Chapter 25: Nap Time Interlude

Some Time Later

Reiji did not notice the darkness turning to light blocked by her tired eyelids. No dreams swirled in her mind that she could recall. The only good part was the absence of those ominous messages from Riki.

Alarms immediately went off once all feeling returned to her body. Her head throbbed as if it had split open. Everything felt sore and overworked. She also found herself unable to use Touch of Chiron to fix this fatigue. Hopefully no bones or skin were broken. Training with Ryouichi and battling desert ferals had already given her enough generous examples of broken bones.

Muffled coughing sounded from somewhere in the room.

Great. I'm hurting, and someone is going to make me sick, she thought with dread.

"We have medicine that can treat you in no time, Master Scarlet," someone said. That was met with a low grumble.

Scarlet? Jerza? Reiji cracked her eyes open. She winced in pain as she turned her head towards the window beside her. She did not recall injuring her neck. Did she sleep in an improper position?

The memory of her boiling rage resurfaced in seconds. Tension can lead to all sorts of body aches if left untreated. With the added strain from the Hercules Hold, it was no mystery why her body hurt.

The sky outside was visibly darker. Exams were supposed to last only one day, and that day was nearly over. She had failed. Reiji was too weary to cry about it at first.

"Good evening, my sickly mates!" a different male declared, jolting Reiji out of her oncoming self-deprecation.

Her startled expression turned towards the infirmary entrance. A man no taller than the cusp of 4'11 stood at the doorway with his arms out in welcome. He wore a white suit that exposed his smooth chest under the jacket. His shiny, light brown hair and glimmering aura were already overstimulating Reiji's eyes.

Reiji knew his name was on the tip of her tongue. He definitely was not old, but somewhere under the middle. Deus-something...?

"I smell..." The man inhaled deeply, then scowled. "I smell a depressing parfum! What is the meaning of this treachery on my senses?" he demanded.

"Enough with your theatrics, old man," Jerza moaned in annoyance from her bed across from Reiji. Jerza lay in a fetal position under her blanket. Her comment was followed by more coughing of phlegm. Right, Reiji's poisonous cocktail put Jerza in that poor condition.

"Mister Ichiya, what a pleasant surprise!"

She gasped in shock when her eyes fell on the bed horizontal to Jerza's. Chief Pruzo had sat up, bandages securely wrapped around his head and ribs. His dark, sleepy eyes lit up when their gazes met.

"And Reiji Sagara! You are finally awake from your recovery nap!" the chief said with a joyful smile. Reiji couldn't smile back. Her eyes brimmed with tears instantly. Ichiya Deus plopped down on a chair, scooting up to Reiji's bedside.

"Men, your tears must be quenched! You are not done with us just yet," he declared with a smirk. Reiji furrowed her brows in a tight frown.

"N-not done? B-but I f-failed..." she whimpered in a higher pitch, unable to hold back from crying. Before Ichiya could speak further, she locked herself in a cocoon of her hair. Crying in front of folks she barely knew was already humiliating enough. She couldn't let anyone see her. Silent hysterics was a useless skill mastered since childhood. She suppressed her sobs as they spilled out once her hair bubble was thick enough. Her body hurt worse while she turned to lie on her side.

Riki, help me, she silently pleaded. There was no response. The one time Riki might be useful, the entity decided to lie dormant. She felt the empty space around her neck. Even her sweat-soaked, muddy clothes had been changed. The rosary is supposed to materialize by now. Riki must be bitter about something.

The glimmering Ichiya glanced at the village chief questioningly. Pruzo shrugged in response. The Pheasant Peak guild representative had essentially informed her that she was still on for the last of her exams. Why did she start crying?

"Reiji, you have not failed yet! In fact, I come bearing good news," Ichiya sang.

The green-haired demon ignored his attempts to get through to her. She curled up with her knees near her chest, wishing she could just disappear. Where were her friends? Why couldn't they be here instead?

"Honestly, some kids are so stubborn," he sighed, crossing his arms.

Jerza sat up in bed, blinking sleepiness from her right eye. She looked irritably at Reiji's cocoon of hair. In her opinion, that eyesore looked like yesterday's hairball spat from a feral creature's mouth. Perhaps it was the poison still working through her system, but the influx of noise really began to piss her off and worsen her headache.

"All this crying is ruining my rest," she grumbled as she climbed out of bed. Her head felt very light just from standing. She had to slow down to regain her composure, breathing heavily. She rubbed her temple, feeling a vein pulsing.

"You look dashing in black, Lady Scarlet," Ichiya complimented the Titania Devil guildmaster.

"I know," she replied flatly.

"As you should!" he agreed with finger guns.

I wanna punch him. First, the baby needs to be coddled.

Jerza wasted no time before grabbing fistfuls of the dark green cocoon, tearing it apart like paper. Reiji nearly cried out in pain when a big hand wrapped around her forearm, pulling her into a sitting position.

"Owowow! Stop it!" Reiji cringed when Jerza squeezed her arm. Her mild grasp felt like a nasty bruise. The seven-foot demon shot Ichiya a death glare.

"Don't hurt me!" he squeaked, giving up his chair instantly to sit near Chief Pruzo's bed instead. The chief laughed softly, finding some entertainment in Jerza's short temper.

"Your muscles—how often do you stretch them?" Jerza asked as she claimed her empty chair. Reiji took her arm back, rubbing the spot.

"I-I dunno, sometimes?" she mumbled through tears. Jerza held a blank expression. Anything more realistic might make this weakling cry even more.

"As a wizard-to-be, you have to care for your muscles every day," Jerza said sternly. She pulled her turtleneck collar over her mouth before coughing the other way.

"Keh! P-please excuse me," she rasped. "Do you massage them at all? Do you apply ice or compression sleeves? Anything?"

Reiji shook her head slowly. Jerza let out an exasperated sigh.

"See, you fail to take care of yourself, and then you howl in self-pity when your body is a mess. Is that an honorable way to present yourself? A grown adult crying over a couple of boo-boos?" the strawberry-blonde inquired. The Titania Devil guildmaster nearly popped that throbbing vein in her head as Ichiya and Pruzo snorted and giggled like catty girls.

"I-I didn't know it'd be this hard," Reiji murmured, looking down. Jerza took a deep breath, relaxing her tense posture.

"Do you feel proud of your strength?" The strawberry blonde asked.

"Not really. I hurt people because of my strength. I try to be weak, s-so I don't..." Jerza's resting face chilled her out of finishing her sentence. She looked so angry!

"You hurt them by accident, Reiji. But you also healed them. Well, most of them," she made a side eye to Chief Pruzo. He gave Reiji an encouraging smile with a thumbs-up.

"When you lost control of your restraint, you healed whomever you could and moved on when you could not help them all. You knew when a job was beyond your pay grade, so you left it to the professional healers. That, in my opinion, is a good attribute," Jerza smiled a little, although she still looked grumpy.

"I-I was scared to approach you. I'm sorry I panicked," Reiji frowned.

"I don't care for your apology. I am at peace. Will you apologize to your chief instead?" she suggested.

Reiji hesitated to respond. After all, she had her reasons for not healing him immediately. He used his curse against her on too many occasions and gave her no sense of comfort as a chief probably should.

Did he really deserve an apology when he himself was not remorseful?

"No, no, that's quite alright. I definitely deserved that headbanger! No pun intended," Pruzo chimed in. Reiji sighed in relief. Good, he practically read her mind. He proceeded to remove his bandages, revealing his healthy skin and scalp. There were no signs of bruising, swelling, or stitches.

"See? I'm all better! This bed is just very comfortable," he beamed, snuggling deep under his blanket. Jerza shook her head, returning her attention to the examinee.

"Let's circle back to your so-called failure. That negative perception of your efforts is heavily exaggerated, Reiji. Disregarding Isabella's... yowling, you have done an excellent job so far. If anything, your ability to poison me was rather scary."

And once I leave this shitty village, my poison resistance training will continue with that concoction of hers.

"Really? You think so?" Reiji asked. She found it hard to believe that such a terrifying giantess could be afraid of her. That had to be an exaggeration.

"Of course," the guildmaster smiled a little brighter. It was clearly lifting the kid's spirit, as much as she did not like smiling. "Taking time to recover is a very normal part of this process," she reassured the green-haired female.

Reiji's heavy heart felt so much lighter after receiving such comforting words. A guildmaster she poisoned was being nice to her!

"Thank you, Master Jerza!" she exclaimed with pride, wiping her eyes. Jerza grabbed her arm again. That moment of satisfaction was disrupted by a jolt of pain in her muscles.

"I will massage your arms for you, assuming you are comfortable with that."

"J-just my arms, yes," she confirmed. Jerza nodded in agreement.

She probed and rubbed the sorest areas as gently as she could, gaging Reiji's reactions. The guildmaster sniffed back a runny nose.

"Ichiya. Chief Pruzo. Could you give us a minute? There are other things I wish to discuss that do not concern either of you."

"Why would it not concern me?" the village chief asked.

"Just get out for a few minutes!" she ordered.

"Daring today, my lady," Ichiya snickered as he left first. Jerza glared at the chief. He tossed his blanket back, stepped into his monkey slippers, and left in a hurry.

"Wait for me, Mister Deus!"

Reiji found it odd that Chief Pruzo fled that quickly. After the door was shut, Jerza waited, pausing her hand movements. Reiji heard their footsteps leaving as well, followed by lighthearted conversation.

She smelled someone unfamiliar in the vicinity. It was not coming from inside the building, however. This mixture of perfume and cannabis reminded her of Shugo, but it definitely wasn't the Jade Dragon mage.

"If you're distracted by the smell, it is most likely Kyôka and Minerva by Walkers Pass on a smoke break," Jerza explained.

"It smells pretty good," Reiji said. She did not personally smoke, but she did not mind the second-hand odor. It must be quite potent to travel several miles.

Jerza looked up at Reiji with a serious expression. The dark green-haired demon blinked her thoughts away.

"Who taught you French?"

"What's French?" Reiji asked. Jerza was taken aback by her response.

"That language you spoke in with Minerva during my exam was French."

"Oh, that. My mother taught me, I think," Reiji replied, looking up. "I thought I had forgotten most of it. Honestly, I don't even remember what I said."

"Je vais faire de mon mieux. I will do my best," Jerza quoted. "Do you remember your age she taught you?" Jerza questioned. Reiji looked away, scratching her temple.

Age? I hardly remember her face. Why would I remember when my English started sounding funny?

"I-is this relevant to the exams? I don't know the answer to that..."

The Titania Devil guildmaster shook her head. "No, I was only curious. I apologize for prying too much. French has an important meaning to me. It is rare that I meet folks who still speak it."

Reiji's eyes softened. She rarely thought about the French language unless it happened to be one of those days when the past flooded her mind more than usual. To think that others not only knew it too, but they also spoke it freely somewhere.

"Your other arm," the strawberry-blonde said in a monotone.

"Okay."

Reiji grunted as she shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, offering her other arm to massage. Jerza got to work massaging near her shoulder and working her way down.

"I once knew a French-speaking elf who went by the name Elfine. I used to think it was silly, naming an elf an equivalent of elf," Jerza tittered. Reiji sat frozen. Elfine? But that's... that's my mother.

"She had lovely curly hair naturally marked with black streaks. I always thought she resembled a downy woodpecker. We'd crossed paths here and there a very long time ago. She spoke so fondly of a little girl she once cared for."

Jerza paused to glance up from her massaging motions. Reiji still stared off into space. The strawberry-blonde smiled warmly. "I was truly delighted when I learned that you lived here this whole time. I just had to meet this lovely daughter of Elfine."

I like this side of you much better. Such a beautiful liar, you are.

Shut up, brat. I'm being nice so that she doesn't annoy me with her wailing and blubbering.

See? You didn't forget how to be compassionate.

Don't patronize me, pipsqueak.

"S-she wasn't... my real mom, though," Reiji murmured, lowering her head. "But I loved her like one."

"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," Jerza stated. "Elfine chose you, regardless of your biology."

"Thank you, you have a good point. You said you met my mother before, after she had cared for me. Where is she now?" Reiji asked with a hopeful tone in her voice.

Jerza looked somber, shaking her head disappointingly. The green-haired female wilted. She had no more tears to shed over her mother. Those ones dried out years ago. Right now, she was just glad someone else got to know her.

"Did she die?"

"I don't think so. I just don't know where she is. I'm sorry."

Reiji watched Jerza's rough hands gently handle her muscular forearm, pressing in, up, down, and repeating. The guildmaster rarely rubbed in circles, as it seemed to ache too much.

"Did you know your parents?" Reiji asked.

"I never had a mother or father figure. I've lived far too long to care about them," Jerza chuckled.

"How old are you? I'll be 26 in November," Reiji informed her, attempting to change the subject to something easier. Jerza raised a brow, puckering her lips in thought.

"Hmm... well, I was born somewhere in the 740s or 750s. Believe it or not, I don't actually know my real age or birthday," Jerza answered. She told the truth this time, mostly to silence that nagging bitch in the back of her mind. Reiji gasped softly.

"You look so young for a 40s kid!" she whispered in awe. "You must descend from a species that ages slowly, like elves."

"No, I'm not an elf. Not a human, serpent, devil, beast, or any of the common folks you might come across," she said. Reiji winced with discomfort when Jerza squeezed her arm a little too hard.

What's on her mind this time? Oh no, I asked a sensitive question! Did I offend her? Reiji pondered.

"P-please forgive me f-for asking," she whispered, trying to pull her arm free. Jerza unclenched her hands before standing up, smiling blankly. It was clearly forced, and that mildly disturbed the green-haired demon.

"I'm not offended at all, Reiji. I was an orphan like you, so my ancestry is a mystery to me as well. It is not that deep."

Another lie.

I will find you, crack your skull over an open flame, and scramble your brain for dinner.

Ooh, how feisty. You'll have to catch me first.

"Anyway, I think you should honor your mother by continuing to speak in her native tongue. Do not let the few good childhood memories die while repressing the bad ones," the strawberry blonde added before returning to her bed. Reiji watched her, narrowing her eyes.

"Do you... know something about my past?" the dark green-haired demon asked carefully.

"As a dark guildmaster of the second level, I know many things about the dismantled prisons of the previous empire."

Jerza settled down under her blanket, glancing over at Reiji. The green-haired demon averted her gaze. Why was the room suddenly hot? She fiddled with her rosary.

Wait, my rosary! Reiji peered down at the little red jewel resting on her chest. Riki came back to her! But why now?

Riki, are you mad at me?

An. Gid gurl. (No. Good girl.)

What a relief! Did you change my clothes?

Fira. Ti tenyl. (Yes. Too smelly.)

Jerza closed her eyes, yawning widely. "Rest tonight, Reiji," she said. "It is 20:43. At 12:30 later tonight, your exams will continue. We expect you to be ready before then."

"I am looking forward to it," Reiji beamed. She picked her legs up to get back on the bed. Her hair untangled itself from the locks Jerza ripped apart. Wads were gathered and dropped into a trash bin by the door.

"Master Scarlet?"

"Just call me Jerza."

"Right, Jerza," Reiji corrected herself. "Thank you for talking to me. I feel a lot better now."

"As a guildmaster, pep talks come with the responsibility. Now, go back to sleep for a bit. I will wake you before midnight."

I believe that Sacred Jewel is in safe hands with Reiji Sagara.

I'm glad that we agree on that much, Jerza. She gives so much personhood to that creature.

Too much, if you ask me. It is a weapon with as much sentience as a feral, not a friend to take pity on.

Hmm... and what would that say about you, oh beastly giant one?

You are testing the hell out of my patience, Angelic.

Indeed.

Almost Midnight

Reiji woke up to a gentle nudge of her arm. She looked over to a pair of legs clad in leather armor. Her eyes traveled up to the tall demon standing over her, her heart racing with a wave of terror at the sheer size of the guildmaster. Jerza said nothing, poking her with a cane.

"J-Jerza?"

"On your feet, Reiji. I'm feeling much better now. It's time you also got out of bed to finish what you started," the guildmaster monotoned. Reiji hurriedly got out of bed, nearly tripping towards the door. "Hold it right there! Aren't you forgetting your clothes?"

"Clothes? B-but they're dirty," Reiji pouted. Jerza presented her folded clothing on a chair by her bed, including the blue sweater, cargo shorts, socks, and boots placed on the floor. The Titania Devil guildmaster was also dressed in her full gear. Her hair was divided into five thick braids this time, one covering the left side of her face like usual.

"Miratona washed them for you. Get dressed and meet us outside in twelve minutes."

Jerza placed the clothes on Reiji's bed before marching out of the infirmary. Reiji stood there in a daze, still waking up. Her body felt much better after the second nap. She stretched her arms over her head and then stretched her legs as well, especially her calves. Everything almost felt normal again, aside from the dull soreness still lingering.

Touch of Chiron.

That soreness also subsided in seconds. Reiji sighed in relief. Much better.

.

Meanwhile, Kyôka and Minerva walked along the river on Sunset Avenue. They knew it was nearly 12:30. Still, the scenery at night was too lovely to miss. Besides, they were not needed for the next test, hand-to-hand combat, which would be conducted by Ichiya Deus and Sheryl Blossom. Furthermore, the duo were savoring the "green session" from yesterday evening.

Kyôka stopped by a bench, noticing someone sleeping out in the open. Minerva recognized Connie, one of the infamous, free-spirited village drinkers. The aviary demon clasped her hands together in prayer. In a reddish-white flash, a blanket appeared in her hands. After wringing it out, she spread it over the sleeping demon.

"Don't use too much power. You still need your strength in case Reiji completes the entire examination process," Minerva warned her quietly. They kept walking. Kyôka folded her hands behind her head.

"Minerva, you've said this every year for 14 years in a row. In case you haven't noticed, my alchemy doesn't trigger cell cough as much as it used to," the aviary demon replied smugly. "In a few more years, I'll have beaten the illness out of my system entire—" She broke into a coughing fit only a few paces into their walk. Minerva backed away several feet, covering her mouth in her black fur-lined coat. Kyôka coughed dryly into her elbow pit.

"T-that's—" coughing again, "th-the weed," she wheezed, her shoulders shaking as she tried to suppress worse coughing. Minerva took a small flask from her pocket.

"Nice try, Koko. We smoked almost four hours ago. I packed extra medicine in case this happened."

The bird demon snatched the flask, gulping down every drop of its contents. She sighed in relief, panting slightly.

She went on to slowly stop coughing along their walk to the end of the canal (river, canal, same shit in Kyôka's head). Their trip down the river ended at the village force field, which kept folks in and ferals out. Minerva pressed a hand to the force field, closing her eyes.

"Every time we go to these rural exams, it feels like old times," Kyôka commented, leaning against the force field.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm standing inside of those walls again," Minerva agreed, opening her eyes. "But this time, it keeps the people safe, not detained and scared."

"It's ironic that the same technology that trapped innocent creatures evolved to, well, trap them by choice," the bird demon chuckled wryly. "That shit never gets old."

"I can't wait to leave. I always get antsy if I stay too long," Minerva replied. "No matter how much time passes, these types of settlements never feel safe to me."

"Once we find what we're looking for, we can choose not to come back to this village indefinitely, if that's what you prefer."

"Yeah, I would prefer that," the humanoid smiled a little. "We're almost done here. I can feel it."

Jerza has listened to ppcocaine since before she deleted LOOKOUT from Spotify (still bummed about that lol). She's kinda like butternut squash. Not everyone wants her or likes her but she's pretty good with the right ingredients or however that one metaphor goes. She's a bastard with a heart! Not a good or bad heart per say.

— ML