I had zero experience with poison. After multiple attempts to purify my mana, I took to the M-Phone for advice. Conveniently, the Medimancer app was still open, so I looked up topics on poison.

Poison: A substance capable of inducing illness or death when absorbed into the blood.

Poison wasn’t in my blood. It was my mana that was affected. I tried another search.

Mana Poisoning: Artificial substance introduced to the body that corrupts mana. Typically curse-like in nature, mana poisoning is generally challenging to reverse.

Scrolling further down, I found a section about antidotes.

Generally, when poison that affects the soul is introduced, an antidote is prepared at the same time as a safeguard. Other methods for mana cleansing include curse breaking and divination.

Kalli had stopped trembling by that point and looked over my shoulder. Can you do any of that stuff?

I don’t even know what it is, let alone if I can do it.

We got distracted as the airship passed between a pair of high mountain peaks. Since it was Maya’s personal sky yacht, the only other person aboard was the captain, and he hadn’t said a single word to us.

I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. Kalli informed me as we sailed past the snow-frosted peaks.

It was strange to feel as warm as I did when there was snow twenty feet on either side of us. Once we cleared the mountains, the airship began descending into a lush valley that was littered with trees. In the distance was the cabin. Of course, I could hardly call it that. It looked more like a resort with interlinked buildings made from notched logs.

Kiki and Alariel stood waiting for us when the airship touched down. A cradle stood on one of the rooftops that the airship glided into smoothly.

“Welcome to the summer cabin,” Kiki announced as we made our way down the gangplank. “Normally, I’d hug you but not while you’re sick.”

I laughed at her. “Since when have you ever hugged me?”

She shrugged. “Maybe I was about to start. Who knows?”

Alariel smiled from behind her. “I’ve taken the liberty of checking Mother’s study. I’m afraid there doesn’t seem to be anything that looks like poison or an antidote.”

“Should we just go back to the high house then?” Kalli asked, looking back at the ship.

“No!” Kiki snapped. “You just flew all the way out here. You don’t get to leave before you check out the cabin. It is so awesome here. Just wait until you see the moose.”

Alariel laughed and hip-checked Kiki. “I told you before, they aren’t called moose here. They are called Bramblers.”

“Well that’s a stupid name,” Kiki replied. “I am going to call them moose.”

We all laughed as Alariel led us inside. The interior of the cabin was a stark contrast to the rustic design of the outside. Exquisite lilac rugs lined the sleek hardwood floor in the hall we entered from the rooftop. Paintings of various people with purple hair lined the walls. It was definitely a family retreat for Alariel’s family.

“Can we look around?” I asked as Alariel guided us with purpose. “Maybe Mardella has a hidden chamber or something where she hid all the cursed items. I saw it in a movie once.”

“That’s unlikely,” Alariel called over her shoulder. “I practically grew up here. I know every inch of this place. It’s more likely that anything evil is in one of her other houses. This is where she kept things she didn’t care about. Like me.”

Kiki took her hands. “She cared about you in her twisted way. At least she didn’t sell you like my mom did.”

It was fairly obvious that we weren’t going to find any antidotes at the cabin, so I asked, “How many other houses does your Mom own?”

Alariel, who had been whispering to Kiki, replied. “I’m not sure. Four that I know of. There is our private suite in Dabia, the high house, this cabin, and the castle. I always thought she had more though. There were times when she would disappear for weeks and I had no idea where went.”

Kiki raised a finger in the air. “Perhaps she’s there now. In one of the secret hideouts.”

“Where do you think she was most likely to have hidden something?” Kalli asked, speaking for the first time since we landed.

Alariel looked through a window in the direction of the mountain pass. “Well, your best bet is going to be the castle. We have already searched here and Kiki can tell you that our suite in Dabia isn’t very big.”

Kiki laughed. “If you call seven rooms not very big, then sure.”

“Well comparatively.” Alariel conceded. “I also doubt you will find anything incriminating in the high house. Our family is not the most powerful on Gaia and she wouldn’t hide anything incriminating where it could be seized. So that leaves the castle. It’s also the only place where certain areas were off-limits to me.”

“How do we get there?” Kalli asked. “Can we take the airship?”

Alariel laughed. It was a high-pitched sound somewhere between a shriek and a squeal. “That’s complicated. You see, those loyal to Mother still live there. Even if they let me bring guests, they wouldn’t just let me have full run of the place.”

“Can we sneak in?” I asked, getting excited about the prospect.

She stared at me as though I were insane. “Well, it is possible. I mean, nobody would expect someone to try to sneak in so it’s not exactly guarded. I can’t go with you though. I’ll give you a map and guide you in group chat. That’s the best I can do.”

While a part of me wanted to continue the quest for the antidote, there was another part of me excited to check out the cabin in the woods.

“What do you want to do first?” Kiki asked in excitement. “There is an awesome hot spring out back. Or we can play some magical games. There are a few things on Gaia that I know we don’t have back on Earth.”

I grinned at the two girls. “I was a little curious about what kinds of games you two were playing out here.”

“Hah,” Kiki said with a smirk. “I’ll bet you were. But no, you only get to know about the PG-rated games little brother.”

That was how we ended up going to the hot spring. While Kalli was able to transfigure her dress into a bikini, I was forced to borrow a pair of shorts. While my artifact armor could transform into swimwear, it always felt like a murky black paste that got stuck to my skin.

By the time I made it out of the dressing room, three beautiful girls were waiting. Kiki smiled and said, “Took you long enough. How long does it take to put on a pair of shorts?”

The truth was, I was nervous. While I was used to being around Kalli, I suddenly found myself outnumbered and outgunned. It was Kalli who took pity on me. “Let’s just get in already.”

Taking her cue, I decided to do a cannonball.

SPLASH

When I came up for air, I saw three glaring soaking wet girls. Kiki stuck her tongue out at me and shouted. “Jerk!”

Then she jumped in right next to me, sending a mini tsunami cascading over me. She came up laughing. “Just kidding.”

Kalli and Alariel took the stairs and entered the water. Alariel gave Kalli a sidelong glance before motioning to the two of us. “You can tell they're are related, can’t you?”

Kalli giggled. “Yep. You sure can.”

The water in the hot springs was hot. Bubbles also came from somewhere which made the springs feel like a hot tub back home. There was also a strange aroma in the water. I looked at Alariel and asked, “What’s that smell?”

She sniffed the air for a moment before explaining. “That’s magic. We scent the water to erase the sulfuric smell that this place has naturally. Smells nice, doesn’t it?”

“I’m trying to figure out what it smells like,” I said as I sniffed the air. “It reminds me of a new car smell.”

Alariel gave me a puzzled look. “I’m not sure what this new car you speak of is but the magic is designed to smell like cured leather.”

Melvin? Are you there? We need you.

It was guild chat.

Esha? Is that you?

The trolls voice replied again. Yes, my lord. It’s me. We have a problem back here.

What kind of a problem? Can Celestea help you?

Esha sounded frustrated when she replied. Humans don’t understand our language. It is difficult to communicate.

But I’ve seen you talk to them.

She replied. That only works when you are in the empire, my lord. Or Empress Kalliphae.

Then I remembered the first time I met the trolls. The humans in Hudholm also couldn’t speak to them. Deciding to leave the language problem for another day, I attempted to refocus the conversation.

Tell me what happened.

She sounded almost like she was laughing when she replied. Our patrols discovered a human wandering the wilderness. We found him wearing a strange suit of armor and none of the humans in The City Under the Mountain can communicate with him. We have citizens that speak Dabian and Celestean and neither of them can talk to him either. I am suspicious he may have been up to something. Would it be possible for you to return?

I looked to Kalli who gave me a small nod.

We will be right there.

Alariel smiled and said, “We can coordinate your visit to Mother’s castle after you sort whatever that is out. Let’s form a group so we can discuss details in private.”

ALARIEL MORIN WOULD LIKE YOU INVITE YOU TO JOIN A GROUP

I grinned at Kiki. “She took your last name!”

Alariel blushed and Kiki slapped me on the back. It hurt because I wasn’t wearing a shirt and her hand was wet. “Of course, she did. Did you forget we got married to satisfy your contract?”

Alariel gave Kiki a scandalized look. “Is that why you did it?”

“That wasn’t the only reason.” Kiki amended. “You know how I feel about you.”

I waded over to Kalli and wrapped my arm around her. It seemed like they were going to argue and I was anxious to find out about the mysterious visitor. Without warning, I folded mana over us and warped to Kalli’s home point. We arrived with about fifty gallons of water in the throne room in Celestea Castle. Unfortunately for us, the throne room was in use.

“Kalliphae Celestea, uh, I refuse to say your last name!” Celestea screamed in outrage. “What are you wearing, young lady?”

It was Kalli’s turn to scream as she realized she was still wearing the bikini. Spending two seconds scowling at me, she ran from the room, leaving me and her Mom in the flooded chamber.

Redirecting her ire at me, Celestea shrieked, “What is the meaning of this? Where did all of this water come from, and why are the two of you half-naked?”

“Sorry,” I muttered, beginning to follow Kalli.

“Wait.” She called after me. “I, um, need your help with something.”

I stopped in my tracks. It was rare for the queen mother to recognize my existence, let alone ask me for help. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s Orpheus.” She began. “He’s sick. My daughter tells me you can help. Please. He is a valued member of this family and I fear he isn’t going to make it.”

Poison!

I thought the thought before I realized it which shocked Kalli. What? Who’s poisoned?

Orpheus.

She gasped. Oh no!

After changing clothes, Celestea led us over to Orpheus’s chamber. He didn’t look well. His eyes were sunk in and his body was covered in sweat. Even though he was awake, he appeared delirious and didn’t recognize us.

I looked at Celestea and said, “We need to get him to the high house. They have a doctor there that can help keep him stable while we look for an antidote.”

“Antidote?” She asked, a frown forming on her face. “Do you think he’s been poisoned?”

“Yes,” I explained. “Most likely by me when I saved his life after the battle with Mardella. I didn’t realize that her sword was poisoned at the time.”

She looked at me apprehensively. “Then why aren’t you dying?”

Kalli placed a hand on her Mom’s shoulder. “That’s complicated, Mother. You see, we have a special trait that makes us stronger than the poison. It can’t kill us, but unfortunately, we’re still infected.”

I would have tried to help him but I wasn’t one hundred percent certain he was poisoned. I’d have to leave that diagnosis to a professional. Since we didn’t have a fast way to return to the high house, I reached out to my sister in group chat.

Kiki, can you send us the airship? We think Orpheus is poisoned.

It’s on the way. She replied immediately. When the two of you left so suddenly, we decided to send it so you can go to the castle when you’re ready.

Turning to Celestea, I explained. “The high house is sending an airship to transport him to the infirmary there. My sister, Maya, will take good care of him.”

Kalli stared at me. Are you sure, Mel? You didn’t even ask her.

While I didn’t know my sister well, I had a good feeling that she would help.

I think it will be fine. We need to find the antidote more than ever now. Let’s go see this strange human so we can be ready to go when the airship arrives.