The Chimeric Ascension of Lyudmila Springfield

All good things had to end. Evidentially, our date was not spared from the scissors. I couldn’t complain, though. Neither could Sekh. The whole day was just about…us. That was the perfect reward for all that time we spent apart. Better yet, it was naught but a prelude to all the time we’d spend together in the future with Tilde and Tris. Already, I had a thousand ideas—with a thousand more on the back burner. Those didn’t account for the fun stuff we could do with Erin or Irisa. Or the family outings I wanted to share with Mom, Dad, and my—hopefully—new grandparents once we met them.

After eating our snack, Sekh clung close as I warped us to our room in Gloria’s castle. That armor clothed her body, masking my eyes from feasting on her beauty.

Only temporarily, of course.

“Are they here?”

“Yep. Come on, let’s go.”

We left our room to find the rest of the group at the table. Except my eyes gravitated to the…empty wheelchair?

Something was clearly off. Clearly, Tilde was fine. Tris would’ve told me if they had encountered trouble. Since she hadn’t, I could assume that everything was fine. Following that line of thought…and since a search for Tilde pinged this room…

“Teehee!” My sharp ears heard whispers of a giggling voice coming from behind Tris. I narrowed my gaze to find two blinking eyes staring through her long, blonde hair.

“How surprising,” said Sekh. “The ostentatious fairy has returned to her true form.”

“Hey, don’t think you’re so cute because you’re suddenly using big words!” Tilde flew upwards, making the whole thing a spectacle while using Tris’s hair as a golden curtain to partially hide her face. “Were you scared, Master? I bet you were when you saw that empty chair.”

“How could I not be?” I feigned concern to play along. “My heart was about to leap from my chest. I was this close to sending Surtr to hunt down my precious fairy maid. But I’m surprised to see you like this.”

“Any woman worth her salt has to have secrets in the oven, you know. I actually had this ability for a while. Since the first time I turned big. I just…didn’t use it because I wanted to experience being tall. I thought about cracking it open once you gave me my uniform, but I didn’t want to not wear it.”

“That’s still the one we made you, right?” Tilde nodded. “Then it means you enchanted it?” I looked at Sera. “Thank you. That was awfully kind of you.”

“Oh, it’s no big deal.” Sera waved it off. “Remember that shed? Well, that’s where I horde my unneeded monster cores. They had been gathering dust for decades, so it felt nice to give them a purpose. Besides, I got to use my family’s old enchanting table. Seeing it really brought back memories. Better yet, I should thank Tris for helping me organize the cores. Admittedly…I had kinda just put them wherever…”

“You’re very welcome. I love tasks like that, so if you have anything else to be sorted, please do not hesitate to let me know.”

“Really? Then I might take you up on that. I’m not the most organized, as much as it pains me to admit…” Sera cutely blushed as another one of Susize’s memories manifested. In it, Sera had become obsessed with rocks. She was still a child, but these rocks were part of her current obsession. The week before was pointy sticks. Before that? Stringy vines. Her ‘collection’ was throwing them into a chest before running off to find something else to preoccupy her mind.

A thousand years had only slightly changed it, but the quirk was still there.

“Anyway, Master. Even though I can fly like this, my limbs still feel like rocks.” Tilde’s body flashed white when she returned to the chair. Suddenly, she was in her ‘big form.’ “Swapping between Big Tilde and Small Tilde should encourage my body to accelerate the healing. I still feel myself getting stronger every day, though. Won’t be long before I’m serving coffee and baking cookies.” She shrank, then flew to my shoulder. “Ahh… It’s still the best seat in the house… It’s just as comfy as I remember it being…”

“My shoulder’s been cold without you to warm it. So, sit back and relax.”

“Now that we’re here… Greggie, can you help me prepare dinner?” asked Tris.

“Sure. I don’t mind.” Those two went to the kitchen while we sat at the table. The conversation was directionless until Tris telepathically caught me up to speed on what went down in the forest.

“Mary?”

“Yes?”

“Have you given thought to Tris’s words?”

“I—I mean—” The former teacher stuttered stiffly as she answered. “I have… But I haven’t decided. It’s complicated, Lord Springfield. I’m sorry, but it’s even harder to explain why I can’t give a more definitive answer.”

“I understand, but you shouldn’t apologize because you’ve done us no disservice. You have a lot to think about right now—current circumstances notwithstanding. But let me ask you something. Do—”

Lord Springfield, I have a message from Longtooth. Bart is asking for a meeting.

Surtr’s tone suggested it couldn't be ignored. Likewise, Bart wouldn’t have done this without a good reason. Tris didn’t know what it was about, so he likely hadn’t discussed it with his wife or Erin. What could we deduce from that?

If only we could read minds…

“Well, I’ll have to push that topic aside. Forgive me, but I have to be elsewhere.”

“Is something wrong?” asked Quella. I told the group about Bart’s request.

“That means you’re leaving with Lord Springfield?” Greggie asked Tris as he chopped veggies. She nodded. “You can leave the rest to me. Don’t worry about it.”

“I wonder what it’s about?” Tilde’s tiny fingers tapped my head.

“Your guess is as good as mine, but let’s not keep them waiting. Sekh?”

“I’m behind you.”

*****

“Gloria’s cast a long-range audio spell on the meeting room. It was done via one half of an artifact resembling a mix of a cellular phone and a walkie-talkie. Glintfang’s stealth was responsible for planting it,” Tris said after the carriage departed.

“That’s why you asked about cell phones?” I inquired.

“Yes. Cellular communication, in my eyes, is a variation of telepathy. I know it’s possible to tap into a call from your world, so I’d like to learn the mechanics behind that.”

“Then you’d apply it to telepathy?” asked Tilde.

“Yes. Arella has the other half of the artifact’s transceiver. She’ll pick up everything that’s said before relaying it to Gloria. It’s an ‘out-of-the-box’ solution to their unsolvable problem. Anyway, Bart’s been observed all day. Gloria surmised we’d have another meeting before the day’s end.”

“So our leaving has confirmed it?” Tris nodded. She opened two [Skyview] windows. One showed Gloria—the other displayed Arella hiding on a roof near Bart’s estate, the artifact pressed against her ear. Before the interruption, I was about to get Mary’s input on the viability of recreating cell phones in this world. Since I couldn’t do that, I asked Tris for her thoughts.

“It will not be easy. The artifact is invaluably rare, but it’s not a one-of-a-kind treasure with no equal. Still, it’s not something Gloria would use if she had any other choice. The Holy Lord's reluctance to be left in the dark has encouraged her to pull out all the stops. Depending on how tonight plays out…she may use [Conferment] to bridge whatever gap she believes she’s lacking.”

“We can always snatch it after she puts it back in her treasury,” added Tilde, who still warmed my shoulder. She freely dangled her legs the best she could. Any movement encouraged her nerves to heal.

“That seems the best course of action. I’d like to physically experiment with the two halves. I’ve deduced the frequency it’s on, though. Shall I run interference?”

“Yes. Do that,” I answered. “Disrupt the signal at certain points to clad portions of the conversation in mystery. Let them fear the worst. Maybe we can entrap them further in a hole if Gloria hastily acts on her fear. One final ‘fuck you’ before we leave.”

“That’ll probably happen,” Sekh said. “Call it intuition, but something tells me Arella might make a move.”

“On Gloria’s order?” asked Tilde. Sekh nodded as she leaned back.

We idly chatted the rest of the way. The same maids we had met earlier greeted us, and they escorted us to the same room.

“It’s just you?” I asked Bart as the door quietly shut behind us.

I’ve confirmed that Arella has heard that. Running spotty interference now, my lord.

“Ah, Lord Springfield!” Bart quickly put down his coffee. “Thank you for coming, and welcome back. Yes, it’s just me, but don’t worry. Erin felt like taking a nap after dinner. She’s with Longtooth and my wife.”

“You’re welcome.” I took my seat. “I can imagine what this is about. You don’t strike me as the type to suddenly request a meeting this late if it wasn’t severely important. So, what do you need from me?”

“Quick to the point, are you?”

“Why delay the inevitable? I would say, ‘I’m too busy to participate in aimless chatter,’ but as a High Elf, I have nothing but time. Instead, it’s like this. My time here is coming to an end. We’ll depart tomorrow, most likely. So, I want to handle all pressing businesses."

“Then I’ll get to it. You see, Lord Springfield… My wife and I were resolved to die in Requiesta. We’ve been in this business for so long. I remember the sacrifices my siblings and I made...going from one of the poorest families to one of the wealthiest—to one of the most socially powerful. Our strength doesn’t come from the military. Nor do we harbor a hidden warrior with an unmatchable might. We have knowledge, tact, and a deep understanding of how to twist a grieving widow into revealing secrets. The heart, Lord Springfield. That is what we read best.”

Bart paused, collecting his breath before continuing. “Meeting Erin has caused any desire to die in this town to leave us. We’re old. We’re gray and frail. I wish it were different, but our golden years are long beyond us. Now? A twilight approached the horizon. We selfishly wish it to be warm, not cold.”

“That’s a flowery way of saying you want a fresh start. So, you wish to leave the country?”

“We do.”

“Even if you haven’t discussed it with your wife?” I raised an eyebrow. Tris telepathically told me that she let that slip to Arella, who was hastily contacting Gloria for further orders.

“You can tell?”

“Call it a hunch you just confirmed. So, what will she think about it?”

“I know my wife better than anyone else.”

“You’re confident you’re not alone in feeling like this?” Tilde asked from her seat on my shoulder.

“That’s right.”

“Have you got a destination in mind? If not, then… Well, I’ll recommend Plymoise, a lovely little city-state of Parthina.”

I blocked that from Arella, my lord.

“Plymoise, eh?”

“Oh, yes. Let’s say I can have you there faster than you could blink.”

“With…”

“Leave it to your imagination. Believe me or not-- I don't care. I think it’s bad manners to doubt the one you’re asking for help.”

“I mean no disrespect.”

“Good.” I crossed my arms and legs. “What do you want to bring with you? Know that you cannot return once you depart. Certain assets are unsalvageable. I know you hold deeds, but Gloria will not recognize them as valid after you’ve turned your back on her. So, I recommend—”

“Arella is making her move, my lord. She has begun her approach.”

“Guess your intuition was right, Sekh.”

“I predicted it, so let me handle it,” she replied, standing.

"I leave her to you, then,” I told her. Sekh nodded as she left the room. The very moment the door shut behind her…

She was gone, warped by the void to just the right spot to impede Arella.

“You don’t look worried.”

“Because I’m not. Arella matters little. Gloria less so. From what I know—from what you’ve gathered from our prior interactions, this should not be a surprise. Rather, I’ll turn the question around. Why don’t you look worried?”

Bart smiled a grin more sinister than I’ve seen him show. “Because you wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t thought this turn of events was probable.”

“Oh?”

“Erin gushed almost endlessly about her elder sisters. Sekh holds a special place in her heart. She’s Longtooth original summoner, yes? She bequeathed the lion to Erin—that’s something you don’t do on a whim. Why, from my point of view, there is no safer place than beside—”

“Choose your next words carefully, cat. Do not think Erin’s newfound affection will prevent me from sending a bullet between your eyes.” I had a pistol aimed at Bart faster than I realized.

“…”

“I am not your ‘get-out-of-jail’ card. I am not a mulligan for you to restart your life. Remember what I said? I had originally arrived to kill you. You only breathe because Erin wants it to be, but I will do what I must to ensure her safety. She was used by your daughter. I will never, ever let that horrible fate repeat.”

“It’s within your right,” he replied without blinking. “I’m unsure what a ‘mulligan’ is, but I can surmise its meaning.”

“It’s a test, Master,” whispered Tilde.

“So was this. If you had flinched? Well, I’d have known how you felt about Erin.” I vanished my pistol. “You can guess the outcome.”

“I’m closely acquainted with death,” he answered. “My time is approaching, and I’d like to spend it with the ones who matter. That’s from my heart, Lord Springfield. I’d abandon all my titles, deeds, gold, assets, treasures, and more.”

“You’d be poor, then? You can't support a growing girl without money. Lest you’d live frugally.”

“Ah, but you wouldn’t allow that, either.”

“Are you sure you’re a Catfolk? You think more like a fox. Maybe I should see if you really have nine lives.” I returned a grin. “I almost shudder to imagine how you were in your prime.”

“Who says I’m not in it?”

“Good point. Looks can be very deceiving. That goes both ways, Bart. Now, let us resume our conversation. We’ve details to hash out before Sekh’s return.”

*****

The dark backstreet was the perfect place to confront Arella. She was, after all, forced to tread down this alley if she wanted to stop the Barclays from leaving the country. Tris had used her waypoints to create a ‘dimensional render’ of the immediate area, and the Dark Elf was indicated by a flickering purple blip. It matched her movement one-to-one, so when it neared me…

Her hasty footsteps also crept into my ears. She sped around the corner like that ‘motorcycle’ Tilde had once said she wanted to drive, skidding to a fast halt when she laid those unblinking eyes on me.

“I figured you’d arrive,” I said, leaning against the wall.

“You knew I’d be here?”

“That I did. Are you out for a late-night stroll? I used to despise them, but I’ve come to enjoy them lately. They’re something special, aren’t they? Especially when you share the time with someone you care for.”

The moon’s glint reflected sharply off those dual machine pistols hidden on her waist. Arella hadn’t reached for them, but she purposely made them more noticeable with a slight twist of her hips.

“Return to your lord, Arella. Enjoy the night with her.”

“I don’t take orders from you.”

“You don’t. Consider it advice. Would you like more?”

“…” Arella stared me down like I was prey.

“There’s nothing either of you can do,” I said, leaning away from the wall. Arella defensively stepped away, but I didn’t approach. “She’s an adult—the same as you. Therefore, you two are old enough to understand that actions have consequences. You’ve acted. Now it’s time to deal with the outcomes instead of acting like whining brats.”

“You’d—”

“Bart is his own man. His wife? Her own woman. Only they can dictate their lives. If they want to leave, then who are you to stop them? Who is your lord to keep them chained to a city they no longer wish to be in? Does she think herself that highly to steal a man’s autonomy? I’m certain Bart isn’t a slave, so why is Gloria acting like his owner?”

“A Vredi’s insolence can only be forgiven for so long…” growled Arella. She despised me trashing the one she served. “You’re with her, so your behavior is reflected upon the one you follow.”

“I hope you realize the same can be true for Gloria. She’s failed Lord Springfield—in more ways than one, might I add. She’d within her right to enact revenge for your lord’s failure to safeguard Aetos Village, so count your blessings that her striking hand is gentle. Lord Springfield knows the fear your lord holds against Vredi’s second princess. Mila may be weaker, but she still eclipses your lord in all manner of power.”

“What?!”

“Is that what irritates you? Me calling her—”

Arella took the bait. Tris hadn’t deduced the history Arella shared with Gloria, but it almost bordered on fantastical cultism. Arella kicked off with surprising haste, covering the dozen yards in the blink of an eye with a raised fist.

I saw it coming from a mile away as I caught the punch, redirecting the energy into an over-the-shoulder throw. She rolled, latched herself against the wall, then kicked off again. I dodged her physical barrage with ease. She went for an uppercut. I deflected it, but then she went low, kicking my legs out from under me.

Except I didn’t fall. I stayed resolute, looking down at Arella's sad attempt to knock me over.

Her guns flashed, and Arella vanished.

One…

Two…

Three…

Now!

I moved my head as—

Bang!

“What?! How did—UUUUUGHHHHH—” My armored fist felt wet and squishy as I stepped forward. Behind me?

Arella clutched her stomach, gasping for air that struggled to reach her lungs.

“It’s a delayed teleportation spell,” I said, crossing my arms. “You postpone it long enough to make your foe second-guess where you’ll appear, then you hide your essence the moment you show up. Dark Elves use guns. I figured you’d try to send a bullet between my eyes.”

“You—How—I…”

Cough! Cough!

“Is that all Gloria’s protector has to offer? You won’t win if you don’t come at me with the intent to kill.”

“Don’t you…”

Arella grasped her machine pistols. She struggled to stand as silencers appeared on them. She rushed forward, throwing both guns as they exploded into smoke. That didn’t hide her from me as I avoided the punch aimed at my chest. The glint of cold steel flashed in my vision as an almost silent barrage of bullets erupted into the wall.

Arella twirled her guns, transitioning into a combo that ended with another hail of gunfire toward my feet, except I knew it was coming.

Not because of Tris.

No.

Tris had nothing to do with it.

I knew what was coming because I had fought against this style. Memories of a much…angrier Dark Elf distantly related to Arella flooded my mind. That woman had technique and prowess.

This?

It was like crude mimicry. The movements weren't even in the same realm as Reina’s combat. Arella fought like a child trying to play with a toy that was much too heavy, but her distant ancestor’s influence was still there.

We fought countless times, Reina. Call it more of your bad luck that I should meet a practitioner of your fighting style 1,000 years later.

“That’s called gunkata,” I suddenly said, my words stopping Arella from pulling the trigger. Hundreds of bullet holes surrounded us.

“How do you know that? Who told you the name?”

“…” I kept silent.

“Answer me!”

“No.” The fight resumed—this time, I was the aggressor. I stowed my armaments and used my bare hands to keep Arella on defense. She never had the opportunity to aim the barrels remotely close to my body until I kept a flawed opening to entrap her like a mouse.

Arella fell for it, combining both guns into one as she tried to end the battle.

She didn’t expect me to ensnare her gun between my left knee and right elbow, destroying this paltry thing as if it were a toy. Arella somersaulted back, drawing a hidden pistol from her waistband, but I was there.

Crack!

I shattered her wrist while thrusting her arm up, catching the fallen gun with my other hand while kicking her away. She tumbled, crying out in pain.

“You’re too inexperienced. It’s not just your gunkata that’s exploitable, Arella. It’s you. You leave so many gaps that it’s harder to pinpoint what you’re doing well. You’re too inexperienced. It makes me wonder how you obtained your position.”

“Don’t you dare—SHUT UP!!!” Arella roared, looking at me with venomous eyes. I swallowed her pistol in a prison of deep, blue ice, then tossed it towards her. She forced her shattered wrist to catch it. Deceptive flames birthed from the ice, consuming her hand until she finally let it go amid a chorus of painful wails. She dropped to one knee, her eyes glistening violently with a scornful glare. For a moment, she eyed her still-frozen weapon. It was near her—almost taunting the Dark Elf into trying, once more, to break it free.

“This fight is over. You can’t best me with your weapon, Arella, and I doubt you hold the power to free your pistol from its jail. If I, without my weapon, am more than you can handle, I fear you hold no chance in a hand-to-hand fight. I know you didn’t fight at full power to limit the collateral damage, but your unrestricted might would not have changed tonight’s outcome.”

“SHUT UP!” she shouted, turning her non-injured hand towards her weapon. Futile flames flared from her palm.

“Leave it be,” I told her. “Senseless sacrifice without gain is a futile endeavor. A warrior of your caliber cannot hope to melt my ice. Even if you can, do not draw your gun at me lest you want to be struck down.

“It’s always the high-and-mighty ones to face their end! They’re stuck on their hubris! They cannot help but think they’re standing on top of the world!”

“You’re wrong.”

“Am I? I—”

“You’re. Wrong. Arella.” I slightly raised my voice, releasing just enough pressure to send her reeling back. It even canceled her flames, leaving the icy block as it was when I created it. She had made, after all, no progress whatsoever. “It’s clear that Gloria will order you to depart to reinforce Hymn’s defense. I’m telling you not to go. Ignore it.”

“Why?!”

“…”

“Why tell me that?! I understand Lord Springfield’s warning, but why you?! Why would you dishonor me by forcing your pity upon me?!”

Is that what it comes down to? Honor? Dishonor? Dying a valiant death?

“If only it were that simple. It’s not pity. It’s regret. Or maybe it’s redemption for what I was once unable to prevent.”

If Amos’s Soul Warriors still have living descendants… I don’t want to be their killer. Not if I can help it.

“But I won’t stay my mace if you refuse my warning. When it’s time to eradicate Hymn… If you’re there, Arella, you will be cut down. Your presence will pre-sign your death warrant. There will not be any survivors.”

“…”

“Now go. Run back home to your lord. Tell her she failed to stop the Barclays from leaving. Tell her Hymn’s destruction is as inevitable as the rising sun and setting moon. Make her understand, Arella, how easily you were bested. Let her know that it’s not just Mila or Sera that can oppose her, but I, as well, can hold my own. Gloria may think I'm the weak link, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.” The ice containing her gun dimmed. “There. You can pick it up. It won’t hurt you, but good luck melting it.”

Arella kept quiet. She reached for her weapon, but the elf flinched, jerking her hand away at the last second.

“It’s up to you to trust my words,” I said. “Believe them or not.”

Arella growled like a rabid dog before swiping the icy block.

“See? It’s just cold.”

Arella still didn’t speak. Her fingertips turned a deep purple from how tightly she gripped her frozen weapon. Those eyes... She was still angry as sin. Weakening my ice was the worst thing for someone who cared so much about honor. I doubt she’d have taken it better if it were a little more even, but it wasn’t even a fight. A battlefield without restraints wouldn’t have tipped the scales in her favor.

Arella couldn’t kill me. She knew no technique, spell, or ability to shatter my abyssal iceflame armor.

I disapprovingly shook my head as Tris’s waypoints told me Mila had finished.

Prepared to be warped, Sekh.

The countdown had three seconds, and I spent that time never looking away from those animalistic, furious eyes.

*****

While Sekh was busy with Arella…I was in another country… The one I had come to see was elated to see me knocking at her door, but since I was clearly here for business... She wanted me to detail my request.

Why else would I suddenly show up when I was supposed to be across the sea?

“So, you see, Lady Plymoise,” I told the jolly, verdant-obsessed woman sitting behind a green desk. “It’s about asylum for two people wanting to abandon Lord Gloria. They’re Erin’s maternal grandparents, and they wish to spend their final years not having to worry about the wild whims of a woman who, essentially, runs the Western Continent’s biggest trafficking ring.”

“Hymn’s dark rumors have even reached us,” she said. “Thank you for coming to me with this, and I’m happy to say I see no reason to deny your request.”

“Your kindness is ever infinite.”

“Ohohoho! Says the pot calling the kettle. Plymoise only remains independent due to your assistance. Helping Erin’s family is certainly the absolute least I could do. I shall get them set up in the same inn you stayed at. Fret not, Lord Springfield. They shan’t worry for nothing as long as they’re my guests.”

“Oh, I don’t expect them to stay for free. They don’t have many assets to bring with them. Well, not any that Gloria will recognize once she learns of their departure, but they have gold. I have someone collecting their most valuable things. Please don’t worry about Gloria discovering where they’re at. She knows nothing except that they’re leaving. She… Let’s say it’s in Gloria’s best interest to keep me happy.”

“I heard about Aetos Village, Lord Springfield. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. Lord Aetos survived. So did the Eagle Yew, in a way. Unfortunately, not everyone could be saved. Rest assured, I will give them peace. Their killers stand upon the edge of divine retribution.

Everything is ready on our end, my lord. We await your return.

“I don't doubt your success, Lord Springfield, but I shall pray either way.”

“Thank you,” I replied, standing. It was just Gretchen. The others I’d become friends with didn’t know I was here. Ignoring them was rude, but I was a woman on a mission. Idle chatter—catching up—could come afterward. Maybe sooner than later because warping here was naught but a stray thought away. “Now, I’ll go fetch them. I won’t be long.”

I blinked out of existence, appearing in Bart’s meeting room faster than a person could think.

It really was instantaneous—maybe even quicker than that. The void was…

Well, it was interestingly complex. Perplexing, even. Meruria knew the most about it, but it still held hidden aspects not even she was aware of.

“Well, it’s good news,” I told Bart, who was talking to his wife. As he expected, Eleanor shared his feelings. “Lady Plymoise’s willing to take you.”

“Your kindness won’t ever be forgotten, Lord Springfield,” said Bart. Tris approached from behind me. She motioned to the desk, where two bags appeared.

“You’ll find gems and jewels to sell inside, along with gold, silver, and, perhaps, a little too much copper,” Tris said. “Nothing can be traced to Gloria because she doesn’t know they’re gone. I’ve altered the banking records for added security, so don't worry."

“You won’t be hurting for money. Anyway, where’s Erin?”

“She wanted something from her mother’s room,” answered Eleanor.

Erin arrived not ten seconds later, almost out of breath, as Longtooth reverted to a Lionfolk. My little sister hugged a bag close to her chest. It held motherly mementos from when Karen was still spared from her mind’s impending sickness.

“So—Sorry. I didn’t mean to be late!”

“You aren’t late,” I told her. “Just right on time. Longtooth’s told you the good news?”

“Uh-huh. Are…we about ready?”

“Only if you are.” I looked at Bart as I grabbed the ‘to-go’ bags.

“That we are, Lord Springfield. Come, my love.” He held his wife’s hand. “It’s time we finally leave this behind us. Let us enjoy our twilight.” He extended a hand to Erin, who took it. “With a beautiful glow to light our night. Lord Springfield—”

Bart closed his eyes.

The warp occurred.

Bart opened his eyes.

“—whenever you—what?!” He timidly looked all around like a scared animal.

“Welcome to Plymoise,” I said. “See? I told you I’d have you here faster than you could blink.”

“Ahhh, you must be our guests.” Everyone turned to the jolly woman behind the desk. “Welcome, my friends! Lord Springfield has told me a lot about you! And it’s a pleasure to see you again, Erin. I hope you’ve been well!”

“Uh-huh! I hope you’ve been well, too.”

“That I have, my dear. That I have. My work has kept me unfathomably busy, but that’s the cost of doing business if you’re in my line of work, ohohohoho!”

There it was—the stereotypical laugh that fit her oh-so-well.

“You’ve met me before, Lady Plymoise, but that was in a different form. I’m called Longtooth.”

“You’ve evolved, I see? How amazing!”

“Thank you.”

“A carriage is waiting to take you to your lodgings,” said the jolly woman.

“It’s a wonderful place. The proprietor is very friendly and accommodating to—"

Lord Springfield, it’s Kengu. Nothing is wrong, but I have news to report. Lord Enele has found Ichiha’s mother. We’re scheduled to arrive within the next two days.

That...

That I didn’t expect because, while the news was good, it brought a painful decision for Erin, who had received the same message.

“What’s wrong? Why did you stop?”

I told Lady Plymoise about the search. “Ah, now your silence becomes clear.”

“So it does. Erin, what will you do? Sekh can send you back to the others, but…” Bart met my gaze. I could comfort Erin—I wanted to—yet if the bastard was going to test me…

Time to wear your heart on your sleeve, old man.

“Don’t worry about us, my dear. We’ll be fine. This is something you’ve been wanting, so you must go and handle this.”

“But… I… We just…” Longtooth dried Erin’s watery eyes. Her lion must have told her something because Erin’s expression strengthened. “Okay… I have to be strong. No, I will be strong. Grandpa, Grandma, I’ll return with good news. Then I’ll introduce you to them.”

“I’d like that very much,” Eleanor pleasantly replied. She and Bart hugged their granddaughter before Longtooth merged with her. I warped Sekh in, catching Gretchen off guard by a lion knight’s sudden appearance.

“I’m ready, Sekh.”

“Do you remember our talks?”

“I do.”

“The promises, too?”

“Uh-huh. I’m not scared. I…can do this. I will do this, so…”

“See? That’s a strong girl,” said Tilde as she flew from Tris’s shoulder. She’d been so quiet until now that Gretchen didn’t even realize she was here.

“Tilde?! You’re...!”

“Yep. Don’t let this form fool you. I’m still the same maid. Just a little smaller, you know? It’s easier on the wings, haha. Be good, okay?” Tilde laid a small hand on Erin’s cheek. “We’ll be seeing you soon.”

Erin flashed a strong smile as a magic circle of abyssal iceflame was engraved onto the floor. Gretchen almost ducked for cover as the flames engulfed Erin, sending her to Kengu’s location via direct mana pathways only navigable by Sekh.

“And so, the cat and little lion hath departed,” said Tilde as she returned to Tris’s shoulder.

“Lady Plymoise, again, thank you for this. It’s getting late in Requiesta, and now that my work has mostly concluded, I must prepare for our departure to the Ashlands. Vengeance must still be enacted.” Sekh, Tris, and Tilde gathered around me, with my fairy flying to my shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind if I drop in during our travels. Let’s say I’ve acquired a form of unmatched teleportation magic.”

“You’re welcome to come any time—day or night. I wish you all well, my friends. Oh, and it’s nice to put a name on a body. I’m glad you’ve recovered, Sekh. That makes me happy.”

“Your words are kind,” replied Sekh, her expression hidden behind that helmet. “This may be our first meeting, but I know you from the lions. They’ve shared their experiences with me.”

“Ah! So it’s like we’re already acquainted? How marvelous.”

“Thank you. Bart, you don’t want to forget that.” I handed him the two bags. “From here on out… You never existed in Requiesta. That chapter of your life has ended. You will never return. Tell me now if you require anything you've forgotten, lest it be swallowed by a sea of flames."

“We’ve said our say,” replied Bart. “Let ash define the end of our time there.”

“So it will. Now, take care. I’ll be in touch soon.

I warped us to our bedroom at the castle. Immediately, I created a clone, which turned into a bird. It flew out the open window, with orders from Tris to burn a mansion to the ground.

“Welp…” Tilde flew to the pillow and rested flat on her back. “Unless you think of something else… We’re about done here, yeah?”

“We leave in the morning.”

“You know.” Tilde sat up. “I’ll ask the obvious. Why not fly to Hymn and handle it?”

“I could do that. I’ve thought about it a lot, but I want this to be a statement. Let Gloria think she can do something—anything to prevent the inevitable. That, unfortunately, requires time for her to exhaust every option. So, we’ll spend that time in relative peace. Enjoy the trip, you know? Experience nature. Relish this downtime before the fighting resumes. Besides, I told Gloria that Hymn was to immediately cease all operations.”

“I cannot confirm her exact words, but she told Arella that she telepathically dispatched that order. As for whether it will be followed? I cannot say.”

“It will if she wants to continue living. She knows my threats are more than mere threats. They’re promises I will keep. Tonight's arson will be proof of that. Now, has anything changed with Niva?”

Tris shook her head. “She ate dinner, but she went to bed almost immediately.”

“Did she say anything?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Yeah, I figured that was the case.” We turned to Tilde. “The girl’s developing an inferiority complex. I mean... What can you expect when she’s surrounded by so many powerhouses?l

“Let me guess.” I sat on the bed. Sekh—free from her armor— and Tris took their place on my left and right. “This is, yet again, something we can’t control.”

“Afraid not, Master. The strength to overcome this must originate from Niva. It’s…another uphill battle she must conquer. I hate that the girl’s been having so many of them lately. It sucks not being able to help her, but that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes. We can support her. Emotionally. Maybe physically with a hug, but our words—even if we have good intentions— could cause that complex to overpower the rational part of her mind.”

Niva’s mentality, effectively, was like a landmine.

A volatile one, yet a mine that only she could deactivate.

Maybe confronting Hymn could help. Maybe Aetos could do something. Or Yew. Or Primrose, as the one closest to her.

I really wished I could do something.

*****

Morning arrived, and we were outside.

“So… I guess this is it, then?” Sera asked, looking on as our group boarded the carriages.

“It is. Seems we’re not alone.”

“Arella should know by now that she cannot escape our senses.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure she does, but she’s likely honor-bound to deduce the culprit behind last night’s mysterious arson.” Sera knew the truth—that I had helped the Barclays escape the city. She was also aware I had burned their estate down. My clone ensured the flames did not spread, so the only things consumed by fire were what needed to be devoured by suffocating ash. “Something tells me she’s identified the criminal.”

That caused quite a lot of panic last night… More stress to deal with, you bitchy lord.

“She could at least try to hide her presence. Her attempts are more lackluster by the day.”

“Lackluster to us, perhaps. We’ve two thousand years between us.”

“Well, you’re not wrong,” Sera replied. “I don’t know—I guess I have high standards when it comes to High and Dark Elves.”

That’s bound to chip away at her confidence even more than asking Gloria to treat her burns and free her frozen gun.

“I wonder if that hints at Hymn’s future fate. I doubt Gloria has decided who should fall.”

“Speaking of that… It’s unlikely I’ll have to do anything. Staying behind, after all, is both an act and a declaration.” Arella heard everything. Why bother hiding our talk? It was more of a statement to let her eavesdrop. “Still.” Sera went in close for a tight hug. “I wish you well, Sister. I don’t know how often I can visit my forest, but I’ll try to take frequent trips.”

“Ah, that’s right.” I retrieved a specialized coordinate crystal from my pocket. It was uniquely made by engraving a custom spell that physically detached a localized shard whenever I gave it mana. That fragment was linked to another permanent one enshrouded inside a shrine Aetos had blessed.

“It doesn’t have infinite uses, so it’ll eventually run out. But it’s better than nothing until you’ve mastered the spell I taught you.”

That’s the ironic statement of the century because I can warp there from anywhere. I wish I could tell you, Sera, but this is another white lie I must keep.

“Oi! Master?” Tilde flew from my carriage window. “I think we’re ready. Surtr’s all hooked up, and the puppet horses are strapped in. Just waiting on you.”

“Okay. Got it. So, this is it. I’ll keep in touch. If you’re not at the forest when I arrive, I’ll leave a letter with Lord Aetos, okay?”

“I’ll do the same.” Sera hugged me. “I know I have nothing to fear. I know you can do this. I’ll count the days until we reunite, Sister.”

“Same here, Sister.”

As much as I wanted to take credit for my parting words…

The Susize in me authored that sentence, speaking through my actions rather than controlling them.

I entered the carriage after glancing at the convoy behind us. Niva was still quiet and a little distant, but she and Primrose didn't refuse Yew's request to share a carriage, so they had the second one to themselves. Team Quella split the third and fourth, leaving me, Tilde, Tris, and Sekh alone in the first.

Let’s get to it, Surtr.

As you desire, Lord Springfield.

My lion roared, his flames igniting as if signaling our departure before walking. Our vehicle's meticulous design ensured it was as smooth as butter.

And thus came an end to our time in Requiesta, but this wouldn't be the last the city saw of us. We'd be back after dealing with Hymn, but the question remained of what would be in my hand?

Would it be a gun? If Gloria's words failed to reach Hymn, and they continued their misdeeds despite her order, then the fault would remain with her, as she was their leader. As the one in charge, the sins of her underlings fell to her.

Or would I hold in my hand nothing more than a report detailing Hymn's total annihilation? With visual proof of the ashy remains of a place stained by horrors, death, and torture?