Chapter 3: Machinations Mushrooming

Garuda strode through the Guild Hall's doors, blue steely beaked helm with long white tail of hair at the top shinning in the midday sun, hulking, five-foot long, single sided claymore nearly as tall as he was, a massive sack hunched over his less contested shoulder, bulky puldrons of plate mixing poorly with the lesser quality splint that adorned most of his mass. Many onlookers stared at the falcon-knight as he approached the front desk, despite the looming presence of the creature, the knight had a high-pitched voice that sounded more like a child than that of an adventurer with decades of experience, which asked the man, "Bad night?"

"Grandson has some endurance; I'll tell you that. The lad is barely a year old and can scream down the neighborhood." Lumis explained, "But today hasn't been too bad, how have you been?" He inquired with a smile.

"Productive." Lifting the hand that help the heavy brown bag. "Where do you want 'em?"

"The alchemist's room, there should be a chest free to secure them until the contractor arrives in a day or two." Just as Garuda was going to do as he said, the guild attendant said, "Oh!" Taking out a written piece of parchment, unstamped and seemingly new which made the knight's curiosity inflate to obesity, "When you're done with that, postpone checking the board and go outside to the vender right outside, he wants to talk to you."

While Garuda was loathed to disrupt his nearly ingrained schedule with the Guild, he nodded back, trusting Lumis whom has been a kind acquaintance for many years. The knight slid the sack into one of the larger chests, took the key to lock it off a rack, and just when was closing the lid, the sack opened partially and thin, sinewy vines of fungal matter started stalking along the brown bag's opening.

The spread of the moldy materiel immediately halting when Garuda took out a sunstone, squeezed it firmly and held it in front of the appendages, halting them dead from the harsh rays radiating from the elementally endowed crystal. Garuda spotted the one of of the three decapitated mushroom creatures, a mild and vague indication of where eyes should be and stared back at it, his own gaze seemingly just as hollow from the all-encompassing helm around his head, with only holes to glare from that showed no features.

Garuda slowly pulled the stone back from the fungal infested sack, only for the ropey fingers to grope for freedom once again, immediately shoving the stone back, even closer than before and forcing it back. After a moment of light torture, Garuda again retracted the stone. Only this time the fungus did not make a second attempt to escape. Nodding in appreciation at the mushroom heads in the bag, Garuda bound and tied the bag opening tightly before closing and locking the chest. Setting the key atop the parchment, the knight stated, "Send my money to the usual place, take whatever you need from my reward for postage." Before heading out to meet the person who desired Garuda's presence.

A shop setting up nearby wasn't new, but it was usually restricted to people whom were at one point an adventurer themselves or were trusted sources either prescribed by the guild or were hired specifically because the guild was short of a smith, alchemist or whatever else they may need.

Garuda didn't expect they needed a tavern. People, not just adventurers, were walking about, wooden plates filled to near overflowing with white noodles covered in red sauce with chunks of orbed meat. Unfortunately, one of those patrons recognized the falcon knight, a pointy hatted wannabe sorceress waved at Garuda with fork still in hand, "Hey! Garuda! Get over here!"

The knight crossed his arms at his fellow platinum ranked colleague, Mira, whom unlike Lumis, never valued Garuda's privacy and when they did work together, her mouth or attitude had put both of them and whomever they were with on the harsher side of fate's lash. Nevertheless, Garuda approached Mira, a powerful and cunning magic user per usual, whom was standing at a table which had a long, plain staff of turquoise, simply but perfectly carved points at the bottom and top being the only seeming ornaments or distinguishing features seen. "Look what mama got!" Mira beamed and gestured to said item, "It's a mithril staff! I used an identify spell to check if what the seller said was correct and it was furnished with an enchantment of 'greater-resilience'! Guess how much it cost me!" A strand of hazel hair, usually neatly tied under her eyesore of a hat, came undone from excitement and frame an eye of deep blue.

Garuda gave a bored sigh, shrugging.

"Eighty-Silver!" Mira's magic rings clinked together as she clapped. "Apparently this is their first day in the city and everything is on sale! I already have a few potions I bought with the change they gave me back for the gold piece I had! Maybe you should use this as an opportunity to upgrade your equipment?"

"No." Garuda said simply, "All I have are heirlooms and I shan't neglect them."

"Yes, they certainly look like it." Mira waved dismissively at the armor. "You're a gust of wind away from it all just crumbling to dust… on second thought, don't get anything new! At least with what you have, I might finally just get a peak of what you look like." She winked at the knight, "The betting pool is still there, by the way!"

"Maybe I should rob it…" Garuda put his fist at the end of the beak as if in thought.

"Welcome! Welcome!" A man walked towards Garuda. The knight had to shake his head at his appearance, considering for a second he was a member of the undead, but the newcomer looked to Mira, "How is your spaghetti?"

"It's wonderful, thank you!" She smiled back.

"Can I get you a plate?" The grey man asked.

"No, but fetch your master, I was told he wished to speak with me." Garuda removed his sword and leant it against the table.

"As you wish!" The man replied, turning and walking away a step before turning on the spot and saying, "I'm Luis!"

Garuda growled lowly at the man, "I don't have time for games, boy."

"Good, because I'm not good at them." Luis's tone was suddenly serious, and his smiling demeanor was dampened but not gone. "I'm in charge of this trading post, and it was I who desired to have words with you."

"That so?"

"And you're the first to turn down a plate of spaghetti. Where I'm from, that is almost as offensive as spitting." Luis folded his own arms, "Where we're going, we'll need a sense of deference."

"Where?" Ignoring the insults.

Instead of verbally answering, Luis unraveled a map, placed it on the table and stuck a finger at the destination.

"No." Garuda shook his head sternly. "It was a mistake going there at all, why do you wish to go to such a place?"

"I need answers, it's as simple as that, what treasure or loot you find is yours alongside the payment I would provide."

"So, this isn't through the guild? I only do officially sanctioned work, nothing off the books, I'm no Worker." Garuda leant in, and to Luis's credit, he didn't flinch when the beak was a hair's breadth away from touching his forehead. "Even if I wanted to take it. Which I don't."

"I only want a guide, if any violence will occur it will only be on the way over. Just get us there, we'll do the rest and you can leave." Luis stared back unflinching at the knight.

"You are going to die."

"Does the possibility of death make you a coward? You make for a poor adventurer."

Mira stopped eating and stared in bug eyed terror as Garuda reached for his sword. Luis didn't seem threatened as the knight gripped the pommel, in fact, he gave a small, challenging smile, narrowing his eyes and asked, "You're fairly high-ranking," Looking at Garuda's platinum plate, "let's see if you're worthy enough for it." Of which, Luis didn't seem to have a weapon at all. Which somehow worried Mira even more.

As Garuda lifted the blade up, Mira screamed, "HEY!" Distracting both of them enough that she quickly ran between them, "You!" Pointing at Garuda, "This idiot is unarmed, unarmored and clearly insane. But! His noodles are delicious, so for the sake of that alone, don't kill him for simply insulting you." Turning on her heel and scolding Luis in turn, "And you! You have no right to call my friend a coward! He's been through more you can imagine earning his rank! Barring that, he declined your offer and tried in his way to offer advice in this venture of yours." Mira's scolding gaze quickly turned to a broad grin, "Ignoring advice is my best attribute! Give the coin to me and I'll take you there." Taking her staff off the table and offering her opposing hand.

"W-wait…" Garuda put his blade down and gaze snapped between the two. "You really shouldn't."

"I know the area fairly well, if anything I'll get them just close to the hills and let them figure it out!"

Luis shrugged, "If that's the best with what we can do." Looking back to the carriage, he clicked his fingers, and out of the shady interior out threw a bang of coins into the man's hand. Opening it, "Ooo, we made a solid profit, I think. Last count was around twenty gold, fifty silver?"

Both Garuda and Mira stared at the grey man before the latter looked to the former, "Wanna split it?"

The sorceress could tell Garuda was nearly foaming at the mouth with desire, and Mira capitalized on this fact when she suggested, "I would have a greater chance of returning unharmed if you came."

"Wasn't this supposed to be my job?" Garuda muttered under his breath, before shaking his head and sighing, "Alright, but… two thirds for my portion, since she butts in what was originally just my contract."

"No." Luis put the pouch in the 'pocket' inside his coat. "Half, and I won't discuss this further, leave or stay."

Garuda lifted his head at Luis, biting down his pride and gave a single nod. "I must prepare several things before we leave, and it may take several hours. Where can I find you later?"

"Right here!" Luis smiled, "I'll be preparing dinner before we leave."

"OO!" Mira cooed giddily, "What will it be?"

"I already have an idea for a Shish Kabob, just have to find a good butcher and some mushrooms."

The sorceress looked to the falcon knight, only to see him having already left. "Sorry about him, he's a sour squid."

"Indeed." Luis inclined his head, "Anyways, allow me to introduce you to the others." Gesturing to the cart, "One is currently away, but I'm certain she'll return presently. This!" Gesturing to the innards of the carriage, "Is Azimuth."

Mira was curious how to approach this. There was nothing inside. "Its uh… a very good looking carriage. Very empty."

She looked again only to see two massive plates of glowing red filling her vision. "See with more than eyes." The creature spoke before Mira screamed and launched herself back, pointing the staff at it.

"Azimuth…" Luis chastised lowly as if he was the thing's disappointed parent, "That was very rude."

"Keeps the lady's senses sharp, but…" It fully emerged from carriage and walked towards Mira with an extended arm, long, spindly fingers opening at the human. It's black ash mask leering at the human even as a deceptively calm voice said, "My apologies."

Mira had to look away in horror as she forced her hand into the creature's grasp, whom shook it gladly, but by the gods! They were so bony, she could feel the scrappy unevenness in its fingernails as they scratched under her arm, willing herself not to throw up. 'At least it doesn't smell.' But when she considered how something as shaggy and savage as such a thing should reek, Mira realized she couldn't smell anything at all, a complete absence of smell, she even cupped her free hand over her mouth, trying to smell her breath but couldn't detect a whiff of anything. 'What kind of magic…?' She thought before she finally looked back, able to stomach only a moment of looking at her hand in the grasp of that, before she retrieved it and nodded. "Y-yes, hello. Are there any others?"

While Mira directed the question to Luis, Azimuth gestured further back behind the carriage, "Follow!"

Following… whatever it was, she looked upon two massive pigs, almost as large as the carriage and with a pair of massive black tusks the size of a grown man's arm contrasting sharply with their rich, pink skin. They leant against each other, laying on their bellies, but clearly not asleep, both chewing something and black eyes darting about. Initially she thought these beasts were scanning for potential threats but as Azimuth and Mira grew closer, saw they were in fact leering at a number of flies that radiated off of them.

"These proud beasts will lead us to our destination in speed and comfort." Azimuth waved towards the hogs, "But their master lies betwixt them; long slumbering from self-imposed, blasphemous boredom." Azimuth took out a small dart from a hidden pocket on her hairy body. "Animal's sleeping dart. It will route our quarry that lays between them. Behold:" Crouching down slightly with the monster, Mira spotted a pair of boots that jutted out near their heads. She heard a tiny tic, almost unnoticeable like a rain drop hitting a roof, then one of the pigs moaned and fell on its side, on top of the one they were protecting.

The feet of the hidden man were kicking wildly in panic, muffled screaming being heard over both the instantly snoring hog and the complaints of the still conscious pig having its space intruded upon.

Mira, although all for a good joke, was running to the man and pulling on his boots to try and save him from being crushed or suffocation.

A second later, the pig began to lift over the man, whom only seemed to be mildly struggling with the load he bore, whom yelled, "Get your own shoes, ya soddin'-!" Looking down at his would-be thief and pausing. "Hello my lovely." The foxman smiled cheekily, "I'll get this sleepy boy to lay somewhere else, then you wanna take his place on top of me?"

Mira didn't even hear the man speak, staring with shock at the display of strength. 'Either the giant pigs weigh nothing, or he lifted over a ton at least!' But then she felt cold air running through her legs, ankle and womanhood, she looked down; the beastman's other foot was lifting her robes as she crouched, holding onto his other foot. She flushed, stared back at the man lividly, whom still continued to smile even as he knew he had been discovered. He wiggled his eyebrows, "Underwear is overrated anyways."

"AHH!" She took her quarterstaff and stabbed it down, directly on the beastman's manhood.

He yelled out in agony, his arms straining not to reflexively snap his hands to cradle his genitals until the great pig slammed back down.

Mira turned, Azimuth was no longer in sight, but Luis was seen not too far away. "Two minutes, and Reynard already sexually harasses one of the new party members." The grey man said shaking his head, before biting off a chunk of cheese he had, then looking sternly at the ground. Mira noted a haze in his eyes as if Luis was, for a moment, petrified in his own mind, just more than a second, but long enough for her take in the sheer dread he momentarily expressed before he turned and entered the cart.

Meanwhile…

Garuda sighed in relief when he finally pulled off the helm around his head, quickly opening his mouth over and over, his jaws cracking audibly, green feathers flexing as he breathed, and his nasal passages were free to breathe. Garuda looked around his ramshackle housing, confident that none of the homeless had taken residence in his absence and discarded the rest of his armor to rest for an hour free of it.

"Hey Barry!"

Garuda blinked wide, bird like eyes, gave a startled hoot, his beak opening wide instinctively at the intruder as he gave a terrifying shriek all too similar to the hawks and birds of prey that nest in the area. The intruder didn't seem phased by the cry, nor Garuda's avian appearance. "Hare…" Garuda croaked after a moment, shaking his head. "Why are you here? Is something wrong at the orphanage?"

Hare himself seemed to have put on weight, muddy blonde hair only just beginning to sprout across the expanding, fatty chin beneath his jaws, offsetting the usual, malnourished image Garuda had of his friend, the chubby teen smiled with gusto and raised his arms up to hug the birdman, "It's been months! Why haven't we seen you again?"

Garuda accepted the embrace but had to lean down considerably to accept the far shorter boy-man, patting the scraggy mat of hair on top of his head, "The last time they saw me, some of the new faces thought I was going to adopt one of 'em." Garuda scratched where his beak met the feathery fuzz of his face. "And besides, it's always weird going back like… this."

"Did you ever check on that one witch in the south? Could she have broken the curse?"

"Yes but the price was too high." Garuda shook his head, his crest rising in annoyance. "Breaking the curse would have also taken the strengths that the armor gives me."

Hare wasn't smiling anymore, "Sometimes I wish that knight never got you."

"Wishes can't buy food, but the curse has had its benefits." Garuda smiled at Hare, "So why are you here? Just to say hello?"

Hare grimaced, "They'll… mistress Burma will be putting me to the street next month… I was wondering if I could co-"

"No." Garuda quickly protested, "I'm going on a quest tonight and where I'm going is where Ser Alkon died and the very same place where I had to first put on the armor just to survive!"

Hare seemed to have taken the disagreement to its fullest, remembering the day Garuda came back after nearly a year travelling with the falcon knight. "But… I don't have anywhere to go… maybe I can find work on the road? I'm sure the villages are desperate for hands with everyone trying to leave for the cities."

Garuda's brow lowered heavily, "Do you plan on going back?" While Garuda had more friends and people he cared about at the orphanage, he couldn't imagine what his life would be if Hare and him drifted apart.

"I uh I don't know." Hare grimaced, trying his best to stay calm. "Please, I'm sure the adventurer's guild won't-"

"This isn't a Guild quest, not a true one." Garuda shook his head, "Which makes me even more worried then I would if it was just going back to the Cursed Hills. This feels too close to Worker activities, I do not like this, and the man who's funding it all gives me some very bad feelings."

"Please." Hare pleaded once more.

Running a hand over his beak before Garuda closed his eyes, "We need to get our story straight…"

[][]

Luis sighed mournfully as he bit the flank of pork off his wooden needle. He didn't taste the meat, now perfectly crispy but not too dry or burnt, the smokey wood infused in its tender flesh, nor the essence of mushrooms skewered along with the meat. It was just… particles, atoms, molecules vibrating at higher frequencies then the area around it and derived from the flesh of certain animals, flora or fungus.

The seraph was happily relieved when he heard content sighs and hums of joy, fearing that he seasoned it wrong or overcooked everything in the hearth. A chef who can't taste his own fare in its preparation is an orator who can't read their own speech, or an artist that sees colors only in shades of grey.

Mira waved at Luis from across the fire they expanded from the hearth; "This is spectacular! If we live through this, the Adventurer's Guild should permanently hire you as a cook!"

The thought did give the angel a twinge of both yearning and nostalgia, the idea of just going through a facsimile of his old human routine without any of the bizarre baggage of Istannice or its denizens was more than a little tempting, and with all the exotic and rare ingredients he could get, he could let his imagination go wild and experiment continuously. "I'm afraid such ventures are beyond my reach. Would any of you like my serving?" Offering his barely touched plate of skewers to those in the circle.

"Hope it's enough for me and my boy."

Luis turned to see the shape of Garuda's dull and aged armor being teased by the light of the hearth, alongside him stood another, barely half the knight's height but clearly human of adolescent age, brown scraggy hair, freckled and chubby, smiling hesitantly at the group. Before Luis could even ask, Mira stood straight up and demanded, "You have a kid?!"

"C-clearly, yes." Garuda nodded at the sorceress. "This is Hare, I'll be taking care of him on the trip, but I'll have to ask for half of my payment upfront for… equipment."

In an eye blink, a certain sand-elf had appeared from the darkness at Vehuel's side. Felrrin smiling coyly, "Mister Bird here is lying, of course." Carrying a bag of scrolls and clattering mechanical components, knowingly winking at the newcomers.

Luis gave a quick, "It matters not." Before pausing, looking down, forced a smile and gave the wooden plate to Hare. "I'll provide your payment, wait here." Having another distilled facsimile of joy when the boy stared wide eyed at hunk of meat he had eaten off of and smiled widely.

Felrrin looked down at Mira and nodded towards the sorcerer, "Magic user I take it?"

"The hat gave it away?" Mira smiled back.

"Oh, and the staff. And the aura."

"And the lack of underwear…" Reynard chuckled lowly.

Both the Sand-Elf and the Falcon Knight gave a confused look at the Foxman, whereas Mira gave a scornful leer. "Magical specialists; ever wonder what's under the robes?" Shaking his head while bouncing his eyebrows a few times.

Felrrin gave a small smile, "Hmmm minister Shiehk?" She said to herself while she walked into the carriage.

Garuda however wasn't capable of even looking at Mira now, his beaked helmet turning one way then another actively trying to avoid a glimmer of the woman in his gaze, even as Luis provided the bag of gold to him.

"Watch it!" Hare declared, ducking under his beak as his friend whipped it about, mouth full of food.

"S-sorry." Garuda choked.

"It is an odd pattern indeed." Azimuth strolled out of the carriage, taking a spit that rested not too far from the fire, before sitting her shaggy form down next to a terrified Hare, whom stared at her with utter terror, stopping every action including breathing.

Garuda reached for his blade, sheathed and resting on his thigh, as he also stared at the bizarre, masked creature.

But as Azimuth lifted her wooden visage enough to reveal her mouth, filled with wicked, jagged splinters of bone, she stopped bringing the stick up to the opening, instead, groaned lowly in disgust before ripping a block of meat off the stick and carefully presenting it to the boy. "Hate meat, would you like mine?"

Hare took the piece of food, slowly and without taking hos eyes of the courteous monster.

Azimuth then looked up to Garuda, "I vow thus: your child will be safe while I yet draw breath."

Hare squinted, "What are you?"

"A maiden, why ask you?" Biting off a mushroom and smiling wickedly at Hare. "A bit young for me you are."

"You're a woman?" Both Garuda and Hare stared at her burly, hairy form for any sign of the traditional traits of the fairer sex.

"My peers had warned mine charms would affect others thusly." Azimuth tittered.

"There is so much wrong with this conversation." Reynard sighed. "We got Gilded Mead? Gotta get wabbajacked ta forget you hava gash."

"Sweet toothed child." Azimuth muttered at the man-beast.

"Furry little shite." Reynard insulted back.

"Idiotic infidel." She spat back.

"Ugly arse."

The whole party were observing the display of the two trade insults, but at the last one, Azimuth stood up and hissed viciously at foxman, whom in turn stood up and gave a challenging grin as he put up his fists, "Any time, batty!"

Mira, Garuda and Hare stared in morbid fascination as they could almost see their aura's flare visibly, challenging one another to the first move.

However, Luis was looking on with intense, if bewildering, nostalgia at the standoff, the scene reminding the angel of countless times Maxi and Anthony had such confrontations, the two despised each other almost to the point Anthony nearly quit the Gilded, twice and Maxi had to give YGGDRASIL a wide berth for a time before coming back to 'work'. How many duels did they perform? The jibes might have changed, but the presence of the progenitors of their respective NPC creations was unmistakable and Luis found himself smiling before breaking out into laughter, catching the attention of all around including the clashing wills of Azimuth and Reynard. "Lord in Heaven; this takes me back." Luis shook his head, continuing to chuckle, "Ahhh goodness gracious, if Nasazel and the golden bull were here now…"

The Aldrikkni and beastman exchanged a single, awkward glance at each other before sitting back down. "If you still want that mead, I can…?" Luis offered.

"One for us as well?" Azimuth raised a clawed hand, "Forgetting might be in both our interests, fox."

"Want to try some?" Luis offered the new party members, still grinning like a fool.

Mira nodded and smiled back, with Garuda shaking his head firmly, "None for the boy either."

"Hey!" Hare glared at Garuda.

Luis chuckled once more before departing to the innards of the carriage, for the first time as well. There was a moment of bewilderment, an internal perplexment which Luis wasn't sure if it was bound strictly to entering the pocket dimension or if his senses were overcompensating, somehow expecting a far smaller compartment of holding cargo then what he met. While the carriage was sparse, the hold was filled with warm orange light coming from torches that filled the main corridor, with one being held in front of individual doors that granted access to specific categories of items, the walls themselves were rich, brown mahogany planks, smooth and shinnying in the light.

Luis followed the single path down until he found the 'Consumables: Food/Drink', where he was met by a cornucopia of various foodstuffs, the closest and most tempting to pilfer being the vast stacks of cheese wheels. There lay dozens of cheddars, swiss, mozzarella, gouda, feta, but then he remembered that he probably wouldn't be able to taste any of them anyways and tried to focus in on find the beverages he sought, ignoring the cured meats that dangled on hooks, the bushels of fruits and vegetables, and the shelves of sweets. 'Wines, ales, beers, ports, ah! Mead!' Luis smiled as he looked down the columns of different bottles, before coming across the correct label and pulling out three bottles of clear, honey golden filled liquid, their caps encased in green wax.

"I thought angels were traditionally messengers," Luis heard Felrrin say behind him, "not waiters."

The seraph gave a small sigh, stating as his he cradled a bottle with one arm and held the other two in his hands, "I'm not sure you've noticed but I'm not a traditional kind of angel." Turning to see the sand-elf, smiling that strange and slightly menacing smirk that their patron minister Melkoth seemed to have permanelty affixed to his features, arms behind her back, protruding her chest out slightly towards him, enough so that when Luis did look on her bosom that a glimmer of orange briefly flooded the angel's vision. "Would you be so kind?" Offering a bottle.

"My Prince." She nodded and took the bottle, "May I make a personal inquiry?" She asked as they both left the chamber, the door humming and glowing a dim light as it magically sealed the items inside from natural decay or spoilage.

"Sure." Luis responded curtly to the elf walking with him.

"I've noticed a strange flux in your behavior, is everything alright?"

'Besides feeling suddenly more angely because the Mortal Fruit's effects left me, no, I want to taste food again.' Luis thought to himself, "The minister of matters is a concern of mine, and I am… feeling off, but nothing to worry about." But then remembered how flustered he became just speaking to an attractive woman, and given how clearly Felrrin's flirtations have been plus the warnings of her from Shiehk, it may be best that he acts less like his old mortal self.

"Anything that I can do to help?"

Luis looked over to Felrrin and spotted the swarthy elf's feature's carried no tone of seductive subterfuge, instead, earnest concern.

Luis opened his mouth briefly, about to ask if maybe the Mortal Fruits could be made without killing, stealing the life and memories of other people, or if something can be done about this mood-altering aura but felt both that the question to be reserved for Rulthiel, someone he can trust more easily and surely, closing his mouth with a shut, and said, "I… um nothing neither of us can really fix, but thanks."

Felrrin nodded back, "None for you?" Lifting the bottle in her hand.

"No, I uh honestly never drank before." Which was technically true in he only ever sipped wine when some cardinal, preacher or unlucky priest had to hold the tiny cup to his mouth and hand him a wafer. "I think I want to, but I can't even taste food anymore so…" Shrugging, "what'd be the point?"

Felrrin gave a deep cackle, "I assure you; most people don't drink for the taste."

Luis had to think of the possibility of getting drunk. He met a drunk once, a face they saw in the neighborhood a thousand times but never had a name to him, when he and Maxi were boys. The guy was weird, spouted nonsense but seemed to be having a very good time. Neither brother saw the slob again after, presumably picked up by the inquisitors shortly after. "I'm not sure if my physical resistances would allow me to get inebriated, no matter how much I consumed."

"Hm." Felrrin sounded back politely. "I assume this has to do with that item you ate in the Depths, from the Hell-Tree?"

Luis paused in stride, suddenly feeling cold paranoia fill his lungs, orange fully engulfed his vision before his once wide eyes narrowed and glared at the elf, "How did you hear about that?"

"Oh those Aldrikkni are very talkative when one properly butters them up, they'll go on and on about Nasazel, their lords and their faith for hours…" She smiled proudly, hands on hips, "but the patient hunter gets the rabbit eventually, and they told me of you and the Archangel of both Truth and Compassion overseeing a prisoner being fed to it. I've seen you recently eat with great gusto since we've set up shop, but now you are so sullen and uninterested in having more, I can only assume it is related somehow."

'Moron, idiot, stupid, ditz, halfwit…' His thoughts, sounding exactly like Shiehk, "I shouldn't be surprised." Luis forced a smile, feeling betwixt the desire for some kind of balancing act to establish himself as clever or always thinking ahead, but it came out in a joking guffaw "Or maybe I already knew that you knew? Maybe I want this particular element in the expedition to be found by the most observant?" As he continued their walk and opened the hatch to the outside world.

Felrrin's face warmed in both excitement and anticipation, looking down briefly while smiling from ear to ear, ears flexing slightly making the charms in her hair clink, 'O-of course! He's testing us! I shall prove myself superior to Shiehk! To Melkoth himself!' Her head filled with images of the Prince and the Seven ministers welcoming her to join them at the palace, with her own seat where her forebearer's once sat! 'Ozzydamandius would be proud to have you as his heir.' The Seraph stated warmly with a bow at the waist.

"Heh… hehe…" Felrrin laughed lowly, closing her eyes and raising a hand to her cheek, "Forshame making me feel this emotionally overwhelmed…" She mumbled to herself as she waved meekly at invisible admirers.

Luis stared at the woman, opening his mouth for a moment before walking slowly over to her, confident her daze was both intense and not in the realm of lethality, slowly reached out and took the third bottle back into his arms, Felrrin making no motion or sign of awareness of the act. 'Well, whatever this is…' Luis smiled as he left her be and exited the carriage, closing the hatch quietly as not to disturb the elf, 'I am glad she's enjoying her time abroad.'

[]

Rulthiel tapped the end of his knuckles against the door, the thud so resounding he thought he may have overdone the act altogether, small noches appearing where his angelic armor had scraped.

"By Surshana!" A man called out dimly, "I hope She shall descend upon whatever idiotic head is knocking on one of her houses at this time of ni-!" A wizened elder with dark, heavily wrinkled skin, a long, thin mustache and deeply hooded eyes at first glared, then stared, before giving a bewildering, gruff yelp of horror at the angel's torso.

"Fear not," Rulthiel's voice not so much as boomed as flowed, but the vocalist carried that alien element of it being spoken from not out a throat but from one's entire being, "I wish you no harm."

The ancient priest of the dilapidated Temple of the Six Great Gods looked up, "W-wh-why are you here?"

The angel laced his fingers together, "I seek information, my spells have led me to this place." Lifting free one hand and slowly dropping it down directly in front of the temple's caretaker, "「Charm Person

」." White light sprung from the angel's palm, and for a moment, the elderly man's eyes glazed over, numb, before quickly looking back at the angel, fear being replaced by vigor and joy.

"Ah! Welcome, welcome!" Gesturing to the temple's innards while walking to the side, allowing the angel entrance.

"Please, show me what you have hidden, I shan't be long." Rulthiel had to stoop low through the door to see inside of it. The crude, mold ridden and poorly upkept center of worship, long abandoned by its time-lost worshippers. A large gaping maw in its flat ceiling barely kept out the poor weather that would happen upon the area, a pond of filthy water the size of a large dinner table formed under the opening, random bottles had been placed to catch rain water, and lush greenery in the forms of ivy dangled over the wooden joists, with small pink flowers and moss forming at the edges of the tiny pond. Despite the urgency of completing the mission given to him by his Prince, Rulthiel paused and floated over to simply stare at it. Only after a few moments did he question, 'Why am I doing this?' There was nothing gained in the observation, no hidden truth dragged to light, and he gave doubts if it had any relation to his duties but the sight somehow just… enthralled him.

"Friend!" The temple's caretaker declared, holding a torch in front of a small, hidden door far back of the temple, past the desiccated shrines holding six, small statues. While tempted to again observe the simple effigies, Rulthiel reminded himself that his spell on the man only lasted for several hours and he can't abuse what time he might not have in gathering the place's knowledge.

The angel stared at the small opening, before muttering, "「His Feet, Part of Iron, Part of Clay」." The archangel of knowledge's armored form grew a bright blue before melting away into divinely forged flesh, but instead of the bare and unrefined forgerys made by his Prince and sister, he recalled the former's latest form and imitated it as closely as he could, but he was devoid of all color, hair stark white, skin not even grey, merely a pale sheen almost, all but his eyes were snowy white, which formed a deep ocean blue against a night sky black. The resized angel followed the elder after his transformation was completed, the divine creature muttering another series of spells to insure his secrecy from remote viewing or the detection of his presence.

The tunnel kept climbing down, and down, and further down, the stone staircase was no longer reflective of the neglected building the houses it, worn yes, but the stone was of exotic granite, and the walls were unusually clean. As they met a metallic door, the elderly man turned with, "Here we are, the vault that was left to my ca- dear GODS!" He placed a hand in front of the nude angel, "Why are you naked?!"

Rulthiel blinked, "My apologies, I must've overlooked this element of mortals…" He muttered a spell, his body being covered in simple robes, "I'll endeavor to remember in the future."

The elder let out a humored sigh, "It takes some bravery to walk around in the cold as you were, come." Gesturing to inside the chamber with the torch, "I only wish I had a portion of such gall; I would've left this post years ago if I did."

"Yes," Rulthiel smiled to himself, "audacity seems to be a hereditary aspect in my family."

"Here," The elder walked up to a large series of glass cases, held secured with iron chains securing them with magically runed padlocks. "I was not charged with keeping the key to these secrets, the Cardinal of Wind wouldn't wish the lock and key being in the same place, one of the few times I agree with those idiots back Kami Miyako."

"It is no issue, 「Knock」." Pointing a hand at the padlock, but instead of it being unlocked, the item rumbled and knocked against the glass. This made the angel's brow shot up in surprise, "Impressive magic, I was under the impression the strength of you humans in the Arcane was simple… not that it will stop me. 「Greater Unseal」!" He extended both hands to the padlock, the device quickly unfastening then dropping to the floor, pink mist flowing from the pours and crevices. "There!" Opening a section of the case, muttering another spell, seeing the conjuration leading him to the precise tome that led him here. Opening it, he sighed, "Tell me, my friend…" Unable to read the text, "What do you call this place? This world?"

"Earth?" His 'friend' replied quickly, uncertain of the question.

"「Comprehend Languages」." The text widening and flexing to the angel's eyes, "What of other worlds?"

The man shrugged, "I can't recall, the Six did know of other worlds beyond our own, the lands of demons, also a place with no sun, but they also spoke of another set of worlds, built upon a large, divine tree."

"It says here… this world, this new world I and my kinsmen find ourselves in isn't truly upon a rack of branches, but merely an orb in celestial winds… one of many. And your God, Alah Alaf, called the sun Brahma, the single moon that weaves around us, Sakra, and the earth on which we stand," Closing the book sharply, "Indra." Placing the book under an arm and looking to the elder, "There is much here to study and not enough time for one sitting, even for myself, so I must ask one more thing of you:" Extending a hand out, "「Sleep」." Quickly catching the falling man and taking him back to the temple, finding a dry, safe spot, the angel disrobed and placed his clothing both under his head and over him like a blanket to keep him warm. "I fear I shall have to make this evening more of a dream to you and pray that fate ensures that the your punishment will be light." And while conducting the spell, Rulthiel also might have cured a few issues he may have had. Namely, the elder's bad back, inflamed by his recent act as guide to the angel. Then his issues with indigestion. Then maybe regrowing a couple teeth that were going bad. But that was it! He would swear it in front of the Prince!

Rulthiel returned to the vault, and teleported both himself and the case of lore back to his aerie in Istannice. He instructed his angels to begin scrying the knowledge, translating it to their own tomes, while he theorized and began to find the next subject, 'Where people go when they die'.

Despite the amount of work he set himself to, one more thing had to be added on in the form of his brother, Nothiel. "Greetings, how fare you?"

"My fare is vast, clearly, why are you here?" Rulthiel commented as he placed down his pens, one in each hand. "The Prince would undoubtedly want these as soon as possible."

"I'm actually looking for our sister. The Minister of Matters desires her skills in the human den."

Rulthiel had to pause to think, "Vanniel hasn't been sent on a mission of her own? I can think of no other reason why she would leave the city."

Nothiel shook his head, the crimson vestiges floating briefly as he beat his wings frustratingly, "I am tempted to have a mage of yours find her for me, then I would scold her accordingly."

The angels of Truth, righteous and diligent, were no where near as scholarly bestowed as Rulthiel and his own, feeling a smug, satisfied curve in his breast from the fact, the archangel of Knowledge pushes the feeling aside, "Of course, brother." Rulthiel floated to the edge of his aerie and yelled out, "Yamaniel!"

An angel of knowledge flew up, his hood was without marking, his wings minute compared to the two archangels, but blue ribbons dangled from his belt, angelic-script lacing it's surfaces with wards to protect against enemy spellcasters, "Your will, my archangel?"

"Find our sister, Vanniel, for the arachangel of Truth." Before resuming writing down the tome with both hands.

"And if she is able to avoid the scry's spells?"

"She is an archangel; I am sure she will be safe."

"She ignores her duties with her absence!" Nothiel boomed, his rage clearly leaking into his voice, "For what reason would she abandon the city?

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"Knight," Luis walked towards Garruda as they walked besides the rolling carriage as they just began to leave the city, the countryside wide and open to them with rolling hills. "what do you know of between here and our destination?"

"A few villages, nothing more then farmers and some lumberyards, then there's a town not too often the beaten path, a uh magic user famed in the area." Garuda explained, "We really should be worried about the destination in question."

Luis nodded slowly, "Please, explain."

"That's the issue, there isn't much to say on my part." Garuda lifted his arms, "Our group barely got near the hold, built into the bloody rock as if molded from the living mountain itself, but then these monsters, things that weren't even in the Adventurer's Guild vast bestiaries, they killed six Orichalcum adventurer's almost instantly!"

"What were they like?"

"Giants, but… different. They were strange, hideous things, and far, far stronger. While they did seem related to one another, as one species, they were each different, like a race each and in of themselves."

Luis turned his head, seeing the silohuted of Felrrin not too far away, and she also gave a grim, terrible look of realization that the Seraph himself had, "Nephilim." A sense of disquiet filled Luis, the terrible fact that in lore from his own world; Nephilim were children of human women and angels interbreeding, so destructive and terrible that they were one of the many reasons God had sent the Great Deluge to purge the Earth. 'I've felt lust, but it's then diluted by the Emotional Aura… does this mean such physical yearnings are unnatural to what I am, or simply that I must overcome it to fully experience it? And would such lead to…?' The Seraph shook his head of the idea, 'Unimportant.' "How man were there?"

"Three, and that was merely the outer guard. I try not to think what else may lay in wait inside of the Keep… please," Turning his head to face Luis, "try to understand my hesitancy in going back and my confusion on why anyone, be they a wealthy fool or the gods themselves, wish to visit it."

Luis hummed lowly, "Hmm…" The angel nodded, "Objection understood, but as I said, you don't have to worry about going to the actual location."

Garuda observed Luis for a moment, before nodding, "I will hold you to it."

Luis had the sudden urge to chastise the cowardly creature, to scorn his lack of spine, urge him to avenge his dead, but he fought it so hard that the Aura flared so brilliantly that he knocked into the side of the carriage escaping the Falcon Knight's fascinated, walking ahead of the small caravan. The urge died down but the sudden flux of rage did not abate, biting his lip harshly as he tried to focus on other things. 'Lunch… what will I make? We have to find some fish… yes… fish… lemons…. Rosemary… By God I want to hit something REALY hard.' Sighing deeply, 'Would consuming a Mortal Fruit make these episodes not so severe?' Thinking a bit too hard on the subject before reminding himself that he's tried NOT thinking on it for a reason, the urge to run up to the nearest chapel and confess his unseemly desire almost making him laugh. "Guess some habits die hard, even for a doubter." Feeling the approach of someone, he was surprised to see the shaggy form of Azimuth, no longer clad in merely her Ash mask, but having donned leather armor and having a short-bow on her back, a quiver of arrows on her waist. "What can I do you for, Azi?"

The Aldrikkni hissed lowly, before bowing her head, "Must you call me that, your Eminence?"

"I say it in good faith! You're my niece… sort of!" Luis smiled broadly.

He couldn't tell what the Bat-Woman was thinking, nor what face she made at him, but she stared for a good several seconds in abject silence before admitting, "I-in that case, I won't mind it…" Before mumbling something in its demonic speech then saying, "But I come to ask if you're alright? I sensed a great deal of distress from you and you ran into the land-boat so hard you may have nearly knocked it over."

Feeling briefly embarrassed, Luis sighed, "I… tell me; do you and yours practice confession?"

Azimuth shrugged, "If they like… we are all sinners, big and small, it is our own responsibity to find absolution to God… but sometimes having a friend hear you out makes your way a bit clearer to walk."

Luis nodded before saying, "Do you ever think about what you're missing if you were more human?"

"On occasion, why?"

"I… yearn to be human again."

Azimuth stared at the Seraph, her sole and remaining Prince and brother to her maker. "In what way? I was told both you and my Lord were once human, but why desire for your mortality again? Now?"

Luis looked at his hand, clenched it, and while warmth was felt, he now only felt how different it was then before. "For several reasons… but one of the big ones; I… sometimes don't feel like I have a choice in what I do sometimes, that something or someone else is controlling me and my feelings in this world."

"You are an angel and now only understand that your free will is a pale shadow to what it was when compared to your human life?"

Luis blinked and looked to Azimuth, "Angels don't have freewill?"

"Not that humans have, from what I can remember, angels had been less given will as they were given purpose, and are free to act and react in what purpose they found themselves in. But, surely, you know this? You are a seraph afterall, the few closest to God and his wisdom?" Azimuth turned her head curiously.

Luis refused to answer out of sheer ignorance. He and Maxi chose their characters to compliment one another but also be a twisted reflection of who they were in real life. Maximilian was a staunch believer, but he was a demonic sorcerer that had a kind heart. Luis, a man who thinks God was no less cruel then the men that He created, if He even existed at all, was an angel, ruthless and rigid in his core. Why would he not carry the angelic character's knowledge, while he only seemed to inherit its wrath? Why isn't Maxi with him? Why isn't Bethany?

Luis gave a mix between a gasp and a gag, suddenly feeling dizzy. "I wish I knew, my friend, God only knows how much I wish it."

Azimuth grasped Luis's arm to steady him. "My Prince, I understand you feel distressed, but we must all understand our purposes in this life and try to act in them as best we can. I would not dare to give an order to you, but I would advice that you remind yourself both who and what you are, I beg thee."

Luis nodded, "Thank you, really." Taking a deep breath and thinking on the mission ahead, "Thanks for listening to me complain."

"Tis no burden." She bowed her head, "I wish to serve."

"Still, I owe you one, and I mean it." Luis smiled to Azimuth, "Don't know what I can do for you in turn, but I'll do my best."

"A favor from a Prince? Truly?"

"Just… ya know, keep it reasonable."

Azimuth stared ahead for several moments, before looking back up at the angel. "If you find how to be more human again," She looked to the side and behind them, "can you share it with me?"

Luis looked at the Aldrikkni, feeling both a mix of newfound kinship with her and worry about the possibility of this motive somehow escaping both of them and reaching unfriendly ears. Namely Felrrin, whose motives worried Luis. Would such weakness be tolerated from one of their Princes? What would happen if they decided he wasn't leadership material or even welcome back to the city? Orange filled Luis gaze once more. "I… promise." Knowing full well there was already a means of feeling human again, but it would take the life of some poor soul and a not too clean death for it to reach fruition. How much longer will he maintain silence on the subject? If Felrrin learned it from her own kind, how easy would it be for her to hear it off the grape vine? Orange filled his gaze, more intensely this time. 'That's one thing I wouldn't miss from being mortal again… I'd feel the fear in its fullest.'

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