Chapter 208: Sabbatical – Chapter 194: Changing Winds

Caethya could not help but smile as Aperio leaned forwards to look at yet another dress. The All-Mother ran her hand over it, furrowing her brows slightly before pulling back.

"There are so many options, but all of them feel… lacking," she said as she moved the other hand across her stomach. "Whatever fabric they use is not good at all. Though, it is better than what I used to wear."

"You are comparing it to a dress that is fashioned from your own mana," Caethya replied as she stepped past Aperio and picked up a shirt from one of the shelves that lined the wall. "This feels better than most things you could readily buy outside of major cities on Verenier, so I would say that it's at least decent."

"You are probably correct," Aperio agreed, the tall woman somehow managing to vanish into another section of the store unnoticed despite not having teleported. "Sadly, I cannot use anything they have to offer. It would seem that they do not cater to anyone taller than their doors."

The Demigoddess let out a laugh as her love held a shirt against herself that looked almost exactly the same as the one Adam had worn when he had first arrived on Verenier. "The only one that would even remotely fit is a tent…"

"Good thing you don't have to buy clothes, then. Right?"

While Caethya had suggested they buy clothes to better blend in, it had been pretty clear from the start that Aperio would have to make her own. Caethya herself had already run into some problems with the women's clothing on offer on this planet as she was above average in height, but all she needed to do to mitigate that was find the right section. Her love, on the other hand, was in a different league, both in height and in general stature. The mortals of this world seemed to be unusually small in most aspects. Whether it was due to a lack of monsters to fight, physical work to be done, or a simple lack of mana itself, was hard to determine.

Aperio folded the shirt again, any wrinkle that might have appeared while she had handled it simply vanishing as she placed it back on the shelf. "Indeed."

A few strides brought the All-Mother to Caethya's side. She hummed lightly as she looked at the growing selection of shirts and pants the Demigoddess was balancing on one hand, before giving a nod and disappearing once more. What exactly her love had in mind was not something Caethya could even begin to hope to understand, but she had long since accepted that fact. Her mother had been correct when she had said that powerful people were eccentric, even if it showed in the weirdest of ways for some.

Aperio wanted her to be happy — at least that was how it appeared to the Demigoddess — but she was also very much restrained by her own past, which led to some rather weird ways of expressing that desire. It was clear that she was obviously drawn to physical contact, but that warred constantly with the fact that everything around her was so incredibly fragile in comparison to her vast strength and what she had experienced during her time as a quasi-mortal. And yet, Aperio simply wants to cuddle in her Void.

She knew that most people might laugh at the mere idea of the All-Mother wanting such a thing. Her love was taller than most, looked like she could lift the carriage of your choice, and seemed mildly annoyed at everything around her at all times. Indeed, anyone who did not know what she was would likely still scoff at the idea of a desire for cuddling as soon as they looked at her.

///

Aperio moved a bit to the side as she followed her love to the register, standing between her and some mortals who had been eyeing the two of them for more than a little while now. They probably were just surprised to see two Elves wandering around in a store, but something about the group did not sit right with the All-Mother. A preventative stance was a lot better than retaliating against some form of aggression or untoward behaviour.

Any interaction with that group would also delay their one hundred percent completely unplanned encounter with the group of magically-inclined mortals who had just a few moments ago arrived in the city. For one reason or another, shopping was their first chosen activity. Aperio would use that to her advantage.

The All-Mother placed one hand behind her back, out of sight of anyone, and pulled the wallet she had made from her Void. While the means with which she had acquired the money within were questionable, they were also not provable. Well, not by anyone credible. The mortals that could use magic probably wanted that fact to remain a secret.

"I am still not quite sure I understand how this world is supposed to work," Aperio mumbled as she observed other mortals sitting at desks and talking into the phones that everyone here seemed to use. "Most of the things I can see them do, do not actually seem to amount to much. Just talking to each other." She frowned slightly, an errant thought letting a group of mortals pass by a dark alley that another had used to hide. "And some of them are as despicable as those nobles I used to know."

"Don't kill them, please," Caethya replied as she began to place the clothes she had chosen on the desk next to the register, causing the woman staffing it to raise her brow slightly. "And don't disappear them either — that would probably cause even more issues."

"I directed them past one another," Aperio replied before offering a smile to the mortal in front of them. "Perhaps we should use a language she understands; talking like this seems very rude."

"You're right," Caethya replied in English. She lowered her head slightly towards the cashier. "I apologise, it must be weird having people talk in some weird language in front of you."

"Wouldn't be the first time that happened," the woman replied with a smile that Aperio guessed was more forced than anything. She began to slide every piece of clothing in front of herself, one by one, holding yet another machine up to it until a beep echoed through the room. "We get lots of people from all over the world here. As long as you don't speak about anything too unbecoming, you're good."

Despite her words, the mortal still looked at Aperio for a moment longer as she worked through the items Caethya had chosen. If the All-Mother had to guess, it was her voice causing issues yet again even though she had held back as much mana as she could from it. There was only so much she could do to remove the magic from herself. Being inherently magical — being the source of magic — was not the best when you wished to not radiate mana.

"Just some discussion," Aperio said as she began to pull out the money needed to pay for the items Caethya had chosen. It might come off as odd that she would be handing over the exact amount needed before the mortal told it to her, but at this point she wanted to do something while they waited and figuring out how much each item would actually cost was as good as anything.

"Comparing the make of these clothes to the ones we have back home," Caethya elaborated. "Remarkably different, while also being the same."

The woman did not reply as she did whatever it was she was doing to the last item and read out the total cost. Aperio placed the money on the counter, still not quite sure how paper had any value even if it had a large number printed on it. All the money she knew from Verenier was valuable because it was either made from something that had inherent value, or because it could do something special. But then, anything that is wanted is worth something…

Contemplating the economic system of Earth might be something Aperio could see herself doing, but it was most definitely not what was supposed to be happening at the moment. No, the plan was that Caethya and herself would leave this store in just a few more moments and bump into the group of mortals that was approaching.

"Thank you for your purchase," the cashier said as she took the money Aperio had already placed on the table and sorted it into her register. With a practiced move, she took the slip of paper that every single one of these machines seemed to produce, placed it atop the pile of clothes she had built and put all of that into a bag which she handed to the All-Mother.

Aperio took it, offering a small nod as both thanks and goodbye before turning to leave, turning to leave, closely followed by Caethya. Her love quickened her stride briefly to walk beside the All-Mother.

"Are the people outside the ones you want to meet?" she asked, nodding towards the group of mortals that rounded the corner just as they stepped outside the shop. "They seem to be making use of the same strategy we are."

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"Indeed." Aperio could not agree more as every single mortal looked like they would fit right in on Verenier.

Leading them was a large man with green skin, horns growing from his skull, and a build that seemed to fit as well as Aperio's own on Earth. He was followed by a woman wearing a pointed hat and a deep blue robe. The item of clothing was obviously enchanted, as what little mana the planet had to offer flowed into it. Also, because it did not want to be looked at.

The All-Mother was quite certain that a normal mortal of this planet would not even notice its wearer as whatever magic was used on it tried — and Aperio and Caethya's case, failed — to let the eyes of any spectator simply drift past. That trick was also what alerted the woman to their presence and the fact that they were not just normal people, causing her to nudge the last person of their little party.

He was the most normal-looking of the three, with the only thing giving him away as a Vampire like Mister Vessey being the feel of his magic. Aperio would still describe the sensation as more beast-like than anything else, and had she not met Gregory before, she would have likely assumed this man to be some form of experiment created by the other two —  an Orc, if she had to guess, and a mage of some sort.

"Greetings," she said, stepping closer to the group that had stopped upon noticing them. "I had not expected to meet more… fantastical mortals in one day. You would think that talking to a single Vampire a day would be a lot, let alone two."

///

Gale could not help but pause at the tall woman's words. Not only had she guessed at a glance that Ethaniel was a Vampire, but her voice had a particular ethereal quality to it that he had only ever felt from one other source: the World's Voice. What he called the World's Voice, at least.

It did not really have a name and neither did it 'speak', per se, but it communicated. Well, had. The last time he had heard it was shortly after he turned six, an event which had occurred almost four centuries ago now.

"Talking like that in the open is a bold move," Ethaniel said, undoubtedly preparing some kind of weapon of magic.

"Nobody else can hear us," Eleanor said and gestured at something only she could see. "I assume our new friend over here does not like being spied on and is quite obviously proficient." She paused for a moment, and Gale could feel her squinting, before she continued. "But I do not know which school this is supposed to follow."

"You could say that she is self-taught," the other woman replied as she covered her mouth and let out a slight giggle. "Don't let that fool you though, she is better than anyone else when it comes to magic."

"You could say that I am a natural," the tall woman said with a smile. The words were accompanied by a slight wiggle of her ears and a wave of pressure that Gale did not appreciate.

His displeasure did not stem from the fact that she had done it, but rather that it seemed to be a response to her cracking a joke; to her losing a bit of control over her magic. Fighting between the various factions might have died down over the last century, but Gale still remembered the battles he had had to fight. True power was a rare sight, only appearing at the whims of the Elders. He had thought that all of the Elders were known, though.

"And who do you belong to?" he asked, his eyes darting from her ears to her eyes and finally to her hand that held a large paper bag. It tightened at his words, the very air around him turning cold as the woman took a heavy step forward. One that left a large crack in the floor.

Gale would have stepped away if he could, but while his mind was telling him to run, his instincts kept him rooted in place and ready to protect his friends. He did not want to fight, almost desperately so, but he would do it if it meant that his friends had even the slightest chance to escape from the enemy he had inadvertently created.

"I belong to nobody but myself," the woman hissed, the cracks in the floor spreading further with every word. She lifted her hand slightly, the bag somehow seeming more threatening that it had any right to. "Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Eleanor replied for their group as she stepped in front of both Gale and Ethaniel. How the mage always figured out why people were angry was a mystery to Gale, but he certainly appreciated the talent. "He did not mean to imply that; Gale merely wished to know what faction you support."

"None," the woman replied as she stared at Eleanor through narrowed eyes. "I serve only my friends and myself." She righted herself, standing to her full height before she spoke again. "I care not for your tribes and their petty squabbles. We have come here, after being told that magic would not exist in these parts. Apparently it does, though, alongside rather outdated views."

"I don't think he ever meant that," the other woman said as she placed her hand on the back of the tall one. "His choice of words was rather poor, however."

"Perhaps we should go and sit down somewhere?" Eleanor suggested. "I know a place that is discreet and close by."

The two women exchanged a few words in a language Gale did not understand — and a quick look showed that none of his friends did either — before the tall one gave a nod and motioned for Eleanor to lead them. Note to self, do not upset the muscle Elf. ...Is she even an Elf? I don’t think I have ever seen one.

Whatever she did, it would not be fun. He might be able to take her physically, but the woman seemed to possess magic that was somehow related to the World's Voice and that was something nobody should mess with. Gale had no doubts that the strange pair would be attending the gathering and for one reason or another, he found himself looking forward to the conflict between Elder Wu and this newcomer.

The old Vampire always claimed he could still hear the will of the world, and many people believed him. Though, mostly because he is stronger than they are… Anyone with a mote of magic in them — and who had been graced by the Voice before — would immediately know this woman had much more to do with the World's Voice than Elder Wu ever would.

Perhaps she can tell us why it got more and more quiet over the years, Gale thought to himself as he turned to follow Eleanor. He could not help but see her clenched fists and slightly staggering gait. Another thing he would have to investigate. The mage was never flustered, angry, or exhausted, no matter what happened. Eleanor might have been young, but she had quickly distinguished herself as a masterful magician that was at least on par with most of the Elders of her faction. This is either gonna be fun or very, very deadly.

GamingWolf

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