Galen Vesa

True to her words, Beatrice made sure a copper tube found itself in my room while she supervised the maid that filled it with hot water. Well, to be precise, she filled it with cold water and heated it up with mana while stealing occasional glances at me. I thanked them both and climbed into the tub or a bucket, given its compact size. Well, my body is flexible enough so i managed with my knees rubbing my chin.

Cora decided it was an endeavor not worth her time and simply unsummoned her body. At least the one lazing in my bed. What a cheater. Regardless, I did my best to wash up or wash off the remnants of the night. Fun fact, I have fur. Rooth made me aware of that. I’ve been twiddling with my mana under his supervision and it resulted in a spontaneous growth spur after I accidently messed up magic flow through a part of the spell holding me together. Meaning, I got quite fluffy until the charms recovered balance and did away with excess fur.

My hairs are not hairs but honest to god fur. It explains why they always stop regrowing at a certain length after I cut them, and it also explains the smell. The mysterious aroma of a ferru comes from the oils secreted by their skin. And I have quite a few patches of that skin incorporated into my mostly elven, outer layer. The most noticeable patch is wrapped around my scalp. Not much of a surprise there. The strength and thickness of my mane seem superior to normal hair. Exactly the effect the witch aimed for when she played Frankenstein puzzles on me. As for other places, well, my pillows are one such place. I’m guessing that skin came with pillows and it stayed. Aside from that there are some patches spaced out all over my body in crucial places. Like the nape of my neck. Or my armpits. Or on my backside. Or other interesting places…

And they got me thongs. Again. Do I need to get a tattoo saying, ‘my ass is compatible with all kinds of underwear and not only thongs.’? That would not change much wouldn’t it? I have nothing against fancy lingerie. It makes me look drool inducing but I could do without the constant need to fight with garter belts and corset lacing. And a crowd of people ogling me. It makes getting around bothersome.

Perhaps it is time for some banana adventure?

Not a bad idea now that I think of it. Get rid of the elves. Make peace with the wolf and lay low somewhere. Let’s leave it for later. First, I need to find a way to wake up that lizard. And probably redo the lacing on this corset. Yup. My lungs just gave up and my body switched to mana.

“Allow me, master.”

Cora’s body appeared beside me and soon her fingers unlaced my midsection.

“Back so soon? I thought you were taking care of our guests.”

I spoke when my chest filled with air again.

“Which I do but in the absent of your lizard, somebody has to take care of you, useless master.”

Her hands dressed me up in half the time it took me to just put the corset around myself. Smoothing out the remaining kinks in the leather guild suit Beatrice brought me, Cora moved onto my hair and brushed it out. And that was that. Within a heartbeat I was ready. Now only for the boots… With a snap of my thumb I got rid of the monstrous heels and pulled on the now flat sole boots. I really need to have a talk with whoever got me those. Like, stop buying them. They are hot and all but I’m burning mana just to stand still. And running in those things? I have a whole lot of newfound respect for people that took part in annual high heel race back home. I’m complaining again, am I? Broken dolt is getting evn more broken.

Second morning bell rung in a distance and almost at the same time a maid I haven’t seen yet, knocked on the door. Further behind her I could see several guards gathered. Their captain bowed and asked for permission to take the chests out of my room and into the guild vault. I gave him a polite nod and followed the maid. I’m sure some of his people weren’t exactly interested in carrying heavy stuff through narrow staircases or so ‘my behind is being stared at’ sense told me.

Altina awaited our presence in the left wing of the guild hall in one of the dining rooms Cora had the pleasure of blowing up several months ago. Now, rebuilt and redecorated, the place welcomed me with neat emerald wallpapers and dark mahogany table set for eight people.

And a wolf gorging herself on meat muffins.

A wolf stuffing herself with food as if there was no tomorrow. Pancakes swimming in maplelike syrup or honey. Muffins stuffed with sausages and other chunks of meat. Scrambled eggs. Sweet buns with chocolate chips. Pickles?

I'm sure there was a logical reason for that, one the elves sitting across the table had not found yet. In their defense I can say, Carlila put some salad onto her plate and busied herself munching on cocktail tomatoes.

“Good morning.”

Altina acknowledge my presence with an ear flap and pat the table Indicting I should sit beside her.

“Perhaps it is.”

Another fat serving vanished in her mouth. I took the opportunity to great the elves, whispering their morning greetings as I used to do before. Perhaps not something I should have done but after so much time I spent in their forest it became an unvoluntary response to their faces.

And it made Carlila drop her tomato in shock.

“As well as the woods.”

Lafirra recovered fast enough to answer yet her eyes became glued to me ever since. Avoiding their stare, I took my seat and helped myself to some smoked fish, a toast and a serving of whatever salad that was.

“You wished to see me guild master?”

Altina finished cleaning scrambled eggs off her plate and slurped on a mug of coffee.

“Yes, yes. You and your friends. I have few words for all of you. And since I have enjoyed this meal as if it were my last, let us be done with this circus before I change my mind. Summon them if you please. Let the elves see, it concerns them as well.”

Now that did not bode well for my future. Whenever those perverts were involved things were becoming, complicated. And yet the wolf looked confident.

“Well, you heard the boss, come out I know you’re here.”

Even though they shouldn’t. Even though they promised. Even though I couldn’t sense them. I knew they were here. And like I thought they would, the three musketeers of perverseness solidified out of thin air.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Hey! That’s unfair! There is no way you mortals can sense us!”

Fire thumped her foot throwing a tantrum from behind the wolfs back. It made the elves jump out of their chairs and cower in the corner. Lafirra shielding the younger elf with her body and… aiming her fork at us. Well, a fork in a skilled hands ca be quite deadly.

“Sah, Karin be so kind and translate for me, I did not wish to startle your guests…”

“That shall not be necessary.”

Uninvited, Wind entered the room in a gentle breeze. Out of her open palm a crystal rose and hanged in the air above the table.

“Speak freely, guild master. It is an echo crystal. All within its range shall hear and understand each other. And you children of the forest, where are your manners? I understand mortals consider it impolite to threaten your host. Bea at ease, there is no harm that could come to you under our care.”

Spoken like no wind I know. Perhaps she did change. At least her image did. It definitely looked more, natural. More, humane.

“I Lafirra of Whispering Woods accept your hospitality and… apologize for our blunder.”

“Huh?”

Altina’s ears twitched. She rose from her seat and made a customary bow.

“And I Altina Hishgrew, guild master of the emerald hall, assure you no offence was taken. Please sit and enjoy your meal.”

Her eyes traveled to the floating crystal as the elves slowly returned to their seats.

“What a convenient trinket. I could find use for a few more.”

“Then perhaps a few more can be found. May I?”

The Wind stopped beside an empty chair next to me.

“Oy, new one, buzz off. That is my seat! I am the senior one here I demand that place!”

Fire raged next to the wolf, somehow…

“Please sit, I do not mind.”

“Hey!”

“Enough with this childishness. Sit.”

Earth’s voice brough order as she too took a seat on the other side of the wolf. At the same time, Water sat herself beside the frightened elves leaving fire with a chair between her and the wind where Fire sat and fumed, glaring at me.

In the resulting silence, Earth helped herself to a pancake which she sunk in a sea of honey.

“My compliments to the chef, these are splendid.”

A spirit queen eating a pancake with a knife and fork like a noble lady and seemingly enjoying it. Now I’ve seen everything. Well, if you add to that Fire that’s been burning out hatful comments in her plate with her eyes.

“If you have nothing better to do, go pester the serpent. She’s has ignored my summons. You can sizzle her up a bit if she’ll refuse to come… You know what? Just go and clean up their wine supply. I’ve heard she enjoys very rare brands. If you meet with her you can sizzle her up a bit anyway. Just nothing life threatening.”

She vanished without a word, perhaps drooling a little.

“Karin my dear, did you just send a spirit after her holiness?”

“Yes.”

Altina’s ears twitched but after a moment of consideration she just shrug her arms.

“Then perhaps I should give you that rise.”

She took another sip from her mug. Now, that I took a closer look at her, I could sense some magic interfering with her body. A magic coming off from Water.

Do not fear my love, it is nothing but a serene charm that would allow her mind to calmly consider our proposal. She had asked for it.

Water put on some cheesecake onto her plate and offered to do the same for the elves. I think they were too scared to refuse. I can kind of understand that since supposedly just speaking a name of onequeen can kill a normal person several times over. Summoning them just like that into real world is… yup, I’m a monster. Ah, who cares at this point. I made Fire do away with an entire island. So monster dolt it is. Nothing I can do about that, so I just took the cake Water offered me. Wind too asked for a piece although instead of eating it, she brought it to her nose and enjoyed the aroma.

“Regarding the proposal I received. After careful consideration I decided to accept it. I have cancelled my lease with Emerald guild, effective immediately. I have begun the process of terminating of my current ventures as a part of the Emmerald guild and we are no longer accepting any new customers. At the same time I have put in a motion to register an independent guild by the name of Elemental Woods as chosen by the funding members, the spirit Queen of Earth, the spirit Queen of Water, the spirit Queen of Fire and the spirit Queen of Wind.”

The elves been staring at me for a while but at the mention of the spirit queens their eyes seemed to pop out.

“By unanimous vote of the funding members I’ve been given executive control over the guild alongside thirty percent shares in the guild ownership. Nine percent of the shares and a seat on the members board are given to Karin as a compensation for the service rendered so far for which she has yet to receive payment. Eleven percent of shares are offered to the Diva of the forest under conditions disclosed in a separate letter which, shall be given to lady Lafirra of the whispering woods of whom I hereby request the delivery. As a compensation for this service, the Spirit Queen of Water has offered to truthfully answer one question for you.”

Water gave a slight bow with her head and smiled at this mention while a leather bound and sealed scroll materialized before the elves.

“Fifty percent of guild shares shall be distributed in equal parts between the remaining members. Other matters pertaining to the newly established guild shall be discussed at a first board meeting at a later time. Until then I shall continue to fulfill the guidelines imposed by the board members. All current workers deemed unwelcomed by a popular vote of the board shall be paid off and let go. All remaining ones shall be offered a position based on new evaluation and will be free to choose to remain or leave. Following this transformation we shall commence the expansion strategy towards having five fully staffed halls within the empire, including one within Whispering Woods.”

“We do hope your Diva would accept our invitation.”

Earth calmly put down her utensils and cleaned her lips with a napkin. She ate three large pancakes and probably a gallon's worth of sauce with it.

“It would benefit both, the guild and the forest.”

“What guarantee do we have you shall not bring calamity upon us and our families? What is it to us to be mixed into your affairs?”

Lafirra spoke after prolonged silence.

“You have our word.”

“What good is your word if your master might have ordered you to mislead us?”

And all the eyes fell on me and my poor toast I was nibbling.

“Whatever this is I have nothing to do with it and frankly I would prefer gold instead of shares and a seat on a board I have no interest in.”

That did not work and why should it? Any sane person would be wary of such endeavor. Just why is it always me that gets mixed up into such mess. Eh.

“I order you by your name you have given me, speak, is this some sort of a trick? Can you guarantee that this deal will not bring any harm on them and their people?”

“Love we hear and we obey.”

Water turned her gaze towards the elves.

“There is no trickery in this gesture of good will. Your people can benefit from this offer as well as we shall benefit from your cooperation. The details are contained in that which our Guild master prepared for your ruler. If she finds it satisfactory, we shall be bound by law. As for the humans you fear so much… it is time to face the grief you have planted in their hearts. Adapt and thrive or do nothing and perish.”

They may not have shown it as much as a human would, but I spend enough of time with these two to know Water’s words hit awfully close to a festering wound. There was pain in the aging woods. Pain and loneliness.

“We shall convey your words.”

Carlila reached for the scroll sitting before her and after a pause, closed her fingers around it.

“And I shall fulfil my promise, speak child what does your heart desire?”

Water pour herself some coffee from a porcelain pot, added some milk, a teaspoon of spices and stirred. A bit of mana also moved inside her cup.

“My sister, what have become of her? Where can I find her?”

“Child, you already know the answer in your heart. That which you seek is no longer traveling the paths of the mortal world. She has moved beyond the ever-green shores.”

Tears. Tears I have grown accustomed to, dripped down her face. She had traveled so far only to learn what she already knew.

And I felt Guilt staring at me from the corner of the room.

“Do not grieve her. I am sure she would not want you to waste away in pain. Her journey ended, yours has just begun.”

My tongue ran its course, but I didn’t mind. Instead, I looked at Water and Wind.

That diary I read. What ever happened to it? Does either of you have it?

Without a word, Wind handed me the familiar book as I raised from my seat.

“I have not had the chance to meet her, but this book has shown me the person that, perhaps unknowingly, saved my wretched life. I believe you should have it and see what I saw.”