The evening sun had long since dipped beyond the horizon at this early hour due to the winter season. This left the world in cold darkness before a person was used to going to bed at other times of the year and they didn't change their habits now. Thus the streets of Vinedenne were still busy despite the darkness of the hour. This didn't bother these busy people and they went about their tasks without ever realizing the horrors which their world contained.
These horrors of course being the ones that I recently had discovered existed beneath all our feet in the world beneath this one. It all had initially sounded like some kind of cosmic space horror, though after asking some probing questions of my mage friend Ferherlyn had discovered it was much more whimsical in nature. According to the knowledge mages had it was more of a supernatural wonderland than pit of tentacled despair.
Fairies and goddesses alone were more than enough to cause the place to be terrifying however. Horror didn't require hideous monstrosities to inflict its damage upon one's heart after all. Honestly knowing what I know about even the fey alone was enough to make me very afraid to dip my toes into such a world. Archfey, if they exist in this world, are equal in power to gods according to myth. Not creatures I'd want to meet unprepared even if their irrational natures didn't combine with goddess level magic.
That however was an issue for another day. I had gone through my panic attack and recovered from it, in no small part thanks to my inner self Sub-chan reminding me of the cold logic. This “Root of Fantasy” is officially separated from the surface world by no small distance and was difficult to transfer between. If there were goddesses down there they were clearly happy enough already. It is either too difficult or outright impossible for them to come to the surface, otherwise they would have long ago.
I was here at Vinedenne Castle to additionally speak about my current plans with the lich Barthenor. Both the lord Quarely and Ferherlyn were trusted enough by me to make their voices important to what I went through with on the matter. Since I'm not outright destroying him something must be done about him. Just because I could keep the lich locked up forever doesn't mean that would be the correct move.
The three of us were currently sitting around a small table in the side room attached to the lord's chambers. This conversation would be important enough it needed to be kept private, yet disturbing enough in nature that a relaxing environment would be most conductive to human mental health. So this pleasantly snug room was perfect for a few friends to have a chat, a cozy fire blazing in the nearby fireplace to banish the winter cold.
I was still dressed in my winter attire, though the fuzzy ushanka style hat I normally wore had been removed for the time being. It was resting on the back of my chair as I sat boosted in my seat by a large folded blanket. Across from me on either my left or my right were my lord and mage friends.
“So you already know why I've asked you here today.” I half stated and half asked.
Quarely nodded, his right hand lifted to rest under his chin as he sat the chair in thought.
“It's about the lich you mentioned capturing before.” He said as if to catch everyone up. Something he was used to doing in his station. “You've come to some sort of decision and seek our advice I gather?”
“It is an honor as always.” Ferherlyn added with a solemn nod. “To be included as part of a goddess's inner circle. Especially one as well meaning as you Goddess Jenna.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted at him a bit.
“Well meaning?” I replied with slight exasperation. “As in 'despite my best intentions' or something?”
Ferherlyn looked taken aback and lifted his hands in defense, a slight hint of worry in his expression.
“Oh no no!” He stuttered. “I didn't mean it anything like that goddess!”
A sly smile came over my lips and I dropped my arms into my lap again. I also let out a small sigh and shrugged.
“It's fine old guy.” I said gently. “I'm just giving you a hard time.”
Once the poor mage had recovered from his worry fit I smiled and continued speaking.
“As you both know I've been keeping the so called 'Demon Mage' in custody in my goddess domain for almost two weeks no.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What you might not be aware of is that he's become quite the celebrity as of late. A word which hear means 'all the turbo nerds come begging me to be let in to my house to chat him up.' Something that's as fascinating as it is annoying.”
The nomenclature I had chosen initially confused to two of them, though Ferherlyn was quick to decipher my rather colorful language. He then sat back in his chair and looked down, seeming to be rather disappointed.
“Word travels fast in the realm of mages. I'm aware of the great interest the mages of the kingdom have taken in your prisoner my goddess.” He said with a frown. “I'll admit I've been deathly curious myself, though the idea of pestering you to interrogate your prisoner seemed quite beyond proper etiquette.”
It was Quarely's turn to look concerned as he looked to his head mage and then to me.
“Is that true?” He asked worriedly. “Mages from all over the kingdom have been trying to speak with this undead lich?” Then he looked at me. “Have you been allowing it?”
I nodded and gave him a small smirk, my hands lifted into the air at my sides for a moment.
“I've seen no reason not to. Honestly it allows me to listen in on their conversations and learn a great deal about them and their plans.” My smirk then faded away. “If there was actual danger to the situation I'd deal with it don't worry.”
Quarely seemed to let out a small sigh of relief and sat back in his chair.
“Of that I have no doubt goddess.” He said.
I nodded in his direction and then sat up a bit straighter in my chair. A sign I was getting serious with my topic of discussion again.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
“Seeing how well Barthenor seems to get along with the mage world I've come to the decision he can be let go.” I raised my left hand to cut off the incoming protests. “Not fully release him into the world dummies. It would be like a sort of house arrest. He'd be under supervision the entire time and not just allowed to go wherever he wanted.”
My two companions each spent some time thinking about my proposal without their emotions getting the better of them. It was certainly an incredibly precarious decision to make and had far reaching implications. They were both well aware I hadn't come to this decision out of nowhere and had obviously thought it through. Though considering my past actions they were probably at least slightly surprised I hadn't already gone and done it.
Quarely was the first to speak, looking over to me across the table with a curious look in his face.
“So you've not come to this decision without your reasoning.” He said with a serious edge still in his voice. “Will you please share with us what that is?”
Ferherlyn looked over to me with a nod of agreement, his right hand lifted to stroke through his beard. Something he did when he was nervous. He understood the implications of this much better than his lord counterpart.
“Of course!” I replied with a smile. “So anyway.” I began explaining. “Obviously someone who would go through with the process of becoming a lich has both incredible magical power and immense willpower. Barthenor thus is not only extremely gifted but knowledgeable as well. While his history might not be entirely positive, the amount of good he can do for society is absolutely staggering!” My hands were moving around in gestures as I passionately explained. “He really doesn't seem like that bad a guy and with my guidance I think he can really reform. Besides with the nature of magic itself awakening we have no idea when another actual goddess will show up in the world. Having someone as powerful as him and who lived at the end of the age of goddesses around means we have a powerful ally! You know if things were to take a turn for the worse.”
Both of them took a few moments time to think about my proposal. There was obvious merit to it of course, though it was an inherent risk. For me however the risk of being completely unprepared for another potential goddess was far worse than the risks involved with allowing a lich to wander around. A human lich I could deal with personally, not necessarily true with another goddess. It was pretty likely they would be older than me after all.
Quarely let out a long and deep sigh. He then shook his head and sat forward in his chair, his arms resting on the table in front of him.
“Have we already reached the point where we must depend on the monsters of old to aid as against even worse monsters?”
Ferherlyn clearly wanted to say something to comfort his old friend, though it was clear there was not much to say that would work. Instead he turned to me with a defeated look all his own, though his tempered by grim understanding.
“I'll admit your proposal has a great deal of merit.” The old man said. “I'm inclined to agree with it. I have trust that you will have in place contingencies for any potential escape attempts. Truly having a mage of his talents and knowledge around would be not only a great boon for society as a whole but as you said in the eventuality of another goddess appearing as well.” He smiled shyly. “Not that I don't believe you enough on your own goddess. But as you say having more allies can only be a good thing.”
With that piece said both Ferherlyn and I turned to wait for Quarely's answer. He spent a few more moments there leaning into the table in thought before he sat back up in his chair and let another sigh.
“Very well you two.” He said in defeat. “I will admit the prospect has great merit. Considering the risks involved compared to the risks of going without him its clear which is the better choice.” He sighed and shook his head. “My official council is that you should go through with this plan goddess. Surely another mage gallivanting around the kingdom can't make it too much worse. Regardless of his living or non-living status.”
There was a bit of insult taken by me at the suggestion I'd just allow the lich to gallivant around as it was said. I'd like to think even these two thought better of me than to go about my plans with that little oversight. Though the more I thought about it...
“I'm going to keep him on a short leash you know!” I said with a bit of a pout to my voice. “Its not like your goddess is that flippant when it comes to persons of this magnitude alright?”
There was a bit of a chuckle from Ferherlyn as Quarely seemed quite surprised at my reaction.
“I didn't mean offense dear goddess!” The lord said defensively, his hands raised again. “I merely was using a phrase to describe it is all! Not that I believe you'd truly let someone like him wander around.”
It was my turn to show mirth. I sat back in my chair and let out a little giggle before answering him.
“Yes yes Quarely.” I said. “You tiny cute man you!” I grinned happy to remind him of his place compared to my true size. I then got a bit more serious and rubbed my chin with my left hand. “Oh and on the topic of letting him mingle with others. There are some specific things I'll be banning him from talking about lest you worry.”
Ferherlyn looked very interested when I mentioned that and leaned in slightly, his hands meshed together on his lap.
“I know it might not be my place oh goddess.” He said humbly. “But might I ask what some of those topics might be?”
The irony of him realizing it wasn't his place to ask about forbidding knowledge, while asking to know what the forbidding knowledge is, was not lost on me. It was only natural for people to be curious, mages even more so than normal. It wouldn't be bad to at least give him the general idea. Besides that would give him an idea what to avoid anyway should he meet the lich.
I nodded and shrugged my shoulders.
“Very well.” I replied. “The lich, either due to his innate talents or his centuries of study, has learned to master most of the elements. Mages of today can barely handle two of them. I'm not about to let him go around spreading that knowledge willy nilly, as mastering as many as he has likely is through very terrible means.” I gave the mage a sharp look. “Same with becoming a lich itself. Obviously no one else is gunna learn how to go through with that!”
Ferherlyn sat back in his chair with a slight hint of disappointment in his voice.
“Of course goddess.”
It was obvious he was disappointed mostly because he wanted to know about such secrets, even if his moral compass wouldn't allow him to follow through with whatever terrible deeds such knowledge entailed. Sure this is how Ferherlyn operated but if I've learned anything about mages so far it was that he was an extreme exception to the rule. He knew just as well as I why these secrets would be contained. There was also the matter of goddess binding magic that the lich knew. Knowledge I'd have to extract for myself and also prevent the world at large from learning.
Quarely looked at his mage friend with sigh and then back at me.
“You shall hear no objections from me my fair goddess.” He said. “I have seen what some men get up to with only two elements and the thought of what they could do with more is frightening indeed. The mere fact goddess binding magic exists aside.” He then looked at me expectantly. “Is there any other concerns you would put before us?”
I shook my head and put my hands on the table, preparing to push myself up.
“No that's about it for now.” I replied with a smile. “If I need anything else from you I'll let you know. Thanks for giving me your input!”
“It is our pleasure to be allowed such an honor.” The lord replied with a bow of his head.
Ferherlyn nodded in agreement. “Verily. Please keep me well abreast of anything magical in nature you wish for a second opinion on. Though this offer is more out of my own curiosity I do admit.”
I let out another giggle as I pushed myself out of my chair. My tiny height meant my head was barely above the surface of the table, though we all were well aware of my true size.
“Sure thing guy!” I said smiling. “Now all I've got to do is build up a bit more trust between me and Barthenor. If you'll excuse me I'll be on my way.”
Some final pleasantries were said as I dismissed myself from the room. The door to the chamber I opened on my own, stepping out into the castle hallway before closing the door behind me. There was a single guard standing watch who was none the wiser of the conversation that had just been held behind him. This was due to me putting up a conversation cone without anything being aware of it. Never could be too careful, especially in a castle.
I gave a nod and a smile to the guard before turning and walking down the hallway. The men who stood watch in this lord's castle had gotten so used to my presence that they didn't collapse in fear at the sight of me anymore, though of course they were a bit on edge whenever I was around. This familiarity was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand I enjoyed being seen as a somewhat normal person, but on the other side of things it did negate some of the awe normally ascribed to me.
Once I was far enough down the hall I simply opened a portal back to my goddess domain and stepped through the golden gate. There were a few topics of conversation I'd like to go over with the lich personally. As the goddess of knowledge the things I had mentioned to my friends just now were things I simply needed to know the secrets of. I figured the bony mage would have no trouble dispensing his secrets to me.