Chapter 261

The Rehearsal Fitting

(Mallory)

“It’s quiet,” Mallory said, tension clearly filling her shoulders as she looked around the staging room that was within the bridal staging room of the Deolar Spirit realm.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Gwendolyn asked, her plump body fully taking up the throne that she would be taking a leadership role on tomorrow.

Just seeing Gwen defiantly sitting in the throne did a number of things for Mallory. First it showed that she deserved to be in the throne, especially as she was an ethereal elf, a species that looked more magically majestic than any elf Mallory had ever seen before. Even compared to the other spirit elves that wondered the nearby hallways, her elven body was amazingly powerful and graceful.

Added to that was the fact that she clearly had signs of a Legendary bloodline awakened within her made her all but glow with a radiance that was hard to deny she didn’t deserve to sit in that very throne.

Scuffle, scuffle.

With each set of hurried footsteps that rushed down the hallways, the thought of being caught raced on not just Mallory’s but everyone’s mind.

Fortunately, Gwendolyn had the same Angel’s Sight as her mother, making her able to easily tell who was coming or arriving. Also, added to this was the fact that Mallory was allegedly using this time to get changed into her royal regalia.

This was not the main throne room. That one was currently being used by most of the Deolar delegation, as they too were staging for the Deolar King, who was being portrayed by either Cass, one of Cass’s Simulacrums, or by Jhonny.

Mallory would have let Vickard or Melkin pretend to be the King, given their insights into Guild politics. But unfortunately, both had to be stationed as guards to prevent any unauthorized person from entering the King’s side chambers.

This meant that Mallory had to hope that not only was everything going to plan, but she had to trust her staff to follow the script and keep her in check.

Of course, Mallory didn’t put a name to the her. As that would all but summon her. Or rather it would somehow release her like some uncorked genie on the world.

“Normally yes, but I can’t believe it has gone on for this long without her doing something.” Mallory stated, again not wanting to call state her name, or even think of the name in her mind lest she invite trouble.

“Relax, everything is going to be okay. Mother is clearly up and already conducting her part, as we saw both King Galuminous De’Arcaneri and Princess Octavia De’Arcaneri making their rounds at the same time earlier, when we arrived.” Gwen said reassuringly.

“Right, but who were they?” Mallory asked.

Normally such a question would be seen as ridiculous. For most people would say that they were who they were. But with Cass, trying to keep track of her antics was a bit much.

“I’m pretty sure one of them was Jhonny.” Gwen reassured.

“Right, but first which one? And second, who was the other?” Mallory asked.

“Wouldn’t that be mother?”

“Normally, I would say yes, but I have it on good authority that Cass left base for close to twenty minutes.” Mallory stated, then only after a moment’s hesitation did she let out a hiss in annoyance at calling out her name. Even a partial name was enough to likely set her loose.

“Look superstitions aside. This is what we expected, is it not?” Gwen asked.

Hearing that, Mallory stopped her pacing and then turned back to face Gwen. For her part Gwen just sat comfortably still on the very fluffy chair.

“It is, but now, I don’t know. I just can’t help but shake the idea that something is going to go wrong.” Mallory said, feeling that her mind would not let her rest the closer W-Day came. The more she tried to comprehend the different moving parts and components of this, the more she couldn’t help but think that something terrible was going to happen.

“Look you just have pre-wedding day jitters, it happens to the best of us.” Gwen said sagely, as a smile crested her lips.

“Funny, been waiting a while to use that one?” Mallory asked.

“About a week, honestly I was surprised that it took you this long to begin to get flustered.” Gwen noted.

“Well fortunately, I had a lot of things to distract me. But then hearing about the assassination attempt that will happen tomorrow, in addition to everything else, I can’t help but wonder if we should call it quits.” Mallory stated, then turning back to Mallory she continued, “I mean, think about it, what if you were hit by one of those First Kill Daggers?”

Hearing that Gwen just smiled, “well for me, I would likely just wait for mom to Resurrect me. That or worst-case scenario, I get to life number two and start over again.”

“Yeah, I guess it might be different for you.” Mallory stated.

“For us, don’t think for a second that Mom would let any of us die. Besides, like she said, she hasn’t given us permission to die yet.” Gwen joked.

Hearing that, Mallory just smiled at the comment that became the comment all Qi Manifestation users would jokingly tell others during their extra trainings, but only outside the hearing range of Cass.

Then again realizing that she actively thought of the name, Mallory winced as she inwardly hoped that thinking her name would not be enough to encourage her antics. With that goal in mind, Mallory changed subjects, slightly.

“What was she like as a parent?” Mallory asked, having heard the report on how she went to a classroom of unruly kids and sparked the fear of God in them, in less than ten minutes.

“Honestly, she wasn’t that bad. She was mostly exhausted, particularly after dad left. But before that, I remember her always smiling.”

“Was she a prankster then?”

“I think so? Though she really stopped after dad left. I think she might have had a prank that went too far, but I don’t know for certain. All I know is that the mom of now, versus the mom back then are like two different people entirely,” Gwen admitted.

“Which one would you prefer?” Mallory asked.

“Honestly?” Gwen asked, as if the question was stupid, but then answered anyways. “This version of mom is so much better. She is always smiling, and happy, she has time to do all her crafts that she wanted. Also, she swore if her knees didn’t give out on her, she would never stop moving, and now I can safely say she meant that.”

Hearing that Mallory could only nod in agreement. Then she tried to and failed to wonder what a less active version of her best friend would be like. She tried to imagine and then failed miserably as it was hard to imagine the girl sitting still for any length of time.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Then almost as if trying to back to a topic that was broached in the morning meeting, but had been sort of glossed over.

“Any word on the three human sized eggs she dropped in Timult?” Mallory asked.

Pausing, Gwen just tilted her head to the side for the moment, before shaking her head.

“No, we all know it was the three spies, as those were their pods, but mom did an amazing job of changing them without anyone seeing the changes she made. Even the other Fae seemed curious about the changes, though two of the more powerful ones grinned viciously after seeing the final product, but nothing more than that.”

“Okay, so they are still in Timult?”

“Yes, seemingly anchored in place. Though apparently Charlaine’s has gone from dark to clear, revealing her in her normal form.” Gwen admitted.

There was a pause as Mallory began nodding to nod as she took that in.

This was when Gwen still reading her notes from her daughter’s account paused as she tried to understand what the note was stating.

“Actually, there is one other oddity that you might want to be aware of,” Gwen noted.

Sigh.

Hearing that, Mallory could only let out a long breath, where she muttered, “I knew it was too quiet.”

“No, this one is not that bad. Well not that bad for us, maybe.” Gwen said.

“You’re not making me feel any better about this new news,” Mallory stated.

“Well, it appears that the way that Ca… I mean mother went wasn’t normal.” Gwen began, she was about to call her by name, but then decided not to. Apparently, seeing how Mallory too was believing in the old superstition of never calling a pixie by name, lest you draw its full attention.

“What else is new.” Mallory quipped.

“I mean, she went off the grid entirely, there one second, then about a minute later she came back in Timult with the three eggs.” Gwen noted.

“Okay, but she has done that before with her thing, you know.” Mallory stated.

“Yes, but normally when that happens it is just a loop, or apparently an image of her standing still for minutes on end. This time she just disappeared entirely.” Gwen noted.

“Okay, so she created a new spell to hide her movements, what’s the big deal?” Mallory asked, not quite understanding why this would be anything truly of note about the pixie.

“Well, since she got to Timult, there has been a visible scar in space.”

“A scar?”

“Look, I’m telling you what is being sent to me. I’m being told it is a scar, no a temporal scar. One that the other mages can’t seem to understand.”

Chuckle.

Hearing that Mallory could only chuckle at the thought of Legrand Mages not being able to understand what the pixie did magically. Mallory had a menagerie of the best mages of their perspective fields, hand picked from before the pixie came to now, and none of those mages knew what she was doing. Even after the pixie told them what she was doing. The idea that the pompous Legrand mages didn’t know what the pixie was doing either did not surprise her.

Heck, Mallory still didn’t know what type of Magic the pixie used to apparently freeze an entire classroom of children in place, before instilling the fear of God into them so that they followed every word that Micky the hobo master thief said.

“No, there is apparently more, as apparently whenever the mages get close, they notice a large yellow eye staring back through the temporal scar in space.”

Hearing that Mallory could only barely keep herself from cackling at the image.

“Oh, I can’t wait to see what matter of mischief Cass has worked up for them this time.” Mallory said, then immediately after the thought left her lips she couldn’t help but scrunch up in annoyance.

This time, she could all but feel the danger of calling forth the pixie. Almost as if the world was waiting to detail more of her exploits to friends and enemies alike. Having them get time to prepare and strategize for what the pixie was doing.

Seeing her reaction, Gwen could only laugh and taunt.

“You know you are going to say mom’s name at least once more.”

“I know, and for whatever reason I know that something ridiculous will happen immediately afterwards.” Mallory quipped.

“See, you said you wanted to be more in tune with your bloodline perks, and on the bright side you now get that.” Gwen replied, only half mockingly as her smile seemed to grow ever wider on her lips.

“I know, but I expected these new insights to be ways to improve the world, the way Ca-shee does.” Mallory said, barely catching herself.

Then pausing, she wondered if that was enough to stop whatever catastrophe that was about to happen from happening, even fully focusing on not calling the word by their funny moniker, lest that also summon forth her actions.

“Good save,” Gwen said, pausing as she couldn’t help but prod Mallory’s paranoia that seemed extra heightened today.

“Yeah, thanks.” Mallory stated.

“What was the prophecy you had anyways?” Gwen asked, trying to recall the dream that startled Mallory to being fully awake this morning.

“I can’t remember it all. Most of it was a dream, but it basically began that if I stay in one place for too long and state her name after she goes to sleep, a world message will come that will make me question everything.” Mallory stated, trying to remember the words, but only able to highlight the finer points of the warning she heard in her head.

“But since mom isn’t here, you stating her name three times shouldn’t impact anything. Either it will happen or it won’t, your speaking her name, or the rest of us speaking her name in your presence should logically not play any part in her world bending actions.” Gwen noted.

“I know. Logically I agree with you, but for whatever reason, I feel that I might be able to somehow prevent her from doing anything too crazy until after the wedding if we just do this one thing.” Mallory said, a note of desperation to her voice.

Gwen looked like she wanted to protest, but then both saw the logic in her statements, while also trying to keep her from freaking out much more than she already was. In a way she understood Mallory’s insistence on this part, as it was a way she could theoretically control something during a time when the world, her enemies, and especially the pixie were all doing everything they could to make sure something memorable happened. There were very few things that Mallory could logistically control, everything else would be random chance. Chance that they would all have to scramble to meet and overcome together. Gwen was just about to state this, when her attention was caught by someone approaching their door.

“Wait, we have a guest.” Gwen stated, raising a hand and trying to inspect the person coming.

With the hand up, it meant that the person was living, which meant that Mallory didn’t have to instantly pick her up from the chair and carry her to one of the less comfortable chairs that don’t have any form of back support. Or worse, those that do have support also have random metal divots that stick out, hitting everyone one of your pressure points, causing near paralysis after a few minutes of sitting down.

Knock, knock.

Vickard gave the quick knock to ensure both that the coast was clear, and that they could enter.

“Come in,” Mallory shouted.

With that the doors opened and in walked a very bedraggled but excited Penelope Tailor, who despite being extremely tired all but bounced excitedly across the room.

Clang.

By the time Vickard had closed the door, ensuring the trio would have their privacy, Penelope was already by their sides.

“I’m so glad I found you two,” Penelope began, and then started handing out stacks of enchanted clothing to Mallory and to Gwen.

“Let’s see, one set for you. By far my easiest.” Penelope said, as she handed over one set of finely woven threads.

Magical Set Item: Deoloran Queen’s Regalia (Soul Bound).

Penelope then turned to Gwen, where she proceeded to hand over not one but two different sets of clothing.

“And these are for you.”

Magical Set Item: Deoloran King’s Regalia (Soul Bound). Magical Set Item: Royal Witness Regalia (Soul Bound).

Realizing that she got not one, but two sets of clothing, Gwen could only ask, “why two?”

“Oh, that was part of my thinking, well, I’m pretty sure that Cass had a part in it, as she said any extras I could make would be useful.” Penelope replied.

Hearing the name Mallory could only wince in pain, as that was her first time stating the name.

“What? Everything okay? It will expand to fit if needed,” Penelope stated, trying to sound reassuring about the uniforms she handed over.

“No, these are fine, beyond fine actually.” Gwen said, trying to calm the clearly flustered tailor.

“Oh, phew.”

“It’s just the pixie,” Mallory said, trying to draw attention to the person in question, without herself invoking the name for the third time.

“You mean Cass? Where is she?” Penelope asked.

“Gah!” Mallory hissed, realizing that was already two from the Tailor who just got here.

“Yes, you can’t say her name a third time.” Gwen cut in, “please don’t say her name a third time.”

With that last one Gwen all but pleaded with the tailor to take a hint.

“What you mean ca…” Penelope began, but her words were cut off by a quick by seemingly gentle hand over the mouth from Mallory.

“Yes, Mallory woke up to a vision about my mother, where she would do something crazy once one of us said her name three times.” Gwen replied, trying to catch Penelope up to speed quickly.

With that Penelope just glanced over at Mallory, who herself looked really flustered, knowing that she and the tailor were both one summoning away from inviting chaos to the world.

Mallory stared into Penelope’s eyes, and once she was certain that Penelope understood the severity of the situation before them, she nodded. With that nod, Mallory also nodded, while removing her hand from Penelope’s mouth.

There was a momentary awkward pause that filled the room.

“So, why don’t we want ca… I mean the good doctor doing what she normally does?” Penelope asked.

“Because, it’s…” Mallory began, but then trailed off as the words to describe what she was thinking. Fortunately, Gwen was there to explain it for her.

“This is both Mallory’s first vision that she feels she can control. Also, the fact that she can seemingly control this part likely makes her think she can control what will happen during the actual wedding tomorrow.” Gwen answered.

Penelope could only nod in understanding at the comment.

“But again, why don’t we want her doing impossible things? I mean that is kind of her schtick right?” Penelope asked.

“She isn’t wrong.” Gwen replied, turning her head for emphasis towards Mallory.

“I know, it’s just that I want Cass focused on the wedding.” Mallory said, and then after she completed the thought, she closed her eyes tightly as if saying she did it to herself.

Silence.

Mallory waited for a three count as both Penelope and Gwen both looked on in horror and anticipation, only for silence to prevail.

“Maybe it was a false alarm…” Penelope began, only to be cut off by a system message that couldn’t be ignored.

World First Notification: Rejoice, Dr. Cassiopeia Spiritlight has found the way to fuse different skills together.

Seeing the message, Mallory only glared at Penelope.

“What, you said it not me. Besides that doesn’t seem that bad.” Penelope mused.

“Yeah, until you realize that I will have every nation in the world trying to duplicate this exact method before tomorrow.” Mallory muttered, then pulling up her guild radar, she used her guild master perk.

Teleport To Guild Member: As a Guild Leader you can teleport to the exact location of any guild member, so long as they are on guild property when you attempt to visit them. Number of daily uses left (1 / 1), counter resets daily.

Using her very important guild perk, Mallory did what was becoming a habit, using her only Guild Member Teleport to get to Cass first, to find out what she was doing.

Fwoosh.

The minute the Teleport was engaged, Mallory felt space and time twist and turn around her as she soon found herself leaving the dressing room, only to find herself forcefully removed from her teleportation lair, as she reached the school faculty building.

“Since when did she start doing everything here?” Mallory hissed to herself, as she had to for whatever reason enter the building, using her Super Dash, as she climbed the stairs to try to see what her problem pixie was up to this time.

When she arrived, she didn’t quite know what to expect, but she definitely didn’t expect to see the sight before her.