The Maiden Flight of Grey Swan

A faint hesitation touched Ruby’s steps as she pushed open the manor’s heavy oak door, bringing with her the wintry chill of the barren woods.

The study door stood ajar, and from within, Vera’s voice drifted out, a curious blend of excitement and flustered urgency.

“…My Lady, is this collar too tight? Oh dear, I think I’ve tied this binding strap incorrectly…”

Ruby’s brow furrowed slightly as she pushed the door fully open and stepped inside.

The sight before her caused a rare flicker of astonishment to cross her typically icy amber eyes.

Rachel Lockwood, the lord of Lockwood territory, stood with her back to the door, facing a full-length mirror.

She was dressed in none other than a coarse, deep grey men’s linen outfit, clearly several sizes too large, which hung loosely on her slender frame, making her already petite figure appear even more delicate than usual.

Vera was earnestly attempting to straighten her crooked collar, her small face flushed crimson with effort.

Naiya, meanwhile, was curled on the rug by the fireplace, nibbling daintily on a piece of black bread, her one good eye darting curiously between Rachel and the newly arrived Ruby, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel pilfering nuts.

“What precisely are you doing?”

Ruby’s voice, imbued with her customary cool severity, cut through the room’s bustling activity.

Rachel turned at the sound.

Her long, silver-grey hair had been haphazardly tucked into an equally dusty old felt hat, with a few unruly strands escaping to frame her cheeks; this, combined with the ill-fitting men’s clothes, lent her a somewhat comical appearance.

Her gaze, however, was unusually bright, carrying a nearly eager, spirited glint Ruby had never before witnessed in her.

“Oh, Ruby, you’re back.”

Rachel’s tone was utterly casual, as if Ruby had merely stepped out for a stroll.

“Perfect timing. Come tell me, does this look alright?”

With that, she even spun around deliberately before Ruby, her wide trouser legs swaying.

Ruby’s gaze swept over Rachel’s flat chest, then lingered on her slender waist and overly broad shoulders, the corner of her mouth twitching imperceptibly.

“My Lady, what is the meaning of…?”

Ruby’s voice was filled with confusion; she simply could not fathom what new scheme her lord was concocting.

The troubles in Iron Anvil had barely subsided, and the Cult’s threat still loomed large.

Instead of fortifying defenses or tackling the mountain of administrative duties piling up in the territory, Rachel was here, playing dress-up?

“Business.”

Rachel replied succinctly, then walked to her desk, picked up an object, and presented it to Ruby.

It was a palm-sized iron plate, its surface etched with simple, silver patterns.

At the center of these patterns, a pigeon-egg-sized, murky grey crystal was embedded—the very ‘Dusk Crystal’ Rachel had named.

“Heatstone?”

Ruby immediately recognized this basic magic item.

“Precisely.”

Rachel’s fingertip lightly tapped the iron plate.

A faint hum… A subtle tremor resonated, and a thin, greyish-white luminescence began to flow within the grey crystal, as a weak but distinct warmth instantly emanated from the plate’s center.

“You’ve seen the effect. It’s not as potent as a genuine Heatstone, but its advantage lies in its affordability.”

Rachel withdrew her hand, and the Heatstone’s heat quickly began to dissipate.

“This item is crafted from Dusk Crystal—that grey crystal I’ve been researching for the past few days, which you’ve likely seen. It costs virtually nothing to produce, merely a bit of time, as my current technique isn’t yet perfected.”

Rachel wasn’t concerned about Ruby reporting this to Princess Ariya; after all, Ruby constantly shadowed her, making concealment impossible, so it was better to be forthright.

Ruby’s gaze lingered on Naiya for a moment.

The little girl seemed to sense the scrutiny; she looked up, her right eye timidly glancing at Ruby before quickly lowering her head again, resuming her delicate bites of bread.

The vigilance she held for unknown powers resurfaced within Ruby.

“So, you intend to sell this?” Ruby asked, looking at Rachel.

“Collaborating with Madam Siena is the most prudent choice.

The Raven Guild’s channels span the entire empire, which would be far more efficient than you hawking them yourself.”

“Deal with a guild?”

Rachel scoffed softly, shaking her head, her gaze sharpening.

“Collaborating with a guild would mean exposing the source of the Dusk Crystals, Naiya’s abilities, and even our entire production process to them.

At that point, would Naiya still be able to sit here, peacefully nibbling her bread?”

Rachel’s words, like cold needles, pierced through Ruby’s simplistic notions.

She fell silent.

Indeed, Naiya’s very existence was a monumental secret and a potential source of danger.

Once exposed, the entities vying for her would likely extend far beyond the Cult.

“Therefore.”

Rachel walked to the desk and took out the pure black mask, cold and slick to the touch, that had been confiscated from the impostor Barton.

“We must act discreetly. Ideally… under a different identity.”

Under the watchful eyes of Ruby, Vera, and Naiya, Rachel placed the pure black mask over her face.

There was no world-shattering burst of light, no violent surge of energy.

The mask, like living mercury, instantly conformed to her facial contours, its edges melting seamlessly into her skin.

Immediately afterward, a strange, crawling sensation spread from where the mask covered her face!

Rachel’s body emitted several extremely faint clicking sounds, like bones shifting out of place.

Her physical form visibly transformed—her shoulders broadened slightly, her back straightened a fraction.

Her originally petite frame was stretched, becoming proportionate and sturdy; though still not tall, she had completely shed the delicate slenderness of a maiden, now resembling a lean, developing youth.

The changes continued.

Rachel’s exposed neck grew slightly rougher in its lines, and the faint outline of an Adam’s apple became discernible.

Even the men’s clothes, previously hanging loosely, now seemed to have been adjusted by an unseen force, fitting her far better and outlining the distinct, somewhat raw strength of a young man.

The entire process lasted but a few breaths.

When Rachel finally lowered her hands, the figure standing there was no longer the silver-haired, grey-eyed, fierce-gazed villainess scion, Rachel Lockwood, but an unfamiliar young man.

His skin was a healthy tan (concealing Rachel’s original pallor), his features rather refined.

His eyes still held Rachel’s unique, piercing gaze, as if able to see through people’s souls, yet this intensity was deliberately subdued, appearing calm and subtly shrewd, with a hint of worldly cunning.

Vera gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes wide and round, as if she had witnessed an impossible feat of magic.

Naiya also stopped chewing, her small mouth slightly agape, her right eye filled with wonder and a touch of bewilderment, seemingly unable to comprehend how the familiar Lady Rachel had suddenly transformed into someone else.

Ruby’s pupils contracted slightly; even with her Shadow Guard’s composure, a ripple stirred within her heart.

The disguise effect of this mask was even more astonishing than she had imagined during their time in Iron Anvil!

It wasn’t merely the appearance; even the physique and demeanor had undergone a complete overhaul!

Had she not witnessed the entire process with her own eyes, she would have found it nearly impossible to connect the young man before her with Rachel.

“What do you think?”

The young man spoke, his voice transformed; it was no longer Rachel’s original, slightly cool maiden’s voice, but a slightly hoarse, youthful tone.

“Can you still recognize me?”

Ruby remained silent for a few seconds before slowly shaking her head, her voice tinged with gravity.

“By appearance and voice alone, no.

But this mask… it belongs to the Cult, My Lady.

Are you certain you wish to use it? Might there be unforeseen risks?”

“Risks?”

Rachel shrugged indifferently, a gesture that seemed exceptionally natural for the young man.

“That’s better than starving to death. Lockwood territory is currently short on money and people, and guild aid is a distant prospect, while the Grand Tour’s bills won’t wait.

This is the only thing we can quickly monetize right now.”

She picked up a Heatstone, weighing it in her hand.

“As for the mask’s risks… I’ll be careful.

At least for now, it’s merely a useful tool.”

She picked up a deep grey, old cloak with a wide hood and draped it over herself, pulling the brim low to conceal most of her ordinary face, leaving only her slightly rugged jawline visible.

“I’ve already decided on a name,” the young man announced calmly, “’Grey Swan’.

A traveling merchant hawking small trinkets.”

Ruby gazed at the utterly unfamiliar ‘Grey Swan’, her brows tightly furrowed.

Rachel’s plan, in her eyes, was fraught with uncontrollable variables.

The mask’s hidden dangers, the risks of venturing out alone, the possibility of exposure… yet Rachel’s words left her no room for rebuttal.

The territory had indeed reached a desperate pass.

“This is far too risky.

You don’t need to go yourself.”

Ruby frowned, still unable to agree to Rachel’s plan.

“Anyone else?”

Rachel chuckled softly.

“Who else do we have? We can’t possibly send Vera to haggle with people, can we? She’d probably be sold off and help them count the money. Naiya is out of the question, and as for you…”

“You still have your mission, after all.

If I were to keep you away from me for an extended period, you wouldn’t be willing, would you?”

Rachel walked up to Ruby, looking directly into her amber eyes.

“I know what concerns you.

You can follow me, but without my signal, or unless my safety is genuinely threatened, you are not to reveal yourself, nor are you to interfere with any of my transactions. Do you understand? This is an order.”

Ruby looked at this utterly unfamiliar Rachel, sensing the undeniable resolve emanating from her, a stark contrast to the familiar, cunning laziness she associated with Rachel, yet strangely fused together.

She remained silent for a few seconds, then finally gave a slight nod.

“…Understood. I will remain in the shadows.”

“Don’t worry, I value my life dearly.”

Rachel patted the black pouch at her waist, which contained a few Heatstone samples and some loose change.

“First thing tomorrow morning, we’ll set out to scout the market in a nearby town. Be prepared.”

She adjusted the hood of her cloak one last time, ensuring it effectively concealed most of her face, then looked at the still-shocked Vera and the bewildered Naiya.

“Vera, take good care of Naiya.

Make sure she eats well and rests properly.

I’m leaving things here to you.”

“Yes, yes! My Lady… young master!”

Vera quickly responded, her words flustered with nervousness.

Rachel nodded, her gaze sweeping over the familiar yet strange study, finally resting on the flickering flames in the fireplace.

Grey Swan’s maiden flight would be tomorrow.

The path ahead was unknown, its fortunes unpredictable, but for the faint hope of Lockwood territory, she had no other choice.