Chapter 98 The Deal

Over five minutes later, Evernya recovered enough to stumble to her feet. She surveyed the aftermath but found no damage from the explosion. She glanced down at the still incapacitated Kitsune, confused, until she smelled the odor wafting from between Aya’s legs.

“Are you okay?” Evernya inquired.

After a few second pause Aya’s dreamy eyes met Evernya’s as she slurred telepathically, “Aya hurt Nya, but Nya still made Aya feel good.”

After ensuring her mate was all right though a bit out of it, she turned her attention to the true cause and solution. The man seated at the table reading his tablet. Evernya first dematerialized Neko before she strode over to the table and plopping on her chair.

“So was that enough proof for you?” Evernya inquired, with an edge to her tone.

Archibald didn’t respond, seemingly too engrossed in what he was reading, annoying the already pissed off shifter. “Are you even listening to me!?”

Finally, Archibald spoke, releasing his mana aura onto Evernya as he ordered, “Under the authority of Buran’s mages Council, I order you to hand over your artifact. A demonic artifact is too dangerous in the hands of a novice like you.”

Evernya tried her best to conceal the shaking of her body as she materialized Neko, this time with no adverse effects to herself, and set it on the table. The lights which had just recovered dimmed. Archibald’s tablet and the screen behind him died too, as if they lost their power source.

With her artifact protecting her from his mana aura, Evernya challenged, “try to claim her if you dare.”

Archibald paled at the sight of the artifact all his previous confidence disappeared, causing Evernya to smirk, “That’s what I thought, I nearly died claiming her there is no way I would hand it over to someone scared to be in her presence.” Evernya taunted.

Evernya picked Neko up and twirled her on her finger it effortlessly before dematerializing her. “Now we both know you just want her for yourself. You probably already have one since you are from a tier 1 city, so could we just end this farce? I know you can’t take my artifact from me, and I’m not giving her up, so this is pointless.” Evernya stated.

Archibald regained his confidence the moment the artifact disappeared, threatening, “That’s where you are wrong. It is well within my right to blacklist your weapon on the grounds of it being too dangerous for civilian ownership. If I were to blacklist your artifact, you could not summon it within all Sespina cities.”

Just like a cliché villain, this guy is a coward. If only he weren’t such a powerful coward, I would love to put him in his place. Evernya grumbled mentally.

Unaffected by Archibald’s threat, Evernya countered, “Do you really think that will stop me from summoning her? If she can suck this room dry, I doubt some blacklist will stop my artifact. I don’t know much about her, but I know no one can touch her besides me, and she has quite the appetite for mana.”

Without missing a beat, Archibald threatened, “What if I blacklist your pretty little mate’s explosive staff? A staff so powerful should not be in the hands of such a skittish girl.”

Evernya tried and failed to keep her temper in check, responding with a growl in her tone. “It’s one thing to threaten me, but now you’re bringing an innocent girl into this? She’s been awake for at most an hour! Of course, she will have some issues after her enslavement! Just because you think you are above us, that doesn’t give you the right to take what is ours!”

Fed up with her girl’s attitude, Archibald spoke in a condescending tone. “Someone like you can never make full use of such a unique and powerful artifact! It should be in the hands of a noble family who can properly make use of its capabilities.”

Evernya refused to back down despite their massive strength difference, shooting back, mirroring Archibald’s tone. “How do you know I’m not from an old family? For all you know, my bloodline could date back to the mythic era.” Unable to help herself, she continued, “Besides, I’m probably the only one who can translate the enchantments if someone can read them, making me uniquely qualified to make use of its capabilities.”

“You can read a Mythic language!?” Archibald exclaimed in a genuinely surprised tone.

Fuck! Me and my big mouth! I don’t even know if it’s possible to read the enchantments, so why did I say it? Evernya mentally berated herself.

Evernya prodded, wanting to move things along before she spilled something else. “Are you going to register us or not? Otherwise, we will find someone else later.” Archibald ignored her, instead focusing on rapidly poking on his tablet.

Several minutes later, Archibald displayed a familiar picture on the screen behind him, this time zoomed out to reveal writing engraved into the stone wall behind a familiar translucent black spiderlike artifact embedded in a solid black stone altar.

Why does this damn ruin keep coming back? Evernya thought in annoyance, ignoring the strange urge to travel to the ruin as soon as possible.

A small smile crept onto Archibald’s face upon catching the girl’s apparent recognition prompting him to offer. “If you can prove you can read this ancient draconic dialect, I will approve all the registrations for both of you. I will even throw in unrestricted access to our tier 1 cities and the exclusive services, including access to tier 1 level Internet.”

“Wouldn’t I already gain access to tier 1 cities if I have a registered bloodline? To me, this seems like a lopsided deal.” Evernya questioned.

“Most require a residence in a tier 1 city to gain the benefits beyond entry,” Archibald replied.

Should I go along with this farce? At this point, I probably don’t have a choice, since I doubt someone like him will back down until he gets what he wants. I could leave since I still have a month to register my bloodline, but what if the next person tries to pull the same thing or worse? Dammit, I guess I’ll play along with this asshole’s whims.

With a sigh, Evernya asked, “So what do I have to do to prove I can read the language?”

A greedy expression flashed on Archibald’s face before stating, “Just read a few lines we have tentatively translated.”

“Why do you care so much about this? You forgot all about my artifact the second I mentioned I could read some ancient language,” Evernya questioned.

“It would help humanity and all other sentient races if we were to discover more about one of the mythic era cultures,” Archibald replied in a blatantly false canned response.

With growing annoyance, Evernya said, “And you and your family would get the credit for the discovery. I’m sure you would then want me to translate more since a few lines isn’t much. This sounds like it will snowball quickly and bring me more attention than I want.”

“Of course, we will expect you to visit the ruins on a trip sponsored by my family,” Archibald added as if giving a great honor.

Evernya appeared unimpressed despite the growing desire to jump on the opportunity. She said, “I will be going to college in the fall. I won’t have time to make some big trip to a ruin. The ruin does interest me, but I don’t know if it’s worth bringing this much attention to myself to go there.”

Unwilling to let his meal ticket off the hook, Archibald assured, “We can keep your name out of it and work around your schedule, maybe squeeze it in before the semester starts or at the winter break.”

Unconvinced Evernya reasoned, “I could always find some other way to visit the ruin on my own without involving someone like you who has been insulting me since I walked in.”

Archibald’s previous almost friendly expression shifted to a sneer in an instant as he threatened, “I wouldn’t try that. I could make your life very difficult. I could, for example, leak the fact your artifact looks strikingly similar to a certain killing artifact at the very same ruin. No one would accept registering your artifact then and may even force you to give it up. Think about the attention you would receive then.”

I hate nobles. If it weren’t for the damn charges, I would skip all this bullshit and never leave the outer ring of Sespina. The cocky bastard knows he has me by the balls and is more than willing to twist. On the bright side, at least physically, I’m immune to that particular pain for life. At least I hope for life. I would rather not switch to another body. I’m happy with my current magical one, thank you very much! Evernya mentally rambles, ignoring the pompous noble for a few moments.

Upon returning her attention to the noble Evernya ranted, “So if I don’t translate it, this entire fiasco was a waste, but if I do, I make you and your family look good? I did everything I needed to do, yet you will not accept it because you feel you deserve what I have more! Fine, I will translate the lines since it seems I have no other choice, but if you do not follow through with your end, I will translate nothing more.”

With a smug, victorious smirk, Archibald zoomed in on the lines of text behind the altar. Evernya took a glance, instantly deciphering it as usual. She returned his smirk before responding. “Of course, you had me translate this because what you truly want is the artifact, not the recognition of translating this ruin for the betterment of all sentient races.”

“Can you read it or not? Your only job is to translate it. Leave the rest to your betters.” Archibald snapped.

“Wow, you really are trying your best to make me want to work with you,” Evernya commented sarcastically.

Losing his patience, Archibald threatened, “Spit it out, girl! Remember, I can make your life very difficult if you lie to me.”

“Geez, fine, but you will not like what it says,” Evernya warned

Archibald released his mana aura at a much higher power than before onto Evernya for a split second as a warning. Even though it was only for a fraction of a second, Evernya glared up at the noble, pale, and shaky. Not wanting Archibald to do that again or worse, Evernya translated the text word for word. “Here lies half of the Nekomata waiting for her mistress to return. All those deemed unworthy shall forfeit their lives to provide tribute for her mistress.”

Well, that pretty much proves Neko and the other artifact have a connection. Still, I hate how this asshole can push me around. I’m still leery about touching the other artifact, but it looks like I’ll have no choice in at least approaching it. Even if I have no choice. I may as well have some fun.

“Unless you are secretly female, you are kind of fucked. I don’t understand how her mistress could return if all mythic era people vanished, but that’s what it says.” Evernya commented before cringing to prepare for his outburst.

Contrary to her expectations Archibald announced, “Thank you, we will contact you when we are ready to bring you to the ruins.”

A moment later, he materialized two clear crystal cards of the same dimensions and material as an ID card. He then scanned them each over his tablet, causing Evernya’s and Aya’s ID information to appear on the cards. Archibald slid the two cards across the table to Evernya before standing up and walking out of the room without another word.

After he left, the energy keeping her going vanished, releasing all the accumulated physical and mental stress sapping her of her remaining strength. With droopy eyes and a sluggish body, she glanced toward Aya to check on her. She found Aya seemed to be sleeping soundly, with a slightly open mouth and a gently rising and falling chest. Seeing no immediate threats present, the last of her energy left her. She used her arms as a pillow as she laid her head on the table, joining Aya in dreamland.