[X] Stay there some more, praying to Oramus
You mentally shrug. What's the point of criticizing the behavior of an Unquestionable? Demons aren't human, and you would be a fool to think otherwise. Doesn't make dealing with them less weird though.
Like with the Gem of the Conventicle Malfeasant attuning the new stone is near instantaneous, something you guess is made possible by the original owner transferring ownership to you. You put the Amulet around your neck and hide it under your suit, together with the Deceiver's Stone and the Weapon Ward. The whole setup is not quite uncomfortable, but close. You don't think you can add more without it being evident to an outside observer.
'Are you done?' You ask your advisor.
"-for we are simple servants, insignificant in your eyes. Our faith and devotion-" Nope, he's not.
Then again, maybe it's not a bad idea. You have been helped much by Oramus, but until you can repay him with results...your honest gratitude will suffice. Sitting down in the lotus position, hands on your knees and head bowed, you start praying, putting into appropriate words your honest feelings.
It's...actually a nice feeling, relaxing even. You have never been very religious, even with the Empire's blatant support of the church and use of its themes to further justify the monarchy. Not that you didn't attend when appropriate, but you preferred spending time with your favorite family members and studying for the time you were going to enter the political scene.
...Now that you think about it, the church must be tied to the Celestial Bureaucracy in some way. Which makes it another target, even if you were going to do away with it either way.
At the end of your prayers you stand up, bow a final time, turn around and walk away, posture proud and resolve reaffirmed.
You are a Champion of Hell.
[X] Ask the demons around here what they can offer you
Once outside the temple the Anuhles quickly moves into place around you, your personal honor guard.
"What now Boss?" Seyrun, finally coming out of his religious fervor, asks.
'Lord Daendels said the demons living here in the Shattered Cities are all crafters. And since requesting something from them is within my rights, I want to see if there is any-'
"HEY-OH!"
"Gaah!"
Startled (and deafened) by the sudden shout right in front of your face you fall down on your butt. The next few seconds are a blur as you try to recover your bearings, vaguely aware of the Fangs moving between you and whoever surprised you. And shouting, which just make things worse.
Once your hearing is back to normal you push yourself back on your feet with a growl. "Who the hell is-"
"Hey! How are you? I am quite good thank you very much! The weather has been quite nice though I miss Hegra's rains! Those are the most fun! Are you one of those Green Sun Princes I heard so much about? You look scrawny! Shouldn't a Prince look more im-"
The almost literal deluge of words stops you cold, gaping like a fish. Or maybe the real reason is what you are currently looking at:
Girly. Very, very girly. This is the only possible way to describe the creature in front of you, besides ridiculous of course. It's vaguely shaped like a horse, but one drawn by a child, with pink fur and even pinker mane. The face and expression it is currently making are surprisingly human-like, too big eyes notwithstanding.
'What the FUCK is this?'
"Woah! I've met many demons in my life, but this is just plain disturbing!" Great, even Seyrun is confused.
Luckily the Yozis are on your side, because the equine's rambling is interrupted by a hovering rock hitting its head. "Owwie!"
"Pinkie Pie! That is no way to treat a Peer. It is highly unsightly and improper." A new, sophisticate voice says harshly. The owner is another similar horse-like creature, with pure white fur and purple mane.
You're honestly starting to think Oramus's presence is affecting your mind in very
bad ways.
"Rarity! You meanie!" The pink horse whines, enormous drops of tears pouring out of her eyes. "That hurt!"
"It was for your own good darling." The white horse says before turning to you and bending her front knees, head kept down. You realize it is bowing. "Greetings Honorable Peer. My name is Rarity, Seamstress of the Shattered Cities. My friend here is Pinkie Pie, Dabbler of Parties and Dreams. Please forgive her: she has an unfortunate tendency to drink new concoctions herself, and they make her...
excitable."
Pinkie Pie nods enthusiastically, a jaw-defying grin on her face.
'Oookay...in for a penny, in for a pound I suppose.' "I am Zero." You take a dramatic pose. "The Champion chosen by Wise Oramus to do his will where he cannot. Are you here, perhaps, on Unquestionable Daendels' orders."
"That is correct Peer Zero." Rarity looks up. She and Pinkie Pie are females...right? "As the Chosen of our Great Lord, it is every inhabitant of the Shattered Cities' pleasure to assist you in any way we can." She says proudly. "Everything that is unique in the whole universe can be found here, for every act of creation is a prayer to our Lord."
"And dreams!" Pinkie hops up and down. "I love Oramus's dreams!"
"A bit too much, if I can say so myself." Rarity shakes her head, annoyed. "You just have to ask Peer Zero, and I will bring you to the ones best suited."
"Actually, you may help me already. You said you are a seamstress?" You ask, raising a gloved hand. "It is possible to improve this costume-"
"Mh, mh, mh." Rarity hums loudly, suddenly inside your personal space. Her eyes critically scan every surface of cloth. "I see, I see. Decent enough I suppose. Colors are socially acceptable, and the texture..." She sniffs haughtily. "Passable. For amateurs, that is."
"Hey!" The Fangs cry out in indignation.
"Kill
or sew darlings. You can't do both and expect to be good." She replies with sufficiency. "And what's this?" Your mask is ripped from the Anuhle carrying it by a telekinetic force and brought in front of Rarity's face. "I understand the need of secrecy, but it's a crime to conceal such a perfect face." She looks at you dreamily before her eyes light up. "Ah, I know! Follow me!"
Pushed quite adamantly from behind by a rather excited Pinkie you are brought to a nearby building. It is a strange thing, made not of basalt but of a lattice of thin brass filaments. The inside brings to mind the atelier of a tailor, exotic materials and dresses with too many limbs notwithstanding.
"Woah!" You gasp as an invisible force takes off your clothes. You barely manage to put on a shadow-disguise before ending with only your boxer. "What the hell?!"
"Hush darling. I am
working." Rarity replies back curtly, a pair of glittery glasses on her face, before letting out with a shrill: "Pinkie! The
Calcanth!"
The pinkie demon pushes into place a large cauldron full of bubbling liquid. Then the cauldron opens its mouth and pulls out a long tongue, many alchemical tools resting on it.
"You may want to rest Boss." One of the Fangs offers you a chair. "I think this is going to take a long time."
"Yeah. Those artificer guys are all nuts."
"...This better be worth it." You huff before sitting down, resolving to be just a spectator for now.
Watching the white-furred demon working is...
interesting. Rarity may look like she came straight out of a three years old girl's dreams, but she exhibits a single-minded fervor no child would be able to imagine.
She pours Calcanth on your mask together with ground indigo ice and crystal dust.
She takes apart your costume without breaking a single thread, exposing every single one of them to the vapors of a chromatic large scale burned over a fire of silver bark, the flames fanned by the breath of mice made of fire.
This and much more Rarity does, praying loudly all the time while Pinkie divides her time between helping and making sacrifices to small temples.
'Hey. Seyrun.'
"Yes?"
'Do you play Chess?'
You're in the middle of your tenth mental game, the Anuhle slowly but steadily having become good at it, when Rarity finally finishes. "How does it feel darling?" She asks with sparkling eyes.
You grunt, glad to finally have your real clothes back. You tug one sleeve. "The same as before. What changed?"
"Simple! First, the mask." She slides it on your head, the mechanism closing it smoothly. You realize it's easier to see through it, almost like you are not wearing it. "Now even with your face covered you'll always be
fabulous!" She sighs in bliss. "Oh. And, as an afterthought, I made so it hides your identity better."
Mask of Zero (Artifact 1): It allows the effects of the Charm "Beautiful In My Way" to go through it even though the face is hidden. It also inflicts a two dice penalty to all rolls to determine the identity of the wearer. Attuning it cost 2 motes.
'Call it an afterthought.' "What else?"
"Sadly I couldn't make the costume itself more durable. That would have required making something new from scratch." She lifts your cape. "Instead I infused your mantle with the essence of a shield. Now you can use it to parry enemy's blows. Even a fiery daiklave will be unable to scratch it."
Silken Mantle of Zero: part of Silken Armor of Zero. It increases Parry DV against attacks by 3.
Silken Armor of Zero: Soak +5L/3B. Attune: 3m. It stacks with other forms of armor. It cannot be detected as magical without the use of magic-sensing Charms such as All-Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight. It can be worn while performing Martial Arts styles that normally prohibit the use of armor.
"Good enough. I don't plan to enter direct combat often anyway." You take out the scroll Daendels gave you. "Now I need to go. I have a meeting with an Unquestionable."
"We will hold you no longer." Rarity bows. "May your future be full of glory and fortune Green Sun Prince."
"Bu-bye!" Pinkie Pie waves her hoof energetically.
"Yeah, bye." You leave the shop and begins the course back to the airship.
[X] Read the Scroll
Once you're sufficiently afar you open and read the scroll:
"Once, there was a maiden-Why in Malfeas' many secret names are we still using this shitty opening?! We don't even like
the Maidens! Here, read this:"
What follow is a densely written map of numerous signs, some quite nonsensical.
"Show up at the time of a Tomescu's cry. Not before, and not after. I am a buuuuuuuuuuuusy woman. Notice the twelve 'u' in 'busy': that'll tell you how busy I am.
Remondin."
Your eyebrow twitches.
"Remondin...according to my notes she's called the Misconstrued Counselor. She's the Sixth Soul of Oramus. Never heard of her before."
'I can see why, if this is how she treats everyone.' Stepping into the airship you show the scroll to the captain. "Can you bring me here?"
His four eyes blink one after the other. "That's the most complicated map I have ever seen. But I think I know where it is. We can be there in two cries of Tomescu."
"Excellent. Let's go then." You sit down on your seat and lean back.
'Where we were?'
"Knight to H7."
{====}
"This...is it?"
"Yes." Answer the guide.
You look up at the absurdly high tower, trying to make an estimate of its height and giving up at 500 yards. "The top?"
"Yes." The guide answers again with a smile. "Lady Remondin's studio is at the very top. By her will it can be reached only through the stairs. Have a good day." She bows before walking away.
"I don't think we have much of a choice Boss. We gotta walk. And we also need to be there for when the Tomescu cry. Who know how she's going to react otherwise."
'I know, I know.' You snort, trying to hide how much hate you have for stairs.
'It's just-'
"Mister? Can you help me?" Someone asks. Turning to the side you see a little girl has walked up to you, her sweet, guileless eyes staring at you imploringly.
You blink. "Yes? What do you need?"
"I need to go there." She points to the tower's top. "But it's too high! I can't do it!"
"You too?" You extend to her a hand. "I'm going there myself. Do you want to come with me?"
"I told you, I can't do it!" She shakes her tiny fists before her eyes light up. "I know! Give me a piggyback!"
"Eh? But-"
"Pleeease?" She asks with a pleading pout, on the verge of crying.
"I...you...alright, alright." You sigh in defeat, a benevolent wry smile on your face. You drop down on one knee. "Jump up little Miss."
"Yippee!" She cries in delight before jumping on your back. Your hands hold her below the knees, and her fingers with scarlet-lacquered nails grab your shoulder. "Go horsie, go!
"Yo-ho." You make the imitation of a horse before starting the long walk up the stairs, the Fangs following closely.
Half an hour later
"Go horsie, go!
"Yo-ho."
One hour later
"Go horsie, go!
"Yo...*pant*...ho..."
Two hours later
"*wheeze* Lis- *pant* *pant* *gasp* ten...urgh...can I drop yo-"
"Go horsie!"
"But-"
"Go!"
"Uuugh..Yi *wheeze* ho...*pant*"
Much later
You don't open the door so much as falling on it, slamming it open with the weight of your body before falling on the ground, the girl still latched to your back.
The Tomescu in the room cries.
The Anuhles drag you forward, up to a desk behind which a man made of mirror shards is writing on a scroll. He stops and looks down at you. "Do you have an appointment?"
What escapes your lips is your lungs' death rattle.
"Peer Zero, Chosen of Oramus." One Anuhle replies for you while another forces Calcanth down your throat. "Message said to be here at the Tomescu's cry."
The mirror shards man takes out a list and hums. "We were expecting you. Please go inside." He then looks at the girl and bows. "Have a good day Lady Remondin."
"Thanks!" She chirps while the Anuhles help you back on your feet. Still weak but reenergized by the gross, but still useful substance you walk to the large doors at the other side of the hall and push them apart.
The interior resembles, at least in design, the classic study of a lawyer: oval of form, there is an elaborate desk in the middle while the walls are covered by shelves containing many things, from trophies to scrolls.
The little girl finally jumps down. With a big smile on her lips she looks up at you. "We got there Mister! Are you happy?"
"More like relieved." You say slowly, trying to put your breath back under control. "So. Remondin, was it? That guy sa-"
One moment.
Just wait a fucking moment!
"We are in Malfeas! Why would a little girl be here?!" You gasp, pointing at her. Your eyes widen. "And your name...is Remondin..!"
"Out of it already? You're good." She winks at you while pulling out her tongue. Her long, forked tongue.
"Wait what?! Cecelyne's infinity, why I haven't realized it before?!" Seyrun cries out in disbelief.
You splutter in indignation. "This-before-why didn't I...you messed with my mind!"
"If it is of any consolation, most don't snap out of it even after I clearly say to them who I am. That's why I said you're good." The Third Circle Demon in the shape of a little girl walks to the desk and sits on the chair behind it. "I am Remondin, Sixth Soul of Oramus. Some, mostly the wise ones, call me the Misconstrued Counselor. Every ruler of the Demon City has come to search my aid at least once, for I know every possible future."
She leans forward, fingers folded under her chin. The amused, devious smile under the still sweet and guileless eyes make for a horrible contrast. "And since you're a Fiend and I am the most invested in the political scene of Malfeas amidst the Unquestionables of my Oversoul, I'm going to be your mentor from now on, Lelouch." She tilts her head. "Or do you prefer Zero?"
Swallowing the bile you put on a neutral expression and bow. "Please address me however you wish Lady Remondin. If I may ask, was that a test?"
"Half of it."
"Half?"
"The other half is me getting a kick out of making people behave like fools."
Your head snaps up, staring in disbelief at the smiling demon. "Everyone has a hobby. This is mine." Opening a compartment in the desk she takes out a bowl full of creatures with the body of a toad and the face of a tiger. One of them tries to jump out.
Glump!
Like lightning her tongue lashes out and ensnares the fugitive. The only thing you can see is a foreleg between Remondin's lips before she sucks it inside. She holds up the bowl. "Want one? Merrevichs are delicious this time of the year."
The only reason you don't puke is because your stomach is empty. "Your...offer is most gracious, but sadly I am not hungry."
"More for me then!" She giggles. She basically inhales another one before putting the bowl away. "Onto business now. When are you going to leave Malfeas?"
You take a deep breath. This...
demon may be a sadistic teaser but for the sake of your ambitions you need to play her game. "If everything goes well in a few days, My Lady. Just the time to see what available resources will be useful for my operations in Japan, and to discuss arrangements with the other Peers. Also, I have an appointment with Citizen Berengiere to hire the services and expand the activities of one of the cults founded by her."
"The one of Ligier? You shouldn't have problems then." She gets off the chair and walks in front of the desk, a bamboo cane appearing in her hand. "In truth I don't even care what you do. But teaching I must, and teaching I will." She raps the other palm with the cane. "What do you know of the proper etiquette when dealing with demons, especially Citizens and Unquestionables?"
"I-"
"Nothing." She interrupts you. "That's what. Show me how you bow."
Grumbling under your breath you do as told.
Wack!
"Ouch!" And instantly receive a whacking under your chin.
"You lower yourself too much! It must be 15° before Citizens, and 30° before Unquestionables. Try again!"
Ignoring the pain you repeat the bow.
Wack!
"Ouch!"
"Don't bend your neck! What must move is your midriff! Again!"
{====}
Outside the man made of shards keeps working, while the Anuhles stay on standby in case their service is suddenly required.
"YOU ARE CRAZY!"
Wack!
"THAT WILL NOT DO! SAY IT PROPERLY!"
"MY BEAUTIFUL LADY, IT IS MY HUMBLE OPINION THAT YOU HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH ADORJAN!"
"BETTER!"
Wack!
"THEN WHY DID YOU HIT ME?!"
"FOR BEING A CHEEKY LITTLE BRAT!"
Wack! Wack! Wack!
"Lady Remondin seems to like your Master a lot." The shards man suddenly comments.
The Anuhles stare back with incredulity, despite not daring to back to a Citizen without being explicitly asked something.
Some of the shards morphs into the facsimile of a smile. "She's being honest. That's why."
Gained:
Mentor (Remondin): OOOOO
Specialty: Socialize (Demons +3)
Remondin, the Misconstrued Counselor, Sixth Soul of the Dragon Beyond the World
This puissant entity advises the rulers of the Demon City, whispering to them her endless knowledge of possible futures. She most often takes the form of a child with sweet, guileless eyes, scarlet-lacquered nails and a forked tongue; she has other shapes, but her nails and tongue mark her in every form. Sorcerers call upon Remondin to learn of perils that may yet come to pass, for she knows the stars of Creation as well as those of Malfeas, and her keen strategic mind may unravel even the most complex and subtle of dilemmas. Yet her subtlety makes her counsel perilous, for her malice may lead those who rely on her wisdom into far greater troubles. She may also call forth the shades of others' possible future selves, either to converse or to do battle on her behalf, and meeting such shades can be disquieting indeed.
{====}
"Crazy...Psychotic...Bitch..." You mutter while resting on a Fang's back as he and the others leave the tower, your whole body hurting too much to move.
"Boss. Can you please stop openly badmouthing an Unquestionable before they toss us inside a Punishment Sphere?!"
"Why? Have I not been punished enough?" You reply back, the Anuhle putting you down with your back against a wall.
"...You are obviously underestimating us demons Boss. Malfeas is the capital of pain. What you are feeling right now is but a caress."
"What happy thoughts you inspire." You sarcastically reply before relaxing, simply waiting for the pain to go away. Even as the other demons give you a wide berth you take the time to observe them in their daily life. Even with the vast differences between here and Earth you soon notice familiar patterns, especially the one where everyone is moving around as if incredibly busy, but lacking enough time to do everything.
That's when you notice it.
'Seyrun?'
"Yes Boss?"
'Playing music and ringing the brass bells is a vital job right?'
"That's right. Without noise Adorjan comes and kills everyone. All fiefdoms employ serfs to make music non-stop. It is an absolutely vital job."
'Then why has that one stopped?'
"...What?"
'That one.' You look in the direction you saw it.
'It looked at something in the distance, made a face, and then ran away. Those Angyalkae too.' You add, seeing a group of the harpists fleeing into a house and barricading the door.
"Oh shit."
'Actually, I stand corrected.' You stand up and cast your gaze across the plaza.
'Everyone is either running away or barricading themselves inside the buildings. Why would they do that?'
"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit!"
'Seyrun?'
The Dark-Green Fangs look at each other, shriek and run away, pushing away those fleeing into a building to enter them instead. "Where are you going?!" You shout, but they just ignore you.
"SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!"
'Seyrun! What is hap-'
"RUN! RUN BOSS! RUN RUN RUN RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK! IT'S HERE!"
'What is here?!'
"THE NIGHT IS HERE!" He lets out a last scream before falling silent.
And then everything turns black. You blink a few times, but the sudden darkness is so thick you can't even see your own hands. "Is something blocking Ligier?" You look up.
It's a
dragon.
No, it's
the shadow of a dragon.
You're wrong, it's
the shadow of everything.
It's
your shadow.
A great serpentine figure, the hollow shadow of a great being that isn't there flies through empty air, darkening the world below and extinguish all light, even the green radiance of Ligier. It stretches across miles or maybe whole worlds.
You are
witness to darkness unending.
-Frizzle-
The Deceiver's Stone around your neck gives you a jolt, releasing a pulse of essence through your whole body. A spike of pain pierces your eyes, making you close them instinctively.
-Frizzle-
When you open them again you can see. Everything is still shrouded by darkness, but you can still see your surroundings as if it is clear noon. Somewhat, this feels perfectly natural.
That's when you hear it. The sound of a great horn, playing a doleful song of melancholy and revelry for the night. The temptation to lose yourself in it is strong.
Sadly you can't. Not now, not yet, because there is still much for you to do out there. You have yet to earn the right to be happy. So you stand straight, wrapped in your cape, and wait for what you know is coming.
Soon strange demons emerge from hidden passages and the openings into Malfeas' sewers to dance on the tune of the horn, their movements full of surprisingly human-like emotions and sentiments. You ignore them, and they ignore you as something far more fascinating makes her appearance, the dark broods of the night following in her wake.
Even you can't help but be mesmerized by That Which Calls to the Shadows.
Erembour wears silken robes of silver, which cover flawless skin of the deepest black. Her liquid eyes shimmer like the moon, and strands of glowing white hair twinkle amid raven tresses. In her hands she carries a long silver horn curved like a mighty ram's, which she sounds with such dedication and intensity even you are moved by it, and admire her for that.
And then the unthinkable happens: she slows down, her feet taking more time to move forward with each step until she's right in front of you. Looking at you, an unspoken invitation in her gaze.
You bow down in the proper stance drilled into you by Remondin. "I am sorry Lady Erembour. As much as I would love to join, my duty to the Makers binds me. There is much I have still to accomplish under the light, for me to rest in the darkness."
A sound like crystalline bells. With a start you realize that the horn has stopped and Erembour is laughing, a hand covering her mouth like a demure maiden. "He was sad, you know? To lose you." She says. Both of you know who 'He' is. "You were doomed to die, greatly changing the world in doing so. And so he loved you. But he also knew what you could be: for all of us; for the whole world. He made a decision, and helped you cast away your destiny. And so you will live, even as it saddens him."
"I was doomed to die?" You repeat, resisting the urge to look up at the sky. You close your eyes in contemplation. "Ah, I see: the path I always wanted to take, it would have destroyed me sooner or later. Not matter if I won or lost."
She nods in agreement. Her lips move back towards the horn, to stop the song once again.
"I am still going to die."
She stops. Her eyes open, looking at you smiling ruefully.
"Even with an Exaltation, I am still mortal. Even if the chance to live forever were to be offered to me, I don't know if I would be able to take it." You close your eyes again, feeling a deep but familiar sadness. "And who know if I will live long enough to see my dreams become a reality. Because my path hasn't changed: I just gained new responsibilities. It could even be that I will still need to die to realize my dreams, unable to see the world I wish for even for an instant."
You take a deep breath. "But whatever happens, it will be on
my terms. Brought on by the consequences of
my actions, and no one else. There is no more a guiding force to my life, and I am
fine with that."
You spread your arms, face rising to the sky. When you open your eyes again, it doesn't hurt. "I am
free. And there isn't a sweeter gift you could have given me. Maybe you don't know what to do with my gratitude. That's fine. Instead, I will repay my debt another way:
I will give you
freedom. Just as you gave it to me."
You drop your arms, eyes closed and head shaking with a self-depreciating smile on your lips. "Forgive me Lady Erembour, for making you waste time. Please, continue to-"
A feeling like velvet, gently pushing your chin up. Something incredibly soft presses against the tip of your nose, filling your nostrils with the sweet scents of flower that bloom at night and wither at dawn.
Erembour pulls back, the residual feeling of her lips still scathing hot on your flesh. She smiles. "Know that the night is your friend Lelouch. You made even me curious to see how far you will go."
The silver horn plays again, and the dance resumes. Erembour leaves to catch up with her Oversoul, the dark broods following her. They look at you with awe in passing, but you ignore them like before. Instead you walk to a nearby rock and sit down on it, hands on your lap and gaze staring ahead.
"-oss?"
That was your first kiss.
"-Boss?"
Granted in was on the tip of your nose, but still.
"-ear me Boss?"
Who knew a girl's touch could feel so go-
"DO YOU HEAR ME BOSS!!"
"Gaah!" You scream, falling down on your back. "Seyrun what the hell?!"
"Good, you're back. Boss, the Ebon Dragon is gone: the night ended. I have no idea how you survived all that without becoming an abomination. I though you were a goner!"
"Eh?" Pulling yourself up you realize that, yes, the light of Ligier is back. And so are the demons who were in the streets before, all staring at you like you are some sort of portent.
"Boss! You're back!" The Fangs cry happily.
Bam!
Your foot smashes into the face of the nearest one. "Yes, I am back. I also clearly remember some people ditching me to save their own lives." You snarl, drilling your foot even deeper.
"Eeehehe..." One Anuhle sweatdrops, chuckling nervously. "Why bring up the past? What's done is done." He spreads four of his limbs. "We're all alive! Everything is okay now!"
"ADORJAN COMES!"
Gained:
Charm: Witness to Darkness
Intimacy: Erembour (Massive Crush)(Positive)
{====}
"I'm worried for Lelouch-sama." Kaguya suddenly says in the middle of perusing through the Equitable Market together with Milly and Leila, Rakshata and Akito having offered to act as guides.
"He has been away for awhile, hasn't he?" Milly comments, tapping a finger on her lips.
"Awhile?" Rakshata snorts. "With how big Malfeas is, even with the faster methods of travel it may take weeks to reach a certain place. Believe me, that he's taking a long time to come back isn't a sign something went wrong."
Boom!
The entrance to the sewers blasts open, the metal disk sealing it landing with a loud clank. Out of the newly made passage crawls out a tired and dirty Lelouch, soon followed by the likewise proven Dark-Green Fangs.
"That one is." Akito comments quite bluntly.
"Lelouch-sama!" The young girl, followed by the blonde, runs to the rescue of the raven-haired youth. She looks him over, but finds no apparent injuries. "What happened to you?"
Lelouch gasps, eyes dilated, opening and closing his mouth several time before raising a single trembling finger and saying a word that send shivers down the back of anyone listening. "Adorjan."
"Ouch." Rakshata winces before looking at the hole in the ground, intrigued. "You escaped into the sewers? Clever, if a bit unhygienic."
"There is an entire empire under it. Bigger than Europe." Another gasps. "The Rat King was waging war against the people made of nutcrackers. We fell down right in the middle of the final battle."
Akito raises an eyebrow. "Did you eat something strange?"
Lelouch giggles. "I negotiated a ceasefire and then peace between the two nations. Now they work together to farm the glowing mushrooms they previously used for illumination." Another giggle. "Which, mind you, I am preeeeetty sure are delicious but also highly hallucinogenic."
He looks at Milly and blinks. "Wow, Milly. Since when your skin is blue?"
The Slayer turns to the tanned blonde. "Doctor?"
The Indian scientist massages her nose's bridge. "Bring him to my house. I will see what I can do."
{====}
Some medical attention, a relaxing bath, and twelve hours of sleep later and you're back into perfect form.
'That never happened.'
"What never happened Boss?"
'Good.' You fix your clothes and leave your palace, determined to make up for the wasted time.
"Lelouch-sama!"
Or, maybe, you have to deal with an excitable fourteen year old first. "Hello Kaguya-san. Sorry for making you and the others worry."
"Think nothing of it. I am just glad you're okay now." She smiles cutely. "Are you free to talk now? If not I can come later."
"No, I am free...save for one thing." You hold up a scroll you receive a few minutes ago. "I have arranged a meeting with Citizen Berengiere, to discuss obtaining the services of a cult founded by her for my organization, and help them expand their activities. There isn't a fixed date so maybe-"
"Oh! In that case if you want I can come with you. Like I said to Lord Ligier I am organizing all the cults of Japan into a great organization. This way we can speed up things."
That would be nice. Berengiere expects only you, but it shouldn't be difficult to send a messenger ahead to alert here.
[] Bring Kaguya with you
[] Don't bring Kaguya with you
The next post will signal the end of the stay in Malfeas. If you want to search contact with a Yozi to gains access to its Charmset, you must decide it now. The available Yozi are:
[] Malfeas
[] Cecelyne
[] She Who Live in Her Name
[] Adorjan
[] Kimbery
[] Cytherea
[] Metagaos
[] Szorney
[] Isidoros
[] Elloge
[] Hegra
[] Mardukth
[] Ta'akozoka
====
Nothing to say here, save that perhaps after finishing this Arc there will be a greater delay between posts, as I am entering a delicate period and until the middle of December I will be quite busy.
:origin()/pre14/4f0f/th/pre/f/2007/093/8/3/2e_lunars___anja_kitty_by_kiyo.jpg)
Can't wait to see the rest.
