Galen Vesa
“Wait, what?”
I heard words being spoken but their meaning clashed so badly I could not understand a thing she said.
“Daughter?”
“Yes. Daughter.”
It became so quiet inside my head that the sound of my own hearts beating in my chest felt like a roar of two monsters.
“Why? Is there no other way?”
“Of course there is, my useless master. I just wanted to see how you would react. I expected more of, I do not know, emotion? Getting angry at me? Shattering my core while enraged?”
Tears were welling up in her eyes. Her lip trembled.
“Cora?”
She collapsed into my arms and wailed, shaking violently, her tears drenching my hoodie.
“I cannot take it anymore! This cursed body! Why?! Why now?! Are gods so fond of toying with me?! With this body I could give him everything we desired but now?!”
Her scream shattered the everlasting silence of my inner world while her mana forest withered and lost its leaves. I held her while she wept, her fingers digging into my back. I waited until she calmed a bit.
“Do you want to tell me what upset you so much? Is it something I did?”
“No. One of the maids... I saw her family. Her husband came to pick her up with their daughter. I... I have never felt something like that in my entire life. Were I not bound by your orders I would slay them where they stood. Such jealousy raged within me. In them I saw what I could never have. Even your dragon has a daughter to remember her love by. I have nothing but bones. “
I stared at her, searching for something I could tell her when my left arm moved and caressed her head. At the same time my lips formed words and sounds I could neither understand nor control. Pellicora stiffened within my grasp and turned her gaze at me. With trembling voice, she responded in similar fashion to whatever came out of my mouth. I could not grasp the meaning of any of her words, but my head boobed back and forth in acknowledgement, followed by a rapid tongue twister my lips voiced. This time the dryad bowed her head in agreement and whatever power held me, returned control to me.
“What the heck was that?”
My fancy bracelet still glowed on my wrist when I asked. I could feel its power burning my skin as white, glowing veins climbed up my arm and towards my heart. Whatever happened, cost me more than this body could manage as my legs buckled and my lights went out.
I think I screamed as I fell into the darkness. Who knows? That as well could’ve been darkness screaming at me. Suffice to say my memory ends there. When I woke up, familiar scent of mist filled my nostrils.
Well, what can I say, it’s been a while since I dropped by this place. As short as the visit seemed, it left a bad taste in my mouth. And my leg felt numb from all that pulling. The jailer stopped and looked left and right, searching for a way within the mist. Whatever guided him, he chose a direction and marched on.
My body followed, sliding over the crystal ground. Nothing to do about it since he had his hand closed around my ankle and wouldn’t let go until he deems his task complete.
And the mist swirled around us, eyes watching, seething. Although many wished to sink their claws in me, none dared to come any closer.
“Would you stop ignoring me? I’m trying to tell you something important here.”
None except the odd one. She’s been hitching a ride, sitting cross legged atop my chest.
“Get lost. I am done with you.”
“Oh, is that Rage speaking? So cute! Rage? Rage, honey! Woo-hoo? Anyway, what I was trying to tell you...”
“Go away, I am not listening to you. I am not speaking with you.”
“Hmm, this must be that annoying kid, Courage’s doing. Before you wouldn’t even dare to look at me in a wrong way. Yeah, that’s it.”
“Hey mister icicle, we have an interloper here, can’t you do something about her?”
I tried calling my escort though the Jailer ignored me.
“Oh, don’t worry mista whabbit. He can’t hear us. It’s not as if I’m here.”
Great. A hallucination within hallucination. My shrink would pay for such research material. All the new meds they could test on me.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you this one time, but you’ll own me a favor.”
“Oy, come on mista Whabbit, that ain’t fair.”
“Deal or no deal.”
“Well, I suppose, as a favor, I can let you off the hook this one time if you listen carefully to what I am about to say. When the time comes, you must say yes instead of no. Even if you will want to say no, you must say yes. Even if they beg you otherwise, say yes.”
“And what does that even mean?”
“You’ll know when you need to know. Wow, look at those teeth, you sure have quite a menagerie out here. Either way, remember, yes instead of no. That’s particularly important…”
We stopped so abruptly the odd one lost her balance and her forehead smashed my nose.
“Ah, we’ve been found out. Well, remember mista whabbit, yes instead of no and you’ll be good.”
And poof, she was gone before Logic could sink her heel into the odd one’s head. Instead, her foot rammed itself into my stomach.
“It escaped.”
Logic stated, her heel still pressed into my guts.
“Yeah, gone and I’d appreciate it if your foot would be gone too.”
My comment earned me no more but a frown on her face.
“Take him to the dryad, she is ready.”
Huh? Ready for what? Wait a moment what is going on out here?
Regrettably, I had no time to make my inquires as the dragging resumed and my body slid away while Logic went deeper into the mist. I have no way of telling how long it took us to reach the border of the mist but the moment we did, the Jailer tossed me away, sending me between the trees of Cora’s forest. The bare branches were sprouting new leaves so perhaps she was feeling better now. Only one way to find out. I got up and aimed for the center, walking at a leisurable pace.
I don’t know how long it took me, nor do I think that it would matter. Time in this place is a wonky affair. Enough to say it was a considerable while. When I came back, I found Cora Standing near the tree of line. Glowing. Quite a few of her were standing there, all holding their hands, all glowing.
About fifty or more of her copies stood in a circle around the tree, their hands linked together, their eyes closed, their mana dancing.
“What is going on in here?”
“Nothing...”
“...you should...
“...bother...”
“...yourself with...”
“...my useless master.”
The shining crowd answered one by one. Creepy. I think I preferred when there was only one of her.
At once, in perfect unison, all her bodies gave out a sigh.
“I am almost done. Go bother that dragon, my useless master.”
So I did. I found a spot beside Erta’s snoring body and sat there resting my back against her tail. Before me, a spectacle of twinkling lights played out with the tree at its center. Whatever Pellicora did, or was doing, it affected the monstrous tree in a way I could not understand but at the same time, I could feel something change within me. Also, the longer I sat there, the more glowy my own body became.
“It is done.”
She announced when I was about as bright as her. At the same time, one of her bodies came to stand before me.
“What is done? Care to enlighten me? Why am I glowing?”
“Preparations are done, my useless master. We are about to produce a sprout.”
Why do I even ask? Did I hope for an answer that would make sense? Wait, a sprout? Don’t tell me she’s going to put another puncture in my core.
“Do not worry, my useless master. It is just a sprout. Normal, tiny sprout made for the outside world. Nothing more. It may not be the Wandering Oak your spirit asked for, but it can fulfill its role. The difficulty lies with transferring it out into the world.”
Okay, that’s, that sounds a bit safer. Still, there was the issue of my bracelet meddling in this whole affair.
“Cora, what about...”
She put her glowing finger on my lips.
“Shh... That was nothing but a distraction. Your presence here would disturb my powers.”
She kneeled beside me and put her arms around me. I could feel her tears dripping on my neck but there was something different about it this time.
“If you’ll trust me on that, I’ll promise to behave, my poor useless master.”
For the first time since I met her, her voice sounded sincere. Almost as if she... nope, erase that thought. That’s even scarier than her constant hate.
“Is that so? Well, I’ll trust you if you say so.”
“Thank you.”
She released me and sitting down on her heels, she dried her eyes with her palms.
“Regarding the spirit’s request, there are two conditions that must be met before we continue. One, everyone must vacate the guild hall and the guild grounds. I’ve already reported that to the guild master so people should be gone by the evening. As for the other requirement, you need someone that can protect you in my stead. Someone you can trust. Someone whose mana would not disturb us.”
“Huh?”
“Seeding this sprout will consume all of our energy. Even with reserves I’ve made, you will suffer a collapse. What’s more, until the sprout matures enough to sustain itself, it will drain your power. It will last a while. How long? I cannot tell. At the same time I may not be able to conjure a single body. It is best if you find someone you can trust. Someone whose mana will not disturb us. Someone that preferably hates you.”
This would be a good moment for my eyebrow to twitch although it did no such thing. I poked it with my finger though it still did no such thing.
“Someone I can trust that hates me. You know that’s a bit of a contradiction?”
“Such person would have the highest chance to resist my spores and your enchants going wild. As ashamed as I am, I must inform you, my useless master, a blooming dryad affects an entire forest.”
Her face became flushed once more and her eyes run away from my gaze. Don’t tell me it’s that kind of effect? Her face took even deeper shade when she saw I grasped the meaning of her words.
“I have put barriers around the guild, but these are bound to fail when you run out of power. It is crucial that someone trustworthy picks up your body and takes us somewhere safe where we could wait out this period. Best if that place has solid iron door. With solid hinges.”
“Can’t we just ask Earth about it?”
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“No. I know of no spirit that could...”
One of her memories flashed through my mind. Glowing with deep scarlet hue, Cora hid her face in her palms. Well, let’s say dryads can also affect spirits.
“You... You have no right to see that! It is personal!”
“Say’s one who wanted to sell her body? Spare me, I don’t care.”
And I can’t seem to see what’s all the fuss was about? He just held her core in his palm and they shined and flickered like stars in the sky.
“Anyway, spirits are out of question. People with strong magic power are out of question. We need someone dependable that can keep their hands to themselves. Oh, right, it must be someone that can lift and carry my body.”
Can’t say I can name anyone. Altina might be able to somehow subdue her urgers but aside from her I can’t see anyone that would fit the bill. Beatrice? No. She got a glancing blow once by accident and it ended in messy misunderstanding.
“Any suggestions?”
“I am not speaking with you, you useless perverted creep!”
Okay, it seems that’s as far as her promises go.
Is there really no one? Most of the maids could in theory manage my weight but, the side effects spread by my rouge charms were the real issue here. Even Chuko could hardly last more than five seconds of that on full blast.
Ah, but there was one. A certain catgirl sulking around ever since I forfeited our match. She was honorable and I sure wasn’t her type so, this could work.
“I think I have found someone. We just need to check if she’s willing and can... survive the task.”
Leaving my enraged twiggy inside, I let my consciousness bubble up to the surface. Not much have change since I came here, which was exactly while I liked this place. Nobody would barge in with ridiculous requests. Peace and quiet. Well, except for the cacophony going on in my head. Where’s the scary dragon when you need one? At least with her around they kept it in moderation. Either way, no meds here for me.
Unrolling myself from behind my wooden crates, I went looking for the cat. I thought about ditching the armor before finding Inra but, not having to deal with bounding assets outweighed any misunderstanding. The plate stayed on.
I found her practicing with her sword by the barracks, swinging a nine-foot-long slab of steel as if it weighted no more than a father. One could say she danced with that thing, twirling pirouettes, jumping, twisting, turning and tossing barrages of mad slashes. All of that while wearing high heels and a maid uniform. I have no idea what went through her head but proper attire it was not.
She paused her training when I entered the practice grounds, new hope burning up in her eyes when she saw me in armor. She charged at me even before I could open my mouth. Well, for sure I won’t let her ruin those nice clothes I just got. Instead, I just grabbed her blade in my outstretched hand and held it in place.
“I have not come here to fight you.”
She paused, still trying to free her sword from my grasp.
“Then why have you come? Have you not humiliated me enough?”
Oh, that. People thought I ridiculed her by refusing to fight her. Nobody dared to laugh in her face but still, people talked behind her back.
“That was never my intention. Would you accept my sincere apologies?”
Contrary to her meathead image, she thought on it.
“Maybe. Spar with me then I may accept your words.”
She yanked the sword hard enough for its tip to brake off. Although shorter, she freed her weapon from my grasp. Kind of. At least she kept the bigger piece. Well, time for a different tactic.
“Alright. I’ll fight you under one condition. Give me your word. If I win you will fulfill my request.”
“So I swear on my life and my sword!”
That went faster than I thought it would be. She charged at me even faster than she gave me her word. Nice. Now, how the heck do I win this fight without accidentally killing her? I had all the time in the world to consider while she hanged frozen in air, propelled by the force of her initial attack.
If I try to stop her with my foot, that might cleave her in half. If I try to punch her, my arm may go straight through. If I try magic, I may bow up the both of us. If I let Rage do his thing... No definitely not that.
I called upon the name of Earth.
Yes my child?
Help me, I need a way to defeat her without turning her into a wet splat.
I will try my best but be gentle. Very gentle.
I felt her invisible hands close around my arm.
Best avoid vital organs, my child.
To be on the safe side, I also called Water.
Make sure she won’t die.
Of course, my love.
With those two by my side, I clamped down on the mana flow to my eyes and time once again returned to is more natural flow. Inra sailed toward me with a snarl on her face. I stepped into her cut and as gently as I could, I fist bumped her stomach. Not the best thing I could do. A thunderclap exploded in the air, quickly followed by a sound of shattering glass while the power of my punch thrown Inra away. Hitting the sand like a potato sack, she tumbled to a stop in a mess of broken limbs. Using what left of her strength, she tried to lift herself up, only to puke up blood and lose consciousness in Water’s arms.
With a flick of her fingers, the spirit queen put her back in one piece. How convenient and how needlessly expensive. I winced when Water sucked out half of my mana in one gulp.
“Will she be fine?”
Why don’t you ask her yourself? Rest my love, tonight you will need all your power.
She stole a kiss from my lips and vanished while Inra awoke with a gasp. Both, front and back of her maid dress had large, gaping holes burned in it. If I ever saw fear in someone’s eyes, the catgirl had nothing but terror in hers.
“I think that counts as my victory. Do you accept or shall we have a rematch?”
“I... I submit.”
“Good.”
I gave her one of my better smiles.
“Now then, will you listen to my request?”
“My life and my sword are yours.”
“Well, I hope we won’t go that far. I need someone trustworthy to carry me to a safe place after tonight’s ritual. But first, let me see if you are up to the task. Pick me up and carry me to that tree.”
I pointed at a cherry growing on the other side of the training field then pretending to be a ragdoll I fell flat on my face and let loose of my charms. Inra, to the best of her ability, tried to intercept my body before I hugged the ground. That would almost work but when the charms hit her, her hands just let go and my nose sunk into the dirt. I had to spit out some of it before I could look her in the eyes.
“Are you giving up?”
“That surprised me. Again. Let me try again!”
At that I just shrugged my arms and went back to playing a sack of potatoes. To my surprise, she managed to lift me up and carry me in an awkward princess carry. Her heart Raging in her chest and her breath rasping told me not all was fine. We made it about two thirds of the way before her knees buckled and she collapsed screaming. Thankfully by this time the guild grounds were already deserted.
“That’s that then. I’m sorry I wasted your time.”
I left her under the cherry tree and was about to leave when she grabbed my ankle.
“Again... I can do this. Again.”
“You don’t look like you could do this again.”
She huffed and puffed like a victim of a heart attack. I’m not sure if it was wise to continue this but she got up on her own.
“Again but this time lay on your back.”
Hum? Odd request but I followed it and laid down on my back. To my surprise she did not try to lift me but backed away few more steps. Oh well, maybe she needs some time to calm herself. I opted to just play a sack of potatoes and wait. And then it happened.
I heard her feet kicking off sand when a heartbeat later she rolled over me and by some miracle I was suddenly dangling from her shoulder as she run toward the cherry tree. The transition from me lying prone to her holding me in fireman carry happened so quick I had no idea how she did that.
Tapping the tree’s bark with her free hand she dumped me on the ground and succumbed to the wave of pleasure ravaging her body. I moved away from her and tried to suppress my charms as much as it was possible.
“Well, I don’t think we can find anyone more suitable to survive your influence, my perverted master.”
“E, yeah. Seems so. Can you take care of her? I think I shouldn’t be anywhere near her for a while. Not to mention touching her.”
“What a remarkable observation on your part, my useless, perverted master.”
She poked the twitching catgirl. Inra still gasped for air so... well, perhaps I should go now. Yeah.
“Since you are going, useless, perverted master, you might as well go and talk with your previous victim. She was looking for you.”
Hmm? I turned to see who she was referring to. Oh.
Vittoria stood by the entrance to the guild hall.
Pale as a ghost or perhaps a ghost as some less tactful people in the guild often joked, Vittoria perched against the old frame of the guild’s back entrance. Her bony fingers gave her long and beautiful nails the gloomy look of a wraith’s claws as she gripped the doorsill for her dear life.
“Vittoria?”
The dark wood and black iron of the gate doors made the contrast with her ghastly, sickish skin even deeper while heavy dark circles under her eyes brough back my memories of the dead from Everooth.
“Why...”
She moaned. Having worn a simple nightgown and wrapping herself in a white cotton shawl added even more to her grisly appearance.
“You should be resting and not up and walking about.”
Tears streaked down from her swollen eyes.
“Why are doing this to me? Why do you pretend to care?”
Her legs, akin to her voice, lost their strength and her feeble hands failed to hold on to the wooden frame she’s been clutching. Closing the distance between us in one single step, I caught her, making sure not to touch her bare skin. She tried to protest but her meager strength did not allow her to do so.
“I do not pretend. I am concerned about your wellbeing as much as everyone in the guild.”
Her body weighted next to nothing in my arms. Was it because of the fire burning in my veins or did she lose more than some mana? I could feel her bones stabbing me through her thin gown. Her ribs protruding far more than even a skinny person would have. Not the way I remembered her body to be.
“Put me down.”
She voiced her protest, trying to wiggle out of my arms. Her voice felt so weak. Almost inaudible. Now that I think of it, her limbs we unusually cold yet her skin glistened with droplets of sweat.
“No. Not until you tell me what is wrong with your body.”
“I did no come here to see you. I...”
Her eyes traveled to the cat sprawled and moaning under the cherry tree.
“But that too is a pointless endeavor. What else do you wish to take from me? Not much I have left. Not even that... Monster...”
Her body hung lifelessly in my arms. Only her heaving chest distinguished her from a corpse. Did she faint again? I forced mana into my water ring, yet it did not react. What on earth was going on? Once again, I whispered the Water’s name.
“How rambunctious of you, my love. Calling me over again when I just left a moment ago.”
“Spare me. What is wrong with her? I can feel her fading as we speak yet your gift does not work on her. Is this some sort of a sickness? Can it not be treated?”
Water placed her palm on Vittoria’s sunken cheek. Cold sweat drenched the girl’s entire body. I could sense Water’s immense magic sweeping through Vi’s fragile frame, but no change took place. When the spirit queen removed her hand, I still held the specter of a person Vittoria once been.
“Forgive me my love. I cannot help her.”
I could feel sadness oozing from the spirit’s name etched in my heart.
“In a sense, there is nothing wrong with this hume child. Just like every other mortal, she was born this way. Born with a body that as it age, loses its ability to gather and assimilate mana. Only the rate at which this process progress is unnatural. Too fast even for a mortal. There is nothing I can do for her at this stage. Her time has but run out. I can lessen her pain until the very end but that is all I can do.”
“How long?”
“A day. Perhaps a few at most. It is difficult to say with mortals such as her. Her core has died a long while ago. Were it not for that tiny wind spirit hiding in her chest I doubt she would last this long.”
And she had not spoken of this with anyone. Played as if that was the natural way her body worked. Each time her rest stretching longer and the amount of work she could do getting less and less with each passing cycle. Did no one care? Or perhaps she pushed everyone away, knowing this day would come? Not wanting to suffer the pain of a broken bond.
“Where is the wolf?”
“In the inn across the plaza. She is discussing accommodation for her people in preparation for tonight’s seeding.”
I forgot all about that. Whatever, it can wait.
“Please go and inform her of everything. We’ll meet her at the Inn.”
Water Inclined her head in agreement and vanished in a rain of droplets while I marched into the main building and through its lush, empty corridors, towards the front gate. Not even guards remained. Seems like Vi and the cat were last to leave the grounds.
One of Cora’s bodies opened the doors for me, and I descended onto the plaza and into the stares of the gathered people. The emerald square as people called it, slowly began to empty as the day drew to the end but even now plenty people gathered around the fountain, drinking, singing or just chatting away the time. A growing number of those began pointing at me, an elf holding a corpse in her arms. ‘Murderer! Quick, call the guards!’ Some of them screamed. Ignoring all that, I cut through the gaping crowd of onlookers and marched to the inn where I could sense the wolf’s presence.
Both Altina and Beatrice met me at the entrance, both equally disturbed. They guided me to a room on the second floor where I placed Vi into freshly made bed. As the news traveled, people began to gather inside the tiny room and on the corridor. Some crying. Some offering good words. All with sadness in their eyes. Even Cora brough one of her copies, just in case, to take care of Vi.
Then, also the guards came and quickly went, cursed away by the raging wolf. I have never seen her so unhinged. She hoisted the guard captain by his collar and after screaming a litany of obscenities at his face, she tossed him out of the door while her mana crackled in the air. Deeming it well beyond their pay grade, the guards left to report to higher authority.
All the while Vittoria slept.
“Is there nothing that can be done?”
Altina took me aside and asked when her senses returned to her. I could see tears glistening in her beastly eyes. So much she cared for all her girls.
“Cannot they... mend this?”
I shook my head.
“Not anymore.”
“What have you done to her?! Where is she!”
A furious woman pushed through the crowd, her aura screaming of murder, her hand clutching an unsheathed knife.
“Merciful Shamuu, Tala! Calm yourself! Karin had nothing to do with it!”
Altina put herself between us while several maids managed to restrain the healer before she reached me with her knife. Her eyes were full of tears and burning madness.
“She found Vittoria collapsed and brought her here. Nothing more. You hear me? If you must blame anyone then this is our and only our fault for not noticing sooner. Vittoria deceived us all with her small, sweet lies. Was it not easier to accept her words than to question her condition? We had it before our eyes all this time yet did nothing!”
Tala’s rage slowly left her, making way for understanding. Her grip relaxed and her knife dropped to the ground.
“Where?”
Her feeble whisper did not much her earlier outbrust.
“Upstairs, first room on the left.”
She run there, pushing people away from her path.
“Even after so many years... Merciful Shamuu. Bea, make sure she had not harmed anyone on the way here. Karin, please, do not hold it against her. For a time, the two were inseparable. It even seemed that Vittoria may finally settle but then, a new girl came to work at the guild and... a lot happened. Vittoria often blamed Tala for letting Venna die but It was not her fault. She did everything she could to stop the internal bleeding...”
Master, how much do you trust this wolf?
Cora’s voice in my mind hijacked my attention.
She’s under a spirit bond, she can’t betray us even if we order her to. Why do you ask?
There may be a way to save that girl. There’s not much of a difference between her body and mine. What she lacks is a host to supply her with mana. If we were to find her a ‘tree’, she may live. That is, she may live at the cost of her humanity. Well, the procedure is much more complex but, If it works, there will be no going back.
That is not a decision I can make for her.
“What? What is it? I know that look! Speak! What did they say?”
Altina gripped my forearm, her eyes burning with hope. Just how on earth could she tell? Should I even tell her what the insane twiggy cooked up in her rotten mind? The dryad in question came downstairs and joined our whispering in the corner while the wolf cast a barrier around us.
“Guild master.”
She bowed gracefully.
“Well?”
“Cora told me, there is a way of sorts to save Vi but the repercussions it brings may be worse than death itself. It is not a choice I can make lightly, nor do I think either of us should be making this choice.”
My warning seemed of little to no consequence, the wolf’s eyes gleamed with hope and hope is a drug no mortal can resist.
“Is it true what Karin said? Can you truly save her?”
“No. It is not as simple as you hope, guild master. You have seen what I am and what I am capable of. Healing is not one of my talents. I can however, before she dies, try to bind her soul to one of my bodies and make it into her own. She would be able to live freely under the shade of the tree we are about to plant on the guild grounds.”
Altina’s fur stood up.
“Merciful Shamuu, what are you saying?! Even if such blasphemous magic did exist...”
She looked between us, searching for a proof this was all but a sick joke, done at the most inappropriate of times. However, I still had the memories of those shattered souls I freed and among those, Cora found the entire ritual. In truth, barring human sacrifice, it was eerily simple to perform.
The wolf’s eyes opened wide, and her nostrils flared when she realized we weren’t joking. We had to hold her up until she calmed.
“Leave. Both of you.”
Her growl rumbled in her throat.
“I do not want to see either of you.”
She seethed through teeth, her clenched fists bleeding as she walked away.