As we approached the stable to tend our mounts, a guard approached and whilst he was simply doing his duty as he asked us what brought us here so late at night alone, I found myself on edge. Lia told me to relax as my grip tightened on the reins, and as she handled greetings, I was taking a deep breath and trying to bottle up my anxiety.
I thought I had put my wariness of strangers behind me, but that moment made me realise I had simply got past the stranger stage with everyone back at our hometown.
Bringing myself back to the moment I heard Lia recount to the guard that our Lord told us to make this our first stop, though she told him it was a honeymoon which I supposed was a half-truth, but I didn't understand why she wouldn't just tell him we were on a journey until he replied by asking what Lord would marry children as young as us.
As he asked the question, I could tell that was her plan, she stoked his curiosity so he would listen to her, whilst we weren't far off being recognised as adults, we both looked young for our ages. "Our lord's name is Lord now, he abandoned his old one to fit our customs, but he told me he went by Salas when he last saw his cousin Almick. We are from the town of Haslon."
The guard ran toward the hut and rang the bell, he seemed panicked which put me on edge again. Lia chuckled though and told me not to worry, that he only acted that way because Lord had sent word ahead to have us greeted by his cousin.
I grumbled at my ignorance to the plans that have clearly been in preparation for some time, even Lia's choice of words seemed to have an air of rehearsal, but for now my main concern was getting brought up to speed so I set about tending the horses whilst I asked her about Haslon, Almick, Salas and the purpose of our stop here.
She laughed at the revelation I didn't know our town was called Haslon, but beyond that she was thoroughly locking me out to saviour taking the lead and I was happy to let her. I knew I would likely only cause trouble if I tried to take the lead, I was still anxious and tended to snap at people when in such a mind, not a problem back in Haslon, but to those who don't know me it would certainly pose problems.
The first such instance happened right then. After the guard spoke to us and rang the bell he had withdrawn to the hut, I had presumed this was to report to the few others who had remained there but as he slinked over and informed us, we could join them inside for food and refreshment, I awkwardly barked at the man I required neither before shuffling nervously when he flinched.
Lia apologised on my behalf then mirrored the sentiment in a more polite manner, explaining my discomfort in unfamiliar surroundings then jumping to settle me when the gate keepers inside the wall started shouting and the deafening rattle of heavy chains echoed across the noiseless night, accompanied by the heavy wooden thuds and metallic bangs as the portcullis began to raise and the gate was unbarred.
The sudden noise had triggered my self-preservation instinct, and if Lia hadn't done so, I would likely be already preparing magic to level the wall before leaving, which would only make any reconciliation impossible. Once again, I took a moment to appreciate having her by my side, as we were resting with the horse for almost an hour before a guard from the wall shouted down that the Lord's carriage was approaching and Lia was clearly tired, keeping herself awake just to be ready for greetings.
With the gate guards call, the men in the hut burst to life and stood to attention at the side of the road. They rushed to position, but Lia listened a moment and told me the carriage was still a few minutes out, then muttered to herself about never being able to enjoy resting on me for long before standing up.
I thought back on it and realised that whether by my own doing or necessity we had only spent our wedding night together from going to bed until morning, and even though only a few days had passed, it seemed much longer. Luckily though I had also been thinking about it longer than I thought, and I was stopped from spiralling by the sound of a carriage bouncing over a cobblestone.
The carriage passed us, then, in a wide arc, turned before coming to a stop in front of us, where the driver dismounted.
A tall, older gentlemen who carried himself in a strict formal manner, his long greying hair tied back into a fashion similar to Lia's, though much shorter and lacking the metallic ornaments.
He bowed slightly and introduced himself as Farlin and began to greet us until he was interrupted by the carriage door swinging open, and a pale-skinned man with dark circles under his narrow eyes, telling him it's too late to stand on ceremony and etiquette, instead it would be more prudent to hurry to the manor so we can be properly fed and rested.
At his master's word, Farlin asked if we might hand him our belongings so that he may stow them, at which point I became needlessly childish and told him that I'm not a noble and would take responsibility for my own possessions, stumbling over my words as I realised, they could be interpreted as insulting.
Lia chuckled, apologising to Almick for my indiscretion on my behalf, which he just laughed through himself as he told me to suit myself. After attempting to bow, but only managing a strange twitch in my awkwardness, I done as I said I would and loaded our belongings onto the carriage then helped Lia into the carriage before joining her and Almick.
I took my seat and after shuffling nervously for a moment, I opened my mouth to apologise but was interrupted, Almick beating me to the punch and apologising for not considering the potential for us to arrive after nightfall.
He explained that the reason we had to wait for his arrival was that he hoped to whisk us away from the gate crowds to prevent my discomfort, however circumstance resulted in the contrary.
I accepted his apology with haste as did Lia, causing him to rest his face on the side of his fist and tell us to dispense with the formal illusion, that we were free to be relaxed around him.
At his request Lia relaxed, though too much in my opinion, as she almost immediately all but melted on the carriage seat, spilling onto me and reclaiming her favourite pillow that happened to be my shoulder.
The sight of Lia changing demeanour so abruptly and with such enthusiasm catching him off-guard, but he stopped laughing when I told him it would be quite unlikely I would relax. Rather my reaction spurred him to apologise given our obvious tiredness, but asked we indulge him as he recounts a story.
He recounted a familiar series of events from five years prior, but I stopped Almick's speech prematurely, told him that whatever he thinks of that story, the truth is that I did nothing but nearly kill Lia, nearly kill myself and nearly cause bloodshed beyond measure. Almick grew melancholic, he expressed how pained he was to hear my feelings on events, then claimed he understood my character better, annoying me slightly at the notion of being thought so simple, annoying me greater when he followed up by deducing I would have that reaction to the comment.
Lia chuckled, then told Almick the twitching nerve in my shoulder was confirming his suspicion, Almick then apologised again and forced me to ask aloud why apologies seemed to be all people say to me. I understood that my lack of social graces and abysmal sense of empathy made my transgression numerous, what I couldn't understand is why everyone else constantly apologised when I hadn't been slighted.
Lia answered my rhetorical question, she told me people aren't sorry for what they did or said to me, they simply felt sorry for me and if I didn't want their pity then I should at least act less wounded.
Almick was aghast with her bluntness, easily misconstrued as callousness, but when I simply thanked her for the advice, he immediately understood that I required things to be stated that way. "I see. You don't just lack social graces but can't see through them to subtext, no wonder you feel uncomfortable around strangers when you don't even speak the same language." Lia smiled, then told him that he now understood me a little bit.
I told them I'd had enough of the personality dissection, that, barring Lia, I didn't care about anyone or anything, nor did I expect or want anyone to care about me. That's the world I understood and I would prefer nothing else to change if he decision was mine, but also expected it would since I didn't expect anyone to care about my desire. I then told them that besides anything else, my head was filled with so many contradictions even I found it maddening and advised against subjecting oneself to that particular abyss.
Almick laughed, stating that whilst I may have been less aware of those around me than anyone else, I possessed far more self-awareness than them and besides that, my ability to be so forth coming was refreshing for one constantly being pandered to.
We arrived at the manor not long after those words, exiting the carriage and making our way inside, partially blinded by the dazzling interior as the decorated doors swung open.
Greeted by an army of maids and servants as we stepped into the entrance hall of Almick's manor, and the lord himself announced us, declared us his guests, and ordered them to prepare us for a light meal before we retire, and to fulfil our every request without question.
He then tried to order me to check with Lia before doing anything brash, and almost deafened us all as a high-pitched screech emanated from my chest once more. Quickly ripping my shirt open and knocking on the obsidian surface to disrupt the resonance, I apologised for the unsightly wound as several who had recovered from noise gasped, then set to work asking magic to heal the bloody edges once more and more importantly Lia, whose unnaturally keen senses made her incredibly susceptible to the impromptu auditory assault.
Almick explained he meant it only as a jest, and checked on me, but I waved it off as I explained it had only happened once before on my wedding day, so I didn't think to warn anyone, adding that it wasn't anywhere near that bad.
As I hypothesised it seems to have worsened as the crystal surface shrank. He then asked how I acquired such an unusual wound, but when I explained that I got stabbed through the chest with a crystal sword in a realm where magic didn't exist and had to think on my feet, he quickly decided to hold the interrogation at a later time.
When the commotion settled down, a small group of maids dragged Lia away to find some more comfortable dress to eat in. I clenched as I saw her dragged away, even though she was smiling ear to ear, and I knew she deserved to be pampered.
Watching Lia smile and talk to the maids, Almick asked me if I required a doctor before changing, but I merely laughed and pointed to the beating centre of my wound, telling him I thought he had lost his mind if he thinks a doctor could heal that particular injury. offering instead to explain the nature of weariness while I changed. He waved me away, telling me there would be time come morning, so I shrugged and followed Farlin through the halls.
As we walked, Farlin revealed himself an old friend of Master, and often heard of me in their correspondence. I shrugged, not knowing how to respond to such a vague statement, then asked why he served as a butler when he was a capable warrior.
Farlin swivelled his head and looked at me, then asked if I was using unity. I told him the truth, I wasn't, I was far too tired and didn't care enough to deal with the migraine, that I merely noticed the way he almost attacked me on instinct when the incident occurred. He chuckled and thanked me for not killing him, I grinned and told him I wouldn't kill someone who had no chance of harming me for attacking.
He stopped and turned completely, and posed a question, he asked why I am so comfortable around someone who almost attacked me when peaceful strangers make me anxious. "I guess knowing your smart enough to know you couldn't win puts me at ease."
He nodded, and I could tell he understood the core of what I was saying, that it was simply the fact of not knowing that made me anxious. We arrived at the changing room not long after, then when I was ready, he led me back through the manor to a room which had been prepared for us to eat in.
A single maid was standing in the corner of the room, eyes closed head lowered slightly, I felt bad as I noticed the slightly dishevelled uniform. Assuming it was a result of our late arrival and staff had been awoken just to tend us, she looked pale and sickly.
I tried to summon magic to restore her, but none was present in this room, with that in mind, I activated unity and saw nothing, then dismissed it. My sudden suspicion nearly led me to kill her on the spot, but Lia entering the room, looking barely able to move, switched me to defence instead. I led Lia to the table prepared for us and determined to not let the enemy know I was aware of them ate readily, ever confident in my body's ability to pull through should it have been poisoned.
After my first bite I looked up, seeing Lia truly for the first time since she entered and the sight was even more powerful than ever, I was struck dumb, trembled with nerves, I felt like I was at the altar again.
We ate dinner and relaxed. Lia explained that she learned most of what she divulged to the gate guard from our lord before the wedding and she laughed at my prior admission that I didn't know our town had a name. I could tell I made the correct move in becoming defensive, her eyes barely opened, and she wasn't eating, your mother's appetite ever forthcoming with her condition.
By the time I was finished eating, Lia was struggling to stay awake, until she finally gave out. I fetched a maid from outside the door and asked her to lead us to our room before picking Lia up. As I did so however, the maid who had stood silently in the corner told the new arrival to clear the table and they would show us to our room.
I choked down bile as I apologised, telling her that I believed the maid positioned as she was, would be in charge of the room.
I was surprised when she admitted that would be the case usually but explained that since the other maid was still new, she didn't want to risk us being taken to the wrong room and disturb other guests of the lord. I damned my luck that such a convenient excuse was at her disposal and called out as loudly with my mind for magic to form a shield around Lia, but none heard my call.
Desperate for a way to defend my vulnerable treasure, I decided to call on weariness, which wasn't ideal as I still had sub-amateur control over it, and it took all my will to stay conscious in my condition.
It was eerie walking through a sleeping manor, made worse by the silence, though it helped me stay partially alert as my instincts battled with the weariness. Luckily the one I believed to be a divine agent seemed as cautious of me as I was of them, though less skilled at hiding it.
They remained at least twice my arm's length away at all times, regardless of my pace, which I hated having to admit was the only proof beyond unity that I was correct. In an attempt to break what felt like the stagnation of a war where both sides were out of supplies and options, I asked how long they had been in the lord's service, gaining further proof as I caught her off guard and she spoke in the same monotonous tone the last divine agent had.
She replied curtly, telling me she had been in his service for eight years. I asked her opinion of him, and whilst she replied in a more natural tone this time, she was still far too blunt for anyone under the lord's control to answer all questions honestly. Finally, I asked her opinion of me, and she said a single word, "Dangerous." An answer I found most delightful, as I realised that she was too wary to try anything before assessing my abilities.
The issue now was how do I kill a member of Almick's staff without earning ire or suspicion, not that I intended to kill her of course. Given the option, liberation would be best, but I was lacking wisdom, had they developed countermeasures? how long did we have before they struck? Could I tell Lia without them knowing? These but a few of the endless list that reeled through my mind.
When we arrived at the room, the maid opened the door and let me pass but as she was about to close the door, I stopped her. Blushing, I asked her to help Lia out of her dress and into a nightgown. Which made the maid smile in the same hollow manner Lia had done as a puppet, she gently woke Lia and I set her down then waited the other side of the dressing screen whilst Lia was redressed, obsidian blade ready to free her from any hand that threatened Lia, who was happily humming to herself half asleep and happy as could be.
I had to stifle a chuckle, whilst also choking down my frustration at having to allow anything divine to lay a hand on her. I should have just put her to bed in her clothes as she was, but she deserved comfort and I knew if I changed her she would have been furious with embarrassment, though honestly I felt I lost no matter what choice I made.
Just as I was leaning toward removing her head and having done with it, she told me she was finished and she had left some clothes out for me as well. she excused herself immediately after, so I carried Lia to bed, before getting changed and joining her. Half asleep and completely sarcastically I received a cheer followed by her saying how blessed she is she gets her husband for a full night.
The next morning, I had developed dark rings around my eyes, hard to say if a result from a nocturnal beating or lack of sleep, but I was tired, my last nerve was fraying and Lia's sulking at me for not using magic to restrain a person who was impossible to restrain pushed me over an edge.
I used a mind link to show her everything that happened the previous night, which then made her mad at me for not letting her know, then I showed her me aching over my no-win scenario and after that she was just happy, I prioritised spending the night with her over everything else. As we both changed, one either side of the screen, we continued to bicker as the subject changed to Lia attempting to apologise for keeping me up with her thrashing, though in the end I conceded and told her she was forgiven.
With all debates settled, I asked if she was ready to go to breakfast, for which we had been summoned almost an hour before, and my question was met with a brief silence before a bashful request for assistance, in doing the lacing on the dress set out for her. I walked around the screen and began tightening and tying off the lace and she asked if this made me feel anything.
Honest to a fault I told her it made me nervous as I was worried, I'd either damage the obviously expensive garment or harm her. As I tied off the upmost loop, she turned and kissed me as a maid opened the door, gasping at seeing two so young carrying on in such a way, and making Lia punch me in the gut as if to disguise what we were doing.
As I scraped myself off the floor, Lia had already begun following the maid down the hall, and when I caught up, she was practically glowing with how flushed her face and ears were. The maid apologised for opening the door without knocking, admitting she forgot the two young guests were a married couple.
I could see Lia trying to hide her embarrassment, I simply laughed her apology away and asked her to drop the subject before I get hit again, then moved up next to Lia and hooked my arm with hers, channelling magic through her to calm her down.
We followed our chaperone to the hall, all the while manor staff and other guests, unaware of our situation gasped as the maid had and chattered, Lia's grip informing me of her struggle between appearances and embarrassment. I placed my right hand over her arm to reassure her.
As we had our late arrival announced by a Farlin, we entered the dining hall and bowed to the lord and his family. At which point Almick made a comment about stubborn youths and reminded us we had permission to forgo protocol, to which we replied that hour seemed to be a factor at the time so we thought it best to play it safe, before I then asked if he or any others who were present require healing for any lingering effects as a result of the screech that could have put a banshee's teeth on edge.
There were a few, himself and Farlin among them, so I tended them immediately, the four others were to be treated later, but my glare told him that I wasn't happy eating whilst I felt responsible for their afflictions. Sensing a battle he couldn't win, Almick compromised and had Farlin summon them while we started, beginning with introductions.
"This is my wife Elshia, my eldest son, Kipis. Our daughter Aisha and our youngest Muchin." Lady Elshia swooned as the lord finished his introduction, commenting on how darling a couple we were, and prompting us to introduce ourselves.
Lia introduced herself formally, in contrast to my stating that as they were all well aware my name was Unity, asking if this was another social thing I didn't understand. The younger children looked confused, and more than a little nervous until Almick replied that it was, a façade to avoid giving someone the impression they are the subject of gossip, I nodded and confirmed I understood but added that he had already mentioned the letters with his cousin, so it was natural for them to know our names.
Almick explained then to his family how upholding typical norms with me would only hinder our familiarisation with each other, so they were excused from such things when talking to me in private.
As the chefs wheeled in some carts with food, I felt the need to remind Lia that table manners were not only something I understood but put great stock into, a trait that was metaphorically beaten into me by Storyteller.
After she gave me the most terrifying smile I had ever seen, I was prepared to remain silent for the rest of the meal, and then the young lady Aisha told us she knew I saved Lia, but her mother and father refused to give them details but gave them permission to ask if we would as long as they done it politely. I replied immediately by bluntly stating I destroyed the divine elevation that had made her a god's puppet, then Lia recited the story with more than a touch more grace when she could see their disappointment in my lazy and underwhelming retelling.
I had to interrupt her flow a couple of times as I reminded her that talking with her mouthful was a bad habit, but despite that, the children were enamoured by the tale.
The eldest son seemed to be filled with awe, trepidation and anxiety, asking "How strong are you exactly? To destroy another's elevation, and one linking the gods to this world" I could sense his intent, his desire to grow stronger himself, to know if it was safe to have me stay here and wondering if the Burlot could actually stand against me if I made enemies of them.
I answered in three parts, the first part I told them I have physical strength enough to throw a spear a full mile, he was taken aback. Secondly I used magic to create a dazzling display for them, then activated mind link, Hiding a message regarding last night's events underneath the Lord and his wife's general surprise at my abilities. Finally I stood up and told them the last one is a newer development, before I demonstrated weariness, mentioning my self restoration is far superior than magic can manage but the risks seem to be far higher.
I was telling them about Steward when the others in need of healing arrived and I did so with scarce acknowledgement as I became engrossed in my own curiosity on the subject I was discussing. Lia put a hand on my shoulder as I started to ramble, and I grumbled myself into silence.
As I did so Almick and Kipis began to refer to my abilities as absurd and borderline insanity, making Lia defensive as her smile and fists tightened, the later out of sight, so to quell the chatter I demonstrated the spell I crafted at our reception for the orphans.
The lights seized the attention of the younger children as well as myself, bringing to mind the moment of reconciliation with my sister. Elshia seemed to notice my state of nostalgia and asked what inspired the spell, and I told them how I took inspiration from the way the decorated windows of the revaluation hall painted Lia in colours both vibrant and beautiful and thought it might distract some children long enough for me to put an end to something.
My phrasing making the scenario sound far more ominous than intended, Lia calmed herself and went into translator mode for me, then signalled for me to link us so she could thank me privately.
Though Lia was making her way through breakfast with the most enthusiasm I had seen her muster since the wedding, I was struggling to eat, the seasonings were strange and overpowered my sense of taste and I had to use magic to deaden my taste. When we had all finally finished, I made to start helping clear the table and Lia had to tell me it would ruin Almick's reputation if people thought he made guests assist with chores, I reluctantly retook my seat, though continued to pass plates back to save the staff overreaching.
Everyone else chuckled as Lia shook her head in exasperation, and I continued obliviously. When the table was clear I asked magic to clean and reset the cloth which led Kipis to ask how I made a spell for such a varied task as well as how I casted silently, or without gesture.
I began telling them how the true nature of magic is more akin to an invisible person, it takes time to learn to understand it and vice versa, but when you establish a relationship with it you can communicate without verbal direction making sure to highlight the issue that it also has the drawback of giving magic the chance to refuse and if there is no magic nearby to hear then it can't assist.
Elshia asked if I knew the magnitude of what I just said and I casually reminded them I can also wield an entirely different power which led me to a separate piece of creation and got me ran through, forcing me to replace most of my upper torso with obsidian.
Almick then told me I needed to guard things more closely and I found myself fiercely opposed, creating an armoury's worth of blades in an instant, ready to drop. "My power may make people nervous, or even hate me, I don't care. Hiding it though would be a waste, and merely make everyone who did find out suspicious." He tried to argue, I could see him about to suggest some may be tempted to come after me out of fear, but I simply merged them into one above them and told him to let them try.
Lia coughed and I dematerialised the blade, apologising for the aggressive demonstration but affirming my belief that this world would never accept the existence of a power like mine attempting to remain anonymous.
To everyone's surprise the two youngest interrupted and told everyone if they didn't know me they would be scared of what I might choose to do, and with that Almick realised that my words had value.
Elshia was quick to put talks of such things on hold, reminding everyone we were guests, and this was not supposed to be an interrogation, then encouraged Lia to spend some time with her and Aisha and suggesting the boys play elsewhere so they can talk childhood romance. Almick put forward the idea of taking the opportunity to test himself and Kipis against me in a sparring match, and the chance to stretch was an enticing one, though Lia put their nerves on edge by telling me to have magic on standby for loss of limb. Revenge I thought for some of their earlier comments, judging by the devilish grin that accompanied the tone of concern.
With that though, myself, the lord and his two sons left the women to themselves, and we went to the training yard. Almick was not only the lord but also very hands on with military action and Kipis was being groomed as the next knight commander since he didn't receive the Lord elevation. They were eager to test themselves against me, which took courage or a foolish degree of misestimating.
"Don't take offence, but for safety's sake I will not attack. Muchin should also join in I think, best to learn his limits now or he will likely do so when his life is in danger." The lord nodded and a troop of guards the lord invited bring training swords for the three and one offered me one, which I took, but with one test swing snapped the wooden blade from force and crushed the handle. A small, calculated demonstration so the boys wouldn't act recklessly.
I dodged swing after swing, on several occasions slipping between the narrow gap of a coordinated strike the more formal swordplay the father and son duo implemented, whilst still able to avoid the surprisingly stealthy attacks of the youngest, which never failed to come from outside my field of view, like an owl descending on a mouse, deathly precise and a fine example of natural talent augmented by elevation combined with the instincts to make the most of it.
When the time hit five minutes, I broke all three of their swords in one motion, then offered the young boy a reward for his skill. With a nod of agreement from Almick, I formed a clear image of twin daggers connected by chains to greaves, ornate enough to be fit for nobility and sturdy enough to outlast one swing from me at the least, then used the two halves of his wood sword to embody my vision.
The boy's eyes widened as he smiled proudly at his brother and father, whose own faces were tinged with jealousy briefly before Almick asked where I get my instinct and physical ability from, and my expression darkened.
I told them the truth with almost frightening detachment, which made Almick interrupt out of fears I might scar his sons, changing the subject to my thoughts on their performances.
In hindsight I may have been overly blunt when I told the Lord he had reached the ceiling of his ability, there would be more room to grow, but his lifestyle and position would always be a shackle.
I told Kipis his desire to imitate his father may be expected, but wasting his opportunity to make the most of his potential was foolish at best, asking him what he would do if the town falls because he didn't use his freedom to train harder. I then scolded Muchin, his talent and instinct were clear.
As it was the first time he ever trained, I asked if he had even once asked his parents for tuition, and he denied doing so. I opened my shirt so he could see my chest and showed him the dangers of not understanding his own power, his father was quick to admit his own oversight on the subject as the child was quick to ask his dad for a tutor.
I ended the unplanned instruction as I explained our stay would be short, but I would make effort to train both sons during my stay, making sure to admit my shortcomings as an instructor in advance.
On our way through the manor, we chatted at length about the boons he intended to bestow us, saying we were to receive high grade gear that should be able to survive our physical abilities, official marriage documents and our citizen documents which Lord didn't have time to prepare before we left Haslon.
What caught me off balance though, was when he then stated that as a wedding gift from himself he had prepared a small cottage, which I declined the need for.
In an energetic and stubborn attempt to sway me, he even made mention that when we finally have children, we would need our own space.
Now in full possession of attention, he mentioned that he and Elshia would be happy to babysit if we needed to journey still. I stopped and asked why they would need to, which in turn made him stop and sigh. He told me he knew my past, that I had never felt love for anyone but Lia. Confused, I nodded in agreement, adding that he is as likely to understand the depth of that love, as I was for his of his children.
The analogy made him chuckle, and he told me that was his point, that I should imagine looking down at my child's face, a mixture of my features and Lia's and imagine how I would feel if that person got injured on our travels. Even hypothetically, the thought was too much, though mostly because I knew with the foes we faced there would be no such thing as minor injuries.
The image of eyes as golden as Lia's growing cold, something precious to us both, a life we had created and nurtured, harmed or worse still taken. Magic danced around, not threatening me with our agreement, but desperate to bring something to my aid. Weariness fell on me harsher than ever as obsidian growths formed on my skin. Luckily magic had succeeded as Lia dashed round the corner embracing me, stroking my hair, desperately comforting me.
I wasn't in a mind to notice, but her golden eyes were furious, she had even drawn a weapon on the lord, positioning herself to cover me as she done her best to console.
Despite everything Almick remained calm, hands raised in surrender knowing that trying to explain would only prove to aggravate the situation. I eventually managed to ask magic to calm my mind, and it eagerly obliged, pouring into me and filling me with visions to settle me down.
After reaching a point I could take the scene unfolding before me in, I quickly explained the conversation we had been having which Lia only grunted to.
Basically snarling, her full savagery was released for the first time in her life. I knew what that was like, I moved between her and the lord carefully, knowing she could easily lose any idea of friend or foe. I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her forehead, when she dropped the knife, I readjusted ready to catch her as the adrenaline cut off and she slumped forward.
She was still shaking, and I had to pick her up as her legs had gone too weak to stand, she was stammering as she told me how worried she was and gave what was clearly still a reluctant apology. Almick was holding a dignified façade together, but the beading sweat, and pinpoint pupils were proof of his true feelings.
With Lia trailing into a silence, he then apologised profusely, admitting he never intended his words to garner such a reaction, but told Lia he was happy to know our children will have such a protective father, which successfully made her both baffled and smile as confusion gave way to her healthy imagination.
He left us be with that, claiming he needed to assure anyone who saw Lia that all was well.
I found myself once more carrying Lia through the manor and laid her in bed as we reached our room. As I stood up and made my way to the other side of the bed, she asked me to repeat my explanation of what happened, holding her head as she told me she couldn't remember anything after she felt a sudden need to find me, or before I was carrying her.
Once again, I explained the event, all she asked though was how I knew she would collapse, making my face turn ashen as I knew I would have to tell her of the night I was attacked by the young noble and his friends, I couldn't help but clench my fists and tremble at the memory.
"I didn't even want to hurt them in that moment I just wanted to move them aside so I could run, but as I touched the first boy, I ripped a chunk of his flesh away just by grabbing him, but my instincts weren't as good then. I was already half dead, and my body reached a breaking point, then they grabbed me, and, in the struggle, I ripped the skin off their bodies and broke their bones beyond repair for the standard healer." I added that I turned back to check for perusers, but when I saw no one following, my legs gave out and I was forced to drag myself back home.
Lia shifted to rest on me as I laid down next to her, echoing Lord's words that they deserved to die for what they did and I stroked her hair before saying that they probably did, but so did I, reminding her of the horrors I left my siblings to endure and the one that didn't.
She wanted to argue, but she knew that from an objective position, if I were a stranger, she would probably agree. We laid there for an hour, chatting about the gifting ceremony, which Elshia had told her about, before a knock at the door snapped us out of it and we kissed before we replied.
Aisha entered the room, asking if big sister was feeling better, confusing me slightly, and Lia replied that she was, confusing me further. Asking myself if I was being told they were related, and making Lia laugh harder than I had ever seen her do so before when she realised what I was thinking.
Aisha then informed us that her mother was furious with her father for his lack of grace and upsetting us both, as she danced in the doorway hesitant to enter. Then a voice came from behind her, one I recognised as being the divine agent, I squeezed Lia's hand three times and sat up, removing the clip from the sheath of Lia's dagger before standing and telling Aisha to make herself comfortable with her big sister. Then thanking the maid who had yet to enter for escorting us to our room the previous night.
I then asked if she could fetch a needle and thread so Lia could fix her dress, noting that she ripped it as she ran to my aid. She stated there was plenty of clothes to change into and I simply chuckled, suggesting it was less about the dress and more that she finds sowing relaxing.
After giving a slight bow, she retreated and as soon as the door closed, I moved over to the desk in the corner of the room, writing a note to Almick that an opportunity had potentially arisen to deal with the divine agent, and asking for him to make all the water in our room steam like freshly brewed tea if I had permission to deal with them. I handed it over to Aisha as I materialised a glass of water on the table next to Lia. Then I told Aisha I was going to send her back to the lord and she needed to give him the note when she got there.
Using magic to teleport her was a risky decision, the impromptu creation and casting of new magic left me feeling like I had been trampled by your mother in a fit of anger, but it was bearable. If the circumstances would've allowed it, I'd have preferred to send her away on foot, but she could have ended up a hostage or worse still as a means to frame us.
With Aisha safe, I created a simulacrum that again had a fair amount of backlash. A loud crack sounding as the bones in my forearm broke, but luckily magic wasn't overly angry and understood I just wanted to keep others safe with this usage. Lia was another story, barely able to contain her anger at my recklessness, then I linked our minds, and I explained everything, I also warned her I was going to attempt the severance spell again and expected backlash, but it shouldn't be even half as bad.
Lia screamed into my mind for what felt like ages, as her eyes burned holes in me until I said if we didn't make this convincing it would be wasted effort now, which forced her to calm down.
I moved the simulacrum to look like she had fallen asleep on Lia, which made her immediately calmer as she stroked the platinum hair of her fake fake sister, and I made a mental note to remember that the next time she got upset.
I took a seat at the desk again, deciding that would be a good time to start writing letters to send back to Haslon, thinking the mundane task would be the most convincing. It wasn't long after that though, that the maid returned with a sowing kit for Lia which she took to her, before quickly retreating to the door.
I approached her before she could leave and asked if it would be possible for her to return miss Aisha to her parents. I showed my arm and explained I suffered some backlash experimenting with magic and could use some rest myself now and after asking what sort of magic I was experimenting with to cause such harm the maid forced a cough and woke Aisha, who apologised for her lack of decorum.
As I manoeuvred the simulacrum onto its feet, using the guise of sleepiness as a cover for the staggered, off-balance movements, the maid asked if on second thought, I would mind escorting her whilst she prepares Lia for a bath to help her relax more. My ability to maintain the charade disintegrating the moment I suspect Lia as her target, and I pointed to the glass of steaming water on the bedside table, before telling her I wouldn't leave my wife alone with divine scum if a god asked in person.
She turned suddenly to face me, making to grab Aisha not realising her visage was a fabrication, and as I sealed the door and prepared to unleash the modified severance spell, she cut open the simulacrums throat with a fingernail, realising too late that the hostage was worthless as I completed my preparations and released the spell.
The backlash remained awful, I had preprogramed the spell to alternate between healing me and assaulting the divine elevation, but as a result it traded damage severity for pain level, and it was the most agonizing pain I had experienced. Then the maid slumped just as Lia had, I was putting on a brave face but I couldn't even tell how I was still standing, so I remained unmoving even when lord Almick ordered the door to open, entering with both physicians and guards.
As the guards restrained her, and the physicians checked her over for life threatening injuries, Lia made her way over to me and joked that she had better not fall in love with me as well, but with the pain I was in I couldn't even smile at the joke.
"So, you mastered teleportation magic, your liberation spell, and who knows what else in just a couple of hours." Lia's eyes had narrowed as mine grew heavy, and pain warped an ever-increasing amount of vision. I was determined to stay on my feet and determined not to worry her again, so I eventually managed to grunt in agreement despite knowing full well I hadn't mastered a single one of the spells that went into this plan.
Anger reignited the flame in her eyes as she asked if I really wanted to make her the first one, I lied to, and gestured to the blood starting to seep through my shirt and my broken arm which was swelling more and more. I simply smiled tightly and apologised, telling her I never cared about someone's happiness enough to lie before, then promptly blacked out.
I was surprised to find myself in the hall of creators, but almost instinctually apologised for my intrusion. Steward told me to not be foolish, that he brought me here this time, then asked me why I didn't use creation. I was confused and asked if he meant the weariness, which confused him, forcing me to explain the feeling I get whenever I use the power.
He seemed to think a while, then applauded my progress, stating my growth as a creator in just a few weeks has been extraordinary, adding that it was even more so since I didn't even know it's true nature. He said nothing, but an obsidian plinth sprouted from the space in front of me, a tome sat atop the shard and he told me to take it as a gift, sending me back the moment I had it in my hands.