The Fellen town was the most respectable settlement in these uncharted lands of the eastern borders.
As the only strategic depot that could trade to both the Exine City-Fortress and the Runsaer Merchant Guild, you would think that this place would have turned into a bloodbath of hungry merchants vying for supremacy.
Aiven watched his own reflection at the tea on his hand. He made a few mental calculations of how much the perfumed tea must have cost to pass the time. Having a first-hand experience with the ways of the mercantile guild from his mother's automatons works, he had long been jaded with the patented silver-tongued daylight robbers. To be at its center was jarring.
Afterall, he was in fact inside the Valiant Fell Pavilion, the grandest building he had encountered since they've escaped Cessine, and one of the twin pride of the valley.
Pillars and stone carvings of a paradise depicted from faerytales decorated the six-floored building. Incidentally, the patrons that use this establishment as a stopping route were all highborn denizens who ventured to this seemingly vast expanse of vegetative mutation of a valley. At the ground floor was a fancy restaurant, with delicacies that could cost an annual savings of a family of five. While the remaining floors were housed for the elites for their lodging. And of course, the top was specially designated as a gambling den, a legitimate one, courtesy of the influence from the Runsaerines.
And this was the very place, Cuboid and her retinue had called home for the past weeks.
"Initial contact, completed," one of the maidservants announced, as she started pouring tea for their guests.
"An insignificant one," her fellow maid replied, as she also started cutting a cake into equal portions.
"Irrelevant."
"Immaterial."
"Inconsequential."
The two maids echoed each other while having a pleasant expression.
The dainty lips and thick eyelashes of Cranial as she swept her eyes to their guests gave her an air of a fairy, while Palatine's pointed chin and large eyes made the young maid look like a pixie. Even if they were already on the balcony of one of the private sections of the pavilion, the appearance of these surreal maids had attracted a following of patrons. But amazingly, the one who had taken the greatest number of admiring gazes the moment they entered was the unassuming beauty of their mistress, Cuboid---or Lady Desme, to the majority of these humans.
"A success, don't you think, dear guests?" Finally, Aiven heard Cuboid announced, making a great show as a generous host.
She was dressed finely with beige satin and gold silks today. Her voluminous brown hair was braided in a loose bun with a single lock curling to frame her face elegantly. Gone was her servile temperance and was replaced by a sophisticated air of subtle nobility.
"I guess we should be showing surprise and gratitude for treating us cordially," Simos said crassly while receiving the tea from Cranial, "even if we are ordinary nobodies from the streets," he added. He silently made a quick work of the drink, tilted his head back, and finished it with clumsy slouch at his seat. But despite his rough casualness, Simos was still able to make it looked like he belongs at the opulent background and lavish gardens that can be seen from their high view.
"A refined lady should show grace, especially when vying for a pure and self-sacrificing reputation, no?" the lady chuckled, raising a jeweled hand to cover her mouth prettily, "especially if they aggrieved some poor helpless nobodies on the streets."
"Helpless nobodies with no backing or experience."
"Then this lady could only offer a temporary respite, let's say, maybe a treat every now and then as an extension of a lady's charitable heart, perhaps?"
"We would never imagine declining," his blue eyes twinkled in mischief as he raised his cup to Cuboid in a salute, "With this, our coincidental connection would be settled."
"But it'll only amount to nothing but acquaintances. A protection from a noble lady could only amount to this much after all" her smile became more genuine with charm as the two kept on their relaxed conversation.
Aiven was silent from the beginning. He was staring outside the wide view of the balcony, looking unconcerned of their careless exchange. Though he had been checking Cranial's application of [Spell of Unvoice] to secure their privacy.
Like always, the two seemed to be having fun. Even during their drills, Cuboid and Simos had always taken their 'play' seriously.
"Well then, there is no need to put up with our roles now, masters?" Cuboid finally said breaking from her persona. As if she was a different person entirely, her voice lost its grandeur and became indistinguishable and toneless, "this lowly servant deeply appreciate for the masters to listen to this one's request."
Simos became embarrassed and waved his hand dismissively, "don't worry about it, we only need the name of Lady Desme."
"And..! And it is our job, after all, to look after your shadow's request. Um, that's what Delica said," Mieu interjected shyly while indicating at the blonde baroque doll placed comfortably on her lap. Doll-Delica’s gem glinted but there was no voice coming from the lich, probably due to her taking to heart their agreement that she had to keep her voice only to the demon lordling. A practice, the two girls needed to perfect especially once they come to public.
"Then shall I begin my story then?" Cuboid said, her words became almost inaudible.
Just like in the setting of the Yuusha, to begin the quest, there were requisites that needed for it to be established. And it always involved hearing the story first.
Mana contracts could never exist without the words of [Babel] and it follows that for a quest, knowing which words to use and its history was a fundamental requirement.
But there were also other factors needed to consider, in case of Cuboid, her [summoning request] needed to be made in a specific place. The reason it was brought up now was that her hometown was actually the one they had decided to be their stopover, Fellen.
"Before I begin, had you ever thought why I am the only human in the collection of the highly valued slaves of the Canary Gold?" she begun.
Simos visibly tensed at the spoken reminder of his renounced house. His eyes somewhat held a faraway look but he didn't censor Cuboid in her narrative.
Cuboid's status was unique. Just as she said, she's the sole familiar under Delica's summons, of the man’s race, and the only one at the Sila-ir's slave trade for almost decades of trade of novel and rare pleasure slaves.
She, being human, was also the reason she was chosen as the perfect stand-in to become the heir of Oreindr House. Though at first glance, her appearance, though pleasing to the eyes, should not have cause for the High Banners to take fancy with her.
That is until it was revealed to them that she was actually a former [quest bearer].
Watching the well-tempered undead recalling her past in a brutal honesty with no embellishments of any sorts made Aiven a bit regretful of her fate. But his sight never left Simos' profile and he could tell that the boy was far from being unaffected by Cuboid's confession.
As one of the well-accepted belief in this world, there are people who are revered to as [quest-bearers] or those who have a strong connection to the manaline. Their existence could be said to be highly guarded by the Principalities, or Sages of Old, the very ones who govern and oversee the summoning of the champions.
It was said that they were keys that could cause a series of events that could lead to a fulfillment of the world's fate.
It's all fancy wordings and all, but technically, they're NPCs.
Incidentally, most of them, don't even knew that they are [quest bearers]. They are even suspected to lack any will of their own, aside from what the world's fate dictates.
Born as an ordinary tavern girl in the borderlands, Cuboid was one of those with these special circumstances, but unlike most of them, she ran away from that very fate.
But as if the world was correcting itself, she was caught by the slavers, and eventually faded into obscurity and was disposed of.
Simos' eyes were clouded after hearing her story, and for a while, the room was filled with his silence. There was no massive change in his demeanor but just from his expression, anyone could tell that he was plagued by his own demons.
Aiven would have risen from his seat when Mieu beat him to it. The little girl bravely stood in front of Simos, snapping him out of his brooding silence.
"Hm..? What is it, little sister?" Simos asked.
"Remus," she started softly, her voice filled with unabashed concern. And as if instructed, she raised her doll until it was face to face with the boy.
Simos stared at the doll who was the mirror-image of his sister. The forever eerie smiling face of the doll seemed to warp the moment it was separated by only a few centimeters from Mieu's body.
"Delica said...she said she would take care of those who passed, just as you took care of the living. And she said,” Mieu paused, eyes downcast for a second, until she raised them with a soft expression on her face, “you don't have to worry, Simos."
His eyes were locked on the gemstone that stored the young lich. It was obvious that at the distance Simos could hear his sister's voice as she, in turn, gave her brother reassuring words of comfort that was too personal for Aiven to eavesdrop on.
"I see," the boy replied, his usual goofy expression was back, and he lifted the demon lordling for a bear hug.
"Ooof! Wait, wait..! Just Delica! I'm-I'm not included," she complained while being engulfed in his embrace. Sandwiched between them was the innocent doll.
Probably realizing that they were exhibiting some unnecessary public display of affection, Simos good-naturedly laughed and spied Aiven at the corner of his eye. He spread his arms as if inviting him to also jump into his arms.
A vein popped out of his forehead, "stop fooling around," Aiven admonished harshly, not moving an inch from his seat.
Simos didn't take his rejection seriously and continued in his good mood.
The laughter and boyish smile could melt the hearts of a thousand mothers. This boy's specs were a really high class, it was no wonder the Emblems had taken him as a hero candidate. Then Simos breathed deeply and faced Cuboid once again, "I wanted to apologi.."
"Oh there is no need, Suzerain," Cuboid's calming atmosphere was contagious. There were no ill emotions behind her words and she seemed genuinely concerned that her masters had felt burdened by her past. "How long will you apologize to us servants? The blood debt has been paid, and more."
"I understand, so I assume that your request doesn't involve any revenge?" he answered seriously.
"Yes," a sudden mana contract appeared in front of their party. Since it only involves their party, no outsider could see the manifestation of the contract. "When I left, I also left my family. My [summoning request] was for you to find my only living relative, my younger sister."
Ding!
Cuboid's Quest: Familiar's Summoning Request
Cuboid's living memory was sparked by finding her shadow's past home.
After retelling her story, she has entrusted you to find out her long-lost relative.
Quest Requirements:
Successfully summoning undead familiar, Cuboid
Finding the birthplace of Cuboid
Affection points must be above fifty (50)
Quest Completion:
Find the living relative of Cuboid
Quest Failure:
Unable to meet quest requirements
Difficulty: D
Reward: D
Accept Decline
It was a simple and harmless request, and it really fits the meek nature of Cuboid.
And just like before, they accepted. The request had long been accepted by Delica when she initially made a pact with her familiars, still, this contract would make it possible for them to extend this request to her party members.
"However..." Cuboid hesitated.
"It isn't as simple as that, now is it?" Aiven finished. He had a rough idea of where this was going.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Cuboid nodded. "My sister is missing," she paused as if conflicted, her perfect brows furrowed, "I had run away from this burden only to find myself once again in a similar role...please," she almost grabbed Simos' hands but she stopped herself, "please know that the quest prevents me from giving any more details."
After she spoke those words, her expression cleared, and her voice became normal once again as she resumed her genial noble mask. "Ah, our lunch is here."
Cuboid and her maidservants, now carrying a trolley filled with food, continued their act. But their attention was naturally all focused on spoiling Mieu. The familiars' image of a soft-hearted lady giving her affection to nameless pitiful children was convincing.
Aiven finally took his eyes away from the painting-like scene below and decided it was time to take his distance from the balcony and its peculiar designs.
As someone who had been obsessed with Babel, Aiven had already noticed the intricate magic circles covering the arches and pillars of this establishment. These were interwoven as decorations for the Pavillion, which was, admittedly, a novel use for [rune spells]. He could easily gauge them to be more or less at the superior tier. A few talisman cast along the wallpaper were equally sturdy and none seemed to be used for spying, but were actually worked specifically to prevent that.
This craftsmanship could only be attributed to a master.
The security on their inn was lacking and they could only use those on the basic side in terms of concealment magic since, from the start, their party must reflect their status as low-leveled adventurers.
With the status of the pavilion, this could be the only place for them to discuss their more conspicuous reports.
"Can you repeat that?" Simos said, pausing midway from filling his plate with food that was spiced with too many herbs he can't identify. "When did we own a mercenary group?"
"We don't, Ulfr does," Aiven replied nodding at Cuboid's direction. The working contract she had given to them also hold the newly formed mercenary unit which was composed of mainly the bandits under Maco's leadership. "They're working for legitimizing their operations."
"Really now, is it out of loyalty, you think?" Simos also stared at where Aiven was pointing at.
Lady Desme, who had appeared out of nowhere to this town had already cemented a bridge of connections to the locals. At the heart of it all, she had been busy attending balls, soirees and even donating a reasonable amount of silvers in all the right places. A successful social butterfly with a deceptively generous wealth of gold. The subtle secrecy of her house also acted as a lure for the bored and the curious.
However, the fact that she was recruiting for her own personal mercenary group was not wide-spread.
"They were using her," Aiven replied plainly. A fallen military house would definitely be compatible to form hired swords, Aiven seemed to suggest.
A fallen banner still had options for their reclamation. According to the law of man, for a house to fall, the Herald should either be dead without reaching a form of succession, or they were renounced, or their nobility was dismissed by the Regalia.
But each heraldric caste system provides special limitations and privileges for each. For the bronze banners, the only will of succession was only through descendancy. Any other form of consanguinity of any degree would not be given any consideration. This was because their position was only taken by force of might.
With the Oreindr, having no herald or any legitimate successor, their Rust-iron bronze title was stripped off. And so, the only way for them to reclaim their banner was by the old ways of accumulating meritorious act on the battlefield and the fastest way for that was through forming mercenary units.
But after the demon war, there was a huge drop in numbers of these hired mercenaries. There was no more job opportunity for mercenaries and a newly-formed one would be hard-pressed to make their notoriety known.
"If Cuboid said it'll be fine, then let's just trust her. She is after all the one in the field, so her judgment would have better weight," finding novelty at the idea, Simos replied as if the person herself was not there in the same room with them. Still, for the bandits to move in a direction that they didn't foresee was also interesting in its own right.
This was, after all, just a way to dispose of their traceable loots and to test the infiltration prowess of Delica's familiars.
Now that they have used Oreindr, would the Emblems take note of one struggling fallen house trying to re-establish itself? Would they make the connection?
Not that it matters.
If they did make a connection and decided to attack Cuboid's group, Delica could easily severe the connection and summon them.
Undead familiars were independent beings which can't be traced back to their summoner. Even if there was a secret method, Delica had long been enclosed under Mieu's holy elemental protection, so there shouldn't be much risk for this 'baiting tactic.'
It's one of the reasons they can't get a hold of communication on Ilium's group who were hopefully being safely chased by the higher-ups of Cessine.
When Aiven resumed to his brooding, Simos gestured for him to eat, "have a little faith in Delica."
Aiven's blank expression wavered a bit at the conviction in his comrade's eyes. And all he could do was agree.
Afterall, they can't directly interfere now. The undead familiars are out of their hands the moment they split towards Runsaer.
"What else did I miss?" his friend added. Then seeing Aiven's plate still empty, he grunted something under his breath, "But seriously, eat something solid already. Having coffee as your only sustenance...really we shouldn't be starving, right? I did left enough silvers when I went out."
"You sound like Delica," Aiven answered snatching his plate since Simos had taken it upon himself to serve him his own portion of the food.
"You look so ragged, even my maternal instincts gets triggered," he answered grudgingly. "After this, we could go to the inn's courtyard. I just erected some training dummies, what do you say?"
"I refuse," Please, you twitching to beat me to shape, is the reason I am this beat! Trying to escape the subject, Aiven pointed his fork to Simos' identity ring, "Your class?" With his question, Simos easily took his hints.
"Hrghh, there's nothing interesting at Exine," he replied while his mouth was still full.
"You...got rejected?"
"No, but I'll get one eventually," the boy said with a forced cheer. It was clear that Simos hadn't even applied to any of the available apprenticeships at Exine even after spending close to a full month at the city-fortress.
It's impossible to push him to commit to a class, after all, he had been yapping about secret classes and dark classes since they were back at the training grounds.
It'll take a nightmarish encounter to even acquire a dark class and more than luck and divine intervention to stumble on those secret classes. Roaming aimlessly at the surface of Frear would not do him any good.
"Speaking of class, how's yours?" he asked in turn while giving Aiven a once-over as if gauging from his appearance the answer to his question.
"Busy," Aiveen uttered one word, dismissing the question. Just with that, Simos knew that his friend was also on the same zero progress in terms of their class hunting.
He was about to give up on the subject but then Aiven pulled out a piece of parchment. It was a map of the town with some scriptures and markings still crisp from its newness.
"No wonder," Simos exclaimed in excitement, tracing the ink marks on the map, "Can't believe you've finished finding the taverns here at Fellen... Autumn Haust, Creak Braka, these taverns should be easy---"
Aiven raised his hand for Simos to stop and pointed at the red markings on the establishments he had identified. Enlightened, Simos started to mutter, "you've already checked them? This fast?" He made a funny expression and unconsciously looked at his inventory bracelet which now had the copper guild plate and treasury identity orbs. "Did you even sleep while I was gone?!"
"Never better," seeing his normally relaxed friend's troubled look, he remarked, "I didn't bring Mieu tavern-hopping."
The statement took Simos aback, then there was a moment of relief passing through his eyes until it reverted back with a panicked halt, "...then you've left her alone?!"
His emotions were really easy to read, "You think Delica would let me?" he mockingly said and tapped twice on the center of the map that was laid bare on between Simos' hands.
"Orphanage," Simos repeated the markings on where Aiven's fingers had led. Then his gaze raised outside the balcony and there, opposite to the pavilion was the white prestigious facade of the church of the eight gods and along its courtyard was an orphanage, he was on a verge of a sigh when he added, "Let me guess, Delica?" the silence answered his question, and he shifted nervously, "well, I guess, the holy grounds is the best place for the princess' affinity training. And I don't suppose that you found Cuboid's orphaned sister in that place?"
"Nothing's that convenient in this world."
"Thought so," they continued their discussion while filling themselves with painted roast chicken, garnished strips of pork, and something Aiven was sure to be inedible with how dizzyingly colorful it was.
Simos was still being updated when a bell was suddenly rung. At the other side of the door came a voice, Radius in his footman persona no less, announcing for someone who wishes to enter their balcony.
Before they could recover, a flash of green and jewels literally jumped out of the doorway straight to Cuboid. Somehow, the two maids were unmoved by the sudden intrusion even when they heard a shrill voice of a wailing woman.
"Desme, my dear, are you unhurt?" She had a beautiful alto voice, and when Simos finally got passed his initial surprise, he was able to have a good look on their visitor (or more likely, Desme’s), and found himself facing a pale lady who was hugging Cuboid on the nape, who seemed too accustomed on the woman’s outburst of emotions, to voice any complaints.
“When I've heard of your accident I was so worried I rushed here!" Probably in mid-thirties, the emotional woman was dangerously pushing her full weight on the frail shoulders of Cuboid. She would have continued in her lament when she finally realized that the lady she was putting in a chokehold had guests.
Flustered, she straightened in a very noble-like stance and smiled widely that her laugh lines became taut but there was no happiness in her smile, "ah right, you've brought those ingrate who almost got you injured, you are too kind for your own good!" her scolding had a tinge of anger and she sharply looked at the three of them, but then, she froze as she took in their appearance.
Simos was too alert at the woman's negative remarks that he stood up in respect. The gap of commoners and nobles were like the Bermuda seas, so it was normal for any person of Cuboid's circle to come bearing ill-will towards them. But for some reason, Mieu was only staring at the older lady with wide eyes, and Aiven was nowhere to be found.
When Simos looked behind his shoulder, he saw his dark-haired friend, crouching under his shadow as if willing to disappear from the room. His face was unusually showing a bewildered expression and beads of sweat were forming on his brow.
"Mother?" Mieu suddenly said and went to the older lady with the doll still cradled in her arms.
The word somehow worked like a trigger and the woman, Mieu called 'Mother', became more expressive on her worries that tears were brimming on her lashes. "Oh dear, oh dear, darling, is that you little Mieu? Come closer, we're you also hurt? Truly what unfortunate souls to suffer such an incident. Tell mother everything," she continued, sobs were punctuated on each sentence, and her hands were all over the little girl checking for injuries like a fussy grandmother doting on her babe. "You two, Nial and Tine, how wonderful of you to take care of this precious cute little girl. Aren't you being too adorable yourselves?"
"Why is she here?" Aiven muttered under his breath, his face ashen, as he hid behind Simos.
"What's happening?" he whispered back, also confused and alarmingly getting concerned at the weird actions of his friend.
"Where's your sister? Hoh, to leave you unattended, how dreadful!" the older lady remarked with her words turned in anger.
But before she could finish her words, Aiven already stepped out. "I'm here! I'm here!"
It was rare for him to hear Aiven shout, and rarer still for him to repeat his precious words. His pained expression was clearly caused by the emotionally-stricken lady who seemed to always jump to her own conclusion.
"Mother, Ainee didn't left me. If Remus wasn't there, then Ainee would have been hurt!" the words of Mieu put the old lady at ease. But it made all her attention came crushing to Aiven. Within moments, she was hugging Aiven.
"Oh you poor, poor girl, you must have suffered," she cooed while patting Aiven on the head.
In the span of a minute, the woman had cuddled and put her hands on all females, or supposedly females, inside the room. It was too fast that Simos was left standing still, still trying to wrap his head around things when the woman came face to face with him, "and lo, who is this?"
She was deceptively taller than what he first assumed. She could easily be taller than his father in his prime. And despite wearing all the required revery for a lady, green embroidered dress, expensive gems and stones, and hair in a pristine spinster-like bun, there wasn't any semblance of gentility in her bearing as she stood imposingly in front of him.
"My name is Remus, my lady," he started, not breaking his casual calm as he bowed.
"I see, I see, Remus," she was smiling amiably, her hands strongly on her back in an almost military fashion. Her wizened eyes roamed meticulously at the balcony, the fragile porcelain tea sets with gold trimmings, freshly baked pastries and the succulent lunch, until it rests on the other occupants of the room, all were beautiful, adorable girls of different ages. They all looked like flowers blooming in a garden. As if relishing the scene, she reluctantly took her eyes away and went back to the only male present during this simple midday meal. Dissatisfaction was evident on her face.
"Oh how lovely, to be surrounded by beauties? Aren't you too early to be this proficient?"
"Pardon?" Simos' ears became strained at the undisguised aversion in her words.
"Oh, nothing, nothing. For the one who saved young Miss Ainee, you must be rewarded, here take this," she pushed a full purse into his side and literally kicked him out of the room.
"Wa---," before he could refuse, the door had already slammed in his face.
The sound was still ringing in his ears, as he felt the weight of the reward on his palm. He was still stupidly looking at the closed door when he heard a man beside him saying," this must be the first time you met the Saintess?"
"Saintess?"
Dressed in a suit of a knight with a medallion pinned onto his chest, the man who spoke had the appearance of a guard. Normally, a guard would be stiff with their sense of honor and duty, but his relaxed stance was not something he hadn't seen before, especially when the guards were dealing with green-eared children. When Simos remained stupefied, he chuckled and clapped him on his shoulder, "questionable, I know."
"Saintess..?" Simos repeated, unconvinced if he heard the title correctly. He crossed his arm, chin tucked while tapping his feet impatiently as his brain tried, with great difficulty, to link the weird pushy woman to a light, world tier class which was said to be god-blessed. "Why would a Saintess..."
We're they found out?
The whispered notion came unintendedly that his whole body came to an attentiveness that must have been noticed by the guard. Slowly, Simos uncrossed his arms, metal links shifting on his armor. His blue eyes were shadowed but were abnormally sharp as he gazed at the knob of the door with an unreadable expression.
But he forcedly dismissed the idea. If they did get found out by a high ranking official of the church then they should have long been detained and quartered before they could even blink.
When his eyes matched with the guard, he saw that the man had taken a step back and his hand on the pommel of his sword.
"Name's Remus, you must be..?" Simos broke into his usual goofy smile and raised both his hands, palm up, showing his good intentions. He made his voice mirror the carefree tone of the guard before. The armored man similarly dropped to a confused look as if debating what came over him to be wary of a low-level adventurer, young enough to be his nephew.
"Melfius, Squad leader of Saintess Cleo's Order," he answered, and gave a nod of acknowledgment to Simos. Melfius looked like he didn't intend to give his title but the situation seemed to have been diverted for him to do so.
Simos also nodded, and then he started to snicker, just like any young bright-eyed boy, "What luck, can it be that the Lady is the same Saintess of the Drowned Stone? You know, the same Trusted of the Hero Yuusha? But it can't be, right?"
"It's the very same," Melfius answered and he then relaxed when he saw the boy with his jaw dropping to an inch. The comical shock made Simos looked more like a youngster whose dreams seemed to have been crushed.
The guard obviously interpreted his reaction as the same heartbroken youths who had undeniably been jaded after meeting his eccentric mistress. Denial was clearly on Simos’ face but he couldn't utter even a single complaint especially with the guard as his audience.
The brutish woman who mercilessly kicked Simos out after she put her hands all over his companions, was apparently one of the eight legendary, honorable, grand trusted of the “Hero of the Seven Rivers”.
Before he could open his mouth to speak, the door of the balcony swung open, and he has forcibly admitted back again with Aiven taking his wrist in a death grip, "Brother Remus! Thank the gods you are still here, I've cleared everything to Mother Cleo, brother," he said in emphasis that even the hallway could hear his words.
"You hadn't told me you'd met such an amazing person!" Simos elatedly answered, but a bit of grievance on his tone can be heard at being clueless about this development while he was away at Exine.
"It was meant as a surprise," Simos doubted it, "I know how highly you look up to the Hero Yuusha that I wanted to introduce you formally to Mother Cleo, before saying anything," Aiven stated with a very forced smile that it was painful to look at.
Simos shot him a look as if saying how-can-you-forgot-something-so-important!? Are-you-insane!?
["I didn't forget, I would have told you, eventually, I just shoved it deep into my sub-consciousness, willing for it not to resurface again,"] Aiven answered in a slip of a hand.
Simos wanted to ask if it was really that traumatizing but Aiven only continued to have a strained smile, as they entered the balcony and faced, once again, Mother Cleo.
----------------------------------------
[https://img10.deviantart.net/58a4/i/2017/240/2/2/illustration_mjt_by_evangeline333-dblngeu.jpg]