Hikari was on her way back to the estate.
Another day, another morning run to keep up her physical condition.
Her body still feels heavy.
She remembers the last time she had a growth spurt.
It was not just in terms of body weight, but she absorbed a lot of mana crystals.
All the physical conditioning she had to do to get her body moving smoothly again.
It definitely took more than a month to fully adapt.
Thud. Thud.
She could still see her previous day's footprints on the dirt track.
She approached the palisade.
A side gate that is not as busy.
It was mainly the two gates that ran in the direction between Herdial and the spire city that had the most traffic.
The sentry opens the gate for her as usual.
At the inner gate, she changes her flats just outside the estate gate.
The one she wears within the estate grounds doesn't have as much wear and tear as her running pair.
"I guess I won't be running tomorrow."
Her clean pair wasn't in perfect condition either.
She slides them on.
The distance between the gate to her chamber was two dozen strides for her.
The head maid was waiting at the door to her chambers. Her nose was clipped tight.
"Good morning, Hikari. How was your run today?" More than a hint of sacarsm in her voice.
"Good"
"I hope you know today's laundry day~"
A pair of maids walked around her legs and sprayed deodorants.
"Yes."
A stable hand towed her laundry cart towards her.
She slid her foot out of her flats. The maids covered their noses.
Carefully, she rolled her socks off her foot.
She was not comfortable with using her telekinesis around people.
A maid mopped up the sweat puddle that the socks squeezed out.
"Holy Silora. I don't know how her ladyship could stand this. Your room reeks of so much sweat that I might have mistaken it for a pig's pen."
"Thanks."
The head maid folded her arms.
"I guess I'll accept that. After all, my maids had to scrub the sweat stains. Especially from the middle of the room. What in the name of the goddess of light are you doing in there?"
Hikari scratches her cheeks.
"Exercises."
"Figures."
The maids sprayed more deodorant on the laundry cart.
The stable hand pulled the cart away.
Hikari entered her chambers.
It was empty.
She glanced down at the empty doormat.
Squish. Squish. Her sweaty bare foot against the stone.
Her room smells fresher. It appears the maids had just cleaned it.
She had gotten used to the smell of her own sweat.
The cold shower water whirling around her body.
Her breakfast arrived. She sat down and ate with Ella.
They start their practice after breakfast.
"Hikari…" A feeble weak voice came from outside the chambers.
Hikari opens her eyes.
The curtain door opens.
It was the head scribe.
His grey hair carries the years of his service to the RazenHeir house.
His back hunched from constantly being at his desk.
"Could you get dressed? We have a guest?"
"Is lady Ria back?"
"I'm afraid not. She and his lordship still have matters to tend to in Moradale. "
"I see."
"I'll wait outside."
The scribe turned his back.
Ella hides her scales and her tail behind her.
"Let's get dressed."
The estate gardens.
Where the house receives its guests.
Myriad of flowers in full bloom gives it the appearance of paradise.
Hikari stood behind the scribe in her smart outfit.
A tight white shirt. Long black skirt.
Not a patch of skin below her neck down to her toes was exposed.
It was still fresh. Hikari only wear them when there is an actual occasion.
"Is my lady alright?"
"Yes. She is quite alright. She's busy. But Moradale is the most fortified city outside of the spire. Focus on receiving our guests now. "
"Yes."
Before long, their guests showed up. They appear to be merchants.
One of them wears the golden embroidery of the Herdial royal house.
"Greetings. My, what a warm welcome. The wyvern bane herself. The hero that cleared the wyvern pass. My warm regards to her ladyship Ria"
"Greetings to you too. Her ladyship is unfortunately unavailable today. I'll represent the house today. I hope you have a pleasant journey."
The two men exchanged greetings.
"That's unfortunate. But I bring nothing but good news today."
Despite his words, the emissary seemed to be delighted to see the frail RazenHeir scribe.
Relieved even.
"It's a little rude to welcome an emissary with just a scribe for a representative?"
But the emissary displayed no signs of displeasure.
He seemed quite pleased in fact.
One of his aides brought a chest.
There was a scroll and an insignia inside.
The emissary unrolled the paper.
"In recognition of her efforts in neutralizing the wyvern queen and securing the trade routes between the kingdom of Herdial and the spire territories. Also, in consideration of her previous contribution in bringing down the flesh Titan. With the blessings of the royal house, the honorable knight Hikari of RazenHeir is hereby awarded golden rank by the Herdial high commission. "
He read with a slow deliberate voice.
Then, he closed the scroll and cupped the insignia with his bare hands.
The giantess leaned down and lowered her hand.
Carefully, the emissary placed the insignia in the gigantic hand.
"Ha. She's as imposing as I've heard. As expected of a knight that stood shoulder to shoulder with the Herdial slayers!"
"Thanks."
The emissary gave a graceful bow.
"Now if you would sign here."
His aide presented a scroll to the RazenHeir scribe.
The old scribe took out his reading glass and read the details of the scroll.
Line by line he read. Slow and meticulously.
There was an awkward pause in the garden as everyone waited for him to finish.
Hikari could feel Ella twitching restlessly behind him.
The emissary's face twitched for a brief moment as he laboriously maintained his smile.
At last, the scribe puts away his reading glass.
"There's no problem, I'll sign."