Once Rasputin was done being a dummy-dumb-dumb and Bast let me hop on her back, we got a decent move on and Bast was glad to prove that she was stronger than an undead horse. She wasn’t as far as I knew, but she could carry me with ease and stay with the others well enough. At least her stamina didn’t make me feel like a fat ass, but I still felt practically gelded with every step after a good bit. When we finally alighted to a big-ass, blue-ass, silver-sand-having-ass lake that also had an island in the middle of its waters. Well, more like a small archipelago that joined to make a larger island altogether, but the structures connecting the smaller outcroppings seemed… Well, old. Even through the fog I could tell the place had probably been there for a hot minute, even if it was kinda far away. I doubted it would take much to break some shit, but looks could be deceiving. As far as I knew there wasn’t really anything to be afraid of other than the fact that Ras could kill me at any point and that I could be facing judgment for saving Stella. There was plenty of crap on my mind as we came to the river bank, but I couldn’t say that I was worried at all. Thanks to Rasputin’s Terru, I couldn’t even come up with a reason to run that didn’t seem foolish and I started to actually grow a little scared of the man before that too died down.

We waited on the edge of the lake and I examined the islands a little more. From what I could see they were raised high from the water on outcroppings that shouldn’t really have had that much foliage. Low and behold there was so much flora on the islands that it was nearly impossible to see anything other than a few tall, proud spires sticking up above the high tree-line that wouldn’t have even been visible if not for the clouds passing behind them. I’d clearly stepped out of my comfort zone and Stella was right there with me, she herself being a little hesitant to take my hand when we stopped. I went ahead and followed through for her since I wanted to feel closer to someone I probably wouldn’t have to kill, though there was always the possibility. A part of me that was still logical chalked that up to Ras’ magic as well and took some time with Stella to do a little chatting.

“He got us before we even knew what was really going on. I don’t doubt that he had something to do with you killing Sootina, Gatian.” She whispered to me as we stood away from Rasputin.

“I know, but he hasn’t killed us yet. Maybe there’s more afoot than we know-”

“When hasn’t there been, Alvage?” Stella sighed miserably.

“What? You didn’t think I was just going to become famous and we were going to have a happily ever after, did you?”

“No, but I also didn’t think that I would be a step away from being exiled from my homeland on a journey with a being of legend while I myself am also a being of legend. You are trouble, Gatian. My life was simple before you came.” She gave me an ever-so pouty look that made me smile.

“You know you love me enough to put up with this.”

“I might, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be bribed for doing this.”

“I’ll pay you in kisses~”

“You can start with a down payment of a hug.” Stella cracked a little smile and I gave her the payment requested.

“If you two are done being… Sweet,” Rasputin grunted irritably, “our boat is coming.”

I looked out to the water with Stella and saw along with her that there was a pretty sketchy looking raft being manned by an old… Man. Which I already wrote down so I can’t take it back unless I scratch it out, which I’m not doing. Whatever. Stella and I went to go wait by Ras and the old man with the boat came by to pick us up. It was about as safe as one would imagine a semi-flat, walled raft to be with water leaking into and out of the boat as we were paddled along the way. In order to make the misty, foggy morning a little less doom n’ gloomy, I started playing Black Hole Sun as best I could with only four strings with Rasputin joining in and nailing the song, much to my surprise. The lower register of his pipe was a spectacle to behold even though I was beginning to suspect that I was leaking Terru as I played music. If he wasn’t covering for that, then I don’t know why else he started playing.

The old guy and Stella seemed to have a good time with the song and the old man asked Ras to stay for one more duet with me as a little extra payment for his efforts. I was happy to play another song I remembered for him, but there wasn’t much of a place for a pipe in Ring of Fire, which was what I had in mind. I decided on Falling in Love by Conway Twitty and took a try or two to remember every note. I got a kiss from Stella for it and Ras got to play along and add an interesting part to the whole, so I considered it a good mini-concert. The old man stopped me before I got off the boat and Ras raised a brow when I looked at him. Neither of us knew what to expect, so I went back to the old man with a small smile.

“Hey, sir. How can I help you?” I asked politely, trying to be nice.

He smiled back, his teeth dark and uncared for. “Well, now… It’s been a good while since someone done called this ol’ Sotan ‘sir’!” He chuckled a few times.

“Well, you’re older than me and you did me a favor, so my parents would be a little mad if I didn’t.” I laughed along with him. “I’ve got time for another song, if that’s-”

“No, no, sonny, that ain’t what I’m after. Dontcha know there’s a light in ya?”

“I have a song for that, ironically enough.”

“I’m guessin’ ya should sing that little song to yourself right about now. Might be good for your light.” He patted my shoulder and reached into a sling he carried with him, fishing around for something for a few moments. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the expression he wore as he dug, making the old man give me a look. “Now just what are you laughin’ at there, youngster?”

“Your concentratin’ face was somethin’ funny, if I can say that.” I grinned back easily, feeling pretty good about the day.

He rolled his eyes and pulled his hand out of his whatchamacallit. “Y’know, most of y’all River Folk are all too happy to ignore people like me. Give up your Partners once ya learn who they are an’ what they’ve done. Ain’t too many of ya with Guardians as Companions either.” He took my hand and put a necklace in it. “I can tell just by lookin’ at ya that you’re another breed. Don’t know your name and I won’t ask nothin' else of ya, but I want ya to carry that to the end of your journey. My days are done, but I got a feelin’ you’re goin’ far, kid.”

I looked at what he gave me and saw it for what it was. The little blue candle with an unlit wick had to be something special since the song I’d been thinking of was This Little Light of Mine, and that was often sung at my Mom’s preferred church with candles in hand. The symbolism was strong, but I didn’t need any more clues to get the message. Well, maybe I could use a few more because my faith in the Almighty was still a little shaky, but whatever. I figured the candle would protect me from curses as long as my faith stayed strong, but I figured I’d ask anyway. The Binding of Isaac was never 100% accurate, last time I checked.

“So what’s this for, my generous sir-man?”

“That? I dunno. There’s a red one out there somewhere, an’ a green one I think. I only ever found the blue one.”

“... So-”

“Well, I seem ta recall it bein’ for somethin’ or other…” He tapped his chin.

I looked to Rasputin as he stood stonily, like a breathing statue. “Memory song maybe?”

He gave me a look. “Hush.”

The old man popped his lips. “Ah-ha! Yeah, I remember now! It was for… Fire and ice…?”

I looped the thing around my neck. “Even if it doesn’t do anything it’s a nice memento with a good story attached. Thank you, new friend.”

“Ah, you’re welcome, sonny. Just don’t go around tellin’ folks where ya got yourself a candle at this time a’ day!” He cackled like mad.

Rasputin coughed. “I believe we are done here.”

After a quick shrug, I joined Ras and Stella on the shore and waved old new friend goodbye. Stella was quick to say, “That man was not natural.”

“Hmm?” I looked to her.

“No, he was not. He was not the usual rowman, nor have I ever seen that boat.” Rasputin said bitterly. “Special privileges, I suppose.”

“Don’t tell me-”

“It was a Quelin, a Shade. Nothing to fear.” Stella gave me an easy-going smile. “It’s nothing to be worried about, if he liked you, then you most likely gave him a reason to leave.”

“... So I just made a friend I’ll never see again?” I pulled a face.

“At least he didn’t possess you.” Rasputin spit on the ground and continued walking.

“He’s right, but still. All turned out to be well.” My Partner patted my arm, so I held her hand and we walked together.

“He was no match for me anyway. I would not have let you come to harm.” Bast said lightly.

“I doubt that you would’ve, but you seem to be a master of hindsight.” It wasn’t meant to sound mean, but it kinda did.

“Mistress, and I still would have defended you.” She huffed.

Something made me feel like being nice to her. “As long as you didn’t get yourself hurt. I’m guessing your fur is just thick since you’re not that heavy, so don’t-” She rubbed up against me. “Goddamn, are you soft.” I stroked her fur casually, getting some purrs.

“Thank you. I must say, your pheromones smell lovely.”

I looked at Stella, she looked at Ras, and he looked at Bast in distaste. “Do not court the betrothed one, cat.”

I heard her claws pop. “Your Arca work not against me.”

“... Do as you please, I apologize.” He said softly.

I looked at Bast. “You could make him give me back my years and totally subvert all of this, couldn’t you?”

“This seems more fun.” She wrapped her tail around me.

Stellara came up beside her and scratched behind one of her ears. “He’s mine, you know.”

“You are his. He is mine.”

“Aren’t you my Companion? Didn’t we agree on that?” I asked amusedly, joining Stella.

“Stop it! You were doing then as you are now! I will not be swayed by your appendages!” Bast shook her head gently, not really stopping us.

“Who’s a good kitty?” I crooned.

“Who is the fluffiest and cuddliest?” Stella continued, earning us both looks from Rasputin.

“Who’s my deadly widdle cuddle fiend?” I stopped Bast to give her a hug.

She purred. “Stop, we have things to do.”

“Indeed. The Guardian speaks the truth,” Ras said, obviously uncomfortable.

The look Bast gave him kinda scared me. “We have a few moments, meat.”

And so we spent the next ten minutes petting and loving on Bast until she got tired of it and we got a move on. I had to say that the cuddling was the highlight of the morning since everything was layered deep in the fog, and the forested parts of the island gave everything an ethereal, unnatural feel that the boat-guy mirrored perfectly. I could swear that I saw shades of people passing through the trees and peering out at us, but I also gathered that as we walked, more was exposed to us. By that, I mean that the islands were by no means as large from the shore as they were while actually being on them, and I had no doubts that I was on some very magical land at the moment. As we got deeper into the main island and traveled the path, I saw more flora and fauna that made little to no sense in my time with my group. Stella commented on some glowing purple flowers that she thought were beautiful while I was looking at some similarly radiant mushrooms that were pumping spores around them left and right. The mild greenish coloration paired well with the vivid pinks it was giving off, but there was more to see that I wanted to catalog with a camera I didn’t have.

Rasputin gave us time to stop and examine things from time to time and even let us pick some fruits that were safe to eat. There was an orangey-reddish tangerine-like fruit that tasted sour and a little spicy, but the flavors blended well. It was kind of like eating a spicy-sweet-n-sour thingamabob from my favorite Chinese place down the street from my old apartment, but it was still radically different. Everything was just barely cold in the crisp morning air, making it all taste that much better. There were even some tomatoes that tasted pretty much like tomatoes, but a little saltier. I preferred them over the normal variety and chose to eat a couple since I was hungry, but the further we traveled the tastier things got. There were even durian-looking fruits that had strange bluish blushes across green skin that we cut down. We only got one, but the flesh of the fruit was amazing. It was like eating smooth, creamy cookie dough that was missing chocolate chips, but nevertheless I’d rarely had something so tasty in my entire life. Stella hated it, citing that it only tasted like baked goods when she tasted it on my lips. Ras didn’t know that it had that quality, but apparently the spiked fruit was called ‘River-Man’s Meal’ and was semi-poisonous to Septurns. River People could eat all they wanted and it would apparently help cure a few diseases, but for Septurns it was little more than an extremely bitter, incredibly disgusting thing to make children eat for being bad. Even if it was mildly poisonous it was only about as bad as Castor oil according to Ras. Knowing that Castor oil was pretty fuckin bad if you got a big spoonful, I had a few qualms about the practice.

After taking it all in, I had a hard time imagining a better place for magical musicians to practice the craft. Even in the din of the forest, I could hear a few melodies ring out above the mild noise in the trees. It felt like a beautiful, soothing place to be and there was little more I wanted to do other than start writing songs and playing them for the world around me. I felt more inspired than I had in years to just up and start making music, but when I unslung my plublass Ras waved a hand without stopping and forestalled the beauty I was soon to make. A little frustrated, I took the time to look around some more but my fingers were on fire with the need to make a song. There was so much on my mind that I actually started crying out of frustration, feeling more pent up than ever to get my feelings out in the open. Stella must have picked up on it because she wiped one of my eyes with a concerned look on her face, neither of us breaking the silence further so we could experience the ambiance.

Rasputin eventually brought us to a castle, and when I say a castle, I mean a fucking palace that looked like it was well-fortified and able to take a beating. Vines and ivy climbed the outer walls and parapets as they circled the enclosure, but the size…? Too large for me to accurately gauge from where I was standing. Rasputin walked up to the large metal-bound doors and rapped on them loudly, standing back to allow the other side to open the gate. The doors were set into granite-like stone that stood out from the rest of the rocky wall, but still gave the place one hell of a feeling anyway. Once our way was clear and we were allowed entrance, I saw for myself that the islands were connected by bridges, but that the walls spanned every part of the archipelago past the forest. There was more to see with each building being something unique in and of itself, but with no real architectural references to use at that point in time there was no way to accurately describe everything. Most shit looked like an angry mishmash of whatever they could find from scrap heaps, but then there were magnificent things that were pieces of art more so than domiciles.

People wearing more conventional clothing than I’d seen in my year and a half on Septural was… Strange, to say the least. I mean, I’d expected to see more of the same zany patterns impressed on modern clothing, but here? The people wore stuff that looked like I’d pick some of it out from Rue 21 or something like that for the most part. Those of the people that were wearing things more similar to my own tastes were usually around my age, which made me wonder why Raspoutine (I know how I spelled that.) had aged me down in the first place. We didn't stop to talk to anyone at first but we did end up in a clothing shop for a brief while. Stella was excited to get some comfy new clothes and I was happy to get out of what I was wearing, so after we bought a bunch of stuff that looked like it would fit with some varying currency I had on hand, we went to a public bath-house. That’s when I learned there were public bath-houses. That’s also when Stella learned that there were public bath-houses since she’d only ever heard of them in Stalfisk.

We were loathe to leave each other’s sides, but we were also more comfortable staying in a smaller group, so we got a private co-ed room on the premise of no funny business in the water. I had no problems with that and neither did Stella, but even before we left the atrium of the place where you checked in… Hell. with the building’s wonky walls, curtain of smoke and steam hanging in the air, and vaulted ceilings? It was a strange place to be, and the pink and purple stones in the wall didn’t help much. Stella liked the design of the place and the general purpose, but she was hoping that there would be many bathrooms. She was wrong. I was nervous, and Rasputin wanted to get clean, so we all got naked and headed toward the allotted room. It was nice enough with the more muted grayish stones around the water rather than the somewhat vibrant stones of the walls, but even then the water itself was of a golden hue. Stella and I approached nervously and gazed into its not-that-deep-depths, seeing a lot of bubbles and gold.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“You first,” I said softly.

“It looks… Unhealthy,” She replied uneasily.

We looked at each other in time to catch Ras shoving us both in. I surface first and shook my head clean, wiping my eyes to look for Stella while making sure my spare towel wasn’t wet. The one I had on was soaked, but I wasn’t too worried about it. Inova surfaced a few seconds after I did, clutching her towel to her chest. I had to say that with her hair slicked down and a pouty look on her face, Stella looked… Well, then you also have the amber glow that was radiating onto her skin and you just have this…Shit, Stellara looked good and I probably would have had a nosebleed if not for that towel. She got it back on under the water and gave Ras a dirty look as he got in, looking mostly unimpressed and nonplussed. Instead of saying anything, he knocked on a big blue stone that stood on the outside of the pool and I think I felt something open up underneath me. It preluded the buckets that popped up, both blue and both looking pretty personalized. One was clearly for Ras with its bottle of ‘Fortified Wine’ and the other was obviously for me since there was a small bottle of ‘Syrupine Spirit’, which was Septurns answer to maple whiskey or bourbon. Either way I wanted to get Stella’s stuff before anything else happened, so I knocked on the ruddy stone that looked kinda like the blue one and then came Stella’s crap.

Ras didn’t care, so Inova and I took the time to look at our one-time toiletries together to see what was up. In my basket was a shampoo and conditioner/relaxer that I needed to leave in my hair before washing out for some reason. I felt like I knew what a relaxer was, but I also knew that the straight razor in the basket was out of my grasp. Stella used the cream to shave the iffy beard off of my face and then I helped her shave her legs because Rachel had made me do it for her often. I knew how to treat a woman without fucking up my chances of being able to get close to her, even if I was a generally a fuck up. I couldn’t shave myself, but shaving other people was no problem at all for the most part, though I did have to be extra careful when Stella asked me to shave her pits too. She knew River Men tended to like their women with a little less fur and I couldn’t help but appreciate her willingness to go the extra mile, so when she asked to cut my hair and style it herself, I didn’t feel any reason to deny her.

Before we got nice and spotless and after I got my hair shampooed and conditioned, Stell cut my hair while it was semi-wet and it turned out okay, but I had a problem. When she’d cut my hair it had turned from brown to ashy-grayish wherever she’d cut it, looking like I had ashy/snowy hair on top of my natural dark brown. I thought it looked incredibly stupid but Rasputin explained it away as me being super receptive to ambient Terru and having absorbed a lot of it during my walk. He couldn’t tell me whether or not my hair would ever go back to normal, but he did say that he thought the change made me look more like a native. That was never my intention and only served to annoy me further, but at least I got clean. It was nice and could’ve been better. Kind of like the Chinese place down the street with the best lo mein in town and iffy everything-else..

The news clothes made me feel like I was back in action and ready to start decking people, or rather, thety made me feel like a part of the world at large and not like some ragamuffin that lived in a deserted town. The change was welcome and I felt it in my bones when I got the clean clothes on, but there was also something to be said about the do I now sported. My hair was a lot less curly than it had been, the relaxer probably b eing the cause of it. I didn’t mind since I still had plenty of waves and a few curls left over, but I kinda felt like my signature look was gone. Rasputin and Stella reasoned it away as giving me a new start away from the horrors I’d seen so far, and from the expression on Ras’ face, I couldn’t tell if they were both fucking with me or what. I mean, I was pretty much fine for the most part and played along as if I was anyway, but I didn’t know what made them think something was wrong.

While we were on the way to the tallest building I asked, “Stella, what’s the big idea? What do you mean by ‘fresh-start’?”

She gave me a confused smile. “Gatian, you’ve nearly died multiple times, been forced out of country after country one way or another, lost friend after friend, had to kill people before your first year was even up, and had to lose everything you had at multiple points. You…” Stella shook her head and looked at me, a glint in her eye. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, but you also need a break, Gatian. The months we spent in seclusion were no break for you. You need to be around people, to do things that fulfill you beyond the basic needs of survival. I believe this may be good for you, Gatian.”

“What? I’ve been fine, Stella. Yeah ,it sucks that I had to do the thing we’re not going to talk about now, but I got through it. Hell, I haven’t even slowed down-”

“And that’s exactly what you need to do.” Stella said tenderly. “Alvage… You’ve been pushing yourself for a long time. IT might be a good idea to ease up a little.”

“Novi, you know-”

“I don’t, but I can listen.”

“... I just want to get us to the goal-line.”

She gave me a hug. “It takes longer than you might think. We’ll travel this path for now and see where it takes us, no?”

I hugged her back, huddling in the comfort. “Sure. I figured we would anyway.”

There was a good ol squeeze and we caught up to Ras at the door of the place we were supposed to go, which was when he gave us a look and asked, “Why does Bast know to follow me, but you don’t?”

I looked at the place Bast had just walked off from. “Yeah, what you said.”

He looked too, then into the building where she’d went. “Cyka. I guess we’re going in.”

“Sure looks like it.” I commented idly, following him into the tall, mostly stone building.

The outside had reminded me of Hogwarts in a way, just with more wonk in the walls than the magical school. There was also an air of Terru about the place that made me want to make music all over again, but I was assured that the time for my plight was coming. As we walked down a hall that was too long for the building to contain, Ras explained a few things to me, like that fighting was forbidden unless it was a duel, all Terru and songs were to be cataloged and anything outside of the catalog was not to be used, and then there was also the fact that he was planning on taking my plublass, which earned him a hearty ‘Go fuck yourself, tard’, to which he replied by not taking my instrument.

“If you will not listen to that particular piece of advice, perhaps you would be willing to hear this?” He drawled boredly.

I rolled my eyes. “Fire away, O’ Wise One.”

“Do not insult Mistress Yuria to her face. She does not care what you say behind her back, just do not call her...“

“Call her…?”

“Hmm?” Stella leaned in. “I would say do not call her ‘old’.”

“Well, that’s kinda obvious.”

Bast padded alongside me, having doubled back past some side halls. “It took you long enough. Were you kissing again?”

“Before you three sidetrack us with some silly aside, I must warn you; Mistress Yuria does not appreciate comments on her appearance. If you compliment her, she likes her style of fashion and her jewelry. Keep other things to yourself. Do not speak unless spoken to. Do not swear, and while I say this now, I mean cull your tongue. You are at her mercy. Remember that.”

I patted his as because I could. “Sure thing, Sugar Butt.”

Stella whacked me before Ras could. “Gatian! Stop harassing people!”

I patted her ass because I could. She just nodded. “Okay then.”

“Are you finished, fool?” Rasputin growled.

“Don’t cuss, don’t be rude. Duh. Got it.” I shrugged. “I’ll just treat her like she was a teacher or my Mom or something. It won’t be a big deal.

We’d yet to stop moving in the hall, but I felt like we were being followed by something, so I looked behind us. Stella was a step behind me and Bast was to my side, but there was a librarian looking woman shuffling along with an airy smile on her face and some pretty cute glasses on her face. She seemed to be around middle-age, definitely older than Stella and I at the moment, but younger than Rasputin by what I could see. I gave her a nod and she just kept grinning and walking along, so I turned around and looked at Ras while he pouted about not being listened to or something. It took awhile to get his attention again, but when I got it there was a massive part of me that regretted getting it. Rasputin was a motherfucker to be afraid of when he wanted to be despite his generally apathetic disposition, and it showed when he snapped at me, nearly bowling me over with the sheer fury behind his look. Then he looked behind me, paled, straightened up, and nodded at the cute slightly older lady who’d been following us. I turned to look at her and saw that she was walking around us to the door we’d stopped in front of.

“Hello, Ras, have you brought Mother more visitors?” The woman asked airily, as if she were barely paying attention.

“Yureki, it’s a pleasure to meet you again.” He inclined his head in a shallow bow.

“As always.” She waved and looked at us, widening her eyes. “Why, those iris’! Those blues! They’re so pretty!” Yureki beamed and flittered over to Stella, her loose dress covering her figure unlike Stellara’s choice in attire. Yureki stood directly in front of Stella while my Partner just smiled at her warmly. “You have such pretty eyes! What is your name, Miss?”

“Hello, Miss Yureki. I am Stellara Inova, Gatian Gauner’s Partner.” Inova inclined her head as well.

Yureki touched Stella’s neck where I remembered her getting hurt once. I didn't remember the specifics until the new woman said, “Oh, you’re… Oh! Mister Gatian must have freed you, no?”

Stella nodded again. “Yes, Miss Yureki. Gatian is… There are few words for such a man, but kind and understanding are two very apt ones.”

The woman rubbed her neck for a few more moments before her hand drifted up to her lips. “Hmm… There’s guilt on the tip of your tongue when you talk about him…” Stellara froze at her words.

I cleared my throat. “All’s forgiven and I’d like to think that Inova follows me of her own free will for the most part.”

“That’s mostly true, but she’s sad…” Yureki sighed, cupping Stellara’s cheek with her hand. She walked away and looked at me before stopping at the door again. “Gatian… Be kind.”

“I try, and I generally do a good job with Stella.”

She smiled. “That’s nice. Mother is going to like you two.” Without another word, Yuria’s mysterious daughter faded into the door, and I do mean that she took a step and literally faded out of existence which was terrifying in and of itself.

“Okay.” I nodded.

“... Gatian.” Stella said softly. “I think I understand this place a little more now.”

“Yup. the dead walk freely.” I murmured.

“... Yes, my apologies.” Rasputin cleared his throat. “I… I may have forgotten about their tendency to show off to newcomers. They often act as though they were living, so it is easy to forget who is gone and who lives on.”

“Yuria had a daughter?” I asked, probably looking fine while I was screaming with no mouth in my braincase.

“Has. Yureki lives, she just… She is… The woman is lost in song at all times, and song can do many things with the right understanding.”

I walked up to the door and went through it, looking over my shoulder. “Whatever, faggot. Move your shit-ass the fuck over here so we can see this old wrinkly little-tittied, fat-ass bitch cunt with her tacky bullshit.”

He looked at me like I pulled the trigger with a gun to my head. “... I will stay here.”

Stella bit her lip. “... That seemed unwise.”

“Well, let’s see if I’m dumb and lucky or if I just have dumb-luck.” I turned and very suddenly saw a huge amount of nothing, by which I mean the space beyond the door was black. I doubted that my companions could see what I could, or rather couldn’t, but either way I didn’t really want to see what was on the other side. “Yo, is this supposed to be black as fuck?”

Rasputin walked away “Do svidaniya, I’ll drink to your memory.”

Stella watched him go and turned back to me with a helluva worried smile. “... Maybe it won’t be bad…?”

“I feel like I’m about to go get my life-sauce boiled inside of me.” I looked into the inky blackness.

“Well…”

“I know it’s my fault and I know I did it on purpose. Shut up and walk with me into the sweet abyss, okay?”

Stellara pursed her lips. “... I did say I would follow you anywhere…”

“Yup.”

“... Can we leave?”

I gave her a look. “We’re already here and Yuria might want to talk to me or something. I dunno. Do you really wanna go?”

“I’d rather like to, yes.” She admitted softly.

I extended a hand and walked toward her. “Then fuck it, let’s go.”

She grabbed my hand, said, “I don’t think that was wise either,” and followed me down the hall until I walked face-first into an invisible wall. I’d bumped it pretty good, stumbling back after impact. Stella followed suit seconds after and I got a chuckle out of that while she rubbed her nose, but either way the message was clear; we weren’t going anywhere unless we had permission, and we evidently didn’t have permission to leave. I knocked on the empty air and found something solid which evidently made Stella curious because she did it too. We stood and fucked with the wall for a while because how often do you see a legitimately invisible wall? Throwing stuff at it, whacking it, and trying to climb it took a few minutes until I heard Stella yelp from behind me, her arm behind her back as she was forced to her knees.

Yureki smiled at me and I waved. “Hey. Mind not doin’ that there?”

“Oh? Where should I do it?” She asked pleasantly.

“Well, best bet’s in a bed, but if you’re adventurous, the sky’s honestly the limit,” I said, channeling all of my inner wisdom and idiocy.

Yureki giggled at that. “You’re silly. I was expecting you two to come in a while ago!”

Stella grunted and Yureki tweaked her arm. “I’m sorry, Honey-Bunny, but you did say that you wanted to leave.”

“Well, how about you stop doing that and we go to the void?” I inquired.

Yureki let Stella go and clapped her hands. “I knew you were smart! I really don't like hurting people because I can’t get away with it anymore, but I figured you wouldn’t do anything that dumb!”

“How dumb was-”

Yureki stopped smiling, her brown eyes turning black and cold like a Demon’s from Supernatural. It was edgy. “Come.”

“On your back or your belly?” I blurted out, Gatian grabbing the one tongue in my whole body and offering it as a sacrifice.

Yureki’s look darkened. “The unfaithful have no place here.”

“It’s a good thing God abandoned my ass, then.” I chuckled. “Seriously, can we get moving or are you going to keep trying to look scary all day?”

The semi-corporeal being stomped her foot. “I’m scary!”

“Only when you’re being extra silly, silly-head.” I beamed at her.

I mean, if she was… Okay, it really didn’t matter, she might have had a cute pout, but the woman herself still scared the shit out of me. “I am not silly! I am almost a hundred years old, darn it!”

I bent down despite the fact that she was only about a head shorter than me and pinched one of her surprisingly full, plump cheeks. “Aren’t you just the cutest!?” The slap was well deserved, but it was also well worth it because it sent her off in the direction I was facing. My cheek stung a little, but the look Stella was giving me made it all the more worthwhile because that woman straight up had no idea what to make of the event that had just unfolded in front of her. So much so that I had to ask, “Didn’t think I had that, did ya?”

“... River People are scary.” She shook her head, walking off toward Yureki in a daze.

I followed the women who were both complected as I’d like to be and bobbed my head along to Fool On The Hill by the Beatles. Not knowing what was ahead of me was a little scary, but knowing that I’d probably pissed my benefactor off was a little more than petrifying. Still. I walked along with the other two and wondered where Bast had went since she tended to fuck off and do her own thing if she wasn’t the center of attention. Trying to pay it no mind didn’t do much for me, so I tried to focus on Stella’s ass instead and that got me pretty far. It was a great thing to look at, especially since it was attached to a lady who was really nice and sweet. It also helped that Stella’s pants had an interesting design on them that reminded me a bit of a mandala.

At any level there would be a point to stop staring, but I evidently don’t know that. I walked into Stella while asstronomizing and she gave me an all too knowing look. “Really?”

“It’s a marvel!” I whispered back.

“But right now?”

“Are you two talking about me?” Yureki asked, standing in front of a pitch black chasm.

“If we were, it’d be about how cute you are when you blush!” I said with the power of ‘patronizing’ wrapped up in a burrito.

“I’m not cute!”

“You’re fuckin’ tots magots adorbs, Yureki-chan.”

She puffed out her cheeks and marched into the darkness, leaving me with Stella. My Partner, for the first time ever, whacked me on the arm with intent to cause pain. It didn’t really hurt, but it still got her point across. “Gatian! It’s bad enough you did exactly what Rasputin told you not to do-”

“Stella-”

“And then you just had to go and antagonize Yuria’s daughter at that, and that’s not even mentioning-”

“Novi, my heart, I-”

“Hush! You just up and did the thing with the person and we were already in hot water for that other thing and now you want to press your already terrible luck even further! Why do you make these choices!?”

I bit my lip. “... I kinda just blurted it out… I didn’t think about what I was saying, I didn’t even really mean to.”

“... Oh. That is still bad. Do not do that.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She gave me a flat look. “Please don’t throw my life away, Gatian. It’s yours to use as you please, but I would like to see our happily ever after as well.”

“... It’s really hurtful-”

“Gatian, we know nothing of Yuria, we killed one of her colleagues, and then you insulted her and menaced her daughter.”

I didn’t have much to say to that. “... Guess I lost my manners.”

“... That’s not what I meant, Alvage… You just… Please, think before you act.”

I’d already known she was going to say that, but it didn’t make it suck any less. “I’ll try but for now we have doom to face.”

“I almost want to try leaving again.” She sighed.

I looked into the inky blackness. “You know they can probably hear us, right?”

“I’m not going to say anything and hope they let the cute one live.”

I watched as Stellara started walking. “Right. Wait, wait, who’s the cute one?”

Stella stopped in front of the door and waited for me to join her, but she didn’t tell me who the cute one was. Instead, she shoved me through the wall of nothing and into the actual room on the other side, which was not a very large room. For not being a large room it didn’t seem very cramped or anything with plenty of space for ten people to mingle and whatnot, but I didn’t really want to chat up the platinum blonde woman or the half-amused, half-frustrated Yureki. The blonde woman seemed to be a little younger than Yureki and her hair was considerably lighter, but I realized after a moment of looking at them that they had some oriental features. Namely rounded jawlines with plump cheeks and high cheekbones, despite Yureki being thinner than average and the other woman only being a little heftier. It was odd to see them both with such natural hair colors while looking so different, but then again I was probably being racist and now I feel bad… Good going, Gatian.

In any case, it really seemed like a good time to bring out the charm and dagger, so I lead with a bright smile and a wave once I got my footing. “Why hellooo! What a wonderful… Evening, I think. I’m picking and sticking with evening, so we’re gonna say it’s a wonderful evening to make your acquaintance, Yureki and Miss…?”

Yureki pouted at me. “I’m not cute.”

“Lie to children, they’ll believe you.” Stella sighed as I spoke, so I gave her a look. “What? You can tell kids anything.”

“Gatian.” The blonde woman said softly. “I believe you may have something to-”

“Say? Right, yeah, where’s Yuria?” I asked, looking her dead in the eye as I did so. “I thought she’d be in here.”

Yureki tilted her head. “... If you’re this silly and you think I’m cute, I can’t be that cute.”

Blondie looked at her. “Are you still trying to be scary?”

“... No…”

“Daughter-”

“Oh shit! You’re Yuria!? Suuup G?” I clapped and pointed at her. “What’s good, what’s good?”

Yuria stared at me. “... What in all manner of song has possessed you, child?”

“Whimsy!” I smiled.

Stella took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I apologize, Mistress Yuria. Gatian is a very mouthy milo. He was much quieter and more polite at his natural age.”

The eldest in the room smiled at my Partner. “Don’t worry, Inova, I understand that banalities and idiocy drips from the mouth of every young soul at some point.”

“Ow, my feelings.” I muttered. The looks I got for saying it made me wish I’d stayed quiet.

Stella put her hand on my shoulder. “You didn’t try, Gatian.”

I stared at her like she’d asked me what color my potatoes were. “Wha- Damn, that was fast… Did I ever tell you I was really scatterbrained in my younger years?”

“I think I know.” She gave me a wry smile.

“You’re gonna hurt my feelings eventually.”

“I’ll kiss them better.”

“No kissing allowed.” Yuria waved her hand as if to clear a foul odor. “In fact, Stellara, I believe you may find yourself more comfortable away from Gatian for the time being. Once he begins crafting his song, I believe he will become simply insufferable.”

“I apologize, but I have to stay with him. If I’ll walk through a sheet of nothingness, then I would follow him to the ends of Septural.” My faithful Partner put her hand on my back and I felt special.

Songweaver-Woman shrugged. “A grave is not a pool, though we swim all the same. Gatian, have you any idea what you’d like your first song to be?”

“A lullaby. I’m kinda getting tired.”

“If you hadn’t waited so long to see me-” She started a little irritably.

“Nah, it’s your calming presence and soothing aura. Really puts a guy at ease.” I nodded sagaciously.

Yuria gave me a look. “Rest, then we shall reconvene.”

“Cool, point me to the place.”

Yuria swept her arm in a grand gesture. “The furniture here tend to be more comfortable than the beds.”

I looked at Stella and she looked at me. “Can we cuddle?”

“Cuddling is adorable, so it is allowed.”

“Sweet.” I tapped Stellara’s arm. “Wanna nab a couch and a nap?”

She raised a brow. “Find your own couch, I would like to lay down on something softer than a bony cat.”

“I won’t take offense to that if you give me a k-”

“Ah-ah! What did I say?” The old blonde bitch tsked.

“... Kookie? Find me a cookie and I won’t take offense.”

Stella chuckled at that. “I would make you one myself if I knew what it was.”

I raised a hand and a finger along with it- Wait, I lifted all five fingers. Four? Is the thumb an appendage? I’m confused. What counts as a digit, Booksy? Does it need to have three knuckles or what…? Oh yeah, I can’t really expect and answer because you’re a book and Yuria’s like, right over there… Anyway, I lifted a finger along with the rest of my hand and put it down, preferring to write instead of talk. I guess I could keep writing for a while, but my hand’s starting to get tired and I really do need a nap. Man, I can practically feel my good vibes fading away, though. It’s like the longer I stay up, the faster my energy drains. There’s no positive way to spin that, but at least sleep won’t elude me for too long.

We’ll pick up after I wake up. Until then, my fair-paged pal.