Demon in Fodlan

by Mundatorem

Goetia, surviving his failure at the Temple of Time, finds himself in a new world. Despite the rather unusual nature of it, he finds himself disappointed that he see's much of the same human nature that he saw on Earth. Determined to discover what it was that made human life worth the struggle, he decides to use his second chance to find the meaning of his own life. (Azure Moon)

145. Chapter 143: Building is slow work

Chapter 143: Building is slow work.

He appeared in a flash of light.

It was rather ordinary.

The only real reason that he jolted and reared back was purely because he hadn't been expecting it.

It was a reflex reaction that lasted for no more than a handful of seconds before he calmed himself down and returned to his original posture, eyes flicking across the table towards the now present Goetia.

"If I didn't know better, I would say that you did this on purpose?"

Red eyes dropped down on him, armed with an expression that betrayed nothing.

"Do what on purpose?"

See, when Goetia went and acted like this, Yuri found it really difficult to tell if the guy actually knew what he was doing and was playing ignorant or if he was just confused as to what was being spoken about.

The former sounded more likely for anyone else.

But he didn't know if this guy even knew the definition of 'joke'.

Shaking his head, Yuri grunted. "Nevermind. So what brings you all the way down here again?"

"I find myself with an excess of time and thought to examine how Abyss has progressed in my, doubtless, noticeable absence."

Yuri snorted at his words, mostly for the latter part, and started to stand up. "Well, your presence is noticed much more than your absence but I suppose you wouldn't be all that far from it. As for how much we've gotten done?"

He stopped to think about it for a moment.

"More than we'd thought but I'm thinking it would be less than you'd hoped."

At that, Goetia's eyes narrowed just a fraction.

"I see."

Yeah, hard to tell if the guy was upset at all either.

At least it wasn't some brutal shouting match or throwing things around.

"Then I shall require specifics on what has and has not been accomplished."

So exactly what Yuri was expecting to happen? Alright then.

Maybe he could also needle Goetia for some information on what happened above ground as well. It seemed as if something was happening up in the Monastery and he wasn't just thinking about the upcoming dance that they had going on. No, something had happened in recent days.

Something big.

The guards who watched over them - more like spies, really - had been drawn back above ground and not been seen since.

All he knew was that the town of Remire was involved and there were unsavoury things being spread about in regards to an old librarian.

Rather interesting stuff, actually.

So he was a little curious.

Back to Goetia, he nodded his head and walked around his table and towards the door.

"Living areas have been refurbished almost completely. We've got fewer people suffering from cold and discomfort. They can actually wake up in the morning without complaining of stiff backs or bruised arms and legs."

Then he snorted.

"Bad news is that we've given the bed bugs an actual home."

Goetia was silent for a second, then responded with.

"I have concluded a brief scan of Abyss and have found no evidence of the cimicosis species of insect."

The what?

"...I was joking."

"Refrain from joking about an actual epidemic of parasitic insects in the future."

Objection noted.

He waved his hand to a passing militia guard, who smiled and nodded back to him, and thought it best to continue onto that point.

"Balthus has been training the militia with that other knight who keeps showing up and at the moment they're decent enough in a quick fight."

Yuri explained, arms folded as he came to a stop and made a half turn.

"They won't last too long in a fight with actual knights but they're good for breaking up disputes or catching the odd thief who thinks they can get away with that sort of thing down here. There's always one with sneaky fingers, after all."

Goetia nodded.

"And the implementation of the judicial system?"

"Depends on what they've stolen and how often they've done it." Yuri replied with a shrug of the shoulders. "Most of the suggestions came from some of the more vicious people who wanted fingers chopped off. That sort of thing."

Goetia gave no reaction to that.

Tough crowd.

"We've not cut off anyone's fingers."

Just in case they took that seriously.

But he wasn't making a joke that time.

"We did break some hands though."

"Dominant?"

"Yeah."

"Mmmmh." Goetia inclined his head in a nod with no further reaction to the words. "And how did the offenders respond to this?"

"I think they should be glad we didn't let the people they were stealing from decide their punishment. They'd have lost the whole limb otherwise. Balthus is good enough at making clean breaks so within a couple months, they'll be back to using their little fingers."

He flexed his hand with a wry smile.

"Hopefully for something a little more contributing than thievery…Or giving Balthus finger breaking practice."

"On that topic." Goetia said, "How far along has the efforts of making a medical staff come? I procured the relevant documents."

Ah.

That.

In theory, it was not a bad idea.

Having people around who could mend the odd injury or fix up some broken bones without the need for magic would spare any of them from the troubles of it all.

However, in practice?

"It's slow going." Yuri shook his head. "Especially with how they talk about cleanliness an awful lot in those books. We're not exactly the shining example of hygiene down here and getting some clean water for mending cuts and stab wounds isn't great."

Goetia frowned more visibly at that. "Disappointing but within my expectations. For medical matters of a less bloody nature?"

"Much easier." Yuri replied with a bright smile. "We can now break some bones to our hearts content with the knowledge that there is someone out there who can wrap a wooden twig around our arms and leave it at that."

He might joke, but he was actually rather grateful for that.

Sure, some of it were things that he already knew, but the point of it was that he wouldn't have to teach everyone who was interested all of the time. It freed him up for some other matters as well.

"Come on."

Turning and resuming his walk, he slipped his hands into his pockets.

"I'll let you see some of it for yourself."

"Hmmm."

With a noise like that, Yuri found it impossible to tell whether the guy was all that interested or not.

Well.

Did it really matter at the end of the day? Probably not.

---

His absence from Abyss had been longer than he had intended.

Much longer.

The results spoke for themselves in what had been achieved in his absence and while it was certainly progress, it fell below what he had envisioned for the settlement.

It irritated him at the slow measure of progress.

Even if he understood that their resources were finite and their reputation made investment a rather dubious and difficult process, he had thought it would have still been possible to make some greater developments. Especially if the Church of Seiros was no longer treating them as some manner of embarrassing secret.

But even still.

It was slow.

Too slow.

Goetia strode into the next room immediately after Yuri and set his eyes upon it.

Sleeping quarters indeed, but it was less than half of what he thought.

Beds existed and he could see them, but there were fewer of them than he would have preferred. Less than half of what he had hoped for and it was readily apparent that the frames were not of the greatest quality.

To say nothing of the beds themselves, a simple examination revealed that the quality of materials was poor and would, in the long run, leave the sleeper with discomfort and strained muscles from poor sleeping posture.

An improvement over the floor.

But it was a low bar to pass.

Hiding his displeasure, he glanced across at Yuri.

"I assume funding has been insufficient?"

"There's too much to fund."

It was a moment of sobering grimness from the otherwise flippant character. Yuri rubbed his forehead and showcased his own displeasure with the situation. Perhaps his expression did not reveal as such, but Goetia was able to read the emotions flowing off in waves.

The sight before them brought disappointment and frustration.

Not as much as his, but enough to understand the problem.

And there was a problem.

Goetia turned back and glanced at the poor bedding.

Even these meagre constructs would still earn the sleepers some level of envy and projected anger.

"Sleeping in rotations?"

"Hm? Oh, yes." Yuri confirmed with a nod. "We have enough beds to go around for that sort of thing and more than enough bedding for the floors, but it's still got a few grumblers here and there. Some people really can't be sleeping on the floor so they've been getting the beds for longer."

Goetia flashed out another scan before he withdrew it.

The expected categories.

Children, elderly, sick and-

He stopped for a second and furrowed his brows.

"...Are you aware there is a pregnant woman?"

Yuri stopped.

Then turned to him very slowly, brows pinched together.

"...What now?"

Hmph.

It seemed he did not know.

Unsurprising as it was only six weeks along.

Still, that offered more than enough symptoms for said individual to be made aware of a disturbance in their own physiology.

He flashed out again and took the name before glancing back.

"A woman by the name of Colette. Auburn hair. Twenty-six."

Another short pause.

"Her food intake will likely require a fifteen percent increase for the sake of the child in the coming weeks."

Yuri had remained silent during the information.

Goetia waited patiently for them to respond to his words and instead of anything meaningful, he got a long suffering sigh as the young man rubbed his face with his hands and seemed to exude exhaustion far more than anything else at current.

Was this not a common problem in Abyss?

Or perhaps it was common enough that Yuri found it to be a nuisance.

Both could well be true.

"...I'll have someone look into it."

Goetia glanced across and stared at the bedding, then back at Yuri.

"This does raise an important point. I shall acquire enough materials that a maternal section can be constructed for the sake of the younger children. If only so they may have a place to reside without fear of injury or abduction."

Yuri nodded his head, hands dropping down his face as he took in a slow breath.

"Yeah, that makes sense…Hate having new kids born down here."

Goetia spared their surroundings a short glance.

Yes.

It was hardly the most ideal of conditions.

"None of those present will have the necessary experience to deliver a child, even if it has been achieved before, I would argue it was more through happenstance. I shall see about finding you aid from the Monastery for the birth."

Yuri nodded his head.

"Yeah…we actually used to have Aelfric help with that."

Unsurprising.

"There is adequate time for preparation. Are there suitable locations where one would be able to establish said area for children?"

Yuri blinked twice, then cupped his chin. "I can't think of anywhere off the top of my head, but there are more than a few places in Abyss that none of us have stepped foot in. My only concern would be the distance."

"Then perhaps it would be more suitable to alter living arrangements to one of the more distant rooms while replacing the current version with a care for children. Or at least a place where they might learn."

"Learn?"

Goetia…had to take a moment to comprehend that he was hearing confusion, rather than affirmation.

Very slowly, he turned and looked Yuri in the eyes.

He could tell there was not a hint of mirth in that gaze and it was quite serious.

Which served to confuse him all the more.

"Yes. Learn. To read and write. To be literate."

Yuri made a noise of understanding. "Oh, that sort of learning."

"...Did you interpret it as combat education?"

"Aren't you the guy who traumatised an entire class with shadow monsters?"

How did Yuri come to learn of that?

Irrelevant for now.

"My expertise lies far beyond that…and it shall not be me teaching them either."

"Oh? Then who?"

"Von Nuvelle would seem the appropriate choice." He replied.

Yuri looked rather shocked by his answer, but it quickly fell away and was replaced by actual humour, a muffled laughter as the lips of the man curled up and his eyes glinted with a hidden laugh.

Goetia kept his expression neutral.

"...You want Constance to teach kids to read and write?"

"Hapi seemed a poor choice for the role." Goetia replied slowly. "As her summoning of Demonic Beasts being linked with her effort of sighing would make her a poor fit for unruly children."

Yuri opened his mouth to reply, then he closed it.

The smile got even wider.

Was there truly something humorous about his words that eluded him?

Narrowing his eyes, he waited for the young man to eventually rein in control of his emotions so that he could provide some clarity on the matter.

Seventeen seconds.

That was how long he waited.

"R-right."

Yuri coughed into his fist, seemingly composed enough that he could at last give a coherent answer.

"Constance. Got it."

"Is there some reason why I should disqualify her from the position?"

"...Nope. Not at all."

The way he worded that response left Goetia with the impression that there was a very good reason to rethink his strategy but was, currently, refusing to elaborate.

"...Would she reject the mission?"

"Mission?" Yuri mumbled quietly, then snickered and shook his head. "Well, I don't know about whether she would say no to it or not…but I'm just picturing…no, I think we should talk to her about this as soon as possible."

Where was this urgency when Goetia wanted to speak with him about matters pertaining to the physical health of Abyss?

Were his priorities so truly focused on education?

Bewildering.

"Finding Von Nuvelle can be done in our leisure. For the moment there are still other affairs that require my attention first and foremost."

Yuri's disappointment was brief but noticeable, though they did nod their head. "Right, of course. What was it you wanted to talk about next?"

"The procurement of food and clothing supplies. I understand that progress was made with several merchants?"

"It was, yes."

They started moving again.

"But the quality of the clothes is only about as well as we can afford with the funds we've been granted and what some of us can scrape together. Food has been a lot easier but most of it tends to be the off-cuts of meat."

Goetia inclined his head. "Does that not remain a marked improvement over previous feed?"

"Feed." Yuri snorted. "...Actually yes. That stuff was the same thing they gave to dogs, you know?"

He did not know, not until right this second.

How gruesome.

Little wonder this place disgusted him and held a rancid smell on his first entry.

They intended to feed children such slop that would be unfit for even the lowest of pigs?

His expression curled for but a moment before he snatched control of it back and tightened it into a frown.

"But there have been no problems with the speed of the deliveries or the quantity of them?"

"None that have shown up yet." Yuri exhaled, sounding relieved. "It's actually better than what we used to have and it shows up on time. Though the cost is starting to add up unless the church gives us some more money."

Yuri's tone of voice revealed how unlikely he thought that was going to be.

Goetia was inclined to agree.

Tolerance was a very different concept to acceptance or encouragement.

The Church's tolerance was the best he would aim for now.

"The budget remains intact?"

"For now."

Yuri's voice was tight as he stopped, then turned to him.

"But it's going to take a long time for half of the stuff you've talked about in the past to actually get anywhere. Between buying clothes so people aren't walking around in rags to keeping food up…then there's talk of all the supplies for teaching kids?"

Hands dropping to his hips, Yuri looked on with a sense of strained unease.

"...It is ambitious."

Goetia nodded his head. "Such are endeavours I am familiar with."

That being said, he examined the information he had on hand.

His previous goals had the necessary resources to carry them out.

All he truly needed was time and he had that in abundance.

Now though, he was starting to understand that anything that would turn Abyss into something he could tolerate was going to take a considerable length of time to fully put into place.

He thinned his lips.

Work on Hapi would need to progress faster if he aimed to utilise her abilities properly.

"...I shall examine further options."

It was the only answer he could give without looking deeper into their situation.

He had been away too long.

"Continue with the report."

They resumed walking.

He listened to the words as they came, in all other aspects they were moving along schedule.

Or in theory they were.

In silence he moved as his eyes swept over the faces, passing them by without words and without expression.

Goetia could read enough of the room as they walked to understand that problems would not be solved over the short time he had been here.

But even still, he expected…

Something more than this.

"Which does bring us to the self-sufficiency problem."

Goetia came to a stop as Yuri brought up the final point.

"Trying to stay out of the line of sight of the Church is one thing, but most of these guys are down here because they're criminals, or used to be."

Yes.

A slight problem in pursuing employment.

"Their faces are known."

Yuri grimaced. "Enough so that if they went above ground, there is a good chance someone might recognise them. Though the more notorious ones tend to keep down here and help in other ways, a few others are at least known in some smaller towns and villages for one reason or another."

Goetia scowled. "...The worst offence?"

"...We tend not to ask." Yuri's sentence was worded in such a way that it made it clear he was aware. "...But we keep close eyes on them."

He glanced away and to the side.

That presented a problem in more ways than one.

Heretics and pickpockets were one thing.

But murderers and rapers were quite another.

Unsightly.

"I shall make no effort to step in on their behalf should they be caught, but I have little interest in searching them out and finding who they wronged and where. For the time being claiming ignorance is-ah."

Suddenly Yuri's posture made a great deal of sense.

He eyed the younger man for a moment, an understanding passed between them.

"...I see."

Yuri blinked and gave an innocent tilt of the head, smiling nonchalantly. "See what?"

Indeed.

"What can be done on the more legal side of things?"

"Mostly outsourcing some of the militia for guarding low caravans."

Yuri shrugged his shoulders.

"It doesn't pay much because these guys can't afford much, but it's enough for them to bring a little bit. Most went towards the food."

Tolerable.

"Establishment of a courier service?"

Yuri looked more troubled now, which did not bode well.

"That is a bit more difficult as most of our people aren't all that…well…map orientated."

Abysmal progress on that front then.

Perhaps something else would need to be put into place?

His eyes narrowed for a moment and he moved his hand to cup his chin.

Something else might work out if he were to interfere directly.

Then again.

"Did the procurement of eggs succeed?"

Yuri rolled his eyes. "We managed to raid some of the local pigeon nests. Suffice to say that none of them are all that pleased with us and we should be on the look out for attacks from above if we go outside again."

A small price to pay.

"Though I know how messenger pigeons work and I'm not entirely sure how-"

"That is a matter that I shall handle directly."

Yuri stopped speaking at that, looking to him in surprise.

Was it truly a shock?

It was work that went in line with his plans for Hapi and, in combination with her Crest, would be a magic easily taught to anyone else who possessed the capacity for it.

Of all the things he could teach her, this would be the swiftest and least complicated.

"If you say so." Yuri pried no further. "But that is about it for the annual report."

Goetia nodded his head, lowering his arm back to his side.

"Then I shall move off and discuss the matter of education with Von Nuvelle."

He turned and moved off, having already located her.

Though the fact Yuri continued to follow him was curious, as were the radiating waves of mirth that rolled off the young man. As if he was expecting this to somehow produce a humorous reaction.

Nothing of her emotional range indicated that she would decline his proposal, nor that she would fail in his directive.

So the fact Yuri moved with the expectation such as whatever one he held was strange, though he would not call it irritating.

---

"You asked Coco to read to kids?"

And now with Hapi?

This was rapidly turning into a mystery, the answer to which was not readily presenting itself to him.

His eyes flicked across to the girl as he came to a stop, searching her expression for something beyond the shock.

There was nothing beyond the surprise, her emotions were genuine.

Yet for what purpose was that?

"Yuri failed to provide me with a clear answer, so I shall ask you."

He would not question how she came to know, it was easily deduced, but he would expect her to provide him with a more open answer.

"For what reason does my proposal to Von Nuvelle-"

"You know what Coco is like, yeah?" Hapi placed a single hand on her hip, head cocked at an angle and looking at him with some pointed expression.

"I am familiar with her, yes." He stopped. "That is, if you refer to her emotional state when she ventures into the sunlight, as well as her eccentric personality traits when she speaks. Neither were concealed."

Hapi grunted. "Uh-huh. Yeah. Those. And you are getting Coco to teach those impressionable young minds?"

"You have another in mind?"

He already knew the answer to that question and it became apparent to him that she knew as well.

Whatever bewildering complaint - or point - they were trying to level on him mattered little when it came to the fact there were few who could fulfil the role.

No.

There was another, but he would not drag Harold away from his other responsibilities in order to teach reading and writing to children. His presence was more vital in other locations and…

…

Goetia narrowed his eyes and briefly dismissed Hapi.

Hmph.

Perhaps Harold was a more viable option, it would remove his presence from the library.

It would also facilitate further interactions between himself and Von Nuvelle.

"...Perhaps there is room for flexibility. I shall speak with Harold and have him take over as a secondary teacher for the children in reading and writing. Or perhaps with mathematics. Whichever he is more suited for."

He looked back up, thoughts spoken aloud and to himself, and found that Hapi was giving him a rather curious and almost amused expression.

"Are you…trying to play matchmaker?"

Matchmaker?

How juvenile.

"I shall not deign such things with an answer."

Hapi was starting to smile now, as were her emotions becoming more prevalent. It would seem as though she was coming to some sort of conclusion that was doubtless incorrect and formed only from her limited human comprehension of the situation.

Fortunately, he did not need to explain his motivations or his reasons to her.

He understood them perfectly well for himself.

"Uh-huh."

Yet her incredulous expressions and noises of disbelief were somewhat grating to his ears.

He would prefer to avoid those, if possible.

"I am improving perception of the Church within the minds of the children. If they are witness to Harold and Von Nuvelle as friends, then they will come to the conclusion that the Church itself is not an oppressive and overbearing totalitarian authority over the entirety of Fodlan and they have little reason to fear them."

Hapi's smile dropped immediately.

"...Except there is reason to be afraid of the Church."

"There is reason to fear every figure of authority, precisely because they can wield that authority however they please. Such things are natural, but there is no reason that one should believe a figure is evil or morally objectionable merely because they originate from a specific place."

Hapi's brows pinched, then she pursed her lips, folding her arms. "So you're showing them that some people in the Church are actually good?"

"Given the importance of the Church of Seiros within Fodlan, and the authority it wields, would you make the claim that showing blatant distrust and fear towards them would be a wise course of action?"

"You do it pretty openly."

Goetia stared at her for a fraction of a second without even an ounce of emotion.

There was a marked difference between what he was capable of and what they could get away with.

His next words made it quite clear.

"I am a three-thousand year old Daemon with mastery over entire branches of magecraft. They are ordinary humans."

"...Fair enough." His words were received with a shrug and a curt nod of the head.

Hmph.

As long as she understood.

With a snap of his fingers, he summoned forth the next wave of animals.

A collection of rodents and avians.

Hapi glanced about the assembled menagerie, then looked back towards him.

"In discussion with Yuri earlier, I have come to the conclusion that it will be possible to create a courier service with yourself utilising your crest. It's ability to control the emotional range of animals leads me to believe there is room for further development."

"Courier…you mean messenger pigeons?"

"Yes."

It pleased him that she understood so quickly.

Hapi raised a brow. "...How?"

"A combination of my own magecraft, that you will learn, further manipulated by your crest. Once we have confirmed you will have the ability to direct animals to obey simple commands, exceedingly simple, we shall further develop and understand if there is a capacity for complicated orders."

Hapi gave little reaction to his words.

He imagined that she had long since come to a conclusion that he would be attempting something such as this.

Understandable.

There would be few other reasons why he would aid her in developing her crest.

"As for the matter of the services continued existence? It can be substituted when you have advanced your magecraft far enough that it can be taught."

"...You want me to teach people?"

"A distant goal."

One he would certainly not expect her to be capable of at this moment.

"For the time being, put it from your mind and focus only on your Crest. I shall dismiss the animals a short distance and then you shall work instead on beckoning them forth, putting into practice the advice I provided for you."

Hapi now held a disgruntled expression.

What was the issue?

Frowning, he spoke up. "Is there a problem with my words?"

"Your advice is barely advice."

"I told you to focus on your emotional state."

"And it's just-"

"Would you want to remain in the immediate vicinity of a Demonic Beast if it made a very public display of frustration or irritation?"

"No, but-"

"Then why would any lifeform wish to remain within line of sight to you after a similar display was registered with their senses?"

He cocked his head.

"The sigh is merely the expression of your emotions. It became apparent the further into the exercise that your emotional control was slipping. The animals were fleeing with greater speed from you."

Hapi stared at him. "...And you want me to do…what? Give a happy sigh?"

Goetia thinned his lips. "You mock the exercise, but that is the entire point of it. We are outlining the criteria for activation of your crest and confirming whether your emotional state does affect it. Thus far, we have a basic hypothesis born of empiric evidence. Would you rather be certain or continue to fumble in ignorance?"

With no answer forthcoming and with her expression of begrudging acceptance, he waved for her to continue as they had done so before.

Results were expected.

That was to say, he was watching animals flee into the wilderness and move further away from them.

It was becoming more and more obvious that her emotions were tied with the Crest.

But such a thing was not uncommon, merely that the instability of her Crest was intensifying the results.

That and her personality was doubtless affecting it further.

Perhaps some manner of emotionally inhibiting spell would be needed to keep her mind calm and collected?

If only to see what result it would have.

---

It was odd.

Unexpected, even.

But he went and accepted and she had been looking for something to do as a means of killing some time.

Also to get away from some paperwork.

The very worst part about it all was that she was still certain Goetia was hoarding a vast majority of it all within the office so that she could not get to any of it.

A knock at the door was a surprise.

"Enter."

More so when Goetia was the one who actually walked through.

"I'm surprised."

Goetia stopped, turned his head, and stared. "At what?"

"That you know how to knock."

She was rather proud of that little comment while he looked particularly unamused by it, though that only made her smile all the wider at his seeming irritation.

For a person who showed very little emotion beyond frustration, it was spectacularly easy to rile him up.

Almost as much as when he would doubtless provide some excuse for his actions.

"If there is a matter of importance, I do not see why I should wait at the door."

Like that.

"A flatterer as ever, Goetia." Rhea replied as she glanced across to the tea set and shifted it across a little. "Telling a woman that she is not a priority in a rather runabout method as well."

"I did not say that."

Rhea shot him a wry smile. "Then I am a priority?"

"I did not say that either."

He closed the door behind him and strode across to the table, sitting down without protest or reservation.

"I merely found myself with an abundance of time and a requirement for further discussion with someone who might be able to shed some light on matters."

Then he just started looking at her with a strangely inquisitive stare.

"Is there something on my face?"

She could very easily imagine someone getting flustered with the way he sat down and just started giving them a long and uninterrupted gaze such as that. It was rather intense.

"...You seem in high spirits."

Rhea stopped for a brief moment. "Is that how I appear?"

"You are not as full of rage as you have been these past few days."

He really did know all of the right things to say, did he not?

Or perhaps it would be better to say he had a perfect idea of how to avoid tact entirely.

But the worst part was that he was not entirely wrong either, her anger had been slipping away from her as of late.

"...There are festivities coming up that I would not have spoiled by my own fury. It would not do for the Archbishop to be glaring into the distance on a matter she could provide no context of beyond those who know."

She looked back at him.

"I merely find that I have little freedom to indulge in my anger without questions arising or there being made some…poor choices."

Goetia's stare turned more understanding. "You wish to avoid taking action that could be revealed as the incorrect one at a later date? It would seem you have benefited from self-reflection."

"Being spoken to in that manner is quite patronising, you know?"

"I shall refrain from offering any manner of praise in the future, if you are so disappointed with the result."

Oh, so he was going to be like that, was he?

"How was your trip to the orphanage?"

He stopped and then stared at her, brows furrowed. "...Did you truly utilise a network of intelligence to watch me interact with small children?"

Rhea did not snort, that would be unbecoming of her.

But she did release a small huff of laughter.

"You presume quite a lot, don't you? I merely kept my ear low to the ground and heard all manner of tails about the toy maker indulging some youths who eagerly await his return. You have become quite the popular figure among children, Goetia. I'm sure you are very proud."

"In the grand scheme of my life, I doubt it is an achievement that I shall display with any measure of pride. It is only natural for children to be impressed by me."

Such a flippant response, but she was more surprised that he confirmed it almost immediately.

She had thought it utter nonsense when she first heard the rumours and yet, here they were, with Goetia running around and playing games with children.

Along with the Professor as well.

"I do hope you understand Goetia, that it will be very difficult for me to remove the image from my mind of you letting a child ride on your shoulders."

He frowned immediately and with annoyance. "That never happened."

"And yet I shall choose to believe it did as I was not present to see otherwise."

With an innocent smile, she poured out her tea first and then moved across to his own.

"Such are the wonders of imaginations, aren't they?"

"There are few who can defend themselves against the testimony of dreams."

She raised a brow at him. "Would you let them ride on your shoulders?"

He made the exact sort of face she imagined he would make.

One that was a rather curious mix of incredulity and disinterest.

As if he wasn't quite sure he heard her right and was unconcerned with trying to find an answer to that.

He did make the most amusing faces, she had come to find.

"Are you pursuing this…topic…" He said it with such a curious distaste as well. "For the sole reason that doing so will mean you can avoid another matter entirely?"

Ah.

But then he would go and say something like this.

Rhea set the kettle down and steepled her fingers on the table, staring across and right towards him.

Yes, she was avoiding certain topics because she feared what the answer would be.

Or perhaps she already knew what the answer would be and did not wish to know for certain.

"...I understand you have been making progress with curing the afflicted?"

"Such would be a better question for Hanneman, but the answer would remain the same. We have devised solutions for the problem at hand and intend to put them into practice. I shall give no estimates as to when it shall be possible, merely that it will come about."

A relief to hear with such certainty, even if he could give no further words on the matter.

A burden less on her shoulders, if that were truly the case.

She knew well enough that it had burdened Flayn and would continue to do so until the matter was settled, perhaps long after that was the case.

"Are you angered?"

"Hmm?"

"About Tomas."

"Such a foolish question is unlike you, Goetia."

Of course she was angry over it, she doubted that there would come a point where she would not feel a blinding rage over the fact that one of them had been here under her very nose. Almost as if they were laughing at her.

"Hm. Perhaps I phrased it incorrectly. Are you angered at yourself for this?"

Rhea looked into his eyes, searching for some hidden question under it.

Was she angry at herself?

Once more, it was a foolish question.

She was the one who allowed his entry back into the Monastery.

She was the one with the experience of such things years ago, she fought them and she thought they were long extinct. It had been her own arrogance in believing that they were well and truly gone which had let them flourish once more.

"...It is difficult not to."

Goetia hummed and took his cup in hand.

"Perhaps that much is true. Certainty of victory breeds an arrogance that is often followed by a downfall."

Her lip twitched. "Is this yet another experience with this Fujimaru?"

"Chaldea as a whole, but you are not wrong, nor would I say you should bear the burden of blame alone in this."

Rhea looked into his eyes, or tried to.

He was busy staring down into his own teacup as he sipped.

Her jaw rolled back and forth, it was an odd atmosphere.

As though he was building up to a confession.

"I-"

"Goetia."

She interrupted softly, he stopped and glanced up at her questioningly.

Her eyes closed.

If he was going to say what she thought he was going to say, then she could offer only thing in response.

"...I do not wish to hear of it."

She truly did not.

Rather, she was begging him not to say a single thing at the moment.

Nothing at all that would change the otherwise pleasant atmosphere.

If he could do that and that alone, then she could be content with it all.

For if he said a single word more on Tomas…she feared for what she would do in her anger.

Her eyes opened up, focusing on his own.

There was no smile on her lips, nor did she put emotion into her voice.

Her words came out cold, detached even.

As though another was speaking through her mouth.

"I am forbidding you from saying another word on such a matter."

Goetia just looked back.

Then he thinned his lips. "...Even if it would give you someone else to blame?"

"Even if."

"...It is a chance you might have to-"

"Goetia."

He stopped speaking at her interruption, but showed none of his usual annoyance.

"...Do not give me a reason."

Give her a reason to what?

To think of him differently?

To exile him?

To blame someone other than herself?

All were such thoughts that sprung to mind, and all were such thoughts she banished.

There was truly no great reason for it.

She just…didn't want a reason to keep hating people.

To keep making bad choices.

If he never said it, then she could ignore it.

Then she could pretend that it was just…nothing at all.

Living in bliss could truly be wonderful at times and truly, she had been living in ignorant bliss for so very long. To have the wool torn from her eyes reduced her back to a state she had not been in for such a time.

The anger was returning to her, easier than before.

An anger she knew she never truly forgot, nor moved past.

And she did not know if she wanted to be that person anymore.

"...I see."

Goetia's comment almost slipped her by, for how lost she was within her own mind. Even if that had not been the case, it was no more than a mumbled word under his breath as he moved for another sip of his drink.

Did he truly see or was he saying as such?

Perhaps he did wish to see himself as someone else.

"Would you be curious to hear of Abyss?"

Rhea truly laughed at that comment, her head moved back and she covered her mouth with her hand, chuckles spilling forth from between her knuckles.

Of all the questions he could have put forth.

He brought up that place?

"Would I be curious of it?" Lowering her hand back down, the laughter slipped away from her. "I cannot say it has ever been of great interest to me."

Goetia almost rolled his eyes.

"Of that I am aware, but as you are the Archbishop, I thought you would have wished to learn about what is transpiring underneath your own monastery, Seiros."

Well, when he phrased it as such, she could hardly turn around and refuse him, could she?

"Very well." She brushed down her clothes and inclined a brow in expectation for what was doubtless going to be a riveting discussion on what amounted to a slum in a cave full of petty criminals and heretics.

Truly, if some of the clergy could see her now.

She did not doubt they would be bright red with outrage.

Beyond that, it was easy to picture Goetia's utterly uncaring expression as he spoke over the top of whatever arguments they would put forth.

Yes, a very vivid and somewhat amusing image, she would have to say.

"-slower than I would have found acceptable, but the progress is present nonetheless. As for the implementation of a judicial system, that has been slower going and I will need to personally draft up and examine candidates to serve as judges on the matter. Furthermore-"

Rhea leaned back and gave him her best listening expression.

Even if she was allowing her mind to wander elsewhere.

Was it rude of her to do that?

Mayhaps.

But it was rare to see Goetia so animated on a topic that did not pertain to something almost catastrophic in nature.

It was clear he cared about this topic a great deal.

So she would let him get it out of his system.

"-brings us forth to the matter of educating the children."

Wait.

What was that last bit?

"Educating the children?"

She cocked a brow at that, not quite able to keep the bemusement from her tone.

By that, did he refer to the common sort?

That was…

Probably something she should have expected, truth be told.

Goetia stopped, then leaned back and stared back at her. "Of course. I have assigned tutors who will gather those of a suitable age, and others who wish to partake, and they shall be taught how to read and write."

"...Is that necessary?"

"It is beneficial." He replied rather slowly. "And there is no reason to keep them ignorant."

She could think of some reasons.

Quite a few.

"It would keep them content."

"...They live in Abyss."

Well, he did have a point there.

"...They are less dangerous to themselves and to others."

"In what capacity would they be dangerous?"

She sighed and rubbed her brow. "The ability to read and write is regulated to those who have received a suitable education to truly understand what they are writing about. They can make informed decisions and others who read it shall equally understand it."

Her hand lowered down.

"Uninformed commoners throwing out their own wild theories as to how life could be better without any notion of what is possible or impossible - feasible, even - could have disastrous effects in the long term. Especially as some of these wild theories could gain traction."

Goetia raised a brow at her very slowly. "I severely doubt the words of a pickpocket living in a cave underground who has gone years without direct sunlight are going to be a source of unassailable wisdom."

"I doubt it as well, but that is beside the point."

Surely Goetia of all people would understand this?

"You and I are aware of the complexities of governance. We know what is possible for the development of countries and nations. We can understand the information that is given to us-"

"I am aware of how this argument is going to progress."

Goetia pinched his brow, suddenly sounding rather tired.

Well, excuse her for being worried about the wellbeing of Fodlan.

She was trying to explain why it was best to avoid a revolution.

"Your concerns are valid, but they are also inevitable."

He lowered his hand.

"Such problems are already present, are they not?"

"They are isolated. Relying on word of mouth at best. Suppose every commoner could read and write? Suppose they drafted letters or speeches? Handed them out and despite being misinformed and grossly incorrect, they would gain traction across the country. Hundreds soon rising up with the belief that they suddenly know better."

Goetia only frowned at her.

"They might well know better. I believe I explained it already."

"Yes, yes. Your lack of respect for the class of nobility is well known-"

"The only difference is education and wealth."

He grunted, finger jabbing on the table.

"That is the only difference worth taking into account. I am not making a proposal for the sudden education of every single individual across all of Fodlan, but these are human beings with thoughts and ideas of their own. It slows the development of society if they are not acknowledged."

"How many of those ideas do you suppose would have value?"

She pointed at him.

"How many would you listen to?"

That brought him up short, she could see it in his eyes.

His pride so easily turned on him.

Then his expression shifted.

"...If you cannot trust them, Seiros, what do you suppose will become of them after you are gone?"

…

"...I want them to not tear themselves apart, Goetia. What harm is there in keeping them content with their lives?"

Goetia looked away and to the side.

She knew he understood what she was saying.

And perhaps she understood what he wanted.

It was not a thought that had failed to cross her mind before, but she had seen it happen.

"I've seen them when they develop too swiftly. When they are so…sure of themselves. I have seen it all before-"

"And you think I have not?"

And suddenly he sounded very old.

Very old.

Suddenly she was reminded that he was older than her, if only by a little.

"This pattern has repeated itself more times than I would care to reveal and I have seen what you fear rise and come to pass on numerous occasions. Humanity is self-destructive, but keeping them ignorant will not change that. They are not a people to be contained within what we imagine would benefit them."

He shrugged.

"Neither of us are human. We might care for 'humanity' as a concept, but I fear we struggle to grasp the nature of a human and their resolve. If they should set their minds to a goal, they will struggle endlessly to achieve it."

It sounded haunting.

…And terribly probable.

"...You would do this even without my consent, would you not?"

His next words were cold. "You speak as if I need your consent."

Yes.

More fool her for thinking otherwise.

And what could she do?

What could she possibly do?

"...Then was I wrong?"

"Wrong?"

Goetia looked rather thoughtful for a moment, his jaw rolling as if he was chewing up her question.

"...I cannot say whether you were correct or incorrect. Rapid development is hazardous. Especially if unchecked. Your worst fears are grounded in reality and any changes would need to be gradual. Over the course of decades, perhaps generations."

Generations, he said.

That sounded far more appealing.

"...Only the children."

"...A stipulation I can acknowledge."

Even agreeing to that filled her with a sense of unease.

Or perhaps she was too worried about the past coming back once again.

"...Goetia?"

"Mmmmh?"

"...I do not think you are so far removed from humans as you claim."

Rhea resolved herself to savour this moment.

It was the first time she had seen Goetia look truly stunned like that.