NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Respite
The next couple hours flew by in a daze. I’m fairly sure I fell asleep at some point. Maybe I spent a couple minutes wondering how Cass managed to sniff at all, given that she didn’t have a physical body. I suppose crying might be universal.
Eventually, when it was quite a bit into the night, we met the rest of the guild. The old man had assured them we were fine and just needed some space. I felt a little embarrassed about crying so much, but then again, what else was I supposed to do? Happily accept my incoming battle with forces I didn’t wanna deal with?
I shook my head, then smirked. That was… a hard to shake habit.
Ann and I took turns speaking. First, we talked about the old wizard, Orvan, and why he wished to see us. Then about the gateway. I’d not brought it up last time because it was just a bit too recent. Too fresh. Now, with Cass and everything, it had settled in a little bit.
Maybe crying about it had helped relieve some of that pressure as well. I still felt tired, and getting through everything took a while, but we got there in the end. Marie had been surprised, Liam worried, Matt shocked, and Emilia proud. The twins seemed to also worry, but at the same time, something told me this answered some of their questions. Maybe about the healing process?
Whatever the case, I tried my best to trust them. They were part of the guild. Also, that little bit on my covenant still annoyed me, I wasn’t really that bad to people I didn’t know.
“Alright. Thanks for telling us, Fio,” Marie finally told me. “Let me be upfront with you. I don’t plan on changing anything about the guild because of this. Anyone object to that?”
No one answered, though some shot me smiles.
“Good,” Marie continued, “then let’s clear this. Do we know what usurpers look like?”
“No,” Ann said. “But I don’t think there’s a specific shape they have to take.”
Our leader nodded again. “Got it. Well then, if we find one, I suppose we run. Just because the divines want us to doesn’t mean we’ll be playing hero.”
Once again, everyone nodded, though the twins seemed hesitant. That was the trouble with having your class based somewhat on divine favour. Then again, there were also clerics who followed none of the strange protectors of this place, simply drawing power from faith alone.
But that was beside the point, and I focused on the conversation again. “Alright. That should settle that. Anyone have any questions?”
Matt raised his hand. “Yes?”
“If we find another broken gateway, can I get it?” he asked. His tone was serious, but I could tell immediately, and burst out laughing hard enough to stumble. Ann caught me.
“Puhahaha! Matt, shut the fuck up you dummy! Seriously!” I laughed. He smiled at me. “Fine, you win, ya rat. I feel better. Thanks, everyone.”
Marie smiled, and patted my shoulder. “Alright Fio. Get some sleep. We’ll hit the road again tomorrow, so be prepared.”
I nodded, then went back to the room with Ann. On the way, I also talked with Cass a bit, who didn’t have the opportunity to get a pep talk the same way I did. Just… small things. Making sure she was doing okay.
By the time we got to the room, I assured her again that none of this was her fault, and I was more than glad to have her along for the ride. Then, I got ready for bed. The moment my head touched the pillows, I was out like a light.
- - -
Orvan Dreyfa stood in his study, gazing out the windows. The young lady, Fio, had made a bit of a mess of things, but not much more than they already were. He’d never been a particularly orderly person, anyway.
The day had been quite long for him, too. He hadn’t spent this much magic in months, maybe years. Those divines sure had some nerve to use his magic circles as a conduit like that.
It did, however, mean that they had to hear him out. And while he was not excited at all by the prospect of a damned gateway in his castle, it was fine.
Fio, as she called herself, had it hard enough. He shook his head a bit. The divines really weren’t very kind, nor had fate itself been.
Of course, he didn’t believe in fate, but the expression applied in this scenario. She’d gotten incredibly damn unlucky to need a gateway. Generally, it was preferable to just never interact with the things.
Orvan had studied them before for his magic, of course, but that didn’t mean he liked them. Just that he understood them better than most. Which allowed him to hold even the keepers at bay.
Castle Arhan was by no means perfect, but as Orvan ran his fingers through the grooves on the stone walls, a small smile snuck itself onto his face. If this castle could hold off the damned divines, and even the bastard keepers, then surely it would stand an attack of a monster or two.
As an archmage, he still had enough mana for that, at least.
- - -
The night had gone by uneventfully for us, though by morning, there were a few smouldering corpses outside the castle walls. Just a regular amount of monsters, the guards assured us. I didn’t quite believe them, but the current situation probably also made me somewhat nervous.
We met up and ate as a guild again, though this time, captain Lirya moved to sit with us. When she didn’t wear her helmet, her raven hair was quite stunning. Her eyes turned to me. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah, like a rock,” I answered, giving her a thumbs up.
She returned the faintest smile to me. “Didn’t hear all about things, but I’m glad you got sleep. You deserve it, according to what Orvan tells me. Old geezer has been busy doing some work all night long.”
“Work?” I asked. “What kind of work?”
She snorted. “You’ll see once you head off.” Then, she lowered her head and began eating her food again, not sparing me another glance. Well, perhaps she snuck one or two, but that was surely just to gauge my reaction. I gave a puzzled look, not directing it at her, when she peered over once, which seemed to satisfy the woman.
Conversation among our party was dim. The twins mentioned something about Lurelia talking to them in the evening. Well, talking to Reya. Apparently, her being mute made it easier for the goddess to talk to her? Probably had something to do with how divinity worked based on influence.
Eric translated for us, though. Watching Reya sign as he spoke was interesting, since they’d had to invent new signs for terms specific to Eden, such as the special flavour of divinity we had, or the name of the goddess herself. She signed “Lurelia” by pointing upwards with one hand, and acting as though she cradled a child with the other. I was pretty sure I saw a spark of divinity alongside the mimicking, lighting up the pointing finger.
“Lurelia wants to tell you that, and I quote, ‘you will do fine child. Simply complete the mission as I asked you to, and your next step forward will be revealed. We have faith in you child. Strive forward.’ End quote. So, it seems like the goddess at least believes you can do this,” he translated, giving a slight smile.
I didn’t have much in me except for a short nod and a small smile. If I was honest, I didn’t exactly wanna hear anything about the divines anymore for a little while. They’d spent more than long enough inside my head.
Next time, they could send a messenger fritty for all I cared. The little feathery buggers made for excellent carrying birds, since they were able to manipulate air Qi a little, flying faster, and lifting far more weight. Also, they were unbelievably smart, and quite kind to humans. If you gave them enough nuts.
Instead of saying that out loud, I gave the twins a small thanks, making sure to nod at both of them, before focussing on my food again.
Matt flicked some water in my face from his fingertips, which elicited a slight grumble from me, as I hid away my smile. I gently tapped my finger on the table, and a small spear of Qi flung some of his food into his face, to which he groaned.
Eventually, breakfast was over, and we headed outside. The air was fresh, crisp and cold, and tinged with metal. I looked around after taking the deep breath, and stopped dead in my tracks, leading to Liam performing a very graceful sidestep to avoid crashing into me.
All around the castle were dozens upon dozens of monster corpses.