Zycor spent the next eighteen days training with Aislin and Adria when they were free, and sparred and hunted with Aisha, Mylon and Baz when they were not. Around midday on day eighteen, an extravagant carriage arrived at the guild hall. It was covered in gold and some sort of glitter to maximize the glamor and sparkle even further. The carriage doors were thrown open and someone jumped out of the carriage and high into the sky. She landed without making a sound and exclaimed, “Hello~ everyone! Silvan has arrived!”
The strange lady was about as tall as Adria, and had a light tan. Along with her two human arms, she had eight legs protruding from her back that she kept wrapped around her abdomen as though she was hugging herself. She had four eyes, two bigger human looking eyes and two smaller versions above those. Her pink skirt settled from the jump over her white leggings. She put one hand on her hip as she donned a large smile, causing the charcoal, v-shaped shirt she was wearing to shift slightly. As she scanned the surroundings, she noticed Zycor to her right. She quickly turned towards him and pointed as she enthusiastically exclaimed, “I have come for you, Dar~ling!”
Zycor immediately went into flight mode and stated, “I am in danger here.”
He turned away to try and flee, but as he turned to run, Silvan was already behind him, a small dust cloud around her feet from the soft landing. Zycor staggered back, tripping over himself as he fell back. This ended up waking Novos, who was napping in the shade of the guild building. As Zycor looked up, Silvan was already in front of him. With an almost seemingly endless supply of joy, Silvan cheerfully claimed, “Why, aren't you the cutest thing~. I could just eat you up! Though, Adri may have my head if I do that, so I guess I won’t. Anyways~, I got a letter from her saying you needed someone to help you get stronger, eh?”
Zycor, at a complete loss, just stared with his mouth open, only managing to let out a few confused grunts. Novos quickly made his way over to Zycor, hopping on Zycors head and hissing at Silvan. Throwing open the guild doors, Adria walked out to investigate the commotion. She noticed the carriage and seemingly all of her energy was sapped from her. She looked around and noticed Silvan standing over Zycor, Novos on his head hissing at Silvan. She sighed and asked, “Silvan, what are you doing?”
Looking up from Zycor, Silvan straightened up and excitedly exclaimed, “Adri! I am so happy to see you again!”
Jumping forward with incredible speed, Silvan ended up in front of Adria seemingly in an instant. Silvan grasped and shook Adria’s hands up and down. “I missed you so much! How have you been? You never write to me, I started to think you forgot about me!” Silvan exclaimed as she slightly bounced with glee.
Adria, doing her best to remain upbeat, forced a smile and responded, “Silvan, I am happy that you are happy to see me and, for better or worse, I am also glad to see you. But please, you know I don’t handle high energy well. I ask that you tone it down.”
Silvan halted her actions and backed up as he apologetically quipped, “Oh my, I’m sorry Adri! I had almost forgotten! You always were the brooding type~.”
“I don’t brood… anymore.” Adria replied with a hint of slight annoyance in her voice.
Silvan giggled as she teased, “Sur~e you don’t. I believe you, don’t worry.”
Adria, with a more annoyed tone now, said, “Silvan, dear, shut up before I make you.”
Silvan retreated back to Zycor and, with a cheeky and sarcastic tone, cried, ‘Oh no! The big scary moth lady is trying to hurt me~. You’re my only hope darling, help me out.”
Adria, now furious, yelled, “Quit using my son as a shield and accept your fate you damned arachnid!”
Silvan let out a sarcastic scream as Zycor commented, “So this is what you meant by ‘difficult to deal with.’”
Zweicor scoffed, “This is more than just ‘difficult.’ A better description would have been ludicrous.”
Adria sighed, “Yes, it is. Zycor, this is my old friend, Silvan Aurora. She is a famous actor and singer. Silvan, this is Zycor, please take it easy on him.”
Knocking off the sarcasm and acting, Silvan stood up and outstretched her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zycor.”
“Can’t say the same, am I right Zy?” Zweicor scoffed again
Zycor shook her hand and responded, “Likewise.”
Zweicor rolled his eyes as he sighed, “Well, it’s probably better you are ignoring me right now anyways. This is probably our best ticket to strength, I would rather not have it ruined.”
Zycor thought in response, “I am glad we are on the same page now.”
Zweicor snapped at Zycor, “I knew you were listening!”
Silvan turned to Novos as she cheerfully remarked, “And I hope we can get along as well, little guy!”
Realizing Silvan was more of an annoyance than an immediate threat, Novos let out what appeared to be a scoff, and returned to the shade.
Silvan, who had been puzzled by the lack of emotion in Zycor’s responses, stood up and asked Adria, “Is he ok? He doesn’t seem to talk, or express himself much. *Gasp*, is that your doing?!”
Adria put her upper right hand on her face and slowly dragged it down as she muttered under her breath, “I knew it was a mistake inviting her in person. I should have sent Zy to her.”
Clearing her throat, Adria spoke up and responded, “No, this is not the result of my influence… entirely… probably. He went through some troubling times and lost everyone who would have taught him how to express emotions properly. But it’s not that he lacks them or is incapable of talking longer, it’s just that I was the main influence during his youth. And since he is always training and never really interacting with the other guild members too much, there really have not been any other influences. Which is one of the reasons I called for you.”
Having known Adria for years, Silvan knew she wasn’t going to get anything more from her at the moment. She shrugged, knowing she would get it out of Zycor, and said, “I see, well you did ask the right person.”
Silvan looked back at Zycor, in a caring voice, she kindly remarked, “Don’t you worry, Auntie Silvan will help you. I will have you able to express yourself in no time!”
Zycor, his expression growing disappointed, sadly remarked, “But, what about getting stronger?”
Silvan stood stunned before looking up at Adria, “What did you do this kid?”
“Hey! This is not my fault, ok!? This is all him and how he has decided to cope!” Adria aggressively responded, defending herself.
Silvan sighed, “Knowing you, I doubt you had nothing to do with this. You are always quick to use violence to solve your problems, and it is apparent he has taken after that trait.”
She turned back to look at Zycor and continued, “Though, wanting to be stronger isn’t bad. Don’t worry darling, I promise you that when we are done, you will be unrecognizable. In how you act and speak along with your strength.”
Zycors eyes lit up, “Really?! Then I will be in your care.”
Silvan patted his head and looked at Adria, “So, I have full rein over this one, yes?”
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Adria reluctantly responded, “Yes, you do. But if you go overboard I swear to the goddess I will upend your entire being.”
Silvan giggled and gave a nod, “Yes, yes, I promise to not kill or permanently maim your precious boy~.”
Adria, wishing to know how Silvan intended to train Zycor, inquired “So, what did you have in mind?”
“Hm~, well, you mentioned he wanted help with his magic and mana control, which I am well versed in. I also have plans to make him far more comfortable with expressing himself. Trust me, as I said earlier, when I am through with him you will not recognize him! As for his physical training, I don’t have too much experience with that, so I will have to let him take care of that himself. And I would also like to have him spar and practice, but as you know I am not the best at holding back. He will also need to learn to find shelter, forage, cook, navigate, know how to do basic maintenance on his gear, and to pick up some form of combat training. ”
Adria, nodding her head, commented, “And let me guess, you don’t know how to do any of those either.”
Winking, Silvan responded, “You got it! Aw~ you know me so well!”
“Oh goddess above, please protect my sanity.” Adria sighed.
The door to the guild hall opened and Clyde walked out. “I will be able to offer him some hand to hand combat training. After all, I used to fight strictly bare handed.” He explained.
Baz, flexing his muscles, threw in his input, “Well, I suppose I can help with strength training. ‘Bout time we put some more muscle on that scrawny body of yours!”
Mylon stepped forward, “I have formal training in all manner of weaponry, and know how to properly spar. If you will have me, I am certain I can help.”
Aislin stepped out of the guild as well, purposefully knocking Clyde over, “I don’t mean to brag, but I know quite a bit about fending for yourself! I will handle the whole foraging, cooking, shelter thing!”
As she got a good look at who it was next to Zycor, Aislin realized it was Silvan. She immediately got flustered and clammered, “H-holy shit, that’s Silvan Aurora! Oh my goddess! Uh, miss Aurora, you wouldn’t happen to be willing to maybe give me an autograph, would you?!”
Silvan smiled, pulled out a magical, spherical device, and engraved her name on it using magic. Handing it to Aislin, Silvan cheerfully explained, “Here you go, anything for a fan! That device there has one of my songs sealed in it. I don’t know exactly how it works, but apparently it’s some new thing using old world technology as a base. Something about storing sound waves in mana particles, then sealing them inside the orb. Well, details aside, you should just need to put in a small amount of mana to activate it!”
Aislin took the device as she stared at it in disbelief. After a moment, she passed out and fell backwards onto the newly recovered Clyde. Catching her, he said, “Jeez! Why are you so fricken heavy?!”
He managed to lie her on the ground without injury, despite his own wish for vengeance. Mylon interjected, “There was the one blacksmith demi girl who fixed your gauntlets last time, right Zycor? We can ask her for help with the maintenance lessons.”
Baz felt his heart skip a beat when Mylon mentioned the girl. Nodding, Baz agreed with Mylon, “I think that is a great idea, and when you do go, I shall accompany you. Wouldn’t want you to get lost or anything, right?”
Zycor cocked his head in confusion and replied, “But I know this town pretty well, I can probably-.”
Baz stopped Zycor mid sentence and reiterated with a far more threatening tone, “RIGHT?!”
Zycor nodded aggressively, not wishing to escalate things further.
Aisha’s carriage approached as Baz finished threatening Zycor. As she exited the carriage, Aisha inquired, “So, what’s going on? Did Zycor do something stupid again?”
She noticed Silvan and, like Aislin, started to fangirl. “Is that Silvan Aurora!? Oh my! You are my role model! I always wanted to be able to have the same confidence and presence you do! Despite being a demi human you are loved by everyone! You are an inspiration!” Aisha enthusiastically proclaimed.
Confused by her statement, Silvan asked, “Well, I am happy you feel that way, but it almost sounds like you are telling me that you are also a demi human, is that right?”
Immediately freezing, Aisha remembered that she looked entirely human right now so it must have sounded like she was crazy. Zycor, realizing Aisha was about to have a flare up, ran over to Clyde and snatched his half cape from his back. As Aisha’s tail began to appear and her eyes became watery, Zycor wrapped the cloak around her waist. Thinking of ways he could calm her down, he remembered that hugging her seemed to make the transformation stop and calm down, despite the waterworks. After successfully taking her mind off of the situation, Zycor turned to Silvan and explained, “That is something she doesn’t like to talk about, so I would ask that you refrain from mentioning it again.”
Silvan giggled as she teasingly responded, “Oh dear, no need for all the hostility! I knew from the beginning, I thought I would have a bit of fun! I do apologize if I went a tad too far!.”
Pushing Zycor off of herself, Aisha responded to Silvan, “I am sorry Mrs. Aurora, I didn’t want this to be how my first meeting with you went!”
In an effort to calm Aisha down, Silvan began to kindly explain, “I was invited here by Adri to help get our little man here stronger. And I had mentioned how there were a few things I was not well versed in, which is when these lads and lass came out and started offering to fill the gaps.” “I see. Is there anything still needing to be taken care of?” Aisha inquired, wishing to help. However, she quickly became embarrassed and tried to rephrase her previous statement as she stuttered, “I-I mean, I have time to kill and just so happen to have been tutored by many great men and women on various things. S-s-so I suppose I wouldn’t mind lending a hand.”
Silvan looked at Adria who, as if just having a silent conversation, shrugged as she responded, “Probably.”
A large smile came across Silvans face as she devised multiple plans regarding how she could meddle in the two’s relationship. “You know, with such formal education, I do believe there is a task for you. And I do believe you are going to enjoy it!” Silvan gleefully remarked, putting both of her hands on Aisha’s shoulders.
Clearing her throat as she recomposed herself, Silvan turned to Zycor and, with a cheerful tone, encouraged, “Alright, we will start tomorrow darling! So for now, why don’t you hang out with these great companions of yours! I have something to discuss with Adri in private though, so please excuse us.”
As she left, Aisha put her right hand on Zycor’s right shoulder and asked very upset, “Care to explain why she called you ‘darling?’”
Zycor instantly began his escape into the wasteland as Aisha hurled fireballs at him while she yelled at him to ‘come back’ so they could ‘chat.’
Adria and Silvan went to the opposite side of the guild for some privacy. “And for good measure, I will do this.” Adria commented as she held her upper left hand up. A very faint veil of mana then surrounded them, meant to block sound. Silvan let out a hefty sigh, “Ugh, I really dislike interacting with humans like that. That Mylon fellow and Clid or whatever his name was, just utterly disgusting! And then there is the boy, no offense Adria, but what the hell possessed you to take in such a thing?”
Adria let out a hefty sigh, “And this is the main reason it’s difficult to deal with you. You completely change like this when it’s just the two of us. Whatever, I took him in because I like him, nothing more. We traveled for a bit together when we first met, but ended up growing attached to each other. And since we were both without family, we decided to be one.”
Silvan shrugged, “Well, I suppose you can make your own decisions.”
“I am willing to make a bet with you, Silvan.” Adria remarked.
Intrigued, Silvan responded, “Oh? Well isn’t that interesting. What, pray tell, could this bet be? And perhaps more importantly, what are its stakes?”
Adria smirked, “I will bet you five vols that you will end up liking my Zy by the end of this.”
Silvan, taken aback by the amount, repeated, “Five vols? Are you serious?”
When Adria nodded, Silvan grinned manicaly, “Alright, you’re on!”
Continuing her inquiry further, Silvan asked, “So, why did you call me to help out with this? I know you are more than capable of training him in the same ways I can, better even.”
Adria looked out at Zycor and Aisha running out in the field and somberly replied, “The road he has chosen to walk is dangerous, and as he is now, he won’t even be able to take the first step. I want him to be able to walk that path without worrying me at every turn. Though, part of me hopes he finds a different path to walk. One that doesn’t end with him losing himself. No matter what, I just want him to be happy.”
Silvan, with a confused and disgusted look on her face, remarked, “What the hell happened to you? The literal lord of the underworld, feared by the world itself. And you care about a human child? You hit your head one too many times?”
Adria let out a deep exhale, still watching Zycor and replied, “You will understand after spending a little time with him. I suggest you go get yourself a kid as well, I promise you, it changes a person.”
Silvan shrugged, “Whatever, if this is what you have decided, I won’t argue. Regardless of how sane you are, I’m not stupid enough to think I could beat you in a fight or an argument. Well, I think we are done here, so let down the veil. And don’t forget about our bet!”
As Silvan walked back to her carriage to head for an inn, Adria leaned against the guild's wall and let out another large sigh. Taking a seat in the shade provided by the building, Adria called for Nalea. She turned the corner without a word, walked over to Adria, and sat down beside her. “Rough few days, huh?” Adria asked.
Responding in a tired tone, Nalea remarked, “I don’t understand how you are able to stand being around her. It’s so draining.”
Adria chuckled, “Yes, I do agree. However, She has done a lot for me, and I for her. Despite our differing personalities and how draining she can be, she does hold a special place in my heart.”
Nalea, surprised by Adria showing fondness for someone other than Zycor and one other person, commented, “Well, if that’s how you feel, then that’s all that matters I suppose.”
END OF VOLUME 1