CHAPTER XX: FUSION
I groggily open my eyes after an unknown amount of sleep and don't remember anything before or about falling asleep. Shalltear follows my body movements as I sit up but when I try to release her arms from my shoulders, she doesn't let go and tightens her grip slightly to keep her position. I sigh in familiar frustration as I whisper, "Today's the day. We need to get ready."
She doesn't respond but I know she heard me from the way she rubs her cheek against mine. I ask her to let go so I can wash up but she doesn't respond still even as I move us to the edge of the bed. I have to push her legs aside so that she doesn't latch onto me further and in a firm tone, I whisper, "If we bath together, are you gonna try anything? We need to get ready."
"No promises are made," she replies in a mischievous tone, my arms trying to dislodge her again but failing a second time. Knowing she won't relent, I gather her in my arms and slide off the bed's edge, losing my balance slightly from a slight numbness in my right leg. I try to angle my head to the right when she starts kissing my face but I can't stop her actions and direct my focus on ignoring the sensation. I quickly cross the short distance to the bathroom double doors, my left foot tapping the base to gently open one of the doors. I make sure to turn and walk sideways so that I don't bump Shalltear into anything like last time.
Shalltear gestures with her left hand towards the bath which comes alive at her command, the empty tub slowly filling with warm water and soaps as she finally lets go of me. I grunt a little from the soreness I feel, my hand touching my shoulders and hips but recoiling from how tender they feel. She chuckles to herself as she gently waltzes into the tub, her body completely submerging up to her face so her silver hair can float in the water. She rises just enough to say, "Sorry...I guess I clung to you too much..."
"Just a bit," I reply as I enter the tub and gently sit down at the edge. My muscles relax in the warm water and I close my eyes to focus on the sensations, my face wincing as the lacerations and bruises heal themselves. I hear a ringing sound in my right ear and groan in frustration as I move my right hand to my ear, magic flowing into my mind as I say aloud, "We're getting ready, Aura. We'll be done in a moment."
"Get ready faster! Everything is already prepared!" I hear her voice shout in my ear, the volume automatically adjusted so that she doesn't deafen me. I groan angrily as I move my hand away, letting the magic dissipate as I relax my shoulders and lean my head back. Shalltear giggles to herself, her voice distorted by the water as she says with amusement, "They're excited. You can't expect them to make sense today."
"I don't expect Aura to make sense most of the time. It's just more obvious today," I reply as I rub my skin lazily with my hands, the water and soap removing the worst of the grime on my scales. I try not to remember how I got so grimy, getting as clean as possible before rising from the water. As I turn away, arm's move over my shoulders and I reach back slightly, grabbing Shalltear's legs so I can carry her out. I can't stop her from moving her legs around my waist but thankfully, she doesn't try to push things further.
"Relax. I can feel how tense your muscles are. We can do this," Shalltear whispers into my ear but I angle my head to the right slightly, her mouth missing my left ear to her hum of disappointment. I smile at having predicted what she would do but drop the smile as we move onwards. Shalltear seems to shift her mood as well and when we reach her dresser near her bed, she lifts her legs out of my grip and drops off my back to walk in front of me. Her right-hand touches the polished, dark wood, activating a crimson box near her fingers that she taps a complex code into. Her stance widens as she extends her arms and legs, a crimson magical field picking her up and equipping her with what she asked for.
A stunning white kimono, a Shiromuku, forms around her frame, a white headdress forming on top of her head to tie her hair into a single strand that runs down her back. She gently moves out of the way while adjusting the headdress, giving me space to perform the same set of actions she did and widen my stance. The magic field lifts me and forms a black Montsuki around my body, another robe with the symbol of the House of Adipocere stitched in crimson and silver thread on its back landing on top of my first layer. It feels awkward to be wearing so much clothing and I rub the sleeves of my outfit idly in discomfort but Shalltear stops my hands and places her right hand in mine, saying in an agitated tone, "I don't like mine any more than you like yours but we agreed to the terms given to us. Try not to let your discomfort show."
"I'll try," I reply with a nod, Shalltear smiling confidently but inhaling and exhaling in pent up nervousness. I do the same before moving my right hand to my ear and using the spell I practised for a month to contact Lord Ainz. In a confident voice that masked my nervousness, I say aloud, "We're ready, Lord Ainz."
"Opening the gate," he replies into my ear, the magical anomaly forming in front of us. I inhale and exhale again in nervousness before taking a step forward, Shalltear taking a step as well to get us through the gate. Though I know that Mare is the one creating the wedding area, I'm not prepared for how much effort he put into the project. My feet touch soft grass as we arrive in the middle of a spectacular grove with butterflies and birds lazily flying about in the calm breeze. Trees of all shapes and sizes grow around us, some of them offering shade to those standing nearby. At our feet is a straight path of grass leading directly to a wooden altar and I chuckle lightly when I see Cocytus dressed in a ceremonial crimson armour he didn't like wearing waiting for us at the end.
Too many eyes fall on us, every being in Nazarick offered a chance to attend and every being attending here now. I take a moment to try and fathom just how many servants and guardians Nazarick had gathered in this grove but Shalltear takes a step forward, forcing me to break my stupor and move on. We walk at a stroll as required, every eye following our movements as the gentle sound of a Yamato-goto plays a simple melody for the proceeding. As if responding to the music, the breeze picks up the scattered leaves on the ground and gently floats them around us, the leaves following ahead of our path and guiding us forward.
Demiurge is in a black suit and white tie and gives me a knowing smile and nod as we pass. Aura and Mare are standing next to him and are dressed as they usually are, both of them doing the same gestures as Demiurge. Mare can't hold eye contact for long, his hands going to his eyes to wipe the many tears of joy away. Sebas Tian is there in a black Haorihakama with all of the maids around him dressed in either black or white kimonos. But standing next to him is a figure that chills my soul with their gaze, their outfit the white and red dress of a Shinto priestess. Something about their smile, presence, and mannerisms sets my mental alarms off and I'm glad when I can break eye contact and keep moving forward. The impressions the mysterious figure leaves in my mind make me feel uneasy but only temporarily.
I feel my spirit soar when I see my mother and Lord Ainz in their standard outfits, their physical presences readily apparent as they stand nearest to the altar. My mother is letting tears roll down her face as Lord Ainz gives me a nod of acceptance. Albedo is standing next to Lord Ainz and offers us a genuine smile, her form half bowing from the waist as we pass. We both take unified steps up the wooden stairs to the main altar, Cocytus raising his massive hands from his side and placing them gently on our heads once were close enough. I can feel magic flow through me and almost panic at the odd feeling of pain it brings but after enduring the pain for a few seconds, Cocytus removes his hands and nods. He raises his massive hands to the sky and intones to us and the crowd, "Their hearts and minds are purified for what is to come. Let us all offer thanks that a new day is on the horizon and that new bonds will soon be formed."
We had practised the ceremony for months but this part was never practised. Cocytus keeps his arms raised as he gives the procession a moment of silence before continuing with the ritual, his voice filled with pride as he intones, "We are all here of our will to see these two young beings express their eternal love for one another. Though Yggdrassil is no more, torn asunder by cruel gods, we live on despite that calamity. By living on and prospering, Yggdrassil lives on within each of us."
He turns his attention to both of us as he raises his lower arms, pointing them at us as he intones, "These two are more than just starcrossed lovers looking for comfort in a harsh world. They are the future of Yggdrasil, of all of us, in this world. I know now, when I once doubted, that they will watch over one another until the very world is torn asunder again."
Shalltear's nails bite into the face of my hand, my hand tightening in reply as I feel drops of blood trickle down the scales. Cocytus turns his attention to me and moves his massive left hand over my head, intoning to me, "Do you, Beric Lowarm, accept the eternal love of Shalltear Bloodfallen? Will you go to the ends of existence for her and do whatever it takes to make her life the happiest she has ever known?"
"I do," I say too quickly, Cocytus exhaling cold mist before moving his left arms to his side. He lowers one massive hand to raise the other over Shalltear's head as he intones, "And do you, Shalltear Bloodfallen, accept the eternal love of Beric Lowarm? Do you promise to guide him when he becomes lost and cherish him as he has always wanted in life?
"I do," Shalltear answers confidently, Cocytus exhaling again as he raises his massive hands back to the sky. The breeze stills for a moment as he intones loudly and with conviction, "Then I pronounce these two as one mind and one heart! Let their eternal love shine like the stars themselves!"
Shalltear releases my hand and turns me to the left, her arms hugging me over the shoulders too tightly as she kisses me on the lips. I can feel the tears rolling down her face and share her emotional reaction, my arms moving around her waist as I let my tears fall. The silence is broken by a torrent of noise from the crowd, each being showing their support with a loud cheer and applause. I can't stop crying and neither can she, the release of emotions overwhelming me even as we break our kiss.
Cocytus picks us both up and places us so that we're sitting in his hands held to his chest. We both turn our gazes on him as his feet gently navigate down the wooden steps, his voice grating, "The sooner we proceed, the sooner I can get out of this ridiculous armour. I need to move this along."
"Fair enough," I say as I turn my head to the left and watch the scenery change. The crowd is dispersing slightly to allow the many trees to melt into the ground, tables and chairs rising in their place to form a different kind of forest. Wooden furnishing quickly populates with food of all shapes and sizes both simple and exotic. Cocytus takes us to the centre table where Demiurge, Lord Ainz, Albedo and my mother are sitting, his stride slightly rushed but sure. With a simple movement of his hands, he slides us into our grand seats before moving around the table, a rumbling laugh escaping his mandibles as he grates, "So it's finally here! Nazarick is moving on from the failures of the past! It is good that we embrace the future!"
"We all needed change," Lord Ainz replies with a nod but as he speaks, my mother rises from her seat and rounds the table. She quickly moves towards me and picks me up in a crushing embrace, my arms moving around her as she breaks down into tears and sobs. She's able to croak out during her sobs, "I'm sorry...you had to deal with...with my mistake...I...I shouldn't have-"
"All is forgiven...mom," I whisper as I return her hug as best I can, my reward for my compassion a pop in my back from her hug. Shalltear is quick to intervene by gently loosening my mother's grip with her hands but in doing so, she involuntarily gets grabbed into the hug as well. She gives me an accusing look as her body is strained under the strength of a supreme being, my mother still in tears as she blurts, "I'm overloaded with emotions right now! My son is getting married and I'm part of Nazarick again and everyone is here and happy! I just...it's too much!"
"Less pressure please..." Shalltear says with gritted teeth, my mother relenting with a look of embarrassment. She puts us back in our seats and I gasp in relief, rolling my shoulders to try and rid myself of some of the back pain. I look over at Shalltear who is in a slight daze, her head lazily turning in my direction as she says in a pained voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm glad...you didn't get that...from your parents..."
"Me too," I say with a grunt of similar discomfort but before we can speak further, Lord Ainz intones to those at the table, "There have been many changes in the last few months because of you, Beric Lowarm. The return of a supreme being, the return of a lost artefact, and the return of servants long thought lost. You've been very busy."
"I'm correcting events," I reply with physical and mental discomfort. I don't like the attention I'm receiving right now for something so simple but Lord Ainz doesn't seem to notice my discomfort because they intone as soon as I finish, "Be that as it may, you have still done the Great Tomb of Nazarick a service and shall be repaid for it. I don't like owing any being when I don't need to."
"Lord Ainz, he doesn't do anything for rewards and above all, it's a wedding. Don't bring up business," Albedo interjects, surprise growing on my face at having her of all beings not only interrupt Lord Ainz but defend me. I feel a light tap on my left shoulder as Shalltear whispers to me that I shouldn't stare, my head nodding lightly as I try to focus on someone else. However, all eyes are slowly drawn to Lord Ainz when they move their right hand to their jaw, their skeletal fingers grasping and pulling the bone. My surprise becomes bewilderment when they pull their skull away, a collective gasp escaping me, those around me and those in the grove when he places the newly formed skeletal mask of his former face on the table.
The face beneath the mask is human with short black hair and expressive brown eyes that make the previous skeletal visage seem outlandish in proportions. His physical proportions also changed to that of a human but even as a man, he's still taller than I am. The grand robes have reformed to fit his new frame and he doesn't look at any of us, his gaze drawn to the mask staring back at him as he says aloud mostly to himself, "I used to believe that I would never be human again...for years, I threw whatever resources I could spare at the problem...to no results worth noting...but then you came along...you returned the Emerald Tablet... and I visited the shrine once lost to Nazarick... they returned what I lost as if it was the simplest matter..."
He smiles and exhales lightly, his head rising slowly to look at those around him. It's like staring at an entirely new person but although his tone is softer, it stills holds the edge of command. Once he's done viewing his servants with new eyes, he looks at me and says, "I...have a debt to you that I can never repay...so let me give you advice from a man trapped for years in an unfeeling skeleton...stop trying to figure out what kind of monster you are...figure out what kind of man you are instead...Shalltear needs you as much as you need her..."
I try not to let the effects of his words show as I nod in acceptance, his head nodding in return as his right-hand takes the skeletal mask and reverses it. The same hand gently places the mask back on his face, his form changing back to what we all know. Strangely, Lord Ainz laughs in good humour before intoning, "Enough theatrics. This is meant to be a time of celebration and merriment. Let us commence with the celebration."
No one needs to be told twice to relax.