Chapter 166: Omen – Chapter 155: Duty of the [Guides]

Aperio tilted her head at the mortals that scurried about in front of her. She wanted to tell them to calm down, but she doubted that would be of much help. She did after all just appear there with Caethya. There had been no portal or other construct that a mortal might have noticed. One moment there had been an empty street, and the next that space was inhabited by Caethya and herself. Note to self, appear in the air and just land where I want to be.

"I think our entrance needs some work," Caethya remarked, earning herself a nod from Aperio. "At least they are mindful in their chaos."

"I am pretty sure that it would hurt them more than you or me if they did run into either of us," Aperio said, her eyes darting from one mortal to the next as they all continued to run around. She had not yet figured out what they were trying to achieve, but it obviously carried great importance. Or they are really scared of me.

She doubted that was the case, as the mortals should be able to hear their conversation just fine and it did not seem to influence them whatsoever. "Maybe they are used to it?" Aperio guessed. "The [Grandmaster] could probably do something like this."

"I doubt that she can do anything close to teleportation." Caethya took Aperio's hand and began walking through the chaotic crowd towards the building the [Guides] called their headquarters. "Maybe something to help in a fight, but certainly not the 'appear-out-of-nowhere' stuff you do."

"I could add an effect," Aperio said, falling into step next to the Demigoddess. "Would that help?" Maybe a few feathers flying around when I appear or disappear. Her wings were her most striking feature and she quite liked her feathered appendages.

"Perhaps," Caethya said, giggling slightly as the All-Mother stretched her wings, causing them to brush against her back. "I think swooping down from the sky is the best option. Maybe even drop the last bit and break the ground a little for maximum impact."

Aperio pulled her wings back, letting her right one brush against Caethya's back and side a little more firmly than before. She wanted to answer with a quip of her own as well, but a Human inside the [Grandmaster]'s office caught her attention.

A Vinmaier? Aperio thought as she squinted in the general direction of the room, the walls that separated her from it not stopping her aura from showing what was inside.

The man was young — as far as she could tell, at least — and wore a suit Aperio would guess cost more than the average mortal's yearly income. Just like all the other Vinmaiers she had seen, this one too had the red double stripe embroidered on the upper right of his chest.

"Something wrong?" Caethya asked, the smile that had graced her face before quickly fading. A small presence asking for restraint brushed against Aperio’s mind as Caethya noticed the mortals being weighed upon more heavily by her aura.

"The [Grandmaster] has a guest," Aperio replied, simply showing Caethya what she saw in Olymni's office. Her first instinct had been to show her love all that she was able to detect, but Caethya had been very clear how undesirable that was.

"Oh," said the Demigoddess. "What is one of them doing here? Filing a complaint because she wasn't at the Council meeting?"

Aperio tilted her head slightly as she tried her best to hear what they were saying while still ignoring the noise Ebenlowe itself made. At one point or another, her body had figured out that she did not need to hear everything that was happening around her at all times and had begun to tune that out. Trying to focus on a distant sound still allowed her to hear it, but it usually also meant that she would be assaultedby the rest of the noise her mind had so helpfully filtered before.

She winced slightly as the sound of countless conversations from all around the city fought for space in her ears and mind. How can I even hear that much? Aperio wondered as she took a deep breath, the air not nearly as calming as her Void.

"He wants her to transport something to a place called 'Ischtaken' and apparently buy Din'sa. Whatever that is."

"Din'sa is a liqueur from the Walled City of Din," Caethya said, her voice a quiet whisper that should have gone unheard among the thunderous noise of Ebenlowe but still somehow managed to drown it all out. "And Ischtaken is a city at the very south of Vetus, mostly known for the giant bridge they are building across the bay. They also run most of the ships that go to Procul and Linter."

"Why does he need the [Guides] to do that for him?" the All-Mother asked, raising a brow at the parting crowd of mortals in front of her. Some of them stopped what they were doing to offer her a quick bow while others merely stared before one of their colleagues nudged them back to the task at hand.

Aperio tried her best to ignore them, relying on her mere presence and floating gait to make an impression. I really need to change how I look when I am finally done with all of this, won't I? …Or maybe just go to another world?

"I couldn't tell you," Caethya said, taking Aperio from her thoughts. "There are plenty of companies dedicated to shipping things around and the [Guides] are not usually one of them." She tapped a finger against her cheek. "Well, maybe they do here? I only know the ones in Ahl Ghave, really, and that is on a different continent."

"Ahl Ghave?" Aperio asked, tilting her head. Scouring her memory for a city with that name only brought to mind one called Ahl Vas, but that was a very old — and likely now dead — Elven King who had successfully led multiple incursions into the Inaru Empire. "Is it related to Ahl Vas?"

"I mean, they are both cities," Caethya replied with a small shrug. "And are named after some ancient King."

"I meant the King. There was one called Ahl Vas that successfully fought against the empire that used to rule most Vetus." Not because he wanted to free slaves, though.

As far as Aperio knew — though she doubted she knew the truth — the Elven King had started a war with the Inaru Empire because they kept attacking his trade ships, causing him to lose his own… 'merchandise.' She was fairly sure that what she knew had been reframed by the lens of propaganda, but there was no way to find out. For now, at least.

"The one that…?" Caethya’s voice trailed off, her head turning sharply to look at her love with wide eyes, worry on her face.

"Yes."

Caethya moved herself a little closer to Aperio, a bit of her magic muffling the sound from the surrounding world. "Can we just talk about them?" she asked, moving her hand from Aperio's own to the small of her back. "Are you fine with talking about them?" she added.

The All-Mother remained quiet for a moment, wrapping her wing around her love as she thought. She did not want to think back to her time as a slave, but continuing to run from it was not a solution. Aperio heaved a sigh, the wisps of mana that had been mostly invisible before flaring slightly which in turn caused the mortals surrounding the two of them to briefly focus on them.

"We can and should talk about it," she finally said. "But not now"— she nodded towards the door to the [Grandmaster]'s office —"we have a meeting and a mortal to judge."

"You realise that I will make you talk about it later, right?"

"Yes," Aperio replied, her next step twisting reality apart just a little so she and Caethya would be in front of Miss Videns' door. "I am counting on it."

After Caethya gave her a nod, Aperio lightly rapped her knuckles against the wooden door. She frowned slightly as a few splinters fell to the ground. I can't use less strength. Perhaps switching back to kicking every door, as she had done when she had first returned to the world, was in order. Would certainly feel better.

The door opened a moment later, the [Grandmaster] undoubtedly knowing who had knocked. "Please, come in," Miss Videns said, standing up behind her desk to offer a small bow.

It only took the man sitting in a chair in front of the [Grandmaster]'s a moment to realise that someone of importance had entered and rose from his seat. He turned around, a smile on his face that only briefly flickered when his eyes landed on Aperio and Caethya.

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"Greetings," he said, offering what could barely be classified as a bow. Normally Aperio would not have minded the lack of respect but this man — Jester Kemeleir Vinmaier according to the System — could likely do with a bit more. "I did not know Miss Videns was expecting more guests."

"She was not," Aperio said, narrowing her eyes as she focused on the Human. A thought and a slight draw on her well caused the wisps that floated around her to shine just a little brighter, the blue sheen of her hair to become a little more pronounced, and her feathers to turn just a little darker. "But we have a matter of great importance to discuss."

"Oh? Is that not what the Council is for?" he asked.

"Yes," Aperio replied as she twisted reality just a tiny bit more, letting herself and Caethya appear on a plush couch she had fashioned from her mana right next to the Human. "But your family's proposals have stopped the [Guides] from attending." She paused for a moment, studying the man just like the nobles in the Empire had done in the past before speaking again. "Perhaps your family should consider its position a little more carefully in the future." If you don't, I will make sure there is no family left to make these mistakes.

"If you would be so kind, Lord Vinmaier?" the [Grandmaster] asked, nodding towards the door. She probably had no desire for Aperio to kill a man in her home. "I will look over your proposal and get back to you."

The Human swallowed once before he offered a nod, one that was probably a little too shaky for his tastes. Aperio made sure to keep her aura focused on the man, letting him know that she was watching him as he left the building the [Guides] called home. Once the door to O'lymni's office had closed, however, Aperio relaxed a little, spreading her wings and letting them hang over the edges of the sofa she had conjured. She did not know what had been harder: acting like she was a noble from an Empire she hated, or trying not to punish the man in front of her for crimes she knew he had committed.

"I did not know you adhered to the etiquette of the nobles," O'lymni said, raising a brow. "Roots-Beneath-All had never mentioned anything of the like and my first impression of you was vastly different." She hesitated for a moment, eyeing the literal Creator of everything as she dragged the Elven woman onto her lap so she could hug her. "That is also not what I have been told or remember."

Aperio pulled Caethya a little closer still before the Demigoddess tapped her arm and removed herself from the All-Mother's lap. "I do not think we have been introduced yet," she said, standing up and offering her hand. "I am Caethya Martinek, [Avatar of Creation] and disciple to the All-Mother."

The [Grandmaster] also rose, taking the Demigoddess' hand and shaking it. "O'lymni Videns, [Grandmaster] of the [Guides] and the local keeper for Roots-Beneath-All. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

With the introductions done, Caethya sat herself back down next to Aperio and wrapped her arm around the All-Mother. "Likewise," she said, a small smile spreading across her face as Aperio pulled her a little closer with one of her wings. "I am impressed with the diligence of your order's people. Despite being in the All-Mother's presence, they did not stop their duties."

"We have much to do," the [Grandmaster] replied. "We cannot afford distractions." She clapped her hands together. "Now, what have you come to me for?"

Aperio straightened herself at the question, pulling her wings a little closer to herself as the wrinkles in her dress and slightly dishevelled hair disappeared with a thought. She studied the woman in front of her for a moment longer, the feeling of her dress brushing over skin and Caethya's hand resting against her back more pronounced for some reason.

"The Eternal Empire of Zeltar will fall and I would like the [Guides] to help guide the people that will remain," the All-Mother said, drawing a little more heavily on her well to calm the rage the mere thought of that empire brought with it. "The Council of Ebenlowe is currently debating what they will do but, no matter the outcome there, that Empire will fall.

"I have also ordered them to make a list of all the 'indentured servants' that exist in Ebenlowe," she added. The wisps of her mana that floated around her shone just a little brighter as anger began to bubble up in her chest. "I do not tolerate slavery of any kind."

"I see," Miss Videns replied, her calm demeanour probably fooling anyone that was not the All-Mother. Aperio could feel the mana rushing through the woman's body, how her heart was beating faster and more erratically. "I will inform the [Guides] on Geshwen of the situation. They will help you as best they can while I gather some more substantial support.

"As for the… servants." O'lymni seemed to be doing her best to not hesitate. "While some of them deserve to be freed, others have committed crimes that, in my opinion, deserve only death."

"I will judge them when I see them."

"Of course," the [Grandmaster] replied with a nod; the beat of her heart and the mana that flowed through her calmed slightly.  "Was that all you wished to talk about?"

Is she anticipating the removal of that practice? Aperio thought, tilting her head. Or is she hiding something? While she could tell that O'lymni was agitated, the All-Mother could not quite discern the reason.

"I would also like to know how many issues it would cause if I were to land my temple here," she said, tilting her head slightly as she saw a scantily clad Beastkin woman jump from the roof of the [Guides] headquarters and move towards Jester Vinmaier. Did he think I would not notice that? …Is she a slave?

She could not spot a collar or mark on her skin, but Aperio also did not know what additional methods they had come up with while she was gone. Or maybe she is one of the ones with a marred Soul… A few tendrils of her mana started to chase after the Beastkin before Aperio thought better of it and focused most of her attention back on the [Grandmaster].

"Well," Miss Videns began, "we don't have a procedure for that, but it's also not forbidden? I doubt anyone would complain about it, as space is at a premium here and making new isles is hard. If you place it behind Feranir, the island that houses the Terenyk's estate, it should work well enough."

"And make a point," Caethya added. "It should be known to most now that Maria and her family are under Aperio's protection, but that should make it very clear."

The [Grandmaster] nodded in reply, the smallest of smiles on her face. "That is one of the reasons, yes. There is also the fact that that part of Ebenlowe does not have a temple of any kind or many followers of the deities our Goddess has disposed of."

"That is for the best," Aperio said as she stood up from the sofa, effortlessly taking Caethya with her. "I have no desire to deal with the inevitable confrontations that will unfold between the people that call my temple their home and those fools that still cling to their dead Gods."

That she had no idea how to actually land her floating island was left unsaid. The [Grandmaster] did not need to know that.

"I thank you for your time," she said, offering a nod. "If you wish to join the proceedings tomorrow at noon, you are free to do so. Once I am done here I will leave for Geshwen, so I would ask you to make your preparations as soon as you can." A thought opened a portal to her Void behind Aperio and Caethya, the mere presence of the black abyss filling the All-Mother with a sense of calm.

Before she stepped through, Aperio took a step towards the [Grandmaster], the woman shrinking ever-so-slightly despite the fact that Aperio had not intended it to be a threat. "Please do not tell the [Guides] to fight. I will take care of that."

"Of course," O'lymni replied with a curt nod. "I will tell them what I know and direct them to help you after the fight." She stood up, smoothing out her robe before offering a bow. "I look forwards to the meeting tomorrow, your Grace."

Aperio frowned slightly at the choice of words but did not comment, instead turning around and walking through the portal she had made. Caethya waited for a moment longer, lifting her dress slightly to perform a curtsy before following the All-Mother.

In her Void, Aperio beat her wings, letting them carry her despite the fact that any bit of the nothing would support her if she wanted it to. Before her love could say a word, Aperio wrapped her arms around her and disappeared from her Void again. She needed to clear her mind, and flying worked best for that.

GamingWolf

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