Galen Vesa

Following her words, I let her pull me into a separate room and watched as she locked the door behind us. As the silence dragged on, she stood there with her back to me, gathering her thoughts. Her voice surprised us both as it came out through tears.

“When I was about to die, I had this strange dream, a kind of vision... It was you, wasn’t it? You saw everything.”

“Yes.”

I don’t think denying it now would make any sense.

“I never told this to anyone. I...”

Her knees folded under her. She wept, kneeling beside the door, not daring to look my way.

“I was too afraid of what others may think of me. Not even Altina knows how I was until she pulled me out of the gutter. She saved me after all the evil I did. People lost their fortunes and lives because of me. All in the name of fake gods, miracles and other nonsensical revelations spoon fed to me by a bunch of insane lunatics. I took part in through torture and blasphemous rituals to satisfy the will of people that had me for nothing more but a livestock. Blinded by misguided faith, I slaved under those that did not care. I even sacrificed myself for their cause. I had to brush against death and live through a betrayal before my eyes began to open.”

Her hands went to the middle of her chest, just beneath her breast to rub a phantom wound no longer present there.

“One day they offered me to their god, the high priest slicing me open and sticking crystal needles into my heart. They made my body the way it was. They gave me power at the cost of my life. At first everything seemed perfect. I felt overwhelmed with god’s power, and everyone praised me for my dedication however, the side effects became undeniable after a short while. While indeed I have become powerful, my body could not tolerate the stress my newfound power put on it. It took me longer and longer to recover after each time I used my strength. They named me a failure when they realized. Overnight, from a miracle I became a sinner and an outcast. Nobody wished to have anything to do with me. The one I loved the most, for whom I sacrificed all, ordered me to be purified. “

“Purified?”

“A fancy way of saying the congregation would slit my throat and have an orgy as I would bleed to death on their altar. Using the tricks, they taught me so I could hunt for new believers, I managed to run away before they could dispose of me. I changed my name, my eye and hair color, even my voice. I cut away my skin that bore their brand and with time I forgot. I forgot what I was. It took a monster to save my life to realize that I was the monster all the time. I do not deserve to be saved. I do not deserve your mercy.”

She cried that out.

“Vi, look at me.”

I knelt beside her and lifted her face with my palm.

“I am no god to condemn your sin, nor do I care how you lived your past. You were good to me, and I paid it off in kind. “

“No, you don’t understand. All these years I kept pushing people aside, too terrified to let them know. I could not risk their life. But you, you broke the curse binding my soul to that fake idol. Its followers will know and come after you. They will hunt you down. If I tried to break the curse myself, it would kill me. If I had someone else break it for me, it would brand that person in a way they would know and recognize. I saw several people dragged in for obstructing will of the gods. They met a gruesome death. A warning to all traitors of faith.”

Her cries erupted once more.

“I’m sorry, I am so sorry...”

Was that black blob connected with what just she told me? Could it be that by some cosmic fart I once more became entangled with the same cult? For heaven’s sake, no. Just let it be some random sect of spaghetti followers. Please.

Logic had different idea and while I disagreed with giving Vi away to the empire for questioning, we both thought it would be prudent to let someone watch her. I called upon Fire’s name.

I know you’ve been eavesdropping, so I keep this short. As a punishment for your actions, protect Vittoria. Have someone always watch over her. I hope I am wrong, but more trouble might try to sneak in.

They would not dare my love! I will never let them harm you!

Yeah, yeah. Just keep an eye out on her. Anyway, its time for a little improvisation.

“Vi, I’m sure you noticed by now but, there is little in this world that can get through my skin.”

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Not really a lie. So far only a single dagger could do that. Plus, the guy using it knew some fancy magic no one else even heard of. Not to mention the whole lantern thingy that shared my dislike of those people.

“Also,”

I sent some mana into my eyes so they would light up, my voice suddenly changing from quite pleasing to one inducing goose bumps.

“If they ever try, it will be me who shall hunt.”

I cleaned her tears from her shocked eyes with one of my extended claws.

“Now if you would listen to my shameless request. Go back to that bed before Tala wakes up. She still loves you. Since you are no longer under a curse, perhaps this time it could work out?”

“You won’t hate me?”

“No.”

I helped her get up.

“Go. I need to find some pants and think of a good excuse for my tardiness. That Judge magister won’t wait forever.”

That got a weak chuckle out of her.

“Will you write to me?”

“If I can.”

We parted after one final hug.

I walked Vi away with my smile then closed the door and locked the bolt. No more interruptions for a while. I hope. Who am I kidding? Either way, I closed my eyes and focused on my earth ring. As promised by the queen herself, her two daughters welcomed me with a polite bow. I walked over to the black granite countertop that separated me from the spirits and surveyed the myriads of shelves behind them. These were slowly filling up with things I’ve accumulated so far.

“How could we be of service, master?”

One of the spirits stepped closer. Her voice had a pleasant tone of whispering leaves. Her perfect inhuman face changed every time I focused too much on some feature.

“I’m up for a long ride in a bumpy carriage and as you can see, I need some clothes. Comfortable cloths. So, I think we’ll start with some underwear and go from there. Show me what you got.”

She vanished among the countless shelves and a blink of eye later, reappeared holding a silver tray packed with stacks of bras while her sister brought in a colorful collection of undies. All of which were up to my taste.

“You know what? I’m liking the two of you more and more.”

I picked a simple black set that looked the least brazen and to my surprise, turned out quite comfortable. It even survived a series of some jumping jacks. Looks like Garla made sure all her products were of high quality. Maybe I should order some boxers next time? Well, I should have done that from the start. Why haven’t I? Anyway, for now I am stuck with a mountain of thongs.

“Okay, this should cover the basics. Now...”

While I’ve been fiddling with my bra, those two went and picked the rest of my attire and, I liked their choice. Trusty leather pants, with high waist and a belt as wide as my palm. Suede riding boots with almost flat sole. Simple, white cotton shirt with elegant collar and a pale brown leather jacket buckled on the front to top it all off. Nothing too fancy. Nothing too eye poking. Something a guard or higher servant could afford. Not bad at all.

As I dressed, one of the spirits helped me with my hairs, combing it into a hybrid of a bun and a ponytail as the other spirit convinced me I should put on a pedant. A finger length green crystal, covered in some ornate runes. It sat gracefully at the entrance to the valley between my pillows, suspended on a leather sting looped around my neck. It fit with other items, so I left it there.

I managed to get ready before the first morning bell and left the dormitory before anyone else could wake up. Since a line of complicated, spirit runes now guarded the dorm’s entrance, there were no other guards there and I found the doors opened.

Inside the guild’s inner plaza, I met several spirits strolling around, all of which greeted me with a polite head bob and all of which seemed armed well beyond what might be necessary. In the center of the plaza, I found the odd tree, staring at me. I also passed by no less than five Cora’s copies, all of which ignored my presence. Two were busy inspecting the tree’s bark, one dangled upside down from a branch while two were fooling around in the grass.

“A busy night I see.”

“No less busy than yours, my moaning master. There’s been some pests sneaking in. I heard Fire dealt with those.”

The one dangling upside down answered me. Now that I looked at her, she had hands and cloths covered in dried blood. I don’t think that was her blood.

“Something I should know about?”

“Hmm, not really. As per your orders I haven’t killed anyone. Maimed a few but they will live. I think. Oh, that crystal suits you well, my posh master.”

She gave me a thumbs up then landed beside me with a backflip.

“How do you like our child? It is magnificent, is it not?”

“Yeah, about that. I’ve been meaning to ask, that tree, why does it make me feel like I had a third arm? What exactly does this tree do aside from letting those troublemakers roam as they see fit?”

It did that and something unexplained with my mana. I could feel the flow going back and forth between us.

“It is but a branch of my tree. Since you are my tree, it is only natural for you to feel it. Consider it an extension to what you carry within yourself. Even with you away, I can still use it to access your mana. Same goes for that woman and her new body. We can siphon mana either from you or this tree.”

Wireless charging? Why am I not surprised? Dolt, the battery.

“Aside from that, it acts the same as my mana forest. Well, if we plant more of them, we might be able to form a path through spirit realm to link them. Elves should be able to navigate those corridors. I’m guessing that’s why they sent that offer to them. With elves playing delivery this guild could offer services no other guild can.”

“Did the wolf told you all that?”

“No but I’ve been considering this ever since the queen of Earth mentioned a wandering oak. It’s been done before. People used wood from wandering oak to construct torii gates. That aided travel between distant places. Properly maintained, these could function for thousands of years. It was also a tree most desired by my sisters. Perhaps a reason why so few of us remained.”

Her eyes traveled to the main building.

“The judge magister has arrived. Are you hungry my master? Should I invite her for breakfast?”

Her mention of food made my stomach gurgle in a panicked fashion. Well, I couldn’t feel it, but something told me a day or two of fasting would be a good idea.

“Nope. Magic or not, I don’t think my stomach can manage anything at this moment after what I shoved there yesterday. Unless she demands it, we’re skipping breakfast.”

As it turned out, we skipped plenty of things. Including a proper greeting. The moment I got out of the guild, they shoved me into a carriage and off we went into the sunrise.