I swear I'm going back to Ladybug after this, I just needed something to get me out of that rut. Anyway, since I passed the Masters Exam I'll be able to keep updating...at least until I get swamped by projects.
Anyway, this chapter underwent major changes. I'm not sure if I'd call it inspiration or whatever but it became far more Tabitha-centric than I initially planned it to be. Believe me when I say I didn't plan this beforehand - Tabitha being his roommate wasn't my initial intention. Originally he would have either roomed with Cattleya (rejected since it would make relationship with Louise awkward) or Siesta (rejected since she already has a roommate and no space).
Tabitha was meant to be the spare, but it allowed me to get some interaction between the two whereas before they said barely a word to one another. I'll go into more detail on this at the end along with planned relationships. If you care at all about possible romantic relationships then read the bottom and post your thoughts.
"I count at least twelve Goblins."
Karin looked at the mercenary and the archer, raising two fingers as a warning. Sans the matron they wouldn't have to worry all that much; unless they were careless they wouldn't be able to get within fifteen feet of them.
Unsheathing her sword, the pink haired knight focused and began casting the razor wind spell. She would cast her spell first, then Estelle and Solas would mop up the rest. Granted she had no idea how the mercenary was supposed to kill more than a single one of the creatures with that flintlock of his but at least it was another target for the cretins to focus on.
"Anytime you're ready, Pixie."
Oh, she had a nickname now? Cute... "Just make sure you don't miss." She rolled her eyes and swung her rapier in an arc.
The cries of the monsters as the wind sliced through their bodies was disconcerting, but she'd long since gotten used to them. At a quick glance she counted at least five of the monsters that had perished, though a few more had been noticeably injured by the sudden attack. She stepped back slightly and pointed the tip of her sword-wand at the approaching Firstborns.
In the end it was unneeded. The few remaining goblins that charged at her crumpled to the ground as arrows and bullets tore through them. She winced at the sight of the arrows piercing through their foreheads, which wasn't helped by the loud clap of sound quickly followed by chunks of their heads exploding like popped bubbles. Gunshots...that would have been Solas then.
Looking back she found Estelle notching another arrow while the mercenary shoved a bullet into the chamber of his gun before putting it back in his holster. She took one more cursory glance around the area: Yep, they were all dead.
Well, that went better than she expected.
"I'm surprised it went so well." She vocalized. Granted there were likely a lot more in the tunnels but at least they wouldn't be clustered around like this, "Right, hate to admit it but you're a pretty good shot with that thing." She eyed the gun at his side, "How'd you fire so fast? I counted at least three exploding heads and it wasn't even a minute. You carrying any spare guns on you?"
"Nah, just the one." He tapped the wooden handle and winked, his mouth splitting into a wide grin "Pretty cool, huh? It's one of those Elven guns. Fires once like a flintlock but reloads a hel of a lot faster. I could fire off six shots with this thing by the time someone's done reloading any other gun. With this on our side even the matron's gonna fall pretty damn easy, don't ya think?"
"Elven gun?" She asked warily. She'd heard of the technology of those heathen Firstborns, about the airships and weaponry they wielded. It didn't paint a pretty picture, "No wonder I thought it looked odd...you sure about using that thing?" She shifted from one foot to another. It was silly, all thing considered: Tools were just that, to be used by anyone who could utilize them. Still, she felt wary all things considered.
"What, you think it's possessed or something?" He placed the barrel against his head, making sure to keep his finger off the trigger, "Trust me, if this thing has a spirit planning to kill me it would have done that sooner. It's bailed my ass out for the past ten years so you can take my word that it's reliable."
"I'm just careful, that's all." She huffed, crossing her arms in annoyance, "Where did you even get that thing? Last I checked they don't sell heathen weapons in the general store. Hel you walk around with that thing in Romalia and they'd arrest you for heresy."
"It's a good thing we're not in Romalia then, huh, Pixie?" There was that grin again. She was beginning to tire of it, "As for where I got it...well, you'd be surprised at what you could get for the right price." He put it back in its holster, "There's a reason I'm not swimming in gold despite being at the trade for ten years - ammo for this thing costs an arm and a leg. It's a pain in the ass to feed, that's for sure."
"Surprised you're doing this for free then," She scoffed. No doubt he was using it to try and entice that girl to removing her underthings. She knew his type;
"Hey, an occasional good deed won't kill me." He winked, "Besides, you're doing most of the work here. Neither me or Princess here have any magic so you'll be doing the heavy lifting for this part. Consider us your tagalongs."
Seriously, what was with the nicknames? She opened her mouth to shoot back another barb but Estelle cut her off, "We should finish this up quickly." She nudged her head to the large hole leading to the tunnels, "We need to press the advantage before they realize that they're being attacked. I would rather we kill the matron before she has a chance to prepare a proper defense."
"As you say, Princess." Solas held up his hands in mock surrender, "So, I'll take point I guess. Just make sure not to hit me, Pixie. Don't wanna run back to town with my insides hanging out, if you catch my drift."
"No promises there."
Rooming with Tabitha was far different compared to his arrangement with Louise.
She was always gone by the time he awoke. He was certain it had little to with classes since she was gone by early morning, before the sun even rose over the horizon. What she was doing at such an early time he had little idea, though in the end he supposed it was none of his business what she did. Despite everything they weren't exactly friends, friendly acquaintances at most. That they were sharing a room didn't change that.
The second was that she never talked. While he'd known that already it only became more apparent the more nights he spent with her; more often than not the only sounds were the flipping of the pages of whatever book she had chosen to read that night. While he was no stranger to the quiet he had to admit that it was jarring given his experiences with Louise and Tiffania. The two were almost never quiet, frequently chatting to fill the space or moving about in their sleep. He didn't dislike the stillness per se, he just had to get used to it once more.
"What are you doing?"
The third, as he would soon find out, was that she despised others touching her things.
"Just folding your clothes." He folded the last top and placed it on the pile. Considering how proper and arranged the entire room had been it surprised him how haphazard the inside of her dresser had been. When one of the maids had dropped of her things before Tabitha took it from her without a word and just threw it into the closet. He hadn't meant to see it, but being in the same room made it unavoidable.
It only worsened when he opened the closet to check and was nearly toppled by the unstable pile of tops and bottoms.
"...Why?"
"It was messy?" In all honesty he didn't know himself. Maybe he needed something familiar; it had been months since she had made him do so but he still remembered the days when Louise made him do her chores. He had little else to do with his time - Tiffania seemed to be integrating more-or-less well enough with the rest of the school and the Queen still hadn't said anything about what they should be doing about the 'cycle'. Days he spent doing absolutely nothing and at this point he would do it just for the sake of having something to occupy his time.
"...And?"
"No other reason, really." He picked up another skirt, "I thought I should do something since I have stayed here for a few days now-"
She snatched the clothes from his hands and threw it back in the pile, "I am not Louise." Was it just his imagination or did her voice sound colder than usual? "You are not my servant." She gathered up the pile in her hands and trudged back to the closet, throwing it open clumsily, "Do not touch my things again." She slammed it shut once more and exhaled a soft breath.
"Right...I apologize then." He ignored the jolt of annoyance that ran through him. It was none of his business what she did with her things and she had every right to her own boundaries, "Is there anything else I should not do?"
"Just don't touch my things." She picked out another book and sat on her bed.
"As you wish." Raziel scoffed and lied back on the mattress, hands behind his head. Another night of silent reading, another night of ignoring one another's presence. At this point he was tempted to just leave and start sleeping in the open fields: Staying here was no different from sleeping on the outside and despite her reasoning for letting him stay she had never actually asked him for Humanity or assistance.
He rubbed his forehead, letting out a tired sigh and closing his eyes. Ever since his first night here he had gotten a headache and it just refused to stop regardless of how much time passed. Derflinger seemed to be the same (despite him lacking a 'head'), ranting about how the seal had been displaced and that he would strangle whoever had mucked with it (which would again be impossible given his lack of arms).
He felt useless. He was more free than he'd ever been since he arrived here and he was growing to hate every second of it. Perhaps that was what made it so easy for Kaathe and Frampt to manipulate him to try and play hero...or maybe it was all Robin's fault. He was sure he didn't feel this way till that part of him surfaced.
Yes, he was sure it was the latter. Robin always was a bit of a prick.
"Why are you here?"
That was Tabitha. Opening one eye he found the girl still looking at her book. Right, another thing about her: Unless it was with Kirche the young girl almost never made eye contact even when conversing. He had doubted whether or not she had actually spoken until he looked at her hands. They weren't moving, fingers paused at one of the words dotting the page. She was waiting for his answer.
"You were the one who told me to come here." He pointed out, looking towards the ceiling. If she wasn't going to make eye contact, neither was he, "Do you wish for me to leave? I will do so if it is what you want."
"Not what I meant." She closed the book with a dull snap, "Why were you out there? Not with Louise."
"...I cannot be with her." He turned to the side so he was facing the wall, away from her, "I need time to think...understand where our relationship lies now without the runes binding us." He shifted slightly, "She wants to go back to the way things were...and I cannot give her that. Pretending otherwise would only hurt us both...better this way for both our sakes."
"You're a coward." The way she said it lacked any bite or judgement, as if she was stating a basic fact.
He didn't respond to the accusation. Did he agree with her? Not particularly, but he didn't disagree with her assertion either. Given his circumstances one might have called him brave, but he simply lacked fear. In Lordran he kept going out of a twisted desire to be a hero and because he had nothing left to lose. No matter how many times he died he was spurred on by the knowledge that abandoning his journey gained him nothing. All the pain, all the death...at least it was something to give meaning to whatever carcass he called a life back then.
He faced death not with bravery but apathy. The moments leading to Albion were one of the few times he had felt fear, of losing everyone he had grown close to. It was the same now - He avoided Louise because he knew a mistake could mean losing her forever. He avoided the others because it was better they thought he died than trying to explain, trying in vain to go back to their 'normal'.
"Perhaps I am..." He finally answered, lip curling into a bitter smile. Even now he would have had no idea how he would explain himself if he saw Siesta or anyone else again. Would he keep up the lie and try to avoid their questions about the runes on his hand or would he tell the truth even if it posed the risk of creating distress. Certainly something had pushed him to be honest with Tabitha despite not needing to do so.
The mattress shifted, the surface depressing as Tabitha sat at his side. He pushed himself up and stared at her listlessly. Again she was reading her book, eyes never once turning to look at him. He pressed his back against the wall and ran a hand through his face; was this supposed to be an attempt at comfort? Or was she pushing him to realize something...damn, it was making his headache worse.
"Why did you ask?" He questioned, "You have never once indicated that you cared beforehand. If you simply wish for me to leave the room then you could simply tell me. You do not need to go about it in such a roundabout manner."
"I was making an opinion." Her finger once again stopped at one of the clustered runes, "What you do is your own choice."
"I suppose..." He laughed softly and moved till they were sitting closer together, "...What is it that you are reading? Something required for your schoolwork?"
She raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift in topic but answered regardless, "Fantasy story. A swan princess and her tragic romance."
"I...see." Well, that wasn't what he was expecting. He knew now to never judge by appearances alone but for the unlife of him he didn't consider the girl to be the type who read tales of fantasy, "It seems rather thick for a story book."
"Not all fantasy is for children." Her answer was curt, almost insistent in a way, "Even a story such as this can be complex."
"I will trust your word on it." He leaned over to scan the pages. The runic letters still made no sense to him, "...I have been in this land for so long that I forget at times that I am incapable of reading the text."
"Louise did not teach you?" He shook his head, to which she responded with a shrug. She certainly felt a small amount of pity but it was really none of her business; teaching him to read would have taken months if not a year of constant learning. Time she most certainly did not have, "You have my sympathies." She flipped to the next page, signaling the end of their conversation.
Well, that was pathetic. Raziel leaned back and stared at the setting sun outside. How much longer could he stay here? He was going to go mad staying here doing nothing. Perhaps he could go back to town and take on mercenary work...though assuming he could get them accept him once more given his physical condition he had little idea as to what the point would be. Tarbes was almost certainly being repaired by now and even consuming Humanity posed a risk to him. Likewise Tiffania had no need for his 'protection' so there was-
"Tabitha, you will not believe this!"
Kirche was another who he could call a friendly acquaintance, but the nature of her relationship with Tabitha was unknown to him. Still it must have been rather close considering the way she brazenly stormed into the room without so much as a knock, arms waving in obvious frustration as she ranted about...something. Honestly it was difficult to understand what she was griping about.
"I mean I know that Tiffania girl is pretty and all, but to think even the professors would be charmed by her! It's unbelievable! I can't believe...that...uh, who the hel is this?" Perfect, now she was looking at him. He made sure Derflinger was covered by a pillow before shoving his left hand into his pocket, "Uh...Tabi, mind filling me in on the details here? I didn't think you were renting the room out."
Tabitha gave him a cursory glance before giving a shrug, "Roommate."
The unspoken message was clear: She wouldn't say anything about his identity if he didn't.
"Roommate? What, did the school assign her to you?" She looked him up and down, "I know we've been getting an influx of transfer students recently but this is getting ridiculous. Hel, she's not even wearing the proper uniform!" He looked at his jacket and trousers distastefully, "I know the school's not exactly at its best state but it can't be that poor-off could it?"
"I am not a student...nor am I female." He did his best to keep the hostility out of his voice, "I am...Miss. Tabitha's servant." The sideways glance Tabitha gave him did little to calm his nerves but he continued regardless, "I am to assist Lady Tabitha in her needs and it was thought to be best that I did so while staying in the same room. I apologize for any misunderstandings."
"What, so you're her manservant or something?" He nodded, ignoring the skeptic look she gave him, "Hey, Tabi, this true?"
"Yes." She took a moment to look Kirche in the eye before going back to her story.
"Well...I guess if Tabi says it's true then you're telling the truth." She exhaled slowly, "Anyway, as I was saying before: That Tiffania girl is-"
Oh...this was going to be a long night.
In the end he'd decided to go back to the mercenary guild. Staying in Tabitha's room was wearing on him and Tiffania had no incidents ever since she'd arrived so he figured it was safe enough that he didn't need to stick around.
He had (reluctantly) decided to convince Creon that he was the same person. The 'halfman' had no idea of his Undeath nor did they share a particularly powerful relationship prior to his 'death' so he felt no need to keep up the facade around him. It has been difficult at first, but after coming back with the signet ring of a rather notorious bandit leader he had quickly decided it didn't matter whether he was the same person or not. He was effective, and in this line of work that was all one really needed.
"Did you volunteer for an experiment to regain your youth?" He slurped the wine in his cup loudly, though it was drowned out by the raucous laughter of a few mercenaries nearby, "Because if so I'm afraid you started a bit too early. Most people wait until they've reached their middle years before even attempting anything of the sort, and most of the time they use leeches."
"The circumstances are difficult to explain," He said, "It is just...I do have a favor to ask of you." He took a sip of his own wine, his face curling in disgust. The taste was difficult to get used to and he still had no idea if it had any effect on him given his new physiology, "I am looking for a specific item, a potion known as a 'Divine Blessing.'" He lowered his cup, "Do you have any idea as to where I might get one?"
"Names mean nothing, lad. A physical description would be far more helpful." He tapped a piece of parchment on the table, "Draw it if you can, or if not do you best to describe it. It could be called 'pisswater' here as far as I know."
"Uh, right..." He scratched the back of his head, "Look, it is a potion that is distinct by the container it has. The bottle is made of white ivory and lined with golden decorations. The exact details of its creation are not known to me but it is known to be a curative that can cure any disease and bring someone back from even the brink of death. It is doubtful that it would be in this land but-"
"Actually, I think we might have one of those."
Raziel blinked, trying to gather his thoughts, "It cannot be that simple. The blessed potions were rare even in the land of their origin and-"
"Judge for yourself then."
He watched the dwarf converse with the young woman manning the counter before making his way back to the table, "Well, is this it?" He placed the bottle on the table with surprising care.
His eyes narrowed, taking in the container's details. A bottle of white ivory with golden 'roots' decorating the bottom half. He could make out a few subtle cracks on the surface, but it could only be expected: Only the contents inside were truly blessed, after all.
"It certainly appears to be genuine." He reached a hand towards it but Creon slapped it away, "...What was that for?"
"This is the only one we have here and I'd rather not explain to the client if it got broken." He smirked, "You want it? You have to do the job that it comes with. If you succeed then you'll get both this 'medicine' and the thousands of ecu that's been promised." He leaned back in his chair, "There's no rush, of course. It's not exactly a job many are willing to take given the risks."
"...I dread to ask, but what 'job' is this that no one is willing to undertake it?"
"I'm not gonna lie to you: I think even someone like you won't survive it." He traced a finger through his cup's rim, "There's a Fire Dragon and her brood nestled in the mountains a couple of days from here. Since it's pretty remote there's not much risk that it'll attack any large towns but a noble wants it dead. Since he knew no one was willing to risk it he put up both a reward of twenty thousand New Gold and this little miracle in a bottle. A family heirloom of some kind, so he's paying through the nose to get rid of it."
"If it poses no threat then why would he go through so much trouble to ensure its death?" If he wanted a weapon from its tail then certainly he could see that, but there were other dragons in the skies.
"Because he wants the credit," He answered easily, "Once you kill the mother and its babies he wants the heads severed and taken back to town as 'proof'. Really I expect he just wants to brag to his friends that he was the one who did it and that the heads are going to help prove that. It really doesn't matter; a job's a job. he could use the skull as a chair and it wouldn't change anything."
"I see..."
"So are you taking the contract? Normally you wouldn't be allowed given your rather low rank but I can put in a good word. Just make sure not to haunt me when you get eaten. Though I am curious: What is it that you need the medicine for? Have a sick mother than you need to take care of?"
"A mother, certainly." He stood up and smiled at the smaller male, "I will see you soon, Creon. Keep the Divine Blessing safe until I return."
The trip back to the academy passed by in a blur. With nothing but the silence and his thoughts as company he was left to ponder. Why was he even doing this? He gained nothing from helping Tabitha in such a way, he knew that. It wasn't as if he cared about her or her circumstances overtly much. Many others had a tale of tragedy and he never so much as gave them a second glance.
Or maybe he was trying to be 'nice'...hah, not likely. Perhaps he just needed something to do to stop himself from going mad.
Tabitha was alone in her room by the time he'd gotten back. She didn't so much as glance up from her book at his entrance, though she at least deigned to speak, "Welcome back." She flipped to another page of her book.
"I found it...a Divine Blessing."
That caused her pause. Looking up, her eyes narrowed just barely as she closed her book, "What do you mean?"
"The Divine Blessing...I believe I found one." He grabbed his satchel and fastened it around his back, "There is a possibility that it is fake, but the designs of its container are far too similar to be a coincidence. Creon told me that I may have it in exchange for doing a mission. This might prove to be all for naught, but it is better than doing nothing, correct?"
"What do we need to do?"
"Kill a Fire dragon and her spawn." He double checked the contents of the pack before sealing it tightly, "I do not know much of the dragons of this land, but this one seems to have inspired fear given how reluctant others were to fight it. Perhaps-"
"I've faced one before. Let's go."
On the bright side, they didn't run into much resistance in the tunnels.
On the not so bright side the matron and her remaining minions were worshiping a fucking Minotaur!
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me!" Karin hissed, crouched behind a large rock. From behind her she could hear Solas rattling of his own list of expletives while Estelle uttered a prayer of some sort
Down below she could see a crowd of goblins bowing and chanting in whatever language they uttered while the matron 'spoke' to the larger Firstborn. It was difficult to tell whether the ox-man understood her ramblings, but it was definitely alive given the way he it roared and beat its fists against its chest. The 'cheering' only grew louder in response.
"No, really, what the fuck!? Why are these things worshiping a Goddamned Minotaur!?" She eyed the large axe it held, the blood only emphasized by the light of the torches. At its side she made out the pile of mangled bodies, definitely human given their shape. The innkeeper seemed oblivious to any dead so it was likely from caravans and such or wandering patrols of knights.
"Oh, this isn't good." Solas muttered next to her, "Definitely didn't bring enough bullets for something like that. We gotta-"
"Hruaaahhhhh!"
Behind them! Turning back she just barely saw a Goblin jumping and pointing, spit spewing from its mouth as it alerted its brethren. Already the crowd below was stirring, focusing on the shouts of their errant brother.
Estelle acted first, stabbing an arrow into its eye and kicking it away roughly, "Run!" She screamed, grabbing a torch from the wall and charging ahead. Karin didn't need to look back to know that the crowd had already been maddened into a frenzy and the overwhelming roar of the Minotaur shook her to her bones. They couldn't fight that thing, not like this.
Running through a dark tunnel with only a shaky torch as a guide...it brought back uncomfortable messages of Eustace's dungeon. The roars and screeches of the goblins chasing after them were deafening in the cramped pathways, "Wind blade!" She threw the mass of razor wind behind her and was rewarded by the pained howls of a few Firstborns that had been caught inside.
"I can't see anything!" Solas stumbled, nearly losing his balance. Karin grabbed his wrist and pulled him up roughly, "Hey, Princess, do you know where were's going!? We hit a dead end and we're fucked!"
"Follow the air." She raised the torch, the flame drawing to the left and her quickly following.
"We need a plan! We can't lead them back to the village!" Karin screamed. Already she could feel the noticeable shaking from the Minotaur's footsteps. A creature like that would shrug off most of their attacks. Minotaur hide was renowned for its hardiness and unless they had a dragon on hand they weren't likely to be fighting that thing head on, "I don't have a spell that can dent that thing!"
"Just keep running! We can plan later!" Solas cried.
Karin's relief at the end of the tunnels was painfully brief. Breath ragged, she barely had time to wipe the sweat off her brow before Solas tugged at her, "No time for resting, Pixie! They're still dying to eat us!" She could see the trees of the forest coming up...no, they wouldn't lose them there. Those bastard's had a keen sense of smell if nothing else. They'd be picked off one by one.
"We can't keep running!" She wrenched her hand away from his and began chanting another spell. The tunnel's entrance was thin and they'd be clustered while trying to run through. This was their only chance, "You and Estelle stay back and pick off any stragglers! The entrance isn't big enough for that Minotaur so we shouldn't have to worry about it for now!"
"But-"
"Just do it!"
She waited until she saw the first trickle of green skin before unleashing her spell. It was risky putting so much willpower considering she hadn't fully recovered, but they had little choice - If this failed then they were all fucked. She watched the conjured tornado rip through the trees, uprooting them from their place, before colliding with the horde of monsters streaming out of the tunnel.
Most were torn asunder, but a fair amount of them were flung off into the distance, screaming all the while. The few that remained were picked off easily by arrows and bullets, any new arrivals meeting their comrades' fates. If there was one thing she could appreciate about these filthy creatures it was that they were all, with the exception of the matron, dumber than a sack of rocks.
Estelle let loose another arrow before finally lowering her bow, "...That was more difficult than intended." She pressed both hands to her knees and panted. One hand raised to take off her scarf before thinking better of it, "We didn't kill the matron or her object of worship."
"Yeah, and we're not going to!" Karin scoffed, ignoring the shaking of her legs. She was exhausted, "Look, we came in here to kill a bunch of Goblins. If I knew that there would be a damned Minotaur here I would have shoved that guys offer right up his backside. Even a stay at a luxury inn isn't worth fighting one of those things." She swallowed audibly. God she was thirsty.
"I have to agree with Pixie." Solas concurred, "I doubt Aldrik lied to us on purpose, but something like this just isn't worth it. We should probably head back and let him know so he can call the knights or something. We did the best we could-"
"GRAHHHHHHH!"
"...Crap."
Karin turned back to the entrance and gaped as the Minotaur crashed through the stone, destroying everything in its wake. Just barely she heard Estelle screaming something before she jumped to the side, avoiding the large monster's charge. On its shoulder the matron sat, practically foaming at the mouth as it pointed at them all in turn and then the rest of her fallen group.
Well, she was angry. No doubt about that.
The creature swung it great-axe at the fallen pair, its partner laughing in glee all the while. Solas ducked under the wide swing while Estelle rolled, shooting an arrow that nearly hit the Goblin leader in its masked face.
"Come on...get up..." She forced herself to stand and cast another spell. Given her lack of willpower she wouldn't be able to even cut that thing's skin, but there was something else she could do. Controlling her breath, she wreathed her legs in a coating of wind and prepared herself to run. The burst of speed would be brief so she had to time this just right.
Her opportunity came when the creature roared in pain, an arrow piercing its eye, "Stay close together!" She screamed. Rushing to the pair, she all but tackled them as she carried them along with her. Her arms burned at their combined weight but the spell allowed her to continue running. It wouldn't last too long given her lack of willpower but so long as they got away it would be-
The spell faded and they all crashed to the ground unceremoniously. She let out a moan of pain as her head smashed against the ground, once again reopening the wound. At this rate she was going to get a concussion, "..Everyone alright?" Biting back a groan, she looked to her companions. Estelle looked shaken, coughing into her hands roughly, while Solas appeared to be close to vomiting.
But at least they were alive.
"...It's coming after us."
...For the next few seconds.
The matron was once again pointing at them, beating her fists against the ox-man's shoulder to try and jolt it out of its dazed state. Karin attempted to force herself up but her legs wouldn't move. Seeing her struggles, Estelle grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer. Hah...she appreciated the gesture, but dying altogether or while she was a few feet away made little difference.
"...Shit, desperate times." Solas rummaged through his pack and pulled out a crimson red stone, "Princess, I need you to throw this is as are hard as you can at those two, okay? I need to line up a shot."
"Wh-What is that?" Karin winced. It was exhausting even to speak.
"Just trust me." He shoved it into the girl's palm and winked, "Wait for him to charge and then throw it as hard as you can. Afterwards...just cover your ears."
The Firstborn finally pulled the arrow from the socket, "GRAHHHHHHH!" It turned to them, hatred burning in its remaining eye. Karin's hands shook as the creature charged, her grip on her sword-wand failing.
"Now!"
The marble-sized stone was difficult to see through the foliage, but it did little to stop Solas from hitting it, "Get down!" He pulled Estelle down before covering his ears. She and Karin followed his lead, the latter closing her eyes even as the felt an ungodly wave of heat rush over her. Even with the muffled sound she could hear the loud explosion and the ear-splitting screams of the pair as whatever it was that he had .
And then it was silent. Cracking one eye open, the pink haired chevalier gasped at the sight that met her - No trees, no monsters...nothing. The ground was barren, a large crater being all that remained. Estelle offered her a hand, which she accepted gratefully, "Thanks..." She gave the other girl an exhausted smile as she draped her arm over her shoulders and pulled her up.
"Well...that was something." Solas took a sip from his canteen and laughed, "Never thought I would have to use one of those again. It's been years..." He offered the canteen to her, "Want some?"
"What in helheim was that?" She took the water and drunk it down greedily. It wasn't very knight-like but at this point she was beyond caring.
"Elven Firestone, just a small one." He took the canteen back and offered it to Estelle. She shook her head, "I don't have a lot of em on me so I gotta save em for special occasions. I think a Minotaur counts, yeah?"
"An Elven...you know what, I don't even care. We'd be dead without it," She sighed, "If you had that thing earlier why didn't you use it?"
"Because we would have buried ourselves in rubble if I used it in the tunnels." He rolled his eyes, "Hell we're pretty damn lucky we didn't get caught in the crossfire. Nice throwing arm there, Princess." He winked at her. Karin could see parts of her skin reddening, "Well, what matters is that we're alive. Granted it'd be better if I was actually getting paid for this but that's the way luck turns, eh?"
"Yeah, and we get two weeks at an inn...that guy owes us a year for all this crap! I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind when I get back..."
"What're you gonna tell him? It's not like we have any proof to show for it." He gestured to the piles of ash dotting the crater, "Unless you can convince him that was a Minotaur you're not gonna have much luck. Aldrik can be a cheap bastard."
"Perfect..." Karin snarled.
"Hey, it's not so bad. At least you got a couple of weeks and if you push maybe you can get free meals." He snorted, "Listen, I got an offer. You guys aren't planning to stay in that village, are you?"
"We were hoping to make our way to the capital," Estelle supplied, "The two weeks would have given us time to prepare."
"Right, got a counter-offer then: Why not come with me? An old buddy of mine runs a trade caravan that's gonna be passing through the village next week. You come with us and you can be paid to guard it along with me and you get a group to stay with. Safety in numbers, right?"
"Tempting...but why offer us something like this?" Karin asked, "It's not like we have much to offer."
"You kidding me? I'd be Minotaur food right now if not for you two!" He grinned, "Besides, it's not like I don't benefit either. You're a good pair to have at my back all things considered, and I got a feeling that I can trust you. So whaddaya say? Wanna come with me?"
"I don't see why not." She looked to her partner, who nodded in response, "We don't have much in the way of other choices so yeah, we'll stick with you for now."
"Perfect!" He clapped his hands happily, "Now, about that date I was talking about earlier-"
"Don't push your luck, lover boy. I'm not that desperate for choices."
"Is...that it?"
Raziel would've been lying if he claimed to feel no hesitation. The dragon was large, easily dwarfing the likes of the Hellkite Drake with its enormity. Its spawn reminded him of the dragonkin populating Drake Valley, which would be much more manageable, but the mother was what required most of their attention. Memories of Kalameet returned and he found himself shivering.
"That's it." Tabitha ducked, sitting against the side of the mount they were on top of. The 'Fire Mountains' certainly lived up to its namesake; despite the early morning sun beating down on them the smoke made it difficult to see and the boiling temperatures made their clothes stick to them uncomfortably. Thankfully he still didn't sweat, though it was a small comfort at best.
From behind them Sylphid whined pitifully, scratching at her red-painted scales. He had been rather confused when Tabitha insisted they paint her Familiar red before leaving, only claiming that it was all part of the plan. He also couldn't help but feel that the girl was taunting him given that she'd made him paint her tail while confiscating Derflinger during the entire duration.
What little he could make out of her plan was thus: Sylphid was painted red so she could pretend to be a male fire dragon and lure the mothers away from its nest. Once it was separated they would attack it all at once and hopefully overwhelm it before it had a chance to fight back. Tabitha would charge her spells while he did a plunging attack for its skull. With luck they would be able to do it with no problems.
So of course he expected the thing to spontaneously explode the second he touched it. It would match up the pattern of previous events.
Watching Sylphid 'seduce' the far larger dragon was surreal. The way her body contorted was bizarre and Tabitha's explanation of it being some kind of 'mating dance' did little to dull his skepticism. Eventually it took the bait, chasing after the smaller dragon 'playfully' while Sylphid 'skillfully' led it back to them. Tabitha began her chant while Raziel balanced himself at the edge.
"Now."
He had to admit that he relished the feeling of the wind rushing against him. There was something exhilarating about the feeling of faux-flight, but he had no time to ponder before the head of the dragon rushed to meet him.
He stabbed Derflinger's blade at the center of its head, twisting the metal as he dug it through the scales. The creature roared, its back rearing to try and shake him off. Blades of wind sliced at its legs, apart from a few flecks of blood there was little to show for it.
The dragon's shaking worsened and he felt his grip weakening, "A little assistance would be appreciated." He swung his legs against the surface of its skin and grimaced. Derflinger's blade wouldn't stay lodged for much longer like this.
Sensing his continued hold, the dragon let loose a torrent of fire and took to the air, "Oh, perfect...!" He looked down at the rapidly shrinking ground and grimaced. A fall from this height would kill him easily, or worse it could unleash the fragments' madness. The blade slipped again, flecks of blood hitting against his face as Derflinger drew closer to falling entirely.
"Uh...Tabitha...?"
Derflinger slipped entirely and he fell. Raziel closed his eyes and prepared himself for the impact.
Nothing. Opening his eyes he let out a surprised cry as his descent slowed until he was floating in mid-air. A wind spell...
Sylphid flew by him, Tabitha riding atop with her hand outstretched, "Come on." She grabbed his arm and pulled, tugging till he was seated safely behind her, "Take this." She shoved a bow and a handful of arrows into his hands and gripped her catalyst tightly, "We've already injured it. We just need to finish it off."
"How do you propose we fight it like this?" He stretched the string of the bow experimentally and nodded.
"I'll cast spells, you shoot with arrows." Sylphid dived, narrowly avoiding the dragon's charge above them, "Just aim properly."
"If we do not get eaten before we kill it..." The arrows by themselves wouldn't be enough, "Hold on..." He activated the Flame, covering his hands in abyssal fire. Blessing a weapon with fire's properties was a relatively simple technique...done.
He pulled on the string and let the flaming arrow loose.
"So how has school life been treating you, Tiffania?"
Having afternoon snacks in her room with the Queen of Tristain on one side and a half-Elf on the other...if someone had told her that it would happen to her one night she would have assumed them to be a drunkard.
And yet her eyes didn't deceive her. Princess Henrietta took a gentle sip of her tea while Tiffania bit into a sandwich, a blush adorning her cheeks for whatever reason. Idly she wondered how exactly her closest friend managed to sneak out of the castle with no one but Agnes to accompany her. The last time she'd gone here openly there had been a parade in her honor so she at least understood her reasons for keep a low profile.
"Um...it's been very nice." Tiffania coughed, straightening her posture, "It's somewhat difficult talking to some of the other girls but the boys have been very kind. They offer me presents and such...I feel somewhat guilty given how generous they're being."
"That's because they're staring at your breasts." Louise muttered, so soft the other two were unable to hear her. Either the girl was a master manipulator that trumped even Kirche von Zerbst or she was as dumb as she acted; neither conclusion really appealed to her in all honesty.
"That's good." Princess Henrietta smiled, tired eyes looking at their 'cousin' in relief, "I was afraid that you would have a poor experience attending the academy. It's...far more empty than when I first arrived."
"After two attacks the parents of the other students got paranoid." Louise supplied. Henrietta's expression became downcast, "It isn't your fault, Princess. They just..."
"Don't feel it's safe to send their children here anymore, I understand." She nodded gravely, "I cannot fault them for thinking so. First bandits and now deranged mercenaries, both times the teachers were rendered helpless and people died. It might take years before the academy can inspire confidence in others once more."
"Princess..."
"Ah, but I'm not here to talk of such depressing topics." She forced a smile and clapped her hands softly, "How have you been, Louise? Have you gotten used to returning to life at school again?"
"I'm...getting there." She half-answered, "I spend most of my time looking out for Tiffania here. I have to admit it's been far less troublesome than I thought it would be..."
"Th-Thank you again for watching over me, Ms. Louise," Tiffania stuttered, fingers wringing together nervously, "I know it must be such a bother to you-"
"That's the sixth time you told me that, I get it." She rolled her eyes, "And I just said that it's less troublesome than I first expected so you don't have to thank me or apologize about how much of a 'burden' you are."
"O-Oh..." She looked down, her blush becoming more fierce as she smiled, "S-S-Sorry."
"Hmhmhm." Henrietta giggled, eyes darting between her two cousins. Louise could say harsh things sometimes, but she had a heart of gold beneath it all, "Are the lessons hard to understand, Tiffania?"
"S-Somewhat. All the theories and whatnot are complicated, but some of the boys have offered to tutor me about any subjects I find difficult."
"Yeah, because there's no other reason why they'd want you to be alone in their room." Louise rolled her eyes, "Look, if you have any difficulties understanding the curriculum then you can come to me. My practical scores may be abysmal but my theoretical studies are better than everyone else in my year...it's pretty much the only reason they haven't kicked me out yet."
"Louise..."
"Th-Thank you, Ms. Louise." Tiffania beamed, "I promise I'll only bother you when I really need help."
"Right...and stop adding that 'Ms' at the beginning, just call me Louise. I'm a student like you, not a teacher."
"O-Okay..."
It warmed her heart to see them getting along. While it might not have appeared as such at first glance Louise was gradually opening her heart to the younger girl, which caused her no small amount of relief. She hadn't had much chance to talk with her best friend given her duties and apart from some persistent admirers her half-Elf cousin seemed to be alone as well. It would do them both good to find companionship with one another.
"Speaking of studies..." Henrietta started, "I know I may be quick in asking this, but have you considered summoning a Familiar? You and Louise both share the gifts of Allfather Brimir, after all. It might prove beneficial."
"Um...not yet." Tiffania chewed on her lower lip, "I...Sir. Julio told me that as things are right now I would just end up summoning Rob- Raziel again, and I don't want to do that until...until I move on properly."
"Summon him? But I thought that the destined Familiar was unknown till the time of summoning?"
"It's...difficult to explain." She grabbed her teacup nervously, "Could we please change the subject? I...don't really feel comfortable talking about this."
"As you wish." She turned to Louise, "Speaking of Sir. Raziel, where is he? I...have something to discuss with him related to our previous conversation but I haven't seen any trace of him. I thought he would have been staying with you."
"Raziel's...we're not sharing a room anymore." She looked away to hide her expression, "I have no idea where he's staying. I mean I still see him at times while wandering the halls but that's it."
"Hmm, I see." She sighed, "Well, if you could please tell him I require his assistance with a certain task it would be much appreciated."
"Um...I mean no offense, Princess, but..."
"Don't worry, we talked it over beforehand," Henrietta reassured gently, "Whatever conflicts we once had we've both decided to put it behind us. Right now we're working together for a common goal."
"If you need help then I'd be more than happy to-"
"No!" The sudden harshness in her best friend's voice caused her to reel back, "I...I apologize, Louise, but I made a vow never to manipulate you anymore. Telling your family of your gifts was a deterrent so I avoid doing so again."
"It's not manipulating me if I volunteer!" She protested, "I can help-"
"Louise, please..." Henrietta closed her eyes and took a calming breath, "I didn't come here to discuss this. Could we please drop this matter altogether and return to our idle chit-chat? These moments of respite are ones I cherish immensely."
"But-"
"Please..."
Louise shut her eyes tightly and resisted the urge to scream, "Fine, Princess. I won't question you any further on the matter."
"My apologies, Louise. Perhaps we could discuss it another time?" She could only nod, trying her best to keep her bitterness hidden, "Right then. Tiffania, I'm sure you're curious about how your charges are doing. I wish to tell you that..."
It was over. They'd finally done it.
He placed both hands on his knees and coughed, wincing at the feeling of something sharp poking at his side. Right, that was at least a few broken ribs and one jutting out of his chest. Biting his tongue, he slid the bone back inside with a disgusting squelch and resisted the urge to let out another cry of pain. He could feel blood seeping through his shirt, but that was easier to explain over his ribs poking out.
To the side he made out Tabitha panting, leaning heavily into her staff in order to keep herself from falling over. Sylphid crooned worriedly, nudging her nose against her side gently until the bluenette pushed her away with an irritated huff.
"...Well, we survived." He stood up straighter and trudged to the dead fire dragon. He was no stranger to dragons given his experiences but he wasn't ashamed to admit that he had gotten rusty in the time he had spent here. He had grown accustomed the idea of dragons being weaker in this land, enough that they could be subjugated and used as mounts, but the same apparently didn't apply to the wild ones living in the wilderness.
Regardless it was dead now, so that was something.
"You will owe me for this." He gestured to his bloody stomach. One of the brood had gotten far too close for comfort and attempted to eat him, "...This better be worth it. Knowing our luck the Diving Blessing will have already gone bad by the time we get back."
"We should get to cutting." She gestured to the dragon's neck, ignoring his barb.
The next few hours were a blur. They'd done their best to hack apart the dragon's neck (along with that of its brood) in order to cart back the heads, and by the time they'd finished the sun was nearly setting. Whatever bones these creatures had were durable, he had to admit. He was surprised they weren't being asked for those instead of a severed head, though he supposed the latter was a tad more impressive when it came to bragging.
After tying the heads to Sylphid - much to her glaring annoyance - they'd quickly managed to cart it back to the guild in exchange for the reward. It might have been his imagination but he could have sworn he'd seen the stoic girl actually letting out a smile as she finally received the rare medicine.
"Well, I have to admit I actually had some doubts as to whether you could pull it off." Creon jerked his thumb to the large sack of gold, "So are you going to split that between you two? There's forty thousand ecu there, so if you split it between you two then you'll still have enough to money to live like kings for the next few years."
"Keep it." Tabitha tucked the vial into her pocket and left without another word.
"Oh...well, that's unexpected." The halfman shrugged, "So I guess you have it all for yourself then? Congratulations, lad. You've made enough money that you can retire from-"
"I do not desire it either." Raziel called out for Tabitha to wait, but she ignored him, "Uh...give it to the fund for the restoration of Tarbes and if that is already finished then please donate it to the orphanage in the capital- Hey, I said to wait a moment!"
Creon watched the young man chase after even younger girl before letting out an amused breath, "Well, that's not something you see every day." He took one last glance at the large pile of money before focusing all his attention to the loaded cart outside. One large dragon head surrounded by the head of its four offspring. How they'd managed it he had no idea, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Well...that noble's going to be happy to hear about this."
Raziel waited till they were once again at the edge of town before calling out to her once more.
"Give it here." She gave it to him with some reluctance. Popping of the cap, he sniffed the contents and winced; yep, it was practically saturated with light magic. The chills running through his body was more than enough proof, "Well, it appears to be genuine." He placed it back in her palm, "When we get there make sure to give her a clump of Humanity first. If she struggles and spills I do not plan to fight another dragon for you."
"As you say."
The trip back was spent in forced silence. The girl was never one for conversation unless she could help it, but there was something different about this. He didn't miss the way she fingered the bottle, the hopeful glances she gave him. This was her last chance, he knew that. The Humanity was growing less effective by the day and without a more permanent cure she would have to live with her mother's condition for the rest of her life.
She all but ran to the mansion's doors as soon as they arrived. Off to the side he made out a carriage along with its driver, which she all but ignored. Giving the dragon a quick look, he slid off her back and chased after her. He understood that she must have been eager to see her mother once more but-
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
Someone was already inside. Pushing open the door, his eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the figure standing in front of Tabitha. Long, dark blue hair and dressed in opulent attire. In her hand she held a fan, which she fanned herself with haughtily. Clearly a noble of some kind, she looked all the world to be the very definition of an aristocratic lady...if not for the ugly sneer she was sporting. Given the way she was laughing he could only assume it was her attempt at a smile.
"Isabella..." Tabitha's voice was strained, her grip on the bottle tightening.
"Why the long face? I came here personally to visit my dear cousin and this is how you react? Tsk tsk." She shook her head in mock disapproval, "Father wanted someone to check up on you. You know how worried he is for your safety, my dear." She laughed, as if she had said something amusing. Tabitha still said nothing, "I thought you would've been happier to see me."
"..." Still she refused to talk.
"...Tabitha, who is this?" He came up next to her, eyeing the girl warily. She was always reticent around others, but the way she acting now was odd even for her.
"Oh, who's this?" She eyed him up and down, "Your lover? Must be a prostitute you hired. I can't imagine you finding companionship another way." There was that laugh again. Raziel's hand twitched, inching towards Derflinger's hilt, but a look from the short girl besides him kept him from pulling the blade out. She mouthed something to him...'Stop, don't do anything.'
"Well, introduce yourself!" She pointed her fan at him.
"...My name is Raziel." His mouth twitched as he forced himself to smile.
"Very good." She tapped his cheek in mock approval, "My name is Isabella, cousin to dear Charlotte here." She looked to her now, "I make surprise visits from time to time, mostly to check in on her and my dear aunt. How is her condition, by the by?"
"She is...the same as always." Tabitha forced out. He could see her hands shaking.
"Well, chin up, cousin! She'll get better one day." He felt an uncomfortable prick in his chest as she finally caught sight of the bottle Tabitha held in her hand, "And what's that, Charlotte? More medicine for her?"
"It's nothing."
"Clearly not given the grievous way you hold onto it." She extended the flat of her palm, "Give it here then, I wish to see what tonic you plan to use on your poor mother this time. I worry about her health given the way you force these on her."
Raziel gave Tabitha a pointed look, "Tabitha, do not-"
"Oh, excuse me? Was I talking to you?" Isabella glared at him, "I know it might not have registered in your mind, but I am royalty and due respect from one such as you." She gave him a condescending smile, "Now, stay quiet and let me converse with my cousin."
Ignoring her, he looked to Tabitha was once more, "You know what is at stake. You cannot-"
"Quiet." Tabitha gave her the bottle, refusing to meet his gaze. Her fingers lingered on the container for a moment until Isabella all but pried it away from her. He watched the hand fall back to her side, the shaking only worsening.
"Well, it's certainly well-decorated." Isabella turned the bottle around in her hand, tracing a finger through the golden linings, "Honestly you should give up on these frivolous pursuits and trust that your mother will get better. Father and I pray for her continued health, you know. The least you could do is make a proper prayer as well rather than wasting time with these pointless potions."
"Give that back," Raziel snarled, "We-"
"Quiet." Tabitha repeated, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. Her grip on his wrist was akin to that of a vice, almost painful in a way.
"There you go interrupting again. You should really control your pets better, cousin." She raised the bottle high, fingertips barely gripping the end, "I must say I'm curious as to where you found something like this. I understand you must be desperate to get your mother back to her previous health but it's no reason to place her at risk by feeding her suspect liquids."
The bottle dropped. He barely caught sight of the Divine Blessing falling before it crashed against the floor, the liquid spilling out and mixing with the broken shards. The room grew quiet, the only sound being the barely audible seeping of the liquid as it spread through the floor. Raziel stared blankly at the broken bottle, the stab of pain in his chest growing worse. She had...destroyed it.
"...Oops?" Isabella shrugged, "Ah well, it would've been useless anyway. Why, I'm sure it would have hurt her all the more if she drank it! You should be thanking me-"
Raziel raised his fist, but Tabitha was quicker. She pressed the blunt end of her staff against his neck as Isabella looked on in amusement, "How could you defend her? She just-"
"Calm yourself." She pressed the staff against him harder, "Don't do anything foolish."
"This is not foolish." He bit back. He would crack her skull open and watch her bleed out on the floor; that was perfectly reasonable considering her actions. At least it would be relatively quick, which was more than he could say for what Manus would have done to her.
Still she refused to release him.
"Well, well. It appears that you can control your pets, after all." She ruffled Tabitha's hair mockingly and and walked past her, "I left a letter with dear Percival, so I suggest you check with him. Father has another task for you; you must earn your keep, after all." The sneer returned, uglier than before. He wanted to turn around and rip her jaw off. She wouldn't be smiling then.
They stayed in that awkward position and it was only when they heard the sounds of the horses galloping away that Tabitha's grip finally loosened.
"What in the abyss was that?" He snarled, wrenching his hand away from her. He could have pried her away earlier, but the desperation in which she restrained him caused him to hesitate, "She destroyed the Divine Blessing. Unless you wish her to lick it off the floor, we have wasted our time." He clenched his hands to try and calm himself, "That was the last bottle, Creon made that clear. It could be months before we find another-"
"I know." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "...I know."
"Then why did you give it to her? Surely you knew her intentions from the start." He brought a hand through his hair, mussing it up in his frustration, "I have seen your magic. You could have defeated her easily and cured your mother."
"It's not a matter of strength." She bit her lower lip, "She is unimportant. Her father is the one who pulls the strings."
"What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed, his scowl fading, "You understand we wasted our time for nothing. If we have no results to show for our efforts I would appreciate an explanation at the very least."
"...Nothing."
She walked past him without another word and left, closing the door behind her. Raziel stared at the wooden door blankly before letting out a frustrated growl. He smashed his hand against the wall, ignoring the cracks appearing on the surface. He shouldn't have cared so much, he had no personal stake in this- No, he actually did. He'd risked his 'life' against those damn dragons just to give her that damned potion. He deserved an explanation.
"Excuse me, sir?" The butler, Percival, called. He looked back at the old man and found him standing eerily still, though his expression appeared pained, "I understand you must be frustrated but I would appreciate if you did not take it out on the mansion."
"Right...apologies." He let out a frustrated breath.
"Lady Charlotte's circumstances are difficult. I hope you understand that her subservience to Lady Isabella is not of her own choosing," He murmured, "Though she was not directly involved in the circumstances that led to Duchess de Orleans' current condition she has not hesitated to take advantage." He sighed sadly, "She has been unable to fight back. Any harm to Lady Isabella and all of our lives are forfeit."
"She does not seem that powerful..."
"In combat, certainly not. But one does not need brute force in order to hold the advantage." He looked out the window, "Lady Charlotte will no doubt be expressing her frustrations in solitude so as to avoid burdening us. I implore that you meet her please."
"Why me? You know more of her circumstances than I..."
"Be that as it may, she clearly trusts you. I know milady doesn't show her care openly, but you wouldn't be here now if she didn't trust you. You and Lady Kirche...though I know not what level of trust you both share with her the fact remains that she has placed her faith in you. It is not just anyone that she would trust with confiding her circumstances with."
Actually he had found out by complete accident, but he was involved now one way or another.
"...Fine. Tell me where she is."
Finding Tabitha had been easy enough with the old retainer's directions. Even without saying a single word herself the cutting sound of wind slicing through water was unmistakable.
Stepping into the clearing slowly, he drew closer to the spell-casting Chevalier. If she was aware of his presence she made no effort to acknowledge him, continuing her attacks on the small bed of water. He watched her silently, counting the wind blades slicing through the surface. Even when she was frustrated she did her best to try and express her outrage in a way that left no permanent marks...he couldn't tell if he admired her resolve or found it depressing.
It was only when she finished with a particularly large spell that she finally deigned to acknowledge him, "...What do you want?" She still hadn't turned around, though he could make out the soft pants of breath. How much willpower did she have left? "Why did you come here?"
"...Are you okay?" He sighed. It was a stupid question to ask; of course she wasn't okay. All their efforts had been wasted and she had the closest thing she had to a cure snatched from her hands by that cruel bitch.
"No." She swung her staff, but no wind came. She was spent, "I did not expect Isabella." She adjusted her lopsided glasses and finally turned to look at him. He could see the beads of sweat on her forehead, the way she favored one leg. She was exhausted, "Percival told you?"
"Not everything."
"Just enough then." She let out a fatigued breath and closed her eyes before opening them once more, "Her father's machinations are responsible for my mother's madness. She finds amusement in this."
"Yes, that was clear to see." He crossed his arms, "I do not understand...you are a powerful Mage and no one would fault you for ending both their lives. Why not do so? Then there would be no more of..this."
"It isn't that easy. I would have done so if it was." She bit her lower lip, "...I am grateful for your aid before. Even if it amounted to nothing." She looked to the barren mansion, "...This 'game' of theirs shall go on once more."
"There should be another another Divine Blessing somewhere-"
"You have done enough." She shook her head, "My problems are not yours."
"Perhaps, but I have my own reasons for helping you." He gave her a wry smile, "I am no stranger to disappointment, but it never stops being annoying when my efforts are rendered null and void due to the actions of another." An image of Gwyndolin flashed through his mind before he quickly disregarded it. Some day... "When I find another I shall let you know. Perhaps this time our efforts will finally bear fruit."
"Both you and Kirche...neither of you listen." She stared at the ground before finally nodding with a weary sigh, "Do as you wish. Your assistance is appreciated."
"It is not as if you have not aided us before." He pointed out, "Tarbes, the impostor Wales...you stood to gain nothing for helping us and yet you did so. I suppose you could say I am merely returning the favor."
"Exchanging favors then. Acceptable." Her nod was firmer this time, "If...when a cure is found I shall owe you a debt."
"As you wish..." He eyed her shifting form warily, "...Are you well? It appears that you might collapse at any moment now."
"I'm fine-"
She fell. Raziel watched the girl crumple to the ground, losing her grip on her staff. He knelt and prepared to carry her but her hand swatted him away, "...I do not need to be carried." She groped for her staff and used it to pull herself up, "My willpower has dissipated. It will return soon."
"...At least find a better place to sit." Again he offered her a hand, which she accepted with some reluctance. Placing her arm over his shoulder he led her to a somewhat large tree and helped her sit at its base, "Should I call your retainer?" He asked. Even now she tried her best to mask her exhaustion, controlling her breaths and posture. Why bother? It wasn't as if he cared to judge her for being fatigued.
"No. I simply need rest."
She tucked her knees into her chest and closed her eyes. Whether she was planning to sleep or simply clear her mind he had no idea, but it was clear she wasn't planning to go back. Sighing, he sat down next to her and placed Derflinger at his side. If she had any protests about their distance she didn't vocalize it, only giving him a brief look with one eye before closing it once more.
"...Good night, Tabitha."
"Pleasant dreams, Raziel."
The young mistress and her friend didn't return last night.
Percival walked through the forest, letter clutched in his aged hands. No doubt it was another dangerous 'mission', a rather crude attempt at murdering the young lady without being so blatant about it. His heart always fell whenever he saw the letter stamped with the insignia of the royal family and it only worsened when Lady Isabella made her occasional 'visits'.
What would they make the young mistress do this time? Another spirit to pacify? More firstborns to contend with? Every time she left he prayed to Allfather Brimir and any deity up above to watch over her. Much as he dreaded being the bearer of bad news she needed to see the contents of the letter. Since neither of them had come back he could only assume they were still in the clearing.
The sight that met him caused him to pause. Lady Charlotte was asleep, her head resting on the young man's shoulder as she breathed softly. Her guest was the same, the sides of his cheeks resting atop her head even as he sat surprisingly still. The sword that had been placed in between them did little to deter the contact, and - dare he say it - they both appeared to be almost at peace as they slept.
A smile made its way to his wrinkled face and he turned to go back to the mansion. The letter could wait for a few more hours.
Yes I blatantly skipped the dragon fight, though at this point I doubt anyone cares. Still, what little glimpse of it we saw implies it would have been hella epic with a lot of aerial dog-fighting and then dealing with the brood coming to mommy's rescue. Since I'm not capable of writing something that good I'll just let you guys imagine.
Anyway, to get on the relationships: What do you guys think of a Tabitha romance? Not saying I'm planning to do it, but I've been reading up on other works of fiction and watching other videos on character interactions. Any romance I plan for the characters I'll do my best to make permanent since constantly breaking up for the sake of ambiguity feels cheap and kills any sense of consequences.
So yeah, what'd you guys think? At this point I'm definitely considering pairings so long as it makes sense within the context of the story. My friend suggested Cattleya and her being his possible roommate was a part of that. He also suggested Ciaran, but I REALLY doubt that's in any way feasible given their relationship.
'None' is still a viable option, of course. I just want your thoughts on this since I'm not sure. I wanted to avoid the harem theme but my avoidance was half-assed at best given that he gets ship tease with multiple characters anyway. Whoever we decide with I'll try to get a more consistent relationship build-up rather than disjointed ones.
Bloodtrinity - He probably just didn't think about it. Raziel isn't exactly a master deceiver and even in this chapter he fumbles lying to Kirche.
Ubermaster - This'll be a bit spoilery, so bear with me. In the original draft Raziel was meant to be Manus in his entirety rather than being the smallest pieces stitched together. This made him more of an equal foil to Julio rather than what we have now. Likewise there was an emphasis on the rivalry and relationship the two shared, to the point that he was the 'final boss' of the original story. There were other changes like Alsanna and Ciaran being nowhere to be found or the lack of a 'true' antagonist unlike the one I planned now.
The story was much shorter as a result since I would have literally been following the plotted line ZNT/DS gave us. Now I have a longer story and much more at stake.
And of course there was the utter lack of reincarnations. Henrietta didn't have Gwynevere's soul, Chester wouldn't have gotten shot due to not agitating Raziel etc etc. Really there were a lot of changes due to incorporating DS II lore, and may even include DS III lore depending on what I find (I've already found a few things that interested me).
Mingyu - Well to be fair she still does avoid contact :) We won't get that for a while yet.
Kishinokurobi - He's attracted older Karin, the one who's about 48 years old with three kids. Teenaged Karin is about 14-15 and looks/acts almost exactly like Louise does sans some minor differences so that's right out. I'm sure the two can be friends, but a 'fling before she goes back to her own time' is completely out of the question.
The main problem he faces is that he's not the 'main' personality. He was essentially meant to function as a 'safe mode' until the 'real' personality gained enough control to re-emerge. Going into Zen state wouldn't cure him since he already knows who he is; the fragments would wrench control away regardless. Likewise he can't crush the soul since that would either kill him or make him an unresponsive vegetable. Derflinger keeping the fragments from regaining control is the only preventative they have so far.
Yes it's annoying, but there's a reason he doesn't just unleash Manus willy-nilly and and curbstomp everyone.
Nivlac - Hope you enjoy reading it then :p It's a slog to go through, but I'm proud of it.