Chapter 13: Expedition (4)
"You've been pretty subdued since yesterday, Manaka."
"Quiet, Nanashi."
"Okay, cool. Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page."
Both youths fell silent for a time, neither daring to speak to the other as awkwardness spread like a bad smell between them, the memory of what had transpired in the bathroom causing the pair to avoid bringing up the topic like the plague.
"Holy shit...did I really get to see Manaka in a swimsuit? Goddammit, me, of all the times I had to be half dead and unconscious it was when I got to see that bit of divine imagery? And I'm pretty sure I fell asleep against her at some point. UGH I wish I could remember that…"
The blonde magus was handling the scenario far less calmly - at least on the outside - than her counterpart, cheeks flaring crimson as she remembered just what, precisely, had occurred between them.
"I...I actually adorned swimwear and washed him! Is this what normal people feel like all the time, committing such shameless adultery and perverse actions with no hesitation?! Should the Root not have informed me of these social interactions instead of useless things like the various futures of the world?!"
For all of her knowledge, power and skill Manaka was still lacking in a few key areas when it came to confidence and competency.
"Fou, fou!"
The pair snapped out of their mutual embarrassment by the yipping noise of a familiar animal approaching their position, Cath Palug happily trotting towards them as, grateful for the distraction, both youths crouched so as to pet and scratch the fluffy animal as it twisted and shook with pleasure at the attentions.
"Well, it looks like the sapling Mortin gave us did as it was supposed to...was honestly kind of wondering if we would end up halfway across the Reverse or some other kind of unexpected detour."
The blonde gave her companion a faux pout, inquiring, "You expected me to perform such a blunder, Nanashi?"
"Of course not, but who knows what kind of crazy shenanigans that Fae might have purposefully or not sent us on? Weren't you the one warning me they could be pretty playful and manipulative?"
"Such accusations are quite hurtful, young ones~!"
Nanashi once again yelped and leapt backwards in shock as Mortin freed himself from a nearby tree trunk, playfully smiling at the duo as Manaka didn't so much as blink.
"W-what the hell?! Can you just pop out of any tree trunk you want to?!"
"As long as it's my tree trunk, then of course. A pleasure to meet you again so soon, children. I assume you wish to meet with our queen today?"
Quickly recovering his cool the youth cleared his throat, responding, "If we can. Would she be willing to meet with us?"
Rather than responding the Fae instead arched an eyebrow, staring at the two young humans with a mildly confused expression...and promptly snapped his fingers, laughing with sudden mirth as he mused, "So that is why you two seem so standoffish with each other...ahh, young love is such a pleasant thing to witness."
Both magi's features exploded into scarlet blushes, Manaka protesting, "W-what imaginative tripe is spewing from your mouth, Fae?!"
"Yeah, what she said! How did you even figure that out anyway?!"
Smirking like the cat that caught the canary Mortin trilled, "Oh, so neither of you will deny my claim, merely confirm it?"
Both teens froze in their indignation, brains locked up at the logic lock they were encountering. Neither wanted to say that they didn't like the other...but actual affection? Friends was already tricky enough to run with, forget being boyfriend and girlfriend!
Shaking his head and chuckling merrily Mortin stated, "Well i suppose I have caused you enough mortification to last the day. Come along now, our queen has instructed me to guide you to her as soon as you arrive."
Cath palug nudged the pair with his nose, clearly instructing the shellshocked and blushing duo to get a move on as they began to walk in the Fae's wake on autopilot, far too mortified by the sudden comments from the man to do much of anything else other than do as instructed.
...neither of them had the slightest clue how to act now that the big question mark had been acknowledged.
The lands of the Fae, despite being located within a large and verdant forest, was hardly a uniform place to trek through. Bushes and branches seamlessly shifted into snow-capped hills and intricate icicle formations, a winged sprite with blue skin and hair of glittering snowflakes curiously staring at them as Nanashi breathed in the cool and crisp air with clear relish.
Soft dirt and dead leaves transformed into ash and cracked ground, currents of molten stone snaking through the landscape as a muscular Fae seemingly made of volcanic glass gave them an airy wave, the homunculus enjoying the stifling air far less than he did the arctic domain.
On it went, Mortin leading them from one fever dream biome to the next as dozens upon dozens of the Fae observed their approach, eventually the journey coming to an end as they stood before a large, glimmering lake that was so clear and undisturbed that the boy was hesitant to even approach, lest he fall upwards into the sky above.
Considering how weird the Fae had proven themselves to be thus far, he wasn't discounting the possibility.
"And here we are. Now remember to be on your best manners, our queen is not one given to overly fanciful displays of servitude but a few basic courtesies would not be amiss, now would they?"
Before Nanashi could respond the surface of the perfect lake developed a swiftly spreading set of ripples before parting with seamless grace, a regal and beautiful figure rising from the depths.
Tall, possessing a modest but curvy figure with long hair of midnight and a simple but immaculate dress of royal blue and gold, features so perfectly sculpted that Nanashi couldn't help but wonder if the Fae spent several years in front of the mirror ensuring she looked her best or was simply born that way.
He snapped himself out of his observation enough to remember Mortin's advice, bowing awkwardly from the waist as, to his relief, Manaka consented to lightly curtsy.
Even if he could see how she rolled her eyes at the gesture.
"Rise, children. I am Viviane, queen of the Fae and Mortin has brought to my attention the details of your quest to these lands."
Straightening his back with the help of his cane Nanashi felt himself sucked into the crystal blue orbs of the Fae woman, her stride liquid grace as she walked atop the waters, continuing with, "I find myself just as curious as he why you elected to brave such a dangerous and potentially hostile environment, where the very air could immolate you without the precautions you so clearly undertake."
A slight tilt of the Fae woman's head, the pair noting how a collection of figures had gathered along the edges of the lake, no doubt the other Fae eager to watch the proceedings.
"Surely there are much more assured means of achieving your goal, ones that would not result in your likely death?"
Manaka gave Nanashi a look that clearly stated he was supposed to be the one to explain why they were here, the boy swallowing nervously before making to respond-
-and hesitated, words catching in his throat as he realized that his desire to basically earn a new body for himself and avert his death - which would likely be earned through the hunting of other phantasmal beasts - sounded extraordinarily petty when spoken to a creature as majestic and grand as the queen of the Fae.
"Do not doctor and attempt to falsify your reasons and motivations, child. I will be impressed not by the twisting and fabricating of words, only their sincerity."
Grimacing at that Nanashi gathered his courage, took a deep breath and explained a similar - albeit different - reasoning for his motivations and quest.
"My friend here is, for lack of a better word, cursed."
Viviane inclined her head slightly, remarking, "She shares a connection to some facet of the Root of all Things, does she not? The presence of her soul is no small thing."
Manaka's cerulean eyes narrowed as Nanashi quickly placed a hand on her arm, stating, "That's right. She can't experience novelty and mystery - can't experience life - the same way I imagine you or I do. But something about my abilities that I don't understand yet means she can't learn about certain facets of my life and past, even when trying to access it from the Root."
He helplessly shrugged.
"I'm the one who gave her the gift of life. And she's the one who exposed me to a life outside of the one I had, one where I would have died alone, miserable and useless without even knowing why. I want to keep living, keep staying by her side in a body that isn't worthless and weak."
He paused for breath, finishing with, "And not too long ago I met another girl, one who carries a burden just as cruel as Manaka's...she called us her friends and knowing what she has to suffer through I don't want to disappoint her. I can't do that in this miserable and failing form."
Silence met his words, the boy shifting uneasily as he wondered if he'd said something unimpressive or greedy sounding...and found Manaka staring at him with a blush that seemed oddly placed considering the epic pout she also sported.
"What? Did I say something?"
"Hmph!"
Coldly staring the other way in a childish display of displeasure Mortin chuckled at the display, advising the boy with, "While a passionate statement, young one, a woman typically does not appreciate her courting being lumped in with a possible competitors~."
Staring incredulously at the Fae as he and a fair few others laughed or chuckled Viviane shook her head, raising a hand and instantly silencing the crowd as she stated, "I have heard your words, young one...and while they are inherently selfish, they are selfish wishes born of an earnest desire to help and interact with others. There is no shame in admitting that."
She drew herself upright, now standing no more than a few meters away from the pair as she stated, "And I believe the aid of the Fae - at the cost of a few concessions and rules - will aid you in your journey."
Lighting up at that Nanashi asked, "Sure, what do you need? Err, your majesty?"
Flawless lips quirked briefly in amusement as Viviane replied, "The one rule we ask of you is this. Do not be the aggressor in any altercation that arises during your journeys across the Reverse. We do not demand that you practice nonaggression - many will seek to maim or murder you and I do not ask for the impossible - but you will be expected to speak and parlay with others before resorting to force."
While Manaka didn't look particularly happy at that condition Nanashi swiftly nodded, not averse to the idea at all as Viviane became a sight more grave.
"As for our request? To the north of our lands reside a series of valleys and plains that used to be a part of our people's territory...until a strange darkness one day manifested and swallowed it whole, an unapproachable barrier ensconcing the terrain, barring all from access to it."
The queen of the Fae frowned slightly.
"The Magus of Flowers and I have our suspicions about the nature of this darkness but we have yet been able to ascertain its exact purpose or what controls it. Given that the two of you possess unusual gifts I believe you shall have greater success in confirming our suspicions than any other."
Regaining her calm assurance the Fae woman announced, "Do these for us, young ones...and the Fae will aid and shelter you during your journeys across the Reverse, a safe haven should you ever have need of it."
Nodding without a second thought Nanashi responded, "We'll do it, your majesty."
Manaka shrugged as if the potentially dangerous or even lethal task was of no consequence, stating, "Such a simple endeavor will pose no challenge. Come, Nanashi. Let us depart."
A round of smiles and whispers of encouragement emanated from the gathered Fae before they seemed to simply fade from existence, Viviane offering them a nod of acknowledgement before she too vanished into the again placid lake, the forest as quiet and empty as it always was as Cath Palug trotted forward, cocking his head in their direction as Nanashi took a deep breath-
-and promptly yelped as Manaka pinched his ear, pouting as she complained, "How uncouth of you to mention another girl while in my presence, Nanashi. I feel quite slighted and unappreciated."
"Really? Are we really doing this right now?"
The quadruped rolled his eyes as the rest of the forest seemed to shake and quiver with mirth at the display, the two teens continuing to argue even as they left in the direction the Fae queen had pointed them in.
"I can't help but feel like Viviane wasn't doing justice to the whole 'valley and plains' deal when she described it as thus."
Manaka shrugged, idly replying, "To a Fae something as grand as this no doubt unimpressive, considering the breadth of experience they must undergo during their long lives."
Despite the disinterested words Manaka seemed just as enamored with the sight before them as Nanashi was, his enthusiasm and wonder infecting her with mutual delight as they stared down upon the landscape from their perch on a towering cliff.
The Grand Canyon Nanashi had often heard of must have looked like this, provided it stretched from one end of the horizon - and assumedly further - to the other, verdant greenery, shimmering grass and swaying trees dominating the vista as he stared, slack jawed.
Even the gargantuan, midnight sphere of blackness that seemed to suck in the light around it and cause his eye to glance off its edges couldn't detract from the beauty before him, only add to it.
After all, where else was he going to see what was no doubt some kind of void-like singularity elsewhere in the world?
"Well, let us not dally. Or else you might just find your reinforcement failing and then what shall I do, Nanashi? Ayaka and papa would be most distraught if I was to bring back nothing but a charred husk for their viewing pleasure."
Shaking himself out of his trance the boy rolled his neck, acknowledging the truth of his friend's words as he replied, "Good point, let's move."
The blonde magus linked her arm in his, whispering a brief mantra as the winds roughly but quickly carried them skyward, approaching the rift in reality as the bird flies.
The entire trip Nanashi kept his eyes locked on the thing, attempting to peer into its existence and discern anything useful about it...but what was strange was that the inky void simply didn't seem to exist. His eyes roved over its surface and kept going, no real feeling to its clear and present station.
"Weird…"
"Your mystic eyes are unable to perceive anything?"
Manaka brought them in for a gentle landing, supporting Nanahsi as he clumsily regained his feet after the minutes of fast moving levitation as he replied, "No, it's like the damn thing just sucks in purpose and meaning without even bothering to take it on a first date. Can you tell me anything about it, Manaka? And stop pulling on my ear, one of these days you're going to rip the damn thing off."
Puffing out a cheek at his crass description the pale-blonde nonetheless did as he requested, approaching the event horizon and coming to a stop almost a meter away, humming lightly to herself as she carved a few runes in the air, traced a few circles into the ground and even pulled out a pair of reading glasses to help her view the strange barrier...and a girly giggle left the youth as she skipped back to the homunculus, happily trilling, "I don't know what it is in the slightest~!"
Heaving out a sigh the male grumbled, "Of course you would be excited about that…" before turning back to stare at the towering void with narrowed eyes.
"Well we can't just go back empty handed-hold on...do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Nanashi cocked his ears, eventually shaking his head as he replied, "Nothing, thought I heard singing for a second. Do you think we could get inside somehow?"
"Impossible."
Blinking at Manaka's blunt and certain words she elaborated with, "Even with both of our powers combined, even if we were not in the Reverse we would not be able to break through. While I could not discern much I could tell that this was constructed during the Age of the Gods and contains significant divine power. Whatever is contained within was not meant to be freed or observed lightly. Nanashi, are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Yeah, sorry, but are you sure you don't hear that?"
Clearly exasperated the girl testily asked, "Hear what, Nanashi? There is nothing but wind and trees to hear."
"No, there's definitely someone singing...a woman, I think?"
The cerulean-eyed magus cautiously observed her friend as he shook his head like an irritated dog, seemingly unable to tear his gaze away from the strange void as something resounded within his ears, the benthic cry of whales, dragons and leviathans echoing within his mind as he distantly heard Manaka ask him something but he ignored her, body moving on its own as he approached the inky blackness, the song beckoning him forward as a girl's concerned shout seemed to come from a universe away-
-and then blackness.