Vitmori POV

After having finished the removal of the ruined buildings and leaving behind all the personal effects I managed to repair and recover with their respective families along with salvageable building materials in some kind of clearing; I made my way over to Vivia Lucfan in the plaza where she said she'd be, finding the elite woman with some kind of clipboard in hand accompanied by two other guards giving their various reports about something or another.

Surprisingly enough, I could sense that she noticed my approach with her artificial eye glancing in my general direction when she locked onto me again, a smile coming onto her lips as she properly looked up from her reports to turn her head towards me. "Ah, Mage Vito, it is good to see you again. I take it that you are done with clearing the ruined homes?" She asked in an almost pleasant way, letting the clipboard fall to her side as she gave me her full attention.

The guards at her side seemed to stiffen at my approach with a healthy amount of intimidation and awe as they weren't sure what to make of me; the duo not having noticed me coming over to them unlike their superior.

I just offered a small smile at the group before regarding Vivia directly as I did my best to pretend to be worn out but not outright exhausted. "Yes, all the buildings have been cleared away and the thick mud from the firefighting efforts has been dried down to damp soil. I've also taken the liberty to leave all the salvageable wood, stone, and brick in a clearing close to the village to be used wherever it may be needed." I explained with no small amount of pride in my voice, after all, I was more than happy to help in ways I could really only dream of back in my old life.

Vivia looked clearly surprised by the summary of my actions before I got the sensation of gratefulness coming from her as she smiled more sincerely and nodded at my words. "I see, you continue to do so much for us with almost nothing in return... Are you sure there is no way we can compensate you?" She asked, her eyes searching my face before looking me up and down as she tried to rack her mind for anything besides simple coin to give me for my efforts.

I had to think about that, it wouldn't do to keep stonewalling this family's attempts at trying to make things even or at least pay me back in some way after everything I've done today. After a few moments, I just let out a sigh before smiling a bit more as I sheepishly scratched my cheek. "Well if you insist..." I started to say as Vivia perked up with interest. "I began my travels with only a small selection of zomb- I mean undead, only my best after all, though that may have been wishful thinking on my part. If you don't mind sparing the effort, I would like for you to collect any of the remaining dead raiders from around the village and gather them for me. While I may not use all of them, the best among them will prove to be quite useful in my service." I explained, doing my best to sound like a necromancer based on the image Trelio and Aspen seemed to have on their minds during our meeting earlier today. "Oh, but I only want the raiders, I have no interest in any of the dead mercenaries, guards, soldiers, or villagers that had nothing to do with the attack on this place. Call it a quirk of mine, but I prefer to only use my enemies to my benefit, not innocents."

Vivia looked rather thoughtful of my request, having not exactly expected that line of dialogue in particular. The more I spoke, the more intrigued and even pleased Vivia appeared to be as she simply nodded her head once I finished. "I see, well if that's truly what you want, then I'd be glad to have some of my people make the effort. It'll certainly save us the time of having to make a mass grave for the bastards, that's for sure." She enthused rather cheerfully despite the grim subject matter.

She then looked between the two guards beside her before settling on an armored dogkin man. "Well, you heard Mage Vito, spread the word and scour the village for any remaining foreign soldiers." She ordered, the dogkin guard nodding at her words before saluting and making his way off. Vivia then looked at the remaining guard, who was some kind of birdkin woman in light armor before handing off the clipboard and scrolls she had. "Take this to my daughter and let her know she'll be in charge for a little while, I'll be escorting Mage Vito to his quarters." She explained with a bit of a smile, the guard nodding as well as she took up the items before unfurling her wings which had been tightly closed against her back, and taking flight.

With her hands now freed, Vivia looked at me before waving me along. "If you'll walk with me, Mage Vito, as promised, accommodations will be provided for you to rest until you join us for dinner tonight." She mentioned as she began to walk towards the stone bridge that led up to the bailey.

"You also mentioned something about a place for my people, no?" I asked in confirmation as I matched her pace while following along at her side.

Vivia nodded in response to that as well. "Of course, we have the space to welcome a considerable entourage for any visiting persons of interest, though you'll be given one of our finer rooms, as our guest of honor, of course." She said rather proudly as she glanced at me with her false eye.

It's just a shame I won't be able to enjoy the comforts beyond the visual appeal of it all. "That sounds quite nice... Say, you wouldn't happen to have any bathing facilities?" I asked while reaching up and doting on Basmori as he continued to sleep rather soundly. "I may have rinsed off earlier, but I can still smell the stench of blood clinging to my body and I'd like to try to be a bit more presentable for dinner tonight." Even as I asked the question, I started to have second thoughts. "Better yet, if you could just bring me a large tub and some soap, I'll fill it with water myself."

Vivia went to open her mouth, about to talk about bathing facilities that were available within her home, but she just smiled as I continued to speak before nodding her head intently. "If that is what you'd like, then sure, we can make those arrangements for you once you're settled in your room." She mentioned cheerfully enough as some soldiers opened a pair of large double doors which led into the small castle she called home before closing the doors behind us.

Looking around, I could tell that I was surrounded by a good deal of opulence but it was nothing compared to the excess of luxury that I had seen while pretending to be friends with some client's kids during my youth or even compared to some of the particularly showy leaders of various groups during the apocalypse; some who were just gregarious figures and fond of flashy things while others were egotistical assholes who clung to the ideas of old world wealth who were just better-dressed bandits.

Perhaps it was unfair to compare the level of opulence that I knew from my world to that of this world. Hell, if I remember things correctly, the people of the medieval era which loosely resembled the general society level of this world considered something as simple as a pineapple as a grand luxury; even to the point where noble households would rent them for parties as centerpieces.

Then again, they had things like magic in this world, and so the level of excess varied wildly from one end of the spectrum to the other. Things like having a crystal-powered light fixture present on a column every twenty feet or so on both sides of the hallway seemed to be held in the same regard as the beautifully carved statues and hallway-spanning carpets.

Focusing back on the moment after considering my surroundings; I cast a curious glance over at Vivia as I tried to find something to speak about; though as I glanced over at her, she apparently decided to glance at me with her false eye and I could tell she was wondering what sorts of subjects to broach while we walked. After another few steps, I decided to take the initiative and piped up. "I hope you'll forgive my bluntness, but is your false eye more than some kind of prosthetic?"

I had an odd feeling, but the fact that she had actively spotted me in a crowd after a cursory glance and approached me more than once had me curious. While I may not have been actively trying to hide, I've noticed most people have a hard time spotting me or hearing me approach in general, so for her to have so easily picked me out multiple times now was a distinct outlier.

Vivia cracked a grin, smirking with amusement as she chuckled softly at my question for a moment. "I suppose a mage such as yourself would be interested in an eye like mine." She considered as her hand came up to gently trace the lower half of the scar that crossed over her eye. After taking yet another moment to consider herself, she simply nodded to herself. "Yes, my eye is more than just a simple prosthetic... My parents had sunk a considerable fortune into the manufacturing of my eye to ensure that my life as a warrior wouldn't have come to an untimely end during my youth." She mentioned in rather good spirits as her hand fell back to her side. "Beyond allowing me to see normally, it also gives me several types of enhanced sight if I direct my mana to charge up my eye beyond its base functions. It gives me the farsight of an eagle, allowing me to make out fine details beyond even the scope of most individuals who have manahearts... It also allows me to see concentrations of mana, allowing me to determine if an item or area is magical or even if a person has a manaheart or mana rings."

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At that, I glanced over at her again and I could feel the unease travel up my metaphorical spine.

Vivia stopped walking and I stopped by her side as she turned to face me while still looking pleasantly amused. "It also allows me to see through illusions and magical disguises." She said simply as she then shrugged a bit. "You could say my parents were just a little overprotective of me after I had lost my eye, though I can certainly appreciate their concern." She mused as she reached out and gently flicked my forehead, the distinct thud of an armored finger on wood sounding out.

I wasn't sure how to react, letting her flick my forehead as she confirmed with me that she had already known I was a wooden man. Quite frankly I was more surprised that I hadn't realized she had known about me as it wasn't on her mind when she interacted with me until now. It took me a moment to formulate a response, but I did my best to keep it casual as I looked into her eyes and held her gaze. "So... How long have you known?" Was all that I could really muster after a few seconds.

Vivia just smiled a little more before tapping her chin in an exaggerated thoughtful fashion. "Well, I'd say it was around the third house you worked on when you started pretending you were tired." She said before letting her arm fall back to her side as her forearm rested along the pommel of her blade rather casually. "I was trying to gauge your mana capacity for myself when I saw you surrounded by a thin but consistent layer of magic and my curiosity got the better of me."

"So... What happens now?" I asked as I continued to hold her gaze, I could tell she was rather amused by the situation and she was having some fun at my expense, but beyond that, I couldn't discern just what she intended to do with that information.

She merely quirks a brow at my question and smiled a little more. "Well for now, I will finish walking you to your quarters as promised to let you rest, and I'll have one of my servants bring you a tub for you to bathe in." She explained simply enough as she started to walk again.

"That's it?" I couldn't help but ask, with no small amount of disbelief in my voice as I followed her again.

She looked back at me again, a smile still on her lips. "Well, I'll need you to provide me with descriptions of the members of your caravan so I can ensure they're looked after as we promised... But yeah."

"So, you don't care that I'm essentially just a fancy wooden golem?" I asked, deciding to just cut to the bone of the matter at hand as we ascended a flight of stairs.

Vivia just scoffed and chuckled at how I described myself before looking over at me again. "Mage Vito, quite frankly I don't care what you are. You could be three halflings in a trench coat for all I care. What you've done for me and my people today has earned you the privilege of that discretion." She explained rather sincerely before looking ahead as she led me down another hall. "It's just a shame you probably won't be able to properly enjoy the food at the feast we're holding in your honor tonight." She said, sounding truly disappointed by that notion as she finally stopped at a pair of large double doors.

I wasn't sure what to say. One of my biggest secrets had been so easily exposed and yet nothing came of it. No threats, no blackmail, no attempts to take advantage of me in any way... It's been years since I've found myself in a position like this, to be at the mercy of someone like this and not have that perceived weakness or fault taken advantage of. Sure, if she tried anything like that, I wouldn't have many qualms in handling it, and yet... It wasn't a problem to begin with.

"Thank you..." I finally managed to say, reaching up and just rubbing the back of my head as I thought of something else to say before deciding to pull the mana potion from my storage space, mentally pouring the liquid back into the bottle and holding it out to her. "Here, now that you know what I am, I suppose you could also tell I didn't actually need the potion." I mentioned with a sheepish smile.

Vivia looked pleasantly surprised at the bottle suddenly appearing in my hands and gently plucked it up with a smile still on her lips. "I was wondering about that..." She mentioned distractedly, looking over the contents of the vial before tucking it away into a small pouch on her belt; she then looked through the same pouch and procured a chunky-looking silver key with detailed engravings on it when she placed it in my hand. "Here, feel free to lock the door behind you if you need it."

Holding the key in my ungloved hand, I ran my thumb against the engravings thoughtfully while looking the key over before glancing back over at Vivia and smiling just a little bit more. "Thanks..." I say simply before closing my hand around it. "Ah, that's right. I was supposed to tell you about my caravan, wasn't I?" I asked, having been sufficiently distracted by her reveal that I had forgotten to go over it with her.

"Right! We hadn't even gone over them yet." She said as if she had only just now remembered that was something that needed to be discussed.

It took a few minutes but I went about describing the key members of the group that she'd likely encounter, those being Rantz, Krys, and Riley. However, I did make sure to tell her about the rest of the group as well as Legosi and Freyli, just so she could have a proper headcount for the celebration tonight if she needed it.

As we spoke, she had ended up procuring a rolled-up piece of parchment and a fountain pen from that same small pouch she had pulled the key from and began taking brief notes on the descriptions of my group members. It was only then that I realized that the pouch she had on her hip was likely one of those magic items that were bigger on the inside, which was pretty interesting to see be used despite the fact I could use my storage space more easily.

Once we were done, she rolled up the parchment before tucking it and the pen away in the pouch once again. "Alright Mage Vito, I'll be off now, I hope you rest well." She said pleasantly as she turned on her heel and began making her way off.

Left to my own devices, I looked over the large double doors, sliding the key into the lock before making my way inside. The room was rather large, with a considerable-looking bed with a canopy and drapes for privacy. The bed itself was rather massive, looking as if it could fit at least six people rather comfortably, which did make me wonder what kind of entourage a visiting elite would bring along with them.

Beyond the bed was a small seating area of two three-person couches with a coffee table sitting between them, an ornate glass jar sat in the middle of the coffee table on a silver and gold pedestal, filled with some kind of potpourri.

The walls around me were decorated with a number of landscape paintings that each had their own overly ornate frames which looked to be just as expensive if not more than the paintings themselves if I was looking at the quality of the materials right.

Despite myself, I must have lost myself in studying my surroundings as a firm knock at the double doors broke me from my focus. Making my way over and opening the doors, I'm greeted by the sight of a rather muscular orcish maid. She carried a good-sized tub over her shoulder that looked like it could easily hold two hundred gallons or so. "Hello there, Great Mage, I have your tub here for you." She said upon seeing me while flashing a rather cheerful grin at first before properly looking me over with a vague look of surprise. "Wow, you're a right mess you are." She said rather bluntly while making her way into my room when she began setting the tub down. "Would you perhaps like some assistance with your bath today? I've been told I'm great at easing tired muscles after a long day." She exclaimed rather proudly and I could tell she was rather sincere in her offer after seeing the state I was in.

I mean, I know I was pretending to look tired, but I wonder how messed up I actually looked... I simply shake my head before offering the large woman a small smile. "Thank you miss, but no, all I need is a long, hot soak and I think I'll be quite alright."

The orcish maid looked a little unsure before relenting as she nodded once. "Very well, but if you need anything from us..." She started to say while pointing over at an innocuous rope that dangled from the ceiling by the massive bed. "Just pull on that rope a couple of times and we'll be right over, kay?"

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you." I reply sincerely enough while standing by the door, holding it open for her.

The large woman just smiled a little more before offering a surprisingly graceful curtsy. "Enjoy your bath, Great Mage." She said pleasantly when she finally made her way out as I locked the door behind her.

Now finally on my own all over again, I go to pull off my poncho before remembering that Basmori is still sound asleep on my shoulders despite all the activity and commotion that's gone on around us since the battle ended.

Looking over Basmori more closely, I could see his body practically glow with mana as it coursed through him with every pulse of his manaheart. He was going through some big changes, that was for sure, but what exactly they would be is still up in the air.

I attempted to pull him off my shoulders at first, but once I realized that his claws were quite tangled in my raggedy poncho, I figured that I might as well leave him with it as I gently pulled him and my poncho off at once before carefully laying him on the massive bed with poncho as a sort of blanket.

Looking myself over, I couldn't see any noticeable damage beyond some thin layers of mud on my hands and forearms. Focusing on my vessel and suppressing the enchantment that gave me the illusion of skin, I'm rather surprised by the extent of the lingering damage that littered my wooden flesh.

Just looking at my torso and arms, I could see a considerable amount of metal slag that had burned into my body, likely from when that mage I brutalized tried to kill me with their flames. I could see signs of slow regrowth where the wood attempted to grow around the metal, but it'd probably be better for my mobility if I just removed the metal outright.

Beyond that, my whole body was stained with a disgusting brownish-maroon tinge of blood that had dried hours ago by now. I... I'm going to need to deep clean my body and boil it for sure...

Further examination of my legs showed that they were in a similar state as the top half of my body, the metallic armor wasn't just blackened and burned from the heat of the flames but had melted and fused into my wooden flesh which will likely require quite a bit of effort to pull out and peel away if I wanted to get the ruined equipment off.

Well... I suppose now is as good a time as any to get started.