"Mom, do you need for sothing or can I leave you guys for a while?" Lith said.
"Don't worry. With Salaark, Shargein, Kami, and Elysia here, I'd say we are pretty safe." Elina replied with a warm smile.
"If this house isn't safe, then no place on Mogar is." Baba Yaga looked at the various people who directly or indirectly possessed the power to save or destroy life as she knew it. "Please, follow ."
She conjured a Warp Steps that led them straight to the mana geyser in the Trawn woods. Her wooden hut stood on Solus' usual spot and Baba Yaga opened the door, leading them inside.
"I hope you don't mind borrowing this place during your absence, Lith." The Mother said. "I wanted to stay close to Ripha and Solus in case sothing else happened and this is the second place where I know you'd Tower Warp to during an ergency."
"You can stay here anyti you want unless Solus needs to conjure her tower. Like right now." Lith replied.
"Actually, she doesn't." Baba Yaga shook her head. "We're leaving."
"Leaving?" Solus echoed. "To go where?"
"To the Eclipsed Lands." Baba Yaga replied. "Vladion has soone he wants you to et."
"Why didn't he just call ?" Lith asked.
"Because calls can be intercepted or soone might hear or witness part of the conversation." The Mother focused on her bond with the Firstborn Vampire, opening a Warp Gate leading thousands of miles away to a region of the Eclipsed Lands unknown to Lith and Solus.
"Mind links leave no trace, instead, and even if soone is watching your house, a mage visiting the Supre Magus is hardly shocking."
She left her hut behind, to use it as a focus point for the return trip.
The Warp Gate opened inside what looked like a luxurious noble house that slled of flowers. Wherever it was, strong light ca from the windows but Lith felt little light elent in the air.
What gave away their location, however, was the fact that no one among the house staff seed surprised by the presence of intruders and every one of them possessed a stunning beauty.
n and won possessed a charm that was rare even for people who Awakened at a young age like Tista. It went beyond their physical appearance and made even the most common gesture look flirty and alluring.
"Let guess." Lith was unfazed by it all. "You didn't bring us to Lightkeep. I've never been here before but this can only be Ilthin's city. Booty Call."
"Nightingale." Solus corrected him, discovering that she wasn't affected by the Banshees either.
"Maybe, but mine is more fitting." Lith grunted.
n winked at him and won licked their lips, leaving no doubt about their intentions.
"I'm with him on Booty Call." nadion snarled at an overly handso man who had tried to approach her.
She was dead, but her love for Threin was alive and well. The only feeling even a Banshee could arouse in her was annoyance.
"Please, stop calling Nightingale like that." Ilthin Dere, Firstborn Banshee, and ruler of the city, ca to greet her guests. "For so reason, this place already has an undeserved shady reputation. I don't want your nickna to catch on."
"Ripha, this is my daughter, Ilthin." The Red Mother said. "Ilthin, this is my dear friend Ripha nadion. You already know Lith and Solus."
"It's a pleasure to et you, Ruler nadion." Awakened had no consideration for the Magus title since those who received it helped to further solely the cause of fake mages. "Would you consider Forgemastering a few pieces for ?
"Us undead we are always in desperate need of good Forgemasters."
"The pleasure is mine and please, call Ripha." nadion shook the hand offered to her. "Why do you need my help? What about your mother?"
"Mother is a great Forgemaster, but even she always admitted not to be your match." Ilthin replied.
"Did she?" nadion gave Baba Yaga a smug grin.
"Yes, I did." The Mother snorted. "Unlike soone else, I don't have secrets with those I trust and give credit where credit is due."
"How many tis do I have to say I'm sorry?" nadion slumped her shoulders. "As for your request, Ilthin, I'm sorry but I can't help you. My Forgemastery is outdated for seven hundred years.
"At the mont your mother is a better mage than . Aside from Sally, there's no one better than her."
"Sally?" Ilthin asked in confusion. "Who's that?"
"Salaark. The Overlord." nadion quickly corrected herself. "Please, don't tell her I called her Sally or she's going to kill ."
"Don't worry." The Elf Lady giggled. "Demons are still undead and we don't betray our own."
"Or at least so should it be." Baba Yaga sighed, quickly followed by the Banshee.
"What do you an?" Lith asked. "Where's Vladion and why did you bring us to Nightingale instead of Lightkeep?"
"I'm right here." Vladion Dragonborn stepped out of the shadows and shook Lith's and Solus' hands. "Lith, Solus. It's a pleasure to see you again. Ruler nadion."
He gave Ripha a deep bow. Vladion was much older than her but, in the magical society, seniority was second to talent and power. nadion was no more powerful than an average Demon but her talent had revolutionized Mogar in the past.
Death had not diminished her abilities so there was no reason to doubt she would do it again.
"I'm happy to see you too, Vladion." Lith replied. "How are Lysa and the little Radusk?"
"They are doing great. Thank you for asking." The ntion of his wife and son brought warmth to the Vampire otherwise icy blue eyes. "Tyris' dicine is working great. Radusk's vampire half is under control and he's growing healthy.
"The only issue that remains is which life force he's going to choose once he grows up. He is not like Elysia. When he becos sixteen, he needs to pick a side. I hope he chooses his mother's. Humans may be weaker, but it would spare him the hunger."
"Since you are ahead of in the path of fatherhood and our children's situation is similar, I need to ask you a question." Lith said and Vladion nodded for him to continue. "Do you regret having a son and putting Radusk through the chaos that plagues people like us?"
"My only regret is that having more is nigh impossible." The Firstborn Vampire sighed. "Radusk has been a blessing since the day he was born and I couldn't imagine my life without him. His life may be hard, sure, but much less than those who don't have a loving family or infinite resources."
"Thanks for helping to rescue , Vladion." Solus said. "This is the second ti you've helped us but I appreciate it as much as the first."
"Nonsense." The Firstborn Vampire swept the air with his hand. "Thrud was a threat not only to you but to the whole Garlen. I didn't do that for you but for myself and my people. The sa stands for the World Tree.
"That kind of madness couldn't go unchecked. Rescuing a pretty girl like you just made an ugly job more pleasant."
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