The Grand Catastrophe

…

“Sister put her down!” Kelart yelled as Neia was pushed against the wall.

“No! She fucked it all up! We came here for the goddess, not her little champion!” Remedios said.

Neia, lamenting her want to be of aid, flinched at each word as she was pushed up against the wall. The paladin captain was angry, that much had been clear as soon as she had opened her mouth. Neia had simply wanted to get the goddess to come along. Or, at the very least, her champion.

The Holy Queen placed a hand upon her paladin’s shoulder. She spoke then, and Remedios’s eyes softened towards her queen.

“Remedios, we can’t just yell at people who annoyed us. Let her go,” Calca said.

Neia sighed out loud as she was dropped back to the floor, but stopped when she was glared at again. Kelart then grabbed her sister’s shoulder and spoke. Her tone was that of a mother gently scolding her daughter, not of a sister annoyed and angered at her sister. The small pit of discontent with her people grew in her stomach.

“Just stop sis,” Kelart looked to Neia, “you can go do your duties again. Come when we call you up.”

Neia nodded silently. She stood straight, and rushed out of the room. After she left and closed the door, she felt herself fall onto the wall of the hallway, and slide to the floor. Her heart pulsed in her chest, and she breathed in deep gulps of air in and out.

“I really shouldn’t have opened my stupid mouth,” Neia said to herself, and got up.

After a second or two of simply leaning on the wall, she pushed herself off, and made her way to the lower area. After she passed by the receptionist at the front and gave her a nod of recognition, she walked out of the Inn, and out into the stables. There, she started committing her nightly duties as was normal.

As she walked to the stables though, she was stopped by a voice coming from the street. She paused in her stride, and slowly turned her head to the sound. There, standing like it was normal to walk this late in the day in plate armor like most adventures, was lady Calvaria.

“I must ask you this, but are you Squire Baraja?” Neia nodded, “Hm, is it alright if I may talk to your queen? Is she busy?” she asked, her scared face looking genuinely inquisitive.

“I think they’re talking about politics, but I was told to leave and do my other duties. Besides, I'm just a squire, I don’t think I would be cut out for the types of things that they talk about,” Neia said honestly.

Calvaria nodded her head in understanding, real understanding Neia seemed to note in mild shock, and then turned away from her to walk back from whence she came. Neia hurriedly stopped her, and the champion looked apologetic. This day was weird, Neia decided then and there.

“Where are you going? I’m pretty sure you’re important enough to pause what they’re doing for you,” Neia said, and Calvaria sighed.

“Yes, but it would be rude. I’d rather not anger the guests in this city, especially the queen of a foreign nation,” she said, and Neia found herself nodding along, but still tugging the older woman into the building anyway.

As she tugged her along and into the building, the receptionist waved at them. Neia waved back, and walked up the stairs. Then, she turned and walked towards that door to the meeting room. The lady at the front hadn’t even looked up.

“You didn’t have to pull me up all the way here Squire,” Calvaria said with a sigh.

Neia looked at her with wide eyes, realizing what she had done. She involuntarily tried to make herself look smaller, it didn’t work. Calvaria simply shook her head in exasperation. It seemed to Neia more good natured than anything, but she still didn’t want to be rude.

“It’s fine young Baraja. I know you just want to get this done right away, but patience is key,” she said and booped Neia on her nose.

Neia felt like a kid again for a split second. Then, the feeling left, and she grew slightly embarrassed and confused. Her cheeks heated for a second, and she turned and knocked on the door to the meeting room, and spoke, forcing the childish pout to leave her tone. It barely worked.

“My Holy Queen, I have come here again to request that you meet with a guest,” she requested, and the door opened.

On the other side was Remedios. Neia paled slightly at her angry expression. The paladin captain was going to go off on her again, as was evident by the look on her face, but lady Calvaria stopped her.

“Lady Remedios, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Calvaria, champion of the Goddess of death and magic, Momonga,” she said, and reached out a hand as Neia stepped off to the side of the doorway and out of the way.

The paladin seemingly sneered at her for a second, as if she had done something heinous to her, but it pulled back and she shook the offered hand. Calvaria seemed just as confused by the reaction as Neia. Sure, she was a champion of a foreign god, but she had been polite so far.

“The pleasure’s mine,” she grumbled, and tilted herself off to the side as Neia and Calvaria walked in.

There, Neia saw as Holy Queen Calca stood up from the seat she was in, and nodded her head. She spoke in a tone that seemed more fake than anything. It was as if she was trying to butter her up. Though, there was a hint of tiredness in her tone at the actions of her paladin, and just in general.

“Greetings lady Calvaria. I am Holy Queen Calca,” she then gestured to Kelart, “This is the high priestess Kelart Custodios.”

“It’s nice to finally make your acquaintance. I have come here to discuss the plans to deal with Lilael,” Calca nodded and offered a seat in front of her; Calvaria took it, and continued, “I will only be going there to slay the demoness, and nothing more. The demi-humans you will have to deal with yourselves,” she said.

“What tricks does Lilael often employ?” Remedios asked, her tone suddenly serious.

“That’s what I’m here to talk about,” the older woman smiled, “yes, let’s talk strategy.”

…