her trembling legs firmly to keep steady. The incantation had long since stopped as she focused all of her vast, pure magic onto one single point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " It wasn’t enough yet. More. I want more power. Suppressing the storm raging inside her, Tinasha pulled every bit of strength from it. \"I will…overcome! I believe…I will!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " One faint crack appeared on the mirror’s frame, which gradually widened. Unfortunately, that was when Tinasha’s vision turned dark. She had lost too much blood to wield such immense might. She couldn’t tell if she was standing anymore. For a moment, her whole being and soul melted away. Forcing all her remaining strength into her fingers, Tinasha struggled to stay conscious as she collapsed."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar was deftly fending off Hubert’s erratic barrages, albeit with some difficulty. Akashia could nullify any magic attacks, and any that slipped past wouldn’t pierce Tinasha’s barrier. While Hubert was desperately throwing all possible means of psychological magic at the other king, none of it was proving lethal. Still, it meant Oscar had lost all sense of time. \"I’m starting to get pretty annoyed.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " \"You’re just a brat who’s nothing without his sword! Are you scared of a witch?\" Hubert taunted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Like you’ve got any room to talk. And besides, witches are worth being scared of—you’re not.\" Oscar said blandly, despite the provocation in what he was saying."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " \"Just try and say that again!\" Hubert roared, losing his temper and preparing a gigantic spell. Before he could complete it, however, he paused. The expression froze on his face. \"No… No, it can’t be…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar frowned up at the half-formed spell that fizzled out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Hubert:",
"value": " Hubert was writhing in midair, scrabbling and tearing at the witch’s scalp with both hands. A maelstrom of magic swirled around the witch, creating powerful gusts. \"No… No, no, no…\" Hubert’s pleas floated down on gales from above, but there was no one who could grant his request. Instead, a devastating force emerged—a formidable wave of magical power that swept across the entire plain."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Witch:",
"value": " The wind died, and in the moonlight stood a woman—a witch wearing a beautiful smile. \"Oh, it’s been so very long since I was last outside.\" She stretched her arms above her head."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " When she glanced down to the ground and caught sight of Oscar, she gave a little smirk and slowly descended to him. \"Good evening. Are you her fiancé? I suppose I owe you my gratitude. I haven’t been in my body for such a long time. Thank you.\" She said to him, though Oscar remained on guard. The feel of the magic entwined around her body was entirely different from how it had been moments earlier. She inspired in people the same uneasy sensation as that of standing at the edge of an endlessly deep forest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Tightening his grip on Akashia, \"Are you Lucrezia?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"I am. Oh, are you the Akashia swordsman? And yet you have so much magic… But I don’t suppose you’re a mage.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Yes, I’m the Akashia swordsman. I have magic because I’m Lavinia’s grandson.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"What?! Lavinia’s a grandma?! And to the king of Farsas? That’s crazy!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Unfortunately, it’s true.\" Oscar assured her, feeling like he was speaking with any ordinary woman, save for the fact that she knew Lavinia, so she had to be a witch. She exuded no hostility, and though Oscar remained cautious, he allowed himself a small degree of relief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " Lucrezia inspected the wounds all over her body and pursed her lips. \"Ugh, he couldn’t even heal? How careless…\" As she spoke, her wounds disappeared, and a satisfied smile spread across her face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Unable to hold back any longer, Oscar finally voiced his true concern. \"How’s Tinasha?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"Oh, that girl? Senn was watching her. She’ll likely be back before long.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I see…\" That probably meant she was safe."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " Lucrezia grinned in amusement at how visibly relieved he looked. \"You two are so funny. You’re engaged, right? When’s the wedding?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Next week.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"Next week?! Is Lavinia coming? Can I come, too?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Lavinia isn’t coming. I don’t mind if you attend, but you can’t cause any trouble.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"Oh, what? I wouldn’t do that! I’d be glad just to watch.\" She insisted with a friendly smile, though her eyes were dancing in clear delight. A real witch truly was inscrutable. Oscar had the feeling he’d made a troublesome acquaintance. Lucrezia’s amber eyes caught the moonlight, glittering gold as she narrowed them at him. \"So you two are to be married. With that much power between you, you could probably change the world.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I’m not trying to change the world. You witches don’t get publicly involved in anything, do you?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " \"That stuff’s no fun anyway. I’m more concerned about my long-neglected herb garden at home. How do you think it’s doing?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Probably all withered away? How many centuries ago are we talking?\" Oscar questioned, accustomed to speaking with people out of time, thanks to Tinasha."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lucrezia:",
"value": " At that, Lucrezia let out a huge sigh and slumped over. Somewhat less enthusiastically than before, she said, \"I suppose that’s to be expected. Times have really changed while I was away. Well, I have business to take care of, so I’ll be off.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila came to Oscar and whispered to him that Tinasha was back at the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar sheathed Akashia and peered into the night."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"So Lucrezia really did kill Hubert?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Probably… I mean, it wouldn’t surprise me.\" Tinasha blew on her steaming tea and sighed. \"Sixty years ago, Lucrezia went inside that mirror to destroy it. And upon realizing she couldn’t, she sealed it away instead… Her body was maintained by a spell, like a magic sleep. She cast a barrier over a cave close to Magdalsia Castle and laid herself and the mirror to rest there. Checking against what you were told, we can extrapolate that Valt broke that barrier and gave the mirror to Hubert.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Yet another annoying mess. Still, I’m sure it’s better for that witch to be free than to stay asleep in a cave.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha set down her cup."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Hubert’s soul must have been drawn to the witch’s body because of its power. Lucrezia was so upset about her body being taken.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Naturally. So how did that spirit of yours end up trapped with her?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “When the seal was broken, a wave of her magic leaked out. He found that strange and went to inspect it, only to slip through the barrier she had cast and end up stuck in the mirror along with her. She was really upset about that.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Gotcha. Well, it turned out all right for you,” Oscar said, which made Tinasha give him a quizzical look. He smiled calmly at her. “She’s someone important to one of your spirits, so you hesitated a little over whether to kill her, didn’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Mrr…” Tinasha only mumbled. Oscar had guessed it in one try, and she didn’t know how to respond."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " But in truth, anyone would feel that way. Tinasha didn’t want to kill anyone unless it was necessary, a desire that was strong in her because she had taken so many lives. She had remained in the castle during the war with Tayiri four hundred years ago not only to keep the Traditionalists in check but also because she’d been conflicted over wielding her devastating power to force people to yield. Did using cunning and wit to kill have any place in a battle between armies? It shouldn’t have, in theory, but Tinasha wondered if perhaps it did. In fact, she hoped that was the case. She had reviewed what seemed right on numerous occasions, though had been careful to conceal her doubts during the Dark Age. She kept eliminating any who sought to replace her by force so that they would never catch a shred of weakness in her. And she ruled for five years on a throne washed in blood."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m a little tired.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “That’s because you’re too stubborn about acting on your own. Rely on others more. Things have changed in the past four centuries,” Oscar chided bluntly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Thank… Thank you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “And don’t you dare call off our wedding. Do you hate me or something?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I—I never said anything about that!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You didn’t have to. I could tell you were thinking it! I can’t believe how little you trusted me!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I just didn’t want to make trouble for you,” Tinasha mumbled, jerking her head aside abashedly. That left her cheek wide open for Oscar to reach out and pinch it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Ow, ow, ow!” She cried, and flailed around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Even if marrying me proves to be an obstacle, you can just use your power as the Akashia swordsman to subdue me… Confine me to some wing of the castle, and we can still be married that way, and it’ll be the same…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “How will it be the same?! Reexamine the way your mind works,” he retorted. “It happened somewhat often in the Dark Age."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Any given castle would have one to two members of a foreign royal family locked up.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “How many times do I have to say that things have changed before you get it through your head? Your sensibilities need to be rebuilt from the ground up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You mean you want to call off our engagement?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “No!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “It was an emergency, but…you must not act so rashly in the future.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha cast her eyes up to the ceiling. “Anyway, what was Valt thinking? The king of Magdalsia going into a coma wouldn’t inconvenience me that much, so it couldn’t have been a diversion.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Maybe he wanted you to touch an outsiders’ artifact.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What? So it could absorb my soul? But unlike regular humans, I can resist its influence. I wouldn’t have been sealed inside unless I chose to enter, like Lucrezia did.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I don’t know the details. It just feels like he’s feeding us little bits of info and seeing what we’ll do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Feeding us info? What else did he say?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Noth… Nothing.” Oscar replied, unusually evasive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha frowned at him. “What is it? Did he tell you something?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Nope, nothing. Don’t worry about it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “If you say so, then all right. Oh, can I ask you something?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Sure. What?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Did you know Lucrezia before?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The current Oscar only stared at Tinasha. “Use your head, silly. That doesn’t add up. She got herself sealed away before I was born.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Oh… You’re right. Never mind.” Tinasha replied, dismissing the topic with a wave of her hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar closed his eyes, reflecting upon their journey. “I’ve suffered some real trials and tribulations, in my own way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Where’s that coming from?"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I don’t disagree, but…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “There’s no one else for me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I certainly hope there isn’t, considering our wedding is around the corner… Why are you talking about this now? If you’re having doubts, should we just start over from the beginning?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Seriously, stop with that.” Even if Oscar did have other wives in different timelines, he’d chosen Tinasha in this one. He wanted to spend his life with her and make her smile until the day they both passed into the annals of history. He was here because he wanted to give her that; there was no other option for him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar beckons her closer like he was calling a cat over. “C’mere.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " In a catlike reply, Tinasha cocks her head to one side before floating up into the air and settling back down on his lap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar caught up a lock of her glossy hair. “Don’t get too much in your own head and overthink everything. I can handle your baggage. That’s why I’m marrying you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “But I’m clingy and don’t know how to act in this time period.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I know. It’s what makes you who you are.” He replied, pressing a kiss to her long black hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha blushed and threw her arms around Oscar’s neck."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He patted her on the back. “I’m the one who summoned you here, and I promise I’ll make you happy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Oscar…” He thought he heard traces of shock in her voice. Tinasha let him go and pulled back to gaze at his face. Tears had filled her dark eyes. “I’m already so happy. You really did keep the promise you made to me when I was a girl.” When she was thirteen years old, he had come to her rescue. That memory had helped her through becoming queen and sitting upon a throne of ice. Living his life with her meant knowing and accepting the kind of queen she was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar gave his beautiful fiancée a kiss. “If you ever consider doing anything reckless again, tell me first. Depending on what it is, I’ll knock some sense into you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I look forward to that.” Tinasha answered with a delighted, satisfied grin. The smile belonged to the girl she was and the queen she had become."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " He had a dream of a very long time ago. Screams echoed from the hallway. That was highly abnormal, considering this was Farsas Castle, capital of one of the Great Nations. He blinked his eyes open from his nap in the lounge during a break in his hectic schedule. Intermittent screams filtered in from the hallway. He leaped up and ran out to discover something with wings chasing around a host of ladies-in-waiting. He zeroed in on the flying thing. \"Nark?\" It was certainly shaped like the king’s dragon, though the coloring was entirely different. Its body, large as a hawk’s, was gray as stone. While he had no idea what it was, he cast a spell to bring down the creature as it flew overhead. However, it sensed the magic, quivering in midair before reversing course and flying away. \"Hey! Stop!\" Whatever it was, he couldn’t let it escape. He swiftly cast another spell and released it. This magic would paralyze the flying thing for just a second and slow its movements. The bird stiffened when the spell hit, but it did not fall. It zoomed away on unsteady wings. Then a white light from out of nowhere engulfed the gray bird. The radiance formed a cocoon, holding it frozen in midair. Realizing who had sent out the capturing spell, he said, \"Queen Tinasha.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I finally caught it… That thing was flying all over the place.\" She grumbled. She made sure none of the ladies-in-waiting were injured, then reached for the luminous cocoon. It dropped harmlessly into her arms."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Curious about the mysterious flying object, he asked, \"What is that?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Something Oscar brought back from some spirit sorcerer ruins he explored. He said it was a stone egg, but at some point, it must have hatched.\" Tinasha cradled it in her arms. \"Oh, and thank you for your quick thinking back there.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I didn’t…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I saw you. I’m very impressed but not at all surprised that you switched to the optimal spell to use right away.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I…thank you, Your Majesty.\" She was undoubtedly referring to how he’d pivoted immediately from an attack spell to a stun spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha flashed him a mischievous grin. \"I suppose it’s all in a day’s work for you, Valt. Or should I call you the new royal chief mage?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Your Majesty…\" The young man, who had only become royal chief mage the month before, threw his queen a mildly dismayed look."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha, witch and queen, giggled in response."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Unbelievable! Not only did you sneak out to explore some old wreck, but you also brought back something fishy! Don’t you know that spirit sorcerer ruins are full of hazardous objects? !”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I know, I know.\" Oscar replied from behind his study desk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"No, you don’t, or you’d have a better answer!” she snapped, making the king grin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt was careful not to say a word. On the table in front of him sat a small white cocoon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Ridiculous… And this stone bird hasn’t been identified at all, though it seems to be a moving statue of some kind.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Oh, so like the ones in your tower? Those are fun. Should we place it here in the castle?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You’d just fight it and destroy it. Absolutely not.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Do they repair themselves? Every time I go, I find them intact again.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m the one who repairs them!” Tinasha exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt was left with no choice but to cut in, keeping his voice as calm as possible. \"Based on the shape and the fact that it flies, I’d say it might have been used for patrolling.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha floated up into the air and crossed her legs. “While that does seem very likely, the spell it’s enchanted with has a strange feel. I’m going to analyze it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “A strange spell? Then while you’re doing that, Queen Tinasha, I shall research these ruins.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Sorry to trouble you. Please do.\" Oscar added."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt got to his feet, documents in hand."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " As he was about to leave, Oscar called. \"Valt, do you know how things are going with the eastern towns?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Ah…that situation.\" Recently, there had been a rash of unexpected deaths and suicides in various towns and villages in eastern Farsas. While Valt wasn’t in charge of the investigation, as the royal chief mage, he was aware of its progress. \"To be perfectly honest, it’s not going well. So many people have died, yet we can’t find any commonalities between their deaths… Some perish out of nowhere, screaming and vomiting blood, while others are discovered with their heads stuck in water jars. A few use magic to attack those around them before dying. Nothing is consistent, and the victims expire quickly. Some manage to survive, but most of those have gone insane, and the rest are in comas.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"So bizarre. Tinasha, what do you think?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Mmm, it’s a mystery to me.\" Tinasha replied. \"The people in comas are on life-support treatment, but their souls are unstable.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt’s eyebrows twitched upward at that, but Tinasha did not notice and went on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I suspected demons were involved, but no witnesses mentioned anything to that effect, and there have been no signs of them, either. There’s also the fact that a significant percentage of the dead were mages. Sometimes it was a case of magic going haywire, but postmortem examinations can’t tell us exactly why or how that happened. Some of those people didn’t have enough power to actually draw upon and had only received training in how to control it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I guess we’ll just have to keep looking into it. I’d like to get to the bottom of this quickly.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I will do everything in my power.\" Valt said with a bow before he left the study."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"The records, huh?\" Valt muttered self-deprecatingly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Ultimately, would there be any point to writing down what he knew for her?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I really can’t take my eyes off you for one second.\" the witch grumbled as she brewed tea."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar burst out laughing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " Lazar walked in with a stack of documents and let out a heavy sigh."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “If you want to go exploring in the ruins, Your Majesty, please tell Queen Tinasha… It will really save me some stress, as I get mixed up in it every time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But if I tell her, she’ll stop me.” Oscar responded shamelessly, right in front of her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The witch arched one eyebrow. \"Of course I will. This time you even got Doan to go with you…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yeah, because I needed a mage for some of it, and the other ones would’ve gone tattling to you right away.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You seem to have a very good command of your subjects’ personalities! But I still grilled Doan to near death!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar picked up his teacup. “And because you chewed him out, Doan’s begging me to let him transfer to a research-only position.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes, and that’s your fault! Yours, not mine!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But I can’t give him up. Renart reports directly to you, while Valt can be too unreadable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha flashed a strained smile, floating up into the air and settling on the arm of Oscar’s chair. Leaning back against him, she rubbed her head along his cheek. Hugging her knees to her chest, she said, “That’s because Valt doesn’t like to let his emotions show. He wants to get along just by being friendly on the outside. Doan is much cleverer in that regard. He knows that we’re less likely to suspect him of anything if he’s shown us some of his genuine self."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"However, that also means he winds up as your accomplice far too often.” Tinasha grinned, her eyes lighting up. “But when it comes to that girl he lives with, Valt shows a much more human side, and it’s very interesting. I met her once when she came to the castle to bring him lunch. I can tell he cares for her a lot.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I know the fact that he’s unreadable doesn’t mean he carries bad intentions. He’s like you—he thinks everything through on his own and then handles it alone. You both conduct yourselves well, but you’re too careful when it counts, because you never give anything away, and that’s your downfall.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I’m talking about your solo missions and how they need to stop. Admittedly, I’ll still be entrusting anything magic related to you. Just tell me if you run into trouble.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Okay,” Tinasha sang, sliding off the armrest and onto her feet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar picked up the cocoon on the table. Before his wife could leave to go work on her analysis, he called, “Wait, Tinasha. Demons can’t get past the castle city wards, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Right. The wards are designed that way. We’d definitely have a hard time fighting off a high-ranking demon.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Can you cast similar ones around the other eastern towns and villages, then?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I could…but I couldn’t get to all of them right away.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar nodded. That answer seemed to line up with what he had expected. “Just do what you can. It’s only to be safe, but I’d appreciate it. Start with the towns closest to the ones where the unnatural deaths occurred and then go west from there.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “But Oscar, that means—” Tinasha cut herself off, gasping as she realized what Oscar was implying."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar caught Lazar’s eye, then Tinasha’s, and he scratched at his temple. “Five days before the first of these deaths, a mage fell from Minnedart’s ramparts and died. No one witnessed it, so everyone assumed it was an accident, but there were reports of strange-sounding screams. If it’s related to all the other deaths, it means something’s coming toward us from beyond the eastern border. I’d rather read too much into things and be safe instead of sorry.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’ll…have it done immediately,” Tinasha said before leaving the study."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " After Lazar watched the queen go, he asked the king in a tremulous tone..."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “Do you think it’s a demon?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Who knows? If so, it’s an awfully slow-moving demon. It’s going to take another two weeks to reach the city,” Oscar replied, resting his chin on his hands and letting his gaze wander."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " As he watched his king sink deep into thought, Lazar felt a jolt of inexplicable fear. The castle archives held no record of the ruins in question."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I thought that might be the case,” Valt muttered as he left the castle to head home one evening. Because there was no record of the site, people had always thought the formation north of Farsas to be merely a natural cavern. However, there was an ancient structure concealed deep within the hollow. The past king of Farsas, who’d written of it in his journal, only noted he’d heard of the location from a spirit sorcerer who became his adviser. He had reigned centuries ago, a short time before Tinasha’s birth. Many records from that era had been lost to time, especially those pertaining to the secretive spirit sorcerers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “All I can do now is consult my ancestors’ accounts…” The archives Valt had inherited as the Time-Reader heir were vast. When he first gained access, he skimmed through all of them, but he had yet to read them carefully. The other heirs were probably much the same. Therefore, there was a very good chance that some record or another Valt wasn’t familiar with did describe the ruins. With those thoughts on his mind, he reached his home, which was tucked into a corner of the castle city. The delicious aroma of soup wafted from the house."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I’m back,” he called as he opened the door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Valt!” cried a girl as she leaped at him head-on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Oof!” Valt staggered back from her unexpected crash landing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “What’s the matter, Miralys?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Open this,” the silver-haired girl instructed, handing him a new spice jar."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt had spared no effort searching for Miralys and had managed to grab her before she joined the bandits. She wasn’t the person he’d found bleeding in a forest. But even so…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Valt? Can’t you open it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “No, I can. I was just lost in thought.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Lost in thought about opening a jar?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Were you thinking of a spell to get the lid off it, since you can’t do it on your own?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I told you, I can.\" Valt said, doing just that and passing the jar back to Miralys."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Thanks.” Miralys accepted the container and scurried off for the kitchen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " As he listened to her start humming, he smiled and went to his room to change clothes. Valt didn’t have a detailed plan when it came to working in Farsas Castle. He was simply there to observe the palace and those inside. It came as no surprise to discover that Farsas was incredibly stable. It placed great emphasis on magic research, and the court mages were well treated. He could easily live on his own with Miralys. After working for another three years or so as royal chief mage, he could even retire and go live a reclusive life with her in some rural town. But, no, he couldn’t. He didn’t have what he truly needed. No matter how content Valt was with his present life, he couldn’t grow too complacent."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Valt, dinner’s ready.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Coming,\" he replied, dropping the journal he was about to read back onto the pile of them in his room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " When he reached the dinner table, Miralys looked up from setting dishes out and gave him the littlest smile. It was infectious, and he returned the expression. They sat at the little dining table facing each other. Miralys spread homemade jam on some soft bread."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “You worked a little late today.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “There’s something I need to look into. I’m going to be doing some reading after dinner, too, but call for me if you need anything.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “I’ll bring you some tea, then. Did anything interesting happen today?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I was working, not having fun, but in fact, something interesting did happen. But it was nothing too unusual. The king brought back an egg, which hatched into a stone bird that started flying all around the castle.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “I never know what you’re talking about. How could something made of stone fly?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “In the Dark Age, they researched this sort of thing—artificial creatures. Actually, creating them proved difficult, so the research was abandoned. This is the first time I’ve seen one made with spiritual magic. Queen Tinasha is going to analyze it, and let me look at a diagram of the spell configuration once it’s done.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt’s genuine curiosity must have been evident, because Miralys narrowed her eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “You really love magic.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “Well…I’m a mage.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “I wish I’d been born with magic, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I’ve lent you some of mine, haven’t I?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “That’s just a mark. It’s not enough to use magic.” Miralys had no magical power of her own."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " This left her unable to protect herself, so Valt had loaned her a portion of his energy. It was tied to her soul and would guard her. Valt found the sight of Miralys puffing out her cheeks in displeasure very precious, but her impractical wish made his heart ache nonetheless. He’d wished the same thing himself once. Valt hadn’t been able to cast spells until the death of his father. There was no need yet to tell Miralys about that or any of the other secrets of his life. In her mind, she had simply met Valt by chance and was living with him. Someday, he would reveal the truth to this Miralys. He would explain about himself, about her, about their past that had once existed, and about what was to come. That day was a ways off yet, though. They were enjoying shockingly peaceful days, because Valt wasn’t on the hunt for Eleterria this time. Valt suddenly recalled something. \"Lately, people have been dying in strange ways over in the east. Queen Tinasha said that because we’re affected, the culprit could be a demon. The wards around the city prevent demons from entering, but still…be very careful.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"Okay. But I don’t go outside the city anyway. I have no reason to.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I’m only saying it just in case.\" Valt said, narrowing his eyes at Miralys. When he concentrated, he could sense the faintest pulse of her soul—a living being’s core. It was the primordial power that all possessed, born of nature and returned to nature. Each time he saw that light inside her, he felt spurred to keep going."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " The next day, when Valt arrived at work, he found a palm-sized stone bird flying around the castle courtyard. His fellow court mages were gazing up at it in wonderment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan noticed him and waved. \"There you are. Look, it’s so funny.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"It’s gotten smaller.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"Queen Tinasha analyzed it and made a duplicate. It sounds like it really was used for patrolling, although we don’t know what it was watching for. It doesn’t seem like it was only for people and demons, however.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Not people and demons? Then what?\" That left only low-ranking demons and fairies. Valt wanted to ask the duplicate maker herself, but Tinasha wasn’t around. \"Where’s the queen?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"She went with Renart to set wards around the eastern towns, as the king requested.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Warding the settlements must have meant he’d detected something. Having served Oscar for the past three years, Valt judged him capable of jumping from the tiniest clue to the right answer. He would say things like, “I just had a hunch.” Tinasha claimed that her husband had very good intuition, but it was probably due to a calculation that the man wasn’t consciously aware of. Oscar was also quick to make decisions and often worked several steps ahead of regular people."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan shrugged."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"The idea of it gives me the creeps, but she’s doing it to be safe. Anyway, that means you can bring the report you’ve been working on to the king.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"How do you know I have a report?\" Valt questioned"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"Because you’re late today. You were up late, weren’t you?\" Doan had hit the nail on the head. Valt gazed up at the sky beseechingly. Sylvia and Pamyra snickered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt held both his hands up in surrender. \"All right, all right. I’m going to go see His Majesty, then. Let me know if anything happens.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"You got it.\" As Valt left, Doan idly remarked, \"Oh, and this bird has a function to scatter something, but the first bird was empty inside.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"Scatter…what?\" His first thought was poison. The original had only been empty because it was newly hatched. However, that didn’t match what Valt had uncovered. While thinking it over, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. \"Didn’t that make Queen Tinasha even unhappier with the king?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"That’s right. So before she gets back, please try and convince the king to be less reckless.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I’ll try,\" Valt agreed, but between the king and queen, he had a much harder time with the former. In the past, Tinasha had killed him many more times than Oscar had, but he could still predict her thoughts and actions. The king of Farsas was far younger than the witch and often behaved erratically. Valt had taken a court position to better understand him, but even after three years in the castle, he still found the king difficult to deal with. Valt knocked on the door to the study."
}
] |
Subsets and Splits