Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Time for One Last Game

The game room was not very big, mostly just a table fit for about six, a basic illusory setup, chairs, and cold box with drinks and food we would be charged for if we pulled them out. The ceiling had exposed rafters that held up the floor above. 

Justice and I made ourselves comfortable in silence. Mostly due to her exhaustion, which I could see written all over her face. She was still getting used to the 32 hour day, I could tell. I was slowly explaining the existential crisis that I found myself in to Katarachin.

Justice finished first and I saw her hesitate. “Take the couch Justice, I will rest on the floor.”

“No, that’s not going to happen.”

“There’s not enough space on the couch for us both.”

I wasn’t watching Justice, but I could hear the heat of embarrassment in her voice. “There is to… Maybe… I mean, being that close that would- that would be okay with me. I had a… I’ve slept with other things in my bed.”

“I presume this wasn’t a sapient thing?”

“No… not really. But my old dog was bigger and heavier than you and we managed to sleep in about as cramped a bed. It was comforting, and you… I trust you and like you very much, Scaleen.” Her voice picked up in an odd fashion. “I- I mean, uh, I don’t um- Not that I mean it in a weird way or uh, shit that sounded rude didn’t it. I’m sorry Scaleen, I am so not good at... I uh, should just…” She trailed off. 

I stopped from organizing my equipment so that I could retrieve it quickly to look over at Justice. She was blushing, arms crossed, and looking down at her bare feet, her own items messily strewn on and around a chair. She looked particularly vulnerable there, holding her robe draped over her front.

I walked over, nude myself but far more comfortable in my skin than Justice. I put my left, blunted claws on her thigh. “Justice, I trust you too. I do not trust easily. I’d be honored to share a bed with you but-” I wanted to put this into clarity before she could make any more assumptions or feel weird about it. “I’m not interested in a romantic or sexual relationship, and I don’t want there to be some misconception on that front. You are a good person, Justice, but aside from the obvious age and experience gap, you are so not my type.” I did my best to indicate that I was clearly saying this in the most friendly fashion I could. 

She looked shocked then she started laughing, sinking to the floor. When it started to become a cry, I was concerned I’d somehow hurt her, but she gesture my concerned reach with good humor, “No, no, I- haha… *snff*. Thank you for that, Scaleen. I didn’t want things to get weird between us. I like you, but, yeah, you are also like the first person to believe and trust me to not be crazy in eight years, so I might be a little tight around the axle on, uh, you know, emotions. I’m not, you know, even sure how we’d um, you know, do it.” 

I stepped close enough to drape one arm around her shoulders, patting gently in the way I’d seen in numerous plays and in public. “No need to worry. We are amidst a terribly dangerous and complicated situation. Being emotionally close is expected. ” I stepped away to arrange a foot of the couch for myself. “While I’m not as tied to romance being necessary for intimacy, I won’t lie, I’ve only a little experience on how to have sex with mammals. I’m much too tired to try to earn a feat for it now.”

This set Justice to laughing again but we eventually got things sorted such that I lay more or less at Justice’s feet, part of me on or around her calves and knees. 

Several hours later, I raised my head from the tangle of robes and the cloak Justice and I had managed to nest together. My back was to the curl of her legs, my tail dangling off the edge of the couch. I glanced at my guidance screens, annoyed that for all my attempts to pretend to sleep, it was still not time for Justice to wake proper. 

Justice snored softly on the couch so I moved slowly to avoid rousing her.

*Are you still there, Katarachin?*

“I am always here, little one.”

*Well. I appreciate you giving us some privacy as Justice and I worked out our sleeping arrangements.*

“I know well enough when a conversation doesn’t need a third voice. I’ve been mulling on this superfictional idea regarding Justice’s origins.”

You are reading story The Halcyon Call or: How I Learned to Befriend Isekai and Play the Metagame at novel35.com

*Oh, have you come to any conclusions?*

“Yes and no. Nothing that changes our current path forward.”

*’Our’? When does that just become your path forward?*

“Are you referring to my ability to seize control of your body?”

*Your ability to attempt to seize control, yes. Sentient weapons have a reputation, afterall.*

“Ha, strong backbone, little one. Be it that I am either a simulacrum or a fraction of the original Katarachin’s presence imprinted, he was more clever than his reputation as a bruiser and warlord would imply.”

*The general consensus, with D’hatka’s concurrence, is that sentient blades are more simulacra than soul fragments.*

“Huh, so have the scholars finally decided that souls exist as well?”

*Still debated to this day, but for lack of a better term, it has become the colloquial term for the essence of a person’s personality.*

“I see. Well. I’ve heard of some sentient weapons might try to take control immediately, and go on some rampage and destruction. It was common enough a story even in Katarachin’s time. I don’t see the point. My people are dead, the world has changed. If I take control, I don’t get your knowledge, feats, or even habits. If I do take control, and get killed in the process, I just get vaulted away or destroyed. Sentient weapons that just go on their little tirades are beyond stupid. They could kill everyone in the world, but then they would have no hosts. No, I like riding along just fine. I like living, even vicariously. My instinct to conquer may grow with time but it’s not in control right now.”

*Perhaps I’ll bring you to a more suitable host, you are hoping?*

“Ha, little one, I like you. Maybe, but the more important the host, the harder it is to hide. I imagine there are quite a few more sentient weapons out there than the mass murder stories would have you believe. I can’t be the only mellow one around.”

*Quite reassuring. So if you are going to stick around in a non-hostile fashion for some time, I have to ask one thing.*

“Please, proceed.”

*Stop calling me ‘little one’ and do not use ‘raptor’ again. I get that from racists, well-meaning or otherwise, all the time. Scaleen. My name is Scaleen. Failing that, you may use my family name, ‘Fortuna’ instead.*

*Ha, as you wish, Scaleen. Since you are up, would you mind showing me this game board you mentioned? Illusion magic was very finicky back in my day. Creating a still image was something only a trained warlock could do.*

I wandered over to the board and hopped into the upright style chair near the controller section, and played with the small images and light grid for Katarachin’s amusement until it was time to wake up Justice.

Well into the night, it was only ten hours to dawn. We had a coup to sabotage.