Chapter 714 - 26-27

In the following six months, with Roxy…

Dawn broke over the Kingdom of Shirone as Roxy made her way back into the city. Following the directions of Rudy's summoned spirit, Sprite, she made her way to a modest inn in the business district, not too far from the Adventures' Guild.

Upon entering, she found Lilia and her daughter Aisha waiting for her, having just started eating breakfast. Lilia stood from her seat at one of the tables, the taller woman hurrying across the floor and pulling Roxy into a hug. The little mage had to suppress a reflexive twinge of jealousy as her face was pressed into the other woman's much larger bosom.

"Thank you for coming for us. I don't know what we would have done if master Rudeus wasn't looking after us."

Roxy awkwardly returned the hug, patting the typically taciturn maid on the back. "Think nothing of it. All of you took me into your home. You're like family to me."

Lilia pulled away, smiling as she wiped at her eyes, relief evident on her face. "Of course, Miss Roxy—"

"Just Roxy," the bluenette corrected gently as Aisha came over, having finished her breakfast. "You must be Aisha. Rudy speaks of you and your sister often. …Mostly about how much he misses you and wishes he could see you more often."

Aisha curtsied, eyeing the bluenette with curious, calculating eyes. Eyes that didn't belong on a four year old (who wasn't Rudeus). "Big brother sent you?"

"He did. I'm to take you to him."

Aisha hummed quietly to herself. "So, when are you getting married?"

Roxy blushed slightly, but calmly replied, "In a few years. When he's a little older."

"But what about Sylphiette and Eris? They want to marry him too, don't they?"

Roxy resisted the urge to sigh and sent Lilia an exasperated look, practically begging for help. "This isn't really the time or the place for this conversation, is it?"

"Miss Roxy is right," Lilia said, patting Aisha's head and getting the annoyed look of all children who knew they were being patronized. "Have you eaten?"

Roxy nodded. "Rudy taught me how to summon his ready meals. I had one on the march. I have some money, so we'll purchase a couple of horses and a wagon, along with supplies before we set out. The journey will be long and dangerous, so prepare well."

"Of course. Shall we go?"

Roxy nodded, and the three of them set out from the inn to the market. First stop was too secure a covered wagon and two horses, along with the kit and some feed for the animals.

Over the course of the morning, they collected supplies that Roxy couldn't easily replace with magic. A cast iron pot, skillet, and kettle, utensils, plates, and cups, bedrolls, blankets, a tarpaulin, and rope, and a lantern and oil for ease of use for Lilia versus Roxy having to use magic. Some jerked meat, bread, a couple of wheels of cheese, and fresh vegetables so Roxy wouldn't have to dip into Rudy's cache of MREs too often. And a few other odds and ends to make the trip more comfortable, including a couple of new books for them to read on the way.

They stopped by a tailor and got new traveling clothes for Aisha and Lilia, along with heavier winter clothes and some cloaks for rainy days. Lilia was hesitant to part with her maid outfit, but eventually agreed that the traveler's garb would be more comfortable and practical for a long journey. So she carefully folded and packed away her maid uniform after changing clothes.

Aisha, on the other hand, couldn't wait to be out of her own maid uniform and absolutely loved the light brown pantaloons and forest green tunic Roxy bought for her. She tossed her uniform carelessly away and Lilia sighed as she gathered it up. As a simple matter of practicality for storage space, and the fact that she was outgrowing it anyway, Lilia sold Aisha's old clothes to the tailor to reimburse Roxy at least a little, but the mage was having none of it.

"Family doesn't hold debts over one another when they are in need," was all she would say on that.

Once everything was gathered up and loaded into the wagon, Roxy climbed into the driver's bench with Lilia while Aisha hopped into the currently uncovered back. Then, they were off, setting an easy pace the horses could hold for a while before needing to stop and rest, taking the main road south out of the city.

Perching herself leaning against the top of the bench between her mother and their mage escort, Aisha asked the demon woman, "So, now's a good time, right?"

Roxy sighed, holding the reigns loosely as she considered the question and the girl asking it. After a while, she decided to answer honestly—after all, she would learn the truth soon enough anyway. "Sylphie, Eris, and I have an agreement to all join hands in marriage with Rudeus."

"Mm, I see!" Aisha nodded to herself. "He must be pretty nice or something if you all want to be with him."

"As I have told you, master Rudeus is the greatest person I've even known and it would be an honor to serve him. We owed him our lives, before. Now?" She turned a questioning look on Roxy. "What exactly happened to bring us to the Shirone kingdom? The only thing I can think of with such an ability would be a dungeon teleport trap—something Paul and Zenith spoke of as a rarity in their adventuring days, but one of the most dangerous."

Roxy nodded, keeping her eyes on the road and the sparse traffic heading into the city—mostly farmers and merchants coming in to sell their wares or make purchases.

"That is the prevailing theory. I spoke with Rudy last night and this morning. Much of the Fittoa region was affected—structures, people, animals, and monsters alike teleported away at random. Sylphiette and Rudeus both appeared in midair. Sylphie witnessed someone else appear similarly and fall to their death. You were very lucky to only wind up within the Shirone castle."

A thought crossed her mind and Roxy frowned. "Or perhaps not. Had we not been able to communicate nearly from the first hour of the event and confirm your location, I would even now be walking towards Fittoa and you would likely have been captured. Given the seventh prince's… fixation upon me, had he learned of your connection to Rudy and myself, he would potentially have taken you captive. I would like to think he has more sense than that, but he doesn't. He is young, impulsive, headstrong, devious, and rapacious in his perversions. I could easily see him attempting to use you to lure either myself or Rudeus into a trap. Me, because of his obsession, Rudy for revenge out of jealousy and spite."

Lilia nodded, but contrary to the worry or disgust Roxy expected to see on her face, she found only a small smile and a look of absolute… devotion? "Then it seems master Rudeus has saved us the typical fate of those left to the mercy of the nobility." She practically spat the words. She turned to send a stern look to her daughter. "You owe your brother more than you know."

Aisha sighed, waving a hand as though to brush away the words. Turning her attention back to Roxy, she quietly asked, "What's he like? Really? I've heard so many things from my moms and dad but I've only ever met him once. You lived with our family and taught him magic, right?"

"I did," Roxy nodded, wondering how to answer that question. "Rudeus is… He's just like any other man, in many ways. He has his flaws and his faults. He can be very stubborn when he wants to be, and sometime, his way is the only way. And he has a bad habit of focusing on one thing to the exclusion of all else at times. He is also one of the most intelligent, kind, and thoughtful people I know. As a student, he always… made me feel inadequate as a teacher. He knew magic before I even met him. He taught himself to read through sheer, stubborn determination. Then, when he discovered magic, he set out to learn it with the fervor of a man possessed. He learned how to silently cast within hours of picking up a book on magic. Then, he spent every day after diligently learning and training himself to exhaustion multiple times a day, where most people would have simply quit."

Quietly, she admitted, "It was humbling that someone so much younger than I could have such prodigious ability. But instead of getting a big head over it or flaunting that fact, you brother took it upon himself to try to teach me, to elevate me to his level. I think I gained more from our time together than he did."

Aisha nodded along as she listened. "So what convinced you to marry him? You're older than him, right? By a lot, since you're a demon?"

"Aisha," Lilia warned.

"It's alright," Roxy waved off the woman's concern. "Yes, I am older than I look. Migurd age slowly and have a long period of our lives where we stay mostly the same, unaging. I haven't seen her in twenty years, but my mother would still look no older than me today."

A smile came to her lips as she explained, "According to him, Rudeus decided to make a wife of me the moment he saw me. He tried to impress me by showing how much he already knew and that he could cast silently. I… did not take it as well as I could have. He was unusually perceptive for a child his age though, and apologized that night for making me feel bad, as that had not been his intent. That was when he made his offer to teach me. Little did I know that while it was an honest effort on his part to help me, it was also part of a larger plan to seduce me over time."

She shook her head at that. "Me. Outcast from my own village because of a defect in my birth. A demon and outsider roaming human lands as an itinerant mage and tutor. With my blue hair, too-youthful looks, and underdeveloped body compared to women a quarter of my age. He chose me. At first because he liked the way I looked. He thought I was a teenager myself and would continue growing. Later, because he fell in love with my personality and intelligence. He didn't even care when I told him that this was how I had looked for the last twenty years and how I would continue to look for the next eighty or so."

"I see," Aisha murmured. "So he likes younger-looking women."

Roxy turned and flicked Aisha's forehead hard enough to leave a welt, earning a yelp and a flinch away. "No. I've heard about that rumor and it's stupid. Your brother is a gentleman, not some… child molester as that slander paints him. It would be best if you simply forget everything you heard about him in Buena. You don't want those rumors poisoning your thoughts of your brother."

As they slowly rounded a bend in the road, Roxy was pulled from her chastising of Aisha by the sight of a squad of soldiers having set up a picket in the middle of the road, horses off to the side of the road tied to trees. She saw they flew the banner of the Shirone kingdom and were stopping everyone leaving the country while waving people coming in through.

Upon spotting her distinctive blue hair from where she sat atop the carriage, they waved through the person they had stopped and closed ranks. Roxy slowed the carriage to a stop several yards away.

"Roxy Migurdia, by order of seventh prince Pax Shirone, you are to be detained and escorted back to the castle."

"Stay here," Roxy murmured to Lilia and Aisha, before taking her staff off the seat and stepping down from the carriage. Walking a few yards away from the carriage, placing herself between it and the soldiers, she called, "There has been a magical calamity in the Fittoa region of the Asura kingdom. A mass-teleport incident has displaced much of the population, in addition to structures and livestock. I go to escort these survivors to safety and offer my services. Is there no way you will let us pass in peace?"

The soldiers exchanged looks before their captain stepped forward. "I'm sorry, ma'am. The prince was… Insistent."

Roxy closed her eyes and nodded. "Then I am afraid that I must insist myself. Return to your king, not your prince, and inform him that his son threatens to provoke the ire of a King-level mage. I suggest you do so now and leave us in peace."

The man's hand fell to the hilt of his sword. "We don't agree with them, but we have to follow the prince's orders. Please, just come along quietly. Your friends may pass, so long as you do. But I think we both know you would never be able to get a King-level spell off before my men and I subdued you."

Roxy shook her head. "I was not speaking of myself, captain. Should you actually capture me, my fiance will know the moment you do. Rudeus does not give firstchances, let alone second chances, when it comes attacking the people he holds dear. Shirone, or at least the castle, would disappear in a storm of lightning before we made it a mile and all that would await us would be a pile of molten glass."

The men exchanged looks that were mostly hidden behind their helmets. "Capture her," the captain ordered.

"But sir," one of the men protested.

Taking the choice from them, Roxy swung her staff, discharging the Intermediate-level wind spell she had been holding ready since getting down from the carriage. Many of the men were swept from their feet and knocked to the side, while several managed to stay standing and begin advancing. A silently cast Intermediate-level Water Blast scattered them across the road, leaving them soaked, muddy, and groaning.

"Sprite?" Roxy called.

"Yes, Roxy?" The spirit answered.

"You have a drone overhead, don't you?"

"Of course," Sprite answered. "I would have stopped them and alerted Master if they had gotten any closer, but I thought you wanted to handle it—"

"It's fine. Could you give me a view of the city? I know Rudeus said we can cast through the drones." She wouldn't do anything yet, but she wanted the option just in case they decided to be… unreasonable. She knew the king to be just, if stern, but if the seventh prince had staged a coup or something along those lines in the time since she had left, then she would be dealing with a childish buffoon.

The phone in her pocket shifted, leaving her pocket and floating in midair, where it projected a hologram of the city. "Can you project a hologram from here into the city?"

"I can. Do you want me to?"

Roxy nodded. "Please give me a second hologram of wherever the king is currently, if you can find him."

"He sits the throne," Sprite answered, and a new hologram joined the first. "Broadcasting… Now."

King Shirone looked up from his audience, the room going silent as Roxy's form sprang into being in a flash of light in the middle of the room, surrounded by a view of the road, the soldiers slowly picking themselves up from where she had scattered them, and a set of holograms—one of which could be clearly made out as the city. "Your highness," Roxy greeted.

"Mage Migurdia. To what do I owe this… Visitation?"

"Call," she clarified. "Your son, the seventh prince, sent soldiers to capture me."

The man drew in a deep breath. "Did he now?" He asked, turning to glare in a particular direction. Sprite rotated the display on Roxy's end to show Pax standing nearby.

"No! Father, it's a lie—"

"Be silent!" The king roared. Turning back to Roxy, he asked, "This was not what I wanted. I had intended for us to part on good terms. What do you feel should be done about this, to ensure there is no ill will between us?"

Roxy considered the man for a moment before giving her answer. "I will drop the issue so long as you recall your men and guarantee that nothing similar will ever happen again. I have told the prince time and time again that I am not interested in his advances and in fact have a fiance, but he has ignored this at every turn and insists on pursuing me. This is simply the most recent escalation in his attempts."

Nodding, the man asked, "Who's there with you?"

Roxy's gaze shifted to Sprite and she gestured at the men, who had since picked themselves up and gathered to watch, not willing to draw the wrath of their king. The hologram zoomed a bit on the king's side to show them more clearly. Looking them over, he pointed to the captain. "You. You're in charge there?"

"Yes, sir!" the man snapped to attention.

"Consider yourselves dismissed from Pax's employ. My son no longer has knights. You will be transferred between my other children—"

"Ah, with all due respect sir," the captain interrupted, drawing an annoyed look from the royal. "What about our families?"

A confused look briefly crossed the ruler's face. "What about them?"

"YOU SHUT UP!" Pax screamed from off to the side. "Not another word!"

"Guards! Subdue him and shut him up," the king ordered, watching as a pair of guards in the throne room stormed over to his protesting seventh son and did exactly that. He hadn't wanted to do this, not in front of the court, but the boy was giving him no choice. Turning back to the hologram of the captain, he asked, "What has my idiot son done?"

"He ah, he kidnapped our families sir. Threatened to have them killed if we disobeyed."

The sound of the king's teeth grinding could be heard from Roxy's side of the hologram, causing the woman to wince. Taking another deep breath, the king quietly ordered, "Gather your men and come home. I'll have this mess taken care of. Proper compensation will be paid out to each of you for this disservice and I will ensure Pax is never in a position to do anything similar again." Turning to Roxy, he asked, "Was there anything else?"

Seeing as she had him somewhat over a barrel, Roxy nodded once. "An unrelated matter." It wasn't and they both knew it, but appearances had to be maintained. "There was a disaster within the Fittoa region of the Asura kingdom yesterday. A mass-teleportation event that displaced many thousands of their citizens." Eyes shifting to Sprite, she asked, "Could you display the view from there?"

"Yes," the spirit nodded, and a new hologram propagated on both sides—that of the mostly barren landscape that had been Roa. Everything was labeled, just so there could be no mistaking what they were looking at.

"As you can see, this was once the Citadel of Roa. I've already spoken with the Adventurers' Guild in Shirone, but any assistance you can offer would surely be appreciated."

The king had gone somewhat pale, looking at the damage. "Yes, of course. I'll send a runner to Ars, letting them know we'll be cooperating on this issue within our borders and sending their people back, under guard."

Roxy nodded. "Thank you, your highness. Good day."

The man simply nodded and Sprite took that as her cue to shut off the hologram. That left Roxy standing across from a bunch of men looking at her like she had just done something impossible. "I believe you have your orders," she pointed out.

The captain of the soldiers fell into a bow, which his men were quick to copy. Then, he straightened up and began bellowing orders. "Men, clear the road! Get your gear stowed and get those horses ready. I want to be moving in ten minutes!"

"Yes sir!" the men under his command responded, and quickly dispersed to do their jobs.

Turning back to Roxy, the man pulled off his helmet, revealing a plain-faced man in his late twenties. "I apologize, ma'am. We knew it was wrong and went against what the king wanted, with wanting to keep up good relations with you, but the prince…"

"I understand," Roxy nodded. "We must be on our way."

"Of course. Safe travels, ma'am."

Roxy turned away from the soldiers and their frantic work, walking back up the road to where their group had stopped. She boarded the carriage and the soldiers waved as they passed.

"What just happened?" Aisha asked, curious and sounding somewhat worried.

"Diplomacy," Roxy answered simply, before turning to observe the small redhead. "Tonight, I will evaluate where you stand in your lessons and will take over the role as your teacher."

Aisha grinned. "Sounds fun!"

"Thank you," Lilia murmured quietly.

"Looks like you've got it."

Roxy nodded, sending a smile towards the hologram of her white-haired fiance. Sylphiette must have been happy that he changed it for her sake. Given a few years, I imagine it will look… dashing, really.

Slowing the 'truck' to a stop outside the village she and her charges would be passing through later today, having camped outside the village for the night as it was cheaper, she asked, "Is there some way you could cover the back, or add a frame to put a cover over it?"

Rudy hummed. "Sure, wouldn't be hard. I could just—"

"Allow me, master. I am already on-site and we have all the materials necessary."

Rudy sent Sprite an amused look. "Well, if you're sure?" The spirit nodded. "I'll leave it to you, then. That's all I've got for today and I need to get back to work. These first few days are crucial to any rescue operation. I need to get as much done as possible."

Roxy studied the reincarnated man for a moment before nodding. "Don't overwork yourself."

"I'll be fine," he waved her off. "Tell Lilia and Aisha I'm sorry I didn't have time to talk with them today, but I'll make time soon."

"I will," Roxy agreed. She bit her lip, a faint blush rising to her cheeks as she said, "I love you."

The boy's lips pulled into a smile and her heart did a flip, while her belly filled with the familiar heat of arousal. "Love you too. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Roxy agreed, and a moment later the call disconnected. She leaned against the steering wheel with a sigh and a quiet groan, before thumping her forehead against the wheel. "Never should have left."

Sighing again, the Migurd woman put away the phone and drove back to their cart, where she found Aisha and Lilia eating breakfast and a plate prepared for her. She pulled to a stop and shut off the vehicle before joining them, accepting the plate passed to her. "Thank you."

There was a whoosh of air as the drone shadowing them descended, before it went silent as it hovered over the cart. Thankfully, the horses were tied to a tree some distance away, so while the noise bothered them momentarily, they settled down quickly when it became apparent nothing would happen and the noise stopped.

They watched the drone work as it began taking apart the structure providing cover for the rear of the cart, then moved over and did something to the bed of the truck, before gathering parts of the frame and moving them over to the truck.

"We'll sell the cart and horses in the village and restock on food. Rudeus wishes he could speak with you more, but I can tell he's running himself ragged trying to get ahead of this."

Lilia shook her head. "No, it's fine. His first actions were to see to his family. With Zenith and Norn missing, I imagine everything he's doing is actually to look for them and anything else they accomplish is beside the point. Master Rudeus can be very single-minded in his focus at times."

"I know," Roxy agreed. "The morning group call should start in a few hours. We should get back on the road before it begins."

They broke camp shortly after that, Lilia driving the wagon and Roxy following behind with Aisha in the truck, beginning the girl's morning lesson by having her read out loud from one of the books Rudy had made for her and her sister and Summoned/Sent to Roxy the day she had picked Aisha and Lilia up from Shirone. They had two of Norn's books, but the third, the one on magic, was missing and could not be summoned.

They stopped in the village long enough to sell the horses and carriage and resupply, then were back on the road, Aisha in the middle of the front bench-style cushioned seat between Roxy and her mother as she did her lessons.

Not too long after, her phone chimed and Roxy pulled it out and set it on the dash. Lessons were put on hold as holograms began to pop up as people called in.

Sylphie and Ariel were first, followed by Eris, Sylvia, Hilda, Phillip, Sauros, and finally, Ghislaine.

"Good morning, everyone!" Ariel greeted with enthusiasm.

"Not morning," Eris yawned, while the others echoed the princess's greeting.

"Sprite, can you start by giving us a map with everyone's position, along with all of your drone assets in the field? Then give us a count of how many survivors have been found and their locations, please," Ariel asked, and a moment later, a new hologram propagated—a map covered in different colored dots, with a key out to the side, along with a list of the numbers and locations of the requested items.

"More keep turning up every day. That's good. Thanks to Rudeus, I believe we're going to come out of this smelling like roses," Sauros assessed as he read the map. "Or as much as we can, at any rate."

Phillip hummed, reaching out and touching something on his side. "He's doing what he did in Roa, isn't he? Laying down roads as he goes."

"Yeah. The plan is to cut a path for the survivors to follow all the way from Rikarisu to Wind Port. With walled in rest stations roughly every three or so days of travel on foot—all of them with shelter, food and water. The whole stretch is going to be patrolled by drones, so no need to worry about monsters," Eris supplied.

Sauros, Phillip, and Ariel shared a look that none of the others missed. It was the old man who looked to Roxy and asked, "And what would a safe trade route on the Demon Continent be worth?"

Roxy sent the trio a knowing look. "Let's say what we're all thinking. You mean to ask, 'What would the equivalent to the Holy Millis Highway be worth?' And I don't have an answer, but I imagine a lot. The Demon Continent has no centralized government or ruler any more, at least not in reality, and is instead governed in territories. In theory the country is still run by the Demon Empress, but no one has seen her in years. If she stepped forward to reclaim the throne, I imagine every other ruler would challenge the claim. In order to unite the Demon Continent, she would have to do so by force."

"What about resources? What sorts of things does the Demon Continent have to offer in trade?" Ariel asked. "When Rudy builds airships at some point, that opens up large scale air trade to, well, the world. If those of us in position already can get out ahead of it, we stand to make a fortune. A new trade empire, with essentially no competition. Shipments from one end of the world to the other in, at most, a week as opposed to months or longer by sea and then land routes."

Roxy hummed, thinking back to her time in her former homeland. "They are poor in any sort of food resources, do that would be a major point of import to the continent. As far as exports, they have a multitude of strong monsters and materials harvested from them—hides, bones, teeth, shells, scales, and of course, monster cores. As I recall, the area is mineral rich, but no one possesses the means to mine it without the sort of casters we once had, during the war so long ago."

Ariel nodded, before turning her gaze towards Hilda and Sylvia. "Please look into this in both the north and the Begaritt continent. We already know roughly what each holds, but some more detail and local pricing would be helpful. Moving along, have there been any be developments?"

And so it went, as they each reported in on everything that had happened recently and the status of various interactions with the Guild and government bodies.

Sauros had made contact with Millis, but instead of buying a horse and heading straight for Fittoa with his maid, be would be meeting with the Millis royalty/theocracy to discuss the teleport disaster and officially request aid finding their displaced citizens of behalf of Ariel (and by extension, Asura).

Ghislaine wasn't far from Phillip and they would be joining up shortly and heading back to Fittoa by bike. It was slow going mostly due to the dense forest not allowing for faster travel, and the fact that the Conflict Zone was, well, a literal war zone. She had already been engaged in a number of skirmishes (read: one-sided slaughters) along the way.

Ariel and Sylphie hadn't yet left Ars, but would soon. After Ariel met with her supporters in private and ensured they were on-side and would remain so while she was away for a while.

Neither Hilda nor Sylvia had much to do, given that they were stuck in their respective locations until someone came to escort them out. Sprite could help with that, but everyone agreed it would be safer to stay where they were for now. Hilda was already making inroads with the adventurers and the local Guild. Sylvia had put in a mission with the Guild in the north to spread the word about the search and rescue mission.

And Roxy, of course, was making her way to Rudeus with Lilia and Aisha and would likely pass both Ghislaine and Phillip, along with Sauros either on the road or in a city at some point.

杀死小熊维尼

免费西藏

我要炸毁中国共产党,以此来消灭小熊维尼.

"Ooh, I need a drink!" A loud voice announced as the door to the inn/tavern opened.

Roxy looked up to see two newcomers entering: a stout, bearded dwarf in full plate and carrying a two-handed axe over his shoulder and an elf woman in much lighter armor, wearing a buckler and a sword at her side. Across from her, Lilia hummed quietly as she sipped her ale while Aisha finished her supper.

"When do you not need a drink?" The elf deadpanned. Quietly, she added, "Though, after today, I think I'll join you."

"Aye. 'Twas a sorry sight," the dwarf nodded, stomping up to the bar and ordering for himself and his companion as the elf took a seat near Roxy's table.

Looking at the bluenette, the blonde elf smiled. "Oh, a Migurd? You're a long way from home. What brings you out this way?"

Roxy shook her head. "This is my home now. I left the Demon Continent twenty years ago. But… I suppose I'll be returning soon. I'm escorting these two to her half-brother and my fiance," she nodded towards Aisha.

"Which way are you coming from? We saw some posters in the Guild further south, so we're looking for news out of the Asura kingdom."

At that, Lilia shifted, moving her seat closer to Roxy so she could look at both women without craning her neck. "We come from the Asura kingdom. The Fittoa region. Have you heard what happened?"

The dwarf joined them then, dropping into the seat beside the elf. "Aye, lass. Sorry about this squirrely bint, she's got no manners. I'm Tallhand."

"Prick," she tossed back at the dwarf, taking her mug. "Elinalise."

"Roxy," the mage introduced herself.

Lilia however tilted her head sightly as she studied the pair. "You are members of [The Fangs of the Black Wolf], are you not?"

The pair exchanged a curious look before both nodded. "Yes, we're searching for our former party member's family. Paul Greyrat."

The redhead nodded. "Then you've found at least some of us. I am Lilia Greyrat, this is our daughter, Aisha."

"Well damn," Tallhand grinned, before throwing back his mug. "This calls for a celebration!"

Elinalise sighed. "As if you needed another excuse to get drunk." Turning to Lilia, she asked, "Is there any news of Zenith, Norn, or Rudeus? The poster we saw implied Rudeus could take care of himself, but, well… Paul's an idiot and by my math, little Rudy shouldn't be much more than ten."

She blinked as something Roxy had said registered, given the new context. Turning to the bluenette, Elinalise asked, "You're taking them to Rudeus?" Roxy nodded. "Who is… Your fiance?"

"Yes."

Tallhand snorted. "What'd you expect from Paul's son?"

"A little more restraint, considering he's also Zenith's son," Elinalise admitted.

"Rudeus is his own person," Roxy countered. "But this conversation is getting off track. We've had no word from Zenith or Norn. Rudy doesn't want to say it, but we suspect something happened to them."

Elinalise furrowed her brow. "You say that like you've spoken with him recently. Where is… The Demon Continent? But then how…?"

Roxy and Lilia exchanged a considering look, before the maid deferred to Roxy. It was Aisha who answered, however. "Because my brother is awesome! He's a King-level mage and made phones that let us talk anywhere in the world!"

"'Anywhere in the world,' she says. Hah!" Tallhand laughed, only to slowly stop laughing as he realized that everyone at the table was taking the claim seriously. "Really, then?"

"It's true. Master Rudeus is truly amazing."

Tallhand hummed to himself. Taking a sip from his drink, he turned a look on Elinalise. "If they're going ta the Demon Continent, they're goin' ta need more'n one little mage as an escort."

Elinalise pulled a face. "As long as we stay out of Millis."

"Aye," Tallhand agreed. Turning back to Roxy, he asked, "D'ya have horses? This many people, it'd be faster by carriage."

Roxy hid a smile behind her cup of water. "Something like that. We appreciate the help. Shall we gather outside the inn at first light?"

"That works for us," Elinalise agreed. Standing up, she stretched her arms over her head. "I think I'll go see what this town has on offer for tonight."

"Hope ya catch something detox won't fix, elf."

"Die in a fire, dwarf," the woman tossed over her shoulder as she sauntered out, a sway to her hips.

Humming quietly, Lilia asked, "You were saying something when you came in?"

Tallhand's mood dropped precipitously, from jovial to solemn in an instant. "Aye, that we did." Glancing at Aisha, he murmured, "This's a conversation not suited for the little one's ears, eh?"

"Aisha, go on up to our room and prepare the beds, please," Lilia instructed.

"But mom—"

"Now," Lilia cut her off.

"And when you finish on that, work on your fine control," Roxy instructed.

Aisha sighed. "Fine. Statues again," she grumbled, but hurried upstairs.

Once she was gone, Tallhand called the barmaid over. "Something a little stronger I think, lass. And leave the bottle."

Once the barmaid had dropped off an unmarked bottle of brown liquor, the dwarf opened it and drank straight from the bottle. He sighed, sitting it on the table, and his gaze became distant.

"Saw a bunch of buzzards circling on the first few days after it happened. Went off the road to have a look. We found a dozen… Puddles'd be the best word for it. Monsters eating the remains, but we found a good dozen or so sets of Millis faith vestments between them. Some of them were particularly small. Children, most likely. Near as I can figure, if this was like a teleport trap, those people would've had their hands joined in prayer at the time it went off and they must've fallen from a great height."

Lilia winced slightly while Roxy nodded. "Both of my students nearly suffered the same fate, Rudeus and Sylphiette. Sylphie saw another man die that way. But that was over a month ago…"

"Aye. About a week ago, we were camping near the road when we heard a commotion. A mother and her young son came running out of the woods, looking half starved and like they'd been hoofing it on the road for an age. They got run down not even ten yards out of the forest by monster wolves. Was nothing we could do. By the time we got to them, they were dead. Today, we saw something strange in a big boulder off to the side of the road. We went and had a look… We found the front half of a skull sticking out of this big rock. Picked clean by crows or something. The bone was fused with the rock where they joined. Some poor fucker got teleported into it. This whole thing looks like a shit show. I wonder how many people even survived the initial event."

Roxy and Lilia fell silent at that as the realization of just how close they and the people they loved had come to a horrible death set in. Lilia quietly excused herself and made her way upstairs, where she bundled Aisha into a hug and dragged her to bed, to her protests. Roxy made her own excuses and headed up as well.

That night, Roxy dreamed of falling.

The next morning, they met Elinalise and Tallhand outside the inn, before leading them around to the side.

"What in the blazes is that?" Tallhand asked as he took in the truck.

Roxy, Aisha, and Lilia climbed into the front seat of the cab. Elinalise looked it over before shrugging and sliding into the back seat. The dwarf eventually was convinced to join them and they were off. The ride was surprisingly smooth given the rough road, but much more comfortable than a carriage. With the windows open, there was even a pleasant breeze through the interior and the roof kept the sun off of them as they traveled.

"So, where'd you find this thing?" The elf asked.

"Rudy made it," Roxy answered simply.

Dwarf and elf exchanged a shocked look. "Zenith always said she wanted her kid to be a mage," the dwarf commented. "Guess she got what she wanted."

"Mm. Tell us more. How did you meet Zenith and Paul? And where do you come in?" Elinalise asked, directing the question to Lilia.

It was the redhead who answered. "Paul trained at my sword school when we were young. Then he defiled me and left. Years later, I became a maid to his and Zenith's household—"

Aisha frowned from beside her mother. "What do you mean, 'defiled?'"

Roxy shook her head, keeping her eyes on the road as she listened to Lilia. This was not a story she had heard when staying with the Greyrats, so she was curious. She just wished Lilia had been more tactful in her wording with her daughter present. Paul hadn't struck her as a bad sort of person, having a sort of natural charisma that she admitted she found appealing—even if he was impulsive and headstrong. Rudy hadn't quite inherited Paul's natural charm, but his own experience and nature more than made up for it in Roxy's book—it was a different sort of charisma from what his father in this world possessed.

She was sure the story was more complicated than Lilia initially made it out to be, and that thought bore out over the course of the next few hours as Lilia told them of her past.

I just hope this doesn't taint Aisha's thoughts of her father.

A glance at the young girl showed that that was likely a futile hope.

"There they are."

"Thank you, Sprite," Roxy told the spirit. She slowed the truck and pulled over to the side of the road. Roxy got out to wait and the others, seeing an opportunity to stretch their legs, did likewise. A few moments later, a black bike bearing two riders came to a stop on the other side of the road.

A tall, muscular woman with tan skin, white hair, and a white tail and cat ears slid off the front of the bike while a well dressed, if a bit worse for wear, brunet man got off from the rear.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person, Ms. Roxy," Phillip smiled at the much shorter woman, offering her his hand.

Ghislaine nodded. "This 'phone' thing is convenient, but no substitute for the real thing."

"Ghislaine!" Elinalise yelled, throwing herself into the big beast-kin's arms and leaning up to plant a chaste kiss on the woman's lips.

"Elinalise, Tallhand," Ghislaine nodded to each in truth.

"Been a while," the dwarf said, his greeting more subdued but just as heartfelt. Nodding to the bike, he asked, "Another of Paul's boy's contraptions?"

Phillip and Ghislaine nodded. Phillip grinned, adding, "Rudeus has come to me with stranger requests. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite."

"It's about noon. Would anyone care for lunch?" Lilia asked, getting a round of confirmations in answer. She pulled Aisha along and together, the two of them began making something quick and easy to eat in the back of the truck.

"How's the road ahead?" Roxy asked.

"Don't stop to spend the night unless you set a watch. Mercenaries and bandits coming and going from the Conflict Zone and lots of monsters. Don't stop for anyone on the road, either. A group tried to ambush us that way by faking a monster attack."

"I see," Roxy nodded. "Thank you. I'll keep it in mind. It was peaceful on the trip down, save for the occasion monster. Or bandit who thought they could steal our truck."

"Mm," Ghislaine nodded. "What will you do once you rejoin Rudeus?"

The bluenette felt a smile pull at her lips. "Whatever I can."

The beast-kin's lips twitched into a smirk. "You'll have fun."

Phillip shook his head as Roxy blushed, but didn't deny it. "As for us, I'm going to organize the survivors within Fittoa. We need to begin rebuilding. I hate to ask him for it, but I'm afraid I must borrow Rudeus' strength and particular skill set for the task."

"How could anyone, even a child as smart as Zenith's, rebuild a city? It's just not possible," Tallhand protested. "You're expecting too much of the boy!"

Phillip laughed. Turning to Roxy, he asked, "You didn't tell them?"

"It didn't seem relevant," she shrugged.

Nodding, the man explained, "Rudeus Greyrat was a King-level mage pretending to be Saint-level when his father sent him to us, at the age of seven. He's probably Emperor-level by now. Aside from Sylphiette, who is almost as strong as Rudeus, he is the only mage I know of that could realistically undertake a project on the scale of rebuilding a city in anything approaching a reasonable timeframe. I've seen the boy make dragons of mountains, building a city will be child's play for him."

"That's insane," Elinalise muttered.

Smirking, Ghislaine leaned in and cupped a hand over the elf's ear. "He kept up with me and my student the night I popped his cherry. Wore Eris down and we only stopped because we had things to do the next day. He could've kept going."

"What the fu—" the blonde's mouth fell open.

Phillip ignored the side conversation and continued his pitch to Roxy. "More mages would be useful in the reconstruction effort. But more importantly, you understand the way his mind works the best of anyone, aside from the princess apparently, but she's…"

"Just as hard to understand," Ghislaine supplied.

"Yes. Quite. It's like they're speaking an entirely different language sometimes. I need someone who can translate. Sylphiette understands and can repair or maintain his work, but we need someone who can actually understand it and make it understandable to laymen. Someone who can teach others how to take care of whatever he builds."

"That's assuming the boy would even agree to take on this idiocy," Tallhand protested.

It was Lilia who answered that as she returned. "I guarantee that Master Rudeus is already working on a way to rebuild everything better than it was. If no one asks, he will likely simply do it of his own initiative when he's ready. Now, we've prepared sandwiches and tea for lunch."

"I'll think about it," was as far as Roxy was willing to commit at the moment.

Phillip took it in stride and the conversation shifted on to other topics. Once lunch was finished, the group said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

As she drove, Roxy considered Phillip's offer. She knew it would pay well, but it would require being tied to one place that wasn't necessarily with Rudy, and she was to the point that she didn't want to part from him again once they were reunited unless it was important.

There is one other who understands how everything Rudeus makes works. It just doesn't seem fair to put the job on Sprite. Well, we've got some time still before anyone needs to make a decision.

Seigyou Tensei – Legitimately Employed Reincarnation

27

In the following months, with Sylphie and Ariel…

Sylphie woke to a strange smell and strange sounds, in a strange bed, in a strange room. Sitting up, it took her several moments to remember just where she was and what had happened the previous day.

A blond man falling out of the sky. His features coming into focus and becoming familiar as he neared the ground. A splatter of red.

She shook her head, trying to force the memory nightmare from her mind. It was just a dream.

Getting up out of bed, she used magic to clean the clothes she had worn the day before and got dressed. Then, she stepped out of the room Ariel had loaned her. Which way was the princess's room?

Frowning as she tried to remember, she turned and walked left. After a few moments, she smiled as she found a maid cleaning. "Excuse me?"

The woman looked up from her work with a look a confusion and a growing look of alarm. "Yes…?"

"I'm looking for princess Ariel's room?" Sylphie tried.

The woman knocked over her bucket of water in her rush to get to her feet. Reflexively, Sylphie used water magic to gather the spill up, right the bucket, and put the water back. The maid went wide-eyed and screamed. "Assassin! Mage assassin!"

Sylphie's heart hammered in her chest in alarm as she looked behind herself, electricity dancing over her fingers as she prepared to defend herself. "Where?!"

She turned back to the maid to find her running away at speed. I don't see any assassin and she just left me here—

Guards began storming into the hall just a moment later, the maid among their number. "There! That's the assassin!"

The maid was pointing at her. Sylphie's mind reeled. "Wha-? I'm not—"

And then the guards were swinging on her and reflexes took over. Lightning filled the hall and found a multitude of targets, all holding swords and wearing heavy, metal armor.

They may as well have been lightning rods.

Sylphie sighed as she looked around the pile of moaning men and women, the hallway starting to fill with the stench of singed hair, urine, and feces. Boots and the sharp clack of heels echoed through the hall as, a moment later, Luke and Ariel joined them.

The young man assessed the situation and put his sword away. Ariel simply sighed, before holding a hand out for Sylphie. "Come with me. We should go see my father."

Sylphie took the offered hand and allowed herself to be led through the castle. Before long, they were in a small, private dining room with a man eating breakfast. He looked up from his plate and frowned at the sight of Sylphie in Ariel's company.

"Daughter. Who is your friend?"

"This is Sylphiette. She saved my life yesterday, after Derrick was killed, father."

The man hummed quietly and nodded his head. "I see. What was she doing within the castle in the first place?"

"She was—"

"I'll hear the story from her own lips, Ariel."

Ariel hid her frustration and turned to Sylphie. "Would you?"

The white-haired girl nodded. "There was a flash of light over Roa and everything disappeared. I blacked out for a moment and when I came to I was falling from very, very high up, over an unknown city. I cast a spell to get myself to the ground safely and came down inside the castle walls, destroying a Terminator boar in the process. There was a man there bleeding out and I tried to help, but I couldn't."

"From Roa, you say?" The king murmured. "Sounds like a spell gone wrong or something. Wasn't there a report of a strange magical phenomena Sauros was looking into…" He trailed off and shook his head.

"So you're a mage. What level? What field of expertise?"

Sylphie smiled. "I'm a King-level Water Mage, but I can cast every element at that level except fire. I'm also… Probably Saint-level in healing magic."

"Impossible. You can't be older than ten summers, there's no way you're King-level even if you have learned some magic at your age. And no one outside the Church of Millis gets past Advanced-level in healing or barrier magic."

"I've been working on my own spells," Sylphie explained. "I can also cast silently—"

"Horse shit."

"It's true, father," Ariel countered. On the opposite side of her from Sylphie, Luke nodded.

"I don't believe… It." He trailed off as Sylphie held up a hand and conjured a Water Ball. "Well. I'll be damned. …How old are you? Are you a hobbit?"

"I'll be ten next month, sir," Sylphie supplied. "I'm… mixed. Part elf, beast-kin, and human."

"I'd like to hire her as my personal bodyguard, to replace Derrick. Also, there is the matter of locating her lost family, who were also likely teleported in the incident," Ariel supplied.

The king hummed, taking a few forkfuls of his scrambled eggs as he considered the trio before him. "Who was your teacher, girl? Or are you self-taught?"

"Roxy Migurdia and Rudeus Greyrat, your highness," Sylphie answered with a smile.

"I've heard of Roxy Migurdia before. Just made King-level herself, over in Shirone," the man mused. "Greyrat, you say? Is he one of your kin, boy?" he asked, turning his attention to Luke.

The young noble turned bodyguard looked thoughtful. "It's possible…" Turning to Sylphie, he asked, "Who's his father?"

Sylphie's smile slipped. "Paul Greyrat. Rudy's mother is Zenith."

Scratching his head, Luke thought for a few moments, before coming to an answer. "I think I have an uncle named Paul who left the family years back, long before I was born."

The king nodded once. "I remember now. Amarant's oldest boy. He was disowned oh, some twenty-odd years back and your father was made the heir to the Notos Greyrat family." His lips twitched as though he wanted to smile at something, but he smoothed out his expression quickly. "Tell me boy, what's your estimation of the girl?"

"She's a very strong mage, sir. Before we came here—"

Ariel snapped her fingers, putting on a thoughtful face. "Oh, that reminds me, father." The man looked a bit annoyed at having Luke's report interrupted, but let it pass. "Before we came here, some poor maid mistook Sylphiette for an assassin and summoned the guards. She dispatched them all, non-lethally. But they should probably receive treatment. I would volunteer Sylphie's service, but I'm afraid a few of them may bear some grudge, due to the manner in which she incapacitated them. It was quite humiliating."

Frowning, the man stroked his beard. "How many guards?"

"Thirteen," Luke answered immediately. "I believe she used a lightning spell. I recognize the signs, having been on the receiving end of that spell myself."

"But that's a King-level water spell and would have leveled the castle."

Sylphie held up a hand, letting lightning dance between her fingers. "Rudy created a new element."

Studying the girl, he asked, "You say you came from Roa? Rudeus is a Greyrat and your master. Would you happen to know of Phillip or Sauros Boreas Greyrat?"

"Mm!" Sylphie nodded. "Father and Grandfather—I mean Phillip and Sauros employed Rudy and myself. Rudy taught their daughter, Eris, magic, literacy, and math. Rudy also created a few things and he and Phillip had a business together, before the accident."

"'Father and Grandfather?'" the king echoed.

Sylphie blushed, but nodded. "We all agreed—that is, Roxy, Eris, and I agreed to marry Rudy together. Eris is like a sister to me. And, well, they wanted me to call them that in private."

The king snorted. "Of course they did," he rolled his eyes, muttering, "Typical Boreas." Shaking his head, he continued, "That explains the source of the sudden increase in tax revenue from Roa. You wouldn't happen to know anything about new roads, or a road builder…?"

"Oh, that was Rudy too. Eris and I helped, but it was mostly him," Sylphie nodded. "Gr—Sauros hired Rudy to improve the roads."

"I see." Nodding to himself, he asked, "And you were involved with this project?"

"Mm! It was good mana pool training," Sylphie agreed. "I also repaired all of Rudy's inventions that Phillip used for their business. The cannery, printing press, and a few other things."

The king stilled, swallowing on a suddenly dry throat. "'Printing press,' you say? Does that do what the name implies it would?"

"Y—"

"Sylphie." Ariel's tone was sharp as she cut the girl off. The king's greed-filled gaze shifted to his daughter, who had crossed her arms over her chest and was now leveling him with a glare. "Sylphie is my friend and I won't allow her knowledge or skills to be exploited unfairly, father."

The implication was clear to the king, even if it went over Sylphie's head a bit. Sylphie, and by extension Rudeus, were Ariel's contacts. Roa saw a huge boom in trade, revenue, and subsequently Ars saw a boom in taxes coming in from Roa. Ariel brought the King-level mage to the table, and potentially two others besides. Not her father, not her sister, not her brother, but Ariel.

Saint-level mages were tactical weapons, deployed on the field against enemy armies. King-level mages were strategic weapons, deployed against enemy kingdoms. Mages in general were invaluable resources to the economy, capable of finding metal under ground, pulling it from the ground, converting it or even conjuring it directly in limited amounts, at varying expense of mana. With the proper spells, they could walls around a city or even aid in the construction of buildings.

Unfortunately, those that could do either of those last two were few and far between, requiring someone specialized in earth magic and who had an interest not only in constructing permanent fortifications using stone works, but one who understood construction to some degree or could follow the orders of someone who did. Those sorts of mages were the sorts of people spoken of in legends of days long gone—or remembered as nightmares working for the enemy, erecting fortifications behind enemy lines and allowing their forces to amass underground to later swarm up and attack from the rear.

That Sylphiette and Rudeus could apparently create as well as destroy—well enough to be hired by one of the king's four governing lords for official work for the region, and that they were both in Ariel's pocket so to speak raised her own value in her father's eyes.

Instead of looking upset, the king seemed pleased. "Very well. Do you know how much Sauros was paying Rudeus to lay down roads?"

"I don't," the white-haired girl shook her head.

"And it's a shame that the duties I've hired her for would preclude her from working on such a project, without my express consent and Sylphie's own agreement," Ariel cut in, earning a quiet chuckle from her father.

"Yes, very well Ariel. You'll have your bodyguard. You mentioned locating her lost family. Shall we dispatch some men…?"

"I'm already looking into it, father," Ariel answered simply.

"Very well." The man considered his daughter for a moment before a small smile pulled at his lips. "Of course, you'll have to present her to the court. As you know, there is an audience being held today in the throne room. I expect you to be in attendance."

The message was clear to Ariel. If she wanted to play adult games, she had to act and be seen to act the part. And that meant showing off her new find to all the degenerates nobility. She couldn't keep Sylphie secret. This would, of course, paint a target on Sylphie's back. I'm going to have to make it up to her, Ariel mused.

"Of course, father. If you'll excuse us, I have to go find something for Sylphiette to wear. Luke, Sylphie, this way," she hurried from the room, the pair of bodyguards following in her wake.

The door closed behind them and the king laughed quietly. Speaking quietly to himself, he worked through the situation and its potential consequences. "Pilemon and James are going to be apoplectic. This Rudeus is a clear threat Pilemon—his claim to the headship of the Notos family is stronger, given who his father is. With the boons to Roa's economy, should Phillip survive and somehow make a comeback, he'll be in a prime position to challenge his brother for headship of the Boreas family. With the boy marrying Eris, that would effectively give him control over two of the four Greyrat branches. He'll likely also succeed Sauros, if that old bastard doesn't hand the Lordship to Phillip. I imagine Darius is going to be disappointed, given how he had his eye on Sauros' granddaughter…"

Sylphie's ears twitched as they left that wing of the hall, the silent wind spell she'd cast dropping off as a frown pulled her lips down. They're only thinking of how they can use us to their benefit. I should be more careful around Luke, if his father may see Rudy as a threat.

Ariel knocked at the door and waited, standing in the hall in nothing but a nearly see-through silk nightgown. Nearby, one of the maids went about her nightly duties, tending to laundry and linens. Ears and eyes. All the walls, all the hallways. There is nowhere safe. And I have to put on a show. New bodyguard. Young, impressionable. The princess already has a known taste for women and sadistic predilections. Of course she would force herself on the fresh, virginal, delicate, delicious little part-elf at the first possible opportunity…

"It's Ariel, can I come in?" Ariel called, knocking softly again.

The door clicked unlocked and opened a crack, one red eye and a bit of white hair peeking out and looking both ways up and down the hall. Nodding, the girl opened the door and allowed Ariel entry. She locked it after as Ariel made her way over to the bed and sat down. "I thought you might be lonely and want some company tonight."

Sylphie sat down next to her, dressed in nothing but a long shirt. "I miss Rudy and Eris. The bed is cold without them," Sylphie admitted. "It's weird. I never really slept with anyone before moving to Roa, and I didn't even get to do it for long. But now that I have, it feel so much lonelier without them."

Ariel's heart ached for the girl and a bitter feeling of guilt and regret welled up for what she was about to have to do. I wish I could tell you, but… I need your reaction to be genuine. I'm so, so sorry. Kami, I hate this. I hate having to be this person.

Years of practice kept her feelings off her face as Ariel smiled a smile any of the maids would have recognized. It was just the right mix of warm, friendly, and predatory that she had worked out over the years since she had first started seducing the maids as cover. Slipping an arm over Sylphie's back, she pulled the younger girl against her side, the white-haired girl's face pressing into the side of her breast and her breath teasing Ariel's nipple through the nearly sheer cloth covering it.

Despite the roiling feeling of self-loathing, Ariel felt herself growing aroused and her panties damp.

Or perhaps, that feeling was just spice that, along with the thought of pushing down a nine, almost ten year old in a world where that was not illegal when her modern/traditional Japanese upbringing screamed that what she was doing was wrong and child molestation, just made it that much more exciting.

Please stop me.

"You don't have to be alone," Ariel murmured softly, leaning down and planting a gentle kiss at the younger girl's temple. "I'll take care of you," she repeated her promise to Rudy, twisting the words and their intent even as she said them.

"Thank you, your—Ariel," Sylphie self-corrected, smiling up at her new friend.

Don't look at me with such innocent, trusting eyes! It only makes me want to do this more!

"Of course," she nodded, planting another kiss on Sylphie's forehead and pulling the younger girl into her lap. Giggling quietly, she bragged, "It works out well for me, too! I get a cute body pillow out of the deal, after all."

Sylphie let out her own giggle, before covering a yawn. Shifting to her more comfortable against the girl holding her, and making use of Ariel's not inconsiderable breasts as pillows, Sylphie wrapped her own arms around Ariel and returned the hug. "This is nice." Humming quietly, she asked, "You're lonely too, aren't you?"

Ariel froze where she had been leaning in to try for another kiss—slowly closing in on Sylphie's lips as she had been. "What do you mean? I'm surrounded by people day in and day out."

"They aren't your friends," Sylphie pointed out, and Ariel felt her ardor cool. "You have to hide who you are, every day. This place is full of… awful people who just want to use everyone around them. I can hear them, all the time. It must have been so lonely."

It was! Ariel felt her mask crack as heat built behind her eyes.

"But it's okay! You have us now," Sylphie smiled up at her, and Ariel's heart broke.

Weaponized moe. That's fucking unfair! I call foul!

"You and Rudy are both strangers in a strange land, here. Everything must be so different, and confusing, and frustrating at times." She chuckled quietly as she admitted, "I think part of why he worked so hard on plumbing was because he wanted something to remind him of Earth." Her smile fell as she quietly added, "But you didn't even have that much. You weren't really able to play with magic and throw yourself into training and distractions like he was. Not with everyone here watching and judging everything you did."

Shifting in Ariel's lap, Sylphie pulled back a bit and sat up so they were pretty much face to face. Red eyes stared up into Ariel's blue with such an earnest, accepting look… It made her heart pound in a way that had nothing to do with her lewd, wicked thoughts of earlier, and set a blush spreading over her cheeks, down her neck, all the way to the tops of her breasts. The girl stared into her soul for what seemed like an eternity before seemingly coming to some sort of decision, as she nodded to herself and smiled. "No one here will ever understand you the way we do."

Thrown for a loop, Ariel floundered. "Wh-what are you saying?"

"Well, you'll probably get married one day. Can you really think of anyone better than the one man who comes from the same place and understands you in a way no one else can?"

It was a thought that had occurred to her, when she learned of Rudeus' origins. More like an errant daydream. The one possible escape from the life she had found herself reborn to. To hear it not only voiced, but outright suggested by one of the people capable of making it happen…

It was too much, and it didn't help her right now. It didn't change what she had to do. It only made her regret it all the more, and completely killed any enjoyment her perverted libido may have taken from the act.

She leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Her lips pressed against Sylphie's and the younger girl's mouth opened in surprise. Ariel took complete advantage, her tongue darting in and flicking at Sylphie's. She tastes delicious, she noted idly, shifting the girl in her arms around to lay her on the bed and pressing her down into the soft mattress and quilt there. Laying there, face flushed, white hair spread about her head like a halo, Sylphie looked breathtaking. In just a few years, she'll be truly amazing.

Seeing the girl's stunned state, Ariel pressed her advantage further. Her lips found Sylphie's neck, sucking and licking in a way she knew would leave a very visible hickey, while her hands busied themselves elsewhere. One hand trailed down Sylphie's over-sized shirt, teasing the nubs of the girl's hardening nipples through the fabric. The other hand started at the girl's knee and trailed its way up, across the warm expanse of creamy, muscular inner thigh towards the treasure at their juncture.

"What," Sylphie gasped quietly, "what are you doing?"

Ariel leered against the skin of the girl's neck, teeth nipping the delicate flesh in a bite that made Sylphie tremble. Her voice was loud in the quiet of the room. "The more innocent," a kiss on her throat, "and pure," a lick along the jugular, "a thing is," another nip at her collarbone…

If you don't stop me, I'm, I'm going to just keep going.

Sylphie didn't stop her, and her fingers found the girl's peace—puffy, and covered in a light fuzz that felt like fine angel silk to Ariel's fingers. And with just a little exploration, her lower lips parted, revealing that the white-haired girl's warm, moist folds positively dripping with arousal.

Ariel's voice sounded predatory even to her own ears. "The more satisfying it is to corrupt it."

A quiet buzz filled the air and the hair on the back of Ariel's arms stood up. That was the only warning she got as her body locked up with a crackcrackCRACK! and she was thrown violently across the room in a gust of wind. Ariel crashed into the wall opposite the bed, knocking over a table and a vase there. Sylphie pushed herself off the bed, a look of hurt, betrayal, and anger on her face as the room filled with the flickering blue light and the cracking sound of lightning dancing across her fingers.

Ariel got her mouth working enough to let out a moan that wasn't… entirely fake, given the way her nipples had gone stiff and her entire body sang in a way she'd never felt before, that would have left her panties stuck to her and transparent, if she were wearing any. …And if the zap hadn't caused her to lose bladder control and she weren't sitting in a puddle. "Mmm. Again. Harder."

Sylphie paused, a look of confusion crossing her face through everything else. Ariel shakily raised one hand, silently asking the girl to hold. A moment later, the smaller girl's ears twitched and even Ariel could hear the rushed sound of footsteps hurrying away. Ariel relaxed, letting her hand flop bonelessly to the ground as she closed her eyes and tried to breathe and settle her heart down.

The white-haired girl knelt next to her. "What was that?"

"They were listening," Ariel admitted in a whisper, knowing the other girl would hear her just fine. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

The all-over buzz, the ache in her back faded, and her heartbeat grew steady as green light radiated out from Sylphie's hand, healing her wounds and minor lightning damage. "Then I was right."

The blonde nodded. "They're always listening. I have to pretend to be something I'm not all the time. Pretend that I'm one of them—just another perverted, degenerate noble, except I'm a royal so I have to try to top even that. To the point that I'm worried I'm starting to become the thing I'm pretending to be. I, I don't want to live like this any more!Please, help me!"

Ariel was surprised when Sylphie's hands took her own and pulled her to her feet—surprising her just how strong the little girl was, but she supposed that was touki at work. She was more surprised when Sylphie lead her to her bed and used water magic to clean her up. Then, the smaller girl tucked her in before crawling in beside her and wrapping her arms and legs around Ariel, attaching herself like a little squid. A small hand stroked through Ariel's hair while the other rubbed her back and, within moments, the mask that had cracked finally shattered.

Ariel cried, her body shaking as she broke down and sobbed, biting her lip until it bled to make sure her sobs remained silent.

"Shh. It's okay. I forgive you." Chuckling quietly, she added, "That just means you need us more than you knew."

That only made Ariel cry harder.

"What… is it?" Luke asked warily, studying the metal box on wheels. "It looks vaguely like a carriage, but I don't see anywhere to hitch horses."

"That's because it doesn't use horses. It's a magical… horseless carriage," Ariel explained. Sylphie heard the way she corrected herself instead of saying what she really wanted to, but kept it to herself.

The blonde opened the door and examined the interior. Seeing the placement of the steering wheel and pedals, she sighed. "Why did he put it on the wrong side? Annoying American," she muttered, just loud enough for Sylphie to catch, before closing the door before moving over to the other side and climbing behind the wheel. "Okay, everyone stand back. I'm going to give it a try."

"I don't know that it's safe, princess. Perhaps you should let someone else—"

"It'll be fine," she waved Luke off, closing the door and rolling down the window. "Ooh, nice. I wonder what kind of leather he used for these seats."

With a shrug, she found the key in the ignition and turned it to the 'on' position. It didn't make any noticable change, aside from the dash lighting up with a numerical display. Speedometer? Nice. And of course it's in miles per hour. Well, it's probably measured by this world's miles. Which, unless I'm off on my calculations, are 5000 feet instead of the two hundred odd more that an American mile is. About 1.524km.

The shifter was a simple lever marked 'forward,' 'backward,' 'neutral,' and 'park' set in the floor. Pushing the shifter into forward, she eased on the accelerator and grinned when the truck started forward. "Very nice," she nodded, driving through the private pasture they used for the royal family's own horses. She put her foot to the floor and picked up speed, watching the speedometer climb. It hit 50 in a few seconds, when she started to feel unsafe on the grass even with the seat belt holding her in place and she slowed down.

Letting off the accelerator, she eased into the brake and tested those, before bringing the truck around in a sharp turn, back towards the barn. Over the next few minutes, she put the truck through its paces—all things she remembered from driver's education class over… That was over my last summer on Earth, she realized.

Looking at the dash, she found herself longing for the comfort of a radio and familiar songs, but none were forthcoming.

Finally, she pulled to a stop in front of Sylphie and Luke, put the truck in park, and climbed out. "It's nice. I think this will serve us well."

"You should take the key," Sylphie said, pointing towards the steering wheel.

"Eh?"

Pulling out her own motorcycle key, Sylphie explained, "If you have the key, you can summon it to you. Watch."

Holding the key out, the ran mana through it and her green motorcycle appeared before her in a subdued flash of light. Ariel quickly yanked the key out of the ignition and stuffed it down the top of her blouse, against her breast. "That's very handy," she admitted. "So, what do you say we go get cleaned up and ready, and we can make the rounds of my supporters and show off the new magical tool?"

"Very well, princess. I should speak with my father, anyway. I haven't in a while," Luke admitted.

"Right. Sylphie, let's go get changed!" Ariel paused, a frown pulling her pouty lips down. "Oh, wait. I've got a nice set of riding leathers for myself, but you don't have any. Well, let's get that taken care of. I know just the place. Luke, you don't mind carrying a lady's shopping, do you?"

The man among them sent the princess a flat look, before gesturing towards the truck. "While I would happily volunteer to be the princess's pack mule, I believe we have a more fitting tool for the task. The streets of Ars are easily wide enough to accommodate it, and doing so would allow me to keep my hands free in order to better serve in my position as bodyguard instead of pack mule."

"Whine, whine, whine," Ariel rolled her eyes before climbing back into the truck. "Very well. Come along, you big baby. Sylphie, will you ride with us, or on your bike?"

The white-haired girl considered them both for a moment before gesturing at the bike. It lifted up into the air and she pulled aside the cloth tarp over the back end of the truck before setting it inside and securing it in place. Then, she climbed up in the front seat. Luke frowned as he realized he was relegated to either riding with the motorcycle or in the back seat, as neither woman looked willing to use the middle seat.

They finished some time around after noon, and then Ariel began the rounds of calling on her supporters in Ars in person.

The three of them drove around the capital, going from one mansion to the next. In every case, she introduced her new bodyguard (on a more personal level than the show that was her father's court) and explained the need to reunite Sylphiette with her mother as a debt of honor for saving her life. She also explained her desire to attend Ranoa university for a time to study magic and make contacts within the college, along with Ranoa itself, the Duchy of Neris, and the Duchy of Basherant—the three Great Magic Nations.

She did not go into detail about exactly why she wanted those connections, however. Nor did she mention Rudeus or Sylphie, and their involvement in Roa's fortunes. And she certainly didn't bring up her hope that, given his penchant for building and recreating things from Earth, Rudeus would do his level best to modernize as much of this world as he could. Her father barely saw the tip of the iceberg and he was already salivating at the potential. Sauros and Phillip, whom she spoke with on a near daily basis now, knew what Rudeus had done so far and expected great things from him, but they didn't know. Roxy was the one who came the closest to both knowing what could be if Rudy put his mind to it and understanding what it would do to their world. A revolution was coming the likes of which this world had never seen—that Earth had only seen over time and in several smaller stages. And Ariel intended to be there, beside him, for all of it.

Ranoa being where the greatest magicians of the human kingdoms were trained, at the college. They would need competent mages in the future—those who could be trusted and taught their method of silent casting, or if not, then at least taught how to modify their own spells so they could help.

Neris, known for its manufacturing of magical tools. If a deal could be struck with them, they could be used to produce cheap household tools for sale to anyone with the money to buy one, further propagating the spread of technology. Not only that, but they may be willing to trade research and information on enchanting things that could broaden Rudeus' range of magic, giving him more options for future projects. Not to mention all the completed tools up for grabs, that Rudeus could then potentially reverse engineer. No self-respecting mage had any sort of respect for 'intellectual property' after all, and felt that if you couldn't protect your enchantments then you deserved to have them stolen improved upon by someone else.

Basherant, which was renown for its research on magic. This country could potentially supply researchers and knowledge both to their future efforts, whatever those may be.

When she left each of her supporters' homes, she invited them outside to see a new magical tool she had acquired. All of them were shown the truck and allowed to take a short ride in it as a passenger. They unanimously loved the idea, especially when the question came up of whether or not it could be used to haul goods in bulk, and her answer was a happy yes. Then she went on to explain that this was not the first such vehicle produced, it was just one of the first for transporting multiple people or heavy loads—even going so far as to show off the motorcycle still loaded in the back as an example of a personal vehicle.

The message there was clear. Ariel had a secret backer or resource she wasn't disclosing, who had the knowledge and resources to create a ground vehicle that would obsolete the horse and carriage within the coming years and likely corner the market on land trade. It was a very large, very lucrative pie, and there were slices enough for everyone who supported her to have a share… so long as they continued to support her, of course. That secured her more loyalty than anything else she had said to them today.

She had saved the Notos Greyrat household for last. Not as a slight, but because they would be dining with them that evening and she wished to give Luke some time with his family. The meeting with Pilemon went much the same as the others had, including her reveal of the truck and its potential to revolutionize everything from over-land shipping, to travel, to troop deployment—save that most of it was held over a meal. The man was interested and confirmed his support to her again, but given what she had learned through Sylphie… Ariel was not entirely sure of her relationship with the man any more. He had always struck her as the cowardly sort.

So it was that when they finished talking business for the night, Ariel offered to let Luke stay the night and catch up with his family while she and Sylphie went back to the castle. Luke agreed, though under protest, if only because it would Ariel down one guard. The princess waved his concerns off, gathered Sylphie up, and the two of them left the mansion.

"Sprite?" Ariel asked as she climbed into the truck and started driving away.

"I've been recording. It is as you suspected. Would you like to see the recording now?" the spirit asked. In the passenger seat, Sylphie looked both curious and wary.

Ariel hummed quietly before nodding. The truck was the most secure place for her to observe the conversation and not give away the impossible advantage Sprite and her surveillance gave them. "Audio only, please. Thank you."

A moment later, sound filled the truck.

Pilemon: "It's good to have you home, son."

Luke: "It's good to be home, father."

Ariel paid half an ear to the conversation as she drove slowly through town, until after a couple of minutes, something caught her attention.

Pilemon: "So tell me, what do you have to report on the princess's activities? We all heard the official story in the king's audience, but I want to hear it from you. What happened the day Derrick Redbat died? Who is Sylphiette? And do you have any idea where she acquired that magical tool?"

Luke: "Well father, the part about there being some sort of magical accident is true. The day of the event, a Terminator Boar was teleported into the gardens. It thrashed me and nearly got to the princess. Derrick sacrificed himself to buy her time. Sylphiette is the one who killed it as she fell from the sky. Sylphiette… is everything the King claimed and more. She is not a Saint-level mage, however. That was a lie. She is a King-level mage capable of silently casting spells, and with access to an entirely new branch of elemental magic in the form of lightning. She can fly or run on air. She also has had training with the sword. I'd put her somewhere between Intermediate- and Advanced-level in Sword God and Water God styles, normally… but she practices a strange style I've never seen before that combines both of those styles, magic, and the ability to maneuver in ways others can't into something unpredictable. I've yet to beat her in a spar, even when I'm not holding back."

Pilemon: "I see. Who were her instructors?"

Luke: "Hah. Well, you see, her instructors are tied to where the princess acquired the truck—that magical tool she demonstrated. I'm to understand that her magic instructors were Roxy Migurdia—"

Pilemon: "A demon. And a King-level mage. That explains her magical aptitude then."

Luke: "—and Rudeus Greyrat."

There was a very noticable pause and Ariel would have to remember to go back over the footage just to see what sort of expression the man made.

Pilemon: "Isn't he the one teaching Phillip's girl? Eris?"

Luke: "He was, yes."

Pilemon: "No other family name?"

Luke's voice was a bit strained in his answer.

Luke: "None that he gives or that others call him by."

Pilemon: "You know something."

Luke: "Yes, sir. Rudeus is my cousin, apparently. His father is Paul, who was one of Sylphiette's two sword teachers. The other being Sword King Ghislaine."

There was a spluttering, choking sound as Phillip audibly did a spit take on whatever he was drinking at the time. The man coughed for a couple of minutes, before getting himself under control.

Pilemon: "Fuck! He had a son?! And the boy's a mage? No, don't tell me—"

Luke: "The truck came from Rudeus. He created it, along with Sylphiette's 'bike,' and several other things. Apparently, the Boreas family was trying to pair him with their daughter after they found out he's a King-level mage himself—"

Pilemon: "Shit."

Luke: "And he's at least partially responsible for the increase in tax revenue in Roa, thanks to some inventions and successful investments on Phillip's part. Or so the king seemed to think."

Pilemon: "Damnation."

Luke: "I don't see what's so bad about this, father. Rudeus is a Notos Greyrat. We can just extend an invitation to rejoin the family, which will give him noble connections and resources, and in return we benefit from his power and coming wealth."

Pilemon: "Idiot boy! Paul is my older brother. If he hadn't left the family, he would be the family head. By right, Rudeus has more of a claim to the headship than I do, let alone you! Where is he now?"

Luke: "He was sent to the Demon Continent during the same event that displaced Sylphiette."

Pilemon: "Good, maybe the monsters or demons will take care of him. …No, how are you sure of that?"

Luke: "I haven't seen it, but he has some way to communicate with Sylphiette. It's how they arranged to get the truck sent to them using magic."

Pilemon spluttered.

Pilemon: "Instant, cross-continent communication and teleportation magic?! And the Boreas are courting him. If he married Phillip's daughter, he would be in a prime position to take over both the Boreas and Notos families, given that overturning James' headship of the Boreas would be trivialfor someone with those capabilities."

Luke: "Father, I don't think it's as bad as you say—"

Pilemon: "You're right. It's worse. Because the second princess is involved. Meaning ties to the royalty. A mage of that caliber, with the sort of skill and insight he's shown? There's no way she's not already considering a political union."

Ariel nodded. If she weren't personally involved in a way the people of this world wouldn't understand, then the princess would surely be considering exactly that. As it stood, Ariel was still considering a union, just not entirely politically motivated. Damn weaponized moe. It's so unfair. Did he teach her to do that?! He had to have! Arg! Rudy!

Pilemon: "I'll have to have a talk with Darius Ganius. The prime minister has been making overtures for years now. This… this would be a good chance. Everyone knows he's had his eye on Sauros' granddaughter for years. Hm." He paused for a moment, before adding, "I should contact James. This is a threat to the both of us, after all. If the boy makes it back to Asura, Darius can deal with him. I'm sure James would be willing to give up Eris for some political favors. Yes, that would take care of things neatly."

Luke: "Father… What about the princess?"

Pilemon: "Keep your mouth shut to her, obviously. Darius is with the first prince's faction, while I am unsure of James' affiliation. The second princess would have to be neutralized politically, before she can further solidify and use her connection to Rudeus. She will likely be dealt with. In fact, we'll go to Darius tonight. He can get the word out to his people and she'll just… disappear when she goes looking for Sylphiette's family, or when she goes to the College. Did she know when she wanted to leave?"

Luke: "Somewhat soon. Within another month or two."

Ariel casually braked and made a U-turn, heading back towards the nearest crossroad that would let her turn and head for the city gate. Beside her, Sylphie looked up from where she had been watching their surroundings pass by in the dark. "Where are you going?"

Ariel smiled. "Away. Want to come?"

Chuckling, Sylphie nodded. "Sure."

"The gate is closed this time of night. Can you get us over the walls? Then we can summon the truck on the other side and continue."

The white-haired girl nodded again. "Easily."

Luke: "What about Sylphiette?"

Pilemon: "She'll have to have an 'accident' as well. She's just a child. It shouldn't be hard for someone to arrange."

Sylphie's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent.

Pilemon: "Come on, boy. Get your armor on while I have someone sent to prepare the carriage. We'll go now."

"That's enough, Sprite. But if you could, would you keep an eye on them? And peep in on Darius Silva Ganius for me?" Ariel requested. Under her breath, she muttered, "Would that I could have you simply spy on every noble in the capital."

"I will. Tracking Darius Ganius now," Sprite confirmed. "And I could. Do you want me to?"

Ariel blinked, the truck jerking slightly in her surprise as she jostled the wheel. "You could…?"

A hologram of Sprite appeared on the dash, in miniature. "I could observe everyone in the city from the one drone overhead, with little to no loss in performance. It would cost more mana, but," the tiny woman actually blushed, "Master provides… more than enough."

"Um. Would you mind doing so? In fact, doing so for every major city and point of interest? Perhaps start cataloging everything and build out a network of… everything, really?" Ariel asked.

Sprite nodded. "Of cou—" She froze, before a look of confusion passed over her face so swiftly Ariel almost missed it, before it was replaced with anger. "I have located Darius Silva Ganius. He is in his home in Ars. Second floor, eastern wing, master bedroom. He is, well, I'll show you."

A small hologram taken from inside the room sprang into being and the two women physically in the truck felt their blood run cold.

Fat hands with thick, stubby fingers pawed and mauled her flesh. An ugly face with a hooked nose, bald head, and disgusting expression leered down at her as she wept, before leaning his huge, fat, doughy body over hers. A stinking, drool-covered tongue spilled out of his maw and slurped along the corners of her eyes, licking away her tears.

"That's it! Yes! Cry more for me, you filthy little whore! Your tears are delicious," he laughed uproariously as he humped painfully away at her. "Daddy isn't coming to save you, slave! No one is, hehehehe!"

His giggling was just one more sour note to the whole affair, Tristina noted dimly—barely even aware at this point as her mind tried and failed to retreat. Every time she got close, he would slap her face, or painfully squeeze and twist her budding breasts.

The worst thing of all was the absurdly huge, warty thingthat had torn through her maidenhood with all the force and subtlety of a battering ram through a castle gate—and about as much damage. She bled, and not just from having her maidenhood torn. It coated his thing, her flower, her legs and crotch, the sheets. So much blood she felt lightheaded at first, until he had forced a potion of some sort down her throat and the bleeding had slowed, before he muttered something about needing a healer to keep from breaking another toy.

It hurt so much, in so many ways she couldn't begin to count them all. If 'breaking' meant she wouldn't have to feel like this, would mean her days wouldn't be filled with more of being a sex slave to a disgusting human-shaped pig, she would gladly take that trade.

Her body shook, bringing her back to the present as the fat man grabbed her hips and hammered away at her even harder, grunting in exertion as he did so, sweat rolling off his stinking body and coating her own in a way that she didn't think she would ever be able to wash off—

The wall the window was set in off to her left exploded inwards, a howling gust of arctic wind crashing into the room and sending the man sprawling against the far wall—and yet, somehow, none of it touched her. Not so much as a breeze, no debris, not a speck of dust. Turning her head weakly to the side, Tristina's blue eyes widened upon seeing a girl who must have been a year or two her junior standing in midair—white hair billowing about her head in the wind and red eyes locked in fury on the man who had had her kidnapped.

"What, who," the man stammered, groaning as he hauled his nude form up from the ground. He took in the white-haired girl's form and stared, before a flicker of recognition passed over his face. "You! The second princess's new dog. What are you doing here?! I'm the prime minister, I'll have you executed for this! No, I'll have you arrested, rape you in front of that fucking brat princess until your belly swells with my child, and then I'll have you executed! Guards! GUARDS!"

Ice filled the room at a gesture of the girl's hand, blocking off the door off and leaving the prime minister encased up to the waist.

"I've never killed anyone before."

Her words echoed in the suddenly silent room. A considering look passed over her face, elf ears twitching slightly as she nodded. "It's what he would do," she murmured, before shaking her head and fixing the man-pig with another glare. "No. You aren't worth it."

Another gesture and the bed's sheets wrapped around Tristina, before some force carried her off the bed. "W-w-hat are you d-d-doing with that?! Put it back! That's my toy!" the man raged, teeth chattering in the cold. "Give it back!"

That was the last Tristina saw of the man before the wall closed up between them, stone flowing out from the bricks and solidifying. Then, they were moving through the air, so very fast it felt like, from the way the wind blew over her. Not even horses ran this fast. A green light from beside her drew her attention back to her savior, who held one hand over her while she ran. Her aches and pains faded away to nothing. Even the fire in her crotch was quenched under that cooling light.

Then, steaming water spiraled around her and she felt it scrub over her from head to toe, even getting the places his thing had violated.

"Sleep now. We'll speak in the morning."

The world went dark and for a time, Tristina knew no more.

Ariel sighed as she observed the sleeping girl laying on the back seat of the truck in the early dawn light.

"Well, it's not like the situation can get much worse," she sighed, shaking her head. "We all knew Ganius was a pervert even by noble standards, but kidnapping noble daughters and raping them?"

"Would it have been okay if they weren't nobles?" Sylphie asked from where she sat in the grass, leaning against the back tire.

Ariel shook her head. "Well… yes, technically. Take your friend Eris, for example. Her family buys beast-kin slaves. Now, admittedly, they treat them very well and they do free them and offer them paid work, but at the end of the day no one says anything about it because it's just the done thing. Every noble house does it, to some extent. But other noblesare supposed to be off the menu, so to speak. And while I know this is wrong, especially given where I come from, but that's just the reality of the world we live in. Maybe we can change it one day, but that won't be today."

Sylphie nodded tiredly. "What now?"

Loosing a quiet chuckle, Ariel collapsed into the grass beside Sylphie. "The plan hasn't changed. We head north. Pick up your mother and sister. Then go to Ranoa. Make connections. Disappear for a while. All while Sprite keeps an eye on things for us and Rudeus builds up his forces, resources, and power. Then, when we're ready, assuming Rudeus is inclined to agree… we take the capital and the country. It's the only way I see of getting rid of people like Darius and Pilemon for good. They would never support the sort of changes I want to make, to bring this country—no, this world—out of the dark ages."

Turning to Sylphie, she smiled. "Go get some rest, I'll keep watch."

Sprite's hologram popped up in front of them. "I'll take care of it myself. Please, rest, both of you. I'll let you know if Ms. Purplehorse wakes, or if you need to move."

"Thank you, Sprite," Ariel sighed, standing up and stretching out. "And thank you for last night."

The spirit shook her head. "I just wish I had seen sooner."

"That's not your fault. And you can't just intervene if you see something like it in the future, unfortunately. It would give away your presence and the fact that you're watching. It's awful, but… you'll have to let things play out in the capital. For now, at least." Reaching down, she offered her hand to Sylphie, who took it. Hauling the smaller girl up, they climbed into the back of the truck, where Sylphie had summoned some of their things. They would have to buy travel supplies at the next town, but a few blankets was good enough for now.

Darius Silva Ganius. Everyone knows he supports my brother. Which means he likely knew and didn't care. I'll have to do something about him as well when we return. I can have Sprite gather evidence until then. Then come in and take care of it all in one fell swoop.

The thought brought a devious smile to her lips, as she lay in the bed of the truck under the canvas cover, cuddling with Sylphie. Lance the festering boil on the ass of this country that is the corrupt, degenerate nobility and let it all bleed out…