Chapter 138 - To the Ryllian Sea

When Alfred flicked his wand, the group was taken to what appeared to be a cozy living room with a ceiling that hung too low for the oversized human. So disproportionate was the scale that he had to hold down his hat; it would get caught on the ceiling whenever he let it go free.

Another wave of the wand created a pair of invisible, fireside seats, one for the forbidden idol, and one for the halfbreeds to share. Seeing no reason to refuse his hospitality, Claire turned into a humanoid, leaned back against the magical object, and set the fox down on her lap. Her gaze, cold and blank as always, was directed not towards the demigod, but the flickering flames within his fireplace. Dancing within the hearth were familiar shadows, puppeteering a scene identical to the one they had just abandoned. The elf had started speaking to the cat, but she couldn’t discern his words. No sounds were produced, and the phantoms lacked the detail she needed to read his lips.

“Is everyone comfortable?” asked the celestial.

“Uhmm… I am, but I don’t think Claire is,” said the fox.

“I’m fine,” said the lyrkress.

Alfred raised one of his brows and gave her a bit of a look. “Really?”

“Yes.” The one-armed, one-eared casualty spoke with perfectly feigned confidence. Her words could have easily been taken at face value, had her open wounds not been in plain sight.

“It is… difficult to discern whether you are bluffing or truly unbothered. Rather impressive either way, really.” The celestial scratched the back of his head. “Well, whatever the case, I can have you fixed in no time.” He raised his wand and pointed it at the rogue, but she redirected the catalyst with a flick of the wrist.

“I can fix it myself,” she said. Once my divinity recovers.

The process of undoing a curse was one she had yet to understand. All she knew was that it had something to do with the golden energy stored in her shard, but she stubbornly refused treatment nonetheless. Alfred was the last person with whom she would entrust her body; the thought of allowing his divine power to touch her filled her with revulsion.

“Yes, yes, I know you’re stubborn, but I can’t have you staining my carpet. Not with blood, at least.”

Claire tried to displace his wand again, but the celestial ignored her futile resistance and went about his business. He waved his magical stick, wrapped her body up in his divine power, and had the curse removed alongside the frosty bandage she had used to stop the bleeding. Her vital fluid began pouring from the still-open wounds, but it never hit the floor. It was gathered instead into a series of small balls, which the celestial guided into the flames.

“Sylvia, if you could.”

“I’m on it!” The fox hummed a familiar tune, enveloped the lyrkress with her magic, and saw her arm regrown. “There! You should be all better now.”

“Thank you, Sylvia.” Claire immediately put the freshly replaced limb to work and patted the fox on the head.

Alfred leaned back into his seat and heaved a sigh. “Why is she the only one you’re thanking? You do realise that there was no need for me to help you, yes?”

“Exactly,” said Claire.

“Teenagers.” Mumbling and shaking his head, the demigod teleported a pipe first into the fireplace and then to his mouth. “Now that we’re all settled in, I’d like to wrap up our business as quickly as possible.”

“Okay, I’ll start.” Sylvia got to her feet, leapt off her mount’s lap, and walked over to the celestial. “I’m sorry Al… I shouldn’t have tried to help Dad’s friends. I tried to make it up to you by helping Claire get rid of some of them, but I know it doesn’t really work like that.”

Her ears were drooped and her tail was held between her legs. There was no escaping the celestial’s will. She would have to resign herself to whatever fate he wished to impose.

Alfred took a drag from his pipe before setting it down on his armrest and clasping his hands together atop his lap. “Sylvia.”

“M-Mhm?” she gulped and raised her head to meet his gaze.

“Relax,” he said. “I’m not going to punish you.”

“You’re not?” She tilted her head and blinked as her tail slowly unfurled.

“I don’t see why I would.”

“I tried to betray you!” She started speaking with energy, but trailed off into a mumble with her ears drooping before long. “The same way I tried to betray Claire, and for the same dumb reason too.”

The ancient immortal waved her off. “I found the whole ordeal rather entertaining.”

“Really?” Sylvia gulped as she flashed the demigod a hopeful gaze. “I thought you were going to be super mad.”

“It was a nice break from writing a thousand personalised log entries every other minute. I don’t mind the work, of course. All catgirls deserve every bit of praise and attention I have to give, but it does become rather tiresome during times of war.” He turned his eyes on the fireplace and watched as the elf and cat-sith argued. “Besides, they were hardly a threat, to nobody’s surprise I’m sure.”

Sylvia nodded. “Mhm… I didn’t think they’d pull it off unless everything went according to plan, but you messed them up before they could even get started.”

“Whatever the case, I don’t feel like I was really put in harm’s way, or that you did anything to merit my ire. Quite the opposite in fact, you even fetched me when it was time to wrap up.”

“Thanks Al. I’ll make it up to you somehow!”

“That’s what you said to me,” said Claire.

“Y-yeah, and I’m trying! I literally just helped you kill the huskar!”

“Try harder.” The lyrkress pulled the fox towards her and tugged on her cheeks. She almost wanted to smile, but refrained, knowing that she was still in the celestial’s presence. “I told you he would forgive you,” she whispered.

“Y-yeah, I know you did, but I just wasn’t sure,” mumbled the fox. “It almost doesn’t feel right for nothing to happen.”

A mischievous grin on his lips, Alfred brought his pipe back to his face and took a long drag. “I wouldn’t mind doling out a punishment if you’d prefer one.”

“No thanks!” Sylvia squeaked and darted behind her owner’s back.

“It’s too late to change your mind. You’ve already asked for one, and I intend to comply,” said the celestial. “What do you think of a lyrkress fetish?”

“I’ll stab you in your sleep,” hissed Claire.

The old man pressed a hand to his belly and chuckled. “It’s rather fortunate that I never sleep then, isn’t it?”

The half-moose remained silent, but narrowed her eyes into a glare.

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t being serious. It was as much of a joke this time as it was last time I suggested it.” The demigod tapped his wand against his chin and made knots in his beard before breaking into a grin. “But if you’re that… thrilled by the idea, then I might just decide to go through with it after all.”

“I’ll stab you in the face. While you’re awake,” said Claire.

“Oh my, how terrifying” he said, with another snicker. “You’re more than welcome to try it. But, going back to the previous topic, I do happen to have a more suitable punishment in mind. Something along the lines of a quest, perhaps?”

Sylvia gulped as she slowly snuck her eyes over Claire’s shoulder. “W-what kind of quest?”

“Oh, nothing too complicated.”

Waving his magical stick, he summoned a small chest and slowly floated it in the half elf’s direction. A magical crest appeared on its lid as it landed right in front of the shared vector chair, sealing it shut with an overly complicated spell.

Log Entry 5093

You have received a joint quest with Sylvia Redleaf - Flitzegarde’s Greatest Need

Primary Objective

- The package is delivered to a temple belonging to Flitzegarde, the goddess of order.

Failure Condition

- The package is opened prior to its delivery.

Deadline: 31 days.

Completing this quest will earn the forgiveness of the celestial of life and fertility.

“Why did I get the quest?” asked Claire. “I don’t need to be forgiven.”

“Have you already forgotten that you were the one to put this whole idea of leaving the lost library in her head in the first place?” grumbled the demigod. “She would never have considered it, if not for you.”

The bluescale rolled her eyes before turning them on the fox, who was fiddling with her whiskers. “Wait a second! Flitzegarde doesn’t have any temples in Llystletein. Does this mean you’re gonna let me leave?” asked the wide-eyed critter.

“Of course. Did you think that I was going to pull you aside for a chat, just to tell you that you would have to stay? You would go ballistic, or wind up depressed. One of the two.”

“Well…” The fox averted her gaze. “I guess not, but I was really worried that you might.”

Alfred shook his head, rubbed his temples, and turned to the other halfbreed. “This is exactly what I meant, when I said that everything was your fault. She was far more trusting of me before you suddenly decided to butt your head in our business.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Claire. “And I want a better reward. No one cares what you think.”

“Well then… That one might’ve stung a little,” muttered the human. “Do you really have to be so greedy? Delivering a box hardly takes any effort in the first place, Flitzgarde has a temple in almost every major city.”

“Delivery requires payment. Real payment.”

Alfred heaved a long, tired sigh. “You’d be celibate for life, if you were a man.”

“Well I’m not.”

The celestial cackled like a madman, speaking only as the laugh died down to a chuckle.“I can fix that for you, if you’d like.”

Claire narrowed her eyes. “I’ll stab you.”

“Why is that always the first thing you think of? You do realise that violence is not always the answer, yes?”

“Yeah, I know, right!” Sylvia chimed in with a bark. “I think she just likes stabbing things.”

“It’s fun,” said Claire.

The fox scrunched up her face and shook her head. “We really need to fix your definition of fun….”

“No you don’t.”

Alfred let loose another hearty laugh whilst leaning back in his chair. “As entertaining as this is, I really am short on time. Your reward will be me hearing out your demands, paid in advance.”

Claire returned her expression to its usual neutral state. “Demand.”

“Yes, yes, whatever. I don’t care how many you have, just be quick about it.”

“Teleport us. So we won’t have to travel.”

Alfred stroked his beard with his free hand. “That can be arranged, but is that really it?”

“Yes.”

The hand on his chin accelerated. “And here I was thinking that you were sure to ask me to get rid of the fetish I gave you.”

“I’m being realistic. You wouldn’t do it, even if I stabbed you.”

The response came with a cackle. Alfred slapped the side of his chair and doubled over as he laughed hard enough to wheeze. “Looks like you have me all figured out.”

Claire rolled her eyes.

“So? Where exactly did you wish to be taken?” he asked

Claire looked at the fox, who responded with a nod, before calling to mind one of their longer late night discussions. The pet wished to be spirited away to a place filled with potential for adventure, a land not entirely charted, but safe and stable enough to kick back and relax whenever she wanted. Most important, however, was easy access to seafood.

Her owner had fewer requirements. All the lyrkress wanted was to be far enough from Cadria to escape her father’s sphere of influence. That was why they had decided on a country deep in the great forest of Tal’ihir, a place often spoken of by bards and frequented by adventurers.

“Take us to Vel’khan, to the land half taken by the Ryllian Sea.”

“I was hoping that you would go somewhere a little more interesting, like perhaps the Langgbjerns,” Alfred frowned. “Oh well, I don’t see why not. Would you like to leave immediately?”

His attention was directed towards the fox, who responded with a hesitant nod.

“Can you say goodbye to Mom and Dad for me?”

“Of course,” he smiled, gently, in a way that made him look his age. “I know I suggested it, but are you sure you should? While I can’t speak for Zelos with the state he’s in at the moment, Dixie would certainly appreciate you letting her know yourself.”

Sylvia shook her head, slowly, as she fiddled with the tip of her tail. “I uhhhhm… kinda wanna leave before Dad figures out that I helped kill his friends on purpose.”

“That would be a big old mess, wouldn’t it?” The demigod smirked, flicked his wand, and opened a portal. “Before you go, Claire, I’d like a word.”

“What?”

“You’re free to speak of Llystletein, I’d encourage it even. Send enough people here, and I’ll see to it that you are rewarded appropriately. But, I’d also like you to remember that I will immediately have your authority skill revoked if you reveal that the ritual robs its victims of their classes and skills. Tell anyone of my motives, and I will be doing everything in my power to ensure that you are silenced.”

She nodded.

“Good. I do look forward to your continued cooperation.” He smiled and offered his hand, which she reluctantly accepted and shook. “You’re welcome back at any time. Contact me if you’d ever like to become a librarian, I’m sure you’d make an excellent enforcer with a few hundred extra levels under your belt.”

“I’ll consider it.”

Nodding, he turned his attention back over to the fox, who was staring through the portal with awe. He set his pipe down, walked to her side, and crouched, as close to the floor as he could get.

“The same goes to you, Sylvia. You will always be free to come and leave, as you see fit. I’m still hoping that you’ll somehow amass enough divinity and enlist as a celestial in my service, once I’ve put Flitzegarde in her place.”

“Thanks Al,” squeaked the fox. “All this means a lot to me. It really does.”

“I know, dear child. And don’t you worry about missing me, I’ll make sure to take care of all of your logs myself.”

“Uhmmm… I know you’re basically my great grandpa and all that, but please don’t,” said Sylvia. “That’d just be really weird.”

“Oh, I’m sure it would. That’s the point.” Taking another puff from his pipe, he got back up to his feet and combed back his messy hair. “Now, as I’ve said time and time again, I happen to be rather busy, so I will be returning to my duties immediately. I do hope to see the both of you again, once you’ve grown a little more, especially in the chest area for you, Claire.” He twisted his neck and dodged a blade of ice that threatened to cave in his nose. “Good luck, and farewell.” With that final statement, the demigod tipped his hat, one last time, and vanished.

Claire and Sylvia were left alone in his living room. For a while, both remained silent and gazed upon the distant city reflected within the portal, with only the crackling of the fireplace filling their ears.

“Are you excited?” The lyrkress picked up her companion and held her to her chest.

“I was…” said Sylvia. “But now I’m starting to have second thoughts. I’ve never been outside Llystletein before, and I only just realised I won’t know where anything is anymore. W-what’ll I do when I want to eat fish!?”

“Vel’khan is by the sea, and half the country is underwater. There will be plenty of fish.”

“Yeah, but what i—”

“No buts. Let’s go.”

Squeezing the fox tight, Claire faced the portal and put her best foot forward.

They were headed to a country that neither of them knew very much about, a faraway land with nothing but new experiences on the horizon. They were sure to struggle, to face new challenges aplenty as they sought to carve their way. But at the very least, they could confront their troubles together.