Everyone managed to complete their objectives this time. There wasn’t even a single casualty, which is a breath of fresh air much needed on this hellish planet.
We have moved into the room containing the core rift. It is gigantic, easily thirty meters in diameter. It gives off a bad vibe, one of pure evil. It seems wholly unnatural, and some part of my living self urges me to destroy it immediately.
Unfortunately we must first purge the rift and stabilize it. Lest it end up closing before we can escape. That would not be a good thing, as no one knows what happens when they close. Some scholars say wherever it leads is another dimension, and it ceases to exist when the rift closes.
Soldiers are busy setting up a truly massive stabilization unit. The core rifts are a bit different, as they produce way more energy or something like that. So I lean back against a wall and watch as they assemble the device. I never got the engineer credentials, something about me being completely unable to understand magical equipment.
Nevertheless, they get the thing operational and the hum of a reactor fills the air, pumping energy in to stabilize the rift.
[Core Rift Purging]
[Time Until Safe Entrance: 28 Hours]
[Time Until Rift Destabilization: 72 Hours]
[Matriarch’s Rift Rank: 2]
[Type: Liberation]
[Average Monster Level: 250]
[Matriarch Level: 251]
“Okay then!” Stephen says from the top of a box. “We’ve got just over a day, keep to the assigned guard schedules and take a nice long break. We will need it for what comes next.”
A sigh of release and exhaustion goes through the gathered soldiers. It has been an exhausting day, and while we still have to be on guard, some rest will be much appreciated.
“I’ve got booze and card games!” someone shouts and is immediately swarmed. I don’t think we are technically allowed to have alcohol. But it's not like there is anyone with authority hanging around… wait that is meant to be me. Eh, I am quite tired and can’t be bothered. A little alcohol won't hurt people, the medics can knock the poison out within half a second should we need to fight.
The air is filled with the laughter of mourning as I slip into sleep.
I open my eyes to a lovely purple sky. The scents of flowers and peace are in the air. The grass beneath me is very cozy, I think I will just lay here for a while…
A shadow appears over me. Glowing blue eyes stare down at me, framed in brown hair that has a mystical shimmer to it. “Mortal? Are you okay? Did I pull too hard?” Lowe asks.
“Oh, it's you. I feel fine, just tired. I am supposed to be asleep.” I reply groggily.
“Strange, your physical exhaustion should not be affecting your soulform. Are you sure it's not just mental? I hear it is common for mortals to not adjust properly, and carry physical conditions over.”
I blink a few times. Now that I think about it, I don’t feel tired. I sit up and find myself in a large grassy field. Not a single bit of exhaustion remains in my body. “Strange, it seems you were correct.”
“Great news! Would you like some tea and cookies?” She offers me a hand to stand up. I stare at it for a moment but accept it. I can’t imagine many mortals get help standing up from a nature. But at this point, I don't even know what normal is.
“That would be lovely.” Within moments, a table and chair appears, laden down with tea and cookies. We take a seat and she pours me a cup with a large smile on her face.
The cookies are super delicious, and the tea is at the perfect temperature. But something is still bugging me. “Not to spoil the mood, but is there a reason you brought me here this time?”
“Well I developed a new cookie recipe, and just had to share it with someone! I figured I would make use of our contract as soon as possible.” She sips her own tea, looking content.
“Wait, I don’t remember signing any contracts?”
She tilts her head. “Hmm, don’t you remember? The price for your blessing was to have teatime with me. What, did you think it was completely free?” She smirks mischievously.
Damn. I probably should’ve been more carefull… It seems these natures are very tricky. Though free tea and cookies every once in a while doesn't sound so bad. “Hmm, I guess that makes sense. But really, just tea and cookies? Aren’t you going to like, take a part of my soul or something?”
“Ha, that makes it sound like you want me to take part of your soul. Not that I could, there are rules about such you know.” Her words are somewhat reassuring, it's nice to know that a nature can't just randomly decide to steal my soul. “Plus, you aren’t my type anyways.” Her laugh fills the air.
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I laugh back, albeit with more restraint. “It is interesting how things like this happen, isn’t it?”
“It is simply the hand that fate has dealt. Some may be blessed by fate, and some not. Furthermore, the winds of fate are ever changing, you can never really understand it.” She smiles, and I feel like part of that was directed right at me. I wonder what she could mean by that.
We spend what must be a very long time chatting about various nonsense until the tea and cookies are finished.
“Well, I think it is about time for you to go. Your soul is growing quite weak.” Lowe says with a frown. “I look forward to our next tea gathering.”
“I think I do as well." I smile as my awareness fades.
I wake up to the sound of laughter and people having fun. Which is a good thing to wake up to. If a bit strange considering we are in the middle of an enemy fortress. I check the clock and it has only been four hours, yet I feel completely refreshed. Must’ve been Lowe’s tea, it was quite delicious after all.
I feel a strange weight against my side and turn. I nearly jump out of shock when I spot Violet leaning up against my shoulder, asleep. Her hair is looking a bit messy and she has a half-smile on her face.
She is super duper cute.
But, how did she come to be sleeping against my shoulder? I would wake her up to ask… but I wouldn’t dare bother such a cute sleeping face. Plus it's not like I am in a hurry to go anywhere or anything.
I notice some food, a bottle of liquor and what I think is a device used to play card games nearby. I see, Violet wanted to get drunk with me but I was asleep. So naturally, she sat down next to me and ended up dozing off. Then she must've fallen over and landed on my shoulder.
For some reason I feel a pang of sadness, or rather guilt. She thought it out and I just went and fell asleep. Does that make me a jerk?
I feel a pair of eyes on me and I follow them to find Stephen glancing at me. He is surrounded by a large group of people that seem very interested in being near him. He rolls his eyes and gives me a thumbs up.
Unable to move, I simply nod and hope he got my intention.
I hear several exclamations along the lines of “gimme another”, must be Liv. I bet she is busy corrupting Moxie as well. Good to know that they are getting along, though I do hope Moxie is having some fun at least.
“Hrmh.” Violet grumbles beside me. She shifts and wraps her arm around mine, holding on tightly. My heart of course, decides that this is an opportune moment to go for a sprint at mach 10. Her breathing stays steady, still asleep.
I sigh in relief.
Which of course causes her to stir. She slowly lifts her head and looks me right in the eyes. She wakes up a little bit more than looks down to her arm holding tightly to mine. Consequently, her face turns the deepest shade of red I have ever seen.
She starts to let go of me, but then her face scrunches up and she leans back into me. If she doesn’t want to move, I am surely not going to make her.
We sit like that for a few minutes and just listen to the sounds of people doing what people do. It seems like there is some sort of card game tournament that has been organized.
I break the silence. “Soooooo… do you want to play a game or something?”
“Not like you could keep up anyways, idiot.”
“Is that a challenge? You do know that I am a strategic genius, right?” I tease.
“I suppose it is, if you feel up for it. I brought drinks too.” She replies and lets go of me – much to my disappointment.
She then proceeds to set up the game. It is a fairly simple one known as GOW, or gathering of wails. I have no idea who came up with the name, but they really need to employ some cats to do it in the future. Other than the name, it is simply a card game where you summon monsters using energy. Each player takes turns drawing from a deck and gets a few points to summon monsters. Then you battle it out.
It is a fairly simple premise, but it is widely loved in the military for its simple setup – just a projector and a few holo lenses – and ease of teaching. Not to brag, but I am actually one of the top million players of GOW in the empire. If I wasn’t deadset on becoming a Dragon Guard, I would definitely be deep in the pro circuit by now.
I put on the holo lens and the game comes to life. We both draw our cards and Violet goes first. Her forehead scrunches up as she reads the cards, she eventually picks a basic monster and plays it. I take my own turn and lay down a similar monster. They battle it out and Violet ends up taking a bit of damage.
Two turns later, Violet is utterly defeated without even damaging me once. I smile as she stares down at her hand of cards, the ‘game lost’ hovering in front of her eyes.
“No fair, you cheated.” Her frown is quite cute.
“Nope, definitely didn’t cheat. Sometimes it is just the hand we are dealt that determines the battle. Though in this case it was just my overwhelming skill.”
“Tsk, again. No way I can lose to an idiot like you, it was a fluke!”
I oblige her again. She loses that time too.
Twelve games later, and she has still yet to deal a single point of damage to me.
“You are definitely cheating!” She shouts, and then tosses the projector to the side and moves towards me to grab the scruff of my armor. She lightly punches me in the side. “Admit it!”
Her face is awfully close to mine, but I don’t say anything about it and simply make a bit more space. “Perhaps I have finally found one thing that I am better at than you. This was simply how the cards were dealt, I am simply better at the game.” I smile, which only seems to make her more mad.
“Dummy.” She says and then takes a seat next to me and leans against my shoulder. “Dummy.”
I absolutely do not understand this woman whatsoever. But she is super cutely leaning up against my shoulder. So, I don’t think I particularly need to.
“I’ll beat you one day…” She declares.
I look forward to seeing that day, however unlikely it might be.
Next Chapter: Descent Into Madness
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