conversations
listlengths 2
49
|
|---|
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Try not to mess up.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’ve done it all once before!\" She snarled, her petite shoulders squared in anger. But soon enough, her expression relaxed. One blink and her eyes glowed with affection. She scanned the assembled group, her gaze not landing on anyone in particular, until she looked up at Oscar. For a moment, her beautiful face appeared more adult, and she beamed lovingly at him. In her gaze was clear, selfless love. The emotion was profound and boundless."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar felt his chest tighten."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’ll be off, then. Thank you so much for everything.\" With that, she turned to walk away from him. Her black locks swayed like silk. Even now, her petite frame exuded nobility and solitude. She stepped onto the transportation array. The teleportation magic activated, and the beautiful mage disappeared from Farsas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar closed his eyes, grinning bitterly. Her image was burned into the inside of his eyelids, vivid and striking."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " It would be a long while before he could forget her."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Last-minute appeals came rushing in one after another, and by the time Oscar could reach a stopping point, it was late in the afternoon. He glanced at the clock and frowned. \"Damn. Practice with Tinasha—\" Then he stopped, remembering that she had left Farsas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " Not missing how his king’s face had screwed up in a scowl, Lazar gave a wan smile. “I’m sure she’s incredibly busy. Her coronation is in two days.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"She really was here until the absolute last minute…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Tinasha had spent merely half a year living at the castle, but lingering traces of her scent popped up everywhere. Oscar sighed, recalling how she’d smiled at him while clad in a short-sleeved outfit like something a child would wear. “She’s an odd one, all right. Make sure everything she did and said in Farsas is noted down. I want it recorded for posterity.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “I believe Tuldarr may object to that,” Lazar said, implying that her behavior had been just that bizarre and surely her homeland would prefer that the queen’s eccentricities were kept quiet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “If she were a princess instead of a future queen, they might find her antics amusing,” Oscar asserted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “Are you sure? Let’s not forget how many times she’s wound up covered in blood,” Lazar pointed out with a shudder."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Ignoring him, Oscar rested his chin in his hands. He wanted her to have other paths she could choose besides a life of solitude spent under tremendous pressure. Oscar realized he’d sunk deep into contemplation and snapped back to himself with a grimace. “Ugh, ridiculous.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " How long was he going to spend thinking about someone who was gone? There was no shortage of other things to consider. From the corner of his eye, Oscar noticed that Lazar was watching him discreetly. The king waved a hand at his attendant. “I’m fine. Get back to work.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “Um, about that, Your Majesty."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Several Farsas nobles have put in requests for an audience with you, and they would like to bring along their daughters… Er…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “And they’re hoping I’ll pick one to be queen? That sounds annoying. Schedule them all for the same day.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “Are you sure?” Lazar asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar detected the layered meaning in the question but kept his face blank as he responded. “The curse is broken, so I need to evaluate some prospects for queen soon. It’s good timing, since I want to pick the most harmless one possible.” Now that the curse was undone, there was no need to seek out the most suitable partner possible. Things would be the same no matter who she was. Forcing himself to switch gears, Oscar returned to his work. Three hours later, he remembered that he had never eaten lunch. Tuldarr had not had a queen in six generations, and no ruler had inherited so much as a single mystical spirit in eleven generations."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " On the day of the coronation, guests were led into Tuldarr’s cathedral, where they whispered about their fears regarding the unusual ceremony."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Guest 1:",
"value": " “A mystical spirit inheritance ceremony after Tuldarr’s spells were only just restricted under the treaty? Can you believe it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Guest 2:",
"value": " “It’s a part of the coronation tradition. They’re not going to suddenly stop doing it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Guest 3:",
"value": " “But no one’s used the spirits in hundreds of years. Could there be some ulterior motive for making a show of them now, after so long?” Tiered rows of seats ran the circumference of the oval cathedral, with the altar at the center. Dressed in their finest, the seated guests gossiped freely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Guest 4:",
"value": " “Is she even capable of receiving the spirits in the first place?” The mystical spirits that would serve the ruler of Tuldarr upon coronation were actually high-ranking demons. Such creatures were native to another plane of existence, and consequentially almost never appeared in the human realm. On the rare occasions they did, they were frequently taken for gods, overwhelmingly powerful as they were. Some still had believers among more rural parts of the continent. Tuldarr was already feared by other nations for being home to so many mages of preeminent magical power. For its ruler to command the mystical spirits after so many had failed to do so would make the country a concerning threat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Guest 5:",
"value": " “It’s nothing to worry about. Even if she does succeed in the ceremony, I can’t imagine she’ll be able to handle more than one, at most.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " A wry smile came to Oscar’s lips as he listened to a fellow attendee’s optimistic opinion. Of the twelve spirits, one, which took the form of a girl, was already under the command of the soon-to-be queen. No matter how things played out, she certainly wouldn’t walk away with just one. Oscar’s grin broadened as he envisioned how all of these guests would react once they witnessed that part of the coronation. Yet at the same time, Oscar also understood that there was merit to the guests’ concerns."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " All of a sudden, a hush fell over the audience, and Oscar peered down toward the center of the cathedral hall. A plain altar sat atop a raised platform with ten steps. True to the atheistic beliefs of Tuldarr, there were no adorning statues or idols. Legis had appeared, standing upon the dais and wearing ceremonial robes. The prince of Tuldarr surveyed the faces of the attendees before bowing to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " “Thank you all very much for taking the time to be here today. On behalf of the queen, I offer my warmest gratitude.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " A gentle smile on his lips, Legis continued. \"The mystical spirit ceremony will constitute the coronation today. I am aware that there may be many unconventional elements, but I implore you to accept them as the will of our queen.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " None said a word. Strictly speaking, the kings and queens of Tuldarr did not inherit a throne. The previous ruler had abdicated, and the new one was crowned the following day. A new ruler acquired the mystical spirits and nothing more. This long-standing tradition of ascension via magical power made Tuldarr’s ancient ways plain for all to see. The now former king Calste stood at the base of the steps alongside other mages. Only his son Legis stood at the top of the platform."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis bowed once more, then held out his hands. In apparent response, a transportation array appeared before the altar. The first thing to come through the portal was the small ivory hand of a woman. That hand, mystery incarnate, came to rest atop Legis’s palm. Next, the bottom edges of blue robes materialized. The shade, symbolic of the Tuldarr royal family, looked made of dye crafted from ground gemstones. It was a blue deeper than the sky and clearer than the sea, calling to mind the history that had fostered this Magic Empire. Basking in the silence from the audience, the queen stepped slowly from the magic circle. Her long hair flowed freely as waves of black, and over it she wore a silver-threaded veil embroidered with lines of pearls."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Her mage’s robe was trimmed in deep blue and pure white; it outlined the slim and elegant curves of her body and flared out into a full ball gown. She lifted her skirt to stride forward, and the hem formed an arc with her movements. Her eyelids were slightly downcast, but her eyes contained the depths of darkness as she gazed straight ahead. There was gravity to her beauty, lending her a magnificence that tugged at the soul."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Crowd:",
"value": " “So that’s the queen of Tuldarr.” Awestruck whispers ran through the crowd."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar grinned wryly. He should have been intimately familiar with her rare and exquisite beauty, as well as with her dignity as a queen. Seeing it on display exceeded all imagination, however. He, too, had been completely enthralled by her from the moment she appeared. This was her other side—the queen who would take the throne through force of magic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha stood in front of the altar and drew a deep breath. As she did, Legis took two steps down the stairway and knelt. The queen’s long sleeves billowed as she spread her arms wide. Bells on her bracelets sang tinkling notes. \"The words of this contract are assembled from the will of the unvoiced.\" Her voice rang out in sonorous incantation. The atmosphere in the cathedral shifted. Magic began to swirl with Tinasha at the center. \"Hope is born from the depths of despair—the flow of time is irreversible, and all possible meanings give rise to awareness. A concept kept hidden makes the individual so, and it crawls to the cusp of the lineage it is bound to.\" Dense power knit itself into an intricate spell. Like rings on water, it rose up and rippled out but did not disappear, interweaving to form a gigantic structure. \"I call upon the ancient contract, the chains that bind human to inhuman.\" As the array rose higher around the altar, its complexity grew. The gathered magic condensed toward the center, responding to Tinasha’s own immense power. Her lilting incantation made the magic in the air even denser and thicker. \"Listen to me, o sleeping ones, our unfamiliar neighbors. Long ago was the day of the beginning, but you are eternal.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " The magic converged. It was so thick that the faces of the mages, who were gathered at the base of the steps, had gone white. Suddenly, a ray of pale light appeared at the center of the altar. The layered spell formed an intricate circle on the stone as if shaped by an invisible hand. On the edges of the array, a tremendous light erupted from the one o’clock position. Then luminous bursts flared from the two o’clock and three o’clock positions as well. The same happened with each spot in order, except for the five o’clock point."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Appear!\" On a shallow exhale, Tinasha spoke. Her voice was low, but it reached everyone present."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " It was as if it were coming from terribly far away but whispered directly in one’s ear at the same time. The power in the word made the audience stiffen. Tinasha’s dark eyes flashed as she presided over the glowing circle. \"O spirits sleeping in Tuldarr by an ancient contract! My name is Tinasha As Meyer Ur Aeterna Tuldarr!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Onlookers:",
"value": " Gasps erupted from different onlookers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " At last, the queen made her decree. “I am your regent, and by this proclamation you are defined… Come to me!” Light burst forth. A white light blanketed every corner of the cathedral, but it was soon swept away by the wind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Attendees:",
"value": " Having shut their eyes against that blinding radiance, the attendees cautiously opened them to glance fearfully at the altar. The sight caused their jaws to drop. “Those are…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirits:",
"value": " Where there was nothing only moments before, there were now beings standing in a circle at the center of the platform. These were Tuldarr’s mystical spirits. All twelve were present. Each had taken a humanlike shape and was standing with complete indifference."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Guests:",
"value": " “Ludicrous. All twelve of them,” guests muttered in utter shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirits:",
"value": " Much like the audience, all of the spirits eyed the queen with surprise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha noticed, and her face broke into a smile for the first time since she’d appeared. In a voice only they could hear, she said, “It’s been a very long time. Just wait a moment, all right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirits:",
"value": " Taking that request as an order, all twelve stayed silent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha subdued her grin and regarded the guests with a queen’s countenance. “I am Tinasha As Meyer Ur Aeterna Tuldarr, and I have been enthroned as the forty-third ruler of this nation. I offer all of you my deepest gratitude for gathering here with us today.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Attendees:",
"value": " None dared to so much as move."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha smiled, though it was a shallow one this time. Her eyes burned with the fierce glow of a monarch. She looked out over her spirits and said, “I order the spirits of Tuldarr.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirits:",
"value": " The twelve knelt in response."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " With unwavering confidence she said, “As your master, I call an end to our ancient contract."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Henceforth, you are released from that which binds you to Tuldarr. You are now set free. You may do as you wish.” She said it lightly and liltingly. Her proclamation petrified the entire hall. All were speechless. The only ones unsurprised were Tinasha herself, Legis, and Renart, who stood with the other mages at the foot of the dais. Even the spirits couldn’t hide their astonishment, save Mila."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Calste:",
"value": " The former king Calste, the first to snap from the shock, grew red in the face and cried, “Wh-what do you think you’re doing? !\" He dashed up the steps, and Tinasha met him with a gentle expression."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Calste:",
"value": " Heedless of the international audience, Calste yelled, “Are you aware of what you’ve just done? !\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes, of course I am. The Dark Age is long past. We are no longer in an era in which rulers must possess mighty power. As you can see in many of the faces around you, power that exceeds reasonable limits only begets fear. And most importantly, Tuldarr is a capable enough nation without the spirits. You should know that best of all.” Tinasha glanced at Legis."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " The prince evidently understood Tinasha’s intention from the look alone and came to stand next to her, ignoring the daggers his father was glaring at him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Calste:",
"value": " Calste’s balled-up fists trembled. “Legis! You knew about this?! How could you allow such a—”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " “It only made sense, Father. Even if she inherits the spirits now, a day will certainly come when no king or queen wields them. So instead of relying on fleeting strength, we should prove that the people and technology of Tuldarr are what make this country strong.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Calste:",
"value": " “That’s ridiculous,” Calste said after a pause, but he issued no further protests. After moving his father to one side, Legis nodded at Tinasha."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She faced the audience with a smile. “I hereby ascend the throne for one year, as the final queen of an era in which the rulers symbolized the power of their nations. After that, Prince Legis will become king and govern the country alongside a newly established parliament. This year will be the last for Tuldarr’s ancient traditions, and you may also think of it as the time we need to prepare for a new departure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha shrugged at the spirits. With a sardonic expression, she told them, “There you have it. We’ve only just been reunited, but I’d like to thank you for your service.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirit:",
"value": " A spirit in the form of a young man stood up. “Little girl! Can we really do what we want?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Of course.”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Then I’m going to stay a spirit until you die. Our contract with Tuldarr may be over, but that doesn’t mean you’re not still my queen.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Oh, really? I don’t mind either way.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Female Spirit:",
"value": " \"Lady Tinasha, I’m going to stay, too!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Male Spirit:",
"value": " \"What? Then I guess I will as well. It’s never boring with our queen, after all.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nil:",
"value": " \"Nil, you get out of here! You’re annoying!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " As the spirits began to bicker and banter, Tinasha massaged her temples with a grimace."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis’s eyes widened as he watched. \"They’re very fond of you…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I think it’s more that they enjoy pestering me…\" Recognizing that things would not calm down so long as the spirits kept chattering, Tinasha shot a beseeching glance at the one situated at the twelve o’clock position. This was the oldest-looking spirit, sporting white hair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirit:",
"value": " They gave the queen a dignified bow. \"I am very grateful that you have ordered the end of our contract. However, as Karr said, our contract with Tuldarr and the fact that you are our master are separate things. Please allow us to accompany you to the end of your short human life span. We do so of our own free will.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Well, I did tell you to act as you pleased. All right, then.\" She agreed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Spirit:",
"value": " \"We shall take you at your word.\" The spirit responded. With that, the twelve fell silent. They bowed to her, each with different expressions on their faces, and then vanished from the cathedral."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Without the bickering, the spacious chamber fell deathly silent. Tinasha gave a self-possessed smile. Even beneath the weight of every eye in the room, she did not falter. There was no doubting she was the queen. Just as many had predicted, but not at all in the way they had expected, her coronation heralded a turning point in history. Her utterly unique beauty and power would leave a vivid and eternal mark on the memories of the people. Foreign and domestic attendees alike remained still as surely as if a binding spell had been placed on them. It was like time had stopped. In the midst of them all, Oscar gazed at the young, beautiful ruler of Tuldarr in amazement."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"She really did do something unconventional.\" Doan said as he and Oscar made their way to the great hall. Doan was attending the coronation as Oscar’s guard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " General Als, a few steps ahead of the other two, nodded deeply. The other attendees had evidently not recovered from the surprising corononation yet, either. All were offering their impressions and thoughts. Some approved of Tuldarr for rejecting such preeminent power and even endorsed this revolutionary system overhaul, but others quietly criticized Tinasha’s eccentricity and abrupt reforms. Most nations were governed by monarchies. An attempt at utilizing a two-pillar system of a parliament and a royal monarch would certainly attract people’s attention."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar snorted at the circulating opinions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “There’s no telling how her decision will be viewed in the years to come. But so long as the spirits continue to serve her, that will be enough to deter other countries. Tuldarr can establish its new system during that time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha had always held Legis’s aptitude for ruling in high regard. More than likely, she had been planning to enact this revolution for a while now, and approving of his temperament had only emboldened her. She took the throne, even though it would be only for a year, in order to dissolve the contract with the spirits."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “At best, a ruler of Tuldarr inherits one or two spirits. Even if she has a child who claims the throne, there’s no telling if they will be a greater mage than she is. Besides, it’s clear from the state of the royal family that magic wanes over generations. She must have known that this was the last chance to inherit all the spirits and release them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " “Because Tuldarr originally let power determine succession, it’s always been a very logical country, in a way. A royal family that inherits the crown via its bloodline deviates from the true tradition.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Surely that’s a result of external influence from the moment Tuldarr opened itself to diplomatic relations. They must have had outside pressure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " “The monarchy being absolute is a holdover from the age of the spirits. Tuldarr was actually founded in the hope that oppressed mages would cooperate with one another, and the members of the royal family were meant only to be the strongest representatives of the people. Queen Tinasha made her decision because things are different now. In a sense, she may have restored Tuldarr to its roots.” Doan’s tone was indifferent, but he asserted his opinion in an uncharacteristically firm way, perhaps because he was a mage himself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " Als listened to the conversation with interest but remained quiet."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar found a mage who served her standing near the entrance and approached him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " Upon catching sight of the king of Farsas, Renart bowed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Where’s Tinasha?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " Renart answered calmly, but in a low tone of voice. “She is arguing with King Calste, though I expect it to end soon… She should arrive once she’s changed her clothes.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar nodded, falling into thought."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He gave it a little smile, then turned back to the other two. “I’m heading out for a bit. I’ll be back once I’ve finished what I need to do. Do whatever you want while I’m gone.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " “E-excuse me, Your Majesty? !” Als cried out in shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan looked like he was holding back a vexed exhale. Normally, he never wanted to get involved in any disputes, but this time he wore a knowing look as he asked the king, “Are you sure about this?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I’m not the only one. The other countries will be making their moves soon, too. Best to be quick about it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " “Your Majesty?” Als said again. He was the only one who didn’t understand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar clapped him on the shoulder, then moved against the flow of guests to leave."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Having escaped the crowded hall, Oscar gazed out a window at the castle’s other buildings. True to a Tuldarr structure, magical protective barriers were positioned here and there around the blue and white edifices; Oscar could sense them. A thin sheen of water cascaded from an azure stone shelf jutting out into midair and splashed down into the moat of the hanging gardens. Not many soldiers stood guard. Sentinels were patrolling around, but magic formed the crux of the palace’s defense. Oscar glanced down at the sword belted at his waist and grinned. “Glad they didn’t confiscate this.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He slipped into a random deserted passageway, opened the window, and went out into the courtyard. As he made his way across the carefully manicured grass, he glanced up at a particularly tall building in the center. “There it is.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The spray of water falling from the stone shelf glittered in the setting sun. The blossoms in the gardens were all varieties not found in Farsas. Azure flowers shaped like round lanterns glowed faintly from the inside, and the way they swayed brought to mind the first page of a picture book. It was like the palace of a magical kingdom from a fairy tale. And the one who would govern this castle was a woman from four hundred years ago. A queen for only a single year. Tinasha must have discussed it with Legis and other advisers on countless occasions. While Tuldarr’s parliamentary system was not without historical precedent, no other nation utilized that system. Establishing one now was sure to be an uphill battle. Still, she had chosen this fight. This method of governance—monarch and citizens supporting one another, with no room for self-righteousness—was likely an ideal she’d held on to since the Dark Age, when power was crucial to survival."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The gardens that streamed between the buildings sloped upward so gradually that the incline was almost unnoticeable. Oscar came to the base of a spire that adjoined the tall building, and he gazed up at the white stone walls. \"All right, let’s go.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"Where are you headed?\" Mila inquired, her voice sounding amused from overhead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar looked up to see a red-haired girl floating down, hugging her knees. It was Mila, one of the spirits who served Tinasha. \"I need to talk to her. Are the regent’s chambers just above here?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"Yes, but you’ll see her later in the great hall if you just wait.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That’ll be too late, and I don’t want anyone else to overhear us. Can you stop her?\" In all likelihood, Mila had appeared to protect her master. Conscious of Akashia, Oscar met Mila’s gaze and waited to see if she would chase him away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " The redhead grinned. \"You can do what you want, but I’m not going to help you.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That’s fine, provided that you don’t obstruct me, either.\" Oscar answered, placing a hand on the wall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila’s eyes grew wide. \"You’re going to climb?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"The guards will stop me if I go inside.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " \"Seriously? Do you have a death wish? Look, I’ll do you a favor and put an illusion on you, so the snipers don’t shoot you and send you plummeting to your demise.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That would actually help a ton, thanks.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mila:",
"value": " Mila shook her head and sighed in disbelief. She disappeared with a snap of her fingers, and Oscar placed his hand on the wall once more. He began to climb up, his eyes on a tiny transom window. He wouldn’t think about how he wished Tinasha had only told him she planned to be queen for just a year. He knew it was a matter of national politics. She couldn’t reveal her plan to someone from another country. If their positions were reversed, he wouldn’t consider telling her, either. So it wasn’t too late. Now was the soonest he could do this. Oscar came out onto a small corridor and grabbed hold of the wall of another adjoining building. He passed several magical barriers on his climb to the highest floor, but Akashia nullified all of them. The window of her room was not locked and was protected only by a barrier. Oscar took out the royal sword and looked around the dark room that was occupied by only a few pieces of furniture"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Did we pass right by each other?\" Night had fallen entirely by now. Oscar had climbed via the shortest path, but could Tinasha have already changed clothes and headed for the great hall? Unsure whether he should trespass further after already breaking in, Oscar sank into a chair by the windowsill. Then he remembered his dragon. \"Nark.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " In answer to his summons, a red dragon the size of a hawk appeared and perched on his shoulder."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar was about to order it to see if Tinasha was in the great hall when a door in the back of the room opened. Light spilled into the dark chamber."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Heedless of the other occupant, the girl who entered headed for a door opposite the one she’d come through. Then, out of the blue, her left hand sliced through the air. Instantaneously, orbs of magic launched in Oscar’s direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Before he could say a word, he had Akashia up and its blade out against the attack. The magic orbs struck the sword and were dispelled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The girl turned to look, and her eyes widened with realization. “A-again? !”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What do you mean ‘again’?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Never mind.” Tinasha sighed, deflated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Tinasha stared at him. “How did you get in?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “The window. I must be growing comfortable with your barriers because I entered pretty easily. You’re so careless.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Not many people are capable of breaking my barrier,” Tinasha said, obviously cross. This was the same person who’d been in the cathedral, but her aura was different. Things were the same between them as they had always been—a mood of closeness and openness. It comforted Oscar. Resting an elbow on the chair and his chin in one hand, he gazed at Tinasha. “You really went for it back there, huh?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Well… my mind was made up for a while.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Calste looked livid.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “He was about to pop several blood vessels,” Tinasha admitted with a laugh, heading for the far door again. There was a closet there, and she emerged soon enough wearing a simple version of a queen’s formal dress. “Anyway, I’d like to get changed…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Ah, sorry. I need to talk to you, and it will only take a minute.” This was why he had come. He was visiting her room to speak to her not as royals, but as individuals."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Still clutching the new outfit to her chest, Tinasha cocked her head. “Talk to me about what?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What are you going to do once you abdicate?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I—I’m not quite sure… I suppose marrying Legis would be the right thing to do? That should satisfy Calste a little as well,” she replied in a way that almost suggested she wasn’t connected to the matter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar had begun to scowl unconsciously. Upon realizing it, he straightened out his face and said lightly, “Why not come with me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Excuse me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Why don’t you marry me?” This was why he’d climbed the tower."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " While it was indeed blunt as proposals went, Tinasha couldn’t immediately comprehend it. He stayed frozen for a bit; something Oscar had anticipated. After deliberating over how to make this easier to swallow, he elected to begin with the part Tinasha was probably most anxious about. “It’s not a bad idea at all. If you’re going to change the system, an alliance with another country will give greater security, and it will relax other nations more than if you marry Legis. Some people are going to see you as a threat no matter what you do, but no one will want to challenge both Tuldarr and Farsas at once.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What? I—I mean, that’s true, but something seems… Um, give me a moment.” Tinasha trails off, shaking her head at the neatly wrapped facts he had presented her with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After Oscar’s declaration, Tinasha’s expression changed from confused to serious and pensive. It was the face of a queen evaluating the political merits of what she had been offered. He flashed a strained smile at this deeply earnest queen. “Sorry. The way I phrased that was a little unfair. Let me say it again.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He recalled the day they met. She had been asleep under the palace for four hundred years, all to meet him. Oscar gazed right into her dark eyes. “I want you. So I’m asking you to marry me. That’s all it is.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha’s eyes grew round as saucers. “… Excuse me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I’m not sure how I feel about that response.” He said, a little offended by her shock but also enjoying needling her about it. Oscar headed for the window to leave the same way he came. Tinasha was still rooted to the ground, and he turned back to look at her. “Well, you have a year, so think it over.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “H-hold on just a minute. Why are you going out the window…?”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Wait, that’s not the point!” she cried, burying her face in her hands. Then she managed to find the words and popped her face back out. “I thought you weren’t interested in me?” She sounded like a little girl who knew nothing at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " One hand already set to climb down, Oscar paused and replied, “I couldn’t disrupt my country because I had personal feelings for someone. I did my best not to get attached. But if you’re going to abdicate, that changes everything.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I want to be with you. I don’t want to let anyone else have you. If you desire me, I’m yours,” he said fervently, roguishly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha shivered violently. Evidently, she hadn’t fully processed such a sudden change."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar shrugged. “That’s all I came to say. You’re in a hurry, aren’t you? Sorry about that. I’ll go say good-bye to Legis and head home. See you.” With that, he leaped out the window."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " As the garden below rushed up to meet him, he called, “Nark!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " In response to its master’s order, the scarlet dragon rapidly grew to the size of a small house and caught its master on its back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Nark made a leisurely turn in the air, and Oscar laughed out loud. After sheathing the royal sword, he asked the dragon, “How did things turn out in that future you’ve seen? Did she marry me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Nark let out a shrill cry and dived for the gardens."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Als:",
"value": " Als and Doan breathed great sighs of relief when their king returned an hour after he’d left."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Both men were filled with trepidation whenever he was left to himself. When he showed up again, he was in a strangely good mood. They wanted to ask where he had been, but they had a pretty good idea."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I’m going to go say good-bye, and then we’ll go.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " They held their tongues and gave up on questioning him. The reception went on without the queen."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis, still inundated by guests, caught sight of the king of Farsas heading for him, and his eyes widened slightly. He’d been wondering the entire time where one of Tuldarr’s guests of honor had been. Legis strode up to Oscar and bowed to him. Formal words of greeting were exchanged. Once the social niceties were complete, Legis kept his pleasant smile as he made a pointed remark. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen you in the hall for quite some time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Mm-hmm… I had something to discuss with Tinasha. I left to go see her.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis gasped. Once the surprise faded from his face, he seemed a little bitter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " He understood the situation as well as they did—better, perhaps, as an outside observer. For a moment, a flash of loneliness passed through his eyes, and he closed them. When he looked up at Oscar again, his gaze was direct. “She is the treasure of our Tuldarr. Will you give what she’s worth?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Of course, if that’s what she wants.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar respected the other man’s sensibility. He thought of the woman at the center of it all. All that’s left now is to wait for her answer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The six months since he’d met her had passed quickly. So, too, would the year to come, surely. Oscar wasn’t in any hurry. Compared to four hundred years, this would be but the blink of an eye."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " With a clear tinkle, the teacups shattered. \"Oh no… I broke them.\" Tinasha groaned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " The mystical spirit seated across the table from her made a disappointed face as she regarded the broken pieces. Casting an appalled look at her master, she said, \"You should train yourself in detaching your magic from your emotions, Lady Tinasha.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I did, a long time ago… I know how to do it.\" Tinasha replied, sighing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"It doesn’t seem that way.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I know…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Before she could clean everything up, the shattered cups and the spilled tea vanished. Tinasha thanked her before donning some sealing ornaments. \"I shouldn’t have carried breakable items. Next time, I’ll use metal cups.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"Will that really solve the problem? Why not deal with the source? Maybe you can get rid of him.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I won’t do that!\" Tinasha had been acting like this whenever she was free since her coronation the week before. Naturally, the trigger had been Oscar’s proposal, a total bolt from the blue that had thrown her emotions into complete turmoil."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " With a very human mannerism, the spirit threw her master a sidelong glance. \"I don’t know why you’re so indecisive. You came here to see him in the first place, didn’t you?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Yes, but… But things haven’t been like that this whole time! He’s always been so mean to me! All he does is scold me!\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"I wasn’t around, so I wouldn’t know.\" The spirit replied crisply."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha flopped onto the table. Raking a hand through her hair, Tinasha gazed up at the spirit. \"How would you answer him, Lilia?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"I would say no. It sounds like a lot of trouble.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"…\" Consulting one of the spirits had been a mistake. Face still planted on the table, Tinasha let out a groan. \"Me, marry him? No way… no way at all.\" She remembered what he’d said to her when she was much younger. \"You will reach me, and you’ll be happy.\" The Oscar who’d disappeared had promised her that. The present Oscar was the same man, but still very different. For the past six months, she hadn’t so much as dreamed of a future with him. Still, the current Oscar knew why she’d come from four hundred years in the past. There was no way he hadn’t picked up on it. And yet he’d told her, \"Don’t let it weigh you down anymore.\" And that was enough. Tinasha had been so happy that she could have died right then; she’d truly felt that it was worth it to come to this era. \"But marrying him…\" Tinasha bit back a sigh."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She had never put words to her feelings for Oscar. For the longest time, she’d avoided thinking about that. There was one thing on which Tinasha was certain. She’d discovered it after awakening in this era and spending time with him. Even if their paths diverged, he was someone very dear to her. It was clear that he was important, but beyond that… she didn’t know. It had never required much thought until now. How was she supposed to respond now that it was at the forefront of decisions she had to make? Oscar had apparently mentioned the proposal to Legis and some others, who had wished her well with Farsas. Meanwhile, her attendant Renart and the spirits couldn’t understand her hesitation. Had Oscar proposed for purely political reasons, Tinasha would have given an answer sooner. But that didn’t seem to be the case. Just pondering it made her feel dizzy, so much so that she was grateful for the times when she was buried in work."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " Lilia eyed her agonized master and remarked coolly, “Just marry him if he wants you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I don’t know why he’s proposed to me, though. Even supposing that on some wild chance he really does like me and it’s not some trick of my imagination, we’re in a different time now… He doesn’t know what people were like in the Dark Age.” When she first awoke in this time, Tinasha had harbored a faint hope that he might fall in love with her, buoyed up by the fact that they’d been married in their previous history together. But once she’d snapped out of that daydream, she realized that she was only a queen with a bloodstained past. People only saw one side of Tinasha—a person who’d escaped her own time period and abandoned the throne to live freely for a short while. If Oscar knew how she’d subjugated those around her in the past, he definitely wouldn’t feel the same way about her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " Lilia, one of Tinasha’s servants since the Dark Age, sipped from her teacup. “That’s true. In those days, you were the type to betray someone in order to stand on your own two feet.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Do you really think I was that bad?! I mean, that is how it was, but still!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “That’s why I suspect the Akashia swordsman might also be planning to betray you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “And get a Tuldarr hostage! That would make his motives easier to understand, but—”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “So should we get rid of him after all?” Lilia asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “No!” Tinasha shouted, leaping to her feet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " As Lilia watched her master go brew a new pot of tea, she giggled. “You know, I’m very glad to find you enjoying yourself. When you told us you wanted to put yourself in a magic sleep, I thought you’d finally gone crazy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I can’t believe how much you didn’t trust me!” the queen exclaimed, pouting. Shortly after abdicating, Tinasha had informed the twelve spirits that she planned to enter a magic sleep."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " They were unanimously opposed to that idea and told her it was ridiculous because they knew it was for Oscar, and they doubted his claim about traveling backward through time. However, a closer examination had revealed that the orb responsible was a very real power that existed outside all laws. Tinasha decided to ask Lilia about something she’d been contemplating earlier. \"Do you know how time travel is possible? It goes against the laws of magic.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “I don’t know. It may be that it looks like time travel, but it’s actually something else.\" The green-haired spirit responded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Like dismantling the world and reconstructing it based on records? I hadn’t thought of that, but I can’t get past the immense scale. A tiny orb couldn’t contain all that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"Then perhaps it’s simply that another law that makes such a thing possible has been brought in.\" Lilia said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Brought in? From where?\" They were meant to be just chatting and tossing around ideas. But Lilia’s suggestion sent an involuntary jolt through Tinasha, and her hands stilled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"It’s human foolishness to assume that you understand everything. We demons live on a different plane of existence, and even we can’t perceive that many other realms. So wouldn’t it make sense that from time to time, someone with unusual powers would be born somewhere or a mysterious phenomenon would occur?\" The spirit went on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I suppose… that’s true.\" Tinasha replied slowly. It was extremely rare for someone to be born with strange powers that were not magic. Those abilities generally entailed postcognition and precognition, but where such skills originated from was unknown. Ancient myths would call powers of this nature blessings from the gods. The research of many mages confirmed that these abilities were distinct from magic. As Tinasha poured tea, she sighed. \"Now that you mention it, strange things like that did happen in my past reign… Remember the Harvesting?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"At those odd old ruins? We never did find out what sort of mechanism was behind that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"When it happened, I was more concerned with ending it than with uncovering the cause, but now that I’m thinking about it again, it really was weird.\" The queen recalled an inexplicable incident that had claimed the lives of hundreds. A culprit had never been found, nor could anyone hazard a guess as to why they’d done it. Compared to that, going back in time almost felt easier to comprehend. She didn’t know how the magic orb operated, but it was clear that whoever used it wanted to alter the past. Feeling stupefied, Tinasha sipped at her tea."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Just then, there was a knock on the door and Legis entered. \"Excuse me, Your Majesty, but I have a number of reports to make.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Confidential ones, I assume. What are they?\" said Tinasha, correctly guessing why Legis had come to her chamber, while she was at rest, and not to the queen’s study."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis gave a weak smile at how perceptive his queen was."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “First of all, several private requests for marriage talks have come in.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Again?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “You are an object of mass destruction, and many hope that will pass to your progeny.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “Anyone who can draw you over to their country will kill two birds with one stone.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Thank you for that brutally honest reminder.” Tinasha replied tartly. Legis looked with dread at this spirit who spoke in such an unreserved manner to her master. However, Tinasha didn’t mind it at all, instead pouring a cup of tea for Legis."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis looks with dread at this spirit who spoke in such an unreserved manner to her master."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “And the rest of the report?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “A rebellion against the parliamentary system is mounting. We don’t have solid leads, but some nasty individuals are plotting the use of force.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “To assassinate me, you mean? They’re welcome to try anytime they like.” The queen responded calmly. She had overwhelming power and confidence on her side. In her eyes was the strength of someone well accustomed to fighting for her life, and she didn’t seem perturbed in the least. While Tinasha partook of her tea, Lilia frowned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “Four hundred years have passed, and you’re still surrounded by enemies?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Such is the fate of someone who tries to do something different. It makes perfect sense.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “Then why don’t you sentence them all to death?” Lilia suggested blithely. Legis, who was in the process of sitting down at the table, boggled at that. He shot a questioning glance at Tinasha, who only smiled with her hands wrapped around her teacup."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " Legis, who was in the process of sitting down at the table, boggled at that, glancing at Tinasha."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I told you, Lilia, times are different now. First, we should talk to them and try winning them over. Then we can resort to force, if necessary. If all they’re doing is calling me a little girl with nothing but magic to her name, they’ll be easily dealt with… and we can get rid of them anytime.” The queen gave a brilliant smile. For a moment, however, something as icy as a river in the night flashed in her eyes, and Legis didn’t miss it. Noticing that he was still frozen in place and hadn’t sat down yet, Tinasha faced him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What’s wrong?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " “Ah… I’m sorry.” He answered, planting himself on the chair. Tinasha put a teacup in front of him. That she brewed and served on her own, actions quite unlike a queen’s, spoke to both her friendliness and her vigilance against poisoning. Over the past two to three months of talks about changing the system in Tuldarr, Legis had caught glimpses of such shrewdness from her. He had to imagine it was typical of one from the Dark Age. Legis felt like he might pass out if the conversation continued in this vein, so he switched topics."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Legis:",
"value": " “Ah yes, what are you going to do about the proposal from Farsas? If you’re going to accept, then we can reject all the other ones.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Aaaahhhh… just when I’d managed to forget…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “If you can forget about him so easily, perhaps you should say no?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “N-not so fast.” Tinasha protested."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"Why don’t you just go and see him? That should give you your answer much faster than dawdling around here.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Dawdling…\" Tinasha deflated at having it put so succinctly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Ah, shall we get back to work?\" Tinasha stopped massaging her temples and looked up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " \"As you wish.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Very well.\" The queen clapped her hands, and the three of them vanished from the room."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " It was just a few moments past noon. While it was afternoon, it was dim inside the room, owing to the thick cloths pinned up over the windows. A girl was sitting on a chair in one corner of the chamber, away from the sliver of a sunbeam that managed to poke through. Her eyes were shut, but she wasn’t asleep. She simply liked things this way. Her awareness reached to every corner of this enclosed space, and when she sensed someone approaching from the hallway, she looked up. Stretching out a hand, she drew up a spell. Magic requiring no incantation made the door silently swing inward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " The young man on the other side peered into the room and chuckled. \"All closed off again… Your body needs a little sunlight every so often.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"I don’t like it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"You’re hopeless.\" Valt said as he strode into the room and walked up to her. He stroked Miralys’s glossy silver hair, and she smiled. \"The witch took the throne. Is that all right?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"Yes. I needed her to.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"How’s Farsas?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"That’s also fine for the time being. Akashia remains a bit of a wild card, though.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt answered as he pulled over a chair and sat across from Miralys. He crossed his legs and rested his chin in an arm he set on his knee. In his light brown eyes was a hint of a shadow. \"It doesn’t matter that the king of Farsas fell for her. We only have to split them up and get her alone. She’s the weaker one.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"Really?\" asked Miralys."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"Psychologically, and that’s what matters.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " Force of will was paramount. They knew that there were times when it could outsmart even the most powerful and change history."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " The girl sighed, eyeing the five rings on her right hand. \"I’m still praying that I don’t have to face off against her directly. I may be borrowing your magic, but I’m still no match for a witch.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"I’m working to ensure that doesn’t happen. Even though history was overwritten on a vast scale, plenty of people are still the same as they were. I have lots of pawns I can move around.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Action/Narration:",
"value": " Seeing the future. Orchestrating fate. Those were their weapons. Valt smiled reassuringly at Miralys… but the expression faded swiftly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"The world is waiting for one last straw.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"What?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"It’s something my father said. The world is trying to converge on the future that’s closest to how things should have been. Humans continue to alter it because of their desires. It’s a cycle.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " \"And so the world is waiting for one last straw—a final move to restore things to their original form.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"That sounds like something from a dream.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “The next day, my father hanged himself for the first time, and I understood everything.\" Valt said as lightly as if he were discussing what he’d eaten for dinner yesterday, but his words painted a sorrowful picture. They cast a shadow as dark as the ones the fierce midday sun peeking through the curtain left on the floor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys frowned. \"Valt?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I understood. And yet I—” Silence. It was like that dark room rejected and blocked off every fate in the world. Amid a sense of ennui almost inherited from the futures trying to converge, a drab melancholy shrouded the chamber."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys stood, reached out for Valt, and clasped his face between her hands. She leaned close to him and whispered, “I don’t want to let you die.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I’ll be fine.” The man smiled, yet despite his cheerful expression, he gave off a gloomy vibe, as if he’d accepted his fate."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " It was just about lunchtime, and Oscar was puzzled that Royal Chief Mage Kumu, Doan, and Als had turned up at the door to his study. They stood in a row before his desk, docile looks on their faces. Finding that unsettling, Oscar came right out with it. “What? What happened?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " \"To be frank, we have a report to make to you, sire.” said Kumu, stepping forward and passing the king three documents."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar began to scan them, and once he had finished reading everything, the expression on his face was quite indescribable. “What’s going on here? Magic?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " “More than likely.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " When he read that none had returned, he scowled with displeasure. “This is extremely serious. It’s hard to believe five court mages have vanished.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " “Unfortunately, it’s the truth.” Kumu added, \"One mage in the party arrived late. He’s the one who discovered the fate of the other five."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Upon realizing the rest of the group was gone, he inquired at the village if any had seen them. However, all the locals had vanished as well, so he returned to the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " \"Does that mean they went into the ruins and couldn’t come out? How far did that mage search for the others?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"He only looked around the entrance, where he was supposed to meet them. When they weren’t there, he checked at the village first. It was probably wise that he didn’t venture deeper.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Puzzles over this account that made less sense by the moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"If they went missing after entering the ruins, does that mean all the villagers went inside, too?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " \"That can’t be… They were forbidden from doing so, as it was a royal investigation, so I would find it hard to imagine they’d all get close.\" Then his face visibly darkened. \"However, there was an anti-decay charm at the entrance. But its spell composition was unique.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Unique how?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " \"Much of it was impossible to decipher, suggesting the utilization of technology outside our magical knowledge… It’s possible there’s something very strange inside there.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Leans back in his chair. He crossed his legs over the top of his desk, rakishly. Brooding, he inquired, \"Do you think we should bring Akashia?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " After a short pause, Kumu spoke falteringly. \"I don’t believe that you should be there, Your Majesty. We don’t know what we’d be walking into. It’s terrible what happened to the people who were lost, but we think we should seal off the entire site…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"So you’re suggesting we cut our losses?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After closing his eyes and thinking, Oscar abruptly swung his legs off the desk and got to his feet. \"So it’s either living up to expectations or going against them? I don’t really care either way, but… I’ll go.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Kumu:",
"value": " Kumu, Doan, and Als restrained themselves from expressing aloud that they knew he’d say that. They’d anticipated this from the start."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"We should go quick. Be ready to explore the site tomorrow.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Men:",
"value": " \"Yes, Your Majesty.\" The three men bowed and left the study."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Men:",
"value": " The men exchange looks and sighed in the hall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"If we’re going to seal it off anyway, I’d like to record why we elected to do so.\" Oscar muttered as he gazed up at the entrance, washed clean by the rain."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar called Doan and General Granfort to his side and issued some simple instructions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Should something happen, retreat. Protect yourself first and foremost.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "All:",
"value": " All nodded in assent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar scanned the faces of his team, who were all ready, and nodded. \"Then here we go.\" With that unceremonious start, Oscar led the way into the cave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan hurried after him with a glowing ball of magic light. \"This is too clean for a ruin from hundreds of years ago. It may very well be true that some unknown technology is at work.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"There’s no seams on these walls at all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar rapped on a wall. \"Time hasn’t worn at them at all, just like Tinasha.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " \"I beg of you never to say that to her, Your Majesty.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"You know, she actually studied pretty hard even after coming to Farsas.”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After walking for fifteen minutes, Oscar turned back to Doan with a frown and asked, “Was the mountain this big? We’ve gone pretty far back.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " “It’s quite strange… Judging by the distance, we should soon reach the other side and exit to the open air. Yet…”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Soldier:",
"value": " Several minutes later, a shout changed everything. “Your Majesty!” came a sharp call from the back of the party."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar and Doan whirled around instantly. “What happened? !” Oscar demanded, seized with apprehension."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Soldier:",
"value": " A soldier gulped and then answered tremulously, “The general… vanished.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “He what?”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan contacted Kumu, then once he was done, he looked up at his king with a grave expression. “Your Majesty, let’s head back. This is too dangerous.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Hmm.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " “If you must conduct a search, we should request aid from Tuldarr. None of our mages have any idea what happened.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You do have a point,” Oscar admitted."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan tugged on his sleeve. “Y-Your Majesty!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar turned to look deeper into the passage and was struck speechless to see the path ahead glowing. What’s more, the light was coming toward them, expanding outward bit by bit. The king glanced over his shoulder and understood that the light that had swallowed up the soldiers behind was also creeping closer. The trap was closing in from both sides, making it impossible to escape. In the end, the glow filled the entire passageway and caught the last two."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " When he came to, Oscar was in a rock chamber he’d never seen before. He hadn’t lost consciousness, but his memories were disconnected. At some point, he’d found himself standing in this small room. He could remember being on the path with Doan up until moments before, but now he was alone. “What is this place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The rock chamber wasn’t very big. He could walk the length of one of its sides in ten paces. There was no furniture, and swords and magic implements were scattered across the floor like so much trash."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Damn it… Did we all get separated?” Oscar whispered, checking to make sure he had Akashia in his right hand and Nark on his shoulder."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Noticing its master’s gaze, the dragon cocked its head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar petted it as he scanned the room. There was a single door. Judging there to be nothing else of importance around, Oscar opened it and went out. The first priority was locating the rest of the investigation team. He prayed they were all safe. “I suppose it’s been a while since I explored some ruins on my own,” Oscar mused with no small degree of pride, recalling the days of his youth when all he did was sneak out of the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The door led to the same type of passageway the party had been on before they’d disappeared, although likely a different one. Oscar had changed locations so suddenly that he couldn’t be sure of where he was, but one thing he did know was that this structure had to be vast. The path was plainly constructed and yet plenty bright, despite no sign of a light source. Doors similar to the one Oscar had come through lined the sides, each a few dozen paces apart. His door was situated at the end of the corridor. “I guess it saves me the trouble of choosing left or right,” Oscar remarked as he set off. He didn’t sense any sort of mechanisms, but there was no room to get careless. While making his way toward another door, he remained vigilant against any traps. “All right—”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Before Oscar had time to wonder what was beyond the door, he detected something abnormal and leaped back. No sooner had he done so than a white blade sped past where he’d been standing. A moment later, an expressionless assailant was standing before him. The young man clad in black wore light equipment and gripped a dagger in each hand."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Taking a deep breath, Oscar readied Akashia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Nark, get back.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Obeying its master’s order, the dragon flew up to the ceiling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The assailant struck without giving Oscar so much as a moment. Crouching low, he closed the distance between them with frightening speed. Oscar used Akashia to repel the left dagger, which had been aimed at his legs. He instantly pulled Akashia back and up to parry the right, which had been lancing for his chest. The motions all occurred within the span of a second. Assassins were known for their inhumanly honed speed. Yet Oscar was swifter. Without waiting for the man to stab at him again, Oscar kicked up at his torso. The assassin jumped back to minimize the blow, however. He was more talented than the average military officer, and Oscar smirked despite himself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You’re tougher than I thought. Are you the guardian of this place or something?” Caustically, he inquired."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " His opponent didn’t respond—instead readying their weapons. Oscar had wanted to gather a little information, but his opponent didn’t seem to feel like talking. I can’t waste too much time. I still don’t know what happened to my people. Oscar switched modes. When the assassin leaped for him, he moved right in for him, too. This threw off his assailant, delaying his reaction. That spelled the end of the fight. With no groaning or grimacing in pain, the black-clad man disappeared once his belly was ripped open. It was like he was never anything but a phantom. Astonished, Oscar looked all around. He’d felt the stab through his sword, but no one was there. There were no traces of blood on Akashia’s blade, either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What in the world was that?” Oscar said, shaking his head. He opened the door he’d meant to before the attack. Beyond it was a tiny rock chamber, the same as the one Oscar had appeared in, with nothing inside. Oscar checked all around the room before heading back into the hallway and setting off again."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Each time he arrived at a new room, another assassin would appear with no warning. This happened five times in succession. Sometimes, it was a pair of people, too. Occasionally, they attacked with swords or magic—it all seemed random. All the attackers had in common was that they never spoke, and they vanished without a trace upon sustaining a mortal wound."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What is going on? Are these ruins just full of ghosts?” Oscar grumbled, unable to make sense of anything, but then he remembered Tinasha saying ghosts didn’t exist. In that case, this had to be the result of some magical contrivance. Puzzled, Oscar continued his search. After he defeated the tenth assailant, the path veered to the right. He peered down the bend cautiously. It looked like a pretty major branching off. Constructing a map in his head, Oscar turned the corner."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Hold on…” His eyes went wide. This was a familiar face. But something was different."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar’s voice exposed his fearful confusion as he called. “Tinasha?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She didn’t answer, remaining expressionless. Instead, she launched balls of light from her hands. The orbs zigzagged toward him with differing speeds, closing in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Holding his breath, Oscar took a step forward and sliced through the spells holding the two orbs together."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Even as he hesitated, Oscar plunged his sword into the center of it, shattering the vital key hidden inside the spell. He was prepared for the vortex to injure his arms, yet he only felt a rubbery snap. After nullifying three spells, he closed in on the girl floating in the air. One slice from Akashia tore apart her protective barrier. He reached his empty hand out to grab her throat. But in that split second, she disappeared, materializing behind him. Oscar sensed dense and powerful magic, and a shiver ran through him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Ngh!” He leaped forward without looking back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Nark landed on his shoulder and spewed fire behind him, offsetting the girl’s own conjured flames."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You saved me, Nark,” he said, racing forward and then turning back to face the beautiful girl. With her gaze fixed on him all the while, she raised her right hand, and invisible blades sped forward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Of those razors that sought to encircle him, Oscar cleaved through only the ones that barred the way forward as he pressed in close to the girl. Once more, she tried to weave a spell. Akashia was faster than her teleportation magic, however. It hit her upstretched arm, and her spell dissolved. A grim, bitter look on his face, Oscar brought his sword down. The girl’s dark eyes widened. With her arm and head lopped off, the girl’s frame wavered for just a moment before vanishing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Disgusting,” Oscar spat, feeling a deep sense of despondence."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I’m going to have nightmares about that. Ugh, awful,\" Oscar said, heaving a long sigh as if he could expel that nasty aftertaste."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Nark:",
"value": " Nark chirped at him comfortingly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " With a grimace, the king set back off on the path. Assailants continued to appear relentlessly. They varied in strength, making it impossible to pinpoint the origin of their manifestation. The girl from earlier was the only one Oscar recognized. As he ventured on, dispatching enemies, he kept a mental map of the increasingly mazelike tunnels. He checked his progress first to avoid running into dead ends. After Oscar departed a tiny, empty room, Nark gave a shrill cry."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Before Oscar could even wonder at it, he saw a woman dressed in a white mage’s costume. Instinctively, he readied Akashia. Recognizing him, the woman widened her eyes. Her delicate lips opened to say something, but she had to rush to grab her sword and parry away Akashia’s sharp slash. However, the royal sword’s second thrust was faster. She narrowly fended it off while adjusting her stance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"O-Oscar, wait!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"You really look just like her.\" He stated calmly as he lunged for her a third time. She turned her blade diagonally to catch the blow, but Oscar twisted Akashia along the way, hooking it onto her slender sword and knocking the other weapon to the ground. Flustered, Tinasha next found herself with Oscar slamming her shoulders back against the rock wall with his left arm. He used the hand still gripping Akashia to grab her wrist, pressing his body weight against her to trap her between him and the wall. She struggled against his hold, trying to escape."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I said wait! You’re too close! Way too close!\" Losing her composure, she shouted at him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"The more I look at you, the more you seem identical to her.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’m the real Tinasha!\" She protested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar swooped in close, then kissed her ear. Before his eyes, her ivory white earlobe turned a deep red."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"W-wait… seriously!\" She pleaded with him in a reedy voice that sounded on the verge of tears."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " For a bit, Oscar stared blankly at her. Her beauty was even more striking when her face was flushed. Just as she was about to beg him again, he suddenly burst out laughing. Oscar released her and bent down to pick up her sword. \"What are you doing here?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Hey! Do you finally believe it’s really me? !\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Of course I do. I was only teasing.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"…\" Tinasha glared at him reproachfully, and Oscar smirked. After taking three deep breaths in and out, Tinasha stopped shaking with rage and faced Oscar. Sword back in hand, she pointed at him. \"A magic attack made contact with the barrier around you, so I went to Farsas to see what had happened. I heard about the situation from Als, then went to the ruins and spoke to Kumu, and now I’m here.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"What barrier? I had a barrier?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"You’ve had it the whole time.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"It’s set to be invisible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Since when?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Your coronation.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “That’s pretty far back,\" Oscar said, rifling through his memories. Yes, he did recall having a barrier put on him. But something else had happened after that. \"Didn’t you undo it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I did not. I only enhanced it and camouflaged it,” Tinasha explained, and she stuck out her tongue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He barked out a dry laugh upon finally learning the truth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “It’s my barrier, so it’s connected to me. I’ll know when it repels magic. Did you battle a mage?” Tinasha went on matter-of-factly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar recalled the fight with the girl, grimacing. “I fought a younger version of you.” He pointed at Tinasha."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Oh… so I’m recorded, too, then?” she replied, pulling a face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Confused, Oscar asked, “Recorded? What does that mean, and what attacked me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha winced. “In short, this place is… a repository of sorts that records people and preserves them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha frowned. “I’m not sure how it operates, but this place captures people and creates duplicates of them. Normally, these copies are merely storage vessels that contain information, but when they sense an intruder, they will materialize to eliminate them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So that’s what I fought?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes. In Tuldarr, it’s known as the Harvesting. Four hundred years ago, I also came here in search of missing people. It caught me and made a duplicate of me. I thought I’d escaped before the process was finished, but it looks like I was wrong.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You’ve been here before? !”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I wouldn’t have been able to find you otherwise. It’s only because I got close that I was able to rely on my sense for the barrier on you to forcibly teleport closer,” she explained in a huff, cheeks puffed out in annoyance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar looked down at her. “So were you the one who blocked off the entrance? It was buried inside a cliff.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You mean the entrance that you came in from? No. I destroyed all the entrances. This place isn’t inside a mountain; I don’t know where it is, exactly. Four centuries ago, I came in from a spot in Tuldarr.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “It has multiple entrances?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes. It can transfer those within and abduct any who are close by. Other entrances may exist, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Shaking off the last of his shock, Oscar posed another question. “Why do you call it the Harvesting? That’s a really unsettling name. What happens to the people this place abducts?"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Are they used to grow mushrooms or something?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What an unpleasant mental image… There are no mushrooms. They should be asleep in their duplicates’ chambers. I’ll show you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Thanks.” Oscar responded honestly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha smiled. It had been a long time since he’d seen her cute side, and he found himself grinning back at her. The last time we met was when I proposed. She hadn’t given him her reply yet, but Oscar felt no particular sense of urgency. Tinasha was quite an awkward person. If someone told her to decide with her feelings, she would be lost in confusion for a while. He didn’t intend to rush her. She could take her time discovering an answer. That said, judging by how she looked now, she’d forgotten all about the matter. The young queen had come running in a panic, her mind clearly occupied by the emergency."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “It’s this way, Oscar.” Tinasha called, beckoning to him. The two set off along the twisting, turning path. While she paused here and there to waver over which way to go, they made solid progress without needing to turn back at all. Oscar was truly relieved for the rescue. While he’d been trying not to think about it, he had actually lost faith that he’d be able to save everyone. Oscar glanced at Tinasha walking alongside him and felt the desire to stroke her hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So when a duplicate is defeated, does the person who was captured get freed?” He asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “They do not. They were all left to sleep, so they eventually die of starvation. The last time I was here, I was devastated to find a mountain of skeletons and bones. That’s why we call it the Harvesting.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yeah, I can’t imagine anyone would be happy to see something like that…” The initial search party had vanished three days ago. Oscar hoped they hadn’t perished yet. That made Oscar remember the investigative team he’d come in with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So was everyone else on my team sent to a random place in the ruins like I was?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Hmm, they’re probably all asleep. I think you were separated because you have Akashia. That made the ruins judge you to be something abnormal. The structure has a disposal chamber.” Tinasha explained dispassionately."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Is that why?” Oscar said, glancing down at his beloved sword. True enough, that room he’d been deposited in was the only one littered with assorted objects. The others had all been empty. Perhaps that had been the area for isolating magic implements."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That’s just a guess, though. This place seems to operate automatically. Honestly, it’s all a bunch of things that ordinary magic technology can’t detect. It gives me the creeps.” Tinasha admitted with a scowl. Even for her, these ruins were a mystery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Automatic…,”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So there’s no one here pulling the strings? Not even a demonic spirit of some kind?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “At the very least, there wasn’t anyone four hundred years ago.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “This place is a complete enigma.” What was this Harvesting that had been going on for four centuries? Before Oscar could think too deeply on it, he sensed something and popped his head up. A new assailant had appeared. He was about to ready Akashia to face off against this unknown male mage when the man abruptly exploded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Impressed and awed, “You’re really something, you know that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “This seems to have no end. It’s all just information, which is how it constructs duplicates.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Human copies, huh? If that’s not normally possible, does that mean that there was a mage capable of the feat long ago?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “No. The laws of magic are immutable, whether past or present… This place employs something that should, by all rights, be impossible, even for me or a high-ranking demon.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Something outside the laws of magic… Has there never been anything like that before?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " After an awkward pause, “That magic orb.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar recalled the little sphere that had allowed the two of them to meet in the first place. The object’s very existence undeniably defied the laws of magic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Bitterly, “Ultimately, my people failed to destroy the ruins the last time. We didn’t break its automatic defense mechanism.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So you destroyed the entrances instead?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “As a last resort, yes. But if it can create other openings elsewhere, then there will be no end to it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Nodding to himself, Oscar turned the issue over in his head. While the nature of this place was unknown, it had clearly been constructed by a sentient being. And if it was made by something that defied the laws of magic, its goal really might be simply to record humans. Record, collect, store. Who would review all that information? An absurd mental image of a child lining up a collection of colorful glass marbles on a sunny windowsill surfaced in Oscar’s mind. Children are often cruel. They don’t consider others’ suffering. Oscar sighed, fed up with his silly musings. The pair rounded one corner after the next, making progress while defeating enemies. At last, they reached a large door at the end of the passageway. Tinasha placed her hand on it, then paused and looked over her shoulder to Oscar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “How many people have been captured?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “An entire small village… and our people from the castle. Altogether, a little over three hundred.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That’s so many!” She exclaimed, removing her palm from the door and crossing her arms. After scowling for some time, she glanced up at Oscar. “I’m going to open a transportation array here. You go wake the people inside. They’ll be within cocoons, but you can tear through them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Oh, I don’t like the sound of that one bit…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “They function as human storage vaults. However, once you open the cocoons, a large number of guardians should appear."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’ll take care of those.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"By yourself?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’ll be fine. But I may not be able to keep it up for very long, so hurry,” Tinasha said. She flashed Oscar a smile but didn’t meet his gaze. There was something ephemeral in her face that worried him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Still, he intended to take the queen of Tuldarr at her word. She wouldn’t have made the declaration if she wasn’t prepared. “If you feel you’re in danger, call for me. Don’t get yourself hurt,”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’ll do my best.” After flashing Oscar a wry look, she began her incantation. Her dark eyes urged him to go."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar nodded and pushed open the door. On the other side lay a vast, cavernous space. There was something of a mystical quality to the air, like one might find in a cathedral. What Oscar saw inside astonished him. “Whoa…” The floor was littered with pods the size of adult humans. Each of the white, translucent things was rooted to the ground. Oscar peered into the closest one and saw a man slumped over, his eyes closed. Inside the pod next to him was a skeleton. These were the cocoons Tinasha had mentioned. Oscar grimaced to see the repugnant things for himself, his stomach turning unpleasantly"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " A hand tapped him on the shoulder. Tinasha had finished opening the array. “I’m ready. Go ahead now.” She left Oscar to move deeper into the room. Seemingly in response to her intrusion, a dozen or so guardians materialized in front of the wall at the back of the room. Oscar noticed there was an intricate spell design etched into the surface. Tinasha stopped. She did not draw her sword but instead outstretched her arms. “My word defines a metal that shall not become blade. A rift of negation. A painless span of time.” The queen’s voice sent shock waves through the chamber. The air changed. More than twenty crescent-shaped crimson blades appeared in midair. After a short inhale, Tinasha whispered in a lyrical voice. “I reject you.” The words flew for the guardians, who met them expressionlessly. While Tinasha manipulated the blades, she cried out. “Karr! Senn!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Karr:",
"value": " “Yeah, yeah.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Senn:",
"value": " “You called?” In response to their master’s summons, two mystical spirits teleported in on either side of Tinasha. Taking in the scene before them, they frowned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Karr:",
"value": " “We’re back here? I hate this place.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Carry out your orders without complaint, Karr.” Even as they spoke, the two spirits wove elaborate spells. Their intense magic attacks fell upon the guardians like rain. The guardians, who varied in appearance and gender, vanished one after another, mowed down by magic. However, more appeared just as quickly to take the places of their defeated comrades. Keeping an eye on the battle at the far end of the room, Oscar moved from one cocoon to the next. Once he found the one he was looking for, he used Akashia to cut it open."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The unsettling pod began to dissolve from the laceration and oozed out, losing its shape. Oscar gave a light kick to the man sleeping inside. \"Doan, wake up!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After several seconds, the mage groaned. Oscar grabbed Doan’s arm and hauled him to his feet. When Oscar saw that Doan was blinking his eyes open, Oscar barked orders at him. \"There’s a transportation array set up at the door. Cut through the cocoons and help the people inside escape. Get our people from the castle to help once they’re awake!\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Doan:",
"value": " Doan’s expression grew serious. He looked all around him and then shot up. \"Y-yes, Your Majesty…\" He probably didn’t fully understand the situation, but he headed off to rescue the people sealed up near the door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar continued opening up the cocoons around him, which mainly contained the Farsas investigative team. The king shook them awake and issued his orders. Once all of his subjects were awake, Oscar hurried for the pods at the back of the chamber."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Karr:",
"value": " Karr frowned to see sweat beading on his master’s forehead. He and Senn were helping Tinasha battle back the guardians while protecting the cocoons, but she was also maintaining the transportation array simultaneously. It was taxing work to keep a teleportation spell from an unknown location to the outside world going. And while Tinasha was doing that, she was also casting attack magic. Karr pushed his queen behind him. \"Call another two or three, little girl.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " For a moment, she gaped at him, but she quickly nodded in agreement. \"Itz, Saiha, Mila, come here.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Itz, Saiha, Mila:",
"value": " New spirits appeared. Their faces grew tense once they beheld the situation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha sighed and issued orders. \"Hold things down here… and try not to hurt anyone.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Itz, Saiha, Mila:",
"value": " \"Yes, my lady.\" They replied reverently, which reassured Tinasha to some degree."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The queen of Tuldarr took in a deep breath and began a new incantation. Over a hundred guardians had appeared already, attacking relentlessly. No matter how many fell, new phantoms materialized instantaneously. Tinasha and her spirits couldn’t use magic on too large a scale, so while they were far stronger than the phantoms, this war of attrition was slowly but surely pressing them to exhaustion. Even if Tinasha called more spirits, the vast size of the chamber and the cocoons posed limitations that would make it difficult for them to fight. While it wasn’t ideal, all they could do in this situation was keep at it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Farsas soldier:",
"value": " \"Over there! We’re opening that one!\" He shouted among a group. They ran over to a cocoon behind Tinasha and the spirits, shouting to one another as they did. However, they were brought up short by the distinctive and peculiar sight of the spirits."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha turned and faced the soldiers with a smile. \"Please, go ahead.\" That snapped them back to their senses, and they quickly cut into the nearest cocoons. Then the group escorted the emaciated villagers to the door. Unfortunately, a phantom appeared by them."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " By the time Tinasha noticed, the guardian was about to bring his sword down upon a child. A wave of her hand was all it took to crush the thing. The soldiers helped the kid toward the safety of the door. Tinasha breathed a sigh as she watched the child’s mother carry him off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Ah!\" Her arms flailed in the air but could find no purchase—until she fell back against a man who was there to steady her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He pulled her fully upright and gazed searchingly into her dark eyes. \"That was close.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Can you keep going for a little longer?\" he asked fervently, unwaveringly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha smiled. She loved hearing him urge her to fight and the feeling of his unshakable belief in her. And she wanted to fulfill his request. She wished to stand tall, even if she was alone. The world was neither a kind place nor a cruel one. It simply existed as it was. Everything was both exceptional and commonplace. Only what was possible would happen. Tinasha understood that, which was why she refused to quit. \"I’m all right. I can keep going.\" She assured Oscar with a nod, straightening her posture to face her enemies. The young woman told herself there was nothing she couldn’t overcome."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " As Tinasha watched the soldiers opening the remaining dozen or so cocoons scattered around the corners of the room, her face suddenly contorted in pain. \"Ngh…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Something was applying pressure to close the transportation array, and the force of it was falling on the caster, Tinasha. That unknown power weighed down on her with brutal intensity. The attack sought to wipe the spell away. Anyone besides the queen of Tuldarr would have crumpled and perished beneath the force of the opposition. Even Tinasha would have difficulty holding out against this until everyone could escape. The color drained from her face, but her dark eyes remained fierce and determined."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar, who was fighting by her side with Akashia in hand, was the first to notice. \"Tinasha?\" He gave her a concerned look and used his thumb to wipe away the sweat gathering on her forehead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha’s eyes closed in a pained blink. \"The enemy… is trying to block me… It’s trying to force my portal closed…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar watched the signs of desperate struggle cross Tinasha’s face, and then he had a thought. Look ahead. New guardians weren’t popping up as quickly as before, nor were there as many of them. That alone wasn’t enough to conclude that the enemy’s power was waning. But perhaps it was diverting some amount of strength into that force working against Tinasha. Glancing at the faintly glowing spell design carved into the back wall, Oscar made up his mind."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Tinasha, let me have your sight.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Hmm?\" The young woman’s eyes grew round and wide, but she nodded and touched his hand, whispering a short incantation. \"Please don’t go overboard…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"There are times when that’s the only option. I’ll be fine.\" Then he took a deep breath. The world changed immediately. It wasn’t just the magic in the air; he’d already been able to see that. Lines of even thicker magic emerged all over the place. Tinasha’s vision allowed him to see that multiple layers were intertwined within that complex, overly elaborate design on the wall. The network of luminous threads was like ivy, entirely covering some portions of the stone facade. Oscar stared at it coldly as he squeezed Tinasha’s hand tightly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Stay right here.\" Leaving her with those few powerful words, Oscar took off. Slipping through the vanguard of the five spirits, he charged into the army of guardians. A stroke of Akashia repelled the blades that came rushing to meet him from all directions. Magic hurled at the king vanished before finding its mark, probably thanks to the spirits. Still perched on Oscar’s shoulder, Nark extended its neck and breathed flame to drive away the phantoms pursuing him from the sides. If I waste time here, I’m going to get swallowed up. Oscar cut down a guardian blocking his way and continued his advance. Before long, he was at the wall. With his gaze still trained on it, he swung Akashia and cleaved through a guardian trying to attack him from behind. As he stared up at the glowing surface, his gaze lingered on one point in the center."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That’s it.\" Several paces to the right, a large, transparent crystal sphere was embedded in the wall. It was large enough to reach the floor. An intricate spell configuration rested within it, and Oscar recognized that the complex magic was revolving in place. Oscar moved to the orb and stabbed Akashia into it without hesitation. A clear cracking sounded through the chamber. Akashia’s hilt grew hot. But it passed in a second, and the crystal sphere shattered to pieces. Just like the guardians, the shards that went flying vanished into thin air like phantoms. Then the entire room lurched. A horrible, violent sound like metal grating together echoed from every direction."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Ngh…\" The uncomfortable sensation of a rapid pressure change swept over everyone. Reflexively, Oscar put his hands on his ears as screams erupted from all over. Some were even doubled over on the ground, clutching their heads. Yet the pandemonium ceased as quickly as it came. Oscar looked around and found that all the guardians had vanished. The wall that had shone brightly with power was now dark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"You destroyed… the core?\" Tinasha whispered, disbelief plain in her tone. Oscar turned back to see her free from the pressure that had been weighing on her, but also astonished. When Tinasha was surprised, she looked just like a little kid. It was precious."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Just looking at her made him start laughing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What’s so funny?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Your face.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Is now the time?!” Her outraged reaction only amused him further."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar was about to take a step when he heard a low voice full of resentment mutter in his ear, “You damn insider…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “What? Some kind of trick?” he wondered aloud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " After shaking his head, he hurried to Tinasha’s side. She was still shocked at how abruptly everything had come to an end. “How did you do that…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What do you mean, ‘how’? It had one of those vital points.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yes, but there were many others that looked just as genuine. How did you know that one was the true core?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Intuition.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You really are something abnormal,” Tinasha replied with a sigh. Her expression was a mix of exasperation and admiration. The enigmatic ruins that even the Witch Killer Queen and her spirits could do nothing about four hundred years ago had now been unceremoniously silenced and their mechanism dismantled by the Akashia swordsman. All the villagers had been safely evacuated. Tinasha was the last one to depart the ruins. She looked back at the cave passageway, checking to make sure no one was there, then lifted a hand toward the entrance. Lightning shot from her palm, sending deep tremors far back along the passage. The rupture set off a cave-in that culminated in the collapse of the access to the ruins. Tinasha watched until the shaking ceased, then turned back around with a shrug. “This should do. Since the mechanism is destroyed, we could have left it open and intact, but I wouldn’t feel right about that.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yep. Thanks, you really saved us,”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I should be thanking you for destroying the core.” Her dark eyes were narrowed, as if she were gazing into some distant past. That calm, self-possessed, and yet melancholic gaze was the hallmark of Tinasha’s queenly persona. It was clear she was thinking of the people of Tuldarr she had failed to rescue. The look drew Oscar in inexorably. Rather than act upon that feeling, however, he decided to inquire about a different matter. “What do you think made those ruins in the first place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Hmm… I’m curious, but I don’t have any clue at all. It’s something outside the laws of magic, which means I haven’t the faintest idea.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “But aren’t there lots of things humans don’t know about on other planes of existence?” Indeed, Tinasha was the one who informed Oscar that their world was like an endless stack of transparent pages all existing in the same place. Humans only comprehended a fraction of the total pages. Oscar’s remark was meant to point out that something on a different plane might exist outside the usual rules. However, Tinasha shook her head. “I think you may have misunderstood."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"The laws of magic are called that because they exist on the laws of magic’s plane of existence, but they do apply to other planes as well. That’s why humans can use spells here… It’s no different from the laws of our so-called world itself. Even though our world is made up of multiple planes of existence, it is not divided into those separate planes—it’s all one world. My degree of sight may be different from yours, but that doesn’t change what exists, does it?” With a snap of Tinasha’s fingers, a pale spray of magic flared to life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar could see it because of the magical sight drills she had put him through. And as the preeminent mage of her era, Tinasha could view much, much more than he could. But that didn’t mean the world itself was different."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Thus, it’s possible that a law outside the laws of magic exists. But one that contradicts the laws of magic cannot exist on another plane. That would be like repudiating the world itself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I… think I get it?” Oscar answered doubtfully."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " He had a vague sense of comprehension."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Then what about something beyond this world?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha’s eyes widened like a cat’s. \"What?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You said that the different planes of this world all share the same laws. So then what if it’s coming from outside all that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “From beyond the world… What is that supposed to mean? Don’t bring up something so absurd from out of the blue.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You’re the one who said that something going against a law of magic would put it at odds with the world.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “But that doesn’t mean jumping straight to the idea that another world might exist.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Has it been proved that one doesn’t?” Oscar pressed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " For him, these were all perfectly natural questions to ask."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha fell silent, utterly flummoxed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She pressed a hand to her mouth. “It hasn’t been… proved, no… But even so… it’s impossible to verify the nonexistence of anything past our world.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Yeah, I bet it would be. There’s no telling how many different planes there are here,” Oscar reasoned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " His remark about another world had been an off-the-cuff musing. Verifying it any further would be difficult. Yet the subdued look in Tinasha’s dark eyes betrayed that she was stuck on the possibility. She was sinking deep into the ocean of her thoughts. Oscar watched her studiously. He was well acquainted with the siren’s beauty she possessed. Tinasha was a queen and a young girl all at once. A fearsome mage… and just a very adorable person. Finally noticing Oscar’s eyes upon her, Tinasha looked up. For a second, her face paled as if she’d remembered something, then she immediately turned red."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " As Oscar watched steam virtually pour off her face, he recalled that she hadn’t given him an answer to his proposal yet. She was clearly wavering over what she should say. With a serious expression, Oscar said, “You can give me an answer whenever you’re ready.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The proposal must have seemed a preemptive strike with no warning. Tinasha jumped like a cat when its tail was pulled. Blushing even deeper, she looked down and away. “I’m very sorry for keeping you waiting…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “No, I don’t mind. How many marriage proposals have you gotten since then? I know other countries must have sent some.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " A pause. “Seven.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Wow. Which nations?” Oscar inquired, making no effort to hide his displeasure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What’s with that face?! I’m not telling you! They all just want to have me as their weapon anyway!” Tinasha cried, looking ready to fight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Hmm, I wouldn’t be so sure.” Undoubtedly, lots of foreign powers coveted Tinasha as an instrument of war, but Oscar didn’t think that was the only motivation. He knew that on the day of her coronation, she must have unknowingly captivated the hearts of many who witnessed her in the flesh. But I’m the one who knows her better than any other."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha pouted at Oscar, then, in a small voice, asked, “What is it you like about me…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “How weird you are.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “What sort of an answer is that?” Tinasha shot back, deflated. But she picked herself back up quickly enough and let out a long exhale to reset her mood. Brushing long strands of black hair from her face, the queen of Tuldarr looked up at Oscar with a profound quality to her gaze. “You know nothing about me.”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " A gentle breeze whooshed past."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Peering toward Tuldarr to the northwest, Tinasha stated, “They called me the ice queen. You’ll find all sorts of things if you research my history—not everything, though. I made decisions that would be considered unthinkable in this era. That’s the sort of person I am.” The words were soft, but her voice was tinged with pain. Slowly, Tinasha’s dark eyes closed as if that could lock up the night. “I don’t intend to make excuses and say that I had to do what I did because it was the Dark Age and because I was the queen… After I abdicated, I went to see my parents once under the strictest secrecy. It was the first and last time I met with them. We could barely hold a conversation, and it wasn’t like I could live with them or anything… I missed my parents to death when I was little, but I had no idea what to do upon finally reuniting."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " In the end, I chose to put myself to sleep using magic… That’s how coldhearted I am.” The halting way Tinasha spoke made her sound no different than a little girl. Her eyes remained closed. Oscar could see her awkward former self in her expression, and he grinned with fondness."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I know you’ll regret it once you realize who I am. Spending your life with me, that is…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Oh yeah? Tell me everything, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Oscar remains silent. Her silence was neither a yes nor a no. Tinasha simply stood there, rooted in place and all alone, just as she undoubtedly had four centuries ago. Oscar reached out to brush a thumb along her cheek."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You can tell me whatever you like. I don’t mind if you keep some things hidden. Whatever you need, I’m fine either way. Knowing everything won’t change the way I feel.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That’s a lot of up-front promises you may not be able to make good on.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Careful not to sell me too short.” Her long lashes stirred. Tinasha gazed up at Oscar, black eyes glimmering and damp. A trackless sea of loneliness rocked within them. The next words from Oscar’s lips sank deep into her soul."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Your oddities are amusing, and I enjoy your strengths and your weaknesses. I like the decisions you make, how you carry yourself, how childish you are, and the queen in you as well. I think the way you live your life is beautiful, even if that’s only one part of who you are.” Knowing everything wasn’t necessary to Oscar. Even if he did, he wouldn’t come to regret his actions. He knew how deeply compassionate she was—the way she was as innocent as a little girl and how she could choose to be queen. That look of longing for the way the people lived on the night he found her gazing toward the city during the festival was all he needed to understand about her. That was likely the moment he began falling in love with her. The only thing was that he couldn’t allow himself to feel that way at the time. Tinasha winced. A red flush tinted her pale complexion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I don’t understand your taste.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You don’t have to. My preferences are mine. Let me keep them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha puffed up her cheeks, pouting. “Just so you know, I never hoped for anything from you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Is that right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I came here to be useful to you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I know. Like an uninvited bride.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That’s totally wrong!” Tinasha balled her hands into fists. But once she’d settled back down, she asked in a much calmer voice, “So you really think you won’t have any regrets?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Nope.” This was his choice. He wouldn’t lament it. And should such a day come, he wouldn’t cower from the past. Staring straight into her dark eyes still heavy with worry, Oscar said, “I want to live my life with you."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Can’t I be selfish and follow my heart just once in my lifetime?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " If he had to devote his entire life to his country, he would spend it at her side. The way he bared his heart to Tinasha left her too overwhelmed to speak."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " But soon enough, she lifted her head, biting her lip. “I understand. I also kept you waiting without any word from me at all. I’ve spent too long dawdling, so I will give you my answer now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You were dawdling, were you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Hush!” Tinasha took a deep breath and straightened up. Her face suddenly shifted from that of a girl’s into something sincere and serious. Clear, strangely familiar eyes fixed directly on Oscar. “If you’ll have me, then I gratefully accept your proposal.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Tinasha stumbled a little once she finished her sentence, perhaps from all the recent strain. Oscar wrapped her in an embrace. The feel of her delicate frame enclosed within his arms made him break into a smile. He was so happy, he didn’t know what to do. Oscar felt like a boy again. When he pressed a kiss to the smooth skin of her cheek, she blushed and looked away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You’re too close.”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Get used to it.\" Oscar replied, his words succinct but full of affection, as he savored the feeling of his bride in his arms. Neither of them paid any mind to the shocked citizens all around them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " His wish was that she would always be smiling; his hope was that her loneliness would abate. He would cherish her more than anything and walk through life at her side. Oscar was confident that he would never meet anyone better to spend his days with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha wriggled free and floated up into the air to keep from being crushed to death in Oscar’s embrace. She pressed her palms to her cheeks, which were still flushed pink. \"I ran off to come help you, so I need to be getting back. I had one of the spirits impersonate me, but people will probably figure that out before long.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"A queen shouldn’t be sneaking out.\" Oscar scolded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"You of all people do not get to say that! You put yourself on your own survey team!\" she cried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She was about to teleport away when Oscar grabbed her hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Once I get back to Farsas Castle, I’m going to send you an official messenger and letter.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Oh? Do you mean you want to go public with our engagement?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Of course. Or maybe I should go harass those seven countries.\" he said arrogantly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Frowning, \"Don’t.\" Lowering herself a little, she placed a hand on Oscar’s shoulder. \"You better not tell me you assumed I’d definitely say yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I didn’t think that. You’re completely unpredictable, after all.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Hmph.\" Tinasha stuck out her lower lip. It doesn’t feel real yet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " All this time, Tinasha had believed he had no interest in her and so left her feelings about him alone. Now that she knew she was wrong, she wanted to bury herself in a hole for how strangely embarrassing it all felt. His gaze and hands on her made it difficult to relax. Would she really get used to it someday?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar reached for Tinasha’s cheek and laid a gentle hand along it. He seemed reluctant to part. \"Come see me anytime.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I will take you up on that.\" Tinasha answered with a pleased smile, and then she vanished."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar smiled wryly as he mulled over the many ways she would make for an unprecedented queen of Farsas. While they couldn’t marry for another year, there were preparations to be done now. First, Oscar needed to propose to her formally. As he drew up a list in his head of all the things he needed to do, Oscar turned around and stepped into the transportation array that took him and his attendants back home."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt sinks into a chair, a letter from the outside world in his hand. It was only one sheet of paper, the message brief and concise. He gave it a glance and then ignited it in his grip. \"Ugh… it is such a pain subduing the impatient.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"Did they say something to you again?\" She was seated in a chair on the opposite side of the room. While Valt was in a plush, upholstered one, hers was a simple wooden thing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " While keeping his voice light, Valt groused, “I understand why they want to hurry and get to the battle, but still…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Perhaps they’ll learn if they rush on out and mess up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “That does sound interesting, but we don’t have any substitutes. We have to use them at the exact right time,” he replied with a bitter, long-suffering smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys furrowed her brow. “Why have they made Farsas their enemy anyway? Is the grass really that greener on the other side?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “I’m sure that’s part of it. Farsas is one of the top two nations in all our land, and it has Akashia. People like them seek nothing more than to bring Farsas to its knees.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “How pathetic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “That’s harsh, Miralys,” Valt remarked, resting one elbow on the armrest of the chair and his chin on his hand. He looked to be deep in thought. “Oh, I heard that some strange ruins were uncovered in Farsas. Was that your doing?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “No, it wasn’t. That place was the work of an outsider—a perfect coincidence, you might call it. This latest rewrite has really left wide-reaching ramifications. All sorts of things that were buried in history are coming to light. It’s like digging through the sand on a beach and arriving at some wholly different place.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " “Doesn’t that mean the world is converging toward the true future?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " “It should be, yes. We may have found that one last straw we’ve been waiting for,” Valt answered blandly, but Miralys didn’t miss the flash of dark intent that passed across his eyes. He stared at a fixed point on the wall. “If the world has started to move, then we need to hurry, too. They successfully dismantled those ruins. She really is the key—the strongest mage and spirit sorcerer in history. Even weakened, she still has great potential.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " Valt stood and glanced at the clock. “I’ve got to get going. So much to prepare."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys walked over to Valt as he massaged his stiff shoulders."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Valt:",
"value": " He looked down at her and, abruptly, his face turned serious. \"Miralys, power is only power in the end. It will always be linked to the mental state of its user. What matters is not how much strength you have; it’s how well you can wield it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " \"I know that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Miralys:",
"value": " Miralys and Valt exchanged glances. And then, with an incantation, vanished into thin air."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The beautiful queen at the center of the commotion entered her council room with a grimace. \"Members of the council.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha greeted them, suppressing the heat rising to her cheeks. \"As I’m sure all of you know, I will marry into Farsas after I abdicate. However, my engagement does not mean that there will be any changes in Tuldarr’s new government. I hope that my marriage will contribute to friendly relations between our two nations and that we will continue to work well together.\" She had tried to speak as calmly as possible, but she couldn’t keep the faintest hint of a blush off her face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Council_Members:",
"value": " All the members were delighted to see their queen looking so youthful and offered her their congratulations."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Chief Royal Mage:",
"value": " The chief royal mage stroked his beard as he said, “The continent has so few precedents to reference for a parliamentary system…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Council Member:",
"value": " “Evidently, the small nation of Tyle in the south once had a similar method in place. However, the records state that a house speaker with overwhelming support rewrote the laws and made it a dictatorship. A decade later, the people revolted, and the country fell.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Council Member:",
"value": " “So the conditions we set for amending laws are crucial, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Council Member:",
"value": " “We could either require the regent’s approval or not. Should the two pillars of regent and parliament be equal, or should one be superior to the other?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha listened to each member’s opinions and offered thoughts of her own. Her expression held no traces of the bashfulness she’d had upon entering the room. She wore the face of one laboring to change her country."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha spread out the papers she had brought back on her desk and smiled wanly. \"We have a lot of work to do.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " “It won’t be built in a day, after all. I hope that the result will be satisfying to all.” The mage Renart, who had come to give her a report on another matter, nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I do, too.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " The spirit glanced at the documents on the desk and laughed. “The only thing that’s changed in four hundred years is how tall the stack of papers is. There’s been no progress at all.” Lilia placed a cup of tea before her master."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That’s because there were only books and ledgers back then, not loose sheets. Things have gotten easier, at the very least.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " “How were reports like mine given without documents?” Renart inquired, curious."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha grinned at him mischievously. “All of them were given orally. If it were still like that now, you’d never be able to leave this room.” With a hand, she motioned to the stack of papers Renart was carrying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " The man’s expression stiffened."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The queen brought her teacup to her mouth with a grin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " Lilia threw the tray into the air, and it disappeared."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “Putting that aside, I thought you’d be more relaxed once you were engaged, Lady Tinasha. That doesn’t seem to be so.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Pff—” Tinasha choked on her drink and coughed violently."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " “Before getting engaged, you were so bothered by the question of it and fretted endlessly. Yet now you’re in such an exhilarated state that you can’t calm down. I’ve seen you smiling to yourself over nothing, pacing around, and flailing in bed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Y-you’re wrong about all that!” Tinasha protested, slamming her hands on the desk and jumping to her feet. Snatching up her teacup, she held it as she began to pace around the study. “The w-wedding won’t be for another year… And it counts as a political union, too, you know.” As she conjured excuses no one had asked for, a rosy hue colored her cheeks. She stopped in her tracks, gazing down at her reflection on the surface of the tea in her cup. “It’s true that I… l-love him, yes…” The words were nearly inaudible, and Tinasha went scarlet. Her smile was shy, though she was overflowing with happiness. The picture she painted, beaming with joy in the throes of her first love, made her nothing more than a girl full of anticipation for her own wedding. Seeing his lady like this caused Renart to grin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lilia:",
"value": " Only shrugged. “You’re like this all the time in your chambers now. Why don’t you just go marry him already?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I have work to do, thank you!” Tinasha snapped tartly, draining her cup before marching back to her desk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " Hiding his smile, Renart placed a new set of papers on the desk. “All right, please look these over.” He launched into an explanation of the most pressing issues for the queen to handle. Tinasha had to take care of her usual duties that were separate from setting up the new system. Legis had aided with some of these tasks in the past, but she tended to deal with almost all of them herself. However, when Tinasha settled problems, she was frequently told there was no precedent for her resolution method. Thus, she had to show some manner of restraint. Any resentment she incurred would negatively affect the switch to the new government. This wasn’t the Dark Age, where citizens submitted to absolute power. Renart finished his explanation and then placed another three pages on the desk. “These are about an inspection of that academy in the town of Latuchet, which is scheduled for three days from now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Oh, the Academy of Magic. I’ve been a little curious about that,” Tinasha replied, scanning the papers."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " The place Renart had mentioned was a midsize town about half a day’s travel to the west of the capital."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"It’s very interesting to have an academy for the children of mages. In old Tuldarr, it was customary to have personal tutors give lessons in controlling magic, but it’s certainly just as possible to teach students in a group setting.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " \"Those who come only for lessons in controlling magic graduate in about a year, but those who want to become proper mages live at the academy until the age of sixteen. Classes aren’t divided by age, but by levels of magic. Many of our royal mages are alumni.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"That sounds so fun. Do you think I could change how old I look and sneak in as a student?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " \"Please don’t.\" The man replied immediately."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha’s head sunk in disappointment. Tinasha's palace tutoring had accommodated her interests, but the idea of a school was appealing to the young woman who had grown up without peers. She wanted to enroll in some classes, but considering her position, she could only go for a royal inspection. Still, she was very excited about the upcoming visit. An unhappy expression crossed Renart’s face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " \"However, a few students have disappeared recently…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Huh? What do you mean? They’ve gone missing?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " \"Well, some of them have simply dropped out and fled on their own, so we can’t quite say that. But all have vanished into thin air, along with their belongings, baffling their friends and teachers. As of this month, there have been five so far.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"That’s a lot.\" The school must have been strict to have five runaway dropouts. That was a worrisome problem all on its own. After thinking for a bit, Tinasha looked up. \"Understood. During my inspection, I’d also like to do some investigating, so make the necessary preparations.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " \"Yes, Your Majesty. I have someone in mind who graduated from the academy and would be perfect for the job. I’ll have her show you around.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Thank you.\" Tinasha said, handing Renart a document with her specifications listed. He took it and departed straightaway."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"This is a pretty big structure. How many are living here now?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Headmaster:",
"value": " \"There are fifty-two children here to learn how to control their magic, while we have sixty-eight students studying to become mages.\" The headmaster replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"So there are more mage students? That’s a bit surprising, considering how long they stay.\" Tinasha remarked, looking about with keen interest as she received a tour of the Latuchet Academy of Magic."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " Magic wards shimmered around the polished wood-paneled corridor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I’m sure it’s only natural for an academy of magic, but it does seem quite easy to get lost in here.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " The mages in Tinasha's retinue smile uneasily, and the headmaster's expression turned complicated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gazed out a window on the third floor protected by a film of water. \"What’s that over there?\" She asked, pointing to a small wooden building in a corner of the grounds."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Headmaster:",
"value": " \"That is the school for the local children. As part of the academy students’ lessons, they sometimes act as instructors there, so it was built on our grounds.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Oh, how fascinating. It’s true enough that teaching does often mean learning as well.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Headmaster:",
"value": " \"Er, actually… Once the town children heard that Your Majesty would be visiting, several of them begged to attend your lecture, too…\" The headmaster broached a topic with some trepidation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Oh? That’s quite all right by me, but the content will be difficult.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Headmaster:",
"value": " The headmaster bobbed his head gratefully. \"They are all aware of that and simply want to catch a glimpse of Your Majesty. We will ensure they behave…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I don’t mind at all. Let anyone interested attend.\" Tinasha said with a smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Action:",
"value": " The headmaster looked relieved."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Now, let’s discuss the recent disappearances. Please make sure to tell me everything you can.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"But five missing students in a month? You should really go out and look for them.\" grumbled Tinasha before her scheduled lecture."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " A female mage with dark blond hair who was with the queen gave a strained smile and nodded. \"The academy is indeed still searching. However, two of the missing students were friends. One was twelve, and another thirteen. They may have gone to another country.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha examined the documents outlining the situation. \"One fifteen-year-old mage student and four younger students aged thirteen, twelve, ten, and five. The thirteen-year-old and twelve-year-old disappeared at the same time, while the others vanished separately. That five-year-old is especially worrisome…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " \"Once the youngest went missing, the academy finally realized that these were unusual circumstances. The other kids were in communication with their families but never made it home, while the five-year-old was an orphan who lost his parents in an explosion of his own magic, so there was no one to contact.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha frowned upon hearing that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " Pamyra went on, her voice tinged with sadness. \"The five-year-old had just come to the school and was struggling to fit in to the environment. The other four were experiencing doubts about their studies and were very interested in other countries, so they all had reasons to run away. We’ve heard from other students that the pair who left together had worked out a plan of escape.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"So what you’re saying is that if the disappearances weren’t all clustered together, it wouldn’t be so strange for those kids to have run away?\" Tinasha inquired."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " \"It’s possible that once the first student made off, it emboldened the others to do the same.\" Pamyra replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"How odd.\" remarked Tinasha, flicking the papers away into the air and crossing her arms. After sinking into thought, she asked Pamyra, \"What do you think? Is this all just a coincidence?\" Did the queen really need to investigate further on top of the academy’s own efforts?"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " Pamyra’s face turned serious, and she stated, “No. I think the students were specifically chosen because their absence wouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s very suspicious that we haven’t been able to get in touch with any of them at all.” There was confidence in Pamyra’s eyes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha liked her spirit and smiled. “Then let’s look into it. I’d like to have you interview the pupils.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " “We happen to have one student who’s due to start as a royal mage next month. I’ll work together with her to speak to everyone.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Thank you. It’s about time for my lesson to start,” Tinasha said, getting to her feet. The mage standing before the door to the lecture hall bowed to her and opened it. A cloth covered the entrance, but the students had already taken their seats and were abuzz. Tinasha lifted the skirt of her long mage’s robes and stepped in. Once the queen appeared, everyone fell silent. Tinasha’s petite frame brimmed with power, and her innate beauty was startling. She moved with the grace and bearing of a sovereign royal, drawing and commanding attention. The audience’s eyes were glued to this beautiful creature, at once perfect and at the same time somewhat contradictory. She ascended the lecturer’s dais and looked around the semicircular hall. Mage students were seated at the front, with the younger students behind them. The town children were packed into the corners. After surveying her audience, she broke into a smile. “My name is Tinasha As Meyer Ur Aeterna Tuldarr. Thank you very much for coming today.” It was a crisp, simple address that didn’t match her appearance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha gave a snap of her ivory fingers, and a pale blue flame flickered to life. It took the shape of a horse and galloped through the air. After making a circuit above the students’ heads, it vanished."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “All right, let’s begin the lecture. I won’t speak for too long, so get comfortable and listen.” The queen launched into a discussion of magic and the makeup of the planes of existence in the world."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “The queen was amazing,” Rudd said with a sigh as he flopped onto the grass. He was an eleven-year-old who attended the local school built on the academy’s premises. Once word got out that the queen would be visiting, he and a dozen others had begged to be let in the lecture hall. The rest of the kids had been unable to ask because they’d gotten sick or were busy with chores. Rudd planned to brag about it to them the next day. A girl sat down next to him, and he looked over at her. “Hmm?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " “So here’s where you were, Rudd,” she commented, while rapping him on the shoulder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " He’d been daydreaming, but that brought him back to his senses and jogged his memory of his old friend’s name. “Juliya!\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " \"What are you doing here?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Until yesterday, she’d been sick, so she hadn’t attended the lecture. Rudd had planned to describe it for her later."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " The freckled girl grinned. \"I just got here, so I missed the queen’s talk. How was it?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Incredible. We have these things called planes of existence in our world, and there are a bunch all stacked on top of one another. We can’t see them, but there’s one made up of just magic and one that’s totally dark inside, and lots more. That’s what she said.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " \"And you thought that was interesting?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Well, yeah. It’s really cool. The world is a lot bigger than just the parts we know about. Tuldarr is trying to solve all the mysteries of the world.\" Rudd knew he couldn’t become a mage as someone with no magic. But despite that, he was proud to be a citizen of Tuldarr. Sitting up, he clenched his fists. \"When I’m older, I definitely wanna work in the castle. That’ll make it easier to support my mom, too.\" His father had passed when he was young, leaving his mother to raise the boy alone. A job in the palace would earn Rudd good money, and the future of Tuldarr that the queen had spoken of sounded awfully appealing. \"Whether people have magic or not, everyone’s working together to build our country. The queen said that in the future, a bunch of representatives from a bunch of cities are gonna rule Tuldarr with the king. That sounds pretty exciting to me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " \"I don’t really get it.\" Juliya replied with a very adult-looking shrug. Having not attended the lecture, it all sounded like something distant to her. She hugged her knees to her chest. \"Anyway, I heard the people from the castle are looking into all the missing academy students.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Oh… like what happened to Teull.\" While the academy mage students and local kids were taught on the same campus, they weren’t all that close. The mages in training were usually busy with their other classes, so the town children only knew the names of those who acted as instructors. However, the younger students were close in age to the town children, so the two groups played together often. Teull was five, and had only recently come to the school. He didn’t play with the other kids, instead sitting crouched under a garden tree. Rudd had frequently tried to speak with him. But one day, after Teull stopped complaining if Rudd sat next to him, he vanished. \"They search, but they aren’t going to find anything. I don’t think he had anywhere else to go.\" Despite the statement, he felt a sense of duty toward Teull. The boy made a displeased face, obviously troubled. \"Do you think he could’ve gone that far even though he’s only five? He has magic, I guess. I always thought of him as just a little kid.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"I still do.” Rudd hadn’t initially known that Teull had lost his parents in an accident when his magic went haywire. “The last time I talked to him was when my mom came to pick me up. I didn’t know about his situation, so I asked him if he wanted to have dinner with us, but he said he didn’t need any… and he looked super hurt.” By the time Rudd realized how insensitive he’d been, Teull had vanished. He’d gone in the night, and Rudd only found out about the younger boy’s circumstances afterward. Aside from realizing how stupid he’d been, Rudd didn’t know anything more. Noticing how low the sun had gotten in the sky, Rudd got up. He had tons of chores to do back home. At first, he’d been awful at them, but he’d since grown relatively competent. “Okay, I’ve gotta go home. Don’t stay too late, Juliya, or your family will be worried.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " “I’ll be fine. I just need to stop by the classroom.\" The academy gates closed at dusk. Rudd had noticed the groundskeeper making rounds over on the far side of the gardens. If he caught them, he’d tell them to leave because they weren’t academy students. Juliya grinned, and Rudd waved at her and dashed off. In that last glimpse she had of him before he left, she saw that his eyes reflected the shadow of the grand circular academy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Hmm, we really need more clues,” Tinasha muttered as she brewed tea. After her lecture, she spoke with a few people to gather information, left the investigation to Pamyra and the other mages, and returned to the palace. She pondered on the case during a break, but found herself stymied. Tinasha set a cup of tea down on the study desk, and the man who accepted it cast her an appalled look."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"You really do just show up whenever you want…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Teleportation magic exists. If something happens in Tuldarr, the spirits can notify me.” On her break, Tinasha had popped over to Oscar’s study. The king was in the midst of his own royal duties, and while his fiancée’s visit stunned him momentarily, he was easygoing enough to welcome the interruption."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar took a sip of the tea. “So there’s no lead on the missing kids?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"Not at all, and the schools only recently started a more serious search. Plus, while some kids claim that they saw the missing ones walking through the town at night, others say they saw nothing at all. The reports we’ve gotten are all over the place.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Gotcha. Then you’ve got two options.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Indeed. We either search all over with a fine-tooth comb, or—we wait for the next disappearance to happen and catch them.” The former option was clearly the standard route. Tinasha had already ordered some subjects to the task. But if it didn’t turn up anything, she’d pursue the latter choice."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “However, now that we’ve launched a full-scale investigation, whoever’s behind this might lie low for a while.\" Tinasha pointed out. \"Or they’ll flee to someplace new.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I’d like to avoid that. I’ve put up a barrier to prevent those with magic from entering or leaving the town for the moment. If anyone tries to brute force their way through, I’ll know.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “So you’ve effectively caged them in. Does that mean you’re sure it’s a mage?” Oscar inquired wisely."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Leaning against the wall, the queen grimaced. “Yes, but I don’t have any sort of definitive proof. It’s just that an ordinary person would have left a trail, but here, there’s absolutely nothing.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar waved a hand in front of her face. “I get how you feel, but don’t overthink it. You’re always trying to take everything on alone. Rely on your people.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Excuse me, were you there?! I don’t think you were!” she cried. “You don’t have a leg to stand on here. I know you tried to interview people yourself. You’re too intimidating for that kind of work,” Tinasha pointed out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha huffed and pushed herself off the wall. “I’ve learned from my mistakes when it comes to that!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar beckoned his fiancée over, and she approached, curious. He caught her hands in his. “Don’t do anything dangerous. You’re the type to get yourself hurt right away, and I don’t want to be on edge for the entire year until our wedding.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’ll… be careful,” she answered as her cheeks flushed and she looked away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " After a hot exhale, Tinasha shook her head to refresh herself. “I should be getting back. People will probably be delivering their reports to me soon.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “Whenever you need a fun distraction, come and see me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She grinned at Oscar and disappeared."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " The king picked up his teacup again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " Lazar entered and gaped at him. “Your Majesty, did you make tea yourself?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I did not. Tinasha came by.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “I—I see…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “How come she’s never able to calm down?” Oscar wondered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “I consider that to be a good thing…”"
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Kevin:",
"value": " \"Good, I’m happy for you. Rosalia would be, too.” Kevin, Oscar’s father and the former king, had said of the development."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " For Oscar, who had almost no memories of his mother, hearing her name brought about a fleeting sense of discomfort."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Lazar, do you remember my mom?\" asked Oscar."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " \"What?! Queen Rosalia? Where’d that come from? I only have a vague recollection of her.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Yeah, I thought so. Never mind, it’s nothing.\" Oscar said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Should I go and ask Dad about this?\" he posited out loud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " Lazar placed the documents he’d brought in before his liege."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " “It’s about sixty percent complete. It sounds like the craftsmen and mages are really working hard,” Lazar commented."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “I’ll have to give out special rewards once it’s done. If we don’t restore it soon, Cezar’s going to keep acting suspiciously.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Oh yeah, I heard Cezar has an evil god.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Lazar:",
"value": " \"What in the world is that?\" Lazar asked, sounding revolted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I don’t know, either.\" Oscar replied blithely."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Girl:",
"value": " \"Like I told you, there’s nowhere to hide inside the academy! You should look in the town!\" The first thing Tinasha heard was the indignant voice of a young girl."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Man:",
"value": " \"Yeah, but I was instructed to follow you and look around the school.\" argued a man."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Girl:",
"value": " \"All you’ve done is stalk along behind me!\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"You’re treating me like a kid!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Unknown:",
"value": " \"But you are a kid.\" The voices were coming from the adjoining room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " With a strained smile on her face, Tinasha opened the door. \"I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. Please, inform me of what you’ve uncovered.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"Y-Your Majesty!\" chirped the girl, leaping to her feet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " Next to her, a beautiful young man simply sighed. Pamyra, who had kept silent while the other two squabbled, came forward. \"Your Majesty, this is Tris. She’s an academy student who will begin working as a royal mage next month.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"H-hello, I’m Tris,\" the girl said, falling into an anxious curtsy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha regarded her pleasantly before beckoning all three into her study. \"Let’s hear your findings, then. Anything you happened to notice is fine.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"Yes, Your Majesty.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha sat down and closed her eyes to focus her attention only on their reports. The gist of the mages’ findings was that the missing children had all wanted to leave the school. Once she’d heard it all, Tinasha opened her eyes and said, \"So children who wished to go abruptly vanished. Each was last seen in a different place, but none were spotted outside the town. Is that correct?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " \"We also spoke to people in the neighboring settlements and on the nearby road, but no one had any clues to offer. None of the children were capable of teleportation, and the one who’s been missing the longest has been gone two weeks.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha nodded. \"Very suspicious indeed. Eir, how did things go with you?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " The young man with black hair and eyes, silent until now, scratched at his head. \"Most of the people who’ve been killed were adults, like the headmaster, instructors, and soldiers. There were a few bigger kids, too, but I don’t think any of them are suspicious.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " \"All of that was done in self-defense, or it happened as an accident before they enrolled at the academy. We’ve looked into that already.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris, the only one who wasn’t following, paled. \"What?! What do you mean killed people?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " \"I can sense those who’ve slain others. That’s why I’ve been following you around.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"Can an ordinary mage do something like that? !\" Tris squeaked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"He’s not an ordinary mage,\" Tinasha put in. \"He’s my spirit and a high-ranking demon.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"What?\" Tris said blankly, positively boggling at this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " Eir rolled his eyes at her."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Seeing how blindsided Tris was, Tinasha nervously licked her lips. \"I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark. Aside from his beautiful face, Eir can pass for human, so I thought he would be more convincing if you didn’t know.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " \"My lady, you always give me orders I don’t understand.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha sighed. \"The most important thing is not to be too conspicuous. If only you’d change your face to be more ordinary.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " “I can’t change it. This is how I’ve looked for nine hundred years.\" EIr said stubbornly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris, who evidently had thought of him as just some shady guy, was opening and closing her mouth like a beached fish."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " Wearing a grave expression as she asked her queen, “Do you believe the children are already dead, Your Majesty?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I don’t want to, but it’s hard to stay optimistic considering the situation.\" Tinasha answered. \"Based on the fact that only children with magic disappeared, we should suspect the involvement of a forbidden curse.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " “A forbidden… curse?” repeated Pamyra."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “The physical flesh and souls of those with magic are far more powerful as catalysts in a forbidden curse than those of non-mages. And if they’re only children, they would have a much harder time fighting back. It gives me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The queen straightened to her full height and narrowed her dark eyes at each of the three."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " In a cold voice, she said, “Tuldarr must act as a deterrent to forbidden curses. If this does turn out to be a plot, we will deliver swift punishment. I want you to carry on with the investigation. Should you run into a dead end, I will go myself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " “Yes, Your Majesty.\" Pamyra said with a deep bow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Following her example, Tris also clasped her sweaty hands together."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mom:",
"value": " \"Here is good, Mom.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Really? Are you going to be all right?” she asked, fretting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"I told you, it’ll be fine. I’m off to school now.\" Rudd said, waving at her and running off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " As soon as he passed the gates, he spotted his friends and waved. \"Juliya! Sennett!\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Juliya & Sennett:",
"value": " Hearing their names, the two paused in their conversation to turn around."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Rudd fell into step with them and lowered his voice. \"There’s some sort of guard here now. Is that because kids are going missing?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " “Looks like it. Doesn’t have anything to do with us, though.\" Sennett, a boy around Rudd’s age, replied. He loved reading."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " Juliya looked from one boy to the other nervously. “What if the kids who disappeared are all being held prisoner somewhere?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " “If it’s someplace that could hold all five, I bet it’s an empty house or something. You know, like that one in the alley behind the blacksmith.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Should we… go looking for them?” Rudd offered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " He did want to uncover the truth, both out of a sense of guilt toward Teull and out of a sense of duty."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " His mom must be worried, since she’d insisted on walking him to school every day after the first kid had vanished. She always stood to the side and watched until Rudd went through the gates. He didn’t want to make his mother worry anymore. Plus, from now on, Tuldarr would need the help of people like him, people who weren’t mages."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " “Okay, then once school’s over—”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"What is going on here?” came a chilly voice from behind them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd, Juliya, and Sennett:",
"value": " The three kids stiffened, then slowly turned around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “T-Tris…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “That’s Madame to you. I’m your teacher,\" Tris chided, one hand laid across her puffed-out chest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Rudd cocked his head. “Madame, I thought you weren’t giving lessons anymore, since you’re going to be a royal mage.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “I’m here to investigate, so none of you have classes today! You can study on your own, though.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “What? Then I’m going home,\" Rudd said, turning on his heel to leave and maybe go snoop around that deserted house."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “Absolutely not. If anyone finds out that you three snuck off to go poking around somewhere, it’ll be my head. You are going to remain here and study.” Tris caught him immediately, however."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Why do I have to? !” Rudd protested as Tris dragged him to the classroom."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Amid the flow of other kids turning to go home after getting to the schoolhouse and reading the notice that said lessons were canceled, Tris marched the three into the empty classroom and sat them down. She sighed and then stretched her arms out. “I’m going to head out on the investigation, so you sit tight and study here until I return. I only came to tell you that lessons are canceled.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Aww, come on! You’re already going to look around, so what’s a few more people?” Rudd groaned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “No, thank you."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"We already have one very strange person on the team who claims he can tell who might have done it at a glance. Yesterday, he examined the people in the school, and today we’re going to look around town.\" Tris said primly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Whoa, that’s so cool. You’ll solve this superfast that way.\" Rudd marveled, leaning forward with how impressed he was. Castle investigations were definitely on another level."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris folded her arms behind her head. \"Not necessarily. If that were the case, it could be the teachers or a soldier who did it.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Huh. When you say a soldier, do you mean like the one at the gates today?\" Rudd asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris was stunned, her face turned grave. \"Now that you mention it… There was no soldier here yesterday. Who did he check, then?\" She got up and gave the kids one of the sternest looks they’d ever seen. \"All of you stay right here. I have something to take care of.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Hey! Where are you going?\" Rudd called, chasing after Tris as she left the classroom."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " Sennett followed after. \"Could it have been the groundskeeper? I heard he used to be part of the army.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Oh, yeah!\" Rudd exclaimed. He’d heard that rumor, too."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris appeared confused. Academy students seldom interacted with the groundskeeper, who handled various odd jobs outside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"I heard the groundskeeper only worked at the army canteen, though.\" Rudd added. He and his friends had followed Tris out of the school building. There weren’t any other kids around, but the groundskeeper was walking across the lawn on the far side of the garden, dragging a large burlap sack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris gasped. As she strode toward the man, she looked over her shoulder and instructed, \"You three, run along home! I’m going to go ask him some questions.\" She trotted over briskly but stealthily."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Rudd, Sennet, and Juliya exchanged glances. \"We can’t let her go alone.\" Rudd whispered to the others. At the very least, someone needed to sound the alarm if something happened."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " She gave them a disapproving look, but she couldn’t say anything without alerting the man."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"Tris, where does that lead?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"To… the space the school surrounds.\" The octagonal classrooms had no windows facing inward, and the spot in the center should have been empty. That was why the investigation team had only given it a cursory inspection. What could the man be doing there?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris, Rudd, Sennet, and Juliya:",
"value": " The four crept along the wall so as not to be detected. Once the groundskeeper reached the unmonitored central area, he dumped the bag’s contents. Black terra-cotta soil came spilling out as he began spreading it around using something that looked like a fireplace poker."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Relief washed over Rudd when he saw it wasn’t a child’s body"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " all the blood drained from Tris’s face."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " She gestured wildly for the children to leave, but before they could, the groundskeeper turned around. Upon noticing them there, his face instantly contorted into a scowl. He was a mere ten steps away. Tris shoved Rudd behind her. \"You guys get out of here.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"What? But it’s just some dirt…\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " \"Dirt oozing with miasma. It’s definitely sinister. Run and let someone know.\" Ordered Tris in a tone that held none of her usual flippancy. Rudd was startled to hear her muttering a spell. The man ran toward them with the poker brandished high overhead, and Rudd darted off with his friends."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"W-we’ll go let people know! Don’t die, Madame!\" Magic light burst behind him. A paralyzing metallic sound rent the air. Rudd took Juliya’s hand while Sennett kept pace with him. The gardens had never seemed so empty. The academy doors came into view. But because lessons were canceled, they were locked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " \"Damn!\" How could they get inside? Rudd looked all around before remembering the guard at the gates. He dashed across the deserted front lawn, Sennett hot on his heels. Juliya had disappeared at some point, though neither of them noticed."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " The fireplace poker crashed into the wall with an earsplitting screech. Tris shuddered, having narrowly evaded it. She probably wouldn’t still be conscious if it had hit her. She quickly distanced herself from the groundskeeper as she restarted her interrupted spell. \"S-stones of ice, shards of white—”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Groundskeeper:",
"value": " The man lashed out before she could complete the magic, however. The poker came crashing down, and she instinctively shut her eyes. Her blood ran cold as death felt imminent. But nothing hit her skull."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Gingerly, she opened her eyes—and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Juliya?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Juliya:",
"value": " The girl who had hidden behind Rudd now stood before Tris, her arms crossed and a fierce glare on her face. The poker had stopped in midair—no, magic had caught it. Tris hadn’t heard any incantation, however. Juliya wasn’t even an academy student; she was just a girl from the town. Tris still hadn’t figured out what was happening when Juliya said to her, \"It’s suicide for a mage to fight at such close range.\" The coolheaded remark felt at odds with the childish register of her voice. Juliya extended her right hand toward the man. \"Break apart.\" As if it knew that those two words constituted a spell, the poker crumbled to pieces. Heedless of Tris, who was still rooted in place, Juliya waved a hand. \"Eir, come here.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " In response, the strange man appeared silently beside Tris. He pushed her by the shoulder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " \"Go on, fall back. I took my eyes off you for a second, and you landed yourself in a heap of trouble.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “Wh-why are you…?” As she stumbled, Tris realized something. Only one person could command the spirits of Tuldarr. Once she understood what that meant, she was left astonished. “Wait, you’re…” Juliya’s silhouette wavered for just a moment, and then she was no longer there."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " In her place stood a woman in a white mage’s outfit. It was the queen of the country and the foremost mage of the era. She was not a powerless child."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Dumbfounded that she had fallen for it, Tris massaged her temples. “What? Psychological magic? But when did you…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Juliya was a fabrication from the start.” Then she turned back to the man. Frozen while brandishing his poker, he was glaring at the queen with bloodshot eyes. “Will you tell me what you were dumping here?” she questioned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Man:",
"value": " The man only let out a grunt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha turned to her spirit. “He may be suffering from psychological contamination. Have him spit it out.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " “It’ll be hard not to overdo it. Humans are so weak.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha ignored Eir as she pushed the man aside to head deeper into the area encircled by the academy building. The black soil scattered around emanated faintly noxious fumes. It was the putrid smell of lingering death. Still, there were no bodies. The groundskeeper might have already disposed of those. Tinasha gazed up at the sky. “Did he only bring the remains of the catalysts he used in a forbidden curse? Was he planning to reuse this corrupted soil? He’d definitely want to bury something connected to anything that sinister, and this architecture is designed to bolster magic.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Pamyra:",
"value": " “Your Majesty!” cried Pamyra, having appeared at the end of the passage to the central area as several people raced over. Rudd must have summoned help."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris finally lost the strength to stand upright and sank to the ground."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Soldiers marched past her as Tinasha made no effort to hide her displeasure as she issued orders. “Go and search the town immediately. Since we didn’t find anything during yesterday’s investigation, there must be a forbidden curse constructed somewhere outside the school. And… we’re also looking for the mage who’s behind this.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “What? !” Tris piped up in shock. Pamyra’s expression indicated that she felt much the same."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " Eir had a tight grip on the groundskeeper’s neck as he added, “They used a forbidden curse, but this man isn’t a mage. So someone else must be involved.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “Involved? But… do you mean the teachers?” asked Tris."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The queen shook her head. “No. We looked into all of them. I suppose they could’ve had others do the dirty work for them, though. We’re up against a very cunning opponent.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " “No way,” Tris whispered, stiffening in horror."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tremors shook the earth and a creaking sound reverberated in the air as Tinasha frowned. Suddenly, there came the muffled sound of an explosion in the distance."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Queen:",
"value": " “I see they’ve come out on their own.” After giving terse orders to the people around her, the queen vanished."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tris:",
"value": " Tris looked down at her own hands, which were trembling uncontrollably."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Come quick! Our teacher is in danger!” Rudd shouted toward the gates."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Mages:",
"value": " Mages from the castle were already there and listened to him hastily explain before rushing off toward the academy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Guard:",
"value": " The guard stopped Rudd and Sennett, pushing them outside the gate and instructing them to go home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " \"What in the world did we just see?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Beats me. When I watched him pour that dirt out, I could feel how scared Madame got. But it did smell really weird.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Just as Rudd decided he needed to make sure Tris was all right, a woman ran over from the end of the road."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Mom:",
"value": " “Rudd! What happened to you? !”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Mom!” Rudd was at a loss for how to explain things to his distraught parent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Mom:",
"value": " Before he could start, she pulled him into a hug. “I heard investigators from the castle are here. What’s happened at the school?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Right now, a teacher and the groundskeeper are—” He got that far before a strange malaise came over him. He wriggled out of his mother’s arms and looked over at Sennett. “Hey… Wasn’t someone else with us?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " “Oh, yeah…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Rudd had the oddest sense that he’d grabbed someone’s hand and had run with them. But that person had disappeared somewhere along the way. Now that he was aware, it felt wrong. Rudd turned pale. “Why…?” A kid who vanished into thin air… Was that what had happened to Teull?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Mom:",
"value": " As she watched her son go completely pale, Rudd’s mother gave a pained smile. “Let’s go home first. We need to think about what we’re going to do next.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " Stunned, Rudd let her pull him along. Who had disappeared? A series of memories floated from the back of his mind. “I… But why…?” There was a gap in his recollection. It gave him this itchy, unpleasant sensation, and it was only growing—like the gap was constantly widening. Rudd pressed a hand to his head. He looked over to his friend for help, but Sennett wasn’t next to him. “Huh?” He whirled around to find Sennett standing motionless a few steps behind him. Rudd was relieved to see he hadn’t disappeared, but then noticed Sennett’s dire expression. “What’s wrong?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " Sennett lifted a trembling hand and pointed a finger at Rudd. “Who are you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Huh? What’s gotten into you? It’s me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " “No.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " What was Sennett saying? Had he forgotten Rudd just like how they had forgotten the other person who’d been with them? “Who is that?” Rudd had a feeling someone had said those words recently. It was when he last saw Teull. It was twilight, the time of day when people’s faces got a little hazy."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Teull:",
"value": " “Wait, huh?” Teull had looked up at Rudd and asked him that same question. No. Teull hadn’t been looking at him. His eyes had been trained on the woman behind Rudd."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Sennett:",
"value": " \"Didn’t you say that your mom went to your aunt’s house two weeks ago?” Sennett was also pointing at…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " The woman placed a palm on Rudd’s shoulder. “So who is that?” From the corner of his eye, Rudd saw a hand that was white and bloodless."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " The explosion came from the town, outside the academy grounds. While everyone else was still baffled by the situation, the queen lifted off the ground."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Queen:",
"value": " “Eir, make sure no one gets in. Pamyra and Tris, protect the students!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Eir:",
"value": " “Okay.” The spirit answered, the only calm one there, though Tinasha had already disappeared."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Teleporting in quick succession, Tinasha hurried toward the source of the blast, a deserted back alley. Magic hung thick in the air, dim as the little street was in the shadow of other buildings. The smell of blood hung about the place. Tinasha spotted two boys collapsed on the ground, and she paled. A woman was standing beside them. She was young and plainly dressed, like any lady in the town might’ve been. But blood dripped from her hands."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “Oops, did you catch me?” When she noticed Tinasha, she smiled and giggled like a child who’d been discovered pulling a prank."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Tinasha didn’t reply. She walked up to one of the boys and examined his injuries. Sennett’s chest was pierced through. He was dead. Fear was frozen on his face—the despair he had tasted moments before dying. Tinasha bit her lip hard enough for it to bleed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Your… Your Majesty?” Next to her, a voice croaked. Crimson was flowing from Rudd’s belly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Tinasha gasped when she saw how much blood soaked the ground below them, but she immediately set about healing him. She added a pain numbing spell, too. Once freed from the agony, the boy relaxed his brows."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “I’m sorry… I… I didn’t realize… that wasn’t… my mom…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You don’t need to speak. It’s all right.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Teull… he was with me, that’s why… she found him… because she came to get me…” Sensing his end was near, Rudd was intent on explaining everything."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " By the time Tinasha found him, he’d lost too much blood. Mending his organs wouldn’t suffice. Even so, she healed him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “Your Majesty… save Sennett…” Rudd clutched the edge of her robes. His eyes were unfocused and darted about as he sought out the queen."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I will.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd:",
"value": " “And my mom…” His words cut off there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Tinasha watched as the light faded from his eyes in a single second."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “Who are you, anyway? A teacher? A castle investigator?” From above, a curious-sounding voice spoke."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Narrator:",
"value": " Tinasha didn’t bother with a reply, remaining kneeling on the ground."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “Fine. I’m going.\" The woman huffed at being ignored, then turned on her heel."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"There’s nothing left for me in this town.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I can’t let you do that.\" Tinasha stated. No sooner did she finish than the woman who had posed as Rudd’s mother was flung into the air. She slammed against the far wall as if punched by a giant invisible fist."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “Ghh… Hah…” She groaned in pain, but was still alive, perhaps because she’d quickly put up a defense."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " While the woman peeled herself from the wall, Tinasha closed the two boys’ eyelids. Summoning two white cloths into her hands, she lay them over their faces."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " Upon seeing this act of reverence for the departed, the woman spat a mixture of blood and saliva on the ground. \"What a worthless courtesy. They’re already dead. Their souls are gone.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That may be true. But it matters to their families.” Tinasha replied, brushing her long black hair back as she got to her feet. She stared straight at the woman, with murder blazing in her gaze. \"So you took the place of adults who were out of town. And without entering the academy grounds, you sent in your pawn and had children abducted. Why?” Tinasha’s voice was low and commanding."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " The woman seemed confused. “Why? To get more power, of course. Don’t you know that if you use a mage’s flesh as a catalyst, you can get more magic?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m aware. Many experimented with that during the Dark Age.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “Exactly. I’ve always wanted to be a witch, and once I am one, I can live freely forever, right? So I collected some mage corpses, but it looks like I overdid it a little. There’s a barrier up, and I can’t leave town.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “That’s because I believed it very likely that a mage was behind this.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “But it’s not like I’m the one who killed those kids.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “You may as well have. And you’ve murdered these two.” Tinasha pointed out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " The woman gave a deep, exaggerated sigh. “I only wanted to take them hostage. But they figured out who I am and resisted. Honestly, ordinary people die so easily, don’t they?” She spread both bloodstained hands wide and gave a carefree laugh. The cruelty in her eyes made them glitter as brightly as an ornament, transforming her from a mother to an ignorant little girl. She had only been able to hide herself this whole time because Rudd had no magic. Despite that, the boy must have felt something was suspicious. And so he had died with regrets."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha let out a deep exhale. She fixed her gaze on this red-stained woman. A bone-chilling smile appeared on her lovely face, and a blade formed in her right hand. “Perhaps you will find more sport in me, then. May your future be one of endless remorse.” With that proclamation, the queen dashed forward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " When the woman saw the fearsome magic gathering in Tinasha’s left hand, she licked her lips nervously. Enormous waves of magic erupted within the town."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Lashed by Tinasha’s invisible whip, the woman flew through the air."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “Guh…” For a while now, she had been unable to weave spells to counterattack. Although her powers far surpassed those of an ordinary mage, she was helpless to do anything against this opponent. As the woman’s body soared upward, magical chains immobilized it. Her limbs were pulled far apart, keeping her from moving a millimeter. She stared at Tinasha in disbelief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Witches are nothing like this. Aren’t you glad you won’t sully their reputation?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " “W-wait a minute…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I can’t possibly have such a sham of a witch in Tuldarr.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " \"The boy called you ‘Your Majesty’… Are you… the queen?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha didn’t reply, electing to only hum and smile. The queen pointed the tip of her slender sword at the woman. The weapon was enchanted with an entangling spell. \"You are not qualified to question me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " With a clear ringing, the blade shattered to pieces. Those little shards glittered in the sun. Each one was imbued with magic and floated aloft. The corners of Tinasha’s mouth turned up. Powerful words fell from her red lips. “Sip it up.” The tiny metal pieces fell onto the woman’s body like a meteor shower. They tore into her white skin and sent her blood running out. It must have felt like being stabbed by thousands of nails."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Woman:",
"value": " The woman’s mouth opened as though to scream, but all the holes in her neck stifled whatever noise would have come. She could only wheeze ragged breaths. Her death lasted several slow, agonizing minutes. She was not even permitted to lose consciousness. Although she writhed desperately at first, she eventually began to weaken, and she breathed her last as a broken doll."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha watched coldly until the end."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " While extra staff from the castle ran about handling the aftermath, Tinasha attended the deliveries of the two boys’ bodies to their families."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Sennett's Parents:",
"value": " Sennett’s parents flew into a rage, raining abuse down on the headmaster and the castle staff, who could only endure it with their heads lowered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " “What…? This can’t be… There’s no way…” Her face was white, but she didn’t cry or scream."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " She only stood there stunned before her son’s body, smiling weakly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " When she tore off the white cloth, her lips trembled violently. “Is it really you…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " She brushed her cheek against his cold one and carefully took him into her arms. Her feeble voice staggered in the night air. “You weren’t supposed to leave me behind… You should have taken me with you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha pressed her hands to her temples to keep herself from crying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " The mother who had lost her only child began to wail and sob. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Rudd… You must have been in so much pain…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha bit her lip hard and bowed her head. “I wasn’t strong enough to save your sons. I’m so very sorry.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " Rudd’s mother beheld the queen’s lowered head and replied, “It isn’t your fault, Your Majesty… I am deeply grateful to you… for caring for him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha kept her head down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " Renart gave her a gentle nudge. “Your Majesty, we still have much to take care of…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Yes, of course…” The queen still desperately wished to do more, but she gave one final bow and turned to leave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Rudd's Mother:",
"value": " From behind, she heard Rudd’s mother whisper, “If only I could turn back time and go in his place…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The queen shivered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " Renart looked over at her only to see her dark eyes wider than they’d ever been and her red lips trembling. “Your Majesty?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " When he tried again, she met his gaze."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Could I have you take care of the rest? I’m going back to the palace.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Renart:",
"value": " Despite feeling puzzled by her behavior, Renart let none of his hesitations show as he bowed his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Be careful.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Someone_Else:",
"value": " “Thank you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " And then she was gone. Renart surveyed the panicked town and the bereaved family members before letting out a deep sigh."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha stumbled her way to the treasure vault. Ordering the confused-looking guards to stay at their posts, she descended the stairs alone. With each step she took down the magically lit stone stairway, the weight on her heart grew stronger. Memories of when she was a young girl sprang to mind unbidden. Soon enough, however, Tinasha reached the bottom of the stairs. Entering the treasure vault for the first time in four centuries, she wandered in deeper, like a woman possessed. Upon reaching a giant stone ledge, she touched the wall next to it. A spell configuration emerged from beneath her fingertips. It was intricate sealing magic she had placed during the Dark Age. She glanced at it, then began an incantation in an even voice. The complex spell reacted to the power entering it and began to unwind. Her voice was grave, with all emotions stifled. Once her long incantation finished at last, a small hollow opened in the center of the wall. Set inside it was a box. Tinasha reached out, picked it up, and gently opened the lid. Inside lay a tiny blue jewel with markings inscribed upon it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “Here it is.” She said, her heart pounding and her hands trembling. She stared at it. This orb had changed her fate, and not hers alone. It had transformed another man’s fate and many other things, too. She had thought she’d never look upon it again, that the day would never come when she needed it. But now it lay here, in her hands. “If I go back one month, I can save everyone… Or if that’s impossible, then I can go a few hours back…” Altering the past was wrong. It flew in the face of the laws of nature. The ramifications were unfathomable. Yet that very power had rescued her. It was the reason she was here now. Tinasha thought of Rudd’s grin as he spoke of his hopes for the future—as well as his mother’s crying. A parent’s wish was to save her son’s life, even at the cost of her own. Tinasha felt powerless to deny the woman that. “I wonder what Oscar would say…” She couldn’t imagine it. He might furiously scold her, but he also might shake his head and forgive her. And… what would he say? The man who went back four hundred years and changed history. How determined was he to do what he did? Did he take her hand? Tinasha’s eyes burned hot as she thought of what he had given her and what he had sacrificed. She bit her lip fiercely to stem the tide of emotions surging within her. Compared to four hundred years, it was only a little bit of time travel. It was hypocritical, Tinasha knew that much."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar, who had just finished changing for bed, noticed the fading light and looked up. Pale clouds now blanketed the sky, limned at the edges with a hazy glimmer. He then returned his attention to the inside of the room. The king’s expansive bedchamber was utterly silent. As Oscar sat on his bed with a little yawn, he heard a rap at the window and grinned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The woman stole silently into the room. She cocked her head at him and then smiled. \"Good evening.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"Something wrong? You're here awfully late.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I just wanted to see you…\" His beautiful fiancée picked her way over to him, each step careful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " As he watched her, he began to frown. \"Did something happen?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"No, nothing.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"That's not a face that says nothing happened.\" He took her hand and pulled her onto his lap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " The woman seemed a bit surprised, but merely lowered her long eyelashes with an abashed little grin on her lips. After a brief silence, she asked, \"Oscar… what happened to that orb?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"I found it when I was sorting through the treasure vault. It's stored deep inside so no one can touch it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " \"I see…\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " \"What happened? Does this have to do with the kidnappings?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha only gave a small smile, but she didn’t answer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Seeing that she was acting stubborn, Oscar wound a tuft of glossy black hair between his fingers and gave a hard tug. \"You're being awfully secretive. I'm going to be your husband, aren't I? Don't hold back and just tell me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " At that, Tinasha’s eyes shone with something like nostalgia. She pinched the bridge of her nose with a deep sigh."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Thinking that she was holding back tears, Oscar settled Tinasha's head against his chest, and she closed her eyes. With the queen nestled in her fiancé’s arms, the story gradually began to come out. As her tale neared its end, Oscar threw his betrothed an unvarnished look of disapproval."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “You gave me such an earful about that orb and then you went and used it yourself?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I’m sorry…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “And even though I told you not to get involved, you turned into a kid and went undercover. What were you thinking?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “I thought it would be the fastest way…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar gave Tinasha’s head a light rap. “I understand that you wanted to save those kids, but if you do that every time, there’ll be no end to it. You’ll never get anywhere.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " Tinasha hung her head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar gave a little sigh, seeing her so full of regret and some other emotion that was about more than remorse. “Although… I can’t say I dislike that side of you or anything.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar brushed Tinasha’s hair behind her ear and pressed a kiss to her cheek, which reddened. “So? Could you save them?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " She slumped in visible dejection. “The orb didn’t activate. I couldn’t go back in time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " “It didn’t activate? Is it broken?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"prefix": "Tinasha:",
"value": " “No… It didn’t seem that way… It seems like there are conditions of some sort that must be met before it can be used.” Her story was over. Tinasha closed her eyes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"prefix": "Oscar:",
"value": " Oscar clutched her slender, grief-racked frame close to him."
}
] |
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