CH79 Aqua the Nereid
Aqua blinked, interrupting Fufi's monologue. “Want to come back to our grotto? It's mostly underwater, but there are dry areas. Merumeru came to get me; our plan was to pack up the boat and take you there to discuss things further.”
“Okay, let's get packed and set out,” Alex replied, gathering the items from the carriage and securing them for transport.
With the clicking of clockwork mechanisms, Fufi attempted to climb into the carriage but caught on the lip of the ladder and fell. “Ouch, that really hurt.”
Alex helped the flamingo out of the flopped over wooden suit. “Sorry, I guess my clockwork suit crafting has a long way to go.” Alex inspected the flamingo’s leg. “It looks like the way the pulleys work doesn't help with mitigating fall damage or probably impact damage. I didn’t think things through. The springs pull in response to force being put on them so now the problem is that it doesn’t matter where the force comes from.” Alex furrowed her brows. “While the range of motion isn’t outside, what you can do looks like we discovered that a jarring impact can hurt the limb inside. Making toys is way different than making suits. I’ve got a lot to learn”
“It works well enough. Familiars shouldn’t be in the line of fire. We don’t even have classes.” Fufi popped out of the suit and flew up into the air. “I’m sure your next attempt will be better. Though you are right in that using a toy maker skill to create something that isn’t really a toy will generally not work quite right.”
Alex nodded and put the suit in the compartment with the dolls and plushies. She placed the last panel back in place and turned the carriage back into card form. On the boat, she pulled the line from where it was tethered and hopped aboard. “Allright, lead the way.”
“Hmm, do you want to use your little contraption and we can just pull this little boat Merumeru?” Aqua asked the overall-wearing slime girl.
“Meru!” Merumeru agreed and pulled a card out of her pocket. She threw it into the mucky water and it transformed into a mini submarine. The blue skinned slime girl hopped into the cockpit.
Aqua secured the rope to the back of the mini-submarine, wound its key, and settled atop it. The boat lurched as the line tautened, and both vessels sped off into the bog.
Alex harbored a slight fear the boat might capsize or snag on hidden submerged objects. Yet, inexplicably, the water offered no resistance. They maintained an even better pace than sailing downstream on the smooth river, finding the journey considerably easier than before.
After some time, they reached a rocky outcropping emerging from the swamp. Peculiarly, the familiar strange sunflowers with large smiley faces, similar to those in town, were growing in patches of dirt here as well. They guided the tiny submarine and boat into an opening in the rock, entering the mound. Inside, the space opened up considerably. Unlike a typical cave, the grotto received ample light. A stone outcropping provided an ideal docking point, and the caravan of waterborne vessels came to a halt there.
Merumeru opened her cockpit, hopped out, and jumped onto the rocks, summoning her submarine back into card form. The line fell slack into the water.
As the sub vanished, Aqua splashed into the water, a smirk on her face, only her head visible above the dim surface. The rest of the nereid's body remained unseen, hinting at deep water and fey magic.
Alex followed her example and tied off the boat to a very conveniently shaped rock. “Wow, the water is a lot clearer here. Less mud and more liquid? Is there a sinkhole or something in this spot?” The magical girl looked around and inspected the area. Alex saw some basic accommodations but nothing fancy. “You don’t get many visitors?”
Aqua pulled herself out of the water and wrung out her blue hair. “Yes, most of the water nymphs that stay here live underwater. The freshwater can dissolve limestone and leave voids hundreds of feet down. It is a great spot to set up a base. As for visitors we mostly only get the water breathing kind. My cousins come here and we exchange information after spying on the ports. There is an area for captives above ground but we don’t use it often. Though there is that old gnome that has been doing all sorts of questionable experiments in the back.” Aqua shrugged. “We captured him and after breaking the mind control on him he wanted to find a way to get back at what the demons made him do.”
Alex dusted off a rock and after confirming it was clean sat down. “So your gnome captive, er guest does he know a lot about the workings of the Yvne barony?”
“Maybe a little bit,” the Nereid considered. “We picked him up at the capital. He used to be one of the important people in the royal mage tower. Years back we sunk a ship that was rumored to have someone important on it and it was this guy. He combined his system given skills and demonic rituals to create the bird flu. After his enthrallment broke, he decided it was his life’s work to get back at the demons for what they made him do. So he’s been doing sketchy research ever since.”
“First things first,” Fufi stepped in. “Let's make some tea and set up for dinner. Is there a good spot to park the carriage?”
Aqua looked around and pointed to a decently lit area that was flat and covered in moss. “Will that work?”
Alex nodded to the pair and tossed the card out in the indicated location. It poofed back into existence. “I’ll get set up. I’m guessing our carriage will be where we are staying for the night?”
“There are some places with alcoves carved out. But everything is damp so if you don’t like moist places then that might be your best bet.” Aqua looked impressed by the intricate carriage. “This is a swamp so everything is going to be humid and the moisture clings relentlessly.”
Alex swiftly transformed the carriage, reconfiguring panels to create a cozy tea nook. "I'll prepare some tea," she announced, pouring hot water over loose leaves into a steeping pot. Fufi, with her beak, efficiently arranged four cups on the table. Alex then set out four foldable wooden stools around it. "Have a seat, Aqua. It will be ready shortly."
Everyone settled in, enjoying their tea together.
“Ruru me me meme ru ru,” Merumeru looked at Aqua with a questioning look on her face.
“You want to build a pipe here to go back to the farm in the forest?” Aqua appeared baffled by the slime girl’s question.
“That would be a seriously long pipe. I know you are good at plumbing but that would take years to do with this world’s technology level.” Alex gave Merumeru a cross look. She seemed to be living with her head in the clouds sometimes. The magical girl remembered the grouping of big pipes that ended in dead ins back at Bob and Martha’s farm. Were they not just a form of modern art?
“Meru Meru meee.” Merumeru sounded a bit annoyed.
“Oh that is a neat trick. What class gives that skill?” Aqua asked the slime girl.
“Ru ru Meee.” Merumeru said.
“You got it from leveling up plumber?” Aqua paused. “That is really interesting, usually stuff like that requires the help of some kind of magic user.” The nereid looked from Merumeru then Alex and considered. “Hmm, perhaps that might explain why you get such fantastical skills.”
Aqua translated for Fufi and Alex. “She said that she just needs to match it to another pipe exactly the same in another location. If she builds them the same then anyone wearing the right outfit can go through them and go out the other side.” Aqua patted Merumeru on the head. “And congratulations on reaching level three. You are doing very well.”
Alex blinked in disbelief. Merumeru, a little girl less than a year old, was already level three! Alex wasn't sure how to feel about a toddler leveling up faster than her, especially considering Alex was on a quest to defeat the demon queen. Should Alex be proud of Merumeru's prodigy-like abilities, or ashamed by her own comparative lack of progress?
Seeing the weird face Alex made, Fufi spoke. “Congratulations Merumeru. You are the best plumber!”
“Meru!” Merumeru brightened at Fufi’s praise.
Alex came back to reality. “Good job Merumeru. Your pipes are the best pipes.” Alex smiled weakly.
Fufi sensed Alex unease and whispered to her. “Don’t worry, non-combat classes can be easier to level at the lower levels. You’ll find that the average farmer or smith is higher level than the average warrior. Everyone gets bottlenecks in their leveling but the challenges are unique to that class. For magical girl, the amount of monsters to defeat gets really high at the upper levels.”
Alex nodded quietly to the flamingo.
“Maybe build the pipe in an empty room? I would say building it deep under water would be the safest place but that might be a little bit too limiting.” Aqua pointed towards a darker part of the grotto that led to a cave. “Professor Copperpot has his lab back there too. That is our gnomish guest’s name. If you want to talk to him later I’m sure you can, though he does some rather dangerous research so don’t expect comfortable accommodations.”
“What kind of research is this gnome doing exactly?” Alex was happy at the change in subject. But it almost sounded like the gnome specialized in biological weapons.
“Like I said, he feels really guilty for his part in making bird flu. It only affects humans so he’s trying to make a similar disease that only affects demons. Sometimes we capture imps and bring them back here for test subjects.” Aqua stated casually.
“That is rather scary.” Alex shuddered, not expecting the nereid to think there was some kind of line being crossed.
“It is up to you. He is an odd duck but gnomes are very long lived and he’s seen a lot.” Aqua again gestured back to the grotto.
“Well, what about the local barony? What are things like there?” Alex tried to focus on the task on hand.
“It is very poor. Most people don’t have enough to eat. The Lady Yvne is an agricultural type of ruler, but not very high level. Farmers and ranchers that are her citizens get a bonus for working the lands. That is the only thing that is keeping it from collapsing. The majority of the area is wastelands. There is just one town on the river and the rest is empty. She has a manor where they train maids. For whatever reason, maids are the main export of the barony. A lot of people that are struggling ask for work in her manor.” Aqua waved a hand.
“So if we want to sneak in and spy on them, how would we do that?” Alex sipped some tea.
“I’m sure you know that Flamingos are banned. That is a kingdom-wide thing not a barony thing. There are demonic rituals in all the capitals that the demons control. It is how they have kept magical girls from popping up. They are not allowed to attack them because of the accords but the work around is to just keep them from finding any human that might make a good partner from a contract.” Aqua talked a bit then took a sip of her tea.
“I don’t really want to leave Fufi behind. But I will if we have to.” Alex frowned.
“No way, I’m not going to abandon you. We are partners.” Fufi stomped a webbed foot.
“I guess we could try? We made that suit for you. Perhaps the demon's magic won’t work if you are inside it? I know it is a long shot but it is worth a try.” Alex put a hand on her chin.
“I believe in you Alex, the power of love will keep any evil forces from driving us apart.” Fufi proclaimed with conviction.
Alex cringed. Why did Fufi have to be so weird sometimes? “Anyway, should we just head there from the road? How are we going to fit in with the locals?”
“Most everyone that doesn’t work for the lady is dressed in second hand clothes. So if you really want to fit in, that flashy seafarer outfit is going to attract way too much attention. And you are way too clean. People wash themselves by the river once a week.” Aqua squinted at Alex.
“A magical girl must always be cute. It is the most important thing,” Fufu fumed at Aqua, absolutely not agreeing.
“Maybe try to be a traveling merchant? They come sometimes but the roads are not safe. Demons tend to have the policy that if they can take something it is theirs. So the only people that travel are those that are servants to strong demons or people that don’t have anything worth taking. Just don’t say you are a magical girl. All the demons are weary that another Cosmos would pop up despite their best efforts to keep that from happening.” Aqua set her finished cup of tea down.
“Maybe I could be a tailor then? Or perhaps I could say I’m a toymaker? Fufi can pretend to be a doll.” Alex pointed to the clockwork bird armor.
“You could wear your corset and dress. That one is still cute but not as flamboyant as what you are wearing now.” Fufi encouraged Alex’s plan.
“Have you ever met magical girl Cosmos” Alex asked. “What was she like?”
“Yes, though it was a while ago. I remember her being sad. She really wanted to do something for her home but Luna always reminded her that she only could do that if someone broke their end of the accords. So she just worked in the escalation department solving problems with magical girls from other worlds or places that are very isolated. There are some magical girls on Terre that are hidden away trying to do what they can to make a difference. Luna’s relations department supports their families so that nothing bad happens while they are away because it would be bad if someone was worried about what was going on back home while they were doing important magical girl work.” Fufi waved a wing.
“You really think Cosmos took my cabin and brought it to another planet? I can’t fathom how that is even possible.” Alex shook her head.
Merumeru glared at Alex. “Meru!”
Fufi looked to Merumeru then Alex. “Oh she can. She is the highest leveled magical girl that I know of. The demons are right to be afraid of her. They are not of this plane of existence and someone with spacial magic can do things like banish extraplanar entities.” Fufi sounded serious.
“I feel second rate now. If Cosmos and Luna hadn't signed the accords then Catalina wouldn’t have needed to summon a hero and none of this would have happened.” Alex grumbled.
“If Cosmos had free reign then someone from team evil as powerful as her would come to challenge her. What Luna and the other deities have to watch out for above all things is not escalating the power level of the conflict so much that massive collateral damage happens. Yes, the demons were sneaky and kept Luna from raising more magical girls to fight the demon queen and her army but the other options are worse.” Fufi didn’t like giving bad news.
Alex deflated. “This whole world is such a mess.”