Chapter 24: To Each Her Own

The area was filled with the chatter of girls, as they assembled for Nathan’s plan. Iris still was having problems, calling Nathan anything other than Hero. There pace had slowed to a crawl, so Celes had come to see what was taking so long.

Nathan: “Come on try again, say Nathan.”

Iris: “Na, Na, Na, Na,NaNaNaNaNaNathero.”

Nathan: “Nathero?”

Celes: “(Nathero?)”

Anais: “Ppffftttt!

Iris cover he face, attempting to hid how red it’s become. She knew this was not something difficult, but she just not come to terms with calling him outside his title. She took her duty seriously and Nathan could respect that, but this had to be done.

Nathan: “Nathero, sounds like the villain in a D&D game.”

Iris: “*blush* M-My apologies.”

Nathan: “No its fine, just keep trying, you’ll get there.”

Iris: *sigh* Right, Na, Na, Na, Na, NaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNERO!”

Nathan: “I’m a puzzle demon now?”

Anais: “Daahahahahahaha, my ribs, can’t take it.”

Nathan: “Anais, stop laughing and help us would you.”

Anais: “Aheheheheh, whew that was great. Alright listen, I could care less, but for the sake of moving things along, why don’t she just call you Master?”

Nathan: “Master(If I recall, Anais called me that for a little while?”

Anais: “Another form of showing respect, she won’t call you by your name, this way she can still show respect, without calling you Hero.”

Nathan: “Hmm I guess, wait that means the reason you stop calling me master, is because you stop respecting me?”

Anais: “Huh, oh yeah, my respect for you went waaaaaaaaaaaayyy down.”

Nathan: “So honest it hurts.”

Iris: “Master……. Yes, I think that will work, the rodent has shown some form of intelligence, I had no idea she possessed it.”

Anais: “……………. She just said I was stupid.”

Iris: “Ah, she understood, the surprises continue.”

Anais: “You arrogant little-”

Nathan: “Cool it, Iris you okay with this?”

Iris: “Yes Master, though it’s not as respectful as your esteemed title, it shall suffice, are you okay with me addressing you as such?”

Nathan: “Well, it takes some getting used to, but its fine for now. Well, with that out the way, Celes I’m glad you showed up. I want to try something.”

Nathan fiddle with his screen then selected a few things.

Nathan: “Alright, “Co-op!””

The three girls lit up for an instant, a warm feeling ran through them, making each gasp from the sensation.

Anais: “What did you just do?”

Nathan: “I use Co-op, it let me share two passive and magic abilities with you, I want, prepare just in case, we end up fighting.”

Nathan pulled out origin and unsheathe it. Iris and Celes instantly became entranced, then he picked up two stones and tossed them at Celes and Iris. Both dodge the sudden attack. Nathan smiled and re sheathe the sword.

Nathan: “It worked.”

Anais: “Wow.”

Iris: “I don’t understand, why did you throw stones?”

Nathan: “My passive ability “Clear Mind”, it keeps you level headed in times of strife or in this occasion, keeps you from getting completely entranced.”

Anais: “But it didn’t look like they had complete immunity.”

Nathan: “Well, for some reason “Co-op” halved the abilities power for all of you, I don’t get why but that’s why I gave you the second passive skill, “Enhanced Reflexes”. It’s also halved but, at least it will make up for the lag in your concentration.”

Anais: “Well, now they can be of some use, but that still doesn’t account for the hundred or so other nymphs in this forest.”

Nathan: “Hopefully, “IF” we have to fight, we’ll try to fight in an area away from everyone else. Okay, now it’s all of your turns.”

Girls: “Huh?”

Nathan press another button and a screen popped up to each girl.

*ding*

Co-op activated, Selections: 1

Nathan: “You all can decide one ability to share with the party, you can choose what you want another time. Right now, Iris, you choose “Celestial Veil”, Anais, you choose “Sensory Block” and Celes, you choose “Plant Physiology”.”

Each girl chose their respective abilities and everyone lit up and the sudden sensation again.

Nathan: “Okay with this, Because of Iris’s “Celestial Veil”, we can’t be seen by anyone we don’t want to be seen by, namely the Gorgon. Though the ability doesn’t completely hide our present, if one were to concentrate or has an ability similar to Iris’s ability to detect all mana signature no matter what, we’d be screwed if the Gorgon had an ability like that.That’s where Anais’s “Sensory Block” comes in, because of it she was able to keep herself concealed from Iris for so long in the study because of it, it blocks all detection type abilities, this means we could approach the Gorgon without being noticed."

Anais smirked in iris’s direction, who in turn scowled back at her.

Nathan: “Last but not least, Celes’s “Plant Phisiology”. It just like my ability, so when we approached the Gorgon, if it does that enchantment thing again, will all have some resistance to it. With Celes’s ability stacked on mine, I should have complete immunity to it, so I’ll be able to go all out. All of you will just be resistant, however since you three will be further away using magic and spells, as long as I keep its attention, it shouldn’t target any of you, less movement, means more time you can last within the enchanted area.”

Charisma +5

Nathan: “Huh?”

All of the girls were staring at Nathan, dumbstruck.

Nathan: “What?”

Celes: “(Amazing.)”

Nathan: “Huh?”

Iris: “To come up with all this, in a single night, truly remarkable.”

Nathan: “No, no, this is just a worst-case scenario, I have no intention of doing any of this, if I can at all help it."

Anais: “Still, that doesn’t make it any less impressive, see this why we followed you, even before you were officially leader, you truly aren’t as dumb as you look.”

Nathan: “I'm not taking that as a compliment.”

Celes: “(But an all seriousness, you are simply amazing, I’m am truly honored to be in your party.)”

Nathan quickly turned his head, trying to keep his face hidden. The girls just, didn’t understand the heart of the modest.

Celes: “(Ah, his all red.)”

Anais: “Ha-ha, he’s blushing.”

Iris: “Poor Master, he’s just not good with compliments.”

Nathan: “Sh-Shut up, we’re done talking, let’s get to the meeting.”

Nathan, started walking ahead, blushing even more at the sound of the giggling girls, following behind him.

_

_

Nathan: “So, I come up with some strategies for keeping the Gorgon from arriving before the Grassvalley Tribe does, but first let me explain why I think its here.”

Anais: “Before, why are the two of them so close?”

Celes and Saria had taking their seat next to Nathan, much closer than either of them should be okay with. Needless to say, with every shift, Nathan could make out every inch of their bodies, right down to the essentials.

Nathan: “………..Please don’t mind it.”

Anais: “Wha!?”

Moments before the meeting, they came to tell him they would announce his abilities during the session, but he swiftly told them not to. Nathan made a deal with them, they were allowed to be close with him as long as they don’t reveal to their sister what he could do. Even if their sister’s faith in him rose, he didn’t want the absolute affection, that came with it. The way Celes and Saria acted when they realized it, he could vividly see the soft, squishy, marshmallow nightmare, that would rain down upon him.

Saria: “Anais, there nothing wrong with being close with the Hero, the Hero himself even wished it to be so, isn’t that right.”

Celes nodded happily to Saria’s words and Nathan turned his head from Anais’s accusing glares. Nathan was surprised Iris had not done the same, but she was drifting in and out of her own little world. He wasn’t too sure, but he swore he heard her say “Master”, repeatedly. Anais said nothing more, that is nothing more anyone else could hear. She began throwing insults under her breath, Insults Nathan could hear all too well. He could also tell that a few of the nymphs around especially Lynn, did not like their sisters so close to him, but he made a deal and would just have to deal with it.

Nathan” *Ahem*, So as I was saying, everyone wants to know how the Gorgon enter this area, you said it fell from the sky, but that doesn’t make since. Sure it fell from the sky, that parts accurate, but that would mean that it was flying, when it fell for some reason.

Anais: “That doesn’t make since, if it could fly there would be no reason for it stay, with its high defense and how heavy it is, the storm should be no problem, right?”

Nathan: “Exactly what I thought, so if it hasn’t left yet, I can only assume one thing, it can’t fly. The fact that at no time during my fight with the other one did it take flight, made this all the clearer.

Lynn: “But if it can’t fly, why did it fall from the sky?”

Nathan: “Well, I have some good news and some bad news, bad news first Simple reason why its here, someone or something, put it here.”

Saria: “What?”

Nathan: “It’s the only thing I can think of, I have hard time believing this thing scaled those cliff, I mean maybe it could, but why go through all the trouble, when you could just float around. However, if it did scale the cliff, that doesn’t explain the crater it made when it arrive, to make a crater, you need some massive force to collide with the ground. I think it was made to be land here via an outside force.”

Anais: “That makes a lot of sense, if it had just climb down a cliff, it would have fallen or hovered down the other side.”

Saria: “Are you saying we’re being targeted, but why?”

Nathan: “Well, I thought of three possibilities. One their trying to get you all to leave, Saria told me that Fae are used as batteries, if you all left a place with such high defenses, maybe it would be easier to catch you while on your way to safety.

Saria: “No, even if we left I’m sure the Grassvalley tribe would escort us anywhere we traveled.”

Nathan: “Yup, that’s what I thought, they wouldn’t go through all this trouble to force you out, if they could just force their way through your guardians. This brings me to my second theory, their after Amelia’s study.”

Anais: “What!?”

Nathan: “Amelia has a lot of valuable treasures, plus until recently, a very special occupant.”

Iris snapped back into focus, her daze completely vanishing.

Iris: “You believe them to be after you?”

Nathan: “I’m not saying specifically, just an assumption.”

Iris: “No, getting through the barrier is one thing, but I would never allow someone to take you, while under my watch.”

Nathan: “Thanks for that, but if they really meant to take anything out, it would have been better to not cause a commotion. After they found out about the Gorgon, you all search for anymore intruders right, if they were meaning to go unnoticed, they should not have done that. Which can only leave one possibility.

Nathan cleared his throat.

Nathan: “Think about what the Gorgon is doing, it going around and drying lakes. What could the outside force want that drying up a lake could yield.

There was a notable gasp from everyone around.

Saria: “Mother, there aim is Mother.

Nathan: “Right, you told me she usually rest at the bottom of the lakes that reside around the Garden, but which one she chooses is completely random, if the Gorgon was to go around and dry up every single lake in the Garden, surely they would find her.

Saria: “Wait, but the creature has secluded itself to the south and only recently, started to move.

Nathan: “That’s the good news, the outsiders didn’t count on the Gorgon to do something like that, they probably expected your Mother to be awake by now.”

Saria: “Good heavens, so if I had located her earlier and had Celes wake her up-”

Nathan: “You probably, would be dealing with something far worse.”

Saria covered her mouth, the thought that she had nearly put her sisters in worse danger was a terrifying thought. Nathan placed a hand atop her head.

Saria: “Hero?”

Nathan: “Don’t think too deeply about it, you were doing what you thought was best for your family, no one can fault you on that.”

Saria fought back her feelings and raised her head, she need not worry about would could of happen, she only need to worry about what’s to come.

Lynn: “Um, I have a question, why hadn’t the Gorgon did what it was supposed to do?”

Nathan: “It couldn’t, it had something more important to deal with, in the form of child.”

Lynn: “A child?”

Nathan: Let me tell you what I think happen, I think someone or something Somehow launched this creature into your home, their objective was to allow it to roam the area and dry up every lake until your mother revealed herself. However, what they failed to realize is that at the time the Gorgon they use was pregnant.

Girls: “What!?”

Nathan: “You said that there was only one Gorgon that came out of the crater, I can only assume the smaller one was a baby who had yet to be born.”

Saria: “Then, the Gorgon that you killed was the child of the larger one.”

Nathan: “Unfortunately, though I had no other choice, thanks to your protectors, it thought I had come to attack, it had signs that it had battled earlier, I’m sure it was there doing the first scuffle.”

Lynn: “Don’t talk bad of the Grassvalley Tribe, they did what they did to protect us.”

Saria: “LYNN, you will show the Hero, respect.”

Lynn: “But?”

Saria glared at Lynn and she immediately settled down.

Saria: “Hero, I must ask you, not to disrespect our guardians.”

Nathan: “I’m not trying to, I just think they jumped the gun when they arrived. Celes which Gorgon did you see them fighting when you were here?”

Celes: “(It was the larger one, I didn’t see the child.)”

Nathan: “It probably had already retreated, I’m thinking that when your guardians arrived, they first came across the baby Gorgon. They must have thought that it was the intruder and immediately moved to rid the garden of its unwanted occupant. A battle broke out between your guardian and the baby. But, I don’t think the baby can turn people to stone just yet, seeing as how it didn’t turn me. At some point the larger one showed, saw its child being attack and destroyed its attackers, turning them into stone. Then, sense it child was hurt from battle, it made the enchantment to keep everyone out and its child safe, while it could go recuperate from child birth or from the battle with the Grassvalley Tribe. I found a picture depicting when to strike at the Gorgon for a one hit kill. Someone must have figure it out, I can only assume they attack in some last little effort to fight and realized the weakness, but was not able to finish the job. But again. this is all just speculation.”

Nathan took a chance to look around, everyone was staring at him, even Anais and Iris, were dumbstruck, again.

Nathan: “Why are all of you looking at me like that?”

Saria: “Amazing, all of this from such little information.”

Anais: “Much smarter then he looks.”

Nathan: “Again, not taking that as a compliment.”

Iris: “As always, Master is outstanding.”

Nathan: “C-Cut it out with the praise, its speculation, speculation.”

Lynn: “What happens when the mother arrived and finds it child is no longer of the living.”

Nathan: “Well of course, she going to find whoever killed it and end them.”

There was an eerie silence that crept around the area, like sound itself had become a myth.

Lynn: “Then you need to get away, you’ll doom us all.”

Saria: “LYNN!”

Lynn: “I’m sorry Saria, but I can’t, I understand you feel indebted to him, but if he truly has a death cloud over him, he shouldn’t be here.”

Saria: “HOW DARE YOU, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN, WHAT HE HAS JUST DONE FOR US?”

Lynn: “HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN, WHAT THE BEAST HAS DONE TO THE TRIBE?”

Saria flashback to the scene of the massacre, she hadn’t forgotten, she just refuses to think about. Lynn on the other hand could not, the scene played over and over in here head, this could also be said for another handful of Nymphs also could not help recalling the horrific scene. Lynn stood up defiantly and turn her attention to Nathan.

Lynn: “Hero, I thank you for your assistance with reclaiming some of our home, but I ask please leave, I won’t ask you to fight the Gorgon, but please don’t bring its wrath down on us.”

Saria and Celes shot to their feet, but Nathan stop them from doing anything.

Saria: “Even after he helped us, you throw him aside, how could you even think that?”

Lynn: “We never ask him to enter the enchantment and fight the child, he did that on his own.”

Saria: “But, did we not all agree, that we would ask him to fight the parent, how is this any different?”

Lynn: “The difference is location, to the south where our sisters have evacuated, no one could be hurt, but he’s here sitting among us, surely the Gorgon will find this place. What happens if it dries up this lake, it’s the source of all water in the Garden, goodness forbid mother is asleep here, then if what he said is true, we could end up with something else much worse.”

Saria: “And your answer to this, is to cast aside the only person who might be able to do something?”

Lynn: “Saria………….. I am not the only one.”

Celes and Saria looked around, sure as she said, a lot of her sister agreed with Lynn. Most of them were the ones who had seen their guardians in that state. She understood their frustration, so many horrible things happening at once, the last straw was the Grassvalley tribe. Then the Hero tell them, the creature is coming after him, of course they don’t want to be anywhere near him.

Lynn: “Saria, I implore you think of your sisters, if he really is the reason the Gorgon has moved, should we not rid ourselves of his company?”

Saria: “…….You are absolutely right.”

Anais and Iris nearly leapt to their feet, they were seconds away from putting down everyone in the area. Nathan held them both back once again if it turned into a fight then, then they can go wild.

Some faces around the room started to light up, while others were surprised. Lynn was ecstatic, she didn’t understand Saria and Celes affection towards the Hero. He may have save the world, but they were worshipping him as if he was “Mother”. It was this that led Lynn to disdain for Nathan, how dare he trick her respected elder sister and soon to be Mother younger sister, into acting so shameful. She could not stand it, but she was happy now, it seemed that her affection for him wasn’t as strong as she believed.

Nathan glanced around, more accurately at Lynn and her sister who agreed with her. He didn’t need a genius to tell these girls did not like him much. It probably had something to do with the two leaders, giving him so much attention. Nathan could care less about how they felt about him, he was sure if they knew what Celes and Saria knew about him, they would be acting the same way and he did NOT want that.

Saria: “But, even if we wanted to push him away, there is no way out at the moment, do you have a plan?”

Lynn: “Of course, Lady Amelia’s study, there is no one living near there, if the Hero heads in that direction, it will take at least another day for the Gorgon to reach him. In the meantime, we’ll be safe here and then when the Grassvalley Tribe reinforcements arrive, we can send them to his aid.”

Nathan: “…….Actually, that is a pretty good idea.”

Every head snapped in Nathan’s direction, both sides looked at him as if he had just admitted to murder.

Nathan: “What, its pretty good, if what I said comes about, then having more time to prepare would be great, plus to be honest, I was actually looking for some places to set the traps. If for some reason, I end up fighting, having it here would be seriously bad, wouldn’t you all agree?”

Lynn was in sheer disbelief, why would the person she was trying to get rid of, agree with a plan, concocted out of spite. He must not be a smart as everyone thought him to be. Well it didn’t matter to her, if he goes away, everything fine with her.

Lynn: “S-See, the Hero even agrees, he can fight his battle there.”

Saria: “………..Fine, if the hero wishes it, “WE” shall move our plan to the far east.”

Lynn, along with a few of her sisters did a silent cheer, they had suceesfully gotten rid of the Hero, they didn’t wish death on him, but with this they can keep their sisters away as well as the Gorgon.

Lynn: “………Wait Saria, what do you mean by, “WE”?

Saria: It’s just as it sounds, I along with anyone else will be following the Hero, to prepare for the Gorgons arrival, the rest of you will stay and send the Grassvalley Tribe after us.”

Lynn: “N-Nonsense, there is no reason to do this for him, we can just wait here where its safe.”

Saria: “Enough, those who wish to join, after we’re done here, please prepare yourselves for departure, everyone else, return to your rooms.”

Nathan begin to discuss his plan to slow down or trap the Gorgon. It was rather simple and he would provide everything necessary, everyone else just had to prepare. Saria soon dismissed the assembly and she, Celes and many of her sisters, prepared to follow Nathans team toward Amelia’s study. Lynn and the ones who stayed behind, watched on as their sister prepared to put themselves in harm’s way.

She just could not understand, Saria saved them every time she made a call to their guardians. She watched the Hero as he walked away.

Lynn: “(This is all his fault.)”

She gritted her teeth at the thought that the Hero had change them so much, they had literally change overnight. He was more of a menace then the Gorgon had ever been. She could not stand for this, nor could any of her group. Something must be done, she would see that her sisters stayed out of harm’s way, rather they wanted to or not.

_

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Nathan: “……………………….”

Iris: “Master, is everything alright?”

Nathan: “Huh, oh yeah I’m fine.”

Anais: “Already formulating your plan?”

Nathan: “Yeah, but more, I wanted to thank you two, every time someone bad mouth me you reacted, thank for looking out for me.”

Iris: “It was my pleasure, Master.”

Anais: “Hmph.”

Nathan: “Oh, Anais I need you to do me favor.”

Anais: “What?”

Nathan continued chatting with everyone, but he was half thinking about the plan, half thinking of something else. During the meeting, every once in a while, his “Threat Detection” would spike and then quickly fade. Every time it happened it, it arose from the same person, “Lynn”. But, it felt different, less like threat and more like, murderous intent.