[table=grey]Author Note:
Hello folks, lazy author here >.<
Sorry for not updating for soooo long...
Oh yea, I have changed the cost for 'claimed surface area' in the last chapter. Since every additional radius will add the area even more, it's just logical that the cost isn't increased in linear graphic.
Also, here is my entry for cartography contest of RRL Birthday event, a map of this series
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“Ma- Madam Ehrisya, we have trouble,” a young woman in maid uniform panted after rushing in.
The woman she reported to, the one she called madam Ehrisya, was a pretty woman in her late forties. Although, people who didn't know her actual age might be deceived by her appearance, thinking she was a still in her early thirties. Her braided flaming red hair was in match with her glamorous red and black gown, along with the sparkling jewelries on the rings, earrings and necklace she wore.
“Calm down, dear. What’s wrong?” she asked from behind her desk, putting down the document she had been reading.
“A customer, madam. He had been drinking for the whole night. So when he ordered for more, Jim asked if he had the money. And he said he had none,” the maid replied, as she was trying to regain her breath.
Madam Ehrisya raised her eyebrows. “Just do the usual then,” she said.
“W- we tried, madam. But our men fell to their knees before they could touch him, some even lost their consciousnesses.”
“Oh, my. What a troublesome guest,” she said before turning to the butler standing behind her chair. “Rem, please let the knights know. Take the amount you need from the safe deposit,” she ordered.
“As you wish, madam,” the butler called Rem bowed.
“H- he said he know you in person, madam. Something about he has a share in this bar ownership,” the maid added.
Ehrisya raised her eyebrows again. “Really? That’s an interesting claim. Do you get his name?”
“I- I’m sorry,” the maid bowed apologetically.
Which made her madam smiled. “It’s okay, dear. What does he look like?” she asked with a calming soft voice.
“He is a big fat man I estimated in his fifties, madam, with a grey long beard and scruffy hair. His eyes are a bit odd. The pupils have a mix between brown and green in color, I have never seen eyes like that. Somehow they look very tired and, at the same time, reflecting sorrow. His clothes, it's a long dark robe that mages usually wear, madam,” the maid ended her report with another bow.
Ehrisya frowned. “That is a very detailed observation, Cerissa. As expected from you,” she praised.
“Your words are too kind, madam,” the maid Cerissa replied with another bow, her cheek was beaming red.
"I think I will meet him. Please come with me, Cerissa. And you too, Rem," Ehrisya stood from her chair.
Surprised with her statement, Rem tried to stop her. “Please wait, madam,” he said. “Is there a need for you to meet the dangerous man personally?”
“I too agree with Rem, madam. Please don’t go,” Cerissa said with a worry expression.
“Oh, dear,” Ehrisya smiled. “If he is the man I think he is, we will only have a friendly chat. Nothing for you to worry about. But even if it is really getting dangerous, you will protect me, aren’t you?”
“Of course, madam. I won't let him or anyone to touch even a strand of your hair, even it cost me my life,” Rem answered readily while unlocking the safety of his hidden-under-coat short sword, so he could quickly withdraw the weapon anytime.
“S- same here,” Cerissa resoluted.
Ehrisya nodded, “I feel safe,” she smiled. Without further delay, she led the two exited her office and climbed down the staircase to enter the bar.
There they saw the man that matched Cerissa's description was sitting on a bar seat and several employees were kneeling or lying on the ground around him. Other customers were watching in curious but kept their distance.
“I said, bring me your next bottle already, boy,” the man's loud voice echoed.
“T- That’s… As I said, sir, I can’t do that. You have to pay your previous bills first,” the bartender replied while sweating.
“Hmph!” the man hit the table, enough to make the bartender startled. “And that’s why I told you to call Ehrisya out. Just give me my drink now as we wait!”
“Jim,” Ehrisya called. “Take a bottle for him.”
“Yes, madam. Right away,” the bartender complied hurriedly.
The man turned to her and said, “Hmph! What took you so long? Nevermind, you should teach them better, Ehrisya. How come they don’t even recognize their employer.”
“It’s not their fault, Mahza, if you have never shown your face here even once. Besides, you have sent a courier to withdraw your share several years ago, remember?” she replied as she approached. Meanwhile, Rem and Cerissa were helping their fellow employees on the ground.
“Hmm, is that so?” Mahza took his now filled cup. “You’re right, I remember now. It was when that stupid son of mine broke my expensive research material,” he sighed and took a gulp.
“So, what happens?” Ehrisya sat down next to him, taking a glance at the many empty bottles behind the table that, she suspected, had been emptied by Mahza alone. “What makes you here in my place, Mahza?” she asked.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Can't I just visit an old friend without a particular reason?”
She raised her eyebrows and replied, “Of course you can, but you won’t. You only came to me when you had a fight with Mirana in the past, after all. Do you have a fight with your son now?”
“...”
“... I will have you pay all your expenses plus the trouble you give my men if you don't tell me your reason.”
“That stupid son of mine is no longer in this world, Ehrisya.”
She gasped. “What happened? Was he sick?”
“No, I killed him. An accident, of course, didn't mean to. Just another stupid action of mine,” he took another gulp after a refill.
“... I don't know what to say.”
“You don't have to say anything,” he poured another refill to his cup. “Just let me stay until the morning come, then I'll leave.”
“Where are you planning to go?”
“Don't know. Probably find a desolate place to die, where I can harm anyone no more.”
“Oh, dear. Don't be too desperate, Mahza. Where is the prideful Mahza I know, who always full of confidence?” she smiled, trying to lighten his mood.
He returned the smile, a wry one though. “I have lost everything, Ehrisya, I'm all alone. I fulfilled my dream, only to get betrayed by my own high expectation, at the cost of my only flesh and blood, my future,” he shook his head. “When I look back, I realize how many people I have hurt in my live, probably you included. It's better if I disappear, so nobody will get hurt anymore,” he said with a sad expression.
“Look Mahza,” she grabbed his hand. "I don't know the detail of your situation, but you are not alone. I'm here. And this place will always welcome you. If you regret of what you have done, there are better ways to redeem than killing yourself. Use your power and knowledge to help people instead, I'm sure it is what Mirana and your son would want too. From what I heard, he was a kind hearted boy, wasn't he?'
“... He sure was,” he said while looking at a distance.
It became silence afterwards. No one dared to make a sound. Even the unrelated customers were listening quietly.
“... By the fulfill your dream, does it mean you have gained immortality now?” Ehrisya restarted the conversation.
“No, not immortality. But I have successfully recreated
“... Don't tell me, you killed your son to test the effect of... what was that again, artifact gem thing?”
Mahza made another wry smile. “It's
Ehrisya put her palm on her face and rubbed her forehead. “Mahza, dear. How could you... And you didn't prepare anything to prevent it to happen?”
“Nothing. I know, it's stupid, right?”
“Can't you do anything?”
“I would have, if I could.”
“What about the miracle you performed when the boy was born? Didn’t you revive him?”
“It's not possible.”
“Why not?”
He sighed. “Because the body is broken,” he said and emptied his cup with a gulp before continued. “What I did back then was simply calling back his soul and guiding it into the body. Because the body was functioning properly, he can come back to live as the soul returned,” he added.
“However, this time the body is heavily damaged and have lost too much blood. Even if I guide his soul back, the body won't be able to hold the connection with the soul and he’ll lose his life again in no time.”
He raised his cup. “It's like this cup. If it's broken, it can't contain the drink.”
“… Is there a way to repair the cup?”
He shook his head. “A regenerative spell and potion can only work on living things. Nothing can be done to repair a damaged dead body.”
“Then, can you replace it with a new cup? No, of course not. What am I even saying, silly me.”
Mahza looked at her with disbelief and then grabbed her shoulder. "Ehrisya, you're genius!" he shouted. Spirit had been reignited in his eyes.
“Eh?”
He stood up and caressed his beard, thinking while walking around. “I can't use animal's body, there will be a compatibility issue. Other people's body? Someone who died without a fatal wound, a natural cause. But most would be old farts, I doubt Arz will like it. Besides, there will be an issue with their family, and probably compatibility issue too. Hmm. What about creating a new one from the scratch? It's beyond me, but if that person...," he mumbled, more to himself.
“Mahza?”
"Ehrisya, thank you for everything. I love you!” he grabbed her shoulders again and suddenly kissed her cheek. “Mwa Ha Ha Ha Ha, wait for me, boy! I will revive you!” he said while dashing to the exit and disappeared behind the door.
Everyone was dumbfounded with the unexpected turn of event and didn't hear Ehrisya muttered, “Silly mage, why can't you at least stay until morning? Always come and go as you like. And please, stop saying things you don't mean to, I may start expecting things.”
She pulled her hand to her cheek and closed her eyes, trying to savor whatever remained there.