Re:Animated, Reliving Life in Another World From Zero

by Tall-Gothic-Guy

A Necromancer is easy to describe, but what people rarely ever know about them is that Death is their final wish above everything else. To return to dust and Rest in Peace in the Afterlife. Give a Death Mage the Curse of 'Return by Death', however, then Emurdol Viandegroc will eventually realize that dying in another world is easier said than done. (Graphic and Mature content)

17. Love is Supreme

He leaned back as the flames burst upwards in a short moment of fury. Putting the bottle down, he stood back and crossed his arms, waiting for a few more minutes. Afterwards, he flipped the steak on the pan before taking in the whiff of delicious meat in the kitchen air.

His saliva glands aching from the boiling desire to eat, his Link to Meili synchronizing their hunger, he waited for a few more minutes.

And when he decided enough is enough, he took the pan out of the heating plate powered by fire crystals and placed the saucy steak on a dish, a knife and two-prong fork placed at the side.

Plate in hand, he turned and approached his daughter seated on the kitchen table, her legs swinging back and forth as she waited for the meal to be finished, and her olive green eyes flashed brightly upon seeing the food in his hands.

"Midnight steeaak." Taking the plate into her hands, she looked up at him and asked, "Is this okay with Rami and Remiii? You know, cooking stuff like this without telling theeem?"

"This is our home now, Meili, and we do as we wish. Besides, you deserve this after working yourself like a slave under Ram's knee in your free time."

"Oh." Meili began to smile, "Then thank yoouu."

Emurdol took the fork and knife, sliced a small piece, picked it up with a fork and held it out to her.

Meili wasn't amused, "Why are you feeding meee?"

"Because I want to?"

"I'm not a kid anymooore. I may be a couple weeks old by now but I was twelve years old before I died!"

"But it's not as if you are opposed to it, are you?"

She was about to deny it, but something held her back. There was the thing about never lying again, but she's also not hating the gesture either. She didn't even say it outright as well. The fact that she's not sure whether this was the Soul's influence or not is also not helping.

"You must understand, An'k. Behind every Priest of the Serpent, there is a human with a heart. Even we must hang up our robes and put away our charms and tools from time to time just to have a moment with our family." He held out the meat towards her again, "Open up now, it will get cold."

She grumbled but bit the piece of meat off the fork anyway, her pointy teeth shredding the meat quite easily. A foreign sensation. She had to chew slowly too, afraid that two points might collide and crack each other.

After taking a bite for himself, he sliced another piece and held it out to her mouth again.

After biting the piece and chewing, she asked, "Did you get to do so back in Pandemoniuuum?"

"Hmm?"

"Family, I meeaan. Did you take a break from your monster hunting like this before?"

With a wry smile and a dim glow in his eyes as he looked at a past years ago, he shook his head, "Time was short for me. In a world ripe with evil and monsters that once ruled my world during the Rapture, Peace is a short interval. And our kind must work harder than any man to garner any trust from idiots."

Knowing his history from Viandegroc's stories and from her Link that give her visions of her father's past in her sleep at random times, she garnered a simple guess as to why. "The Church gave you troouuuble, didn't they?"

The Holy Knights were fanatical, as she was told about them, and they were quite determined to hunt him down when they found his existence heading to the Northern Lands to elude them that warfare nearly broke out because of a pact violation between the Northmen and the Church due to trespassing on their borders without notice.

Not that Emurdol was ever going to let them live even if they were let off with a warning. They could not be trusted, and once they find a Necromagus in their sights, they will never stop. They will even mark the Northmen as accomplices of her father's supposed 'crimes' and have them demonized with their twisted propaganda, and it won't be the first time they've done such a thing.

The violent berating he suffered from the Clan Chieftains were harrowing, as his actions indirectly broke the pact, but it was worth it. And he easily appeased them with the compromise that so long as they pin all the blame on him, with the reasoning that he did it without their knowing, no blame will fall on the Northmen, their dignity as honorable men of the mountains remains secure, and their pact with the Church remains intact.

They understood the reason of his actions, as they knew the kind of people the Holy Knights were and likewise aren't fond of them as he is, but they need to make the façade believable. So they banished him, banning him entry to the Northlands until he repents by paying a price that can only be paid with the actions he'll make outside their borders.

The walking mountain of muscle that will soon become his very first friend chose to go with him as a witness and to head out into the world below the north for his own personal reasons, mainly for the glory of an adventure.

"The good thing is…I'm not there anymore." He remarked, taking a bite of the steak, "I'm here with you and that's all that mattered. Besides, my successors will no longer suffer like I have and those before me. They will gain the respect a human being should have."

"So basicallyyy, it won't be a difference whether you're here or theeere. You won't get hurt anymore since you did become a Hero back in Pandemonium and nobody in this world knows about us or our magics yeeet."

"Did that idiot tell you I was a Hero?" He asked, the eldritch voice suddenly becoming dull and exasperated.

"Yeah! And Uncle never shuts up about iiit!"

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head disapprovingly. "If you define a man who would use the corpse of your loved ones as minions, take human lives in self-defense, and hates the majority of humanity a Hero, then you are as crazy as the rest of us. You will be labeled a lunatic if they ever hear you say it."

Considering that Meili is now capable of the things he and his kind were known for, full of terrifying and unpleasant things, it would be rather redundant to be called a lunatic so she doesn't care.

Besides, he's excluding the positive things about himself that made him worthy of the title of Hero but Meili isn't going to do anything about it. She had her own reasons to respect him and love him, and none of it has anything to do with who he was in Pandemonium.

After swallowing her bite, she told him with adoration in her voice, "Well, you're my Hero, Papa."

His eyes suddenly looked at her in surprise, caught off-guard by the sudden confession. Meili didn't try to hide it, she instead smiled sweetly at him, her admiration practically bottomless in the depths of her olive green orbs that glowed in reflection of her feelings for him.

Softening his features, he pulled her close to kiss her forehead and put his own against hers. Staying like that for a whole minute, they parted with Meili returning a kiss to his cheek.

Cutting a large slice on the steak, he fed it to her and the eldritch voice took a tone that she had loved listening to so much, the one that was full of love and care that was solely devoted only to her.

"I will do my best to be worthy of you, An'k."

For as long as midnight lasted, they relished the moment they had together as Father and Daughter.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

The bone axe raised high, his torso and arms stiffening in preparation, and with a soundless grunt, he swung downwards and the sharpened edge of the ivory bisected the firewood cleanly like a hot knife through butter, sticking to the chopping block of a tree stump at the bottom.

Wrenching it off cleanly, the skeleton placed another block of firewood in place before it was chopped cleanly and smoothly like the first. Another block, another chop. A fourth one, more halves joined the pile. The rhythm repeated for more than 90 times, and the pile grew higher and higher.

One last rise of the axe, one final fall of the swing, the firewood is cleaved in half and he deems himself satisfied, even if a little. His muscles don't feel as if they have developed any further yet, especially when he hasn't broken the slightest bit of sweat. Compared to last time, it would only take 50 chops before he was worn down.

The many, many days of numerous physical labors done for Earlham Village has done wonders to repair his body that was deprived of its strength thanks to the Shade's release.

To think he even took a bit of time in the smithy making a dagger for Meili, hammering the anvil while the black metal is hot. The last time he was ever exposed to so much heat was when he went to the deserts. He would prefer uncharted territory in Pandemonium compared to searing sands that could boil him on the inside out. At least hellspawn can be handled with a sickle or a knife compared to a sandstorm.

If this is Peace…..

He mused the thought, throwing the axe to Mother's hands while he felt the fibers of muscle in his right bicep and forearm with his left hand. This Peace, where he would not fight nor hide anymore, to settle and live simply with a daughter to love and friends to keep….

….what would I do to keep it?

He only heard of other Priests falling in love Above-World finding true Peace. Should he consider himself one of them? He did find that love, and its name is Meili. Someone he can raise, protect and give, that is love for him.

He heard the sounds of people cheering, laughing, and shouting, all coming from the village center. The main event must be starting.

Ordering Mother to have the chopped halves moved to a neat pile, he moved over to a patch of clear ground and had a simple skeleton rise from the ground. Gathering more energy into his hands, he had its entire anatomy shift, creating more mass in the ivory and turning into a lay figure with four functional arms.

Many days with Meili doing maid work as a side job to expend her bountiful amounts of free time when she isn't being trained and lectured or reading her book in Beatrice's library, it was inevitable that she would have the idea of a skeletal maid going through her head, doing most of the domestic work around the mansion. Emurdol couldn't help but entertain the possibility himself, striving to improve the intelligence of an artificial skeleton that can allow it to do more than menial tasks, even cook complicated dishes or textile work. It took many days, quite grueling as well, but it was a success with some help from a dead man. Artificial or not, it is still a Soul and Viandegroc knows how to deal with one. And Bartholomew's creations are highly intuitive.

Now this four-armed lay figure can certainly cook, clean the house, wash the dishes without breaking them, do the laundry, and defend its master. The last lay figures couldn't do the same, even if there was a hostile witchbeast in the house. Now, this one is highly intuitive, competent but having enough intelligence to read the atmosphere and follow commands.

I wonder what art work will be done this time. The last ones were quite impressive.

More and more families have been getting more constructed servants after every competition, and the villagers have wonderful artistic abilities when they dress or paint their lay figures. It was baffling to see a lay figure fully painted all over that it almost looked like it was wearing the clothes of a noble while it's pulling a cart. Mild must have quite the talent with a paint brush. It was quite sweet to see little Meina treat her family's lay figure like it was a big sister or a nanny. A simple-minded nanny that could only do as much as she does, a child yet to pass her 9th turn.

Snapping a finger, Mother threw the axe back to him and he gave it to the construct. He placed one block of firewood on the stump, the creation didn't go for it instantly.

One more snap of a finger and pointing at the block, it walked up to the stump and cleanly chopped the firewood in half. Good form too.

Perfect. Walking out of the lumberjack's workshop, he returned to the commotion where Meili and Viandegroc have likely concluded their event, Mother and the construct close behind.

"Well, hello, Master Emurdol! Finished with the daily workouts now?"

"Good morning, Master Emurdol! You missed all the fun!"

"Master Emurdol, you should have seen what just happened moments ago!"

Since coming back and showing himself to the Village a second time, he was properly given the due thanks and respect he deserved for saving the children. For one thing, he was referred to as 'Master Emurdol' now, seen as a hero aside from someone associated with their Lord. Secondly, he was given a basket of apples, something he relished. Thirdly, he was accepted here, like a human. No one even questioned his creations of bones that would have repulsed regular humans in Pandemonium.

All this treatment as opposed to what he usually had in his old world made him care enough that he would risk it all to protect this simple village. Besides, the children are a delight.

Nodding his courtesies to the ones who greeted him, the square wasn't quite crowded compared to moments ago. He must have spent too much time in the chopping block that the event ended quite earlier than he thought.

"Ah, it's him!"

"Emurdol!"

"Hey!"

"Get him!"

And here comes the children.

A warm smile spread on his face, kneeling down and receiving the kids that came running towards him with open arms, soon overwhelmed from all sides with their embraces. His legs, now painted black, shifted to create four more legs, giving him a spider-like lower half and he raised his form upwards, carrying the children with him while they grunted and squealed in excitement.

"Ready?" The horrifying voice asked inside their heads.

Having suffered the occurrence more than 50 times, the children only replied with enthusiasm, "YEAH!"

His six legs then jabbed a circle on the ground, spinning himself and the kids around like a roundabout. His speed slowly increasing, with their legs steadily flying outwards from the momentum, whoever wasn't inside his arms were starting to slip off.

"Stop!" As always, the plump boy Mild was always the one to call stop. Considering his weight, it wouldn't be surprising for him to slip quickly. Most of the time, he wasn't lucky enough to be secured with an arm around him.

He slowed down to a stop, earning protests from the others to keep on going, especially Petra, the little one who had her arms around his neck in front of him and hanging on tightly. As soon as Mild got a firm grip on him again, he suddenly twisted around in the opposite direction, earning louder squeals and screams, their legs nearly parallel to the ground before he reached his final twirl and folded his legs under him into a 'kneel', letting the kids get their feet on the ground.

They were dizzy, of course, wobbling around in place and quickly competing with each other on who can stay up for long before their vision settles.

Apart from all the kids, Petra particularly never lets go of him unless he picks her up under the arms and set her down carefully. Even so, her little hand tends to stay on his arm until she was too far away.

The implications were not lost to him, but he did nothing to encourage nor discourage it. She'll grow over it.

Putting his black-ivory legs back together into a single pair of pointy stilts like always, he was ready to receive a little green-eyed girl of white who jumped into his arms and gave a peck to his cheek. He returned Meili's affections with a kiss to her forehead, pulling the hood on her capelet down even further to protect her eyes from the sun before setting her down, her brown hand holding his left.

"They woooon." She informed, pointing to the two dazed brothers sitting on the ground and back-to-back, Dane and Cain. "Petra was sooo close, but the skull's mouth fell ooooff."

"It was unfair!" Petra whined, "Dane and Cain were together while the rest of us had to do it alone!"

"Yeah!"

"Let's do it again but only one of them can do it!"

"The stick man's mine!"

Today was the day where the village children who took Viandegroc's classes with perfect attendance would try to assemble a whole skeleton individually, from toe to scalp, all of their weekday lessons put to the test. Whichever family wins gets a four-armed and better-improved servant that could match the performance of their Lord's Mansion servants.

"Come on, guuuys." Meili took the role of mediator, "Dane and Cain are too dumb that they need each other just to match each of your smaaaarts!"

"HEY!"
"HEY!"

"Buuuuut, don't worry!" Meili leapt up to grab the same wide-brimmed hat she once wore off her father's head and held it out in front of her, the bottom facing upwards, "Papa's got consolation priiiizes!"

Immediately, their irate moods flipped upwards and turned bright. They quickly gathered in front of him, shoulder to shoulder, wondering what he's going to give.

"Me and Papa made these, y'knooow…" Meili wore a big showy smile as Emurdol reached inside the hat, slipped his left hand into the Void, and pulled out a miniature bear made entirely of ivory, complete with flexible jointed limbs, bendable back and neck, and functional jaw; a perfect imitation of the strongest animal in existence. "Ta daaaaaa!"

Their amazement was very profound, eyes shining at the toy as he placed it in his daughter's hands. "Lucas, it's for youuuu!" He held it out to the topless boy, future lumberjack of Earlham village. "Mr. Bear would definitely fit your futuuure."

"Sweet!" The boy quickly grabbed it out of her hands and Meili squeaked when Lucas gave her a rather crushing hug with a free arm. "Thanks, Meili! You're the best!"

"Agh! Lucas! Can't breathe!"

The other adults watching at the side giggled at the display, relishing in the sight of their local hero and daughter spoiling the children just like other times before.

Mild earned the Lion. While its mane could have been fitted with witchbeast fur for the sake of aesthetics, there wasn't enough time so Meili had no choice but to settle with it being carved on instead. The majesty of the creature is spot on, she can admit.

Meina, the youngest of them, got the honor of claiming the honey badger, small but extremely vicious, especially when it evolved in a Hell World like Pandemonium. It will represent her growth, because something special is in store for someone as young as her. Besides, her to-be-born sibling will come and grant her the responsibility of being the big girl of the house. Her little nature will erode to become strong, strong enough to protect the babe, just like the little monster critters.

Even though they already had a prize, Emurdol had a point to be fair and gave some to Dane and Cain too. They received wolves each, with distinct markings on the bodies to identify who owns which. It was fitting for the two. They function better together than apart.

And Petra, it's expected for her to own the bunny, matching the size of a regular bunny. Under Meili's request, Emurdol had given it the Soul and Mind to come alive whenever she's alone and follow her around like a dog. His daughter had a certain kind of fondness for the little one compared to the others.

But Emurdol is still fair, so he gave each toy a matching Soul and Mind. He could only imagine what they'll say to each other when they realize that their toys are not staying in the same spot they left them whenever they looked away.

No other Necromagus could do something like this, considering that manipulating Life Force is quite advanced and could only be learned after years and years of study, and even they could not create any more than two Golems without straining their psyche. Being gifted has its advantages, especially when born from an equally gifted Mother.

Leaving the children be to check each other's ivory critters, with Meili to join the fun, Emurdol walked over to Viandegroc and the parents of the two brothers beside him, his hat back to his head. "Welcome back, Brother. Your recovery is going well."

"Indeed." The stocky father agreed with a smile, "You couldn't get up for a whole two weeks and now you're doing a lot of muscle work for somebody fresh out of the sickbed."

"It has been three weeks already, hun." The little wife quipped, "I'm sure he has plenty of time to come back into perfect shape."

"Yes, but not as perfect as me though!"

Emurdol let out a huff alongside the woman's laughter, catching the man's strong handshake with his skeleton hand before sharing a softer one with the wife and beckoned the new construct to them. The servant stood in front of them before performing a knightly kneel, its head bowed low.

"Ah, so this is the one? And with four arms too."

"And Master Viandegroc said it can do more jobs than the other ones, right?"

"Indeed." He replied, with the pair not caring the least about the eldritch resonation inside their heads. "Let him explain the details first."

Finding his cue, Viandegroc stepped over, his cute kitty mask that smiled forever smooth and shiny as always. "If you would have me…" Bowing first with a hand to his chest, he folded his hands behind him and began explaining, "Now, as I have said to others before, the servant cannot replace the person. Having this construct in your home…."

Leaving the rest to him, Emurdol walked over to Emilia that stood just beside the well and patted her shoulder. "It's another wonderful day, isn't it?" She asked, her bell-like voice resonant despite being a slight whisper.

"A particularly lively day, actually." He retorted, suddenly squinting as he crossed his arms. "Do not even say it's a good morning, Dear Girl. This stupid sun is hurting my eyes."

"Yet you do not complain when Little Meili took your hat off your head." He huffed again, pulling her close by the waist and ruffling her head over her pointy-eared hood. Her protesting grunts were quick to come out despite the many times before, "He-hey! Stop! You meanie! Take this!" She reached out and messed up his hat in turn.

Since the passing of three weeks after coming back to the mansion, his bond with Emilia and the others in the Mansion has grown. Despite his reserved demeanor, he had developed the habit to fool around with her like a child whenever he can, all thanks to Meili's fondness for the half-elf passing onto him through their Link. He won't deny that he enjoyed her company himself. Her childishness was something to behold that it was hard to believe she is at her 18th turn.

After binding a contract with the winning family to the construct, Emurdol and company now took the long walk back home, back to the mansion after another day of free lectures for the village. The people are now getting formidable with their treatment and emergency skills. The next curriculum might be self-defense. It is highly needed, especially after the Witchbeast Incident.

The road taking them 15 minutes of a walk before the gates are reached, there was plenty of time for chat between them, especially for Meili who was quite the chatterbox.

"Say, Emilyyyy, don't you get bored coming with us everydaaay?" Meili asked, her gloved hand holding the half-elf's left and swinging it back and forth, "Must be dull, watching me, Uncle and Papa ramble on and on about our knowleeedge."

"Oh no, I actually don't mind." Emilia, with her hood now down and exposing the wreath of flowers crowning her head, waved off Meili's words, "I fancy being even a teeny bit involved with the people I rarely ever come in contact with. Coming with you and Emurdol and Uncle…I feel as if there's a growing connection between me and them whenever I do."

By Emurdol's behest and later her own initiative, Emilia would come with the Necromagi family to the village after her daily communion with the Nature Spirits just to watch the happenings, satisfied with just that.

Considering how fearful she is of other people's discrimination against her kind, this is something to give her semblance of at least a sense of comfort and ease around the common folk. It had to be done, as the girl can't hide from the public forever. As a candidate to the throne, it's part of her obligations to be seen by all. Earlham Village is a start.

"You lot are becoming well-liked and famous by the people, even more than Ram or Rem."

"All thanks to Brother's heroism and Meili's schemes, of course." Viandegroc added, his right hand squeezing Meili's left as she held it tightly. The little girl in question smiled wryly, a small blush crossing her milky-white cheeks. All this popularity because of the lethal troubles she brought in the first place. There was a morbid sense of pride going through her.

"Don't forget to include yourself and your lectures too, Uncle." Emilia reminded, "They see you as the village scholar and a super-hardworking night watchman."

Emilia, for some reason, had taken to calling Viandegroc 'Uncle' as well. Though she knew his name, she would address him the same way Meili would. Emurdol had the suspicion that his daughter brought that influence on, or maybe because Viandegroc and Puck got along like a house on fire, finding kinship in the other as Spiritual beings in essence. More often than not, the robed Flesh Golem would be seen beside the half-elf, talking to her and generally spending his free time in her company whenever the both of them are not occupied.

Meili shook their held hands, calling the half-elf's attention, "How 'bout me, Emilyyy?"

With her free hand, Emilia pondered over it with a finger to her chin. Then she raised it up and answered, "I'd call you the event organizer, Little Meili."

The daughter giggled, remembering why she came upon that label.

There was a time when Meili gave Puck some of her mana of high potency just so they could play together a lot longer past 5 Dark Time. The mixture of the Spirit's mana with her own ended up causing it to expand, causing a phenomena called a 'Magic Release Period' to happen the next day. The Mansion was frozen because of the excess mana that leaked out of the cat-like Spirit, practically turning the building into an ice block.

The drawbacks were endless. For one thing, his legs and skeleton hand nearly destroyed themselves due to freezing overnight. Meili's already-cold skin started to crust in ice, and her brown hand nearly came off. Viandegroc almost couldn't move due to being a lump of dead meat in a cold environment and he had to create multiple skeletal magi to serve as walking heaters. Mother was completely still lest she broke herself by merely moving. Ram, Rem, and Beatrice were shaking in the chill when it got worse. The only ones who held strong is Roswaal, who wore thickly; Emilia who is contracted to Puck and is unaffected; and Emurdol himself, considering that he was raised Underground with no source of heat his entire childhood.

Emurdol suggested that they spend the time away in the baths, neck deep in pleasurably-warm waters to fight the cold. It was wonderful on the first day, but the fact that they cannot stay inside for too long lest they pass out made the idea moot.

Out of nowhere, Meili decided that they spread the barrier that kept the cold inside the mansion to around the Mansion borders and make it snow. When she realized that it will snow, she thought up something even bigger. And it is to call all of the Earlham Villagers for a snow sculpture making competition.

Emurdol never raised her to be outgoing, but it hints evidence of self-identity. Meili liked to share the excitement with other people, and he'd be damned to disallow such a thing.

The excitement went higher when he made every snow sculpture shaped as living beings come alive for his own amusement. The villagers and the mansion folk had so much fun, and he never knew the mere bliss of childlike enjoyment until he done it, especially when he joined the snowball fight with Meili and the children, even Beatrice was involved. It was the greatest day he ever had in the Mansion that day. A day he knew Peace.

"And what of Brother here? What would he be?" Viandegroc brought up, gesturing to the tallest of the group who walked at Emilia's free side. Mother had already gone ahead to the Mansion, taking the backyard as her entry point and heading back to Emurdol's room.

Emurdol turned to face the half-elf, awaiting her assessment of him.

"Hmm…oh! You can be the benefactor, Emurdol. Like Roswaal." She told with a beautiful smile, "You practically fund Meili's education and the events she plans, supply Uncle's lectures, and even manage some of the more complicated parts behind the scenes. I've seen you working hard from time to time to make reeaally cool toys and smart lay figures."

Emurdol thought about it, and found that it made sense. "That's agreeable. I was the one who made Rem and Ram's masks, anyway."

"Hey!" Meili leaned forward to look at her father in the eye, "You did but I designed them! Don't take all the credit from me, Papaaa!"

He turned a cheeky leer to her direction, "All you did was sketch while I handled all the molding and detailing."

"If it wasn't for me asking, we wouldn't be celebrating their birthday!"

"I cooked the entire feast, An'k."

"I kept them from noticing our surprise!"

"All the heavy work done under my hand."

"The whole thing wouldn't be possible without me!"

"Okay, you two, stop!" Suddenly, Emilia stood in front of the two with her hands on her hips, looking at them admonishingly. "You two are daddy and daughter, you two should love each other, not shout and argue. You both done lots on Rem and Ram's birthday, so each of you get equal credit, understood?"

The two were wide-eyed, still as statues, not expecting to be lectured by the most innocent member of the Mansion so early in the morning. They glanced at each other before back to Emilia and submitting, raising their right hands in unison, one gloved and the other made of black ivory.

"Understoooood."
"Understood."

"Very good. Now give each other kisses and say you're sorry."

While Emurdol had to pause to wonder why she even thought of that, Meili didn't wait. She quickly jumped to his chest, which he reacted quickly and caught her in his arms. She then closed her eyes, her little lips ready and waiting. Huffing in amusement, he gave a loving kiss to her cheek instead. Opening her eyes, pouting, she removed his hat and gave one back to his forehead before bumping it against hers. A little role-reversal on who usually receives which.

"Okay! Let's keep walking." She returned to the space in-between Viandegroc and Emurdol, with Meili staying in the former's arms as Emilia took the Flesh Golem's right hand and the Necromagus' free left before leading them forward.

Not for long, the gates of the mansion were finally in sight.

And before the stairs that led to the entrance was a carriage, drawn by a rather gigantic lizard that stood on two feet like a prehistoric reptile.

Emurdol could not contain his fascination as he got closer and closer to it. So that is a Ground Dragon.

He had seen so many back in the Capital, but he never had the chance to look closely before. He was focused on reaching the Loot House first before Felt or Emilia at the time. Now that there is one right there, he now has the opportunity to do so.

Meili turned to face him, noticing the information she's having from her Link, "Never seen one before, Papaaa?"

He shook his head.

As the group got closer and closer, he was able to take in more details. It is indeed as large as a horse, slimmer than one—maybe even lighter, built with strong legs, a muscular tail, and comparatively small arms that sported claws. It also had frills on its head and a smooth snout, showing small bits of overbite teeth. The reptilian slits on its eyes were a sight to behold.

He could not stop comparing the creature to a Raptor that once existed millions—maybe billions of years ago before the Rapture.

The coachman was there, awaiting them to come close. "Well, well. Kindly look out below." The man stood up and agilely leaped down to the ground from the eye-level box seat of the carriage, and Emurdol marveled at the lack of sound upon his landing, especially when the driver is an old gentleman. He bowed elegantly, "Welcome back. Please excuse me for parking my vehicle before the entrance."

With the speech and bearing to match too. Even his form seemed to be well-built and finely-toned under the crisp black suit he wore despite his advanced years.

"The emissary is already inside and likely engaged in an audience with Margrave Mathers right now."

Having the answer before the question was asked, Emurdol's response was to raise an eyebrow in question.

Emilia stepped forward and spoke, "Emissary? Could this be….?"

"It is as you suspected, Lady Emilia, it regards the Royal Selection."

Internally, Emurdol became stiff. Meili did too. First, the gentleman addressed Emilia by her name, especially with the cloak she wore that was enchanted to hide her identity and face. Secondly, the mention of 'Royal Selection' tipped him off about something.

Emilia became stiff after hearing it too, catching the same conclusion as him.

Could it be finally starting?

"I believe the emissary bears a message for you. Please step inside and receive it in person."

When Emilia asked, her voice was a tad softer, "…Am I being summoned?"

"Please ask the messenger personally."

Her head lowered, the crown of flowers strangely not slipping off, and she said to the three people behind her without looking back, "Let's go." She began walking up the stairs, a hint of a hurry and nervousness showing from her body language.

Giving the gentleman a greeting nod alongside Viandegroc and Meili, he ascended the stairs, his stilted feet having no trouble as they made light thuds on the stone. Taking a brief glance behind him, the coachman remained bowed as he watched them go.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Welcome back, Lady Emilia."

Greeting the three back at the foyer was Rem, with a rather formal persona put on. Emurdol hasn't seen such a side of her for weeks now.

Viandegroc simply gave her a nod before walking past her and heading back to Emurdol's quarters.

"Thank you, Rem." Emilia thanked her, "Pardon me for leaving the mansion. I hear that we have a guest?"

"Yes. An emissary from the Royal Capital is visiting. Lord Roswaal is in conversation with the guest. Do you wish to join them?"

"Of course. This actually concerns me and we can't have myself out of the loop."

Rem nodded and walked up the stairs along with the half-elf, leaving Emurdol and Meili behind. They glanced back at each other, and the daughter asked, "So we're not invooolved?"

"This is her business, not ours." He replied, crossing his arms as he leant against the wall. "Though I can't say I'm not keen to know the circumstances behind it."

"Well, what can we do nooow? I don't wanna stand around doing nothiiing. Hmmm…" She sat on the floor, leaning back against his lower legs as she pondered over her options. Then she found one, looking up to his upside-down gaze. "…oh, how about we talk to the old man outsiiide? He might tell us somethiiing."

"If he wants to, of course."

"I know, information confidentiality, but we can tryyy." She held her hands out to him and he pulled her up to her feet, "I'll go get dressed, and you ready the teeaa, Papa. Not the regular ones, get Rami's rare tea herbs insteaad~"

She said all of that with a straight face.

He tilted his head, cocking one eyebrow, "Are you being gracious, or is this out of spite?"

Meili simply gave him a flirty smile, but the light in her green eyes exhumed malice. That was all the answer he needed.

He never knew a time where his daughter had hit back at Ram for driving her like a slave, even if Meili was the one who suggested and initiated it in the first place. Could this be the first strike? Or maybe she was very subtle about it and had done so many times already without him ever noticing it?

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Hellooo! Good morniiing!" A very sweet greetings hollered from the top of the stairs, the owner of the voice descending down to the bottom level where the dragon carriage and its driver waited. "It isn't quite appealing staying around outside doing nothing so I brought refreshments~!"

The old gentleman widened his eyes in surprise at the holler, watching a little white-haired girl in a little maid uniform descending down the stairs with a tray of tea in hand. Emurdol followed behind her, his black ivory legs shifted to form shoes. He kept his vest but buttoned and he wore his baggy leather pants, replacing his black leg shades that split in four sides.

"Well, I beg your pardon. It is quite unexpected, so please look out below again." The coachman performs another silent leap to the ground from the driver's seat and continued, "I shall accept your offer. My throat has become slightly parched, most certainly."

"Then here you go, Master Coachmaaaan!" Meili wore a cute smile as she held out the tray to him, the tea hot and ready for him, the persona of an amicable maid worn like a glove. "I didn't know what you liked so I picked the best selection from the kitcheen."

The gentleman wore a mild smile as he accepted the tray, causing his wrinkles to become pronounced.

Emurdol briefly relished the sight of her working her magic on the senior before he turned his attention to the eye-catching creature in front of him as he stepped close to it. The raptor eyed him back with the same light of curiosity, nearing its sleek snout towards him, as if to smell him.

Unravelling his black skeleton hand from his crossed arms behind his back, he steadily reached for the creature's snout to land a touch, expecting it to be bitten off. Instead of that happening, it nuzzled his ivory grasp and sniffed the place where the bones of the prosthetic ended to smell his natural scent, making a deep rumble in its throat similar to a purr.

With childlike fascination, he stroked its scales.

"Well, that is a rare sight to see." The gentleman mentioned, looking at Emurdol's interaction to the raptor with wide blue eyes while he held his cup. "I wouldn't expect the ground dragon to react so kindly to you, my good sir."

"Hehe. Papa never saw a ground dragon up clooose." Meili explained, looking at the exchange passively, "I bet the dragon's curious of Papa toooo."

"Is that so? This ground dragon's breed is one of the finest and proudest specimens so I'm quite shocked to see this exchange." The gentleman turned his eyes to the marks on Emurdol's skin, and eyed the one found on his neck. "If I may ask, are those battle scars?"

The necromagus turned to meet the coachman's eyes and nodded, unbuttoning his vest with a free hand just slightly to reveal the long healed gash on his left collarbone that led to the right waist and a few more other healed scratches scattered around, especially the large spot that was closed on the center of his abdomen. Ever since he let Meili have her way with him as he returned to the Mansion, he carried even more scars than before, being brutalized by her brown hand in more ways than one that he was bedridden for more than three days. Impressively, they all looked as if they came from the claws and fangs of beasts, further solidifying the continued rumor of being injured in the aftermath of the Witchbeast Incident.

As always, he never did anything to make them fade away. They are marks of her progress. The more he had, the more she's grown as a wyrmm that's nearing the surface of the earth to take in the air of the Above-World, especially when outside his supervision. He couldn't be any more prouder to wear them on his flesh for the rest of his life.

"From the fangs and claws of beasts, I presume? Correct me if I'm wrong but it has taken your ability to speak, hasn't it?"

Emurdol and Meili shared eye contact, giving each other bitter and wry smiles, reminded of the ugly circumstances that happened a month ago that they were supposed to forget.

The gentleman realized his mistake and bowed mournfully, "I am deeply sorry for mentioning. It may not be a question you wish to answer." He brought his cup to his lips. "A lovely taste. A rather fascinating and considerable quality in it, I can imagine."

Meili giggled, "Glad to knooow. Let's introduce each other, shall weee?" Twirling, her skirt flaring and performing a perfect curtsy, she introduced, "My name's Meili Sinnuldel, mock servant of the mansion and aspiring mage. And that's my Papa, Emurdol Viandegroc, supporter and vassal-in-waiting of the Lady Emilia." She gestured to her father and the latter responded by clapping the rhythm of greetings before bowing with a skeleton fist to his chest.

The gentleman's expressions lightened upon their display of courtesies, "My, such a polite pair you two make. You may call me Wilhelm. I currently serve the House of Karsten, and an errand from my Master led me here along with my passenger. I don't suppose you both came here simply to serve me tea, yes?"

"Maybe nooot, but me and Papa would like to know the reason for the visit, if you do not miiiind?"

"Hmm, I believe the emissary is speaking about the matter?" Wilhelm asked.

"Indeeeed, but Lady Emilia was set on handling it herself so it felt like we were not really neeeeeded." Meili meekly approached him, "But if you could tell me, that would be wonderful."

"Well, since your dear father is a vassal, even if yet to be, I suppose I can tell you with only bits of it. I hope you understand."

Emurdol nodded, his left hand caressing the side of the dragon's body. So rough, yet shining from the sun above. Truly magnificent. "It's okaaay." Meili answered on his behalf.

"It concerns the Royal Selection and the Ceremony is due in a couple of days." Wilhelm informed, "Your Ladyship is going to be seen by the public eye."

"Aaah…" Meili turned a neutral look to Emurdol's direction, but there was a hint of concern lighting up in her eyes. The father noticed the implications in her gaze. The world will begin to acknowledge Emilia's existence, including her state as a silver-haired half-elf that looked very similar to the Witch of Envy. One could only imagine the discrimination that's bound to come her way, especially when she's striving for the Seat of Power.

Emurdol isn't liking the thought of it, especially when he was experienced of such treatment himself. His outward demeanor betrayed nothing of his ruminations, of course.

Hmm…

"Though, I must say, you two do seem very close to Lady Emilia, I noticed. She was hand in hand with your father and a hooded man when you all arrived. It did not seem like an image of a standard relationship between master and retainer."

"Well, we don't really care about statuseeees." Meili told, "Me, Papa and Uncle being formal around Emily would be just saaad."

Wilhelm cocked an eyebrow in wonder, "Emily?"

"Yeah! It's what I call heeer." She smiled sweetly, her maid persona now removed to reveal her playful and amicable self. "I'm just being a cute little maidy for fun, y'knooow, so I don't have to call her Lady Emilia or anythiing. And even Papa calls her 'Dear Giiiirl', right, Papa?"

Emurdol huffed, nodding as his left hand scratched the dragon's rough chin, which the creature enjoyed.

"Such a treacherous path you both walk. She might become the next Queen of Lugnica one day."

Emurdol snorted, and Meili broke out laughing, not loud like a guffaw but she still laughed, reservedly and quietly, so as to not look out of place in her maid uniform.

"Have I said something amusing?"

Meili faked wiping a tear, looking at Wilhelm in the eyes sharply, her green eyes flashing once. "We already aaare." She tugged the cuff of her glove just slightly, revealing the brown back of her hand. "Something I lost in the circumstanceeees." She gestured to her father, and the latter held out his skeleton hand, rotating it and flexing the fingers to show every detail to the gentleman. "That used to have skin and muscles a month agoooo. Somebody tried to kill Emily and he lost his hand during the tiiime."

Emotion Suppression successfully held down the memory of the woman responsible for the assault from going through her head.

Wilhelm regarded the pair grimly, now looking at them in a new perspective, "And yet your loyalty to your Ladyship does not falter despite the losses suffered."

"Naaaah. They happened because of our choices aaaat the time. Can't be blamed on Emilyyyy."

So much context hidden behind every sentence, and yet she never told a single lie. She's getting better at it, Meili realized. Her cheeks blushed lightly in pride.

"Both your resolves are admirable, and I am merely a driver. I doubt I could match such devotion."

"Pleeeaaase, Mr. Will." Meili suddenly butchered his name, her casual demeanor breaking through proper courtesies. "You know that's not truueee. I mean you knew it was Emily even though she had her hood on."

Wilhelm's expression became stoic instantly, silent.

"The cloak was supposed to hide her identity and only those she allows can see her face, or unless they can break through the ward. So me and Papa are not gonna believe you if you call yourself a 'mere driveeer'."

All thanks to Roswaal's enchantments, a simple cloak with ridiculous animal ears protruding at the top of the hood could easily hide the half-elf away from the brunt of the hate and discrimination that could have went her way without it.

"…and someone of your age realized that from the beginning. You're quite cunning, Miss Meili."

Meili giggled, "It was obvioouus, considering who Emily is and why she has to weaaar it."

Wilhelm's eyes regarded the smiling girl differently now, "It seems I cannot refer to myself merely as a driver anymore. As you surmised, I am indeed related to the Royal Selection…or rather, related to someone related."

"Related to someone involved to the Royal Selection, you meeaan." Meili paraphrased, earning a nod from the gentleman. "Does that mean the owner of the Karsten House you serve a candidate toooo?"

"Yes." Wilhelm nodded after a brief pause, "Yes, indeed."

"So just like Papaa." She turned to her father, who is now finished acquainting with the dragon and simply leaning against the wheel of the carriage, watching the exchange silently. She turned back to him, "Do you serve out of devoootion?"

"That, and out of gratitude. It is something that falls short of what I truly owe to my Lady." The admiration flared in his eyes as he said that, showing the true extent of his fealty quite subtly. His attention then turned to the top of the stairs behind her, "Ah, it seems our time for talk is over."

"I knooow. I could smell and hear them from heeere." Meili mentioned, turning around and facing the two people descending down before performing a curtsy.

Emurdol's eyes remain planted on the one who must be the envoy that Rem accompanied, and what he's seeing nearly sent him into a battle mindset. What negated the full effect was the fact that this emissary had a human face below the pair of cat ears protruding from the brown locks and wore clothes.

So this is a Demihuman. He concluded, setting the sight apart from what he's used to back in Pandemonium; Murderous and ugly, this one had a cute face and is not attacking him on sight for his delicious mana. She could nearly pass as a human if not for the feline ears and the tail.

The demihuman noted his gaze and wore a teasing smile, different to what Meili usually gave. "Gee, it's normal to fall for someone beautiful on the first glance but it is still rude to stare, you know~?"

Delicate, cute, and willowy. It completely destroyed his last impression of beings like her back in his old world. This one could speak and is teasing him.

As Emurdol crossed his arms, the demihuman girl turned to Wilhelm, "Hey, Grandpa Wil. Sorry to make you wait outside like that. Must've been boring, meow?"

"Oh no, not at all." The gentleman replied, gesturing to Meili and Emurdol, "These kind pair deigned to keep these old bones in company and conversation, helping me pass the time quite enjoyably."

"Mew?" The girl's feline pupils narrowed to oval slits as she observed and examined the pale man carefully. After some time, she clapped her hands and said, "Oh ho, I see. You're the man Lady Emilia mentioned."

She suddenly pressed herself against him, her soft chest meeting his vest-covered own, one leg slipping in-between his own, looking up to his towering gaze with salacious eyes while one arm wrapped around his waist while the other placed a hand on the back of his neck. "Don't move now, it's time for a little inspection." She purred hotly.

Then she mashed her face to his scarred neck, her lips grazing the healed flesh while the hand holding his nape traced lines. Emurdol was very still, but an expression of malice spread all over his face. Brightly glowing eyes of green, a dark frown forming on his creases, his hair floating against the current of invisible waters and his teeth morphing into sharp points as his sneer grew.

"Nom!" She nipped his neck.

Alarmed at the sudden unwanted contact, he shot a hissy screech at the demihuman, his hair flaring like a fan and baring his teeth at her like a lion. For the slightest moments, he became an image of horror that even Meili blanched from the sight of it.

"Geez! No need to take it too harshly!" The girl whined pitifully, then stopped with the act and said, "Looks like Lady Emilia didn't say anything about your entire body being completely different besides it decaying even though you're not showing any symptoms. Your organs are not in the right places, and there's some others that shouldn't be there too. It's unlike anything I've ever seen in meow life. What are you?"

She found that out, huh? Emurdol was quite surprised to have a complete stranger notice his hidden condition aside from Puck and Beatrice.

Meili suddenly appeared in front of her father defensively, giving the demihuman a childish stink eye, "Papa's human, kitty. He's been trying to fight off the decay everyday with lots of healthy food and water. And he made his organs that way. What did you just do?"

"Checking his body, kid. Don't worry, I didn't do anything bad. But I gotta tell you, fruits and greens won't be enough. He needs really thorough medical attention. If only I had the time though…" She eyed Emurdol curiously, who was stoically glaring at her, "It looks like they didn't tell you anything, have they?"

"About what?" Meili asked in his stead.

"About the deal, and other stuff like that."

Meili frowned, so did Emurdol. Something that concerned him was happening and they weren't even notified of it. "What's it all about?"

"Oh, what should I say~? It's an important job tooo~~"

"Leave it at that, Felis." Wilhelm chided the girl. Meili silently thanked him. She was prancing around the details—it was irking, and her father's annoyance passed onto her mind, which amplified her own.

"Boo. You're too serious, Grandpa Wil. It's no fun at all."

The gentleman ignored her completely, turning to the father-daughter pair, "I am thankful for the company and the tea. Well then, we will take our leave now." Wilhelm put his cup back to the tray before returning it to Meili's hands with a bow, "The tea was wonderful. Master Emurdol and Miss Meili, may you both be in good health." With the same grace as before, the gentleman leapt up to the driver's seat and took hold of the reins.

Emurdol and Meili returned his bow. The cat girl was sour for being ignored but she recovered quickly and winked at the necromagus' direction, "Sowwy. Could have teased you a little more but we're meowt of time for today. If we don't hurry soon, our dear Lady Crusch will get so worried she won't sleep the night."

Crusch. Emurdol repeated the name a couple times in his head, burning it to his memory as something to remember. It could be useful.

"Sorry for no introductions, you two, but Feli's real busy. Later~!" Wearing that annoying teasing smirk again, she entered the carriage and closed the door.

With a crack of the reins, Wilhelm bid them goodbye, "Farewell."

With a deep bray that vibrated pleasantly in his ears, the wheels creaked in motion as the dragon stomped the ground several times before taking a powerful step forward, instantaneously accelerating in a baffling burst of speed that wasn't possible for its size in an instant unless from a slow winding start. The carriage took no time in reaching the gates, and outside the mansion borders, kicking up a cloud of dust behind on the dirt road.

Once again, Emurdol marveled in the physical power of a creature that was not trying to kill him. The times he ever had in Pandemonium was when they were already dead or turned into zombies.

Something else intrigued him, however.

"Did you see it too?" An inquiry asked in Meili's head.

The daughter nodded with a smile, affirming his suspicions. "It was full of love." She whispered, her hissy voice reaching his hypersensitive ears.

Emotions transcend across realms, whether here or the Spectral Realm, and the Soul that had hovered around Wilhelm was so full of his love that the entity willingly broke out of the Afterlife to soak in it and give it back a thousandfold.

Whoever the old gentleman was, he had lost somebody so dear and precious to him, most presumably a wife, and he had loved her so much that despite the years without her by his side, it remains strong to this day.

For all of his negative opinion towards Above-Worlders, people like him are worthy of a certain level of his respect. If Wilhelm doesn't try to bring her back to life by any means and simply accepts her death, then it will be Emurdol who shall watch his attitude around the old man instead of the other way around.

Sighing, he turned around and jogged up the stairs, taking two steps at a time before he reached the door and entered the mansion.

Meili and Rem followed after him, going in a calm pace. The former turned to look at the side of the maid's face, noticing the slightest hint of displeasure in the orbs of light blue. "Upset, Remiii?"

Hearing her being addressed by her nickname and brought out of her thoughts, she slightly stuttered, "Ah…well….Master Felix shouldn't do that to Ser Emurdol."

The wyrmm giggled, bumping her hip with her own, sending Rem slightly stumbling but easily getting her footing back on the stairs. "Don't worryyyy, Papa now has a bad impression on her. Besides, you two already shared a kiiiss."

Rem's cute face instantly turned a deep red, remembering the time when Emurdol made a point to show that he had completely forgiven her when she still continued to put doubts on herself. Words weren't going to work, so he showed it by action. The maid spent the entire day dazed and swooning in the aftermath.

Meili wore a warm smile all the way, and once they were past the door, she asked sweetly, "What's a fact?"

Rem put the hands placed on her cheeks down, facing the little one with a smile, "Meili loves Ser Emurdol."

Emurdol will love whoever Meili loves.

"What's the truth?"

The maid leaned her upper body downwards, towards the smaller maid that their faces are close together, "Meili loves Rem."

Emurdol loves Rem, genuinely and wholeheartedly.

Then Meili kissed Rem's cheek lovingly, completing the ritual that will quell her insecurities whenever it rises up again.

A bond had grown between Rem and the Necromagi family, and it is something particularly special that it was held sacred. Through her Link, Meili knew that her father had special feelings for the blue maid. It something close to love, related to friendship, and similar to familial fondness. It was an emotion the wyrmm had never experienced before, completely alien that no ordinary human could ever feel it except Emurdol himself.

Meili had taken it upon herself to coax it out of her father and express them to Rem, so she can understand it and give her the courage to do the same. She also had her own special feelings for Rem, likely because of their Link having her share similar thoughts about the maid, but she didn't care. She wants to put Emurdol first, however, have him do the first move before she does.

A day to look forward to.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"—And did you fulfill your duties as envoy?"

"Well, of course. I would never fail to do anything my Lady Crusch requests of me. Oh, Grandpa Wil, you worrywart!"

"…."

"…...but I have to say, I didn't expect you to speak to those two while waiting. Don't you hate talking to people?"

"That is a horrible misunderstanding."

"Oh, is it now? Sowwy. It's just that you seem to like slicing people more than talking to them, right?"

"That is an even worse misunderstanding."

"Aw…you're no fun, always speaking formally to your Dear Ferris even though we've been together for so long. What, was it more fun listening to those two than me? Was it because they seemed special? Was there meowre to that pale guy and that little girl? Are they actually so strong that they hid their abilities behind personas or something?

"You may have assessed them correctly, as despite Sir Emurdol's condition and Miss Meili's age they are certainly more than they appear, like docile bears peacefully grazing the grass, but that isn't what interested me."

"Then what, Grandpa Wil? You're not usually like this."

"….their eyes."

"Eyes?"

"The girl's eyes say they have seen death, suffered it, and have come back. Such eyes on a child her age and yet continue to behave normally wasn't something I thought possible."

"…."

"As for her father….his own say that they have seen cruel, horrible and terrifying things, far more than a single man could possibly handle in a single lifetime, and yet he retained his sanity in the aftermath. No matter how strong, there are limits to a man's willpower and spirit before it breaks but his…his was something above-average….and abnormal. The two were unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. You can say that it compelled my curiosity."

"Pffft….meow, it doesn't make sense….but if that's true, then the two of them won't find an easy path to cross.

"…..."

"Having the Sword Devil, Wilhelm van Astrea, interested in you is as unfortunate as the Witch having a thing for you."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"We're coming too, Emilyyy! Uncle and Grandma tooo!"

"What!?"

"I second the notion, considering I and Mama mustn't be far away from Brother if he is ever inconvenienced."

The relieved tension of the reception room was quickly shattered when Meili barged herself in, followed by the robed Flesh Golem who left behind his kitty mask in Emurdol's room, revealing his faceless visage that once unsettled Emilia long ago but not anymore.

"Listen, Emurdol, my summons there is actually very serious business. It's unlike anything—"

"You are called to the Royal Selection and the Ceremony that comes after, I'm aware." Emurdol told, "The gentleman outside filled me in."

"Then…then why would you want to come?"

"For one thing, I want to find the best healer the Royal Capital has to offer. I have been trying to repair my throat and it only needs the most skilled healer to finish it. I need someone incredibly skilled that I cannot rely on even Beatrice to do it. Second, I want an audience with Ser Reinhardt. Reasons are purely personal. Third—"

"To enchant my kniiife!" Meili interjected, holding up the black wavy blade in the air. Her old bone kris was readily fused into her brown hand, used as more bone components in its hidden arsenal once Emurdol gave her the knife he's been forging in the village smithy. A simple gift.

The father turned to her with a flat stare, "That's the fourth thing, An'k."

"Oh. Then, what's the thiiird?"

He returned to Emilia, "To familiarize the layout of the Kingdom and see what I can buy in its economic industries. Armor, for example. I have lost my plackart back at the Loot House, of course. I also want protection for Meili as well."

"I'm not gonna wear bones like yoouu?" Meili asked.

"Consider it an extra layer, An'k. Better to be safe than sorry. It's how I survived this long."

"Okaay." She figured that made sense, and she asked, "Is there a fifth ooone?"

"Lastly, to know who I'm dealing with."

There is certainly more to come than just discrimination. There will be fanatics. It's so obvious that no one should have to think hard about the possibilities. This is extremely typical of idiots. There's no doubt about it.

"Emilyyy, why don't you want Papa and us comiiing?"

"Well…" Emilia was conflicted, "If you go with me….you might overexert yourself again. And honestly, I don't want you or your Mother or Uncle to do that. I mean, look." She gestured to his black hand and then his entire body, including his throat, "You lost your hand back at the loot house for my sakes, now you lost your voice during the witchbeast incident. I don't want you to lose even more of yourself for me."

Emurdol snorted, covering the lower half of his face. Meili covered her mouth with her brown hand, barely stopping the chuckles from breaking out. Viandegroc stroked his chin, a tiny hint of amusement in his monotonous body language. Rem looked down guiltily. Ram scowled dourly. Roswaal grinned in amusement, watching everything from the side.

The spectacle in the Loot House is debatable but he did not try too hard for her sakes when the witchbeast incident happened. He was running away, even tried to commit suicide, and he didn't even knew what was going on at the time until he noticed the emergency at Earlham Village.

Despite all this time, Emilia still knew nothing about the true circumstances behind everything that day. Even her memory during the day the Shade wrecked the world apart was purged to nothing alongside the Earlham Villagers'.

"What? Why are you all acting strangely? Is what I said ridiculous?"

With both his skeletal and living hand, he placed them on her shoulders and said, "Soon, Dear Girl, I will have to tell you the actual truth behind my actions that day when the witchbeasts attacked."

"Eh?" Emilia face became blank.

"Yes, yeees, that is far enough." Roswaal finally decided to get this over with, "This conversation doesn't seem to be maaaaaking any headway so let us have a compromise. Ser Emurdol shall accompany you to the Capital and perform his tasks while you, Lady Emilia, shall concern yourself with only the Royal Selection. It's not as if he's trying get involved in it, yeeees?

No one in the Necromagi family denied nor confirmed his words.

"Roswaal…" Emilia tried to protest but failed, noticing the logic in his words.

"Besiiides, he does need medical attention." The lord reminded, resting his cheek on his fist as he turned to face Emurdol. "As we all know, his body is decaaaaying. Though he may have halted the progression with his magic, it cannot laaaaast forever. Isn't that right, Ser Emuuuurdol?"

The pale man nodded, "If my grip loosens for more than a few minutes, irrecoverable complications will arrive."

Releasing the Shade and having it perform reality-warping feats that affected the entire domain has drawbacks. His body degraded, and it's beginning to rot on the inside. Though he may have tried on a healthy diet, it isn't enough. He knew that. That's why he needed an accomplished healer.

"You said you can fix it but need a reeaally good healer to do so, right?" Emilia asked, remembering what she heard from many days prior.

"Well, you're in luck, Ser Emuuuurdol. Because Lady Emilia here has personally called for the peeeerfect healer to meet your requirements."

"Roswaal! Wait a…! That's—"

Roswaal ignored the flustered half-elf, asking, "Have you meeeet the emissary earlier?"

"And?"

"That emissary is an accomplished user of water magic, the element of life and healing, even by the standaaards of the Capital. With such skill, you will without a doubt have no trouble repairing your body with that child's help. As the person's quite quirky, Lady Emilia went through a lot of trouble tooo negotiate for cooperation…"

All eyes from the Necromagi family turned to face the now-red Emilia.

Meili wore a teasing smile, now liking the half-elf a lot more, "So, Emily does caaare."

Viandegroc nodded in agreement, "It was truly right of us to think of you highly."

Emurdol huffed in silent laughter, enclosing the girl in his arms and spinning her around, eliciting a surprised yelp from her. The crown on her head didn't fly off despite the momentum, "Dear Girl, you needn't be shy about intentions like this. Give me the opportunity to be thankful." He stopped the spinning and set her down, "Such selflessness cannot go unnoticed, especially if it's for me."

"I-I mean, it's partly my fault that you aren't fully healed, Emurdol. You wound up here because you shielded me, and I should've done something about the witchbeasts but you did that in my place instead. So, consider this as repayment, or a sort of compensation for all your losses, however you wish to see it…."

Emurdol harrumphed, understanding her point. "If that's what you say, why are you so opposed to me going with you when the healer could possibly be at the Capital?"

"Because you might do something reckless and dangerous again." She answered firmly, "Even if you think you can handle it, I can't. Seeing you like this is a strike at my conscience."

"Emilia." He addressed her by name, drawing her full attention as he placed a black ivory hand on her shoulder, "I do not walk into battles I cannot win, and even if I did, I accept the risks. If you wish me to be careful, then I shall do so to the best of my abilities. But if I fail to uphold that, it is because the circumstances were outside my control. That is essentially what happened in the Loot House and during the incident. I thought I was going to die so I decayed my hand to protect the wand, and I unfortunately lost my composure in the forest, which let my guard down."

Viandegroc stepped up, "In essence, Emilia, there was nothing you could have done about it. These debacles are by his own hand."

Emilia remained conflicted, unable to easily accept his words. "Still…."

"Veeery well, the matter is settled." Roswaal raised up a finger, "Ser Emurdol shall accompany you on your trip to the Royal Capital. Preparations will require about one day, so we will depart the day after tomorrow. Is this acceeeeptable?"

Emilia sighed, "I understand."

"As you command, Lord Roswaal." Rem replied.

One day….

Viandegroc gave Emurdol a knowing glance, and Meili's Link suddenly gave her a tinge of worry.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Meili's brow sweated endlessly, looking at the arrangement her shared room with her father had become. A thick white sheet over the surface of the bed, an assortment of sterilized surgical instruments placed near the bedside atop an ivory table, and Rem standing close by with an apron worn over a white uniform that covered her entire body protectively from bad substances, her maid uniform set aside for this moment.

"Papa, whyyyyy?" She whined, her left palm sweating as she wiggled the fingers of both her fists anxiously. "We just did one 4 days agoooo….!"

"You have and your body has long adjusted to it." Viandegroc answered in his stead, counting the instruments on the tray to see if everything needed is there. "This will be your second last operation, Niece. Once we're finished, your body can finally withstand the pressures of your most strenuous spells, especially Void Walk. The Souls are also going to be unable to damage your body any longer."

"Mrrrrmm….!" Meili only stamped her feet impudently, looking around the dimly-lit room stressfully. She tried one last effort, "Can this wait? I'm not readyyyy!"

"Niece," The Flesh Golem faced her firmly, even though he had no eyes to speak of, "You know why that line of thinking is lethal. This operation is for your sakes, and your father and I've been emphasizing that every time. Do you want to be caught unprepared in a situation that your body wasn't ready for?"

"But my body can take more than last time!"

"Yes, and it's still not enough."

During her first operation, it was to have her original organs stabilized in her remodeled body. In her second operation, she could only suffer phantom scratches from the Souls instead of being completely manipulated by them. In her third, her body became more interconnected with her mana pool, granting her the physical power that will overpower a grown man and will continue to develop as she ages. In her fourth, she was given new organs to increase the potency of her mana and the durability of her old ones, to make sure they don't crumble from her improved system and instead adapt to it as her body grows.

Despite all that, it is still not enough? Meili couldn't believe it.

Light thuds coming from her right drew her attention, and a white hand rested on her shoulder, bringing her eyes to a warm pair of green orbs as her father knelt beside her, "Don't worry this time, Meili, for I have created a concoction to shut down the pain just for you."

She looked at the small bottle he had in his dark hand. She took it in hand to look closely, the contents viscous and transparent like water. She turned back to him, "It won't hurt anymore?"

He nodded earnestly, "Not anymore."

Another hand rested on her other shoulder, she turned to look and it's Rem, giving her a warm and assuring smile, "Don't worry, Rem shall be with you like always."

During the last two operations since Emurdol lived in the Mansion, Rem has always accompanied Meili every time, holding her hand and easing her mind from the excruciating and violating sensations with sweet nothings every time she was opened up. She could have fallen asleep, but her system is highly intuitive, fighting back any anesthetic drug given to send her body into high alert against the foreign intrusions of the instruments and keeping her awake.

She should count her blessings, Meili realized. It was worse when she only had the edges of the bone table to hold on to and a piece of ivory in her mouth to bite on back in the cave. She should be fortunate that she's in a comforting environment compared to the old one.

After moments of hesitation, she finally nodded with a whispered consent, "Okay."

Rem handed her a glass of water, "Here."

Meili took it and drank it whole before beginning to undress her maid uniform, with Rem assisting her. Once she was left only to her black undergarments, her white body bare to the air like many times prior, she knelt on the center of the sheet-covered bed and popped open the pain-relieving potion before downing it to the bottom.

Passing the empty potion to Rem's hands, who knelt in front of her with a pillow on her lap, she grew a sharp thumbnail on her brown hand and pierced the middle of her left palm, the flesh punctured but not bleeding.

"It doesn't hurt." She muttered.

"As expected of Ser Emurdol!" Rem praised, looking at the pale man's direction admirably.

Reconstructing the damage flesh, leaving no scar, her skills in self-heal having improved since 3 weeks ago, Meili finally lied down on her back, her head resting on the pillow on Rem's lap. The latter taking the former's left hand tenderly and holding on tight, her other hand adjusting the face mask she wore before moving the wyrmm's silver locks away from her face to rest on her lap and petting her head, she turned to Emurdol and said the prompt, "Rem is ready, Ser Emurdol."

The father nodded, his vest and trousers undressed as his legs began reforming and extending underneath him before he hovered over the bed, his daughter's lower body under him and a number of ivory appendages moved to secure her legs against the sheets. 4 spider legs reaching over the bedside and stepping on the floors to steady himself, he lowered himself down until he practically sat on Meili's thighs.

Taking a deep breath and relaxing his nerves, recounting the times he's done this before and succeeded without any complications, he began. He received the scalpel Viandegroc held out and neared the blade to the same place he always chose as the starting point.

"Relax."

And the incredibly sharp blade easily cut into her pale flesh, eliciting only a short yip from Meili. She would have trembled, but instead, she only flinched once and quickly relaxed.

"It doesn't hurt." Meili muttered, a small tear of red leaking out of her closed left eye.

"Sshh." Emurdol shushed her gently, not taking his eyes away from his carefully-precise gliding of the blade.

"Don't talk, Meili." Rem told in a very mother-like voice, "Just keep your eyes closed and try to sleep."

"Hmm…"

"Sshh." Emurdol shushed her again, already finished with the second point before moving to the third point, connecting the two horizontal lines on Meili's abdomen together in the middle vertically. Bony retractors growing out of his black ivory legs, they pried the entrance open gently and carefully.

Seeing all of her unnaturally-colored and partially distorted organs along with the inhuman ones he added in the same places he had left them, interconnected to her body as if she had them all her life, he put his consciousness under the influence of Emotion Suppression and went on to the next step.

For the whole three and a half hours of operation, the atmosphere was completely stiff and heavy, total concentration filling Emurdol and Rem's minds. Viandegroc didn't need to keep himself focused. As a Flesh Golem with instructions, he is completely single-minded to the task before him as if it was the only thing he has.

No words were exchanged, speaking kept to a minimum except for Rem when she has to verbally assure Meili whenever she's feeling stressed. Emurdol and Viandegroc don't have to speak to each other while they worked. They share the same line of thinking, anyway. And the wyrmm was very still, silently weeping but silent the whole time, making the procedure without complications.

When the aftermath was reached, with Meili now receiving a new organ that was connected to her stomach and intestines, having the added benefit to empower the function of the membrane coating all of her bones, with a few modifications to her lung, heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, as well as her still-developing reproductive system, her body can finally withstand immense pressure from the casting of magic once it finally adjusts.

The dimly-lit room glowing in a shade of green thanks to the energy brewing in Emurdol's hands, the opening on Meili's abdomen began closing, the cleanly-cut flesh reconnecting back together like clay, his skills of Reconstruction having improved since the Shade's release.

Throughout the operation, she never bled.

When the red lines were nonexistent, he placed his left hand above her belly button and sent a large clump of mana across her form, quickening the stabilization of her body with the new organ. Her system would naturally rebel against the foreign element, but if he can temporarily shut down the defense mechanisms of her body, she will be back into shape in no time. Since she carried his blood, something he could manipulate like an arm, it couldn't get any easier.

"It's over." Viandegroc announced, stepping away from the bedside as Mother walked over with a basin full of water, which Emurdol washed his hands on. "You can now relax, Rem."

The maid let out a relieved sigh, her back slumping over as she removed her sweaty grip on Meili's left hand to stretch the muscles of her fingers. As she wiped her damp brow and neck with a handkerchief, she turned to the wyrmm that was still lying down with her eyes closed, "Meili, it's over. You can open your eyes now."

The little one didn't respond, unmoving and still. Not a sight of breathing or the sensation of a heartbeat present. But Rem wasn't worried. These signs were normal for the Necromagi family, and the fact that the two brothers aren't panicking means that the operation was a complete success. "Rem thinks she fell asleep." She announced, removing her face mask.

"That would be the best for her." Viandegroc told, standing close to the wall, completely naked during the entirety of the effort, his robes placed on a chair and leaving his multi-armed physique that was completely blank of bodily detail able to assist in the procedure with uncanny dexterity. "She deserves it."

"Yes. I thank you for your efforts on Meili's behalf, Master Viandegroc and Ser Emurdol."

"Mm." The Flesh Golem nodded, the black knife merged to his chest hidden behind his crossed arms while his other appendages sunk back into his average-build form.

Emurdol, now finished with washing his hands and face, dried himself with a towel before approaching the kneeling Rem on the bed with the sleeping Meili still resting her head atop her lap, leaning forward with a skeleton hand on the bed supporting his form and drawing the maid's face close to his own with his other hand to her cheek, thier lips barely inches apart. "Thank you for helping us again, Rem. I appreciate it the most."

Rem nodded happily, a blush developing on her cheeks, "Glad to be of help, Ser Emurdol."

And he kissed her.

Before he was midway with his kiss, Rem's hand suddenly held the back of his head and held him closer, deepening the intimacy, keeping him in place while she relished every bit of every second.

After ten seconds, Rem reluctantly let him go, parting with a pop and leaving the smitten maid red-faced and smiling shyly. The way the pale man's glowing green eyes were glazed over told her that he enjoyed that as much as she did.

Scooping up Meili in his arms and lifting her up, with Rem quickly getting off the bed and taking the chair that was placed nearby by Mother, rubbing her stiff and blood-deprived knees, Viandegroc pulled the used thick white sheet off the surface and moved the blanket away before Emurdol set his daughter down again, her head resting on the pillows.

Sat on the edge of the bed, Emurdol had his highly-sophisticated prosthetics removed like the flick of a switch, taking off the arsenal components that were hidden in the frame of the 'sleeves' and leaving only the base with him; femurs, kneecaps and lower leg bones that ended in dull spikes.

Since receiving this gift from Mother, he had the base of the prosthetics merged into the stump of his thighs and connected to the stub of his halved thigh bones inside with a clamp-system. It made the 'sleeve bones' easier to equip, and replaceable in times of necessity. It was a long operation, requiring more than four hours of effort, but he managed it with the results working as intended.

Leaving the prosthetic sleeves stood up on the floor like a pair of thigh-high boots made of black bone, he slowly lied down beside Meili, a pillow under his head, pulled his daughter close to give her the cuddles she enjoyed so much, even if she's asleep.

Her little head resting on his upper arm, his other arm lying atop her waist as it embraced her, her bare skin meeting his own, he slowly infused his mana to her pool. Aside from refilling the reserves she used up from her blood magic to prevent bleeding, it will also quicken her body's adaptation to the changes, allowing her to wake up tomorrow like usual, as if she had never went through the procedure in the first place.

To the eyes of any other Necromagus from Pandemonium, this would have been very reminiscent of a father feeding his needy babe's essential doses of mana that she couldn't drain on her own due to being fresh out of birth a month ago. And it practically is, since Meili was just back from the dead a month ago, which can be otherwise called as being 'Born again'. Just the mere sight of it would incite the desire for parenthood to any skilled Priest of the Serpent, the desire to experience the joy of family and the act of giving love.

His eyes slowly closed, sleep quickly overcoming him while his body continued to feed his daughter mana in his arms. I feel blessed. Love never felt so supreme, and he's glad he found it.

Viandegroc and Mother moved to pull the blanket over their forms, covering them from the shoulder down and granting them warmth in slumber. The Flesh Golem moved to place a hand on the seated Rem's shoulder, "Drink water, take a bath, and drink herbal tea when you leave, Rem."

The smiling maid nodded, "Rem shall do that, Master Viandegroc."

Patting her shoulder twice, he left the room with Mother, carrying the used sheets to be taken to the laundry as they left Rem alone with the sleeping pair. And she stared. Stared at their beautiful sleeping faces, especially Emurdol.

She never gets tired of looking at him whenever he's like this. The creases of his brow aren't pronounced in deep thought. He isn't focused too strongly to the point of stress on one of his projects. He isn't going through the motions of what's in front of him because he has to. He isn't hiding his emotions behind his defensive visage. He's not smirking cruelly due to a morbid prank in mind. He isn't also looking over certain places around him as if he was looking for a hidden enemy. He's simply at peace, unconcerned with anything in the world while his daughter slept contently in his arms.

It's an interval where he truly looked like a normal human, as opposed to the man that's hanging on to the chain that held his reason to go on living on the other end.

The blood in her legs returned, the paresthesia disappearing minutes ago, she stood up primly and leaned forward, her lips hovering over their sweet sleeping faces. Carefully as to not wake them up, her thumb and finger delicately pinched the edge of the blanket and pulled it a little higher to cover their shoulders. Afterwards, she gave each of their cheeks long and loving kisses. Repayment of what the two gave her today, taking them as energy boosts to work extra hard.

"Sweet dreams, Meili, Ser Emurdol."

With a bright and beautiful smile that never left her face, she exited the room without the slightest sound made, even as she closed the door.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"I'm proud, Mama."

The tall woman of pure white dressed in the traditional robes of the Order of the Serpent turned around to face the person speaking to her, a look of inquiry in her serene features.

Viandegroc had a slight smile on his face as he addressed the Queen of Ivory, "You gave the Maid a chair without any prompt from me or Brother. You're beginning to show empathy."

"A wonderful growth that the Mighty King witnessed." Lucifer praised without the inhibitions of his arrogance.

"Her time in Greed's domain is finally yielding its rewards…." Sally announced in soft triumph, the genuine smile of pride on her face amplifying her sinful beauty by a thousandfold.

"And we have but one person to thank for all this rejoicing." William mentioned, kneeling reverently to Bartholomew.

The young noble himself, the former Corruption of Envy, didn't take pleasure in the credit, only bowing meekly. Since they are in the court, there wasn't room for faux humility. Such a thing he didn't experience in his living life.

"Do not be humble…." Sally was quick to give the reward, her vapors pulling the young man towards her direction and quickly took his lips to her own the sooner he was in reach, giving him a deep kiss. There was no thrill nor excitement to feel from the intimacy, since he never knew them in his living life, but the thought was what mattered, such is the workings of the Court.

"Looks like somebody's getting bedded in Greed's domain." Viandegroc commented factually, no tease or hint of insinuation in his tone. Knowing the Marchioness, it is inevitable whenever she is pleased with somebody's performance.

"A reward well-deserved, as I have seen him as nothing but furniture till now." Lucifer agreed, his genuine approval filling the entirety of the Court that every single member could feel it as if it was their own.

"Then this Lowly Servant shall keep their matters private and safe from wandering eyes in the Domain." The Valet offered, helpful as always. He stepped forward to the two, who now parted their lips. The look on Bartholomew's face didn't change from its usual neutral state, but the Marchioness is eager to change that, her eyes glazed over. "Shall we go?"

"Let us go." Sally prompted and vanished with Bartholomew right after, William disappearing close behind.

Noting their leave, Viandegroc turned to the members remaining. "Now, unto other pressing matters."

"Regarding the boy." Lucifer mentioned, drawing the full attention of Mother, who straightened her back as she knelt on the floors of the Underground City. "He still carries our remnants in the Void."

"The good thing…is that he isn't carrying my dagger or the head as much anymore." Viandegroc couldn't hold on to that hope for long, however. "Still, that doesn't mean he won't leave it in the Mansion the day after tomorrow and I can understand why. We can't be too careful. Pandemonium or not, we will have enemies."

The Mighty King let out a deep rumble from his throat, the displeasure showing on his lion-like face, "I carry my doubts on whether what the boy said to the Half-elf is even his own words or what the harlot would direct."

"There's also the mask. He can't seem to let go of it, even when he doesn't need it. I mean, has he even wore it once?" The former Corruption of Lust bit on his thumb, worry crossing his youthful features, "It is going to overshadow his benevolent nature."

"Overshadowing or not, it is still an unfortunate necessity." The Mighty King wrenched his battle axe off the tiles and swung it sideways, sending a powerful gust of wind in the east direction, shaking the walls of his throne room. "My thoughts are burdened with concern."

"My son…."

The men were instantly silent and still like statues, throwing away the main topic they were discussing to the side in order to listen to the kneeling woman suddenly speaking, turning all of their undivided attention solely to her.

"….my son, a shapelesssss and formlesssss thing…...mold-ed and made by daughter and maid-love…."

They both clenched their fists at what she's implying, but said nothing, paying extremely close attention for the next words to be said.

"Repair not, hopelesssss to do…..remake and create shall do…..ahead is light and back is dark…..see for growth than scour for scrapsssss…."

Then their eyes widened.

"His love is guide…..love for maid and child, guide for growth…...them be valued and protect-ed…..for my sssson….."

…..

…...…...

…...…...…...

When it was certain that she has nothing more to say, an eternity likely passing in their patience, they turned to face each other's shocked visages. Just when they thought empathy and control of her old power was all she regrew, they thought wrong. And it wasn't even certain whether it was retained from a remnant of her former Life or they owe Bartholomew more than he deserved for his efforts to help Mother back to her feet to the best of his abilities.

"Wisdom is not taught…." Viandegroc muttered, "….it is earned…."

"And Souls cannot learn any more than what they have left…." Lucifer added, his voice a soft rumble. "….she is truly the Mother of the boy who slew the Mighty King…."

Mother had somehow found a way to acquire such a thing without learning anything, and that was something they have never heard of happening before. She's not even connected to her son the same way the others were through the wand. Even Viandegroc could not do the same without relying on Emurdol's experiences in his Living Life to acquire such wisdom.

"Let us head to Greed's domain." The Mighty King was the first to suggest it before he could, sitting down on his throne and planting his axe to the indented tiles again. "These thoughts have to be acknowledged rightly."

And he disappeared.

Viandegroc turned around and took Mother's hands into his own, pulling her up to her feet before taking her with him to the false world that was Greed's castle, bringing back the sensation of Life into their entire being.

And the shock was inconceivable when it finally struck his Living mind.

Mother held him by the shoulders as he was about to fall on his back, holding his head that was weighed down by the realization he discovered. As an afterthought, he shot Echidna, who noticed his arrival and turned to his direction, a venomous glare.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Two mornings after the arrival of the emissary, with Meili's body now adapted to her conditioning and feeling nothing out of the ordinary after waking up yesterday, Emurdol's fascinations are brimming again, reservedly beaming at what's resting at the bottom of the stairs outside the mansion entrance.

What a beautiful creature.

The large carriage parked and waiting for its passengers before him, the dragon drawn to it was far bulkier and muscular compared to the one he saw yesterday. It could have been mistaken for a dangerous beast or even a beast of war, especially when its yellow reptilian eyes show neutral dislike towards him, but the fact that it is domesticated increased even his admiration for the creature even more.

It stoked his desire to own one for himself and his daughter.

Meili giggled at the look of childlike fascination on his face, "Look at your face, Papaa."

"Ser Emurdol is quite cute when he's excited, isn't he?" Rem added, enjoying the sight of the pale man gazing at the creature as if it was a zoo animal.

He turned to face Rem, "You are the one driving, yes?"

The maid nodded, "Yes, Ser Emurdol. Is something wrong?"

Emurdol beckoned Meili over, and she quickly stood to his side, holding his armored right hand. He turned back to Rem, "My daughter and I would like to sit on the box seat with you, would that be okay?"

Her gasp was magnificent, as if she had wanted the same thing as well and couldn't wait for it, "Yes! That would be lovely! Rem will be very happy if you do!"

"Then let us get stationed already." He went to the carriage with Meili, and the latter quickly took Rem's hand, leading her along.

"You're quite enthusiastic for the trip, aren't you, Emurdol?" Emilia commented, as she followed after three.

The wyrmm giggled, looking over her shoulder to face the half-elf, "Riiight?"

Stood beside the high-standing box seat after Rem loaded the luggage with some help, Emurdol gestured with a hand, "Ladies first, Rem."

"Thank you, Ser Emurdol." Rem thanked, giving a short bow before hopping up to the seat quite easily and gracefully, not unlike how Wilhelm did.

"Your turn." He suddenly held Meili under the arms from behind and lifted her off the ground as if she weighed no more than a pillow. "Catch her, Rem."

And he tossed his daughter upwards, the latter yelping in delighted surprise before the maid caught her under the arms as well. "Got you, Meili." Twisting around and placing the little one on the right side of the seat, the wyrmm gave her arm a thanking squeeze.

"And you are late." Viandegroc remarked, turning around to face Roswaal as he arrived later with Ram by his side, his happy kitty mask being the complete opposite of what's really within.

"I beg your pardooons." The lord raised up an apologizing hand, "You see, with Ram staying behind, we're going to be apart for a little while, noo? That is whyyy, I simply wanted to give a thoooorough farewell before our departure."

Ram straitened her hair and clothing hastily, making sure they are in complete order and nothing out of the ordinary to be seen, her face looking quite refreshed and relieved.

Now I wonder how thorough was their farewells. Emurdol couldn't keep the suggestive implications off his mind.

"So the Handicap will stay behind?" Viandegroc asked, his nickname for Ram staying ever since the second day of the incident. It was once derisive, now it's just a playful jab at her proud lacking as a maid.

"It can't be helped." Ram replied, calmly looking back at the eye slits of his kitty mask. "We can't leave the mansion unattended, and Lady Beatrice is here as well, so Ram must look after her. Truly troublesome."

"You are so typical it's still endearing." Viandegroc crossed his arms, a learned habit as a Flesh Golem. "The Little Spirit is now going to be lonely without her study mate coming over every evening for a few days."

"It should be pointed out that if Lady Beatrice were to hear that, she'd split you apart to a thousand pieces."

"And there would be a couple thousand more to spare."

With 6 people going on the trip: Emilia for her business at the Royal Selection with Roswaal coming along as her sponsor; Emurdol going for medical and other personal reasons alongside Meili; and the constructs, Viandegroc and Mother alongside Rem will come to serve and guard the entire group, Ram and Beatrice will be left at the Mansion to watch over it.

Out of Meili's mercy, she had created a few skeleton servants to act as Ram's underlings. Basically, to cover for her incompetent ass, as Viandegroc would put it.

The elder sister stepped up to Emurdol, who is still level with the ground as he looked down on the short maid before him, "I hope your dear daughter's creations will work as intended."

Emurdol nodded, suppressing the smirk that was threatening his lips, "I assure you that nothing they'll ever do will turn into accidents."

It wouldn't be presumptuous to assume that the skeletons Meili made were given built-in instructions do something ridiculous as another form of spite towards Ram, like disobeying an order 10 times or doing the complete opposite of what she said.

Not that he heard it straight from his daughter himself but it's a safe assumption.

Suddenly, Ram grabbed the collar of his robes and pulled him close. Her immaculate face suddenly taking a grim look as it neared to his own, she whispered, "Listen, you. Keep a firm grip on the reins so Rem doesn't do anything rash."

She's referring to her little sister's tendency to act without thinking. It's the same trait that led to the disaster during Emurdol's first 5 days. Ram had been the one to rein her in most at the time, but now, without her nearby, the responsibility is all left to him and his daughter.

He nodded, "Understood."

Shoving him back, she let out a pompous hmph as she walked away and ascended the stairs.

Hmm…

Beatrice didn't come to see them off.

It's typical of her, he knows that, but it is still quite disheartening. Meili would be sad, considering the bond between her and the Spirit has grown considerably during their shared learning regarding the contents of his daughter's Tome, even if the latter keeps denying it whenever its pointed out. Which is pretty much the reason why his daughter remained inside the Archives for a whole day yesterday, spending her time there talking to the Spirit more than she did studying the Tome.

Emurdol himself has a certain kind of relationship with her as well, either an amicably professional relationship or a professionally amicable relationship . It zigzags between the two every time they see each other. He would even join the study sessions just to spend some time with her alongside Meili in the library. Given the right time and opportunity since the last couple weeks, he's been trying to interact with her. In fact, he visited Beatrice during the evening yesterday after preparing their equipment and luggage for the trip.

Oh.

Suddenly, his eyes caught a glimpse of Beatrice's extravagant red dress from a crack at the entrance doors. The Link must have sent what he saw to Meili's consciousness, leading her to turn her eyes to the doors and see her there as well.

"Bye, Bettyyy!" Meili stood on the box seat, waving her gloved hand enthusiastically, "I'll be back sooon!"

Emurdol gave his farewell as well, simply raising his armored hand.

Beatrice recoiled for being noticed but immediately opened the door widely, allowing her form to be seen fully. Afterwards, she gave the two a wave back, as if she was shooing them away and saying goodbye at the same time. She returned inside a moment later, finished with her personal farewells.

Good enough.

"All aboooaard!" Roswaal hollered from the carriage, looking at the pale man's back from the open door, Emilia and the two constructs already seated inside with him.

Satisfied, Emurdol turned around and hopped up to the box seat with similar grace, his stilted points thudding on the floors before he sat down and put on the hood of his cloak, Rem seated to his right. "Let us depart."

Rem nodded and snapped the reins. The ground dragon began to move with a gentle start and pulled the carriage along. Meili knelt on the box seat, facing the mansion over the roof of the carriage and waving one last time to Ram. "Bye, Ramiii! Don't try to break my toys, okaaay!"

"If such a thing happens, Ram will simply imagine it was you."

"I love you toooo!" Meili laughed afterwards, and the ground dragon accelerated to great speeds in an instant. The mansion entrance and the maid it began to shrink as the distance grew, and just before Meili lost sight of her, Ram took the edges of her skirt and curtsied. An extraordinary conduct of farewell performed by only the best of maids.

"So Rami does know how to be a maaaiid?"

Reaching the dip of the road, Ram was no longer in sight so Meili sat back down and put her hood back on, hiding her face from the sun. Turning to her left, past Rem's form, her father simply leaned back and relaxed with arms crossed, enjoying the scenery passing by him at great speeds and taking minute glances to the running ground dragon pulling the vehicle along. She adopted the same posture, making sure her legs are covered by her cloak so they won't get sunburnt for this six hour trip.

For a few minutes, silence was all that passed, with the changing scenery all that was relevant. Eventually, Emurdol decided to address this strange phenomena he noticed ever since the carriage was moving.

"Rem, I have a question."

"Yes, Ser Emurdol?"

Unmoving like a statue, his eyes alternating to either the dragon or the scenery, he began, "Though we are moving at great speeds, why is it that the vibrations of the carriage are practically nonexistent, especially the wind? My hair hasn't flown for even the slightest since the dragon began to move."

"Ah." Rem took her eyes off the road for a moment to face him, "That is because of a Blessing, Ser Emurdol."

"Kindly elaborate."

"I'll do it!" Meili piped in.

The maid nodded with a smile, "If you would, Meili."

The wyrmm smiled as she took the role of lecturer once again, reversing their usual roles. "You know that I have a Blessing too, right, Papaa?"

"The one that allowed you to control the witchbeasts, yes?"

"Mm hm. All ground dragons got one tooo. It lets them escape the wind resistance. It applies to the carriage and us toooo, that's why it's not shaking so muuuch."

Hmm. "Fascinating." That explains why it was moving so fast in an instant despite the lack of a proper running start. So every dragon carries a Blessing but not all humans. That was what he heard from the Souls and Meili, learning more information regarding these unique abilities. Those born with a Blessing are aware of having it, similar to a birthmark that will stay on the skin forever.

"Does it have limits? This dragon's Blessing?"

"Once it is suspended, the ground dragon won't be able to activate it again for a brief period of time, therefore one must make the rest stop count." Rem answered.

"Thank you." Shifting a little closer to Rem, he wrapped an armored arm around her waist and relaxed in his seat once again, his curiosities settled and satisfied.

Meili, noticing his actions, shifted closer and did the same: sliding her arm around the back of Rem's waist and holding on to the edges of Emurdol's pauldron, resting her head on the maid's shoulder.

Rem blushed and smiled contently all the way.

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"You lot as well as Ser Emurdol and darling Meili look as if you are heeeaading for battle, Ser Viandegroc." Roswaal commented with a smile, looking at the robed Flesh Golem and the four-armed skeleton wearing armor with the light-eating robes over it all.

"I agree." Emilia nodded, the petals of the flowers on her crown bobbing with her motion, "We aren't heading to someplace treacherous, you know."

Emurdol wore his chest plate and armor protection around his arms, with a few witchbeast bones wrapped around his torso and lining his spine. His prosthetic legs were armed with the sleeves that contained and hid every implement for murder and conflict. Underneath the protection, he wore his traditional robes and his leg shades, practically a skirt that split at the sides as well as the front and back, is worn over his dark-colored ivory legs, creating the illusion that he's wearing black trousers behind the drapes.

Meili wore her black long-sleeved button shirt and short-shorts, the same outfit she wore when she entered the Mansion the first time. She also had her belt bag with her, wrapped around her hip and containing her new knife, her wand, bags of bone dust, and a couple elixirs of antidote and healing. She wore her cloak just like her father, keeping her face hidden from the sun and from anybody that might recognize her, even if she had white hair now.

She remembered Emurdol's warnings a day before: someone might recognize her as an assassin, especially members of the Organization she deserted from, and she must be cautious whenever she can.

"Considering what we are and the things we can do, things will became menace." Viandegroc answered simply, unmoving since he sat down, "We dress accordingly."

"But Uncle, what if someone like a guard were to stop you and tell you to remove your mask? If they so much as see your face, they will panic."

"Not to worry," He reached up with his leather fingers to remove his kitty mask, showing his faceless visage as it began morphing, reshaping, growing hair, creating eyes, opening a mouth and developing teeth inside.

After a couple dozen seconds of the process, a handsome boy with flowing brown neck-length hair and dark eyes who barely went past his 14th turn was seated across Roswaal and Emilia inside the carriage. "The Flesh Golem is an expert in glamour and disguises."

"Hmmm!" Roswaal was indeed dazzled by the display, smiling jubilantly, "What a displaaaay!"

"You look so handsome and young." Emilia herself was amazed by his dashing looks, "But why didn't you put that on when we first met? I was reeaally terrified of you that day, you know?"

"It's simple," He crossed his legs, suddenly emoting a teasing demeanor with his face expressing it compared to the times he can't. "You didn't ask."

And he laughed. Viandegroc was laughing.

Roswaal was as shocked as Emilia was to hear the inexpressive and robotic Flesh Golem that was Viandegroc laugh, but the lord was quick to be infected by his mirth, finding his answer suddenly amusing and began chuckling.

When his laughter was spent, Viandegroc continued, "If my youth isn't enough to convince certain individuals, she can take over."

His face morphed again, disconcertingly and unnervingly that Emilia couldn't bear to watch it a second time, especially when his eyes looked like they were melting. When the sounds of flesh squishing and the bones breaking and reshaping stopped, a honey-like voice said, "It is over, my dear Emilia…."

As Emilia peeked from the gaps of her fingers, she suddenly felt as if she was lost for breath.

Seated across her was the most beautiful woman she has ever seen in her life, comparable to a beautiful red rose growing out of a thorny vine. Despite having no experience in love or being attracted to anybody whatsoever, Emilia found herself enchanted by her appearance.

The first thing to grace her eyes was the long and silky hair of pure red that it was almost mistaken for rushing blood, flowing down over her left shoulder and ending to her lap. The right hand that was once a glove is no longer wearing them, instead they were the delicate fingers of a woman who never once suffered a day of work, not even the grasp of a pen except for the very ornate pipe she held classily.

The lip of the pipe taken to full lips, the woman took a light pull and idly let out the green vapors in a thin trail. High cheek bones, thin eyebrows that rested above lightless half-lidded dark-blue eyes, a flawless heart-shaped face with delicate and unmarred skin—she was a complete package of all the qualities that could easily burn the hearts of men and women whenever they so much as looked at her.

Emilia was speechless, a slight blush on her cheeks. Seeing her in a robe was almost like a sin for it doesn't suit her. Even Puck said his agreements on her head.

"Well, hello, my deeaar Madam." Suddenly taking in a gentleman-like persona that was almost excessive that it was clear he was trying to playing around but nearly failing to, Roswaal stood up from his seat and took the lady's free hand to kiss its pristine knuckles. "It is my very privilege to have your beeaauutiful self grace my eyes and it honestly pains me so to see you in an unbecoming set of wear.

She hummed pleasantly, her eyes narrowing enticingly as Roswaal released her hand and sat back down, "His point exactly…." She purred, every syllable incredibly modified to sound as if she was sending him suggestive hints even though she wasn't. "Only the heart of stone can deny meeee….."

Politely chuckling, Roswaal put a hand to his chest and inclined his head, "I hope you suffer no trouble in the Capital, Madam."

"Wh…what's your name?" Emilia, finally gathering the composure she needed to resist the charm and speak, finally asked for her name.

Taking another pull from her pipe, the vapors coming out in a thick cloud in front of her face, the pungent yet enthralling aroma easing any present stiff nerves, she replied, "You may call me Sally," She turned to face the lord through the smog of green and the lightless eyes of droopy dark blue sharpened, the impression becoming predatory, "And I will not promise you anything, my dear Lord Roswaal…."

The vapors took the form of the Demon of Gluttony's fiendish visage, staring deeply into Roswaal's eyes and hissing soundlessly at him before it escaped out the window to be taken away by the wind, leaving only the teasing smirk that grew on Sally's lips visible in sight.