Chapter 146

“The calm before the storm.”

“Can you talk?” Kalysto questioned the poor puppy as he struggled to swim and not drown in the tub.

“Master, I can’t swim!” shouted the little one, whose voice echoed in her mind, causing her to immediately get a headache, and the tired brain of the saintess reacted just in time to pull the little one out of the tub.

“Jhil Ezhil! Jhil Ezhil!” she conjured several times, wanting to make sure he was all right. “Now, young man! Explain to me this instant how the hell it is that you can talk telepathically! And how come I didn’t know anything about it?”

“...” Tsuki’s body seemed to shrink as he made sure to cover his private parts with his wet tail. “Normally everyone in my species can do it...” whined the little one in a childish voice and pouting. “It’s the master who never accepts my messages.”

“I never accept them? When am I supposed to reject them?”-She defended herself, feeling bad at the sudden unfounded accusation.

“Almost always the master has her mental barriers upstairs and I can’t break through them...” he commented sadly, making her feel bad. “...But today the master has them down so you can hear me!” He suddenly perked up, raising his head and looking her in the eyes, “That means the master has finally accepted me as her sacred beast!” He was full of pride as he thrust out his chest.

And Kalysto’s heart filled with tenderness as she tried not to laugh at how excited he seemed, and at his surprising but very sudden change of attitude.

“First of all, I thought I had accepted you as my pet since the day we met,” she clarified, not wanting to hurt his feelings as she hugged him and the coldness of the puppy’s wet fur penetrated her clothes. “And second, I didn’t even know I had my shields down. They’re still supposed to be up," she worried, thinking that meant Persephone could come back out at any moment. “And that’s not a good thing right now," she muttered wearily as a long sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes for an instant. A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered what had happened shortly before escaping from the tower.

Persephone’s longing to connect with that gigantic eye and the recognition between them. Which felt more like the reunion of two old acquaintances after many years of not seeing each other, than the resonance between two like-minded beings.

Impossible! she thought. How is it even possible that a creature from another world, one that I have never seen, could recognize Persephone? And a shiver ran down her spine at the thought of having met that creature before, and not remembering it.

“Persephone, did you know him?”

But no matter how long she waited, only silence answered her.

And for the first time in years, Kalysto began to suspect the unlikely possibility that perhaps Persephone was not just a case of split personality, as she had always suspected... and that perhaps she could no longer be trusted.

I’m too tired to deal with this right now and I’m starting to think stupid thoughts. She thought. I need to talk to Alice...

“Is the master worried that ‘it’ sleeping inside you will wake up?” Tsuki worried, surprising her. And suddenly she was terrified by the idea of what Persephone could do to him if she perceived him as a threat.

“Listen to me and listen to me very well! Never, under any circumstances, mess with her! Do you understand me?” The desperation in her voice was as evident as Tsuki’s discomfort at the sudden force with which she was grabbing him, without realizing it.

“Master, or is it the...” three loud knocks sounded against the door of their room and both turned their heads towards the entrance of the bathroom.

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

“Champion, it’s Galatea! Sorry to disturb you at this hour, but Lady Artemis has requested that you go to her room immediately," the fairy’s loud voice was heard clearly even from inside the bathroom, and Kalysto let out a long sigh.

The last thing I wanted right now was to have to go and meet a sadistic teacher who loved to give me extra homework. She lamented.

Least of all when she hadn’t even finished the one she’d already been given.

“Does it have to be now?”

“Yes, so I have been ordered.” Kalysto’s shoulders slumped, and she lowered Tsuki to the floor.

“We’ll continue this conversation as soon as I get back," she whispered and wrapped him in a towel, wiping off some of the excess water. “Just a moment!” She shouted and took another towel with which she dried her face and wet T-shirt. By the time she finally opened the door, she still looked like a mess, but at least she wasn’t dripping water.

“Oh! If you like, I can wait until you change," excused Galatea, suddenly uncomfortable at the sight of her dirty appearance.

“That won’t be necessary," Kalysto cut her off. “The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can go to sleep," just then her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she had not eaten anything since the morning when the court magicians gave them a light breakfast before sending them off to battle.

“As soon as we arrive, I will give notice to bring your dinner to your room.”

“I’d appreciate it," she said, pulling a thel from her inventory and taking a bite.

Both women headed towards Artemis’ room in absolute silence, followed by Tsuki.

“Good evening, Kalysto. Glad to know you’re still alive," Artemis greeted her as soon as they arrived.

“Thank you, it’s good to see you’re still in good shape," she replied, giving her a forced smile, just to be polite.

“That’s thanks to you and the good work you’ve done healing our people. We are grateful for all the help you have given us.”

“I was only fulfilling my part of the contract, even so the sentiment is welcome.”

“However, my mother tells me that you have only four more days to complete the mission we gave you, and it seems you are quite late. That worries me," she commented, getting out of bed, after tucking in her daughter who had fallen asleep in her mother’s bed. “It seems that your attention is elsewhere” Kalysto opened her mouth, wanting to refute her, but then fell silent. “Was the reward not to your liking? I thought you would like it.”

“...It is...“

“So what’s the problem? Why haven’t you been concentrating on raising the level of your profession?”

“My... my friends were summoned by the kingdoms of Balsahty and Bhallys, and although I was able to free the first group, I still haven’t been able to find Alice and her grandparents, who were summoned by Bhallys.”

“I understand," she murmured, but by the lack of change in her expression, it was obvious that she did not. “However, Kalysto, I want you to focus from now on to raise the level of your profession.”

“But I still haven’t found...“

“You will start training with me from tomorrow morning” the fairy interrupted her. “You will be able to dedicate the afternoon to look for your friend.”

“...” Kalysto clenched her fists, not at all happy with this change in her plans.

“And Kalytso, if I don’t see good results with your training, I will be obliged to push you for the next few days without rest until you succeed.” Kalysto frowned at the injustice of it.

Why are you wasting my time answering your questions if in the end, you will ignore my opinion?

“I see," she grunted and turned around, ready to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Where are you going?” questioned Artemis with a frown.

“I’m hungry and tired. And according to the rules established in my contract, it is forbidden to interrupt my rest," she told her, remembering that she had called her to her room during the night.

“Since you hadn’t gone to sleep, I didn’t think it would be a problem.”

“It is still my bedtime. I would appreciate it if you would not request my presence at this hour again. See you tomorrow," she knew she would end up regretting her little tantrum the next day, but right now she was too exhausted to worry about it.

After showering and eating the food that Alynn had left for her on Kalysto’s bed, she lay down on her bed while hugging Tsuki. She fell asleep immediately.

The next morning, the knocking on the door woke her up.

Artemis had personally gone to wake her up a couple of hours after sunrise. She could barely ask Caranthir to start the search without her before the fairy began the rigorous training.

“I see you and that elf are getting along very well.”

“He can be useful from time to time," she answered, unwilling to give more details, making Artemis smile in a mysterious way as something strange shone in her eyes, but as quickly as it came it was gone, and Kalysto, still tired despite having slept for seven hours straight, dismissed it quickly.

And a new kind of hell began for her.