Redmont Manor,
Serisis.
7:49 p.m. 18 th Banem 1092.
“I’m an A.I.”
Lunette’s confession rang like hammer against wood, sending the room into a tense silence. The songstress’s hands trembled as she struggled to hide her growing unease and fear, prompting her to turn away from Kashi in fear of seeing his reaction. Despite convincing herself otherwise, it appeared Lunette did not truly believe Kashi wouldn’t have an adverse reaction to her bombshell.
The silence continued for a while longer, each moment increasing Lunette’s panic. Luckily, just before her nerves frayed altogether, someone grabbed her shaking hands. Lunette looked up to see Kashi standing in front of her, lips inched up in a somewhat sad smile.
“You were honest with me,” Kashi said as he closed his hands around hers and then looked into her eyes. “Now, it’s my turn.” The daeben took a deep breath. “I do not care that you are an A.I. I like to—no,” he remarked with a shake of his head, and then continued, “I want to believe that there’s more to us than what those who made us intended. No, that’s not it, either. I need to believe we are more than our whatever our creators intended.”
“Creators?” Lunette muttered, brow raised in confusion. “No way. It can’t be,” she exclaimed as he covered her mouth with her hands. “Are you an A.I too?”
Thwack!
“Of course not!” Kashi rebuked with a snort as he stretched his hand into a knife and playfully chopped Lunette’s head. “But, to be honest, I am not so sure it is much better.” The daeben took a deep breath and then said, “You know how I always refer to the ‘me’ in the real world by Suzuki?”
“Mhmm,” confirmed Lunette with a nod as she massaged her head. “I thought it was weird but didn’t want to pry.”
“I see. It was that obvious, huh?” Kashi murmured as he turned around and looked at his reflection in the obsidian mirror. Lunette had done an impressive job with his hair, choosing to cut down the sides and combing the middle back in a sleek waterfall that fell below the daeben’s shoulders. The hairstyle fit nicely with the daeben’s sleeveless dress code, adding a roguish aura and charm to his profile.
Kashi acknowledged his reflection with a brief smile and then, steeling his resolve, turned around and faced Lunette once again. The daeben drew in a deep breath and began confessing, “Truth is, I am only a split personality created by Suzuki to help with a trauma he experienced as a child.”
Lunette’s eyes widened in shock, but she immediately recalled what Kashi told Rider about him being Razznik. “…Razznik?”
“Yes,” confirmed Kashi. “Razznik was also a split personality made by Kashi. He was created to aid Suzuki deal with his endless rage. When his mission was complete, Razznik had to die.” The daeben fell silent as he stared at his hands, “One day. I, too, will have to die when my mission is complete.” Kashi let out a bitter smile as he continued, “Do you want to know the worst part?”
“What?”
“I don’t feel at all bad about this,” Kashi revealed. “I have accepted that one day I will die like it’s a natural cycle of life. It’s the only restriction placed in us by Suzuki to prevent a situation where we try to fight him for supremacy of the body.” The daeben looked at Lunette and said with a light shrug, “Since you’re honest, I thought I should let you know. I can die at any time, without warning. Initially, I didn’t care at all. But for some reason, I find myself concerned about how you’d feel when I eventually die.”
Kashi sighed as he muttered, “I think I finally understand how Razznik felt. Wonder if I’ll feel the same when I di—“.
“Stop!” Lunette yelled, nearly causing Kashi to jump in shock. Tears brimmed in the songstress’ eyes as she punched him and complained, “Why do you keep talking about death so nonchalantly? Who says you’re going to die?”
“Life does,” Kashi replied with a bitter smile. He grabbed Lunette’s hands and then held onto them with his left hand while he gently wiped her tears with his right. “Two personalities should not inhabit the same body for longer than necessary. It’ll only result in tragedy for both somewhere along the line.”
Still crying, Lunette frowned, half in anger and half in resignation, “What are you talking about?”
“Ah, how to explain this,” mumbled Kashi as he released Lunette’s arms. “To understand, you must first know who Suzuki is and how we came to be in this situation.” The daeben led Lunette over to a couch and then sat down with her. “Everything started just about ten years ago when Suzuki was 10…”
Lunette listened as Kashi relayed the truth about the relationship between Suzuki, his parents, and further on down the line, Razznik and now himself. By the time he was done, Lunette’s eyes were red with tears, brimming with the pain Kashi was incapable of feeling. Covering her mouth, the songstress choked as she muttered, “Th-that’s horrible. None of you deserve to live like this.”
“It is what it is,” replied Kashi with a shrug, and then swiftly changed the topic to avoid talking about himself any further. “What about you? What is it like, being an A.I? Any cool stories from your past?”
“Not particularly, no,” Lunette replied with a shake of her head. “Before L.N.E, Shadow and I were kept in stasis because the developers were not sure what to do with us.”
“Stasis?” Kashi asked with a raised brow. “What’s that like?”
Lunette shivered, her gaze wavering as she muttered, “Initially, it was terrible. We were kept in what was essentially a void. We didn’t need anything to survive, so the developers did not put much thought into designing an environment specifically for us.” The songstress wrung her hands as she revealed with a tight smile, “It was hell for us. You know how humans go into their own heads when they are alone or bored? For an A.I, it’s a billion times worse. We could go through a million thoughts in the span of a second, which made the boredom and lack of stimuli much more overbearing than you can ever imagine.” Lunette sighed as she admitted, “If Shadow wasn’t there, I might have lost whatever ‘mind’ an A.I has.”
“Oof…” Kashi muttered as he looked at the songstress with pity. “That does sound terrible. And you were in there until Line ? For how long?”
“No. Not until Line,” Lunette corrected. “Three years after our designer left, some bigshot repurposed a small world he designed for us to live in, populated with other A.Is.” Smiling, Lunette looked at Kashi as she revealed, “Later, that little world would become the location for King’s Journey.” Lunette laughed as she said, “Shadow and I didn’t really participate in much of King’s Journey. We just traveled the world, seeing new things and meeting new people.”
“Oh! So, that’s what you were doing in the swamps!” Kashi clapped in realization. “I’ve always wondered why you went there. So, you’re the explorer type.”
“Mhmm,” Lunette replied with a small laugh. “I like singing to people I’ve never met before. It’s my dream that one day, I’ll have sung to at least one person in every corner of the world.”
“That’s a big dream.”
“Yeah, it is,” Lunette confirmed with a chuckle. “The programmer who made Shadow and I, Rai-sensei, always said he loved my voice. He said he wanted everyone in the world to hear my songs one day.” The songstress revealed a proud smile as she added, “Very few people know this, but he developed the first real virtual world just for Shadow and me. It was only after he left that Genaco took the world and upgraded it to the one in King’s Journey.”
Kashi raised a brow, amused by Lunette’s overall body language. “You seem like you really like this Rai-sensei.”
“Yeah,” Lunette agreed with a happy grin. “Rai-sensei was the coolest person you’ll ever meet.” The songstress paused for a moment and then added with an embarrassed smile, “He did not do too well with people, though. Tended to rub many the wrong way at times.”
“How so?” the daeben asked, intrigued by this character.
“He was far too straight-laced,” Lunette boasted with a wide grin. “Everything had to be by the book, and on time with Rai-sensei. The people in his group really hated him because of this.” The songstress’s eyes gaze dropped, her tone turning somber as she muttered, “I guess that’s why he left soon after our final tests. We were the only things holding him back. Once he was done with us, he left for good.”
Kashi hesitated, unsure of what to say in this situation. Eventually, however, he muttered, “Sorry. That sucks.”
Lunette shrugged. “Like you said, It is what it is.” The songstress revealed a bitter smile as she said, “I don’t mind that he left, just that we never got to say goodbye. While developing us, he made it his personal mission to ensure we did not suffer in any way. And for that, I will be eternally grateful.”
Momentary silence descended onto the room as both Lunette and Kashi dwelled in their thoughts, recalling memories from a distant past.
Knock! Knock!
A series of knocks on the door pulled them out of their reverie. Kashi shook his head and rose to his feet as he called out, “Come in.”
“Yes,” a maid replied as she opened the door and walked in. “Master Kashi, Ms. Falsetto, it’s din—” The maid froze in place, mouth agape as she stared at the daeben.
Kashi raised a brow and remarked as he pointed at his face, “Is there something on my face?”
The daeben’s action seemed to pull the maid back to reality as she immediately bowed and frantically apologized, “M-My apologies! That was rude of me.” The maid winced, hating herself for staring for so long. It’s not like it was the first time she had seen a handsome man before. It was just that the contrast between Kashi’s previous messy hairstyle and this charming, rogue-like style was much too great.
“Do not worry. We do not mind,” Lunette said with a hint of pride in her eyes as she looked at Kashi. The songstress turned to the maid and asked, “You were saying something earlier?”
“Ah, yes!” The maid exclaimed upon recalling her purpose. “Dinner’s ready. I am to escort you to the dining hall.”
Kashi looked at himself in the mirror and murmured, “Hmm… I should probably change, but I’m not sure I have any formal attire in my inventory.”
“I knew this day would eventually come.” Lunette’s lips spread in a smile as she took out a dashing jet black coat, pants, and a formal shirt from her inventory. “I had someone make a pair of formal wear for you just in case something like this happens. I even got them to dye everything black like you like it. Go on, put them on!”
Kashi revealed an uneasy expression as he looked at the articles of clothing. From what he could see, there was an undershirt, an actual long-sleeved frilly shirt, an undercoat, and finally a leather knee-length leather coat to complete the look. These were far too many layers for someone who was used to wearing just one shirt.
However, when he caught Lunette’s eyes, he could not find it in himself to disappoint her. So, he accepted the clothes, placed them in his inventory, and then equipped them. A flash of light enveloped Kashi, hiding his body as his old clothes were removed and replaced with the new ones.
The light disappeared a moment later, revealing an uncomfortable Kashi tugging at his coat’s sleeves, oblivious to the stars in both Lunette and the maid’s eyes.
Lunette caught the maid’s gaze and had to stifle a laugh as the maid sent her a discrete thumbs-up. She instead pushed Kashi’s hand from his sleeves, saying as she patted out the creases on the coat, “Stop messing around. You look handsome.”
“If you say so,” muttered Kashi as he resigned himself to fate. “I’ll bear with it until tomorrow.”
“Oh, this is only for tonight,” Lunette said, causing Kashi to raise a brow in disbelief. “Don’t worry!” she consoled with a chuckle. “You can wear whatever you like tomorrow. It’s the Maggots’ Guildmaster’s stage. You should wear what you’re most comfortable with.” She, however, then added with a sly smirk. “I do have a few gifts, though. I don’t know if you’ll like them.”
Kashi looked at Lunette with an apprehensive gaze. “What are you planning?”
“You’ll see,” Lunette replied with a smile as she opened her inventory. The songstress tapped on an option, and light enveloped her. When it dissipated, Kashi was left speechless by the stunning, strapless, sky-blue gown which hugged Lunnete’s waist and flowed down to her feet. A knee-high slit at the gown’s front added an innocent, sultry allure to the dress as it accentuated her beautiful legs.
Kashi stared at Lunette for a while, and only after he firmly resisted the urge to take out his sketchbook did he clumsily mutter, “…You’re beautiful.”
Lunette blushed, her cheeks beet red as she leaned into, and then pecked Kashi on his cheek. “Thank you.” With that, she wrapped her arms around Kashi’s and then followed the maid to the dining hall.
Kashi and Lunette followed the maid through the manor’s beautiful hallways, through a flight of stairs, to the second floor, where they finally stopped in front of a large pair of ornate double doors.
A pair of guards stationed at the doorway cocked their heads in greeting. They then proceeded to push the doors open, revealing a lavish dining hall with a long white and rose-colored table at its center.
Kashi and Lunette walked into the hall, shocked to find that they were the last to arrive. Everyone else was already seated.
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King Chu sat at the table’s head, with King Parissius and King Xafie seated at either side. Two seats were left open next to King Parissius, most likely intended for Kashi and Lunette.
Leila, Absalon, Jade, Stryke, and Larsial sat next to King Xafier. In contrast, Shadow, Miote, Syèl, Shokō, and Asha followed Kashi and Lunette’s empty seats. Both Rosendun’s and Aygorzi’s ministers sat at the remaining seats following the Maggots.
Upon entering the room, Kashi’s new look caught the eyes of all the Maggots present, leading to several thumbs-ups getting sent Lunette’s way. If it were not for the solemnity of the royal dinner, there would have definitely been quite a few whistles and cheers.
Thankfully, King Parissius was eager to set the mood for the evening. The king took one look at Kashi and immediately shot to his feet, clapping. “Ms. Lunette Falsetto, I never thought it possible to turn Kashi into a respectable gentleman.” He mock-bowed as he continued, “I will forever be in awe.”
Lunette barely had a chance to respond when King Xafier left his seat and walked up to Kashi. The dwarf clapped his hands around the daeben cheeks and exclaimed with a loud guffaw, “Never thought I’d get to see yer forehead. You look mighty proper. Wouldn’t have recognized ya were it not for the beautiful lass.” King Xafier beamed as he looked at Lunette and offered a bow, “Miss, you are a woman of miracles, if I’ve ever laid eyes on one.”
With the ice officially broken, King Chu also rose from his seat and approached the couple. His aging lips cracked into a small smile as he confessed, “Earlier I doubted such a man could truly be the famed Kashi of the Hopeful Maggots. Now, he does look a man of import.” The king winked at Lunette as he praised, “Truly, women do bring out the best in us ruddy men.”
“Your Majesties, please do not tease me so,” Lunette responded with an embarrassed chuckle. “All I did was give him a little makeover. The looks are all his.”
King Parissius snorted as he glared at Kashi. “Who cares if the looks are his if he can only cover them in mud.” Thrilled at the opportunity to put one over the daeben, he emphasized, “A diamond is only beautiful because it shines. Stick it in mud, and no one will appreciate its value.”
Kashi, meanwhile, snorted in reply and grumbled, “It’s still diamond, though,” causing the room to erupt in raucous laughter at his expense. He intended to say something to get back his dignity, but a certain halben vampire suddenly showed up in front of him and pushed him to the side.
“Forget Kashi,” prompted Syèl, and then asked he pointed at his curly hair, which was securely tied into a ponytail, “Can I get a makeover too? I’ve got some ideas for this hair of mine.”
“Ooh, me too,” exclaimed Jade as she popped up beside the halben. “I’ve been stuck with this hairstyle since I got here! I need a change! Or, no wait. You might be busy. Where did you learn then? I need to change this style! Also. That dress. By God, it’s lovely! Who made it? Where? Do they take custom orders?”
Kashi could only stand off to the side as several Maggots surrounded Lunette, praising her fashion sense and her role in Kashi’s makeover. The daeben shook his head, smiling to himself as he walked over to his chair and took a seat.
Opposite him, Leila flashed a small smile as she admired his new look, “You do look good. I should get Lunette to design all your clothes moving forward.”
Kashi visibly shivered and tugged at his sleeves, “No way. I’m not wearing this outside this building.”
“Why not? It looks good,” Leila teased.
Kashi only snorted in reply, pleased when King Chu clapped his hands and guided everyone back to the table. The mood was warm and friendly as several maids approached the table with the first course. The Maggots and chiefs heaped praise on the chefs as they dug into the delicious food.
After a while of eating, King Chu looked at Kashi and asked, “So, Kashi. I am happy to have finally made your acquaintance after all this time. I have heard a lot about you.”
“Not all bad, I hope,” joked Kashi as he looked up from his meal.
“No. No. Certainly not all bad. There was some good sprinkled in the mix,” replied King Chu, drawing a round of laughter and amused chuckles from the room.
Kashi smiled as he took a bite out of the scrumptious meat. He washed down the morsel with a cup of juice (he didn’t like wine) and then looked at King Chu with a knowing smile. “I’m glad to hear that. Is there something you’d like to know? You look like you’ve had something on your mind for a while.”
“Hehe, was it that obvious?” King Chu questioned as he placed his mug on the table. He took a long look at Kashi, a stern gaze in his eyes as he asked, “I wanted to meet the man behind the Hopeful Maggots for a long time, just to ask a single question.” The hall turned silent as everyone paused to look at the king. “What is your end goal? What is it you want to achieve?”
Kashi paused, setting his fork down as he focused on King Chu. “Our end goal, is it?”
“No. Not the Hopeful Maggots’ end goal,” clarified King Chu. “Yours. As a man, what is it you want to have achieved by the end of your life? For some, it’s glory, some it’s love, and for many, wealth.” King Chu gazed at the daeben with an amiable but probing smile as he asked, “You can often surmise the measure of a man by what he hopes to achieve.”
Kashi’s lips spread in a light smile as he looked at King Chu. “What I hope to achieve… I suppose you could call it my dream?”
“Yes, your dream,” King Chu agreed with a nod. “That is an apt way of putting it. What is your dream, Kashi?”
“My dream, huh?” Kashi’s smile stiffened somewhat as he looked at the food on his plate. “Want to know the truth?” offered the daeben as he subconsciously tapped his fork against the food. The daeben turned to look at King Chu, his smile turning wry as he said, “I do not know what my dream is. I am at a stage in my life where I am still trying to figure out who I am as a person, let alone having some grand dream to aspire to.” The daeben released a self-deprecating chuckle. “I hope that does not disappoint you.”
King Chu shook his head, a bright smile on his face as he observed the daeben. “On the contrary, I find your answer to be quite refreshing. Countless men and women decide to pursue a grand idea without taking the time to master themselves first. Such people are often wont to give up when they find out they are not suited for that path after wasting countless precious years.” King Chu’s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Kashi. “You, on the other hand, are different. You have taken the time to explore what makes you, you before choosing your final destination. I applaud that.”
“Thank you,” Kashi replied with a somewhat forced smile. The daeben could not tell the truth. What dreams? Like he was allowed to have something like that. He was well aware of his own life expectancy. Having dreams would truly be foolish for someone like him.
Lunette, catching the strain in Kashi’s smile, reached under the table and squeezed his arm in support.
Kashi looked at Lunette with a smile of appreciation and then, with his mood reset, turned to King Chu and asked, “I sense deeper reasoning behind this question?”
“Mmm. There is one,” confirmed King Chu with a nod. “I am curious. What makes a man undertake the path you’ve chosen to tread? Despite fierce opposition from every corner, you seem determined to usher in a new age of peace, even if it’s through conquering other nations. That kind of zeal is quite uncommon. If you do not have a particular dream, may I ask what drives you? Could it be one of those quests, Summoned always talk about?”
Kashi froze for a moment, sending a stunned look at the king. Was that just an informed guess? If so, there was much more to this man than met the eye. However, more importantly, the daeben suddenly found himself stuck at the center of a crossroad regarding King Chu’s last question.
On the one hand, Kashi could lie, leaving King Chu none the wiser, or he could speak the truth, face the challenge head-on, and still steer the conversation towards victory.
Really, there was only one path the daeben was going to choose.
“Initially, it did start as a quest, yes,” admitted Kashi with a nod. “Early on, I received a daunting task to somehow unify the entire continent under a single flag. Luckily, the quest isn’t concerned with whose flag flies over the continent as long as I am instrumental in ensuring the final victor. I chose Rosendun’s flag because her king happened to be a friend of mine, and for a long time, the quest was all that mattered.” The daeben paused, hands tightening around his cup as he added, “However, somewhere along the line, things changed.”
Kashi looked at the Maggots gathered around the table with a warm gaze. “I do not think there is an exact moment I can pinpoint to, but at some point, I found myself surrounded by people I could trust. Men and women I would happily go into battle with. People with unique and interesting train of thoughts which often differed from mine.” The daeben wrung out a wry smile and then added, “Suddenly, it wasn’t about the quest anymore. I just wanted to see how far we could go as a Guild.”
Kashi laughed, revealing with a light shrug, “To be honest, I have always preferred to do things on my own. So this feeling of relying on others is quite new and refreshing.”
Kashi leaned back in his chair, revealing an embarrassed smile as he admitted, “So, yeah. If you ask what drives me right now, I’d say it’s a desire not to disappoint those who are and have been watching and supporting me. If that makes sense…”
“Imagine that,” Syèl mock-exclaimed from down the table as he stared at the daeben with a strange expression. “Little Kashi has grown into a man. Look at him confidently belting out sappy essays in public.”
“Did I say I don’t want to disappoint those watching me?” Kashi muttered with a teasing smile. “Clearly, there are some exceptions to that rule.”
“Ouch!” Syèl mock-winced and clutched his chest. “That was harsh, Cash. You shouldn’t discriminate!”
King Chu laughed as he looked at Kashi and said, “A man who is loved by and motivated by his guild. The future is truly in good hands.” The King gazed at a portrait of his wife that hung on the walls, a warm smile on his face as he advised the daeben, “Listen. As long as you do not lose that pure heart of yours, your guild will always prosper. Do not let success taint your perception of your comrades later in life. It will only lead to disaster.”
“You do not have to fear that with Kashi,” Leila teased with a fraction of a smile at the corner of her lips. “He doesn’t stay around the guild long enough to have an idea of how successful or not we are, nor would he care really if he knew. Kashi has many vices, but pride luckily is not one of them.”
“Hah! That’s good to hear!” exclaimed King Chu with a happy grin, after which, the King then looked at Kashi and said, “I am—”
Bam!
Before King Chu could finish his address, the dining hall’s doors busted open. The loud noise attracted all eyes to the doorway. A beautiful but disheveled red-haired beautiful woman stood, eyes rapidly scanning through the room.
“Ling-er, are you not going to greet our guests!?” King Chu heavily reprimanded, cheeks red with embarrassment at his daughter’s rude behavior.
“Oh? What’s that?” Chu Ling muttered absent-mindedly as she glanced at her father. Luckily, despite not actively listening, she had subconsciously paid attention to her the king’s voice due to his hardball training methods when she was a child.
Realizing her error, Chu Ling immediately clasped her hand to her chest and offered a short bow. “Chu Ling, daughter of King Chu Tianjo, ruler of Serisis, welcomes you all to this beautiful land. I apologize for my rude manners, but there is a matter that requires urgent attention.”
Leila, instantly deducting the most likely reason Chu Ling was here, shot up from her chair. “Is the orc with you?”
“No,” Chu Ling stated with a shake of her head. “He’s outside. We cannot risk bringing him into the manor without confirming how toxic he is and the chances of his poison being spread onto others.”
“Wise call,” Leila praised and then turned to Kashi with a stern look in her eyes. “It’s your turn. Are you certain you’re up for it?”
Kashi looked at Leila with a confident smile. “These kinds of situations are much more up my alley.” The daeben rose to his feet and then said to King Chu with an apologetic smile, “My apologies, Your Majesty. I must take my leave. It would seem my services are required.”
“It is of no concern,” King Chu assured with a wave of his hand. “This has been a productive dinner already. I am glad we were able to have this conversation.” He then turned to Chu Ling and said, “You will report when this is concluded, I trust?”
Chu Ling nodded once more and then turned to look at Kashi and Lunette, “Please, hurry. It seems there was a complication with the orc’s condition. He’s far worse than our shaman initially prescribed.”
Kashi bade Lunette goodbye, excused himself from the dining hall once more, and then left the room with Leila and Chu Ling. The daeben cast a curious glance at Chu Ling as they rushed down the hallway, intrigued by the half-midi.
Chu Ling felt his gaze and asked as she looked over her shoulder, “What’s the matter?”
“Excuse me,” Kashi apologized. “It’s just I haven’t seen many half-beastmen around. It’s fascinating.”
“No surprise there,” Chu Ling replied with a nod. “Inter-species relations is still heavily frowned upon, and there’s also the fact that most beastmen are incapable of reproducing with other species. My sister and I are a very rare case.”
“Oh, wow,” Leila murmured in adoration. “Was there any particular reason, or just a miracle?”
Chu Ling shrugged, revealing an unsure expression. “I am not sure,” she admitted. “I heard my mother found a herb while exploring the Forever Sea that increased the chances. But there was no confirmation as she was the only case.” The princess revealed a rare bitter smile as she expanded, “My mother was trying to find ways to make beastmen more appreciated in the continent. She figured if there were as many half-beastmen as there were half-elves, then relations between the races would improve.”
“I hear she passed,” Leila murmured in a soothing tone. “She sounds like a real visionary. I’m sorry.”
Chu Ling shook her head. “There is no proof she passed. She never returned after returning to the Forever Sea to once again seek out and study the herb. Legends say the Forever Sea is endless with countless islands. She might have gotten stuck somewhere. Someday, when I’ve settled all my royal duties and ensured Serisis is stable, I’ll venture out myself and find her.”
“Exploring the Forever Seas?” Kashi asked with a smile. “Make sure to call me when you’re ready. Or who knows, I might be the one who ends up calling you.”
“Oh?” Chu Ling happily exclaimed as she looked at Kashi. “You’re the adventurous type?”
“You could say that,” Kashi replied with a laugh. “Though I think Paris might even be more of a rogue than I am. You should take him with you.”
Chu Ling laughed as they approached the manor’s entrance. “Paris was a restless soul as a Prince. I wonder if he’s still got that adventurous streak with the weight of the crown on him.”
Leila chuckled as she advised, “Give him a valid reason to ditch the capital, and you’ll find out soon enough.”
“Hehe, I’ll keep that in mind,” Chu Ling stated as they walked through the main doors. She led the duo to an abandoned barn at the compound’s outskirts. They met a massive, intimidating orc, the beautiful Chu Ming and a herbalist standing over an unconscious, frighteningly skinny orc, and a traditionally short dwarf.
Chu Ming’s brows were matted with sweat as she struggled to maintain a healing bubble around the unconscious Durst, while the herbalist rapidly poured prepared concoctions into Durst’s mouth to slow down the corruption of the orc’s internal organs.
Chu Ling quickly carried out introductions between the Maggots and the rescue party before making way for Kashi.
Chu Ming, the herbalist, Rudega, and Ragnaf stared at the daeben with suspicion and wonder. They could not help but wonder how this daeben could salvage the situation. Unfortunately, they were out of options. They could only accept whatever help they got.
Kashi reacted to the disbelieving gazes with a smile. He raised his hand, and a portal appeared in front of him, out of which stepped a clearly discontent Rayatha Thorn.
“I was on the verge of a breakthrough—” Rayatha started to complain but then spotted Durst on the ground. A brief sniff of the air alerted the druid to the orc’s severe condition. Looking at Kashi, he asked, “Is he the orc you were asking me about?”
Kashi nodded. “Are you confident?”
Rayatha snorted. “A few days ago, this might have been impossible. Now,” he said as he pulled out some vials from his inner coat. “Now, this can serve as a fine test for my Blight-infused antidote…”