Chapter 44: Keys to Kaliber! (Part 3!)
With two claws, the lobster pulled opened the catalouge, displaying all the available boons to them. Florato, Skaldi, and Vega stepped back, letting the others have a go at it.
Kaliba, technically a member of the party, awarded himself a crown. No, I’m fucking with you, the crow ordered a crown of sea amber. Dare I say, it may be both the stupidest and coolest thing they requested for.
“Royal-royal.”
“That’s right Kaliba. Ya are a royal-royal!”
Bolato had a more modest initial wish, to have a new boat. As you might suspect, the merfolk have no need of boats and the only boats that remained were sunken ones. Accepting the facts, Bolato requested a set of medals for all of his team. ‘The Mermaid Eyes’ were commissioned and every member wore them on their chest, not out of pride, but out of service.
“Not bad, mister soldier.” Skaldi said, putting the badge on Bolato himself.
“I try to please.” Bolato smiled and gave Skaldi a quick kiss on the cheek (which one, I’ll let you decide).
Valiato, conflicted with two choices, asked Amir to break the decision. Seeing a set of dice made out of fine silver along with a crate of ancient fireworks, Valiato couldn’t pick one over the other. Amir, remembering how she looked when she played with fireworks with the elf, chose the fireworks. As the crate fell to her hands, her eyes were full of crazed wonder. He felt a faint bit of regret but it faded away as she showed it off to Skaldi.
“Look, look!”
“Nice Valiato. We can play with them when we’re done.”
As for Amir, he didn’t have any strong emotions as the lobster read out the catalog. Until, he remembered Florato’s kind acts to his daughter throughout the entire journey. From painting their nails to being respectful of her even though she was a ghost.
“~Florato. What would you like?~”
“~Umm.~” The actress strained to understand Amir, although she wasn’t the best in Tripolian, but it was more because he offered his own request. “~Are you sure?~”
“~Yes. I wouldn’t have asked you if I wasn’t. Now please, what would you like?~” When Amir finished, Florato brushed her hair from her forehead and played with a bit. She nodded her head and clicked her tongue, ready to answer.
“~How about a… beautiful and strong set of armor for me? I could probably use that to get a gig or two.~”
Yukos granted her wish, crafting a master set of armor in the style of her tribe, the Jukikos people. Pauldrons with ornaments of striped feathers, a helmet of yellow gem stones and extending visor, and combined with a well fitted dress that complimented her feminine strength and charm.
“Looking good Florato! Love the gold cape.”
“That’s just my hair Vega. But yeah, this is pretty nice.”
The actress attempted to persuade Amir to ask for a wish, but he refused. Feeling a bit ashamed she wondered what Amir would want. Choosing more on instinct rather than speculation, she requested a book.
Specifically, they had in their catalog a book of a Tripolian tale named “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”. She knew of the story, learning it in her schooling, but had never gotten the chance to perform. Perhaps with learning how to read and write, she would adapt it and perform in front of him.
“~Did you request a study book?~” Amir questioned.
“~It’s a… book I will study?~”
“~...Fair enough.~”
Standing before the Yukos, made Skaldi feel a bit ironic. Here he was, a Galtian elf, standing before an Recorian nymph. Roaming through his mind, he remembered all the events that took place that had brought him here. In one of those memories, were of his tribe's spirits.
The packs of some of their bones survived the ship’s destruction, but he had forgotten his duty. His respect of the spirits didn’t disappear, but he forgotten it among the chaos of the world. Eventually, he knew he had to return to his homeland. But would he return be welcomed, would he be able to give kindness to the spirits?
“You said I get two wishes, right?”
“We will perform the best of our degree, yes.” Yukos replied sweetly.
“...and you can’t change appearances or nothing?”
“Unless you give me a Soul Gem, then no.”
“Okay. Are you ready for my wish?”
“Certainly.” Yukos replied simply as it was a simple gesture for her. Skaldi’s hand went to his eyepatch and soon fell down.
“Yukos, grant me a container to hold the bones of spirits.”
“Oh! I didn’t know you killed spirits.” She spoke in an uneasy tone.
“No! I mean, I’m a Galtian elf. And… some of our passed and haven’t been properly buried. So..”
“I understand. While your spirits are of opposing religion to my creator Recor, I understand your plight. I can bury them for you, if you wish.”
“Thank you, but no. I need to do it myself.”
“Very well.” Yukos nodded, and a sufficient container was brought out. Made out of woven shells, the bag could not only hold the bones of the spirits securely, but all of his stolen stuff. While he couldn’t hold all of their belongings, it was definitely marvelous.
“This is awesome. What should I call this?”
“A bag… a bag of handing! Because ya can hold all the stuff-stuff in your hand-hand.”
“I don’t know. But I’m too tired to come up with a different name. Bag of handing it is.”
As for his second wish, he took a lot less time coming up with it, so he requested a textbook on alchemy.
Keep in mind, this was not only to help with his creation of concoctions, but to create makeup. Since he could never buy a set from a legitimate store, he had to resort to criminal means, often inferior and burning ones. Luckily, they had a makeup set they could gift him.
“Florato, you know how to put on makeup right?” Skaldi presented the book to her.
“No? Other people do that for me in shows. But that is very nice, whatever that is.” Florato complimented his choice.
“Aw. Then why do you have those super thick eyelashes?” He said with envy.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Those are just my eyelashes.”
“They are?! Damn, you really won the beauty lottery!”
Finally, with much of the people waiting in suspense, Vega came forward, surrounded by her friends.
“Vega, for your service and honorable duty to both my people and my son Ren, we are allowed to request three wishes.
“~And don’t worry about telling her, I already told her.~”
“You did?! I was saving the two special ones for last.” Yukos shouted, shaking her son with comedic intent.
“What special ones? Like actually magic stuff?” Skaldi chimed in, giggling at the idea. Inside Vega, she was having a small panic.
“Right-right. For my first request, I would like a map of Uvi Jantok.”
“Done.” The lobster waved his claw over as two mermaids handed a large scroll in her hands. “As for your second?”
“I’m not so-”
“What about the Oligarch badge? Ren said you talked about it.” Yukos nudged him towards Vega.
“~Yeah, choose that one!~” Ren smiled at Vega, genuinely happy to see her move forward.
The scarecrow knew she couldn’t avoid it. All she could do would be verbally stepping around the final choice. Like dragging out a game you already know you have to play.
“Hmm. Instead of that-that… I want to get new legs?”
“Don’t worry about your legs sweetie. I’ll fix you when you're finished.”
“I wonder what you’re going to choose Vega.” Florato laid a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn swiftly in fear.
“Choose something cool! Like a bomb!” Valiato ran up to her, pointing at the many items in the catalog.
“What do you think she’ll choose?” Bolato knocked his hand into Skaldi. Faintly, the elf noticed something was off about her. Not like her speaking in a different fashion, but there was the decreasing mania in her movement. A whispering unhappiness in her eyes.
“Well… I guess I would like to choose… the Oligarch badge.” She talked to the ground, her voice becoming quieter.
“And your final choice?”
“~Come on, you got two pretty good things!” Ren cheered.
What will you choose? Yourself, or them?
It returned. Rather, he returned. The scarecrow couldn’t address Ani. She couldn’t move.
It won’t matter anyway.
“I… I don’t know.”
“That’s okay.” Skaldi’s voice broke through. He sat beside her and put his arm over her shoulder, with his feet dangling over the edge.
“You’ve done a lot for us. Don’t forget that.”
He’s lying to you. You can do a lot more.
“I don’t know what you’re going through. No matter what that is. You don’t need any magical thing to do what you’ve already been doing. You already have kind hands and even a kinder heart.” Skaldi pounded her chest, reinforcing her persona. “And we’re going to get through this. You got this, whatever you choose.”
Lifting her head up to the nymph, Vega had a focused gaze.
You won’t win. You can’t defeat your nature.
“We’ll see about that.” Vega told herself, and put on a joyful smile, ready to pursue her future. “Nymph Yukos! I request the object of Kaliber!”
“Oh…” The nymph, the lobster, and Ren looked a bit disappointed. “Well we thought you were going to choose the necklace. There goes that prank.” Yukos smacked her lips.
“What prank are you talking about?” Florato requested.
“We were planning to prank her by telling her there was no necklace of Trition. But that went down the drain I guess.”
“Huh. That’s con-convient.”
Hours past the ceremony, everyone packed and returned to their homes and duties. The Iozians would have to be housed as their home wouldn’t be safe to return to. But the merfolks were more than accommodating for them (take the L Iozians! Ha!).
Alone in the hall, putting their gear back into the old wagon, the team were all in a good mood. Most of the group sat atop the wagon, waiting for Skaldi and Vega to finish up.
“Glad you made that choice Vega. It would have been sad to see your request get wasted on your legs.” He playfully kicked her new feet. One made out of shipwood and the other of iron. She shook her new metal leg and her old steel right arm. “You’re becoming more a sculpture than a scarecrow though.
“What can I say? I’ve never quite fit the description. Plus, I’ve always been a left-left handed gal.” She smoothed her hand on head, feeling out her hay hair. Taking it off, she placed both of her hands on her lap. “By the way… thank you Skaldi.”
“For what? I should be thanking you. Without you I would be dead… and I would have forgotten about caring more than myself.” Skaldi felt that weakness sting in his wounds and his heart. He snickered, laughing that all of his improvements and losses could be tied back to a scarecrow.
“True as that-that may be, I don’t think I would have been happy if I didn’t choose Kaliber. And without you, I don’t think I would have survived that fight yesterday.”
“Hmm. You can pay me back with some wine.” Skaldi scoffed, and turned to leave.
“Skaldi, you’re a very good friend.” Her words made him stop, making the elf feel that happiness. The same happiness he had with Potenti when she fought for herself. The same happiness when he’s with Bolato. The same happiness he feels when he is strong.
It wasn’t a disgrace. He wasn’t a wasted boy. Skaldi was a man. Perhaps a feminine and alcoholic one, but a man no less.
With a faint sob from his eye, he rubbed it off and smiled brightly.
“Thanks buddy.”
“No worries. And can ya come over here?” Vega waved him over. “Along with ya too Florato.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I want ya guys to see this.” Vega opened up a great scroll. As the elf and actress walked over, the paper didn’t show the map of Uvi Jantok. The paper read…
“To the loathsome Kaliber Scheherazade
I wouldn’t have granted you the properties to a Ghost like you, but since you have offered such a grand sum of money, I will grant you the land.
This by no means absolves you of your lack of family. No amount of money or land will ever replace a family.
From,
Oligarch Naius. Ruler of Periatus.”
This wasn’t one deed, but three deeds to three properties. Three towers in Uvi Jantok. Despite not telling who Kaliber is, Vega knew that Kaliber wasn’t just a name, but a person. While they’re alive or not, she needed to find out.
“Guys, you know what this means?” She said with rising motivation.
“I don’t know how to read Iozian, but I do see the symbols of a tower. Is this land?” The actress tapped her fingers on the deeds.
“Yep-yep. And it’s in Uvi Jantok. I’m close, I can feel it in my parts.”
“Well, let’s get there.” Skaldi pulled them to the wagon. They all sat atop it, looking at the family of three. Ren swam up to the scarecrow and held onto both of her hands.
“~It’s been a blast Vega. I wish you and your friends good luck.~” A tear came to his face, as he hugged her close.
“You sure have a way with people.” Bolato spoke, looking on in amusement.
“~You did a lot for us merfolk. We won’t forget it.~”
“~Ren. When I’m older and more confident, I’ll come visit ya. I promise ya.” Vega hugged him back, planning a great trip after she finished her journey. To Tai Pai, to the two priestess, to the people in Jinmai, the doctor of Core Civitus, the family of centuries, and all the way back to Cold Cavern. She would visit them all again.
“~Thanks Vega. Just remember, your journey has a long way to go.~”
“~I got time. If I have anything, it's time-time.~”
Letting going and swimming back to his mother and father, Ren waved the team goodbye.
“You guys have been so fun.” Yukos raced to the scarecrow and gave a big smooch to Vega, leaving her covered in watery slime.
“Cool! I just got kissed by a Nymph!” Vega cheered, just as the wagon and all of them glowed with celestial power. The team waved back, preparing to go to their destination.
“Wait. What happened to the centuries?” Bolato asked, breaking out of his happy mood with facts and logic.
“They died!” Yukos responded with the same happy voice.
“Huh. Then how are we gonna-
Pop!
What was in front of them all was a clear orange sky, as the morning sun rose over the horizon. A chilly breeze blew past, as the air of the coast hit the harbor they were on. Black walls and a wide cityscape before them, they knew what it was. Uvi Jantok was finally here!
And… they had a wagon with no animals to pull… kinda bad. Skaldi was the first to speak.
“Vega, we’re gonna need you to get out and push.”