Two Hundred And Twelve
We strode out of the collapsed and burning mansion, tongues of Foehn greedily licking up the skeleton of the once-nice abode. The sparks drifting up into the black velvet of the Fae skies were pretty, but as I watched them sourly, helping the injured Shaeula and Hyacinth out, my arms around their shoulders, I couldn’t help but feel aggrieved. Sure, we can rebuild it, but even so… that was a nice mansion, and I do have so good mories there now.
“It is indeed a great-great sha.” Shaeula said, her amber eyes reflecting the conflagration as she turned her head. “Still, I would rather lose a mansion than anyone else I care-care about, even with Kin Restoration. I would not-not wish to rely on it too fervently, as there is no guarantee it is perfect, and to be reckless because we can restore my kin, only to find we were mistaken…” her eyes narrowed. “… I would not-not wish to live with that guilt gnawing at my soul.”
Beside , Hyacinth nodded, still covered in little more than bloody rags. “Mistress is wise! Hyacinth has seen toooooo much loss over these looong years. It hurts to see the hooo destroyed.” She shook one fist at the burning wreck, frustrated. “It hurts sooo badly. The hooo is to be cherished, cleaned, proootected. But Hyacinth thinks we can rebuild, better than ever, sooo long as we all still live, right?”
“Good sentints.” I said, feeling warmth not from the flas, but from the camaraderie and bonds I shared with my companions. And speaking of bonds… “It was pretty awful when that cat-girl started to steal the Kin Bonding skill from . I could feel our bonds growing fainter, and I hated it.”
“Silly Akio.” Shaeula kissed then, and in addition to her normal flavour, I tasted blood and smoke. Her tongue sought mine, and we reassured each other we were still here, still alive, with the heat of our bodies. As we parted, flushed, a thin line of saliva bridging us, she clutched my hand, squeezing it for reassurance. “Our bonds are not rely so-so skill. They are ford from love. Though even so, I would not-not care to lose that skill, whether we need it or not-not. It is the legacy of my mother, changed by my love-love for you, and no bitch will ever take it from .”
“Sooo jealous.” Hyacinth pouted, her usual routine, but after her heroics facing Ginneka, I felt warr towards her than ever, so I leaned in and kissed her gently. On the cheek of course. I’m not going to take her lips. I’m sure Eri and Hinata can forgive this much. For a mont Hyacinth froze, before going bright scarlet, her eyes wide, hand on her cheek where my lips had touched her.
“I think-think you broke her. Still, she does indeed deserve a reward. Though seeing first-hand how terrible her ability to use this biological warfare is, I am more-more sure than ever you must bind her to you and never let her go.”
She’s right. I’ve created a monster indeed, and Hyacinth isn’t exactly… stable. I’ll need to take responsibility. I think that when my second Throne reaches Rank 2, she’ll have to take one slot for sure.
“Enough of that.” Shaeula said, surveying the battlefield, as Ulfuric and Grulgor ca rushing over to us, relieved we were largely unhard after our several frantic minutes of vicious combat. Weaselkin had died, even in this brief skirmish with the Hunting Cats, the survivors of which were now under guard, surrounded by thickets of spears. The soul-lights were glittering around Shaeula, slowly drinking in trickles of our aether, but the number of lights around her seed a little higher than the casualties, several of them bobbing around uncertainly, barely drawing in any power at all.
Still, my musings on that and the irregularities I was experiencing had to wait, as Grulgor spoke, still dripping with silver and red blood from the many cats he had slain. “Grul says you killed those lying cats?” he bood, and Shaeula nodded.
“Indeed we did. Akio took care of that unpleasant female, while I slew the male one. I do so hope Duke Formor was not-not expecting them to return.”
Grulgor looked troubled at that, before letting out a cavernous sigh. “Grul will speak to Duke Formor! It is strange to fight one another when we can crush treacherous fungi, take back our lands. Grul says you are not weak, not anymore. The Duke will listen, Grul is one of his mightiest followers!” He slamd a fist on his stony body, the sound thunderous.
“I hope so.” I said, rembering the Oaths I had sworn to him. “I did promise to be proportionate, so if he goes too far them I’m afraid…”
“Grul will stop him.” He promised, cutting off. “But for now, Grul is happy stupid cats are dead.”
I felt a pricking at the back of my mind. Luckily it was not Foresight, the nagging sensations having faded away, and I was once more relieved I heeded them and took precautions this ti. See, I can learn! If we had been less suspicious of the servants at the mansion, or wrote it off as re dislike of , we could have ended up poisoned, assassinated or dead to the Myconids when our gear broke. Although again, I’m not sure whether it would have been enough to take out or Shaeula, even with their sches. Maybe. But Ixitt, Hyacinth, Grulgor, they were vulnerable…
“So, just what happened?” Ulfuric asked. “We were setting up periters around the Ring Gates, as well as the mansion, in case the Wild Hunt launched an attack as we suspected was possible, but then from inside the mansion battle erupted, and we were flooded with these creatures.” He turned to glare at the cats, who prostrated themselves on the ground, survival instinct overcoming their loyalty to their forr masters. They imdiately began to wl excuses, that they were forced to co, until Ulfuric silenced them with a shout. “These are not from the Wild Hunt though, are they?”
I shook my head and explained the events that led us to this pass. Ulfuric listened intently, occasionally asking a sharp question or seeking further elaboration. When I was done he frowned, expression grim indeed. “The Night Parade? I see. I know little of them, though your mother was one of their number, princess. If Duke Formor, and likely Duke Vulpatrius, are trafficking with them to destabilise your father, princess, then everything does make a lot of sense. Likely there are those within the Night Parade who are dissatisfied with your mother, just as we have here with prince Shaetanao. The matter of long-hidden servants who were working for Duke Vulpatrius worries more though. Ixitt has stabilised the survivors, and now the battle is over he has no doubt returned to tend to them. We will need answers. But first…” Ulfuric peered at Shaeula. “You’ve changed, princess. There is sothing about you now that seems… different.”
No kidding, I’ve noticed it too. It happened when she slew Kinneka. I nodded, my Eye gleaming as I invoked the powers replicating Kin Examination it held within. “Yes, you’ve grown stronger, and also…”
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